Short Stories of Ezra Bridger

Chapter 9: Escape (4/20/19)

Kanan and Hera were walking between four stormtroopers as they were being evacuated to the star destroyer's prison cells. Just the place they had been hoping they would be taken. Kanan had accurately predicted the Imperials moves and all was going according to plan. Zeb, Rex, and Chopper were still back on the Ghost, undetected by the Imperials.

"Anything?" Hera whispered quietly for only Kanan to hear.

He nodded and then nudged his head to the right, indicating that either Ezra or Sabine were near. Preferably both. Kanan suddenly jumped and kicked two stormtroopers in their sides. They both fell as Hera kicked another one to the ground. Before the fourth storm trooper knew what was happening, Kanan used the Force to throw him against the wall. He gladly took back his lightsaber that one of the storm troopers had taken back when they had exited the Ghost. Hera snatched her blaster as well. Kanan made sure the other three troopers were knocked out and then he and Hera were running down the hall.

"Sabine is in here," Kanan stopped at a cell door to their right.

"You would think the security would be higher around here," Hera commented.

"Let's be glad it isn't,"

Kanan slapped the button on the side wall that would unlock the door. He knew once he did, the officer in charge of the prison security would be alerted.

"We need to hurry. They will send more troops soon," Kanan explained, "You get Sabine out. Ezra is down the hall to the left. Meet me there,"

Hera ran into Sabine's cell as Kanan started running down the hall in the opposite direction. He turned the corner and turned again to face a set of stairs that went downward into darkness. He raced down the stairs and halted quickly a large iron door. It was so dark that he had almost run into it. As he looked around, he saw no buttons to unlock the door. There was only an Imperial key card and a droid unlocking box beside the door.

Seeing no other option, Kanan took out his lightsaber and thrust it into the door. It was thicker than he had been expecting. His blue saber moved slowly through the thick iron door. The effort was worth it though, because he sensed Ezra on the other side. Although he could sense him, it was weak, as if Ezra was fading. Kanan slipped into the dark room after his lightsaber had successfully burned out an oval through the door. As he walked in, he turned on the lights using the Force so he could see. He gasped as he saw his weak padawan slumped over in the restraining chair he lay in. His head was hanging forward, with his bangs covering his face.

"Ezra!" he called and ran to him.

Kanan reached out to him and used the Force to break the bounds around his wrists and ankles. Then he held out both of his arms as he unstrapped the thick metal bar that held him in place. Once the metal restraints were off of Ezra, his knees gave way underneath him. Kanan caught him under the armpits and lowered him gently to the ground. He squatted as he brought his padawan into a cradle position on the ground.

"Ezra, can you hear me?" Kanan whispered as he gently touched his face.

Ezra didn't move and Kanan's heart leapt in his chest. Tears came to his eyes as he put his ear to Ezra's chest. There was a heartbeat, but it was faint. They needed to escape now. Ezra's life depended on it.

"Ezra, it's Kanan. We are here to bring you home," Kanan paused, "Ezra?"

Again, there was no response. Kanan took Ezra in his arms, the back of his knees and back cradled his body. His body was limp and flopped around in Kanan's arms as he moved towards the exit. He met Hera and Sabine who were waiting at the bottom of the stairs. They both gasped when they saw their youngest member.