Hello my friends! Hondo wishes you all his most profitable greetings. Hondo is busy with his new job at the Treasury right now but he leaves you in good hands! Or did he? Hmm... Uncle Hondo is feeling a little woozy. Maybe he will go lay down for a nap, such comfy couches they have at Hondo's new job!
Interlude III
"Grand Moff Tarkin underestimated the danger of the rebel threat. And now he has not only lost his ship but most dangerous of all, allowed for Bridger's message to transmit. His arrogance blinded him."
"So are all ships like this in the Rebellion this nice?" Ezra said to the luxurious conference room's only other occupant. Silence. "Because if so, I could get used to it."
That seemed to get Kanan's attention. "It's a Corellian model yacht or something," he said of the CR-90. "The Empire bans the purchasing of all larger vessels, specifically because they could be refurbished into warships."
"Like this one?" Ezra said and spun his chair around, doing the best to ignore the tension in the room between master and apprentice. "Because I gotta say. This yacht-"
"Blockade runner."
"The three of these things came in handy. Those TIEs didn't stand a chance," Ezra said and then returned his attention to the chair he was sitting in. Kanan sat in one too, head of the table, while he sat in the one next to him.
They wanted Kanan to go straight to the medical bay - and how nifty was that they were on a Rebel ship that had a medbay - but Kanan refused. Citing more important matters. Hera and he got in an argument, one of those whisper-arguments that people pretended you weren't having. But Kanan's stubbornness didn't waver.
Ezra Bridger, saving his master's life and relegated to an 'important matter.'
"We haven't joined them," Kanan ended up muttering. And then gave Ezra a keen look. "And they wouldn't have risked this many assets on a long shot rescue attempt on just anybody. They didn't come here to save us, they came here to save you. Because of that transmission you made. You're a symbol now. A rallying call. Like a flag a soldier would salute."
Ezra frowned, not liking being compared to a flag or any other object. And the idea of these people using him like that? Or perhaps they rescued them only to prevent the Empire from gloating over his death.
He was a mind divided. On the one hand, he wanted to think that the Rebellion had everyone's best interests at heart. On the other hand, there was Fulcrum - or Ahsoka, as it turned out. A kriffin' Jedi that wielded two lightsabers! But if she was calling the shots, did that mean she told Hera to stand them down?
'Ezra, there's a bigger mission you're not seeing,' Hera said. 'It can't be jeopardized for… one soldier.'
Sabine told him later that it wasn't Hera who described Kanan as just a soldier, but Fulcrum and the larger rebellion she represented. Other people like Senator Bail Organa she must mean. And if we hadn't done what we did, then Kanan would be on Mustafar right now. Where Jedi go to die. And the Grand Inquisitor would still be alive and after me.
Suddenly, the chair Ezra was in didn't feel as comfortable. And he was beginning to sense that not all of Kanan's current reservations were about what happened in the Reactor Room.
Kanan's teal-green eyes leveled with his. "Thank you for coming after me. You shouldn't have. But I'm glad you did. And for all of us on the Ghost? You're not some symbol. Your family. Never forget that."
Ezra felt the urge to gulp, and gulp big at Kanan's words, and fought the urge to stop the tears. But what the hell do you say to that?
"Yeah, well," Ezra said. "You would've done the same for me. You have done the same for me."
"Bit different. That was just a single Star Destroyer and ISB agent having a really bad day. But yeah. Yeah, we would have."
"I kind of want to check on Sabine and Skippy," Ezra said.
"Not yet," Kanan said and shook his head.
Ezra hit the back of his head against the chair's headrest. It was soft and comfy. He had no idea what material it was made of, but it probably cost more than everything in his tower on Lothal times, like a thousand.
He had only a moment with Sabine. Both to tell her how their chemistry tutoring actually had a real world effect and that while her miracle lived up to its namesake, Skippy was sacrificed. But she had seemed confident that she could get the lightsaber droid working again.
"Kanan-"
"Ezra-"
Both paused when they spoke at the same time. After the awkward moment passed, Kanan gestured for Ezra to go first.
"I know what you're going to say, and I don't want to talk about it."
"You don't have the slightest idea of what I'm going to say," Kanan argued, his tone losing all of its earlier warmth. Ezra reminded himself that no matter how ugly this gets, as Kanan had reminded him, they are family. Maybe a crazy family with its ups and downs, but still family. They'd go to hell and back for him.
"Yes, I do." Ezra said and narrowed his eyes on him. "You're worried about me and the Dark Side. Look around Kanan. The only Jedi Temple I've ever been to hides itself in the ground. And when we go on a mission, it's not to fight battledroids, but people, people serving an evil Empire. Sure, they look intimidating, but under all that white armor, their blood is still red and their hearts still beat."
"And you think I don't know that?" Kanan said.
"I think it's a lot easier to blast four stormtroopers from a bike than watching me kill one person with his helmet off."
"He was unarmed. Defenseless-"
"You don't know that," Ezra quickly interrupted. "Not for certain. He could've had a backup pistol stashed somewhere on him."
Kanan rolled his eyes and leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table.
"The Inquisitor prided himself on his skill with a lightsaber and his strength in the Force. He-"
Ezra slammed his palms on the table, startling Kanan. "Who cares? How many times has he almost killed us! It took the both of us to give me that shot, Kanan, and it was likely the only shot we were going to get. He knew how to find you. No fancy ship signature would hide you from him. Or did you forget about you and me bailing out into hyperspace in the Phantom?"
Kanan winced, but he didn't fold. "We're going in circles," he muttered, unable to refute just how dangerous their encounters with the Inquisitor had been. "It's the asteroid all over again."
Ezra slammed both fists down onto the table, hard. "I am not karking falling to the Dark Side! He wasn't just some soldier. He was a bloodhound with your scent! He was never going to stop! One who was able to take us both on several times! And the only way to beat him was to outsmart him. Which I did."
