Although they had made it to small bar with good drinks in hand, none of the crew were in the mood for relaxing. No one had directly addressed it yet, but their thoughts couldn't help but fly back to their youngest member who was now discussing some mysterious business with Ashoka. Hera glanced over to Kanan as she watched him close his eyes again; clearly using the force. She couldn't be sure, but she hoped he was trying to connect to Ezra. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw him fall out of his meditation, a frown forming on his features. Evidently, this wasn't going to be good news.
He breathed in sharply, opening his eyes.
"Well come on Kanan- your Jedi tricks telling you anything?" Zeb huffed, his concern for the kid showing even if it was through his anger.
"A few things… I'm sensing that Ezra's annoyed, definitely worried…surprised- and maybe a little sad? I must say, he seems to be getting better at the Jedi tricks I'm teaching him; it was a lot harder to read him this time. But it doesn't sound like good news…" Kanan trailed off.
"Of course it isn't. When is it ever?!" Sabine exclaimed, frustrated.
"I say we head back then. There's no use in prolonging it, and I'd rather know exactly what it is we're dealing with." Hera sighed, standing up as the group made their way out of the bar and back to the ship. As they trudged back, Kanan tried to communicate with his padawan through their bond, but it seemed Ezra was shutting him out. Becoming more concerned, Kanan hurried up their pace.
As they returned to the ship they crossed with Ashoka who was walking down the ramp.
"Ezra's inside… Just know that the rebellion will help him however they can." Ashoka smiled softly, giving them a nod before making her way out.
Chopper beeped angrily.
"Couldn't agree more" Zeb cried, "how kriffin' mysterious can one person get?!"
Upon entering the common room, the group were met with one Ezra Bridger seated at the table, furiously scribbling down something on paper.
"Hey" He looked up briefly, having heard them enter.
"It's not good news, is it?" Kanan asked, coming to sit down beside his padawan. The rest of the crew slotted themselves into the picture; Hera by the table whilst Zeb and Sabine took a seat. Chopper waited by the table, silent for once.
"Not exactly…" Ezra sighed, trying to figure out where to start. "It's to do with something- well, more like someone that we got involved with when rescuing Kanan…" Ezra hinted, cringing when realisation dawned on most of the crew member's faces.
"Oh- not him!"
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"Karabast!"
"What?!" Kanan cried "Who and what am I missing here?" Everyone turned towards the Jedi.
Oh how Kanan is not going to like this… Zeb thought to himself.
"Okay! Let's just all calm down." Hera ordered, "… Right, well you see- Kanan, you've never really heard the full story of how we found you. I was given orders that finding your position had become impossible and that it was safer to move on from finding you… but Ezra here didn't quite agree with that decision."
"Ezra?" Kanan turned to face him. "What did you do?"
Ezra sighed, knowing he was in a heap of trouble.
"Vizago-" Ezra winced when Kanan's eyebrows immediately shot up. "I went to Vizago… He had information on how we could find you- I know he did, but he wasn't very forth coming with the information. So in order to get the knowledge on your position, I had to give him something …and as I didn't have anything on me at the time I may have promised him a favour."
"You did WHAT?!" Kanan tried not to shriek. "Why would you do that?"
"Because I had to find you, Kanan…" He paused. "I know you would've done the same thing, so don't even try to make me regret it." Ezra challenged.
"You know the kid's right." Zeb added, trying to get Kanan to simmer down.
"I know," Kanan sighed, releasing the tension from his shoulders. "I know- you did what you had to do… So what, this business with Ashoka was to do with Vizago?" Kanan asked, switching the topic. He wasn't annoyed at Ezra- no, merely annoyed that he had been the reason such things had happened.
"Yeah; he's calling in his favour… In a day to be precise."
"Oh karabast." He muttered, "Tell me it's just some sort of payment or… ?"
"No, not exactly. It's… um, well- he wants me to be the 'protector' of him and his cargo… He's got to take it to some buyer but he's been having a little trouble. Apparently this cargo is eagerly wanted by other people, so he wants me to do whatever I can to make sure it makes it to its destination." As Ezra finished it was clear the crew weren't happy.
"There's got to be some way to get out of this?" Sabine tried.
"'Fraid not. I tried backing out but he had some leverage over me… Somehow he knows all of our true identities. Literally everything- photos, names… and he threatened to turn them over to the empire. I'm sorry, but no way was I going to let them get any of it-"
"That's all well and good, Ezra, but what does that mean now?" Hera queried, glad that Ezra had done the right thing. Still, she was nowhere near happy with what might be the outcome of it.
