AN: Chapter Six took a bit of time because it was a very important chapter. But, here you all go! I hope you like it and please review! Thank you to everyone who had been following the story so far. Expect much more!
Chapter Six
"Devoid of Color"
The main power room wasn't too difficult to find.
Zeb and Sabine had guessed it would be somewhere near the rear of the ship. Besides the head control room, that was where a lot of the sources of power were stored. For lack of a better idea and no blueprints because of last minute planning, that was where the two headed.
Neither wanted to speak, mostly because of nerves and they knew their words would betray them. Hera was the motherly figure of the group. Kanan was their leader. Ezra was the annoying little brother who always seemed to be getting himself mixed into unearthly situations. Zeb and Sabine though…They noticed neither truly knew their place on the ship.
The Last Lasat and The Lonely Mandalorian.
They stopped in front of the sliding doors that led to the power room, trying to block out the screaming of the alarm as the ship was bombarded with assaults from the Rebel Fleet. Sabine leaned against the wall, looking at Zeb before asking, "You ready?"
Zeb nodded and pressed the button causing the doors to slide open, revealing two techs in the room. Both stood, shock etching itself into their features. One raised his wrist to speak into his com, but before he could, Sabine fired on them both. Hurriedly, they entered, locking the doors behind themselves.
Sabine pulled her helmet off, sighing, "Good thing the troopers are all heading to the right of the ship to check on damage from the fleet. Made our job a lot easier."
"Yeah," Zeb replied. "Come on, let's find the kid on the footage and shut the power down. I want to get this mission over and done with."
Sabine nodded. She understood completely…Ever since that Sith had done the Reading on Ezra things seemed to be going downhill from there. She wanted Ezra back…The old Ezra. The one that laughed and joked about things and didn't seem so broken and torn down.
She wondered if they'd ever get that back…Even if they did manage to rescue him.
Typing into the keyboard, Sabine hurriedly scanned her eyes across the security feeds. She bit down hard on her lip, hearing Zeb behind her shoving the unconscious bodies of the technicians into a storage closet.
"Come on, come on," She whispered.
Finally, she stopped, eyes landing on the top left screen…
Ezra was there, she realized, giving her a sense of relief. That was until she saw who was standing in front of him and beside him…
The Sith Lord…And the Apprentice.
Sabine jumped away from the screen, attempting not to throw herself onto the floor in a panic filled rage. He couldn't just be in some cell…No he had to be in the exact same room as the Sith that had almost killed them. Sabine looked back at Zeb who had also noticed the screen. He said quietly, "Tell Kanan."
"He'll go look for him, Zeb," Sabine said desperately. "If we tell him, he and Ahsoka will go get themselves killed and without them we…we…"
She trailed off and looked back at the screen. She was afraid. It wasn't often she was afraid. This job was supposed to be a way to get back at the Empire…Small scale. Not this big though. It was never supposed to turn into her family and they were never supposed to be this large scale.
"We have to try, Sabine," Zeb breathed. "I'm not too keen on the idea of Kanan running in there but I'm also not keen on leaving Ezra behind…Trust me, I've done it once I don't want to do it again."
Sabine swallowed thickly before finally nodding and beginning to speak into the com link…
"Spectre One, this is Spectre Five…We've located Spectre Six in what appears to be a large conference room on the upper left of the ship…But…It's a risky fight."
"How risky?" Kanan's voice returned.
Sabine glanced at Zeb who nodded his head. Sabine continued, "The Sith Lord and his apprentice are in the room with him."
There was a long pause…Very long and Sabine wondered if Ahsoka and Kanan were bickering amongst themselves for the moment. However, she wasn't sure if she was glad or worried when Kanan responded with, "Continue with the original plan. Execute."
"…Got it," Sabine croaked, looking over at Zeb. The Lasat moved to the control panel on the wall and opened it, plucking three wires from the group.
"Ready?" He asked.
She gave a shaky response, "Ready."
Then…The power cut and they were consumed by darkness.
