Welcome back friends of Uncle Hondo! Another chapter. Ezra's new acquaintances have walked into an Imperial trap! And now it is up to Ezra to save them! Pour yourselves your favorite drink and settle in for the next portion of A Rebel Story! And such an emotional chapter! This Uncle Hondo did not expect so early in the adventure. Still! The true account of Ezra Bridger!
Spark of Rebellion Pt2
"So much for heroes."
As he ran out of the cockpit and into the bowels of the Ghost, getting closer and closer to the airlock that would lead him to a kriffin' Star Destroyer filled with thousands of Imperials armed with the same blasters he had been trying so hard to get his hands on, one thought kept resonating with him. A thought spurred by the female Twi'lek captain he had come to respect in such a short time. And it had nothing to do with Kanan risking his life for him.
It was the damn Tarkintown and the people there who were suffering.
"If all you do is fight for your own life, then your life is worth nothing."
Is that what had his life been all these years? Is that what his future was destined to be? No. He didn't want that. But helping his homeworld was one thing, but this was just crazy! And Hera's words moment's ago did nothing to alleviate that.
"Listen, our crew boarded that transport to selflessly rescue Imperial prisoners. They have no idea they walked into a trap. No idea what's coming!" Hera placed her hand on Ezra's shoulder, a look of grim truth in her eyes. "You need to go warn them, Ezra."
"No, it's too late for them, Hera." Ezra responded, his mind still grappling with the spark in his heart to do the right thing.
"We should run now, while–"
"You don't mean that."
"I do! I swear, I do." Ezra said, sighing in desperation. He could hear the throbbing of his heart beating rapidly in his chest.
Ezra's eyes gazed out the transparisteel cockpit of the Ghost as the destroyer's tractor beam pulled it into the belly of the Imperial vessel, and the dangers that were waiting beyond. So many dangers his mind reminded him of.
But that damn Tarkintown; and spurred by Hera's words of living a life worth nothing, Ezra's heart won out.
"Which is why I can't believe I'm doing this!" Ezra groaned, and ran from the cockpit to do something he'd never done before. Fighting for something other than himself.
When the airlock opened revealing the transport's interior, Ezra didn't know what to expect. But he spun into cover beside a bulkhead as a pair of stormtroopers roving the bay could spot him. It was only then Ezra realized all he had for weapons was his stun stick and his wrist mounted slingshot that shot electrical blasts.
Even if (and it was a big if) he managed to warn the others. And they made it to the ship. What about the tractor beam? What about those fighters? He wasn't in the Star Destroyer itself but he knew those things carried dozens of TIEs.
And where the kriff where the cell blocks anyway?!
Ezra groaned, and went to key his pull a comlink off his belt to ask Hera for directions - only to realize he didn't have any of the crew's com digits. Not to mention the Empire was jamming all unauthorized frequencies.
Which is why I'm running here on foot in the first place. Right. Time to focus.
"You two! Setup out of sight by the cells. Cut off all avenues of retreat." a stormtrooper with a brown shoulder pauldron said to the pair of stormtroopers.
Immediately the pair followed the senior stormtrooper, and before he could give his brain a chance to think things through Ezra was after them and praying they wouldn't look over their shoulders to see the small kid in orange following them.
"Come on, brig's just up ahead!" the lead stormtrooper said.
Brig? I hope that's sailor-talk for detention cells! Which meant one thing. Now or never!
"Hey bucketheads!" Ezra shouted, and as the three stopped they were met with a rapid firing of the yellow electric bolts from Ezra's slingshot.
Ezra's chest was heaving, not from the running but from the realization of the three unconscious Imperials in white armor lying on the dull gunmetal gray deck of the transport.
And for a a moment all Ezra could think was whoa.
But the moment passed and Ezra's mind shouted for him to focus and he shake off the shock. Resuming his pace he gave thought to grabbing one of the fallen stormtrooper's blaster rifles, but then he had never used one before. He'd probably have worse aim than the bucketheads!
So he continued on and kept his eyes up. Depending on how this played out it was luck or a curse he ran into the three of those guys. But they did say that the detention level was close - there!
The door swished open - do all starship doors make the same noise? And as it opened a rush of relief flooded over Ezra when he saw Kanan and Zeb getting ready to breach a cell door. He had found them and Ezra threw his arms out, waving like a kid possessed.
"IT'S A TRAP!" Ezra shouted as loudly as his lungs could handle. "We gotta get out of here, it's a trap!"
"Karabast!" Zeb snarled. "The kid's blowing another op!"
"It's not an op." Ezra exclaimed, as he doubled over and gasped for breath. "It's a trap! Hera sent me to warn you."
The two still looked doubtful. What the kriff!? Seriously! What's it take?
The cell door swooshed open and out charged stormtroopers with weapons ready.
I'll take it, Ezra thought and as Kanan and Zeb stumbled backward Ezra brought his slingshot. He shot off a single yellow bolt of electricity just to the right of the lead stormtrooper - and right into a dangerous looking power panel next to the cell door. His aim was true, Ezra's shot caused the panel to explode and take down the stormtroopers. Ezra fought the urge to smile.
Not bad for a street - oh kriff I'm about to be left behind! Ezra chased after, despite his best efforts of recalling his way here it was still no use he couldn't recall the path off the top of his head. All he needed was to just keep up with Zeb and Kanan and-
"We need to warn Sabine and Chopper!" Ezra reminded them. "But they've jammed the comm!"
"They'll follow the plan. It'll be fine." Kanan said, sounding more annoyed that it had been a trap than worried about something else - like say capture!
"Yeah, 'cause the plan's gone just great so far!" Ezra shot back, voice filled with sarcasm. Then he remembered something else. "Also? Tractor beam!"
"Relax. We got it." Kanan said as he led the way, with Ezra finding himself in the middle and Zeb taking up the rear.
More twists and turns, running blindly through the corridors but seemingly knowing where they were headed. At least it was just this transport and not the actual Star Destroyer itself. Those things were over a kilometer long!
Only around the next bend came a small squad of five stormtroopers led by a funny looking Imperial in an olive drab office uniform. Only he was also wearing this giant helmet and had some sort of chestplate, adorned with an insignia of red and blue that Ezra had never seen before.
"Don't stop!" Kanan ordered, holding his blaster at the ready as they ran.
Ezra's eyes widened as both groups ran at the other - neither one shooting. The stormtroopers Ezra understood, packed so closely they would just as likely shoot each other. But he'd seen Kanan and his accuracy. His plans sucked but he was a real deadeye with that pistol of his. What was he waiting for?
