There is a poem Uncle Hondo likes… Let's see? Two roads diverged in hyperspace and I - I took the one less pirated by, and that has made Hondo all the more profit! Hondo may have taken some liberties by his friend named Frost who Mando Girl insists I cite here as the original author. She also says it is appropriate for this chapter. Let us begin!

Path of the Jedi

"You know what good people do when they make a mistake? They learn from it! They do everything they can! You question me being a Jedi? Fine. But don't ever doubt my commitment to being a Rebel!"

"I like this," Sabine said, sitting beside Ezra atop the Ghost and watching the Lothal sunrise. "This sky, there are just so many colors. I could spend forever trying to paint them all."

"I read somewhere girls can see more shades of color," Ezra said and looked at Sabine.

"I read that too." She smiled and nodded, then looked at Ezra curiously. "Hey? Just because someone has an advantage doesn't mean you should stop trying. What was it that one Jedi said that Kanan keeps going on about?"

"Master Yoda," Ezra said quickly, in reverence to the legendary Master. "Do or do not, there is no try. It's been Kanan's motto for being a teacher. It's been helping."

Sabine tilted her head, her mind still half-wrapped in the colors of the Lothal sunrise. She looked from Ezra and back to the pretty colors. "I get it but I don't agree with that."

Now it was Ezra's turn to tilt his head. "Okay. But this guy had been training Jedi for 800 years."

"Well, in the not so immortal words of, well, me." Sabine turned and patted Ezra on the shoulder. "Try."

"Makes sense to me. Nice and easy to remember," Zeb's voice said, surprising both of them as he climbed out the top hatch and heard the last bit of their conversation. "I'd never say this to Kanan, but I don't know about this Yoda guy. 800 years is a long time, but there aren't a lot of Jedi left anymore. And 800 years is a long time, but it's no secret that the Jedi have existed for thousands of years."

"I know that. And so does Kanan." Ezra said, coming to his Master's defense.

"The Empire said they were traitors. Don't buy that. Still, something happened to 'em," Zeb said. "Mind if I sit and watch?"

"Plenty of ship to go around," Sabine said and gestured with her arm to all the outside hull of the Ghost to pick from. Her amber eyes refocused back on the rising sun and the colorful sky.

So did Ezra's. He heard the pop of a bottle being opened, Zeb must've grabbed a drink, and then he plopped down to Ezra's other side with a beer in hand. While somewhat disappointed in his alone time with Sabine being interrupted, far be it from him to try to tell the giant Lasat where he could and couldn't go.

"Heard of this one heist recently. One that the Empire's ISB is trying to keep under wraps. Heheh." Zeb said and grinned.. "The Aldhani Heist. Some Rebel group made off with nearly an entire sector's payroll. 80 million credits total 'stolen.' I prefer the term liberated."

That was news to Ezra, and he shook his head, trying to fathom the amount. Eighty million credits? And they were Rebels like them? Did that mean this Fulcrum guy Hera has been so tight-lipped about had something to do with it? "Eighty million," Ezra said and shook his head. "I wouldn't begin to know what to do with that!"

"It's less about the amount." Sabine said. "Eighty million is a drop in the bucket. But it does send a message."

Ezra and Zeb turned their heads and Sabine looked at them and smiled. "It means that Hera is right. We're not alone in this fight. It also means the Empire is not as invincible as people like to think."

"Too right," Zeb said and took another swig. "Still, girl, brain like yours. You must have some idea?"

Sabine sighed and her mind went to the costs of ships and who knows what else. "Well I wouldn't buy new, whatever we get would be secondhand. Hundreds of starfighters come to mind. Armed with ion torpedoes, since the ISB had cracked down on proton torpedoes. Only need a few of those to hit to disable a hundred million credit Star Destroyer."

"Heh, and here I was thinking about buying a bunch of frigates," Zeb said and sipped more of his drink. But Sabine shook her head.

"Could help us win a few battles but, there are easier and more cost-effective ways to get our hands on better ships. Pay a million credits to a couple of corrupt officials and a Rebel cell could make off with some capital ships that were meant to be destined to be scrapped. Spend some more to get them refitted and rearmed, and suddenly, the Empire has a real problem."

"There's also just us stealing them," Ezra pointed out, and wanting to contribute something to the conversation. He thought of those E-11 blasters or even the disruptors that Vizago had probably made ten times the amount of credits he paid the Ghost crew for. "Operational costs." Ezra said. "Get some intelligence of our own," he said and glanced up at the two. "Maybe get some info on how to sneak into some prized Imperial facilities. Like shipyards."

"Hard target," Zeb said and frowned.

"Maybe," Sabine said. "But it's the right idea. A shipyard filled with dozens of Star Destroyers? A fully funded Rebel cell could do a successful infiltration operation that would not only both blow up billions of credits in Imperial ships and maintenance facilities, but garner us intelligence for future targets."

Liking the idea more, Zeb chucked and took another swig. "Cripple an entire sector fleet with that kind of strategy. Free us up some room to carry out some more missions. Heh! Maybe swipe eighty million credits some place else!"

Sabine sighed. "I wish Hera would trust us with this Fulcrum person. She's said to me over and over again that we're not alone in this fight and this heist proves it. But I want to do more than just grunt work. I want to contribute ideas."

No one in the group of three had anything to say to that. They were all in as much of the dark as her. They understood the fewer people know, the better, less chance of a prisoner knowing something critical that the Empire would learn through their interrogations. So the conversation lulled and instead they focused on the sunrise. The sun was finally peeking over the horizon.

"Not that I'm complaining but, why do we have the day off?" Zeb asked. At that Sabine and Ezra looked at each other, guilty looks on their faces. Zeb sighed. "Come on. Out with it."

"Not the whole day," Sabine was quick to point out. "She has me recalibrating the gunner profiles for both Kanan and Ezra. Faster reflexes require quicker turret response times. Swat those TIE fighters quicker."

"She has you doing that?" Zeb said and Ezra could hear the unasked question.

"You don't have to, Sabine," Ezra spoke. "Zeb's right. That's something I should be doing myself."

Sabine rolled her eyes and gave both guys the look. "Thanks, Ezra, but Hera is right in this case. Modifying gunner profiles isn't like fixing a jammed blaster. This is sensitive work on a system that our lives depend on when we're being swarmed with TIEs. I've seen you at the controls. It's like you have this sixth sense of just knowing when a TIE will appear on your scope. You need a gunner profile that will allow the turret to respond just as quickly even if it hasn't picked up on a target yet."

