Chasing Your Shadow (a sequel to Ezra Lost)

Chapter 13

Ah, I'm sorry I've been gone so long!! I'll try to stay active. Remember everything I've written so far is on fanfiction.net, too, so if you don't want to wait a second longer, you can go there to read these stories!

I think my creativity and inspiration for writing this story after the chapters beyond this is finally coming back. :'D Honestly, my own disappointment with this story is what led my inspiration for it to die out. It's not what I hoped it would be by a long shot. But I've taken a more hopeful and determined attitude on the future of my work. If something I've already worked on isn't to my liking, I shouldn't just avoid it or give up on it, let it bug me until I am seized with writer's block. I need to take it for what it is, and promise myself and ensure that the rest of the work will be way better than what came before it, for I have improved and am always improving!! ^u^

Enjoy!!

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13

THE SEVENTH Sister stared intently at the security feeds through the front of her helmet, watching as the Jedi ran from hall to hall. He seemed to be heading to the closest docking bay aboard as had been theorized.

The inquisitor leaned back in her chair with an irritated sigh. "Remind me again what the point of this is, your greatness. With all due respect, this all appears without one to me."

The Pau'an that loomed behind her did not take his golden eyes off of the screens. They glowed through the darkness of the room, emotionless, calculating. "Do not fear, Sister. I have long planned out this Jedi's every movement, every action, and those of his... persistent rebel cell. There is no room for error in this plan, and thus there is none."

The Seventh Sister internally rolled her eyes. "It seems that you are allowing the Jedi to escape. Considering as he is the leader of his cell, would it not be wiser for me to continue playing with him and then eventually slit his throat? Once he is dead, I will have gathered all the information there is to be had from his brain, and his persistent little friends will fall apart. He'd be an excellent example, especially considering your previous-"

The Seventh Sister gagged as an invisible iron grip abruptly cut her off. She clutched at her throat, struggling vainly to free herself from something that was not truly there.

"Remember your place, Sister," the Grand Inquisitor said flatly, still watching the tiny figure that was Kanan dart from feed to feed. "And your dispensability."

The Seventh Sister slumped forward against the control board, gasping raggedly and shaking as air flowed into her lungs again. With a flick of his hand, the Inquisitor threw her back into her chair so she wouldn't disturb the controls.

His red-rimmed gaze intensified only further as he continued to regard Kanan Jarrus' every move, the Seventh Sister's efforts to regain her breath falling deaf on his hypersensitive, cap-protected ears.

"This is all one part of a series of interlinked stratagems that you could never hope to understand and are forbidden to hear."

The Inquisitor's face was devoid of any feeling, just as it always was. There would be know way to know what horrible things he had devised within his mind.

"Your only duty is to follow my orders and ensure that it occurs perfectly... and watch as it does."

:::

It didn't matter.

It was glaringly obvious that the Imperials were planning something much bigger than him. Kanan was simply one of their very many chesspieces, a holographic monster in a round of Dejarik, his movements ever so carefully controlled by a touch of the Grand Inquisitor's finger.

No doubt, Kanan was even being watched. Surely there were cameras everywhere, following him like the hidden eyes of the Emperor. They were scattered throughout the galaxy, hidden in every crack, crevice, alleyway, and bar. Not even Zaluna wouldn't have been able to shield him from their gaze today.

Zaluna. Kanan was glad she wasn't a part of this sick game anymore.

Kanan sprinted down hall after all. He skidded around corners, raced across immense, empty rooms, and rode up and down maddeningly slow lifts, which were even creepier without the background music. Star Destroyers - he was surely aboard one - were huge, but they were all the same. Finding his way to a docking bay inside of one was a simple matter of memory and hope.

Hope seemed pretty useless right about now, but it was all Kanan had left, aside from the unflattering orange clothes on his back. He had to get out of here, no matter what awful things the inquisitors had in mind. And whatever they thought, they couldn't predict everything Kanan did. That was surely impossible. He would find a way back to his friends. He would find a way, regardless of what was put in his. And no inquisitor would ever see that coming.

The latest lift Kanan had taken finally went still and its doors hissed open. Kanan, his face a mask of cold determination, jumped out into the open - and his eyes were greeted by a sight he had never, ever, EVER found to be so beautiful.

Lo and behold, before him was a docking bay - filled with an entire fleet of glorious, glorious TIE fighters.

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