Hello again my friends! I think it's fair to say at this point we are nearing the finale. Allow me a moment to thank you for staying with Hondo so long! This story will indeed continue on through season 1 and beyond. Hondo knows there are many questions - and Hondo has answered to the best of his ability, but all in due time. Hondo likes the name of this episode: Rebel Resolve! But the amount of angst? I suppose angst and resolve would go hand in hand! So sit down! Enjoy a cup of warm milk, or some other beverage you may prefer. Let us begin!

Rebel Resolve

"Can't? Or won't!"

"Sir, shall I administer another dose?" the Imperial medical droid said and looked to Kallus for instruction.

Kanan groaned from the middle of his cell, but the Jedi remained steadfast in his meditative stance. And, as Kallus expected, appeared to be resistant to drugs that alter a person's mental alertness. Particularly truth serums.

"No, we're pushing the limits as it is. Another dose would be lethal," Kallus said. It was partly true. He knew that Jedi were determined, and now it was apparent just how resilient they could be if Jarrus was any example to go by. Still, the Agent didn't want to risk finding out how much Kanan Jarrus could handle.

"Could probably handle another," Kanan said, speaking up unexpectedly. "But your boss is growing impatient, eh, Agent Muttonchops?" Kanan said and laughed.

Muttonchops. Agent Helmet. Apparently the boy had a litany of colorful nicknames for him, that much Kanan Jarrus had been all too happy to share. Jarrus tried to play it off as a compliment. After all, not many of their foes last that long to be bestowed the privilege of a nickname. And apparently he had quite the collection.

The door opened and just outside stood the immaculate Grand Moff Tarkin himself. He descended those steps, his focus solely on Kanan. "Progress?"

"We have given him the maximum amount of the serums," Kallus said quickly. "I hesitate to continue with more. And with his lucidity, I doubt more would do any good."

"Oh?" Tarkin said and stood before Kanan, strapped into the standing table under a near blinding light. "Perhaps he just has a tough liver."

"My Lord," Kallus said. "If I could just have more time-"

"You've had a year, Agent Kallus."

"You have not seen him in combat, or the boy - his student. With their ability with lightsabers and the boy's power in the Force."

"To toss you into a rock and break three of your ribs?" Tarkin said.

"Only three?" Kanan asked, a crooked smile on his face. "Ezra had it pegged for at least four."

In truth it was five, not that Kallus would admit that.

"You find yourself funny do you?" Tarkin said and with a wave of the hand a hovering droid appeared in the entrance to the hell. A droid in that was all black and in the shape of a perfect orb.

Kanan recognized it immediately. An IT-0 interrogation droid.. Kallus watched the man carefully but there was no reaction, only for that same insufferable smile to return to the fool's face.

"I will give you a chance, Jarrus. Just one." Tarkin said.

"I'm all ears," Kanan said.

"We had a problem, several problems, with security at both our cadet academy and Imperial Headquarters. Since my arrival those problems have been dealt with, there won't be any more "Dev Morgans" pretending to be cadets."

"Yeah well, the way I hear it. My old buddy Kallus has been warning you about that for months."

"Indeed," Tarkin said. "When I saw the ineptitude firsthand, I had the Inquisitor deal with it. At the head."

Kallus fought the wince, the sight of Aresko and Flint being just fine one moment. And in the blink of an eye the red lightsaber decapitated them both. Kanan didn't fail to miss Tarkin's meaning.

"A job opening." Kanan said. "I'd submit an application but I'm a bit tied up at the moment."

"That won't be necessary," Tarkin said. "I doubt you'd pass the background checks given your history and associates. You see. While your… student was pretending to be Dev Morgan. There was a breach, right in our dear friend Agent Kallus's office. Not too long afterward Morgan and one other cadet were extracted by your team. Interestingly, there was no mention of you or any aerial support provided by your Twi'lek pilot."

Kallus watched as Jarrus's face lost all humor. Why was any of this of interest?

"More interesting," Tarkin said and began to circle Kanan like any helpless animal caught in a trap. "A cargo shipment. A very important cargo shipment known only to the most select few lost contact at exactly the same time the Mandalorian girl and the Lasat extracted your student. By the time reinforcements were rushed to the shipment's location, there was only debris left."

Kanan cracked his neck and straightened his jaw, his eyes meeting Tarkin's with defiance.

"Don't know a thing."

"I suppose the timing could be coincidental. But you see? To plant Ezra Bridger, it would have taken weeks of preparation and more weeks for him to remain undercover. As incompetent as Aresko had been, I do applaud the boy's subterfuge for such a long term assignment. But even more interesting, is how would your cell on this backwater world even know to plant Ezra Bridger there in the first place? Why target Agent Kallus's office? Why then? How did that boy specifically know what to search for? And what kept you and your ship occupied that you weren't there for the boy's extraction?"

"You like the sound of your own voice." Kanan said and raised his chin. "You tell me."

"Tsk, tsk," Tarkin clucked his tongue. "I have a better idea."

The IT-0 droid went to work, and once more Kanan braced himself for another round.

"Sir," Kallus said quietly. "We have already neared the lethal limit of toxins to a Human."

"He can handle it," Tarkin said, his voice confident in the droid's abilities to ensure that Jarrus didn't overdose.

"Yes, Grand Moff," Kallus said.

"You're wondering how I knew it was your office they targeted."

Kallus had been wondering that, but this was the first time he had ever heard the events at the Academy being linked to the loss of some Imperial cargo shipment. But there were hundreds of shipments he had access to. Kallus wouldn't even know where to begin with such a search.

And Ezra Bridger had covered his tracks well.

