A Rebel's Tale by Hondo Ohnaka

by Saranac

"Pretty gutsy move kid!" And with a blaster pointed at him! Such a romantic introduction! It brings tears to Uncle Hondo's eyes. A Lothalite street rat turned Jedi ending up with a Mandalorian princess in exile? Fighting side by side in a war to free a galaxy! It sells itself! So much profit! Now sit back and enjoy the TRUE STORY of Ezra Bridger! (Ezra/Sabine and Kanan/Hera)

7. Chapter 7: Droids In Distress

Guess who? No really! Guess who! That's right, your eyes do not deceive! It is I, Uncle Hondo welcoming you to the next chapter of A Rebel's Tale. Oh and what a chapter it is. Uncle Hondo did so much research for this one, and it is a bit of a long chapter to read. But Hondo understands. How much did the show get right? How much different is the true account? And most importantly: 'Hondo! We miss you! Please! When will you appear in the real account?' Hondo understands, but all good things in time my friends. For now! It is the time for the Lasat Punch! If Hondo was in charge of naming the chapters this is what he would call it. Anyhow…

Droids In Distress

"I am See-Threepio and this is my counterpart, Artoo-Detoo…"

"I don't have a shot!" Kanan's voice came over the Ghost's intercom. Still the sound of a few courtesy blasts from the Ghost's dorsal laser cannon did fill Ezra with some hope. That hope was questionable when the Rebel ship rocked from the continuous laser fire hitting the Ghost from all angles. Or rather the TIE's L-s1 laser cannon, as Sabine had him memorize.

Well try to memorize. Sabine handed him a detailed holo of Imperial ships and, if needed, how to fly them. Ezra didn't want to disappoint her and he did enjoy spending all this time with her but he really didn't see the point. He was here to be a Jedi. Move stuff with his mind and stab at things with a laser sword. Still as a gunner he supposed it made sense to understand who was going to be shooting back at him and with what.

The TIEs had a lot of firepower for such a small fighter, and it drew that power from its ion engine. Ezra had no idea what an ion was but as he understood it was the same engine that gave the TIE fighter's their speed.

'They pack a lot of firepower. That's the downside. The upside is they trade that firepower over no shielding and the L-s1's are so powerful they eventually overheat. Upsides right?'

Yeah, Ezra thought as another barrage hammered the Ghost's shields. Because 99% of whomever the TIEs go up against won't have guns to shoot back with. And there will be one less ship if they don't get out of here, fast!

There were too many to hold off alone, Ezra thought as he peered at scope from the cockpit's sensor readout. Or Kanan's chair as he had come to think of it.

"Chopper," Hera said. "Do you have the coordinates?"

"Bee, whamp, whomp, whump!"

"What did he say?" Zeb asked as he held on for dear life in his seat. Likewise for Sabine sitting in her chair next to him.

Ezra could just imagine what Chopper said. Probably something like: What do you think I am a slimey meatbag?

Another volley of cannon fire racketed the Ghost, but Hera was smiling.

"He said, 'Hello, hyperspace,'" Hera said.

"That's not what he said," Zeb muttered.

But Hera punched the lever and stars became lines as the Ghost made the jump into hyperspace, leaving the Imperials behind. Ezra and the others breathed a sigh of relief, but it only lasted so long. The job was officially botched.

Everyone was silent.

A few moments later the door to the cockpit made its telltale swoosh as it opened, Kanan standing on the side as the Jedi rejoined the crew in the cockpit. He was looking awfully satisfied with them. Too satisfied, Ezra thought. Either the Imperials caught a lucky break or they knew we were going after that Star Destroyer.

Probably the latter as not all would be eager to do another ISD job so soon. Though Ezra briefly wondered who was running the hunt now. With Agent Kallus falling to his death on Kessel, Ezra figured there were no more competent Imps in the sector. But with the way things were going that clearly wasn't the case.

All eyes turn to look at Kanan except for Chopper and Hera. The first didn't have eyes and Hera, well. And all once the crew began speaking and gesturing wildly with their hands and arms.

"Told you we'd get away," Kanan announced.

"With the shipment," Sabine said, annoyed. "You said we'd get away with the shipment."

Kanan held his hands out defensively but it didn't help out their Wiseass Fearless Leader any. Not even with Hera when she addressed him."Kanan we're low on everything," Hera said.

"Food," Ezra said.

"Explosives." Sabine said.

Hera folded her arms over her chest but her voice lost its edge and became cordial. "Fuel. We need to make some money or we might as well put the Ghost in storage."

Silence again and Ezra wondered if that was something they would actually do.

Kanan glanced down, made a decision, and then looked back at the others. Determination on his face.

"There's always Vizago's job," he said.

"So we're arms dealers again?" Zeb said, not liking it one bit.

"Mm, more like arms redistributors," Kanan tried to explain it away. Ezra felt a brief kick to the back of the chair and he saw Sabine eyeing him with an eyebrow raised in expectation.

Ezra rolled his eyes. No way did he ever sound anything like that.

"Come on," Zeb said, trying his best to reason on the very touchy subject. "We don't even know what kind of weapons we're talking about here."

Touchy subject or not Ezra felt his empty stomach grumble. They'd been on rations for days now. "Hey, if it puts food on the table and frees up some time for, oh, I don't know, Jedi training, " Ezra said while stressing the last part. "Them I'm in."

Kanan strutted forward and affectionately whacked Ezra on the head for his attitude. Then the man looked over at Hera.

"You game?" Kanan asked.

Hera had already decided but was curious, and a little flirty. Near death escapes can cause that Ezra had noticed.

"Say I am." She said, "What then?"

Kanan put on some more that charm Sabine griped about whenever he tried to get Hera to see things his way. Though in this case Ezra didn't mind it one bit, and neither did Sabine if he was reading her expression right.

"I already know the mission." Kanan said. "Let's head to the spaceport. Sabine, how's your Aqualish?"

"Aqua-what?" Ezra asked, his face drawing up like he had tasted something sour.

"Aqualish." Sabine said in clear pronunciation for Ezra's sake. "They're a species native to Ando. They had these round, black eyes and large tusks." She looked at Kanan suspiciously. "It's fine. Just don't ask me to speak it."

Kanan smiled, a plan taking shape in his head.

"Aqua-leesh?" Ezra said, the Lotha-rat trying the word out again.

Sabine smiled in amusement. "No, not leesh. Ish. Aqualish."

Hera smiled at them both and then looked at Kanan. "Care to share with the rest of us?"

Kanan looked at Sabine. "Think you can wing it at least?"

Sabine sighed and flopped her head back in her seat. She didn't look uncertain or doubtful, but annoyed. Not that Ezra noticed, he had looked forward. His brow determined to get the wording correct.

After a further moment of consideration Sabine got out of her chair and made her way after, pushing past Kanan. "Should have some old holos lying around," she said. "I'll be brushing up. Come find me when you have the rest of the plan figured out."

"Aqua… Lish! Aqualish! Like delish!" Ezra said and looked around only to see an empty chair behind him. Sabine had left. "Oh," he said, disappointed by her absence.

Hera just chuckled.

---

Lothal, Capital City Spaceport

The Spaceport's PA system had itself a male announcer speaking in basic as it called out the departures and arrivals.

"Now boarding Star-Commuter Shuttle ST-45 bound for Garel."

The public transportation shuttle was piloted by a droid of some kind. Boarding the shuttle first was a tall Ithorian then Sabine, Zeb, a woman with orange hair, a green Rodian, followed by Ezra walking alongside Chopper with another man hurrying to catch up.

Zeb and Sabine shared a bench seat near the front while the Ithorian and green Rodian who took opposite seats near the back. The woman found a place for herself next to a window.

Meanwhile Chopper makes his presence known by zipping past Ezra, nearly knocking him over. Zeb draped his left arm over the bench and stared at Chopper.

Chopper beeps something menacingly.

"How rude," Zeb grumbled at the droid.

Ezra thumped Chopper, for what good it did, and then took the bench seat in the middle of the shuttle as more people continued to file in with the man taking a seat in the back near the Ithorian and Rodian. More people board the shuttle, this time a familiar looking blonde haired woman dressed in a soft blue tunic with the air of professionalism in her step.

It's Minister Maketh Tua along with male Aqualish weapons manufacturer, Amda Wabo.

"This way Mister Wabo," Minister Tua said as she guided him.

The team had found their marks. Sabine kept her eyes on Tua while Zeb glanced back at Ezra with a sly smile but Ezra kept his eyes forward and focused on the marks.
Tua led Amda Wabo to the seat bench in front of Zeb and Sabine. "We have seats in the front."

Wabo spoke up, speaking in Aqualish. Something the Minister didn't understand in the slightest.

So far so good.

Tua sighed and looked around in frustration. "Where is that translator?" She demanded in indignation.

It was then the brightest gleaming (golden?) protocol droid Sabine had ever seen appeared. It was followed by an older modeled but well maintained looking blue and white astromech boarded the shuttle. Weird colors for Imperial droids.

"Coming, Minister," the protocol droid said, oblivious to the lady's frustration. "Come along, Artoo."

The blue and white astromech R2 beeped back in response. An amusing little guy.

R2 and the protocol droid took their spots next to Tua at the front of the shuttle while a green protocol droid entered but headed to the very back of the shuttle.
" Final call for Star-Commuter Shuttle ST-45, bound for Garel."

