"Focus." Kanan instructs Ezra. The Master Padawan duo, along with Zeb, Chopper and Vex, were on the hull of the Ghost as it slowly moved through the cloud layer, while Ezra was training in the use of the Force… by doing a handstand on the moving ship. "Focus on letting go."
"Letting go? Rather hold on, if you don't mind." Ezra half jokes.
"Enough joking. Focus." Kanan scolds.
"I'm trying." Ezra argues, as he clearly is trying, his body strained.
"Do or do not. There is not try." Kanan quotes Yoda's favorite phrase.
"What does that even mean? How can I do something if I don't try to do it?" Ezra asks in exasperation and confusion, sending a momentary glare at his teacher.
"Well, see…" Kanan cuts himself off with a sigh. "Actually, that one always confused me too. But Master Yoda used to say it a lot." He points out.
"I know what it means, but the student needs to learn it themselves, or the lesson is never truly taught." Vex informs with a sigh of his own, as Ezra stops his handstand, standing up and looking to Kanan with a tired expression.
"I really thought this Jedi stuff would be more interesting. No wonder the old religion died." He comments.
"It's not that simple, Ezra." Vex warns. "The Jedi were forced to partake in a war, when they were supposed to be Peace Keepers. It blinded them to the true threat of the Sith. That is why the Order fell, not because their training is boring… which I do admit is true for the early stages."
"You know an awful lot, for claiming to not be a Jedi." Kanan retorts.
"Just because I'm no Jedi, doesn't mean I did not help them during the war, Kanan. But while I watched Jedi younglings train, I learned on the battlefield." Vex states, his voice somewhat solemn, the pain from the war still a fresh wound.
"Come on, kid. Do something. Amuse me. 'Use the Force'" Zeb comments, bored. He throws a harmless projectile at Ezra.
"Whoa!" He says, moving out of the way of the thrown projectile. "Does he have to be here?" He asks.
"He's annoying, yes, but there will always be distractions. You need to learn to focus through them." Kanan explains. "Hmm. Let's try something else." He takes his lightsaber and hands it to Ezra.
"When do I get my own?" Ezra asks easily, the tiredness hidden by his sudden excitement.
"A lightsaber makes not a Jedi." Vex retorts in a Yoda-like voice. "Or any random thug who has one would be a Jedi, and wreak havoc on the galaxy."
"Gets me closer though." Ezra points out, as he ignites the saber, its blade overly large for his use.
"Only because you have the Force." Vex counters.
"Careful! There's a control on the side that adjusts the length to your height." Kanan interrupts, and with that knowledge, Ezra shortens the blade. "Okay, now close your eyes." Kanan instructs, with Ezra following obediently. "Let him have it Chopper." Kanan then orders the astromech, the name causing Vex to wince, though out of view from the others. The incident with Slick at the start of his involvement in the war still haunted him to this day. No other Clone Trooper had done anything similar throughout the rest of the war. In the background, Chopper begins whirling his domed head around, using his claws to grasp and let go of small cartons, hurling them towards Ezra. To start, Ezra was able to hold his own, until Zeb tossed a large crate of them on Chopper, increasing the rate of which the cartons were thrown, overwhelming Ezra, who stumbled back as some hit him, knocking him off the ship.
"Kanan! Get him!" Vex orders, watching as Kanan scrambles to grab a hold of the young boy through the Force, Hera, seeing Ezra fall, begins to descend, giving Kanan a helping hand. Zeb dashes down to bring him back on board. Once done, Kanan sags, releasing his hold. Vex doesn't comment on what he knew was going through Kanan's mind, as they both walk back into the ship, finding Ezra and Zeb.
"You weren't focused." Kanan scolds Ezra.
"Tough to focus when I'm falling to my death." Ezra argues.
"You wouldn't have been falling to your death if you were focused." Kanan counters and sighs. "You're undisciplined and full of self-doubt."
"And whose fault is that, Master?" Ezra asks back in frustration.
"Enough. Clearly, you both need to take a break. Go." Vex interrupts. Ezra moves off to the common room, Zeb, Kanan and Vex following soon after.
"You made the Holonet." Sabine comments, bringing forth a memory to Vex.
