Zeb was out in the field practicing his shooting with his bo-rifle. The Lasat was pretending he just needed some air and was just practicing to burn off some steam. In truth though Zeb was keeping his eyes out for Ezra.
It had been a week since the kidnapping episode, and Kanan and Hera were letting him go Lothcat hunting again. They were keeping him close to the ship for a few days, but they realized they couldn't keep in in the Ship forever so they had set up some rules.
First Ezra had to be back to this ship before sundown. Second, they told Ezra to check with them once he got to a designated spot and let them know on the comlink he was okay ever so often.
It wasn't that Ezra was alone or anything, he had Chopper, but that wasn't what was bugging Zeb. In truth, he felt like Ezra should learn how to use a blaster.
If for no other reason, to hold off anyone who could harm the kid. The kidnapping made Zeb realize he wasn't going to be around all the time to save the kid. SO the kid needed to learn. Zeb thought Kanan should teach the kid, but hadn't talked to the Jedi about it yet.
"Hey Zeb," Kanan greeted.
"What's up?" The lasat asked
"I was going to check on Ezra and Chopper, you want to come?" Kanan asked.
"Huh, fine," Zeb agree, pretending to be annoyed, but actually wanting to take the time to discuss with Kanan about the idea.
Soon the two men were heading to the field where Ezra and Chopper were playing.
"So, what's the reason you want to spy on Ezra?" Zeb asked his leader.
"It's not spying," Kanan argued, "We're just going to make sure Ezra is where he said he'd be.
Zeb though wasn't buying it, and Kanan could tell.
"Okay, I just want to make sure Ezra really is okay. It's not that I don't trust him, but after last week I've been worrying that Ezra may not know how to protect himself. I want to see if Ezra can use his sense to realize someone is nearby.
Zeb then voiced his own concern, "Have you thought of teaching him how to use a blaster?"
"Well Hera and I-," Kanan was going to begin, but was immediately silence when they heard a blaster go off. Both got their blaster's out and hid behind some pillars.
Kanan got a glimpse the top of a white head just beyond some rocks.
"Troopers!" Kanan urgently whispered.
Both men assumed Ezra was being kidnapped, but this time by the Empire.
With silent hand movements, Kanan indicated that while he attacks the trooper from the front, Zeb will sneak behind from the back to take the trooper down.
Both men got into position, ready to attack from their respective pillar. As Kanan came from behind his pillar though, he did not see a trooper at all, just Ezra wearing a Stormtrooper helmet with a blaster in his hand with Chopper next to him
"Ezra?" Kanan questioned rather angrily, wondering how Ezra snuck a blaster away from them.
"Hi Kanan," Ezra greeted him as Chopper heard something from behind Ezra.
Kanan immediately realized the sound was Zeb's blaster
"Zeb, NO!" Kanan shouted, but it was too late, Zeb used one end of the his bo-rifle to smack the helmet right off the poor kid, sending him to the ground hard
Zeb immediately realized his mistake.
"Kid!" Zeb freaked in horror at what he had done.
The two men looked at the child laying on the ground.
"I'm okay," the kid assured as he rubbed the side where the helmet smacked into his face, "The helmet protected me."
Kanan helped Ezra up on his feet. But the stern look on Kanan's face made Ezra realize he was in some trouble.
"Chopper made me." Ezra immediately threw the blame at the droid.
Chopper began to chirp at Ezra for lying.
"Ezra Bridger!" Kanan raised his voice, "What in forces name made you think it was a good idea to be playing with a blaster with a Storm Trooper Helmet on!"
Ezra was hesitant to answer but did reply, "I wanted to practice shooting and thought the helmet would be added protection."
Zeb then stepped in to lecture the kid, "Kid do you know how dangerous it is to practice a blaster without supervision! You could have hurt yourself! Where the heck did you get the helmet?"
Ezra answered casually, "From my tower, I have a bunch of them." Ezra then continued to look at the ground in shame.
