5. Revelations and Apology

As they came upon Lothal, everyone but Hera and Kanan were down in the engine room. The "parents" were fighting with each other about Ezri's Jedi training. Kanan revealed that he just wanted Ezri to get readjusted to her new life on the Ghost, but Hera was hearing none of it. She expressed how upset the teenager was that Kanan didn't mention training her yet. In truth, she felt that Kanan was not ready to take on a Jedi Padawan. However, the two couldn't fight about Ezri anymore due to them coming to Vizago's farm.


"Can we discuss this later?" Kanan snapped as he and Hera climbed down to join the others.


"That's fine, love, but we will discuss it," Hera snapped. Kanan pouted and crossed his arms while leaning up against the Ghost. Ezri looked between the two, slightly hoping the duo weren't fighting over what Ezri told Hera last night. R2 whistled something to Sabine, who didn't believe a word that it was saying.


"Oh, right," Sabine expressed sarcastically. She looked to the gang. "This R2 says its real mission was to make sure the T-7s never reached the Empire, and that his master will pay handsomely for their return."


Kanan rubbed his chin with thought. "I'll think about it."


Oh, so he will think about that but not Jedi Training? Ezri thought. Typical.


"So, we're not selling the droids, but we're selling the T-7s?" Zeb hissed, and Ezri couldn't blame him because of what Hera told her. "We don't even know who Vizago's buyer is."


"We know it's not the Empire, and I already made a deal with Vizago," said Kanan. "So, let's get these crates off the boat."


As the crew moved the crate off, Ezri watched Vizago with caution for two reasons: one, she didn't trust him because of Zeb's past with the riffles and two, he was a pirate who lied and cheated and stole from other people. Also, this was her first time meeting him. 


"Well, was not expecting you to actually want another job with me, but yet, I see you grabbed another tag-along. What's your name little lady?" 


Ezri glared at Vizago, crossing her arms and looking at him rather suspiciously. 


"Not much a talker, is she?" Vizago asked Hera and Kanan, but the two of them glared at the old pirate. 


"I'm just cautious, not mute," Ezri snapped. 


"Well, you're in my services, so I need to know your name, little lady."


"Ezri, now let's get onto business before you lose the shipment from us," she snapped. Kanan looked at her in surprise becausse, no one ever talked to Vizago like that. The old Pirate decided to ignore her and looked at the big guns. 


"Oh," Vizago said as his hand ghosted over the weapons. "I can make some beautiful music with these."


"They're not that kind of instruments!" Zeb growled through clenched teeth.


"Ah. You just must know how to play them. And how to play those who want to buy them."


"You have to buy them from us first," Ezri hissed at Vizago. She hated pirates like him. The Devaronian chuckled at Ezri, especially the girl's personality. "Finally." He poked Kanan's chest. "Someone on your crew who understands business."


"Let's just get this over with."


Before any transaction could happen, Ezri looked overhead and saw Imperial starships coming right towards them.


"What is this? You were followed!" Vizago shouted.


"That's not possible."


"Tell it to the Empire! Leave the rest. We're gone!"


"You haven't paid us," Kanan reminded him but Vizago was on his ship already giving them glares.


"Cikatro Vizago doesn't pay for half a shipment. And he doesn't pay for trouble with Imperials. My friends, I hope you live to bargain another day. And if you don't eh." He shrugged and his compartment drove off. Everyone stood, watching the TIE fighters coming right towards them.


"Is he always like that?" Ezri asked the girl next to her.


"Unfortunately," Sabine answered. She and Ezri were the only teenage girls on the team, so they were a little bit closer than everyone on the team. "Shouldn't we be going too?"


"We can't let these disruptors fall into imperial hands," Kanan answered. "Sabine, destroy the guns."


"Ha. Now you're speaking my language. I'll go get my gear."


Before Sabine moved back to the ship, R2 and 3PO came out of the ship. From what Ezri could tell, it was R2 who was willing to help him and that dastardly protocol droid attempting to persuade him not to. Sabine smiled when she heard what the astromech had to say.


"Of course!" Sabine said, wondering why she didn't think of it. "Overload the disruptors, and boom! Good call, little guy." She pets the droid's dome. "You can join our crew anytime."


"Well, short my circuits," 3PO muttered, with Chopper whistling, as if saying, "Tell me about it. I'm the one that is going to get replaced. "


"Hera, help Sabine open the crates. Zeb, Ezri, line 'em up. Meanwhile, I'll deal with the walkers."


Ezri looked up and saw what Kanan meant. There were walkers coming their way to Vizago's area. She shook her head. really hoping it wouldn't get any worse. However, little did Ezri know, it would get worse than she could possibly imagine. Now, the whole crew knew that it was Threepio who had warned the Imperials where they were at under the assumption, they were there to rescue him and R2. Ezri cursed. If they survived this, she was going to turn that droid into scrap and sell him for parts to the highest bidder.


