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Rise of the Old Masters: Conclusion
"I am the Inquisitor."
The voice didn't really register through the panic but the sudden flare of red light did, and Ezra shot back as the man advanced into the cell. The door slid shut behind him and the dim light made the eyes glow even brighter.
"Welcome." The man's lips stretched into a smile that showed far too many and eerily pointed teeth.
Kanan hands flew into motion, one pushing Ezra out of the way and the other gathering up the pieces of his lightsaber.
"Yes, I'm afraid Master Luminara died with the Republic." The Inquisitor continued, eyes lingering on Ezra. "But her bones continue to serve the Empire–" The Inquisitor's gaze switched to Kanan, and he smirked slightly at the battle ready stance the Jedi had taken. "–luring the last Jedi to their deaths."
Once the yellow eyes were no longer focused on him, Ezra was able to push aside his panic and actually think. Years of experience kicked in and he weighed his odds. They weren't good. If his instincts were right, and the usually were, he had no chance against the yellow eyed man.
Ezra fumbled for his comm. Hopefully, Kanan could distract the man long enough for him to get the door open and then they could escape. But that would only work if the others were ready for them.
"Spectre -3, come in. It's a trap!" He waited for a reply but only got static.
"There will be no reinforcements." The voice was colder and harder than before, and Ezra flinched back. The yellow eyed man's voice seemed to be dragging out every horrible feeling and memory he had.
A blur of movement and blue met red with a crackle of energy. Ezra let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding as he watched Kanan exchange blows with the Imperial.
"Interesting," the Inquisitor almost purred. "It seems you trained with Jedi Master Depa Billaba."
"How–?" Kanan's concentration wavered in surprise and the red saber inched closer. He pushed back, green eyes glinting angrily. "Who are you?"
The Inquisitor answered with a smirk and a slash that forced Kanan back several more steps. Ezra slid around them and toward the door. He didn't bother looking for a way to unlock it; from his brief time as Kallus's prisoner he knew there was no way he could unlock the cell door from this side. He kept his eyes on the enemy as he pulled out Sabine's 'miracle.'
"The temple records are quite complete. In close quarter fighting, Billaba's emphasis was always on form 3." The Inquisitor spoke in a completely unhurried way, as if pressing Kanan back was as easy as strolling down the street. "Which you favor to a ridiculous degree."
Ezra primed his sling. The man's back was to him and he wasn't going to let the opportunity slip him by. He fired. The man swung his saber around, blocking the crackling ball, and Ezra stiffened as the yellow eyes pinned him place.
Kanan charged again and the yellow eyes flicked away. The Inquisitor side stepped the swing and jumped. Kanan's momentum carried him under the Sith who kicked out, sending Kanan crashing to the floor.
Ezra jumped off the steps and landed next to Kanan. The Jedi was still conscious, which Ezra was thankful for, though the fact that Kanan still hadn't stood up told Ezra how much the blow had wounded him. Ezra searched Kanan's face, looking for a sign as to what to do, but Kanan was once again avoiding looking at him, choosing to glare at the Inquisitor.
"Clearly," the Inquisitor rose from his crouch with all the grace of a dancer and stared down at them. "You were a poor student."
It was the superiority in the Inquisitor's voice and the way he looked down at Ezra, as if he was lacking, only worth looking at because the man had deigned to glance his way. It was a look Ezra had seen so many times before and sparked something in him. Anger, resentment, and most of all the need to prove them wrong.
He stood, glaring at those terrifying yellow eyes, and fired his sling.
The Inquisitor spread his arms, letting the shots hit him, and his lips quirked in a bemused smile.
"Is that really all you've got, my boy?" he asked, he couldn't quiet keep the disappointment from his voice. He really had expected a better challenge, something worth the endless hours he'd been forced to suffer waiting.
"Well, I've got that," Ezra shot back, waving his hand at the door.
Drawing attention to your escape route before you'd actually used it was a stupid thing to do, an extremely stupid thing, but Ezra's fear was still fueling his anger at being trapped and looked down on. Fortunately his comment ended just as Sabine's 'miracle' was gave a final beep. Ezra had just enough time see the Inquisitor's smile falter before the bomb went off and filled the room with smoke. He shot out of the door with Kanan right behind him.
