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Bonus Chapter: Calm Before the Storm

TIME. IT could blow away like autumn leaves in the frigid wind, or it could crawl by so that a mere second seemed to stretch into eternity.

Kanan Jarrus lay wide awake in bed, staring at the bottom of the uninhabited top bunk.

The journey had been and was so long and hard. It had stretched each and every member of the crew to the breaking point. There had been little time to rest at all. The only thing that mattered was getting Ezra Bridger back.

But when the moment came when Kanan could finally lay down and shut his eyes, sleep just would not come to him. His head was full of anticipation. Hope.

Fear.

Kanan had learned well that the Force was stronger than fear could ever be. But at the moment, Kanan could feel only the fear, and it was spreading throughout his entire being.

Ezra. They could be getting him back at last. They could be whole again.

Or the frigid void that the boy had left behind might never be filled.

Kanan breathed a shaky sigh and rolled over. The wall was hardly a change of scenery.

***

Sabine sat up in the turret, alone. She held herself slightly as she stared up at the endless expanse of stars and blackness.

Her head was filled with thoughts of Ezra.

Ezra had always tried to flirt with her, from the moment she had first removed her helmet in front of him. That had been so long ago, and yet she could still recall it as easily as though it had been yesterday. Sabine wished desperately that everything could just go back to those times, when everyone had been okay and life was just fine.

Now, everything was falling apart. Her birth family, she'd lost to the Empire. In some ways, this entire crew was her second chance at being part of a family, and now it felt like she was losing them all over again. She had always turned down Ezra's constant attempts to woo her with a simple, sarcastic roll of her eyes, treated him like he was nothing more than an annoying younger brother. She'd always tried to shut out the fact that she might actually return his affections. A boy like Ezra, an Imperial cadet, had betrayed her family's secret balefulness towards the Empire. She knew that Ezra wasn't with the Empire, of course... but she just found it hard to open herself up and love again.

Now she was wishing that she had let him in while she'd had the chance, because his absence had left an aching hole in her heart, and she could not help but feel that that hole would remain.. for eternity.

Hera Syndulla was sitting at the Dejarik table, repeatedly taking long sips from a cup of caffeinated drink. She couldn't sleep and didn't want her lack of energy to slow down her thought processes. She had to think over what they would do over the next couple of days long and hard. She wanted to study every variable with unwavering attention, consider every possible outcome of every move. This entire journey was a game of Dejarik, and it was one that she could not - and would not - lose. There was too much at stake. They all loved Ezra, and he was a son to Hera. She was going to get him back no matter what was thrown in her way. Star Destroyers; Sith Lords, and the vast entirety of the Empire's army - she would take them all on alone, if it would return Ezra to the safety of home.

But Dejarik was not Sabacc. Hera was not going to make any gambles. Each and every option that lead to any possible or probable future option had to be scrutinized, because one tiny slipup could cost them the permanent loss of Ezra Bridger.

***

Zeb was sitting on his bed. It was rather empty in there without Ezra snoring lightly in the top bunk, or bickering with him, or pulling some sort of prank, or... or snarking, at least.

The giant Lasat stared at the floor, his brow creased. He and Ezra did argue and mess with each other all the time. But that was how they had fun. They were simply the oddest big brother-younger brother combo this side of the galaxy.

And Zeb missed that. No matter how many times he'd said to himself, "Well, good riddance to the little Lothrat; now he can't put rocks in my bed" or "So long, twerp; now I tear all your bright, teenagery posters off my walls", he'd never meant it. He was only trying to grapple with the fact that that little brother figure might never be coming back.

Zeb sighed and glanced over at one of those teenagery posters. It was advertising one of the worst bands he'd ever heard. (For all he knew, they were okay, but all the band members wore obnoxious neon-colored clothing, and Ezra had sounded like a chorus of female Lothcats in heat the day Zeb had heard him sing one of those heavy-metal songs. The memory still made Zeb shudder.)

Welll... I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a FEW of them down.

***

Kanan flinched and sat bolt upright as the door to his bedroom suddenly popped open.

He stared into the darkness. He'd been awake for so long that he could see decently.

The intruder was, of all possible intruders, Chopper.

Kanan gazed at Chopper with wide, astonished eyes as the battered old Astromech rolled across the floor to gently bump into the side of his bed.

"Chopper?" he whispered, more curious than annoyed. "What's gotten into you?"

Chopper's orange dome spun around as he buzzed at Kanan quietly.

Kanan's eyebrows creased. He couldn't help but be surprised. "Really?"

Chopper jabbed his electrified probe at him, squawking irritably. "WRR-WRR-WRR!"

Kanan quickly grabbed his pillow and held it between him and the electricity like a shield. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It's just that, you know - you're always so grumpy, and especially towards Ezra. I wouldn't have expected you to mind he's gone. N-NO OFFENSE!" he yelped as Chopper shook his mechanical arms threateningly and poked Kanan's pillow shield with the probe.

Chopper buzzed again, slowly withdrawing his probe with a click.

Kanan gingerly set his slightly singed pillow shield on his lap and patted Chopper on the head. "It's okay, Chop. We'll get him back by the day after tomorrow."

The droid spat out a bunch of harsh beeps.

Kanan grimaced. "Yeah... yeah, I know," he muttered heavily. "I can't promise that for sure. And I can't tell you how much I wish I could."

Chopper turned around and scooted back over to the door. Kanan was staring glumly at the ground, not paying attention to the grouchy Astromech anymore. Chopper had come seeking comfort, and Kanan couldn't tell if he had given any real consolation. The only thing he really knew for sure was that Chopper had made him feel a lot worse, even though everything the droid had said was absolutely true.

Kanan heard Chopper pause.

He lifted his head in shock as Chopper uttered a few final, nearly inaudible stuttering beeps.

Kanan stared at the closed door and vacant space where the old Astromech had just been.

He shook his head wonderingly, and a ghost of a smile appeared on his weary face.

But we can still hold on to hope.

***

*Note: I know that bit with some Sabine backstory isn't true. Forgive me for that, I much of this story was written before Season 2 came out. -.- Hope you liked it anyway!!

**Double Note: And I know you're all mad this wasn't from Ezra's POV, but if I did another chapter from his POV  it would be SPOILERSSSSS!!!