Kallus looked straight ahead. "When the Empire deems for me to know something, I will know it," Kallus answered. "Otherwise my duties pertain to dealing with the rebel threat. No more, no less."

He could almost feel it as Tarkin observed him for a long moment. It was the same feeling of a bug under a microscope. Did Tarkin doubt his loyalty? Kallus had no interest in tracking Imperial cargo, not unless it pertained to his duties of hunting the rebels. And whatever was revealed in these interrogations were of no matter to him. But whatever Tarkin was searching for inside him, he must've found it as he nodded in satisfaction and turned his attention back to Kanan.

Kallus exhaled a deep breath, feeling as though he had narrowly avoided a decapitation of his own. All the more reason to do all he can to help Tarkin. The sooner he was gone the better Kallus would feel.

The droid circled Kanan, running its sonic interrogation routines that were hell on the head. It was getting them nowhere.

"Impressive. Perhaps another dose," Tarkin ordered. "I'm most interested to see how much this Jedi can handle."

In that moment Kanan had the strength to shake off everything that had thus far been done to him, recognized Tarkin, and treated him with a smile.

"Well, Governor. Someone's gotta keep you entertained."

That was the last thing Tarkin had expected and Kallus watched as the Emperor's right-hand man fought to maintain his military bearing. Not even Bridger's message had gotten under Tarkin's skin like this.

"Charmed." Tarkin said at last. "Another dose." He took a step nearer to Kanan and eyed the taller man. "If that doesn't work, there are a plethora of other methods we can try."

Ezra shook off the sudden ripple of laughter that he felt through the Force. He knew it was Kanan. Why his Master would be in a good mood (if that is what Ezra had indeed felt, he was far from an expert with this Force guru stuff). Ezra did his best to shut down the link for now. His Master was alive. That's all that mattered.

Which meant he had to concentrate.

It was a day like any other on Lothal. The sun was out. Not a cloud in the sky. That certain smell that came with the planet's rolling golden grass. And from City's rooftops Ezra could even smell it, unlike when down in the street with the dirt and grime. As well as a few other additions, he was seeing all too often lately.

The increased number of stormtroopers that swept through areas at random intervals, disrupting business and the lives of everyone. And, of course, the ever present scout walker accompanying the dozen stormtroopers. Combined arms, as Sabine's military strategy holo-texts would say. It was a smart tactic, and much too smart for Aresko to have come up with.

Though the Spectres had no solid evidence, it was looking more and more likely that someone else was running the show. So it was back to the basics, like that first day Ezra had first run into them.

Only this time, he knew the hand signals as well. And unlike last time, he wasn't alone up here on the rooftop. So was everyone else.

Crouching down next to Chopper, Ezra felt it hit him again. Worry. Distress. And if he focused long enough - pain. But just as quickly as it had arrived, the feeling dulled itself, as if to spare Ezra from wondering about it too long.

Sorry, Master. You're just going to have to work more on concealing your feelings after we get you back, Ezra thought. He looked across the busy street to the other building and Sabine made a few signals with her hand.

She and Zeb were ready, and that Imp patrol was just about in position. He didn't fully understand it, and maybe that's because he'll never understand Imperial logic, but each of these walkers had an uplink connection to the wider Imperial network. Everything from the HQ to the fleet of Star Destroyers and Cruisers above them. And no buckethead ever thought that that maybe wasn't the most secure thing?

But hey, all that info in one spot? Easy creds, Ezra thought and returned Sabine's gesture. He and Chopper were ready too.

The jump from the rooftop to the top of the moving walker was a short one. Requiring good timing and depth perception. Then it was a matter of opening the secured hatch, Lasat strength for the win, and Ezra hoped down while Zeb grabbed the rear gunner and threw him overboard.

"What was that?" the pilot in the front seat said, his attention focused entirely on the controls.

"Ahem," Ezra cleared his throat, his blaster visible for the pilot to see. "How you doing?"

"What the-" the silenced three shots from his pistol was the last the pilot heard, for a while. Getting hit by a blaster set to stun hurt. A blaster that fired three shots at a time would be like a hangover from a long weekend on Corellia, according to Zeb at least.

From the back Chopper warbled something as he made his way inside. Behind him was a wall network port he could scomp into. "Plug in, Chop. We need prisoner logs of all Imperial detention facilities."

Chopper warbled something else, but turned around to do as he was told.

"Zeb!" Ezra yelled and shoved the pilot out of the pilot's chair, slumping against the wall off the walker's two seater cockpit, and Ezra slid into the chair. Immediately he hooked Skippy into the pilot control jack.

"I have connection," his dutiful lightsaber reported. "Command?"

Ezra had taken control and in a moment had the walker walking in a straight line, and less like a drunken Wookie. He could drive the thing, but the guns?

"Access the turret. All stormtroopers are hostile," Ezra said.

"Understood. Whack a Buckethead protocol engaged. Targeting all hostiles."

The walker's cannon roared as Skippy went to work on taking out anything in front of them, even an armored transport that could've been a problem stood no chance. Zeb, meanwhile, handled the guest list in the confined cockpit of the walker.

Out went the pilots, which Ezra couldn't help but smirk when he saw them thrown overboard and clocked one of the patrolling bucketheads. Zeb had good aim. He could also hear the explosions and blaster fire and knew Sabine was raining hell down on the patrol.

And then he heard a thud on the roof of the cockpit and instinctively knew Sabine had joined them. And while Zeb was doing a great job of shooting any Imp in sight from his perch on top of the walker that only worked so long as Ezra kept focused on keeping the walker nice and steady. All that concentration went flying out the window when he heard what Chopper had to say to Sabine in the back.

"No connection?" Sabine said. "That's impossible. The entire system would have to be down."

