What is Diasa'yr, little Mira? Mommy's nickname for daddy? Diamond! And so appropriate too! Now Are you ready to hear a speech, Mira? It's a good one. One of the best! Your daddy had a lot to say, and for someone raised on the streets he said it very well! How Hondo wishes he could have been just a few parsecs closer, then he would have heard it himself! This was an interesting chapter as how the show actually got most of the events correct. But also some other interesting subplots. How is Sabine doing? The show made it out that the Lothal rebels didn't shoot to kill, when we all know that isn't true! As Hondo understands, Hera's rules of engagement were stun if possible, but not at risk of your own life. But no more chitchat! Onward Hondo's friends! Mira wave to our friends! That's it! Such a sweet girl, you make Hondo so proud! Oh, and also! For fans who have watched the other show Andor and have read the holo-novel Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan you're in for a treat. If you have not? Some minor spoilers! Starting now!

A Call to Action

"We have been called criminals, but we are not."

On the busy metropolis world of Coruscant, down in the rare shops district was the charming owner of the Galactic Antiquities and Objects of Interest. Luthen Rael, owner of the shop, always found the second half of that name laughable. Objects of Interest, objects of what? And what value?

"Ezra Bridger," Kleya Marki said and frowned. "I've never heard of him."

"You wouldn't. To the galaxy, he's just a boy. Albeit a very deadly one if he is indeed a Jedi," Luthen said. He looked at the younger woman and smiled.

"Jedi? There's a word I hadn't heard in some time. He could use some lessons in spycraft," she said. "Calling yourself Jabba the Hutt again and again."

"No one's perfect," Luthen said and then his expression became serious for a moment. "But what about Ephraim and Mira Bridger? The old folklore stories of two parents speaking out against the Empire a decade ago? To teach their son what was right?"

He watched as his assistant narrowed her eyes and disseminated this information. It was a long time ago, but not that long. She nodded and Luthen smiled. "In light of recent events I think their warnings would resonate now more than ever. Especially if they were to start up again. Where are they?" Kleya asked.

Luthen sighed and shook his head. "My mole at the ISB has been skittish of late. And with all this new activity happening at the ISB, he is concerned for his new family."

While neither cared about their mole or his family, they did care about the potential of losing him and his access to precious intelligence within the ISB. Asking too many questions about matters that don't concern you was a great way to draw suspicion.

Luthen saw the frustration on his assistant's face and smiled. Really they had only themselves to blame. A product of their own success. Thanks to the Aldhani Heist, the ISB had never been more powerful, and more importantly, the Empire more ruthless. His mole, the young father, never had more information at his fingertips. A few keystrokes and he would have the status and location of the Bridgers.

He could have safely risked searching for their whereabouts before. But now? Never had there been more eyes watching him and every other ISB agent.

"We have other contacts," Kleya said, though her frustration over the situation was clear. "Though it would take significantly longer."

"Significantly," Luthen said, his body in the moment but his mind in the past. Occupied with memories of lost friends and fellow freedom fighters. All but ghosts now. All killed by the same entity that now undoubtedly had the Bridgers and their son squarely in its sights. "We'll put the word out," Luthen said.

"Would the Empire kill them?" Kleya asked.

"I wouldn't." Luthen said. His voice was warm, but there was a coldness in his eyes. "Holding ransom the parents of your enemy? Jedi or not, leverage doesn't get better than that. But we can't risk an asset like the Bridgers to the Empire with its foolhardiness."

The two shared a smile and then got to work. They needed to work quickly, as the day's schedule was already heavy.

Mon Mothma would be visiting. Probably to prattle on more about this Fulcrum contact. Fulcrum could be trusted, that was if Senator Bail Organa was to be believed. But with the news of Senator Trayvis's betrayal and knowing the devastation he had wrought on them for years as the 'senator-in-exile,' Luthen Rael wasn't feeling too charitable with Senators at the moment.

He had met the man, his wife, and their little daughter - but only once. Years ago. And in one glance, the parents had seen through Luthen's kindly old man facade, and while friendly, were wary. Their instincts recognized Luthen for the kind of man he truly was.

A man willing to sacrifice anything and everything.

Still, it was Bail Organa. And now his daughter was involved, well beyond the actions of a junior legislator if the accounts Luthen had heard about Paucris Major were accurate. With her involvement, Bail would be more thorough now than ever with his own intelligence contacts.

Including Fulcrum.

So Luthen would trust Mon Mothma's assessment of both Bail and his daughter and even this mysterious Fulcrum. It wasn't as if he had much other choice. But the Bridgers and their son acting so openly against the Empire? And with discovering Trayvis as the Empire's own mole inside the fledgling rebellion?

The Bridgers and whomever it was their son was working with. Those were people he could trust. People whom he could fully count on to get a job done. Words could inspire and Luthen had plenty of sympathizers, but he needed allies willing to lift a blaster and have their faces plastered on the holonet for all the Empire to see.

And so as soon as they dealt with Cassian, he'd figure out some way to deal with Trayvis. A lesson needed to be taught. A lesson about what happens to traitors.

But first, the Bridgers.

From that small little shop of Galactic Antiquities and Objects of Interest on Coruscant, some galactic wide wheels had ground into motion. And this disjointed Rebellion of theirs, ever so slightly, began to move as one.

All it needed now was a spark.