At the very last moment Kanan rushed aboard the shuttle with the door closing a second behind. Confidently he walked to the back and took the seat bench behind Ezra, who at this point was dealing with an irate Chopper that remained relentless in his whacking of Ezra with his arm manipulators.

In a courteous tone the pilot droid swiveled around in its chair at the front of the shuttle and addressed the passengers. "Sentients, please prepare for takeoff."
The Pilot activated its onboard repulsors and the shuttle lifted off, leaving the spaceport. It then engaged its sublight engines as it climbed out of Capital City and away from Lothal. Not long after it reached its hyperspace lane and vanished into hyperspace.

Back in the shuttle Chopper had not moved and continued to poke at Ezra. Ezra had his arms crossed and his legs kicked up on the seat bench in front of him. He was trying his best to ignore the droid as it continued to chirp and poke at his shoulder.

Wabo spoke up in his native Aqualish, unable to speak in Basic. The Imperial protocol droid translated.

Listening to the droid drone on Sabine didn't think she had ever heard a more annoying voice.

"Amda Wabo is most honored you are joining him on Garel, Minister Tua. And, uh, if I might add a personal note-"

"Will you cut it out!" Ezra yelled at Chopper, loud enough for everyone to hear.

In the middle of the shuttle Ezra was up and out of his seat with his hands raised, one clutching a seat and the other shoving back on Chopper's dome head.
"You have plenty of room! Stop crowding me."

Chopper raised its shock attachment and began its retaliation, shocking Ezra, and sent the boy toppling backward onto the floor beneath the seat bench. Sabine barely caught herself from laughter at the sight.

"Ow!" Ezra yelped.

Kanan got to his feet and leaned over the top of Ezra's seat bench. He glared.

"Kid! How 'bout you get that rust bucket under control?"

Chopper let out a string of new angry warbles and waved his arms and shock attachment at Kanan threateningly. Kanan jumped backwards, back on his bench to stay away and not get shocked like Ezra. Ezra meanwhile picked himself up and then climbed up on his bench and stood, facing Kanan.

They were naturals.

"Mind your own business!" Ezra shot back.

Chopper then shocked Ezra again and chirped out more curses. Ezra cried out and fell to his seat, glaring at the out of control astromech droid. It was then Kanan decided to take matters into his own hands and stood from his seat and looked forward to the front of the shuttle.

"Hey, Pilot. Isn't there some rule against droids in the passenger area?"

The Pilot droid sighed and looked at Ezra. "I am sorry, Sir. Your astromech must proceed to the back of the craft."

Not that Ezra would be opposed to having Chopper in the back, but the kid wasn't about to let anyone push him over that easily. "Hey, if my astromech's banished, then those two astromechs are banished too."

It was all Sabine could do to keep from bursting out in laughter. How much acting exactly was happening back there between Ezra, Chopper, and Kanan? While she kept up a polite smile her eyes mischievously looked from the boys in the back and to the Minister in the seat directly in front of her.

The golden protocol droid was horrified. "Astromech? Me?" He scoffed. "I have never been so insulted. I'll have you know that I am a protocol droid…"
Minister Tua facepalms half in embarrassment and half in a steadily growing annoyance with this blasted protocol droid.

"...fluent in over six million forms-"

Tua pointed at her two droids. "Pilot, these two droids are with me and I am on Imperial business."

"Sorry, ma'am," the pilot droid responded, trying to placate the Government Official. "But these are Imperial regulations."

Sabine nearly died as the pilot droid suavely lowered its purple tinted visor over its blue eyes and then returned its attention to piloting the shuttle. Talk about a burn.
"But, Minister-" the protocol droid protested.

"I can't risk an incident spoiling these negotiations." She looked at the protocol droid sternly. "Go!"

Properly chastised the protocol droid and the R2 astromech begin to make their way to the back.

"Oh, this is so humiliating." the protocol droid wailed.

Sabine saw Zeb turn and smile at her.

"Trust an astromech to ruin everything," the protocol droid said.

As the duo moved past Ezra, Sabine thought she overheard some chatter from R2 but couldn't make it out. But the protocol droid was only too happy to assist.
"Secret mission. What secret mission?"

Wabo then spoke up in his Aqualish. After spending some time with her old language holos Sabine understood it perfectly, which was more than could be said for the now disgruntled Minitster Tua.

Still Tua had put on her most apologetic face. "I'm sorry, Mister Wabo. I-I don't understand you."

Sabine smirked proudly. It was time to shine.

Zeb leaned forward and placed his hand on the seat bench. "Hello. Excuse me. I couldn't help noticing your predicament." He pauses to make sure he had both Tua's and Wabo's undivided attention. "If it's of any help, my ward here is quite fluent."

Sabine took her cue, with a flair of the dramatic. "Oh, I would never presume." She then looked thoughtful. "Though it would be good practice for my Level Five exams at the Imperial academy." Then, as if only just realizing she had spoken aloud Sabine went back to the dramatic and waved her hands in embarrassment. "No, no. But I couldn't."

The look in Minister Tua's said it all.

"You're a Level Five academy student?" She chuckled and her voice became wistful. "I was too, once upon a time." Tua turned away and looked upward, dreamily, and lost in the memories of her younger days.

Sabine elbowed Zeb, the smirk back on her face. Hook. Line. And sinker.

Ezra tilted his head curiously, having been listening just as intently to Sabine. What was a level five academy student, he wondered.

Now in the back of the shuttle the golden protocol droid looked at R2 for help. "That young creature can't possibly take the place of a fully programmed protocol droid such as I." He scoffed. "The odds of our mission becoming a complete debacle are-"

Not able to take any more of it, R2 slams his chassis into the golden protocol's legs and told him to shush. The mission was already becoming overly complicated.
"Don't you shush me!" he protested. "It hardly matters to you what they're saying."

Not about to miss out on some droid on droid violence, Chopper excitedly wheeled himself around R2 and squared off against his blue and white opponent. With a wild whop Chopper slammed his chassis into R2 sending the other astromech against the rear bulkhead.

Mistakenly thinking that Chopper had come to his defense, the protocol droid was pleased. "Well, thank you." He then patted Chopper affectionately on his orange dome. "There. You see, Artoo? Here is an astromech who understands etiquette."

R2 shook his own dome and chirped angrily. Without missing a beat Chopper whortled back in kind.

"You could learn a lot from this old C1-10P." the protocol droid declared.

R2 sighed and gave out a long beep. Whatever it was, the droid's mission had just become a lot more complicated.

Meanwhile at the front of the shuttle Minister Tua was leaning back in her seat and smiling happily at Sabine who waited on her eagerly.

"Now, please ask Mister Wabo where the shipment is being held."

Sabine nodded and cleared her throat. She was so going to make Kanan pay for this later. "Ruff-quin-robbit?"

Wabo smiled appreciatively and replied. "Ah-phoobey-do."

Bay Seven.

Sabine shifted her eyes from Wabo to Tua. "He said Bay 17," and smiled as widely and brightly as possible.

The pilot droid interrupted Sabine's flow and itself backward to wave its manipulator at the passengers. "Sentients, we are approaching Garel. Please prepare for landing."

Silently Sabine sighed in relief. It was always a rush to pull a con, especially over someone as insufferable as this Minister Tua. But all this high society politeness osik? Thank the Manda she had gotten away from all that.

As the shuttle exited hyperspace its passengers were rewarded with the sight of a planet with a purplish hue with a few bright golden spots branching outward over its surface. A large body of white clouds shrouded much of it, but from an aesthetic point of view Garel was quite beautiful in appearance from space.

And in the middle of the shuttle Ezra did his best to see as much as possible of this Garel but it was hard to see sitting way back here in the shuttle. He could only imagine what it would look like on the surface.

As the shuttle got lower and his eyes continued to gaze out the viewport, he heard a loud "ahem" from behind him. But Ezra ignored Kanan, in favor of looking out and seeing the vibrant pink and purple hues that made up Garel's beautiful twilight sky.

With proud mesas standing high above the horizon and not one, not two, but three moons just becoming visible. He loved it. Never would he have thought he'd see places like this. And look at those craters on the surface? How had those gotten there?

And while the town the shuttle was headed toward was in a large piece of flatland in the mesas to the left he could see lights emitting from them. Apparently people dwelled in those enormous rock formations, formations bigger than anything he'd seen on Lothal.

"Ahem!" Kanan spoke again, louder this time.

"Okay," Ezra grumbled and sat back in his seat. "Not like I'll get a chance to enjoy the view on the way out. Odds are we'll be running for our lives."

Back in the front Sabine waited as the shuttle touched down and watched as Ezra rushed to the front of the shuttle. He stood near the doorway, eager to be off. Apparently so was Chopper given how close on Ezra's heels the little astromech was. She shook her head at their shenanigans and stood up, nodding her head politely as Minister Tua continued to talk her ear off about her time in the academy.

She gritted her teeth and kept up her most polite smile, listening as "intently" as possible and hanging off "every" one of the Minister's words. Ezra wasn't the only one who wanted off this shuttle as soon as possible. In other circumstances she'd elbow him in the ribs and take his spot.

Instead she nudged Zeb and he got up, making way for Sabine to gracefully stand and continue to smile and nod at the Minister while ever so subtly leading the woman over to the exit. They weren't first or second in line. But Sabine would settle for third.