"Well," came Zeb's gruff voice from outside. "They did blow up their own comm tower!"

Sabine groaned. "They must have taken down their entire data network."

"How are we going to find out where they've got Kanan now?" Ezra said.

"Walker 693, stand down," a thick Imperial accented voice came over the comm. "Repeat. Stand down."

Skippy spoke up. "Sensors indicate two Imperial scout walkers behind us. I cannot engage them from this angle."

"We got trouble!" Zeb shouted and Ezra could hear the boom coming from his bo-rifle. Not that it would do them any good. Why oh why did they not keep just one of those disruptor rifles?

"Whoa! Sabine said as the whopping slams of the cannon fire from the other two walkers slammed into the thin durasteel protecting them. Ezra knew it wouldn't hold long.

Sabine activated her comlink. "Spectre-2, we need a pickup."

Hera's response was immediate, and cool as ice despite the pressure.

"I read you, Spectre-5. Rendezvous at the town's western border."

More laser fire slammed into the hull. "Whoa!" Sabine said as she grasped the co-pilot's chair to steady herself.

"Hate to be the pessimist, Ezra, but how do we even know-"

"He's alive, Sabine," Ezra said. "I know it."

Then then turned the walker down a single lane street. It didn't help them fight back but it would force the two walkers to split up and buy them time.

"Ezra! I can't get a shot if you keep running from them," Sabine said.

"Use the rear cannon," Ezra said, his focus divided to keep from stepping on any wayward bystanders.

"There is no rear cannon!" Sabine replied.

"Hey, I'm doing the best I can!" Zeb said.

"Spectre's 3 and 5 do not have weapons capable of piercing the enemy walker."

"Just tell me I'm headed in the right direction," Ezra said.

"You are off by 24 degrees starboard. Though hull integrity is down by less than half."

"It's gonna be close," Ezra said.

"When is it not?" Sabine griped.

Another loud bang against the hull, only this time it was enough to jostle Zeb free of his perch and send him sprawling down the front slope of the walker. Luckily he grabbed hold of the lid of the walker's viewport.

Only now all I can see is Zeb's big head!

"I can't see! Move!" Ezra shouted.

"Move?" Zeb said, his expression aghast. "Move where?"

"Anywhere!"

"Just keep it walking in a straight line," Sabine said after checking their holomap of the city.

"Engaging holoprojection of forward area. There are no further hostiles, non-combatants are marked by flashing strobes."

"Thanks, Skippy," Ezra said as the projection lit up the cockpit, preventing Ezra from stepping on a fruit seller and his stall just in time.

"Hey!" Sabine said. "Don't forget who spent three hours of her day cooking up this program."

A light blinked and beeped on her forearm brace. A similar light blinked on Ezra's. Sabine wasted no time in jumping out of her seat and hurrying to the hatch. "Hera's incoming. Everyone up top!"

Ezra unplugged Skippy and followed after Sabine, but stopped when Skippy pointed out that Chopper was still linked in. A few well placed threats got the cantankerous bucket of bolts moving.

Up top Ezra immediately dropped into his defensive Form III of Soresu and began deflecting blaster bolts, as they were relatively exposed standing on the top of the walker. He even caught one from the walker and wow is that thing powerful! He'd be feeling it in his arms for a week, provided they survived that long.

Thankfully, Hera arrived with the Phantom just in time as the walker underfoot was about to fall to pieces. With everyone aboard their Twi'lek Captain got them out of there just in time.

Ezra just wished he had better news to tell her. Kanan was alive. He could feel it. He just couldn't say where.

Not yet.

"How'd it go?" Hera asked.

"It didn't." Ezra said. "But he's still there. I can feel it."

"I'm sorry but you must focus on your next objective," the holoprojection of Fulcrum told Hera.

"But, Fulcrum, Kanan is our objective." Hera said. "Ezra can still sense him. And if he's alive we'll find him."

"At what cost? You? Your unit? The overall mission?" Hera heard the garbled voice sigh. "There's something else, Hera. The transmission Ezra was able to beam out has attracted attention, not just from civilians but from the highest levels of the Empire."

Hera straightened her back, hands on her hips. "It was Kanan's plan. I guess it worked."

"Your mission was to be unseen, unnoticed, and now–"

"Kanan wanted to inspire people." Hera said. "He wanted to give them hope."

"Well he was successful. But if you are caught, if Ezra is caught. That hope will die. To protect your unit, to protect Ezra, you must stop your search for Kanan and go into hiding."

Hera stumbled backward, as if visibly struck.

"Kanan and Ezra are the best we have."

"Kanan could not defeat the Inquisitor, and Ezra is still only just learning. Ezra must be kept safe, or he could become a very real threat."

The implication hit Hera like a thunderbolt. She shook her head, lekku flowing behind.

"No," Hera said. "Ezra would never-"

"Everyone has a weakness." Fulcrum said, and Hera once more got the suspicion Fulcrum was a lot more than a coordinator of Rebel cells. "Keep Ezra safe."

And with that the holocall ended leaving Hera sitting on deck of the ship, knees curled into her as she wrapped her arms around them. Fulcrum's words had struck a chord in the Twi'lek Captain's heartstrings. As much as she loved Kanan, Stars how she loved him.

Ezra felt more and more like a son to them both. Kanan has told her repeatedly the amount of potential Ezra has, if fully trained he could do a lot of good.

But then as Fulcrum had just pointed out. If captured, what would the Empire do to Ezra? Kill him?

"Everyone has a weakness," Hera whispered softly.

She knew exactly what they would do. Unlike Kanan, Ezra was still young and vulnerable. And already he showed abilities with the Dark Side. And with the galaxy getting its hopes up again, all thanks to Ezra's transmission?