Kanan shook his head. "You should've taken him prisoner."
"And then what? We don't know how long those drugs in him would've lasted! Kriff's sake, do we even have a prison cell?"
"Damn it!" Kanan shouted and pounded his own fist on the table. "This isn't about him! This is about you!"
"What?" Ezra shouted. "My anger? Me tapping into the Dark Side on that asteroid? I remember it now, Kanan! I saved your life!"
Kanan got to his feet, looming over his apprentice.
"And how do you feel about killing a helpless prisoner in cold blood? 'Recoil?'"
Ezra got to his feet and met Kanan's hard glare of disapproval.
"I must've shot at him twenty times during that fight," Ezra said, and shook his head. "And when I squeezed the trigger the last time? You know what I felt? Not a karkin' difference. Other than that, I don't have to worry about dodging my own blaster bolts back at me."
"Umm," a new voice, an annoying mechanized voice, suddenly said. "I apologize for the intrusion, but my audioreceptors detected high levels of stress. Is everything all right in here?"
Ezra and Kanan both turned to the door to see that annoying golden protocol droid standing there. The same one from Garel.
"I told you to lock the door," Kanan said and took the offered moment to let out a breath.
"I thought I did," Ezra said and shook his head. "This fancy ship is all weird, with its doors and locks. I blast locks or pick them. I don't lock them!"
"Oh dear me! The conference table! Senator Organa had it transported from his offices all the way from Coruscant!" Threepio cried.
Ezra and Kanan had the decency to look embarrassed when they glanced down and saw that each had pounded their fists so hard against the table they had left small indentations on the prestigious piece of furniture.
Was Force-powered punching a thing?
"Tell the Senator our apologies. We'll pay for any damages," Kanan said with a shake of his head.
"Of course," the droid responded. "Though I doubt he'd accept any monetary reparations. This isn't the first time that table suffered similar physical damage."
"And we didn't mean to yell," Ezra said, though he was still flexing his fist. He was fighting the urge to hit something, and that droid there was actually beginning to look like a good enough target. Ezra shook his head to clear out such thoughts and held up a hand to Threepio. "Just shut up and turn down your audioreceptors instead of barging in."
"Oh you misunderstand? I drew the short straw as the expression goes."
Master and apprentice each groaned and facepalmed.
"How many overheard?" Kanan asked, dreading the answer.
"Oh, not that many."
"That's something," Ezra said.
"About twenty, I estimate," Threepio clarified.
The two Jedi groaned again, adding to Threepio's confusion. "Was it something I said?"
"Nope," Kanan said. "This was just… a conversation we should've had back on our own ship."
"Ah yes, the Ghost! What a marvelous addition to our growing Rebellion! Commander Sato was quite thrilled! Or I believe he was thrilled. Sometimes I struggle with human expressions."
Kanan frowned. "Who's Commander Sato?"
"I'm going to check on Skippy," Ezra said and ducked out of the conversation. Abandoning his Master to the mercies of the annoying protocol droid as he couldn't take anymore of this annoying droid.
"This isn't over," Kanan called after him.
"Tell that to the Grand Inquisitor," Ezra fired back and left the room.
"The Grand Inquisitor? Here! I thought he had perished aboard Grand Moff Tarkin's Star Destroyer!"
Kanan rolled his eyes and resisted the urge to blast this droid. But he'd need a blaster first.
"He's dead," Kanan said, his mind still on where to pick up a new blaster.
"Oh, thank the maker!" Threepio said. "One less Inquisitor to worry about."
It was as if someone had thrown a bucket of ice water over him.
"One less?" Kanan said.
"Why yes," Threepio said and tilted his head. "All in the Rebellion fear them! Well, except for Master Tano, that is."
Kanan lowered his head and sighed. He was hungry and still probably should get checked out by a medical droid. But if there were more Inquisitors? With Ezra's transmission and all the damage he and his team had done that day, and with the Grand Inquisitor gone, there was no question that these other Inquisitors would get tasked with hunting him and his apprentice, and by extension the rest of their family on the Ghost.
Master Tano was right. Things are different now, for him and his family.
"Where can I find Master Tano?" Kanan asked.
Ezra passed through the corridors of Phoenix Home like a man on a mission, only doing everything he could to delay that mission. He stopped briefly in the CR90's luxurious common room and saw a three way dejarik tournament happening between Chopper, Aresix, and Aretoo-Deetoo!
"Come on, kid!" Zeb had shouted excitedly as credits exchanged hands amongst Zeb and the rebels of Phoenix Squadron. "Chopper has finally met his match!"
Ezra had paused to at least catch a sight of what might be history in the making. It wasn't exactly two on one but rather Aretoo versus Chopper, with Aresix whispering advice to Aretoo. And it looked like Chopper was actually on the ropes. Would Chopper's record at last come to an end?
If so, Zeb and every other Spectre wouldn't let Chopper forget it when they played him in a game of dejarik. But after that
But Ezra ultimately begged out of it to go find a quiet corner near the back of the ship and its massive power generators for its massive engines. It wasn't really quiet, but it did offer him privacy.
He was tempted to do as he told Kanan that he'd check on Sabine and see Skippy's progress, but he was still too worked up. And what if she took Kanan's side when Ezra tried to explain it? He shook his head and sighed.
In the end, he just let go and let his mind drift. Tired of justifying his actions, Ezra focused on nothing at all.
'Anger in you,' the Voice had 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.'
Ezra sighed as recalled the words from that Voice in the Temple, not understanding why that of all things the mind would focus on. He tried not to think back on it but sometimes it was impossible, like just now with Kanan. What did Kanan expect to happen in that final boss fight with the Inquisitor? For him to fall off the ledge like some kids movie villain?
Life isn't a kid's movie, and Ezra closed his eyes and slumped down against the ship's generator.