Just get me away from this lady before I blast her.

The door opened and Ezra, followed by Chopper, rushed out while the rest followed at a more sedated pace.

"My Dear, you did great service to your Empire today." Minister Tua then wagged her finger at Sabine. "Now focus on those Level Fives."

Tua then turned and began walking away and Sabine couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Oh, I will, Minister. It's been such an honor!" Sabine said and gestured broadly with her arms in an overly dramatic adoration of the older woman. Because she so wanted to be an Imperial lackey when she grew up.

Shoot me now.

"Thank you…" Whack, and Sabine winced as she nearly lost her footing. Zeb lowered his arm and smirked at his "ward."

"Careful. I'll let Kanan know how eager you are to do an undercover mission at some uppity Imperial ball." Zeb grinned. "And Ezra can be your date."

Sabine narrowed her eyes at the Lasat. If looks could kill. She said nothing and led the way to rejoin Ezra and Chopper headed in one direction of the landing bay. Meanwhile the Minister, Mister Wabo, R2, and that golden protocol droid thankfully went in the other direction, and grouping up with a small squad of six Imperial stormtrooper bucketheads.

Yeah. Sabine really wanted that life.

Keeping up with the pretext of a man in a hurry, Kanan dashed past the Minister and her awaiting buckethead escort.

"Take us straight to Bay 17." Minister Tua commanded.

"Yes, Minister." The stormtrooper in charge replied, a sergeant Sabine thought as she recognized from his shoulder pauldron.

Ezra meanwhile had found himself an out of the way spot next to a cargo crate he could lean up against. Sabine pretended not to notice that faraway look on Ezra's face as he attempted to subtly glance at her. At least he wasn't shoving it in her face like most boys would.

"Bay Seven," Sabine said quietly to Ezra without breaking stride, and placed her helmet back over her head. Walking side by side with Zeb she began navigating her way to the rendezvous.

She'd done her part. Now it was up to Spectre-6.

---

Ezra's eyes followed Sabine as she departed the landing bay.

Smart.

Fun.

Beautiful.

She's got those eyes!

And her smile?

Ezra sighed happily and tapped his head against the cargo crate.

He liked her helmet, it was as much of her as the rest of her armor. And just as beautiful. Though it was strange that she never wore anything else. Must be a Mandalorian thing. But why go around wearing armor all day?

Ezra shook his head and looked around the shuttle's landing bay. The Minister and her entourage were the first to leave, with Chopper following behind them at a cautionary distance. Eventually everyone else had made their exit, everyone but him. And now the coast was clear.

My turn.

With the speed and nimbleness of a Loth-cat, Ezra sprinted across the bay to reach a large selection of cargo crates. Climbing over one crate after the other and jumping a few more. He had planned this route out as soon as he had been off the shuttle. And at the end of it the entrance to an air vent.

An air vent that would supposedly lead him out of the bay and to the rooftops above. After that things became more, umm, theoretical? This wasn't that large a spaceport and with how its buildings were clustered theoretically he should be able to navigate his way toward any bay in the port. Find another airvent and presto change-o the crew would have a man on the inside.

Again theoretically. Kriffin' Kanan and his plans.

Sabine's just messing with me. I am nothing like him.

Ezra reached the vent and then, with a quick few turns of his wrench he had it popped open. It was only when Ezra was inside the narrow vent did he recall his initial opposition to Kanan's plan.

He was supposed to be a Jedi. The unbeatable space wizards that stood alone in the middle of battle, defiantly batting aside all enemies like puny insects. But when it came to these heists he was just a glorified greaseman. The small agile guy who can squeeze in and out of tight spaces. Not a heavy hitter.

As the door to the vent clanged close behind him, Ezra activated his comlink - the one Sabine had made especially for him - and just let loose.

"Kanan, I thought you were gonna teach me Jedi stuff. So far, all I'm doing is thieving and I already knew how to do that."

The first junction, and a chimney shaft. Ezra looked up and squinting his eyes he could tell that it would lead him to the roof outside. Ezra glanced down and saw the air vent also went in the opposite direction and bottomed out a good ten meters down.

"Just get to Bay Seven, open the door, and we all get paid," Kanan replied.

"So we steal to stay alive. See? Told you I already knew this."

Ezra gritted his teeth as he climbed. Altogether this shaft had to be at least thirty vertical meters from top to bottom. Wedging one arm against the wall of the shaft at all times he shimmied his way further upward.

He tried not to think about what would happen if he slipped, it was a long way down.

At last he reached the top of the shaft and the vent, thankfully, opened with a simple push. Pulling himself out of the shaft the door closed behind and Ezra was greeted with the sight of another T-45 shuttle taking off right in front of him. And behind it the cityscape of Garel.

All the domed buildings and towers. And that pretty purple night sky. He wished he had time to leave the city and its fumes and bustling traffic and go out and explore like he could on Lothal. Ezra shook his head and glanced around. Bay Seven.

He frowned and took a small mini-datapad from his pocket. Already downloaded was the holonet map of the spaceport complex. Much to his pleasant surprise, he had found the tracker Sabine had built into his comlink brace worked both ways. Thanks to the tracker he knew where he was on the spaceport map. Which meant that Bay Seven was theoretically four buildings to his right.

Four buildings and a fast moving lane of airspeeder traffic.

The buildings weren't too far apart, and he had used the Force before with his jumping. But that traffic. Ordinarily this would be when he turned back. Those speeders were just moving too fast, the timing would be impossible for a normal person.

But not for a Jedi.

Theo-krifffin-rheticorally!

Not that Ezra had said that at the mission briefing. He didn't want to give Kanan any more reason to put off his training. And besides Sabine had been standing next to him.

Ezra walked to the ledge and closed his eyes, and in his head tried to see where the air vent leading to Bay Seven would likely be. He had practiced this a few times already. Noticing Ezra's doubts, after the briefing Hera left the Ghost in Chopper's hands and led Ezra to the galley. There the pair spent some time playing a shell game with a blaster power cell and three cups.

With his eyes closed Hera would shuffle the power cell around between the upside down cups. Ezra then, with his eyes still closed, had to point at which cup hid the power cell. He had managed to successfully do so two out of every three times. Though it had a lot less to do with any training from Kanan or knowledge in the Force. It was Ezra just relying on those trusty instincts that had kept him alive for so long.

It wasn't much of a confidence boost but it was something.

He had it. He could see his pathway to Bay Seven and the required jumps. Some would require a lot of height. Others required crossing a far gap. All four of them would require the Force.

But the real question was that speeder traffic. He had to time the final Force jump at a moment when he wouldn't end up like a bug splattered against a speeder traveling over a hundred kilometers per hour.

"We all get paid," Ezra muttered, recalling Kanan's words, and opened his eyes. He focused on that fourth building in the distance some couple hundred meters away. Got it. Or at least I hope I do.

And then he heard it, the hum. The call. The Force. Just like on Lothal. It was her too. And it was with him. He had it.

With a running start he leapt to the first building, a far drop of thirty meters that needed a tuck and roll at the bottom to avoid hurting himself. Done.

Second jump, Ezra propped himself against the slope of the domed roof. No change in height, just a really-really far gap. He lunged forward and trusted the Force to carry him to the next roof.

Whoa! He stumbled a little on the landing but he reached it. Third building! And the airspeeder lane, it was clear!

Ezra jumped again, only narrowly missing a speeder as it swept past him. Kriff! So much for clear.

He had no idea how far up he was but he was losing his grip on this stupid sloped roof. Scrambling for purchase Ezra managed to scramble his way to the top. He bent over, catching his breath as the adrenaline rushed through his body. He looked up.

Last jump. It wasn't that bad. And with one last leap he cleared the thirty meters and landed on the roof of what he hoped to be was Bay Seven. He checked the tracker on his wrist. It matched the spaceport map but there really was only one way to be sure.

Spying a similar airvent to the one he had popped out from, Ezra made for it and it too opened without any resistance. No locks, no complaints. Only makes my job easier.

At the top of a vertical shaft Ezra again jammed his elbows and knees into the sides of the vent and prepared himself. One. Two. Three. Ezra eased up on the pressure and at a controlled descent smoothly slid down the vent and then stopped himself right as he reached the junction. Leaving the shaft behind he was back on his belly and crawling forward.

He noticed it was a similar setup as the first bay. Only this time when he reached the access leading to the bay, all this took was a good shove and presto. It was open. No wrench or lockpick needed.

He really hoped this was the right landing bay. He hadn't bothered counting them but when he glanced there had to be at least thirty bays in this spaceport. He looked around and was relieved to see the giant 7 painted on the wall opposite him.

More importantly he saw the lovely pile of crates all arranged in a neat pile in the center of the landing bay. Ezra keyed his comlink.

"Okay. I'm in Bay Seven."

Without waiting for a reply, Ezra jimmied his way out of the vent and then turned to face the wall and grip the bottom lip of the access. He glanced down and sighed. No helpful cargo crates this time. And nothing else to grab hold of. Just a dozen or so meters straight down to the duracrete landing bay floor.

Great way to break an ankle, or his neck. Between this and the bottomless air shafts you'd think Jedi would be able to levitate somehow or at least slow a fall? If so, that could be something really useful right now!

