“So kid, ever heard of Sabacc?” Hondo asked Ezra. Ezra shook his head. “Well, come and sit down, I’ll teach you. You’ll want to know this for where we’re going!”
“Where are we going?”
“Habchi, a planet famous for its gambling spirit.”
“Why?”
“Well, I can’t talk about my secret missions, but that crate that I bought…”
“That you stole.”
“Yes, yes, call it what you will. That crate’s buyer is on Habchi. And he’s expecting the crate soon. Now, do you want to learn how to play or not?”
“I guess so.”
“So there’s red cards and green cards...” Hondo started to teach the boy the game. After a while, Ezra started to understand.
“Okay, you understand? Wanna play?” Ezra nodded. He took his deck and the two took turns. When the game was over, Hondo had won.
“Sorry, young one. I have much more experience, but you’ll get the hang of it. Let’s play again. This time, let’s play for something. Um...how about one credit?”
“I don’t have any credits.”
“Well, I’ll supply the credit and we will play for it.” This time, Ezra won.
“Do I get to keep the credit now?” Ezra asked, knowing he won.
“Fine, yes, rules are rules. Now you will have something to gamble with.”
“But Mama says gambling is bad. I heard her say it one time.”
“Yes, well it is fun, too.”
“No, I don’t want to gamble because mama said it was bad.”
“Fine, kid. Suit yourself. We’re almost there, anyway.” Ezra watched out the window as they approached a gray-colored planet.
“Are you sure my family’s down there?”
“They said they would meet us there. Hey, don’t worry kid. If they never come for you, then you can stay with me.”
“But I don’t want to stay with you, I want to go back to my family.”
“Calm down, I’m just kidding. The Ghost crew is very... protective of their fellow members. Won’t even leave them behind if something goes bad.”
“Of course they wouldn’t. We’re a family.”
Hondo didn’t answer as he piloted the ship down to the planet.
“These coordinates lead to Habchi. Are you sure that we’re going there, Chop? Check the coordinates again,” Hera hoped that the readings were incorrect.
“What’s Habchi?” Sabine asked.
“It’s a planet on the outer rim full of crime and gambling,” Kanan answered. “I’ve been there once and I never want to go again. That whole planet’s filthy.”
“We’ve all been there ‘cept you, Sabine. We once delivered cargo to some pirates there. A mission from Vizago, of course. Of course Hondo’ll go there,” Zeb said.
“Why is he bringing Ezra there? Why couldn’t he stop at a safer planet first?” Hera asked.
“It’s fine, Hera, we’ll find him and get him back.”
“Kanan, it will not be fine until Ezra is back on this ship and safe. Habchi is a dangerous planet for people, especially children.”
Sabine and Zeb made eye contact and started to make their way out.
“Wait, you two.” Zeb groaned and looked back. Hera glared at him. “Try to set up a communication to Hondo and talk to Ezra. Chop, once the course is set, help them with the coordinates. Kanan, can you use some Jedi thing to try to check on Ezra?”
Kanan wanted to hit himself. Of course he could.
“Yes, I’ll try to meditate and see if I can feel his presence.”
In the common room (in order to stay out of the way of angry, stressed Hera) Sabine and Zeb tried to contact Hondo.
When Chopper joined them, Sabine and Zeb were still trying to contact Hondo.
“I don’t think it’s working. We may be flying through a part of the no-com zone,” Sabine said. “And if we stay on the course we’re taking, there’s no way we’ll be able to contact Hondo’s ship.”
Kanan came walking back into the room.
“I cannot connect with Ezra. Our bond isn’t strong enough.”
“We can’t contact him either.” The three looked at each other.
“I’m sure the kid’s fine, he was on ‘is own for a while. And we’ll have ‘im back soon.” Zeb tried to reassure the others.
“Well, I guess we should tell Hera,” Kanan said, but didn’t move toward the cockpit. He looked hopeful at the other two. They looked back at him expectantly.
“Fine, I’ll tell her, but she won’t be happy,” Kanan left and the others waited to hear shouting. After a minute of silence, the two got nervous.
“Do you think Hera murdered him?”
“Wouldn’t she be screaming if that happened?”
Kanan came back out and said, “Hera says she understands and it’s fine.” The two looked at him, shocked.
“Really?”
“Um...no she said that if we don’t keep trying she’ll leave us on Habchi.” They all got back to work really quickly after that.
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Taking In An Orphan
FanfictionWhen Kanan finds a young child alone on the streets, he and the Ghost crew take him in as one of their own. Young Ezra is full of scars, physically and mentally, that the crew must help him work through along the way. The whole crew must adjust to t...