Kanan breathed deeply as the hall went pitch black and the dim emergency lights cut on. The alarms ceased and he looked at Ahsoka who had an ill look still etched into her features. She was worried, he could feel it radiating off of her like fire but…This was how it had to be. He knew what they had to do, even before the news of the Sith's presence with Ezra was confirmed in his mind.
"Kanan," Ahsoka began slowly. "We can't face this Sith Lord…You faced him before. You and Ezra only survived because he wanted the two of you to survive. He let you go. He's going to be out for our heads."
Kanan shook his head, "We don't have to kill him we just have to get Ezra back."
Ahsoka had finally had enough it seemed, and her face glowed in the light with anger, "How do you expect us to do that? I understand Ezra's importance to you, but now sacrifices have to be made for the sake of the Rebellion."
"You're being a coward," Kanan snapped, turning and walking down the corridors, feeling through the Force towards the Sith and his apprentice. If he found them, he'd find Ezra.
"Excuse me?" The other Jedi breathed, moving forward and grabbing Kanan by the arm. "This war has taken its toll on all of us. It has changed all of us. And if there's something I've learned, we have to push ourselves to do what is logical, not what our emotions tell us to do."
"From the stories I've heard about you in the old, I would assume you'd be the last one to agree with those teachings," Kanan replied.
Ahsoka lowered her eyes. She looked so…Tired…Kanan had decided that was the only word he could use to describe her. Tired. They had both survived a war and now another one was forming. Except…She wanted this war. She wanted to fight the Empire and while Kanan wanted to fight them…He wasn't sure about the full out war part.
Kanan finally spoke, "You can come with me or call the fleet off and have them come get you and the others. But, I'm going to get Ezra back."
Kanan turned and began to make his way down the hall once more…
He didn't have to turn back to know she was following.
The emergency lights were the only thing making it possible to see in the large room.
Ezra was standing, watching Vader with a confused stare. The Sith seemed to be far off in thought, gone from the rest of them and the world. Ezra shifted on his two feet uncomfortably before glancing back at Isaac who seemed to…Understand.
Ezra didn't like not understanding.
Suddenly, Vader lifted his head and breathed through his mask, "The Apprentice."
Ezra's face contorted into one of vast confusion as it dug deeper and deeper. He rubbed his hands together, his palms sweating. From the look on Isaac's face…he seemed just as confused. Maybe Vader was losing his mind. Maybe that's what the Dark Side did to people. It made them delusional.
The boy quickly looked worried as Vader turned and looked straight into the security camera to the back of him before ordering Isaac, "Go to the main control room and take care of the pests."
Ezra's eyes widened suddenly with realization. Vader could feel the crew…He could sense them within the ship and he knew exactly where they were. He was going to send Isaac after them, and there was no telling what would happen then. The scream left Ezra's mouth before he could stop it, "No!"
Isaac was already walking towards the exit, causing Ezra to jump into a sprint. He slammed into the elder's body with such force it knocked the breath out of his own lungs. They tumbled to the ground, a heap of struggling limbs.
Isaac grunted, "Get off of me, imbecile!"
Ezra choked suddenly when the back of his shirt was yanked up harshly, pulling him off of Isaac. Ezra struggled as Vader held him back, allowing Isaac enough time to stand on his feet again. Isaac glared darkly, adjusting his clothes before turning and leaving the room like he had been before.
The child fell limp, causing Vader to let go with no word to him. No reprimand. Nothing…There was no reason to.
Vader was going to win.
Sabine was leaning against the wall, calming her nerves with deep breaths. Zeb had seemingly taken to pacing back and forth worriedly, making it difficult for her to keep herself steady. She glared at him before snapping, "You were being Mr. Optimism earlier, what happened?"
"It's just taking a while," Zeb growled. "I didn't think it would take so long for them to find the kid and get him out. We haven't heard anything."