"Push off now!" Kanan yelled.
Push off?
And just like that Ezra found himself floating in the hallway, right along with Kanan and the stormtroopers and Mister Helmet. What the kriff just happened!
Blaster fire and Ezra looked to see that Kanan was at last shooting while floating. Okay now the Wiseass was just showing off!
Unaware of Sabine's tampering with the artificial gravity, and not truly understanding how gravity worked on starships, Ezra tried flutter kicking his legs and making swimming motions with his arms only to remain exactly where he was. More blaster bolts were exchanged, but thankfully stormtroopers had just as bad of aim floating as they did when standing. But how was Kanan moving - oh!
Ezra watched as with one hand he returned fire back at the stormtroopers, and the other he latched on to any handhold on the sides of the corridor and pulled himself forward. Gravity, Ezra realized and quickly followed suit by grabbing onto whatever he could reach hold of.
Which wasn't much as he was floating almost perfectly in the center, arms and legs unable to reach - hey! Ezra felt himself jerked back as Zeb used his body as a handhold to propel himself further.
But before the furball could get out of reach Ezra's hand shot forward and latched onto the Lasat's back, despite Zeb's shouts of protest.
After a few initial attempts to push Ezra away, Zeb resigned himself to carrying the kid. No novice to zero gravity the Lasat easily continued to find handholds on the walls, ceiling, wherever and pushed them both forward as Kanan continued to lead the way blaster first.
When they reached the stormtroopers, the few that were still alive Kanan and Zeb both used as handholds to continue propelling themselves forward. As Ezra continued to hang on he was hoping and hoping that the hangar and freedom was just around the next corner, this was all becoming too much for the young teen.
"You doing okay, kid?" Kanan called back as they passed through a door and took a right down to yet another corridor.
"You kidding?" Ezra asked in exasperation. "Ah!" Ezra yelped when Zeb finally managed to shrug Ezra off his back, leaving him on his own.
Sink or swim, Ezra found a handhold and pushed off. Finding himself able to keep pace with the other two he felt a small bit of relief.
Keep moving, Ez. Grab and pull. Grab and pull. You can do this. You're almost-
"Now!" Kanan said.
"Ah!" Ezra cried, as he felt himself hit the deck hard. Just as his brain began to register what had happened he felt Zeb's strong hand grip his collar and yanked him to his feet. After a few stumbles Zeb let go once Ezra had gotten his feet under him.
Another junction, this time with Sabine and that one pain in the kark orange astromech droid.
"Where are the Wookies?" Ezra heard Sabine ask.
"No Wookies!" Kanan replied. "Sabine, man the nose gun! Chop, tell Hera to take off!"
With Zeb running behind him, Ezra closed his eyes in relief at the words, knowing it meant that the airlock leading to the Ghost was near. He had done it. He could hardly believe it!
But Ezra's relief was short lived as he felt Zeb yank on him once again, only this time backward as the purple Lasat continued charging past him after Kanan and the others. Ezra glared as he watched the others take the next right and took a few steps forward only for a black gloved hand to grab him by his pack and pull him down.
"Let go!" Ezra grunted. He looked over his shoulder and saw that it was none other than Mister Helmet and coming up behind him were more stormtroopers.
Ezra continued to struggle but he was still a kid and didn't have the strength to fight off a full grown man, a man who knew how to fight with his hands as one arm squeezed his neck and the other locked his head in place.
He was trapped!
He glanced up, hoping to see help and there it was! Zeb out with his blaster rifle taking aim! Ezra was a few shots away from freedom!
Only the blaster shots never came and the arm around Ezra's neck only squeezed tighter. His captor was using him as a human shield!
"Kid! Get out of the way!" Zeb shouted.
"I'm trying!" Ezra choked out just before blaster fire erupted from behind him. The stormtroopers formed a line and began shooting down the corridor, forcing Zeb to take cover behind a bulkhead. Ezra's struggles began to pay off and he loosened the arm around his neck to gasp out a breath, and as he glanced to Zeb he watched as the Lasat's face changed from one of determination to something he had never seen on Zeb before.
Hopelessness.
He wouldn't.
No. They wouldn't!
"Sorry, kid!" Zeb shouted and looked at him with regret. "You did good."
Zeb left and the door sealed shut behind him.
He did. He left.
Ezra struggled, his eyes filled with fear as he waited and hoped to see Kanan or Sabine or hell even that annoying astromech to come back through the door and - and - and be the big stupid idiotic heroes they saw themselves as! The kind of selfless people that gave the starving people of Tarkintown hope.
The people that lit that spark inside of him.
Ezra elbowed the man holding him in the gut, only to wince when he felt his unprotected elbow smash against a very tough metal alloy. Still it caught Mister Helmet off guard and for a moment Ezra felt like he could get free.
But Helmet recovered and Ezra found himself grabbed again.
Silence filled the corridor, except for the frightened panting of a scared boy who came to the horrifying realization that there was no coming to his rescue.
"They need you, Ezra! They need you right now. If all you do is fight for your own life, then your life is worth nothing."
"Well," the Imperial Officer said with a tone of disappointment in his High Imperial voice, continuing to hold Ezra by the neck. "So much for heroes. And to think they came to rescue prisoners, and instead leave you behind."
Yeah, Ezra thought as a familiar ugly feeling settled in. A feeling accompanied by memories. Ones he tried to shove back in their box but it was no use.
People leave. Story of my life. Not that I'm about to Helmet any of that. But he did have something to share with him.
Ezra stopped his struggles and waited, waited until he caught the Imp's attention and could see him out of the corner of his eye.
Ezra managed to turn his shoulders around, look his captor in the eyes, and lifted his head high.
"Eat sand."
Ezra watched as the officer was first taken aback by the amount of nerve from such a young person, but then eventually followed by a flash of respect across the Imperial's face. And finally a begrudging smile and a nod.
Something heavy hit the back of Ezra's head. As the boy's world faded into black he had one last thought.
They always leave.
From the Ghost's nose turret Sabine stayed ready on the gun for any TIE fighters, but nothing was popping up on her scope. There was some prattle over the intercom in the cockpit from the Imperial Transport Commander and a witty comeback by Hera.
"Sabine, hit it," Hera said.
Smiling Sabine held the remote detonator in her hand and with a click of the button, triggered the numerous explosives she had planted in the transport ship. As the Ghost distanced itself from the destroyer she could hear the sounds of the explosions but had no way to see it.
