I do not own Star Wars in any capacity.

Enjoy chapter 6!

The Inquisitor and his daiima were unconscious for the rest of the day. It had been a very long night for everyone, so once the Ghost was soaring in hyperspace, they all did their best to get some rest. Chopper even stayed in the cargo bay to monitor their guests so that Kanan and Nara could rest as well.

So Hera was disappointed to find that they weren't resting in the way she had hoped. When she checked in on them late in the day cycle, Kanan was curled up against Nara's side but he immediately opened his eyes when she walked in. "Hey," he said softly.

Hera gave a small smile, glancing at the Inquisitor. He was curled up on his side with his daiima curled up against his chest, the lizard monkey's head barely sticking out from the blanket. The Inquisitor looked… so young.

She walked over to the far corner, sitting down next to Nara and sliding her hand into the thick fur of her neck, eliciting a small rumble. "Hard to imagine them as killers…" she said softly.

Kanan nodded. He was leaning heavily against Nara, with his arms crossed tightly around him as he stared at the boy sleeping on the cot.

"You should eat some dinner," Hera said. "You both should."

Kanan nodded again. "Yeah," he murmured. "Thirteen didn't eat anything before he passed out."

Chopper grumbled angrily, pointing at the Inquisitor with a statement about good riddance.

Hera glared at her droid with a warning. "Chop, why don't you go up the cockpit and check on our progress?"

Chopper grumbled again, but this time much more quietly as he rolled out the cargo bay, making sure to lock the door behind him.

Kanan just shook his head. "Not that I expected any different from him…"

Hera sighed. "Did you at least manage to get some sleep?"

"A bit… As much as I sort of trust Chopper, I still can't help but keep some sort of sense on the kid at all times. Just in case."

Hera looked up at Nara, running her fingers through her fur. "He's telling the truth?"

Nara's chest let out a short series of rumbles, a sound Hera knew was her version of chuckling. "More or less. We took turns sleeping."

Hera nodded slowly as she continued to stroke Nara's fur. While Kanan and Nara were technically capable of sleeping at separate times from each other, Hera knew that it was never as restful as when they slept simultaneously. She would have preferred if they had trusted Chopper enough to get some sleep together but understood that that might be asking a bit too much at this stage.

"How's Sabine doing?" Kanan asked quietly.

"She managed to get some sleep. Now she's working on her art." Just that morning when they brought the Inquisitor on board, she had been understandably vexed. But after she had come back from delivering the cot… she had been notably subdued and thoughtful. She had brushed Hera off when she asked about it, but from what Kanan had said, Hera had a decent idea what caused her shift in mood.

A small moan drew their attention. The Inquisitor was frowning in his sleep, holding his daiima in a death grip.

Kanan and Nara immediately got up. Kanan stopped just a few paces from the cot, falling to a knee and reaching a hand out towards the boy. Nara lowered herself back down to the ground beside him, her nose inches from the Inquisitor's head.

Hera stood and stayed back as she watched the scene unfold. For a long stretch of silence, nothing happened. Then the Inquisitor's body slowly relaxed, his expression smoothing out. His eyes fluttered open, the yellow irises searching blindly for a moment before focusing on Nara. Another moment passed as Thirteen breathed evenly, gazing at the giant wolf with a blank expression.

Then his eyes widened. He didn't jump out of the cot or try to get away, but his entire body visibly stiffened, and Hera could have sworn he had stopped breathing. His daiima was also staring wide eyed at Nara, still nestled in her jemma's arms.

"Do you remember where you are?" Kanan asked, his voice quiet and even.

Thirteen's gaze hardened as he nodded and slowly sat up. He looked at the blanket covering him with a mixture of confusion and disgust as he tossed it aside. His daiima immediately jumped out of his arms, transforming into a loth cat and sitting on the ground next to his feet.

Even after living with Kanan and Nara for years, it was still strange to see an animal by a person's side. Ever since the Empire forbade pet ownership, Imperially licensed farmers and crime overlords were generally only ones who kept animals, the latter as an intimidation technique.

