Rebel Scum

Chapter 5 - Broken Thoughts

I want so badly to stay with them. I know I'll miss Hera's motherly concern, Kanan's fatherly teaching, Sabine, who's become like a sister. I think I'll even miss Zeb who's still a pain, but also my friend. Chopper too. And Ezra, my best friend, who has problems with me, but I mean, come on, every friendship has its problems, right? But my home is Aris, and even though the easy thing to do seems to be staying with the crew of the Ghost, I don't want to get in the way of Ezra's training. The Jedi are supposed to bring peace and I enjoy my belief that's exactly what Ezra will do...

"You are aware by leaving, I won't be able to teach you anymore," Kanan says, staring at me with his stern fatherly glare.

I nod and smile slightly, "Whatever happens after this, thank you for being kind to me, giving me a family, even if it was only for a few days."

Hera sighs and we exit hyperspace, my heart beats with both excitement and sadness as my eyes see the familiar sight of Aris. Looking small from all the way up here. We get closer and the silence among the crew grows, which hopefully means they'll miss me too. We enter the atmosphere with relative ease. Just a back way into the planet, then we land, each of them following me outside. I walk down the ramp and onto the soft dirt and grass. The fresh air fills my lungs and I can't help but feel relieved.

I turn around at look at the people who stole my heart so easily. "I'm going to miss all of you. Please don't forget about me."

"I don't think we'll ever forget you, Soren," Hera says, speaking for everyone.

I smile and nod, I look at Ezra and he looks away. With a final nod and fake smile I turn around and start walking towards the town.

Everything is the way I left it, but something feels darker. The people are going about their business, but there's a tension on each of them. It keeps me on edge. But the wall crumbles a bit as I reach my home, the security that comes with the sight of it lifts my heart a bit. I unlock the door and it slides open, walking in I look over everything I left behind. When suddenly I hear a commotion, I run outside to find a Walker coming down the street, not bothering to get out of the way of people's carts and stands. It leaves a disaster in its wake. I have a sinking feeling I know what it's here for.

In an effort to get away I run the opposite direction from it. That's when it opens fire, the ground rumbles beneath me but none of the shots got close enough to throw me off my feet. But the cascade of blaster fire I'm under from the Stormtroopers is enough to get me worried. I shoot at them but only manage to get one before one of them lands a stun blast on me and my body falls to the ground and I knock out.

––––––––––––––––

Hera turns off the transmitter, shaking her head. Chopper beeps and groans. "Yes Chop, I know..." she says indignantly.

"Last time we went after a mischief maker we nearly got caught," he continues.

"Calm down, Chopper. We have to go after her."

"It wasn't our fault they got her."

"You may be right, but it was our fault she was dragged into the crossfire. And we can't leave her there."

"They'll let her go eventually. But by doing this we will doom her to a life of running from the Empire."

She says nothing, she stands up from her seat at the cockpit and calls everyone to join her. As the crew spills in she begins to explain, "We have a choice. Soren's been captured by the Empire. We can either do nothing, or attempt a rescue." Ezra opens his mouth but Hera interrupts, "Before anyone says anything, I need to say some things. Chopper has brought to my attention that if we rescue her, she will be running from the Empire for the rest of her life. We either do nothing and let them release her in time or rescue her and quite possibly ruin her life."