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)

8. Chapter 8: Fighter Flight

Welcome back my most precious reader! My most favorite reader of all! Yes you! No where were we? Ah yes! We returned some droids and the boys they took some lumps. And Ezra saved Zeb, the Lasat Furball, he saved his life with his mastery of the mysterious Force! And now the impressed Sabine will swoon into his arms and Zeb will swear loyalty and the the droid he will put on a marching tune as Ezra's new space family carries him atop their shoulders in a majestic parade fit for a hero! Oh, Ezra. If life were that simple.

Fighter Flight

"And don't even think about coming back without at least one meiloorun fruit. Clear?"

"And don't even think about coming back without at least one meiloorun fruit. Clear?"

The two Spectres walked into the town of Kothal, each keeping their eyes open as they took in their surroundings. The people. The layout of the nearby buildings and streets. Escape routes in the event they were recognized by the ever growing presence of Imperials on Lothal. They took in everything.

Everything other than each other.
Ezra and Zeb had thrown some verbal jabs at each other when Hera first kicked them off the Ghost and into this supply run. But otherwise both males had kept their mouths shut and their fists balled.

Ezra didn't understand what Hera hoped to achieve by sending them together out here. Other than giving the others back at the ship some peace and quiet, which if that were the case then shouldn't Chopper be here too? As always he was the one that started this whole mess.

---

Earlier that day…

"Okay you can do this," Ezra said as he focused on the empty cereal bowl placed in front of him. His hands open just like they were when he had saved Zeb. He imagined the bowl in his mind and then reached out into his surroundings and felt the Force around him.

If he listened carefully he would hear it, that hum, that call. But since connecting with the Force regularly that call had become less and less noticeable. Now like any noise it was just part of the background, allowing Ezra to instead focus. Focus and feel.

Ezra closed his eyes.

Chopper stood across from him, making innocuous warbles in an attempt to throw Ezra off his game. But to no avail. His focus was absolute.

I can do this.

And the Force flowed through him, faint at first like a whisper. Stretching out Ezra felt his immediate surroundings. He could kind of feel Chopper but not really, it was different with droids. And then as he opened up more he could feel the ship around him. Feel Zeb snoozing in their shared cabin. Feel Sabine in her cabin, artwork probably. Gosh she's so pretty.

Focus!

Ezra let out a calming breath and opened himself up again. Hera was doing inventory and Kanan? He wasn't entirely sure. But Kanan felt like a powerful beacon of Force energy. It was practically blinding.

With the Force flowing through him, Ezra focused back on the table. Back on the bowl sitting in front of him.

Gently he reached out.

Furrowing his brow Ezra concentrated. And concentrated. Until finally he heard it. The bowel was moving!

Excitedly Ezra peeked open his left eye first and then his other as he used the Force to lift the bowel from the table!

He did it!

"Yes!" Ezra exclaimed excitedly.

"Wah. Wah." Chopper warbled and the clicking and whining of his motor servos could be heard, as the orange and white astromech menace stretched out his motivator arm showing off his ability to lift the bowl.

"Very funny," Ezra said and glared and leaned forward. "But I don't need your help."

"WAH, WAH, WAH!"

The next thing he knew Chopper had thrown the bowl and it smacked Ezra right in the chest. As anger mixed with disappointment bubbled up inside of the boy, he knew there was no way he could focus now. And it was all one little droid's fault!

"Chopper!" Ezra yelled and leaped forward at the pest, only to miss. Chopper was two steps ahead and out the galley door. He was rolling so fast he left skid marks through the lounge. As well he should.

Chasing after the troublesome droid, when Ezra got his hands on him he'd shock the little trash compactor until all his circuits were fried!

"Come back here you rolling junk pile!"

Chopper just continued on with his maniacal cackling and continued rolling down the corridor of the crew quarters - including Sabine's. Her door was open to help with fumes as she focused on her latest work. And just like that the teenage boy had forgotten all about the droid, his focus was entirely on her. The girl of his dreams.

She's so pretty.

Ezra took a deep breath and threw on his best suave. So focused on her work she probably didn't even realize he was there. Perfect. And remember! Be smooth.

"Oh, hey, Sabine," Ezra said, his voice smooth as silk as he perched himself in the open doorway of her cabin. "I see you're painting stuff."

"Well, nothing gets past you, kid," Sabine said and paused in her work to respond. Then she looked at him thoughtfully. "Move any bowls yet?

Ezra held back a sigh at the kid nickname bestowed on him not just by Sabine but by nearly all the crew. A constant reminder of his age and status amongst them. He shook his head. Regroup! Won't be a kid forever, he reminded himself. I'll be Jedi Master Ezra. Only a matter of time.

"Well you know how it is, Sabine," Ezra commented and gave a dismissive wave of the hand. "Perfection can't be rushed."

"Mmhmm," Sabine said. "What about the piloting manuals? And the blaster training? Find anytime to fit those into your busy schedule?"

He idly tapped the door with his fingers and cleared his throat. Smooth be smooth. "Oh it'll happen, don't you worry," Ezra answered.

"Right," Sabine monotoned. "Perfection can't be rushed."

"And you know?" Ezra said. "If you ever need a little inspiration with your art…"

"Yeah." Sabine said and gave a scoff. "Then I'll be sure to look elsewhere."

Ouch! Okay, okay! Don't panic! Just regroup! Regroup!

"Wahbah, wahbah, wah!" Chopper said from behind Ezra, the droid having successfully snuck back up on his current victim. Then he did a wheelie and pushed through the door and into Ezra's room!

"Chopper!" Ezra yelled. "Stay out of my room!" But the door had closed behind the droid, leaving Ezra stuck in the hallway.
Fighting back the urge to rush after Chopper and begin the dismantling, Ezra looked back at Sabine. But the girl's attention was back on her art and was using her paint applicator. Stupid droid. He threw me off my game!

"Gotta go!" Ezra said to Sabine before heading after Chopper - again . He hoped Sabine would understand and let him make it up to her later.

Upon entering his cabin, Ezra looked things over carefully. Zeb was snoozing in his bottom bunk. Not a bad way to spend a day off. But where did that evil little droid go?

"Kid, you wake me, you die." Zeb said without opening his eyes. The threat in his voice was palpable, Ezra didn't need the Force to feel that.

Unfortunately that was when Chopper chose his moment to strike! Without warning a large voltage of electricity rippled over Ezra, with Chopper making great use of his onboard electroshock probe.

Ezra's painful cry was accompanied by Chopper's gleeful laugh of chaos. Pushing the pain aside Ezra faced the droid just in time to dodge another incoming jolt of electricity. Bad news for Chopper as Ezra's trusty reflexes kicked in and saved him.

But the sleeping Zeb wasn't so lucky as Chopper's electric bolt slammed into the slumbering Lasat, causing him to spasm and wriggle in pain from the attack. He also rolled off the bunk and Ezra, no longer the target of Chopper's antics, doubled over and covered his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

Not that it did him any good as Zeb picked himself up off the deck and sneered at the sight of both Ezra and Chopper laughing at him. "It's his fault!" Ezra said and pointed at Chopper.

Snarling like a wounded reek, the large Lasat lifted himself off the floor and towered over them both. The orange droid. The orange clad boy. All Zeb saw was orange.
"I don't care." Zeb spat. "I'm crushing you both."

Chopper made a run for it and ordinarily Ezra would be right behind the droid, but today he had a certain card up his sleeve.

"That's Lasat gratitude for you," the boy said and placed his hands on his hips. Zeb came closer, rolling up his sleeves in anticipation of knocking Ezra's teeth in. But the Lothalite stood his ground. "All I did was save your life from an Imperial agent." Ezra lifted his finger and pointed it at Zeb. "Or did that slip your mind?"

The attitude in the kid's voice. The smug look on his face that Zeb wanted to hit so hard. The truth of the matter. Zeb sighed and lowered his fists. The kid was right and it frustrated Zeb to no end.

"How could it?" Zeb said. "You remind me every 23 seconds." Zeb turned to head back to his bunk, the sting of Chopper's shock wearing off. The same couldn't be said for Ezra as he followed behind, continuing with his "lecture."

"You know, Zeb," Ezra said. "In some places when a man owes you his life, he's your servant forever."

With shoulders hunched Zeb sat down on his bunk and eyed Ezra. Honor was in Zeb's blood. And he still felt a twinge of embarrassment when he thought back to their first meeting and he had left Ezra behind on that Star Destroyer. He probably always will. But that was then. This was now and there are going to be boundaries.

"Well," Zeb said. "This isn't someplace. It's my place. So get out!"

"Sorry, roomie." Ezra said and approached the ladder that led to the top bunk of the cabin's two beds. "No deal."
Zeb closed his eyes as Ezra climbed the ladder up to his assigned bunk.

Hera, Kanan, and even Sabine had explained it to Zeb a dozen times each. Zeb STILL didn't understand WHY he ended up with the kid as a roommate. It was Kanan and Hera's idea to take him on and yes they asked Zeb if he would be okay with Ezra joining on full time. But it still made no sense to Zeb why? Why make them roommates?

