4 | Haunting Past

Unexpected

The reached the medic bay with the young kids and babies from Lothal and the other places Thrawn had sacked.

"Nuka!" Maluna's eyes lit up and she ran over to her baby, after scanning the beds for a moment. He was peacefully sleeping on a smaller version of a medic bed. "Come on we're leaving, buddy." She smiled and picked him up, he didn't stir. "What's wrong with him?!" She then accused Ezra with a glare.

"It's just some sedatives, they'll wear off soon and you can't leave yet. I have to get this under control somehow." He said, nervously looking around at a bunch of other children laying in the medic beds, a whole populations worth.

"No we're leaving I didn't ask for this." She snapped and started walking away.

"YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS?!" He roared suddenly filled with rage, pulling out his lightsaber and taking a step towards her. "I DIDN'T ASK TO BE A PUPPET TO SOME EXPERIMENT BY THE EMPIRE! I DIDN'T ASK TO BE FORCED TO KILL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE! I DIDN'T ASK FOR MY LIFE TO BE TAKEN AWAY!" Maluna had lost all form of her prior confidence and shrank into the wall. "NOW YOU ARE GOING TO STAY HERE AND NOT LEAVE BECAUSE I WON'T REGRET KILLING YOU." He finished, taking a breath. Then he turned and began to walk out of the room, red lightsaber still blaring.

Slamming the door with the force, he locked them in running down the hallway as fast as he could. Surprising himself he let out a sob, suddenly coming to a stop, leaning against the wall. He was losing the anger again and falling victim to overwhelming sadness and reality of his current situation. What am I going to do? He thought with desperation, sinking down to the floor.

"I didn't ask for this." He said in a voice barely audible. "What am I going to do?" He leaned his head against the wall and sat there for a moment lost in his own thought. Suddenly someone across the hallway from him spoke. The voice sounded all too familiar and refreshing.

"I'll tell you what you are going to do." Ahsoka said and walked up in front of him, so he had to look directly up to turn to the sound of her voice. "You are going to tell me what the force is going on."

"Oh hey, Ahsoka. I haven't seen you in a while, how's the husband?" Ezra asked, voice cracking from the sobs he was trying to hold back.

"Stop trying to make small talk. You know I don't have a husband. You need to tell me what is going on. The last thing I remember was going for a stroll around the base and being knocked out, now I'm in some imperial base with you crying outside whatever room I was just in." Ahsoka sassed.

"Don't get snippy with me." Ezra sassed back.

"Please just explain." Ahsoka said after a moment, clearly confused.

"It's hard to explain."

"Try me."

"There is no try."

"Then just do it."

"Fine ok so basically Thrawn put a chip in everyone's neck, from you to Sabine to everyone at our base on Lah'mu. Vader came and took Thrawn, Chopper and Cartre."

"Who's Cartre?" Ahsoka interrupted.

"Your husband."

She glared at him.

"I'm kidding. He's no one of importance. So Vader took Thrawn away leaving me with a bunch of mind controlled zombies so I decided to turn off the chip control and now no one seems to remember anything after they got there chip put in."

"That could be a problem." Ahsoka observed.

"You think?"

"Do you have a plan?"

"Would I be sitting here if I did?"

"Probably not." She replied and looked down at her hands. "Hey Ezra can I ask you something before we figure out a way to deal with all of this."

"Sure."

"Did I hurt anyone in the time that I don't remember?" She asked, suddenly a bit frightened.

Ezra honestly didn't know, he didn't see her much when they were dark. He trained with her on occasion so as far as he knew he never saw her kill anyone. "I don't know." He answered, not feeling up to lying right then or calming anyone's nerves. "But that was the past you can't change it just look forward."

She seemed to stand there for a moment puzzling the conundrum of his words and then she to finally push past the initial shock that she probably did kill for the Empire. "Well you're right that's in the past, now we need yet another plan."

"I don't-" Ezra started, but was cut off when Eights ran into the room.

"Ezra! Orange lady?" He addressed them as he came in.

"It's Ahsoka."

Eights nodded and engulfed Ezra in a hug. "How are you doing, I haven't seen you in what three years."

"You are lacking common sense, Eights." Ezra responded, feeling a bit awkward as he patted Eights on the back.

"Forgive me I was just so worried everyone seems to be so confused, even the ones in Imperial uniform." Eights responded. "Wait are you blind? Are you confused?"

"Yes and I know what's going on, it's partially my fault as well."

"Either way I hope you have a plan because people are trying to break out, there is panic everywhere, I even saw a group fighting over food." Eights said, looking up at him. "So..."

"Ahsoka?" Ezra faced her, looking desperate.

"Time for Ahsoka to save the day again." She muttered. "Ezra use your brain, you need to calm these people down." She noticed a deranged look in his eyes. "And not by power or fear, but by comfort. Come on take us to the command room, it's bound to have a PDA system."

"What's your plan?" Ezra asked and began to lead the way out of the room and down the hallway.

"You are going too what you do best." She answered, sensing his confusion she continued. "Give an inspiring speech."