"I don't think I properly introduced myself," Hera said, taking a small step forward. The Inquisitor's eyes flashed as they focused on her. They were a shade of yellow unnatural for humans, making the gaze unnerving, but Hera just gave a small smile. "I'm Hera Syndulla, the captain of this vessel. You've already met Kanan and Nara… The colorful Mandalorian is Sabine Wren, and our droid is called Chopper."

Neither the Inquisitor or his daiima reacted except to continue to stare at her and Kanan. From what Kanan had told her, they were likely looking for a way to ambush and kill what they perceived to be a Jedi threat. Despite this, Kanan and Nara were both relatively relaxed, apparently confident enough that they could defend themselves against Thirteen and his daiima.

"It must be a while since you've eaten anything," Hera said. She indicated the bars Kanan had laid out earlier. "Obviously Kanan's already offered you rations, but later I can arrange for you to have a more proper meal."

The Inquisitor's shoulders slowly hunched up as she spoke, regarding her with suspicion.

"I know you have no reason to trust us," she said. "We are keeping you prisoner for now, but I promise our intentions are sincere. We won't hurt you or your daiima, and we'll treat you with basic decency."

Thirteen frowned slightly, his gaze flickering downward at his partner before looking back up at the three of them. "Daiima…" he whispered. "Is that a Jedi word?" he spat out, masking his curiosity.

Hera blinked. Was it a Jedi word? She supposed it must be. While laymen had a variety of names for them (she had heard other Twi'leks refer to them as lespri nanm lan), every Jedi she had met, that her father had fought alongside, had referred to them as daiima.

"It is," Kanan confirmed. "They're not just assets to us. We're a part of one another."

Thirteen's daiima raised her head slightly at that, her ears twitching. Even if she didn't speak, it was obvious that she was listening.

However, the Inquisitor's gaze hardened. "This is why the Jedi lost. What good is a tool if you don't properly wield it?"

Nara visibly bristled at that. "She is not your tool. There's a reason you live and die together, why your suffering is shared… The Force resides within you so strongly that a part of your soul formed as a separate entity. But just because you're separate doesn't make her any less a part of you. I think deep down you know that."

Thirteen bared his teeth in an animalistic growl but otherwise didn't respond. Instead he pointedly looked away, his hands clenching at the cot's frame. But his daiima was still gazing at Nara, her head raised just a little bit higher.

Hera didn't know much about the Force or those who could use it, but she could see that the boy's daiima was going to be the key if they were going to help undo the brainwashing the Empire had inflicted on Thirteen. Not only was she listening, but she seemed to want to hear more, even if her jemma was being obstinate.

Hera glanced at Kanan. "I'm going to check our route." It was a lie, but she knew she was a liability here. If anyone was going to reach through to them, it would have to be Kanan and Nara. They were the only ones who could possibly understand what they were going through. There was still the matter of the Inquisitor's collar, but she could tell the Inquisitor wasn't going to let anyone anywhere near him right now. Maybe in a day or two, after they had settled into some sort of routine, they could try and approach the matter.

Kanan glanced back at her as he tapped his thigh. "Alright," he said with a nod.

She placed a hand on his shoulder for just a moment before turning and exiting the cargo bay. While she didn't need to check their route, she did still need to contact Fulcrum. No doubt Fulcrum would want to know every detail, but Hera had to be judicious lest draw too much unwanted attention onto her crew. It was going to take some time and effort to properly word this kind of report.

Nara was sitting to the side, her tail twitching in agitation as she watched the boy eat his ration bars. His daiima had laid back down fully on the ground, inches from his right leg. It was agonizing to look at. Of course, she knew why the daiima kept her distance. She and Kanan knew first hand. But just because it was understandable didn't make it any easier to watch.

Kanan was exchanging a few words with the Inquisitor, but Nara's focus was solely on the daiima. On the newly minted bond that connected them. It was likely the little one wasn't even aware of it yet. Particularly since they had not been trained as traditional Jedi. Of course, Nara had no way of being sure, especially since she wasn't even allowed to speak . She had no agency in their relationship, no voice.