Was she thinking this? Really considering what Fulcrum had just told her? Orders be damned she'd march into hell to get Kanan back.

And Ezra?

"Kanan," Hera whispered as tears began to fall. She wished he was here. Wished he could tell her what to do.

Only she did know. She knew exactly what he would tell her.

To stay away.

The others would disagree. They'd appeal to her love for him. No, not just my love, they all care for him. So… So she'd have to be strong. She had to.

"I'm sorry, Kanan," Hera whispered as more tears drizzled her cheeks.

Never before had the galaxy ever felt more lonely.

Sabine sighed. With Zeb sitting there staring at the holo of Lothal and Ezra sitting across from her with his eyes closed. Well she just couldn't take it, the moment of silence was killing her.

"Odds are they've still got him at the Imperial Complex," she said, and broke the silence. "So come on. Strategize."

But Zeb shook his head. The big Lasat's eyes were heartfelt but his disagreement on Kanan was clear. "If they do, we all know he's as good as gone."

"He's not gone," Ezra said suddenly, and then stood and began to pace. "And he's not in the Imperial Complex."

"How do you know that?" Zeb said.

"I just know." Ezra said.

"We can't make a plan based on a feeling," Sabine said, though even she could hear the doubt in her words. She turned off the holo and Ezra turned around and faced her.

"Yes, we can." Ezra said. "We do it all the time!"

"Are you sure though?" Sabine said. "Remember Stygeon Prime? Kanan was so certain Luminara was there."

Ezra shook his head. "That was different. He barely knew her. All he felt was a powerful Jedi presence. And I know Kanan. He's not in the Complex."

"Then where?" Sabine said, and leaned over the table.

"No," Zeb said, interrupting the exchange. "If Ezra can home in on Kanan then we have to assume the Inquisitor and Empire know he can too."

Sabine groaned. "Skippy? Can we get a percentage? I know you want to share.."

"Given the bond between Master and Padawan, Padawan Ezra is likely 80% correct that Kanan is not in the Imperial Complex. This means he is most likely on a command Star Destroyer along with the Inquisitor. The Empire will have calculated Padawan Ezra's boldness and determined a trap of some nature should he attempt rescue."

"Well," Ezra said. "Even if it's a trap that doesn't mean game over. We've faced tougher odds before, guys. Sabine?"

Sabine suddenly found herself caught in Ezra's gaze and the level of its intensity was palpable. He truly believed he could sense Kanan. And Skippy was right about the trap, which Sabine found herself in full agreement with.

Because that was a hell of a trap they laid for us at the communications tower. There was a new player in town. It made her cautious, but not to the point of hopelessness. They just needed a little more information.

"I think-" Sabine said.

"No," Hera said as the aft door to the common room opened. "Not this time."

Sabine frowned at the unusually cold tone of voice. What was the older female up to?

"What are you talking about?" Ezra said to her,

"I overheard you. The Empire will be waiting with a trap, and you're right." Hera said, again in that same tone.

No, not cold. Just indifferent?

Hera entered the room and the door closed behind her. "We can't go after Kanan. The Empire will be waiting with a trap," she reiterated.

"When has that ever stopped us?" Ezra said, taking the words right out of Sabine's mouth.

"We can't risk it." Hera said. Zeb sighed in resignation. But Sabine could hardly believe what she was hearing.

"Can't? Or won't!" Ezra demanded.

Hera closed her eyes. "Ezra, there's a bigger mission you're not seeing," Hera said. "It can't be jeopardized for… one soldier."

"Soldier?" Ezra all but yelled. "He's our friend, Hera. I can't just forget him."

"Neither can I," Sabine said, finally finding her voice. "And I can't believe you of us all would forget him either."

"He would do anything to protect us," Ezra stated.

"Enough," Hera said in a tone that left no room for argument. "Kanan gave his life to protect us," she said and looked between Ezra and Sabine before her eyes landed back on Ezra. "Ezra, he'd want us to honor the choice he made."

Sabine wanted to go after Ezra as he fled the room, but couldn't bring herself to do it. She was having enough trouble with her own emotions. So she sighed and got out of her seat, but paused to look at Hera carefully.

Very carefully.

"You're not telling us everything - again,." Sabine said and saw Hera's eyes widen, confirming the young girl's astute observation. And then Sabine made another. "Is this you talking? Or Fulcrum?"

A tense standoff emerged between Hera and Sabine. And while Sabine thought pretty highly of herself with standoffs, with Kanan missing she found that this one just hurt too much.

"Hera?" Zeb said. "Did Fulcrum really ask you to just give him up?"

Hera bowed her head. "There's a bigger picture and while we're family, we have to be strong. To make the hard choice when necessary."

"You couldn't have said that to Ezra?" Sabine replied.

"You understand, he doesn't," Hera said but then frowned at the girl. "Or at least so I thought."

Unable to stand it a second longer, Sabine shook her head and stormed out of the room, taking the same path Ezra had. She couldn't take it anymore. It just hurt too much. And Hera? Of all the people!

Sitting on her bed she glanced up. Her wall was still bare except for one rough outline she'd been working on. An outline of a tall man who meant the world to her, and she'd give anything to have back.

Even if she still jumped a tiny bit in his presence.

Sabine shook her head. She couldn't do this. Not again. Not after what happened with her own family back on Krownest.

'Not too good at following directions, are you?'

"Ezra," Sabine whispered and headed toward her door. He would help her. When the door opened she was surprised to see him standing just outside it, hand raised to knock politely.

Ezra set his shoulders and raised his chin. "I know it's a trap. I don't care about orders. Are you in?"

