Sparks of Rebellion
Chapter 9: Gathering Forces
In Space...
The Ghost was pursued by multiple TIE fighters and the Grand Inquisitor's TIE Advanced v1 starfighter.
Inside the Ghost...
"Sabine, I need you in the nose gun, now!"Hera ordered.
"Didn't you hear Hera?"Ezra asked.
"Didn't you hear Tseebo?"Sabine questioned. "He said he knows what happened to your parents."
"I already know what happened."Ezra replied with a frown."They're dead, so go!"
Sabine fell silent and headed to the nose gun.
Ezra grabbed Tseebo with his hands.
"Are they?"He asked. "Are my parents dead?"
"Someone want to explain to me why we're extra popular tonight?"Hera asked.
"We've picked up a passenger the Rodian the imperials are hunting."Kanan answered.
"And he's important because?"Hera said.
"Because his cybernetic implant has downloaded half the Empire's secrets."Sabine responded.
"Okay, I can see why that's important."Hera commented. "Let's get him out of here."
In the Common Room...
"The Bridgers should hide."Tseebo said. "The troopers came, they took Mira and Ephraim Bridger away."
"Where?"Ezra asked. "Where did they take them?"
"Forgive Tseebo."Tseebo stated sadly. "Forgive him."
"Forgive you?!"Ezra scoffed.
"Tseebo failed."Tseebo replied. "Tseebo was afraid, Tseebo could not raise Ezra Bridger."
"Coward!"Ezra shouted. "You could have stopped them! Why didn't you stop them?! Tseebo!"
Tseebo didn't respond and looked down.
"Shields down!"Hera protested. "Ezra, I need you in the cockpit!"
"Yeah, on my way."Ezra answered and looked at Tseebo. "Forgive you? My parents trusted you and you failed them and you failed me, I'll never forgive you for that."
The blue haired boy rushed away to help Hera.
"Ezra, Nav-computer's off-line."Hera stated. "With chopper down, I need you to fix it."
"Not exactly my speciality."Ezra responded.
"Well, make it your speciality and make it fast or this ship becomes a real ghost."Hera stated.
Ezra began to repair the Ghost's navigation computer.
"Could really use that nav-computer!"Hera commented.
"Rewiring fast as I-"Ezra started.
Tseebo entered the cockpit and directly signalled the hyperspace coordinates to the ship's computer.
"For fast travel over interstellar distances, hyperspace is optimal."He said.
Hera looked at Ezra.
"What is he doing?"She asked and notice the navigation computer was back on. "I don't believe it, Hang on!"
The Ghost jumped into hyperspace to avoid the Star Destroyers
"Uh, Hera."Ezra said. "This is Tseebo."
"And did Tseebo just signal hyperspace coordinates directly to my ship?"Hera asked.
"That would be my guess."Ezra replied with a smile.
"Well, then thank you, Tseebo."Hera remarked. "I think you saved our lives."
"Yeah, I guess there's a first time for everything."Ezra muttered.
The young boy then left the cockpit.
In Naboo...
Queen Costil was heading to the Royal Starship to leave Moenia with two of her handmaidens following her closely.
"I have to be careful when being in the Emperor's Retreat."Lisa thought. "If any words of the rebellion gets mentioned, I could lose my rank as queen and..."
The young queen immediately snapped out of her thoughts when she and her handmaidens were walking past Darth Vader and Lady Shade.
As the Queen and her handmaidens walked passed the Emperor's Hands, Lisa felt the Siths hidden cold eyes were staring at her from behind which caused her to fell uncomfortable.
"I will not look afraid around the Palpatine's obvious tools..."Queen Costil thought with a soft glare.
Meanwhile...
The rest of the Ghost Crew met up in the common room.
Hera and Sabine were repairing Chopper.
"So?"Ezra asked. "Now what do we do with him?"
"We have a few ideas. But you're the one who has history with Tseebo."Kanan replied. "What do you think we should do?"
Ezra placed on his coloured cadet helmet.
"Don't know."He replied. "Don't much care."
"Ezra, you'll never advance as a Jedi if you can't be honest with yourself, at least."Kanan stated.
"What's that supposed to mean?"Ezra questioned as he stood up.
"It means Tseebo matters to you."Kanan responded and removed his padawan's helmet. "You do care what happens to him."
"Why should I?"Ezra asked with a frown. "He did nothing to save my parents!"
"What could he have done against the entire Empire?"Kanan said.
"And besides, look at what he's done since."Sabine commented checking Tseebo's implant. "The imperials encourage these implants, but they're not mandatory, not yet, he must have volunteered and then he uploaded their secrets and ran, maybe he's trying to make up for letting you down, why else would he take on the Empire alone?"
"Empire..."Tseebo admitted and said something in his language.
"He said the Empire can track the Ghost."Sabine translated.
"Oh, please."Zeb replied. "The imperials can't follow us through hyperspace."
Tseebo showed a hologram of a small device.