She glanced away, nodding her head in a silent agreement. She opened her mouth and then shut it again because…Well, the words wouldn't come. They were lost and restless and melting away into an oblivion that was not comfort. It was anxiety. It was terror. It was worry. Sabine rubbed her arm, feeling cold all of sudden at the thought…
Maybe something was wrong.
She whispered, "It's going to be fine. They'll find him and contact us."
Suddenly, her words seemed to drown when there was a loud slam on the door. Sabine stood straight up, looking at Zeb with a worried glance. The Lasat returned it as they moved beside one another, staring at the locked door intently. The room was dim, the back-up lights illuminating the small area. Sabine tightened her hands into fists to stop herself from shaking.
Then, another bang…
And a red lightsaber began to cut through the door.
Zeb jumped back first, snapping, "It's the damned apprentice, I'll bet you my life."
"You may not want to be betting that," Sabine stated shakily. "Cause he might take you up on the offer."
Sabine began to glance around, searching for some means of escape. She knew that if she and Zeb tried to stand against a Sith without Kanan they would be screwed. It took him thinking Ezra was dead to beat the Inquisitor. But, a Sith Lord's apprentice? That was a different story.
Ahsoka had said they were on the ship. Both of them. Why weren't they more careful?
Her eyes settled on the vent on the ceiling. It looked just big enough that maybe Zeb could fit into also. She grabbed his arm immediately, pulling him towards it and ushering him up, ordering, "Go, it's the only way we have."
"I'm not entirely sure I can fit in there," Zeb stated, his face contorting.
Sabine growled, "Well, it's either a tight squeeze or a razor sharp lightsaber piercing your chest. Your choice."
Zeb glanced at the door that was still being cut through and then at the vent. He nodded his head, "Alright, you make a good point."
Zeb removed the grate, dragging himself in without a moment of hesitation. Sabine breathed a sigh of relief when he fit through without much struggle, following close behind him. She pulled the grate up with her, replacing it over the hole. It consumed them in darkness, besides the light Sabine could see peeking through the slits in the grate.
She looked up at Zeb who was beginning to crawl away and she followed.
The last thing they needed was for the apprentice to sense them anywhere close.
Ezra knew things weren't going according to his crew's plan when the power cut back on suddenly.
The boy curled into himself when it did, taking a deep breath. He shut his eyes, wanting to reach through the Force towards his friends, but it was still out of his reach. He wanted to feel them. To know Isaac hadn't done anything unspeakable to them when he had gone to cut the power back on. Hopefully, they were smart enough to try and get away rather than face the Sith.
Ezra turned his head in Darth Vader's direction before saying, "You know something is coming."
He could feel fragments of the Force. Vader was so overwhelming it was piercing into him like knives. Like when your foot is asleep and you try to walk. Pin-needles. That's what it felt like.
Slowly, Vader turned to look at him before explaining, "Your friends are foolish. They are continuing their siege, but not for long. I sense your master is quickly approaching."
Ezra couldn't help it. His eyes pricked with fear and he turned, facing the sliding door. He could feel it too. He could feel the Force slowly seeping back into his being, so that meant the injection was wearing off. He screamed, "Don't!"
The door slid open.
Ezra grabbed his abdomen and he looked away, knowing it was Kanan. He stepped back and hissed quickly. He couldn't feel him fully, but he could sense the bravery. And it made Ezra unsteady because…Vader was going to win. Ezra's eyes flashed up and he also saw Ahsoka. She looked sick to her stomach and he wondered why…Made she felt it too. The hopelessness.
"Hello, Apprentice," Vader greeted, causing Ezra's eyebrows to furrow in confusion. He looked at Vader a moment, following his black orbs to where they stared at Ahsoka, almost intensely, as if Ezra knew the emotions below the mask of the machine.
Ahsoka stepped back and Kanan gave her a questioning look. One he often gave Ezra that said, "We're going to talk about this later." And when you do, it turns into a big hoorah and everyone stops speaking for three days before someone apologizes.
Kanan's eyes then found Ezra and he felt hope…
It was just a moment, then Kanan's eyes returned to Ahsoka and he asked, "Apprentice?"