Sabine took hold of his arm, led him into her room, and then made certain to lock the door behind her. She knew Hera could override it with her Captain's Privilege but she hoped that for the moment Hera would want to give her some space after what happened.

Alone with Ezra Sabine nodded a silent yes to Ezra's question and then released arm. She took a few steps and her eyes found Kanan's outline on the wall once more. "We need more information. And someway to get you close enough to the fleet unnoticed to confirm which ship he's on specifically."

"Just me?" Ezra asked.

"No, not just you," Sabine said and rolled her ideas at the thought of him going in alone. "I meant you with all the touchy feely Force thing."

Ezra nodded and glanced at the outline. "Can we get Zeb? Some extra muscle could come in handy."

"I don't think he liked Hera's blanket no." Sabine said a touch of bitterness. "But with some more information and a plan, I think we can get him on board. Although with all three of us gone it won't take Hera long to realize we're missing."

"I got that part covered," Ezra said.

"Really?" Sabine said. "You sound awfully confident."

"I have an inside man,"

"Inside man?"

"Well inside droid, and he's as unhappy as we are."

Sabine smirked at the thought. Okay. Hera would definitely have her hands full.

"We still need more info," Sabine said. "Otherwise we're just flying around aimlessly."

"I got that part covered too," Ezra said.

Sabine cocked an eyebrow.

"I'll tell you when we're away," Ezra said. "Promise, Paintbomb."

Sabine hated being kept in the dark. But between Hera's absolute refusal to budge on any info - despite the promise she made to let Sabine in, Sabine was trusting the young boy at the moment. "Okay. But I'm holding you to that, Diasa'yr. And fair warning, I got a temper and a really itchy trigger finger right now."

"Don't I know it." Ezra said with a grin. "Go play nice with Hera and Zeb. Then meet me in the Phantom. In thirty minutes. I want to do a full diagnostic."

Sabine smirked at the memory. "Wise Jedi. Well get moving."

Once Ezra had left Sabine thought over the details in her head. There really were only two options and Ezra was certain that Kanan wasn't on Lothal. She wondered how he could do that. She knew he held both Kanan and Lothal dear in his heart. Was he able to tell because he could feel the physical separation between the two?

Weird Force voodoo, Sabine thought and looked herself over in a mirror. She tried a few faces. Happy? Kind of. Mad? Definitely had that one. Sad? Okay that one was way too easy. Apologetic? Sabine winced.

Well no one said it had to be heartfelt. She prepped a go-bag filled with explosives and other items and left it just inside her door. She'd grab it after she grabbed Zeb and made for the Phantom.

Before she left her room she thought once more about her decision to join Ezra on this rescue mission. She could narc? Be a good little soldier and tell Hera what Ezra was planning. Sabine rolled her eyes and scoffed, ashamed at the thought.

A true Rebel never gives up. Never. And she wasn't about to let the Empire take away the closest thing she had to a father right now.

Preparations set, she left her cabin to go play nice with Hera. She had a feeling that after all was said and done, regardless of the outcome, it would be some time before she was capable of idle chatter with Hera.

When Sabine entered the cockpit, she had a line ready to apologize to Hera. But then she saw just how heartbroken and slumped over the female Twi'lek was.

This decision is killing her.

It was one thing to at least try to save him? But to fold completely? What the hell osik was this Fulcrum guy feeding her?

There was some idle chatter, mostly from Zeb who was trying to fill the uncomfortable silence. But inevitably the subject returned to Kanan.

"Why prepare to fight if we're not even going after Kanan?"

Seeing an opportunity Sabine pounced.

"You think he'll talk," she said and turned in the co-pilot's chair to face Zeb. "You think he'll tell 'em what he knows about us?"

Zeb sighed as Chopper entered the bridge. "It's the Empire, girl. They'll use every trick in the book to get him to spill."

"He doesn't know anything," Hera said, her voice quiet.

Knew it, Sabine thought. And if it's only Hera that Fulcrum is influencing, after they rescue Kanan maybe she and Zeb and Ezra could weigh on him to ease up on these suicide missions against the Empire. Or at least until Ezra was better trained.

"Sabine?" Ezra's voice came in over the ship's intercom.

Showtime.

"It's only a matter of time until he breaks," Kallus said as the interrogation droid worked its aural emissions onto the helpless Kanan, still strapped to that upright table in his cell aboard the Star Destroyer.

"You have wasted enough of my time," Tarkin said.

Just like you wasted the lives of those men? Kallus wanted to shout, but he held his tongue.

The memory of the comm tower and the men Kallus still had inside, and how Tarkin didn't even bother to alert them to the incoming missiles that toppled the tower to ruin.

But what could he do? File a report on the Grand Moff? Especially when it cut off the "Bridger transmission" before it could cause any more harm?

Still could've gotten them out of there though, Kallus reminded himself. Had Tarkin alerted the men immediately of his plan to destroy the tower. All for what? To make a point? Or did he just get off on needless death and destruction? Kallus was no psychiatrist but he was beginning to suspect the latter.

The door opened, and the guards outside admitted the last person Kallus wanted to see.

"Still no progress?" The Grand Inquisitor said. "It's as I said. Jedi are trained to resist mind probes."

"If he is the Jedi he claims to be," Tarkin was quick to assert. "I take it you have a solution?"

"Pain. A Jedi still feels pain. And pain can break anyone."

The Inquisitor then opened his hands wide and placed it just above Jarrus's face. A moment later the Inquisitor began flexing his finger and Jarrus began to struggle to hold back his cries of pain.

Kallus was never one for torture, though ISB training had made certain he had the knowledged were to use such methods. Luckily by then he had also mastered a mask of indifference when he had seen such things throughout his career.