Flashback
"Spectre-4 to Ghost." Ezra's voice calls through the comlink. Hera, Kanan and Vex were wondering how long it would take them to realize they wouldn't be able to get Meilooruns.
"Go ahead, Spectre-4" Hera replies.
"Right. Well, we've had a bit of a problem." Ezra starts sheepishly.
"I thought you might. Look, don't worry about the Meilooruns." Hera assures them. In the background, the whir of a TIE Fighter is barely audible… but not to Vex. A smile crosses his face at the possibilities.
"Yeah, Meilooruns. Uh, we found some. But then we lost them. Then we found them again. But we smashed them" Ezra rambles.
"Just cut to the chase, kid." Zeb urges him.
"Wait! What am I hearing? It sounds like…" Kanan begins.
"Yeah, about that. See, um, well, we stole a TIE Fighter." Ezra explains.
"YOU WHAT?!" Kanan asks incredulously, while Vex bursts into laughter.
"He's taking it better than I thought." Zeb notes.
Flashback End.
The holo-news fizzles, before a different transmission plays out.
"Citizens, this is Senator-in-exile Gall Trayvis. I bring more news that the Empire doesn't want you to hear." An image of an older man appears. His face sparks a distant memory in Vex's mind.
"What's a Gall Trayvis?" Ezra asks.
"The only member of the Imperial Senate with the courage to speak out publicly against the Empire." Hera explains.
"One of the Republic's greatest Peacekeepers, Jedi Master Luminara Unduli, is alive!" The Senator exclaims. "She has been imprisoned unlawfully somewhere in the Stygeon system. As citizens, we demand the Emperor produce Master Unduli and grant her a fair trial…" The signal fizzles again as it returns to the Imperial News, before Sabine shuts off the Holonet. Kanan moves his hand to his chin in thought.
"This Luminara. You knew her?" Ezra asks.
"I met her. Once. She was a great Jedi Master. Brave, compassionate, disciplined. In fact, she'd make an excellent teacher for you." Kanan says, his words making Ezra looks down in sadness.
"There've always been rumours she survived the Clone Wars, but they never came with a specific location before." Hera adds.
"Something doesn't sit right with me on this one. I had it on good authority that she was killed, hell, I swear I could have seen her gunned down by her troopers." Vex warns.
"Either way, we can't pass this up." Kanan explains.
"Was hoping you'd say that. I'll set a course for the Stygeon System." Hera admits, already on her feet and heading to the cockpit.
"The rest of you, prep for an op." Kanan orders, and moves to join her. Ezra walks to Chopper and whispers to him before walking to the dorm that he shares with Zeb. Being already armoured up and prepared, Vex and Sabine stay, and begin to bring up the known files and schematics of the Prison complex on Stygeon Prime.
"Who was your source about Luminara's death?" She asks as she reads through the intel.
"After the Purge..." Vex begins with a sigh. "I found as many contacts that were with the Jedi in the planetary battles. Wookiee Chief Tarfful and Chewbacca were there to witness her death. Besides, the Clone Troopers were programmed to take no prisoners when it came to Order 66."
"Well, that confirms the source, but you mentioned that you, uh, saw it... how?" She questions further.
"After I lost my hand on Umbara, the remaining particles still existed. Figuring it would be a good idea, I sent over a million particles across the galaxy, a large portion embedding themselves into the planets that were actively being fought over during the war. Mygeeto and Cato Neimoidia were two such planets. The rest, i sent to attach to good friends, people i knew i could trust. Luminara herself was one of those people, hell, even Kanan and his Master were. I saw what happened to them, felt their pain, their last breaths, as they were killed. I can't exactly prove these things, especially since i lost contact with Tarfful, and Chewbacca, well, he is currently indisposed." Vex explains, a deep pain adorning his face.
"Well. I guess we will need a few miracles." Sabine notes, showing three thermal detonators in her hand. "I may not fully trust you to help us, but i do trust you to help Ezra. I'll keep my eyes open."
"Thank you." Vex bows, his voice sincere. "And, I do try to help you, but I have to be careful. If you've seen the bounty on my head, you would know I have to be careful with what i do, less you earn the attention of something worse than the normal Imperial." The ship lurches into Hyperspace, as everyone converges around the table and holographic schematic.
