Don't worry kid, I've got you.

You're going to need to stay strong. Can you do that, son?

The world is changing, Caleb. We need to be ready.

Remember Ezra, without hope, we have nothing.

"Mom?" Ezra murmured, his eyes fluttering open. How long had he been out? His whole body was burning, screaming at him. He closed his eyes again, wanting to fall back into the dark where it was safe, where the pain couldn't reach him.

"None of that," a cold voice purred. A hand pressed forcefully against his chest, sending out another shock of electricity.

Ezra's eyes flew open as he cried out, jolting to full awareness. He panted, unable to control his breathing. There was a tightness in his chest. A dull, disconcerting pain radiated through his arms. Wasn't there a limit to how much electricity a person's body could take?

Vii—or whatever her name was—smirked at him. "Pleasant dreams?"

Ezra bowed his head and ignored her, trying to recall the details. He could have sworn he heard his parent's voices as well as what he thought might have been Kanan, although he had no memory of him saying those words. But there had also been someone else. A woman's voice that sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place. And there had been that name again. Caleb.

He felt himself start to slip back down into unconsciousness, but the girl grabbed him by the chin, forcing him to meet her eyes. "Jarrus is certainly taking his time. Maybe he's abandoned you."

Ezra swallowed hard. Was Kanan coming for him? Would it even do any good? Kanan barely used his ability, how could he possibly defeat two Inquisitors?

The girl buried her nails further into his skin. "Jarrus cannot protect you. Why not willingly join us? It'll save you so much suffering. Just swear your loyalty and this will all stop. I might even spare your friend." She snorted. "Well, if he even bothers to show. Why would he care about street trash like you?"

"Force, do you ever shut up?" he said through gritted teeth.

Her eyes flashed briefly with anger, but then the corners of her mouth twitched upward. "That fire will serve you well, young one." She released her hold and traced one of the scars on his cheek with a sharp fingernail. "What's the story behind this?"

Recoiling from her touch he snapped, "None of your business."

"Perhaps you'd like a matching set?" She pulled a knife from her pocket and held it to his other cheek. "I'm proficient in many ways of inflicting pain. You'll be the same way once I'm done with you. Let's start your first lesson."

"Get away from him," a familiar voice growled. Kanan came into view, his hands held above his head as if in surrender. The male Inquisitor shoved him forward and he stumbled slightly.

The girl laughed. She grabbed Ezra by the arm, forcing him to his feet.

"Hello again, handsome."

The girl from the bar stood there, her fingers clutched in Ezra's hair, forcing his head back. She pressed a knife against his throat. Ezra to his credit, did not make a sound as she pushed the knife closer. He continued to struggle against her grasp. For the most part he looked relatively unharmed, but there was a noticeable glassy sheen in his eyes.

Kanan tried to step forward, but an invisible force held him back. He felt the male Inquisitor's ability working on him, preventing him from moving.

" Let him go. The kid's ability is nothing special. It's me you want," Kanan could see the blood begin to well up and trickle down the boy's neck. Maybe they'd get lucky and the Inquisitors would take the bluff. There was still the chance they didn't know what the kid was capable of, only that he was a Wielder.

"No…Kanan." Ezra's breath was ragged, but there was resolve in his words. "Just…get out."

"So brave," the girl purred in Ezra's ear. She stroked the knife against his face, and he shuddered. "You know perfectly well Jarrus, that the boy is our prize. You're just an added bonus."

Anger, swift and terrible, ran hot through his stomach. Kanan concentrated on the blade in her hand. His intention had been to fling it from the girl's grasp, but it merely twitched. He heard Ezra's sharp intake of air as it nicked him.

"Pathetic," the girl said. "What a poor excuse for a Wielder."

Cal was right. He'd been so concerned with appearing normal and avoiding detection again, that he'd neglected his ability. It didn't matter how much control he'd once had. Like any skill or talent left ignored it had dwindled in power.

The Inquisitor's smile sharpened. She whispered something Kanan couldn't heard in Ezra's ear that made the kid flinch.

Kanan could berate himself later for his carelessness, he needed to act now. His emotions were getting the better of him. Anger had always made his ability erratic, difficult to manage. Focus and serenity were what Billaba had taught him were the keys to control. And they were what would save Ezra now.

Just as he had the night before he thought about the small things that brought him peace. Hera's determination. Sabine proudly showing off her drawings. And lastly Ezra, a kid who reminded Kanan so much of himself when he had been that age. Though they hadn't known each other long, he truly cared for the boy. Kanan had been lost and alone before Billaba had taken him in and now it was his purpose to do the same for Ezra.

The knife was pulled from the girl's hand and sent flying. It landed a few meters away with a loud clang.

The girl tore her gaze from Ezra with a sharp turn, her teeth bared in a snarl. And then just as quickly she regained her composed smile.

"Do you truly believe you could disarm me?" She laughed. Rich and sinister, it sent a shiver down Kanan's spine. "Sweetie, the fun is just beginning."

Ezra cried out in pain, his knees buckling. The Inquisitor dug her nails into his shoulder, releasing sparks of electricity. Ezra's eyes fluttered closed as his body began to convulse.

The male Inquisitor put more pressure on his hold, forcing Kanan back. He needed to get to Ezra away from the girl.

She wrapped one arm around Ezra's chest. "Ready to play?" she murmured into his ear. Her hand stroked the length of his arm down to his hands. At first Kanan couldn't see what she was doing. He heard a small cry of "no", escape Ezra's lips. The kid shuddered and tried to twist out of the girl's hold.

She held up something small and green. Panic surged through him as he recognized it as Ezra's gloves. Electricity sizzled from the Inquisitor's fingers. The gloves sparked and ignited as she tossed them aside.

"No!" Kanan kicked widely, trying to escape the force holding him back. The male Inquisitor laughed, a deep and pitiless sound.

"You should really be more careful what you say in public," the girl crooned, her eyes locking on to Kanan. "You never know who's listening."

Ezra's eyes grew wide in abject horror. He jerked frantically, trying to loosen her grip on his hands. "No!" he shouted through a sob. He continued to scream incoherently, an anguished noise unlike anything Kanan had ever heard before. Kanan was thrashing now, desperate to break away. All the while, the girl laughed in delight. After another minute, Ezra's cries began to quiet into mere whimpers. They soon died completely, and he went limp in the girl's arms.

"Boys are always so pretty when they cry." She stoked Ezra's face before throwing him to the ground as carelessly as one would throw trash.

"That was a mistake," Kanan said, his voice low and full of steel.

The girl appeared taken aback by his calm demeanor. For a brief moment she faltered as if unsure. But her face grew dark once more as she began to saunter towards him. She waved her fingers at him, sparks crackling between them.

"Your turn."