Vulnerable to the Force [Star Wars Rebels]{Wattys 2015}

Into the Fray

The Inquisitor was pacing in a room of The Spire. Ezra was there, but not in his true form. Ezra's true form was always fighting for control over himself. It's been so long since Ezra had last seen his master--about a week and a half, which felt like an eternity. The evil Ezra was in control and who knows what could happen with that state of himself in control. Come on Ezra! Look at what you've done...you need to wake up. You've been in this prison for a week now, and look at what has happened! You hurt your master! You hurt Sabine..., he thought to himself.

"Ezra, my dear boy, we must move. The rebels know where you are," the Inquisitor spoke. "Any suggestions?"
"Draethos, possibly," Ezra suggested.

His true state was shouting and screaming for him to not say "Draethos". That planet would be a death sentence, not only for him, but for any rescuers.

"Alright, Draethos it is," the Inquisitor agreed, then he turned to a much darker tone. "However, if the rebels return to 'save' you, you better not screw up your chance to kill one of them. If you do, I will kill you. I will torture you to death, just like your parents. Your parents will die of injuries."

Ezra's true state reappeared.

"No! How could you?" Ezra angrily shouted.

The Inquisitor turned around as his golden pupils flashed with wrath. He used the force to hoist Ezra into the air and choke him.

"You will not survive if this continues to happen! I suppose the rewiring of your brain didn't help. I guess I must reinforce what I have taught you, Ezra Bridger!" the Inquisitor hastily spat.

Ezra was slammed to the ground and the Inquisitor pulled out his lightsaber. This time, he would not graze Ezra with his lightsaber, he would burn him. He would blast him to make him suffer--to make him fear.

****

"How could you forget?" Sabine asked as she stood up.
"We couldn't help it...it was eight years since we last saw him!" Mira defended herself.
"Yea, but to forget your one and only child! That's terrible!" Sabine shouted.
"Sabine, calm down!" Kanan ordered.
"No! I don't see how you could forget Ezra! He's unforgettable!" Sabine yelled.
"Sabine, what's wrong with you? You've been acting strange ever since the day Ezra was taken," Hera said.

Sabine stood in the center of the room, quite embarrassed. She was, in fact, asking herself that exact same question. Kanan's eyebrow rised, because he knew what was up with her.

"Sabine, step outside with me," Kanan said as Sabine and he walked out into the hallway, as the doors closed.
"What?" Sabine agitatedly asked.
"You like Ezra," Kanan smirked in reply.
"What? That's ridiculous!" Sabine said. "He's a great team mate, but...me and him? No way!"
"Come on, stop trying to hide it! There's no way you don't like him! I know love when I see it," Kanan said.
"Is it because of you and Hera?" Sabine asked.
"No...," Kanan said. "We're just friends and we intend to keep it that way. If we got together and broke up...things...things would be different and this crew wouldn't operate the same."
"Mm-hm...," Sabine sounded as she smirked. "Well, you can keep saying that, but I've got news for you, Kanan. We both have crushes, and there's no way we can deny it."

****

"Tell Agent Kallus to bring me a ship to Draethos immediately," the Inquisitor ordered. "Bring Bridger back to his cell and make sure he stays there."

The Inquisitor left the office room and Ezra, who was lying still on the floor. Loyalty was an important factor to the Empire, and if Ezra wasn't loyal, then he'd be killed for sure. He knew better than anyone else, that the Empire isn't afraid to kill...

****

Sabine and Kanan returned to the room where Ephraim and Mira were still talking to Hera.

"Well...all we remember is how playful and curious Ezra was. We couldn't have asked for a better kid," Ephraim said.
"Chopper, do you have a picture of Ezra you can project?" Hera asked.