"Welcome to the Spire on Stygeon Prime. The only Imperial detainment facility in the Stygeon system." Hera welcomes theatrically, gesturing to the hologram of the structure.
"And it's impregnable." Sabine adds.
"That hasn't stopped us before." Kanan counters.
"Trust me, we have never faced anything like this. It's a real work of art." Sabine explains. "Blast proof, ray shielded, protected by anti-ship weapons, TIE fighters and short and long range scanners."
"We can fool the scanners." Hera writes off.
"Eh, maybe. But that just leaves an army of troopers and guard posts on all the walls." Sabine argues. "Look, even if we get into this beauty, the hard part's getting out. Cause, you know, it's a prison."
"What about going in low and sneaking onto this landing platform?" Ezra offers, pointing at the area he means.
"No. Heavy trooper presence and reinforced blast doors. Not a likely chance of getting in or out that way." Sabine denies.
"Here." Kanan says, pointing at an outcropping with an entrance. "There's only room for a couple guards. We take them down, make our way to the upper level isolation cells, free Luminara and came back out the way we came in."
"You'd have to be crazy to try that lousy plan." Zeb says.
"Let's hope the Empire thinks so too." Kanan adds. Once more the team disperses, Hera returning to the cockpit, Vex following her. He takes a seat beside her, gazing out to the streaks of Hyperspace, his mind calming at the familiar sight, until his mind catches up, and his worry and anxiety returns twofold.
Once inside the Spire, courtesy of Ezra's hacking skills, Kanan speaks up, the bodies of troopers disappearing as the entrance door closes.
"Luminara's here. I sense her presence, but it's clouded." Kanan frowns.
"I only sense death and decay here, Kanan. This doesn't feel right." Vex warns, though ignored. Sabine accesses the terminal and begins scouring the archives and manifests.
"Where is Master Unduli?" Kanan asks her.
"Detention block CC-01. Isolation cell 0169." Sabine answers.
"They have isolation cells on the lower levels? We planned off outdated schematics." Kanan muses in concern.
"This is starting to remind me of the Citadel." Vex notes, even the way they entered had brought back memories. "We planned off outdated schematics then as well… It didn't end well."
"So we change the plan. Sabine, Zeb, you're coming along." Kanan orders.
"Weren't we supposed to hold our escape route here?" Zeb asks in confusion.
"Now the turbolift is our escape route." Kanan says, as they all squeeze in the lift.
"His plans get worse all the time." Sabine complains.
"Just hope he doesn't change it again." Zeb adds.
"I'm standing right here." Kanan reminds them.
"We know." Both Sabine and Zeb say simultaneously, their irritation evident. Kanan, Ezra and Vex move off to the location of Luminara's cell.
"Maintain comm silence, and whatever you do, hold this lift." Kanan orders as they leave the two behind. They turn the corridor, coming face to face with two patrolling Stormtroopers. Immediately, Kanan brings the two towards him with the Force, holding his arms out as they collide, damaging their necks with the force of the collision.
"Wow. You're really not messing around tonight." Ezra notes.
"There's a lot more at stake than you realize." Kanan replies in exasperation, rolling his shoulders. The three continue onward, swiftly arriving at the cell required, finding two Stormtroopers guarding.
"You ever seen this Jedi Master?" One of the guards asks the other.
"Don't have the clearance." The other replies, before looking to the trio. Before he could alert his companion, Kanan calls upon the Force.
"Shouldn't you be guarding the Jedi's cell? It's on the next level." He suggests through the Force, probing into the mind of the guards.
"It's on the next level." The Guard who looked at us repeats robotically.
"You better get moving." Kanan adds.
"We better get moving." The other guard repeats before the two of them rush off.
"When do I learn that?" Ezra asks in awe.
"Luminara will teach you much better than I could." Kanan answers, opening the door, revealing the Jedi Master… or at least it seemed to be her. While Ezra and Kanan are focused on Luminara, Vex looks around, scanning the room to find a stasis chamber on the far wall, the decayed remains of Luminara visible through the blast resistant glass window.