She let out a sigh in frustration and rolled her eyes. "Ugh, I can't see it from here," she said into her comlink. "How'd it look?"
"Gorgeous, Sabine. As always." Kanan said from his spot at the ship's dorsal turret, proud of the girl. The Star Destroyer's hangar filled with smoke and fire, there'd be no pursuit. And while the op had been a setup Kanan was still extremely satisfied in how quickly his team had adapted and managed such a smooth escape.
The results of careful planning and solid teamwork.
Sabine relaxed into her seat and smiled, taking the complement to her handiwork and watched as stars became lines and the Ghost jumped into hyperspace. With the ship free and clear she swiveled the chair around and got up, making her way to the cockpit and the upcoming debrief - grabbing her helmet along the way.
She fell in behind Kanan and they entered the cockpit together, joining Hera as she leaned back in the pilot's chair and nodded to them. Given what happened the debrief shouldn't take long.
Kanan's earlier jubilation with the escape had shifted to annoyance. He sighed and sat down next to Hera in the co-pilot's chair. "The whole thing was a setup."
"You think Vizago was in on it?" Sabine asked. It was the only thing that made sense to her.
"He'd sell his mother to Jawas for a couple credits," Hera said, thinking about the green skinned broken horned Devaronian. Sabine took her chair behind Kanan's as she listened to Hera. "But we're a source of income for him." Hera folded her arms and gestured with her hand. "Even odds he didn't know."
The cockpit's doors swished open behind and Sabine recognized the heavy footfalls of Zeb as he joined the others. Glancing she saw he too looked equally frustrated. Maybe even moreso as he sat down in his designated chair behind Hera, his eyes focused on the deck and refusing to look at anyone.
Kanan's annoyance wasn't going away anytime soon as he stared forward out the transparisteel - looking out into hyperspace. Sabine hoped that maybe Kanan would cheer up after dinner. Zeb was cooking after all.
"The kid did all right." Hera said suddenly and Sabine saw the huge smile come over the Twi'lek female's face. Sabine tilted her head at that. She recognized that look in Hera's eyes.
"He did okay," Kanan said, forcing the words out of his mouth begrudgingly.
Sabine hid a smile. She had only seen Ezra for a moment before they sprinted for the exit, but it looked like that diamond in the rough had stepped up. She wondered what Hera had said to get him to risk his neck like that for them.
Hmm, he did have nicknames for all of them.
Kanan just shrugged, but after knowing the man for two years Sabine could read him pretty well by now and with the look on his face he was having similar thoughts about how Ezra had come through for them. "Where is he?"
"I, uh, thought he was with you." Zeb said from his spot next to Sabine.
She heard the hesitation in his voice and a switch got flipped inside Sabine's head.
"Zeb," Sabine said slowly and leaned over to look him straight in the face. "What did you do to him?" Sabine asked, trying to ignore the sudden chill running down the back of her neck.
He wouldn't.
"I didn't do anything to him." Zeb said, shaking his head and looking at the others for understanding. Then shifted his eyes and went back to looking at the floor. "But that ISB agent grabbed him."
"What?!" Sabine, Hera, and Kanan said in unison. Horror and disbelief stamped on each of their faces as each tuned to stare at him.
Sabine felt the chill running down her neck freeze into ice.
"The kid got grabbed, okay?!" Zeb said, again looking to the others and searching for understanding.
If looks could kill!
"Garazeb Orrelios!" Hera said, addressing him by his full name.
"Oh, come on!" Zeb responded and began shaking in a mix of fear and frustration. "We were dumping him after the mission anyway!" His head swayed off to the side, the proud Lasat trying to hide his shame. "This saves us fuel."
Hera's eyes widened in disbelief from what she was hearing and looked at Kanan.
"They'll go easy on him. He's just a kid," Zeb said, though not he even sounded convinced of that. No one got off easy when it came to the Empire.
Kanan looked at Hera, his eyes mirroring hers.
They wouldn't abandon him, Sabine thought as she continued to look at her two surrogate parents to begin forming some sort of a plan. But their faces were despondent. Conflicted. Guilty.
Wouldn't they?
Keeping his eyes closed helped a little with the pain throbbing from his head. But did nothing for the other kind of pain Ezra was feeling. And he had nothing in his pack to help either, which sat uselessly on the cell's bench next to him.
"Hey, a kid's gotta eat."
"Pretty gutsy move, kid!"
"You want a ride? Kid! You have a better option!?"
"Nothing would thrill me more than tossing you out! While in flight."
"You can't keep me here! Take me back to Lothal!"
"I'm Hera."
"Grab a crate, pull your weight."
"Locals call it Tarkintown. Anybody who tried to fight back got arrested… for treason."
"Thank you so much!"
"I… I didn't do anything."
"Look I know you're not gonna believe me, but it's like this thing wanted me to take it."
"You're right, I don't believe you."
"Not too good at following directions, are you?"
"You're not exactly thieves."
"Sabine. My name's Sabine."
Ezra drooped his head back against the wall of his cell.
"Can we please get rid of him!?"
"The kid knows too much."
"I'm not against sticking it to the Empire, but there's no way I'd stick my neck out this far. Who does that?"
"We do."
"No, no way! Why would I risk my life for a bunch of strangers?"
"They need you, Ezra! They need you right now. If all you do is fight for your own life, then your life is worth nothing."
Ezra let out a breath and shook his head.
"Karabast! The kid's blowing another op!"
"Where are the Wookies?"
"Sorry, kid. You did good!"
"So much for heroes."
"Eat sand."
Ezra's eyes opened. The starving Rodian standing in front of him holding the small piece of purple jogan as if it were gold. His words of thanks echoing in Ezra's pounding head.
"I didn't do anything…"
The Rodian disappeared and the door to Ezra's cell swished open. His Imperial captor had ditched the helmet, but in Ezra's opinion he should've kept it. If only to cover up those overgrown muttonchops of his. How could that be acceptable in Imperial regs?
"I'm not against sticking it to the Empire, but there's no way I'd stick my neck out this far. Who does that?"
"Should've kept the helmet," Ezra commented. "Did wonders for that beard of yours."
The newly dubbed Muttonchops remained where he stood, on top of the stairs that led into the cell. His arms were folded behind him as he eyed Ezra with interest. The model of Imperial indifference. The silence felt deafening.
"Don't suppose you got some bacta?" Ezra said, continuing to try and bait the Imp. It didn't work.
"I am Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau," Muttonchops said, and with a holier than thou attitude he kept his posture as he descended the steps into the ceiling, stopping in front of Ezra.