This late at night usually the streets of a Lothal town this small were quiet. But not tonight as bike troopers chased and blasted fire at three criminals with speeder bikes of their own. Stolen speeder bikes along with other stolen items.

But it was only a matter of time. Reinforcements were already on the way. All they had to do was keep an eye on these criminals.

"I have completed mapping the area. There is a location, transmitting coordinates."

"Hear that?" Ezra shouted into his comlink amongst the roar of his bike's engine and blaster fire sizzling by him at racing speeds. "Skippy found us a place!"

"It's about time!" came the expected response from Kanan over the comlink.

"He's a talking lightsaber, not an astromech. Cut him a break!" Sabine responded.

"Follow my lead," Ezra said and put an end to the bickering.

After getting some space, Ezra led the other two down a street with a blind turn. There he dismounted his bike and waved at the others to hurry.

"This is not very comfortable," Sabine said as the three crammed in the tiny alcove of the high wall that overlooked the street and their bikes below.

"If it were any larger, Miss Sabine, it would've been too obvious."

Sabine smiled behind her faceplate and nodded, acknowledging the lightsaber's Ai's point. It had taken a few laps around the small town to fully holomap the area. But once Skippy had the details, he came through for them. She suspected nothing less for something of her design.

"There," Kanan pointed and leaning just out a bit of their cover, the three Spectres could see all three Imperial bikers approaching the seemingly abandoned speeders.

Ezra slipped Skippy back into his holster, then took his other treasured weapon and tinkered with the SE-14 silenced blaster's settings. "What are you setting it for?" Sabine asked.

"To stun," Kanan said, answering for Ezra. Knowing the girl was rolling her eyes at him Kanan took a moment to look at Sabine.

He didn't want to get into it with her. Especially with all the progress the pair had made these past weeks. She wasn't flinching anymore when put his hand on her arm or shoulder. She had to fight the urge, but she was slowly getting there. He wasn't Lando. He was Kanan. He loved her, he'd never hurt her.

At the same time some disagreements were impossible to settle. Mandalorians and Jedi for one. Kanan knew he wasn't a true Jedi, he'd chosen his own path long ago. And if asked he'd say the same for Sabine and her Mandalorian heritage. All the times she's held herself back when a regular Mandalorian would execute a downed enemy and be done with it.

Like him, Sabine had created her own path. Which was good as all three bucketheads below had dismounted their bikes and stood neatly lined up in a row.

"Solus, t'ad, ehn," Ezra said in Mando'a as a silenced stun bolt hit each of the troopers.

One, two, three.

"Not bad, Diasa'yr," Sabine said, using her own nickname for him. "Though your accent needs work. As well as conjugation. But not bad."

With the three down and out, the three Spectres hopped down and returned to their bikes and the goods they got their hands on. They were roughly a quarter of the way back to the Ghost when Ezra made a decision.

"I'll meet you guys later," he said into his comlink. "There's an old place I want to visit, and we don't get to come to this part of Lothal often."

There was some quiet, and Ezra wondered if Kanan would truly get worked up over a request like this.

"All right," his Master said at last. "But get back before noon. We have work to do."

Ezra broke away and headed in an easterly direction toward one of Lothal's small but significant mountain ranges. It was the perfect spot and Ezra would need some time alone with his thoughts as he tried again to figure this out.

The dream.

She was nervous, as well she should be, ISB Agent Kallus thought as he stood next to Minister Tua. But she did put on a fine regalia inside the hangar. He counted at least four platoons of everyone ranging from intelligence officers, to pilots, and an army of shined white plastoid armor of the countless stormtroopers.

As the Lambda shuttle descended into the hangar, and knowing whom was on board, Kallus knew that she could have two to three times as many gathered and it wouldn't have made a difference. Nor would it make much difference for himself, or the "Grand" Inquisitor also standing beside them.

How many times had they nearly captured the two Jedi and the rest of their crew? Even with the new emergency powers handed down the ISB by the Emperor, Kallus was still no closer to catching them then when he first began this assignment.

Well at least now he had a name. Ezra Bridger. Of course that name came at the cost of losing their most valuable rebel-catcher asset in 'senator-in-exile' Gal Trayvis. At least now he knew that the rebellion wasn't unified. Not yet. They still had time to snuff the flame. Only since the Trayvis incident they had been keeping a lower profile than ever.

But Kallus knew it was only a matter of time. Their holonet broadcast had spread doubt in the galaxy about Kanan Jarrus and his band of rebels. They'd have to respond somehow. But with all the resources at his fingertips and months upon months of trying and failing to capture them, Kallus didn't have anything significant to report in person than his normal reports transmitted to Coruscant on a daily basis.

He wanted to blame the incompetency on Aresko and how he ran his garrison. His refusal to change tactics. But then in light of his own trap just now failing to capture them, Kallus knew that that would do little good. So he stood ready to take full responsibility, but also ready to defend his actions. He had exhausted all resources but was certain the rebels would strike again - soon.

He just had to figure out where and when, and he doubted there was anyone else on this planet who could figure that out better than himself. And that should make the difference.

As for Minister Tua? Well, Tarkin takes pride in his reputation. He does not tolerate failure.

But a small part of Kallus admired Minister Tua's decision. Just as the Aldhani Heist had given him emergency powers, so did it pass the Public Order Resentencing Directive.

In short, the Empire restructured both Imperial Justice and levied an extreme increase in taxes by the planets and namely their people who showed any shred of sympathy toward those who engaged in the insurrection. Namely planets like Lothal.