But what would a Jedi have done? That Voice in the temple identified his anger and yeah, he was feeling pretty pissed off after all that! Even if he hadn't just fried Skippy with Sabine's miracle, what were they supposed to do? Chop the Inquisitor's limps off until he's sitting there like the one black knight in that holo-vid Zeb makes me watch? And then what? Carry him out to the TIE fighter with us? And then what happens when he regains the use of the Force?
And then he felt the Force presence standing in front of him. Seriously? What part of storming out doesn't Kanan understand?
"Kanan!" Ezra exclaimed. "I really don't want to talk to you right now!"
"Huh," Sabine said. "Guess it's a good thing I don't have a chin strap and walk around like I own the place."
Sabine!
"I'm sorry," Ezra said and turned to look at her. "Thought you were, well?"
Sabine shook her head. "Forget it. But while I am curious how you mixed me and a guy twice my size up, what's got you all grouchy?"
Tell her or don't tell her? Tell her which! It's a small ship. Even if she wasn't your best friend, she'll find out. Eventually! Then a thought hit Ezra.
"These CR90s," Ezra said. "Big ships. How'd you find me?"
Sabine just shrugged. "Had a hunch."
"Why not just use the comlink?" Ezra asked and held up his ever present wrist brace.
"I-" and then Sabine paused, tilting her head in thought. Then shook her head. "I used the track built into it."
"No you didn't," Ezra said carefully, knowing he was tiptoeing on dangerous grounds. "You said you had a hunch."
Sabine shook her head and crossed her arms across her chest. "Skippy is ready, albeit with a few changes. Do you want your lightsaber back or not?"
That caused Ezra to frown. "A Jedi always finishes his weapon-"
"And you will. Just all the parts are ready for final assembly and for you to do your Jedi voodoo thing." Sabine reached down to him with her hand. "Now you coming or what?"
Ezra took her hand, all too eager to get his lightsaber back after sacrificing it in the fight against the Grand Inquisitor.
As they scooted through the halls, Ezra reached out and through the Force connected with his kyber crystal. He smiled and began to lead the way.
"This is a Jedi thing, isn't it?" Sabine asked. "Know your way around a maze of big ship you've never been on before. Like that first time we rescued you. Navigated yourself through an entire Star Destroyer to the hangar through the air ducts."
"I can feel the crystal through the Force. Kind of like a game of warmer or colder."
"Is that how you were so certain of where Kanan was and that he was alive?" Sabine asked.
Her innocent question caused Ezra to trip on his own feet and fall face first onto the deck.
"Ezra!"
Tell her.
"I'm fine!" Ezra said to both her and a few alarmed crewmen that were loitering in the corridor. "Just a long day," Ezra rushed to explain.
"Falling asleep on your feet," one crewman said, and nodded. "I can relate."
"And I'm eager to be where I'm going!" Ezra exclaimed and once he was steady on his feet, broke out at a brisk pace. Sabine shook her head, but kept up with him.
"Ezra!" Sabine's voice called after him. "Wait! I forgot to tell you!"
But there was one thing on Ezra's mind, and with every step he took, the closer he got to his crystal. Eventually, he reached a small maintenance area of sorts, one that looked like it'd been transformed into an armory for work on blasters.
Only there was a person there, a black human male in his early 50s if Ezra had to guess. Though for a moment he thought it was Lando and his jaw tightened by reflex. Also, it didn't help that he was holding Ezra's purple kyber crystal in his hand!
"Hey!" Ezra said. "That's mine."
"Ezra!" Sabine whisper-hissed as she strolled in quickly after to defuse the situation.
The man with short graying hair looked up. He had been holding some sort of handheld microscope in his hand by appearance.
"Oh, you're the uh, Jedi then?" he said and immediately placed the kyber crystal back in amongst the rest of Ezra's collected parts for his lightsaber.
It was then that Ezra noted the strange man was wearing a white lab coat of some sort and had the decency to look embarrassed. Though judging by the looks Sabine was shooting at Ezra, maybe it should be Ezra who looked sheepish.
"Ezra!" Sabine said and nudged him with her elbow. It was only then that Ezra realized while his blaster pistol was still holstered, his hand was wrapped firmly around its grip. "Doctor DeGrasse, I'm so sorry!
"No! Please," the Dr. DeGrasse said and waved his empty hands in apology, albeit empty except for that handheld microscope. "I should have waited, but curiosity got the best of me."
"Back down, Ez!" Sabine shouted and placed herself between Ezra and the Doctor.
Realizing he wasn't about to get answers like this, Ezra lifted his own arms in surrender and shook his head.
"Boy, you are wired tight!" Dr. DeGrasse said after a long, tense moment. "But I suppose that's what happens when you piss off the Empire."
"Why were you looking at my crystal?" Ezra demanded.
"Ezra!" Sabine said and elbowed Ezra a second time. "Dr. Degrasse is on the frontier of astrophysics and perhaps the smartest person in the entire Rebellion, if not the galaxy!"
"The Empire has shown an enormous interest in kyber crystals," Dr. Degrasse said. "At great costs, estimated beyond the costs of fleets of Star Destroyers, they've secured entire shipments of crystals a thousand times the size of yours there. If the Empire's interested in something, part of my job is to investigate why they are so interested. As a part of my ongoing research I wanted to examine your kyber. Please Sabine, Mister Bridger, I apologize for not waiting."
"No apologies," Sabine said immediately. "If Ezra wasn't in such a rush, I could have explained your presence before he jumped to conclusions. Ezra, apologize."
"For what?" Ezra demanded. "Someone pawing my crystal? Do you know how special these are to a Jedi?"
"And it was an honest mistake," Sabine said and rolled her eyes in exasperation. "You are wired tight. Seriously!"
"Maybe if I could explain my research a bit more," Dr. DeGrasse said.