"Well," Ezra said and wrestled with what to say. "Still seems wrong that you're the one that always gets saddled with the 'sensitive work.'"

"Well, that's just life sometimes."

"Aint' that the truth," Zeb said. "If you really feel bad about it, kid. I'll head into town today and spend a few credits on those ingredients for those Lothalite dishes you've been cooking. Take Sabine's turn for dinner this week."

"Pfft," Sabine huffed. "First off, it's more like two dinners. I'm doing both his and Kanan's. Second, I know I cook good. If Ezra's taking anyone else's spot on cook duty it should be Kanan's."

Ezra nodded, feeling a bit of the guilt leaving his conscience. "If you're sure, Zeb. You were supposed to have the day off."

"Bah, like a little grocery run will ruin my day."

"I don't know," Ezra said with a wistful look. "Remember Commander Meiloorun?"

"Commander Meiloorun?" Sabine asked and arched one of her delicate eyebrows. Zeb had a momentary look of panic on his face. Neither Sabine nor Ezra had filled him in about not only Sabine knowing about the stolen TIE but flying it and painting it too!

And with Zeb's looks of panic whenever the subject came up, neither teen was about to let him know that Sabine knew and their secret remained safe.

"It's nothing!" Zeb said and quickly gulped down a mouthful of beer.

"I don't know," Sabine said and tilted her head to ponder. "Doesn't seem like nothing…"

"Kid! What's this about you and Kanan taking off in the Phantom?" Zeb asked, both curious and eager for a change in the subject.

It was like someone had thrown a wet blanket on him and Ezra's cheerful mood dampened. "I don't know. He's been freaking out after the incident on the asteroid."

"How freaked?" Sabine queried, her curiosity piqued.

"We haven't done any Jedi training since. Real training. It's like Kanan's on edge whenever we start a lesson and then halfway through it all just falls apart."

Ezra sighed and shook his head. "I blew it off completely last night."

Sabine's jaw dropped. "So wait! When we were-"

"Anyway!" Ezra said quickly. "I'm guessing that this 'day off' is less about Hera wanting to ease up and more about whatever Kanan has planned for me and whatever trip we're taking in the Phantom."

"So mysterious," Zeb teased, but there was no malice in it. At least Ezra didn't think there were any.

Ezra shrugged. "It's Kanan. He's putting on his Professor hat."

"What did happen on that asteroid?" Zeb asked. The curiosity had been eating him up all week on how Kanan and Ezra went up against some impossible odds - and won.

"Zeb!" Sabine hissed. "We're not supposed to."

Ezra sighed. Not only had Kanan told him not to say anything, but Hera had put out a gag order, forbidding all questions related to it. But with Ezra having his own memory lapses in what happened, and Kanan's refusal to talk to him about it, he found himself as frustrated as Zeb. And was considering telling Zeb and Sabine everything that had happened, even if they couldn't understand it themselves.

The Inquisitor. The fyrnocks. Kanan being beaten. The Inquisitor's interest in training him. And then just the coldness Ezra felt when he came to. That's what he could remember, and he supposed it was more than enough to have his Master freaked.

"Spectre-6, come in," Kanan's voice came from Ezra's wrist comlink, interfering in their peaceful morning.

"Six here." Ezra spoke into his comlink. "Umm. We leaving soon?"

"Meet me in my cabin, over and out."

"Getting called to the Principal's office," Zeb teased. "Best not keep him waiting."

"Hopefully I won't get my knuckles rapped," Ezra responded and got to his feet.

"Hey?" Sabine called to him before he could leave. "There's been a lot happening, but are you still interested in formal education? You were doing really well with algebra and grammar."

Ezra hesitated. In truth, he'd been spending most of that time just trying to get some alone time with Sabine and learn more about her. He had mixed results. Nine times out of ten, her response to his questioning was: 'shut up and focus.'

But looking at her now, maybe she cared more than she had let on? Maybe she enjoyed spending those long hours alone with him in the galley? The two of them poured over educational datapads and aided in teaching him things like multiplication and division and even some basic binary so he could understand some of not only what Chopper would say, but other astromechs. Like Imperial ones.

Only was now really the best time?

Sabine must've been using her own version of Jedi mind-reading and smiled at him. "Get moving Jedi Boy. Think it over and give me an answer when you get back with whatever it is the Professor will have you doing today."

Ezra nodded, smiled, and then turned. He was a dozen steps away and about to climb down into the hatch when he overheard Zeb.

"Can't see the kid ever passing up time with you," Zeb commented.

He heard Sabine sigh. "I think whatever happened on that asteroid made Ezra realize just how important he is to the future, not that he has any say in it. And his childhood wasn't normal either, not that he had any say in that either. He deserves a chance to experience what most kids his age go through. That's what I'm offering him."

"Hmph," Zeb grunted and while out of sight Ezra could imagine the gears turning in his purple head. "Maybe I'll see if I can find a pod racing event. Think the kid would like that?"

"Hmm." Sabine pondered. "Maybe."

Ezra sighed and hurried down the hole. He couldn't put a name on it, but something about the way they were talking about him rubbed him the wrong way. And what was that about no say in my future? I could walk away.

Right?

After a few ladders and twists in the corridors, Ezra at last presented himself outside Kanan's cabin and gave a polite knock.

"It opens," Kanan's voice came from inside.

Ezra pressed the button. The door swished open, and he readied himself for whatever it was his Master had planned for them today. Ezra stood in the doorway a moment then entered to find his Master sitting on his bunk with his eyes closed.

"Hey Kanan." Ezra greeted, keeping his voice as pleasant as possible.

"I was wondering whether you'd show up," Kanan said, cutting straight to the point.

Standing now in the center of the cabin, Ezra glanced down at his feet. He looked as if he had been caught stealing some cookie rations, instead of neglecting his Jedi training.

Ezra didn't see any way of answering that without causing a blowup between him and his Master. So he stayed silent.

Kanan got to his feet and wandered to the far side of the room. "Nothing to say?" Kanan said at last.

"I ditched training last night," Ezra and then thought of a quick lie. "I was tired," he said.

