Erstwhile

Stars

I'd been like this once before. My body had shaken with fever, and sweat had soaked my clothing, but through every shudder, my parents had been there for me. During the day, my Mother sang and placed damp cloths on my forehead, and at night, my Father would hold my little hand in his.

But that had been years ago, when my parents were still alive.

I was alone now, and I knew that if I did not receive medical care soon, I would see my parents again, face-to-face. A part of me wanted to see them again, to hear my Mother's voice and feel my Father's hand, but I could not go yet. I'd made a choice, and now I had to hold to that choice, even if it killed me.

"Ezra," a voice said, pulling me back from my delusions. My teeth chattered, and my vision was blurry, but vaguely I realized that I was being carried on a Storm trooper's back. Who was it?

"Doc, are you sure there's nothing we can do for him?" The man beneath me pleaded.

"No, I don't have the supplies to heal him," Doc replied, "I'm sorry, Stance."

Stance, I realized, So that's it.

"His only hope now is his friends," another clone--Gear, I remembered--spoke up.

"Gear, don't delude yourself," Doc snapped, "The Empire will find us much sooner than his so-called friends will. Him dying before we reach the Star Destroyer would be merciful."

"Shut it!" Gear shouted and shoved Doc off the path. "When will you see that the Empire doesn't care about us?"

"We must prove to them our worth," Doc protested, "Then they will take us in again. They will give us purpose."

"And how do you expect to prove yourself to them?" Stance asked, his voice pounding against the inside of my skull.

"I believe that a lightsaber will suffice."

"You wouldn't," Gear snarled. From behind him, Chopper whirled angrily.

Doc laughed. "Not the boy's. As far as I can tell, he's just a student. His weapon holds no meaning."

"Then whose?"

"The other Jedi's," he replied. "She'll be coming along anytime now. Certainly you've heard her. You're not that daft."

At the mention of Ahsoka, something lit up within me. Even with my hazy mind, I recognized it as a fierce regret, one that might never be redeemed. Doc had said that she was a Jedi, like me, a user of the Force. She was in danger. I was supposed to protect her. I had to.

It was my duty.

Clenching my teeth, I moaned.

"Enough of this nonsense," Stance growled, "Ezra is growing restless. We need to check his wound."

"It won't do anything," Doc taunted.

"Silence," Stance snapped and gestured Gear over to his side. Together, as gently as they could, they laid me on the course earth. Even with their gentleness, pain still raced up my leg, and I arched my back, struggling and failing to hold back screams.

"Hold him still," Stance instructed, and Gear immediately obeyed. With Gear restraining me, Stance made quick work to check on my wound and clean it the best he could. From the expression on his face, I could only assume that the infection had worsened.

Tremors coursed through my body as Stance tightly rewrapped my leg, and in a last-ditch effort to hold back my screams, I gazed at the sky. For the most part, it was green with sulfur, but just barely blinking through were a few stars. From where I laid, they seemed so far away, but as my eyelids drifted closed, they got closer.

I was about to touch them when the darkness whisked me away.

Hello!

Julie here. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!! Things are definitely not looking good for Ezra, but there is hope yet! Please comment and let me know what you thought!

Don't forget to vote!
Julie :D