"I recognized a few of your cohorts." He eyed Ezra more closely. "But not you."
Pushing aside the pain in his head and the pain stemming from his heart, Ezra leaned forward and matched the ISB agent's look of disinterest.
"Jabba the Hutt," Ezra said, trying one last time. But Muttonchops, or Agent Kallus apparently, remained unmoving. Impassive. Kind of like a droid that's switched off so it can recharge.
"Look," Ezra said, deciding it best to give them something at least. "I just met those guys today, I don't know anything."
"You're not here for what you know, "Jabba." You're here to be used as bait upon our return to Lothal."
Bait? Bait!
"Sorry, kid. You did good!"
"Wow, you're about as bright as a binary droid!" Ezra said, unable to keep the pent emotions inside for a second longer. Though he did his best to keep his tone light and carefree, Ezra couldn't completely hide the sting of hurt from his voice and his eyes glanced to the floor of his cell. "They're not gonna come for me. People don't do that."
They don't. Not ever.
Kallus inhaled deeply and took another step forward. Ezra eyed his insignia. A single line. Two blue squares on the left, an empty space, and a single red square on the right. Why the empty space? He misplace a square? Hope that doesn't mean a demerit.
Studying Ezra for another moment, Kallus leaned forward and Ezra could smell the crap meal the Empire feeds guys like this. He lifted his arm and reached out with his gloved hand, brushing some dirt off Ezra's left shoulder. Ezra flinched away, involuntarily.
Which was when he felt Kallus pluck something off his belt. Ezra turned his head to see the ISB agent holding up the commlink he lifted from Commander Aresko back in Capital City.
"Interesting. Commander Aresko's report read that the crew that hit the shipment of E-11 blaster rifles in Capital City had called in a "Red Alert" prior to the theft. What his report failed to mention was that it was his own personal comlink that was used - someone familiar with Imperial protocols could make quite the mess with such the device of a ranking officer. More interesting was that while today's Imperial casualties have been high, there were no reports of any civilians being hurt."
Kallus tilted his head. "And yet they left you behind to take the fall. Didn't they - "kid?" They get to be seen as heroes and no one gets hurt, well, no one important that is. Unfortunately someone will have to take the blame for today's theft, murder, and destruction of Imperial property. How… fortunate for them that the person they only met today will be the one holding the bag."
Ezra took a breath and nodded. "Okay. I'll tell you something. Something useful. Something I'm not supposed to even know about."
"I'm all ears," Kallus replied and leaned in to listen.
Clearing his throat, Ezra gestured and then cupped his hand to Kallus the secret.
"You actually looked better WITH the helmet," Ezra said just loudly enough for Kallus alone to hear. Ezra then turned his eyes to match Kallus, a smirk on Ezra's face. "Agent Muttonchops."
"Hmph," Kallus nodded but maintained his Imperial bearing and straightened his posture, then turned and walked out of the cell not looking back. "Search him," he addressed the two stormtrooper guards outside. "Then secure him here."
With Kallus' exit the two stormtroopers entered and closed in on Ezra, backing him against the wall. The first thing they did was remove his wrist-mounted slingshot. "Hey!" Ezra said, but the stormtroopers just shoved him back and rifled through his pack. They made quick work, finding his stun stick, R-series scomp link lockpick, and other tools. Lastly they threw the slingshot in the pack and shoved Ezra back when he tried to protest. "Get off!" Ezra said, but the stormtroopers just shoved him again before taking his pack and leaving the cell, sealing the door and locking it behind them.
On his knees in defeat, Ezra broke out his best impression of Hera.
"You need to warn them, Ezra."
So much for risking your neck for others.
Ezra shook his head and reached into his coat's secret pocket, revealing the weird cube he had swiped while aboard the Ghost. "What was I thinking?" Ezra muttered and got off his knees and walked back to the bench. "Better on my own." He narrowed his eyes at that..
Better on my own? When did I stop? Memories of what he witnessed at Tarkintown caused Ezra to groan in frustration and look at the cube. "And of course, the only thing I managed to hold onto is this worthless piece of…"
His hands twisted and turned and did everything possible, but got nowhere in opening the thing. With a growl of pent up anger, Ezra threw the cube as hard as he could against the wall of his cell and then collapsed onto the bench.
Man, Ezra thought. What do I do? Think. Not on a transport anymore with only a dozen stormtroopers. On a kriffin' kilometer long Imperial Star Destroyer with a thousand of those bucketheads. Okay, fine!
It may be a Star Destroyer but that doesn't make it a prison. But if I don't get out now that's exactly where I'll end up. So think. You can do this.
Ezra thought but they weren't the thoughts he was hoping for that. Muttonchop's words and just the hopelessness was getting to him. That stupid box of childhood trauma had conveniently reopened itself.
Zeb, sure he'd leave me. Kanan - the Wiseass. Sure he'd lend a hand so long as it's convenient. Guess I became inconvenient then. Wouldn't think twice. And Sabine?
Ezra really didn't like where his thoughts were taking him but he was helpless to resist.
Did Sabine really mean what she said in their conversation? The stuff about honor and family. She didn't seem like the kind to leave someone behind. Or was she? She loved the attention, that much was obvious. So what did that make him and their conversation in the ship's kitchen. Just looking for attention? Or, worse, an idle distraction just to bide the time?
He remembered the looks in Sabine's amber eyes at the end. And her imploring question about his own family. No way. Ezra can spot a con a mile away and that? Can't fake that.
At the same time, not like any of them would listen to her.
As for Hera? Ezra shook his head as memories of his own mother came uninvited into his mind. Hera was the one flying the kriffin' ship to begin with. She decides to stay or go. So yeah Hera cares about her family, with the emphasis on her family.
Everybody leaves.
Ezra gave a scornful huff.
Well done, Bridger. Any other useless holes of despair you want to dive down? Pity parties always result in useful solutions!
Closing his eyes, Ezra pushed all mental and physical distractions aside. He needed to focus. Needed to concentrate. Place isn't a prison, just a ship. Okay, it's a Star Destroyer but still just a ship. And while Agent Kallus-Muttonchops is smarter than your average Imperial the rest are still just bucketheads. All bucket and no head. So focus.
Holding his hands together Ezra cleared his mind and focused. Something would come to him. Eventually it always does.
Maybe it was a minute. Or maybe it had only been a few seconds. Lost in concentration Ezra wasn't aware that the cube began emitting a noise. First the whirring of the cube's corners as it began to unlock and then from within it became a hum. The same hum, the same call, he had heard over and over again with these past few days especially.