Sabine and Hera needed their space, Zeb understood that. But why not Kanan? He was the other Jedi. He was the kid's Master or Professor or whatever Jedi have. Why-

The middle section of Ezra's bunk came loose and it (along with Ezra) crashed down into the bottom bunk - and Zeb.

---

Happily Sabine continued her art, though Ezra's comments weren't lost on her.

Moving bowls?

Kanan said he'd begin "formal training" but so far it looks like Ezra was still lone wolfing the Jedi training. She knew Kanan had hurt his head on the last mission but was it so hard to give the kid a few pointers?

She shook her own head, banishing the thoughts. She had a day off and she wasn't about to waste it. She just hoped Ezra's training wasn't as bad as his flirting. The kid's crush was cute (in an adorable puppy dog sort of way) and so were his attempts at charming her.

And Sabine had to give him credit, he was determined. But it didn't change anything. Even if Sabine was interested in a relationship right now, it wouldn't be with the kid. They'd been through a lot together, more than she would have ever thought in so short a time. But she was coming to see him as not just a crewmate or friend but as a kid brother.

Ezra and Tristan were roughly the same age.

Sabine smiled at memories of her younger brother. As messed up as her biological family was, she never blamed Tristan. For any of it. And while it wasn't exactly the same, Ezra was filling a void in her heart without him even realizing. It felt nice.

And someday Ezra would grow out of this amusing fourteen year old boy phase and see Sabine just how she saw him. She had told Hera as much the day after the mission with the disruptors and droids. Sabine looked forward to that day. Until then though she'd deal.

Sabine leaned forward to add another layer of paint when a crash came across the hall.

Zeb and Ezra's room. The Mando Girl smiled and turned away from her art, eagerly awaiting. It didn't take long.

"It's not my fault!" Ezra cried as he came running out of their shared room.

"Tell it to my fist!" Zeb yelled.

Keeping out sight Sabine grinned as Ezra, wisely, made a run for it. With fists raised Zeb wasn't stopping for nothing. Popping her head out of her own cabin she watched Ezra grab a ladder and drop down to the next deck, with Zeb still chasing.

"Wah, wah."

Sabine looked over and saw Chopper not so innocently standing next to her door, and having just as much fun watching a furious Zeb chasing after Ezra. He then shot out both of his arm manipulators revealing the cause of the mishap.

"The bolts from Ezra's bunk?" Sabine said and crossed her arms at Chopper. She tried to sound contrite but the little guy was just so cute and made things entertaining. She couldn't stay mad at him. Especially when she wandered across the hall and took in the scene of Chopper's little disaster.

She could see it in her head. How it happened. The reactions on each of their faces.

"Hmm," Sabine said as she touched her chin to the paint applicator still in her hand. Ideas raced through her mind as she spotted one particular empty area on the wall. "Needs a little something."

Sabine grinned. What was it her little Diasa'yr had said? Inspired? Sabine's grin widened as she continued to eye the empty wall space. She had a feeling the boys would be busy for a while.

---

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

Ezra sped through the Ghost, sensing Kanan's presence out as he reached the platform above the cargo bay. Behind him came the monstrous roars of the angry Lasat.

Without a second to spare Ezra grabbed the ladder and rode it down to relative safety. Zeb wouldn't try anything in front of Kanan after all. Right?

A ferocious blur of purple flew through the air and slammed into not only Ezra but the carefully placed crates Kanan had finished stacking. Not that Ezra could see much. Zeb had him in a full mount and with his giant hands slamming Ezra down into the deck all Ezra could see was gnashing snarling teeth and green eyes of fury.
Anytime now Kanan!

"Ahem-hem," a different voice spoke up, one that caught everyone's attention.
Standing atop the platform above them was Hera, looking down at Zeb and Ezra - as well as the crates Kanan had just finished stacking.

She wasn't happy.
Ezra closed his eyes, cursing the orange droid. He didn't know how. But somehow he just knew that Chopper was the mastermind behind all of this.

And now he and Zeb were going to be the ones who paid.

---

"Enough. This is my ship you're wrecking and I want you off it."

"Hera, be reasonable," Zeb said.

"Come on. You know what he's like." Ezra said. Hera's response was to hand Ezra a list on datapad. "What's this?"

"A market list. The town of Kothal's two clicks to the south and I'm sending you both on a supply run."

"With him!?" Ezra and Zeb had both balked, pointing at each other.

"With each other," Hera said. "Oh. And don't even think about coming back without at least one meiloorun fruit. Clear?"

Yeah, Ezra thought as he walked down the bustling market street of Kathol. Some much for a day off. At least the Furball had split and gone off on his own as soon as they entered the town. Seriously. What was Hera thinking?

Ezra reached the produce stalls and began searching. He smiled at an excitable Rodian fruit vendor. His assignment sucked and he was missing out on crucial Sabine time and Force training. But it was still good to get out and see more of his homeworld.

He hadn't been to Kothal in a while but it was a good town with good people. And he wasn't even here to steal anything. His Loth-rat days were over. He was a Rebel, whatever that meant.
"Ezra?" a voice called.

Oh kriff, spotted! Instinctively Ezra prepared to run when the voice called again, only this time he recognized it. He turned and spotted an older man with worn gloves and a faded purple shirt hovering over his own produce stall back a ways from the other stalls and vendors. He recognized the man immediately.

"Is that Ezra Bridger?"

"Mister Sumar?" Ezra said, his voice warm at the sight of the old farmer and walked over to his market stall. It had been years.

"Ezra." Sumar said, his voice equally warm and chuckled in fondness of Ezra. "Look how you've grown. Here, have a jogan." Sumar said and tossed one of the purple fruits to Ezra.

"Thanks." Ezra said and then had a thought. "Don't suppose you have any meilooruns?"

"Meilooruns?" Mister Sumar said and looked at Ezra oddly, as if waiting for the punchline to a joke. Realizing Ezra was serious, Sumar shook his head and chuckled. "Meilooruns don't grow on Lothal."

Ezra frowned. "They don't?" He thought harder and then it hit him. Hera. "No," Ezra said. "Of course they don't," and then facepalmed himself with the hand not holding the jogan. The last thing he needed was Zeb to pop up and laugh at jogan-faced Ezra.

Mister Sumar leaned forward, his wrinkled eyes friendly and wanting to help Ezra. "I suppose you could find an off-world importer, but it'd cost you," Sumar warned.

Handing me free fruit. Cautioning me about the prices of food. Mister Sumar must be one of the few people in all of Lothal who didn't know of my stealing to survive.
"Right," Ezra said and a plan began to take shape in his head. He waved to Mister Sumar, thankful. "Well, great seeing you again." But as Ezra turned he froze.

A dozen meters down the street an Imperial officer and a trio of stormtroopers. And as Ezra squinted real hard the officer looked familiar. He pointed in Ezra's direction and the rebel ducked out of sight next to a stall. As the Imperials passed by, not noticing him, he got a better look at the officer.

Supplymaster Lieutenant Lyste, Ezra recognized. The same idiot who was in charge of the crates the day he met Kanan and the others.

There were a few things Ezra had made a point of since joining the Ghost, aside from learning the ship: its maintenance, its weapons, and even the basics when it came to flying. There was also training in the Force and of course charming Sabine. All important. One of the smaller but also important things he'd focused on was learning the faces of each of the Imperials officers garrisoned on Lothal.

It wasn't that hard. Just a few holonet searches and he was visiting the holonet site of your friendly Imperials of Lothal. All it was was names, faces, and ranks. But with all the continued run-ins with the Imps on Lothal, Ezra figured it paid to know which ones to watch out for. And which ones would get lost in their own barracks.

But Lyste was in Capital City. Who decided it was a good idea to allow this idiot to go way out to Kothal with just a few stormtroopers as backup? Ezra wondered. Sticking to the shadows, Ezra trailed the small patrol to find out what they were up to.

It didn't take long, and what Ezra saw caused his blood to chill. Lyste had led his small detachment right to Mister Sumar! Ezra watched carefully, as concern for his friend grew.

"There there. Sumar!" Lyste said. "Have you changed your mind?"

"No," Mister Sumar said and crossed his arms over his chest. "I told you. I'm not selling my farm."

"Hmph," Lyste said. "Very well." Ezra watched as Lyste then turned and led his stormtroopers down the street.

Ezra frowned. No negotiating? No threatening? Lyste expected this response from Mister Sumar. Ezra closed his eyes and groaned as realization sunk in.

Tarkintown. He had to warn Mister Sumar. Once Lyste and the Imperials were out of sight Ezra left his hiding spot and walked back to Mister Sumar, only to see him closing up his stall.

"Mister Sumar," Ezra said.

"Oh? Sorry, Ezra, I'm closing for today. But I'll be here tomorrow, be sure."

"No," Ezra said. "You won't."

Mister Sumar frowned and Ezra gulped.

"I don't know how many times Lyste or others like him have asked you, but the Empire is done taking "no" for an answer." He let out a breath, it pained Ezra to have to tell Mister Sumar this. "Every farmer that has stood up and told the Empire no has had their land seized and then shipped off to this tent village in the middle of nowhere never to be heard from again."

