Chapter 16

Ezra awoke on the cold metal floor of his prison cell, his face pressed up ageist the ground. He felt as a chill coursed through his young body, the shivering hurting his raw, and wide open cuts.

"What hurts kid?" Kanan said sitting on the bench of his cell, a warm smile on his face slightly warming the cold prison cell.

"My everything." Answered Ezra as he sat up using the wall to support him, not daring to move more then he had to.

"Why don't we get you to med bay and have Hera take a look." He said.

"We can't."

"And why not?"

"Because." Said Ezra with a sigh as he looked up at the allusion standing before him, "your not real. Your back on the Ghost with everyone else, and you still have no idea I'm here, AND your heading into a trap!" He yelled at the empty air. He angrily looked back at the empty and cold bench where he had imagined his master. "Come back." He whispered.

"Vader." Tarkin called as he caught up to the man in the small hallway.

"What is it Tarkin." He asked, though it was obvious he didn't care.

"I just wanted to inform you that the men are already at the warehouse and are preparing for the ambush, they are currently under the command of Agent Kallus. The rebels should be there in a few hours."

"Perfect." Vader responded. "Is that all?"

"Um, I do have one more question. When will the proses begin to attempt to get the boy to convert to the dark side? I am only asking because time is running out and-"

But he was cut off by the man's deep laughter. "Oh Tarkin. It has already begun."

Zeb sat at the table of the main area of the ship along with the rest of the crew, as he struggled to keep his eyes from closing shut. He was all for missions, he just didn't like the fact that they had to get up so early!

He half listened as Kanan explained the plan for the forty-something time. They had landed on Lothal sometime in the middle of the night and decided to sleep for a few hours. Hera had been piloting the ship all night, and she needed a few hours rest, along with the rest of the crew. It had only been five in the morning, so it was still dark out. Perfect for sneaking around better, considering just about everyone in the galaxy knew their faces. But they had been known for their message of hope around all of the outer rim planets, and were well like by the locals. They never ratted them out to storm troopers standing by, if they happened to be seen by any pedestrians when on a run.

"Zeb!" Yelled Hera, "are you even paying attention? Don't make me use your full name."

"I'm listing! I'm listing! Yesh."

She scowled him, "Garazeb-Orell-"

"Ok! Ok! Fine, maybe I wasn't listening to the thousandth time of you guys explaining the plan! Get in, get crates, get out! So simple Chopper could do it!" he said with a laugh.

"OW!" Zeb yelled at the sudden burst or mild electrocution, followed by Chopped making grumbling noises before returning back to Hera's side.

"Well you just deserved that one." Hera said folding her arms, "and Zeb, there's a reason we're going over this so many times! We have a specific rout we need to follow or we could get very lost, very quickly."

"And if that does happen I can just take one of my bombs and blast-"

"No Sabine!" They all said simultaneously.

"So what if we lose our way, how hard could it really be to find your way around a warehouse!" Said Zeb sounding a bit cocky.

"An eleven story warehouse." Said Sabine, evilly grinning as she looked at Zeb.

"Eleven story's!" Yelled Zeb, who's eyes were wide open now.

"Zeb, do you know why its abandon?" Asked Kanan.

"Um, no. Why?"

"It's been abandon for three years because a bunch of kids, just a little younger then Ezra, decided to check it out one night."

"You mean they broke in?" Asked Sabine, not knowing the story either, "Why?"

"Because" continued Kanan, " they were just a bunch of kids, wanted to go exploring, just a bunch of stupide rumors about the place being haunted or whatever, a bunch of dumb kids wanting to see who could spend the night without chickening out. Just doing what kids do."

Zeb gulped, "Were?" he asked, never taking his eyes off Kanan.

"The building is one giant maze Zeb, they never found them. That's why we're going over the rout so much. We were going to get Sabine to bring some paint so that we could mark where we've been without getting lost, but."

"But, " Sabine said, "if the bucket heads did follow us in it would literally be leading them right to us, not to mention giving away our only escape route."

"Oh." Said Zeb in a low voice, as 'Ezra' sat there, taking in every last word. He had to except the fact that they weren't dumb, they've out smarted the empire numerous times, they had to be careful when planning the ambush. Yes these rebels where smart, but no one can beat the empire. Not even these people. All these things coursed through his mind as the Jedi continued to blabber on about the' idiotic Loth-rat children, no older then thirteen to fourteen, who decided to wonder into an eleven story, concrete building, with only one, extremely complicated exist.' The clone thought, putting it in his own words. But in all fairness, the rebels were about to do the exact same thing.

"So, you understand now Zeb." Said Kanan, after he was done telling the Lasat the grueling tail of why they had to close down a building, because of missing children! And they were younger then Ezra! Sure, they would be older now, would be, but it was rare for them to see many kids Ezra's age, let alone younger. Not many people had kids ever since everything became so expensive, and the peaceful galaxy where children once grew up became a cruel place that lived in fear of the empire.

"Yea, yea I understand."

"good" said Kanan, "because it's time to go."