They hadn't made it far when Ezra heard Kanan stop. Ezra skidded to a halt and turned to see the Inquisitor had caught up with them. The two men eyed each other for a moment before the Inquisitor raised his saber, his thumb pressing down on a hidden button. Ezra barely had time to register the appearance of a second blade as the Inquisitor shot forward. There was a blur of red and blue light as the two men engaged.
He should run. He should run right now while that Inquisitor person was distracted by Kanan. He should run and get away before he got hurt, or killed. He should run.
Ezra nodded to himself, eyes searching for an escape route.
"Your life is more important than anything." That person's words rang in his ears, justifying his actions. "You will protect your life. I don't care how you do it, what you have to sacrifice, who you have to hurt. You stay alive!"
'Sacrifice? Hurt?'The words echoed through his head.
He should run, but what would happen to Kanan? If he left and something happened and he wasn't there to at least try to help. . . If Kanan got hurt or – or died, then wouldn't that be his fault? But – but he had promised, and if he died here, for such a pointless stupid reason of trying to rescue a dead lady then everything that person had sacrificed for him would be for nothing. No, he would not let it go to waste.
Ezra looked back at the fighters as he took half a step back and faltered.
He had to run. It was what he taught to do, raised to do, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from Kanan and despite the voice screaming in his head he couldn't make his feet move. He couldn't leave.
"Are you paying attention, boy?"
It seemed his small movement had drawn attention to the Inquisitor's attention to him.
"The Jedi are dead, but there is another path." The Inquisitor glanced past Kanan and locked eyes with Ezra. "The Dark Side."
He couldn't run, it was too late and his feet wouldn't move anyway, which left option two: fight.
"Never heard of it." Ezra fired his sling.
The Inquisitor shoved Kanan aside and absorbed the shot with his saber. He grabbed the Force and used it to throw the boy aside. Not hard enough to kill him or even knock him out, but hard enough to teach the boy not to underestimate him.
"Have you taught him nothing?" The Inquisitor asked disgustedly, forcing the Jedi's attention away from the child and back to him.
The instant the human's green eyes met his they hardened, and the man charged again. The Inquisitor allowed a small smile. The fight was pathetic, a far cry from anything challenging, but there was still that element of danger. A wrong move could still lead to death, and it was that thrill that let him feel the full weight of the Dark Side. The power that made him feel more alive, gave him a greater rush than anything else ever could.
"Do you really think you can save the boy?" He saw the human hesitate as he glanced back at the shild picking himself up off the floor, felt the doubt spike and latched onto it. Humans always were so ridiculously sentimental. "For his sake, surrender."
"I'm not making deals with you," Kanan hissed, raising his lightsaber.
"Hmm. Then we'll let him make one, shall we?" The Inquisitor straightened and thrust out a hand, grabbing the Jedi with the Force and throwing him down the hall where he slammed head first onto the floor. He turned his attention to the child. "Your master can not save you now, boy."
The boy whipped around, and the Inquisitor was treated to the sight of blazing blue eyes.
"He is undisciplined and unfocused." The Inquisitor said as he studied the eyes. First fear, now anger, and so much of both. The boy had potential.
"Then we're perfect for each other." Ezra shouted, raising his sling and firing as quickly as he could.
The Inquisitor swiped his blade through the air, letting the saber absorb the shots before darting forward and swiping at the boy.
Ezra ducked under one end of the duel bladed saber and used the wall to jump over the other. He spun around, body tense and cursing himself for letting the Inquisitor force him back in the direction of the cell. He glanced past the man to where Kanan lay, stirring slightly, and tried to will the Jedi awake.
"I do so admire your persistence." The Inquisitor turned to face Ezra, spinning his lightsaber slowly in front of him. "Ready to die?"
The Inquisitor rushed forward faster than anyone Ezra had ever seen and there was no way he could escape this time. Twin blood red blades rose in the air and Ezra braced himself for the blow.
"–ke up!"
Everything hurt. Muscles he hadn't used in years protesting the sudden demand call to action and his head throbbed in the all too familiar way that told him he'd just been thrown a fair distance.
"Get up!"
Kanan winced as the voice screamed through his mind. It was shrill and frantic and only made the pain worse.
"Get up! Get up! He needs you! Ezra needs you! GET UP!"