"Tent town? Oh you mean that Tarkintown rumor," Mister Sumar said.

"It's no rumor, I've seen it," Ezra said.

"Hmm, that is disturbing. But if the Empire wants to take my land it'll have to take it. And it won't take it without a fight." Mister Sumar smiled at Ezra as he finished packing up. "I appreciate your concern Ezra, but I think I can handle that Lyste fool and a few pushover troopers."

Mister Sumar finished packing up his merchandise. Ezra took up a few bags of the produce and helped him load his old beaten-up landspeeder.

"Thank you, Ezra," Mister Sumar said and then looked at the boy thoughtfully. "Tell you what. I promise to give it some thought. Talk it over with my wife."

Ezra shook his head. "That's not good enough. They're done asking, and the Empire doesn't waste time. As soon as Lyste has his troopers he'll-"

"Ezra," Mister Sumar interrupted. "I promise you I'll talk it over with my wife," Mister Sumar said. With that Mister Sumar climbed into the land speeder and pulled away, heading down a side street that would lead him out of the town.

Kriff.

Well now what am I supposed to do?

"Any luck?" Zeb asked, coming up from behind Ezra with a couple boxes the size of Ezra in his big hairy Lasat arms.

Luck? Ezra thought and then eyed the giant furball had overheard. Only Zeb didn't seem overly worried about Ezra's friend.

"Yeah," Zeb said, and with Ezra's confusion still exhibited he growled. "Meilooruns?"

Oh. The stupid fruit that doesn't even grow on Lothal. Ezra had forgotten all about Hera's joke on them, what with Mister Sumar about to be carted off to Tarkintown in chains. "No," Ezra said. "And I don't think Hera meant for us to have luck. Meilooruns don't grow here."

"Heh," Zeb jeered. "And the Lothal-rat forgot all about that, did he?" When Ezra didn't rise to the bait Zeb glanced around the marketplace. "Well, someone has to be selling those things. Here, take this," Zeb said and shoved one of the large boxes into Ezra's hands. "I'll go find one."

That seemed to get through to Ezra, and the boy's anxiousness was replaced with that insufferable smirk. "Seriously? You want me to carry your supplies after saving your life?" Ezra said as he struggled to balance the large crate in his arms.

It was the last straw for Zeb. Marching forward his momentum shoved Ezra back, the boy back wheeling to keep from falling. "Stop saying you saved my life." With one last shove Ezra stumbled back into a crate, jarring the lid loose and surprising the two Spectres at what was inside.

"Meilooruns!" Ezra and Zeb proclaimed excitedly.

Zeb took Ezra's large box back into his arms and Ezra looked around for the seller, it took him only moments to spot the green Rodian vendor. The two smiled and approached the stall.

"How much for the whole crate?" Zeb asked the vendor.

Ezra was thinking the same thing. One meiloorun? Thinks she's so clever. Wait 'till Hera sees this.

"I'm sorry. They're already sold." The Rodian vendor replied.

Oh really, Ezra thought. "Well, maybe we can buy one from…"

The lid slammed down on the crate of fruit and all three turned to see a stormtrooper pick up the crate of meilooruns and then walk away, taking the fruit with him.

"From the Empire?" the Rodian scoffed. "Yeah, good luck."

Ezra and Zeb shared a glance and quickly ran into the shadows and out of sight. Together they stealthily followed the stormtrooper. Luck? Please. They were Spectres. Luck has nothing to do with what they were capable of.

More importantly it was a matter of pride. Hera tried to trick them, well they would show her. The Lasat and the Loth-rat continued to shadow the stormtrooper until they reached a loading bay on the edge of town. To neither of their surprise there was an armored troop carrier currently being used for cargo.

And the crate of meilooruns was being stacked at the very top of the crates already loaded onto the transport's roof.

Ezra did the math. Four stormtroopers and an armed transport. Just him and Zeb and no weapons, well except for his trusty slingshot. For all of Sabine's issues with his slingshot, it was handy to have on hand and no one ever suspected his comlink brace doubled as a weapon.

Ezra smiled, but Zeb wasn't.

"What are you smiling about?" Zeb asked.

"The obvious answer to our problem." Ezra replied smugly.

Zeb growled and pushed Ezra down behind a stack of crates. Out of sight of the Imperials Zeb kneeled down and shook his head. "No."

"Hey, it's not like we've never stolen from the Empire before." Ezra pointed out, his voice still carrying that smugness.

"Right." Zeb said doubtfully. "So what's the plan, kid?" Ezra felt Zeb's light punch hit his shoulder. "You gonna use the Force?" Zeb taunted.

"Maybe." Ezra said at the sound of doubt in Zeb's voice. "Sure. Why not?"

In truth there were only four stormtroopers. Ezra figured they'd get close and Zeb would knock out two while Ezra used the element of surprise to pick the others off with his slingshot and use his stun baton as well if needed.

But then Zeb decided to run his mouth about his Force ability. That changed things.

Ezra leaned out from the stack of cargo crates they were hiding behind and focused on the crates of meilooruns. It was a fair distance, and the sight of a magical floating meiloorun would definitely draw some eyes. But none of that mattered.

Not when pride was on the line.

Ezra closed his eyes and reached out his hand. Using the Force Ezra could see the lid in his mind's eyes. He could feel it, and he could feel the cusp of its lid. All he had to do was wrap his fingers around it and pull the lid off.

It didn't give easily but he could feel it shift and wiggle. He almost had it.

Which was when a stormtrooper noticed the lid had come loose and shoved it back into place. Ezra opened his eyes and he heard Zeb's laugh.

The furball put a hand on Ezra's back and shook his head. "We should go."

"You go. I'm getting what we came for," Ezra said and slipped out Zeb's reach before the Lasat could coral him.

"Wait, kid," he heard Zeb say but Ezra was already into the loading area, sneaking from crate to crate.

He didn't get Zeb, Ezra thought as he neared the transport. Brash and full of himself. Always happy to stick it to the Empire. But he chickens out here over stealing fruit? Whatever. If he wanted to give up and go back to the ship then fine. He'd show him. He'd show them all.

Ezra Bridger, Jedi Master.

Spotting a rock lying on the ground, Ezra picked it up and tossed it in the opposite direction of the transport. It landed in a shadow not far from the nearby stormtrooper that stood in Ezra's path. Distracted by the noise from the rock as it hit the ground, the stormtrooper went to investigate. And Ezra had a clear path to the transport.

Or so he thought, Ezra frowned and looked around. Not one or two but three armored troop transports. And even more stormtroopers. Ezra dropped to all fours and began to crawl.

In his mind this was good news. Had he used the Force there was no way he'd have telekinetically floated the fruit over to them without drawing attention. Meanwhile his thieving skills? Nothing to it, Ezra thought and reached the open hatch to the transport.

With no stormtroopers in sight he hopped and gripped the topmost frame to the hatch. Finding solid purchase Ezra pulled himself up and smiled at the crate of meilooruns sitting right before him, completely unattended.

He lifted the lid and reached in to take one and smiled. All too easy. Unable to contain himself Ezra looked at where Zeb was still crouched and held up the fruit triumphantly.

Wait 'till Sabine hears about this.

"You there!" Ezra looked down to see three stormtroopers with three blaster rifles all pointed directly at him.

Or maybe he wouldn't tell Sabine about this.

"I'll just put this back," he said and carefully lifted the lid and put the meiloorun back.

Which was when several large cargo crates came flying through the air and crashed into the stormtroopers. One dropped after another as the heavy crates thrown by a very strong Lasat slammed into their bodies.

Good luck explaining those injuries to their doctors.

"Hey kid!" Zeb called as he picked up another crate, arm pitched back ready to throw. "Run!"

Realizing that Zeb had a point, Ezra dropped down from the transport and landed in a crouch, the sound of running feet coming to his right. He looked and saw more stormtroopers being led by none other than everyone's favorite Imperial Supply Master Lieutenant Lyste.

Yes. It paid to know the faces and names of the Imps on the planets you worked. But as incompetent as Lyste was, the idiot could likely still hit a target sitting out in the middle of the open.

A target like me.

Wasting no more time Ezra ran for it with Zeb joining him, and together they ran out the way they came. No blaster shots but the Imperials were definitely after them. The two Spectres glanced over their shoulders. Yup definitely after them!

"You made me lose the rest of the supplies!" Zeb snapped as they ran. "At least we're even."

"Even? Please." Ezra fired back and looked at Zeb like he had lost it. "I had the whole situation under control."

Ezra heard the Lasat's growl a moment before he took Ezra by the collar of his shirt and yanked him off the ground. "Come here!"

With no other option Ezra was hauled along. Zeb turned a corner, losing line of sight with their pursuers and the next thing Ezra knew they were climbing. Climbing up the sheer vertical wall of a building.

And Zeb was hanging on with nothing but the nails of his toes and fingers. How is that even possible? Ezra wondered. As they neared the top Zeb and Ezra looked downwards to see the two stormtroopers pursuing them had stopped and were looking confused.