But only when it fully unlocked, floated into the middle of the room, and its corners and edges separated did it begin to play back a holorecording. A man's voice, a cultured accent, began to slowly rouse Ezra from his thoughts.
"This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. I regret to report that both our Jedi Order and the Republic have fallen."
Ezra's eyes opened wide as it clicked to him that not only had he opened it, but a holoimage of a bearded guy in some simple but really clean robes was now speaking.
"With the dark shadow of the Empire rising to take their place."
A Jedi, Ezra thought with his mouth agape.
"This message is a warning and a reminder for any surviving Jedi. Trust in the Force."
Ezra looked on as the recording ended and the cube pieced itself back together again, but didn't align the corners or lock the edges back to their original spots. Ezra gasped not only at what he had just witnessed but also the plan taking shape in his head.
Thieves, crew, family, kriffin' good samaritans whatever they think themselves as. It was a mistake trusting those guys. And anyway they're gone now, but I'm not. I'm on a ship. A spaceship but still a ship. And all ships have rats. Even Star Destroyers.
"No! No, no! No way! You cannot be serious!" Zeb exclaimed in disagreement to Hera's "plan."
"It's our fault he was there!" Hera argued.
"Come on, Hera! We just met this kid! We're not going back for him!" Zeb yelled, repeating everything he had already said only twice as loud and making Sabine flinch.
Who the hell cares if we just met him? Like Hera said, we put him there! This is our fault!
But that doesn't mean we can save him. He isn't on some transport or Gozanti class cruiser. Those are in our wheelhouse. Not this time. No, we're talking about an Imperial Star Destroyer with over a thousand stormtroopers and an entire wing of TIE fighters.
These vessels were the pride and backbone of the Galactic Empire's military. And chances are they're expecting us. Sitting and waiting patiently for us to drop out of hyperspace and charge in blasters blazing to save Ezra and? Yeah! If that's what they're thinking, well, they're right! Because I really! Really! Really! Want to do that right now!
And then me and Ezra exchange high fives as cellmates.
Sabine couldn't help it as her own strategic mind played out the consequences following their likely capture. Consequences that her artist's imagination painted into images. Images of an executed Kanan hung by the neck with the word "traitor" carved into his chest. Images of Hera in the chains of slavery working until death, or worse. And Zeb, the last Lasat, his race gone forever. And me -
"What happened to your real family?"
The Empire will eventually figure out who I am. They'll make me finish what I started.
Sabine hit rewind again and again and watched as her mind showed her every outcome. And every time Ezra's "rescue" ended with them captured or blasted into space dust by turbolasers. They needed something else if they were going to attempt this. But what that was Sabine hadn't the slightest notion, which meant one thing.
"They'll be waiting for us." Sabine said once there was a lull in the heated argument. Her voice was soft and quiet but loud enough so the others could hear her clearly. "We can't save him."
Sabine glanced up and immediately regretted it when she saw Hera's look of disappointment in her. She knew Hera would be disappointed and she still looked. Another fresh wave of guilt washed over Sabine.
And so she looked down at the helmet sitting in her lap. A part of her wanted to defend her reasoning but what was the use? Hera saw the flaws in the plan just as easily as her, they just disagreed. People do that. Disagree. And unless Hera could improve on her "plan" or unless Kanan had something she hadn't thought of?
Sabine looked at Kanan but he turned away from the rest of the group, his face just as guilt ridden. Sabine tightly clenched her helmet sitting in her arms. And tried not to think of Ezra's appreciation of her artwork.
"Whump, whumpa, whup!" Chopper said. And Sabine's eyes widened when she made the translation.
"Weakling meatbags! Scared of bucketheads? Please let me airlock them, Master!"
"What! What did he say?" Zeb said. He looked from Hera to Sabine for an answer.
"He voted with me." Hera said, a triumphant note in her voice.
That wasn't exactly what Chopper had said, Sabine thought, but she kept quiet.
"That's two against two. Kanan," Hera said. With her addressment all eyes went to the Jedi. "You have the deciding vote."
One more time Sabine ran through the dozens of different plans and scenarios of her own design but they all ended up with her family either dead or sitting next to Ezra in binders.
But Sabine knew that look on Kanan's face and then glanced down at her helmet and its Y-shaped visor. That was it then she thought, and wiped a thumb over her reforged helmet.
Ancestors watch over us.
"Chopper, bring up the schematics of the Star Destroyer," Sabine said in a voice as hardened as beskar steel. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Hera's earlier disappointment began to change. Change in realization by what Sabine had said. Changed to pride.
It felt good, but it didn't make her Twi'lek Captain's plan any less crazy!
"Make adjustments for the damage in the Star Destroyer's hangar bay from the wreckage of the destroyed transport." Sabine continued and ignored Zeb's look of disbelief and focused instead on the Star Destroyer's holo-projection to see what she could do to improve on Hera's "plan."
There must be something they're missing. What aren't they seeing?
"And you bucketheads are gonna be sorry! When my uncle, the Emperor," Ezra shouted - knowing that would get the two stormtroopers' attention. "Finds out you're keeping me here against my will. I guarantee he'll make a personal example…"
Ezra cut it there and began to make the appropriate noises for his genius plan that cannot fail anyway whatsoever.
The stormtroopers shared nervous looks when they heard the coughing and choking noise coming from inside the cell. Not the Emperor! Without a second's hesitation the one on the left opened the cell and the two charged into Ezra's cell to help the Emperor's dying nephew.
But there was nothing there, not even the kid!
Ezra smirked as he snuck out from under the five stairs that led down into the cell, and then monkey-crawled up and out of the cell; he waved at the two stormtroopers looking up at him in shock.
"Bye guys," Ezra said, and then sealed and locked the door.
Think I'm starting to get the hang of this, Ezra thought as he quickly walked away from the cell blocks. He had done his best to recall Imperial wayfinding symbols he had seen at their ground installations, and thankfully there were a few similarities. And despite going in and out of consciousness as he was dragged from the hangar to cell blocks, Ezra believed he still had a general sense of direction.
Who was he kidding? First time on Star Destroyer and I magically know the way out? How is that possible? When every. Single. Hallway. Looked. Exactly. The. Kriffin' same! Successfully navigating my way around one of these things would be like picking a stormtrooper out from a lineup of stormtroopers!
Ezra quelled the growing sense of desperation and instead returned his focus on the ship's signs. That they were all in aurabesh didn't help but he was beginning to recognize a few of the signs and symbols displayed on the bulkheads of the Star Destroyer.