And while Kallus wanted this rebel problem done just as much as the next Imperial. He wasn't so sure. Lothal was already suffering. Where was it supposed to come up with an extra 400 million in credits from taxes? And treating nearly every offense as a Class One violation to Imperial Justice, and resentencing those already in prison and serving time? Class One? Six months could become six years. That is if they left it at just that? It was all just over the top to Kallus, and he had a sinking feeling that it would only get worse before things returned to lawful order.

And Minister Tua probably thought as much as well, and if so Kallus found himself admiring her for a moment. While he made full use of the ISB's new power to track these rebels, Tua had yet to implement or show any inclination to increase taxes.

And there he was standing before the three of them, Grand Moff Tarkin.

Flanked on either side by veteran stormtroopers the Moff paid the welcoming ceremony not a second's worth of appreciation. Instead, he peered at Minister Tua.

"Ah, Grand Moff Tarkin. I am honored by your visit to Lothal." Minister Tua said with the utmost respect and pleasantness she could muster.

"My visit is hardly an honor, Minister." Tarkin said as he continued to peer, studying her like he would a lab rat for dissection. He then pushed past her, showing her as little regard as possible.

"I admit I was surprised to learn you were coming." Tua said, her voice infused with surprise, though Kallus suspected it was equally part of her show as the troops in assembly.

"And I, too, have been surprised," Tarkin said and then his eyes narrowed. "By what's been happening on your little backwater world."

Tua feigned a chuckle, her smile never breaking. She was good, Kallus thought.

"If you are referring to the insurgent, I…"

"In the absence of Governor Pryce, you have had a single, simple objective. Minister," Tarkin said and dropped all pretenses. "To protect the Empire's industrial interests here. Interests which are vital to our expansion throughout the Outer Rim. But instead of protecting those interests, you have allowed a cell of insurgents to flourish right under your nose. Am I correct?"

All Tua could do was bring herself to clear her throat, speechless in the accusation. And then it was his turn.

"And, Agent Kallus, have you just stood idly by while this rabble have attacked our men, destroyed our property and disrupted our trade?"

"I have exhausted every resource to capture them, Sir." Kallus said. "Including invoking the new emergency powers recently allowed. This group has proven quite elusive."

"It's said their leader is a Jedi." Tua spoke up, hoping it would shine her some sympathy.

It didn't. And while Kallus kept his tone professional and his defense strong, Minister Tua appeared to be just another sniffling bureaucrat in Tarkin's eyes. Not a good look for a man with the reputation of failure is not acceptable.

"Ah, yes." Tarkin said, his pitching heightening for dramatic effect. "Let us not forget the sudden appearance of a Jedi, as if leaping from the pages of ancient history. A shame we don't have someone who specializes in dealing with them," Tarkin said and then the Grand Moff's ire turned to the Inquisitor. "Otherwise our problem might be solved."

Just like the rest, the Grand Inquisitor, stood at attention but offered up no excuse for his own failures. It was just as well as Tarkin turned his attention back onto Tua.

"Minister, have you ever met a Jedi?"

"No." She said, "I…"

"I actually knew the Jedi." Tarkin said. "Not from the pages of folklore or children's tales, but as flesh and blood. And do you know what happened to them?"

Tua stuttered in her words, caught completely by surprise. "Well, there were rumors…"

"They died." Tarkin said. "Every last one of them." He eyed Kallus and the Inquisitor for a moment before looking at Tua. "So you see, this criminal cannot be what he claims to be, and I shall prove it."

As dawn's rising sun split the horizon, Ezra sat crossed legged in his spot on the cliff's edge overlooking the vast mountain range. All night he had sat, meditating just like Kanan had taught him, and he was still no closer to figuring it out.

He did break his trance for a moment to appreciate the beauty, but then went right back into it. More hours passed. Ezra had the image in his head and was somewhat thankful it was just an image and no flashes of people talking and chances for misinterpretation.

Particularly given how badly he misread the Grayvis vision.

No this was an image, but he has a feeling something was happening. Something important. But all he saw was a shuttle guarded by stormtroopers. He knew he had to get going soon so he tried concentrating harder but then a pebble clunked him on the head.

That normally doesn't happen. Then a second pebble clunked him. Then a third! Ezra opened his eyes to see that sitting there on a nearby rock formation was Sabine. She throws another pebble and Ezra holds his hands up in surrender.

Satisfied with her handiwork, Ezra watched as Sabine began making her way to him. To them.

"What the kriff, Skippy!" They had just fixed him up this sensory array disc so he could be more useful on missions. And not wanting to be interrupted or surprised Ezra had set his lightsaber - Skippy - for maximum detection range.

"Yes. But I registered the intrusion as Sabine. We like Sabine."

Ezra shook his head, knowing he wasn't about to win that argument with his lightsaber.

Sabine plopped down beside him, it was tough getting to him. This was a pretty rocky part of Lothal. But it is a nice view. Eventually she removed her helmet and shook her hair loose, and Ezra watched as it immediately got picked up by the wind blowing over the craggy overlook.

"Feel better?" Ezra asked.

"Feels nice," Sabine said. "Thank you for wearing your tracker."

Ezra laughed and looked down at his ever present comlink wrist bracer, and the modifications Sabine had made for it. A million ideas rolled through Ezra's mind on how to reply to that. Lando had been months ago, but it still seemed so raw and Ezra didn't want to push. He didn't know squat about girls, much less the walking mystery Sabine, but Hera had assured him Sabine was working through it and seeking her out when needed.

