AN: Another update, I'm actually making headway! Tell me what you think. This is a Hunger Games Au but how dark do you want this to go? I worry I've gone to far off kiter- so please tell me if things start getting to intense, you know for a blood brawl that is. There will be no slash or anything- just triggers, war and abuse of peoples rights and freedoms. The light stuff!

This is only possible thanks to the most patient and devoted beta in the system 3 Unfathomablefandoms. You should all be so lucky. Go read her stuff because you will all be very impressed!

The Survival Trial
Chapter 3

He woke to a swaying sensation. His feet felt dead in his shoes. There was an awful smell choking in the air.

His arms ached and his face ached and his head was one big tender ache. He realised he was hanging from his wrists against a rough cold wall. His feet could only just touch the floor if he stretched his spine, and stood on the balls of his feet.

Ezra groaned and rolled his sore neck, it made a loud crunching sound as he broke a knot.

A loud metal clang started him awake with a painful jolt. His ears were ringing, and the shackles hummed vibration down his arms. It was an extremely unpleasant way to wake, let alone the throbbing head.

Ezra blinked blearily up into a bright light, squinting hard as the torch burned his retinas. He was able to make out a tall figure standing above him, but the light was too bright and held at a high angle, putting the man's face hard to identify.

"No speaking." The figure hissed in gruff and broken basic. He lifted an iron baton into view of the light and then reached up and gave the bar Ezra's shackles suspended him from another hard tap. The metal rang and vibrated and Ezra's whole head ached. There was a very short rise of muffled and whispered groans on either side of him and Ezra realised he wasn't alone.

I'm on a slavers ship, Ezra thought dimly. The one time I let myself get caught, and it couldn't have been a cargo of ration bars?

He didn't have much experience with slavers.

He recognised it as just another unhappy truth of the world he lived in, but the trade rarely occurred on Lothal, where the Empire liked to keep count of their citizens. He knew it was outlawed on many of the central world's, but here in the far outer rim, people were unlikely to glance twice at you a lot of the time.
Ezra had a feeling he was about to learn first hand what the worst of this gutter system had to offer.

I can do this, he thought. I just need to keep my head down. A small part of his mind spoke with Zeb's voice and added, 'and your mouth shut' followed by a gravely laugh. The sound cleared his head a little, an he took in a thin breath through his nose.

Ezra nodded quickly at the figure, his eyes watering, But the figure was still giving him a hard eye, waiting for a sign of rebellion. Ezra dropped his head again and waited for the guard to move on.

Be meek, be quiet- then run when they least expect it. It was a classic play, and one Erza was well practiced – just perhaps not to this degree. He'd never let himself be put in shackles. But there was always room to expand his expertise, right?

As the guard growled under his breath and drew away, the light went with him in the torch he held high in one hand. When the light left Ezra realised how truly dark it was now. It left a glowing spots in his vision that took several minutes to fade.

Ezra closed his eyes and focused on trying to swallowing on his long dry mouth. Even the air tasted unwashed here. Breathing hard through his nose to clear it. He hissed as a pain flared across his face. Even the bridge of his nose ached. He winced- and that hurt too.

I must have one wicked bruise, he mused.

He blinked to clear his eyes and looked up through his hair. Squinting hard through the dark. It seemed impenetrable.

How long have I been out? he wondered, hoping he wouldn't have to factor in a concussion to his list of problems.

It was going to be fine.

The crew were already on their way, surely. In the meantime Ezra could test his escape planning skills. Of course, he wasn't going to execute any them- he'd promised Kanan he wasn't going to try anything and for once he was going to keep that promise. He was going to keep all his promises.

He closed his eyes and sighed.

I really jumped in the sarlacc pit this time.

They found Vizago at the Broken Horn.

Hera pulled the Ghost up short and turned in her seat to face the Crew seated in the cockpit.
"Sabine, take the helm."

The Mandalorian girl stopped, her helmet half raised to pull over her head.
"What? Why?"

"I'm not leaving this cockpit unattended until we hear from Fulcrum." Hera said firmly, standing and gesturing to the pilot's seat. Hera had long since carried on calling Ahsoka by her cover, even after the crew settled into addressing her by her name on occasion. "If she comm's while we're gone, I want you here ready to input the coordinates and Chopper is going to record the transmission. Talk to Fulcrum and discuss the best course of action if we don't get back in time. It's your call."

Sabine stood up, surprised. "Really? You trust me to run the comm?"

Hera had smiled, if a little grimly, laying a hand on the colourful armoured shoulder.
"Of course I do, Sabine." her smile had vanished a little more."And considering how our last information session with Vizago went- I'd like to be there to negotiate myself this time. He's the one I don't trust."