Vader unsheathed his lightsaber, and it was probably one of the worst sounds Ezra had ever heard. He felt his world tipping and he screamed, "Go! Just go! Please, run…You can't…You can't-"
Ezra felt his throat close as Vader held out a hand in his direction. He choked, gripping at the Force Grip frantically, looking at Kanan with wide eyes. Vader began to speak, "Silent now, Child." He then found Ahsoka once more and continued, "You were wise to leave the Order, Apprentice. The Dark Side would make you strong."
Ahsoka stood straight, and even through his fading vision, Ezra could see her absolute terror. Kanan's eyes were wide as well, but not at the sudden revelation, but rather on Ezra. The child had forgotten…He was dying. He had been breathless for a while now, ever since Lothal had burned. So this…This was…Easy. Just dying seemed so much easier.
"Let him go," Ahsoka ordered through gritted teeth. Surprisingly, Vader did just that and Ezra stumbled into the wall behind him, coughing. He gripped his neck and looked at Kanan through teary eyes.
He said quietly, just loud enough to be heard, "Please…Run…"
"It's going to be alright," Kanan stated, but Ezra could hear the way Kanan had to force it out. Like it was sand in his mouth. He knew this wasn't going to be alright. The power was supposed to be out. Vader wasn't supposed to be in the room. Ezra was meant to be pulled from a holding cell, but here. Everything was different now.
Ezra shook his head, looking at Vader with a terrified expression as the machine spoke, "Giving false hope to your apprentice is no way to teach, Caleb Dume."
Ezra's eyebrows furrowed and he looked at Kanan with a confused expression. Caleb…That was weird. Ahsoka looked at Kanan sadly and Kanan flinched…Visibly flinched at the name. Kanan then snapped, "It isn't false hope. Hope is everywhere."
"And that is why you are all fools," Vader hummed. He looked at Ahsoka and continued, "Possibly, you are the biggest fool of them all."
Ahsoka swallowed and Ezra leaned against the wall, trying to breathe past the ache in his throat. Apprentice. Isaac's master…had been hers? That was the only way Ezra could put it together. Not even Kanan knew, but it seemed Ahsoka had known before entering the room what kind of mess she was stepping into. She knew this was her master…
Ahsoka stepped forward, her lightsabers drawn as she said steadily, "You are not my master. He died long ago…You are a machine. Someone using his frame. His Force. But, you are no Anakin Skywalker."
"You are correct," Vader growled, and this was one of the first times Ezra had heard him react emotionally to something. Anger. "Anakin Skywalker died fifteen years ago. I ridded the world of his weakness."
Ezra flinched when Ahsoka lunged. The fierceness in her expression was enough to give Ezra hope, but apparently not Kanan had he shouted for her to stop. It was too late. She was swinging viciously at the Sith Lord, who easily blocked her blows one by one. She grunted with each swing, putting so much force behind each one it seemed rather…Impossible…
Then Ezra saw it…Vader wasn't even returning the attacks. Just blocking.
He was toying with her. And he was amused.
He must have tired of it quickly though, giving a swing of his own in the woman's direction and knocking her off balance with the pure strength behind it. She gasped quietly, trying to regain her balance as she reached for the wall. But, before she could, Vader threw out his hand, slinging her into it and knocking her to the ground. Ezra looked away when Kanan ran to assist her…No…No…
"Please, Kanan!" Ezra shouted. "Please just…go!"
Kanan didn't even make it to Vader before Isaac appeared in the doorway, throwing out his own hand and knocking Kanan into the ground, causing the man to slam his forehead into the metal floor. Ezra gasped quietly, watching as Kanan's eyes rolled back at forth, trying to focus after the blow. The boy's eyes moved to the door when storm troopers began to enter, following closely behind Isaac.
