Hello again Uncle Hondo's friends! Friends you say? Did you buy my holo-book? Then yes! Of course you are my friend! It is time now for the grand conclusion of Ezra joining Hera and her crew. A decision that will change the course of history, and touch the lives of untold numbers! My editor - the most kind and beautiful Sabine - has suggested that Uncle Hondo speed things along: "Ezra's not even a kriffin' jedi yet! Is this a novel or an odyssey? Get on with it!" Uncle Hondo makes no guarantees but he will try!

Spark of Rebellion Part 2.2

"All troopers, focus your fire on… On the Jedi."

Spice Mine K-76

There was nothing Kitwarr's father, Kruwhrarrr, wouldn't do for his son but as he and the other thirteen Wookiees were paraded off the prison transport and onto the expansive landing pad it was becoming harder and harder to hide the reality of their situation to the young one.

"It's a game," Kruwhrarrr had told the boy in their people's native Shyriiwook. "The humans in white with the funny voices. They're playing it too."

Kitwarr would nod and smile but as the days went on, and the further and further they were from home the harder it was to keep up appearances. Especially when their food rations and water were becoming less and less frequent. The other Wookiees, while bonded in the same chains, were strangers to Kruwhrarrr and Kitwarr. Kruwhrarrr could only watch as one by one their spirits had broken.

Kruwhrarrr did his utmost to hide his anger at that. They were Wookiees. The warriors of Kashyyyk. Their ancestors had overcome the Shadowlands and they sang the history of their people with pride.

Only now that pride was broken. And despite Kruwhrarrr's reminder that word had gotten out about what the Empire had done to them. It was not enough.

While Kitwarr had slept, Kruwhrarrr had many heated arguments with the other twelve Wookiees. It was not over. There was still hope. If not for themselves then at least for Kitwarr. They had learned where the Empire was taking them and Kessel was a death sentence.

But they were watched too closely the others had argued. They were stronger than the humans but they could not break free of the binders on their arms. And even if they did, the humans had weapons. It could not be done.

Cowards, Kruwhrarrr had spat at them in anger. He was hoping to get a rise out of them. Get some anger, some hostility even if it was aimed at him. Something to show that they still had some fight left. But all he got were the looks of those who had been defeated.

"I don't like it here," Kitwarr and stopped following the others. "It's hot and the air tastes wrong. All is wrong, father. I don't like this game anymore."

Kruwhrarrr felt helpless but put on a brave face and came to stand next to his son, patting him affectionately on his head.

"It's almost over. We're about to win," Kruwhrarrr said.

"Keep moving!" one of the humans in white shouted at Kruwhrarrr and made a threatening motion with his blaster rifle. They could understand the human's Basic. But the humans couldn't understand Shyriiwook. It wasn't much of an advantage, but it was something.

Soon, Kruwhrarrr thought. There were large square boxes sitting around the landing pad. And the humans were less. No more than five or six. Some will die. He would probably die.

But if not now then never. And Kruwhrarrr refused to watch his son starve and be worked to death on this planet.

The others would go along once the humans began shooting. And maybe, just maybe, the fury of their ancestors would fill their hearts once more.

And the spark inside Kruwhrarrr would spread to the others in chains.

"We're going to play hide and seek now," Kruwhrarrr told Kitwarr. "As soon as I say. Run and hide by those crates."

"I said move you-"

"What's that?" one of the humans asked. Kruwhrarrr and the others heard it too.

All eyes lifted to the sky and through the dark brown clouds of pollution that filled Kessel's sky. A bright white light appeared.

And then it was chaos.

Ezra steadied himself as the Ghost dropped out of hyperspace and the sight of Kessel filled the cockpit's canopy viewport. Something called an inertia dampener helped a starship with fast acceleration and decelerations, but according to Hera jumping in and out hyperspace didn't have anything to do with how we normally think of speed.

Any physical feelings Ezra had of the ship speeding up or slowing down when it came to hyperspace was just his mind trying to make sense of a vast blackness filled with stars turning into a wondrous spectacle of blue and white. Hera assured him that after enough jumps eventually his mind would begin to accept that hyperspace was about entering a special dimension rather than an increase or decrease in speed. But for the moment, Ezra would stick to clutching the back of the co-pilot's chair whenever the stars outside the viewport did something weird looking.

Speaking of weird. Ezra frowned at the sight of the planet coming up on them. It was like something had divided it in half near the equator. The northern half an ugly orange, and the southern half showed mostly green.

"Whoa, what happened?" Ezra said.

"Mining," Hera said and began flipping switches as they approached.

Mining was nothing new to Ezra. It was becoming more and more prevalent on Lothal since Doonium had been discovered. But his homeworld looked nothing like this.

"Generations of unregulated mining," Hera added. The disgust was easily detectable in her voice.

"The Empire?"

"And the Republic before. There's a lot of ugly places in this galaxy, Ezra. What you're seeing is what happens when a government turns a blind eye to the people it's supposed to protect."

The boy shook his head and tapped his fingers on the chair's headrest. Hera could see his growing agitation the closer they came.

"Was there ever a government interested in protecting the Outer Rim? What about the Jedi?"

Hera paused and looked at Ezra, the truth in his words showing a comprehension beyond his years. She leaned in until she caught him with her green eyes. Her words were having the opposite effect of what he needed.

"Hey," Hera said. Ezra turned from the cockpit's viewport at the softness in her voice. "It's hard but right now those Wookiees down there are running out of time. And we're the only ones coming to their rescue." Hera reached forward and gently placed her hand over his. "Ezra?"

"Yeah. Yeah okay," Ezra answered and Hera watched as he snapped out of his despair and focused. He smiled at her, grateful for her pulling him out of that headspace. "Thank you, Hera."

