A Different Path [UNFINISHED]

Nasty Surprises

"Ready?"
"Ready!"
"I'll see you all there...best of luck to everyone."

Hera just finished her brief and final conversation with Ahsoka and Commander Sato. They were about to embark on the hardest mission of all. Just over half of the fleet is fighting. Diversions, ambushes, and sneak-ins will be occurring everywhere--left and right. Stormtroopers will be killed left and right.

"I can't believe we're doing this," Kanan murmured as they entered hyperspace.
"What?" Hera looked at him. "Rescuing Ezra?"
"No..."
"Then what?"
"Attacking Coruscant."

It would be a few minutes until they arrived, but the waiting was worth it. All of the rebels--both in The Ghost and in the fleet--were mentally preparing themselves. Coruscant was all Kanan knew. He hadn't been back sine Order 66. The changes that had occurred after he left are myriad. He wouldn't know if he would even recognize the planet or city.

Sabine calmly called his name from the hallway. She and Kanan both marched down the hallway to the back of The Ghost where a troop of rebel soldiers were waiting. All of them would exit The Ghost together once they receive coordinates of Ezra's location.

"I've got the coordinates. Prepare to jump as soon as possible! We have to make this quick!" Hera said over the comms.

The majority of the rebel fleet was already attacking the blockade around Coruscant. Only four ships surrounded The Ghost for protection and escort. Kanan was greatly doubting their chances of beating The Empire and freeing Ezra.

"You and Ezra are so similar," Sabine said as she examined Kanan.
"What makes you say that?" Kanan looked up at her.
"Well, you both lean on that same wall in that corner. And, you both stand the same way. And you both have that inquisitive and determined look on your face right before a mission."
"Oh, really? I never really noticed..."

The kid looks up to me..., Kanan thought to himself. Suddenly, a warm hand touched his shoulder and he looked up from his hard stare.

"We'll get Ezra back," Sabine said. "I know we will."

Just as they began to break through the blockade, The Ghost rattled from rouge shots. The rebel alliance took a few shots to help The Ghost get through, though. Hera was doing all she could to stabilize the ship as they descended closer to Coruscant. The crew prepared to get off of the ship as Hera notified them of the building nearing them.

"He's waiting for us," Sabine told Kanan. "We'll get him!"

The ramp fell down and the three rebels prepared to jump off. Sabine slid her helmet on and made the first leap. Suddenly, blasters from other TIEs rocked the ship even more as Zeb jumped and stumbled. Kanan ducked and waited for a clearing. Hera ushered him to jump even though he was hesitant. TIEs were all around them and something empty made him feel unsure of everything. Then, he jumped. He forgot about everything he felt, understood, heard, and feared and thought of the mission: the one objective.

"What's wrong with you, Kanan?" Zeb asked as they began to find a way into the building.
"Nothing's wrong," Kanan simply answered.
"You're more fearful than you usually are. Are you sure everything's okay?"
"I'm sure! Let's just get Ezra and go!"

More shots from TIE's shook the building, making it difficult for them to enter. Sabine finally used one of her explosives to bust through the roof of the building. Then they all invaded the building. The stormtroopers were already lined up against the walls in attack formation waiting for them to come. Little bits of fear penetrated the rebels as they continued to push through the obstacles to rescue Ezra.

"How did they take the boy?" someone shouted.

Sabine overheard and began to ask questions. She looked up at Kanan who was fearfully running; leading them.

"Kanan!" Sabine shouted and he turned his head slightly. "Did you hear that?"
"No. What?"
"The Empire thinks we've already taken Ezra."
"What? We don't have him!"
"Then who could?"

Kanan's fear continued to grow as he ran even faster toward Ezra's cell. They were almost there and as he approached, a greater feeling of emptiness filled the force. He was so worried for his padawan's sake. Without even thinking, he struck down the guarding stormtroopers with his lightsaber--nothing a Jedi would do--and burst into the cell. He looked over and saw an unconscious cadet stormtrooper lying on the ground. The T0-D Droid sat in the back of the room collecting dust. The bed that Ezra was shackled to was empty.

"Kanan, do you have Ezra?" Hera asked over the comm. system.
"No! We're in his cell right now...," Kanan's voice died off.
"What happened? Where is he?"
"I don't know. He must've escaped."
"How?"
"I don't know!"
"Uh...Kanan!" Zeb shouted, tightly gripping his bo-rifle. "We've got company!"

Kanan turned around and saw a bunch of stormtroopers rushing toward them. He had to think quickly.

"Close the door!" Kanan commanded as he approached the lock inside the cell.

The door slammed shut and he burned the rest with his lightsaber. Sabine was already working on breaking through the walls of the cell.

"Nothing's working!" Sabine exclaimed.
"Any ideas?" Zeb asked.
"Nothing...," Kanan muttered in response.

The three rebels were trapped in Ezra's cell with an unconscious cadet. They were sent to rescue Ezra, but he was already gone. Where he went is a mystery. But time was ticking away and they had to remember they were in the heart of The Empire.

But somewhere in an escape pod, lain Ezra on the floor--out cold. The pod was on auto pilot and was headed toward the outer rim's Lothal. The force told both his friends and enemies that he was there. But only time could tell who would reach him first.