Isaac approached Ahsoka, pulling her to her knees as she grunted in pain. He stood behind her, lightsaber drawn and he gripped the back of her neck to keep her steady. Vader did the same to Kanan and Ezra realized he was standing before his master and friend, red sabers drawing dangerously close to their throats.
Ezra looked into Kanan's face and he whispered, "Kanan…What do I do?"
Ezra was beginning to shake heavily and Kanan watched with despair. He needed him…He needed him to tell him what to do. This wasn't some petty mission, this was life or death. The people weren't lowly criminals or just the storm troopers that surrounded them…They were Sith and Apprentice.
And Ezra was a child. And Kanan was the only thing left.
Kanan didn't respond to the question, only tried to reach Ezra through the Force. He could feel it cracking. Tearing at the seams. But, it was still there. The Block. Kanan grunted when the lightsaber got closer to his neck and Vader spoke, "Your master and friends are weak. You will join me, Ezra Bridger."
"I'd rather die," Ezra croaked, his eyes glittering with terrified tears.
"Would you rather your master die in your place?" Vader hissed and Ezra watched as the saber got even closer. Ezra opened his mouth, unable to speak past the lump in his throat. His eyes moved to meet with Ahsoka's whose were wide with shock.
There was a long pause of silence before Vader lifted the weapon…readying to swing…
Ezra fell to his knees and screamed, "NO!"
Vader paused in the assault, staring at Ezra while the boy began to shake with terror. Ezra shook his head heavily and looked at Kanan, whispering, "I'm sorry, Kanan. I'm so sorry."
"Ezra," Kanan said, not loud enough for the boy to hear.
Ezra's face was streaking with tears as he looked up into Vader's mask, staying on his knees before the Sith Lord, "I'll train. I'll do it. Just let them go."
"Swear your allegiance to me," Vader ordered.
Ezra looked at Isaac who was watching…He actually looked rather shocked…Disturbed by Ezra's display. A sob wracked Ezra's body when he heard Kanan shout, "Ezra, don't!"
The boy couldn't bring himself to look at Kanan, but instead returned his eyes to Vader and he spoke through his wracking chest…
"I swear my allegiance…I'll train…Just let them go."
Ezra felt a weight on his chest, pressing him down into the center of the universe. He was burning all over and he felt like…He felt like he was going to smother. He was going to stop breathing under the weight of it all and he was going to lose everything in the process of breaking his heart.
He made the mistake of looking into Kanan's face…
Despair.
Explosion…
Ezra was thrown to the floor suddenly when the crash of an explosion went off, swinging him a few feet from where he kneeled. Smoke flooded the room, causing Ezra to cough and try to catch his breath from the air being knocked from his lungs. He could feel the heat of fire and then hands pulling him up and dragging him towards the far exit…
He pushed at the hands…They were not familiar.
He peered up through the smoke seeing Isaac pulling his limp body from the room and from…his family.
Ezra tried to scream, but he could only weakly push at the elder's grip, desperately trying to escape the hold that threatened to take him away forever.
And that it did.
Ahsoka woke from the explosion to chaos.
Blasters firing…Red and white…Smoke…She groaned, pushing herself to her hands and knees. She could feel something warm trickling from her shoulder as she paused, trying to focus her vision. Maybe it wasn't just her. Maybe the room was impossible to see in.
Without warning, she was yanked to her feet, and she heard someone shouting in her ear, "Go! Go!"
Ahsoka did as she was told, not questioning it and running towards the light at the door. Once out into the corridor, she realized Sabine had been the one who pulled her from the room. Her eyes found Zeb also, carrying an unconscious and bloodied Kanan.
Zeb said quickly, "We have to get out of here."
"But…Ezra," Ahsoka breathed.
Sabine grabbed her by the arm gently and pulled her in the direction Zeb had already begun to run, "We can't help him if we all die on this ship. Come on."
They ran…Ahsoka glanced back at the entrance to the room…feeling the uneasy sense of Darth Vader reaching towards her through the Force.
Uneasy…But familiar.
"I'm so sorry, Ezra," She whispered.
He was the Apprentice now.