What she needed most was time and distance and love from the people who care about her.

"You know you can talk to me, right?" Sabine said. Ezra turned from the landscape beauty and his blue eyes met her brown. "I know what Trayvis said. Or at least the gist of it."

Ezra thought briefly about that. Trayvis was a lying sack of osik, but combined that with what Tseebo said. That somehow his parents were alive. Was it possible? And if so, shouldn't he be out there searching for them right now?

Maybe. But this dream he kept having? Ezra shook his head. "It's a long shot at best."

"But better than no shot," Sabine was quick to reply.

"Paintball…"

"Diasa'ry…"

"Ezra was out here for solitude in his meditations on the dream he keeps having."

"Skippy!" Ezra exclaimed and looked at his lightsaber in betrayal.

"A dream?" Sabine said.

"You have yet to speak of it to anyone."

"Yeah," Ezra said. "Because of how well the last one went!"

"Parts of it were accurate." Skippy said in his defense.

"No," Sabine said. "It's okay, I get it. Some things you just need to work out for yourself."

"He's been working on it for weeks. And it's just an image. Perhaps Sabine could offer a perspective different from yours."

"It's probably nothing," Ezra said.

"True," Sabine said. She tilted her head, looking thoughtful. "But with you connected to the Force and it happening again and again? It might be pretty important."

"Okay, fine," Ezra said. "I see a Lambda shuttle on a landing pad surrounded by stormtroopers."

Sabine frowned. "Okay. That's it?"

"Not quite."

Ezra gritted his teeth but then he felt Sabine's calming touch on his shoulder. He sighed. "And then it becomes less of a visual thing. Instead, I feel it. The coldness."

"Coldness?" Sabine said.

"The Dark Side," Ezra said. "I've tapped into it before, on the asteroid when I summoned the great big mama fyrnock."

"I thought you didn't remember what happened," Sabine said.

"Not at first." Ezra said. "But eventually bits of flashes. But it's the feelings I remember most. And aside from the rush of power, what I remember most was the cold."

"Huh," Sabine said and then shrugged. "Okay so you can feel a bit of the Dark Side at times. Maybe that's something Jedi before didn't feel because they had that beaten out of of them at a much younger age, like Kanan."

"Beaten? The beat children?" Ezra said with his eyes wide.

"Figure of speech. What I'm saying is you have a life, Ezra. Admittedly, a lot of it was stealing but no one can blame you for doing what you did to survive. Anymore than they can blame you for being a good person by all the good you've done since." She paused and looked at Ezra. "Do you regret what happened on that asteroid? Using the Dark Side?"

"Kanan says how easy it is to fall. To become the thing that's hunting us." Ezra said.

"Maybe," Sabine said. "With some people. But you were a street rat, Ezra. Not some crime boss Hutt. You're on a different path now and every time we head out there? We see both the good and the bad, and we always choose good. You're not about to fall."

"Okay," Ezra said, his voice low and slow as he thought her words over. He'd feel more assured if they were coming from Kanan but he couldn't find any fault in Sabine's logic. And maybe she's right. Did the Jedi of old become numb to the Dark Side? Have it beaten out of them or whatever?

Ezra didn't know how he felt about that. It seemed counter productive. And he was so sick of this dream. "That shuttle," he said at last. "It has to be important. I don't remember seeing one so heavily guarded."

"And you're feeling the Dark Side," Sabine said. "I can't imagine what that must feel like, and I know your Force dreams don't come with instructions. But something like that feels crucial. Is that what it feels like when you're fighting the Inquisitor?"

"Maybe," Ezra said. "A few times. But nothing like what I remember when I summoned that creature, or what I feel with that dream."

"A person could go crazy thinking in circles like this," Sabine said and then patted his knee. "Talk to Kanan. In the meanwhile we'll stay on the lookout for Imperial shuttles heavily guarded." She paused and looked about. It had been a technically challenging climb but the view was worth it "It's so beautiful up here."

Ezra smiled, seeing the opportunity. "Does that mean you're feeling inspired?"

Sabine rolled her eyes and punched his arm lightly.

"Property damage? Yes. Theft? Absolutely. Bending your arm and making you cry out: Sabine's the best! Very tempting. But painting? I'm just not there yet, Ez."

"Well," Ezra said after a long but comfortable moment. "How are your legs, feel like you can keep up with a Jedi?"

Shock. Disbelief. A hint of anger. And then finally seeing the challenge for what it was. It was rocky. It was dangerous. It would be scary. But would it be fun?

Hell yes.

In an instant Sabine was on her feet then glanced around. "Not a local," she said.

"It's okay," Ezra said. "I'll lead the way. When we get closer to the ship the real race begins."

"Okay, Jedi Boy," Sabine said and grinned as she placed her helmet back on. "You're on!"

Ezra playfully hits her arm. "Tag," he said and then was off running.

Not one to be outdone, even by a Jedi, Sabine immediately gave chase. And wow what a chase! There must be some hidden path that only the locals knew of because Sabine didn't see the trail until it was just a few steps ahead.

Several times she came close to tagging him, not that that would matter much. Of the two only he could decipher the nearly invisible trail. There were so many roundabouts. Big leaps over rocky chasms. Boulders that didn't seem able to be scaled until she watched exactly where he put his hands and feet.