"Is it really her?" Ezra asks Kanan, while Vex remains quiet, letting the two continue.
"Yes, but... something's wrong." Kanan answers. Luminara's form moves to the container and seemingly fades into it, revealing her true corpse, much to Ezra and Kanan's horror, and confusion.
"What happened to her? I don't understand." Ezra asks in confusion.
"No? It doesn't seem that complicated." A voice calls behind them. They turn to face the newcomer, revealing the Pau'un Imperial as he grabs a semi circular hilt. "I am the Inquisitor." He introduces himself, igniting the blood red saber. "Welcome." He smiles, his pointed teeth showing, glancing at the stasis chamber. "Yes, I'm afraid Master Luminara died with the Republic. But her bones continue to serve the Empire, luring the last of the Jedi to their ends." He explains. Ezra tries to comm Sabine.
"Spectre-3, come in. It's a trap." He attempts to warn her, only for static to sound in reply.
"There will be no reinforcements." The Inquisitor states. Kanan, having ignited his azure saber, moves to attack. The Inquisitor blocks, before utilizing basic Form 2 to gauge his skill. Vex stands back and watches, analyzing the Inquisitors style and form, noticing that he holds back. "Interesting. It seems you trained with Jedi Master Depa Billaba." He deducts.
"How… Who are you?" Kanan asks in shock. The Inquisitor continues to draw the fight on, forcing Kanan back with ease, as Ezra sets the thermal detonator that Sabine had given him by the door.
"The Temple records are quite complete." He explains, holding Kanan's saber arm away, before locking blades again. "In close quarter fighting, Billaba's emphasis was always on Form 3, which you favour to a ridiculous degree." Ezra charges his energy slingshot, firing at the Inquisitor, who turns to block the strike, leaving an opening for Kanan, who takes a couple of seconds before he tries to launch an attack, still reeling from the shock that this Inquisitor knew who he was. The Inquisitor leaps over Kanan, kicking his back, propelling him further forward, tumbling as Ezra goes to help him up. He doesn't take the time to glance at Vex, who continues to watch. "Clearly, you were a poor student." He states. Ezra fires two more electric bolts from his wrist slingshot, which the Inquisitor simply allows to hit him. "Is that really all you've got, my boy?" He questions mockingly.
"Well, I've got that!" Ezra counters defiantly, gesturing to the detonator, which explodes moments later, forcing the door open and allowing them an escape. They rush out, using the smoke as cover, running through the halls as the Inquisitor follows at a steady pace, Vex walking behind him. Kanan eventually halts, knowing that he would just be leading the Inquisitor to everyone else. He turns around, finding the Inquisitor already waiting, preparing to strike. As the Inquisitor attacks, Kanan once more falls back to defend, leaping away from a strike that would have cleaved him apart.
"Are you paying attention, boy? The Jedi are dead. But there is another path: The Dark Side." The Inquisitor taunts Ezra, as he continues to attack.
"Never heard of it!" Ezra retorts, firing more bolts from his slingshot. The Inquisitor pushes Kanan away, allowing him to deflect the energy bolts, before using the Force to push Ezra away.
"Have you taught him nothing?" The Inquisitor asks Kanan mockingly, who returns his focus to the duel, attempting to go on the offensive, yet failing as the Inquisitor forces Kanan back yet again. "Do you really think you can save the boy? For his sake, surrender." The Inquisitor offers as Ezra stands back up, holding his now sore arm after having landed awkwardly.
"I'm not making deals with you." Kanan retorts after a quick glance at Ezra.
"Hmm. Then we'll let him make one, shall we?" The Inquisitor states, and pushes Kanan away with the Force, knocking him out, moving his focus to Ezra. "Your master cannot save you, boy. He is unfocused and undisciplined." He explains.
"Then we're perfect for each other." Ezra argues and fires again. The Inquisitor blocks the bolt and attempts to slice Ezra in half, only for him to leap over the blade. At this, Vex begins to focus on the Inquisitor's saber, slowly pulling the internal workings out of alignment.