She patted his arm and then refocused back on the controls, which included charging up the cannons. There was no question that the Landing Zone would be a hot one. Taking his cue, Ezra left the cockpit and went to join the others assembling in the cargo bay.

"Two days with us and already he wants to free the Outer Rim," Hera remarked.

"Whumpa! Whooch!" Chopper spoke up.

Hera rolled her eyes at her droid's assessment of the boy.

"Of course I see the similarity. Which is why Zeb has his special orders."

"Whoot! Wamp! Wyum!"

Hera bursted out in laughter at the thought of Zeb getting a full body wax. And all that hair just ripped off? Ouch!

"I think the threat to leave him on Kessel is motivation enough, Chop. Now let me focus!"

With so many mines, it took Hera a few moments to make sure she had the correct one. But once she had K-76 locked in she increased engine speed and maneuvered the Ghost into position. When she had the approach angle right, Hera steadied the ship for the insertion.

"Ready on those guns, Chop."

In the belly of the Ghost's forward cargo bay the Spectres - as Kanan called the crew members - did a final equipment check. They were all so professional and calm, Ezra noted. With one hand holding onto the ladder for stability, the boy wondered if they had been just as calm when they rescued him from the Star Destroyer.

He had briefly needled Hera for details of how they even snuck the Ghost aboard the heavily armed vessel. Hera looked conflicted as he waited. If he didn't know any better he'd say she was embarrassed. In the end all Hera would say was to ask Sabine sometime. She was the one who figured out a way.

Which only confounded Ezra with more questions. How was it that Sabine had puzzled out a way past the Star Destroyer's sensors? Her art was dazzling but wasn't she the explosives expert?

Ezra found his eyes subtly glancing in the girl's direction as she and Kanan readied themselves in the rear of the bay. They would be the first ones out and already Sabine had her pistols out and ready. Art? Explosives? A blaster in each hand and some really exotic looking armor. And able to outsmart the Empire and slip the Ghost past the Star Destroyer's sensors?

Who are you? Ezra wondered as he stared. You can't be that much older than me, what's your story?

Apparently Ezra's staring wasn't going unnoticed. Assigned to keep an eye on Ezra throughout the mission the Zeb glared at the kid and waved his peculiar bo-rifle weapon to gather Ezra's attention.

"Try not to get dead. Don't want to carry your body out." Zeb saw he caught Ezra by surprise. Zeb suppressed a growl of frustration. The boy needed to focus. And so when Ezra shot Zeb a glare of his own Zeb felt the frustration subside. His mind was back on the mission, though he could see Ezra trying to come with something to shoot back at the Lasat.

But before Ezra can come up with a retort Sabine and Kanan pass between them and readied themselves by the ramp at the forward most point of the bay.

Kanan on the left, Sabine on his right with her blasters ready. Nothing else is said or heard except for the volleys of heavy cannon fire from the Ghost as Hera made another strafing pass over the Landing Zone.

The cannon fire should send stormtroopers scurrying in fear, exactly what they wanted. Hera must've been satisfied with her handiwork as now Ezra felt the ship shift and steady itself.

They were touching down. Hera gave no warning but then they didn't need it. Ezra clutched the straps of his backpack tightly and wished he had something more than just his slingshot, something like an actual blaster. But as Kanan had told him repeatedly it wasn't Ezra's job to shoot.

The ramp slammed down to reveal a double stacked row of sixteen crates only a few meters from the ramp. With cover provided by the ramp removed, they had to hurry as three stormtroopers began peppering the vulnerable Spectres inside. Kanan and Sabine wasted no time in running for the cover of the nearby crates with Zeb and Ezra hot on their heels.

Instinctively Ezra quickly dodged to the left, blaster bolts flying past him right where his head had been the moment before. Was one blaster really too much to ask?

A small squad of six stormtroopers had formed a tight skirmish line standing shoulder to shoulder as they kept up their fire on the crates that the Spectres had taken cover behind.
Double stacked the crates were taller than Ezra.

He couldn't see the fight happening beyond the crates. All he could remember was what he saw when he exited the ramp. The stormtroopers and behind them the Wookiees.

There had to at least be a dozen of them! Kanan and the others had to be sure of their shots. If they missed a bolt could end up hitting on the Wookiees.

As Kanan put his back to the wall of crates as exchanges of heated blaster bolts continued. Despite that the older man looked to Ezra and gave him a nod. Now, while the stormtroopers were focused on the Spectres.

Right.

Ezra returned the nod and crept around Zeb to the edge of the crates and peeked his head out just enough so he could get a better view.

There wasn't a lot of cover, but his street rat eyes saw a path. If he kept his head low and moved quickly he would make it.

No words were exchanged. They trusted him to do his part just as he trusted them to do theirs And so. Ezra looked back at the path and waited for his moment. He didn't have to wait long.

In a flash Sabine popped out of her cover on the right furthermost crate. Leaning out just enough she began shooting both blasters into the stormtroopers. She picked her shots carefully so as not to hit any of the Wookies.

Kanan was then moving past her then to take a spot to another assemblage of crates to the right. And then Ezra found his own feet moving.

As the others drew fire to the right, he button hooked and crouched down low, running to the left. An orange blur that the stormtroopers paid no mind to, their focus on Kanan and the others who were matching the stormtroopers volley for volley despite being outnumbered two to one.

Ezra reached the relative safety of the shadow casted down from the parked prisoner transport ship. And after a quick glance to see that the Imperials were still focused on the others he ran from cover to cover. It wasn't hard, there were plenty of crates and so long as he kept low he remained unseen.