At least in this case it served a greater purpose, he thought as he watched the Inquisitor wrack more and more pain onto Kanan's head. Thanks to Bridger, all reports from his contacts warned of the Rebellion becoming stronger than ever.

And so Kallus resigned himself to his situation, and hoped that fate would help them defeat this Rebel cell at last. He wanted to be rid of the damned assignment and move on from Lothal.

"You will tell me where to find your Rebel friends?" The Inquisitor said.

"No." Kanan said and muttered out a few obscenities. "Ezra," he said as he strained against the Inquisitor's might. "Not him. Not him."

"What do you see?" The Inquisitor said, the eagerness of cracking the Jedi overtaking him.

"I see," Kanan said despite his struggles.

"Go on." The Inquisitor said.

"I see…" Kanan repeated himself and then opened his eyes and glared at the Inquisitor. "You. Growing more and more frustrated."

His struggles ceased and it was clear that the Inquisitor's strength in the Force failed to overcome Jarrus's determination and will. Kallus found himself impressed and, oddly enough, to see the look of disappointment on the Inquisitor's face.

"Perceptive." The Inquisitor begrudgingly admitted. He then waved his hand at the control panels, activating the electric shock mechanism. "Perhaps you can help alleviate my frustration."

The machinery whirred and bolts of electricity shot out again and again, as the torture of Kanan Jarrus remanifested itself on a much higher difficult of pain.

As the poor bastard screamed in pain, Kallus glanced away from the sight and looked from the Inquisitor to Tarkin. Was Tarkin as repulsed? No. In fact he was caressing his fingers together, eager for the results - if any - that would come from this.

He's enjoying this.

Kallus cleared his throat and muttered some excuse. It didn't matter, neither of the other two were listening. Too intent they were on watching the destruction of Kanan Jarrus and listening to his screams of agony.

And the smell of his skin and hair burning?

Kallus saluted the stormtroopers as he exited the interrogation cell and made immediately for the nearest fresher. There he promptly locked himself inside a bathroom stall and vomited into the toilet.

Vizago. She should've known, Sabine thought as she set down the Phantom and Ezra - the smallest - of them all led the way to "negotiate" with Vizago. Sabine had to admit, Ezra was not lacking for confidence or weakness.

Though he did wince out of nowhere on the flight in."Kanan's hanging on," Ezra had explained. "He's trying to shield me from the pain but, gah, it's blinding."

Sabine had stepped on it and pushed the little shuttle to its max speed and was grateful that Ezra had done a complete and thorough diagnostic of the shuttle before they snuck away. Because despite Chopper's distraction. Sabine figured that had maybe ten minutes before Hera realized that the Phantom along with her crew were missing.

By the time they walked out to meet with Vizago the pain had passed. Sabine was hopeful that meant the Empire was letting up on him. But no. Ezra had hastily constructed a wall or shield of some sort to protect him from the worst of it.

"Well did you see anything?" Zeb had asked.

"Yeah," Ezra nodded. "Two people. The Inquisitor and some small skeletor looking Imperial. But his rank was crazy, like nothing I've ever seen before."

Sabine frowned but couldn't begin to imagine. There were so many higher ups in the Empire. But combined with how the Empire trapped Kanan and then destroyed its own comm tower to cut off Ezra's broadcast. It was clear that there was someone new in charge.

She'd wanted to ask more questions but Vizago was waiting. And if they were going to get Kanan back they would need more than what scarce details Ezra could remember from his vision or whatever that was.

Of course what Sabine did not expect was for Ezra to cut such a deal with Vizago! That he would out himself and Kanan as Jedi? Well the Empire had their names and faces already. But promising a snake like Viazgo a future favor with no strings attached?

Hera was going to flip.

Oh and the cherry on top? Now they had just let Ezra walk on board Vizago's ship - alone.

"I think that's a ship," Zeb said and held his hand up to shade his eyes from the bright sun.

"It's Hera," Sabine said after a quick glance.

"Thought you'd of disabled the Phantom's tracker?"

"And the half dozen others she has hidden around the thing?" Sabine crossed her arms. "Also I'm not about to start tearing Hera's shuttle apart looking for tracking devices. You crazy?"

"At this point I'm thinking there's a good chance I am," Zeb said as both he and Sabine braced themselves for whatever happened next.

The Ghost touched down nearly on top of them. And once the starship began cycling through its after-flight routines, the cargo bay ramp extended. There stood a little green Twi'lek, but very pissed off. Sabine couldn't think of a time she'd seen Hera like this.

"Where is he?" Hera said as she crossed the short distance to reach them.

"He's safe," Sabine said quickly. "He's just with Vizago."

Hera glanced around, it hitting her that the other ship she'd pick up on sensor was the Broken Horn and that they were even in the same spot they'd used for the disruptor deal that had gone bad.

"What would Vizago want with Ezra?" Hera said slowly as suspicion and fear took root.

Sabine relented. "Vizago hinted that he may know some things, but had no interest in helping us. Not without something in Ezra told him the secret."

Hera scowled and clenched her fists. "What were the terms?"

Sabine sighed. "One favor, with absolutely no strings attached."

"And you two just let him do that!" Hera nearly yelled as she lost all pretenses of calm.

"Oi!" Zeb said and pointed at his chest. "I'm the last person the kid would ever listen to."

Hera shook her head but didn't refute his claim, and Sabine decided she wouldn't try to argue it either. Zeb was of course getting at Ezra's crush on her, but even if it wasn't for that crush of his she knew that their friendship was strong and true but also special. Despite his amusing but facefirst failures at trying to woo her, Ezra still understood her in ways no one else ever had. And she liked to think that despite their awkward moments, she was a solid friend to him as well.

