Hello everybody! Now before you say it, yes, I'm super, super, SUPER late. It's been ages since I last updated, and I'm so sorry everyone! I've been super busy-
Inner Fangirl: "You say that every time."
Yeah, but, I really do mean it. I've had a lot of writers block lately and-
Inner Fangirl: "What's that? The tenth time now?"
YOU'RE NOT HELPING FANGIRL!
Inner Fangirl: …
That's what I thought. -.-
Anyways, to sum it up, I'm really sorry for being late and I hope this chapter makes up for it! :D I really did work hard on this one, but I can't make any guarantees that I'll update again soon. I hope you guys can understand. And thank you so much for your amazing support of this story guys! I'm serious, it blows me away every time. ;D Enjoy the chapter everyone!
May the force be with you, always!
-Superherotiger
Q/A
Where in the SWR timeline does this take place?
After 'Future of the Force' but before 'Legacy', just to clarify. ;D
Chapter 11: Search
Hera's POV
The Ghost was completely silent.
No one had spoken a word for so long it felt like years had gone by, and the lively energy that once fuelled our crew had gone cold. Zeb sat slouched against the table, his ears drooping and his eyes vacant. Sabine on the other hand was watching Kanan with narrowed amber orbs, while said Jedi leant against the doorframe, his gaze downcast. I tapped my hand against the table restlessly, growing impatient of the ever growing wait for information. Ahsoka said she'd contact us when she found something about Ezra, but that was a week ago. The wait was becoming unbearable, and the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Sabine straightened, saying "Can't you sense him or something?"
I could immediately see where this was going and tried to block out the inevitable conflict, my lekku drooping against my shoulders depressingly. Kanan shook his head slowly. "No," he murmured, voice faint.
"Well, what about meditating?" Sabine suggested. "Doesn't that help?"
"Tried that already. But for some reason I can't tap in to Ezra's signature," Kanan scowled. "No matter what I do his presence is just a blur."
"But you could sense him before!" Sabine pointed out fiercely.
"Well he didn't have amnesia before, did he?!" Kanan barked as his cold eyes snapped up.
Sabine stood up, her brows furrowing. "But you still have a bond, do you not?!"
"A bond has to be welcomed by both sides! And he…" Kanan trailed off, his eyes widening and draining of all life. His muscles seemed to loosen as his hands began to tremble again. "H-He… doesn't… remember, me…" he whispered, ghostly gaze shifting back to the floor. "So just like the bond… I'm forgotten…"
Sabine went pale, and she gracefully lowered herself back into her seat with no more intentions of arguing.
The room was suddenly very quiet, and very cold again.
All of us were feeling the impact of Ezra's absence. We had come so far with the injured teen, teaching him, retraining him, guiding him, that when he was ripped from our arms once again all everyone could do was freeze. But I knew Kanan was feeling it the most. The moment he'd told us still stung as fresh as a new wound, and remembering it was like pouring salt into the cut…
"Spectre 1 to Ghost!" Kanan called over the com. "I lost him! I repeat, I lost him!"
My eyes snapped open, suddenly awoken from my gentle nap and pouncing onto the controls. "What do you mean you lost him?!" I barked.
"He just bolted! But you put a tracker on him right?" Kanan asked desperately.
"Yes dear," I replied, flicking through a few controls and scanning for Ezra's frequency. "I put it on just in case something like this happened. Where are you?"
Kanan didn't reply, sending an uncomfortable chill up my spine. "Spectre 1, repeat, where are you?" I echoed.
The com remained silent, until a faint, but distinct noise pierced the tension. I froze, suddenly realising why Kanan had gone quiet. It was the sound of two blaster bolts, echoing across the trees, followed by a sharp, agonising scream. Ezra's scream. "Oh karabast," Kanan whispered, before the sound of rushing wind and rustling leaves blended with his heavy panting. "Ezra? Ezra! Where are you!?" He yelled. "Ezra?!"
I frantically shifted my attention to the screen beside me, only to realise that Ezra's tracker had become inactive. "Spectre 1, I can't locate him," I stated firmly. "Where are you?!"
"Co-ordinates….A … 5… 7, 3…." He spoke as a thick layer of static began taking over the line.
"Spectre 1? Repeat, I can't hear you!" I exclaimed.
"Imperials!" he suddenly spoke. "There's a ship… t-t-t-roop-ers…. Probe droi-i-i… t-they got Ezra!"
