I do not own Star Wars in any capacity.

Enjoy chapter 23!

Kanan seemed different the next day. He had a small smile as he prepared their breakfast of berries and dried meats. Nara seemed relaxed as well, rubbing her head against Kanan as she followed him around. It was such a shift from the day before. Kanan had been so tense that Nara spent most of the evening wrapped up tightly around him.

Ezra wasn't about to question it. On his bad days, Kanan was more likely to snap at him. Just like he had earlier when Ezra had pushed him about training. Kanan never hurt him, but it was terrifying each and every time.

So having Kanan and Nara happy and calm was definitely a good thing.

Kanan handed him a bowl, and Ezra took it with a small smile. "Thanks…"

Kanan's smile widened. "'Course, kiddo." He went back to sit against Nara to eat his own breakfast.

As usual, they ate in relative quiet. Ezra liked to separate the berries out, organize them by type and then hardness. Then he would go through and eat them one by one, even the small ones, from softest to hardest. The harder ones were more sour and bitter, which he preferred and saved for last. Then he would just nibble on the dried meats.

"I've got some news."

Ezra paused mid-nibble, raising his eyebrows at the man. He still seemed like in a good mood, so no reason for panic. He swallowed down the bit of meat in his mouth. "News?"

"Hera is picking us up later today."

Ezra blinked at Kanan in confusion. This was sudden. It was only yesterday that Kanan agreed to teach him how to fight, and now they were leaving. "We're leaving Denova?"

"We are," Kanan said, still smiling.

Ezra shook his head slightly, trying to make sense of this sudden development. "W-Why?"

Kanan readjusted himself slightly against Nara's side. "They know someone who might be able to help you. At least, help you better than we can."

He still didn't understand what they were saying, and from what he could sense from Tara, she didn't either. "In what way?"

Kanan and Nara shared a glance. "They're Jedi," Nara said, sounding excited. "Actual Jedi. You want to learn to fight effectively, they'll be able to do that for both of you much better than either of us could. They'll be good for you, the kind of masters you deserve."

His heart suddenly dropped down into his stomach. He could only breathe heavily, the sound of it filling his ears as a buzzing numbness washed over him. Kanan and Nara… weren't what they 'deserved'?

They were being pushed off onto a stranger. Again.

He should have seen this coming. These last few weeks, all he and Tara had done was focus on themselves. Forced Kanan and Nara to waste thousands of credits, to abandon their family, they constantly pestered them day in and out…

Kanan put a hand on his shoulder. A gesture that used to be comforting now felt hollow. "I know this is sudden, but they can give you what you're looking for. They can help you, and they can teach you to fight and live like a Jedi."

Ezra slowly nodded. "R-Right… Sounds like a plan."

Kanan smiled back, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "I promise, this is for the best."

He just nodded again, forcing a smile. "W… When does Hera get here?"

"In a few hours," Kanan said. "Once we're done with breakfast, we'll have to break down camp, clean and pack everything up. Shouldn't take more than an hour. Then we can make our way down to the clearing."

For a brief moment, Ezra's mind stupidly assumed that if he never finished his breakfast that meant they would never leave. But no, Kanan was obviously anxious - happy - with this new development and would likely not take kindly to Ezra playing childish games.

But at the same time, any appetite Ezra had before was gone, replaced with a hard bitter lump in his belly. So once Kanan was done eating, Ezra just stuffed the couple bits of dried meat into one of his pockets.

First, they went to the creek to wash off all of their dishes and supplies. Then Kanan instructed Ezra and Tara to deconstruct their tent and pack it up in the small bag it came in. Meanwhile, Kanan and Nara were working to get rid of all evidence they had been there, including destroying the fire pit.

The entire time, Ezra was in a fog. A part of him wanted to cry, another was angry that he hadn't seen this coming from a parsec away. Tara wasn't really doing much better, constantly bumping up against his leg as he pulled out the support rods from the ground and pulled them out of the fabric of the tent. Of course, they had known this wasn't going to be forever. They had assumed that one day, they would finally be forged into whatever it was Kanan and Nara wanted them to be. They would go back to the ship, and they could finally pay back their debt.

