Spark of Rebellion: Wookiee Rescue

Hera let out a sigh of relief as the ship entered hyperspace and relaxed into her seat. Her moment of peace was short lived as the door opened behind her. A flash of orange was all she needed to know who it was.

"Welcome aboard – again."

"Thanks, er, thank you. I really didn't think you'd come back for me."

Hera turned to look at him, and did a double take. She'd known he was young from his voice and size, but without his hat he looked young.

"I'll get you home now," she promised, spinning forward to enter the coordinates and doubly glad now that they had rescued him. She glanced back at him. as she worked. "I'm sure your parents must be worried sick."

An emotion flashed across Ezra's face too fast for her to register what it was before he looked away. "What parents?"

The question was so softly spoken, Hera wasn't sure she heard it, but the way he tucked his chin into the folds of his scarf and the ringing silence told her all she needed to know, and more. Abruptly he stepped to the side. The door opened and Kanan and Sabine walked in.

"Besides," he said, as if carrying on a conversation they'd been having. "You've got somewhere else to be. I know where they're really talking the Wookiees."

Everyone tensed, even Chopper, and the atmosphere grew immediately serious.

"Have you ever heard of the spice mines of Kessel?"

"Slaves sent there last a few months," Sabine answered slowly. "Maybe a year."

"And for Wookiees born in the forest it's a death sentence," Hera added.

'Makes sense,' Ezra thought and ran a hand through his hair. "Better go save them then."

The crew members exchanged looks.

"And you're including yourself in that, are you?" Sabine asked skeptically.

"Come this far. Might as well finish the job." Ezra answered with a small smirk and a shrug.

'Besides, you don't have time to waste dropping me off,' Ezra thought as Hera reentered a set of coordinates, this time for Kessel. 'Not that you would have anyway.'

Kanan eyed the kid, steeling himself as their eyes met. No strange, soul-searching stare this time, instead he was met with a clear, inquisitive gaze. He spun his seat forward. There would be time to think about the kid later, right now he had a rescue to plan. . . again.

Ezra sighed quietly and sat in the only remaining chair, shoving his hands in his pockets as he slouched as low as he could, a move that pushed his scarf up past his nose and let his over grown bangs flop over his eyes, hiding his face from view.

Sabine, who'd been watching him out of the corner of her eye, frowned. While she'd called him 'kid,' she had done so more as a way of passively tell him she wasn't interested than because of his age. Truth be told, despite the fact that he was several inches shorter than her, she'd originally though he was her age, maybe even older. But no, without his hat, she'd been able to get a good look at his face and it was obvious he was younger than her. She drummed her fingers on her helmet as she thought.

It had to be the way he carried himself, she finally decided. He didn't have that awkwardness or lack of coordination most young teens had as they adjusted to a constantly growing and changing body. He didn't over-reach or underestimate the length of his stride, instead he moved with. . . Well she wouldn't call it grace.

'More like a cocky assurance,' she thought. 'And he's definitely awkward, socially at least.'

She jerked out of her mental musing as Kanan outlined his newest plan.

'Back where it all started,' Ezra thought wryly, using the wall of the loading bay to help keep his balance as the ship swung around. The sound of a laser canon told him the plan had begun.

"Try not to get dead. Don't want to carry your body out."

Ezra flicked his gaze to the, until then silent, Lasat, but before he could snap back a reply Zeb shoved something at him. A worn, faded yellow something.

"My hat!" His whole face lit up as he fingered the material, and he missed the flash of guilt that crossed the Zeb's face as he tugged the hat on and carefully tucked his hair underneath.

Not a moment later the ship landed and the bay door opened. They rushed out, dodging blaster fire as they took cover. Ezra pulled his scarf up over his nose as he peaked around a crate, then glanced back at Kanan, who nodded. Having received his signal, Ezra darted off while Kanan, Sabine, and Zeb drew the trooper's attention and fire away from him.

Ezra kept one eye on the stormtroopers as he made his way around to the Wookiees. Once he was almost behind them he left cover and darted into the milling group of prisoners.

"I'm here to help," he said quickly, holding up one hand in a pacifying gesture and tugging the scarf off his face with the other.

The two Wookiees immediately in front of him exchanged growls and held out their cuffed hands.

'Thicker material, but standard locking,' Ezra noted as he pulled out his trusty tool. In a matter of seconds half the Wookiees were free and attacking the troopers from behind. Ezra glanced at the fallen Imperials and smirked.

"That everyone?" he asked the nearest Wookiee, looking around. A whining whir reached his ears and his head shot up.

"Incoming!" He yelled as the TIEs opened fire on the Ghost. "Take cover!"

The warning came too late as an Imperial ship swooped down and fired on the group. While none of the them were hit, the impact of the shots striking earth was enough to send them all toppling to the ground.

"Take them down!" a familiar and much hated voice shouted.