He let go and two seconds later he was on the ground, and winced from the landing. He landed on the heels of his feet and rolled backward using the palms of his hands to stop his roll. But he would definitely be feeling that tomorrow.

If Jedi could cushion their falls with the Force? Well what was Kanan doing sitting on teaching me stuff like that? That would have been a neat trick to have known right now!

Stowing his grumbling, knowing it wouldn't do him any good, Ezra pulled himself up and on wobbly legs made for the door panel on the wall a few meters from where he landed. He swatted the door button and it swept open revealing the rest of his team patiently waiting on the other side and looking none the worse for wear.

In fact Zeb was clapping. The jerk. On the other hand Sabine was there. Hands on her waist, her hip jutted in that signature way of hers. Ezra straightened up fast and threw on his best debonair look that he may or may not have been practicing in the fresher mirror.

"Well, kid, you pulled it off." Zeb said.

"Was there ever any doubt?" Ezra smiled.

At the same time Zeb and Sabine chimed. "Yes!"

Marching past Zeb did give him a grudging pat on the shoulder that he did indeed do good. Sabine was a bit more aggressive and with some extra power her pat turned more into a playful shove that nearly knocked Ezra off his feet.

"Gah!" Ezra winced, causing Sabine to pause and look him over. "I'm okay," Ezra said and did his best to look assuredly. Sabine didn't buy it, especially when she noted the opened airvent and the long drop from there to the landing bay.

Where Ezra must've hit the ground.

With Kanan already working at wall panel controls and Zeb nearing the crates, Sabine put a wait on checking Ezra over. But the first chance she got she was dragging him to the common room and bringing the medkit.

"Almost there." Hera's voice was steady over the comlink.

Kanan punched in the last commands and the bay's shutter doors opened themselves, revealing the outside and the gusts coming from the Ghost's repulsorlifts as the ship descended until it was parallel with Bay Seven. Then Hera eased the freighter forward until it was just inside. Touching down on its landing struts she opened the Ghost's cargo bay and extended the ramp.

"Do we know what exactly Vizago has us stealing yet?" Hera asked.

Zeb popped the lid of one of the crates, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Karabast." Zeb said.

In contrast Sabine became excited and reached inside to grab a really long and really expensive looking rifle. The thing had to be a meter long!

"Whoa. They're T-7 ion disruptors." She glanced at Ezra standing next to her. "These were banned by the Senate. You can short-circuit an entire ship with these."

There was that ion word again. Not seeing anything special, other than large credit signs Ezra's attention went elsewhere.

As Kanan stepped forward for a closer look, Zeb stepped backward and Ezra watched as a horror show of emotions flickered over his purple face. The deep pitch of his voice heightening from a haunting memory.

"That's not why they were banned." Zeb said.

Ezra frowned. Minister Tua's responsibility was Lothal. Why would she be after such dangerous and illegal weaponry? Before he could voice the question Kanan had yanked the weapon away from Sabine and set it back in the crate, then slammed the lid on it closed.

"Get 'em aboard before company comes." Kanan said.

The tone in his voice left no room for argument.

The team looked around until they saw what they hoped to see. Repulsorlift cargo dollies. They should be able to carry the weight of a crate of two. The four shared a single glance and then got to work. Ezra and Sabine ran to each grab a dolly while Kanan and Zeb went to organize the crates.

When they reached the dollies Sabine spared a moment and looked at Ezra. He wasn't limping but he wasn't moving as fast as he normally did. Ezra saw her staring and shook his head.

"It's fine. I'm fine," Ezra said and grabbed his dolly and activated its repulsorlift. Silently Sabine activated hers and the pair ran back to the center of the bay, and the disruptor rifles.

Despite Ezra's mystery injuries they were making good time. Zeb and Kanan decided on two crates per dolly and with three dollies it wouldn't take long. The only problem being it was a bit of a jog to the Ghost from here.

Rather the only problem until Chopper began chortling up a storm over the team's comms.

"Whomp, whomp!"

"Well, stall them." Hera ordered the droid

"Whahbam, whubba, bam."

Sabine and Kanan had each grabbed a dolly loaded with two crates, running it solo. But for some reason Zeb decided to pair up with Ezra and help him push. The Lasat didn't tease him but it was clear that Sabine hadn't been the only one to notice Ezra's injury.

Kanan meanwhile was shouting from the Ghost's loading ramp as they ran the last of the crates. "Hurry! We're out of-"

"Time's up!" Ezra said quickly. "We're busted."

Ezra and Zeb stopped at the sight of nine stormtroopers rushed into the landing bay with blaster rifles held ready. The Stormtrooper Sergeant was at the lead.
"Hands up," the Sergeant commanded.

Zeb did as instructed, lifting both of his hairy three-fingered hand and then ever so slowly began to walk to the stormtroopers and all nine of their E-11 blaster rifles. Out of sight of the stormtroopers, Kanan and Sabine looked back from the second to last disruptor crates. Indecision written on each of their faces as they too watch Zeb seemingly give up.

"What are you doing?" Ezra hissed.

The stormtroopers had spread outward in an echelon formation, and kept their rifles trained on Zeb. A friendly smile on his face the Lasat came closer and closer within ten meters now to the Sergeant in the center. Cloistered behind the bucketheads were the Minister, the weapons manufacturer Wabo, and the two Imperial droids. Zeb spoke, his tone conversational.

"There a problem here?" Zeb asked innocently.

Wabo shook his head and gestured toward Ezra and the crates, speaking his alien Aqualish language. Minister Tua didn't need a translation. She had been too trusting back on the shuttle. Now she had her guard up. First the orange astromech and now the same purple haired alien who claimed the girl as his "ward." No Tua had figured out what this team was up to. And what was in those crates.

"Amda Wabo says those crates contain his disruptors," the golden protocol droid translated.

Meanwhile Zeb kept walking, nearing striking range. And at last Ezra got the gist of what Zeb had planned. He almost felt sorry for the bucketheads. Kanan also picked up on what was happening. Wordlessly the Jedi signaled Sabine to continue loading while he pulled out his blaster and cautiously made his way toward Ezra.

This was his mission and these were his people.

"There must be some mistake." Zeb continued. "Can't possibly be disruptors in there 'cause they're illegal, right?"

Tua was done being played the fool. "That's irrelevant. We're going to search your crates."

Zeb stopped walking and gestured to the crates. "Be my guest," he said.

The Sergeant waved his hand at two stormtroopers. "Forward."

On his signal two stormtroopers lowered their E-11s and walked forward to the crates on Ezra's dolly, believing their fellow stormtroopers had things in hand. They were wrong.

"On second thought," Zeb said.

Before they could react, Zeb whirled around and grabbed the stormtroopers by the neck. One stormtrooper per hand. Blaster fire began but not before Zeb had turned back to face them and held the stormtroopers. The blaster fire that would have hit him hit their comrades instead. Only that wasn't enough for Zeb!

With a wild shout the giant Lasat hurled the stormtrooper in his right and then hurled the other one in his left. Like bowling balls they took out three stormtroopers each. The three on the Sergeant's left, and the other three on his right leaving only the Sergeant in the middle standing.

Standing thirty meters away Ezra could make out the fallen soldiers groans of pain and made a note of such tactics for another time. Stunned by the display it was only at the last second did the Sergeant see the angry Lasat changing and by then it was too late.

The Sergeant got off two panicked blaster shots before he was in Zeb's hands and then flying through the air.

The rest of his squad shook their heads and collected their fallen weapons. One didn't bother to get to his feet before he started shooting. He was a smart one. Once on their feet the others joined in with one even charging forward at Zeb!

Zeb knocked the E-11 out of that one's hands and with a headbutt sent him flying. That stormtrooper dealt with Zeb, turned and found a second one charging at him. But a single solid uppercut sent that one flying too! And as if he had Jedi senses of his own, Zeb turned and found a third stormtrooper trying to fight him in close combat. Another powerful Lasat punch sent him flying too.

Two things popped into Ezra's head as he looked about the fallen stormtroopers, half the squad and its leader taken out. Just how stupid these bucketheads were and to never underestimate the power of Zeb's Lasat Punch!

For his part Zeb was nearly feral. Growling ferociously he had taken his bo-staff off his back and ignited both ends of the staff with purple electricity cracking at either end. "You want disruptors, you gotta come through me!"

Despite Zeb's rampage four stormtroopers remained standing, all armed with blaster rifles. Ezra was frozen stiff, expecting Zeb to be shot down at any moment only to watch as his teammate flourished and twirled his long staff in one hand before slamming one end of the staff upward into the chin of one stormtrooper dispatching him.

Then swinging around to Lasat Punch a second standing nearby before engaging the third.

"Never again!" Zeb roared. "You're to shoot me? You missed!"

Ezra felt someone next to him and he turned to see reinforcements in the form of Kanan had arrived. His blaster out he traded looks with Ezra, both equally shocked at Zeb and his continued onslaught as he knocked down yet another stormtrooper with his electrified staff.

A couple got back on their feet only for Zeb to leg sweep one then shove the end of a staff into another - electrifying him.

But then blaster fire. Despite Zeb's heroics the bucketheads had to learn sometime and as they got to their feet they came up blasting. There were too many for Zeb alone. Kanan's voice snapped Ezra back to reality.

"Get those crates aboard ship, now!"

"Uh, right!"