But that's not at all what was happening. They were just being dumped. And not just on anyone, onto a Jedi. Everything he knew about them he had learned from the Inquisitors, that they were weak traitors that needed to be wiped out for peace and prosperity to reign in the Empire. Kanan and Nara certainly didn't talk much about them beyond a couple of lofty phrases and Jedi 'lessons' that never amounted to much. But they seemed to think that Ezra should learn what it's like to be one. But he didn't want to learn how to fight like a Jedi. He wanted to learn how to fight like Kanan.

Of course, he didn't really have a choice. If Kanan didn't want to teach him, then Ezra just had to accept that.

[Maybe they'll come visit us…?] Tara said hesitantly.

[Why would they bother?] Ezra replied bitterly. [We've been nothing but a drain on their resources. I'm sure they're happy to have found someone willing to take us off their hands.]

[But… they really do seem to like us. They're so nice to us, and even help us when we have nightmares…]

[Because we probably kept them awake with our stupid crap.] Maybe that was the problem. Kanan and Nara were tired of being woken up by their night terrors and frenetic pacing every other night.

Ezra sighed as he and Tara folded up the rods and fabric as tightly as they could. They needed to work harder to be as unobtrusive as possible. Stay quiet at night, stop asking for things, just do what was told of him. It was unlikely they were going to change their minds at this point, but maybe if they were lucky…

He snorted at that. Lucky. What a joke. But it'd be good practice. Learn to blend into the background and not back a fuss, and maybe the Jedi would keep him around for longer than just a few weeks.

Ezra grunted as he worked to shove the folded pieces of the tent into the small back. Tara was in her monkey lizard form, helping him tuck everything in as he slowly pulled on the zipper. The tent bag was shaking as he tried to zip it shut. His hands were trembling and everything began to blur. He quickly shut his eyes. He couldn't fall apart. The last thing he wanted was for Kanan to think he was trying to angle for pity. He had earned more than one beating that way. Kanan might not actually hit him, but this was also the opposite of trying to avoid unnecessary attention.

Once they finally got the zipper all the way shut, Tara jumped up onto his arm and shifted into a canary, tucking up against Ezra's neck and nuzzling against his jaw. [Maybe they'll stay around… just a little bit before leaving us with the Jedi…] Of course, she didn't really believe it. But the slightest hope that maybe Kanan and Nara would at least stay around long enough to make sure the Jedi wasn't… Ezra wasn't even sure what he was afraid of. He knew nothing about the Jedi. What were they supposed to do?

He blew out a shaky sigh, forcing his eyes open to look up at the sky through the trees. It was a clear day.

It would be fine. They would figure it out. Sure, no one's ever wanted to keep them around before. Even the Seventh Sister only trained them because the Grand Inquisitor forced her to for failing to defend the Arkanis. But they always survived.

"That should be everything…"

Ezra stiffened, looking over to see Kanan dropping his packed bag down by the now deconstructed fire pit that Nara was kicking dirt over. "Tent's packed," Ezra said flatly.

"I see that," Kanan said. "I'm impressed you managed to get it back in that bag without help…"

"It's not rocket science," Ezra with a slight glare. "And I'm not a child."

Kanan frowned slightly. "I didn't say you were." He stepped over and knelt beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Ezra, I know this is sudden, Hera just told me about this last night…"

"It's fine," Ezra said, shrugging him off and taking a step back. "I'm sure you're anxious to get back to your crew."

"We are…" Nara said, walking over to them. "But that's not why we're leaving. We wouldn't be if it weren't for the fact that we know this man."

Ezra regarded them with narrowed eyes. "So what's this Jedi like?" He didn't want to appear ungrateful, but it didn't hurt to be prepared.

