Special recognition to skywalker05 for lending me the idea of "Vader could be Ezra's father".

Disclaimer: Neocolai does not own Star Wars: Rebels or anything related to the series.

- Three weeks after Never Alone.

Mission Objective: Retrieve Ezra's Lightsaber

Conducted by: Captain Hera

Overlooked by: Exasperated Kanan

Manned by: Imperious Zeb (and sidekick Sabine)

Kept Ignorant from: Oblivious Ezra

Thanks to: Vexing Chopper

Status: Arrived at Target's Location

"Spectre Two to Spectre Five: are you in position?"

"This is Spectre Five. I'm ready to go."

"Hera, what are you doing?"

Hera groaned and slapped her forehead. "Kanan, would you turn down the volume? … You're not even supposed to be on the same channel," she mumbled.

"Where is the Phantom?"

"Uh, not attached to the Ghost?" Sabine said chirpily.

"Get back over here right now."

"No can do." Hera waved to Zeb before slipping into the abandoned base. Karabast, it was hot in here.

"Didn't we talk about communicating? What, you couldn't even tell me you were taking the ship?"

"We'll let you know when we're ready for pickup," Hera assured him.

"I don't even know what planet you're on!"

"That's exactly the point," Sabine said contritely. Hera heard three blaster shots over the com. "Wow, they even keep storm troopers here now."

"What storm troopers? Where are you?"

"Nowhere of consequence," Hera said, blasting two more troopers before they could spot Zeb. "Spectre Four, have you sighted the target?"

"If this blasted smog would let up," Zeb grumbled.

"What smog? Hera?"

"Nothing!" Hera slid past a droid and calmly sniped it, watching the remains sizzle in the pool below. "Egh, that looks a little morbid."

"Hera, you're not talking to me!"

"Found it!" came Sabine's voice over the com. "It was in a drawer right where they kept him."

"Kept who? What is going on?"

"Never mind – we'll explain when we get back. Try not to grind your teeth, love."

"I'm not – are you on Mustafar?"

"And, that's the signal," Hera muttered, switching off the com. "Come on, Zeb. Let's get off this ash heap before a real problem finds us."

"So the lava isn't danger enough?" Zeb griped, flicking embers off his fur.

Sabine jogged towards them, target in hand. "Let's just be glad no one has to come here again."

"I'll be happy if I can get the smell out of my fur!"

"At least you don't have to explain to Ezra why Chopper locked him in the 'fresher all morning."

"Really, Sabine?" Hera flung her head back and sighed. "You owe him more than a lightsaber after this."

"I promise I'll find him another kyber crystal – oh, wait – got one from the hundreds of spares Vader kept below. It's like he's a hoarder of Jedi artifacts or something."

"Well, this is the only one we wanted," Hera said.

Sabine nodded in satisfaction, pulling the red crystal from the compartment and replacing it with a lopsided blue. "Think it'll work?"

"Don't try it," Zeb warned frantically. "I'm not losing my head right after a successful mission."

"Zeb's right; back to the Phantom," Hera ordered. "You're both lucky you don't have to explain this to Kanan."

"Mustafar? Hera, do you have any idea –"

"Shh! Just look how happy he is!" Hera pressed her hand against Kanan's mouth, beaming as she watched Ezra examine his lost saber.

Nostalgically Ezra turned over the handle, fingers remembering the scratches and grooves, the worn trigger, the knob to extend the blade. Hesitating, he set it down.

"Thanks, everyone. I'll have to find a crystal next time we visit the temple."

"Already has one," Sabine said proudly.

Ezra faltered and glanced at Kanan. Taking a shuddering breath, he flicked on the blade. Sheer blue illuminated his wonder. Waving the lightsaber experimentally, Ezra gushed, "You fixed it!"

"As opposed to…" Kanan muttered to Hera with concern.

"Later, love," she whispered.

"Does that mean training will get interesting again?" Zeb yawned. "I'm getting tired of this 'force' nonsense. All you two do is sit around all day."

Sitting around, yes. Purging the force. Renewing their focus after the ordeal with the dark side. Healing a tainted bond. Kanan looked at Ezra and raised both eyebrows.

You ready?

Gripping his saber confidently, Ezra nodded.

"Yeah, Zeb," Kanan announced. "Training is about to get a lot more interesting."