Hey everyone!

This chapter has been long overdue, and hopefully, it's turned out to be worth the wait! I am super sorry for the long wait, like I've said before I've been through a rough patch with family and I'm currently in full time work which has sapped all my energy and time. But I've really tried to write the best chapter possible, and I just hope it lives up to what you all expect. Thank you for your never-ending support, it means so much to me that you want to read my stories! Thank you so much, and may the force be with you, always!

-Superherotiger

…

Tiger Talks

Guest- Still beating? *Glances through new chapter* Hm… might want to get back to me on that one ha!

Sakura245- Yay! Glad you like it! And yeah things are getting quite intense!

Cynder81- Yes, unstable, emotional Ezra is definitely not someone you want to fight with!

Starloverrebel- Poor Rocky was taken too soon :(

Jedi Jelsa777- Guess you'll have to find out! :D

Fantasyluver27- Sorry for the wait! Had a lot of writer's block with this one!

Killerkitty641- Glad you liked it! I always enjoy surprising you all!

Guest- Thank you!

Some-Helping-Hands-Of-Fire- #RIPRocky. And also! That analysis was like spot on my friend! Damn it's always so much fun reading your reviews!

Midnight Luna- XD Don't worry, I get what you mean. I miss Rocky too! :(

Mpathy- Mood

Guest- Aw, thanks!

Guest- Here we are!

Sukila- Wait till you read this chapter!

Julien Caeg- No need to apologise my friend! Rocky was just a character I made up for the sake of this story, so you don't need to know any backstory about him before reading. I'm glad the chapter kept you in suspense and I hope you enjoy this chapter too!

Fangirl1108- You're too sweet!

FrozenMind- Don't worry, I promise I'll finish this story! (Even if it takes a little while between breaks!)

Raven- Guess you'll have to wait and see! ;D

Hope- Oh my gosh Hope, that's one of the nicest reviews I've ever read. Honestly, it made my day just reading it! Thank you so much, I'm honoured that you enjoy my writing that much. I hope you enjoy this chapter and that it can make up for the seriously long wait! Again, thank you for your kind words!

PetaZedrok- Blackberry is out for revenge!

Tauriel Skywalker- He is a pretty good brother eh?

Chapter 14: Attack

Ezra's POV

"Ezra wait-!"

Two vibrant beams of blue clashed in a vicious swing.

The sizzle of the blades as they locked together was rhythmic to the ear as my piercing blue eyes remained transfixed on the man opposing me. He was startled, I could see it in his eyes. It was lucky he'd managed to pull his lightsabre out in time but I could tell he was paralysed in fear, sweat forming on his forehead.

"Ezra," he grunted, his face twisted with guilt. "D-Don't do this…"

"Too late," I snarled icily, before pulling my blade back and stabbing it forward.

The man managed to swerve away just in time, stumbling away as my sword was driven into the control panel, causing sparks and flashes to spit uncontrollably. But the power I gained from the motion only fuelled the fire exploding in my chest as I pulled the handle back and shifted its weight experimentally. There was a sense of familiarity to the blade, and holding it in my grasp I slid into a fighting stance urged on only by an instinct I couldn't explain.

Emptiness had consumed my soul, and with one final glance at Rocky's lifeless form, the cold that had been lurking in the back of my mind finally pounced, engulfing me with hatred.

I bared my teeth and roared, glaring at the Jedi ahead of me.

He was taking a defensive position, but his expression was conflicted. "Ezra," he called warily. "I don't want to fight you!"

Growling, I spat acidly "You should have thought about that before you killed Rocky!"

"Ezr-"

But it was too late for words now as I sprung forward with a mighty battle cry and swung my blade once more. Kanan blocked with ease, but this darkness, this cold I felt all around me gave me strength. Slowly, my power began to equal his as the blades began to waver.

Swiftly, I pulled away and lunged for another strike, which he again defended against. But with each clash of our blades I grew stronger, felt my anger deepen. Eventually the spaces between each swipe was shortened to vicious blows as I pushed all my grief into the blade. Each time the beams connected they flashed and sparked so bright it began to sting my eyes, but the image of Rocky's dying body was engrained much further into my vision.

The blades locking tightly once more, there was a moment where we stood face to face, our gazes transfixed on each other's. His teal eyes were pleading, begging me not to fight, but the fire inside burned stronger than the swords between our faces.

Shoving him away, I spun the blade in my hand before pelting forward with graceful leaps. He was expecting me to aim high, I could tell in the way he had raised his blade. So at the last second I dropped into a slide, kicking out his legs and barely missing his knee with my blade. Spinning around, I growled as the man recovered with a flip, twisting around to face me once more.