Ezra recognized Kanan's blaster pistol as he joined in the fight but didn't look back. His focus only on the repulsorlift dolly and the last two remaining crates of disruptors. Only after Zeb's display just now, Ezra was beginning to rethink this job. The Big Guy really didn't like disruptors!

The fight raging behind, Ezra had the Ghost at last and there was Sabine waiting. He waved to her. Getting the hint Sabine rushed down and joined him. The two teens making quick work of loading the final last two crates into the Ghost and its cargo bay.

Behind him Ezra could hear the wheels of an astromech droid and knew that Chopper had managed to find his way back to them. Now it was just Kanan and Zeb.

"Spectre-1 to Ghost. We're good to go."

"Here!" Sabine called.

Ezra looked down in surprise as one of Sabine's prized blasters fell into his hands. Seeing her take up a position on the left side of the cargo ramp Ezra followed and took the right side.

Together the pair began laying down covering fire as Zeb followed by Kanan retreated to the Ghost. How any stormtrooper was left standing and able to fight was a mystery to Ezra but a storm of blaster fire was chasing after the two remaining Spectres.

The Ghost was already lifting off and its ramp closing, Zeb hung back to reach out an arm and catch Kanan as he leapt aboard - just as the ramp closed up behind him.

They could hear the following blaster fire smattering against the thick hull of the Ghost. A futile attempt as the armed freighter took off from the adjoining landing platform and made its escape out of the spaceport and into the sky above.

Down in the cargo hold Ezra realized two things. In all the excitement the first thing he failed to realize was that they had picked up a couple of extra passengers, that annoying golden protocol droid and that blue and white astromech droid.

The second thing was that his earlier assumption back on the shuttle ride into Garel had been proven. They were escaping Garel under a hail of blaster fire and he was down here in the cargo bay with no viewports to see the pretty skies.

Oh well. He had made certain to get an eyeful on the shuttle in.

Sabine turned to him and wordlessly he nodded and returned to her the blaster she had let him borrow.

"You need practice," the Mando Girl said.

Ezra grinned and wondered about her. Where the heck did she learn to wield two blasters at the same time? Was that a thing all Mandalorians could do? But she was right. He was skilled as a thief but never had need for a blaster before.

"Not a bad idea." Ezra agreed.

At the sound of clattering feet and astromech wheels, Sabine turned to see not only Chopper but the other two droids as well.
Sabine gestured at the two Imperial droids. "Oh, look. Chopper made friends."

Chopper made a series of warbles that only Hera and Sabine could understand, to Ezra's ear it sounded like one long tiresome groan.

"I am See-Threepio and this is my counterpart, Artoo-Detoo. I was translating for Minister Tua when we were attacked by thieves like, uh, you."

C-3PO's voice turned nervous when he saw Zeb strut up the ramp past him, eyeing the annoying protocol droid menacingly. And the way Kanan eyed him wasn't any better as he followed behind Zeb.

Zeb climbed the ladder and leaned against the railing of the overseer platform above the cargo access section of the cargo hold. From his perch he watched the proceedings as Kanan looked to Sabine and Ezra, the two standing by for his commands.

"We have company. Imperial droids. Spectre-5, let's get a couple restraining bolts on these two."

Sabine gave Kanan a mock salute and then headed up the nearby ladder. "Yep. On it."

Kanan then pointed his fingers at the two droids. "Spectre-6, Spectre-3, keep an eye on 'em."

"Right, that'll happen." Ezra murmured.

Ezra turned to face two droids and the annoying 3PO droid once again tried to explain away the situation

"Excuse me, Sir, but this is a terrible mistake." Ezra rolled his eyes and ignored the droids, but 3PO followed after him. "My partner and I are in service of Minister Tua of Lothal."

With Ezra trying to ignore 3PO and Zeb again questioning Kanan about whether or not to go through with the sale of the disruptors, no one noticed as R2 extended his communication antenna array and began to transmit a message.

With 3PO still following after Ezra, the boy returned just in time to hear Sabine return with the restraining bolts. She had joined in on the conversation about the T-7s.
"Least we got 'em out of circulation. When I was translating, I found out they were shipping those T-7s as prototypes so the Empire could mass-produce them on Lothal."

Sabine slid the rest of the way down the ladder and began the process of installing the restraining bolts. 3PO had finally shut up and Ezra returned him to stand next to R2. Keeping his eyes on 3PO he continued listening in on Zeb and Kanan. With everyone's attention diverted, R2 carefully retracted his antenna back into his dome.

Transmission sent.

"See Zeb? Perfect crime. We steal weapons meant for the Empire and sell them for credits we desperately need to keep this bird flying."

Sabine looked up at Kanan, standing next to Zeb on the platform above, and then gestured to 3PO and R2. "Oh, hey. If we need credits, maybe Vizago will buy those two droids."

"Yeah. Good idea," Kanan said.

The Jedi then grabbed hold of the ladder and climbed out of the cargo bay, leaving his trusty crew behind to oversee things down there.

---

ISD Lawbringer, Communication Information Center

In the secured room Imperial Security Bureau Agent Kallus stood with his back to the holo-communications pod, and the hologram projection of Minister Tua. His arms folded over his chest in consideration. After hearing her initial report he spoke.

"Describe the thieves," Kallus said.

"I saw five," Minister Tua said. "An adult male, a juvenile male, a juvenile female, and an old C1 droid." She then paused in her recount, focusing on who else she saw. As unlikely as it was, she was certain. "And a Lasat."

At that Agent Kallus' ears perked and he looked over his shoulder at the Minister's holoprojection.

"Honestly, Agent Kallus," Tua said. "I didn't think there were any Lasats left."

It's them.

Turning around Kallus placed both hands on the communications pod and leaned in, a broad gleaming smile on his face.

"A few, Minister," Kallus said. "Only a few."

Minister Tua stepped back, finding the Agent's sudden interest unnerving.

---

The Ghost

"And stay out!"

Despite his best efforts otherwise, Ezra got shoved backward into the corridor while Zeb shut and locked the cabin door behind him.

"You can't do that!" Ezra yelled and pounded on the door angrily. "It's my cabin too."

"Ezra?" Hera called from the cockpit. "Come in here."

Knowing it was no use, Ezra took one more swing at the locked door then gingerly eased his way down the corridor that led to the cockpit.

The pain in his left ankle had only increased, and now that the adrenaline from the mission was winding down it was becoming more noticeable. Sabine had asked him a few leading questions about it. Ezra got the feeling she wanted to take a look at it, but the Imperial droids were keeping her occupied.

Ensuring her that it wasn't an immediate problem Paintbomb did manage to convince him to at least go to his bunk and take a load off. It sounded like a good idea. But then the angry Furball decided to throw a temper tantrum and shoved Ezra out of their shared room.

Promising himself he'd get Zeb back later, Ezra entered the cockpit and resolved not to let Hera see him in pain. Sabine was one thing and if he could get her to just forget about it he would. It was nothing he couldn't handle. He didn't need his Space Mom on his case too, not when there were more important things!

"Hera," Ezra said. She was alone, good. "Zeb's booted me from my own-"

"I know," Hera said and held her hands up in surrender. Her voice calm, she continued. "But maybe you could cut Zeb a little slack today."

It was the wrong choice of words.

"Oh, the way he cuts me slack?"

"Do you know what a T-7 disruptor is, what it does to an organic being?"

"Uh, no," Ezra said. Hera's words gave Ezra pause, and he felt some of his anger release.

"Well, Zeb knows." Hera said as Ezra took a few steps and plopped down in the co-pilot's chair across from her. "Because it's what the Imperials used on his people when they cleared his homeworld. Very few Lasats survived. And none remain on Lasan."

Ezra closed his eyes and the last of the anger left him. He leaned back in his chair and brushed his blue locks out of his face. He mulled over this new information and came to a decision.

"I… I guess I could cut him a little slack."

"Good man," Hera said and smiled at him. Ezra could hear the relief in her voice, as well as the desire to move on. Hera folded her arms and leaned back in her chair, mirroring Ezra.

"So, how's the Jedi training going with Kanan?" Hera said.

"Jedi training?" Ezra said and slumped down in the chair. "Never heard of it."

"We'll see about that," Hera said and Ezra could hear the edge in her voice.

But any further conversation was wrapped as both noted the alert that the Ghost was about to exit hyperspace. Hera turned her focus to the pilot's control panel and Ezra turned in his seat to eagerly await the sight of Lothal.

"Home, sweet home," Ezra said. "Garel was really pretty. Purple skies and the mesas. But there's just something special about Lothal."
Hera smiled. The Lothalite street rat had a long way to go before the novelty of space travel wore off.

"I get it," Hera said but then frowned. "And don't worry. We'll make sure no T-7 factories will ugly up your home."

Ezra smiled, encouraged by Hera's words as she took the Ghost in. They had some disruptors to sell as well as a pair of shiny droids. It should make for a tidy haul.
Good thing too. Ezra could only take so many space waffles.

---

Down in the cargo bay Sabine was surprised at what the little blue astromech had to say. She was more surprised that she believed the little guy. Ezra felt the same when he rejoined them shortly before the Ghost touched down at the meetup.

It took a careful eye but Sabine spotted Ezra favoring his right leg. She sighed. She heard the ruckus between Ezra and Zeb from the deck above and had half a mind to go up there and tell him off. But someone needed to keep an eye on these droids and the Fearless Leader was Missing In Action. Probably some last minute discussions with Vizago if Sabine had to venture a guess.

