AN: Another chapter for my lovely readers. I'd love some reviews considering at three I have to go sit at work for six hours. It would be a great improvement upon my day of making sandwiches! I love you all so much, please enjoy.

Warning: This chapter contains a death scene. I tried to make it quick but emotional. I didn't want to drag it out in fear of disturbing some readers.

Chapter Fourteen

"Frontier"

The Naboo System was something else entirely.

In all honesty, Kanan had never seen a blockade so thick. Not even when the Empire was trying to keep them from leaving Lothal all those months back. There was no doubt in his mind at this point that the woman on the transmission had been telling the truth.

Ezra was here. A feeling was crawling up Kanan's spine, a feeling he hadn't felt since he last saw Ezra and had him in his reach. It was completely and entirely calming, but still…He was sick to his stomach.

Exiting hyperspace, the blockade only seemed so much larger. Kanan heard Zeb whistle quietly behind him in surprise at the amount of Imperial ships.

Almost immediately a voice came over their ship's transmission…

"You are entering restricted space. Set your course back or be terminated."

Zeb leaned over Hera and pressed the com button, replying impishly, "I don't think so, Mate. You lot have something of ours."

Just as he said it, several Rebel ships exited hyperspace as well, immediately beginning to fire at the blockade. Sabine laughed, "Now that's what I call an introduction."

Along with the Rebel blasts however, the Imperials made no hesitation in their return fire. Almost immediately the Ghost jerked when a blast slammed into the shields. Hera chuckled nervously, "Alright, enough messing around. Let's get to land."

Pushing forward the thrusters, the Ghost yanked into action. Ahsoka entered the cockpit, saying, "Alright, things seem to be going according to plan. The Fleet it ramming a path or us just ahead, that's where they'll be focusing their fire."

"Gotcha," Hera replied, steering the ship a bit straighter in the direction the Fleet had made them a clear shot to Naboo. Another blast slammed into the small ship and Hera grunted as Kanan fell into the seat beside her and both Sabine and Zeb hit the floor. Ahsoka grabbed onto the wall and steadied herself.

"Alright Hera, we need to be out of this…Like yesterday," Kanan growled.

She glared at Kanan, snapping, "Can you fly us through any better?"

Kanan grimaced and she nodded, "I didn't think so. Stop being a backseat driver."

"Yeah Kanan!" Zeb laughed, smacking his shoulder. "Let our captain be the captain."

Sabine smacked the Lasat on the back of the head, earning a growl from the elder. Ahsoka couldn't help but shake her head. It was amazing how such a disagreeable group could be one of the best cells in the rebellion.

"Phoenix One to Ghost," A voice stated over the com. "You have your opening. Move in."

"Got it, Phoenix One," Hera replied, continuing to push the thrusters. As soon as they were in the pull of the planet, Hera pressed into a nose dive, avoiding several stray blasts. The Ghost began to beep in panic and Chopper whirled loudly.

Everyone held on tightly as Hera grunted, "Hold on."

Kanan's eyes widened slightly when they broke through the clouds and he realized the ground was quickly approaching.

"Uh…Hera!" Kanan shouted, gripping the arm rests tightly.

His stomach rose to his throat when she pulled up suddenly, right before impact. Everyone breathed out in unison in relief, Hera simply smiling at them. One of her famous, genuinely happy looks that showed she was living the dream as a pilot.

"How was that?" She asked, smirking at the Jedi with a knowing look.

Kanan coughed past the lump in his throat and answered, "You're a good captain."

She shrugged.

"I try."

Isaac had gone from annoyed to concerned real quick.

He paced his own room in the manor, staring dazedly at the floor. He hadn't gotten much sleep, but the feeling through the Binding was disturbing him greatly. Ezra's feelings on pain and suffering were quaking Isaac on his feet and he had to work hard to keep steady.

He hadn't realized what a sacrifice such a thing would be.

Pausing, Isaac turned and stared out the large windows looking over the distant lake. He gripped his hands tightly behind his back and shut his eyes, whispering to himself, "What were you thinking?"

Not entirely sure if he was talking about himself or Vader, or even possibly Ezra, he continued his pacing. It was only fair to be honest. He was dumb for following that order, but wise all in the same breath. It would have been dumb to ignore the order as well.

Screw Vader's ideas though, he wasn't always right and sometimes Isaac was the smarter of the two.

Momentarily….Only for a second he thought maybe he didn't need Vader's help. But, that was shot. He was here because of Vader. He was trained because of Vader. He wasn't some Loth-Rat like his little brother because of Vader.

