A Loth-Wolf howl echoed in my ears, waking me from my sleep. I did not know if it was the Force, or a dream, but it howled nonetheless. I got up and made my way to the common room, where Ezra had a list of imperial prisoners in front of him. His eyes were closed, as he let the Force guide him.
"Stop." Ezra says, and Kanan halts the scrolling.
"Prisoner X-10. Interesting." I say, surprising the three.
"When did you get here?" Ezra asks.
"When the Force called me. I don't know why, but it woke me up." I explain. "Hasn't happened before, so I am unsure as to what it means. But do continue."
"Well, whoever this is, they were arrested on Lothal for treason." Kanan says. "You might be on to something."
"Maybe. We have to find out." Ezra states.
"Hang on. They could be anywhere by now." Kanan argues.
"No, Kanan. Not anywhere, Lothal. It's why I keep seeing the white Loth-Cat." Ezra counters.
"And would connect my calling to yours. I heard a Loth-Wolf howl." I add. Ezra begins to look for his helmet, as Hera speaks.
"We want you to find your parents, Ezra, but even if you're right, you can't go right now. We need a plan. The entire Imperial sector fleet has the planet in a blockade." Hera says.
"Um, not anymore. Been listening in on Imperial chatter." Sabine corrects, entering the common room.
"Wait. What's up on Lothal?" Ezra asks.
"The Empire's fleet left Lothal's orbit this morning." Sabine repeats.
"Left Lothal? Where to?" Kanan asks.
"Doesn't matter, okay? This is a sign. I'm supposed to go." Ezra answers, and I hand him his helmet, which was by the holo-table the whole time.
"Yeah, something tells me we are going to have company." I say.
"You think they know where we are?" Hera asks.
"It's not unlikely. We've been on this planet for quite a while, and only one person needs to report something unusual for the Imperials to act on it." I explain. Zeb then reports he has not seen any Stormtroopers at all.
"Yeah, I think he's right. The Imperials pull back all troops just before a major strike." Sabine says grimly. Kanan, Ezra and I go to help out Zeb and Chopper, only to run into the Inquisitors.
"Well, Hello there." The Seventh Sister greets.
"You are not going to get in my way." Ezra says through clenched teeth.
"Well, then, my brave young boy." The Seventh Sister taunts. "Come and prove it." Ezra charges towards them, and Kanan skillfully shoots the control panel, closing the door that separated us from the Inquisitors.
"Ezra, I know how important getting to Lothal is." Kanan starts.
"No, Kanan. Actually, you don't know what this is like." Ezra argues.
"You're right." Kanan admits. "I never knew my parents."
"Kanan, I-I'm sorry." Ezra apologises.
"No. It's okay. It's too late for me, but maybe not for you." Kanan assures him.
"Well, if that is to happen, we better get back to the Ghost, or none of us will get a chance." I warn. We are able to get back in one piece, and the fleet got out of orbit. Sato's ship is caught in a tractor beam, while Kanan, Ezra, Chopper and I take the Phantom.
"Kanan, I'm going back for Sato and Rex. You've got your opening. Take it." Hera orders.
"We're not leaving until the fleet is safe." Kanan argues.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I gave you an order." Hera retorts. "Now, get moving. And Ezra, I hope you find what you're looking for." We then enter hyper space.
As Lothal appears in our sight, It looks like it used to. No Imperial Blockade, or anything.
"It's good to see Lothal like this. Back to how it was before everything changed." I say.
"I know." Kanan admits. "Hey, why so quiet?" He asks Ezra.
"Thank you. For everything you've done for me. You're always there when I need you most." Ezra thanks him.
"Hey. I know what it's like to lose someone close and not have anyone. When I lost my Master, I was alone. Regardless of how this turns out, I didn't want you to be alone like i was." Kanan admits softly. "So? Where do we start?" He then asks.
"Home." Ezra replies. We land on the outskirts of the capital, and continue the rest of the way on foot. When we arrive at the house, however, all that remains are the charred ruins. "They burned it to the ground." Ezra says sadly.
"I guess the Empire wanted to send us a message." Kanan assumes.