"Where'd they go?" One said and Ezra knew they had seconds before one of them looked up. Zeb did as well because with one herculean effort Zeb tossed Ezra up and over the lip of the rooftop. The teen sprawled across the hard surface of the roof. He'd feel that in the morning, but he was out of sight.

Which was more than what could be said for Zeb, a thought that was punctuated when in a few short moments the retorts of blaster rifles barked out from the narrow alley below. Zeb was a sitting duck on that wall. Ezra pulled himself up and scrambled to the edge of the rooftop and looked down.

It wasn't good. Zeb was a good fifteen meters up and even stormtroopers could hit at that distance. Zeb tried to make the last few meters to the top but it wasn't happening, the blaster shots were becoming more precise. They'd have him in moments. So Zeb did what Zeb always did, he snarled and pushed off the wall with arms held wide.

He aimed well and clobbered the two bucketheads when he fell atop them. That was one way to handle the problem!

"Zeb!" Ezra called down.

"Just keep going." Zeb called back. "I'll catch up to you." He then made a run for it as five more stormtroopers entered the alley to find Zeb running and their two compatriots knocked out on the ground.

And then the stormtrooper leading the hastily assembled squad did something unusual. He called for a halt and began a quick inspection of the scene with the two unconscious stormtroopers. He then looked up and his focus narrowed in on… me. Me and the scorched blaster marks dotting the wall just below where I was leaning.

Kriff.

"Split up!" the stormtrooper commanded and the group broke up. Some headed after Zeb and the others, well Ezra wasn't about to hang out to find out. He needed distance, fast. As he ran he thought about Zeb and how they were going to meet up and get back out of this. Kathol was a decently sized town as far as Lothal went. But it wasn't big like Capital City or even Garel. And neither he nor Zeb knew its exact layout. If the Empire was here in force they'd eventually be cornered.

Blaster fire and he could feel the heat radiating off the bolts as they passed by him. Ezra did his best to weave and dodge but the narrow rooftops he had been thrown atop offered only so much room. But there was a gap ahead, a big one. One that only someone with the Force would be able to cross.

He couldn't consciously tap into the Force, and maybe he never would. But subconsciously he knew now he always had been. Particularly when it came to being a street rat. When to run. When to hide. And maybe a little extra help to get over a large wall. And that was the kind of thing he needed right now.

So, like the dozens of times before, Ezra trusted his instincts as he dodged without looking back. His instincts were right and no blaster bolt found him. A few meters from the jump he put in an extra burst of speed and jumped as far as possible and sure enough he easily reached the next rooftop.

Ezra grinned, knowing that the stormtroopers chasing him were undoubtedly wondering just what had happened. They looked pretty winded too. Maybe they should've spent a few less hours at the mess hall and some more time at the gym.

The young boy's inner sass took a backseat when a moment later he realized he they weren't the only stormtroopers up here, Ezra realized and dropped his head just in time to avoid a blaster bolt aimed at him by a distance of less than a meter.

Two more stormtroopers had just popped up on the same rooftop as him! And they were in fresh shape!

Oh come on, Ezra groaned inwardly.

He put on some more speed, drew back his sling, and ducked into cover just in time to quickly pelt both stormtroopers with shots from his slingshot. The hit but they did little more than cause them to stumble for a moment.

So much for his trusty slingshot.

Groaning, Ezra grabbed the headstart and the race was on - again. Instead of looking over his shoulder he continued to rely on his instincts to avoid blaster fire and it was working. In the distance he spotted a wall that he could leap to and they wouldn't follow.

And then he heard the familiar howl of a TIE fighter.

"Great. Just what I need." Ezra muttered and glanced from the TIE to the roofs he was racing on. A stray thought of would the Empire resort to trying to hit him at the risk of destroying Kothal homes and businesses?

It'd be stupid. It'd wreck whatever good will the Empire still retained on Lothal. But with Lyste in charge?

He couldn't risk it and Ezra began to look for a way out, when the TIE drew close enough he could nearly jump to it. And see the pilot! Zeb! The Lasat waved at him cheekily. Where did he get that thing!

Ezra's worn street shoes kept pounding the stone architecture of Kothal's rooftops, he glanced back at the TIE and winced when Zeb tried to shift it so it could face him only to nearly crash it into the street.

Less blaster fire now and Ezra slowed his pace, bringing up his wrist comlink to speak.

"You're going to kill someone!" Ezra yelled into the comm. A blaster bolt burned through the air, missing him by less than a meter. He needed to get out of here, and despite Zeb's poor piloting the small ship was just close enough. "Let me in!"

But the TIE's hatch didn't open, instead his comlink blinked and Zeb's voice began. "So now, I'd be saving your life, right?"

Ezra was huffing and puffing, clearing yet another gap between buildings. "What?" Ezra said in astonishment. Then shook his head. "Yeah, sure. Yes!"

This was insane!

"Whatever!" Ezra seethed, but the hatch still didn't open.

"If I let you in, we're even." Zeb said.

Unbelievable! Ezra fought back the urge to reply with something nasty. Ezra threw his arms up and looked up at the TIE. "Fine!"

"You have to say it!" Zeb demanded.

"All right, all right. We're even. Now let me in before I run out of roof!"

"Heh, oh yeah." Zeb said and Ezra just knew that the thought hadn't even occurred to him. Still the TIE dropped a few meters and the hatch popped open. Without wasting a step Ezra leapt and dove into the cockpit headfirst, his body landing between Zeb and the fighter's controls.

Whoops.

Zeb threw him off to the side as the TIE dipped below the rooftops of the buildings lining the narrow street that made up Kothal's marketplace. Any lower and he'd be clipping the stalls with the TIE's large solar panels on its wingtips. And any lower than that…

Ezra reached for the controls but Zeb shoved him back. "Don't crowd me, kid. I'm flying here."

"You don't know how. Let me," Ezra said. That wasn't entirely true but he had been glancing at those training manuals. And flying a TIE wasn't hyperspace physics. Ezra pushed Zeb and fought for the controls. "You're gonna crash!"

"Let go!" Zeb said and fought back.

Suddenly the green colored Rodian that had been importing the meiloorun fruits was visible through the TIE's viewport and only getting closer.

Ezra had his hand on the control's left handle, Zeb had his big purple one on the right. "Turn the ship!"

"I'm trying!" Zeb yelled. He overpowered Ezra and took control of the TIE again, but not before accidentally brushing someone's hands over the fighter's firing button.

The sound of the cannon firing filled the cockpit and to Ezra's horror he watched as the familiar green arcs of laser fire destroyed the Rodian's fruit stall. He couldn't be sure but it looked like the Rodian had leapt for safety. Meanwhile his produce went flying in the air and, inconveniently, splattered itself over the transparisteel cockpit.

They were flying blind and only a few meters off the ground!

Zeb pulled back on the controls, gaining some altitude at last. Though his control over the TIE's horizontal axis was still shaky. "I can't see a thing!" He growled.

"Gain altitude. Zeb." Ezra said as calmly as he could, his nerves were frayed and adrenaline was spiking in his body but he had to keep it together.

"I know," Zeb said shortly.

But the TIE continued along the same trajectory, Ezra was about to remind him when he felt a slightest tug come at him from out of nowhere. But just as quickly as it was there it had gone.

Weird.

---

Not quite Ezra's eyes Sabine thought as she continued working on her latest project. She had her eyes closed and tried to picture the kid in her mind, especially his eyes. She'd been stuck on them for the past ten minutes and didn't have much success when suddenly out of nowhere it was as if he was standing in front of her clear as day.

And looking a little freaked.

Sabine opened her eyes and frowned.

Weird.

But the brief flicker of him in her mind's eye did the trick and she gave her paint selection a stir and smiled at the appropriate shade of blue.

There's my inspiration, she thought. She was about to get back to it when she saw Hera pause by the cabin's opened door. The female Twi'lek was not expecting to see Sabine in Ezra and Zeb's cabin, and already had the question of why poised on her lips.

But Sabine didn't let her get that far and hurried to the doorway holding her arms out blocking entry.

"Sorry, Hera. No entry." Sabine said with as cheery a smile as possible.

But Hera was no fool, she could smell the paint from here. "You do realize this isn't your room?" She questioned her. It was a valid point, especially with the earlier argument between the room's actual inhabitants. Hera didn't need more drama today.

"I was inspired." Sabine said and quickly added, "It was Ezra's idea."

That much was true and with another winning smile Sabine closed the door and went back to her work.

She didn't have a lot of time and was determined to get his eyes just right.

---

Zeb was tense, Ezra didn't need to look at him to know it. He could feel it. And what's worse he had stopped listening.

"Pull back and climb higher," Ezra tried again. "Gain some altitude."

"I know what I'm doing," Zeb responded. He glanced back at Ezra and then back to the fruit smeared canopy. It was impossible to see out of. "How can you tell?"

Ezra tensed. He couldn't. And yet his instincts were screaming at him. He was so focused he missed Zeb's comment about cleaning the window. Staring straight ahead, he didn't need to see the danger. He could feel it.

