AN: Here's chapter thirteen. A bit short, but again it's one of those chapters used to tie up loose strings. There's always a few of those in every story. But, hey! The Rebels are getting closer to their goal! Hope you all enjoy, please review! :)

Chapter Thirteen

"Shot Values"

Vader felt perpetually propelled in a state of torture.

It had started all those years ago…That night he had first dreamed of Padme dying in childbirth. From then on it had spiraled into something else entirely. Fear. Anger. Hate. The Dark Side of the Force was a given solution and still it didn't make the pain and anguish go away. If anything it fueled it.

But…Somehow dulled it.

Vader had boarded the Emperor's ship some half hour ago, but hadn't been capable of convincing himself to face him as soon as he boarded. He needed something solid to work with. A way to fool the Emperor into seeing Vader's actions as "pure" in some aspect and not deceit.

The Emperor had always been wary of Force wielders, which was why he worked so hard to make sure they respected and feared him. Given…The Inquisitors.

And Vader…

It was all about control at the end of the day. Control and power. There was a time when Vader desired none of that. He just wanted to keep Padme alive and in the end her downfall came from his flaw. But, he blocked that aspect out. He blocked everything out.

Instead, he forced himself to enter his Master's quarters where he sat upon his throne. His robe pooled to the floor and his deformed face was covered with a hood. Vader approached where the Emperor sat and kneeled before him like all of the other times he had stood before his Master.

The Emperor hummed, "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to take my orders seriously, Darth Vader."

"Of course I would, Master," Vader replied. "You seemed very…Concerned in your message. I thought it my duty to ease your trouble."

The Emperor stood slowly from where he sat and moved towards his apprentice. His hands were folded in front of him, bony and pale as he explained, "Your words in our last conversation seemed to be held true. I looked into the Inquisition Academy records and did find Isaac Bridger to have been a student there. Top of his class in fact. It seems the Rebel's padawan shares the same last name as this boy."

Vader stood from where he kneeled and spoke, "Yes, Master. Isaac Bridger was in fact top of his class. I pulled him out to give him field experience, doing the duties of true Inquisitors. The younger is a potential student for the Academy. They share the same parentage."

"I remember hearing of the Bridger case," The Emperor turned, walking towards the windows looking out into the stars. "The Lothal citizens who spoke out against our Empire. Shocking they seemed to have produced such powerful offspring."

The Emperor turned and continued, "So are they as gifted as you said?"

Vader clenched his fist…How did he know where this was going?

"Yes," Vader ground out. "They are gifted. Both are very strong with the Force."

A yellow smile spread across the Emperor's lips as he chuckled, "Well, if they attracted your attention, my apprentice, they must be something impressive. I would like to meet these boys. Bring them to me at first convenience."

The other's shoulders went rigid and he prepared to argue some kind of excuse. But, his words died on his lips and he gave a simple nod…

"Of course…Master."

Aylo's presence was comforting.

Ezra knew this. Every time he would slip in and out of his fever she was there. A few times he had mistaken her as his mother and truthfully…Her face changed with the thought. He could swear it was all real. That none of it was a dream. But, the only thing that was real at this point was the fact that his body was slowly killing itself from whatever infection he had.

He groaned quietly when Aylo pressed a cold rag to his forehead. She said, "Don't worry. Your friends will come."

Ezra gave a dry laugh, "Sure hope they get here in time."

"They will," She pushed. "They'll get here as soon as they can."

Ezra breathed out shakily. It was hard to speak and he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to. He was so exhausted that talking just seemed tedious and painful at the moment. He didn't want to take it. He didn't want to take the pain.

He just wanted to sleep forever until forever was over.

Ezra shifted a bit under the blanket and muttered, "I'm sorry you were taken from your son."

He watched as a sad smile graced her lips and she replied, "I've come to terms with it. And any chance I have to avenge myself and my lost time with my child, I take it. Like helping you…I feel like I'm getting to reunite a family and get back at the Empire for taking me away from mine."

Ezra laughed quietly, "Nothing is really better than getting back at the Empire."

"I agree," She whispered.

The boy jumped suddenly when someone cleared their throat in the doorway. Aylo turned around quickly and tightened her grip on the rag in her hand and Ezra's heart dropped. Fear entered him…

Isaac stood in the doorway.

Ezra relaxed though when he appeared to have heard nothing of their whispers. He simply entered the room and held out a hand for the cold rag. Aylo handed it over and he dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

She was quick to go. Obviously the appearance had shocked her as well.

Isaac glanced back to make sure she was gone completely before he moved closer to the bed and stood over Ezra. Carefully, he placed the rag to the child's forehead and wiped the sweat from Ezra's brow. The boy could feel questions brewing. More and more because of the Binding and his impending doom.

Ezra croaked, "T-They took you away and you still l-listen to them."

Isaac made a shushing sound, flinching at the rasp in the padawan's voice. He sounded terrible, and Isaac regretted joking about him being on his death bed before. He had probably jinxed it or something stupid. It seemed he was running out of time.

Ezra didn't heed the order however, and pushed on, "Did…Didn't yo-you care about us?"

Isaac glanced away and swallowed thickly. Everything within him told him to keep quiet, but his tongue wanted to speak. He wanted to defend himself against the child's thoughts. Because that was what Ezra was. He was a child. He saw things one way and one way only. Just like every other child in the world.

The words threatened though.

