Star Wars Rebels: Just Hold On

A Stroke of Luck (Both Good and Bad)

Kimble's POV

We all stepped into the cell, horror painted on our faces. Ezra was in this cell alright. He was suspended in the air by some sort of blue energy thing. The top of his orange jumpsuit was in tatters. He looked like he was unconscious and it didn't take a genius to guess why.

Ezra's arms had large black scars all over them. If I didn't know better, I would have said they were lightsaber burns. Actually, they probably were lightsaber burns.

"Those monsters," Zeb growled. "What have they done to him?" Sabine went behind Ezra.

"They look like lightsaber burns," she reported. "They're all over his back too."

"I can't believe the Empire would have done such a thing," Conner said quietly.

"Believe it," Kanan told him. "The Empire's savage methods know no end. No one is spared."

Kanan searched the base of the blue energy for a moment before pressing a button. The energy deactivated and Ezra fell into Kanan and Zeb's waiting arms.

"Zeb?" Ezra asked weakly, slowly opening his eyes. "Kanan?"

"We're here for you kid," Kanan said. "How do you feel? Can you walk?"

"I knew you would come," Ezra told us all.

"We've got a ride waiting to pick us up," Kanan told Conner, Kaz and I. "If you stick with us, we'll get you back to your families."

"No," Ezra protested. "We've got to rescue everyone else too."

"You crazy kid?" Zeb demanded. "We're lucky we haven't been found out yet!" At that moment, alarms started blaring.

"Well luck just ran out," Sabine said. "We need to move now."

"Kanan," Ezra begged. "They're going to be killed. All of them." Kana looked at Ezra and then at Zeb and Sabine. He looked helpless.

"Let's do it," Zeb said.

"But Ezra's hurt!" Sabine protested.

"I'll carry the kid. Just lead the way," Zeb promised.

"No, I can run," Ezra protested. "I'm starting to feel better anyway."

I could feel through the mental link that Ezra was, in fact, not feeling better. I was about to point that out when Ezra's voice spoke in my mind.

No. It will only slow us down and make the others change their minds.

I decided to keep my mouth shut. Ezra must know what he was doing. He had to have some sort of plan.

I wish I had never listened to him.

Ezra's POV

Thankfully Kimble didn't tell the others how I really felt. The pain was starting to fade slightly, but I think that was more because my nerves all died. I was starting to worry that I would never be able to feel anything with my arms again. But I could worry about that later.

"Let's get going," I told the others while walking past them and out of the cell. They all followed. Together we were a rather large group. Not exactly unnoticeable. And now the whole prison was on high alert.

"The main obstacle will be opening the cell doors," I told the others as we ran.

"No problem," Kanan said. "Chopper can handle those."

We turned a corner and headed towards the cells as Kanan pulled out a communicator.

"Chopper! Open all of the cell doors!" Kanan shouted. I could hear Chopper's whirring on the other end.

"I don't care if you have to do them one by one!" Kanan snapped. "Just get them all open!"

We had reached the first cell just as it opened. It was empty. I glanced at the number above it.

1.

"The first prisoner isn't until cell 40!" I told Kanan.

"Then we have less to worry about until then!" he replied. I smiled. It was just like the old days. Running without a real plan and fighting impossible odds.

We came across several groups of stormtroopers, but Zeb and Sabine took them out with their blasters.

When we reached cell 40, there was an old man inside. Kanan paused at the door.

"This is a break out!" Kanan said. "Get yourself to Bay 4 if you want to live!" The old man didn't argue. He climbed to his feet and ran out of the cell.

"Think he can make it?" Kaz asked.

"Of course," Kanan replied. And so we continued, opening cell after cell, telling people to run to Bay 4 when we found them. 54. 55. 56. 58. 59.

"The last prisoner is this way!" I called to the others as I ran ahead. Prisoner 60. The last one. We had done it.

"Ezra no!" Kanan called. I turned the corner and skidded to a stop. I only had time to register that someone in a dark cloak was standing in front of me, blocking the way. They extended a hand and jagged bolts of blue lightning flashed through the air and into me.

I screamed as I learned the new meaning of pain.