"Please! Let's just talk about this Ezra!" he called.

I snarled and deactivated the blade, causing Kanan's eyes to brighten for the slightest moment. But lifting the hilt I pulled the trigger and sent a barrage of electric bolts his way. He swerved the first shot and blocked the other four, but his moment of distraction was enough for me to sprint forward and tackle him to the ground with a ferocious roar. His head slamming against the metal floor I threw a punch and hit him square in the jaw.

I would have recoiled from the throbbing in my knuckles if it weren't for the pain I felt inside.

So I threw another punch at the disorientated male, hoping for the same sense of satisfying justice as the last. But he threw his hands up to protect himself this time, barking "Don't Ezra!"

"Don't call me that!" I snapped, punching him in the stomach instead.

In retaliation Kanan thrusted his hands upward and sent me flying towards the roof, like he had done to Rocky only minutes ago. But with trained precision I twisted mid throw, and instead pushed off the roof with my feet, doing a flip until I landed on the ground in a perfectly balanced stance.

Now the Jedi was struggling, pushing himself to his feet shakily as he wiped away a trail of blood from his lip. "The Empire's trying to make you forget who you are," he sputtered. "Don't let them Ezra!"

"I don't care what you say! I don't care what they say!" I howled in agony and fury, the shimmer of my blade reflecting off my polished Imperial armour. "I'm not Ezra, I am Ridge! Because as Ridge, I can be whoever I want, without of all of you telling me who I should be!"

At that Kanan's expression went blank with shock, his eyes distant.

But I didn't hold back this time, and using the fire in my soul to fuel my motions I pelted forward once more, the blade humming in my grip. He was ready this time too, raising his sabre to defend himself. But the flurry of punches I had landed had winded him and his stance was shaky. He was losing energy as quickly as I was gaining it, my power like a wildfire that couldn't be quenched. Not until Rocky had justice…

When my blade slammed against the Jedi's he stumbled backwards, grunting as I pushed my weight into the clashing swords. He ground his teeth and finally made an attack, swerving my blade to the side before making a quick lunge for my leg.

So he was finally starting to fight back. Good! I wanted it to be a fair fight.

Jumping out of his blade's reach I swung out my foot and kicked him straight in the knee. He buckled for a mere second, which was long enough for me to aim a blow straight for his head. The man ducked a moment before the beam could land and threw a punch right at my side, dragging the air from my lungs as I rushed to counter his attack.

Clumsily, I took a shot with the electric pulses, and despite him being so close he managed to evade each bolt with staggering speed. Before I even had the chance to activate the blade again he had caught my wrist and spun it behind my back, my nerves screaming at the unnatural position my shoulder was being pulled into.

"Enough!" he said sharply. "This has to stop!"

Spitting out a husky growl I shoved my weight backwards, enough to knock him away so I could wriggle out of his strong grip. Once free I jumped aside and reached for my lightsabre, only to find my fingers clawing at empty air.

Gazing up I watched as Kanan stared at me, his expression blank, and in his hands resting the hilts of his and my own lightsabre, neither activated.

I didn't waste time on words though, lunging forward in the moment the blades were still deactivated.

To my surprise he only turned on one - his own -, before clipping mine back onto his belt securely. My fists were balled and at the ready by the time I reached the man, swinging for his stomach as he blocked me with his free hand. I went to attack with my other arm but with a quick shoulder shove he managed to knock me back, stumbling as he scored another punch to my chest.

Struggling to find my footing or my breath I could only pounce forward in a wild, unprepared attack. Kanan veered back to avoid my thrashing hands but took the opportunity to make an attack with his blade, the beam fizzling in the corner of my vision.

But I sidestepped his swing just in time and instead rammed my elbow into his ribs, not even giving him to the chance to recover his breath before grasping onto his sleeve and attempting to drag him to the ground. He was far stronger than me though and shoved me aside, reversing the positions and instead throwing me to the cold floor instead.

My head hit the ground with a startling crack, groaning as spots danced across my already fuzzy vision. The pain that flooded through my brain felt familiar… but I couldn't tell why.

Leaning up I reached for the back of my head but instead recoiled as soon as my fingers touched burning flesh, sending an agonising spike through my skull like a spear. I pulled my hand back to my face and stared in horror at the fresh crimson blood smeared against my fingertips. My old scar! He must have reopened the wound!

