Star Wars Rebels: Time Travel

Chapter 11

(Kanan pov)

General Grievous wasn't kidding about pain.

Even when the Inquisitor and Grand Moff Tarkin captured and interrogated me, this is almost worse.

Lightning jolts. Interrogation droids full of injections and sharp tools. Vibro-blade slashes. A blaster shot to my right arm. And worst of all: Lightsaber cuts. Lightsabers don't make skin bleed, but they sure sting and hurt like hell.

Especially when you're being slashed with four at once.

After General Grievous left my cell, angry that I wouldn't give him answers to anything about the Onderon rebels–which I don't have, not that I would give them to him if I had them–I passed out in a pool of my own blood. When I wake, it's to the cell door swishing open again and a soft gasp.

"Kanan?" I hear a whisper, and then footsteps as I crack open my eyes wearily. As they come into focus, my voice struggles to rasp a coherent sentence.

"Shh, love. Stay still," the blurry figure above me says quietly. "Force, what did Grievous do to you?" There's movement above me and a hand brushes my uninjured shoulder. I cringe away, unaware of who has entered my cell. Then my eyesight sharpens as I connect with the Force to bring back my vision.

A familiar concerned Twi'lek peers over me.

"H–Hera," I gasp, my hand numbly reaching for my friend and crew-mate.

"Yes love." Hera smiles grimly at me, taking my hand with her other gloved one, keeping the other one on my shoulder. "How long have you been here?"

I shrug, then wince at the sudden stabs of pain.

"Ok. You know what, blink once for yes and twice for no. Ok?"

I blink once.

"Great. I don't want you to get hurt any further.... Is this where the crystal teleported you in the first place?"

One blink.

"Alright. Listen Kanan, and listen very carefully. Don't ask any questions if they aren't necessary. I just found out that you were here now. I'm Grievous' commander aboard this Star Destroyer apparently, so I have high-access all over the ship. I'm going to try and get us out. I'm giving you this keycard now, for safe keeping."

My jacket rustles and I feel a thin piece of duraplastic press against my chest, then slide into an interior pocket.

"Wait for my signal, then get out. I'll find you, and we'll escape." She says. "Simple as that. Just like one of your plans. Nothing can go wrong, right?" She smiles teasingly, even amidst the danger we face ahead.

"What's the signal?" I croak hoarsely.

Hera smiles slightly. "You'll know, trust me."

She stands up and turns to leave, then stops. "Oh. By the way.... Ezra is here."

"EZRA?!" I shriek painfully, before launching into a coughing fit.

"Shhh!" Hera puts a finger to her lips. "He is, but he's also a prisoner. I don't know much about him yet, but he had a different blue lightsaber when he snuck aboard. And he had help getting aboard. Likely Jedi help, because he came in a Jedi Starfighter."

Something beeps and I jolt in surprise. Hera glances at her wrist.

"I have to go now. Wait for my signal." Hera's eyes plead with me. "Please. Don't try and escape on your own."

I blink once and muster up a slight smile, and then with a quick goodbye, she hurries out of the cell.

I won't.

I promise.