Too late to climb.

"We need to turn." Ezra said. Zeb ignored him and Ezra's eyes widened. "Turn!" The boy leapt for the controls and gave a sharp pull to the right. The TIE responded to the yank and banked a hard right, its solar panels missing one of Lothal's rock formations by mere meters.

Gasping in shock at how close they'd come, Zeb looked and stared at Ezra for an explanation. "How did you know?"

The kid closed his eyes and shook his head. "Not sure," Ezra said. "I just knew."

That wasn't true. It was the Force and both Spectres knew it. The nervous laughter on Zeb's face showed both gratitude and worry.

Ezra's abilities were manifesting quickly and Kanan despite his promises their Fearless Leader was still dragging his feet on any of Ezra's formal Jedi training. Something that Ezra, Hera, and Sabine kept dropping hints about. But for one reason or another Kanan always had some excuse to postpone it.

"Good. That's good," Zeb said. Ezra didn't know it but in that moment he had not only gained Zeb's trust but also an ally in his mission for training. Not that Zeb was about to tell such a thing. "Now get out there and clean the canopy." Zeb insisted.

For a moment Ezra was taken aback. Zeb was right, but he wanted Ezra to do it mid flight? And what if Zeb ended up flying them toward another rock formation. What was Ezra supposed to do? Bang on the transparisteel and hope Zeb could read minds?

"Open the hatch," Ezra said. Zeb did so without thought, believing Ezra had agreed to his insane idea.

Instead when the hatch opened Ezra only crawled halfway out and peered around, happy to see there wasn't anything in the TIE fighter's immediate path and that the ground was pretty level.

"Okay," Ezra yelled. "Set her down now."

"What?" Zeb shouted, still under the illusion that Ezra intended to clean it while in flight.

"Set it down!"

"I can't see!"

"Now!"

"Gah!" Zeb snarled but just like before, he put his trust in Ezra and followed the kid's instructions. Slowly the TIE came to a hover and Zeb tilted the nose upward and engaged the craft's repulsors.

"Five meters," Ezra yelled to be heard above its engines. Zeb eyed the instrument panel and found what must've been the TIE's altimeter. Gently the Lasat set it down. "Okay!" Ezra yelled and then climbed out of the ball cockpit and went around to the front of the TIE.

Zeb had a nagging feeling he was forgetting something and played around with the instrument panel while Ezra cleaned off the canopy with the sleeve of his shirt. He'd need a change when they got back to the ship, and some time later in the fresher to clean it fully.

Zeb continued searching the instrumental panel until he found the fighter's sensor array and more importantly its scope. Ezra was making quick work and more than half the canopy had been cleaned of the fruit smatterings. But it was still taking too long for Zeb's liking.

So his green eyes remained glued to the sensor scope as the seconds slowly ticked by. Just sitting out here like this. Not even a buckethead could miss them.

At last Ezra deemed the TIE clean enough and he climbed up the front, feeling for the durasteel framings of its transparisteel windows. A moment later he dropped back into the cockpit and Zeb closed the hatch behind him. The Lasat wasted no time and immediately got the TIE back in the air.

"Enjoy yourself?" Zeb asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"A little fresh air never hurts," Ezra said, matching Zeb's sarcasm with his own. Though between the exhaust from the TIE and the stench of the spoiled fruit, the air had been anything but fresh. Still the canopy's translucent transparisteel was spick and span and he looked through outward but didn't recognize any landmarks. He hadn't when he had been outside cleaning either. "So where are we?"

Zeb pointed at a little dot on the TIE's sensor panel. "See that dot? That's us."

"Okay," Ezra said. "And where's that dot in relation to the Ghost. " The look on Zeb's face said it all. Ezra sighed and began looking around the instrument panel. "That's the comm," he said and pointed to one of the TIE's centermost controls. Ezra leaned in and began to fiddle with it, doing his best to remember what he read about adjusting the comm frequencies on these things.

The last thing he wanted to do was accidentally hail the Empire.

No longer in a hurry Zeb waited with content. His earlier worries gone now that they were in the air, he could enjoy himself. It wasn't often the Lasat got an opportunity to fly. And even though he'd blasted at them countless times, he was curious about what the TIE could do.

"Is there a way to keep this thing?" Ezra said, unknowingly voicing Zeb's own thoughts.

"You want to keep it?" Zeb said, curious as to Ezra's reasoning.

"Is it really that bad an idea? Think of what we could do with it? It'd make sneaking up on the Empire a lot easier."

Zeb grunted, then allowed a smile. "And you want to fly it," the Lasat said, correctly guessing Ezra's true motives.

"It looks like fun," Ezra admitted as he continued to search the fighter's communication interface, remembering all he could about changing frequencies. "And flying one beats looking at it from a training-holo."

"Heh, true enough," Zeb said in agreement. He'd snuck a quick read at one of those holos when the kid was detailed to organizing cargo. There was a lot of valuable information, but it made for dull reading.

"Got it," Ezra said after a long moment of tuning. He stepped away from the console and leaned against the spacecraft's pilot chair.

"Good," Zeb said, but he still had an inkling that they had forgotten something. Something very basic when it came to stealing ships. But they'd been out of contact long enough, it was time to call in. " Spectre-4 to Ghost."

"Go ahead, Spectre-4," Hera's voice greeted them from the comm. They both let out a silent breath of relief that they figured out the communications correctly.

"Right. Well," Zeb said and hesitated briefly. "We've had a bit of a problem."

"I thought you might," came Hera's response. "Look, don't worry about the meilooruns."

"Yeah, meilooruns. We found some," Ezra said. "But we lost them. Then we found them again, but we smashed them."

Zeb sighed and adjusted the TIE's heading to avoid a mountain top. "Just cut to the chase, kid."

Suddenly Kanan's voice cut in.

"Wait! What am I hearing? It sounds like… "

"Yeah, about that." Ezra said and then braced himself. "See, well, we stole a TIE fighter."

"You what!" Kanan shouted.

Zeb and Ezra collectively winced. "He's taking it better than I thought," Zeb whispered to Ezra.

"Get rid of it!" Kanan ordered.

"Do we have to?" Ezra and Zeb each exclaimed, their hopes dashed. Kanan's accompanying sigh of frustration was answer enough to their question.

"At least tell me you dismantled the locator beacon."

"Karabast," Zeb hissed, quietly so that only Ezra could hear. "Knew I'd forgotten something." He covered. "Of course." Zeb lied. "We're not fools."

Ezra's eyes widened in comprehension and shared a quick look with the Lasat, then dropped his pack and opened a readily available side pouch. From it he drew his multitool and with practiced ease opened its blade.

Zeb looked over his shoulder at Ezra. "Under there." He hissed with a nod toward a maintenance panel behind the pilot's chair. "The red wire. No, wait. The blue."

"Well, which one?" Ezra asked as he held the blade over the wires.

"It's the read and the blue," Kanan informed, not at all happy with the pair.

"Right. Got it." Ezra said then shook his head and smoothed his voice. "I mean, got it a long time ago." He winced. There was no way anyone would buy that. Still a good con man always doubled down. "You know, back when we first boarded. Right away," Ezra said and lifted a finger. "Immediately."

Zeb glanced back at Ezra in disbelief. He didn't really believe they were buying this was he?

"Stealing a TIE attracts unwanted attention." Kanan lectured. "Rendezvous at Shadow Site 2. Fly straight there. Do not stop. And don't do anything."

The bite in Kanan's voice was obvious. "On our way," Zeb said. "Spectre-4 out." The big guy felt a bit sullen at his and Ezra's mess up when the kid leaned in and gave him a broad smirk.

"That went well," Ezra said, completely unapologetic and Zeb picked up on it immediately.

The Lasat smiled, his mood brightened. He liked Kanan but the man had had a bit of a chip on his shoulder of late. It felt good to give a little back.

"Yeah," Zeb said.

"Do you know which way we're supposed to go?" Ezra asked.

"No idea." Zeb smiled and leaned back in the chair, happy for the moment.

The pair took a couple minutes to watch the rolling Lothal landscape through the TIE's window. It was the first true moment of respite they'd gotten in some time. And it wasn't as if they could get in any more trouble.

"Shadow Site Two," Zeb said at last, breaking the companionable silence as he searched his memory.

"Yeah," Ezra said and leaned in to figure out the TIE's navigation system.

For security reasons no one on the team carried around the number of comm frequencies or meetup coordinates. If the Empire got their hands on those they could track and capture the Rebels no problem. At the same time it wasn't like they made it a regular habit to visit their shadow sites. They were meant for emergencies.

"Okay, I think I got it," Ezra said after cycling through several systems on the fighter's right panel. Zeb then read off the coordinates he believed to be correct and Ezra typed them in. "Try it," Ezra suggested.

"Okay." Zeb said and peered down at the main panel. "Navigation system's online." He then reached out and hit a button. "Course set for rendezvous point."

A moment passed and Zeb wondered again about the possibility of finding a place to stash the TIE. Keep it a secret just between him and Ezra, and probably Sabine knowing the kid and his quest to impress the girl. Not that she would be one to rat them out. She'd get a kick out of the thing too.