Kanan rubbed the back of his neck with a slight grimace. "Um, well… it's been a while since we've seen them, so things might have changed. But Cal was always quiet, eager, shy and withdrawn…"

"Cal had a power called 'psychometry'," Nara expanded. "So he would touch objects and see events relating to that object: people who have used it, what they've used it for and such. This meant that he was… reserved. His daiima, Rida, would sometimes be his hands if he was too nervous to pick something up."

That sounded in line with what the Inquisitorious had said, that Jedi and their Assets were weak. Although being able to just touch an object and see its history seemed incredibly useful. Not unlike Kanan and Nara's ability to sleep separately and be kilometers apart. It was odd. Despite being Jedi, they seemed much more talented and capable than the Inquisitors had always implied that they were.

"It was only last night we learned they were alive," Nara said.

"Not just alive," Kanan said. "Fighting against the Empire. To be able to have survived this long…" He smiled, although it was accompanied with a surge of bitterness. "They'll be good for you."

Ezra frowned slightly at that. [Do… Kanan and Nara not realize that they had survived against the Empire this long as well?]

If Tara had a response, it was interrupted by a beeping from Kanan's hip. Kanan reached down and unhooked the comm from his belt. "Hera?"

"We're breaking atmo," the Twi'lek's voice said. "We'll be there in ten minutes."

"Sounds good. We're running a bit behind, but we'll be able to meet you there in about an hour." Then Kanan smiled, his eyes softening with affection. "It'll be good to see you again."

There was a chuckle. "It'll be good to have you guys back."

Ezra wilted slightly as Kanan and Nara began to pick up their bags. They were noticeably upbeat and excited, driving home the point that Ezra really did just drag down everyone around him. Ezra tried not to audibly sigh as he picked up the tent bag, Tara jumped down and shifted into a wolf like Nara, picking up the last bag up with her teeth before they both followed Kanan and Nara down the side of the mountain.

They were quiet as they walked. Ezra wasn't even entirely sure where they were going, but Kanan seemed to know. He followed them through dense undergrowth and steep rocky inclines. It was just one foot in front of the other. Focus on where his feet were going, keep himself from tripping and falling… His arm brushed up against Tara's side as they walked. It was the only thing keeping him grounded.

Finally, they made it out onto the clearing, and Ezra looked up to see the freighter with its ramp down and the three crew members standing at its end. He hesitated for a moment, his chest aching. This was Kanan's family waiting for him.

It must be… nice… to have people miss you.

Even before everything had gone wrong, before his parents were arrested, he was never allowed to leave home alone to go to school or make friends. And when his parents weren't giving him lessons, they spent most their time locked away in their secret basement working on their broadcasts. Ezra would sit at the edge of his bedroom, his back to the wall as he listened to them work. He and Tara would have silent conversations, trying to understand what their parents were talking about.

"To convict every individual who was once a member of the Jedi Order goes against the very foundations of The Old Republic of innocence until proven guilty and the right to a fair trial. And the recent passage Domicile Animal Exclusion Act goes beyond the persecution of what Jedi might remain. It seeks to villainize any person born with a soul spirit…"

His parents had known about Tara, they had lied to him… and then kept locked Tara away in some cold and dark box. Kept him locked away from the world. Even though he spent all of his time with his parents, he always just felt alone. Isolated and unseen. His parents knew about him and Tara, but instead of telling him, they used that knowledge to speak out against the Empire. To help others like him.

Ezra… had no idea how to feel about that. Mostly, it just made him feel cold.

"Ezra?" Kanan and Nara had stopped, turning around when he noticed that Ezra had stopped in his tracks. "Are you alright?"

Ezra shook his head, bringing himself back to the present. "Y-Yeah…" He trotted up to catch up, Tara staying by his side.

Hera walked up to them as they approached, meeting Kanan part way and wrapping him in a big hug. Kanan returned it with equal vigor, tucking his face up against the nook of one of her lekku as he held her tightly. Then Nara stepped up and wrapped her head around the both of them.