Shortly after Ezra returned, Zeb joined them and for a moment Sabine was concerned she would have to play referee. Only she didn't. For some reason Ezra was being pretty cool around Zeb, in a good way. Hera must've had a talk with him and said something to keep the peace.

As the Ghost came to a rest on the soil of Lothal, Sabine walked over to Ezra and once more offered him a blaster. The boy smiled at her and shook his head.

"You sure?" Sabine said, and Ezra didn't need to see her face to see the worry on it.

"Yeah," Ezra said. "I'm just as likely to shoot myself in the foot. I'll stick to my slingshot."

Sabine sighed and nodded, she understood. She agreed even and normally she wouldn't hand a blaster to someone clearly needed training. And Ezra had already hurt one foot this mission. But now Sabine was determined.

Get through this thing with Vizago and help Ezra with his foot - his ankle, Sabine figured. And then she'd begin teaching him everything she knew about blasters. Standing out in the open for precious seconds at a time? Seconds spent unmoving as Ezra was drawing back the sling to ready a bolt? Fighting squads of bucketheads like that would get the kid killed long before he learned to use a lightsaber!

The clamor of people on the ladder was heard and Sabine looked up to see Hera climbing down, with a look that Sabine recognized. With Kanan following after Hera, Sabine put two and two together.

Hmm. Looks like someone was in the dog house.

"Can we discuss this later?" Kanan said.

"That's fine, Love," Hera said. "But we will discuss it."

Kanan sighed and folded his arms. Like Sabine, he knew that tone in Hera's voice. He may be Spectre-1 but everyone knew who was really pulling the strings. But it wasn't often the pair butted heads, especially during a mission. It was curious.

It was then R2 rolled forward and began a long series of beeps and chirps, which reminded Sabine of what she had learned.

"Oh, right," Sabine said and looked at Kanan. "This Artoo says its real mission was to make sure the T-7s never reached the Empire, and that his master will pay handsomely for their return."

It was a nice turn of events, Sabine thought. But she also knew that there was a code amongst smugglers like Vizago. And that was you were only as good as your word. And the Ghost crew had given their word that Vizago would get his disruptors.

Kanan would make certain of it.

"I'll think about it," Kanan said.

"So, we're not selling the droids but we're selling the T-7s," Zeb said. "We don't even know who Vizago's buyer is."

"We know it's not the Empire," Kanan said. "And I already made a deal with Vizago. So let's get these crates off the boat."
Sabine frowned behind her faceplate. What was with Zeb and the T-7s? She'd ask Hera about it later. For now they had a job to do.

But first.

"Hey," Sabine said and tugged on Ezra's orange jacket to get his attention. "It's the home stretch so take it easy. Let us handle the heavy lifting."

Ezra nodded and Sabine could tell he got it. No sense making an injury worse, not when they were one shady arms deal away from leaning back in the common room and taking a well deserved rest.

Staying close to Ezra as they began to offload the crates, it didn't escape Sabine's attention that that annoying C-3PO unit disappeared up the ladder. If they didn't have their hands full she'd chase him down. She had a good feeling about this R2 fella, but that protocol droid was pretty clueless.

She should've left the restraining bolt on him.

With the ramp lowered the Spectres and R2 exited one by one with Hera leading the way. While it was always wise to go into a meeting expecting an ambush Sabine didn't really think they were in any danger from Vizago. Smarmy as the broken-horned Devarion was, his word was equally as important as theirs.

No one liked to work with backstabbers.

"Home sweet home," Ezra said and breathed in a deep lungful of Lothal air.

Satisfied that this wasn't a trap, Sabine removed her helmet and magnetically attached it to her belt before following after him with her own repulsorlift of T-7 crates. She kept an eye on Ezra and was pleased at the sight of him leaning a little on the push-rail that came with these dolly cargo transports.

The kid was right, the air was nice out here.

The cargo was brought within the confines of a small circular rock formation, keeping those present hidden from view. This far from civilization made for a really nice clandestine meeting spot and it wasn't the first time Vizago used it.

After unloading his crates Ezra had found a spot by one of Vizago's cargo hauler speeders. She was relieved to see him lean his back to it and take some pressure off his injured ankle.

Then once everything was in place Sabine looked around and saw Zeb grumpily leaning against the base of one of the towering spiral rocks. He didn't like this but he was a professional. Sabine kept an eye out as well, as Kanan and Hera were occupied with the sale to Vizago who was now beginning to inspect the goods.

The green Devarian popped open the crate and smiled widely. Lifting a T-7 out he inspected it closely and closed his eyes, thoughts of the credits he'd be making distracting him from everything else.

"Oh. I can make some beautiful music with these." Vizago said.

"They're not that kind of instruments!" Zeb said.

"Ah," Vizago said and held out his hands in an attempt to placate the angry Lasat. "You just have to know how to play them. And how to play those who want to buy them."

"You have to buy them from us first," Ezra said. His teeth were gritted but he kept his pain hidden.

Not bad, Diasa'yr.

"Finally," Vizago said. The smuggler leaned forward and held a finger against Kanan's chest. "Someone on your crew who understands business."

Kanan shoved Vizago back and puffed up his chest, making how he felt about Vizago and his "business" clear.

"Let's just get this over with," Kanan said.

Not to let his mood be deterred with the promise of a good sale, Viazgo kept smiling. But his smile dropped when the recognizable noise of a starship's engine could be heard. A big engine. A big ship.

Vizago turned and looked through one of the few open spaces in the cluster of rocks. He didn't like what he saw. And when Sabine took a few steps so she could see, she didn't like it either.

An Imperial warship, Gozanti-class. And it was carrying something under its hull.

Osik!

Viazgo lifted up his T-7 and peered through the scope, then lowered it and turned to point a finger at Hera. He wasn't happy.

"What is this?" Vizago said. "You were followed!"

"That's not possible," Hera said.

"Tell it to the Empire!"

As Hera and the others walked to where Vizago was standing - had been standing - she saw that Vizago was right. And as the cruiser came closer Sabine worried. Under its hull were attached two Imperial scout walkers. Enough firepower to handle anything they had here.

How did they find us?

The landspeeders started up and Sabine turned to see Vizago's men, with half the crates loaded, already taking off!

"Leave the rest," Vizago said. "We're gone!"

Kanan reached out and grabbed Vizago's arm, holding the smuggler in place.

"You haven't paid us yet," Kanan said. But Vizago wasn't having any of it and wrenched his arm free.

"Cikatro Vizago doesn't pay for half a shipment," he said. Vizago climbed aboard the second cargo speeder. "And he doesn't pay for trouble with Imperials."

Haar'chak!

"My friends," Vizago said from atop his speeder. "I hope you live to bargain another day. And if you don't?" The speeder lifted off. "Eh?" Vizago said and lifted his arms in a helpless gesture, his speeder leaving them behind and at the mercy of the Empire.

"Bic ni skana'din!" Sabine swore, and picked up her helmet from where she left it. "I almost wish there were some TIEs around to blast that smug look off that smug di'kutla's face!"

"Forget about him," Hera said and then followed after Kanan as he ran to the wide opening between the rock formation and the Lothal plains. Slowly but inevitably the Imperial warship, its two walkers, were headed right for them. Sabine released the magnetic seal from her belt and took the helmet with her hands and placed it over her head.

"Shouldn't we be going too?" Sabine said. She didn't like it but couldn't see any alternatives.

"We can't let these disruptors fall into Imperial hands," Kanan said. "Sabine, destroy the guns."

"Ha," Sabine said, pleased with the order. "Now you're speaking my language. I'll go get my gear." Sabine began running back to the ship but stopped short at the sight of those two droids again.

"Artoo, stop!" 3PO said. "What are you doing?"

R2 beeped back a few words in binary, and Sabine smiled at the response.

"Joining the crew?" 3PO said and, with Chopper rolling along next to him, watched as R2 went for one of the remaining crates of T-7 disruptors. Reaching out with his motivator R2 took hold of a rifle and held it up for all to see.

Sabine removed her helmet and tucked it in the crook of her arm, she smiled at what the little droid was getting at.

"Of course," Sabine said. "Overload the disruptors and boom! Good call, little guy. You can join our crew anytime."

Sabine patted R2's dome affectionately but failed to notice the angry shake of his dome that Chopper gave. There would only ever be one droid in this crew!

Kanan then came running over with Hera beside him. Already he was thinking three moves ahead. Behind them came Ezra and Zeb.

"Hera," Kanan said. "Help Sabine open the crates. Zeb, Ezra, line 'em up!" Kanan picked up one of the disruptors and looked back at the approaching ship. "Meanwhile, I'll deal with the walkers."

At a hundred meters from the rocks the cruiser came down to treetop level - if there were trees on Lothal - and released its magnetic clamps on the walkers. Each dropped to the ground with no trouble and immediately opened fire with their heavy laser cannons.

And knowing Imperial strategy, Sabine knew they wouldn't be alone. While the rest of the group huddled for cover behind a rock, Kanan held his nerve and took aim with the ion disruptor.

"They say these things can take down a starship," Kanan said. The walkers would only ever let him have one shot, then they'd mark him as a priority.