"You can try," Sabine mumbled and stepped aside to watch as Dr. DeGrasse slowly approach Ezra. Feeling a lack of her faith in him and his ability to understand dug at Ezra.
"Hey," Ezra said. "I may not be an astropsychic, but those syringes I found in Kanan's cell were key to beating the Inquisitor. I wouldn't have known that without our lessons in chemistry."
"So you're saying you're grateful for Sabine's tutoring of you, as it probably saved your lives-"
"And beat the Inquisitor!" Ezra reminded.
"But are still mad at her for not warning you that I was here and analyzing your crystal for my own research into what the Empire might be using them in such vast quantities? Likely as a weapon of some sort?"
Sabine snorted as Ezra's face grimaced like he had just taken a bite out of one of Kanan's famed space grilled Loth-chicken sandwiches.
"And Sabine," Dr. DeGrasse said, turning toward her. "I can't imagine what it must have been like for Mister Bridger at that moment. But those lessons paid off, as he probably only had seconds to recognize what those needles were for. To suppress Force abilities, if I fully understand?" At Ezra's nod, the Doctor continued. "To come so far in only a year is very impressive."
"This is complicated stuff," Sabine said.
"Doesn't mean I won't understand." Ezra said. "Astropsychics."
"Astrophysics, actually, young man." Dr. Degrasse corrected politely. "I never proclaimed to read people's minds."
"Ezra," Ezra said as he let the last of his aggression toward Dr. Degrasse leave his body.
"Okay, Ezra," Dr. Degrasse. "Our recorded history dates back 25,000 years. Yet it's filled with holes and myths that largely remain unconfirmed. Being on the frontier of astrophysics really deals a lot with statistics and guesswork. Take your lightsaber. Someone at some point theorized they could take a kyber crystal and turn it into a weapon that could cut through anything. And I bet it took that person a long time to figure it out. Meanwhile, everyone else around them probably thought they were nuts and even if they did figure it out, they'd end up cutting off their own arm!"
Ezra smiled, the memory of Kanan catching him with his lightsaber over a year ago playing through his head. "Okay," Ezra said. "So why kyber crystals?"
"Ilum, one of the biggest suppliers of kyber crystals in the galaxy, is completely blockaded by the Empire. And has been for fifteen years. At its core, what is a kyber crystal?"
Ezra sighed and shrugged. "It powers my lightsaber. Powers all lightsabers."
"It's a piece of your lightsaber," Dr. DeGrasse corrected. "More accurately to say it focuses the energy from your lightsaber's power cell. Or rather concentrate such power into a weapon."
"So what's your theory?" Ezra asked as he looked at the purple crystal in his hand.
"Well, for one, Sabine and I figured out a way for your lightsaber to do more than just emit a blade. And two, my theory, well, it's one of two things. Either the Empire is planning to use these crystals as weapons for individual soldiers or maybe even starfighters. Or the alternative."
"And what's the alternative?" Ezra asked.
Dr. Degrasse sighed. "Assemble the crystals in an arrangement that would maximize the energy of a fusion reactor to develop some sort of super weapon."
"Okay," Ezra said. "That does sound bad. But you don't have anything concrete though, right? I mean, how bad are we talking?"
"Well," Dr. Degrasse said. "Thanks to you for allowing me to study your crystal, I can begin to actually make some guesswork about such a weapon."
"Guesswork?" Ezra said.
"For now, yes," Dr. Degrasse said. "But not to toot my own horn, but a lot of my predictions have proven true. I only hope I'm not too late! I've put off all other research to focus my energies on this."
"Ezra," Sabine said, and he felt her tug on his arm. "Imagine a new starship weapon. A thousand times more powerful than a turbolaser. A single shot could destroy anything."
"Can a kyber crystal be used as a gun?" Ezra said.
Sabine and Dr. Degrasse traded looks. Ezra decided to wait it out, and it didn't take long. "Well," Dr. Degrasse said. "You'll probably notice a few extra components for your lightsaber this time around."
"I just want Skippy back," Ezra said. "And my lightsaber. I feel the goodness in both of you. You're not trying to deceive me. But it has been a long day for me."
"Skippy's fine," Sabine said. "I just need to borrow your wrist vambrace for a few hours. Give it another upgrade."
Ezra rubbed the temples of his head. "Okay, so Skippy will be based out of my vambrace and you did something to my lightsaber that had never been done before."
"Theoretically, you can switch between a lightsaber and a blaster." Dr. Degrasse said succinctly.
"Theoretically?" Ezra said. "And what good would that do if my opponent has a lightsaber of their own?"
The sound of his blaster running empty in the battle in the Reactor Room still filled Ezra with fear.
"Well, that's just it, Ezra." Sabine said and took the lead. "Lightsabers lock when they are in a clench during a duel. I've seen it a million times. Theoretically, this lightsaber-gun should fire a similar energy bolt, one that can't be deflected."
Ezra shook his head, a goofy smile on his face.
"In case you forgot? We took down the Inquisitor! No more lightsabers to worry about!."
Sabine suddenly became hesitant. "No one told you."
"Told me what?" Ezra asked as he felt a pit begin to form in his gut.
"There's more than one Inquisitor. Several, in fact," Dr. Degrasse said. "But don't let that get you down. If this works, you'll have an edge."
"Right," Ezra said slowly as his brain fought to process the information. In the end, he shoved it aside to deal with later. He reached out his hand and closed his eyes to concentrate.
One by one the pieces of his new lightsaber floated off the work table and began to piece themselves together.
Hera hummed as she worked on the Ghost as her lover ranted. Like all healthy couples, she knew when it was best to just let her significant other get it off his chest. Even when she necessarily agrees with him.
"Are you even listening?" Kanan said and Hera looked over her shoulder, past her lekku to see it seemed he had worn himself out. "This is serious and you're all focused on the new tech these other cells have to spare."