And the ledges! Only a few inches between the next step and just falling off into thin air. But that didn't worry her all too much.

Maybe it was her competitive streak but since meeting Ezra she'd been working on her own style of free running and dodging blaster fire. Sure she failed as many times as she succeeded, she wore armor for a reason, but it was progress.

Also it was so much fun to see the bucketheads looking up at her, befuddled with how she could do such acrobatic feats.

And then she saw it, another jump, but a big one. Like a really big one. Someone with the Force could clear it as Ezra did. Or was it?

Putting her trust in Ezra if she guessed wrong Sabine pushed with everything she had and jumped. Jumping higher than she had ever jumped before.

And for the briefest of moments, all of her pent up trauma from the past months since meeting Lando kriffin' Calrissian was let go. Completely. She had this feeling of just freedom from it all. Her life back on Mandalore, her days as a bounty hunter, and even her responsibilities now.

It was exactly what painting did for her, or what it used to do. And she wished that that moment could go on forever.

But then she began to fall and ultimately landed. It wasn't nearly as far as Ezra had jumped, but still impressive for someone without the kriffin' Force! Sabine was grinning from ear to ear inside her helmet.

"I'm sorry!" Ezra said and hurried over to her. She had cleared the chasm but only just barely, and was a little too close to the edge than either of them liked.

"Ezra-"

"I'm sorry!" Ezra repeated. "I forgot how big that one was! There's a trail but since becoming a Jedi I always just skip it in favor of this."

Ezra had on his worried face, which was understandable. Still, she was certain he would've caught her if she was in any real danger.

"Calm down, Loth-rat," Sabine teased but let him help her away from the edge of the cliff. "You're not the only one who has been working on their acrobatics. And you know what else?"

Ezra shook his head.

"Tag," Sabine said and jumped down to a ledge below.

And would you look at that? She started recognizing her surroundings and where their speeders were parked. Now it was indeed a race.

"Hurry up, Loth-rat!" Sabine shouted. "Or you'll miss out on lunch! And I know you're hungry!"

She slowed a bit and waited until Ezra was jogging beside her. Still looking at her like she had grown a second head. Finally he shook his head and tagged her arm with his hand.

"Tag."

Ezra was hungry. Hera was there waiting for the two teens when they returned with their bikes. The light green Twi'lek smiled and shook her head. Showers first, then breakfast.

Recalling the recent comments about his smell, Ezra never got the chance to ask Sabine how her helmet's olfactory sensor worked. Story for another time. Because when he returned from the fresher, his mind focused on some space waffles rather than something more appropriate for lunch, all thoughts of food vanished when he instead saw a holo of Trayvis immediately followed by the entire Ghost crew in a picture of them all in a fighting pose.

He had a fleeting thought of how it is a nice frame. Maybe Sabine would get inspired to do something similar? But then his mind came back to attention when Kanan got an idea in his head.

Why not send a broadcast of their own?

The pushback was immediate, but mixed. The first denier was Hera. They already had Ezra's name (first and last). They knew what he looked like and they knew he carried a lightsaber - and everyone knows what that means. And so having Ezra do this? Following in his parent's footsteps and broadcasting a message that would not just cover Lothal but perhaps even the entire sector?

Yes, it'd be a lot of inspiration, but it would also make Ezra a symbol. It would be a bullseye so big on his back that the Empire would never stop looking. But he was a Jedi, or would be someday. Maybe.

Zeb felt the same as Kanan. And besides, the others could change their hair, wear different clothes. What was he supposed to do? Keep going around saying he's a rare purple Wookie? He was the last of his people and was pretty identifiable.

Sabine sided with Hera. Sending a message right now, like this? So far they've had idiots like Aresko and while the Inquisitor was scary she knows in time they'll be able to beat them. But there's always a bigger fish. And the Empire, it talks to you; you don't talk back. If Ezra did this he would be more than a Jedi, he'd be a symbol. And they'll be hunting him forever, and they won't be using idiots like Aresko or even Kallus. They'd bring in the best.

"Fine," Kanan said. "Ezra, it's your call."

All this time the hollow feeling in his gut had been building. And so when all eyes fell on him Ezra did what was natural. He grabbed some jogan fruit and ran for the ladder, leading down to the cargo and the Ghost's loading ramp.

He hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday, but his gut was churning now. Churning again and again until he couldn't help but vomit. Nothing but stomach acid came up but then what did he expect? He split down the middle. Yes he was hungry but then there was that feeling. Was it just nerves? Was it the Force telling him something like he thought it might be in his dreams?

So distracted, Ezra didn't even notice Kanan's presence until his Master spoke.

"Sorry," he said.

"It's okay," Ezra responded practically immediately.

"No, it's not," Kanan said. "We're being hunted. The Empire knows who I am. It knows Zeb. And Sabine was right. If they get some competent people here on Lothal, it won't take them too long to get someone to spill about Hera and her last name. That would raise a few eyebrows."

"And what about Sabine?" Ezra said. Might as well round out the entire crew.

"That's her story to tell," Kanan said. "And she will, someday. When the time is right."

"But everyone knows my story." Ezra replied. "Because of my parents."

"The Empire does, but the actual people out there? Not really." Kanan sighed and brushed his fingers through his long hair. Ezra still felt no closer to an answer.

"Have you ever heard of the term shatterpoint before?" Kanan said, finally.

"No." Ezra said and frowned.

"It's a little known technique," Kanan said. "I don't even know that half of it."