It was fun to fly and Zeb really wanted a chance to test out its weapons against some bucketheads. And the kid made a damn good point about it being useful. At the rate the team's encounters were going with the Empire, a TIE was bound to come in handy at some point.

His thoughts on this he missed the smoke on the horizon. Ezra did not.

"What's that?" Ezra said and pointed.

Looking back through the transparisteel the empty Lothal plains and its vast horizon weren't all that empty. That was a lot of smoke, and Zeb adjusted course to check it out. "Looks like smoke," Zeb stated.

Ezra stepped around to the other side of the cockpit and peered closer. "Yeah." Ezra said, his voice sounding edgy. Edgy and determined like a certain Jedi's. "Only I think I know where it's coming from."

He had seen that determination before, only not so much on the kid. And Zeb knew what it meant.

Karabast.

Ezra turned his eyes to Zeb and to the Lasat's surprise gave him the most pleading look he had ever seen on the kid. "Go check it out. Please," Ezra requested.

Kanan, Spectre-1, had given direct orders. Come straight back. Zeb rolled his eyes but relented and kept the TIE on the current heading, flying closer to the smoke. It wasn't long until they were over a fair-sized farm and its house and other buildings.

The smoke from the farmhouse, destroyed by what could only have been a blast from a heavy laser cannon told the story. "Friends of yours?" Zeb asked.

"Of my parents." Ezra answered, his tone tense. "Lieutenant Lyste was after him earlier in town. They wanted to buy his farm. Have for a while now, apparently."

Zeb nodded slowly. "Tarkintown."

"I warned him about going back," Ezra continued. "But it was only Lyste. Mister Sumar thought he'd have more time."

"He didn't want to back down," Zeb said and began to circle the TIE around the rest of the farm. "Can't fault him for that."

"I never said I did," Ezra hissed heatedly, his fist curling in agitation.

Zeb sighed and shook his head. "That had to be what, an hour ago at the longest? Thirty minutes by speeder I reckon. Lyste is an idiot, sure. But he knew what your friend's answer would be. You did good by warning him but he never stood a chance."

Zeb paused and looked at Ezra, studying him and could see the self-blame creeping up on the kid. He shook his head. "Don't do that. You warned them. You did all you could."

"Did I?" Ezra spoke. "I mean Lyste was right there in the loading bay. And we - and I?" He sighed. "I was too caught up with meilooruns."

On a hunch Zeb expanded his circling, checking the scope until three dots were detected on ground sensors. The TIE's sensors pinged them as friendlies, which only meant one thing. "There's a convoy of Imperial troop transports heading northwest," Zeb said and pointed at the sensor he readout. "Probably the same ones from town."

He turned to look at Ezra and the look on his face said it all.

"Karabast! I know that look," Zeb swore.

He felt Ezra lean in and rest a hand on his shoulder, the kid putting on the charm. "What's the worst that could happen?"

"Well," Zeb said and shrugged his shoulders. "We both wind up dead."

"Besides that."

And just like that, Zeb was in. "Oh, boy. Here goes nothing," the Lasat murmured and put the TIE on an intercept trajectory. "Okay we'll be coming up on them from Point Eighteen-Zero."

Ezra tilted his head, doing the math in his head. "So we're coming up directly behind them."

"It's what I said wasn't it?" Zeb said, then realized who exactly it was had said that. "Heh," Zeb said with a chuckle. "Look at you. You'll be manning a turret in no time."

And with that danger-sense of his he'd be damned good too.

In a few moments the three armored speeder transports came within visual range, and they were in a hurry. And as they came closer still Zeb and Ezra both saw the heavy laser turrets in the back of the transports.

"Karabast," Zeb cursed. "You know these things aren't shielded, right?"

"Yeah, but remember why we wanted a TIE in the first place?"

"Sure. Shooting bucketheads," Zeb said and grinned.

"That and infiltration," Ezra said. "We just gotta get close enough."

"No good." Zeb shook his head and pointed at a number on the sensor. "See that speed. Your good kid but that's too fast, even for you."

"Well," Ezra said and pointed at the TIE comm system. "Convince them."

"Karabast," Zeb muttered and moved the TIE closer until it was above the convoy. He decreased speed, coughed to clear his throat, and then hailed the lead transport. "Attention, transports. This is Imperial Commander Meiloorun."

Ezra smacked his arm. "Meiloorun? Seriously?" Zeb held up a finger to quiet him. Then he continued.

"There's a report of rebel activity in your sector. Reduce speed."

"Acknowledged, Commander," came the recognizable voice of the obedient and dim-witted Lieutenant Lyste.

Zeb and Ezra watched as the sensors detected the transports were slowing down. Zeb could hardly believe it himself. Lyste really was that big of an idiot. At the same time that meant this off the cuff rescue was a go.

"You sure, kid?" Zeb said.

"Just get me in close."

Wordlessly Zeb nodded and dropped altitude. He drew closer to the transports and then readjusted the speed of the TIE to pace them. Ezra had already opened the hatch and was standing halfway out, his long hair flying about in the wind. His eyes focused on the transport and the rescue of his friends.

Zeb tried not to stare too much at the transport's laser cannons, twin barrels of death at this range and pointed directly at the space he had positioned the TIE fighter. Still he gritted his teeth and kept it there for until he heard Ezra fist pound the hull. The signal.

He waited a few moments to give the kid adequate time to jump then pushed the throttle and shot over the transport. Sure enough Ezra had successfully dropped from the TIE and onto the transport, with nothing but his slingshot. Karabast. When's Hera going to get the kid a proper blaster?

But Zeb had trust in the kid and cleared the convoy, waiting for the next part in Ezra's "plan."

"Nice flying, Commander Meiloorun," Ezra whispered as the TIE flew off, its entry hatch still open. He had bounced his landing a little but regained his footing and was now standing tall atop of the transport. Ready to not just help his people, but to set them free.

As Zeb flew off Ezra did a quick inventory check to make sure he had all his gear, and then he went to work. This was a real fly by the seat of the pants rescue. They had no idea if the prisoners were inside the transports or caged on the outside.

Ezra was really hoping for the latter. With only Zeb for backup and with the safety of not only himself but Mister Sumar and whomever else the Imperials captured. Well. The least amount of complications the better the chances of them all getting out alive.

As Ezra began his search he heard Lyste's voice over his comlink as the Imperial Lieutenant contacted the good old Commander Meiloorun.

"This is Supply Master Lyste, Lsm-03. My men reported a stolen TIE."

"That's not the TIE you're looking for." Zeb's response over the comm caused Ezra to wince.

That's not the TIE you're looking for? Seriously?

"It's - uh - totally different TIE. I sent it to seek out the rebels."

"Commander," Lyste addressed. "Repeat your operating number."

Zeb hissed over the comm, trying to sound like static. If the situation wasn't life or death Ezra would've found it hilarious.

"Sorry. Hiss. Didn't catch that. But maintain current position."

No response and Ezra felt the transport increase its speed. So much for that idea. He hopped between transports, continuing his search for the prisoners and then heard the turret activate and rotate. He turned and saw just in time as it opened fire on Zeb's TIE fighter high above.

Really not good!

"Don't think he's taking Commander Meiloorun's orders anymore," Zeb glumbly reported and then waited for Ezra's response.

"Another minute," Ezra said and jump his way back to the transport he'd first dropped to. He stooped down on the transport's roof, next to its cannon. He looked over the edge and there they were. Mister Sumar, his wife, and one other whom Ezra didn't recognize.

Right where I had landed. Why didn't I check here first?

Ezra got down on all fours and leaned his head out. Using his hand to cover his mouth and cancel out the wind, he shouted loudly to the prisoners. His voice came through clearly.

"Mister Sumar!"

"Ezra?" Mister Sumar said, his voice filled with surprise. He couldn't look up but he did recognize Ezra's voice. "Ezra Bridger?"

"Hold on. I'll have you out soon," Ezra promised and leaned out even further, inspecting the reinforced durasteel cages that locked the prisoners to the hull of the transports.

But where there were locks, there were security panels that could release them.

It only took him a few seconds of searching, and then he spotted it. About a meter down next to Mister Sumar's cage. Ezra reached out. If he could just get a hold on the security and hit its release. Ezra leaned forward more and nearly fell forward and off the transport.

But he was so close. A hand's width away.

"You'll never reach it." Mister Sumar called up. "It's too dangerous," his voice ladened with worry for the boy's safety. It was appreciated, but not persuasive enough to get Ezra to give up.

There has to be a way, Ezra thought and went over everything he had with him. And then it hit him on the head, the one thing he had forgotten that he had. The Force.

"Okay. You can do this," Ezra told himself.

He closed his eyes and like so many times recently, he tried to reach out and recall the locking panel he had observed next to Mister Sumar. Recall where it was. What it looked like. How to operate it. And finally to feel it.

You can do this.

And then he saw it. The black panel with a long white light and three square red buttons and a single round red light that signaled it was locked. With his eyes closed Ezra unknowingly reached out his arms and waved his fingers.