One looked suspiciously like it might be pointing to an armory.
An armory, where they'll take my stuff to? Probably. Maybe. Gah, whatever! Just get there, get my stuff, find an air vent and hide out until I can stowaway on a shuttle headed to a planet. Lothal preferably. Agent Muttonchops had said they'd be headed back there.
It also wasn't all he said. And he was right. They might help others when it's convenient, like Tarkintown, but in the end it's all the same. It's inevitable. People let you down. It's them first and everybody else second.
They abandon you.
"They need you, Ezra." Ezra said in a high pitched tone, mimicking Hera. "They need your right now." He rolled his eyes as renewed determination took over.
When I get back to Lothal? I'm going to start hijacking so many Imperial transports. I'll start my own smuggling ring! I'll sell so many blasters and - oh, the armory!
Seeing the coast was clear, Ezra darted to the armory door and entered. After checking it was empty he walked in and shut the door behind him.
Hmm… Think I'm getting better at this. There on those rectangle containers, Ezra saw and smiled as he grabbed his pack and inspected it and - hey! Someone ate the last of my jogan fruits!
He looked over the rest of the stuff and saw it was all there, minus Aresko's comlink that Kallus had taken possession of. Still it would be handy to listen in on Imperial transmissions, especially if he wants to get aboard a shuttle or - oh. Why hello there!
His search just turned up a collection of brand new Imperial cadet helmets. Grabbing the closest Ezra gave it a once over before setting atop his head and putting it on. Good fit. Next he began to focus the helmet's comlink to search for the right frequency, it didn't take long.
"The delay was insignificant. The transport ship Agent Kallus diverted will dock on Kessel within two hours. The Wookies will be offloaded to work Spice Mine K-76."
Aw krif! The Wookies! Well what am I supposed to do? K-76? Kessel? I don't know where that is and even if I did there's no way I'd get there on my own and no way I'd free them on my own and just no way! I'm in over my head and the only people who cared to help didn't turn out to be the heroes I thought they were.
Ezra grit his teeth, a determined expression on his face. They gave up. I won't. Just need to think of something. Then Ezra spotted something interesting, a stack of datapads. They all looked the same so he picked one at random. Turning it on he began reading its contents, and then smiled.
So I'm on the Lawbringer. An Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer. Whatever that means. They must hand these datapads out to special guests and new recruits. So they don't end up lost, which if so then that would mean-
Ezra smiled and the datapad revealed a map of the vessel.
"This is Stormtrooper LS-005, reporting to Agent Kallus."
"Kallus here."
"Sir, the prisoner's gone."
"What?! I knew the boy would act as bait but I never dreamed the rebels would be foolish enough to attack a destroyer. How did they get aboard?"
Rebels? Oh, Muttonchops thinks they're rebels! Ezra suppressed the urge to laugh as he listened to the embarrassed stormtrooper give the report. How long had those bucketheads waited around in his cell before remembering their helmets had comlinks too? Ezra eagerly listened in, awaiting what was sure to be a very amusing explanation.
"Sir, the rebels didn't free him. He, ah…"
"Agent Kallus! There's a security breach in the lower hangar."
Ezra blinked and before he could come up with ten excellent good reasons why not to go to the lower hangar, he was already crawling his way up and into the air vent leading out of the armory. He checked the map on the datapad and determined where he was and which direction to head toward to reach the Lower hangar.
Wait! Lower hangar? You mean there's more than the one?!
Ezra shook his head and continued crawling, and hoping one of these vents led to the correct hangar. He had found a visitor's guide, not the blueprints and ventilation schematics. It was then that Ezra realized he finally had something nice to say about the Imperials. The Imps do have really spacious air vents. I can even crawl around wearing my backpack!
"I don't know how, but the rebel ship approached without alerting our sensors."
"They came back!" Ezra said, and jerked up his head in sudden realization - hitting it loudly against the low ceiling of the ventilation shaft. "I don't believe it," Ezra exclaimed as the significance of what he was hearing slowly began to sink in. He frowned.
Why did they come back? People use you and leave you. That's how the galaxy works. And even if this crew is the exception, this is an Imperial Star Destroyer lying in wait for them. It's crazy!
But was Muttonchops right? Questionable grooming standards aside he is an intelligence agent and he did seem to know a lot about these guys. He didn't call them thieves or pirates or some other outlaw terminology. He specifically called them rebels.
And then it clicked for Ezra as he began making his own connections. Sabine's Starbird calling card. Zeb's anger at the idea of them stealing solely to survive. The food for Tarkintown. Risking their necks for the it to the Empire anyway possible. Not for power or credits, but because in their eyes it was the right thing to do.
The kind of things his own parents had done.
Muttonchops was right. Whether Hera and her crew realized it or not in the Empire's eyes they were Rebels.
Ezra groaned and shook his head.
And now the heroic idiots were risking their necks by taking on an entire Star Destroyer just to rescue me! Ezra looked down at the datapad with the map and studied it. It was hard to navigate in the vents but Ezra figured he was close to the hangar, but he wasn't hearing blaster fire - yet.
But there would be. I have to help, and not just for me but the Wookies! They were going to Kessel something. We could still save them! Well if I don't get shot that is.
Screw it, Ezra thought and resumed his crawl. Tarkintown was bad enough. If these idiots want to stick it to the Empire this badly then I guess that makes me an idiot too. Besides, I owe Zeb a hard fist to his ugly face.
"Order all stormtroopers to converge on the lower hangar." Ezra heard Kallus' command over the comm. "I'll meet them there."
He had no idea how Hera got the ship past their sensors and turbolasers and stuff or what the plan was to fight through a Star Destroyer crawling wall to wall with stormtroopers. But Ezra knew one thing for certain - he knew Imperial protocol.
Ezra cleared his throat before he keyed the helmet's comlink. He mustered up as deep a voice as he could and droned out his best High Imperial.
"This is Trooper LS-123, reporting intruders in the upper hangar. Sir, I believe the lower hangar is a diversion."
Ezra smiled and patiently tapped his fingers.
"Maybe," Kallus responded on the comlink. "Maybe not. Squads five through eight divert to upper hangar. The rest, converge as ordered."
"Well every little bit helps," Ezra supposed. He glanced once more at the datapad, committing the path to memory, and sped up his crawling. They wouldn't hear him. Not with the ship's alarm now blaring.