He paused and looked over the current crate he was hiding behind. Kanan's plan was working. All six stormtroopers were so focused on the others they had all but forgotten about the Wookiee prisoners they were supposed to be guarding. Which was fine by Ezra who had successfully snuck by their small skirmish line and was only a few meters away from the Wookiees that had huddled up in their own little line.

Briefly Ezra wondered what was stopping the Wookiees from making a run for it themselves? But then who knew what the Imperials had done to them. Ezra hadn't seen that many Wookiees before but with how they were hunched and quivering, it was plain as day that despite outnumbering the guards the Wookiees were terrified.

That spark in Ezra's gut flared brightly.

Not wanting to frighten them further Ezra put on his best smile as he vaulted over the crates and snuck up to the Wookiees. A little too well as he slipped in amongst their huddle one Wookiee, the biggest of the Wookiees spotted him and growled loudly.

Okay maybe he had been a little too stealthy, Ezra thought as others turned and began to approach him. The mistrust in the crowd was clearly evident.

"Hey, hey, I'm here to help!" Ezra said as he looked up at the towering Wookiee above him. With snarling teeth and angry eyes he really hoped they could understand basic. Ezra took his R-scomp lockpick from his pack and held it up for them to see.

The big Wookiee, their leader Ezra guessed, growled once more but then his eyes opened in recognition of the device. With his arms raised in a gesture of peace, Ezra watched as the Wookiees began to piece together what was happening and why this small human was here risking his life with a lockpick in his hand.

The Wookiee looked to another one behind him and growled something. A question maybe, Ezra thought though he had no idea. But the second Wookiee nodded and Ezra recognized what looked to be a flash of confidence in the Wookiee's eyes.

The group had made their decision and fell in behind their leader. A few seconds later and Ezra was already picking the first Wookiee's binders, freeing him. He smiled as he watched the leader lift his hands in wonder. That's right, Ezra thought. We're getting you out. All of you.

With one down Ezra moved onto the next Wookiee. He worked as quickly as possible not knowing how long the others could keep the stormtroopers distracted. They weren't distracted for long. Once Ezra had freed the Wookiees the former prisoners wasted no time in getting some payback by marching up behind the distracted stormtroopers.

The other bucketheads didn't stand any better of a chance as another got yanked up high in the air and shaken violently as the Wookiees swarmed them. Ezra watched as a chorus of primal roars became louder than the fierce firefight.

Half the stormtroopers were lifted and thrown to the ground head first. Others fell under the massive punches fueled by Wookiee strength. In moments no stormtrooper was standing and Ezra watched as Kanan and the others holstered their weapons and took a breath before leaving the cover of the crates. With Kanan leading them they met the Wookiee captives halfway.

Ezra still couldn't understand Wookiee, but the roars of anger had definitely become cheers of joy. The group of Wookiees parted down the middle to give Ezra an easy lane to walk through and reunite with the others. He couldn't help the triumphant smirk on his face.

He wasn't trying to brag or be smug but kriff! This felt great! He schooled his smugness, replacing it was a smile of satisfaction. A look he saw mirrored on Kanan's face as he nodded at Ezra in approval. A job well done.

Even Zeb was grinning and Ezra bet if she didn't have her helmet on that he'd see Sabine smiling too. They'd done it. Against all odds they had saved the Wookiees from the Empire.

I could get used to this, came a small voice from the back of his head.

But then just like that, the shared looks of happiness were quelled by an all too familiar howling.

Kriffin' TIE fighters!

Kanan and Zeb heard the unmistakable howl as their faces twisted from joy to worry. They had expected resistance and maybe some reinforcements. But TIE fighters?

Had they known we were coming? Ezra gasped as three TIEs popped up from the giant circular mining quarry.

Taken completely by surprise the TIEs ignored the team on the platform, instead focusing on the Ghost! At point blank range all three TIEs had come to a hover and opened fire, their guns making quick work of the Ghost's rear deflector shields. In another moment the shields had failed and the green cannon fire was hitting the freighter's engines.

Stunned in horror all they could do was look on as the Ghost was seconds away from being obliterated. But then as quickly as the TIEs had attacked, return fire came from the Ghost and its rear gun.

With no shields of their own and hovering at such close proximity the center TIE quickly erupted into a fireball as it was destroyed. Ezra, Kanan, and everybody on the ground might've been caught unexpectedly but the ever ready Hera had wasted no time in showing the Imperial pilots that she could give as good as she got!

Ezra snapped out of his surprise only to look on in terror when he saw that it wasn't just three TIEs but also a kriffin' Imperial Gozanti-class Cruiser with an additional three TIEs coming up behind it!

The other TIE fighters wasted no time and joined in, all fighters focusing fire on the Ghost. As carbon scoring began to build up on the freighter's hull no doubts remained. The Imps had known they were coming.

Then the cruiser's turbolasers took aim, not at the Ghost but at the crowd gathered on the landing platform!

Ezra and the others all dove for cover as blasts from the turbolasers exploded all around them. Lying face down in the grimy dirt of Kessel's landscape, the ground quaked under the heavy fire. And for a moment Ezra was certain that this was the end.

But then just as quickly as it had begun, the explosive turbolaser bombardment had stopped. And Ezra opened his eyes he found himself looking at a Wookiee, a Wookiee smaller than him. Its eyes were widened and terror and its small arms were still cuffed in binders.

He'd messed up!

With so many of the giant Wookiees circling him he had missed this smaller one! More howling came and Ezra looked over his shoulder, fully expecting to see the Ghost a burning wreck on the landing platform with the bodies of his allies and the Wookiees scattered around.