And just like that the red light blinker and turned off and the locking mechanisms securing the prisoner cages were unlocked. There was a loud hiss as all three cages opened, leaving nothing standing in between Mister Sumar and the others with freedom.

"I knew I'd get the hang of that." Ezra said, his voice filled with pride and renewed confidence. All his time spent trying to teach himself to move stuff around. It hadn't been wasted. He did it.

And the Imperials would know it!

Ezra leaned down and yelled to the others. "You have to jump. Jump and scatter."

"We're moving too fast!" Mister Sumar said. Still in cufflink binders he turned his head up at Ezra, his green eyes imploring for him to understand. And Ezra did understand. It was dangerous. They could get hurt, maybe even die. But it was their only chance.

"So you'd rather stay prisoners?" Ezra said. It was less of a question and more of a challenge. If Ezra were faced with such a choice, he knew which option he'd pick. And it looked like Mister Sumar was of similar mind.

The three prisoners turned their heads, looking not at Ezra but to each other. An unspoken message was said between the Lothalites and then, together, they jumped free of the fast moving troop transports. It was a rough landing but they did it. They survived. And they were free.

Ezra smiled and waved at the three from his spot on the transport, and smiled wider when he saw Mister Sumar raise his hands and wave back as the distance between the freed prisoners and the Imperials grew. Good, Ezra thought. The further away the better.

He didn't hear the boots scuffing the metal hull and the shifting of plastoid plates until it was almost too late. At the last moment Ezra ducked and dodged the blaster bolts from three stormtroopers and their E-11 rifles.

And just like Ezra was in for the fight of his life!

The transport's turret activated and send a parting shot at Mister Sumar and the others! But from what Ezra could see it landed close, but it didn't hit. Then the guns elevated and began firing at Zeb in his TIE fighter above.

Their cover completely blown, Zeb immediately came about and began his attack run. He unleashed volley after volley of green laser fire on the transport scoring some minor hits before pulling out of his dive and climbing back to altitude.

"That gun turret's gonna be a problem. This bird has no shields!"

"Working on it," Ezra replied into his comlink as the stormtroopers continued to focus fire, all three of their weapons on him.

With zero time to come up with a plan, Ezra followed his instincts and made a jump between transports. He jumped from the one on the right to the one in the middle. Blaster bolts chased after him and caused carbon scoring on the other transport's hull and cargo crates.

Ezra ducked down behind the cargo, using the crates for cover as he bought himself some time to think. He peeked his head out to keep an eye on the stormtroopers but they remained standing and kept up the fire. One bolt blasted so close it blew the lid off the lid of his crate and - kriff! This has got to be a joke? Meilooruns?

But it was no joke, and as blaster fire continued to pour in around him Ezra kept his eyes on the fruit and smiled. "Well, hello, stranger," he said, his voice ever so smoothly.

Even in the face of near suicidal odds, nothing could shake Ezra's sense of humor.

It was an interesting development but not enough of a distraction for Ezra to forget his plight. He ducked down behind the crate and drew his slingshot then popped back and fired. The first shot was immediate and he quickly drew back for a second and a third, trying to take down the stormtroopers that had formed a firing line on the other transport facing him.

The shots hit home but to Ezra's dismay they didn't do anything but cause the stormtroopers to be knocked around a little. The trooper leader confirmed as much when he yelled to his small squad.

"Maintain fire." The leader said. "His shots won't penetrate your armor."

Not about to let the brief respite go to waste, Ezra gave up on his "trusty" slingshot, looked down at the crate of fruit and a crazy idea grabbed hold. Before he could second guess himself he picked up a fruit and felt its firmness. It was big. Three times the size of a jogan. More importantly it was heavy and its skin tough.

Ezra hurled one at the leader and watched as it hit him straight in the helmet, stunning him. Ezra's second meiloorun throw finished the job and knocked the leader out completely. His third knocked a second stormtrooper off the transport leaving only one left. And his fourth knocked the last one off his feet and onto his back.

Ezra smiled and began collecting up the fruit that Hera had asked for. He had three when the stormtrooper he had knocked down began blasting, and with surprising accuracy. The only thing that saved Ezra was the fruit exploding in his hands that absorbed the blaster fire.

Covered once again in meiloorun guts, Ezra grabbed one and escaped by jumping to the leftmost transport. He thought he had gotten clear but this last stormtrooper had something the others didn't, he didn't hesitate and followed Ezra. One jump after another until he had him cornered on the last transport.

With only a meiloorun in his hands, Ezra wasn't seeing a way out.

"Gotcha!" the stormtrooper said with his blaster rifle leveled as Ezra's chest. Instinctively Ezra held out the meiloorun, using it as a shield. That's when the absurdity of it all hit the stormtrooper like a pipe to the head. "Wait! You did all this for fruit?" the stormtrooper asked.

Immediately Ezra became defensive. "No!" the boy said and clutched the fruit tight against his chest. He glanced down at it and groaned. "Okay, maybe a little," he admitted reluctantly.

And in a moment of brilliance Ezra hurled the fruit as hard as he could as the stormtrooper, knocking him down. Ezra didn't waste the opportunity and lunged forward, grabbing hold of the E-11 blaster rifle! When the stormtrooper recovered he found himself staring up at Ezra.

Meiloorun curled protectively in his left hand, the blaster rifle held at the hip in Ezra's right.

Down on his back, it was impossible for the stormtrooper to make any move before Ezra could squeeze the trigger. The tables had turned.

"Helmet," Ezra demanded.

Moving slowly the stormtrooper removed his helmet as Ezra instructed, then waited.

"Throw it over."

The stormtrooper scowled but did as he was told. He scowled not at the loss of the helmet but its built-in comlink. The kid knew his stuff. And with the transports traveling at this speed his helmet was left far behind in the tall grass of the Lothal's plains. He looked up at Ezra who had tilted his head considering his options.

"Well?" the stormtrooper demanded and wondered if the kid had it in him to kill a downed and unarmed enemy. The kid shrugged.

"You have two choices. Jump, or?" and Ezra hinted by moving the blaster ever so slightly.

The Imperial glanced around. They were still in the middle of nowhere and without his helmet there would be no means to call for help or navigate this planet. This wasn't his homeworld. He hadn't the slightest idea of where to go next.

"All of this for fruit," he grumbled.

Ezra gave another shrug and tossed the meiloorun over the side. The tough fruit easily survived its impact with the ground, even at this speed. The stormtrooper watched it sail through the air and noted where it landed. If his suspicions were correct, it'd be his only food source.

"Better go now," Ezra teased. "The longer you wait the tougher it'll be to find."

Debating no longer, the stormtrooper staggered to his feet, eyed the ground nervously, and then jumped as far as he could to clear the transport. Protecting his head with his arms and hands, he landed on his side and rolled. By the time he picked himself off the ground the Imperial convoy was nearly out of sight.

"All for fruit," the stranded buckethead lamented and looked around, then began walking toward the meiloorun fruit Ezra had tossed overboard. It wasn't much but the stormtrooper figured if he rationed it, he'd eventually find his way back. Hopefully.

Meanwhile, back on the transport, Ezra studied the blaster rifle and recalled what he had learned from his studies. He'd really have to study up some more. Still, like with the TIE, he did recall quite a bit from the training manuals. And so it didn't take him too long to find the weapon's setting. Flicking a small switch, Ezra took a few experimental shots until he at last found the setting for stun blasts as well as how to put the weapon on safety.

It'd do for now. He then returned to the meiloorun crate and set his pack down beside. Hera had asked for at least one fruit, but by Ezra's estimate he could fit at least two in his pack plus the E-11 he had swiped from the stormtrooper.

It was a heck of a lot better souvenir than a helmet. Though there was no way Ezra could have it out and climb and jump and whatever else he needed at the same time. So into the pack it went until he figured out some way to carry it around.

Suddenly the turret activated as Zeb swept in with his TIE. It began taking several shots and Zeb had to pull out. Frowning, Ezra looked back into his pack for ideas, and his eyes found a wrench.

"You'll do," Ezra grinned. He set the E-11 to safety and put it and the two meilooruns in the pack, then took the wrench and approached the turret. He waited until Zeb had cleared the firing zone and then jammed the wrench into the left barrel of the dual laser cannons. Then he took several steps back and waited.

When the turret opened fire on Zeb's next pass, the jammed barrel misfired and the turret exploded! Ezra was about to message Zeb that the coast was clear when he heard the climbing of hands and feet.

Turning around he saw what he expected, more stormtroopers. Three of them.

With no blaster and no fruit to throw, Ezra was trapped and the stormtroopers knew it.

"Fire," their leader commanded.

But before they could squeeze the triggers, a loud howl called down from the sky followed by a volley of green laser fire from Zeb and his TIE. And boy was it accurate! The three stormtroopers were a scant five meters away but it was enough distance for Zeb to light them up and give Ezra the escape the kid needed.

Ezra turned and saw Zeb's handiwork, all three stormtroopers were down and out. He activated his comlink. "Not bad, ace."