Sabine pursed her lips and nodded. No one on the Ghost Crew had been happy to let Ezra indebt himself to the Devaronian, but at the time- it had truly been their only option.

So Sabine agreed to stay on board, promising to be ready for Ahsoka.

Hera had strapped on her blasters and gave a hard look over the Lasat and the Jedi, both prepared to face the Broken Horn.

There was just the Devaronian and his droids back on board his ship, hauling several unmarked crates.

Kanan announced his presence by clearing his throat and came to a stop at the border of the Broken Horn syndicate. Hera stopped along side him and Zeb took up firm stance at the back, folding his arms over his solid chest.

Cikatro Vizago's muscles tensed, and he shot a half glance over his shoulder and turned only a portion of his body to face them. Keeping his eyes focused on his data pad.

"Ah, my favourite radicals. If you have come about the mineral shipment, I am afraid I already have buyer-"

"We aren't here for rocks." Kanan cut in shortly, remembering his days shipping explosives to the mines on Cynda.

"Rocks? No-" the Devaronian seemed to think better of what he was saying and shook her head in annoyance. He eyed Kanan with intrest and nodded his head to Hera. "I see my information was very vaulble to your cause." Kanan scowled and folded his arms tightly across his chest.

Hera steped forwards, her jaw set. "And we need your information again, Vizago." She answered, tone firmer than steel."And we'll be paying in credits this time." She lifting up a hand and showed him a medium sized credit pouch. Now she had his attention.
Vizago straightened, and now the hunched line of his posture improved, and he smiled. Turning to face them with his hands out, like he'd only just noticed them.

"Straight to business, I like!" His voice had lost all its gruffness and now it was friendly and boastful. "But my price will have to be decided, it depends on what information you are looking for?"
His eyes moved over them all equally, but stopped when he didn't see who he was looking for- usually Ezra was the first to jump on him when it came to negotiations.

The crime lord's mouth quirked down, and he looked up at Kanan. "Where is the Jed- the uh- Boy?" he said quickly, switching his gaze to Hera as Kanan's eyes flashed.

"Watch your mouth, Vizago." Kanan growled.

Vizago quickly wiped any remorse from his face and tightened his jaw. He turned his shoulder and squared his feet, snorting airly.
"You use such a harsh tone with Vizargo. And after I have gone out of my own way to give you help in the past. Perhaps you should go and send the Boy instead. He knows how to talk business. He is very sensible- Good head for making deals, yes?"

Hera quickly stepped in front of Kanan before he could reply, tossing the bag of credits up into the air. Vizargo caught it quickly and held it at arm's length.

"What is this payment for, exactly?" He asked, weighing the pouch in one hand thoughtfully.

"We need to know everything you do about the Invisible Markets."

The words had an instant effect, much like they had on Ahsoka. Vizargo stiffened, and his mouth pursed. His eyes moved over them carefully for several moments before he shook his head.

"No. You should not go there. I do not know where they are held anyway. Go. I do not want to do business with you today." He turned to move towards his ship, tossing the credit pouch back and Hera's green lekku shifted as she snatched it out of the air.

"It's in your best interest to help us." She cut in sharply, her voice tight. "If you wish to protect your investments."

The words bounced off the Devaronian, and he frowned, eyes narrowed as he glanced between the three- and then his eyes widened as he put the pieces together.

"You have lost the boy now? At the Invisble Markets?" he spat, his voice low in disbelief and outrage. "Do you people have no concept of risk?"

Kanan pushed forwards, balling his fists. He had a few choice words, and a few choice places he had for his fists, but Hera stopped him with a elbow in his sternum.
"We need information Vizago, not an argument."

Vizargo huffed angrily, folding his arms and dropping his shoulders in defeat. "If the boy has gone to the Markets..." he muttered, stroking his chin in deep thought.

Hera gave him a solid five seconds of peace before she interrupted. "Vizago- we are short on time."

The Devaronian lifted his eyes, narrowed and grim. "You may be have less than you think." he answered darkly, standing at full height and starting down his long nose. "It is true what I said before- I do not know where the Market is. I prefer to do my business without a knife in my back, see? But," he added, slinking his eyes towards Kanan for half a second. "I know they are held for several days at a time- then they will be dismantled. And, if the boy is there now, it is unlikely you will find him once they have moved."

Kanan stepped closer, mouth set in a firm line. "There must be something useful you can tell us." He refused to accept that Ezra was trapped- or worse. He refused to even think that they could not save him this time. The Market was mysterious and vial, but it wasn't like they hadn't escaped from the tightest clutches of the Empire before.

