Once Upon a Slave...

Chapter 18

Ezra's P.O.V

A blade ignited and soon two clashed with each other. Red and blue. Good and evil. Light and dark. Both forces clashed. Kanan! He saved my mom! The battle continued as my mother was struggling to try and figure out how to open our escape door. "Anytime today," Kanan yelled over to my mom.

"I'm trying!" She yelled back. Kanan did the same thing to the man in black armor that was done on him. An invisible force pushed the evil man into the wall which knocked him out. Yet, for how long? Kanan ran over to my mom and I think trying to help her.

Kanan's P.O.V

"Get back to the ship and I'll meet you there," I said and she seemed to think for a second. Then her eyes widen and I turned around to see Vader starting to wake up not happy at all. I scanned the controls and saw the the panel. I never seen a panel like this and didn't know what to press to open the airlock.

"I have an idea," Ezra's mother said then she set a bomb on the panel. Where did she- not the time Jarrus! I turned and was going to run but I didn't get far when I heard a blade ignite. I turned swiftly and ignited mine but was shocked when I saw a red saber impale through Ezra's mother's stomach. Her facial expression went wide eyed and her breathing was labored as her face grew pale. The blade retreated from her stomach and she fell to the ground soon with a puddle of blood pooling from her.

I heard Vader's ragged breathing and saw him kick her in the stomach. She was dead. The Sith stepped over the lifeless form and calmly walked over to me. I began to run back to the ship as the bomb went off. I was pushed and fell but immediately got back up and used what energy I had left to sprint to the Ghost.

The slaves were cheering me on and soon I was in the docking bay. The ramp closed and we were out of here. The slaves cheered and were happy to be finally free of this camp. What I couldn't figure out was why Vader was there. I let the question slide for now cause at the moment I had a gash in my arm and head. Then I remembered Ezra, I looked over and saw him curled up in the corner of the bay with a horrified face.

His eyes were wide, arms trembled furiously, and tears leaked from his eyes as he silently cried staring into the crowd of slaves. I felt awful deep inside, the kid just got his parents back to just get killed to save everyone else and me. "Is everyone ok?" I turned to see Hera standing up at the railing looking through the crowd. There were "yes's," and "yeahs," coming from everyone and a few just stayed quiet.

Hera saw me and was worried. I must look like a wreck if this gets Hera worrying for me already. I nodded and squirmed through the slaves and climbed the ladder. Hera guided me to the med-bay as she asked questions. "Did we get everyone!" She asked wrapping my injury. I stared at the ground with a blank face and said, "No." "Dear, what's wrong?" She asked me.

"I-I-uh, Ezra's parents didn't make it," I said sadly, "I couldn't protect them." A gentle hand laid on my shoulder to comfort me as grief flowed through me. "You did the best you could," she said then wrapped me in a hug. I accepted the hug and returning it by wrapping my arms around Hera. I wonder how Ezra will act around me knowing that I couldn't save his parents? I hope to the force that he forgives me.

Hera's P.O.V

   I let go of Kanan and gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm sure he'll understand that it wasn't your fault," I said before placing a kiss on his forehead. "Thanks Hera," he said smiling, "You really know how to make me smile."

   I chuckled, "You flatter me, now get some rest. You deserve it for trying your best." He agreed and laid down on the med-bay bed falling asleep. I walked out of the room to go and check on everyone in the docking bay. I looked below and counted the slaves. We had at least twenty-five slaves that we were taking to Tarkin town. I saw Sabine handing out food and drinks to them and they greatly chowed down.

   Wait, it's to quiet, where are the other two? I walked down the hall with our rooms and found Zeb standing outside Kanan's and I's room with a worried face. "Kid, please let me in," Zeb begged, "I just want to help." "Zeb, what are you doing?" I asked and he jumped in surprised. "Karabast Hera, you scared me," he said.

   "Is Ezra in there?" I asked and Zeb nodded his head. "I tried to talk with him but it's hard talking with him when there is a door." I smirked and crossed my arms almost letting out an, 'awe.' Zeb's eyebrow arched in confusion, "What's with the look?"

"You care about him, don't you?" I said and he started to stutter on how Ezra was having a hard time right now. I rolled my eyes but then frowned saying, "Thank you for trying but how about we give him some lone time."

   He nodded in agreement then walked into his room to probably to take a nap. I looked back at my door and sighed. I placed a hand on the door then rested my forehead on the cool surface while my eyes were closed.  I just said that to Zeb so I could talk with Ezra before leaving him alone.

   "I'm not sure if you can hear me or not but please just try to," I started, "I know that it happened fast, so fast that you probably just witnessed the worst possible thing a child your age shouldn't of seen or even have to go through. The Empire has done the same thing to us too. They killed people we loved but that just made us stronger by becoming a voice just like your parents were. Cause riots, problems, and standing up for others. Ezra, my point is that.....you aren't going to be alone anymore. You have us and we are here for you no matter how much you think that no one loves you or we are just some people that are helping for a greater cause.

   But these pass couple days, you become more and more apart of this crew even if you don't realize it. You brightened it up. You brightened us all up and are becoming more than a crew. We are becoming a family. So, I want to thank you, thank you for helping us even if you didn't know how much you affected us.......affected me."

Ezra's P.O.V

   I was listening to Hera. Every word she said was pure music to my ears. She really meant it. "And Ezra, I don't know how to say this before cause I was scared you would reject me. But now I just wanted you to know that I think of you as a son. I would never replace your real mother or even top her off, I just wanted to get this off my chest for the longest of time," she said. I was totally shocked by this. Did she really mean it? That I was a son to her? "....I love you..." I heard her whisper and I couldn't take it anymore.

   Tears streamed down my face and I cried softly. "If you want or need any comfort, you know where to find me," she said and I heard her walk away. Hera really meant it. Every single word of her speech kept twisting in my head. She has been there for me when no one else was when she first came to the camp. I had to admit that she does remind me of my mom before and after we escaped together from my slave camp.

   Then a want swelled up in my chest. I didn't want to be alone anymore. My parents are gone but they saved quite a few lives including Kanan's. I wonder how Kanan is right now? Probably resting, I shouldn't bother him but later thank him. I got to see my parents one last time and he helped make it happen. I would have never been able to find them if it wasn't for the Ghost crew.

   Now that my parents are gone, the crew sees me as a family and wants me to stay! I couldn't help but smile at that cause they really do care about me and I have to admit...I care about them too. I made a decision and climbed down the ladder. I don't want to be alone and if Hera was providing moral support for wanting to help me then I'll let her help.

   I feel bad for bothering Hera but she wasn't busy right now. Yet, she has done a lot for me but she said I also helped the crew too so does that make it a tie? I don't know and honestly don't care. I walked up to the cockpit door and stood in front of it. I hesitated before wrapping myself in my arms and bowing my head. The door opened to reveal the pilot herself enjoying the view of stars moving at the speed of light.

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