Kanan parked the transport, leaning back in the seat and delaying getting up to help unload. He wasn't expecting Zeb to come around to the front, shoving something through the window.
"You should probably take this." Zeb said, dropping the com into his hand.
"Yeah?" Kanan raised the com. He'd left his own back on ship, it was starting to show signs of moisture corrosion and he wanted to replace a few components before taking it back out in the rain.
"Specter Six is missing." Hera didn't even bother with pleasantries, her voice tense even with the tone mechanically flattened by the speaker.
"Missing? How?" Kanan was confused, and a little annoyed. Ezra was old enough to stay put without supervision without causing them any trouble.
"He left a note saying that he was bringing you your ID, but Zeb says he's not there. Any idea where he might be?" Hera asked.
"I don't know. Maybe he's still between the ship and here. " Kanan reflexively patted his pocket, finding it empty. His annoyance vanished, replaced by guilt at judging him so quickly. Ezra didn't have any real way to contact them, and of course he'd feel like he needed to get it to him right away.
"We could check for the bike." Zeb offered quietly, Kanan nodded.
"I'll check and see if his bike made it here and let you know. Specter One out." Kanan looked up at Zeb "Finish unloading the transport, I'll check for the bike." He tried not to worry too much. Ezra was probably still just between the two locations with no way to contact anyone. He'd have felt it if something bad happened to him, wouldn't he? Except with their bond as weak as it was, all he could tell was that Ezra was still alive, nothing more. That ruled out a fiery speeder crash at least, at best it was just bad timing, at worst he was likely having trouble with his bike and would be unhappy to be stuck in the rain.
That theory went out the window when he finished trudging through the rain only to find what was obviously Ezra's bike parked in the lot. He pulled up the com again.
"His bike's here, so he's got to be here somewhere. Don't worry, I'll find him."
Several hours later, Kanan was regretting his optimism. The bike was there, but no sign of Ezra. He'd checked everywhere, asked around, even eventually risked contacting Sabine. She was able to look up that Kanan's ID had been used in a terminal to look up the schedule, but he hadn't left any other electronic evidence. It just confirmed what they already knew, Ezra had arrived at the port, then vanished. Sabine was having trouble getting her hands on any security cam footage that might give them more details, and they were running short on leads.
It felt like a betrayal to go to the port authorities and alert them, Kanan was fairly certain if he'd been asked a few days ago if there was ever any reason he'd be standing in front of an Imperial security officer and giving them information on how to hopefully find his padawan he'd have insisted there was no possibility. As it was, the frustrating part was getting them to believe that he was even missing at all.
Yes, Kanan had checked back where they were staying, yes he'd checked all the likely places he'd have gone. Including the bars. Cal would not be off getting drunk anyway. Yes, he was sure. Something must have happened to him. No, he didn't just run away.
It might have gone on like that for days, Kanan was fairly certain, if Sabine hadn't managed to get some useful cam footage. It wasn't much, with the rain there was only a small one on the computer terminal itself, but there was a decently clear shot of Ezra at it and someone larger coming up behind him. It wasn't clear what the person did, but Ezra started to collapse only to be scooped up over a shoulder, the figure turning to walk out of range of the camera. That made it fairly clear they were dealing with some sort of foul play.
Then the argument was, of course, that there was no way of knowing if 'Cal' was still alive or not, but eventually port security agreed to scan all outgoing ships and cargo for life signs until some sign was found, or a reasonable time had passed. Kanan was fairly certain his idea of a reasonable length of time and theirs was going to differ, but he took the small victory. Whoever took Ezra wouldn't get him offworld easily and it gave them time to find him. They'd find him, Kanan was certain of it. He halfway expected Ezra to walk in at some point while he was arguing with the Imperials, wet and insulted that he'd been captured by amateurs. He didn't, the feeling from their Force bond stayed quiet and low, he couldn't sense anything good or helpful, but he didn't sense anything bad either. He clung to that scrap of hope, and that everyone else on the Ghost crew would understand it wasn't just empty hope that kept him arguing with the Imperials until he was very sure all the proper security measures were in place. He didn't have any faith that they'd find him before his crew, but at least their incompetence shouldn't aid the kidnappers.
He kept his biggest worry firmly buried, not even letting himself fully play out the thought. That when the kidnappers realized the heat was on they'd decide it was too risky to keep Ezra alive. He could have doomed him by locking down port security. But if they got him off planet the galaxy was a very big place. It was their best shot, and Kanan fervently hoped he wasn't making a horrible mistake.
