Invaders of Darkness

Chapter 14 - The Future of the Force

It's only been a few weeks since the last time Ahsoka stopped by when Kanan senses her arrival again. He hurries down the ramp of the Ghost as he sees her shuttle landing, spotting Ezra sitting a short distance away from the starship, doing something with Chopper. Ezra glances up curiously as they approach, but he stays where he is, obviously still uncomfortable around people he doesn't know. (Or doesn't remember at all.)

"This is unexpected. Don't get me wrong, it's always good to see you, but usually it means there's trouble," Kanan greets as he comes down the ramp.

"What I have to say is Jedi business," Ahsoka replies.

"Then I guess I qualify," Kanan says cheerfully.

"You qualify more than I do," she agrees with a smirk, crossing her arms.

Kanan nods, heading up into the ship with her following. They go into his cabin, closing the door. "Something more about the Inquisitors?" he guesses.

The Togruta nods. "I've been monitoring transmissions from Mustafar to find out more about the Sith Lord," she responds.

"And?"

"Information about him eludes me, but I've learned more about the Inquisitors. It seems they have a secondary mission to make retrievals."

"Secondary retrievals?" he echoes, tensing. What is that supposed to mean? Are they planning on doing to more people what they did to Ezra? "We know they hunt Jedi. What are they after this time?"

"At this point we can only guess. I managed to decode two sets of coordinates. I'm on my way to investigate the first one," Ahsoka informs.

"And you want me to check out the second one. I'm in," he decides immediately. Whatever they're up to, it's nothing good, and he's not going to let them get away with it.

"Maybe you should have Ezra join you," she suggests.

Kanan frowns. He's really not sure he's ready to handle something like that yet, especially given what it will probably entail. "He started practicing with his lightsaber again, but I don't think he's ready for that," he responds. "Besides, it could lead to a confrontation with the Inquisitors, and I can't let him near them again if I can help it."

Ahsoka nods in understanding. "You don't have to take him, but someone should go. Zeb perhaps. He has proved himself worthy in fights with the Inquisitors before. It might be something more than you can handle. I don't think you should go by yourself."

That, she is right about. When he fought off that Inquisitor back on Lothal and later when escaping Mustafar, he nearly lost to him many times. But now there are multiple Inquisitors. If he actually ran into them, he doesn't have any delusions as to who would actually win the fight. Which is exactly the reason he doesn't want to take Ezra anywhere near them.

And speaking of Ezra... He can suddenly sense him lingering suspiciously close to the door.

"Either way, we need to move quickly," Ahsoka decides finally.

"I'll get ready to leave immediately," he replies, then adds as an afterthought, "What about Master Kenobi and Luke?"

"They're gone on a mission right now. We don't have time to wait for them."

He nods, heading for the door. It snaps open in front of them to reveal Ezra standing on the other side, a short distance away. It's... honestly reliving to see that he's actually comfortable enough to listen to conversations that technically weren't for him – something that he used to do all the time. Or at least stand close enough that he probably overheard half of it.