"Chopper, ready the ship for takeoff!" Hera shouted as Zeb and Ezri moved the crates after the woman unloaded the lids.


"You! Lasat! Face me!" shouted Kallus. Ezri's mouth dropped as she saw Kallus had the same exact bo-rifle just like Zeb did. She groaned.


"Oh crap," Ezri thought. "Please don't do something stupid."


However, it was too late, as Zeb was already fuming with fury and he had run out.


"Wait! Zeb!" Ezri shouted. Before she could do anything, the stormtroopers fired at her and her friends. She quickly dropped behind the boulder next to Kanan.


"Only the honor guard of Lasan may carry a bo-rifle!" Zeb shouted as he activated his own rifle.


"I know. I removed it from a guardsman myself. I was there when Lasan fell." Kallus mocked him as Zeb tried striking him down but blocked every blow Zeb tried to give him. "I know why you fear those disruptors. I gave the order to use them."


"That fool Lasat's going to get himself killed," Kanan muttered next to Ezri and she agreed with him.


"Okay. We're ready!" Sabine Shouted. Both Master and Padawan pushed one of the crates while Sabine, 3PO and Hera pushed the crates towards the troopers and the walkers. Ezri covered her ears as the explosion went off, sending them flying back


"Zeb! NO!" Ezri shouted, instinctively throwing her hands in the air and with that, the Force pushed Kallus away from Zeb and completely shocked Ezri, whose hands began shaking. She was in awe. She just used the Force! She just stood there in awe. Meanwhile, Kanan, while he had fallen on the floor, saw everything the kid just did. He stood up in complete in utter shock


. Hera also saw it to. Now, she had used it in self-defense for their fourth Spectre. Kanan realized something in that moment he saw Ezri use the Force: he had been stalling the girl's Jedi training too long. However, Kanan didn't have time to think about it. One, there was the girl to deal with, and then, there was the unconscious Lasat to worry about.


Knowing that Ezri was in too much shocked to move, Kanan looked at Hera. "Spectre-2, get the kid aboard."


"Right," Hera acknowledged, but rather slowly. She did not believe it herself, but Ezri had just used the Force Without another word, Hera grabbed Ezri's wrist and began running, with the girl in tow. Ezri didn't even try to pry her wrist from Hera's hand. She just let the Twi'lek woman drag her to the Ghost. "Move, all of you, now!"


"Zeb!" Kanan shouted, coming to his friend's side and he shook Zeb. Panic seized Kanan when the Lasat did not answer him. "Come on, big guy. We got to get out of here."


He studied his friend's face when he felt Zeb shifting, his arm guided to his bo-rifle. Without another word, Kanan helped his friend up, slinging his arm over his shoulder and making their way to the ship as fast as they could. Finally, Zeb's eyes fluttered open as he tried regaining consciousness. Ezri was relieved. If she hadn't gotten to Zeb in time...She shook the thought out of her head. She wasn't going to think like that because Zeb was standing right before them.


"Will he be alright?" Sabine asked.


"Yeah." Kanan answered as he helped Zeb back on his feet.


"Thanks, mate," said Zeb. "Appreciate the save.


"Wasn't me," Kanan said. He looked at his Padawan with a proud smile. "It was Ezri."


Zeb looked at Ezri, surprised. If she was avoiding his gaze, then it must have been true. She was trying to ignore eye contact with him. However, Ezri, scratching the back of her head, finally looked up with a small smile. Rather than the growl he gave her when she had tried talking to him, he sent her a genuine smile that said "Thank you." It seemed, that at last, a friendship was starting to form between both Lasat and girl.


Hera looked at Kanan with a pointed look and the latter couldn't help but agree with his partner. He looked at Ezri with a fatherly smile. "And Ezri, your formal Jedi training starts tomorrow."


Ezri smiled, and at last, she won the battle. Sabine and Hera couldn't help but put hands on her shoulders, as if to congratulate her. 3PO was slightly confused, but R2 whistled, knowing that he had heard of the Jedi before. Ezri was just glad she finally got Kanan to commit to training her. Ezri chuckled at the droid when a voice entered her mind. As Kanan dragged Zeb to the Medbay, Hera looked at the two droids


"So, how about we return you to your master like your little friend said?" Hera asked.


R2 whistled something.


"My counterpart says that the offer still stands, ma'am," 3po translated. Hera nodded.


"Okay, then let us contact him," Hera said. Though there was a fifty percent chance that wouldn't happen, if all worked in their favor, they would get the credits they needed.


Meanwhile, Ezri sat down, contemplating on what to do. The droids were familiar. She had encountered them on Lothal. They were owned by Senator Bail Organa of the Alderaan system. He had come to the planet several times to relieve refugees who were "victims" of a rebellion. She remembered that Senator Organa was nice to her and invited her into his ship that time when she had met R2 and C-3PO. The senator and the droids were kind to her and Organa, when he learned that she was an orphan, was going to take her to his home planet for a proper home. Of course, Ezri did appreciate his kindness but she refused to leave home and continued to fend for herself. Bail had tried to find her but because Lothal was a large planet, the Senator was forced to accept that she didn't need any help.


