"So what now? Are we going to try to find someone to take him in?" Zeb asked as he made himself a caf. Kanan and Hera were sitting at the table. Hera held the boy in her arms, reading a datapad, and Kanan sat drinking caf, thinking. This is how Zeb found them an hour after the kid's freak out. Zeb couldn't get back to sleep as the child's high pitched screams filled his mind every time he drifted off. That was the noise of a traumatized child, and Zeb felt terrible for causing the child panic, though he wouldn't show it.
"Well, we're going to ask Ezra a little more about his past when he wakes up. All we know right now is that his name is Ezra, he's four, and he has history with the empire including being chased and getting locked up." Kanan sighed as he thought about the poor child's past. "He must have some sort of guardian around." Kanan had already started to form an attachment to the child. Even though he knew this was dangerous because of the kid's force signature, Kanan couldn't help but feel close to the little boy.
Sabine walked in and started to get a caf, hoping Kanan and Hera wouldn't notice.
"No, Sabine. Not until you are fifteen at least. I don't want you getting addicted to that stuff like Kanan and Zeb," Hera said, eyes still on her datapad.
"But you said you would treat me like an adult."
"We've been over this. I will treat you like an adult except for when it comes to your well being. You are only thirteen and I believe that you shouldn't drink caf. It's an unhealthy habit." Hera preferred herbal tea, which had no caffeine at all.
Sabine rolled her eyes, but knew Hera meant well.
"I would make you some oatmeal or eggs, but I want him to get enough sleep." Hera nodded her head toward the boy still passed out on her lap.
"It's fine, I can make it," Sabine said, getting out some eggs. She took out a few of the eggs from the container and tried to crack one into the frypan. Hera watched as the egg burst all over Sabine's hand.
Hera made to get up, but Zeb said, "Don't worry, Hera. I'll make her some eggs."
"You cook?" Sabine asked in shock as Hera stared at the Lasat with wide eyes. Even Kanan was shaken out of his thoughts at the Lasat's statement.
"Don't be so surprised, I had to live on my own for awhile," Zeb said. He easily cracked the eggs into the fry-pan and ten minutes later, Sabine had some sunny-side up eggs.
"Wow, Zeb, these are actually pretty good," Sabine said.
"Don't act so surprised," Zeb said, cooking himself some scrambled eggs. "Anyone else want some?"
"No, thanks, Zeb," Kanan and Hera said.
"Could you make a little bit for Ezra, please?" Hera asked. Zeb finished cooking and brought the plate out for Ezra and set it in front of Hera. He took a seat right next to Hera while Sabine sat next to him in the booth-seat.
At the smell of food, Ezra started to wake up. He opened his eyes and glanced around at the crew looking at him. His eyes slid over Kanan and Sabine, who he looked at for a little while, wondering who she was and if her hair was real. Then he looked right next to him and found the monster from this morning.
With a scream, Ezra scrambled off of Hera's lap and under the table. He crawled over to Kanan's legs and gripped onto them, crying.
"Do I really look that bad?" Zeb asked. Sabine had no idea what was going on. But before Kanan could do anything, Sabine took action.
Looking under the table, Sabine said, "Hey, kid. There's nothing to be afraid of. This Lasat is not scary at all, he's really a big softy. And he made us breakfast!" At the mention of food, Ezra quieted down. He crawled toward Sabine's legs and looked up into her face.
Sabine glanced into the adorable blue eyes of the kid. "Hi, I'm Sabine. What's your name?"
"Ezra."
"Ezra, why don't you come sit by me and try the eggs that Zeb made for us? They're really good. And I promise if Zeb scares you, I'll dye all his clothes hot pink." Ezra considered this. Sabine was the closest to his age. If she wasn't scared of the monster, or Zeb as everyone was calling him, he shouldn't be scared either. Ezra crawled out and sat on Sabine's opposite side, giving Zeb nervous glances. He sat up on his knees to reach the table.
"Here you go, Ezra. Zeb made these eggs for you," Hera said, passing the plate to him. She was relieved that Ezra wasn't freaking out anymore. Hera and Kanan were both impressed by Sabine's softness toward the boy. They were used to a guarded and tough girl, but they liked this kind and calming persona.
Ezra watched Sabine eat her eggs and then picked up his fork and sloppily tried to eat with a fork, too. He dropped the eggs many times before giving up and eating with his hands. After the adults saw that the kid had calmed down, they resumed their eating and drinking.
"Hey, kid. I'm sorry that I scare you. You've probably never seen a Lasat before." Ezra watched as Zeb talked.
"Are you a monster?" Ezra asked, making Sabine chuckle. Hera and Kanan looked nervously at the Lasat, waiting for an answer.
"No, only when someone I need to protect is getting hurt and the culprit is not yet dead." This answer satisfied Ezra. He moved on to other important matters.
"Um…" Ezra said, but then he shut his mouth, looking nervously at Hera and Kanan. He had been talking a lot without permission - something he had been punished for constantly when with the empire.
"What do you need? You can ask us anything," Kanan said, watching the boy shift nervously.
"Why… why do you like to give me food?" Ezra asked quietly. Kanan and Hera were a little confused by this question.
"What?" Hera asked.
"Um… Why do I get food for nothing?" Hera stared at the boy.
"You've been starved before," Hera said, with a horrible realization. At the boy's confused look, Hera asked, "Have you ever been really hungry, but the person or people taking care of you wouldn't give you food that they had?"
"Um… ya." Ezra said. All the crew's moods darkened. Ezra seemed to sense this shift in emotions and looked around, scared. What had he done wrong?
"It's okay, Ezra, we are all just shocked. Here we feed people three times a day," Kanan explained. Ezra's eyes widened in shock.
"Wow, tha's a lot." Ezra said before shutting up and finishing his food.
When he was done, Hera went to grab a washcloth and quickly cleaned off the remaining eggs on Ezra's hands, face, and around the table. She collected everyone's dishes and threw them into the sink for later.
"Okay, Ezra, we have a few questions about your past. Do you feel comfortable talking about it in front of Sabine and Zeb?" Ezra looked at the two and nodded.
"Alright," Hera began. "Can you tell us who you've been living with all your life?"
"Um… my mommy and daddy and then Uncle Tseebo and then the bad guys. Then no one." Ezra said after a minute of thinking.
"Okay, good. What town did you live in with mommy, daddy, and Uncle Tseebo?"
"They called it Capital City of Lothal."
"Okay. If we go there, could we find mommy, daddy, and Uncle Tseebo?" Kanan knew what Hera was getting at. What if Ezra's parents were gone? It was the only explanation as to why anyone would let Ezra be taken by the empire.
"Um… Uncle Tseebo, but not mommy or daddy," Ezra said, sadly.
"Last question for now. If we take you to Capital City, do you think that you could find Uncle Tseebo's house?" Ezra thought this over, then nodded.
"Great, we will take a trip there today. I'm going to go set a course there. Ezra, can Kanan help give you a shower and wash your clothes?"
Ezra slowly nodded. He trusted Kanan enough to help him shower.
Hera set off into the cockpit and Kanan set off with Ezra toward the refresher.