"I do so admire you're persistence. Ready to die?" The Inquisitor asks rhetorically, and charges at Ezra, forcing Vex to speed up his work. Kanan, the Force having sped up his awakening from unconsciousness, calls upon the Force, halting the Inquisitor where he stands, and lifts him up to the roof.
"Run!" Kanan orders, to which Ezra moves over to him and helps him up. The Inquisitor, having been released from his Force prison, falls to the floor, landing on his feet. He turns to us and holds his lightsaber out, activating the gyro systems of his saber, spinning the blade at immense speeds, as they begin to flicker slightly, while the Inquisitor takes no notice, instead sending a smug look to them. Deciding to step in, albeit differently, Vex pulls the Inquisitor towards, and then past him, sending him into a wall.
"Act how you preach! Run!" Vex warns, catching up to them as they run towards Sabine and Zeb, catching up within minutes.
"You figure out it was a trap?" Kanan asks Sabine.
"Yeah. Luminara?" She asks us.
"Long gone." Vex answers.
"Our new exit?" She asks after a moment of hesitation.
"Landing platform." Kanan answers, to her confusion.
"Thought it was impossible to get out that way." Sabine wonders aloud.
"Then let's prove that idea wrong." Vex retorts. As they approach the hanger bay, the blast doors close, blocking their path.
"I've got it." Ezra assures with confidence, moving to hack the door systems, only to receive an electric shock, pushing him away.
"I-I'm locked out of the system." Ezra explains in shock.
"Ezra?" Kanan calls to him.
"Sorry." Ezra apologises and moves to Kanan's side.
"Ezra. Together." He explains.
"Seriously?" Ezra asks incredulously.
"Yes. Picture the locking mechanism in your mind." Kanan instructs, as they both outstretch their arms to call upon the Force.
"Excuse me, but can we train Ezra later?!" Zeb asks in annoyance.
"No. This is the best way to teach in a short time. Life or death situations. Got any miracles left?" Vex explains, looking to Sabine.
"One more here." She answers, holding the last thermal detonator in her hand. She throws it towards the oncoming Stormtroopers, giving them the few moments that Kanan and Ezra needed to open the door. As it hissed open, partial relief flooded through everyone. "Spectre-5 to Phantom. We're on the landing deck, ready for pickup." Sabine informs Hera.
"On my way, Spectre-5. And I'm bringing the fleet." Hera assures.
"We have a fleet?" Zeb asks in confusion.
"Well, I do. But I didn't think you did." Vex admits, confusion evident on his face. Phoenix shouldn't be here yet either, it wasn't time. The Phantom appears in view, followed by a slew of creatures. "Oh, that fleet. Yeah, that might work." As the crew make their way onto the Phantom, the familiar hum of a saber catches Vex's attention. The Inquisitor's saber spins its way towards Kanan. With most of the internals out of alignment, it took little for Vex to disable it completely, stopping the hilt in mid air with his powers. "I think this belongs to me, now." He taunts, calling the now broken weapon to his hand, before leaping into the Phantom as it takes off, the hatch closing.
"Does yours do that?" Zeb asks Kanan mockingly, earning a glare in response. Hera pilots them back to the Ghost, everyone departing in exhaustion. Vex leaves the others, making his way to the cargo bay, where he sits down to meditate, pulling the Inquisitor's saber apart, revealing the score of internal components he needed. With a short burst of energy, his own bits and pieces form in front of him, the components of the Inquisitors saber reshaping and reforming to fit in the new hilt casing, clasping around a single, yellow primary crystal, and an ice blue secondary, entrapping the singing geodes within a basic, makeshift hilt. Vex opens his eyes to admire the quick job, noticing that compared to the saber he was used to using, this hilt was more compacts, thinner. More for his preferred grip, rather than what the other hilt was originally used for. Now, four bleeding crystals sat in the open, crying in pain.
"Don't worry. You'll be happy soon. I know someone who can help you." He assures the crystals, which cry a little less, understanding his words. He summons an intricate case, placing the four crystals within, closing the lid and sending it back to where it came, to someone who could heal them from their pain.
A/N - It was fun for this one. I wanted something different for how Vex would intervene. His main focus is on Ezra, as he knows the crew can hold their own. Take care and stay safe.