Kanan turned his head and studied his apprentice for a moment, then shook his head. "Nice try, kid. The asteroid messed things up. But not enough, so I can't tell when you're lying."

"And your point?" Ezra asked and turned his head so he wouldn't have to look at Kanan. "What's the use of training when your teacher runs out halfway through?"

"That's not what - it hasn't been easy. What you did on that asteroid-"

"Save our lives!" Ezra said, and whipped his head back to look at Kanan and fix him with a stare.

"You don't see it!" Kanan shouted back, losing his cool for a moment. But he stopped, took a breath, and then continued calmly. "Ezra, when we were on that asteroid, you made a dangerous connection through the Force."

Ezra averted his eyes, unable to meet his Master's gaze.

"Now I have to know if you are ready," Kanan said.

"I am ready." Ezra said and then frowned. "Wait. Ready for what?"

"For a test, a real challenge," Kanan said. "One that could determine if you're meant to be a Jedi or not."

Ezra didn't know what to expect, but it certainly wasn't this!

"But you said I was a Jedi." Ezra said and paced around the cramped room. "Why else would you be training me?"

"I never said you were a Jedi." Kanan said, quick to clarify but then turned away his upset apprentice. "I said you had the potential to become one. But you lack discipline, focus."

"Come on!" Ezra groaned. "You know how I grew up. From the day we met, you know how I get about rules." He sighed and rested his head against the side of Kanan's top bunk. "Kanan, I want to become the Jedi you see in me, the one I don't always see in myself."

Kanan let out a sigh, but grinned. "You're lucky I'm not my Master. She'd never let you get away with…"

"All the things you tried to get away with?" Ezra quickly pointed out and turned himself around to face Kanan.

"You want a second chance or not?" Kanan demanded as turned back to face Ezra.

And Ezra could tell that his Master was serious, and it was as close to an admission that he had been slacking on teaching Ezra since the asteroid that he would admit. Instinctively, Ezra felt the desire to jump at the 'second chance.'

But he had grown in his time away from his Tower. He'd seen so much of the galaxy and knew now what they were up against. He also knew that while being a Jedi was helpful, it didn't mean he needed Kanan's training to fight the Empire.

Ironically, he thought back to what he overheard Sabine tell Zeb earlier. About how he had no say in his future. He was too important to the Cause. To not take advantage of whatever Kanan could teach him?

"I'm in," Ezra said.

"You sure?" Kanan asked. He had not missed the fact that it took his apprentice several moments to decide.

"Yes. And I won't blow this second chance your giving me."

"I'm not 'giving you' anything." Kanan said. "Now go prep the Phantom."

Ezra smirked and threw Kanan an offhanded salute. "As you say, Master."

As he passed through the corridors and into the common room, Ezra spotted Chopper doing something. Something no good no doubt and he gave the astromech a solid kick.

"Beep, bop, deet, woop, meatbag!"

"A meatbag who is wising up to you!" Ezra warned and whipped out his stun stick. The same one he had used the first time he met Chopper. Not to be outdone, Chopper whipped out his own shock probe and sparked it threateningly.

"Ezra! Phantom!" Kanan yelled from somewhere.

Ezra glared at the droid then collapsed his stun stick and returned it to its place on his belt. "To be continued," he promised the troublesome droid.

Focusing his thoughts on the matter at hand, Ezra hurried to join Kanan in the Phantom. The thought that he would fail so hard at his training he'd never be a Jedi wasn't something that really occurred to him until now. At the same time he wasn't feeling put off by it as he seated himself in the shuttle.

Maybe Sabine could train me to fight like a Mandalorian, Ezra mused as at flight controls Kanan detached the Phantom and started them on their way. Ezra had ben leaning against the bulkhead of the small cockpit and so he noticed when Kanan failed to enter a destination.

Weird, Ezra thought. But before he could voice his concern Kanan led the way aft to the rear compartment of the shuttle. He pulled down a jump seat and sat down in it, leaning forward, his brow furrowed in thought. Ezra decided he'd take the seat opposite. And then waited.

"When I was your age there were around 10,000 Jedi Knights defending the galaxy. Now we are few." Kanan explained. "But in those days, we had small outposts, temples spread throughout the stars. The Empire sought out these temples and destroyed many of them but not all."

Kanan locked eyes with Ezra, ensuring the boy's full attention.

"I want you to meditate. Let the Force guide you to one of them."

"What if I can't find it?" Ezra said.

"That's part of the test," came Kanan's immediate response. "Trust yourself. Trust the Force."

As the Phantom plodded along, Ezra took a breath and began to focus when a stray thought crossed his mind.

"So, did you have to take this test at my age?"

Kanan sighed. "It was different for me, Ezra. Everything was different back then. All that remains now is the Force."

"And only my connection to the Force can lead me to the temple," Ezra realized with open eyes.

Kanan actually laughed. "He can be taught."

Also ten thousand Jedi and not running for our lives every week probably made for simpler practice, Ezra thought with the barest smidgeon of resentment. He closed his eyes and did as instructed. With his growing power in the Force, it didn't take Ezra long to hone in on the presence of the Temple.

"It's on Lothal! I can't give you the coordinates," Ezra said at last. "But I think I can direct you there."

"You sure?" Kanan said.

"I know I can." Ezra said.

Kanan nodded and led the way forward back to the cockpit, and took his seat in the pilot's chair.

And from the pilot's seat Kanan listened intently as Ezra fed him the information. Guiding their ship over the rolling hills of Lothal. This continued for an hour until the Phantom came upon a collection of particularly beautiful and symmetrical rock formations.

It was the rocks he had seen in his vision. Ezra was certain of it.

"There!" Ezra said and pointed excitedly.

"Not bad," Kanan said and then reached forward to toggle a switch. "Autopilot disengaged."

"You already knew," Ezra said and shook his hair, his midnight blue locks flowing. "Why am I not surprised?"

Kanan set the Phantom down and led the way off the shuttle. "I checked the holocron in my cabin," Kanan explained.

"And it told you there was a Jedi Temple on Lothal?" Ezra asked.

"The holocron holds extensive starmaps," Kanan explained as he walked down the exit ramp. "But I was surprised as you that there was a temple here."

Ezra ran to catch up, realizing then how cold it was. He could see his breath! They must be near a colder region. Maybe even near one of the poles?

"Of course I couldn't be sure the starmap meant this temple," Kanan said once Ezra caught up. "But it makes sense. This is your home."