'Ezra?' Kanan forced his eyes open, instinctively looking in the direction of that painfully familiar sound of a lightsaber. Kanan's stomach dropped at the sight of the Sith, blood red saber raised, and about to strike down the boy in front of him
"NO!" Kanan screamed and his arm shot out, the Force wrapping around the Inquisitor and holding him in place. Heaving his arm upward, he plastered the Imperial to the ceiling and glanced at Ezra. "Run!"
The order was pointless as Ezra had already bolted the instant the Inquisitor had frozen. Reaching the still crouching Kanan, Ezra pulled him up. Their heads snapped around at the sound of lightsaber igniting.
The Inquisitor glared at them and gave his wrist a sharp twist. The twin blades began spinning.
"Does yours do that?" Ezra asked, slightly distracted by the spinning blades. If he wasn't so afraid he might die, and the wielder wasn't trying to kill him, he'd be begging to know how that worked. As it was, fear for his life kept him at a safe distance, though his fingers were twitching eagerly.
"Come on!" Kanan growled, turning the boy away and pushing into motion. "Let's go!"
Ezra took the hint and began running again. Kanan quickly over took him and began leading the way. They rounded a corner and spotted Zeb and Sabine.
"Guys!" Sabine shouted, pausing to let them catch up. "This way!"
"You figured out it was a trap?" Kanan asked, keeping pace beside Sabine.
"Yeah. Luminara?"
"Long gone." Kanan glanced ahead to where Zeb was leading the way. Now wasn't the time, but he would morn her passing and those who had fallen into the Empire's trap. "Our new exit?"
"Landing platform."
"Thought it was impossible to get out that way."
"Well, let's hope the Empire thinks so too," Sabine answered, echoing Kanan's words from earlier.
"Secure the facility," the Inquisitor's voice echoed over the prison's speakers. "Full lockdown."
"Well, that's not helpful," Ezra muttered as doors began closing, sealing off the halls in front, behind, and around them.
They managed to make it down three corridors before the metal doors began closing too fast in front of them. Zeb leapt onto the rising metal slaps, using his body to keep them open.
"Can't do this all day!" He grunted, muscles straining from the effort.
Sabine dove between him and the shrinking walls with Kanan slipping by Zeb after her. Ezra didn't bother slowing or trying to dodge past Zeb and simply body slammed into the Lasat, sending both of them crashing to the floor as the door slammed shut behind them. Ezra rolled with the fall and back onto his feet, continuing his run.
"You're welcome!" He called back over his shoulder. Zeb's curses increased in volume and Ezra smirked. So maybe he was still a little pissed about the whole nearly falling to his death thing. Ezra's satisfaction was short lived as he skidded to stop behind Sabine and Kanan.
A blaster shot sounded behind them and Ezra whipped around, hand automatically shooting to his sling. Seeing Zeb lowering his own weapon having shot the control panel, Ezra flicked his wrist, holstering his own weapon and followed after Kanan, scowling. Zeb might have prevented the Inquisitor from following them into the room, but now they were trapped in the hanger and Ezra had had quite enough of being trapped.
"I'm locked out of the system," Sabine groaned, cursing as the prison's computer shut down. "Ezra?"
Ezra smirked slightly as he pulled out his trusty tool. It seemed it was up to him to save the day again. Ezra pried the panel off the wall and inserted his tool into an opening. The instant he did so, a sharp shock ran up his arm and his hand clenched automatically around his tool. He jerked back, kicking against the wall to free himself, and fell back with a groan.
"Sorry," he muttered, wincing as he sat up and pocketed his tool. It had been ages since he'd been shocked like that and he certainly hadn't missed the way it made his whole body ached dully or the strange metallic taste it left in mouth.
"Ezra," Kanan called softly, pulling him up and over to the door. "Together."
"Seriously?" They were going to try this now of all times? Really?!
"Yes. Picture the locking mechanism in your mind," Kana instructed, closing his eyes and raising a hand.
Ezra scowled frustratedly as he copied the actions. That really wasn't a lot to work with. Sighing quietly he tried to do as he was told; the only problem was he had absolutely no idea what kind of lock was keeping the door closed. Was it bolts? Or cylinders? Was there a mechanical override? Or was it all electrical?