And yet she was not just a mindless machine. Nara could sense it, almost as keenly as she could sense Kanan. She wanted to break free of the Inquisitorious. The more the little one saw of Kanan and Nara's relationship, the higher that earnest hope and yearning rose in her.

But as long as she was by her jemma's side, Nara knew she would never reach out. Not unless Thirteen reached out first, but from everything Thirteen had been saying, it would be a long time before that happened. Nara didn't want to wait that long to talk to the daiima, not when it was clear that she was ready to reach out now.

"Have you had enough food?" Kanan asked as Thirteen finished his fourth ration bar.

"Yeah," Thirteen said, his voice clipped as he placed the wrapper next to the others. He clenched his fists and placed them on his thighs, glaring up at Kanan. "So. What now?"

"Well… you guys are confined in the cargo bay, but that doesn't mean you're not allowed to do anything." Kanan sighed, looking around. Then he waved a hand towards the refresher. "Do you want to get washed up? You've got a healthy layer of grime on you from our scuffle on Lothal. It's just a sonic shower, but it'll do the trick."

Thirteen's shoulders stiffened. "No thanks," he growled. "I can live with a bit of dirt."

Nara's ears shot up. This was an opportunity. "We're going to be in hyperspace for a while," she said. "You're not going to want to stay in that state. If you're worried about being cornered, your daiima can stand guard."

At that, Thirteen glanced down at his daiima, who had raised her head slightly. "I'm good," he insisted.

"There's nothing to be afraid of," Nara insisted. "You'll have to use the refresher regularly over the next few days regardless. You might as well wash up and get comfortable."

Kanan glanced at Nara with a small frown. [What are you doing?]

[Just trust me. I have a plan.]

The Inquisitor pressed his lips together. It seemed he couldn't argue the point. He looked back down at his daiima. When their eyes met, she gently nudged her nose against his leg. But Thirteen quickly pushed her away with his foot.

Nara couldn't keep back a low growl at the action. Brainwashing be damned, she did not deserve to be treated like that. Thirteen's eyes widened slightly at her reaction, but then he recovered and glared back at her. "Fine," he growled through gritted teeth. "I'll take a kriffing shower."

He stood and stepped toward the refresher, keeping his glare aimed at Kanan and Nara. Kanan took a step back to give him more space, but Nara didn't move as she kept her eye on his daiima. The daiima kept her belly close to the ground as she transformed into a Nexu and followed her jemma.

"I won't be long," Thirteen murmured to his daiima as he opened the door. He shot Kanan and Nara one last glare each before stepping into the refresher.

As soon as the door was shut, his nexu-formed daiima turned and sat in front of it, watching Kanan and Nara warily. A few tense moments passed, with only the sounds of soft shuffling from inside the refresher before the sonic buzz from the shower was turned on.

Nara had to take this chance. It was risky. If Thirteen had been trained to listen and see through his daiima, then it would be over before it started. However, Nara doubted that was the case. If anything, they seemed disconnected. No doubt the Inquisitorious had employed unsavory methods to keep their 'recruits' from properly bonding with their daiima.

She slowly moved so that she was sitting in front of the other daiima. There was less than a meter between them, the spines on the daiima's back slowly rising defensively. "I promise we're not going to hurt you," Nara said softly. "You or your jemma." At the thread of confusion, she clarified. "Thirteen. He is your jemma. Just as you are his daiima. You are not an 'asset' or a tool. You are part of one another."

There was a soft scraping, and Nara could see her digging her claws against the durasteel floor. It confirmed that she was listening.

"There's something I want you to do," Nara said carefully. If she pushed too hard or asked too much of Thirteen's daiima, she would have completely squandered this opportunity. "I don't know how much training you've had, but I need you to listen to the Force. Focus on it, like your jemma does. Hear what it's saying to you…"

A moment passed, and nothing happened. None of them moved.

But then Nara could feel it, a small prodding from the young daiima through the Force. She was fumbling along their bond, confused and nervous. But then she was suddenly gone, retreating from the bond as if she had been burned.