Zeb wasn't exactly sure if walking around and just knocking on doors and asking people would do any good. It was better than doing nothing though. The port was still scanning for life signs on all outgoing ships and cargo and everyone on alert, but so far nothing over the last several days. Kanan was insistent that Ezra was still on planet and still alive, but beyond that he was unhelpful.
Almost as unhelpful as the few people that did answer the doors, even if when they got a good look at him they were usually polite at least. Still, no one had seen 'Cal' anywhere around. He was about ready to call it a day, when he turned a corner and ran smack into someone.
Zeb started to growl at them to watch where they were going when the person started to fall. Zeb grabbed their shoulder automatically, then just stared in shock. It was Ezra. An Ezra that looked like death warmed over, but he was alive.
"Hey. Hey!" Zeb tried to gently shake him, patting his cheek. "Wake up." Ezra didn't even twitch. Zeb frowned, then just easily hauled him up and over a shoulder, pulling out his com.
"Specter Four to Ghost. Come in." With Ezra limp against him he could feel the heat from his fever even though his rain gear and fur, which couldn't be a good sign. He made up his mind before he even got the return contact and started walking, heading in the direction of the med center.
"Ghost here." Kanan's voice came over the com "Any news?"
"I found him. I found Specter Six." Zeb spoke steadily enough as he walked, trying not to sound too worried.
"Is he alright? Where are you? We'll find the closest location for a pickup."
"No pickup, I'm taking him to the med center." Zeb hesitated, trying to think of the best way to put it. "He's sicker than before."
"How much sicker?" Kanan's voice was sharper with worry.
"Sick enough." Zeb said bluntly, not happy with the fact Ezra hadn't so much as twitched as he was carried. He was glad for the soft wheeze of breath right near his ear to let him know Ezra was still breathing.
"We'll meet you there. Ghost out." Kanan cut the connection and Zeb tucked his com unit away, picking up his pace.
One good thing, Zeb reflected, was when you came in carrying someone unconscious you didn't have to wait long. One of the med droids on duty scanned Ezra and then sent them straight back into a room where there was a flurry of activity. Medical droids took blood samples and ran scans. One motioned for Zeb to lay Ezra out on the examination table and he did so very reluctantly.
It didn't take long for the head of the med center herself to bustle in. She reached to take Ezra's pulse herself, turning on Zeb with a severe look.
"How did he get so bad?"
Zeb bristled a little "Don't know. If I had to guess it has something to do with the fact he's been missing for almost four days now."
"Four days… he's the reason they've had the shipping port on high alert?" She kept talking while checking over Ezra, and the readouts the medical droids were displaying.
"That's right." Zeb didn't really know what most of the readings said, but to his eye they didn't look good. "How is he?"
"He's…" She hesitated, as if trying to figure out the best way to say it. "Not good. He's developed pneumonia, but it's hard to tell exactly how ill he is since he's been so heavily drugged. They used an animal tranquilizer on him." She stopped speaking, giving him a look.
Zeb realized he was softly growling and forced himself to quiet. "Explains why he wouldn't wake up then?"
"It'll take hours before he's conscious again, maybe longer since he's ill." The doctor sounded concerned. There was a beep from one of the droids.
"Doctor, the patient is experiencing low oxygen saturation. I would suggest he be moved to a more elevated position for continued examination and treatment." The droid chimed in.
Zeb didn't need sensors to see that Ezra looked worse, even paler if possible and his lips were starting to develop an unhealthy blue tinge that never meant anything good on humans. He didn't wait for the droids, moving closer so he could grab Ezra's shoulder, pulling him into a partially sitting position and holding him there.
"That's…. we'll move him to a reclining bed in a minute." The doctor seemed surprised but not upset, fitting an oxygen mask over Ezra's nose and mouth.
"Sorry, tend to act first, you know?" Zeb shrugged, not letting go of Ezra.
"No no, that's fine. The quicker we get his oxygen sat back up the better. I just didn't want you to be under the impression he'd need to be held up like that the entire time." The doctor said.
"If you can't know for sure how he's doing until he wakes up, can't you give him something to get rid of the drugs?" As best Zeb could tell it looked like Ezra was breathing easier with the mask on, but he couldn't be sure he wasn't just being hopeful.
