Ghosts

Chapter Thirteen: Aftermath

Ezra felt a despicable sense of deja-vu as he once again sat in the hallway, watching the metal door across from him and waiting for Kara to come out. This time, however, it was not an all-clear from a doctor that kept Ezra from entering; rather, it was Kara who had put in a request to deny all visitors exlcuding Krell, who had briefly visited her to congratulate her on her plan's success. Medics and droids had been in periodically to check on her, though none of them would give Ezra any updates (he bet that was Kara, too).

As he watched the door, his mind drifted back to the tank, the images of Kara's body floating in the bacta fluid, the scars that ran across her back. Ezra gave an involuntary shudder, pulling his knees to his chest. The cold he had felt when he'd reached out for Kara had set in his bones. How did Kara manage to conceal so much pain around them for so long? How had he never noticed?

"Still nothing?"

Ezra was surprised to hear Kanan's voice, and when he glanced up, his Master was standing above him, hands tucked into his pockets.

"She won't let me inside." Ezra shrugged, looking back at the door. "And the medics aren't allowed to tell me anything. I just have to wait till she's ready to see me, I guess."

"I figured as much." Kanan was silent for a moment, before he spoke gently. "Ezra, don't blame yourself for not knowing."

"How can I not?" Ezra scoffed, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I know her better than anyone. I should have noticed, or sensed it, and I could've helped her."

"She made it clear she didn't ever want you to know." Kanan reminded him. "She seems like she wants to be done with that part of her life. To help her would be to reopen old wounds." Ezra didn't respond, letting the words sink in, and Kanan continued. "The best thing you could do to help her is give her the space she needs. Things will return to normal that way."

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Ezra nodded, and he let Kanan help him up from where he sat. As he stretched his aching joints, it occurred to Ezra that this was the first time he and Kanan had had a normal conversation in weeks. "Hey Kanan....thanks."

Kanan smiled, clapping a hand on Ezra's shoulder, before his face grew more serious. "There was something else I wanted to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

"Something about this attack doesn't sit right with me." Kanan's brow furrowed. "Why now? We secured Kashyyyk months ago, and the Empire would've retaliated immediately if they saw any strategic value in keeping a grip on it. And out of the blue, they managed to infiltrate and take out Tritus before any alarms are sounded."

"What are you saying?" Ezra asked warily, unsure of what his Master was thinking.

"I'm saying the only way they could've pulled that off is if they had someone on the inside to help them." Kanan looked back at Ezra. "I'm saying that there's an Imperial spy in the Rebellion."

"You can't be serious." Ezra glanced over his shoulder, checking to see if anyone had heard, but the other hallgoers were oblivious to their conversation. "Who would betray us like that?" He asked, turning back to Kanan, and immediately the feeling of normalcy he'd felt mere minutes ago faded away. "Are you kidding me? You really think Kara is behind this?" Ezra snapped, his hands balling into fists.

"I didn't say that!" Kanan responded, but Ezra could see the accusation in Kanan's eyes. "I'm saying there's a possibilty it could be her. It could be anyone close to us!"

"But you don't care about it being 'anyone.'" Ezra spat. "You want it to be Kara. Even after she was attacked and poisoned. Even after she saved the outpost! You're unbelieveable." He pushed past Kanan, walking down the hallway and leaving his Master behind. Kanan didn't say a word.