Ezra Lost

Chapter 54

54

KANAN WOKE up with a ragged gasp. "EZRA!"

Someone gripped his shoulders firmly. "Kanan - Kanan, calm down. It was only a nightmare."

Kanan blinked open his eyes to find himself staring up into those of Sabine Wren. His chest was heaving, he was drenched in a cold sweat, and his heartbeat was almost all he could hear.

"W-what- but-but Ezra-" he stammered.

"Easy, Kanan." Sabine carefully helped him to sit up and lean against his bunk. Her voice was laden with concern. "Are you okay?"

"Is-is this-" Kanan looked around frantically. "Where is he?! Is he okay?"

Sabine frowned deeply. "Kanan... if you're talking about Ezra... he's probably on Kysor 4 right now. We're to meet the others in the common room and organize the rescue op. We just came out of hyperspace; Hera sent me to tell you."

Kanan stared at her for a moment, then slowly felt himself beginning to calm. "Oh," he murmured with relief. "It really... it really was just a nightmare..."

"And I'm gonna stop you before you can start freaking out and saying all that 'unless THIS is a nightmare!' bantha dung," Sabine told him with a smirk. "Come on, do you feel okay enough to join us, or would you like us to come to you?"

Kanan frowned for a second at that question. It felt like he had a headache, but it was subsiding quickly. He also felt oddly cold, but that wasn't really something to worry about. He frowned a little more when he realized that he couldn't remember falling asleep in the first place - but the events of his nightmare were deeply disturbing him. Had it been completely meaningless, created from the fears of his own subconscious? Or was it something more - a warning induced by the Force?

"Yeah, I'm okay. Let's go," Kanan confirmed. Sabine helped him to his feet, and together, they walked out of the cabin.

He would worry about it later.

What mattered now was rescuing Ezra while they finally had their chance - not the possible urgent messages that might be embedded within what was surely just a completely normal nightmare that anyone would expect to have in a situation like this.

Surely...

***

The others were waiting for Sabine and Kanan around the Dejarik table. It seemed like they had already begun talking amongst themselves, but they stopped and looked up when the last two rebels walked in. Kanan and Sabine were greeted by very serious faces.

Kanan's eyebrows met right away, sensing something... bad. "What... What's the matter?"

Tseebo regarded Kanan solemnly. "We have emerged into the Kysor System, but we cannot land on Kysor 4 at this time."

Kanan's eyes widened. "What?"

"What are you talking about, Tseebo?!" Sabine demanded urgently.

Zeb drummed his claws on the table with a sigh as Hera leaned forward and spoke up. "Day on Kysor 4 only lasts for approximately four hours; that is the only time the planet is warm enough for anyone to survive there, even with a heavily protective suit," she informed Kanan grimly. "I have a couple of those suits stored somewhere on the Ghost, but we'll have to wait until Kysor 4's next daytime to start searching."

Sabine moaned. "No!"

Kanan's heart sank. "Which is...?"

"The next day of Kysor 4 will occur in 23.3 hours," Tseebo announced helpfully.

Sabine groaned again, this time with Kanan joining her.

"All we've got left to do now... is wait," surmised Zeb with a sigh, leaning back in his seat.

Hera stood, folding her arms. "And there's nothing we can do to change that," she said, eyeing the irrationally determined look that had begun to creep onto Kanan's face. "We just have to make the most of it. Try to get some rest, rebels." She walked out of the room briskly.

"We're going to need it."

***