"Yeah, well," Sabine said and glanced at Zeb who was still looking at her all accusatory. "What can I say? I suck at rules and had a blind spot for the kid."

Hera sighed. "Sabine-"

"And Ezra's right," Sabine said.

A moment passed and Sabine watched as Hera struggled to come up with something to say. Torn between wanting to shout at her in anger or throwing her arms around Sabine and thanking her for not giving up, Hera was primed for an explosion of some sort.

"It's okay guy," Ezra said, catching them all off guard. "I have a lead."

Sabine and Zeb stepped aside to give Hera room as her eyes lit up with anger at Ezra.

"For what you just bargained? You better have something more than just a lead."

Ezra's face frowned and his chafed gloves tightened as he returned Hera's stare. Sabine had seen her space family get in spats before, but never between Ezra and Hera.

"I'm doing this." Ezra said. "And I don't need your permission."

A long tense standoff began and it was hard to recall the last time Sabine felt so uncomfortable.

"What have you learned?" Hera said at last.

When the first did their recon, they counted four stormtroopers per courier droid. But when Zeb and Sabine ambushed the droid they'd designated, well four troopers were actually eight.

She'd gotten off her first two shots and dropped the first pair, but then was forced to take cover as she was suddenly assailed by shooting from another pair of troopers. She could only imagine what Zeb must've been dealing with. She haled across the comlink to him but got no response, the only thing she heard was the continued barrage of blaster fire.

That was when things went from spinning out of control to what the kriff just happened?

She was preparing for the inevitable of one trooper (or however many) of running to a stack of crates. From that position they could flank her and have her cornered. She was banking on the miracle she'd packed with the rest of her grenades in her go-bag to change the tide - instead all firing stopped and she heard several stormtroopers begin to gripe and shout obscenities.

Peeking around her cover she saw two of them floating in the air and they'd dropped their rifles. Ezra was her immediate thought and the boy emerged from around the corner where he and Hera were putting the finishing touches on Chopper. They must've heard the excessive blaster fire. Or heard her over the comm.

So no, Ezra being there was a surprise but a welcomed one. What she wasn't prepared for was how he brutally slammed one into the wall so hard she heard a neck snap.

"The Jedi!" one of the two remaining stormtroopers said. Immediately they opened fire but Ezra had already used the Force to maneuver the other stormtrooper so that his body was in front of Ezra's. And when the blaster bolts hit home it wasn't Ezra's cries of pain and eventually death, but the Stormtrooper Shield he had was taking the brunt of their firepower.

At this point her diamond drilled Mandalorian instinct kicked in and Sabine leaned out of her cover and dropped one of the stormtroopers. The last stormtrooper fell to a stealthy Zeb that snuck up behind him and gave him a good whack on the bucket.

Ezra released his hold on the now dead trooper, his shining white plastoid armor was a charred mess from the frantic fire coming from the two stormtroopers who had tried to aim their weapons at Ezra.

"Karabast, kid," Zeb commented when he looked at the results of not only his and Sabine's handiwork but Ezra's as well. But if Ezra had any sympathy for the Imps he had killed, he didn't show it. Instead he got down on one knee in front of the courier droid who was now quivering fear.

"You have a choice. Help us. Or join them," Ezra told the droid.

The worried droid needed no time and immediately answered in the affirmative. But Sabine's focus wasn't on the R-series Imperial droid, but Ezra and just how… Indifferent he was.

"That's some Force-muscle you got there, kid," Zeb said.

"Come on," Ezra said. "Hera's waiting. And we got a schedule to keep."

She could all but feel the contempt Ezra had toward the Empire now and instead of confronting her friend, as was her usual goto. She'd let Kanan handle it. Ezra was angry, she was angry too. And if she had the ability to lift and carry hundred pound crates all day, she'd be tempted to do what Ezra had just done.

And as Ezra said. They had a schedule to keep.

Chopper hadn't liked the plan, at all, but substituting him for the Imperial courier droid worked flawlessly. That still left the Ghost squaring off against an Imperial cruiser in head to head combat, and without Kanan that meant it was up to Ezra to man the top gun.

And boy did Ezra step up with his turret skills. If she hadn't seen how angry he was earlier she'd think he was out to prove something. She'd seen him blast TIEs apart plenty, but his turret accuracy was near perfect as he pelted the cruiser's weak points from his position at top gun.

And so it was with a mixture of pride but also worry when Sabine looked at him standing there in the cargo ramp standing beside Zeb, Chopper, and that Imperial astromech who was still with them. Two-Six-Four.

Who also apparently played a big role in helping Zeb man the rear turret? Guess that droid was serious when he told Ezra he wanted to help them.

Kanan of course was still missing but she could feel it now. This wasn't just some long shot anymore hatched by her and Ezra. They would get him back.

"That was amazing, Chopper," Ezra congratulated.

"Airlocking the Bridge crew? Slick Chopper," Sabine said. "Nice job."

With his arm manipulators waving and his dome spinning, Chopper resembled a prize fighter celebrating a hard won fight. And then something happened. That Two-Six-Four, an R series astromech droid, politely came over and congratulated Chopper.

"Good job!" Aresix congratulated.

"Pfft, what are you still doing on MY SHIP?" Chopper shot back.

"I'll serve with honor," Aresix declared.

"He was actually a big help around here," Zeb said, coming to Six-Four's defense and placing a hand on the new droid's dome. "I say we keep him."

"A second astromech would be beneficial to a ship of this size," Skippy spoke up. "Particularly with the increased risk of the missions we have been undertaking."