Why didn't she see it before? She knew those droids were familiar. Knowing she was alone, Ezri approached the astromech.


"I remember you, " Ezri said with a smile. The Droid looked at her before whistling. "Nice to see you, Artooie."


The Droid whistled in excitement, something that sounded like "You do remember."


" I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you until now."


Sabine entered the room and was in complete shock.


"Wait, Ezri, you knew this Droid?"


"Yeah, I do, back when I was a little girl," she pets R2's dome. "This Droid and C-3PO where with an old friend of mine, a friend who was trying to help me find a family. But...I didn't need his help, until I realized too late."


Sabine looked at her roommate in sympathy. R2 whistled. Ezri looked at Sabine confused. The older teen smiled.


"He said he's glad to see you again, too," Sabine chuckled. Ezri smiled as she pets R2 one last time.


"How's Zeb going along?" Ezri asked. Sabine nodded


"Oh, yeah, that's what I came hereto tell you," Sabine answered. "It looks like he'll make a fast recovery. Just needed a little rest." Ezri smiled.


"Good," Ezri whispered. Sabine looked at Ezri with curiosity.


"Hey, Ez, you okay?"


Ezri looked up at the older girl, who was looking at the younger teen in concern.


"I'm fine," Ezri said. Sabine nodded.


"Well, I'm going up to our room and painting," said Sabine. Ezri nodded. She watched the older girl disappear into another room. She looked at R2, thinking back at the rebels stealing ships Ezri came down to the Droid.


"Hey, Artooie, I'm going to need you to take a message," Ezri said with a smile.


Within the hour, the Ghost contacted Organa and Kanan went to return his droids to him. Sadly, Ezri parted ways with the R2 droid and hoped that Bail Organa would get her message...if they were still under Senator Organa, that was.


She'd worry about that later. She sat at the dinner table with Hera and Sabine. Kanan finally returned with a smile. The girls stopped eating and looked to their Jedi leader.


"Looks like the man came through," Kanan said, showing the girls the credits. Ezri and Sabine were at a loss for words while Hera smirked.


"Good," said Hera. She got from her seat and took the credits. "Finally."


"Yeah, beats Vizago's job," Sabine muttered. Ezri sat there in silence, looking down at her dinner. Did Kanan know who the master was.


"Hey Kanan, did he ever say what his name was?" Ezri asked. Kanan shook his head.


"Not really," Kanan said. "Why Ezri? Do you know whose droids those were? Or rather, did you know those droids. "


Ezri looked betrayed at Sabine, as if asking her "Did you tell him?" However, Sabine sent her a "No, I didn't" look, because Sabine knew it wasn't her secret to tell. Ezri felt a little relieved. It was nice to have a friend who would keep a secret. Ezri looked up and shook her head.


"No, just curious," Ezri said before returning to her soup. For now, she just wanted to eat, go to bed and be ready for Jedi training with Kanan...but first, she had one more thing to do. She got up and went to the soup on the countertop.


"Where you going?" Kanan asked her. Ezri shrugged.


"Nowhere," Ezri said. The door closed, with Kanan muttering "Kids," to himself, and missing the looks Hera and Sabine were giving him. Because, in that moment, the other two women and the Force knew that Kanan wasn't just going to be training Ezri... but that he was going to be raising a child , Ezri reached Zeb's room and she knocked on the door.


"Hey Zeb, it...it's me," Ezri said. Zeb, in his cabin, looked up, just glad the kid was not waking him up. "I know that when I talked to you last, we had a fight, but uh, I brought you something to eat."


For a while, Zeb didn't want to answer the door, but after hearing his stomach growl, the Lasat got up and walked to the door, opening the door.


"Thanks, kid," Zeb said, taking the bowl as Ezri gave a small smile while putting her hands behidn her back.


"Yeah, let's just say its a form of an apology for how I acted to you earlier. I shouldn't have given you a hard time about those ion disrupters. It was a personal thing, and I am sorry. And a thank you for saving me on the Star Destroyer. Guess we have to go back and forth saving each other's lives?"


"Let's just say we're eternally even," Zeb told her.


Ezri smiled and stretched out a hand. "Agreed?"


Zeb looked at the girl with idle curiosity before silently chuckling to himself. He didn't see it before but he saw it now. Ezri was like a little Lasat girl that Zeb used to know.


"Agreed," Zeb said, shaking her hand.


And it looked like at last, the Lasat and human girl were already at peace. Zeb might not have liked that Ezri joined the crew at first, but seeing her apologize and her saving his life, guess he would have to give the kid a chance.


He just hoped he wouldn't' regret it later.



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