But in yet another example of Imperial arrogance, they had stopped all fire and the Ghost was still in one piece as well as everyone on the platform. Except now the TIEs were parting to make room for the incoming cruiser that was coming down to hover only a few meters off the ground.

Reinforcements, Ezra realized. Of course. They still intended to recapture the Wookiees and use them for slaves. The Gozanti's landing struts extended as the ship set down, and then its elevator extended down from the belly of the ship.

More stormtroopers, and the familiar sight of Agent Kallus with his stupid helmet. But how?

"Take them down!" Kallus yelled and immediately his squad of stormtroopers opened fire - focusing on the Spectres.

Scattered and caught out in the open, Sabine and Kanan managed to squeeze off a few shots before they scrambled for the nearest cover and so too did the Wookiees with captured stormtrooper blaster rifles.

Ezra shook his head and glanced back at the child only to see that it had taken off. His eyes searched the area and saw the Wookiee leader standing out in the open, searching as well and then stopped to focus on some crates near the prison transport.

The kid, Ezra saw. The small one was crawling over a wall of crates just as two stormtroopers ran in, their E-11 rifles blazing as they cut the child off from the rest of the group. As things steadily grew from bad to worse Ezra realized he couldn't move. It was as if his legs were cemented in duracrete. Instead Ezra looked on as the tall Wookiee fell to blaster fire.

Ah hell! Ezra thought and finally pushed past the fear that had held him in place. With his feet moving again Ezra kept his head low and ran toward the Wookiee leader, though he had no idea what he could possibly do to help. The giant Wookiee was three times his size and probably just as heavy.

Thankfully Ezra wasn't the only one crazy enough to run out into the middle of a battlefield.

Zeb's eyes bulged at the sight of Ezra as both had reached the wounded Wookiee at the same time. Wasting no time Zeb shook off his shock at the sight of Ezra and kept his voice calm and steady over the blaster fire.

"He'll be okay. I've got him," Zeb said. Ezra felt relief as Zeb managed to lift the Wookiee over his shoulder. Ezra was about to follow but he noticed that while wounded the Wookiee was frantically looking at something past Zeb.

Following the Wookiee's eyes across the landing pad Ezra looked on in horror as the small patch of brown hair ran away from the fight, chased by a stormtrooper.

The kid!

And no one was seeing him but me!

Time slowed and Ezra hesitated…

What do I do?

I'm no hero.

I'm no jedi.

I'm no soldier.

I'm just a kid.

He heard the growls from the wounded Wookiee. He had to be the kid's parent! Kanan! Kanan will know what to do. Decision made Ezra followed after Zeb and the wounded Wookiee. Already he saw the team regrouping behind some crates and as Ezra ran he did a quick count.

Ten stormtroopers plus Kallus and his stupid-looking helmet. How did anyone take him seriously with that thing on his head?

Shaking his head Ezra reached the others and crouched down next to Kanan, and only then did he realize that Hera and the Ghost had finally gotten back in the air and the TIEs had disappeared.

She must be leading them away.

A new firing line had formed, this time with the Wookiees that had picked up blaster rifles from fallen stormtroopers. Not a bad idea, Ezra thought and looked around but didn't see any E-11s lying around for him to grab.

He'd just have to make do with his slingshot then.

"Go!" Kanan yelled, raising his voice to be heard above the blaster fire. "Lead the TIEs away and give yourself maneuvering room!"

Ezra looked over to see him speaking into a comlink. And then he heard Hera's predictable answer to Kanan's orders.

"I am not leaving you behind!"

Ezra winced as a blast bolt nearly hit him. This close to Kanan meant facing a lot more fire from the stormtroopers. How were they going to get out of this?

"No, you're not. We're running a 22 pickup," Kanan said.

"Seriously?" Sabine said. She had turned away from the fight and Ezra could hear the disbelief in her voice.

22 pickup? Ezra frowned.

"You have a better option?" Kanan countered.

"Jump into the pit and get it over with?" Zeb said. Ezra didn't need to look over his shoulder to know the look Zeb was giving Kanan.

"All right, I'll be back. Make sure you're ready."

As soon as Hera cut off Sabine and Kanan turned their attention back to the stormtroopers, no further explanation provided.

Seriously?

"22 pickup?" Ezra said. "Care to let me in on the secret?"

Kanan tightened his hand into a fist and turned his green eyes to Ezra, he spoke solemnly. "Kid, I'm about to let everyone in on the secret."

And just like that Ezra watched as Kanan got to his feet and stood tall, ignoring the blaster bolts screaming past his head and shoulders. Like something out of a holo-vid Kanan calmly walked out from the cover, his eyes focused on Kallus and the Agent's ten stormtroopers.

Blaster fire centered on Kanan but the man continued to walk toward the group unimpeded, merely leaning his head and shoulders to the right or left to dodge the fire. Ezra expected him to return fire but instead he holstered his blaster.

He was going to get himself killed!

Leading his stormtroopers from the front, Kallus lifted his hand and made a fist. On his signal the all fire ceased and silence filled the landing bay.

All eyes were on Kanan as he reached for the long metal cylinder Ezra had seen attached to the back of his belt as well as what Ezra had thought was a spare power cell for a blaster. Instead he used both hands to twist the two together until they locked and formed a hilt.

A few meters from the team's cover Kanan halted and with his eyes never leaving the Imperials shifted himself until his right side was facing them. He raised his right arm forward and with a snap hiss his lightsaber came to life, pointing it directly at the stormtroopers.

The lightsaber!

A knowing look on Kanan's face, a look of calm determination that had Kallus shocked at what was unfolding in front of him. With a flourish Kanan now held the saber in both hands and took up a defensive stance. The message was clear to all.

