Summary: Final pieces are coming together and Ezra's fairly confident where they'll lead. Knowledge doesn't equal fearlessness however and in the last moments the Spectre family will need to push their bonds ever deeper if they're going to get the outcome they're all hoping for.

This story is not going to be a twist on every moment that happened in the show. (For an indescribably amazing story like that read TariSilmarwen's Mirrorverse series - seriously it's awesome!) This chapter starts after the crew has entered the dome and Thrawn arrives demanding Ezra's surrender. Feel free to assume that everything in between that and the end of last chapter happened as it did in canon. Kanan being there didn't really change anything to this point.

"Ezra I promise you we'll get the shield back up. We only have to stall a little longer. You don't have to do this!"

"Hera, this is bigger than Lothal now. I have to get to that ship."

"Why?"

"I don't have time to explain."

She wasn't having that. "Ezra Bridger!"

"Look. Inside of the temple there are these…doors. Gateways to other places, other moments in time. That's what the emperor's after. With a power like that he could control far more than the galaxy. I don't want to think about what could be lost."

Kanan's frown deepened. "The temple collapsed, Kid. He can't reach whatever this place is."

"He can't enter it here on Lothal. But at some point the troopers…harvested part of the temple that included an entrance and took it away. It's on Thrawn's ship."

"How do you know?"

"I saw the moment Thrawn learned it was being brought on board. The emperor told him to preserve it specifically for me."

"For you?"

"He can't cross the threshold of these doorways, I can. He expects me to open one for him."

"Pretend for a moment I understand what you're saying," Hera interrupted. "If the door was removed from the temple how can he think it'll still work?"

"I don't know how, I only know he's right. There's a gateway the emperor's men have access to and the only way for me to destroy it is to be on that ship! This is an opportunity I can't pass up."

"So we destroy the ship."

Ezra tried very hard not to roll his eyes. He may not have succeeded. "I've witnessed the destruction of exactly one star destroyer. And it took Commander Sato's suicide to accomplish that. I'm not risking anyone else."

This time Hera rolled her eyes. "And just how are you going to destroy it? You can't take weapons," she pointed out. "Thrawn's troopers will search you the second you're on board."

"I know. But they can't take everything from me. Look, I know it's asking a lot, but you have to trust me on this!"

Kanan grabbed his padawan's shoulders. "Ezra, we trust you. I promise, we do. If you say this needs to happen, then it needs to happen. But let us help."

"That's all we're asking."

Ezra didn't answer for a long moment prompting anxious looks to be shared between his parent figures.

"You can help." He murmured, barely audible. "You can tell me you love me."

"What?" they gasped. Ezra looked up at them, forcing back tears.

"I don't know exactly what I'm going to face on that ship. Those gateways below the temple? They don't just show you things that already happened. Ahs- I have the idea they can show you things that might have happened, or could happen. Things you want, things you're afraid of. Remember how I was afraid when I woke up after? How I wasn't sure if you survived, Kanan? That's because I saw a moment where you didn't. I also saw a moment where I came home and told my parents I'd got accepted into the Republic's Outer Rim flight academy."

"There isn't a-"

"It wasn't real, remember? Anyway the point is the emperor may not be able to open the door to the other realm but he will use anything he can think of to get me to do it for him. I know I'm capable of beating him but it would be easier if I knew…"

"I'm so sorry honey," Hera swallowed hard, fighting her own tears. "If I haven't done enough to show-"

Ezra cut her off with a head shake. "You have shown it, more times than I can count. I believe it. I just need…please just say it."

She stepped forward and cupped his face in her hands, leaning their heads together. "I love you doesn't even begin to touch what we feel for you. You're our son, blood and law be cursed."

"It's true." Kanan added, wrapping his arms around the two of them.

Ezra's eyes shifted to Hera's stomach then up to meet his, doubt still holding steady. "I'm not-"

"You are. You made me a father, Ezra, and I'm sorry it's taken me this long to understand that. "You're my son, in every way that counts. I love you so much it terrifies me. There's nothing I won't support you in. I will always be there for you, when you're happy, when you're scared, whatever you need me for." He ran a tender hand over Ezra's hair. "You're a part of us now and we're with you no matter what. Just like your parents."

Hera leaned up to kiss her son's tear streaked cheek. "I don't understand what you're wanting to do or why you think you have to do it, but I do trust you." She took a deep breath "Just promise you'll come back to us. Please."