Both stopped and took in the view. The formation of pointed rocks with one giant sized one in the middle. It was all just like what Ezra had seen. And if the rest of his vision was correct, there was a tunnel leading somewhere along with a giant star in there somewhere. A painting or something, perhaps.

Now they just had to get inside, which turned out to be easier said than done. And more annoying, Ezra realized when Kanan left him to figure it out for himself, despite Kanan's warning that the Empire might have the Temple under surveillance. Which meant they may not have much time.

"Listen to the stone!" Kan shouted. It was all the advice he was willing to give.

Thankfully it was enough, after Ezra had pressed his head up against the central spire for the dozenth time he heard it. The Call. And he could follow it. Only it wanted two to enter. It wanted them both.

Kanan was quick to realize this and together, with hands outstretched, Kanan Ezra actually raised the gigantic spire out of the ground and opened the pathway forward.

"Don't lose focus," Kanan warned him but Ezra was off like a shot, running excitedly to the tunnel that led inside the Temple.

But it only lasted so long, for as soon as they had entered Ezra had jumped at the sight of some skeletons and lost focus. As a result the doorway leading them back outside sealed itself closed.

"You lost focus," Kanan reprimanded with arms folded over his chest.

"Well dead guys are distracting," Ezra replied. He peered closer and realized then that they were just were all wearing robes and sitting in meditative poses.

He looked around and sure enough, every skeleton wore similar robes and were meditating when they died. "These are Jedi," Ezra said.

"In here you have to overcome your worse fears and there's no guarantee of success," Kanan explained.

Ezra turned from the skeleton and looked at Kanan, smiling. "I have plenty of faith. Faith you'll keep me on track."

"I'm not going with you." Kanan spoke. It stopped Ezra in his tracks.

"What?" Ezra asked, feeling a wave of anxiety hit him. "Where are you gonna be?"

"Right here." Kanan said and looked over at one of the dead Jedi. "Masters whose Padawans never returned."

"You're putting your life in my hands?" Ezra said and looked at Kanan as if he'd grown a second head.

"You put your training in mine." Kanan said. A rumbling echo came from the dark and scary looking cave that was the next part of Ezra's path to take.

Steeling himself Ezra walked to it, gave Kanan one last look over his shoulder then entered the threshold. He idly thought how would a Padawan not return to their Master and would Kanan really leave his life in Ezra's hands.

Although with them trapped it's not like he had much chance of escape, or me! Ezra turned when he heard the whirring of some ancient mechanism and saw a massive stone door lowering behind him - another trap to keep him from escaping and separating himself from Kanan!

"What exactly am I looking for!" Ezra shouted before the door seal completely.

"Nothing and everything." Kanan said and made no motion to move or use the Force to try and prevent the door from closing.

Nothing and everything?

"That doesn't help." Ezra said as he got down on the floor to keep in eye contact with Kanan.

"I know." Kanan said.

And then that was it. The door was sealed shut with no chance of backing out now. All there was, was that dark and scary cave. Armed with only his blaster and wits, Ezra moved forward. It was all he could do.

Still as he explored further the anxiety began to wear off to be replaced with annoyance. Particularly when he entered the lighted section of the cave system and found himself faced with three doors, but he could only take one.

There was probably significant about that, something Sabine would no doubt pick up on. But Ezra was growing annoyed and so went back to the basics.

"Loth-rat, Loth-cat, Loth-wolf, run. Pick a path and all is done." He recited and looked from door to door as he rehearsed the old Lothalite rhyme.

"Really?" Kanan asked, standing behind Ezra. The sudden appearance surprised the boy. "That's how you're choosing? What happened to using the Force?"

"What happened to having faith in me?" Ezra asked, both relieved and slightly irritated by his Master's presence.

"Second thoughts, fortunately," Kanan said and confidently strode through one of the doors. The same door that the Lothalite rhyme had picked out for Ezra.

"Yeah, well? Different method same result!" Ezra called after and then ran to catch up to the now running Kanan.

"Wait up!" Ezra shouted.

"I told you. We might not have much time." Kanan reminded. "The Empire could…"

A cry of pain and all too familiar whoosh noise silenced whatever else Ezra's Master was about to say.

"Kanan? Kanan!" Ezra shouted. The man had run so far ahead that Ezra had lost sight.

Without a second thought Ezra ran forward, determined to come to his Master's aid. So determined that he spotted the darkened edge of the cliff until it was almost too late. Ezra peered over the edge and found only an abyss, with no bottom in sight.

The snap hiss of a lightsaber being activated had Ezra whirling around.

Kanan was kneeling on the ground, a lightsaber wound in his gut. Standing above him though was one of Ezra's worse fears.

"I felt a disturbance in the Force the moment the Jedi decided to bring you here, Padawan." The Inquisitor said as he held his red lightsaber dangerously close to Kanan's neck.

"No." Ezra said and took a step backward toward the cliff.

"Now, who dies first?" The Inquisitor taunted. Leaving Kanan in his sorry state, the Inquisitor advanced on Ezra.

"No!" Kanan yelled and ignited his own lightsaber and got to his feet. "I'll die before I let you harm the boy."

The Inquisitor looked amused and thoughtful at that.

"Your anger. Your connection to the boy. How does it go? Ah yes. 'He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.'"

Ezra thought to the abyss behind him and then watched as the Inquisitor slammed his lightsaber blade into Kanan, who was barely holding up much of a defense at all. Kanan fought like a demon possessed.

And unlike the Inquisitor who maintained his perfect form (as always) Kanan tapped into something Ezra didn't know his Master had. It was all anger. All rage. All fury. It was scary and yet awe-inspiring at the same time.

As the Inquisitor was batted back again and again for a moment Ezra thought that just maybe they would win! So engrossed Ezra completely forgot about his blaster until he had to duck out of the way and felt his blaster brush up against the side of the cave wall.

His blaster! He could do this! They could do this!

Within the blink of an eye Ezra had it in his hand and squeezed the trigger, shooting from this hip to get the three-shot burst off as quick as possible. But instead of hitting the Inquisitor in the back, at the last possible second the Inquisitor used the Force to throw between him and Ezra a human shield.

Kanan.

Caught off guard Kanan had no chance to mount a defense and Ezra watched in horror as his own blaster took the like of his Master. As Kanan's body slumped to the ground and Ezra lost all hope of him getting back up.