"But my vision led me back here to Lothal. If my parents aren't here, where are they? What happened to them?" Ezra asks erratically.
"Slow down." I say.
"The Force is trying to tell you something. Listen to it." Kanan advises him. He closes his eyes and calms himself. A small meow catches his attention, and he looks to where it originated.
"The white Loth-Cat." Ezra says, and holds a hand for it to rub against, before giving it a rub on the chin. "Good Loth-Cat. I'm not here to hurt you, but you know that, don't you? Who do you belong to?" He asks it, and the Loth-Cat prances away. "After it!" Ezra calls, and begins chasing it.
"And we're chasing Loth-Cats now." Kanan sighs before running to catch up. I simply watch them chase it.
"At least it's entertaining to watch." I note with a shoulder shrug. They lose it, though, after it hitches a ride on a speeder. I then walk up to the duo.
"Don't worry, okay? I can track it." Ezra assures Kanan.
"What? The-The cat?" Kanan asks incredulously. "You've grown powerful if you can track that Loth-Cat with the Force."
"The Force? Kanan, I put a tracker on it." Ezra explains.
"Of course you did." Kanan replies, rolling his eyes with a sigh. We follow the tracker's signal, until we reach a mountain range.
"The locator stopped just up ahead." Ezra states. "Something's familiar about this." He then mutters. He then notices the speeder from the market parked nearby. "Our friend from the market." A loud crack echoes, as a blaster bolt whizzes towards us. I ignite my saber, deflecting the bolt harmlessly to the ground.
"Jeez, Azadi, are you trying to kill me?" I call out to the shooter. "I thought you were happy with my presence on Lothal."
"Vex?" Azadi asks.
"Who the fuck else do you think would be crazy enough to call out to someone who just shot at them?" I ask back.
"I see you haven't changed over the years." He says, and lowers his rifle. Ezra and Kanan then step out from the rock they took cover behind.
"What did you expect? I am who I am." I reply cheerfully. "But, I am here to ask about Mira and Ephraim Bridger." My tone changes to one of seriousness.
"I see. Come with me." He says, and he leads us to his little hideaway, where Ezra and Kanan introduce themselves. "I can't believe you're here, Ezra. I wanted to find you, but I guess you found me first." Ryder Azadi admits.
"I know you, don't I?" Ezra asks for confirmation.
"Uh, you remember? You were pretty small back then." Azadi notes. "I was the Governor of Lothal. I supported your parents and the messages they beamed out against the Empire. It was part of the reason I was accused of treason and sent to prison with them." He explains.
"I do remember." Ezra says. "Then you know what happened to them?" He then asks.
"Yes, I do. I'm sorry, son. They are gone." Azadi answers solemnly.
"Please, tell me what happened." Ezra says.
"Your parents would stand up for those who couldn't. Especially after they heard your message." Azadi explains, to the shock of both Ezra and Kanan. "Yes. That message. That message of rebellion you beamed out somehow made its way into the deepest dark of Imperial prisons. They were inspired by it, Ezra. They rallied others to rise up and break out. Dozens of us, rebels, sympathizers are all free, thanks to them. But they didn't make it. They got separated in the escape. It was just like them not to leave until everyone else got out first. But by then, it was too late."
"How? How did they know it was me? On the transmission?" Ezra asks.
"Your voice, your words, son, telling Lothal to stand up. They knew right away." Azadi explains.
"You know, they used to say it all the time when I was little." Ezra says, and heads off to watch the moons as they begin to set. Kanan heads off to be with him, while I stay with Azadi.
"It's hard these days, Ryder. Watching the Galaxy wage wars, and all the death that comes with it." I say solemnly.
"It is. I just hope that it will end without a larger scale conflict." Azadi replies.
"Sadly, i fear that it is inevitable." I admits.
A/N – Vex's home is Lothal, the Force deems it as much, as it simply calls him there at times. He feels welcome on the planet, well, without the Empire anyway. When he isn't by Ahsoka's side, Lothal is where he feels at home. Also, i know, the changing of POV can be frustrating, but at the moment, I need to figure out which works best. And then i will have to change certain parts of each chapter. Have patience. Take care and stay safe.
