Hello! I just want to say thank you so much for the all positive feedback! I'm glad that a lot of you like this story, and I'll try to update regularly. I hope you like this chapter!

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Chapter 2 - Competition

The crew sat silently, looking out into the vast sea of swirling blue streaks, reminded of the big and innocent eyes of the teen that they had lost.

Kanan shifted in his seat, anxious to get his padawan back. He knew how cruel a Sith could be, and the thought of him being hurt sent his stomach churning. They would physically, mentally, and emotionally torture prisoners to the point of insanity or death; whichever came last. He had barely held out during his own capture, and although Ezra was strong, he would not last long.

But Zeb said it himself; Ezra was being used as bait. And to be bait, he had to stay alive.

But the fact remained that he did not have to be in one piece.

A light blinked on the control panel, and Hera flipped it on. Before them appeared Ahsoka, her face showing concern and worry. Kanan's stomach flipped, knowing that whatever she had to say, it would not be good.

"Come in, Ghost," she said.

"This is Ghost," Hera responded.

"We just received a message, and I think you need to see it." Her image faded; replaced with a female green-skinned Mirialan, her armor having the Empire's symbol on it. That, and the way Sabine and Zeb stiffened, Kanan knew that this was one of the Inquisitors that was holding Ezra.

"Hello, rebels," she spat. "This is a message for Ahsoka Tano and Kanan Jarrus. If you want your pretty youngling to live, then come to the abandoned Republic medical station, and surrender." She smiled, and even through the hologram, Kanan could see the glint of pleasure in her eyes. "And if not," she said cheerily, reached for something they could not see. "Then he and I can keep having fun." She jerked Ezra into the frame, and Kanan's heart stopped.

The inquisitor was holding onto him by his hair on the nape of his neck, and his head hung low, messy hair covering his face. His coveralls hung around his waist, exposing his chest, which had a long jagged slice across his stomach, blood seeping out. His shoulders sagged and he made no movement.

The Inquisitor then tossed his limp body to the side, and they all heard Ezra land in a heap, and the small grunt of pain he released. She smirked again.

"You better hurry." With that, the transmission cut, leaving the crew to silence. Kanan closed his eyes, the image of his unconscious padawan replaying in his mind.

"Based on the message," Ahsoka said, reappearing on the screen. "These Inquisitors are serious about their threats."

"Yeah, I think we got that part," Zeb snapped, his hands balled into fists.

Ahsoka nodded, acknowledging the comment. "Which is why I will be joining you in your rescue efforts. We cannot endanger Ezra's life any further. Kanan, you and your crew will wait for my arrival. Then, you and I will go in alone."

"Ahsoka," Hera said. "I don't think that's a good idea. We-"

"I understand, Hera, and I agree. This mission will be dangerous and unplanned. But, it is the only way to rescue Ezra."

All eyes turned to him. Kanan looked down, his mind racing. He looked back up a moment later.

"I agree."

"Then it's settled. Find a place for your crew to stay. I will be there shortly." With a bow, Ahsoka's hologram faded, leaving the crew alone. A long moment of silence passed between them, all caught up in their own thoughts, until Sabine spoke up.

"That was a lightsaber wound, wasn't it?" The ex-Jedi grimaced at her statement.

"Yes, it was." Solemn silence filled the air. Sabine sunk lower into her chair, her helmet hiding her face.

"Hang in there, kid," Rex said, resting his hand on her shoulder. "If I know one thing, it's that Jedi are tough; especially when they're strong willed." Sabine nodded, and for once, Kanan was glad that Rex was here. He did not know how to comfort the crew during this type of situation. And even if he tried to tell them that everything was going to be alright, they would detect his lie.

Ezra was in the hands of the Empire, and they had shown that they had no problem hurting him to get what they wanted.

Kanan knew that things could only get worse.


The Seventh Sister smiled as the Fifth Brother secured the boy's hands behind his back and onto the control panel. They had taken him back to the room they were in before, as the Seventh Sister knew it would be easiest to find. The Jedi would not dare to attempt anything while the safety of someone was at risk, especially when that someone was a youngling.

She was taught about the strong bond between master and apprentice, and knew that it would be their downfall. And once the master of the boy was killed, Ahsoka Tano would be all hers and the Fifth Brother could dispose of the boy for all she cared. The Emperor seemed to have a fondness towards the boy, considering how strong and young he was, but to her, the Empire had enough Inquisitors; and frankly she did not need the extra competition.

Besides, she was the Emperor's favorite now, and she would not do anything to change that. So when the Fifth Brother disposes of him, he will be killed in retaliation. It is a win – win for her, and only her.

The boy moaned as the bindings were clamped shut as tight as possible. Restricting his blood flow to his wrists would make it that much more difficult and that much more painful for him to escape.

It would also make it that much easier for his master to feel worried.

"Now what?" the Fifth Brother asked. The Seventh Sister resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Although he was strong, he was neither bright nor malicious. Just a killing machine. And she could appreciate a killing machine when it was needed, but this type of situation needed more… elegance to it. That was why she was here.

"Now, you go and rig the trap. I trust that you can handle the task?" she asked with spite in her voice. He grunted and walked out of the room. The Seventh Sister smiled, knowing that he would listen to her instructions. She filed the information away for later.

Looking back down at the boy, she could tell that he was coming to. His chest was rising and falling more quickly now, and his face was scrunched in pain. She could see the breaths that he took and knew that with his chest exposed he must be cold.

She smiled. Maybe when he woke up, her lightsaber could warm him.

He let out another groan, turning his head to the other side and revealing the old scars on his cheek. They too were lightsaber marks, no doubt from the Grand Inquisitor. But they were small and insignificant compared to her marks. She had sliced him across the stomach and down his thigh, just in case he thought of running away. And while unconscious, she may have accidently sliced his back, across his left shoulder blade. Whoops.

However, a thought occurred to her. She had only marked him with her blade on his chest, back, and legs, all which could be easily covered up by clothes; but where the Grand Inquisitor had marked him, could not. Her smiled was replaced with a deepening frown. There it was again, another reason that the Grand Inquisitor was better than her, even in death.

She shook off the feeling. Once the boy woke up, she would make sure that he wished he had not.

The boy's eyes flickered open, the once strong bright blue now faded and glazy.

"Well, look who it is. Welcome back, rebel." The boy's eyes glanced at her, but he made no move to respond. "What, no sarcastic comeback? No jeering insult? And I thought I liked you."

"Well, you thought wrong," the boy said. She smiled. Not even pain could hide his smart mouth, which meant a greater chance for her to have some fun.

"I think the only one in the wrong here is you. Because of you, your Jedi friends are coming to rescue you." She watched as the boy's eyes widened. "That's right. They're being lured right into my trap. And since you're the bait, that makes you responsible for their deaths," she explained. "But don't worry; you won't be alive long afterwards to feel bad about it."

"You're lying," he said, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh, am I?" she responded. "And how can you tell?"

"Because that's what you do. You lie and you manipulate and you kill," the boy argued.

"Even though those are my three favorite things, I'm actually telling the truth. And you know it, too," she said. The boy looked away, and she could sense his unease. "You just don't want to believe it. But believe me." She stood up from her chair and crouched down next to him, digging her nails into his already bloody cheek. "You and your master will be dead within the next several hours. So, you might as well give up now."

The boy did not flinch away, but only closed his eyes and grimaced in pain. After a moment he looked up.

"I'll never give up," he stated, his voice betraying the emotions he felt.

"And you call me the liar," she retorted, igniting her blade once more.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

R & R

~ Kavella ~