"Kanan," Ezra said and felt the blaster drop from his hand.

"So he called himself Kanan did he?" The Inquisitor asked and then eyed Ezra's fallen blaster. "What an unexpected but amusing outcome. Master gunned down by his own apprentice. Apparently, the old adage holds true. How long had you gazed into the abyss, boy, before you decided to kill your own Master?"

"I didn't! I'd never!" Ezra cried out.

The Inquisitor shrugged and began to walk toward Ezra. "No, not alone you didn't. But you can hardly blame me for using what's around to block your murderous intent. Now tell me. Did you truly think someone as pathetic as you could shoot me in the back?"

Murder! Again, Ezra's eyes glanced down at the blaster. He wouldn't! Wouldn't he?

"You were aiming to shoot me in the back, yes? In the middle of a duel no less. How very un-Jedi." The Inquisitor tapped his chin. "Perhaps you have potential after all."

"I'll make you pay!" Ezra shouted, his eyes filled with hatred. "I swear I'll make you pay!"

With his hand outreached, he called for Kanan's lightsaber. Only when it came to his hand, it wouldn't ignite. Try as he could, he couldn't make the two pieces fit!

"Apparently someone's not quite ready to become a Jedi," the Inquisitor said upon seeing Ezra's dilemma. "And never will be," the Inquisitor said as soon as he came within striking range he gave a half-hearted swipe of his own lightsaber, sending Ezra paddling backward.

What as more investing was the Inquisitor's Force push that slammed Ezra into a wall, knocking his breath out. He only barely got his head up in time to see the Inquisitor striking forward with his blade, seeking to impale him.

Ezra ducked out just in time and scrambled away, but scrambled a bit too far as he felt the edge of the cliff under the heels of his shoes.

He was at a dangerous precipice and the Inquisitor, seeing Ezra's state smiled.

"Time to see how deep this abyss can go."

With a flick of his wrist the Inquisitor sent the smallest Force pushes and sent Ezra screaming over the edge.

Terror raced through Ezra as he flailed his arms and legs. He had learned that some Jedi were talented enough with telekinesis to control their own falls. But all thoughts of such an attempt were the furthest of his mind.

Terror and failure were at Ezra's forefront as he fell further and further into the darkness until finally he hit the bottom. Hit the bottom but was alive! At least he thought he was as he opened his eyes and looked up to Sabine's handiwork on the wall of his and Zeb's cabin.

He was back on the Ghost? They made it back? Kanan!

Too caught up in the moment to think this through, Ezra pulled himself to his feet and raced out into the corridor of the Ghost hoping for good news. Then he heard their voices coming through the open door leading to the common room. And they were talking about him.

Ezra quickly ducked behind a bulkhead so he could eavesdrop.

"How you figure the kid's doing?" Zeb asked.

Chopper was the first to respond, none of which Ezra could translate. But then he didn't have to.

"I gotta agree with Chop, I don't think Ezra was ready." Hera answered. "I don't think we'll be seeing him again, which is too bad."

"Really?" Zeb said with a gleam in his eyes. "'Cause I'll be happy just to get my cabin back to myself."

What? Why would Zeb say that? Ezra glanced around noting that Sabine was there too. Only she didn't appear bothered at all by any of this.

But that makes no sense. Or does it?

"It's too bad because he had skills that were useful to our cause," Hera admitted.

What? No!

Zeb's laugh was harsh and telling of how the Lasat felt. "Knew there was a reason you were being so nice to him."

"That's pretty cold guys," Sabine interrupted.

Cold? Cold! This was his worst nightmare! How could they feel this way? At least Sabine-

"After all, he's just a little kid, scared, alone. Me?" Sabine said. "I pity him."

She might as well have taken out her knife and shoved him in the gut with it. He always knew Sabine and him were a long shot. But pity? Coming from Sabine, that cut deeper than any blade.

Ezra's shoulders slouched, unsure of what to do when he felt a powerful hand grab his shoulder and yank him into the common room. "Well," Zeb said with his hand holding Ezra in place. "Look who's here."

Sabine got to her feet first. "How long do you think he was listening?"

His eyes were a stormy blue that right now were punching holes through the girl's armor. He turned from her, from all of them.

"Long enough."

Zeb, realizing what Ezra must've overheard, sighed. "Nothing personal, kid."

And then it clicked in his head again.

Kanan! The cave!

"No. This isn't you talking. I'm not back on the Ghost. I couldn't be."

"Well, that's just crazy talk. You're standing here, aren't you?" Zeb asked.

Ezra shook his head and laid his face in his palm.

"No." Ezra said. "I'm back in the Temple and…"

The common room glowed red and the sound of lightsaber piercing through flesh filled Ezra's ears!

The Inquisitor!

And my friends!

Zeb groaned and slid off the Inquisitor's lightsaber, the first to die.

Chopper was getting some weapon ready when his body and circuits were crunched up like a tin can through the Inquisitor's usage of the Force.

Hera tried to make a run for it but the Inquisitor yanked her back and thrusted his lightsaber through her back, ending her.

"No," Ezra cried and edged back out of the room. Unable to handle watching this. Kanan was bad enough and now? Now the Inquisitor turned his attention to Sabine. But the doors slid closed behind Ezra as he took the cowards out, unable to watch the Inquisitor do to his friends what he did to Kanan.

"No!" Sabine shouted through the closed door. "Ezra, help us!"

What he plans to do to me. There was no escaping him, or the Empire. His fate was sealed. As sealed as the fates of his friends in that room.

The door opened and there stood the Inquisitor, and just beyond him Ezra could make out Sabine. Lying on the deck. Her dead eyes staring at him accusingly at his betrayal. His cowardice.

The Inquisitor stepped forward, and Ezra ran. Door after door he tried but everything was locked. In moments he was held at saber's edge against the door to the cockpit. The Inquisitor lifted his blade to swing when suddenly the doors whooshed open.

And once more Ezra found himself falling, again. He was really getting tired of that, of all of this. Shaking his head Ezra looked around and found himself back in the Temple.

"Thank the Force," Ezra breathed and shook his head.

This test was nothing short of a nightmare and he was in for a lot of restless nights when he got out of here. If he got out of here? Maybe it was all the falling on his head, but he didn't recognize this part.