Ezra sniffed and wiped an arm across his eyes.

"I'll do everything I can. Kanan, will you stay connected with me?" He gestured vaguely to the side of his head. His master nodded instantly.

"I'll keep you up to date on how things are going down here. Promise you'll do the same. And make sure you have an exit route. No making it up as you go."

Like you're one to talk. Ezra thought. Aloud he said. "That's alright. If worst happens I've got an ally on the inside."

That threw the others.

"What? Who?" Hera sputtered. "And why haven't they acted before now?"

"Because you might say there's a world between where they are and where they want to be. Don't worry, when the time comes I know they'll do the right thing."

"Ezra-"

"I have to go now. I promise, no matter what happens, I will find a way to come home."

"Ezra wait…" letting out a frustrated sigh as their boy disappeared from sight, Hera turned to her partner, disgruntlement set firmly on her face. "Have I mentioned he's your son?"

Kanan shook his head. "Can we not argue about that again?"

"Humph."

"What do you mean you've lost contact?"

"What I said. One moment our link was strong, now it shrouded. I can still sense him but I'm having to fight for it. He was right about there being a dark presence on that ship."

Hera paled but her General side was still in running the show enough for her to absorb the information without too much grief. "Zeb, Kallus I need that generator!"

"Getting there." The lasat's gruff voice answered. "Thrawn's little friend was keeping me busy. Don't worry I fixed him."

"Power coming online now." Ketsu hollered from the background. "Had to get a little creative so be prepared to move it as soon as I flip this switch."

"Do it and get up here on the double. Is everyone alright?"

"Gregor took a hit to the shoulder." Kallus answered. "He's unconscious but Rex thinks he'll be alright. Said something about earning a lifetime of 'I told you so's' about armor."

Kanan snorted. He'd been there when Rex had all but tied his brother down to force him back in the protective covering the goofy clone had sworn he'd never wear again. As far as the Jedi was concerned his friend had earned those "I told you so's".

"Generator's online. Planetary shield is at full strength."

"Great. Sabine start the launching sequence."

"We have another problem," her mandalorian daughter replied. "Look!"

A dark shadow crossed the dome's viewport. "Thrawn's destroyer is right above us. If we launch now we'll destroy ourselves and half the city along with us."

Behind them came the sound of Pryce laughing. "All your talk of overcoming every obstacle and letting nothing get in your way. Well someone is quite literally in your way. What are you going to do about it?"

"We'll start by shutting you up." Kanan informed her. A high pitched whine of an electro probe sounded, followed by a screech and a thump. With a surge of un-jedi-like satisfaction he turned to his nervous looking partner.

"What are we going to do?" he asked, forcing his voice to remain calm even as he frantically searched his now clearer bond with his padawan for any sign of a clue on that end.

Ezra was understandably preoccupied, but there was something undefinable beneath the surface of his signature. A strong sense of something being held back, a piece of the puzzle that to this moment only his child had been privy to.

As it turned out, they only had to wait another 30 seconds before that piece became abundantly clear.

"Are those…? Hera tell me I'm seeing things."

"If you are, I am too Love."

"Purrgil?" Sabine gasped. "How'd he? Ezra are you doing this?"

"Not a bad idea huh?"

"Would have been better if you'd clued us in!"

"And miss the chance to catch you by surprise? Which you're always claiming I'll never be able to do?"

Sabine rolled her eyes but her argument was cut off by the sound of blaster fire and a cry of… more surprise than pain Kanan noted, although it was enough to set his heart hammering in his chest.

"You've completed your mission kiddo, time to get you and your ally out of there."

"Working on it."

"Work faster!" Hera chimed in, alarm spreading across her beautiful features. "They're preparing to jump."

"It's okay Mom. I remember my promise. I'll see you all again."

"Kid come on. You're running out of time."

"I'll be fine Zeb. Just make sure they all get to the Ghost. I'll meet you there."

"And just what makes you think you'll be able to escape this ship?" The cold calculating voice of Thrawn came through the connection. "You are trapped in circumstances of your own devising. You sought my destruction and have brought about your own. Nothing worthy of such a prideful display."

"Sheesh, Kallus is right. You talk way too much. For your information I've every right to be proud of myself if for no other reason than I remember one little fact that you and your illustrious emperor seem to have forgotten."