The last phrase caught my attention, and I quickly switched the scanner to search for Kanan's frequency instead. Thankfully tracking Kanan was far more effective, and I managed to pinpoint his location in a matter of seconds. "On my way Spectre 1!" I called while activating the Ghost's engines and steering it in his direction. Opening the line, I ordered the others "On your feet everyone! The Imperials got their hands on Ezra and we're going to intercept before they get away."
None of them replied through the com, but I could hear a combined "WHAT?!" echo through the metal halls.
Taking that as an all clear, the Ghost lurched as I propelled it above the tree line, searching for their position via the scanner. But as we reached a higher view it turned out the tracker was no longer needed, since I could clearly see an Imperial ship hovering above the dense forest. "Spectre 1, coming in on your location," I stated.
Again, there was no reply.
I could feel my muscles tense around my bones and I immediately knew something was wrong. "Zeb, Sabine, get ready for a fight. It could get messy down there," I spoke.
The cockpit door slid open, but Zeb and Sabine wasted no time as they immediately bolted for the ladder and disappeared into the cargo bay. I turned my attention back to the ship ahead and warmed up the blasters. No imperial would hurt our Ezra and get away with it with their lives.
"Hera they're about to lift off!" Kanan barked over the com.
"Approaching now," I stated as I began firing shots at the enemy ship.
But its shields absorbed the blows quickly, and as I swerved by I could see the ramp was down and at least 5 Stormtroopers were shooting frantically at a blue blur on the edge of the platform. My eyes widened when I realised Kanan was trying one last attempt of saving Ezra by foolishly attacking them head on. "Spectre 1 get out of there!" I ordered fiercely as I activated the ramp of the Ghost, trying to get as close as possible to Kanan. But the man wasn't budging. He continued to block the onslaught of blaster bolts, but every time he stepped forward they pushed him two steps back. He was obviously overwhelmed, and the imperials knew it.
I released a frustrated growl and yelled "Spectre 4, Spectre 5, get Kanan out of there! Now!"
"But what about the kid?" Zeb replied nervously.
"Both of them will end up dead if we don't get Kanan on board. Now go!" I snapped.
There was some hesitation through the com, before I finally saw Zeb jump onto the Imperial platform and grab Kanan by the arm, dragging him closer to the edge, but farther from Ezra. Kanan tried to fight back, but his stubbornness could not compare to Zeb's iron grip. The two jumped back into the Ghost and the Stormtroopers retreated into their shuttle, both ramps closing almost simultaneously.
Now that everyone was clear, I began to reign fire down on the ship, hoping to knock out its engine before it could escape. But its shields were too strong, and I couldn't even dent it let alone stop it. "I need back up!" I called.
"On it Hera!" Sabine replied as she jumped into the nose gun.
Kanan raced up the ladder and was by my side in a millisecond, stuttering "I-I tried to stop them but a probe got in the way. It held me back long enough for the ship to arrive."
"Was he alive?" I asked with concern.
"I think so, but he was bleeding. That bloody probe must have shot him," Kanan spat.
"Well we can patch him up as soon as we get him back," I said, propelling the Ghost forward as the ship began to flee. But before we even had a chance to attack further, I noticed something on the scanner. I froze.
"We need to go faster!" Kanan was urging.
"No," I murmured, almost feeling sick at the word.
Kanan also seemed shocked, barking "What?!"
I swallowed the lump in my throat and pointed to the scanner, explaining "There are three Star Destroyers moving in Kanan. We won't stand a chance if we keep pursuing."
His teal eyes flickered from the screen to me, and for once I saw an emotion that I would never associate with the strong Jedi. Fear.
"B-But Ezra-"
"If we keep going they'll capture us and Ezra. Kanan, we need to run," I said softly.
Though he remained still, all I could see was him shattering on the inside. It was something that none of us wanted to do, yet it was the only option. "Kanan," I warned as the dots on the scanner drew closer and closer. "It's now or never."
The man inhaled sharply and clenched his eyes shut, whispering "Do it."
I nodded solemnly, jerking the steering into a hard upward spiral and heading for the outer atmosphere. "Whoa! What's goin' on?!" Zeb yelled through the com.
"Why aren't we attacking?!" Sabine demanded.
Kanan took the controls and rasped weakly "We… w-we can't go after Ezra…"
"WHAT?!" they both exploded.
"We have no other choice," Kanan murmured, hanging his head in shame.
"…Ezra is now in Imperial hands…"
The projector sprung to life, snapping me from the memory and breaking the tense silence that had fallen upon the crew. Everyone perked up as a familiar face appeared through the transmission, sending a wave of relief and anxiety through all five of us. "Ahsoka!" I exclaimed excitedly. "Tell us you've got good news."