Knowing Kanan wouldn't have brought this up without a reason, Ezra watched his Master carefully. "And the half you do know?"

"It may not seem like this, but you're actually part of a great Jedi lineage, Ezra. My Master's Master was second in command of the entire Jedi Order and if he lived long enough, likely to become the next Grandmaster. You remind me a little of him at times."

"When?" Ezra said, surprised by this sudden revelation.

Kanan sighed. "Your darker tendencies. Your anger. We were taught that the Light Side was always stronger than the Dark. But we never truly confront the darkness that lives inside all of us. He did and became stronger for it."

"And shatterpoint?"

"Another thing he was good at. Your affinity for animals is surprisingly strong, Ezra. Shatterpoint is a technique very few Jedi could do, but he was gifted in it. And it allowed him to sense the weakness in whatever situation he was in. What he could exploit. Like a pane of glass. The gentlest of taps at the right spot would be enough to make the glass shatter to pieces."

"Sounds useful," Ezra mused. "Especially now."

"Well that's just it," Kanan said. "I think now is a moment like that. The Empire thinks it has had the last word. If you choose to do this the message may transmit to just the sector. But it will be replayed. Everywhere the Empire has put your face on a holo, the people there will hear it."

Ezra frowned. "That's the whole galaxy."

"Yeah," Kanan said. "It is. But Hera is right, too. This would make you a symbol, and there's no turning back from that. It's a sacrifice."

"Isn't that what the Jedi are though?" Ezra said. "You talk about it enough."

"Traditionally, yes," Kanan said. "But I think Sabine, Zeb, Hera, and hell, even Chopper are making sacrifices too. Everyone taking a stand against the Empire is in their own way. Some big, some small. But the biggest weapon the Empire wields but we can't counter, is its taking away the people's ability to listen."

Ezra frowned. "To listen? I think you mean don't speak."

Kanan waved his hand. "There are plenty of anti-Imperial senators out there making speeches every day. No one listens because to them, it's all on Coruscant. A galaxy away and what good is talking without the threat of action to back it up? Take a look at what the Empire is doing now. Senator Mon Mothma spoke out against the new taxes and the resentencing, but the galaxy wasn't listening or caring. That's what makes you and this moment different, Ezra. What I think to be a shatterpoint."

"Then why don't you say something?" Ezra challenged, though he could feel his resolve slipping.

"Kid, I'm a Padawan who was raised in a Temple until Order 66 happened. Also? I'm in my thirties. You're fifteen and raised on the streets. You know the truth of what's really happening out here and giving the Empire more hell than any senator I know of."

Kriff.

"I guess I better write down some notes?" Ezra said.

"You don't need them. Speak from the heart. Give them what we all want to hear. The truth."

Kanan patted Ezra on the shoulder and headed back in. Ezra meanwhile stood outside, watching as another gorgeous day on Lothal unfolded. Eventually his eyes looked down at the piece of jogan fruit in his hand and was instantly hit with the flashback of his first time in Tarkintown.

'Thank you,' the starving Rodian had said.

"I didn't do anything," Ezra whispered.

He wondered then what would it take for that younger version of him to listen? Seeing places like Tarkintown was one thing. But what would make him listen?

He'd listen to the Empire's most wanted, taking the microphone from the Empire and telling it to sit down and shut up. Telling the whole galaxy that it was his turn to talk and like it or not the Empire was going to listen to what he had to say. And that not even Emperor Palpatine could stop him.

That would get anyone's attention.

Ezra looked down at the fruit and felt his appetite returning.

On the outside, Kallus was cool and professional as ever. But on the inside, he was struggling. Aresko and Grint were idiots, he had all but spelled that out to the Empire in his reports. But to be decapitated by the Inquisitor's lightsaber as punishment. And in front of both him and Minister Tua.

Tarkin had been making some good points up until that point. Observations about how this Rebel cell didn't kill unless it was combat. It avoided civilian casualties at all costs. That it was principled. Very much like how a Jedi would rebel.

But then Tarkin's… grotesque use of his position to kill the two. He thought he'd gotten away from such barbarism after Lasan. Clearly, he'd been mistaken.

And Minister Tua? Her days were numbered if she didn't get her act together. Only as dedicated as Tue was to the idea of the Empire, she was still a Lothalite first - unlike Governor Pryce. Kallus hadn't ever really met the Governor, but he knew of her. Pryce probably would have taken Aresko and Grint's heads and mounted them on stakes in the town square for all to see.

And now they were using probe this how it was going to be until the insurgent cell was dealt with? It was after all why Kallus was here in the vehicle bay, personally overseeing that each Imperial probe droid was outfitted correctly and functioning properly.

That was the effect Tarkin's act had had on him today. He would be submitting his daily report instead of being up to his elbows in oil if it wasn't for Tarkin's not-so-subtle threat. Personally making sure that there would be no failures on his end.

Failure, hah. Kallus couldn't put a finger on when he knew it, but he knew now the Empire was changing. The new policies were evidence enough of that, and Tarkin was more than ready to see them enforced. And he knew that would only mean more suffering to loyal Imperial citizens just trying to make a life for themselves in the galaxy.

Kallus sighed. He wanted these rebels - these insurgents - caught and dealt with more than ever before. Only now it wasn't out of a personal vendetta. It was to move on from this damned planet, and not to see its people suffer more because of the actions of these rebels!