"And what fact would that be?"

"Ḍhōkā du'ī bāṭō khōlcha."

"I beg your pardon?"

Ezra's snort was clearly audible even with the chaos around him. "Really? The so-called cultural expert can't understand even a simple phrase in the native language. You disappoint me Grand Admiral."

Static sounded across the com as the purrgil's tentacles lit up.

"Ezra? Ezra! Get out of there now!"

"...can't…be fine…you"

A brilliant light flashed across the sky and the purrgil were gone, taking the remnant of Thrawn's fleet and Ezra along with them.

"Mart give me the helm. You and Kallus, start helping Chopper and AP-5 compile a list of probable trajectory of the purrgil and all known star systems along the way."

"Yes Ma'am."

"Hera, he said he'd find his way to us." Kanan tried to reassure. "We have to trust him."

The Twi'lek gave him a scolding look. "Just because he has a plan doesn't mean he won't need help. Force only knows the number of things that could have gone wrong."

"Yeah Kanan, do you even know if he even had an actual plan to begin with?"

"He did. I'm not sure what, but he knew what was coming. He may have left us clues. What he said to Thrawn for instance. Anybody pick up what that was?"

"Knowing Ezra it was probably just an insult." Zeb grunted.

Sabine shook her head. "I made him teach me all the Lothali insults he knew, that wasn't one of them. She shrugged at Hera's eyebrow. "What? I taught him Mando'a insults, it was only fair."

"I said 'doors open two ways'."

They all turned as the cockpit doors opened and a very smug looking young jedi stepped through them.

"Which I have to admit was a very good exit line," another figure came up beside him. "Master Kenobi would have been proud."

Kanan pulled back from where he'd instantly crushed Ezra to his chest to gape at their new companion.

"You..da.. What?"

"Oh, yeah" Ezra pulled back, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "That ally I mentioned? She decided it was time to come back with me."

"How?" Wow, he was being really articulate. Thankfully no one else in the family seemed to be doing any better.

Ahsoka smiled slightly at their gobsmacked expressions. "We'll explain later," she told him, placing a hand on Kanan's shoulder. "Ezra tells me you have a mission to finish."

With her family crowding the front of the cockpit, Hera swung the Ghost around for optimum viewing of their target. She reached back and took Ezra's hand. "One to finish together. For our family."

"And for those that aren't here," Ryder gave Ezra a smile, "we do this in their honor."

Tears gathered in the corners of the younger man's eyes but he managed a small smile back, leaning into Kanan. "Go on Sabine."

"For Ephraim and Mira. And…everyone else." With the murmured oath the mandalorian pressed her wrist trigger turning the dome into a fireball careening over Lothal's open plains.

"Woo Whay Whop?" Chopper queried sometime later.

"No buddy, you can delete that."

Hera looked up sharply. "What message?"

"Nothing."

Chopper blew one of his special raspberries. "Whaa Whomp."

"Ezraaa."

"It's nothing Hera. Just a backup plan. We're all alright now."

"Well, except for Thrawn's shooting you in the shoulder."

"Ahsoka!"

"He what?!"

"Get us on the ground." Kanan interrupted calmly. "I'll take care of him until then."

Tugging Ezra's arm he got them moving out of the cockpit but not before Hera's very stern "You haven't heard the last of this young man," rang out loud and clear.

The trip to the med bay was both too long and too short for each of them and it wasn't until he'd helped his apprentice out of his singed and dirty sweater and undershirt, that Kanan found himself capable of speaking.

"It'll probably scar." He said, spraying bacta over the wound.

Ezra shrugged his uninjured shoulder. "What else is new?"

"Ez?" He prompted after the silence had stretched out several minutes longer.

"Hm?"

"You were blocked from me for a while there."

"Yeah." Ezra looked down, picking at a loose thread on his trousers. "That was Sidious' doing I think. Though it didn't work completely. I still had enough of a grip on you to…it was enough to help."

"Were the…was what you saw as bad as you feared it would be?"

"Worse."

"What did he show you?"

"My parents."

There was a world of regret, vengeance, and just plain sorrow behind those two words. For the first time in years Kanan found himself blinking hard to keep the moisture from escaping his eyes.