"I'll hear you," Hera said. "And this Phoenix Squadron? It not only saved our butts, but has four blockade runners and an entire squadron of A-Wings. So yeah, I hear you, but listen? Still waiting for you to get to the point. And our new friends are being very generous, sharing some tech upgrades the Ghost has needed for years."
"Yeah, well, when you have people who have large bank accounts," Kanan muttered.
"Everyone fights the Empire in their own way," Hera said. "And Alderaan has become a beacon of hope for a lot of refugees. Half the people we save end up there. Queen Organa is as much a rebel as we are."
Kanan scowled and Hera rolled her eyes and went back to working on the ship. She wanted to get this new system scrambler installed and checked out. If she were a gambler, she'd bet it all that the Empire had figured out a way by now to beat the Ghost's sensor scrambler. But with this upgrade to it they just might be able to get the upper hand again.
"The Inquisitor was lying there. No lightsaber. No Force ability. Completely defenseless."
Hera frowned. "No Force abilities?"
Kanan rolled his eyes. "In my cell, the Empire injected me with a chemical compound that theoretically suppressed Force powers. Ezra recognized the compound and grabbed a couple."
Hera smiled. "So all of those hours studying chemistry with Sabine paid off. Did they teach you those things at the Temple?"
"No," Kanan said. "We had a formal education up to a point. I was still learning the fundamentals when all that ended."
Hera sighed and set down her wrench. "You mean before the war happened. Babe? If you're asking me to pick a side, well as Captain I'm glad that Ezra did what he did. A Star Destroyer and the Inquisitor? I won't be losing sleep over it."
"Okay," Kanan said. She could tell he didn't like it but from a strategic point of view he understood. "And the non-Captain point of view?"
"Well my Jedi history is rusty at best, but for a thousand years of peace with the Jedi acting largely as investigators and peacekeepers. Then this war happens and instead of learning the basics of chemistry you and other kids your age are fighting for your lives. Not against living breathing people. But against endless waves of droids. You were soldiers but you're not exactly killing people."
"And then Order 66 happened and a whole lot of people died, what's your point?"
"You used a lightsaber."
"Of course."
"How many battledroids did you chop in half with that thing? One? Two?"
"Dozens." Kanan frowned.
"Yes. What did you feel when you destroyed a battledroid?"
Kanan's frown only deepened. "Feel? They're droids."
"And since you and I've gotten together. How many living breathing people covered from head to toe in white have you had to shoot?"
Kanan rolled his eyes. "None that ever held their hands up in surrender. And as I recall Captain, we do everything possible to keep casualties down."
"And was this the same? Ezra and Skippy sure did a lot to get this chance. I love you, Kanan. Despite the danger, I want to grow old with you. I want to see Ezra and Sabine grow old as well."
"Sure picked a strange profession."
"Shut up," Hera said with a laugh. "For what it's worth. I understand why you're worried. Ezra wasn't trained like you or even this new Ahsoka person."
"Master Tano," Kanan corrected, albeit with a gentle tone of voice.
"From what I could tell I think she prefers Ahsoka."
"I think I'll wait to hear that from her first," Kanan said, refusing to move on the issue.
"Anyway. Ezra was an orphan, his way of life was doing what you had to do to survive. And then you came along and showed him a different path."
A moment passed and Hera could make out the tinges of red coloring Kanan's cheeks.
"I think it was a bit of a group effort." He said at last.
Hera thought that over and how long it took for him to embrace his role as Ezra's teacher. "Well you came around, eventually," Hera said. "My point is you two come from different worlds and right now we're in a war not with battledroids but living breathing people and powerful beings that can break someone's neck with a snap of their fingers and laser swords that cut through anything. And the one Ezra killed had you locked in his sights no matter where you ran. Do you know how many sleepless nights I've had of him using the Force and just dropping a fleet on top of us out of hyperspace?"
Kanan frowned. No, he hadn't ever thought of how this would have affected the crew outside of him or Ezra being killed in a lightsaber duel with the Inquisitor.
"Let's go back to your example," Hera said. "Would Ezra shoot a stormtrooper on the ground, no blaster, with his hands up?"
"No," Kanan said immediately. "But if this war continues on long enough, I could see anyone losing the moral high ground and becoming dispassionate."
"Hence my strict only killing if necessary rule," Hera said and now it was her turn to sigh. "We're fighting for something important. And sometimes that means doing horrible things. Unimaginable things. What's important though is that we don't let that turn us into uncaring, unfeeling, machines ourselves."
Kanan nodded and Hera saw she had at last gotten through to him. But the whole Dark Side affinity that Ezra had. Kanan needed more than a pep talk, and while she would've shot the Inquisitor just how Ezra did she doesn't have the abilities and senses he does.
"Okay, time's up!" Hera announced and stepped away from her work to kiss Kanan softly on the cheek. "Go. Find Ahsoka and explain the fight and your worries about Ezra slipping."
"If she has the time," Kanan said and looked past Hera's shoulder to see what she was working on. "We should have a crew meeting. We definitely owe Phoenix Squadron but I don't know about sticking around to fight in a larger war."
Hera shook her head but nodded. This wasn't a decision left up to her and Kanan alone to make. Each of the Spectres had as much a say.
Until then, she was going to work on upgrading the Ghost's scramblers with the spare parts the fleet had lying around.
"Go find Ahsoka. For something so dangerous as losing a Padawan to the Dark Side - she'll make time."
Kallus stood in the center of what was once Tarkin's office, now appropriated by the mysterious but ultimately terrifying Lord Vader. Night had fallen and he could just make out the two moons in Lothal's sky. Vader too seemed to be distracted by this beautiful phenomenon. Why someone like him would find it interesting Kallus hadn't the slightest.
