Before we get started, I wanted to clarify something from the second story in case I confused some of you. I know Sith eyes aren't red. I know that the red eyes came from the reflection of the holocron, but red is the color of a Sith lightsaber, and I think by doing that, the creators wanted to show that Ezra is now tainted by Maul. You will see that a lot, especially in this story where our not-so-favorite space cockroach meddles again. To be honest, all cockroaches end up squashed...eventually...and Rebels will probably be the one to do it.
Midnight Luna: I liked your idea. I plan on incorporating part of it soon. I have it written down and ready to use when the time comes. Part of it doesn't really fit into where I am planning to take this series, but I loved the other part. It fits perfectly into where I plan on taking this series. As soon as I reach a point where it fits, I'll use it. Thanks for all the love you've given my stories!
Now, I'm sure you're tired of my endless rambling, so let's start!
Summary: Hera knew Ezra was bad off after Malachor, but she had no idea how bad it was until the incident. Takes place three days after Unwelcome Spectrum.
It was quiet in the common room. Hera had just given Kanan instructions on where his food was on his plate. Chopper, Zeb, and Sabine were on a supply run off world. And Ezra was in the turret, reading his datapad.
Or he was anyway. The door slid open and Hera looked up as the padawan entered the room. "Hey Ezra," Hera greeted. "You hungry? There's food in the kitchen. Better get it while it's hot." Ezra nodded and headed towards the kitchen. Suddenly, he stopped.
Kanan looked up. Hera couldn't get a clear look at his expression due to the bandages over his eyes, but she could tell something was wrong. She turned to Ezra and saw that his eyes were glazed over and he was beginning to hyperventilate. Kanan and Hera didn't need to speak. They both rushed towards Ezra right as he collapsed. "Get...out..." he mumbled.
"Not again..." Kanan breathed.
"What?" Hera replied. "What is it?"
Ezra was now curled up in a ball, mumbling to himself. "Get out...go away...leave me alone...no...no...no...NO!" The mumbling turned into sobs.
Kanan quickly lowered himself into a sitting position and went still. Hera's worry turned into panic as objects began levitating and swirling around them.
Ezra was having a panic attack.
Hera didn't hesitate. She knelt down next to Ezra and tried to lift him into her arms. However, she did not succeed. Ezra screamed and Hera was flung into the wall, the wind knocked out of her. Hera once again tried to approach Ezra. Right as she reached him, a plate collided with her forehead, knocking her clean out.
Kanan sensed Hera lose consciousness and heard her collapse in a heap. "Hera!" Kanan wanted to check on her, but he couldn't stop now. Kanan turned back to where Ezra's presence was flaring and tugged the boy into a sitting position, resting Ezra's head against his shoulder. He dove back into Ezra's head and found the blood red light slowly strangle Ezra's bright blue one. Enough was enough. Maul always found a way to smash through Ezra's mental barriers and there was only way to keep him out.
Kanan lunged forward, yanking Maul's presence away from Ezra's. Maul fought back and Kanan felt a searing pain through his head as Maul began to force him out. "You honestly think you can protect the boy forever?"
"I know I can't," Kanan replied. "But that doesn't mean I'll let you take him away from me."
"He's mine Jarrus! I will come for him! It's only a matter of time!"
Kanan focused harder and started to fight back against Maul. Ezra's presence flared in pain.
"The more you fight, the more pain Ezra will endure! Stop fighting and give up!" Maul sneered.
"Not until you stay away from him!" Kanan retorted. Suddenly, Ezra let out a blood chilling scream. It was enough to distract Kanan long enough for Maul to send violently flying out of Ezra's head. Kanan smashed through what was left of Ezra's shields and forced him out of meditation where he immediately lost consciousness.
Maul smiled as the meddling Jedi vanished. He saw Ezra's presence begin to cower. "Leave me alone..." he whimpered.
"I will come for you my apprentice," Maul stated. "Enjoy your time with your master while you can...that is if he doesn't hate you."
"No..."
"They all hate you," Maul replied. "You're the reason Jarrus can no longer see. You're the reason your friend Ahsoka Tano is dead. You're the cause of so much anguish. I honestly hope you can live with yourself."
Maul could crush Ezra, eliminate what little personality he has left, destroy his mind and render him a mere droid. But he won't. That could wait. That could wait until Ezra was in his clutches. Until then, he would keep attacking, finding ways to control him.
As he withdrew from Ezra's mind, he smiled.
The boy would be his. It was only a matter of time.
Hera woke up with a huge headache.
As she opened her eyes, she saw Kanan unconscious on the ground and Ezra curled up in a ball, his eyes closed. Hera rushed quickly to Kanan's side, deciding not to wake Ezra in case he went into another panic.
"Kanan? Kanan!"
Kanan groaned and sat up, holding his head. "What happened? Is Ezra okay? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but as for Ezra, I...don't know," Hera replied, turning to Ezra, who still appeared to be unconscious. "What happened? Did Maul get into his head again?"
Kanan nodded. "I think Maul might be the reason Ezra isn't getting any better." The Jedi let oit a sad sigh. "His signature is muted. Is he awake?"
"Doesn't look like it love."
Kanan scooted towards his padawan and gently shook him. "Ezra? Can you hear me?"
Ezra didn't stir. Kanan cursed. "He's out cold."
"Will he be okay?" Hera asked.
"I can try to wake him up, but it will take time and I will need someplace quiet."
"Do you need help carrying him?" Hera asked.
Kanan shook his head. "My Force Sight is getting better. I can see faint outlines now, so I think I can manage. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'll live," Hera reassured. "I've had worse."
Kanan sighed as he lifted Ezra bridal style. "Just take it easy."
"You too."
The two went into Kanan's room without another word.
Using the Force to see, Kanan was thankfully able to take Ezra back to his room without much difficulty. He laid his padawan on the bottom bunk, where Ezra instantly curled up again. Kanan sighed sadly and yanked a blanket off the top bunk. Even though he was trying to wake Ezra, he had no idea how long it would take. The best plan was to make Ezra as comfortable as possible. He "stared" at the fuzzy blue signature for a moment before sitting on the edge of the bed next to him and slipping into meditation.
Hera watched as Kanan sat still for what felt like hours even though it was only a few minutes.
"Why isn't Ezra waking up? What is going on?"
Hera watched worriedly, the anxiety not helping her headache, which was dulling, but still there.
Her worries subsided when Ezra's cloudy blue eyes fluttered open and Kanan relaxed. Ezra looked sleepy, but he was awake.
"How are you feeling?" Kanan asked.
Ezra didn't even acknowledge Kanan's presence.
Hera didn't need Kanan's eyes to know he was worried. Kanan turned to the Twi'lek. "I'll handle this."
Hera nodded and slowly backed out of the room. She made her way to the common room that now looked like it had been ravaged by one of Lothal's tornadoes and began to clean up. She didn't care that she didn't have help. Ezra needed Kanan. Hera needed a distraction. As soon as the others returned, she would need to decide whether or not to explain what had happened, but that decision could wait.
For now, Hera just focused on the task at hand.
Curse you space cockroach.
I'm not entirely sure about this one, but I don't think I can do anything more with it so here you go!
Where do I plan to take this you ask?
I was originally going to take it slow and wait until I have an idea of what was going to happen in season three. Yesterday, I finally said screw it and decided to take advantage of the creative freedom that comes with hiatus while I can. I'll risk those pesky canon-balls blowing holes in this series, but I won't have to think, "No, can't do that. That may get blown when the trailer comes" type thing.
Hope you enjoyed! If you did, you know what to do.
Until Next Time!