Ezra shivered as he saw Hera run a hand through Nara's fur, his vision going unfocused as revulsion crept over his body. A low whine escaped Tara as pressed up harder against Ezra's side.

He was panting and gagging as his master slowly rubbed a hand over his Asset's back. Seven was grinning down at Ezra, as if she enjoyed the sight of his body shuddering in disgust. His Asset was whimpering and trembling in his Master's lap as she pressed fingers into the Loth-cat's flesh. Ezra retched again, tears falling down his face. It was like her hand was under his very skin, sensually stroking exposed muscle and sinew.

"You alright?"

Ezra jumped, his eyes wide upon seeing Sabine standing right in front of him. He swallowed down the urge to throw up. "W-What?"

"You're looking kind of pale," Sabine said, her brow furrowed slightly. "After weeks in a place like this, I'd think you'd be refreshed by now."

Viciously shoving old memories away, Ezra quickly shook his head. "No. I-I mean, I am, kinda, b-but I'm not sick. I-I'm just…" Disgusting.

Sabine didn't seem terribly convinced by his half-stuttered attempt to answer her, but she just gave a shrug and moved on. She had a half smile as she looked up at Tara. "So… your daiima finally has a name."

Ezra nodded as he placed a hand in the fur of Tara's neck. "Yeah. Cantara. We call her Tara for short."

Sabine chuckled as she crossed her arms and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Did you pick a name that sounds like Nara's on purpose?"

Tara ducked her head down slightly, putting the bag down. "N-No," she said quietly. "The Force told us."

Sabine blinked in surprise when Tara spoke, but then her smile widened slightly. "The Force told you what?"

"What my name is."

The Mandalorian raised an eyebrow at that. "Huh. Didn't realize the Force could work like that."

Ezra just shrugged. Beyond being a well of power, he hardly understood the Force himself.

The droid was warbling about something. He was impatient about something. Ezra's binary was rudimentary at best, but he could understand the gist as the droid pointed at them and turned around to roll back into the ship.

"Oh cut it out, Chopper," Hera chastised, turning from Kanan and Nara to smile down at Ezra. "It's good to have you guys back."

He managed to get his lips to twitch up into some form of smile, not bothering to point out the fact that he was leaving them in just a few days. Even so, it was nice to be welcomed.

"How has everything been?" Kanan asked as they began to walk into the ship.

"Good for the most part," Hera said. "We've done quite a bit of work with Vizago, mostly smuggling. We've more than refilled our coffers, so we'll be good for a while."

There was a tap on Ezra's shoulder, making him jump slightly. It was Sabine again, who didn't seem fazed by his reaction. Or at least didn't comment on it. "You and Tara follow me."

Ezra frowned, looking between her and Kanan uncertainly. Despite everything, he really just wanted to stay close to Kanan. The sphere of calm and safety he projected felt so much smaller inside this ship than out on Denova. And as much as his reliance on Kanan has wavered, the idea of being led off away from him was intimidating.

"There's an extra cabin upstairs," Sabine went on. "Trust me, it's way better than that cot Chopper and I cobbled together."

Oh… so they wouldn't be sleeping in the cargo bay with Kanan and Nara anymore? Ezra's chest tightened with apprehension at the thought.

There was a small chuckle, and Ezra turned to see Kanan smiling softly at them. "Go on," he said.

Ezra's shoulders dropped slightly. Right. Kanan was tired of having him around and dealing with his kriffed up head. Of course he and Nara were going to want their cargo bay back to themselves.

Tara's dejection echoed with his own as she shifted into a canary and perched up onto his shoulder. They both tried to keep their emotions carefully shielded as Ezra left the tent in the loading dock and picked up the bag Tara had dropped, flinging it over his shoulder before following Sabine up the ladder.