Zeb first looked to Ezra, then to myself and we all nodded. Smiling, I hit the button on my wrist bracer to shut the opened cargo bay doors.

But Chopper started up with his angry chittering again and before Sabine could move the angry Chopper turned to his patented whirlwind spinning of destruction - headed right toward Aresix!

"Let's see if he can fly!" Chopper said and pounded.

Before she or Zeb could stop it, Chopper had battered Aresix into the still opened cargo bay, and into empty space high above the plains of Lothal.

"No," Ezra said and through the Force he calmly used both hands to not only save Aresix from a certain plummet to his death, but also Chopper! He held them like that until the cargo bay finished sealing.

At that point Hera appeared and after a brief explanation an immediate ceasefire was ordered. Chopper didn't like it and blew more raspberries at Aresix. But for the moment at least, especially on a mission where they could use all the help they could get, Aresix would remain. He'd have a charging station set up in her room to rest in.

Sabine didn't mind. And Chopper wouldn't dare try anything in her room. What was impressive was Ezra and how fast he was. It reminded me of his skill to just toss those stormtroopers around back near the spaceport.

Don't dwell, she told herself. We get Kanan back and everyone's happy.

As the adrenaline and near loss of Aresix wore off, Sabine politely bumped her shoulder into Hera when the team reconvened in the Ghost's bridge to hear Chopper's report. And the hopeful location of Kanan.

Hera looked back with surprise. Why would she be needing a shoulder bump? That was until Sabine looked from her to Ezra.

"Fix this. He's hiding it, but he's still angry. He knows how dangerous that deal he made with Vizago is. And to be honest I'm feeling a bit upset too."

Hera sighed but eventually gave Sabine the smile the girl was owed. "I know," she whispered. "Just give me a minute?"

"You get one," Sabine informed her and then went to stand next to Ezra who was sitting in Kanan's usual spot.

"So you speak astromech now?" Sabine asked, and then gave a head bob at where Chopper was sitting and sulking but preparing his report. "Or did you just watch Chopper like a Loth-hawk?"

"Bit of both?" Ezra said. "Over the past year I worked a lot with a certain astromech."

"Just like that?" Sabine asked, her curiosity growing. Especially since Ezra had kept this a secret for so long.

"Well there was this one Mando Girl who had a whole pile of holo-texts for me to read. One of which was about astromechs that was pretty interesting. Weak points. What wires not to cross. As well as a few lessons in binary-speak." Ezra said and smiled.

"Well color me impressed."

"You mean those training manuals you've been cramming this past year have actually finally sunked in?" Zeb said and gave Ezra a joshing grin. "Good work, kid. Just don't get cocky, you hear?"

Ezra smiled. "I'll try to keep my ego in check."

Zeb snorted in amusement. "That'd be the day."

"Ezra?" Hera said, her voice hesitant.

"Hera," Ezra responded.

"I'll just go stand over by our resident Lasat," Sabine said. Hera nodded in thanks, then from her pilot's chair took Ezra by his hands.

"I'm proud of you." Hera said. "With Kanan gone I was just?"

"We'll get him back, Hera," Ezra said and took her hands in his as well.

Hera chuckled and shook her head, then placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are so much alike."

"Well," Ezra said and his eyes focused on Hera's. "He wasn't the only one who had a hand in helping me this past year."

And there it was, finally, a flicker of not just pride and honor but hope in the Twi'lek's eyes.

At last Sabine felt a sense of peace fill the ship again. The only thing missing now of course was Kanan. But they'd get him back. They had to.

The electronic chirping interrupted the loving moment and Sabine took a look over at Chopper who had been going through the communication logs of Imperial chatter he had copied from that cruiser.

"I think we found something," Sabine said as she took a closer look at Chopper's findings. Chopper rolled to the center of the bridge and from his holoprojector, displayed a communication log detailing Kanan's capture and the Empire's plans for him.

Ezra was right. He wasn't in the Imperial Complex on Lothal.

"Kanan is on Governor Tarkin's Destroyer," Sabine said as she studied the findings. "The Sovereign. It's still here above Lothal, but it's scheduled to leave soon."

"Where to?" Hera said, unable to hide her anxiousness.

"The Mustafar System?" Sabine said and frowned. "I've never heard of it. Hera?"

But the hope and good spirit that had filled Hera moments ago, fled and left their Captain deflating. "I've only heard the name once. From Kanan." Hera lifted her head to look at everyone. "He said Mustafar is where Jedi go to die."

"Yeah?" Ezra said. "Well not this time."

Sabine looked at Ezra carefully. It was the same look as back at the spaceport. Only instead of cold indifference, there was a fire in his blue eyes.

No, she thought, her thoughts echoing his. Not this time.

Did you know this was the first time Hondo saw an event referenced at 4 BBY? It has certainly been a year my friends! And how powerful Ezra is getting in the Force. And Sabine's concerns for him, but unwillingness to approach him about it? Hondo knows what many of you are thinking. This is not Ezra! Ezra is charming and goofy and there was that one time he slipped, but that was because of the holocron! What Coruscant Entertainment underplayed was how strong Ezra's connection had become, Hondo imagines it has something to do with him lifting heavy cargo crates around all day several times a week. Some Jedi use rocks. Ezra spent a year lifting heavy crates. Different methods, but profitable results! There is much Hondo could say about this chapter. But what he will say was that he had some trouble getting his head in the game with this one. But then he took a walk, and you know what? Hondo felt revitalized and eager to end this chapter as best he could. An Interlude was very tempting, but the finale it is nearly upon us! So please! Let Hondo know your thoughts or predictions. There will be an Interlude after the finale, Hondo promises. Thank you again for reading my friends, and please let Hondo know your thoughts below!