"I'd like to hold off on that if possible. The more drugs in his system the harder it will be on him, and the quickest treatment for pyregutta pneumonia is unpleasant. If I put in more drugs to counteract the tranquilizer he'll be entirely unable to be sedated for the procedure." The doctor sounded apologetic.
"Yeah, not going to want to wake him up just to torture him." Zeb nodded.
"Which, speaking of, if you'd allow the droid to take him, the sooner we can get started on treatment the better." The doctor motioned to one of the droids that had stayed uncomfortably close.
" Right." Zeb reluctantly let Ezra go, glad that the medical droid seemed slightly more careful than some he'd seen as it lifted the young human and carried him back deeper into the facility.
Kanan spent most of the ride thinking it felt like it wasn't quite happening. That he'd arrive only to be told some mistake had been made, it was some other kid. After four days of being on edge for any sort of news it was almost hard to believe. It took far too long to get ready and out and Hera didn't even start to fight him over who got the front spot on the speederbike. She just got behind him and ducked down to hold on.
Logically Kanan knew that no news was good news, but the silent com loomed in the back of his thoughts the entire drive, taunting him with worst case scenarios. What if whatever happened to Ezra happened to Zeb? The kidnappers might have caught up with them and been too much for Zeb to handle. He trusted the Lasat with his life, but faced with backing away from the people who'd hurt one of his team or going for him he was fairly sure what decision Zeb would make. He just hoped it hadn't come to that, that something would go right for once.
The bike was only mostly stopped when he went to start jumping off it. Thankfully Hera was just as quick on the draw, landing on her feet beside him and starting into the med center without missing a beat.
"Where's Cal?" Kanan remembered just in time that the receptionist droid wouldn't have any clue who 'Ezra Bridger' was, or at least they shouldn't as long as Zeb hadn't slipped up.
"Please fill out a form and you will be seen shortly." The droid said blandly.
"I'm not here for that, I'm here to see someone who was brought in earlier." Kanan tried his best to sound like he wasn't half a second away from just going around and finding Ezra himself.
"I'm sorry, visitation is on a case by case basis and…" The droid started, only to get interrupted by a lady Rodian in a doctor's coat.
"I've been expecting them, come along." She spoke, opening the door to the hallway for them both.
"Doctor Tana." Hera spoke gratefully, following closely behind Kanan. "How is he?"
"Things are looking optimistic. He's still in rough shape, but he's currently stable and showing signs of improvement. You can see him, of course." She spoke as she walked, leading them back and motioning to one of the doors. "Your friend said you were on your way and gave a quick description. I already had to tell the port officials that he was in no shape to be interviewed just yet."
"Thank you." Hera said, and Kanan nodded in agreement.
Kanan stepped through the door the doctor indicated, glancing around for Ezra. The first thing he spotted was a patient bed, conspicuously empty. Before worry could get too strong a foothold he kept looking, spotting Zeb in a nearby chair. He was leaning back in it, Ezra looked to be wrapped in a light blanket and held in his lap so he was resting mostly sitting upright, like someone fallen asleep during a long shuttle ride. Ezra's eyes were closed and there was a mask over his mouth and nose connected to large clear tube that seemed to be blowing a blue tinted gas down to the mask. It was hard to tell how much of it was stirring with his breathing, and how much was the machine moving it.
"'Bout time you got here. Kid hasn't stirred since I brought him in, but then whoever had him pumped him full of tranquilizers." Zeb offered after a moment, speaking in fairly normal tone of voice. Kanan realized he had been about to whisper and stopped, clearing his throat.
"How did you find him?" Kanan asked, moving closer so he could lightly brush back Ezra's hair. It was fairly filthy, if the medical center had cleaned him up at all they'd ignored washing his hair.
"He ran into me. Literally. I think he was just trying to cover as much distance as he could away from wherever he was." Zeb shrugged slightly, then shifted Ezra back up when he started to slide a little.
"He doesn't need to be in a bacta tube?" Hera said as she and Doctor Tana joined them in the small room.
"No, we only have the one and I prefer to leave it free for emergencies if possible. The concerns are the fungal pneumonia and general weakness from dehydration and lack of nutrition. It doesn't appear that he's eaten for days. We gave him fluids for the dehydration. The treatment he's on now he'll need to stay on for several more hours, but it should take care of the pneumonia. After that it'll just be a matter of making sure he eats, small amounts at first, and building his reserves back up." The doctor said it matter of fact as she checked some readouts. "I don't think you'll take me up on this, but if you wanted to you could leave him here overnight and pick him up tomorrow. He should be conscious by then."