Blessing or a tragedy.

Who could say?

Isaac stopped suddenly when the communicator on his wrist beeped frantically. He sighed deeply in annoyance, rolling his eyes as he allowed the communication to come through. An admiral appeared on the hologram, though he was not one Isaac recognized, making him wonder if he was even important enough to have his communicator information.

The teen snapped, "What?"

There was a loud boom in the background of the transmission and the admiral looked to his left worriedly. Isaac's eyebrows furrowed with interest as he asked again, "What is it?"

The admiral cleared his throat and explained, "Sir, the Rebel Fleet is attacking our blockade in the Naboo system. A ship has managed to get through our defenses."

Isaac's jaw set and he hurriedly exited his room, asking the hologram floating from his wrist angrily, "How the hell did they find out about Naboo?"

"I have a theory, Sir," Another boom exploded and the Admiral continued shakily. "All transmissions have been silent except one sent out by a maid of the manor you are currently residing in. She said she was told by you personally to send a transmission to Imperial Sympathizers who could assist in the arrest of the Rebels. Which is the only reason we allowed the transmission to come through the barricade."

Isaac growled under his breath knowing immediately which maid it had to be.

The one who had constantly been looking over Ezra.

Isaac jumped into a sprint, running down the halls of the manor towards Ezra's room. His heart pounded fiercely in his chest as he approached the door and threw it open harshly.

The suspected maid whirled around from where she was standing beside the bed and Ezra looked over with barely alert eyes, but alert enough to see the murder in Isaac's amber orbs. The boy's own blue ones widened with fear and they quickly moved to the maid who had begun to step to the far corner of the room.

Isaac couldn't control his rage as he shouted at the woman he had only given passing glances to in the past…

"You filth!" Isaac yelled, his voice cold and hateful, causing Ezra to shudder. The elder male was shaking with anger, his fists tightened. "How dare you betray the Empire that has given you a roof over your head and food to eat!"

Ezra's eyes shifted to Aylo who was shivering with terror. Her eyes pricked with tears, but she appeared to be trying to straighten her shoulders. Ezra gripped the sheets and begged silently for her to ask for forgiveness. For her to do something to pull pity from Isaac. There had to be something there, but the Binding was swallowing him up with the fever and he could feel Isaac's anger eating him alive through the Force as well as the Binding.

"Isaac," Ezra croaked through a glass throat.

Aylo held up a hand to stop the child from talking and she returned her eyes to Isaac who was breathing heavily. She raised her chin and replied in a shaky voice, "I did not ask for the Empire to 'care' for me."

Isaac gritted his teeth and pointed towards Ezra, "Do you realize what you've done!? Those Rebel pests will come and attempt to take him away, maybe even succeeding considering his immovable state and you dare try and justify your actions!?"

"They are his family," Aylo whispered. "His friends."

"I am his blood!" Isaac screamed at the top of his lungs, his face turning red. "And you are assisting those imposters in taking him away from his true family and destiny!"

Aylo swallowed thickly, "The Empire took me from my family. I would never let that happen again."

Isaac looked appalled at her words and she continued, "You will never truthfully be his family. You may share his blood…But, he is not yours."

Ezra knew it was coming, even with his dazed fever he saw the scarlet blade appear in Isaac's hand suddenly. The youngest screamed, unable to sit up in his weakness, but mustering an earsplitting sound as the lightsaber imbedded itself into Aylo's chest from the thrust of Isaac's hand…

The woman gasped, falling forward as Isaac breathed heavily, trying to gain his composure through his rage and the pull of the Dark Side. Ezra felt the anguish overcome him, pushing down on his heart as Isaac pulled the blade out, stepping away and allowing Aylo to fall to her knees.

Her head turned towards him and she did not speak.

But, Ezra swore he could hear her whisper...

"Find your family for me."

Ezra wailed, he wailed and threw his limbs in every direction, but not to the exhaustion he felt. He was barely moving in all actuality in his weakness of the fever. He was dying. The Force was ripping him to shreds just like her chest. He shouted continuously at Isaac, "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!"

It was a void. A void in the Force that was a precipice waiting for him to slip.

And he was slipping.

"You're damaged, Ezra," Ezra thought bitterly. "You hurt anyone and everyone who gets near you."

Isaac deactivated the blade, staring at the body of the once was woman. His eyes moved to Ezra who screamed hoarsely on the bed. It was obviously taking everything Ezra had to raise his voice the way he was. He sounded like he was on his death bed.