"You know? I'm really starting to like this thing! Now get ready!"

Smiling Ezra watched as Zeb swooped in, his TIE upside down and its hatch open and - his head and arms hanging out. Which left Ezra thinking only one thing. Who was flying? But he didn't have time to ponder. Another turret was firing and the TIE would be over the transport in seconds.

Now or never, Ezra thought and Zeb flew by Ezra jumped into his waiting arms. The TIE flew past the other transports and out of range of their fire. Ezra dangled perilously in Zeb's arms he looked up at the Lasat, half in wonder half scared out of his mind.

"Zeb?" Ezra asked. "How are you flying this thing?"

The sheepish look on Zeb's face said it all. He was hanging on with his feet! "Hang right," Zeb said as he used his feet to roll the TIE rightside up. With gravity working in their favor again both plopped unceremoniously back into the cockpit.

After disentangling themselves, Zeb got back into the chair and Ezra rubbed the back of his neck the way he always did when uncomfortable.

"Thanks for the save." Ezra said. "Guess I owe you now."

But Zeb just smiled and gave the kid a sidelong glance. "Let's just say we're eternally even."

Ezra smiled and found himself just fine with that sentiment. "Oh," Zeb said and reached for something off to the side of the cockpit. "You collect these, right?" Zeb asked and revealed to Ezra the signature black helmet of an Imperial fighter pilot.

Ezra smirked as memories of another TIE pilot he ran into not that far back popped into his head. "Already have that one," Ezra said and then felt a pang of regret when he saw Zeb's face fall. "But this is a nice one," Ezra added and quickly reached to take it, showing Zeb he appreciated the gesture. "Besides, maybe I can get Sabine to paint it for me," he said thoughtfully. "So thanks."

Zeb smiled, happy to see the kid smiling and returned his attention to the control panel and piloting the TIE. They'd done it. And absolutely under no circumstance were they to let Kanan or Hera know about any of this.

"So, what do we do about the TIE?" Ezra asked.

The two guys shared smirks and traded playful jabs at each other's arms. No way they were giving up the TIE. It was just too much fun and had already proven its value during the rescue of Mister Sumar and his family.

They just had to find a place to stash it.

And also what to tell Kanan and Hera.

Ezra gave it some thought and then smiled. "Okay. I got an idea."

---

The shadows had grown long and night was rapidly approaching when Ezra and Zeb spotted the Ghost at last. With Lothal's sun setting at their backs they approached the parked freighter on a stretch of dirt.

Kanan stood midway up the extended ramp while Hera was waiting on the ground. Neither looked particularly happy. Still they didn't wait for Ezra and Zeb to reach them, instead walking toward them and meeting them halfway.

"One fresh meiloorun, as ordered." Zeb said politely, and held out one of the two pieces Ezra had managed to snag during the rescue.

He dropped it in Hera's outstretched hands and in turn she smiled and bowed her head. "Thank you, kind Sir."

Zeb grinned and playfully checked Ezra with his shoulder. "Team effort," the Lasat said.

While Hera was happy to see them safe and sound, Kanan had an altogether different look. "Forget about the fruit," he said, not finding the situation funny in the least. "Where's the TIE fighter?"

The two delinquents traded a glance and sighed, Zeb hanging his head low. "I crashed it," he said.

"On purpose." Ezra added, coming to his defense. "We didn't want it to fall back into the Empire's hands." He emphasized this further by showing off his newest helmet, the one Zeb had taken from Baron Valen Rudor of all people.

When Ezra had heard Zeb's description of the pilot, he couldn't help the ensuing laughter. Not that any of that would help the pair now. They smiled and did their best to appear innocent, awaiting judgment by Kanan.

Their leader let them hang a moment then smiled happily and nodded his head, pleased with their initiative. "That's what I like to hear," Kanan said. Hera shared his sentiment and the two led the way back up the ramp with a laughing Ezra and Zeb following behind.

They'd bought it.

Meanwhile back in Zeb and Ezra's cabin, Sabine was putting on her final touches. And just in time too it seemed as she heard the two wayward Spectres returning from their mission. Only she didn't hear arguing and bickering and promises of death.

Was that laughter?

The door to the cabin opened and Sabien stepped back from her work. She glanced over and saw that the pair had indeed been laughing, which was good. It was good to see them finally getting along.

And was that a TIE fighter helmet in Ezra's hands?

"Finished," she announced to them and then approached the piece of wall art she had spent most of the day working on. With a look of mischief in her eyes she folded her arms and waited for their reaction.

"Finished with what, Sabine?" Ezra asked, his voice ever so gentle as he approached her. Zeb meanwhile wasted no time. Walking past Ezra and Sabine to get a look at what the Mandalorian artist had gotten up to with her spare time.

The Lasat grimaced at the sight.

"Thought it was a moment that needed to be immortalized," Sabine shrugged. While she went for a tone of nonchalance, her eyes were still filled with glee at each of their mortified expressions.

There on the empty space of the cabin wall, overlooking the room, was a cartoon depiction of Ezra and the top bunk crashing down on Zeb lying on the bottom bunk. And for a finishing touch, Chopper was laughing maniacally holding up the bolts to the bed, one in each of its arm manipulators.

It was a true work of art, and hilarious. Unless you were Ezra of Zeb of course.

And absolutely immortalized. Because no way would Ezra dare to wipe it up. He'd never destroy any of Sabine's art, even ones that depicted him like. Well…

"And you did say you wanted to be my inspiration," Sabine added cheekily.

The girl was loving it.

"Yeah, but that makes me look like a fool," Ezra said.

"Makes me look like a bigger fool," Zeb said, agreeing fully.

But Sabine was ruthlessly unapologetic.

"I paint what I see." She said with her arums held wide.

Mechanical laughter erupted from the opened door, causing Ezra and Zeb to turn their focus on the true mastermind responsible for all of today's troubles.

Chopper!

Sabine may have seized the opportunity, but her 'inspiration?' That wasn't on her. And Zeb punched his fists together in preparation of the ensuing confrontation.

"Chopper!" he growled.

"This was all your fault!" Ezra said and took a threatening step forward.

Step by step, together, the roommates closed in on the menacing droid. The orange astromech laughed again then spun around and wheeled away as soon as possible.

"Come back, you metal menace!" Ezra shouted and both boys rushed toward the door, each all too eager to get their hands on the droid. Though Ezra did have the sense of mind to steal a second and set the helmet safely out of harm's way.

"I'm tearing that rust bucket apart!" Zeb yelled and then the both of them raced out of the room, stumbled into the hallway and gave chase to the fleeing astromech.

Barely able to contain her excitement, Sabine dashed out of the room and then leaned against the wall of the corridor and watched in amusement as they fought to get their hands on the - admittedly - evil droid.

Sabine did wince however when she saw the pair miss Chopper and run straight into a pile of supplies, knocking over sealed pods and locked crates.

"It's his fault!" they said, pointing at Chopper when Hera and Kanan stepped in. Both of their faces were one again showing disappointment at what was effectively a repeat of that morning.

But they were family. Her family. Sabine smiled and left the mess for Kanan and Hera to deal with. She spotted the helmet Ezra had taken and picked it up off the deck, studying it in her hands.

She was feeling inspired again.

---

Uncle Hondo sighs, so much fun! So many antics! So much… Writing! Oh how his fingers cramp! Oh, Mira. Uncle Hondo's inspiration! What would he do without you? So many things happened in this chapter! Ezra and Zeb the Lasat, how they were ready to strangle each other! But then the genius Hera stepped forward and paired them for a mission. What brilliant leadership! And our crafty yet lovely Sabine, she found some inspiration after all! And Kanan… As I understand it he piled some crates, yelled, and played dejarik with Chopper.

Uncle Hondo doesn't quite understand why the story of this chapter was forgotten? But he is happy knowing the true story. Ezra with his slingshot? Then throwing the fruit? What next? A bow and arrow? Meilooruns can be hard on the outside, but they are still fruit! Yes? This is just ridiculous! But then, then! Ezra took matters into his own hands and swiped a blaster! How proud Hondo is of his little thief!

And did you see it too? Did you? I think you diddddd. I wonder what else was left out between Paintbomb and her dashing Diasa'yr? Haha! But yes - THAT did happen! Hondo double checked with them both!

Though the young Mando Girl's comparisons between the daring Ezra and the noble Tristan - her brother? They make Hondo wince. And I know they do the same to you, but understand! Mando Girl, Sabine, has a hole in her heart from losing her brother. It is only natural that a similar transference of feelings get placed onto Ezra. Or so Hondo understands? Hondo did mention he did his research! The psychology and hormones of humans aside, even Hondo must sigh at such childish antics shown early on.

Oh Mira. Your Dada had no game at all! And why would he? Look at the examples he has!

But! He is a natural with the Force! But as Hondo understands, talent will only get you so far. He needs training and it is good that Zeb sees this now too. Perhaps Kanan will finally embrace his role in Ezra's life!

Oh who does Hondo thinks he is kidding. Look at my brilliant audience reading his book! We all know what the next chapter is. Until then my friends!