Star Wars Rebels: Just Hold On

Arrival

Kimble's POV

When I woke up, I wasn't in my cell anymore. I was laying on a table. The room was empty other than the Inquisitor, who was standing by the door watching me.

"So, you finally awaken," he said.

"Why didn't you kill me?" I demanded.

"Several reasons," he explained. "You are strangely resilient. You have a strong spirit. And the young Ezra Bridger seems concerned on your behalf."

"So I'm a bargaining chip," I said bitterly.

"No, you are leverage," the Inquisitor corrected. "As long as Ezra is obedient, you will live."

"I hate this new plan," I told him.

"You should be happy you're alive," he replied. "Ezra has been punished for his little display."

"So what happens now?

"You will be returned to your cell and things will continue as normal."

"I don't know if I like that plan either."

"That is none of my concern," he told me while opening the cell door. Two stormtroopers entered and escorted me to the meal room. I was starting to wonder if it was always the same stormtroopers, or if there were different ones. There had to be different ones. I didn't remember everything that had happened before I passed out, but I remembered the stormtroopers dying and Ezra appearing to save me. No other details.

The meal room door opened and I stepped inside. It looked like it was already halfway over. When Conner saw me, his face lit up and he smiled. I sat beside him.

"I'm so glad that you're ok!" he said. "When you didn't show up, I was so afraid that they killed you."

"No, I'm fine," I told him. "They tried to kill me, but somehow Ezra saved me."

"How?" Conner asked.

"I don't remember. I think I passed out at some point."

I reached out with my mental link to contact Ezra. Ezra? I called. There was no reply. Only stony silence. I stopped trying. My stomach felt like it was full of lead. What had they done to Ezra?

It was almost the end of the meal before the doors finally opened and Ezra entered. He seemed different. I couldn't put my finger on it. He came over to us and managed a weak smile.

"Thank you for saving me," I told Ezra as I hugged him. He flinched and I released him.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing," he told me. "Just a tad sensitive."

"What did they do to punish you?" I asked.

"I don't really want to talk about it," he said without meeting my eyes. I frowned but didn't press my point. He sat down at our table.

"How did you save Kimble?" Conner asked.

"I don't really know," Ezra said while still looking at the table. "I don't remember anything before the point where Kimble passed out."

"Kimble passed out?" Conner demanded.

"I think it was all part of the plan," I said defensively.

The doors at the far end of the room opened, but no one entered. The three of us exchanged glances.

"Who do you think it is?" I asked.

"Could be anyone," Ezra murmured.

"All of the prisoners are already here, so I have no idea-" Conner broke off as someone entered the room, escorted by four stormtroopers. That person was dressed in an orange jumpsuit that was labeled 68. They were human, with dark blond hair and gray eyes. They had a sort of smile that made you think they were up to something. I dropped my fork.

Ezra's POV

"What?" I asked. "Who's that?"

"Kaz!" Kimble shouted, jumping to her feet. The four stormtroopers left the room.

"Kimble!" the 68 said with a smile on his face. Kimble ran towards him and pulled him into a hug. There were tears in her eyes.

"I knew you would keep your promise. I knew you would come for us," she told him.

"Of course I did Kim," he said. "We're practically family."

"Who's that?" I asked Conner.

"That's Kaz Astar," Conner explained. "He was the other force user that we were with. It was just the three of us. I always wondered why Kimble didn't bring Kaz along when she came to rescue me. I just assumed he would be the one breaking us out. Now I see why."

"They're good friends?" I checked.

"Almost inseparable," Conner said. Kimble led Kaz over to their table and sat down beside him.

"Ezra, this is Kaz Astar. He's a good friend of mine," Kimble introduced. "Kaz, this is Ezra Bridger. He's another force user. We me him here. He's saved my life a couple of times and has been trying to find a way to escape."

"We'll look no further!" Kaz said with a smile. "I'll bust us out of here by this time tomorrow!"

"I knew you'd have a plan," Kimble said with a smile.

I didn't like Kaz very much.