Book 3 of 3: Our Last Stand (Book 3 of "Family of Rebels")

Chapter 17: I'll Be Back

Caleb's POV

The flames were growing higher as we got closer to the source. Sweat dripped down my face as I sprinted towards the fire. All that time, I was praying Hera escaped and was okay.

We just had one more corner to turn. One last thing stopping me from seeing her.

We turned towards.....

A flaming TIE Fighter.

No sign of rebel ships.

No sign of Hera.

An Imperial trooper was sitting up from a pile of debris when we all made it. I stormed over to him and grabbed him, lifting him off of the ground. "Where's Hera?" I growled, not even trying to hold in my anger.

A muffled laugh came from under his helmet. "You're too late, Jedi. They already have her."

I twisted his collar even tighter, causing him to choke. "Where?"

"Cal-- Kanan," Ezra said, "he's not worth it."

In their minds, his death would be meaningless and unnecessary. But, to me, maybe a little bit of pain would get him to realize how important his next answer would be to his life. "Where is she?!"

The pilot struggled, but eventually said, "I-i-i-in the c-c-cap-pit-t-t-tal....." He ran out of breath. I felt his life die away.

I had killed him.

I dropped him in front of me. I kept a stone face as I turned around and walked past the Ghost crew. I didn't feel bad about it. I didn't care if one life was in exchange for Hera's life. As long as there was a chance of finding her, I would do anything to get her back.

I didn't hear any footsteps behind me, so I turned around. They were all still as a statue, not moving, not even blinking. But, their gazes locked onto me. "Come on."

Nothing. Not a single person moved an inch. "Let's go!" I yelled.

Everyone jumped. Slowly, but surely, they started following.

Ezra quickly ran up to me and whispered, "Caleb, what the heck is wrong with you?"

I sternly whispered back to him, "Can't you see I'm trying to get Hera back to us?"

"She wouldn't want you to do it this way. Killing a pilot? She wouldn't want anyone to die for her--"

"You don't know that!" I yelled at him. "You don't know what is best for her."

"Neither do you!"

That sent me over the edge. I raised the back of my hand....

An slapped him square across the cheek.

"Ezra!" the rest of them cried out. Sarah came running to Ezra. I looked down at him. His cheek was red, and his scar from fighting the Grand Inquisitor was bleeding.

Sarah looked up at me with her laser eyes beaming through my soul. "Ca--Kanan, you need to calm down!"

My expression didn't change. "I said we need to go. Now."

I turned back around and started to walk again. Someone grabbed my arm and kept me in place. I glanced back to see it was Sarah. "Kanan, please. You're getting out of--"

I raised my fist to punch her in the cheek, too. She raised her hand and Forced my hand in mid-air. I was flung in the air and dropped. I landed hard on the ground, stumbling to get back up.

Sarah walked up to me. "Kanan Jarrus!!" she yelled, but through the Force, she yelled, Caleb Dume!!!!! The volume of her yell in my mind made me wince. "Snap out of it! The only way we can save Hera from the Empire is to keep our heads. We do rescue missions all the time. There is nothing different from this one."