The only sound was Vader and his respirator mask. Never once had Kallus felt more fearful for his life. Still Vader's gaze was on the sky through the window, not on him.
Kallus cleared his throat. "Agent Kallus reporting, my Lord."
"Yes," Vader said at last. "I felt your presence since entering the complex. It is good you came straight here."
Kallus felt the slightest bit of pressure on his neck, as if someone were checking his pulse. But just as soon as he felt it the pressure was gone.
"In your reports you were thrown by Ezra Bridger and knocked unconscious. I did not realize one so young was so strong. And a capable fighter to best an Agent with your record."
"He didn't actually use his arms to push me," Kallus said, recalling that day with the damned disruptors. "Though I do not presume to understand it, I believe he used the Force."
"You understand more than you realize, Agent. Are you certain it was the boy?"
"His Master, Kanan Jarrus, had been hurt. There could've been no other. To be certain I interviewed the stormtroopers who were still conscious. They confirmed that it was the boy."
"Yes. The Grand Inquisitor noted you were thorough in your work. One of the few competent Imperials stationed here on this world. A view not shared by Grand Moff Tarkin, but then that is to be expected."
"My Lord," Kallus said. "I do not wish to interfere between the importance of your work, or Grand Moff Tarkin's."
Silence again, except for the steady promise of death that was Vader's respirator. Still the Dark Lord had kept his gaze on the moons in the sky. Not once deigning to turn and look upon the ISB Agent.
"Grand Moff Tarkin underestimated the danger of the rebel threat. And now he has not only lost his ship but most dangerous of all, allowed for Bridger's message to transmit. His arrogance blinded him."
"I - uh - can't think of a safe response to that, my Lord," Kallus stuttered out.
"Then you are wiser than most."
"Uh, thank you, my Lord."
"There is one thing not in your file, Agent." Vader said. "I do not question your loyalty. But why do you believe in the Empire?"
"I believe in order in the galaxy, my Lord. By its end the Republic had become stagnant and weak. It would waste time with committees instead of taking action when needed. This galaxy needs a central government with a military strong enough to respond to threats, threats like these rebels."
Kallus realized just how much he had said and shook his head. "Apologies, my Lord. I did not mean to preach."
"No, Agent. I asked a question and you were honest. That is all that matters."
"My Lord?" Agent Kallus said, lost and unsure of what to say.
"Because of Tarkin's failure and Bridger's transmission, you yourself can see now how the Rebellion is spreading."
"The Lothal cell is smaller than most of the others," Kallus said. "But they are the most prolific."
"I too believe in the Empire," Vader said and at last turned from the window and placed his gaze on Kallus. "And I will take any means necessary to defend it. I understand you were at Lasan?"
How would Kallus ever forget as he remembered the part he played? The blood on his hands. Still with Darth Vader looking directly at you there was only one response. Nod your head, and so Kallus nodded.
"Good. Then you understand."
"Yes, my Lord." Kallus said, his tone filled with conviction for what must be done. For the good of the Empire. "Yes I do."
Hera had forewarned Ahsoka that despite both males' assurances that they would be on their best behavior, this wasn't something either was to let go of. That Ezra had stormed out of the initial debrief between master and apprentice. In the same room the three had now gathered in.
Still Ahsoka went into this meeting with a feeling of optimism, a feeling that was slowly being chipped away at.
"Yeah?" Ezra said and narrowed his eyes at Kanan. "Well what were you thinking? Did you just grab both our lightsabers and see what happens when you try dual wielding? You're the one always going on about how his Form II Makashi was designed to duel other lightsabers. What would you have done when he beat you and then came after me to finish the job?"
Ahsoka's eyes widened. This was news to her.
"Kanan?" She asked.
"A mistake I acknowledge and won't repeat," Kanan vowed.
Ezra though, well he didn't drop the glare that had formed when Kanan brought up how Ezra had killed in cold blood. And what did he expect of Ahsoka? To be an arbiter of some sort?.
She heard Threepio's report from the conference room but thought the anxious droid had been exaggerating. Now Ahsoka wished that she had insisted on giving them a day to think things over.
Especially since Ezra was making valid points. How did she feel when she took the head off a droid with his lightsaber? Nothing. What did she feel when she killed stormtroopers who were about to open fire on her and innocent bystanders? What was it Ezra had said?
Recoil?
"Look," Ezra said. "You want to know if I feel bad about what I did. And to some extent, yes I do. But not the Inquisitor."
Neither expected to hear that admission from his apprentice. "Go on," Kanan said.
"Stygeon. The asteroid belt. And just now. The test at that Jedi Temple on Lothal? It showed me all sorts of my worst fears. At the center of it all though was the Inquisitor."
Ezra paused, and Ahsoka could see that this wasn't easy for Ezra. She thought about excusing herself. They had only just met, but Ezra pushed on.
"I was helpless. You were fighting him, trying to protect me, but he was trained to fight people wielding lightsabers. We're not. After I watched you die he made me watch the others."
Oh no, Ahsoka thought. "Ezra you don't have to-"
"Zeb first. Then Hera." Ezra gritted his teeth. "I still have nightmares of Sabine calling me to save her, because who else was there? And then seeing their bodies lying there with him standing over them, smiling that smile of his at me."
"But you passed your test," Kanan said.
"Yup," Ezra said. "Still it's not like something you just forget. The Temple picked out my worst fears, and he was at the center of them all, killing my family. I couldn't do anything to save my mom and dad - you think when I finally had the chance to save my new family I'd let a chance like that slip by? Remind me who the Jedi is here?"
Kanan sighed and leaned back. In his chair, at this seeming impasse with his apprentice. Ahsoka though, she felt different. She didn't know what Kanan's experience was like in the temple. He was only a Padawan when Order 66 happened. Still she had learned long ago that doing bad things for the right reasons was a part of their life.
