Kanan and Sabine walked through the town, the sounds of vendors and restaurants filling the air. Kanan smelled meat cooking in spices and breathed deep.
"What is that smell?" he asked.
"The restaurant to our right is selling nerf steaks."
"Mmmm," Kanan said, thinking of the delicious, dark, juicy meat. "Maybe we can pick some up if we have enough credits later." Sabine laughed and Kanan smiled. She didn't laugh much anymore. After he went blind, Kanan missed seeing her artwork. Whenever he smelled the fresh paint, he asked Sabine what her painting looked like. At first it was hard for her to just describe her artwork and she seemed sad whenever he asked, but as she got used to it, she began to find the words. Whenever she described her art, Kanan could feel the warm, happy feeling that seemed to radiate from her.
"There's a vendor on our left who looks like he has everything we need," Sabine said, pulling Kanan to the left. He heard Sabine fishing for credits as they approached.
"Welcome," a deep voice greeted. "What can I help you with today?"
"We have a list of supplies that we need." Chopper began to whirr as he plugged into the shopkeeper's station.
"Ah, yes," he replied. "That will be four hundred credits." The credit chips clinked together as Sabine gave them to the vendor. "It will be just a moment. Kasta!"
""What is it, dad?" a boy answered from the back room.
"There's an order you need to fill! I'll send it back there for you!" His computer console beeped and the boy called a confirmation. The shopkeeper sighed and Kanan could feel him smile. "Is this your father?" the shopkeeper asked.
"You could say that," Sabine said. Kanan felt a rush of warmth spread over him and he smiled. He could feel others' emotions through the force more easily after being blinded.
"Well, it's good of you to be helping him out."
"She truly is a lifesaver," Kanan said. "I just wanted to get out and about. See the town, if you know what I mean."
The vendor chuckled. "Do you mind me asking how it happened?"
Kanan frowned. "Well," he started. "I guess you could say I got on someone's bad side and that he wanted to kill me. But he didn't." Kanan had been asked this question before when he had gone on other missions. He decided that being vague was the best option when describing his injury.
"I bet that's a crazy story," the shopkeeper said. "Here are your supplies, miss."
"Thank you," Sabine said and Kanan heard the whirr of the hovering crates. "Come on, dad." Kanan chuckled and raised his hand. Sabine grabbed it and put it on her shoulder.
"Come again!" the vendor called. Kanan waved and walked away with Sabine.
"We don't have anymore credits, Kanan," she said. "We'll have to go back to taking supplies from the Empire."
"That shouldn't be too much trouble," he said, smiling. "It's not like we haven't lived off of the Empire's supplies before."
They made it back to the ghost and began to put the supply crates into the cargo hold when a wave of cold passed through Kanan's heart. He stopped. His commlink beeped.
"Spectre one! Come in!" Zeb's voice sounded pained from the other end.
"What is it, Spectre Four?"
"He took him-Gah!"
"Zeb?" The Lasat didn't answer. "Zeb!"
"I've got his position," Sabine said to his right. "Let's go!" Sabine grabbed Kanan's hand and they raced out of the hangar bay and down the street. He put all his trust in Sabine's guidance and reached out with the force. He could feel the darkness, the redness of his vision overpowering him. As they went farther through the city, Kanan could feel nothing but pain. The same kind of pain from when he lost his eyes.
"He's in pain, Sabine," Kanan said with clenched teeth.
"Then we need to hurry. Come on!" A few turns later, the pain became more intense.
"He's nearby," he said. He began to hear the Lasat's groans of pain.
"I see him!" Sabine said, running faster. "He's hurt, Kanan! Badly!" Sabine slowed to a stop and pulled Kanan to the ground. "Zeb!"
Kanan rested his hands on the Lasat's body and Zeb cried out in pain.
"Where's Ezra?" Sabine asked. Kanan felt the fear well up inside her. Kanan tried his best to stay calm, but he was breathing heavily. The worry he felt for his padawan was overwhelming.
""He took him!" Zeb said in a gasp.
"Who? Who took Ezra?" Kanan reached out with the force, trying to ease Zeb's pain. He felt the wound; the lightsaber had narrowly missed the Lasat's vital organs, but it still did its damage. Without treatment, Zeb wouldn't last long.
"A redblade," Zeb said. "A redblade with horns and robotic legs!" A wave of fear rushed over Kanan. The red and black face flashed in his mind. His last true sight.
"Maul," he said quietly. "No."
"Maul is here?" Sabine asked.
"He said something about Ezra being his apprentice and getting revenge on his enemies. GAH!" Kanan felt Zeb's pain and he grimaced.
"Sabine, help Zeb to a medstation. I'm going after Ezra."
""But how will you be able to find him?" Sabine asked.
Kanan reached out his hand and focused. He wouldn't lose his padawan to that monster like he did his eyes.
"Don't worry about me. Take care of Zeb. Chopper, I'll need you." He felt around for Chopper and grabbed hold of the droid. He stood up, stooped over to keep a hand on the astromech. "Let's go." Kanan and Chopper sped off down the street, Kanan focusing on Ezra. No one would take his padawan away.
"Go left now Chop!" They turned and Kanan felt Ezra's presence growing stronger. Kanan directed Chopper through the streets, turning countless times until he could tell that Ezra was near. He stopped and focused.
"Chopper, where are we?" he asked. Chopper beeped a reply. "The spaceport? He must have used one of the inquisitors' tie fighters to get off of Malachor! Chopper, we have to find Ezra now!" Chopper grabbed Kanan's hand and pulled him along. As they went, Kanan could hear the sound of a tie fighter's engine starting. "He's here, chopper!"
Wah waaaaah
They turned into the hangar and Kanan could feel Ezra's presence growing weaker. "NO!" he screamed, running forward. "Ezra!" He stood beneath the tie fighter and turned his head toward the sky. The sound of the screeching engines receded as the tie fighter flew away.
He failed. Kanan failed to protect his padawan.
"I will find you, Ezra! I promise!"