Erstwhile

Brothers

I heard voices.

One was yelling, one was quieter, but all were arguing. Anger drenched each voice, and as I listened, I slowly came to realize that they were talking about me.

"Why should we help them?" A voice I recognized as Doc's shouted, "Their kind are traitors to the Galactic Empire!"

"You mean the same Empire that left us here to go insane and kill ourselves?" Stance growled, "I'm not obeying them anymore."

"Surely you don't mean that, Stance!" Doc exclaimed, "The Empire raised us and trained us. They're the closest thing we have to family. These Jedi aren't."

"The Empire is not my family," Stance snarled, "Unlike you, I was not born into the order. I was ripped from my family. I was forced to become a soldier."

"You were chosen to become a soldier--" Doc began, but Gear interrupted.

"I had a little brother," he said, "His name was Jerry, and when the Empire recruited me, I never saw him again, but I see him in Ezra. I don't care what the Empire said, or what he is." He paused, gathering his courage. "Give him the vaccine, Doc."

"This is traitorous," Doc snapped, "I'm not giving it to him."

"Fine," Stance snapped, and there was the brush of skin against skin as he took the vaccine from Doc.

"Don't do this, Stance," Doc pleaded, but Stance ignored him.

"It's time to wake up, kid," Stance whispered, and through the thick veil that covered my mind, I felt the prick of a needle as it broke through my skin.

Vaguely, I sensed the fluid as it entered my bloodstream, and slowly, the haziness in my mind disappeared. With a clearer mind, my thoughts lost their drag, and I was able to open my eyes and gaze around me.

As far as I could tell, I was lying in the medical tent where I'd gotten my stitches. Kneeling beside me was Stance, a bright smile on his face, and behind him was Gear, his face streaked with worry. Behind the both of them, his arms crossed over his chest, was Doc.

"Welcome back, kid," Stance murmured, "How you feeling?"

"Thirsty," I rasped, "Hungry."

Chuckling to himself, Stance motioned to Gear, and he stepped outside the tent. As we waited, Stance helped me sit up, and so when Gear returned, some soup and water in his hands, I received them eagerly. Raising the glass to my mouth, I was just about to guzzle it down when I hesitated and stared at Doc.

"Don't worry," he snapped, "It's not drugged." Pushing away from the wall, he exited the tent. Once he'd gone, I quickly drank the cup of water, and, once it was empty, I started on the soup. Since my throat was now sufficiently moisturized, I was finally able to speak.

"How long was I asleep?"

"Not long, maybe a couple of hours," Stance replied.

"Have you seen Ashoka?"

"No, we haven't, but I promise that we'll look for her at first light," he murmured and took the bowl and cup from my hands. "For now, just try to get some rest."

"I don't know how I can," I mumbled, "Maybe Doc should've drugged the water again."

Exchanging glances with Gear, Stance handed off the items to him and then stepped forward. It was only after Gear had left did he begin to speak.

"You've seen my helmet right?" He asked as he settled himself down on the ground beside me.

"There's a handprint on it," I said, and he nodded.

"That handprint came from my closest comrade, Will," he explained. "When I first arrived at the Academy, he befriended me and trained me to become the best soldier I could be. Whenever I failed in an exercise, he'd always say, 'Good try, Stance. You'll get it next time, I just know it.'"

"He sounds like a good friend."

"He was more than that," Stance disagreed, "He was like a brother to me, and so when we arrived upon this planet, we helped each other survive."

"What happened to him?"

"Just like the others, the spores got to him, and hallucinations plagued his mind," Stance replied, "I don't know what he saw, but whatever it was, it had him spooked. He ran away into the forest, just like Tano did.

"I eventually succumbed to the spores' hold as well, and if it hadn't been for Doc, I would've died. Those first few days before we found Gear were rough. Our own brothers attacked us, and more times than not, we were unable to save them from their insanity before they died."

"Did...?" My voice trailed off.

"Yes, Will found us, and for the first time ever, I had to fight him," Stance replied, "He had already been injured, and although I tried to talk to him, nothing could make him stop fighting me, therefore further injuring himself.

"Eventually he was too weak to continue, and he collapsed. Once he was down, I administered the vaccine as fast as I could, but although his mind cleared, his injuries were still very prominent. Doc didn't have to tell me that he wouldn't survive."

"Is that when--?"

He nodded gravely. "Knowing that he was dying, Will dipped his hand into his own blood and laid it on my helmet. 'Good try, Stance,' he told me, 'You'll get it next time. I just know it.'"

"I'm so sorry."

"Your Master, Ashoka? She's my 'next time,'" Stance explained, "I'm not only trying to save her for you, but also for Will." Pushing against the ground, he stood. "So, if you can't sleep, that's fine, but I swear to you, Ezra, we'll find her. Try to find peace in that." Turning, he lifted up the flap of the tent and prepared to leave.

"Hey, Stance," I called, and he turned back. "Thank you," I started, "For everything."

He smiled warmly at me. "I'll see you in the morning." Letting the flap drop, he disappeared, and I was left in darkness.

My comfort overwhelming my unease, I shifted on the cot till I was lying on my side. Although Stance was a Storm Trooper, I couldn't help the growing trust I had in him, and with his story of Will, my trust solidified.

If only Kanan could see me now. He'd probably have a heart attack. At the thought, I was grieved. Would i ever see him again? Was that hurried conversation on the comm the last time we would ever speak to each other?

As these questions spiraled through my mind, I was filled with remorse. Why did I have to be so stupid? No, I didn't regret going with Ashoka, but I did regret all those times when I hadn't listened to what Kanan had had to say. He had been like a father, and Hera, a mother, and I'd taken them both for granted, not to mention Zeb or Sabine.

"I'm sorry, guys," I whispered in the darkness of the tent, "I'm so sorry." With tears trickling down my cheeks, I drifted into an exhausted slumber.

A sad couple of chapters, I know, but I hope you liked them!!