"You can feel it, can't you?" Nara whispered. "That connection between us… It's so similar to your bond with your jemma that it's terrifying you." She shuffled just a little bit closer. "You deserve more than to be treated like this."

A sense of fierce protectiveness rose up in the Inquisitor's daiima, and with it, Nara saw a flash.

They held his hands down on the table by the wrists. His terror was screeching in her head like an overblown speaker as he struggled against the hold, tears streaming down his face as he begged. "No, please! I won't touch her again, I promise! I promise!"

The daiima's guilt reverberated so strongly that Nara could practically taste it. "I know you're trying to do what's best for your jemma. I have been exactly where you are now, so I understand . What happened to him…"

She glanced at her own jemma, who had suffered so much because of her actions. The scar on his face - his partial blindness - wasn't her fault. But there were other scars beneath the surface - injuries that would never heal.

Kanan growled, a reflexive tic to anxiety and discomfort. [Nara…]

"... it wasn't your fault," Nara finished, looking back at the other daiima. "The Inquisitorious did this to you. To both of you. And you both deserve better." She risked reaching for the Inquisitor's daiima through the Force to gauge her emotional state. The fear and doubt were still there, but it was laced with cautious hope. The key would be to cultivate that hope so it could eventually overcome her fear.

"You don't have to go back," she promised. "Kanan and I can protect you. But if you're going to truly break free of the Inquisitorious… one of you has to reach out. We can't do it for you."

The young daiima didn't react. The only movement was her spines slowly rising and falling as she considered Nara's words.

Nara took a step back with a soft huff. She had said her piece. This was all she could do. Now it was up to them - up to Thirteen's daiima - to make the next move.

"... Ezra."

It was a whisper that barely peaked up over the sound of the hyperdrive. Nara had almost missed it. She might have if not for the trepid hope that accompanied the whispered word over their bond. "Ezra," Nara repeated. "Is that your name?"

The nexu shivered and physically recoiled. Then she glanced back at the refresher.

"Oh I see…" Ezra was her jemma's name. The one the Inquisitorious had stripped from him. That meant that they hadn't been taken at birth. They had had a life, a family, before the Inquisitorious had stolen them. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

It was risky. It was really just impulsive on her part. But Nara leaned forward and gave the daiima a gentle lick along the tip of her muzzle.

The daiima's eyes widened, her spines flattening against her back. She lowered her head with a low cautious growl, looking up at Nara with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

"We're going to help," Nara repeated softly. "I promise."

Thirteen had his hands braced against the side of the sonic shower. He was long clean now, but the vibrations were soothing through his body. Back on Nur, taking sonic showers have always been a place of refuge, a brief reprieve where he could try and recover somewhat. The sonic vibrating didn't aggravate the pain in his chest or neck. Even though his injuries ached, they were aching in a good way.

He was stripped down to nothing but his collar. The vibrations made it feel as if it was tightening around his neck, but he found it comforting. It was a reassuring pressure, a reminder that he was property of the Empire and not his master.

He sighed, clenching his fists against the wall. They had to get out of here, but there was no point unless he actually killed the Jedi. It was the only way he would be able to justify his actions so far. But the Jedi and his Asset were making fools of them. They hadn't even properly confined him, and what was worse, it was working. Thirteen and his Asset were clearly outmatched. It had been foolish to go after the Jedi alone, but now he was stuck here. He had no other options. If they can't manage to kill the Jedi, they really would be better off if the Jedi grew a spine and just killed them.

This Jedi and his Asset had to sleep at some point. Even if they had someone else keeping watch, Thirteen was confident he could dispatch any other member of the crew even without his saber, his bone deep exhaustion be damned. He had fought through worse. He just had to swipe the Jedi's blaster and shoot his Asset until she dissolved to ash.

Steeling himself, he finally turned the shower off and put his clothing back on. Tonight would be their best chance. Before leaving the refresher, he reached for his Asset's mind to bring her in on his plan. But before he could, he was met with panic.