My gaze lifted to the man standing above me, glaring at him as his frustration shifted to concern when he noticed the blood on my hand. He reached out, saying nervously "I didn't mean-!"

I smacked his hand away with a cold snarl. "You've got nerve coming here, telling me you care and then destroying everything," I spat.

"Well you're not giving me much choice kid," Kanan replied tersely, his teal eyes still softened by heartache but his face growing stern. "I don't want to fight you."

"Doesn't seem like it," I hissed, crawling backwards from the man craning above me. Bruises across my side throbbed as I shifted but nothing could compare to the blood pounding in my eardrums. My head was ringing like a bell, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the man I had once called my friend. The hatred in my stomach burned away the sense of pain throughout my body, if only for a moment.

"You started this fight!" Kanan spoke defensively. "How else was I supposed to respond?!"

"I started it?! You started it, as soon as you killed Rocky!" I roared.

"I was only trying to protect myself," he replied, guilt welling in his darkened eyes.

"You took him away from me!" I screamed harshly as my vision blurred with unshed tears. "He cared about me, and you killed him!"

"What about us then?!" a voice cried from behind. I glanced over my shoulder warily to see Sabine standing with her pistols drawn, her eyes welling with tears. "We care about you! Does that mean nothing!?"

Growling, I replied "Did you ever really care? How can I trust any of you?!"

"How can you trust the Imperials?" she retorted, her amber eyes pained.

"I don't trust them. I trusted Rocky!" I roared, fixing my gaze back to the stunned Jedi as I snapped "But now he's dead! And it's all your fault!"

"I-I didn't know," he stammered.

My eyes were drawn to the limp body of my friend a few paces beside me, the blood spilling over his once pure armour and dripping onto the metal floor. His skin was so pale, matching the snowy white of his hair as his once playful and lively form lay eerily still, gone forever…

"Rocky was my family…" I chocked out, not even realising the tears that had begun cascading down my cheeks. "He never questioned… n-never doubted… He didn't care who I had been he just cared who I was, now, in this moment…" Tearing my gaze from Rocky's bleeding form, I hissed "Was it so wrong of me to not want to remember…? Was it so wrong to want to be liked for who I am now, and not who I can never be again…?"

To that Sabine and Kanan had no reply, exchanging a solemn glance with each other as realisation seemed to dawn on them.

"You all want me to be something I know I can never be again!" I cried, the tears streaming down my cheeks like waterfalls. "I'm never going to be good enough! I know that!"

"Ez… Ridge," Kanan started, correcting himself cautiously. "We never meant for you to feel that way."

Pressing my arm against my eyes to hide the shame, I whimpered "You all want me to remember… but I can't… so what good am I to you?! I may as well be a stranger…"

"No," a deep voice intervened, glancing up to see Zeb standing beside Sabine with his ears pulled down in sympathy. "We've been through so much together, not just before the accident, but even from the short time you've been recovering. Remember how you crawled into my bed after that nightmare? Or how we made waffles together one morning? You don't need your old memories to hold onto those."

At Zeb's soft words I felt my mind churn with thoughts and emotions, and relished in the warm sensation that accompanied those memories. I had felt safe with Zeb, protected and sheltered, like Rocky had done for me on the Star Destroyer. That sense of security now felt lost in the midst of the death that had shook me to my core. But remembering Zeb, and my time with him, I couldn't help but feel my anger simmer down at his words.

The Lasat's lime green eyes glimmered with hope. "Come with us," he said, his tone optimistically cautious. "It's not too late."

I cast him a doubtful glare, my body drained and beaten but never-the-less dangerously ready for a fight. Whether it was old instinct or this new-found power, I couldn't tell. But the Lasat didn't need me to speak to know how fragile this situation was. He waited patiently, his expression one of understanding, not disappointment. Even Sabine holstered her guns and watched me with an expectant gaze, her eyes shimmering like the vibrant stars of space.

Suddenly I felt my chest constrict, all those blinding feelings of rejection and pain slipping away like sand through my fingertips. And in its place? An emptiness. A cold, sick darkness that festered like a disease throughout my soul and infected my already buzzing mind.

Zeb didn't deserve the heat of my anger. Neither did Sabine. They had been good to me, cared for me, protected me… All those times together I had tried to forget while here on the Star Destroyer rushed back and the fire of my anger dimmed under those memories. I had tried to forget… I had wanted to forget… and yet, I couldn't deny the fact that they had been the best things to happen to me over the short time of my life I had experienced…

I wanted to be mad, be furious and hold onto the power it lent to me in return. But I couldn't. I couldn't keep my grip on that darkness as I stared into their eyes, so forgiving and gentle…

But I also knew I could never live up to the person they once knew. Even now their hopeful gazes were too much to bare. Too much to risk letting down…

"…Leave me..."

