[Little note: in the last chapter, when it says "Not for the trooper, but for himself," it basically means he's thinking of the chances of getting shot, not worrying for the trooper's safety.]
Shots went wide as Ezra continued to advance, fire and ice in his eyes.
For the first time, real hate swelled up inside of his chest. Murderous intent was felt by everything in the room.
The boy's arm raised, catching hold of the trooper through the force.
Two hands now, and the troopers screams of pain tore through the hanger.
Ezra put pressure on the windpipe, but soon felt a nudge to go further.
Straight to the source:
The Lungs.
The stormtrooper squirmed.
"NO NO NO DON'T PLEA-"
A low popping sound was heard through the sudden silence.
Ezra dropped the limp body, just as 5 blaster bolts caught his square in the chest. The teen collapsed to the ground, the fabric around his chest smoking, the skin underneath red, out the instant he hit the floor
Agent Kallus watched with wide eyes as troopers rushed in, replaying what just happened over and over in his head.
Sure, he himself had been tossed around by the boy plenty, but...
Having you insides Crushed..
What was happening to Bridger?
None of the attacks he'd been through had any real malice in them, no REAL intention to kill.
There was never any time for that, always dodging wide shots, waiting for their ride, running. Always running.
But this attack was so different, it was like the teen was on puppet strings.. like he had all the time in the world.
It took a second to realize that Thrawn was talking to him.
"I want you to escort Miss...Wren to a holding cell, under triple guard," Came his voice, low and smooth.
Kallus nodded automatically. "And...what of the boy?"
"I'll...deal with him, personally."
Another nod. "You three, let's go," the ISB agent barked at the troopers, who each nodded, glancing nervously at Bridger's still figure.
Forcing Sabine to her feet wasn't an easy task, and neither was forcing her to the door.
With a suspicious glance back, Kallus ked the troopers away.
A force suppresser was on it's way, as well as lord Vader.
For now, Bridger was strapped to a table, while Grand Admiral Thrawn paced the length of the room.
He looked up, approaching the boy slowly.
Bridger was still young. His face looked almost peaceful, but his panting, and the way his hand balled into fists, then relaxed over and over told another story.
For once, Thrawn got a good look at the teen.
Still filling in, and fast, his limbs were a bit too long, as well as his hands. He gave off the impression of being uncoordinated, but it was nothing but an illusion.
He had strong jaw line, and when Thrawn warily tilted the teen's head back, he noticed a lock of hair near the right rear of his head, braided and dyed a smooth orange colour.
A padawan braid..
Traditionally worn on the right, by Jedi Padawan's who could grow hair...
He couldn't think of any other facts other than that it would be cut off when one was knighted..
A low groan interrupted the silence, at the same moment the faded sounds of an alarm somewhere, demanding his attention. But Thrawn gave it none, more pressing matters making their way into his thoughts.
Bridger was slowly waking up..
Ezra panicked, barely able to breathe.
His hands were strapped down, cool metal meeting the small exposed parts on his back; tears in his shirt.
A figure swam into sight, slowly.
It was Thrawn. This meant he was most likely in the most secure part of the whole Destroyer..
Fear flooded him, barely noticed by the other, but picked up by Maul.
His head hurt, as did his chest, but he forced his attention away.
Words reached him, scrambled at first, but clear within second.
"...Ezra Bridger, son of Mira and Ephraim Bridger. 'Jedi' Padawan to a Kanan Jarrus.. "
The voice moved towards the left of him, but Ezra could barely see.
"But let's use his real name. Caleb Dume was 14 when order 66 was issued. The clone troopers he'd worked with for a while at this point, turned on him and his master. Depa Billaba gave her life for his, but instead of standing and fighting, Caleb ran. Now, I've known you for a little bit now, never actually met, but I've studied you. I know your not the type to turn and flee, even if your 'Master' ordered you, would you?" Thrawn didn't even pause for an answer, Bridger's expression answer enough.
Ezra glared at the ground, barely understanding what he was hearing. Kanan..no..what?
He was confused, and with a nudge from his second mentor, that confusing dissipated into anger.
Cold, Raw rage grew quickly.
"I'm guessing that the alarm is your rebel friends, and Lord Vader is still a long ways away." The voice slid it's way into Ezra's brain, like a knife.
Out of the corner of his eyes, a flash of light, and just like that, Thrawn turned to leave.
"W-wait.." The words faltered before they made it out of the teen's mouth.
"Yes?" At this point, the Grand Admiral didn't expect an answer, not stopping.
He didn't get one.
Kanan ran through the halls, trying not to panic as he got deeper into the maze of identical walls, floors, doors...
He couldn't see it anymore, but knew all too well.
"Spector 1, you're close. At the end of the hall, is where Ezra is being kept." Hera's voice.
"Ready with the shuttle!" Sabine.
Their voices faded as Kanan reached the door, and stopped dead.
It was like he'd walked into freezing water.
Despite not even having vision anymore, a darkness seemed to fall over everything.
Through the door, and it got worse. Ezra was close, he knew, but it was like everything had shifted.
Ezra looked up, his vision more clear.
There stood Kanan. Caleb...
"Either way, he's a traitor" A voice whispered into his ear.
A traitor.. The word repeated over and over, taking control of his feeling, actions.
The restraints loosened, and the urge to lunge, to kill, to destroy nearly overwhelmed him.
With a little help, he held on. This wan't the place, You'll get your revenge.
"..Ezra?"
At the voice, the rage flew into his throat, barely contained.
"What."
Kanan was taken aback at his padawan's tone.
"A-are you oka-"
"I'm fine, let's go... please." A pleading tone, more like Ezra.
It seemed strained, but Kanan knew he had to be careful. It was like trying to navigate a mine field, one mis-step and everything would blow up in his face.
*Time skip. I know. I'm pathetic. Ezra and Kanan getting on the shuttle:*
Sabine waited nervously, fidgeting slightly.
She couldn't calm down, it was like she couldn't breathe.
Pacing, tapping her foot, anything to keep moving.
When she finally saw Ezra and Kanan, it was like coming up from being underwater.
She surprised even herself when she threw herself into Ezra's arms, hugging him tightly for a few seconds, and burying her face into his neck.
He flinched slightly, from surprise or pain but he didn't even give Ezra a chance to hug back before running up the ramp to the shuttle, and sitting in the pilot's seat without a single word.
OKAY
I'm soooooooo sorry this took so damn long t come out, it hurts me.
But, did you look at the VIEWS this poorly written story has gotten?
HOW? You guys are nuts! But all joking aside, I'm really happy this story has gotten so many reviews, and favourites..
I can't express how much this means to me right now!
AND we snuck a wee bit of Sabine/Ezra, even if it was a little lopsided. Happy?
Hope so. I'm taking a break from this story to work on the other SWR I started, I'm pretty hyped.
But don't be salty, I'll pick it up and post either a preview or chapter within the next three months. I know. I'm a terrible person.
I hope you have a good day!
-Feral