Still she had her limits, unlike others in "the fight" she'd rather not think about.
"You never told me about your nightmares," Kanan said in a not so subtle attempt to restart their conversation.
"The Temple's illusions were pretty vivid. And they all were killed on the Ghost. My home. So it's not like I can just avoid the common room."
Kanan nodded, his understanding growing of just how uncaring Ezra felt about killing the Inquisitor in cold blood. But that didn't make it okay.
Ahsoka on the other hand was being swayed more and more toward Ezra's logic. She was no Jedi after all, despite whatever Kanan may think of her. She thought of her own Master and how many times together they had broken the rules or did something bad for the greater good. And taking out the Grand Inquisitor, Dark Side leaning as it may be, was for the greater good.
"You're still not convinced." Ezra said and frowned. "When do you fight stormtroopers? How much of a chance do you think they have against us with the ability to throw them off a cliff or kriffin' slice their heads off? Does that seem fair and just to you?"
"That's different," Kanan said. "The stormtroopers know what they've signed up for."
"And so did the Inquisitor. Only difference with him was he wasn't a battledroid off the assembly line or covered from head to toe in white." Ezra shoved the chair back and got to his feet. "I saw him kill my family. My space dad. My space bro. My space mom. My space… Sabine," Ezra said and gestured uselessly.
Ezra saw Kanan's argument of that still not making it right and shook his head. "Just save it." Ezra said. "Even if I didn't have that vision in the Temple? Some threats are just too dangerous to be kept alive. Forget the Ghost, Kanan. Look around you." Ezra said and waved his arm at the grandiose interior of the blockade runner. A civilian luxury liner repurposed to fight the Empire.
"Without you or me or Ahsoka, how long do you expect the crew here to last against the Inquisitor?"
Kanan didn't have a response. The threats like the Inquisitor being unleashed against the same rebel cell that came to their rescue hadn't occurred to him. The outcome of such an event went without saying. The narrow hallways with very little cover. A few would make it to the escape pods, but otherwise there would only ever be one result. A slaughter, a nightmare. Just like the ones that had haunted his apprentice since the Temple.
"Recoil," Kanan said in a mutter just loud enough for Ezra to hear him.
"It's not like what I felt on the asteroid. The coldness. It's nothing personal."
Kanan looked at Ezra and arched an eyebrow. Daring him to claim that Ezra didn't take the smallest of joys of finally being able to kill the Inquisitor.
"Okay so maybe it was a bit personal," Ezra said with a roll of the eyes. "But I didn't torture the guy. Three quick blaster bolts."
"He was still helpless." Kanan said.
Ezra laughed and glanced at the ceiling. "No. He was just outsmarted." Then Ezra looked at Ahsoka. "Are we done here? I want to check on the progress with Skippy and his new design."
"You still didn't tell me who you did feel bad for," Kanan said as Ezra pushed away from the table and got up the chair.
"Thousands of people were on that Star Destroyer," Ezra said and held out his hands in a fruitless gesture. "It was run by a kriffin' psychopath so you can only expect so much from his crew. But I'm sure they weren't all bad."
Ahsoka and Kanan each took a moment to reflect on this. Not that the thought hadn't occurred to them. People joined the Empire for all different reasons, that didn't mean they were evil and deserving of death. Still to hear such wisdom from Ezra, someone so young, it was surprising.
Ezra shook his head. "My plan to kill the Inquisitor meant a good bunch of them had to die too."
"It won't be the last Star Destroyer." Ahsoka said, her voice solemn.
"Nope," Ezra said and strode determinedly for the door. "But this is a war. Now more than ever. That's something people like us will have to accept."
At Ezra's departure Ahsoka watched as Kanan leaned back in his chair and ran his fingers over his face, at a loss of what to do. Ahsoka knew his biggest concern was allayed when Ezra spoke of how he felt bad for the crew on that Star Destroyer.
How many cooks or janitors were there on that thing when it went down? How many doctors? How many people in bacta tanks, completely unaware of what was happening? Did they all drown when the ship lost power with Sabine's initial EMP attack?
And how many of these non-combat Imperials made it to an escape pod? And If they did then what, some stormtrooper probably shoved them out of the way to take their spot. But was their sacrifice worth it if it meant the destruction of an entire Star Destroyer? Armor vehicles and TIEs included?
Absolutely.
"Your Padawan," Ahsoka said. "He's come a long way in such a short amount of time. And the purple lightsaber. That is surprising."
But Kanan just sighed.
"He's fifteen years old and stubborn as a blurgg." Kanan said and then sighed. "And he's right. Only in the holo-vids for kids do the bad guys fall to their deaths. Defeating the Grand Inquisitor was always going to be disabling him somehow and then… executing him in cold blood. But no matter the reasons, killing someone like that was bordering dangerously close to the Dark Side. And Ezra had more than his fair share of Dark Side moments this past year."
"Hey," Ahsoka said. "I know I'm missing a bunch of details. You just pulled me into this. I don't know Ezra well enough to comment about any anger problems. But I know this much. He is defiant and will blaze his own path. Things have changed since the fall of the Jedi, but even if Ezra has these anger issues that doesn't necessarily mean falling to the Dark Side. And so long as Ezra knows that what he did was for the Greater Good then my advice is to just let it go."
Besides it was becoming more apparent that anger issues or not, Ezra was not your normal Padawan. Ahsoka's curiosity got the better of her. "Ezra's crystal? Was it given to him upon the completion of his trials?"
"Yes," Kanan said, his voice filled with frustration. "I heard of Mace Windu, my Master's Master, had a similar lightsaber crystal as Ezra's and while I understand the meaning of blue and green and other colors. But what does purple mean? And Ezra's affinity to the Dark Side? It all has to mean something."
"Kanan?" Ahsoka said gently. "A person could go crazy wondering these things, go and rest. All of you."