Ezra shook his head. He was over thinking this. He didn't need to know the details, all locks worked in the on the same basic principle: prevention of movement. All he needed to do was remove the obstacle, and. . . Ezra's lips curled slightly as he felt the bolts and tumblers shift.
"Excuse me, but can we train Ezra later?" Zeb asked tersely, as he and Sabine primed their weapons, eyes locked on the red saber cutting its way through the door behind the two Force users.
Kanan glanced at them as he rolled his hand over, palm facing up, and slowly began raising the hanger door. Ezra shadowed him, biting his lip as he struggled to move the door. It was a curious sensation, like trying to shove back the wind, and he was having just about as much luck.
"Siht wercs!" Ezra muttered and stuck out his other arm, pushing them up like he was lifting a weight. The door seemed to push back before giving and shooting upward.
'Gotcha!' Ezra's happiness was short lived as the small army of troopers that had been waiting on the other side of the door opened fire.
Zeb threw the last of Sabine's 'miracles' and in the confusion they rushed forward. Halfway across the landing the stormtroopers recovered and the would –be rescuers dove for cover.
"Spectre-5 to Phantom. We're on the landing deck, ready for pick up."
"On my way, Spectre-5," Hera's voice replied. "And I'm bringing the fleet."
"We have a fleet?" Zeb asked, lowering his bo-rifle to send Sabine a questioning look. She shrugged, just as confused as he was.
At the sound of an approaching ship everyone looked around.
"What," Ezra gaped at the large creatures surrounding the Phantom, "are those?"
"Our fleet, apparently," Kanan answered, signaling them to move out while the stormtroopers were distracted.
They sprinted the last distance to the Phantom, firing as they went. A few feet from the ship Kanan paused and turned. Glancing behind him Ezra saw the Inquisitor had caught up to them again and was throwing his lightsaber!
'What kind of idiot throws their weapon at their enemy?!' Ezra thought angrily, shooting past Kanan and jumping into the Phantom. He turned around in time to see Kanan smack the spinning blades aside and leap up beside him.
"Does yours do that?" Zeb asked as Hera shut the door and took off.
Ezra snickered at the disgruntled look Kanan sent Zeb as he deactivated his saber. Kanan brushed past them, moving to stand behind Hera, and Ezra's shoulders slumped.
'Back to square one,' he thought dully, dropping down onto the nearest seat. He didn't really want to know what Kanan and Hera were talking about, as he was fairly certain it was about how they were going to get rid of him now, but the Phantom was small and his hearing had always been good.
"Master Luminara?" Hera's quiet whisper carried far too easily in the small ship.
"Gone." Kanan replied and Ezra cringed. Did he have to sound so disappointed? "We'll have to find a way to spread the word."
"How's Ezra taking it?"
Ezra's hands tightened their grip on his seat as a sharp pang ran through him. He hadn't thought Hera was just as eager to get rid of him as Kanan was.
"Not as bad as I am. I guess he's stuck with me. For now."
Ezra tugged his hat lower, glad his scarf had stayed in place and no one could see his face. Kanan might have said Ezra was stuck with him, but Ezra knew from his tone that what he'd really meant was Kanan was stuck with him.
It always hurt to hear that he was unwanted, but this hurt more than it should. Ezra ruthlessly crushed the part of him that wanted to ask what he'd done wrong, and beg to stay. He shoved his emotions as far away as possible and let the numbness wash over him. With a sense of detached calm letting him think more clearly he realized it hurt so much because he cared; he'd grown attached to these people, to the feeling of not being alone. The idea of going back to a life loneliness, again, was so terrifying it was painful.
Ezra jerked back to reality at the sudden change in sound and looked around. He was up in the dorsal gun well again, though he couldn't remember moving from the Phantom to the Ghost, and Lothal was swelling in size as they flew towards it.
Ezra's stomach churned, and for the first time the sight of his home planet filled him with dread. He couldn't. He couldn't go back to being alone, he just couldn't. If Kanan didn't want to teach him, fine, but he could still be useful in other ways. Surely he could convince them to keep him around, right? Better to stay and be unwanted, than alone. He would just avoid them as much as possible and maybe they would forget to get rid of him until it was too late.