Turn down this way and the hangar should be up ahead! Only no stormtroopers? Is this the right way? Kark me. For all I know I'm on my way to the trash compactor.
"Hold this bay until we get back!"
Kanan?
"And this time, try not to leave until everyone's back aboard!"
Sabine!
Era grinned and flipped the datapad close, he was nearly on top of them. He eyed what looked like an emergency release lever and tried giving it a pull. The panel his head unlock and slid out of sight, revealing the deck below as well as a very sorry looking Lasat.
Someone was in trouble.
"That was not my fault!" Zeb yelled as they began their run to the detention center.
"Well!" Ezra shouted from right above so all could hear. "That's debatable," he said and dropped from the opening he created in the ceiling and ended up landing perfectly right in front of Zeb.
Only for Zeb to wind up a fist and punch Ezra so hard he went stumbling and skidding across the deck. Eventually he came to a stop between Kanan and Sabine, with looks of astonishment on their faces. Well he couldn't really tell with Sabine and her helmet but Kanan looked at him in disbelief.
Ezra shook his head, grateful for what protection the helmet did offer. He got to his feet and yanked the helmet off his head and slammed it hard against the bulkhead. He then leveled an equally hard glare at Zeb.
"First you ditch me! Then you hit me!" Ezra accused.
"How was I supposed to know it was you? You were wearing a bucket!" Zeb shouted in his defense.
Ezra's blue eyes burned blaster bolts through Zeb's head and his mouth parted in rage. He wouldn't be fooled. It wasn't Zeb's choice to come back for him. Speaking of.
Still holding the helmet, Ezra let out a war cry and ran at Zeb! Completely taken by surprise the Lasat could only groan as Ezra slammed the helmet across that coward's jaw.
"You had that coming," Ezra said, his voice having a lethal edge to it.. Zeb growled in response and in the Lasat's eyes Ezra could see the burning desire to unleash it and strike back but then he and the others heard it. Boots in the hallway just behind Kanan and Sabine, a lot of boots.
Right, Ezra thought and whirled around and threw his helmet as hard as he could at the cluster of running stormtroopers. And there was a lot of them.
"Let's go!" Kanan shouted.
Not about to argue, Ezra ran and joined Kanan and Sabine following after Zeb as they made the sprint back to the hangar. And to the Ghost.
Ezra smiled at the sight of Hera on the boarding ramp. But if she's out here, who's manning the guns? And the ship!
"Spectre-1 to Ghost! We're leaving!" Kanan yelled just as red bolts of blaster fire began to fill up the hallway all around them.
As they continued to run Sabine peeled off and with a blaster in each hand began shooting back at their pursuers. More blaster fire, Hera with a small blaster. She was shooting from entrance to the Ghost and then she was running up the ramp too as Zeb and Ezra reached it.
Ezra stopped and turned around, lining up a yellow electrical charge with his slingshot when a big purple paw grabbed his shoulder.
"OH NO! THIS TIME? YOU BOARD FIRST!" Zeb shouted and threw Ezra up the ramp and into the cargo hold.
Keeping his cool Kanan worked side by side with Sabine and continued their fighting retreat, reaching the ramp. "Ghost, raise the ramp!" Kanan shouted while keeping up his fire.
There were a few random crates lying around providing Agent Kallus and the stormtroopers some cover. But the pickings were slim and Kallus and along with two stormtroopers fought for cover from the deadly accuracy behind one crate in particular, exchanging blaster shots when possible.
The Ghost's ramp closed, the ship buttoning up as it began its takeoff preparations. Kallus quickly began speaking into his comlink to relay his instructions.
"Aim for shield generator and engines!" he commanded. "Do not let them…"
Fresh orange paint?
Kallus touched some of it to his glove for examination, and then he noticed the orange paint's design.
A rebel starbird.
He gasped when he smelled the faint scent of the explosives - their cover was right on top of it!
"Take Cover!" Kallus yelled and made a run for it.
He was almost too late. The yield of the explosive was large as it was destructive. Crates everywhere were broken into pieces from the force of the explosion, turning it into deadly shrapnel as it and the bodies of Imperials were sent flying through the air.
Kallus felt several vertebrae pop as he was lifted up off his feet and slammed face first into the deck by the entrance to the hangar. But that was only the beginning of his problems.
Before the ISB agent could think about getting back to his feet all the debris and bodies that were launched out from the hangar were now being sucked back in - including him! The Rebel explosive would not only provide cover for their escape but had caused severe damage to the hangar bay, leading to a massive tear in the ship's hull!
As Kallus got pulled further and further along, he searched for anything to hold onto. Meanwhile stormtroopers that weren't so lucky continued to fly past him and then out through the hull breach into the black void of space.
Where were the emergency shields?!
Kallus had reached the edge and was fighting for his life. His arms pulled uselessly at the deck while his legs and lower half were left dangling helplessly above the damaged opening.
"TURN ON THE SHIELD!" he shouted, louder than he had ever shouted before.
And through some miracle a stormtrooper near the entrance of the hangar, also hanging on for his survival, had heard the order and saw a panel lit up to manually engage the emergency shielding. The stormtrooper slammed his fist on the panel, causing it to go from red to green.
And below him Kallus gradually began to feel the pull of the vacuum lessen as the shields came online.
His body aching from the combined effects of the explosion followed immediately by nearing being sucked out into the vacuum, he pulled himself back into the hangar and rolled onto his back - just in time to look up and watch that damned rebel ship lift off and effortlessly glide through the hangar and out the open bay doors.
Several reports began coming in of stranded stormtroopers needing pickup immediately, while rated for vacuum their hardsuits only had so much breathable air. Search and Rescue teams assembled and began deploying. Medics arrived in the hangar, some medical techs headed toward him but the ISB agent waved them off. He continued his vigil on the comm until he had heard confirmation that the rebel ship had made its escape and jumped into hyperspace.
He glanced down at the glove, and charred markings from the paint he had examined before it exploded. Blasted rebels.
It didn't get any closer than that.
Hera only exhaled once the Ghost was safely back in hyperspace.
She closed her eyes in thanks.
We did it. We got him back. Thank the Force.
She opened her eyes upon the cockpit door opening and she looked back over her shoulder to see the person she most wanted to see. Both relieved but also exhausted. It really was one of those days that never seemed to end.
"Welcome aboard. Again." Hera said and looked at Ezra, the unspoken question on her face.