"Imperial XX-23 S-thread tracker was developed by Sienar systems to trace ships through hyperspace to destination."He explained.
"Hera, could they have tagged us with that thing?"Kanan asked.
"Guess we better find out."Hera replied.
She powered on Chopper, who began to beep and shake wildly.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, calm down, chop."Hera instructed. "You were just off-line for a few minutes, we need you to scan the Ghost for that."
Chopper beeped while complaining.
"Stop grumbling and find that tracker, you rust bucket!"Zeb retorted.
Chopper beeped and moved away causing Zeb to follow him.
A While Later...
In the Cockpit, Chopper scanned the Ghost and detected the tracker's on the hull of the Phantom.
"So they did tag us."Sabine said.
"Yes."Hera agreed. "But the good news is the tracer's actually on the hull of the Phantom."
"How is that good news exactly?"Zeb asked.
"It'll allow us to detach the Phantom and lure the imperials away from the Ghost and Tseebo."Kanan replied.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"Sabine said. "You want to detach while in hyperspace? Do you know how incredibly dangerous that is?"
"Not as dangerous as what I plan to do with the ship."Kanan stated.
"Can't wait to hear this."Zeb remarked.
"I checked our current trajectory."Kanan responded. "If you can modify the hyperspace coordinates-"
Hera smiled. "I could."
"...then we can pass by the asteroid field where the old clone base is."Kanan said.
"You mean the base with the nasties who live in the shadows?"Sabine asked.
"Wait, what?"Ezra questioned. "Why would we want to go down there?"
"He's right, Kanan."Hera agreed. "Why not just drop the Phantom into our trail and let the imperials chase after their tracker?"
"Because there's more than a tracker at work here."Kanan answered. "Back on Lothal, I sensed it, the Inquisitor is on our trail and as long as Ezra and I are on board the Ghost, we're jeopardizing Tseebo's escape."
"So I gotta leave the Ghost and go to this nasty-filled asteroid as a favor to Tseebo?"Ezra scoffed.
"As a favor to all of us."Kanan corrected. "And don't worry, I'll be right beside you."
Afterwards...
Ezra stood in the kitchen while waiting Tseebo.
"So your parents do you really believe they're dead?"Sabine asked.
"Yes."Ezra replied. "No I-I don't know, does it matter?"
"Yeah, of course it matters."Sabine answered. "You have to talk to Tseebo before we go."
"Tried that already."Ezra said simply.
"Okay, so try harder!"Sabine suggested. "Once Hera takes him away, you may never see Tseebo again."
"Maybe that's for the best"Ezra responded.
"What?"Sabine asked in disbelief. "How can you say that?"
"Sabine I've been on my own since I was seven, okay?"Ezra replied. "If I'd let myself believe my folks were alive, if I let myself believe they'd come back and save me, I'd never have learned how to survive."
Then Kanan appeared behind Ezra.
"You ready?"He asked.
Ezra looked at Sabine, who looked back at him.
"Okay."Kanan answered.
In the Phantom...
"Strap in."Kanan said and sat down on the pilot seat.
Ezra sat in a separate seat at the back.
"Prepping for separation."Kanan stated. "Once we're out of hyperspace, we'll head towards the asteroid base and lead the Empire there."
"You sure about this?"Hera asked. "You won't be any more welcome there than the imperials."
"That's what I'm counting on."Kanan responded.
"Just be safe and Ezra?"Hera said. "Look out for Kanan."
"Somebody has to."Ezra replied simply.
"Ready for separation."Hera commented.
"Copy that, Ghost."Kanan answered.
"Five, four three, two one, detach!"Hera said.
Then the Phantom depart to lead the Empire away from Tseebo after having a difficulty moving away from hyperspace.
"Okay, okay."Kanan chuckled. "That was the easy part."
The Phantom headed to the asteroid base PM-1203.
"Should we go over the plan again?"Ezra asked.
"I never told you what the plan was."Kanan said.
"Exactly."Ezra responded.
"You remember the nasty creatures Hera and Sabine found here?"Kanan asked.
"Yeah."Ezra replied. "Oh, I'd rather forget them, but yes."
"Well, I'm gonna need you to connect with them like I was trying to teach you before if we're gonna survive this."Kanan answered.
"Is now really the best time for a lesson?"Ezra questioned.
"No, but I figure it's learning like you do best by surviving."Kanan stated.
"Kanan, I can't, I'm afraid."Ezra said.
"I got news for you, kid."Kanan commented. "Everyone's afraid, but admitting it as you just did makes you braver than most and it's a step forward."
"Yeah, into the jaws of a nightmare."Ezra complemented.
The Phantom went inside the base.
"Okay...Okay I'll get the tracking device off the Phantom."Kanan instructed. "You go make some new friends, here we go."
The two jedi left the Phantom.
Kanan went to detach the device while the fyrnocks went up to Ezra.
"One with the force, one with the force."Ezra mumbled. "One with the force, I'm one with the force, one with the force, one with the force!"
"Let go."Kanan instructed.