"Whoa," Ezra said. His mouth opened and eyes wide. He heard the confused growls of the Wookiees behind him and for a moment the stormtroopers lowered their blasters and looked at each other in a mix of disbelief and uncertainty of what to do.

Moments continued to pass with neither side making a move, the tension building into a crescendo as this one person stood openly in defiance of the mighty Galactic Empire.

"All troopers, focus your fire on…"

Kallus paused and gulped. But then pointed his arm out at Kanan.

"On the Jedi."

The moment was shattered and a hailstorm of blaster fire flashed from ten rifles all focused on Kanan. Ezra looked on, astonished, at how the blue lightsaber arced through the air and how effortlessly it blocked the fire from the Imperials. Bolt after bolt of red blaster fire and even deflecting one of them blaster bolts back at a stormtrooper, dropping him!

"Time to go," Kanan called to them, though his eyes never left Kallus and the stormtroopers.

"Right," Zeb said. Holding the wounded Wookiee with one arm he waved his other arm at everyone else. "Everyone, into the container!"

Ezra looked on a few more moments in amazement before turning to follow Zeb and the rest, but stopped when he saw the Wookiee fighting Zeb and pointing back at the prisoner transport. The kid, Ezra remembered. Kriff! In all the excitement he'd forgotten to tell the others!

He looked back at Kanan and saw him continue to deftly protect not only himself but the others from the blaster fire. Ezra dared not call out and break his concentration. And the kid was far gone now, out of sight to all. Only Ezra had seen which direction he ran and had any idea of where he had been headed.

Him and that stormtrooper.

But what was he supposed to do?

With his eyes closed Ezra clenched his teeth and banged his hand against the crate in frustration. He should've gone after Kitwarr while he had the chance. Now it was too late!

Except… It wasn't too late. He could see Kitwarr. Kitwarr? Yeah that's the kid's name! And he was trapped. Trapped on that long walkway that dropped off at the center of the mining pit. He could see him. He didn't know how but he just did. And he could save him! Couldn't he?

Again Ezra clenched his hand as the same mantra from before echoed in his mind.

He wasn't a hero.

He wasn't a jedi or a soldier.

He wasn't one of these Spectres out to save the galaxy.

He was just a kid.

And so is Kitwarr! And the Empire was going to take him away and he'd never see his parents again!

If all you do is fight for your own life, then your life is worth nothing.

The fire inside blazed as Ezra felt a sense of righteous anger come over him.

That fruit vendor back in the Capitol.

The Rodian in Tarkintown.

Kitwarr.

My parents.

I didn't do anything.

Ezra's hands clenched into fists.

I'm no jedi. I'm no hero. I'm just a kid from Lothal and way in over my head!

Blue eyes flashed in determination and Ezra sprang into action.

And nothing is going to stop me!

He heard someone calling his name but didn't look back. He had no plan. He had no experience in this sort of thing. All he knew was that a kid was in trouble and that was enough for him.

Hang on, Kitwarr. I'm coming.

As he ran Ezra did try to at least think of a plan but was coming up empty. He had ducked into the shadows under the prison transport and now was running toward where he knew Kitwarr was. He didn't know how he knew but he was past guessing himself. Ezra paused and saw the long walkway to the left. Balanced perilously above the seemingly bottomless chasm - sure enough there was the stormtrooper chasing the little Wookiee.

More like a catwalk.

Ezra kept running and reached the catwalk, his eyes focusing on the stormtrooper. It was just how he saw.

Kitwarr.

Terrified with no way out and about to be taken. Never to see his parents again.

Like hell!

"Hey!" Ezra shouted and grabbed the stormtrooper's attention.

The stormtrooper whirled around, blaster in hand, and incredulous at the sight of this small boy standing there like he could do anything to stop what was about to happen. Ezra crouched, bending his knee and reaching a hand out over the ground. He had poised himself and waited for his moment.

He didn't have to wait long. Trusting his instincts he leapt at the exact moment the stormtrooper squeezed the trigger, the blaster bolt hitting exactly where Ezra had been. But faster than the eye could track Ezra had leapt several meters into the air and flew right past the stormtrooper who could only look on, dumbfounded by the sight.

As soon as his feet touched the catwalk Ezra whirled and let loose three yellow blasts from his slingshot. One, two, all three yellow bolts of electricity slammed into the stormtrooper's chest and head.

"Gotcha!" Ezra proclaimed and watched as the stormtrooper was knocked backward from the kinetic force of the slingshot blasts until he fell over the railing and off the catwalk.

Ezra heard his screams as the stormtrooper fell to his death. Shaking off the fact he had just killed someone, Ezra focused on Kitwarr and immediately got to work.

But as he studied the binders Ezra heard the familiar whirl of some specific engines. He looked up and could only watch as the Ghost lifted off and headed up into the sky, blaster fire trailing behind it.

Just like the dead stormtrooper Ezra put it to the back of his mind. He knew it was likely he'd be left behind, but at least this time it had been his decision. No use for regrets and besides right now Kitwarr needed him.

"I got you, Kitwarr," Ezra said, doing his best to assure the child. "I'll get you out of this."

Using his R-scomp picklock Ezra had the binders off in seconds. Kitwarr growled something in response as Ezra tossed the binders over the railing and into the pit. He smiled at Kitwarr and tucked his lockpick away.

There. All the Wookiees. Mission completed. Now to get us somewhere safe. Only when Ezra looked up he saw that he and Kitwarr were no longer alone.

Kallus.

He must've followed them, and now he had his blaster aimed at him. The ISB Agent's finger steady on the trigger.

Pushing Kitwarr behind him, Ezra gritted his teeth. They've come too far to lose now!