"Kanan? Kanan, where are you?" Ezra called. Then frowned. Kanan hadn't been on the Ghost! The Inquisitor killed him here! In the temple. Ezra ran his hands frantically through his hair looking left and right and anywhere for answers.

"I can't take this. What's real, what's not real?"

At last fear ebbed and edged and gave way to frustration and realization. "Okay," Ezra said as he looked about. "Kanan's not here. Right now I'm trapped but that's okay. I've gotten out of worse spots."

Ezra smiled as rationalization took control over his actions.

Alone. Maybe even abandoned though he was feeling iffy about that. Right now it was worst fear after worst fear. And even if his fears some day became realized?

"Been alone before." Ezra said and took a moment to center himself on his feet. "No more panicking. This is survival and I can survive this." The boy's positive attitude had returned. "Maybe Kanan's not dead. Maybe he's just injured."

Ezra spotted the door he and Kanan had gone through earlier. He might need my help! Ezra hurried to the door but before he could reach it, it opened and once more the glow of the Inquisitor's lightsaber filled the hallways.

"How perceptive," the Inquisitor said. Once more he advanced and once more Ezra backed away, but kept his eyes on the Inquisitor. Thinking rationally he reached for his blaster but found the holster empty.

That's right, he lost it earlier.

The Inquisitor drew near and pointed his lightsaber.

With all of Ezra's might, he balled up the most powerful Force push he could and shot it at the Inquisitor. To Ezra's credit, the Inquisitor paused in his steps and flinched. But then resumed his stalking of Ezra soon enough.

It was no use, or was it?

"No, no, no, no, no, no!" Ezra said and pointed his finger at the Inquisitor. "You were only the Ghost and that, all that, that was definitely an illusion.

Not just an illusion, Ezra realized. But my fears. My worst fears.

"It may have been, but I assure you, I am not."

Maybe Zeb would be glad to have a cabin to himself again. And maybe Hera did recruit me for my talents. And maybe Sabine doesn't feel the same way. But that doesn't mean she pities me!

"Are you hearing me, boy?" The Inquisitor demanded.

Say some of those fears have a grain of truth to them. That doesn't mean that I saw in that illusion! They don't see me that way!

The Inquisitor grabbed Ezra by the face, studying him a moment, then pushing him backward against a column. "No way out, Padawan."

No there wasn't. There couldn't be. Not if this was what Ezra thought it was.

"There's always a way out," Ezra replied. He wasn't about to let a good zinger go, especially one just left lying there. "If I follow my training," Ezra told himself.

"Ready to die, boy, or are you afraid to face your demise?" The Inquisitor asked with a cruel look on his face.

"I'm afraid of a lot of things," Ezra replied and leaned against the column for support. "Afraid of what could happen to the people I care about. Of course. Afraid of being alone? Yes. Letting down my Master? Absolutely."

The boy looked up, seeing the Inquisitor looming up from above him, ready to strike at any moment. Ezra furrowed his brow and glared at him.

"But I'm done being afraid of you."

Momentary shock filled the Inquisitor's face, and then replaced by fury at Ezra's defiance. For his part Ezra pushed himself off the column and stood there, still looking up at him, and glaring. Even as the Inquisitor drew back his lightsaber to strike, Ezra did not move.

"I'm not afraid." Ezra said. "Do it."

The saber swung down and would've sliced him in two, only as soon as it passed through him the Inquisitor and his lightsaber vanished and the lighting returned from the dark red to a pleasant dullness of before.

Ezra slumped down the column and let out a sigh. He closed his eyes and took a moment to rest.

It was about fear. He was right.

"Big fears you have faced, young one."

Funny way of talking. Must still be in the Temple.

"Yes," Ezra answered shortly. Hit banter meter was nearing zero.

"Hmm." The voice continued. "For what lies ahead, ready are you?"

Ezra thought about the Inquisitor and everything he represented. But he was just an embodiment of his real enemy. The thing threatening to take his friends away. Just how it did his parents.

"I am," Ezra answered, too tired to get into the weeds.

"Come." The strange voice beckoned eagerly. "See more clearly what you could not see before."

"I'm done following around illusions." Ezra responded.

"An illusion? No. A guide I am."

Ezra opened his eyes and then blinked as a flicker of dozens of small lights descended from out of thin air. They formed a small swarm and lit the way, all swarming in one particular direction.

Ezra climbed to his feet and followed the lights into a different tunnel.

Its door closed behind him.


Kanan could hold his meditation no longer and came crashing out of it with a gasp. "The kid's taking too long." He said, though no one was around to hear him. He had faith in Ezra's abilities but his instinctive strategic mind that had saved his life again and again was begging the question.

Was Ezra really ready for this?

"I should've gone with him," Kanan said and got to his feet. He looked at the door Ezra had disappeared through and began to ponder how he open it.

Yoda: "Patience. Remember you nothing of your own training?"

Deppa: "I see my young strategist has been thinking again," said a voice from behind him.

A voice from the grave.

"Master!" Kanan said and whirled around to see standing behind him in a pale blue outline was none other than Master Deppa Billaba.

Padawan to Mace Windu.

Master on the High Council.

And Master to him, and whose death still haunted him in his dreams.

Only this was no dream.

"Impossible," Kanan whispered.

"Is it?" Master Deppa Bilaba asked with the corner of her mouth perked into a smile. Her ghostly form went so far as to examine the robes she was "wearing."

"A trick," Kanan told the illusion. "Just like all the other tricks in this Temple."

Deppa took several steps forward and placed her hand on Kanan's shoulder. He felt the urge to flinch, but was struck by something familiar. Almost tangible, but not. Not in the way he would feel when he let Hera take him in her arms.

This was more maternal. It was faint, almost as if strained by a distance so great it went beyond forever. But there was no mistaking the familiar feeling of a bond between Master and Apprentice.

"Impossible." Kanan said.

"You're repeating yourself," Depa replied, her glib humor shining through. "For one with so many questions and worries, it's rare to see you so blinded. Especially when the answer itself is all around you."

Kanan glanced around, but aside from the ancient temple's stone walls and the bodies of Jedi whose students never returned. He looked again to his Master only for her ghostly form to arch an eyebrow expectantly at him.

And that feeling he felt when she placed her hand on him.

"You're real," Kanan said at last. "But if you're real, does that mean I'm dead?"

