"Where would we even find Meilooruns on this planet?" Zeb asked as he and Ezra walked through the street.
"No idea. Let's ask someone." Ezra ran up to one of the vendors and asked his question. Zeb sauntered toward the vendor, smiling at the boy's eagerness.
After they had gotten back from Malachor, Ezra became withdrawn and distant. Zeb understood the guilt and loss that he felt. At the beginning Ezra couldn't sleep. He stayed awake, walking around the camp and watching the stars every night. After a few days, they all began to notice the exhaustion that seemed to radiate from him. Each member of the crew tried to console him but with each attempt, he seemed to draw farther away.
Zeb remembered what it was like after his people had been destroyed. He, too, felt guilty when those he loved were lost. When Zeb reached out, Ezra didn't immediately withdraw like he did with the others. Zeb thought that perhaps Ezra could feel the connection between them. After a pep talk, Zeb got Ezra to fall asleep. From that point on, the bond between the two just grew stronger. Now they were just like brothers.
"You might be able to find some Meilooruns on the other side of town," the vendor said. "There's another market there."
"Thanks," Ezra said. "Let's go." The two headed down the street to the other end of town. A Storm Trooper Patrol passed by and a tie fighter flew overhead.
"Heh, heh," Zeb laughed. "What do you say we steal another tie," he suggested.
"That would be great!" Ezra said. "We could, oh I don't know, actually crash it this time." The two of them cut through an alley to reach the next street. Ezra stopped in the middle of the deserted passage with a grim look on his face.
"What is it?" Zeb asked, turning to see why the boy stopped.
"Nothing, I just... I have a bad feeling about this."
"Well, why don't we get the Meilooruns and then you and Kanan can sort out your force-y feelings together. If you're feeling it, I'm sure he is."
"You're right," Ezra said, starting again. "I'm sure it's nothing." Ezra passed Zeb. Zeb frowned. He wondered if he was making a mistake. Ezra had just gotten free from his guilt and Zeb didn't want to see him go back to the way he was after Malachor. All he could do was push him forward and hope for the best. As the two emerged from the alley, Zeb looked around and saw the marketplace nearby. The first Vendor that Zeb saw had a crate full of Meilooruns.
"Well, isn't that lucky," he said. "Meilooruns!" The Lasat and the Jedi hurried over to the Sullustan vendor.
"How much for the Meilooruns?" Ezra asked excitedly.
"Meilooruns are rare in this sector," the vendor said in a raspy voice. "Those fruits are costly."
"Yeah, yeah, we know," Zeb said. "How much?"
"They'll be… two hundred. Each."
"Two hundred credits?" Zeb asked angrily. "That's outrageous!"
"You want the fruit, you'll pay the price," the vendor said. Zeb growled, stepping closer to the booth.
"Hang on," Ezra said, grabbing Zeb's arm to stop him. "Let me try something." Zeb looked down to see the kid smiling mischievously. Ezra reached his hand out to the vendor's face and waved it in front of him. "You will lower the price," he said.
"Excuse me?" the Sullustan asked.
"You will lower the price of the Meilooruns," Ezra repeated with another wave of his hand.
"I suppose I can lower the price. Just for you, though," the vendor said. Zeb was amazed. The kid was getting good at using mind tricks. "How about… ten credits each."
"I'd say that sounds reasonable," Ezra said, looking up at Zeb with a grin.
"I'd say you're right," Zeb replied, fishing out the credits to pay for the fruit. "We'll take the whole crate."
They headed back toward the Ghost, slipping into the alley again. "That was some pretty good jedi stuff back there," Zeb said.
"Thanks," Ezra said. "Too bad it won't work on you." Ezra smiled playfully and turned around, walking backwards. "You're not weak-minded like that guy."
"Yeah," Zeb said. "I've been through too much to be weak-minded." Zeb stopped in his tracks. He stared at the ground, thinking of Lasan. "I guess… Well… I suppose you understand what I mean." He looked up. Ezra looked shaken. After a moment, Zeb smiled and began to laugh. "Enough of that. Come on, kid! Tell me, how does this… mind trick work?"
Ezra turned around and began to walk toward the other street, happily recounting his experiences with mind tricks. "The trick is to keep yourself open. That way you can feel what their mind is like and-"
Ezra was interrupted by the sharp sound of a lightsaber igniting behind them. Before he could turn around, Zeb felt a sharp pain piercing his side. He cried out in pain and looked down to see the red lightsaber sticking through his flesh.