Hello again! So, because I got positive responses and still have the inspiration for it, here's chapter two. Before you get to the story, I have a couple of things to clear up. Please bear with me, as this is important. I am in school and recently got a new job, which means updates will be random. I cannot promise that I'll update regularly or that there won't be huge lapses in time. I apologize, but that's just the way things are. I've had a few comments about this being a young!Ezra fic. It's not. Everyone's still their canon ages. Sorry if I didn't make that clear before. The only reason Ezra is called a child is because a) he looks young and is small for his age, b) he acts child-like (for reasons that will be eventually be explained), and c) it's the Empire's way of demeaning him and thus controlling him. Also, the narration switches between calling Ezra "the child" and "the teen," to clear things up a bit. There will be NO Sabezra/Ezrabine in this story. There will be canon Kanera, like in the show, but it won't be the focus. If anyone is confused about something in the story, please don't hesitate to PM me and ask. Most things will be explained as the story goes on, but I don't want to accidentally leave something out or not explain it well enough. I'll also change the status of this fic to "In Progress."
Trigger warnings for physical abuse and emotional/mental manipulation as well as mentions of blood and (minor) character death/murder. You know, all those fun things.
As always, comments, questions, reviews, and helpful criticism are highly appreciated.
Although Hera would have loved for her crew to have all the time in the universe to perfect their plan, they didn't. In reality, it was the opposite: data showed that the Weapon arrived in the Imperial compounds within a fortnight at the most from when the officials were notified and the appropriate resources gathered. The length of time the Weapon stayed at each location varied depending on the coordinates and the available security, but the times could change dramatically and for no obvious reason. This was just one more variable that had the potential to completely destroy the plan.
After much debate and many meetings over the span of three days, Fulcrum, Hera, and Kanan had come up with the best plan they could. To Hera's immense relief, Fulcrum had discovered that the Rebellion had some fairly recent information on the compound; in fact, it was on a planet that Hera's crew visited often. The compound was on an Outer Rim planet called Lothal and would not have the security available that a better-known, less backwater planet would. This fact, combined with the layout noted the Rebellion had painstakingly obtained, made for a less hazardous op than Hera had anticipated (and feared).
On the way to Lothal, Hera and Kanan began to fill in the rest of their crew.
"If our predictions are correct, which they should be, given previous data, we will have roughly three to six days to establish our covers. This means we need to work quickly but efficiently," Hera explained, meeting everyone's eyes.
"What's our cover?" Sabine asked, her gaze challenging. Hera sighed inwardly. In the three days since Fulcrum had first contacted them, Hera and Kanan had shared no information with the rest of the crew. Chopper hadn't really cared either way. Zeb had grumbled and groused for a bit but accepted it. Sabine, however… Sabine hadn't been pleased. Hera knew how much she hated being left out of the loop, but there wasn't much she could do. Fulcrum had requested that the information they shared in the meetings stay secret until the mission began. Most of the things they dealt with were on a need-to-know basis anyway, and Sabine needed to learn to trust in things that were bigger than herself.
"We'll be going as bounty hunters for hire," Kanan responded, snapping Hera out of her thoughts.
"We won' get access to th' whole compound, though," Zeb pointed out. Kanan grinned.
"Since when have we played by the rules?" he asked. A feral grin grew on Zeb's features. Hera smiled and shook her head with exasperated fondness.
"No sabotage until after we retrieve the Weapon," Hera said, her tone stern but the smile still on her face.
"That goes for you too, Sabine," Kanan added, looking pointedly at the girl in question with a raised brow and a serious expression that was ruined by his half-smile. Sabine fluttered her lashes innocently, gesturing to herself as if to say, Who, me? Zeb let out a snort of laughter and Kanan shook his head.
"All right, all right," Hera interrupted before her crew got too riled up and out of hand. "We're approaching Lothal now, so everyone needs to prepare." Her crew nodded and everyone split up to get ready for what was arguably their most dangerous mission yet. Hera took a deep breath and headed towards the cockpit where Chopper had been monitoring the controls. They had a lot of work ahead of them.
The door slid open and light burst into the tiny room. The teen curled up in the corner cracked open his eyes and peered towards the door. He could barely make out a stout, armored shadow before the person began to move towards him rapidly.
"Get up, you lazy child!" The harsh voice was followed by a swift kick to the child's ribs. He flinched and scrambled to his feet. "Did your Master say you could rest?" the man snapped. The child shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut and biting his lip. Although his instincts screamed at him to fight back, the child knew that it would only make the punishment worse. He wasn't quite sure what he had done to make his Master upset, but he knew he must have done wrong. Was what this man said true? Was his Master angry at him for drifting off? The child choked down a sob and instead clenched his fists tightly at his sides, his nails digging into his palms and drawing blood.
"Open your eyes, brat!" the man ordered. The child only squeezed his eyes tighter. Where was his Master? He protected him… he always protected him… only his Master was allowed to punish him. The child knew this. What was going on?
The hand came out of nowhere. An open palm struck the child's cheek with a resounding smack, the force of it sending the teen staggering backwards.
"Speak up!" the man barked. The child only bit his lip harder, drawing blood. He tensed, preparing for another blow, wondering what he'd done wrong, why his Master was so upset that he didn't even punish him in person, when-
"Enough." His Master's cold voice halted the man in his tracks. The teen did not open his eyes, but he relaxed as he heard his Master take a couple of steps towards the two. His Master was here. He was safe now.
"What do you think you're doing?" His Master asked, his voice so very, very quiet, like the voice he used when the teen did something Forbidden. It sent a shiver down the child's spine. "Open your eyes, Weapon."
At his Master's command, the child's eyes shot open at once and he took in the scene before him. His Master stood tall and imposing, framed in the open doorway, his hands clasped behind his back and his narrowed golden eyes trained on the man before him.
"Inquisitor," the man dipped his head respectfully and shifted nervously. The child could feel the fear rolling off of him in waves and allowed himself a small smile. "I… I apologize, I was only-"
"On whose orders were you acting?" The Inquisitor cut him off. The man straightened slightly and the child felt his fear give way to surprise and confusion.
"Whose orders? Sir, I don't understand. I'm acting on yo-"
A red blade plunged through the man's throat, cutting off his response and coming to rest in front of the teen's face. The man let out a wet gurgle and twitched once before he became still.
"I will find the fool who sought to influence you, child," the Inquisitor stated, deactivating his 'saber and letting the man's body fall to the floor with a low thud. "Whoever ordered you to be harmed when you had done no wrong will be punished severely."
"I'm sorry, Master," the child whispered, stepping over the corpse to kneel at his Master's feet. "I… fell asleep, Master. I am truly sorry. I accept any punishment you feel is right to give me."
The Inquisitor frowned down at the child quivering at his feet.
"It is of no importance," he said. When the child glanced up at him in surprise he smiled, baring pointed teeth. The teen hastily looked back down at the floor, shuddering slightly. "Come, Weapon. We will continue your training," his Master ordered, turning and stalking down the hall. The teen scrambled to his feet and trailed him obediently, making sure to keep at a respectful distance.
The Weapon allowed himself another rare smile. His Master was so good to him. It was more than he deserved.