The pain only increased as his son began retelling the events he'd witnessed. The Bridger's unprecedented courage in rallying the other prisoners to continue pressing forward in the escape. How he'd been forced to watch as Ephraim got gunned down after falling back to slow their pursuers. And then finally how Mira, bleeding out but composed, actually cracked a smile as she sealed the facility's exits before forcing an overload that destroyed the main control bay along with any chance of the imperials catching the stolen freighters that carried all but her to their freedom.

"He tried to convince me that I could stop it all from happening. That I could save them. I knew there was no way it was true. Even if I pulled them out, what kind of life would they have? I can't begin to imagine what Thrawn would have done. Or where he would have taken us. But I still…"

Ezra, in one of the many, many ways he was stronger than most of them Kanan thought, didn't even try to hide the tears flooding from his eyes. Shaking with sobs he let his body slump against his teacher's, Kanan's arms immediately reaching around to pull him close.

Knowing there was nothing he could say that would even begin to make what his child had endured any less horrific, the Jedi stayed quiet, tenderly cradling their bond in the force even as he held Ezra in his embrace, letting him cry out in every way he needed to.

The tears didn't last long - they never did, Kanan thought dimly - and before long Ezra was shifting uncomfortably, anxious to leave the room and distract himself no doubt.

Digging through the drawer of spare clothes they kept set aside for moments like these Kanan found a soft shirt which he handed over and watched Ezra slip on over his surprisingly muscular upper body. He'd known the kid had grown a lot over the past two years or so but seeing it with his own eyes was a different matter and put a new spin on his padawan's (was he still a padawan?) plea for his acknowledged love. Kanan was now convinced Ezra had known far more about the events of the past few hours then he'd let on, and couldn't help but marvel at the way he's balanced keeping it secret and still gathering the strength he needed to accomplish his goal. A remarkable young man his son was growing into.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer."

That pulled a snort from the Jedi and the mood was decidedly lightened by the time the rest of their family crowded into the room. Ezra readily slid into Hera's waiting arms as she gave them a brief update on their location and that of their allies.

"Ryder's planning on turning all imperial officers over to Rebel Command as soon as possible. But he wants to interview the technicians and other low level workers here on Lothal. Many of them served for a livelihood and nothing more, and he thinks if they're given a chance to live and work in another capacity they might willingly switch sides. If nothing else it'll be extra labor to help rebuild much of the planet's infrastructure."

"It's a good idea," Kanan concurred. "I don't like the idea of people being punished for simply doing what they had to to survive. Where do we come in?"

"Clean up and patrol duty mostly. At least to begin with."

"You're on patrol, not clean up." Ezra stated firmly.

Hera snorted. "And why is that General Bridger?"

"Prolonged standing or heavy lifting carries an increased chance of miscarriage and premature birth." Kallus answered before the Jedi could.

All eyes in the room turned toward him.

"And just what makes you think that statement is relevant?" Kanan inquired.

Hera was more expressive, punctuating her "How did you know?" with an expletive that had the former imperial turning bright red.

"I'm an intelligence officer, remember?"

He cringed at the sight of all their unimpressed looks.

"Have I ever mentioned I'm the second oldest of eight children? No? Oh, well I am. My mother was pregnant for 90% of my childhood. The only thing that made me question was the fact you're a Twi'lek. I wasn't sure if the signs were the same."

"They're close enough." Hera admitted glumly.

Ezra made a face. "I begged my parents for a sibling for the longest time and I never got one. You got seven. How is that fair?"

"Believe me, you wouldn't be saying that if you'd had seven siblings. Boarding school was the best gift my parents ever gave me. Then I only had one other child to share a room with. Felt like a luxury resort."

"Speaking of, we'll need to make a place on board that works for a baby." Sabine observed.

"We'll have plenty of time to sort that out," Kanan interceded, noting Hera's pallor. "Ezra, you should take a look around Capital City, then you need to rest."

"You all need rest." Ahsoka spoke up for the first time. "Your job isn't over yet.

Gregor lives! The writer's obviously planned for him to die because they animated him without armor. And no clone with any common sense (or brothers!) would go into battle without their Gen 1 armor. This is a fix-it story so I fix it!

Chapter title fun fact: The heliacal rising, or star rise of a star, occurs annually when it first becomes visible above the eastern horizon at dawn just before sunrise (thus becoming "the morning star") after a complete orbit of the earth around the sun. Thought it made for a cool bookend.