The two words struck the room like lightning, rendering everyone speechless.

I gazed at the floor and wrapped my arms around my shivering torso, the cold eating away at my senses like an ice-storm. "Please," I whispered. "Just go…"

"Ezra…" Sabine started softly. But it was Kanan's voice who spoke next, sensing his presence as he lowered himself to his knees in front of me. "I won't leave without you," he replied with a determined strength in his voice. "You're coming with us."

"J-Just leave me alone…" I murmured. My chest ached with each word but I pushed on, wheezing "I'm not the person you came for…"

"I don't care," he replied sternly. "I don't care if you remember, or if you're Ezra, or if you're Ridge. We came here for you…"

I gazed at the man through the veil of my ragged hair, freezing when I recognised the warmth in his crystal gaze. The same person who had I had been viciously battling a few moments ago now kneeled before me with a determined glint in his eyes. He didn't hold the disappointment I had always feared he had towards me, and where I once saw sorrow I now saw encouragement and care.

It was the same look that Rocky had given me. Unfiltered, unjudging love…

It was all that I had really wanted. Through all this darkness it was the only thing I had reached out for, craved for in my turmoil. And now, it was presented right in front of me, in the same person I thought I would never find it in…

How could he, after all? I was a shell of his former apprentice. A reminder of what he had lost… so why would he ever want me…?

But he did.

Against everything I had ever thought he did. Regardless of whether I remember him or our past he came back for me! They all did…

"…Please…"

I jumped at the soothing touch on my shoulder and found myself staring into Kanan's teal orbs, welling with hope and compassion. "Please," he spoke again, his voice quavering. "Come with us…"

The air in my lungs burned like lava as I held back a strained wheeze. I wanted to lean into him, to cry my heart out and tell him how lonely I had been. How much I had missed them… How much everything hurt…

But his hand on my shoulder was also a burden, weighing down on my mind as anxiety coursed through my veins with a sudden realisation. I couldn't stay here, not anymore. But how could I ever go back to the crew? I wasn't ready to go through it again, I couldn't handle it if they were to turn their backs on me… if I were to disappoint the only people who had been by my side…

Kanan's presence was as gentle as a summer's breeze, thawing the ice that had settled in my gut from the weeks I'd spent on this fleet of Star Destroyers. I thought I would feel powerful here, and I did. I had felt the strength that could push me forward when I let the darkness cloud my sight. But now, in this moment, I also felt its emptiness. It was like a never-ending chasm, a beast that could never be quenched…

And I didn't want to fall into those shadows…

My fingers twitched as I pressed my shivering hand over Kanan's, whispering "I-I want to go…"

Like lightning the Jedi's face brightened at my words, his presence overflowing with pride. I wanted to smile at his joy but couldn't find the strength. Everything felt so empty… so cold… so…

I perked up, my eyes widening in horror as a shiver ran up my spine. The icy breeze that drifted through the air wasn't from me. No… no it was from…!

"I should have guessed you would return for the boy."

The voice dropped my heart into my stomach as I shoved Kanan's hand away and scrambled to my feet with a new-found energy. One drawn purely from fear.

"Still, I didn't think you be so foolish to attack a Star Destroyer," Seventh Sister's voice chided as her lithe figure stepped through the doorway, the one I realised Sabine and Zeb had left unguarded in their attempts to convince me. Behind her the imposing tower that was the Fifth Brother follow in her footsteps, his beady eyes locked on to me like a hunter to its prey.

"Looks like your game has gone on long enough Sister," he hissed, flexing his broad shoulders as he pulled something from his back. "It seems the boy no longer buys your ploy."

Seven sighed with disappointment, the very contempt I had always dreaded, and replied calmly "A shame, but not unsurprising."

The blood drained from my skin as she turned her visored gaze towards me. "It was fun though, wasn't it?" she giggled with a sick glee. "But everything comes to an end eventually. For you, that day is today."

Two red beams as bright as the sun jumped to life, the hum of their blades deafening to the ear.

And like a spark igniting a forest fire the image of a man -no, a monster-, blazed across my vision, wielding the same blood-tainted blade as the two standing before us. His golden eyes shimmered with that same darkness that had plagued my mind for the past few weeks, swallowing me like the waves of the ocean. Kanan had told me his name once when I had described his appearance from a nightmare. The one who had haunted my dreams, the one who crept in the shadows of my memories…

He had called him The Inquisitor.