He had only ever been in the loading dock and the cargo bay of the Ghost , so this was all new to him. They stepped off onto the upper deck. Ezra glanced up to where the ladder continued up to see a dorsal turret gun. Sabine walked through an automatic door that led to a short hallway, and Ezra went trotting after her.

"This is my cabin," Sabine said, pointing to the door immediately to the left. Then she pointed to the one next to it. "That one's technically Kanan's but of course he never uses it, Hera's is right across, so obviously…" She punched the control panel to the cabin across from hers. "This is where you'll be staying."

Ezra stepped up, expecting it to be just as bare and boring as the rest of the ship's interior, but he blinked in surprise when he saw that there was a pattern painted along the upper edge of the small room. The symbols seemed familiar to Ezra although he couldn't quite put his finger on. Beneath the pattern on one wall was a mural, a cartoonish rendition of Ezra and Tara, the latter in her Loth-cat form.

He could only blink hard at the sight. Taking a small step inside, he slowly turned around as he took it all in before looking back at Sabine with a small frown.

Sabine shrugged with a smile. "At this point, it should be obvious that I don't do well with blank and boring. After serving the Empire for so long, I figured there's no reason for you to be stuck in yet another vacant durasteel room."

Nothing she was saying made much sense. Well, the words were easy enough to understand, and Sabine did have this penchant for constantly decorating everything. But it was the way she spoke… as if this was some long term arrangement…

Her smile faltered slightly. "Do you not like it? Because I can redo - "

Ezra quickly shook his head. "N-No, it's fine. It's… nice. Thanks," he said, shuffling awkwardly.

"No problem, kid. Oh, and before I forget…" Sabine walked over and opened up a drawer on the cabinet beside the bunk and pulled a couple things out, handing them to him.

He took them reflexively, staring down at them. It was the pauldrons, the ones Sabine had panted for him before. The Loth-wolf depicted on one and the stylized orange '5'. Sabine's voice from before echoed in his head.

"You'll both be back eventually. And you'll be back to stay. So you're going to need a callsign, and it's certainly not going to be 'Eye See Thirteen'. I'm Spectre Four… So you'll be Spectre Five."

"Now that you're back, hopefully you won't have anymore hang ups about… Ezra?"

The pauldrons were shaky and blurry, his eyes burning in contrast with a sudden coolness on his cheeks. Sabine thought they were going to stay . That he was actually going to be brought in and accepted as an actual member of this crew. Kanan and Hera must not have told her that he and Tara were being given over to a stranger in a couple days. That they had no intention of keeping him around.

"Oh jeez, kid, what did I do? I didn't mean to - "

There were hands on his arms, and Ezra flinched back violently stepping back out into the hallway. His breathing was labored as he tried to compose himself. He reached a hand up and pressed Tara up against his neck to try and comfort himself. She tucked her trembling body in his hand. "Y-You don't understand…" he stuttered, hating how his voice whined.

"Yeah I get that," Sabine said carefully slow.

Ezra blinked and furiously wiped at his face, sniffing and taking slow breaths to get himself under control. He looked up at her, relieved that his vision was now relatively clear. "W… We're not staying…"

Her frown deepened. "What are you talking about? Of course you're staying."

A fresh burn rose in his eyes, and it took all of Ezra's self-control to keep himself from crying again. "I-I'm being handed off to a Jedi… to be trained." He forced a smile. "After this last month, I'm sure Kanan and Nara are tired of us."

Sabine just stared at him for a moment. Then she suddenly straightened, expression going blank. "Get settled," she said curtly, her voice flat. "I'll be back."

Before Ezra could question her suddenly change in demeanor, Sabine marched back to where the ladder was, disappearing behind the automatic door. "W-What is she doing…?"

[I don't know] Tara replied, her confusion reflecting his own.

Not wanting to aggravate the Kanan's family more than he had to, Ezra stepped into his assigned cabin to comply with the Mandalorian's order. The door closed behind him as he shakily sat on his bunk, waiting for the fallout of whatever was about to happen.

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