"I can't!"Ezra replied.
"Don't be afraid."Kanan stated.
"I'm not afraid of them."Ezra answered.
"Then what?"Kanan asked.
"I don't know."Ezra lied.
"Yes, you do!"Kanan shouted. "Ezra! What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid of I'm afraid of knowing."Ezra admitted. "I'm afraid of the truth! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I forgive you, Tseebo!"
Having made peace with his fear and resentment, Ezra was able to bond with the fyrnocks.
Shortly Later...
The Inquisitor landed with a contingent of stormtroopers and proceeded to march into the base; having sensed Ezra and Kanan's presence through the Force.
"They're here, all right."A Stormtrooper said. "The rebel ship is inside."
"Keep them contained."the Inquisitor ordered. "I want them alive."
The Inquisitor and the stormtroopers were immediately set upon by the fyrnocks, who quickly overpowered the stormtroopers.
However, the Inquisitor used the Force to hurl away those fyrnocks that tried to attack him.
"This was your plan?"the Inquistor questioned. "To lure us here and allow these creatures to do your work for you?"
Kanan stood up and activated his lightsaber.
"How do you think it's going?"He asked.
"Pathetically."the Inquisitor answered and killed a fyrnock with his lightsaber.
"Guess if you want something done right..."Kanan said.
Kanan engaged the Inquisitor in a lightsaber duel but was unable to match the lightsaber skills and Force powers of the Inquisitor.
"Kanan!"Ezra shouted.
"Your meager training is nothing in the face of true power."the Inquisitor retorted.
Ezra rushed to his master's side and summoned the blue lightsaber into his hands.
"You're not going near him!"He said.
The Inquisitor easily took the blue lightsaber off Ezra's hands.
"I believe I am."He replied. "In fact, it's time to end both Jedi and padawan for good, your devotion to your master is admirable, but it will not save you, nothing can."
The Inquisitor pushed Ezra to the end of the base.
"Get back!"Ezra snapped.
"Ah, yes, good, go on, unleash your anger."the Inquisitor chuckled. "I will teach you what your master could not."
"You don't have anything to teach me."Ezra replied with a glare.
"The darkness is too strong for you, orphan."the Inquisitor said with a smirk. "It is swallowing you up, even now."
"No!"Ezra shouted.
"Your master will die."the Inquisitor said.
"No!"Ezra shouted loudly.
"Your friends will die and everything you've hoped for will be lost."the Inquisitor said cruelly. "This is the way the story ends."
"NO!"Ezra screamed in fear.
In an attempt to defend his master, the blue haired boy tapped into the Dark Side and used it to summon the mother fyrnock to attack the Inquisitor.
"Ezra?"Kanan said in shock. "No!"
After a few seconds, Ezra felt weak and collapsed on the floor.
Kanan rushed to his padawan.
"Ezra."He said.
"Kanan? What happened?"Ezra asked weakly. "I-I feel so cold."
"I know."Kanan replied. "It's okay, we're leaving."
The Man placed his padawan onto his shoulder and summoned his lightsaber back after the Inquisitor dropped it while fighting the mother fyrnock.
Kanan rushed back to the Phantom and slashed away the Inquistor's spinning lightsaber with his before powering on the Phantom.
The Phantom fired at the Imperial Shuttle before flying away from the base.
"My master will not be pleased."the Inquisitor said.
In the Phantom...
"I saved us?"Ezra asked.
"You did."Kanan replied.
"But something doesn't feel right."Ezra said.
"If your will isn't strong enough when you open yourself to the force, you become vulnerable to the dark side."Kanan admitted.
"I was trying to protect you."Kanan commented.
"I know."Kanan responded. "But your anger and fear caused that giant creature to attack."
"I don't remember it."Ezra answered quietly.
"That's for the best."Kanan sighed. "Your powers are growing so quickly, you weren't prepared, I didn't teach you what you needed to know, I'm sorry."
Afterwards...
Kanan and Ezra returned back to the Ghost.
"Welcome back, you two."Sabine said.
"You outsmarted them again."Zeb remarked. "Good job, boss."
"You made it."Hera said with a smile.
Kanan smirked. "Was there any doubt?"
"Never."Hera replied and looked at Ezra, "Ezra, I have something to..."
"Ezra needs a little time to himself right now."Kanan admitted.
Ezra walked out of the common room while his friends quietly watched him leave.
Hera looked at Kanan.
"We need to talk."Kanan said.
Ezra sat down while staring at the deep space view in front of him.
"Rough couple of days."Sabine commented.
"Yeah."Ezra answered. "It's been strange."
"I have just what you need."Sabine said. "It's the holo-disk from your old house, it was pretty degraded, but I cleaned it up and I found something."
Ezra received a holodisk from Sabine containing a holographic picture of him and his parents as a belated birthday present.
"Mom?"Ezra asked in surprise. "Dad?"
Sabine smiled. "Happy birthday, Ezra Bridger."
She then walked away leaving Ezra to look at his family photo.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:)