"You, Jedi, aren't going anywhere." He pointed to Ezra.
Kanan swiftly stood in front of his apprentice. No way was he letting him go again.
"Or would you rather I, ooh- press this?" Vizago threatened, finger lingering inches away from a button on a small remote.
"No." Ezra cried. Damn. He had forgotten about that. "Don't."
"Then come here, and I won't… Come quietly, and we can all walk away alive." Vizago's tone darkened. Kanan looked back, confused. What did this pirate have over Ezra? Ezra looked up guiltily, and Kanan could see the plea in his padawan's eyes, trying to tell him things were ok and that they should just go. But why?
"Come on, Jedi. I'm waiting."
With one regretful glance back at the group, Ezra started his walk forwards.
"Kit, no!" Zeb called out. What was Ezra doing?
"I'm sorry, Zeb…" Ezra answered quietly, almost at Vizago's side now.
"I am not having this." The Lasat muttered and angrily came towards Vizago.
"It's a bomb!" Ezra cried holding his wrist out in defeat. Zeb stopped sharply at the words. "It's a bomb, and if he presses that button then we all go up in flames." Ezra finished, defeated.
Kanan was shocked; this must be the complication that Ezra had refused to tell him about. Now it was going to cost him their youngest all over again. This wasn't fair.
Zeb immediately backed away, not wanting to see the effects of that button. Sabine was agitated; if only she had seen the bracelet sooner, she would've figured out why it didn't look like standard issue and could've grabbed the remote during the fight.
"Now that we all know what's at stake here, I suggest everyone kneels down slowly- with your weapons on the floor." Vizago ordered.
"You're not going to hurt them!" Ezra croaked.
"Shut up, boy!" Vizago slapped him round the face. The crew tensed, hating what this pirate was doing, more ready to fight again if only there wasn't that bomb threat.
"Now- don't make a fuss and I'll do this quick and painlessly." Vizago pulled out his gun. Ezra cried out slightly in panic- Vizago was not going to do this to his family. He would not allow it. Vizago aimed the gun right at Kanan's head. Ezra prepared himself jump, ready to put himself in the firing line.
"Goodbye Jedi- Ommph!" Vizago was cut off when he was suddenly tackled by none other than Xevin. The tackle sent both pirates down into a rough wrestle on the floor.
"Go, Ezra! You saved my life; this is me repaying the favour." Xevin lashed out with a punch right in the middle of Vizago's stomach, gaining a yelp of pain. The Ghost crew were on their feet in a second, Kanan wasting no time in force-pulling the remote out of Vizago's limp hand before grabbing Ezra by the arm.
"But-" The boy was hesitant to leave.
"Go. I can handle scum like Vizago easy." A kick, this time, was thrown at Vizago. "It was good to know you."
The doors closed behind him, Ezra caught a last glimpse of Xevin getting Vizago in a choke hold and wrestling him into unconsciousness. Ezra half-ran and was half-dragged out of the building, through the town. Kanan's hand never let him go until they were safely aboard the Ghost.
The Ghost… Ezra barely recognised the familiar surroundings, he was so out of it. The drugs still bore heavily on his system, and he supposed not eating properly for the last week hadn't been a good idea either. With everything blurring, Ezra tried to pull himself together. He was back- finally- and he wanted to savour it, not pass out. He looked up, trying to focus on the sound of voices.
"Hera, get us out of here now. I'm not risking the chance that someone'll follow us." Kanan ordered while the rest of the crew bustled around the cockpit hurriedly. More sounds started up from the engine and the ship. Oh the ship! Ezra couldn't stop the warm feeling he felt at being home. A relieved smile plastered his face as his dull senses made out the walls and rooms around him, made out the faces of the people he had come to love and trust.
Suddenly the world was shaking. He looked down to see two furry arms holding his shoulders, shaking him gently.
"Kanan- the kit's barely with us…" Zeb trailed off, unsure of what to do. Immediately Kanan came over, kneeling in front of Ezra and tapping his cheek lightly.
"You with me, padawan?" He spoke softly.
"Mhmm" Came the mumbled reply "You came."
"Of course we came" Kanan smiled, "Now- why don't we sit you down?" Kanan suggested, ushering the boy to the common room.