The Ghost had only just landed when the bay doors opened and Ezra shot out of the ship. Kanan expected this as Ezra usually left the ship as soon as it landed, what he was not expecting was for the kid to vanish. Ezra usually stayed within shouting distance of the ship or up on top, but Kanan didn't see him anywhere.
There was a flash of panic but Kanan shoved it back down and forced himself to think logically. He stretched out his senses and nearly jumped in surprise when he found what he was looking for a few feet behind him. Kanan circled around to the underside of the ramp and even though he knew where to look he still almost missed him.
Ezra had tucked himself up under the ramp and was virtually invisible in the shadows and tall grass.
"Look, don't bother say it," Ezra called as soon as Kanan came into view. "I'm letting you off the hook."
"What are you talking about?" Kanan asked distractedly, trying to figure out he could get close to the kid. He frowned, short of lying down and crawling on his stomach or rolling, there was no way he'd fit. As it was he'd already hit his head twice just getting under the ship.
"I know you wanted to dump me on Luminara," Ezra explained. Kanan straightened in surprise at the accusation and smacked his head again, mentally cursing the kid's ability to get into impossibly small places. "Just because she's gone doesn't mean you're stuck with me."
"I don't want to 'dump' you," Kanan corrected, rubbing his head and seriously considering using the Force to drag Ezra out to a place where he could stand without getting a concussion. No, that probably wouldn't help fix whatever the problem was. Sighing, Kanan sat down.
"Look," Kanan began again, carefully inching his way closer to Ezra, but keeping one eye on the ship above him. He really didn't want to hit his head again. "I just wanted you to have the best teacher."
"Well, I don't want the best teacher," Ezra snapped. "I want you."
A strange mix of shock, warmth, and pride washed over Kanan.
"Not that you're not the best," Ezra added quickly, somehow managing to make himself even smaller. "I–"
"Ezra."
The boy fell silent.
"I'm not going to try to teach you anymore."
Even though Ezra had been mentally preparing himself for Kanan to tell him he'd given up on him, the words still managed to cut painfully deep.
"If all I ever do is try, that means I don't truly believe I can succeed. So from now on I will teach you." It was odd how calm he felt, but the declaration felt right.
Ezra's head shot up, face blank but eyes filled with surprise and a hint of desperation, and whatever lingering doubt and uncertainty Kanan had was overshadowed by determination.
"Look, I may fail. You may fail," Kanan waved a hand dismissively. "But there is no try."
Ezra swallowed. Kanan had said it so flippantly, as if the prospect of either or both of them failing didn't matter, but Ezra had detected a flicker of unease in Kanan's voice. The idea that the man might be as confused and unsure as him was strangely comforting and Ezra relaxed, the knot his stomach had tied itself into loosening a little.
"I understand." Ezra hesitated before adding an uncertain, "Master."
Kanan stilled in surprise and glanced at Ezra. The last word had been mumbled so quietly he almost though he'd imagined it, but the hint of red on Ezra's face and the feelings of embarrassed discomfort he was able to pick up told him otherwise.
"Let's see if you do." Kanan, caught up in their little moment, forgot he was still under the ship and stood up, banging his head on the underside of the ship. Again. Kanan swore, loud and long, stopping only at the sound of laughter. Kanan's eyebrow twitched.
"Laugh it up, kid, but the next time you try hiding I will drag you out with the Force." There was no real heat to his words, and he didn't fight the smile curling his lips. Force, but it had been so long since he'd heard such carefree laughter!
"Who says you'll find me next time?" Ezra smirked.
Author's Notes:
Comments to Your Reviews:
~ Thank you Thunderworlf2456, raymond686, RedtailHawk19. I'm glad you guys think so highly of my work, and yes I saw the trailer for season 2 and I'm totally stoked!
~ to ColorsAndWind, Again, your enthusiasm always makes me smile. As for your question. . .yes, that person was talking to Kanan, but that's all I want to say on that as that little scene is going to play a part in a later chapter and I don't want to give spoilers.
~ to CatGirlFireflare: Nope, that person just won't give up on Ezra which means the crew is more or less stuck with that person as well, even if they aren't aware of it. As for Kanan dragging Ezra out of hiding with the Force. . . . Well, maybe in the future - if Ezra's being particularly stubborn (or stupid).