Cartoons » Star Wars Rebels » The Youngling
Author: Cassturn93
Rated: T - English - Family/Hurt/Comfort - Reviews: 44 - Published: 08-04-16 - Updated: 09-06-16 id:12085947
The Youngling
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"Find Ezra, I'll be ready." Hera said as Kanan, Zeb, Sabine as they left the Ghost.

Kanan noticed that the hanger was empty. "Hold this bay until we get back." He ordered Zeb.

"And this time don't leave until everyone's back aboard." Sabine adds holds one of her blasters and a sprayer.

"That was not my fault!" Zeb retorted.

"Well that's debatable." Ezra said in a filtered voice still wearing the helmet. This prevented the other three from recognizing him as he dropped down in front of Zeb.

Zeb punched him hitting the helmet so hard it knocked the kid back.

'Aren't you a little short even for a cadet?' Kanan thought as he held back from blasting the cadet. He was never more glad that he had though.

Ezra got up and took off the helmet. "First you ditch me, then you hit me?" He complained to the Lasat.

"How was I supposed to know it was you? You were wearing a bucket!" Zeb said definitely.

They were being shot at. Kallus was in led aiming directly at Ezra.

"Spector 1 to Ghost, we're leaving." Kanan said.

Hera fired from the hatch. Ezra aimed his slingshot.

"Oh no. This time you board first." Zeb said shoving him into the Ghost.

Hera ran to the cockpit. Chopper took her place. Sabine was the last to board the ship.

"Ghost raise the ramp and get us out of here!" Kanan order as soon as she was safely on board.

Shots were fired at the Ghost hyperdrive. The shields blocked them. Then the bottom of the star destroyer bursted into flames that Sabine had set by painting her starbird again and attaching one of her miracles. The Ghost made the jumped into hyperspace.

"Welcome back aboard." Hera said.

"Thanks." Ezra said quietly. "I mean thank you, I really didn't think you'd come back for me."

"Why wouldn't we? It's not the same without you. Your one of us." She says to him. "Now let head back."

"Actually we have somewhere else to be." Ezra says.

The others came in behind him crowding the cockpit. Hera was going to have to talk about this if this was becoming their meeting room. It was hard to fly like this.

"I know where there taking the Wookiees." Ezra said.

"Where?" Hera asked spinning in her chair.

"Have you heard of the spice mines of Kessall?" He asked.

The room went silent for a moment. A feeling of sorrow overcame the ship. They all had and it was the worst possible place for any prisoner to go from what Ezra could tell by their reactions. Sure he had heard of it too, but he had no idea how bad it really was.

"Slaves sent there last a few months, maybe a year, tops." Sabine said breaking the silence.

"And for Wookiees born in the forest, it's a death sentence." Hera added.

"Then I guess we better go save them." Ezra says matter of factly.

Everyone smiled.

"Setting corse for Kessall." Hera said as she put in the coordinates.

Ezra and Kanan exchanged looks. Maybe something else was being saved as well on this trip.

Ezra stood beside Zeb checking his weapons as the Ghost approached Kessall. They were all ready but he wasn't sure he was. He was worried about how they were going to get out this time. There was no way the Ghost had the firepower to even match the empire's security on this planet.

"Try not to get dead." Zeb said. Ezra glared at him. This wasn't the time to joke with the kid. He continued anyways. "Don't want to carry your body out."

Ezra faked a smile but was not amused. Kanan and Sabine entered the cargo bay. The girl in full armor complete with the helmet ready for battle. 'At least one of us will survive this.' Ezra and Kanan both thought.

"There's no place to land. You're going to have to jump onto the platform." Kanan said. He popped the hatch and the ramp lowered letting in a storm of blaster bolts in. They had already been spotted from below.

Kanan leapt out first. Then Sabine followed by Zeb. Ezra swallowed then jumped last. The Ghost fires at the troopers allowing the crew members to land safely on the platform. Ezra fired a few shots with his slingshot.

Kanan nodded for him to proceed. Ezra couldn't believe that they were relying on him for more than lookout and Intel for once.

He ran towards the Wookiees. Gunfire went everywhere. He dogged the blast in versus ways, and took cover behind crates when he could. He wasn't scared even as blast barely missed him. The force showing him the safest path. Ezra focused his gaze on the Wookiees.

The silverback Ezra knew must be Wullffwarro was trying to break out of his binders. A cub looked at Ezra hopefully as he approached. The silverback growled at him when he got in front of him to help remove the binders.