"M'fine" Ezra lazily insisted.
"Sure you are, kit." Zeb patted his head, and quietly positioned himself to catch Ezra if he fell.
Once Ezra was seated on the edge of the table, Kanan once again came to stand in front of him.
"Serious question now- it's important- are you hurt anywhere?" He asked, holding eye contact with Ezra. He felt so much guilt at what had already happened, and he knew he didn't even know the half of it. Chances were Ezra was suffering right now and, unless prompted, he wouldn't say a word.
"Like I said, m'fine… Just a little sleepy…" Ezra replied, eyelids flickering.
"Okay, well- try and stay awake for a little longer if you can." Kanan instructed, going to check the cuff on Ezra's wrist.
"Can't…Drugs, drug's fault…trying-don't want…" And with that Ezra dropped, slumping off the table and into the arms of Kanan, who caught him just before he hit the floor.
"Did I hear that right… Drugs?" Zeb asked from beside him, hand lightly pressing on Ezra's forehead.
"You did" Kanan confirmed. His face was one of worry as they both looked down at the unconscious youngster.
The drugs, they found out later, had been heavy sedatives. They'd had to take samples of Ezra's blood whilst he was under to make sure it wasn't something poisonous. Kanan had been assuming the worst before Hera told him the results, but thankfully it was nothing deadly- but enough sedative that he shouldn't have even been conscious back at the warehouse; let alone up and fighting. Kanan had sighed in relief, but was still incredibly unhappy with how this had happened, especially about very close call they'd had; in fact, if that pirate hadn't stepped (or rather jumped) in, Kanan hadn't been sure what he was going to do. Oh, he would've done something; he had no plans to die there or leave Ezra in the hands of that guy, but his brain had still been running through all his options.
As soon as Vizago had been taken down, Kanan's only priority had been Ezra. It had physically hurt to see Ezra willingly give up his freedom all because of some stupid threat, and once he had a hold on his apprentice's arm he made sure not to let it go.
Ezra had stayed unconscious while Hera and him had changed most of his clothes into cleaner ones. In the process, they started to discover the alarming array of bruises Ezra seemed to have collected. There were several massive ones on his back arching round to his left shoulder- by the looks of things he had landed several times on that side, maybe even broken that shoulder? As they kept going, Kanan found a pattern- they hadn't really found a place that didn't have bruises. On the occasion that it wasn't a bruise, then it was a nick or scratch. Kanan was silent as he treated his padawan, thoughts engrossed on the guilt he felt.
"Stop that." Hera chided whilst softly rubbing ointment onto a particularly nasty burn.
Kanan sighed. "He wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for me."
"No- you didn't cause this. We all had our parts to play: the empire for taking you, me for not disobeying orders, but mainly this is Vizago, okay? He was the one who caused these injuries, and he was the one putting Ezra at risk." Hera spoke slowly, hoping to convince Kanan. He seemed to ponder her words for little, before smiling ruefully at her logic.
"There's still so much we don't know…" Kanan started as he found another bruise.
"He'll tell us, but only with time. We just have to make sure he knows he can come to us." Hera advised before they both went back to their tasks. They patched up as much as they could. Finally, Hera stood, giving a small nod to Kanan before making her way out. She knew he wouldn't leave that room till Ezra woke up.
And he didn't.
Sabine had crept in with Chopper at one point, trying to make light conversation with Kanan. Mainly, she told him about the remote to Ezra's cuff that she had been working on. There hadn't actually been a remove button, so she had been working around the clock, messing with the wires and intricate system in order for them to get it opened safely.
Zeb had trudged in a little after they'd left, bringing Kanan some food and keeping him distracted with tales of another time. Kanan had to admit he always enjoyed Zeb's company; the Lasat was someone who understood the adrenaline of battle, but could be very thoughtful and kind-hearted when spoken to properly. Zeb stayed for quite a while; Kanan had updated him on Ezra's injuries, to which Zeb had deflated a lot. It seemed he was upset to see his roommate roughed up, even if he did quickly hide it with a few colourful words to use to describe Vizago and how he didn't get what he deserved. Kanan had sympathised with that.
But now the Jedi was alone again.