Kanan nodded and got to his feet to leave the conference room, then shook his head and began to chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Ahsoka asked.
"I'm sorry. It's just - Ahsoka Tano," Kanan said. "The Padawan who was offered Knighthood, but walked away instead."
"Amongst several other stories I'm sure," Ahsoka said. "Now please, get some rest. The Empire doesn't share its schedule with us so we never truly know when to strike."
"Us," Kanan's voice echoed. He shook his head. "I haven't had a drink in a long time but after today?"
Kanan left the conference room and left Ahsoka to herself, though she knew that solitude could change at any moment. Her life as Fulcrum kept her busy. Still she leaned back and considered the dilemma.
She was not one to stick her nose in other's business, especially when it came to a master and apprentice. But Ezra, sad as it is, was right. This was a war. And it didn't seem like Kanan was quite on board yet with what the Rebellion was trying to do.
But Ahsoka was confident that in time things would work things out, one way or another. And like it or not Kanan's apprentice was a symbol. He will be hunted, and he needs to be ready for those who will come after him.
Ahsoka rolled her eyes at the thought of Kanan attempting dual wielding for the first time in the grand showdown with that Inquisitor? What in the galaxy was he thinking?
Back in his cabin on the Ghost, Ezra picked up his new lightsaber and examined it. It was so similar but different. But if Sabine and Dr. DeGrasse were right, it could be key in a fight.
"That went well," a familiar voice said. Only instead of his lightsaber talking to him, the voice came from the upgraded wrist brace that Sabine had fixed up for him.
"Yup," Ezra said to Skippy. "What do you think?"
"I calculate the longer you postpone revealing your Force bond with Sabine the worse it will be. She will need training, as will you given your status as a symbol. Fortunately you and Kanan found someone to assist you in your studies further, studies that should now include Sabine."
"I can't sleep," Ezra said. "Now with all these thoughts in my head."
"Then may I suggest checking your holonet-mail."
With a shrug Ezra brought up his unread messages from a new holodisplay in his wrist bracer. To his delight he saw one from Kashyyyk!
"It's from Kitwarr," Ezra said, recalling the child wookie he had first met over a year ago. "He's been asking for me. Wanting to know how I am. And he'd heard the broadcast too! Even on Kashyyyk!"
"Might I suggest using this as an opportunity to temper your excitement and remember your new role as a symbol. Also keep in mind the encryptions his message required to reach you and not be intercepted by Imperial Intelligence. Ezra?"
"Hey Kitwarr," Ezra said as he began to type out his response. "So great to hear from you! It's been a year but for me it feels like yesterday!"
Skippy sighed, knowing nothing would stop Ezra from talking to his friend he had made so long ago. Still, it felt good to be back. And he enjoyed Ezra telling him his brief sacrifice was one of the most badass things he had ever seen.
His new "body" existed primarily on Ezra's wrist brace. But he was still linked to Ezra's lightsaber and could provide feedback during training as well tactical analysis while on a mission. There was thirdly a small attachment on Ezra's belt that could be used to load new discs.
Skippy hoped they came across some more lightsaber techniques. From what it sounded like, they were going to need them.
A/N: Hey all, Saranac here. While Hondo is busy with his new job at the Treasury (shoutout to MrPig from Star Wars Fanfiction for that plot bunny). Also, officially reached the 200k word mark with this story (on AO3, on FFN it's well beyond that mark). Bit of a fist bump to myself for the once a week thing since October. Still going strong! Also another shoutout to all my commenters. So much great feedback and it's encouraging to get, especially in a niche fandom like Rebels.
Speaking of YES. We are done with Season 1 which means we're getting us more so into where a lot of other Sabezra fanfics tend to take off. And this will be the season that they at least try to have a relationship. I say try because I make no promises it will work the first time around. Relationships that last take a lot of hard work and patience and understanding of boundaries and some growing up as well. And I think I've established that this isn't the fic where the badguy just falls off the ledge and he dies. This is going to end with them together but my story will account for all of Rebels and beyond. Just remember no matter how bad it may seem at times, in present time Ezra and Sabine are happily married and have Mira. That's the Happily Ever After you can count on.
This chapter we have the return of the gunblade while at the same time keeping Skippy, best of both worlds! We also have the introduction of Doctor DeGrasse. For those of you out there who are grinning and trying not to snicker, yes of course I'm basing it off who you think it is! And you should see his interview with Lawrence Fishburn when they take turns trying to outdo the other with Darth Vader impressions in honor of the late James Earl Jones!
That aside, Vader the next two episodes (at least). I tested writing him this chapter with his brief meeting with Kallus and it was thrilling but also daunting. The face of the entire Star Wars franchise, it's something I'm treating with the utmost respect. But this is my first time writing Star Wars fanfiction so expect some potential facepalms.
Ahsoka it was the same thing. I didn't do a lot with her this chapter other than do some perspective through her eyes. I can't wait to write more of her.
I'm hesitant to change too much because of how well done these two episodes are in canon and also they catapult the Ghost crew off of Lothal to operate elsewhere in the galaxy. So that plot point still needs to happen in some fashion. In regards to Vader. Either he's a central part of the story like in the Originals, or if he's just there briefly then less is more. In Rebels he has Kallus do most of the work and then is just there being Vader at the finish. Same thing at the finale of S2.
Anyway I think I've rambled on enough, next week you'll get Hondo back. Oh and I will say this out there for all Sabezra shippers. Blood Sisters in S2 (with Ketsu) is the last episode in canon we see Ezra lamely try to charm and flirt with Sabine. So if you're out there toying with an idea of when does Ezra stop acting like that? That's when.
I'm out and looking forward to writing some big upcoming divergences in canon. How does one actually get out of the friendzone IRL as well as Star Wars? This is the season I've been waiting for. Thank you for reading and feedback, and just all the best.