"You're right, I think we'd all rather stay close." Hera smiled. "Although if there's somewhere with a bit more room that would be nice, so we're not all crowding him.
Kanan glanced around the room, if Ezra could sense them at all while in his unconscious drugged state a dozen feet one way or the other wouldn't make much difference to him. But the room itself was small, with just the one bed and the chair that Zeb had claimed and a medical droid that seemed to be on low power in the corner.
"There is, I can show you now" Doctor Tana offered.
Hera nodded. "Thank you. "
"I'll check it out in a minute." Kanan didn't want to move just yet, not when he'd just gotten there. And it might give Hera more time to talk to her and keep feeling out her thought on the rebellion. It was a little less cramped when Hera followed the doctor out, but he was reluctant to sit on the medical bed.
"You want to take him for a bit? He breathes easier sitting up." Zeb offered.
The medical droid seemed to perk up a little at that, offering in an annoyed tone "That is why the bed adjusts to a variety of elevations."
"Yeah, well. He looked cold on it with just the one blanket." Zeb grumbled. Kanan could see why, the bed was obviously designed to accommodate beings up to and over Zeb's height and mass, one short slender human would look lost on it.
"I assure you that his body temperature was well within acceptable parameters." The droid said, sounding just as put out as before. Kanan wasn't sure if they were programmed that way from the start, or they picked up that tone shortly after starting to deal with unruly patients and worried friends and families.
"I can take him." Kanan started, then paused "Just let me get my rain gear off first." There didn't seem to be a good place to put it, so for the moment he just laid it out on the unused bed. The droid made an annoyed sound, but didn't say anything else.
"Figure even if he does go back on the bed at some point, better to have one of us here. Don't want him waking up and finding himself being held in a strange room and think he needs to bolt again." Zeb waited until Kanan was ready before standing, careful of the mask and tube, leaving the chair vacant for him.
"Good point" Kanan settled himself, hoping nothing would go numb or fall asleep from him holding still for a while, reaching out to take Ezra. Even dead weight he felt far too light and it wasn't hard to get him situated, mimicking how Zeb was holding him before. Ezra still felt too warm to the touch, but it didn't seem like a dangerously high fever. He had to keep reminding himself the lack of response was from the drugs used, not because of his illness.
"Got him? Good, I'm starving. Going to see what they've got to eat around here." Zeb gave Kanan's shoulder a pat before he started out, leaving him essentially alone in the room.
Kanan wasn't sure how long he sat, the steady movement of Ezra's breathing and the soft hum of the machine connected to the tube and mask made it easy to slip into a light meditation. He needed to center himself, release the emotional tension that had built up during the time Ezra was missing. Like this he could sense him easily, even with the muted feeling unconsciousness brought.
By the time Kanan came back to full awareness he felt a great deal better, even if nothing had changed. He put a hand to Ezra's chest, feeling the slow shallow rise and fall. It seemed like he was barely drawing in any of the medicine at all like this and he tentatively reached out with the Force. Healing wasn't one of his strongest skills, but he could gently coax Ezra to breathe in deeper, take longer breaths and pull more of the medicated air into his lungs. He rubbed slowly, feeling Ezra respond to the nudging, taking a long deep breath. His silent triumph was cut short when Ezra almost immediately expelled it in a wet cough, hacking harshly in reflex and spraying the inside of the mask with mucus.
Kanan sat very still, horrified and flinching when the medical droid came over, temporarily shutting off the tube and removing the mask, cleaning the mask to fit it back on.
"Good, self expulsion of sputum is preferable to mechanical means of fluid removal." The droid intoned, starting back to his corner once the mask was back on Ezra's face and the machine turned back on.
Kanan relaxed some, though he turned his head away at the small amount of blue gas that escaped. It was foul, smelling somewhat like rotten fruit and spoiled dairy, and he was almost glad Ezra wasn't awake to realize what he was breathing in.
"So coughing is a good sign?" Kanan rubbed over Ezra's chest, it could have been his imagination but he did seem to be breathing in a little more easily.
"That's what I said." The droid snarked, settling back in his spot.
Kanan nodded. He could give Ezra time to rest then try to trigger another coughing fit. Whatever it took to get the infection out of his lungs and airways before the tranquilizer wore off he'd help with. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and letting his mind drift back towards meditation. It was going to be a long night, but it would be worth it.