Chasing Your Shadow (a sequel to Ezra Lost)

Chapter 11

11

KANAN REALIZED almost right away that something was horribly wrong.

He skidded to a halt and stared all around him.

There were no stormtroopers.

There was no inquisitor waiting outside to knock him back with an amused taunt of Nice try, but you lose. Thanks for entertaining me!

There was nothing.

Kanan's heart slowly sank as his cyan eyes surveyed everything about his surroundings. There wasn't a single guard in sight. Not even someone just passing by...

He squeezed his eyes shut, almost letting out a growl of frustration. It had been so obvious.. but he'd been so lost in the bolt of hope, hope that he could get out - desperate hope.

He didn't know why.

But they wanted him to escape.

***

Hera switched off the holocom, having docked the Ghost again and left Ahsoka a message. She rose from her chair with a sigh, then turned and left the cockpit. A bounty of worried and generally unhappy thoughts were pressing against every side of her mind, but she did her best to push them away. She had to refuel the Ghost. That was all she wanted to think about right now.

Hera made a beeline for the cargo hold and lifted up a fuel canister with a grunt. Wow, those were heavy, and big. She'd have to make a couple trips - and found herself missing not just Zeb, but Kanan. It hit her with an extra pang - how Kanan would have teased her and laughed before hefting the canister out of her arms and briefly meeting her eyes with a gentle smile.

Hera was barely aware of the tears stinging her eyes. She could almost see him, close to her. She could almost hear his loud, mischievous laugh.

Hera blinked and shook her head, shaking herself out of her daydream. Stop it, Hera. We'll get him back soon. Everything will be okay.

That was just what she told herself. Deep inside her chest, she was screaming. I can't do this again! I could have stopped this from happening! Why did all of this have to happen?

Hera took one step forward and stopped again, bitterly squeezing her eyes shut as tears rolled down her face.

Pull yourself together.

This isn't what Kanan knows you'll do. He knows that you are going to stand up straight, wipe off your tears, and be strong enough for everyone to get through.

Kanan knows I'm not going to give up and break down. He knows I'm going to search for him, and he knows I can do it. I can do this again. I'm strong enough.

Hera lifted her head, familiar determination rising back to glitter in her eyes. Silently, she headed over to the entry ramp, pressed the button, and watched as it slowly began to hiss open. Soft light from outside filtered in, falling across Hera's expression of durasteel.

Nothing was going to knock her down - not even losing someone she loved for the third time, and Kanan for the second.

But even if she did, even though he was gone, Kanan would still always pick her back up.