"It's over for you, Jedi," Kallus said.

Ezra frowned. He wasn't a jedi. And this was anything but over.

"A Master and an Apprentice." Kallus continued, his haughty Imperial accent full of smugness. "Such a rare find these days."

Kitwarr looked to Ezra, his eyes filled with fear. Ezra squeezed the child's arm, silently vowing he wouldn't let any harm come to the child. And then he scowled at the agent.

"I don't know where you get your delusions, Buckethead!" Ezra said as he recalled the sight of the Ghost flying off only moments ago. "I work alone."

"Not this time!"

No way, Ezra thought as he heard the familiar voice. He, Kitwarr, and Kallus all turned to look and see to their surprise Kanan standing atop the hull of the Ghost as it lifted up from the pit below. With lightsaber in hand the Jedi had once more adopted what Ezra had determined to be Kanan's hero pose.

Three shots rang out from Kallus' blaster and Ezra watched as Kanan moved his shoulders back and forth to dodge the first two then expertly blocked the third and sent it back at Kallus. The bolt impacted hard and its energy slammed into the agent's armor and toppled him backwards over the railing.

So long Muttonchops.

"Jump, kid!"

Together Ezra and Kitwarr made for the railing and as they jumped, Hera masterfully maneuvered the Ghost upward ever so slightly to give the pair a nice flat area of the hull to land safely on. Ezra landed easily enough but grabbed hold of Kitwarr to steady him, just in case.

"Come on," Kanan said and judging by his tone Ezra could tell that they were in a hurry. As the Ghost climbed higher into the sky Kanan hurried them to a maintenance hatch near the ship's dorsal turret. The hatch was already open.

Ezra entered first and found another yellow ship ladder. Hanging on to both sides he skipped climbing down the rungs and just slid down using the ladder's rails to direct his descent. He then waited for Kitwarr to make his way in. The last one in, Kanan closed the hatch behind him.

Then Kanan leaned his head back and looked from Kitwarr to Ezra, an unreadable expression on his face. Ezra had gone off mission, but he didn't exactly have a comlink to communicate to the others what was happening.

And he was pretty certain Kanan wouldn't buy his story of how he just knew where to find Kitwarr and knew the only way to save him for sure was to go off alone.

"Come on, Kitwarr," Ezra said quietly and gently took the Wookiee's hand in his. "Let's get you back to your family."

This was a reunion Ezra couldn't wait to see.

It wasn't hard to figure out where the others were. The growls and chortles of the Wookiee conversations happening could be heard throughout the ship. And so the three just followed the voices until eventually reaching the cargo bay. They stopped on the platform overlooking the group and a moment hung in the air as all chatter stopped.

There was the wounded Wookiee, all patched up, and a look of relief on his face when he spotted Kitwarr. Kitwarr was so excited he jumped onto the ladder and slid down it much how Ezra had done earlier. Not wasting a moment father and son embraced.

Ezra smiled at the sight. He also noticed the shared looks of joy on Hera, Sabine, and Zeb. Ezra remembered Sabine's words from earlier, describing their crew as a family. Ezra couldn't quite see it then but he did now.

Must be nice, Ezra thought and then quickly shook his head. Now wasn't a time to be down and gloomy. He'd have plenty of time for any laments later. Now he just wanted to focus on the Wookiees and capture this moment. He had helped make this possible.

Not bad for a street rat, he thought and was then surprised to feel a hand pat his shoulder. He looked and saw Kanan standing next to him with a look of appreciation and happiness on his face. Ezra felt a little awkward but smiled back all the same, and then looked back to where Kitwarr and his dad were still embracing.

He felt Kanan lift his hand and then move past Ezra to the ladder to go and rejoin Hera and the others. Good for them, Ezra thought and resolved himself to try and put on a brave face for the remainder of the trip back.

Kruwhrarrr let out a long happy growl as he and Kitwarr stood by the airlock, saying their goodbyes to the Ghost crew who had come to their rescue. Kitwarr looked up at this father happily. Sabine smiled too and turned away from the pair to translate for them.

"Um, he says if we ever need help, the Wookiees will be there."

Kruwhrarrr stepped forward ruffed up Ezra's hair affectionately with his hand, grateful for the lengths Ezra went to in protecting Kitwarr. Ezra fought back a blush of suddenly being the center of attention and instead focused on Kitwarr.

"Good luck, Kitwarr." Ezra said and stepped forward to say his goodbye. "Try to stay out of trouble."

Kitwarr and his dad waved happily and then turned and left, departing through the airlock to the Wookie ship.

"Ha, look who's talking," Zeb said and walked past Ezra to close the airlock.

Yeah, Ezra thought with his smile slowly disappearing as the airlock closed. Mission accomplished.

"So," Ezra said. "I guess you drop me off next?"

Ezra posed it as either a statement or a question, but the hesitancy was clear in his voice.

"Uh, yeah," Zeb said. He cleared his throat and tried to muster up some cheerfulness at the thought of Ezra leaving them. "Finally, right?"

Beside him Kanan stood impassive, not saying anything. Sabine remained quiet as well.

Stupid, Ezra thought and turned away from the group to hide his disappointment. "Right," Ezra said.

His back turned he missed the brief flashes of disappointment on Sabine and Zeb's faces as well as missing Kanan sigh and hang his head, equally unhappy but at a loss of what to say.

You're a street rat, Ezra reminded himself as he stood by the ladder leading to the dorsal turret. They needed you for a job. Job's done. He looked down at the deck as first Zeb then Sabine passed him by, neither one saying a word.

But as Kanan walked by the Wookiee ship disconnected and there was a significant heave to the Ghost. Not missing the chance, Ezra stumbled into Kanan and then quickly jumped back to lean against the bulkhead.