"I was always told how connected I was to the Living Force," came Deppa's response. "And in places like here, the Force is especially strong, my Padawan." She smiled gently. "But no. You're not dead."

"Forgive me, Master," Kanan said. On the verge of tears, he dropped down to his knees before her. "I ran. I ran! Had I stayed! Together we might've-"

"I cannot do what you ask. For there is nothing to forgive, Caleb," Deppa said, her voice soothing as she reached down and brushed her hand through his hair. Again, the strong connection between them ran strongly through Kanan.

"You did exactly what you were supposed to, Caleb." Deppa assured him. "As did I. That is our purpose."

A moment of silence fell between them. But a warm and loving silence. And Kanan wanted nothing more than for this moment to last forever.

And her caring words. Words assuring him there was nothing to forgive. That he did it right! It was as if a rope wrapped around Kanan's neck was severed at long last. And a burden his shoulders were carrying for the longest of time was lifted.

"How is this possible?" Kanan asked at last, his words no louder than a whisper.

"Again, you repeat yourself," Deppa said. "But I get it. This can be hard to believe. Even as a Jedi."

The Force, Kanan thought and recalled her earlier answer. Memories of his Master flooded through his mind as he grappled for rationale. Despite her reputation as 'damaged goods,' a reputation Kanan had to grit his teeth at when he heard muttered by others. He knew how powerful and uniquely gifted his Master was.

Her connection to the Force was unique, even amongst other Jedi. If anyone could find their way "back." It'd be his Master. Still, it took him and Ezra coming to this temple, this center of focus, for him to see her.

Ezra…

"Master," Kanan said, and quickly got to his feet. "I'm not alone here. I have taken on an and he needs guidance." He hesitated, knowing he could never hide the truth from his Master. "I think we both need guidance. I'm not sure of my decision to train Ezra."

"Hmm," Deppa said and closed her eyes. "Yes, there is another here. This is good, Caleb. Taking on a responsibility like this. It will be good for you."

"Is it?" Kanan said, his voice filled with doubt. "Ezra, he's just so powerful, and it's growing so quick."

Deppa said nothing. Instead, she waited and her Padawan bowed his head, admitting it at last.

"I am not a teacher. I will fail him. I am sure of it."

"The only failure is to not try at all."

"But, Master Yoda says 'do or do not, there is no try.'"

"And with respect to Master Yoda," Deppa said with a thoughtful look on her face. "Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

Kanan looked again toward the door Ezra had disappeared through. He smiled. "I told him what you told me. Nothing and everything."

"As my Master told me," Deppa said. "I never fully understood it. But now? Things become clearer after you're dead."

"Any words of wisdom, then? Guidance? We'll take anything at this point," Kanan asked, his voice straining.

Master Deppa Billaba took a step back and slowly sat on the stone floor. She then outreached her hands. Mirroring his Master he reached for her hands. There was nothing tangible. No hands to actually feel.

But their bond was still there. Strong. Protective. Like a mother would feel for her child, even through death. Was this the Living Force he had heard spoken of about his Master so many times? And then his mind was lost as he tumbled down a rabbit hole of memories.

The good.

The bad.

Some he would never wish for his Master to ever see!

Time had lost all meaning, but at last their sojourn together through Kanan's mind was complete and he felt Deppa separate her hands from his.

"It's a vulnerable time for your Padawan," Deppa said. "It was good that you brought him here."

Kanan leaned back and sighed, feeling a little better. The assurance had gone a long way in soothing his doubts.

"So," Deppa said after a moment's pause. A smile grew on her face. "Tell me about Hera!"

"Hera? That's what you got out of this?" Kanan said, his voice astonished. "The Empire! The Inquisitor! Ezra's training!"

"Have faith, Caleb. The faith you had in me and the faith I had in you when I gave you the holocron on that last night." Caleb tilted his head. "It is a map after all."

"Yeah but, what good is a map without a compass?" Kanan said.

"All the direction you will need is here," she said and gently tapped a finger on his head. "And here," she said and pressed a palm over his chest and beating heart.

Kanan lowered his eyes as he thought things over. It was a mixture of feelings that her words had brought out to him, to say nothing of her sudden appearance. But she was right about the holocron. He would sooner give up his lightsaber than lose the last thing his Master had ever given him. He had never fully explored it, but held it rather as a keepsake.

And her hint about taking on Ezra as his apprentice being a good thing for both of them? He looked up at his smiling master, ghostly as she may seem and the eagerness in her eyes. Kanan shook his head and laughed.

"Well, okay. So Hera Syndulla-"

"Syndulla," Deppa said and looked thoughtful. "The daughter of Cham Syndulla? The Hammer of Ryloth?"

"The same," Kanan said with a nod. Unsurprised that the Padawan of Mace Windu would recognize the name.

"Go on!" Deppa said, sounding happy that her Padawan had found someone. "How'd you two meet?"

Kanan was a bit taken aback by how excited Deppa was that he was in a romantic relationship. How many rules was he breaking by being with Hera? On the other hand, his Master has said things get clearer when you're dead. And Kanan was under no illusions that the Jedi of old had gotten everything right.

His Master was proud of him.

Kanan rolled his eyes and indulged Deppa.


A guide the voice had claimed as the swarm of lights - orbs Ezra had realized once his eyes adjusted to the lights - led the way. He certainly liked this guide better than what the Temple had been throwing at him so far.

His own fears. Things he didn't like to think about.

At last he came to the center of a large room and the lights stopped guiding him bur rather stayed still, as if awaiting his command. "Thought you were my guide," he told the orbs of light. He shook his head and raised his voice. "Which way is the right way?"

"The wrong question, that is." The voice replied.

Probably some Temple spirit, Ezra figured. Though at this rate he'd take what he can get.

"Look," Ezra said. "I got it. Lesson learned. Don't let fear control who I am."

"An important lesson, good you have learned," the Voice replied.

Ezra rolled his eyes, scratched the back of his head and gave in.

"Look I'm sorry, but I don't understand. To be honest I don't even know what I'm doing here."

The voice chuckled, it actually chuckled.

"A better question, that is."

So honesty is the best policy, Ezra thought. Here goes.

"Kanan said I was gonna be tested, but he never said what for or why. And after everything I've been through I'd really like some straight answers."

"And your Master, tell you everything, must he?" The Voice asked but the lights started moving along, leading Ezra further down some sort of determined path.

