Revenge Leads to Pain

Revenge

The Trandoshans growled and snarled as they waited. It was the annual hunt meeting, where each of the separate clans would boast of their hunts and prey. But one clan was missing.

Four Trandoshans entered the room, carrying a cot in their claws. The Trandoshans all stopped their muttering to watch the newcomers as they walked towards the clan leaders. They set the cot down and their feet and stepped away.

Resting in the cot was a body. It was Sskosst Veesch, clan leader for one of the smaller clans. Just weeks prior he had been bragging about how he had captured a Jedi padawan. Now he was dead, with a bullet wound to the heart.

"Who did this?" demanded Progg, one of the clan leaders.

"We found their hunting platform in the sea. None of the clan survived. We discovered Sskosst in the trophy room. We believe that the Jedi padawan and his master did this," one of the cot carriers explained. The Trandoshans roared and hissed in fury.

"They cannot get away with this," hissed a green Trandoshan.

"Prey must learn its place," growled another. The Trandoshans all shouted their approval. A single clan leader, an orange/brown Trandoshan, raised his claw into the air. Instantly there was silence.

"As you all know," the Trandoshan began, "Sskosst was my son. He was a fine Hunter. And we will honor his memory."

The Trandoshans glanced at each other. They didn't know what to think.

"We will honor his memory . . . by exacting revenge on his murderers!" he continued. The Trandoshans cheered. "We will make them suffer for the deaths of our brethren! Starting with the Jedi and his puny apprentice!"

The Trandoshans cheered louder than ever, and several waved rifles in the air.

Halfway across the galaxy, Ezra Bridger jolted awake.

He was breathing heavily, heart pounding, as the cheers echoed in his ears. Seconds later, the door burst open and the crew rushed in. When they saw that there was no immediate danger, they turned and left again. Kanan remained behind, walking closer to the bed.

"I screamed again, didn't I?" Ezra asked. Kanan nodded.

It had been several weeks since the crew had rescued Ezra from the clutches of the Trandoshans. When Ezra had first woken up, he had been weak and sick. With some rest and food, he slowly began to get his old strength back. Kanan even returned his lightsaber to him and they began training once again. Ezra was back to normal again, aside from the nightmares.

They came every few days, horrible nightmares. They were almost always the same. Back on the hunting island. The situations weren't always the same. Sometimes Nexu issued a killing bite. Sometimes a Trandoshan hunted Ezra before finally shooting the final blow. And sometimes Ezra was haunted by the dead faces of Dogan and Roy.

"What was it this time?" Kanan asked gently. He couldn't imagine how painful it must have been for Ezra when he was trapped on that island. He felt it was partially his fault that the boy and been forced into that situation. After all, he was the one who left Ezra outside alone.

"There were a bunch of Trandoshans. I don't remember the details," Ezra admitted. "They were going to kill us."

Kanan noticed that his padawan was shaking. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. So young, to be suffering so much.

"The Trandoshans are far away from here," Kanan said, opening his eyes. "You don't need to worry. They won't be able to hurt you anymore."

"But it wasn't me I was worried about," Ezra protested, looking Kanan directly in the eye. "They wanted to kill you too."

"I'll be absolutely fine. Remember, I'm the one who managed to take down their ship," Kanan pointed out. He didn't mention the cure. It felt like bad luck to mention the darkness surrounding that whole situation. He only said what he had to to cheer Ezra up.

"Do you want to practice some more?" Kanan asked. Ezra shook his head.

"I'm going to try to go back to sleep. Thank you Kanan," he said. Kanan smiled slightly.

"Any time."

He stood up and left the room, closing the door behind him. Hera was waiting nearby.

"How is he?" she asked.

"He's had more nightmares. The Trandoshans were going to get revenge on Ezra and I," Kanan explained.

"They couldn't possibly do that, could they?" Hera asked worriedly.

"I don't think so. We're pretty far away. Too far to attack us just because they want some revenge."

"But you're a Jedi."

"Which means it's all the more dangerous for the Trandoshans to attack us. Believe me, we'll be fine."