Cursing softly at the sight of Kallus and a dozen or so troopers, Ezra pushed himself up. A Wookiee fell to his left and he dashed over. Zeb was already there.

"He'll be ok. I've got him." Zeb pulled the Wookiee up and half carried, half dragged him to cover. The Wookiee let out a growl that was almost a whine as he stared at something behind the line of stormtroopers. Following his gaze, Ezra saw a trooper chasing after a Wookiee so small it could only be. . .

"His child?"

A flash of red streaked by his head and he ducked, cursing as he was forced to followed the others to cover. He dodged around Zeb, who was returning fire with Sabine while Kanan coordinated with Hera over the com, and stopped by the injured Wookiee.

"Put this on and stay here." He shoved a medicine infused bandage at the hairy alien. "I'll get your kid."

Their eyes met and an understanding passed between them. Then Ezra was gone, running off in the direction he'd seen the kid moving and ignoring Zeb's call.

He wouldn't let a kid get hurt in front of him. He'd rescue the kid, keep him safe, and this time –

'This time I won't fail. Not again. Never again!'

"Come one, kid, where are you?" He panted as he ran. The sound of a blaster rifle answered him and he increased his speed. Rounding a corner, he saw the Wookiee child dash out onto a long, narrow walkway. He groaned. "Not there. That's a dead end."

"Hey, you!" he hollered, and both the Wookiee and trooper spun around to face him. Ezra crouched as the trooper aimed his gun at him and a familiar whistling whispered in his ears.

"Oh, now you decide to show up?" he muttered crossly.

The trooper pulled the trigger but before the shot even left the barrel a loud shout of 'up!' echoed through Ezra's head.

He leapt into the air, activating his slingshot as he soared over the trooper's head and firing several shots as he landed. The stromtrooper stumbled back, hitting the railing. One more shot to man's head sent him tumbling over the edge into the pit below.

"Gotcha!" Ezra flicked his wrist, holstering his sling as he turned to young Wookiee. "Hey, buddy, how 'bout we get this off, hm?"

The Wookiee made a small sound of agreement and Ezra smiled as he examined the cuffs. They were a smaller version of the ones he'd removed from the adult Wookiees and just as easily removed.

"Care to do the honors?" Ezra asked holding out the cuffs. The kid nodded, grabbing the cuffs and throwing them far off the side of the walkway. Ezra whistled. "Good arm, ki-"

Footsteps rang out behind him and Ezra whipped around, shoving the Wookiee behind him.

"It's over for you, Jedi." Kallus said, marching toward them, blaster pointed straight at Ezra's heart. "A master and an apprentice – such a rare find these days."

"I don't know where you get your delusions, buckethead," Ezra spat, swallowing the more colorful words he would have used had there not been a child present. "I work alone."

"Not this time." Kanan's voice corrected as the man appeared, standing atop the Ghost lightsaber in hand. A small part of Ezra's mind not preoccupied with staying alive, snickered at the rather dramatic sight.

Kallus fired at Kanan, who nimbly dodged a few shots before using his laser sword to deflect one back at the I.S.B. agent. It hit him squarely in the chest, knocking Kallus backwards off the walkway.

"Jump, kid." Kanan ordered as the Ghost lowered slightly. Nodding to the Wookiee, Ezra dashed to the edge and jumped the railing.

Kanan watched as the two landed, noting the way Ezra steadied the young Wookiee, before leading them to the hatch and into the ship to the loading bay, the only area with a ceiling high enough for the Wookiees. As soon as the kid saw his father he bolted for the ladder and ran straight to him. The dark haired Wookiee met him half way and wrapped him in a hug.

It was a touching sight and Ezra couldn't help but smile slightly even as a pang of longing shot through him and his heart throbbed painfully.

Kanan smiled softly, eyes shifting from the reunited family to Ezra. He reached to pat him on the shoulder for a job well done but before he could touch him Ezra flinched away. Kanan raised a brow in question and Ezra looked away, a look of fearful wariness changing to embarrassment as he realized Kanan hadn't meant to hurt him. Deciding not to press the issue, Kanan walked off to join the others.

After greeting the Wookiees and informing them of the plan to get them home, Kanan caught Hera's eye and gestured to the cockpit. She nodded and made her way over.

"Hey, kid, what's your name?"

Kanan turned to see Ezra standing next to the small Wookiee and shifting from foot to foot as if unsure what to do.

"He says it's 'Kitwarr,'" Sabine translated for him and Ezra nodded his thanks.

"So, Kitwarr. . .wanna hear a story?" Kitwarr nodded and Ezra's shoulders relaxed slightly as he grinned. "Great, I got just the one! Hope you like pirates."

Kanan shook his head as he followed after Hera, amused and slightly surprised.

'Children,' he thought. 'They always find a way to be happy.'