"Oh, uh, sorry," Ezra said as he hid the pieces of Kanan's lightsaber behind him. Kanan gave a subtle nod and continued along his way, none the wiser. Out of sight of any of the crew, Ezra looked down and admired the lightsaber. He then tucked the hilt and its separated power cell into his pack.

It's no big deal. He's a Jedi. He'll make himself a new one. Although by now he probably had noticed you missing, Ezra thought and removed the opened cube thing from his pack. He stuck it in his jacket pocket and then closed up his pack and went on his way.

It wouldn't be long now until Lothal and he wanted to see it one more time from space. And maybe say goodbye to Hera. But when he reached the cockpit he found it empty save for that orange astromech droid plugged into the console, piloting the ship.

Ezra shook his head and ignored the droid. For the best. Hera would probably try and convince me into some other crazy thing. The crazier thing is it probably wouldn't take that much convincing.

Through the cockpit's canopy viewport Ezra watched as Lothal came into view and sighed. It was better this way. There's a family out there somewhere. Someday. Just not here I guess.

Like a Loth-rat could ever be the galaxy saving type.

Reentry through the atmosphere went smoothly as did the descent from high altitude to flying just a thousand feet off of Lothal's golden plains of long grass. The droid remained quiet throughout the trip, to which Ezra was thankful.

And before he knew it the Ghost had touched down a couple hundred meters back from his comm tower atop a small rise.

The droid chortled something and then unplugged itself and departed, not that Ezra could understand the thing. Probably cursed his ancestors or something.

Ezra took a few more moments to just admire the cockpit until his head was nearly bursting with nostalgia. Nostalgia for strangers. Kriff, he really was that desperate. He turned to leave the cockpit, only to glance over his shoulder one more time, picturing in his head the moment when he announced to them all that he would join them in saving the Wookiees. At that moment it almost seemed like they had seen him as one of them.

Stupid.

The cockpit door swished close behind him and briefly Ezra wondered where had everyone wandered off to. It didn't take him long. As soon as he entered the forward cargo bay he saw the ramp was already lowered and in the bay below was Zeb, Sabine, and the droid. The latter of the two in the midst of some repairs to the droid.

So that's where it went.

Deciding it was probably best to say nothing at all, Ezra climbed down the ladder and saw Sabine glance over her shoulder back at him. Boy was she pretty. He gave her a small smile. She did the same and then focused back on the droid, who held out one of its manipulator arms in a wave.

Ezra just shook his head and turned away, missing Chopper's disappointed chirps as well as Sabine's own crestfallen face.

Zeb was next, pushing along the first of many heavy crates. Was the repulsorlift down or was he just in the mood for a workout? Zeb leaned back and rested on the crate, waiting on him. Ezra sighed, he should say something.

"So, uh, see you around?" Ezra said.

"Not if we see you first." Zeb said and then laughed, lunged forward and gave Ezra a friendly punch on the shoulder. Only it was a bit harder than Zeb had probably intended. Ezra winced and shook his head.

"Don't worry, you won't."

Stepping down the ramp Ezra was not surprised whatsoever to see Hera standing side by side with an annoyed looking Kanan, arms folded across his chest.

"I think you have something that belongs to me," Kanan said. Hera kept her eyes on Kanan and Ezra had a feeling that the pair had had an argument or something. An argument that neither one had felt very satisfied about.

Whatever. Not my problem.

Ezra reached back and from his pocket he retrieved the opened Jedi cube. He never did figure out how to close it. He looked at it for a moment and then at Kanan, his eyes narrowed and his voice hard.

"Here," Ezra said and tossed the cube into Kanan's hands. "Good luck saving the galaxy."

He gave the pair of them one last glance and then broke out into a run, putting the Ghost and its family behind him.

Ezra didn't look back until he reached the observation deck at the top of his tower. Returned to his rightful place in the galaxy, Ezra was a little surprised to see the Ghost still sitting there in the distance. He guessed it made sense. The ship had taken a lot of fire from TIEs and that Gozanti cruiser on Kessel. They'd want to be sure there wasn't anything busted too badly.

Maybe they'd even head to a town for supplies. Or at least a new caf machine. He didn't get the full story on how it busted. Regardless, Ezra understood. No caf can make for a cranky crew with everything they must go through. You know. Flying around saving the galaxy. Making a difference. The kinds of things Rebels do.

And being a family too.

Even though they couldn't see him, Ezra offered the small ship in the distance a little wave. He turned and walked along the deck when he paused in his tracks. There it was again. That hum. That call.

Someday he'd figure that out. Shaking his he headed into the domed communication hub turned living quarters.

Stepping just inside the doorway he pulled out the lightsaber and assembled it. The weapon of a Jedi. Guardians. Protectors. Dedicating their lives to a greater purpose. Making a difference. Saving the galaxy. And best of all?

Sticking it to the Empire.

Ezra smiled as he ran his fingers over the hilt. Kanan might show up for it. Or he'd just shrug and build himself another.

Ezra sighed and looked around his circular hub and his assortment of random collections of helmets and other souvenirs.

His small workbench. Refresher and the pile of old mattresses that passed for a bed. There was still the old communication equipment. He could probably fix that up. With the increased Imperial activity it wouldn't take too much to listen in on their communications. Keep an ear out for any news about the people trapped in Tarkintown.

Could also get a heads up on any particularly good shipments coming through. He still had his bike stashed in town, that is if someone hadn't already swiped it by now. Had it really only been two days?

And then he felt it.