He was…

The manor shook suddenly, causing Isaac to ignore Ezra's cries of anguish in favor of looking up at the ceiling. His vision was blurring from the Binding…Ezra's grief was strong and weighing down his chest with pain. But, someone was shooting at or near the manor, dust falling from the roof.

The Rebels had arrived.

Isaac jumped into action immediately, swallowing down the feelings Ezra was emitting. He hurriedly approached the bed, taking the semi-flailing boy into his arms and lifting him, wrapping the blanket around the fevered boy tightly.

Ezra's heart was breaking.

And Isaac was pissed he could feel it.

Maybe he should feel the guilt of stabbing the woman through the chest, but she had betrayed them. She had taken something from him that was not hers to take and not something she should have even involved herself with anyway.

She brought it on herself.

It was her fault.

Ezra was crying, but not struggling as Isaac carried him from the room and down the corridors of the manor. Once outside, he made a break for the treeline, knowing the only chance he had of getting away with Ezra was hiding in the forest.

Maybe he could wait them out.

Highly unlikely.

Kanan could feel him close.

The block was still there, the thing keeping him from completely feeling Ezra's presence. But, he could feel Ezra was nearby. And that was enough. That was enough to give him hope because this was the closest they had been to finding him in weeks.

But, even as they landed the ship in front of the manor…Something told him they were off track.

The maid who had contacted them had informed them they were in a manor, and this seemed to be the closest Kanan could get to seeking out the teenager, but it was ridiculous. The second they had walked in he was bombarded with feelings, but the place was empty.

Well…Except for a body in an upstairs bedroom.

The bed was stripped of blankets and the body of the maid who had contacted them lay on the floor. Kanan felt sorrow rip through him as it bounced in the room. Ezra had felt that. Ezra had felt pure horror at the sight of this woman.

The remnants were faded from strong all in the same breath.

"My God," Ahsoka whispered as she examined the gaping wound in the woman's chest. "She barely knew Ezra and she gave her life to try and help us rescue him."

Kanan bent down beside the body, shutting the woman's glossy eyes that were open wide at the ceiling. He turned his head, kneeling on one knee and gave a silent thought towards the Force. The room was so heavy…So burdened…He didn't know if Ahsoka felt it too, but from the look on her face she did.

Ahsoka approached the bedside table, opening it slowly. As she peered inside, she realized the only object inside of it was the picture of two familiar faces. Both dressed for a wedding. Ahsoka's heart clenched, seeing smiling faces of Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala.

She glanced at Kanan who had a knowing look.

"We'll circle the planet," Ahsoka said, her voice wavering with sorrow. "We'll continue looking. They couldn't have gone off world without the Fleet notifying us."

She tore the picture in half, dropping it to the floor.

Those people no longer existed.

Only pain.

Vader made no hesitation in confronting Kallus.

There was a stillness in the air when he entered the conference room of Kallus' ship. He had called the Agent some time before and told the trooper who escorted him to request he stay in the room and wait for Lord Vader.

A scare tactic. He made Kallus wait two hours before entering.

He wanted him to sit there and wonder what Vader wanted. What Vader would do. He wanted him to be afraid. To feel terror rising inside of him at the thought because well…Kallus was slime. Slime upon the galaxy and the Empire, but Vader knew not to kill him.

The Emperor would ask too many questions.

Still, he could frighten.

Vader entered, his boots heavy on the floor as he moved to stand in front of Kallus. He could feel the anxiety radiating off of the man as he stared straight ahead at attention. Vader spoke first, informing, "I assume you know why I have called you here."

Kallus cleared his throat and answered, "I do not, My Lord."

Vader held up his hand, tightening it and causing Kallus to suddenly grab hold of his throat, a confused expression appearing on his face. Vader snapped, "Agent Kallus, I do believe honesty is in order here."

He released the force choke just as soon as he had started it, waiting for Kallus to respond. The man coughed, leaning forward slightly as he breathed, "Yes Sir…I agree…I do believe I know why I am here."

"So you can guess what I am going to say next," Vader growled. "If you ever interfere with my business again, those few moments without oxygen will be the least of your worries. Do I make myself clear?"

Kallus forced himself to stand straight at attention once more…

"Yes…Lord Vader."

"Good," Vader hummed. "Then you will return to your work pursuing the Rebels and failing at their capture. And once enough time had passed without improvement in your search, I shall suggest to the Emperor himself that you are no longer useful and must be terminated. And you will do nothing about it."

Agent Kallus gulped thickly and Vader turned on his heels, exiting the room.

Quick and easy…

Cowards were the simplest prey.