"Not everything." Ezra admitted. "No."

"Your path you must decide." The Voice said and then Ezra heard it, The Call.

It was the Force, and it was up to something. The middle doorway it wanted him to take, and so Ezra did just that. Following along. When he entered his mouth opened wide in amazement.

The room was unlike any other in the Temple. A high dome ceiling decorated to resemble something like that of a star map. Many lines and pathways leading in every which direction. There must be some method to navigate it but Ezra hadn't a clue.

"Whoa," he exclaimed.

"Tell me," the Voice said. "Why must you become Jedi?"

Standing in the center of the chamber and in the glowing circle in its middle. Ezra thought over the question. And he realized then that he didn't really have an answer.

"I don't know. Kanan believes I can and the skills are useful."

"Ah." The voice echoed throughout the chamber. "Kanan thinks you can. Hmm. And you?"

"Yes and me," Ezra said, not liking the skepticism in the Voice. "I'm a Rebel. And I've seen what the Empire does to those who fight against it. If being a Jedi will help me then yes! I must become a Jedi."

"Power you seek. The Empire, your enemy?"

It was like a line finally being snapped.

"You want honesty? Yes! I'd make the Empire suffer for everything it did! For everything it took! For my parents!" Memories flashed through Ezra's mind and he threw his hands up in the air. "I… I wouldn't be helpless anymore!"

"Ah. Jedi way is revenge? Teach you this, your Master did?"

"No!" Ezra shook his head and then stared at the ceiling and those lights. "Kanan's a good Master! A great Master!"

"Then why seek you revenge?" The Voice asked calmly.

"I don't!" Ezra shouted, even though he knew it was a lie.

"Hmm. Inside you much anger, much fear." The Voice observed.

"Yes!" Ezra shouted. "A lot of fear! The dangers we face! All for the betterment of others!"

Ezra let out a slow calming breath, for what little good it did.

"My parents died. They died teaching me the importance of standing up for what is right. I don't know what the Jedi were like when my Master was a Padawan. I haven't even been born yet."

Ezra looked around the room and threw his hands up.

"But I do know they wouldn't stand for this!" Ezra paused. "Or at least they shouldn't. All it takes for evil to win, is for good people to do nothing!"

There was a long lull, and Ezra glanced around the room suspiciously. So far for everything he said, the Voice had had a response of some sort. Now it was as if he had broken it or something. But finally it did speak.

"Many of the most evil creations came at the hands of good people who had only the best of intentions."

"And?" Ezra prompted the Voice, not impressed with its lament in the slightest. "You know what good people do when they make a mistake? They learn from it! They do everything they can! You question me being a Jedi? Fine. But don't ever doubt my commitment to being a Rebel!"

"Much anger in you." The Voice said.

"It's called being human," Ezra shot back, his face growing red from the accusations. "Listen! The Empire won't stop! It doesn't care about who it hurts! Human! Wookie! Aqua-fish! So yeah, I'm angry! And if the Jedi want peace? Then they need to fight for it because peace means sticking up for those can't. My parents showed me that."

Ezra sighed, shook his head, and collapsed to the floor. The voice said nothing, but Ezra could still feel it. Listening.

"I'm not some crazy mixed up kid!" Ezra yelled. "I'm just one of hundreds. Thousands. And millions who just want to make the world a little bit better than how they found it."

It would also honor my parents more than any petty vengeance kick would, tempting as it is, Ezra couldn't help but think. The Voice chuckled and Ezra knew it detected that thought. He rolled his eyes. This test was about honesty and, well, he was being honest.

"Have you always felt this way? A need to help others? To make the galaxy a better place?"

"My Master, Kanan, and the others I work with. My friends. Before I met them I was in it just for me. It's how I survived. But after meeting them and the things I've seen since. And they each have a role to play. As much of a role as every other Rebel out there in the galaxy."

"And what role do you see for yourself?" The Voice asked.

"I'm sensing its decision time for me," Ezra said. "Help me or not I'm going to continue to learn the Force. So I can use it to help others and never be a victim again."

"Anger in you," the Voice said. "But if trained properly, anger is not without purpose. Speak truly you have. Your words, wisdom beyond your years. Your determination, without question. Those you travel with, virtuous. A crazy mixed up kid, you are, and a Jedi you may yet be."

The lights dimmed and the temple around Ezra vanished. The only thing left was that circle he had chosen to stand in the center of the room. All around him and in every direction were stars.

Stars and a shining light of an object. Ezra opened his hands as it landed and tilted his head at the funny looking crystal.

What am I supposed to do with this? Ezra thought.

Distantly he heard the Voice chuckle one last time.


Sabine sat in attendance with the others as they all sat together in the common room, waiting for the big reveal. Though in her case it was less of a reveal given all the help she gave Ezra with this. It felt good to work so diligently on a project again, especially one as important as this.

Chopper rolled into Zeb's feet and the Lasat had had it.

"He's been working on that thing for weeks," the Lasat said. "What kind of lightsaber could he possibly build with the junk we have laying around?"

"Well I had a few spare parts I found over the years." Kanan said from his place next to Hera on the couch.

"I gave him some additional tech," Hera added. "He was pretty specific for what he was looking for."

Very specific, Sabine thought.

Chopper made a few warbles of his own.

"And I had some bits and pieces that might work," Sabine said quickly. "Modulation circuits, an energy gate. And Chopper even donated a power cell."

Sliding with ease down the ladder came the man of the hour, and in his hands he held the strangest looking lightsaber hilt that Sabine had ever seen or heard of.

"I thought I'd let you check it out first." He said to Kanan.

Kanan gasped and Sabine detected a big thump of pride hit the older man's chest.

"Well," he said as he inspected it with a critical eye. He didn't have the heart to tell Ezra how ugly and not like a lightsaber it looked (which was part of the point). "It's different." He settled on. "But that seems about right for you," and then handed the lightsaber back to Ezra.

"Go for it," Kanan said proudly.

Ezra lifted the hilt to eye level and then for the first time ignited his lightsaber.


Hondo's other friend that Mando Girl says he should cite is his friend Nietzshe. And Hondo can confirm! The more you stare into the abyss, the more time you waste not making a profit! So much to say. Well, let Hondo say it plainly then! Too much to say! But please leave Hondo your thoughts and suggestions and curiosities. Until next Saturday, Hondo's friends!