Kanan could sense something else going on with the boy, "Okay kid, out with it. Why did you feel like you needed to practice shooting?"
Ezra didn't look directly when he answered, "After what happened with the kidnapping thing, I wanted to learn to protect myself so It wouldn't happen again."
Both Kanan and Zeb just looked at each other, having recalled the very conversation they had to check up in the little guy.
"Okay that part I get, but didn't you ask one of us to teach you?" Kanan asked.
"I didn't want to bother you guys." Ezra told them as he finally looked up at them,
Kanan just sighed as he took the kids hand to lead him back to the ship.
"Ezra," Kanan began to explain calmly, "Zeb's right. A blaster isn't a toy, it's a dangerous weapon that can hurt and probably kill you if you are reckless with it."
Zeb piped in, "yeah kid, if you want to learn to protect yourself, you need to learn from someone who knows how to use a blaster."
"Can you teach me?" Ezra asked as he looked up to the Lasat as they were nearing the ship.
Zeb was a little surprised, "Why me?" he asked
Ezra shrugged his shoulders before he replied, "Everyone else is teaching me something; and if I'm going to learn to protect myself then I need to learn from the best."
Zeb was a little surprised that Ezra thought he was the best shooter, but smiled at the boy's praise. Still he wasn't sure if he was the best teacher for Ezra.
Kanan though piped in, "Zeb teaching you is a great idea. But you can learn once you're done being grounded."
"Why is Ezra grounded?" Hera asked as the boy's entered the Ghost and end up comforting the twliek.
"Um…" Kanan stuttered, clearly he needed to tell Hera, but…
"I'm grounded because I took Sabine's old blaster and was shooting rocks without supervision." Ezra fessed up.
Kanan was sure that Hera was going to explode with rage. But Hera, not wanting to scare Ezra, took a deep breath before she asked the men "Did you guys already talk with him about how dangerous that was?"
"Also how he could have gotten hurt, killed, and if he wanted to learn how to use a blaster he should have talked to us about it." Kanan listed.
Hera just shrugged her shoulders, "Okay. Ezra you're grounded for a week, extra chores and no Lothcat hunts for two weeks."
Ezra didn't argue back; he knew he deserved it.
"Can Zeb teach me how to shoot once I'm done being grounded?" Ezra asked Hera innocently.
Clearly both men wanted to ask Hera first.
'That is a great idea," Hera approved as she looked up at the Lasat "He needs to teach you something anyways, and who better to teach you."
Hera then noticed a bruise forming on the side of Ezra's face,
"Where did that come from?" Hera asked calmly concerned.
Both men were trying to think of a way to explain what happened; But Hera saw the helmet Kanan had put two and two together?
Now Hera was mad, "YOU HIT EZRA! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU TWO!? He steals a blaster so you hit him?"
Hera then picked up Ezra and lead him to the kitchen to get ice on the forming bruise.
"Why did we get yelled at?" Zeb questioned Kanan
Kanan replied simply, "Because we should have known better."
Zeb had to admit, he liked teaching Ezra how to shoot.
After Ezra was no longer grounded, Zeb began to go over the safety of a blaster, and how to shoot it properly.
"Okay don't lock your arms, and visualize before shooting." Zeb instructed. "Also remember; never aim a blaster unless you have the intend to shoot the person, okay?"
Ezra with his helmet on nodded.
Chopper in the field was ready to throw the rock in the air, and when it did.
Boom!
The rock in the air shattered.
"I did it!" Ezra exclaimed as he hugged Zeb, 'Wait till the others hear!" Ezra then ran towards the ship.
"Ezra! What are the rules?" Zeb had to scold the kid.
Ezra thought of the rules before he realized his mistake, "No entering the ship with a trooper helmet on and when running with a gun make sure safety's on." Ezra pointed out as he took off his helmet and put the blaster on safety.
Zeb smiled that he was actually a decent teacher for Ezra.
A/N: Okay now everyone on the ship is teaching Ezra something! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter.
