Ezra's dreams, much like his master's, were not peaceful. For most of the night he was caught in the throes of a nightmare, violently twisting and turning in his sleep. Images and sounds haunted him as the pain of the past attacked him over and over again. Vizago's earlier treatment of him had brought back memories from the street that he would much rather forget about, but he couldn't escape them in his dreams. Dreams that twisted darker and yet more harrowing, shapes becoming clearer, the voices yelling at Ezra louder. His parents- it's all your fault, how could you leave us Ezra? Kanan dying in his arms- you've let us down, you've let me down, how could you? Over and over he saw his worst fears dragged, writhing and scratching, to light. No, no, NO!

EZRA!

A sharp voice broke through the darkness. Its tone held no tone malice or hate.

Ezra looked around, confused. The faces and visions that had previously haunted him were replaced only with darkness. He felt alone. What had happened?

Ezra?

The voice came again, it searched him out, reaching down for him in the darkness. Pulling himself up Ezra went towards the voice, its light source beckoning him. He jumped back, surprised, when his master appeared before him.

"Ezra!" The form of Kanan smiled, coming towards him.

"No- no… Stay back." Ezra warned, voice shaking.

"Ezra… It's okay, it's me" Kanan sounded pained, "I found you through the force. Remember how you did with me? Seems our connection has grown because I can see you this time"

Ezra nodded slowly.

"You were having a nightmare, padawan. Took me a while to break through it." Ezra allowed Kanan to get closer this time.

"Sorry," he breathed, calming down now he knew the nightmares wouldn't be coming back. Kanan wouldn't let them.

"Hey- that's alright. You okay?" Kanan asked, concern showing. He was grateful he'd reached his padawan when he had; the terror and sadness radiating through their bond had connected him straight to his suffering young one. Where he had then concentrated his training on breaking down the bricks of Ezra's nightmares to find the shaking boy beneath. Being able to see each other's dreams forms was definitely a strange experience but being able to see his padawan had made him more relieved than he realised.

"Yeah, thank you- thanks" Ezra supplied, smiling for the first time "It's good to see you!" Ezra gave a small laugh. "Even if you're not real."

Kanan chuckled too. "Well, I'm mostly real- just the form I'm in right now isn't."

"Does that mean I can change how I look if I wanted to?" Ezra asked, curious.

"I suppose so, if you concentrated enough." Kanan mused, watching as Ezra glanced down to the wrist hidden behind his back before closing his eyes and concentrating completely.

"Um Ezra? What you doing there?" Kanan raised an eyebrow. Ezra's eyes flashed open and he slumped slightly. He pulled his wrist out from behind his back oddly reluctantly, but then his eyes widened and he smiled- Kanan looked on confused- wondering why his padawan was smiling at his normal wrist.

"Ezra what's going on- what did you do?"

Ezra looked up guiltily, rubbing his wrist slightly.

"Kanan- I… Vizago…" Ezra didn't seem to know what to say.

"Ezra-"

"Kanan, it's fine, really- I have it under control!" Ezra blurted, withdrawing into himself.

"Padawan, please" Kanan paused, trying to think of a way to get through to his stubborn student, "You'd want to know if it was me wouldn't you?... So please tell me as much as you can." Kanan begged. It took a moment, but Kanan's words worked and Ezra nodded, deciding to start with the good news.

"Okay, so… The information he has on us- it's all fake; he doesn't know anything. What he threatened us with was information he had stolen from the empire." Ezra was glad to see the worried look melt slightly off his master's face.

"Well that's great news!" Kanan smiled. The expression faltered when he realised he hadn't heard the whole story. "There's more?"

Ezra nodded. "Well- when I found out he didn't have anything over me, Vizago assumed I would try to run, to get out of doing his favour. I admit it crossed my mind," Ezra confessed "But I wanted to do what was fair and complete this. Vizago… um, well- he didn't quite share the same opinion…"

"What has he done, Ezra?" Kanan asked, kneeling down and placing his hands on his padawan's shoulders. Without meeting Kanan's eyes, Ezra offered his wrist. It looked normal at first, but after a couple of seconds, the illusion was taken away. Kanan's eyes widened at the sight of the harsh metal band that covered Ezra's wrist. With a half-suppressed gasp, Kanan's hands gently reached down to lift Ezra's arm and examine the gadget.

Ezra watched as his master's face became one of anger and sadness. Kanan continued to thoroughly check the cuff, even attempting to pull it to see if it gave any way.

It did not.

Kanan was furious. How dare somebody do this to his padawan? What right did they have to use someone this way? If Vizago was here right now, Kanan would personally ensure he got what he deserved. Snapping himself out of his anger, Kanan gently lowered Ezra's arm.

"Does this do what I think it does?"

"Depends on what you're thinking…" Ezra replied evasively.

"Looks like it can generate electric shocks?" Kanan guessed, recognising some of the wiring.

"Yeah, you got that spot on." Ezra grimaced. Kanan noticed, and his expression became impossibly darker with the knowledge that Vizago had clearly already tried his gadget out.

"Don't worry, Ezra. I'll figure something out" Kanan promised.

"Kanan, there is nothing to figure out. It's simple- I complete his favour and then it's all over. This is the best and safest way to do this." Ezra argued, still having not told Kanan about the bomb on his wrist too.

"Ezra, you don't have to do things alone anymore! We can find you, Zeb will be able to take out those pirates easy, I'll get Sabine to remove that cuff- -"

Kanan had been wondering privately if Vizago would stay true to his word when it came to the end of the favour. He soon decided not to think about it.

"No!" Even Ezra was surprised by the volume of his protest. "Kanan… You don't understand. You cannot come here. You can't help." Ezra flustered, feeling himself becoming emotional. He knew his words were true: if they did what Kanan was planning and Sabine took off the cuff without Vizago's remote then not only would he be dead but he'd be taking the whole crew with him. Not to mention the massive risk they'd be taking in trying to get to him anyway! "I know you want to help, and I agree- I'd love to do this as a team, but you have to trust me-" He faltered slightly, trying to find the right words. "There's too much at risk."

Kanan sighed and was silent for a few moments. "There's something else, isn't there?" It wasn't really a question. He saw straight through his padawan: he was trying to protect them from something.

Ezra slumped, defeated. "Yes. So you're just going to have to trust me right now… I will stay in contact, and when- if- I need help, I know to call you."

"You're not going to tell me what this complication is?"

"Not yet. Maybe when I've got something more to help…" Ezra admitted, albeit a little sheepishly. He knew he was asking too much, yet when he looked at Kanan he saw acceptance. His master nodded at him, somehow knowing to trust Ezra here and not question any further.

"You better keep that promise to stay in touch, then!" Kanan chided, regretful that he couldn't help Ezra further now. He could console himself slightly, knowing he got the boy to understand that they would always help.

"I promise." Ezra nodded, smiling softly, giving his silent thanks to Kanan for understanding- he really did have the best master he could have hoped for. "Sorry for waking you- well, not waking you, exactly, but interrupting. You should get back to sleep now." Ezra advised, sensing waves of exhaustion from Kanan. The Jedi had, after all, been holding up the connection for a long time.

"Alright, padawan, but you be careful and if you need anything- anything- then you call." Kanan finished, leaving Ezra no other options

"Okay," Ezra agreed, "And… Thank you." With that Ezra, force-pushed Kanan away, back safely on the Ghost. His master was asleep instantly and Ezra smiled, sensing, for a moment, the familiar comfort of home, before he was reluctantly snapped awake.

Alone, on a cold ship.

Honestly, had Vizago never heard of central heating?

Or even heat, for that matter.