The Call. Not what he felt when he looked out across the plains from his observation deck. But the same Call he felt when he first spied Kanan in Capital City. It seems like Kanan found him earlier than he thought. Ezra didn't bother looking behind him, he didn't have to.

Time for some answers.

"What's the Force?" Ezra said aloud.

Kanan followed Ezra into his tower's cabin. And after a glance around, he explained.

"The Force is everywhere," Kanan said. "It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together. And it's strong with you, Ezra. Otherwise, you'd never have been able to open the holocron."

Holocron. So that's what that cube thing is. Ezra turned and eyed Kanan cautiously.

"So, what do you want?"

"To offer you a choice," Kanan said. "You can keep the lightsaber you stole, let it become just another dusty souvenir. Or you can give it back and come with us, come with me and be trained in the ways of the Force. You can learn what it truly means to be a Jedi."

Ezra thought it over then asked the question that had been lingering in his head ever since what the ISB Agent had said to him on Kessel.

"I thought the Empire had wiped out all the Jedi."

"Not all of us," Kanan said and Ezra could hear the pain in the Jedi's voice.

Ezra glanced down at the lightsaber for only a moment, but when he looked back up Kanan was gone. A few moments later Ezra heard the turbolift activate as it began its descent.

There it was. The offer. But was it because he had the potential to be a Jedi? Or did they actually think he made a good fit with their crew or team? Or family? And what did Sabine and Zeb think of all this?

Stepping out onto the deck, Ezra looked across the plains. When exactly did he go from being the competition to potentially being one of them?

The Plains of Lothal held no answers to Ezra's questions.

Upon his return he found the crew waiting in the cargo bay for news. But all Kanan could offer the others was a shrug. Their guess was as good as his.

Feeling the sudden need for privacy Kanan meandered around the ship until he found himself sitting on the bunk in his cabin. He eyed the holocron Ezra had opened, and then closed his eyes and opened the holocron himself. Immediately the message began tot play. A message he had listened to over and over again, too many times to count.

"This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. I regret to report that both our Jedi Order and the Republic have fallen, with the dark shadow of the Empire rising to take their place.

"This message is a warning and a reminder for any surviving Jedi. Trust in the Force."

"Do not return to the Temple."

As Chopper did his maintenance he gave thought to the new meatbag. His logic processor deduced that the new one, if he joined, would make for excellent target practice.

"That time has passed."

Another crate secured, Zeb thought and then unwittingly his thoughts turned to the Kid and wondered what his decision would be. He had frustrated him to no end but? Zeb sighed and shook his head, moving on to the next crate.

"And our future is uncertain."

Alone in the common room Sabine hung her head. She tried not to think of them, but it was moments like these that the memories crept up on her. She missed having a little brother and missed having someone her own age she could get into trouble with. In the short time she had known him Ezra had filled that void. But most of all, he cared. Truly cared about the people in this galaxy. She eyed the broken caf machine, wishing for a caf. Diasa'yr o'r chaavla.

"We will each be challenged. Our trust… our faith… our friendships."

Hera sat in her chair in the cockpilot doing maintenance, trying not to think about Ezra. But whenever she looked up it was right there in the middle of the viewport. Ezra's tower. She sighed and gripped the control panel. Hera knew she was fond of Ezra and would miss him, but she didn't imagine it'd hurt like this. She had been so hopeful that Kanan would get Ezra to come with them, but in the end it's Ezra's decision. She had just wanted more for that smiling boy who had begun to feel like family to her.

Please, Ezra. You are meant for so much more.

"But we must persevere."

"And in time, a new hope will emerge. May the Force be with you… always."

His door opened and Kanan opened his eyes to see a cautiously optimistic Ezra standing there in the doorway. Did this mean what he thinks?

Kanan got to his feet as Ezra stepped in, meeting him halfway. Kanan saw one last brief moment of hesitation on Ezra's face before holding out the lightsaber to him. Kanan smiled. He took the lightsaber and patted Ezra's shoulder, welcoming his new apprentice and new crew member to the family.

Ezra smiled.

He needed to head to the medical bay, but Agent Kallus knew this was something that couldn't be put off.

As he entered the aft-Bridge communications center, Kallus cleared the room. Once he was alone he keyed up the appropriate frequency. It didn't take long.

"Greetings, Grand Inquisitor. I have news to share."

Hondo must admit, the ending to this chapter was very emotional for Hondo. And a little taxing. So many points of view! Alas the romance got the better of Hondo! Such a moving moment! And did you know Hondo once met Obi Wan? And the trouble we would get up to! Ah, good old Kenobi. How nice it would be to share a drink together again. But Hondo does wonder. Would they have asked Ezra to join if he was not connected to the Force? And also, just how many skills does Mando Girl have? And she sees Ezra as a brother! Oh Sweet Mira, your father was not very well versed on matters of attraction quite yet (Editor notation: Understatement!). Don't worry Sabine! Once Uncle Hondo joins the story… Well you know how it goes. Eh? If there is one thing Uncle Hondo understands it is matters of the heart! Love and Profit! That was the original title of A Rebel's Tale but Uncle Hondo was, how you say, overruled.

Now I know what you all are thinking. What was Sabine's secret for sneaking the Ghost aboard the Star Destroyer? Hondo wanted to know, until it was explained to him. It is not advisable. But that is the next chapter! For you see my friends, Ezra's tale was not at all well documented on CE's animated series. Much happened between episodes. And that is what the next chapter will be, or what Ezra has come to call them: "Interludes." Uncle Hondo thinks you will find these Interludes most interesting and entertaining! I know I did when I sat down with Ezra and Zeb to recount what happened the day they'd learned they'd be roommates. Oh! Priceless!

Until next time my friends! Remember, Stay Profitable!