He squeezed the trigger and a large flash came from the weapon. Its heavy bolt slammed into the armored plated cockpit of the walker on the left. It didn't destroy, but the bolt's ion energy created a series of green and red flickers over the walker's hull and the machine began to stumble as it lost power. A moment later it had crashed to the ground, its systems fried and power offline.

Kanan raised his rifle to take target on the second walker but the walker's pilot was quicker. The walker's cannon roared and a heavy blaster bolt landed right in front of where Kanan stood! An eruption of dirt and rock kicked up several meters into the air, peppering Kanan with several pieces of rock. But the real damage was the kinetic force behind the blast as it lifted Kanan high up into the air and sent him crashing backward to the ground.

He hit the ground hard. And as he hit it he ended up face down and knocked out. The rifle lying uselessly beside him. But before the walker could land a follow up shot on the unmoving Jedi, Hera had flanked the walker to the left. And using the rocks as cover she began to open fire on it with her boot-holstered Blurrg holdout blaster.

It didn't have a lot of shots, but the backup weapon could pierce the plastoid composite of stormtrooper armor. And while Hera's blaster bolts hit home they didn't pack nearly enough punch to penetrate the walker's durasteel.

But it was enough to distract the pilot from Kanan, and for Hera that was all that mattered.

Moving rapidly the scout walker had shuffled its two long legs around and opened fire, causing Hera to make a run for it. Weaving from left to right explosions erupted all around her but Hera kept ahead and avoided getting too close. Playing it smart the Twi'lek grabbed cover behind a large rock as soon as she could and broke line of sight with the Imperial walker.

"Help Kanan!" Sabine said as she continued her work on the crate of disruptors. So focused on her work she nearly missed Ezra following Zeb! And with his leg slowing him down he'd be a sitting duck!

"Ezra!"

"I got this!" Ezra yelled, and to his credit he wasn't limping. Must be the adrenaline. Still she shook her head and cursed under her breath.

"Damn, Jedi!"

Together Ezra and Zeb helped the unconscious Kanan to his feet. Meanwhile the Imperial Gozanti set down and just like on Kessel, it lowered its elevator to deploy a squad of stormtroopers. Nothing special but as Sabine glanced up she saw - Kallus!

No! The ISB Agent fell to his death on Kessel! Ezra and Kanan saw it!

But if he survived? Then that means the Empire knows about Kanan and Ezra!

"Advance and fire," Agent Kallus said as his stormtroopers ran ahead of him, E-11 blaster rifles ready.

Kriff! Kriff! Kriff! Sabine looked around and, to her relief, saw that Kanan was up and moving again with both Zeb and Ezra at his back. Zeb with his bo-rifle and Ezra with his blasted slingshot. It wouldn't be enough, she had to hurry! But how in the hell did they find them?

"Thank you! Thank you!" C-3PO said, his voice filled with relief. "I knew some form of rescue would arrive."

Sabine groaned. Mystery solved. I knew I shouldn't have let him sneak off!

Completely oblivious to his own danger the kriffin' protocol droid continued walking forward, right in the open! He walked past the Kanan and the others and headed right toward the incoming stormtroopers. Sabine briefly thought about warning him but decided that everyone would be better off if the stupid droid got its head blown off.

Well that would distract the stormtroopers. And besides, on the shuttle he had insulted her translation skills.

Sabine focused back on the crate of disruptors, her work almost finished. But she smiled at the sound of blaster fire followed by 3PO's shrieks of fear. He had the audacity to complain that the Imps were supposed to be there to rescue him.

More heavy stomps from the left, the walker was moving again and so was Hera. She was running again and continuing to use the rocks for cover from the walker's heavy gun.

"Chopper, ready the ship for takeoff!" Hera said.

With so much blaster fire Sabine couldn't hear him, but when she glanced up she saw the bright orange astromech heading toward the ship. Good. Powered down with no shields or weapons the Ghost was a sitting duck! A couple of well aimed blasts from the walker or that Imperial cruiser and they'd be stranded. Thankfully Kallus and the gunner manning those heavy cannons had no interest in the ship.

But Kallus was interested in someone.

Stepping over the body of a dead stormtrooper, Kallus held up a strange but also familiar looking weapon. It looked to be part gun but also part staff? And Ezra was right! Could the guy have a stupider looking helmet?

"You, Lasat," Kallus said. His loud voice carried itself across the loud volleys of blaster fire between the Spectres and the stormtroopers. With a slight twist of his wrist Kallus expanded the weapon and Sabine knew where she had seen it before. "Face me!" Kallus demanded.

A bo-staff, Sabine realized. Just like Zeb's!

With lethal electricity bursting from each end of the staff, there was no stopping the Lasat as he charged, answering Kallus' challenge. And Kallus broke ranks from his own stormtroopers and raced to meet Zeb head on.

The teenage Mandalorian hurried. She needed to finish with her explosives and get them into the fight. With Ezra hurt and probably Kanan too, the last thing they needed right now was Zeb answering some honor duel with Kallus.

But that's exactly what happened and with each man screaming their electrified staves collided and then matched each other, strike for strike. And Zeb was filled with fury, which was exactly what Kallus wanted!

"Only the Honor Guard of Lasan may carry a bo-rifle!" Zeb said furiously.

Kallus only cackled with glee.

"I know. I removed it from a guardsman myself."

Faster than her eyes could track the pair were at it again. Swiping low. Striking high. For every jab and slash Zeb threw, Kallus had an answer. No movie to pugil fighting Sabine saw it. Kallus was toying with him.

"I was there when Lasan fell," Kallus continued. "I know why you fear those disruptors… I gave the order to use them."

Zeb saw red and whatever self control and discipline he had left evaporated. Enraged and out of control Zeb attacked again and again, chasing Kallus around the rock formations. And Kallus just laughed and allowed Zeb to continue wearing himself out. He landed a solid kick at one point, and it slowed Zeb. But a moment later Zeb was back on him. Determined to destroy the ISB Agent!

The two fighters neared the center of the rock formations. And taking cover nearby to their left were Kanan and Ezra. Kanan had his blaster up and ready while Ezra had to resort to his slingshot. It helped but not much.

And then the fight shifted. Kallus went on the offensive and began landing blow after blow, the electrified end of Kallus' staff shocking Zeb each time it landed. Zeb's chances of winning slipped away further and further.

"Ah!" Kanan said, after exchanging more blaster fire from the squad of stormtroopers. "That fool Lasat's gonna get himself killed!"

More stormtroopers arrived, seven now. Not bothering with cover or aim they just stormed in with blasters firing, though they did make certain not to accidentally hit Kallus or Zeb. It appeared they had orders that Kallus alone would deal with the purple Lasat.

Sabine sighed and set down the last disruptor. She smiled at her handiwork. If they're that eager? Let them come, she thought.

"Okay," Sabine said. "We're ready!"

With no time to waste those not fighting or running for their lives broke into two groups. Kanan and Ezra grabbed one of the rigged dollies with two crates of T-7s. Sabine and the two droids grabbed the other rigged dolly with an equal amount of rigged T-7s.

"Everyone!" Sabine yelled. "Push!"

Hera rounded a boulder and jumped to help Sabine. As the walker moved in between two large rock formations the girls smiled. There was no way out. With one giant heave they and the two droids pushed and then let go of the dolly. Its repulsors did the rest of the work as it glided smoothly beneath the walker's and settled in between its two legs.

They couldn't have aimed it better.

Across from them Kanan and Ezra had focused on a similar chokepoint, one they managed to bait the seven incoming stormtroopers into running through. At just the right moment Kanan and Ezra shoved their rigged dolly forward and watched as it glided into the squad of stormtroopers. The soldiers stopped and eyed the innocent looking crate of T-7s suspiciously.

It was the last thing they did.

The rigged rifles beeped furiously and the rebels made a run for it - and then a deafening roar silenced the battlefield. Enormous fireballs of the exploding disruptors devastated everything nearby, doubly so with the kinetic forces trapped in the natural chokepoints of the rock formations.

The explosions had gone off simultaneously. Kanan and Ezra's had killed the entire squad of stormtroopers. And the walker and its drivers were destroyed nearly instantly from their rigged crate. The combination of the heat and the concussive blast that shattered bones and incinerated their insides.

In the end all that remained were a few twisted scraps of charred durasteel from the walker. It was exactly what Sabine had counted on. What she didn't count on was how the force of the two blasts continued past the chokepoints and sent both delivery teams flying through the air and crashing to the ground.

Ezra held his arms over his head, protecting himself, but Kanan was caught unaware and for the second time in the fight hit the ground hard. If he didn't have a concussion yet he certainly had one now.

Worse, Kallus had gotten the upper hand and was now firmly in control of the fight. After a few more well-aimed strikes the ISB Agent had Zeb doubled over and clutching his belly in agony.

Hera and Sabine both glanced up to see Kallus raising his staff high into the air, moments away from slaying a defeated Zeb. Sabine reached for her blasters but had lost them in the blast. Hera too and Kanan was still down!

The bo-staff swung down for the killing strike, but at the last possible second a loud yell of fear and anger shouted from across the battlefield.

"NO!"

A wall of unstoppable energy slammed into Kallus and lifted the Agent several meters into the air and sent him tumbling head over heels backwards until his body slammed sideways into a rock. The Agent collapsed to the ground, either unconscious or dead.

Sabine hoped for the latter. But what in the Manda caused that?

She looked over at Kanan, but instead of the Jedi it was Ezra!