Thirteen frowned. He didn't sense any danger, and she hadn't reached out to him. He opened the refresher door to see his Asset still standing guard. The Jedi's Asset was sitting just a couple meters away, and the Jedi himself was standing to the side with his arms crossed. Thirteen gave his Asset a slight glare. She lowered her head slightly, stepping away to let Thirteen exit the refresher, but there was no answer for why she was panicking.

"Feel better?" Kanan asked.

Thirteen didn't bother replying. He walked back to his cot and sat down, his Asset turning back into a lothcat and sitting next to his leg. He tried again to signal to her the plan, that they would have to wait until the Jedi and his Asset were asleep. While she was usually obedient, he was sensing trepidation and reluctance. The former was not unusual for her, but reluctance was dangerous.

"You should rest," Kanan said. "Tomorrow we'll try and remove your collar."

Thirteen directly his glare back at the Jedi. "I told you, it's not going to work," he said quietly. "It's designed to be irremovable by anyone except my master."

"Well, between Chopper and Sabine, we have plenty of experience hacking Imperial hardware. Even if they can't get it off, they might still be able to turn off the tracking beacon. The Ghost can mask it for now, but it's only a temporary solution."

As much as he was loathed to admit it, Thirteen was reassured by the knowledge that this ship was able to jam the homing beacon in his collar. While the collar was important to him, it was a breath of relief to know that his master couldn't track him. At least for now. It gave him time to finish his self-appointed mission.

"But you really should try and get some sleep," Kanan said. "Passing out earlier doesn't qualify as proper rest."

Thirteen scoffed and rolled his eyes. "You just want me to let my guard down."

"I think it's pretty clear that if we wanted to kill you, we would have done so already."

Thirteen clenched the edge of his cot. It was hard to argue against that. He reminded himself that Jedi were weak cowards. "So… have you decided what you're going to do with me?"

"Honestly? We've got a couple ideas. But they're going to depend on you and your daiima."

He waited for the Jedi to elaborate, but when he didn't, Thirteen couldn't help but roll his eyes. "That's not at all ominous…"

"How old are you?" Kanan asked flatly.

He blinked hard at that. "What does it matter?"

Kanan shrugged. "It's a simple question."

Thirteen huffed. "Well, I don't know."

"You don't know your own age?"

Fifteenth Empire Day…

Thirteen shook his head, dismissing the insistent fact. "It doesn't matter."

For a moment, Kanan and Nara just stared at them. "I think you know more than you're letting yourself admit," Kanan said, his voice infuriatingly soft. "But you're afraid."

"I'm not afraid of the likes of you!" Thirteen snarled. "I'm not some useless child! You're not the first Jedi I've killed!"

"And you would not be the first Inquisitor I've killed."

The statement knocked Thirteen out of his bout of anger. The Force rang with the truth of the statement, but it didn't line up at all with the way Kanan and Nara had treated them. But looking at Kanan now, at his scar, it made sense. Thirteen recognized the distinctive burn as being formed by a lightsaber. How else would Kanan have received such an injury if not from the saber of an Inquisitor?

But if that was the case, why hadn't Kanan killed him?

Before he could voice the question, Kanan was speaking again. "But it's not me you're afraid of. You're afraid of your master. You're afraid of the Inquisitorious."

Thirteen's jaw began to ache as he ground his teeth together. There wasn't any point in denying it. Fear is what drove him. It's what made him a better fighter, a more effective Inquisitorial Candidate. "What's your point?" he ground out.

"You haven't always been with the Inquisitorious," Kanan said plainly. "You had a life before they took you. You had a family. You had a name."

All of the muscles in Thirteen's back suddenly stiffened. How could Kanan possibly know that?

No, he had no life before Nur. No family. No name. "I am Eye See Thirteen," he said through gritted teeth. "I am a weapon. I live to serve the Empire."

Kanan sighed. "Just… get some sleep. We'll discuss what's next for you tomorrow."

Relieved to have this conversation come to a close, Thirteen laid on his side on the cot, facing the Jedi and his Asset. His own Asset curled on the ground beneath the cot. They wouldn't be able to sleep. Not for a while. But he could pretend. They would keep their senses open and wait for the Jedi to fall asleep.

Then… then Thirteen would finish what he started.

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