A Light in the Darkness (Star Wars Rebels)

Switch

One day later, the little boy still hadn't spoken. Nobody could get a word out of him. He couldn't have been much older than five. He dissolved into tears whenever Ezra wasn't around, so the responsibility to care for him landed mainly upon Ezra (with plenty of advice and guidance from Hera).

At the moment, Ezra was sitting in the lounge. The little boy was sitting nearby, playing with a stormtrooper helmet from Ezra's collection. Sabine was crouched beside the holoconsole, attempting to fix it.

"He needs a name," Sabine said as she worked.

"He has a name," Ezra pointed out.

"He needs something that we can call him until he finally speaks," Sabine rephrased. Ezra watched the kid for a moment. He was playing with the comm inside the helmet.

"Why don't we call him Switch?" Ezra asked. The little boy glanced up.

"Switch?" Sabine repeated, pulling several wires from the console.

"Yeah, Switch," Ezra said. "It's easy enough to remember."

"Whatever," Sabine told him. She closed the panel and sat on the couch. "There. Now we should be able to watch the broadcasts."

She pressed a button on the table and a hologram came to life. A spokesman was speaking.

"-despite numerous revolts on the planet's surface. The atmosphere is still deadly, making extractions difficult," he said. Zeb wandered into the room with Hera close behind.

"Watching the holonet?" he asked.

"Yeah, but we won't hear anything over your loud talking," Ezra replied.

"Now onto more political matters," the spokesman continued. "There have been whispers that Palpatine plans to dissolve the Senate."

"He can't do that," Hera said softly. Ezra shrugged. He wouldn't know either way. Sabine shushed her.

"Several senators have been arrested for treason against the Empire. Members included those among the liberty movement, which was once headed by the Duchess of Mandalor. After recent health issues her niece, the young upstart Evelyn Kryze-"

"That's Evelyn!" Ezra exclaimed.

"We know!" Zeb, Sabine and Hera hissed. Switch laughed and waved a hand through the hologram.

"-has taken the responsibility of ruling her world. Duchess Kryze returned to her home world following the arrest of her more outspoken supporters. Rumors of an assassination attempt have yet to have been verified. That concludes our report. Tune in next time to hear more about the dangers of insurgents."

The broadcast ended abruptly. The hologram vanished, leaving the rebels in temporary darkness.

"They tried to assassinate Evelyn?" Ezra asked. "I knew this would happen! I warned her!"

"We can't just rush over there," Hera reminded him. "After all, we are insurgents. Showing up could make things worse for her."

"But what if she gets hurt?" Ezra asked.

"She's a duchess," Kanan reminded Ezra as he entered the room. "She can take care of herself."

"Can't we at least check up on her?" Ezra asked. Kanan and Hera shared a glance.

"Maybe you can go, as part of your training," Kanan suggested. "You can see just how the Empire is effecting the people."

"I won't let you down!" Ezra pledged.

"Being around Evelyn will be dangerous," Sabine reminded everyone. "She gets a lot of publicity."

"I'll lie low," Ezra said.

"That'll be the day," Zeb said.

"He'll have to take Switch with him," Sabine added.

"Switch?" Kanan asked. Sabine pointed at the little boy.

"It may be better to leave him here with us," Hera said. Ezra's eyes lit up as he remembered something.

"Switch's parents, they said something about going to Mandalor to visit their relatives!" Ezra said. "The mom called her Auntie Mabel."

"Take him," Hera said. "You'll be able to find his family there. Maybe Evelyn can help."

"I won't let you down!" Ezra said, picking up Switch.