Ghosts

Chapter Ten: Harnessing Strength

It had been a week since Kara had stormed out of the interrogation room. It had also been a week since Ezra had spoken more than three or four words at a time to Kanan.

The days had dragged by with meeting after meeting, filled discussing new Imperial tactics, responding to distress signals from Outer Rim planets, and discussing new hyperspace routes for ships to use to avoid the Empire's fleet, which seemed to have taken over the routes they'd believed to be secret. Ezra felt his presence was useless, as it was those who held rank in the Rebellion who got to control the conversation. There weren't even assignments made, just constant conversation about hypothetical plans and missions. Still, everyday at 0900, he dragged himself out of bed and onto the command ship and sat through hours of talk, and more talk, and even more talk, until finally, a mission was assigned.

Kanan and Sabine were going to Concord Dawn.

Normally, Ezra would be frustrated to not be picked for a mission like that. They were infiltrating a Mandalorian base where the Protectors lived to try and convince them to allow the Rebels safe passage through in. Initially, Hera had suggested taking Phoenix Sqaudron to negotiate, but Sato favored Kanan and Sabine's infiltration plan. But, with his master gone for who knows how long, Ezra could finally let down the stony expression he'd reserved just for Kanan and relax, and seek Kara out.

With all the meetings and little breaks, Ezra had hardly seen her since the day of the interrogation, when he'd stood quietly next to her and watched the stars through the window of the ship. Since then, she'd made herself scarce, never attending meetings, but her name always came up—Stone recently acquired intel on a Rebel cell on Jakku, Stone and Captain Rex have made progress on Geonosis, Stone has successfully made contact with our spy on Montross—and it always called Ezra out of his daydreams, making him realize just how much he missed her company.

The meeting quickly concluded. Before Ezra could make a dash for the door as non-chalantly as possible, Kanan materialized in front of him.

"While I'm gone, I want you to brush up on lightsaber forms." Ezra met his more hopeful stare with a blank one. "Just because these meetings have taken up training time doesn't mean you don't need to practice."

"I'll keep that in mind." Ezra muttered, sidestepping around his master and beelining for the door.

Kanan watched him go, a sad expression on his face as his Padawan disappeared behind the closing doors. He felt a presence beside him, and he didn't need to look to know it was Ahsoka.

"He'll come around." She murmured, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "Give him time."

"I'm trying." Kanan sighed. "But he grows more distant with every passing day."

"This will pass." Ahsoka reassured, but as Kanan and Sabine departed for Concord Dawn, he couldn't help feel more doubtful than ever.

———

Ezra felt like he had scoured the enitre ship, checking every nook and cranny for Kara, only for his efforts to be fruitless. She wasn't on her ship, nor was she on the observation deck watching the stars. He had all but given up hope on finding her, walking down a random hallway on the Liberator, when he felt it.

It was the familiar pull he'd felt around Kara when they first met, settling around him. Back then, he hadn't understood, but now, knowing that Kara was a Jedi too, he knew what it was: her Force signature.

That meant she was nearby.

Ezra hurried down the hall, the pull becoming stronger with each step. He finally reached the end of a hallway, where a door stood pristine, as if it had just been cleaned. The door marker simply said 'Storage,' but when the door slid open, he knew the marker wasn't very accurate.