And he thought…What's the worst that could happen if he did speak his mind to Ezra? Honestly…The kid was consumed by fever and most of it wouldn't be remembered at any time after this. There was no guarantee Ezra would even survive this fever…Even with all of the antibiotics, his condition was worsening still. But, Isaac knew what was truly at fault…

"I did," As soon as it left his mouth, he pulled the rag away in surprise. He hadn't meant to say that. Of all the things he had meant to say, it hadn't been that…

Ezra seemed a bit surprised; his eyes widening a moment, but relaxed the next as if it went in one ear and out the other. He could see the exhaustion. The complete and utter lack of strength. It was pitiful.

Isaac pretended his heart didn't ache. He blamed it on the Binding. He blamed every bit of despair he felt to be a side effect, that he would have to feel Ezra's feelings for the rest of their restless lives because…Screw Vader, this was his fault.

It was his dumb idea.

"I found enlightenment to be more important," Isaac spoke, justifying his answer. Ezra's eyes moved to the side and he gulped.

Shaking his head, the boy muttered, "I-I think Vader did t-too…"

"He knows something I don't," Isaac thought silently. There was an appearance…A mask of knowing in the eyes of the child. Even through the fever Isaac could observe the shards sticking out. He had the urge to ask what he meant, but it was pointless to push. It was probably stupid.

Isaac attempted to reach out through the Binding and soothe Ezra's pain, but it only made the child cry out and press a hand to his temple. Isaac felt the shot ring through himself also, making him steady himself on the side of the bed. Ezra had thrown him out immediately and it was killing him. The fever…The Binding…Ezra wouldn't be able to handle it all. It was going to eat him alive.

"Stop it," Isaac snapped. "Stop rejecting the Binding. Along with the wound, you rejecting it is probably part of the reason you're so ill."

Ezra was shivering heavier now and Isaac leaned in saying, "It will kill you if you don't accept it."

Ezra wanted to scream.

He wanted to scream his throat raw and bloody for Isaac to shut the hell up and get over himself. This wasn't a test of the wills, this was freedom. This was his being at stake. Isaac had taken everything, the Empire had taken everything and he wasn't about to surrender the last of his free will. He couldn't. He couldn't do that…

"I won't."

It was weak…Quiet…But, sure.

It was true to itself.

Isaac sighed deeply and grabbed Ezra's trembling hand, squeezing it firmly. He was surprised when the teen didn't pull away, but actually squeezed back lightly.

Comfort.

The room was dispersed into silence.

Commander Sato stared at the video and played it over again several times of the woman from Naboo telling them of Ezra's presence. He seemed to be pondering and a heavy weight had set itself onto Kanan. If Commander Sato still did not agree to lend the Fleet's help…There was no telling what he would be forced to do.

There wasn't a chance that the Ghost could get past that blockade. Not a chance in the galaxy. They needed the Rebels for this. They needed to Rebels in order to get Ezra back.

And Kanan needed to get Ezra back before he lost his mind.

The man folded his hands behind his back and shut his eyes, reaching out into the Force for guidance and patience. He felt the soothing hands of the Force return with comfort and reassurance. This was what it was. They would find another way if the Fleet refused their services.

Because that was what they had to do. They had to do this for Ezra.

Kanan gripped his hands tightly. Ezra was his to protect. How could he expect others to risk their lives for him? He had taken Ezra on as his padawan. He was Ezra's support. Sure there was the crew, but Kanan and Ezra's bond was important and strong. He never realized how his master felt about him until he had a padawan of his own.

And maybe this was worse, because the Jedi of the Old didn't allow themselves to become too attached. Kanan's attachment to Ezra was something that the Jedi would frown upon. He had taken up a mantle as a father rather than a teacher and on many occasions he had shown that.

If Ezra died…If something happened to him…Well, Kanan honestly felt he wouldn't be far behind in the loss of hope Anakin Skywalker must have felt when he fell to the Dark Side.

Kanan felt for Ezra again and still…Something was blocking his reach. Something wasn't letting him in. He wanted to cry out and scream, bang his fist against the wall. Ezra was his padawan…Not whatever Vader was turning him into at this very moment. Ezra was his to teach. He had found him. He had cared for him. And he would find him again and do whatever it took to restore the boy.

Ezra was a child and Kanan felt guilty he had put him in this life.

But, he also knew it was the better life.

"We will assist you," Commander Sato's voice said suddenly.

Kanan's eyes snapped open and he heard Sabine breathe out a laugh beside him. The artist said in shock, "You're…You're really going to help us?"

Commander Sato nodded and stood, "Yes. This is undeniable proof. The Fleet will help you break the blockade in the Naboo System and we will assist in the extraction of Ezra Bridger."

Kanan's head snapped in Hera's direction. She was smiling. She was smiling so bright, the brightest in a long time. In weeks, ever since Ezra's capture.

She looked overjoyed.

Kanan swallowed thickly, then looking as Zeb and Sabine pushed their fists into the air and hollered with excitement. Ahsoka placed a hand on Kanan's shoulder, grabbing his attention. He turned and looked at her with incredulous eyes.

She whispered, "We'll get your padawan back, Kanan."

Kanan replied, "The Sith Lord…He'll try to stop us."

"We'll stop him," Ahsoka muttered. "We'll do what we must."

Kanan knew what she meant.

In other words…She was going to face her demons, even if it meant killing someone who was once dear to her.