The Togruta offered a weak smile, saying "Well the good news is we've located Ezra."
Kanan almost leapt out of his skin, bolting forward and blurting "Is he alright?!"
Ahsoka's expression darkened. "We're… not sure," she replied reluctantly. "But it's been a week, and our sources tell us that two inquisitors were in charge of his… 'interrogations'."
Kanan looked visibly ill, asking quietly "Y-You don't think they-"
"No," Ahsoka replied firmly, answering his question before he'd even finished it. Kanan released a tense sigh and she continued "My suspicion is that they know Ezra has amnesia, whether by his own mouth or by piecing it together themselves, and are trying to brain wash him in some way."
"There's no way he would believe them though," Sabine chirped in.
"You underestimate the Imperials," Ahsoka said. "They may be heartless but they will go to great lengths to get what they want. Even acting like the good guys to brainwash a young rebel with amnesia…"
I sighed deeply, saying "So they've probably made him think that we're the enemy."
"It's a possibility," Ahsoka stated drearily. "So when you plan the rescue, I recommend you keep that in mind. We don't know what the Imperials have tricked him to believe."
Zeb stepped in, asking sharply "What if the kid won't go with us then? What if he attacks us?"
"He won't," Kanan said.
"And how do you know that?"
"Because Ezra is still Ezra, and he can tell the difference between what's right and what's not," the Jedi answered confidently.
Sabine argued "But what about his amnesia? We all know how gullible he is now, so the kid is practically a kid."
Kanan pondered this for a long moment, getting lost in deep thought, until suggesting "But what if that was the key to getting him back?"
"What're you talkin' about mate?" Zeb quizzed.
"Well think about it. Yes, Ezra does act more like a child now, but he also thrives off the energy that everyone else gives out. When we are happy and confident, he feels happy and safe. But if we're anxious or frustrated, he immediately becomes frightened and reclusive. So Ezra should be able to sense that something is wrong and revert back to who he knows. Which is us."
"That's a pretty big 'should' though Kanan," Sabine reasoned. "Are we really leaving this up to if Ezra can feel that they're bad?"
"Sabine is right," Ahsoka stepped in. "That plan is far too risky."
"Then we'll make a plan B," Kanan said.
Zeb smirked and cracked his knuckles, saying "M'kay. Plan B is we grab the runt and run for it. Sound good?"
Sabine shrugged nonchalantly, replying "As long as it gets him back."
"Whoa, you guys need to be careful with this," Ahsoka protested fiercely. "Ezra is in a very unstable state, and if he really is getting pushed to the dark side, kidnapping him will only secure his position there."
Kanan groaned, dragging a hand down his face exasperatedly. "Karabast! Why didn't I grab him when I had the chance," he muttered in frustration.
"This isn't your fault Luv," I said. "Now let's just clear our heads for a bit. We're all tired and we're all getting on each other's nerves, so while Ahsoka and I figure out a plan you guys can go get ready. Understood?"
All members looked as if they would protest, until Ahsoka chimed in "You're absolutely right Hera. You all need to be in top shape for the rescue, so you'd better listen to your captain everyone."
Zeb and Sabine exchanged an uncertain glance, as if silently conversing on whether to oblige or not, until they both begrudgingly slunk out of the room and disappeared into the hall. Kanan was frozen in place, and I could tell that he wasn't going to move any time soon. Sighing, I asked "Would you like to help dear?"
Kanan nodded sharply, and he took the seat beside me with a new found determination. "Okay," Ahsoka said. "I'm sending you the coordinates of the Star Destroyers now."
"Thank you so much Ahsoka. You don't know how much this means to us," I smiled.
The Togruta shot a warm gaze through the hologram, replying "Trust me, I do. Standby for coordinates."
Giving a quick nod of gratitude, I shifted my attention to the male beside me. He was as tense as a bow string, and his stare was murky and clouded. I placed my hand on his knee which caused him to jump sightly in return. I smiled weakly, assuring "We'll find him Kanan."
His expression seemed one of concern, and I felt his hand wrap around mine, squeezing it gently for support. "What if we don't find what we're looking for?" he murmured. "What if we find something we never wanted to see?"
I mustered whatever courage I had left and curled my fingers around his, whispering "There's only one way to find out…"
Super Bomb #2:
Remember Me
The Light in the Dark
Lost Chapters
O' Family of Ours
There is no Death, There is the Force
To Mend the Bond