The hackles of Vizago's jaw twitched. "Do not speak to me with insolence Jedi. It is not I who lost the boy."

Kanan's whole body seemed to tigheten, his shoulders drawing back and his hands clenching into fists. They stared evenly at each other, drawing in hard breaths. But Master, why did you let him speak to you like that? Kanan almost scoffed at the similarities.

"Enough." Hera snapped, her voice poisonous as she flicked a sharp eye over her shoulder at Kanan and then focused on Vizago. Her voice suddenly softened and she reached out and lay both hands on one of Vizago's. The Devaronian fliched back, surprised at the rebel Twi'lek's gentle touch.

"Vizago, we need intel. Intel we can use to help Ezra. You must know something."

The Devaronian eyed her hands on his hand, and making an uncomfortable grumble and he carefully untangled his arm and withdrew. "What ship was he travelling on?"

"What's that got to do with it?" Zeb asked gruffly, breaking his terse silence.

Vizago trained his eyes on the Lasat's. "More than you know. Did they have money?"

The crew exchanged a glance. "They did." Kanan said slowly. What was he playing at?

Vizaro nodded, eyes narrowing. "Zygerrian?"

They nodded.

Vizargo let out a sharp snort of air and put a hand up to his horns. "Slavers." he hissed.

"Slavers?" Hera repeated sharply, swinging her wide eyes around to Kanan. Zeb let out a low growl.

"No- This is good." Vizrago said quickly.

"Good?" Zeb demanded, anger creeping into his voice.

"Yes- No slaver will waste good stock."

Zeb let out a quiet rumble from deep in his chest and took a large step away from the group, his hands tightening on his BO-rifle.
Hera and Kanan ignored him, focusing on the crime lord.

"Find the market." Vizargo told them seriously, "But do not waste your time in the buyer's pens. Search the markets- look for things the boy may have owned. Nothing is truly wasted in the Invisible Market- It just finds a new hands. Put your credits in those hands and they may lead you back to the boy. and-" The Devaronian's mouth flattened into a hard line and it seemed he was holding in a sour taste in his mouth.

Kanan frowned. "Vizago-" he began, warning in his tone, but Hera put a hand on his arm.

Vizago snorted heavily and paced on his heel restlessly. "You... may need to search the Market for more than just clothes and trinkets. The Invisible Markets are a very popular place amoung the body dealers to acquire fresh parts."

The words put a cold chill through the Ghost crew's spines and Hera was suddenly very glad she had asked Sabine to stay behind.
Beside her, Kanan drew in a long thin breath, his muscles tightening under her hand. She squeezed his arm and he shivered, shooting her a troubled look. She grimaced and tightened her hold on him.
Neither of them wanted to think about poor Ezra being cut apart for spare parts like an old droid.

A moment of silence stretched between the four and Vizago shifted his feet uncomfortably.

"But that is all I know." he said suddenly, taking half a step back from them and waving a hand in the direction they'd come. Trying to shoo them away. "Now go- and do not mention the name Cikatro Vizago!"

Kanan slid his eyes to Hera's, and after a moment of silent communication- they made a move.
Kanan pulled back, Zeb falling in at his side. Hera took a step forward into the Devaronian's space once more.

"This is yours." she said firmly and offered up pouch.

Vizago eyed it for a long moment before putting out a hand and accepting the bag. He weighed it heavily in his palms and gave Hera a long narrow look.
"No." he said quietly and lay it back in her hands. "You will need all the credits you can afford."
Hera blinked in genuine surprise. Before she could argue though, he put up a hand.

"I will expect payment at a later date- plus interest." he said firmly. Then in a less solid tone, he added. "Besides, the boy still owes me favor. I am just, " he shrugged and tilted his horns in a knowing manner, "protecting my investments."

Kanan tensed at the mention of Ezra's debt, but did not turn around. Hera weighed the pouch in her hand and drew her eyes back up to Vizago's.

"We will discuss the terms of that debt another time." she said darkly.

"I look forward to it." he answered earnestly, tipping his eyebrows.

Hera pulled away, frowning distastefully and marched to catch up to Kanan and Zeb. As they drew level with the large rock formations that formed the Broken Horn's hide out, Vizago called out, "Wait!"

The Ghost crew turned as one and looked back at the crime lord. The crime lord cupped a hand around his mouth and shouted.
"The Markets- they are dangerous. So I hope I will be doing business will you all again soon."

Hera snorted, turned on her heel and pushed past the men, stalking away. Zeb followed her, his face set in a hard line, but Kanan took half a moment to watch the Devaronian.