Both arms extended outward with palms facing up, the boy was gasping for air at the amount of energy he had expended.

"By the Stars," Hera gasped at the sight.

Sabine was just speechless.

This was Ezra and he was… Just a kid. How was this possible? To have that much power?

At last Kanan was back on his feet. A little wobbly (definitely a concussion) but he had regained his focus. As Ezra looked at his hands in disbelief Kanan realized what must've happened and looked at where Zeb was kneeling and then looked at where Kallus had ended up.

It took him a moment to understand the ramifications but once it registered Kanan took control and began issuing orders. Now was not the time for this. Kanan pointed at Hera.

"Spectre-2! Get the kid aboard!"

"Right," Hera said. She ran to the still bewildered Ezra and took his hand in hers.

Following Hera's lead Sabine sprung into action, scooped up her fallen blasters, and got to her feet. R2 was flat on his back and Sabine went right to it, pulling the little astromech back up onto his feet then pointing her finger at him and C-3PO both.

"All of you. Move now!" Sabine said, and then led them all as they hurried to the Ghost. The Imperial ground team was defeated but there was still the cruiser. With herself and Hera looking after the others, she could only hope Kanan could get Zeb moving on his own.

Sending Chopper ahead had been a welcomed relief as the ramp was extended and the engines warmed up and ready to go. Getting aboard Hera stopped by the ramp control panel and then waited. Her recovered blaster in one hand and Ezra in her other, Hera kept her eyes open for Kanan and Zeb.

If a buckethead popped their head out the Twi'lek wouldn't hesitate.

Understanding the other woman, Sabine first removed her helmet and attached it to her belt, and then carefully took Ezra from Hera and led the still shocked boy into the cargo ramp.

"I? No way. That's impossible," Ezra said, his eyes still staring down at his hand. And what he had been able to do with it.

"Come on, Ezra," Sabine said, her voice gentle and soothing. She looked down and while he wasn't limping - kriffin' adrenaline - she knew that his ankle had probably swollen to the size of a jogan.

"Hey? Let's just sit down over here," Sabine said when she spotted a small crate.

"Will our torment never end?" C-3PO said. Sabine had to restrain herself from pulling her blaster and putting a shot right between that idiot droid's photoreceptors.
She might look back at this day and laugh one day. But that day will be a very-very long time from now.

"Thanks, Paintbomb," Ezra said and leaned into Sabine as she helped him down onto the crate. Sabine smiled at Ezra's nickname for her. "That droid?" Ezra said.

"Threepio?" Sabine said.

"If he stays, I'm stealing Kanan's lightsaber and cutting him down to slag."

Sabine bit back a laugh.

"Yeah? Well you better hurry before I blast him to slag myself."

The two teenagers exchanged similar looks, held the other's gaze for a moment, and then each bursted into laughter. Oh it felt so good to laugh!

The sound of the ramp closing brought them back to the present and they looked up to see Kanan help Zeb into the cargo bay and Hera had activated her comlink. "Chopper, get us out of here," Hera said. The fierce look on her face led Sabine to examine the others.

Kanan was hanging in there but she knew Hera would insist on a medical scan of some sort. He'd taken one too many knocks to the head on this job.

But Zeb? She didn't catch all of the fight between him and Kallus but it was clear that the Agent had beaten him. She'd seen Zeb take some hard hits and blaster burns but she'd never seen him like this before. Unable to stand on his own feet, the Lasat had collapsed on the deck of the cargo bay with Kanan only able to help keep his head and shoulders up.

"Will he be okay?" Sabine said

Solemnly the group, including Chopper, waited for an answer. Zeb groaned but opened his eyes and peered up at Sabine.

"Yeah," he said, and managed to get his breathing under control. He looked at Kanan and nodded. Together they got him off the deck and back on Zeb's two feet.

"Thanks, mate." Zeb said. "Appreciate the save."

At this an amused look spread across Kanan's face.

"Wasn't me," the Jedi said. Zeb eyed him in confusion, then looked at where Kanan was staring. "It was Ezra."

Standing between herself and Hera, a look of understanding came over Ezra. The realization had finally sunk in. Zeb didn't exactly smile but he did give Ezra a nod of respect and thanks. Ezra returned it.

"And, Ezra," Kanan said. Sabine and Ezra turned their attention to Kanan. "Your formal Jedi training starts tomorrow."

The boy's blue eyes widened in understanding and he smiled when he felt Hera place her hand on his shoulder and looked at him with pride. Sabine had a similar look, but then at the sound of several beeps and whistles she looked over at the little R2.

"Artoo also gives his congratulations," Sabine said. "And says you have it in you to be a great Jedi."

"Umm," Ezra said. "I'll try not to let you down, Artoo."

Sabine watched as Ezra appeared to shrink under all this attention. Clearing her throat she looked to Hera.

"I think the boys need to get settled. They each took some pretty bad hits."

"What?" Ezra said. He waved his hand dismissively, trying to play it off. "No I'm fine, I swear."

"Yeah," Kanan said, mustering up his best Fearless Leader voice. "Besides, the job's not done. We still need to get these two back to their master."

"Okay, tough guys," Hera said, in a placating tone of voice to soothe their manly egos. "Let's just get you settled, examined, and go from there."

Despite another round of protests eventually all the guys agreed to sit out the rest of the mission and allow Hera to deal with the handoff between the master and his droids. Unable to get Zeb back to bed and Kanan not feeling inclined to leave his friend's side, Ezra elected to stay in the cargo bay with the rest of them.

It made things easier on Sabine as she broke out the medical kit and its scanner and began to examine the boys. She was pleasantly surprised when R2 came to assist her after handing off the rendezvous coordinates to Hera.

At first glance he seemed like an older but well maintained astromech droid. But when he popped out a more sophisticated medical scanner than what was in the med kit, Sabine was impressed.

And curious. Wonder what other surprises this little guy has? But he already had a master and already Sabine was hearing the whirring up of the Ghost's hyperdrive. She sighed. Maybe they'd get the chance to work together another time. She had no clue as to the droid's secret mission but it was clear he was no fan of the Empire.

"How's it look?" Zeb said, and brought Sabine back to the present.

"Won't lie, you took your lumps. Repeatedly." Sabine said and then a tone of mischief could be heard. "If it wasn't for Ezra we'd be saying our goodbyes to you."

"Ugh," Zeb said. "Don't remind me." When Sabine frowned Zeb shook his head, then winced in pain from the motion. "Look. You were right. You all were right about him. Just not looking forward to the next part."

Sabine hit Zeb with an injection of bacta as well as some other pain relieving drugs.

"Which part?"

"The part where he won't shut up about it."

Sabine grinned. "I'm sure it won't be that bad," she said. Off of Zeb's scowl Sabine gave his worry some more consideration.

"You'll just have to eat your crow, Zeb. And don't worry." Sabine said as she got to her feet and glanced over at Kanan, her next patient. "With the amount of trouble Diasa'yr gets up to, you two will be back to even soon enough."

"Good," Zeb said. "Fast the better." The Lasat paused and frowned, then looked at Sabine. "Diasanour?"

Sabine grinned. "Diasa'yr," she pronounced and gave a shrug. "Ezra had nicknames for all of us."

"Yeah," Zeb said. Then his frown deepened. "And he's the Kid." At Sabine's shrug Zeb grumbled. "So, Diasa'yr, that some Mandalorian slang for pain in the ass?"

Sabine just continued to grin and patted Zeb affectionately on the shoulder, and then headed to check on Kanan. At Kanan's side she kneeled down and went to work with the scanner. As the device performed its diagnostic she chanced a glance at Ezra, and then thought back on the first time she had laid eyes on him and wondered.

Never in a million years would she have thought.

"Diasa'yr o'r chaavla," Sabine whispered under her breath.

She smiled.

---

Yes yes I know what you are all thinking. The first: But Hondo? Who was the droids' master? That will be revealed in Chapter - Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan. The lovely Hera handled the handoff. Still a return of so many credits! Zeb will have so many space waffles to enjoy! And Kanan? He has a lot of plot armor on the show. Explosion here! Explosion there! Macho Jedi shrugs it off like a MYTHOSAUR! Did Hondo get that right? Yes. A MYTHOSAUR! But no, no, the boys all needed some care after this mission. And that scoundrel, Vizago! Admittedly, I probably would have done similar. The old me that is! And how Hondo agrees with both Sabine and Ezra. Training! With the Force! Hondo has seen what Jedi can do, and the power at the young Ezra's fingers! And the slingshot is fun, it's kid-friendly, it's going to get the kid killed! He does not wear a helmet like Agent Muttonchops! You think Hondo does not see this? You think the lovely Sabine does not see what's happening to her Diasa'yr? Her diamond in the rough? So many injuries and close calls! Ah, my friends. If this was a romance this is the moment in the story that the lovely Mando Girl would put on a nurse outfit and - OUCH! NO! Uncle Hondo will behave. That was just a glitch, I promise. A bit of the old me getting excited at the thought of the theft and the blasting. We're okay, yes? (Editor's note: there is no nurse outfit) I'm sorry my friends, it is time for Uncle Hondo to go now! And no, I have know idea what you should say when it comes to this chapter. So much to ponder and wonder! Bye bye now! Your humble and absolutely kid-friendly: Uncle Hondo! Lasat Punch!