He recalled his first encounter with them. With Jabba, or rather Ezra Bridger thanks to Trayvis's intelligence. His greatest fear, that their actions would inspire others, had only escalated since. He still didn't know what to think about what Tarkin meant by the Jedi inspiring hope, how that this being a Jedi changed things so dramatically. All he knew was what he knew from the beginning. Jedi or no Jedi they needed to snuff out this spark once and for all, before it could grow into a true rebellion.

Before more loyal Imperials were dragged into this. And then, hopefully, cooler heads would eventually prevail.

Sabine was alone in her room, making preparations for the night. She was grateful for the distraction her preparations offered and eager to hear what Ezra would say.

He had come up with a few speeches, and his grammar and vocabulary had come a long way since he began his formal lessons. But it really wasn't working. So finally Zeb had asked him the obvious, did his parents ever write out their messages? Because while Zeb never heard a Bridger Transmission he had heard of them. They would always cause a stir with how passionate and from the heart.

Only problem was that no one was listening.

While it was a sensitive question, Ezra answered no. It's always been straight from the heart. And so Zeb said stop with the writing. Speak from the heart, your parents did it better than anyone. You don't need a speech to tell people what they need to hear. They hear speeches everyday. What they don't hear is the truth. That's what you tell them, like your parents did.

Kanan grumbled something about making a similar point earlier that Ezra had obviously not taken to heart.

Still it was impressive to see Zeb this way, she had never seen Zeb this affectionate towards Ezra. She knew they had become friends, but this was more than that. They were family.

Now if only Ezra would see her the way he saw Zeb!

Sabine shook her head, not wanting to think about romance now or anytime soon. Especially not in this room.

Instead, she buckled down and focused on the spike for the communication tower's computer. They said she'd have three minutes, but Sabine wasn't about to take that for granted. She had this feeling in her gut and knew it had nothing to do with being in the room that that creep had nearly kissed her in.

She shook it off. Just nerves. This was a high-risk mission and all of her family would be involved. She had to get this right.

That night things go roughly the same. The Imps have them completely by surprise. And they won't last long but are using their blasters to fight back. Hera grabs them with the Phantom, and Kanan is left behind.

Ezra looked around the Phantom and saw the others all wearing the same look he figured was on his face. This wasn't over, Ezra thought and grew determined. The galaxy would hear what he had to say. They would listen.

And then they would find Kanan.

But where did it go wrong? Something had shifted. For one there was no Aresko or Grint. Two, gunships? He applauded Zeb's shooting with the captured turret, but that was still two additional squads of stormtroopers that slipped past along with whatever armaments the gunships carried.

That was one of Ezra's concerns when they left Kanan as a rear guard in order to reach the top of the tower for the pickup by Hera. The other one was believing Kanan when he told him he'd be right behind him.

Sabine had admitted she had a bad feeling about this one. And truth be told so did he. But he never expected things to go this badly.

That probe droid, Ezra thought. It's the only explanation. But then if the Empire suspected them to hit the communications tower, why the low guard. Kanan and the rest of them have done some damage, sure. But did they ever stop to think why we would target the main communications tower?

Kallus knew they were coming, and so did the Inquisitor. Only neither seemed the type to sacrifice the tower for a chance at catching them? And whomever planned it really hadn't thought it through fully. No TIE fighters to keep Hera at bay?

And the gunships? Don't those things has laser cannons? Why did they just open the doors and have three stormtroopers shoot at them? What did they expect us to do? Raise our hands and surrender. Him and Sabine blasted the stormtroopers before they could get a single shot off. And then Zeb finished off the gunship by aiming at its engine intakes.

Really this wasn't hyperspace science.

It had been hard to watch Kanan's defiant last stand, but he seemed to be doing okay when they last saw him. But after he boarded the Phantom that was it. The lost visual. And after hearing Kanan over the comm, Hera made her decision.

"Someone else is running the show," Ezra said at last. "The Imps. They knew we were coming. But they just let it happen."

"From what I could make out it didn't sound like they wanted him dead," Sabine said.

"Wishful thinking," Zeb said but he too sounded uncertain.

"Enough." Hera snapped at them. "This isn't over, but the job's not finished. And Kanan never left a job unfinished."

After returning to the Ghost the Spectres made their preparations. Well mostly Sabine, as she was the only one who understood the old comm equipment. In silent agreement he, Zeb, and Hera all sat together and watched in silence.

No one breathed a word about Kanan.

"Ezra, it's almost time," Sabine told him. "Figure you have a minute before they figure out how to cut you off."

"I was never good at public speaking," Ezra muttered and watched the machinery began to light up.

"You can do this," Hera said, though her voice sounded small and fragile. "For Kanan."

Ezra let out a breath and repositioned where he was sitting, until he was face to face with the same equipment that got his parents taken away. And now Kanan too.

Sacrifice, Ezra thought. Not just his Jedi lineage but also his parents and from everyone in this room to him to Mister Sumar who took a stand. Who said no, you can't have my farm.

"I have the signal. You're all set, Ezra." Sabine said and leaned back in the seat next to him.

Ezra bit his lip. His parents gave their lives for this. Kanan probably gave his life for this moment.

A moment of weakness for the Empire. One that could help cause the entire thing to shatter.

With his eyes in a blaze of blue, Ezra grabbed the microphone.

He knew exactly what to say.

"We have been called criminals, but we are not."

As he continued, the others gathered around and beamed at him with pride.