He couldn't hold Zeb's actions against her, or any of the others. And so after a moment Ezra smiled at that "aw shucks" look on his face and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Thanks." Ezra said and closed his own eyes for a moment. "That was crazy but thank you," he said, and then rested himself against the doorway. He opened his eyes and Hera could tell that he had something more to say. "I really didn't think you'd come back for me." Ezra said, and Hera could see that it wasn't something easy for Ezra to admit.
It was clear the boy had issues when it came to trust. Big ones. But Hera appreciated both his honesty and his candor.
"I'll get you home now," Hera said, and shot him a warm smile. "I'm sure your parents must be worried sick."
And then there it look again in Ezra's eyes and no longer able to hold her gaze he looked away, ashamed. The trust issues. His view of people in the galaxy.
It was all suddenly so clear to her as Hera realized the heartbreaking truth of it all. "I don't have parents," Ezra admitted to the Twi'lek, confirming her suspicion. And all she could think was just how fragile he sounded. How vulnerable.
And we nearly left him behind.
Hera kept her gaze on him a while, trying to string together something to say but words escaped her. And then the moment had passed as Kanan came clangering up the ladder to join them, which allowed Ezra to neatly dodge any further questions about his life. With Kanan in the co-pilot's seat and difficult childhood conversations averted, it was time for Ezra to refocus.
"And you've got somewhere else to be," Ezra said. When he spotted Sabine he quickly looked away and did his best to lean into the door and appear cool and relaxed in her presence. For her part Sabine pretended she didn't notice as she took her seat behind Hera.
"I know where they're really taking the Wookies." Ezra announced.
All activity in the room paused and the door behind Ezra swished close. The Spectres held their breath.
"Have you heard of the Spice Mines of Kessel?" Ezra said, and then waited expectantly.
Hera, Kanan, and Sabine all straightened up in their chairs at that announcement. Ezra interpreted that as not the news they were hoping for and all began exchanging nervous glances. Sabine turned in her chair to face Ezra and began.
"Slaves sent there last a few months, maybe a year."
"And for Wookies born in the forest," Hera said and she too turned in her seat to face Ezra. "It's a death sentence."
Ezra bit back the smile he was holding. He knew what they were each thinking. The funny thing was, he had already made his decision all the way back on that Star Destroyer when crawling in the vents. These guys were crazy, time to let them know they weren't the only ones.
"Thennn I guess we'd better go save 'em." Ezra stated it simply, and then had a warm smile for each of them when now all three plus Chopper turned to stare at Ezra in shock at his declaration.
No way, Sabine thought and leaned close to Ezra and eyed him very carefully.
After everything he's been through - he still wants to help out!
Then she asked the question they all had: "We?"
Ezra didn't back down and held out his hands in an obvious motion. "I've come this far," he responded to Sabine, as if everything he'd been through had been a stroll through the park. "Might as well finish the job."
Before anyone could comment about the giant grin on her face, Hera turned in her chair and began typing in the new coordinates. "Setting course for Kessel," she said with a knowing look.
For his part Kanan observed Ezra very intently for a few more seconds, as if he were trying to make up his mind on something. But his face was indecipherable and soon after he turned back to the controls to assist Hera in altering the hyperspace plot trajectory.
Sabine shook her head, dropped their shared heated gaze and looked up at the ceiling with a look of astonishment. What happened to that frustrating kid obsessed with that crate?
I swear! This-? This kid!
"Diasa'yr o'r chaavla," Sabine said after a moment of just staring upward.
"Umm," Ezra said and looked at Sabine in curiosity. "A diasaurous, Paintbomb?"
But Sabine just continued on looking at the ceiling, words failing her.
"Paintbomb?" Kanan asked, and turned around to look at Ezra suspiciously.
For her part, Hera did her best not to collapse in a fit of laughter.
"Whamp! Wooot!"
"You said it, Chopper," Hera agreed, and with that same grin from earlier she pressed a button for the hyperdrive. A dull roar could be heard as it came online and the Ghost altered its destination from Lothal to Kessel.
Kallus watched from the hangar as recovery efforts continued. With no leads, at the moment the Imperial Star Destroyer Lawbringer was putting all its resources to recovering missing stormtroopers and repairing the damage caused by the explosion.
But Kallus was a patient individual, and not one to dwell in defeat. Just as it had been on Lothal, even in defeat there were lessons to be learned. Learned and used when next facing your opponent.
"Sir, we think we have something," a stormtrooper announced. Kallus turned and listened. "One of the rebels was using this helmet. The transmitter was on."
Commander Aresko.
Kallus turned and took the helmet from the stormtrooper, it was a cadet model. Too small for a man to wear. But just right for the kid.
"Hello again Trooper LS-123," Kallus said after his examination of the helmet. He looked back up at the stormtrooper and began to give new orders.
They had a new lead.
Where does Uncle Hondo begin? This was the most difficult chapter for him to write so far. Not the dialogue and the punching and the bang-bang-boom! Oh, how Uncle Hondo loved Mando Girl's exploding paint! You see valued purchaser of Hondo's book, I am very profitable when it comes to things like these.
But… So many points of view. So many conflicting emotions and so many misunderstood motivations. How to ensure everyone's motivations are presented without losing the flow of the story in this chapter. Many rewrites and long conversations with Ezra.
The thought of him navigating a Star Destroyer's air shafts with a Visitor's Guide? I believe it. But I also believe there was more than just plot armor involved. Somehow Ezra (whom had never been on a Star Destroyer before): escaped his cell, found the exact location of his equipment and other acquired items (such fine piracy!), as soon as he listens into the comms he learns what happens to the Wookies, then the stormtroopers call in about his escape, then his rescue arrives, and then somehow reaches them before the Imperials do? Providing for a quick getaway?
I suppose Dear Reader, we should follow Ezra's own advice to me when writing this chapter. Trust in the Force. Although Ezra's explanation of the map does help Hondo understand some things that were left out in other accounts of his story. Such as how the show left out Ezra punching the Furball! For shame! Animated kids show or not, of course my boy Ezra didn't let such treachery go unanswered!
But how did the Ghost sneak past the waiting Star Destoyer's sensors. Hondo double checked! It had no cloaking device. An excellent question that will be answered in the following chapter! For now let us just enjoy that finally, finally! Sabine has favored Ezra with a pet name.
Diasa'yr
No! No Mando Girl, Uncle Hondo insists we give the name its own special place in these notations. For those who do not speak Mando'a, Uncle Hondo recommends Coruscant Translator on the holonet for all of your Mandalorian language needs ( coruscant_ ). Or wait until Ezra hounds down his future love and insists for a translation. A beautiful love! Uncle Hondo weeps with joy.