"Hey, hey, I'm here to help." Ezra told him to calm him down. He then pulled out an astomech arm and began picking the binders' lock. Once Wullffwarro was free he repeated the process with the other Wookiees. Each giving a roar of celebration when they were free, then joining the other rebels in the fight. The imperils couldn't match the Wookiees in battle. The ones that were missed by the Wookiees' ragegetting hit by the rebels' fire.

Soon there was little to nothing left of the squadron of stormtroopers. Ezra ran with the Wookiees towards the Ghost. It looked as if this opt was going to be successful despite the odds.

Then four TIEs flew out of the pit. The rebels and Wookiees gasped drowning out the sound of the blast going in every direction from both sides. The TIEs blasted the platform. One shot breaking through the Ghost's shields.

Kanan shouted though the comlink "Aft guns, Hera, get Chopper on the Phantom."

Chopper must have already been there because the gun fired immediately. The blast hit the hex wing of one of the TIEs sending it spiraling back into the pit.

The ghost zoomed off chased by three TIEs. Everyone on the platform took cover with no access for an escape. Ezra peaked over the side of the crate he hid behind.

A transport landed & Kallus got out with more stormtroopers.

"Take them down!" Kallus ordered.

Ezra punched the crate in frustration. He had somehow skipped the cub.

Wullffwarro jumped out from his cover running and calling for the cub. Ezra realized it must be his son Kitwarr. A blast hit the silverback just a few meters away.

"He'll be ok. I've got him." Zeb said when Ezra and him both rushed to help him get the Wookiee. Wullffwarro let out a cry of pain and determination.

Stormtroopers chased after the cub. Ezra couldn't think of anything he could do to help as he headed back to cover. The cub was on his own.

A TIE bursted into flames in the sky above. That would normally be good but there was still two on the Ghost tail.

"I can't maintain position!" Hera called out over the com.

"Go. Lead the TIEs away, give yourself maneuvering room." Kanan responded.

Zeb got the wounded Wookiee back to cover. The more stormtroopers the group took out the more came.

Kanan looked around trying to come up with a plan. He could only think of one thing. It was not only risky but insane.

"I'm not leaving you behind." Hera stated.

"No, you're not." Kanan said taking notice of an open large empty storage container. He had his plan. "We're running a twenty-two pickup."

"Seriously?" Sabine asked turning towards him.

"You got any better plans?" The hidden Jedi asked.

"Yeah, jump into the pit and get it over with." Zeb suggested.

Kanan didn't argue. That was probably plan b if this plan went south.

"I'll be right back. Make sure your ready." Hera said as she took off. The TIEs circled and followed.

Kanan let out a deep breath. He wasn't ready to do what he was about to do. No one was ever ready to do that.

Ezra knew that a 22 pickup was a last resort. It was only used when unavoidable and drastic measures had to be taken. Kanan knew something he didn't.

"Twenty two pickup? Care to let me in on the secret?" He asked. Clearly Kanan was about to revile something to someone.

"Kid, I'm about to let everyone in on the secret." Kanan said surveying the battle field one more time. He holstered his blasters. Ezra caught on to his plan. He sent him a message to stay hidden. He didn't want them both exposed. Then he sprung over the crates. He grabbed two cylinders and attached them together with a twist, dogging enemy fire in the process.

Kanan ignited his lightsaber. The blue blade shined brighter than Ezra had ever seen it do before.

There was a seise fire from both sides. Everyone was in shock. All eyes on Kanan in complete silence.

Kanan opened himself to the force fully. He hadn't done this since his master died. He had never even show Ezra how to do this yet. He expected a flood, but instead came a welcoming and calming peacefulness. He relaxed. A clear web appeared to him. Each being linked to him inside of it. He could see his life, actions, and destiny. Both past and future he would play a part in but didn't understand. Sure he could walk away if he wanted. It was his choice.

The others had accepted themselves. He hadn't. He hid behind lies that exposing himself would put everyone in danger. Not even showing his student what he was capable of. All in a flawed attempt to keep everyone he cared for safe. Now he had to let go of that fear. Now he need to use all his talents and skills to protect them.

"All troopers, focus your fire on..." Kallus order pausing to find the right word, breaking the silence in the process. "The Jedi!"

•I know I said last cliffhanger last time. To be fair I thought it would be. This is getting longer than I thought it would be. The next chapter should be the last Spark of Rebellion chapter. I make no promises. I do have this mapped out to where I plan on going, but I don't have every stopping place marked.

May the force be with you always

⁃Cass