Kallus had been the one to report the news that the rebels (to hell with insurgents) were targeting the comm tower. He wanted to increase security, triple it! The tower was too important. But Grand Moff Tarkin overruled him. 'Let them think they have the element of surprise,' he had said smugly.

Kallus bowed and did as instructed, though doing so without knowledge of the Rebel's larger plan gnawed at him. Still the night went better than others and once the Inquisitor had Kanan Jarrus captured thought that maybe, just maybe, this was indeed the Tarkin he had heard the legends of.

But it vexed him, and so still unsatisfied that they didn't know why the comm tower (and with Kanan Jarrus not about to tell them) Kallus gathered as many men who had survived and began a top-to-bottom search of the entire complex. And when morning came and Tarkin finally arrived in his own gunship to grace them with his presence, that was when one of his men stumbled across the spike.

Of course!

With the evidence in hand, Kallus walked as swiftly as possible to the Moff and their prisoner. And as if by prophecy, like his parent's before him, Ezra Bridger's voice was heard.

Heard here, and heard throughout the entire sector!

"We have been called criminals, but we are not. We are rebels, fighting for the people, fighting for you."

"Cut him off!" Tarkin demanded.

"We can't! They've compromised the entire tower!" Kallus shot back at him. "That's what Kanan Jarrus was buying them time for!"

Oblivious to the Imps around him and in binders and on the ground, Kanan had to smile at that.

"I'm not that old, but I remember a time when things were better on Lothal. Maybe not great, but never like this."

Telling Kallus and the others to hurry along, Moff Tarkin led the way back onto his gunship and Kallus found himself sitting beside Kanan on the gunship as Ezra continued with his speech. Soon they were in the air, and still they could hear the boy.

"See what the Empire has done to your lives, your families and your freedom? It's only gonna get worse, unless we stand up and fight back."

For a moment Kallus thought it had to be prerecorded, but no, this was live. And the boy was speaking from the heart. He noted how proud Kanan looked in that moment and how furious Tarkin was.

"It won't be easy. There will be loss and sacrifice. But we can't back down just because we're afraid. That's when we need to stand the tallest. That's what my parents taught me. That's what my new family helped me remember."

And then to Kallus' horror he watched as Tarkin signaled the gunship to turn, and open fire. Two streaks of missiles from this one, two streaks for another. Four missiles total, more than enough to do the deed.

Only he still had men in that tower!

"Stand up together." Ezra Bridger's voice continued on. "Because that's when we're strongest - as one."

The boy's voice cut away as the missiles slammed into the tower and broke all communication transmissions. For that one small mercy, Kallus was grateful. He didn't think he could listen to the sounds of his men dying from their own missiles.

Kallus, the Inquisitor, and Kanan all watched as the tower collapsed - and in that moment the Moff in all his arrogance spoke.

"You do not know what it takes to win a war. But I do."

Never had Kallus wanted to strike a superior officer harder, and he clenched his fists to keep from doing so. It wasn't the troopers still inside the tower when the Moff ordered its destruction. It was everything he had done since arriving.

They might have caught a Jedi, but with the Kallus's new power he had access to more information than ever in his career. He was aware of just how many active Rebel cells there were. From here in the Outer Rim to Coruscant.

His worst fear since taking on this assignment were things getting so out of control a spark would happen and a true rebellion would begin. Ezra Bridger had just given those who opposed the Empire that spark, and Kallus wished Tarkin would show more concern than bravado. Never had the Empire been at a more perilous tipping point.

"They will come for him." Kallus said, knowing anything else was fruitless. "They will learn he survived. They will come for him."

"If they do. They will die." Moff Tarkin said, his voice filled with certainty.

Kallus sighed and shook his head and then noticed Kanan Jarrus watching him with an amused look on his face.

"What?" Kallus demanded.

"I didn't say anything," Kanan said.

The Jedi didn't have to. For all of Tarkin's talk of war the fool was in over his head. They captured Kanan Jarrus, and they won the day. But Ezra Bridger was the one who had just fired the first shots of the greater rebellion.

A rebellion that would now be united.

Ah and here we are again my friends! Those of you who have seen the show may have an inkling of how things go next. But first let Hondo make something clear, for he has received much feedback about the "Lando chapter." Let Hondo be clear. Nothing physical happened between Lando and Sabine. But Lando's actions that day still hurt her. Through his knowledge and experience he had succeeded in making her feel powerless, vulnerable, and wanting him in a way she normally wouldn't have. And then it took her a further three weeks to accept the reality that he never had any interest in her! And at such a young age! Now Hondo asks on behalf of Sabine to return our focus to the story! And know in the future if something physical does happen? Hondo will make it clear for his readers. As for this chapter! Hahah! Where does Hondo even begin? Several character names were mentioned for one! Don't ask how many, Hondo counts credits and friends not namedrops! But also new taxes and expanded powers for the ISB! Much of this chapter was told from Kallus's point of view! Hints of dreams and questions of the Dark Side! Skippy continues with his surprises! And Hondo is again jealous of Ezra's blaster! The versatility! Talks of Force powers like shatterpoint! And how about those acrobatics Sabine has shown? Such magnificent agility! Ezra delivered a message that will resonate across much of the galaxy! And how noble was Kanan? Sacrificing himself for his space family much how his Master had sacrificed herself for him! Will his family leave him behind? Of course not! But will they succeed? Until next time Hondo's friends!