Vizago dropped his hand, and stood straight. Then without moving his red eyes off of Kanan's, he nodded, deeply and only once.

Kanan squeezed his eyes tight and the inclined his own head, before tearing his eyes away and following Hera and Zeb towards the Ghost.

Perhaps there was more to Vizago then Kanan gave credit to.

"I still wouldn't trust him as far as Zeb could throw him." He muttered.

Sabine paced the cockpit, unintentionally doing laps around Chopper. The astromech began to hum angrily, and on her fourth circuit- he let out a string of angry tones.

Sabine came to a sudden stop, eyeing the droid like she hadn't realised he was there. "Ok, Ok Chop. I'm sitting down." She sank into the closest chair with a huff, putting her boots up on the seat in front.

The ship was quiet, and it unsettled her.

She missed the busy work that pushed her anxiety to the side. She missed the noise keeping her from hearing her thoughts. She missed Ezra.

Sabine realised there had never been an argument about whether or not they were going after him, not like the first time they met him. The boy had made an impact, and there would be no arguments.

Not that she wanted one! The very thought was quickly quenched under a bucket of guilt for even thinking it.

This was just, clearly different situation as to when Kanan had been taken.
Back then it was a pressing grief for the loss of their leader, almost the minute he was gone. This time- this time it was less hopeless, but just as terrifying.

It was Chopper who'd pointed out the radio frequency was transmitting.
Sabine remembered when Ezra had moved first, taking a seat in front of the transmitter they'd lifted from his parents' house. Only minutes ago, they'd left Kanan behind.
Sabine wondered now, how he might have felt at that moment. Seated before the very machine his parents had built. His eyes had clouded for a moment- so Sabine took a seat beside him and turned the transmitter on, flicking the dials and quickly finding the right frequency between the static.

There had been a long cold moment of silence. Sabine had looked to Hera for direction, but the Twi'lek woman had stood, frozen in indecision for once as lost as they were.
There was suddenly a loud clear silence, the silence of dead air.

No one had moved, and then Ezra reached for the microphone- his fingers not quite closing on it- so Sabine had pushed it into his hand.

Ezra had taken a deep breath- and began to speak.

It was surprisingly articulate, inspiring, hounest, but above all, it was hopeful. Just like Ezra.

Sabine thought about his radio broadcast, how his on the fly speech had given her a reason to keep her head in a time of great turmoil.

Everyone had sunken into their own reverie almost the instant they'd entered orbit that day, all balancing the likelihood of their leader's surely inevitable death.
The longer Kanan was gone, the more likely a reality it seemed.

All except Ezra of course. The generator of their hope. The youngest and definitely the most reckless of their crew- their family. Her family.

Ezra had pushed them into finding Kanan last time. It was Ezra who'd stepped up and put his grief aside for their cause, for their family, for Kanan. Sabine didn't understand Jedi, or their connection to the universe. But at that moment, she had no doubt that Ezra could be a great one.

Sabine could do that now. She could do it for Ezra.

Sabine was ripped away from her thoughts as the communicator on the flight dash began to blink.

"Chop!" she cried, rushing to her feet.
The astromech let out a string of eye rolling tones, inciting he was already working on it.

As he plugged into the deck console, Sabine dumped herself into the helm seat, firing up the Ghost's internal engines. As the ship hummed Sabine heard footsteps in the hallway behind her.

"You're just in time."She told Hera as she came through the door followed by Kanan and an unhappy Zeb. Sabine moved aside to let Hera take her seat behind the helm and let Kanan take at her right. The ship began to lift away from the earth, and began to rise from the atmosphere.
The Twi'lek pilot keyed the com commands and the holojecter set in the dash lit up the cockpit with a blue glow.

A holojection of Ahsoka appeared, and she did not look pleased.

The rebel leader did not waste time with pleasantries, she simply launched into a string of coordinates.

Hera plugged them in as fast as they were delivered, and the Ghost crew shot back as they were launched into hyperspace.

Chopper made a low grumble in protest at the harsh treatment as he was knocked back into the doorframe, but he was quickly hushed by Sabine who lay a gentle hand on his top.

Once the Ghost was well on its way, cutting a slice through space, Hera flicked on the autopilot system and turned to face the holojection. "What can you tell us?"

Ahsoka pulled her cloaked shoulders back and pursed her full lips.

"The Invisible Market is currently located on the fourth outer moon of Ore, until disbanding in a minimum sixteen hours. You will be in transit in hyper space for another twelve, so you will only have four hours to find Ezra. From the description of the ship and the... Zygerrian presence, he will likely be put through the body market." Something in Ahsoka's eyes glimmered, something like a bad memory.