"It means I accepted his request… and I leave tomorrow afternoon."
A chorus of disagreements erupted from the crew.
"What other choice is there?" Ezra countered back calmly, gaining everyone's attention. "Look- it'll be over before we know it, and then I never have to owe this guy anything ever again… I made this problem, so I'm going to sort it." With Ezra's conclusion the crew seemed to slump slightly, realising just what this meant for them.
Slowly, the group nodded and small plans were made about how they'd sort out tomorrow, making it as normal as possible. Eventually each member flitted out, the evening coming quickly. Hera went back to her piloting; work always kept her occupied. Zeb left to head down to the hanger where he could deal his frustration out on the dummies with his bow staff. Sabine gathered up her equipment and went to her room- painting always helped. Chopper shut himself off from the world and went into charging mode, clearly irritated. Kanan and Ezra remained. Ezra stood, gathering his rough notes and heading for the door.
"Hang on- I'll come with you." Kanan decided spontaneously quickly standing to follow his padawan.
Outside the ship, Ezra smirked mischievously at Kanan, before taking a Jedi leap up onto the top of the Ghost. Not one to back down from a challenge, Kanan soon followed.
He joined Ezra on the flat surface of the Ghost's roof, sitting down next to him so their shoulders bumped as they both looked up into the sky above. It was beginning to turn to evening and an orangey pink coloured the sky, washing down the blue ready for the stars to come. The colours chased the sun as it set over in the horizon. Here Kanan felt calm, his padawan beside him, their force bond humming strongly, the crew on deck below, and the cool air refreshing his senses. Some silly part of him wished they could stay like this forever. As he sat shoulder to shoulder with his apprentice he tried to gauge how Ezra was feeling about this. Gently he used the force to probe the boy's mind- clearly not gently enough, for Ezra turned to smile at him.
"Trying to mind read again master?" Ezra chuckled.
"Alright" Kanan laughed, raising his hands in the air in surrender, "You caught me" As Ezra rolled his eyes, Kanan went back to his sky watching.
"Kanan…You know I'm going to be alright, yeah?" Ezra asked, turning serious.
"I know Ezra- you're fully capable of fending for yourself. I do know that… But I can't help but get a bad feeling about this" Kanan admitted.
"You and me both."
"Well then why don't we just come with you? That way we've got each other's backs." Kanan suggested… He had to- no, wanted to- do this to protect Ezra.
"Kanan… I would never not want you there" Ezra admitted honestly "But Vizago's not letting me bring anyone. I tried really I did but he claims that having too many of us will bring too much attention to him. After all one lightsabre's going to cause quite a stir… I didn't want to go against him, not with the information he has…" Ezra trailed off, frustrated with everything but ready to face it. He was ready to pay his debt; it was only fair- after all, he had got his master back.
"Kid…" Kanan wasn't sure what to say. He could feel Ezra's acceptance and readiness for self-sacrifice strongly; which only got to him more. "I know what you're saying is right, but you need anything- and I mean anything- then you contact us first thing alright? Make sure you bring your com, or even contact me through the force and we'll- no I'll- be there you got that?"
Ezra looked down, smiling oddly at how parental Kanan sounded but touched by the sentiment "Thank you Kanan."
"Oh, come here" Kanan smiled warmly, opening his arms and closing them tightly when he had the form of his padawan safely enclosed in his arms. Ezra relaxed into the embrace, breathing in the warmth and safety he felt. Kanan would rather he didn't have to let Ezra go but he knew that was not happening; not with the information against them.
As the sun melted away, darkness overcame the sky. Kanan and Ezra headed back inside the Ghost, ready to face tomorrow's challenges.
Morning came and Ezra awoke; as much as he didn't want to get out of bed, the thought that the quicker he left the quicker he could return kept him going. Hera had made sure he was well kitted out before placing a hand on his cheek as her way of a goodbye; Sabine supplied him with some of her miracles giving him a friendly hug; Zeb had given him a good teasing before straightening up and giving Ezra a lasat salute, an honour that had Ezra speechless; then finally there was Kanan, who merely smiled to his padawan, connected with him through the force sending him all the strength and hope he believed Ezra had, embracing him quickly before a quick 'don't do anything stupid' passed his lips.
"Remember- keep us updated; if you can use your com every day we'll be sure to answer." Hera said. Ezra thanked her, thanked them all. He gave everyone a final nod and turned out of the Ghost, into the world beyond.