Zeb let out a narrow growl, but he was silenced with a side long look from Hera.

Kanan looked to Hera. "How much do we have in credit?"

Before Hera could answer, Ahsoka interrupted. "Credits will not be an issue. There will be a droid waiting for you at Docking Bay 34 with a credit transfer. Use whatever it will cost to buy Ezra out of there safely, without anyone asking too many questions."

The crew were pleased, but surprised by the Alliance's sudden generosity. They lived on the edge of means for a reason- not because they chose to.

However Sabine caught a flash of something that passed between Kanan and Hera.

"I need to interrupt." Sabine said suddenly and all five turned to face her

"Sabine-" Hera began, but Ahsoka silenced her with a wave of her hand.

"What do you need to say, Sabine Wren?"

Sabine frowned at the use of her full name, but did not let it break her stride. "When Kanan was taken, by the Empire itself- You said we couldn't afford to even take the risk of trying to get him back. But now Ezra's gotten himself bagged and your very first move is to send us a transfer full of money and point us in the right direction?"

Ahsoka frowned. "Is it that you do not think Ezra is worth the trouble?"

Sabine grit her teeth and suddenly wished she'd worn her helmet to face this argument, so she wouldn't have to worry about her scowl breaking her unbreakable Mandalorian facade.
"Don't even suggest that." She hissed and quickly composed her voice. "You're just trying to deflect my question. Answer me, why is Kanan different to you then Ezra? There's no question why he's important to us- but you? Why do you care? Why does the Alliance care?"

The room went quiet while Ahsoka stared evenly at Sabine. Sabine focused on holding her eye and firmed her jaw.
And then, slowly Zeb took a step to the side, in line behind her and folded his arms with a firm glare. Chopper fell in at her feet.
"Bua Bua- Buua." The astromech said with a drawl.

Hera looked to Kanan, who hadn't moved, his eyes still focused on the rebel leader.

Ahsoka suddenly broke the eye contact with a nod to Sabine and then, to her surprise, smiled a little.

"I can see why he had so much faith in you all. I pity any slaver that stands between you."
She turned her attention to Kanan "Perhaps it is time to be a little more honest with the people we put so much trust in. And hopefully, in time, with Ezra."

Kanan's brow twitched. "Not now, Ahsoka."

"What is she talking about?" Sabine demanded.

Hera stood up and came forward now. "Sabine, you are right, there is more to Ezra's role in the Rebellion- but please, let us focus on getting Ezra back safely before we start that discussion."

Sabine held her breath for just a moment as she took in the words. Hera's eyes were trained on her, boring deep and asking only for one thing: trust. Sabine's shoulders dropped.
"Ok." she said quietly and lifted her eyes, nodding gently. "Ok, lets get him back.

Ezra realised he must have fallen asleep at one point, because he woke up with a start. His whole body ached from hanging by his wrists and his lips began to crack and sting.

There was a moan on his right and Ezra jerked in surprise. He'd almost completely forgotten there were others down here. Some probably in far worse condition than his. It was so dark, so quiet and resignation and defeat were thick in the air.

Ezra licked his sore lips and sucked in a dry breath. "Hey." he whispered, his voice barely more than a shaped breath. But even that small sound cut through the awful pressing silence like a knife.
"Is someone there?" he asked, wincing as his words faded into silence.
There was no reply.

Ezra took a deep breath, the motion put a deep ache through his lungs. His arms and legs had gone mostly numb, but it was still hard to breathe. He frowned and tried again. "Will they bring us water?"

He could hear hard dry breathing to his right, maybe only a few feet away, But there was no answer.
Ezra gave up, at least on hoping for a reply, and settled into to wait again.

He tried to focus inwards, to meditate. But closing his eyes made him feel dizzy. Ezra opened his eyes and tried to recirculate his meditative breathing through his nose. He needed to keep his mouth shut and conserve his body's hydration, if he wanted to have anything that resembled a tongue left when this all over anyway.

Ezra picked a spot in the dark on the wall, a barely visible dip in the shadow. He squinted and focused hard on the notch. Letting his mind sink inwards and outwards at the same time.

Ezra had never meditated with his eyes open before, but it was so dark here it actually wasn't as hard as he expected. He couldn't manage to find the mental plane of calm and harmony that he usually found with Kanan by his side- but he did find clarity, awareness.

His mind was suddenly more awake and Ezra realised his exhaustion and dehydration had deadened his senses.

The walls, they were no longer humming. The ship had landed.

R&R for more chapters and buy the crew of out Vizargo's debts.