And suddenly it came rushing back to me like a flood, images of vibrant fights and the echoes of battle cries and lightsabres. I remembered his voice, elegant but cold, and his graceful skills with the sword. Blue and red clashed across my vision and voices screamed in my ears filled with danger and fury.

'Are you paying attention boy?'

'I do so admire your persistence…'

'Your master will die, your friends will die, and everything you hoped for, will be lost…'

'Finally, a battle that might be worth my time…"

And then streaks of fire engulfed my vision until there was nothing but light and the eerie echo of voices I couldn't distinguish. It was only a firm grip on my shoulder that dragged me back in reality, blinking warily as I found myself back on the Star Destroyer, the two Imperials that I now recognised as Inquisitors standing before me. Kanan's gentle grasp had become a firm hold, his presence pulsing with a mixture of frustration and unease as he stood behind me.

I stared at the two figures, who appeared as strangers in the midst of my realisation and felt my face twist into a scowl. "You… Y-You lied to me!" I snapped at the masked female. "Everything you said to me was a lie!"

"Ah, so now he remembers!" Seven snickered.

Acid rose in the back of my throat as spat "You're a snake!"

"And you're about to be dead, but oh well," she teased lightly.

I opened my mouth to throw another retort but Kanan squeezed my shoulder briefly, his calming presence embracing my unsettled signature. And despite the urge to scream at the Inquisitor further I leant back against him and allowed my frustration to ease. I had fought with that fire before, and though it had been powerful it had also been unstable. I wouldn't fall into it again…

The Imperials' cold gazes swept over the four of us as Zeb and Sabine took their positions next to us, guilt flashing across their faces for a mere second before it was veiled with confidence.

"There's four of us and only two of you," Sabine said sharply. "Best to surrender while you're still alive."

The Fifth Brother didn't so much as flinch, but Seven simply chuckled, musing "Outnumbered, not outmatched my dear."

"We'll see about that," Zeb snarled as electricity jumped at the ends of his bo-rifle.

"Ezra…" Kanan's voice breathed.

I remained completely still, my muscles bound with tension as the man whispered "Go for the doors when we get them away from it…"

"What about you…?" I murmured shakily.

"We'll figure it out, don't worry," he assured.

Hesitation kept me still, but forcing myself to nod I replied "Okay… I trust you…"

Kanan's hand released from my shoulder and a few moments later something cold pressed against my hand. "Take this, just in case," he murmured before I numbly curled my fingers around the hilt of my sabre.

I couldn't find the strength to speak so instead just nodded again, my slitted eyes never leaving the two, blade-wielding monsters before us. Kanan was quick to take my signal though and almost immediately stepped in front of me, his blade fizzling to life as he took position at the front line. Sabine and Zeb took their spots beside him, guns and rifles at the ready, and waited as a tense silence passed over the room, like a calm before the storm.

Then everything broke lose as Sabine took the first shot, aiming three bolts at the Inquisitors who surged forward with their blades at the ready. I watched in awe as the three moved to face their attack. Blades, fists and guns went off in a chaotic battle as Zeb and Sabine wrestled with the Fifth Brother and Kanan took on the Seventh Sister. Frozen, it took me a few moments to regain my senses and run for the wall, deciding it would be better to skirt the edge of the fight and avoid the Imperials' attention. I almost couldn't hear the clashing and yelling under the sound of my own heartbeat, pounding with terror each step I took towards the doorway.

My feet urged me to sprint but the fear of getting seen drew me against the metal wall, bending so low I was practically crawling so not to catch their eyes. I didn't dare drag my gaze away from the door and desperately tried to ignore the battle ensuring a few metres away. I had to stay focused!

My vision swayed, and it was only now I realised my skull was still aching from my earlier fall. Was that normal? I didn't want to know. I just pushed onward and tried to forget the ringing in my eardrums.

The door was so close now. If I could just run a little further I would be safe, and it would finally be over…

I inhaled sharply as my hand glided over the door panel, relief flooding my system as I fumbled for the access button. It must have been locked from the control room but thanks to the identification chip in my wrist guard I should have been able to open it. And as I waved the armour over the panel the light flickered green, the heavy doors hissing from the pressure as they begun to pull apart.

I sighed in relief, my muscles finally uncoiling after what seemed to be weeks of turmoil. This was a new start…

And then, just as I went to step through the now open doorway a weight pressed against my feet, locking me into place. No matter how desperately I tried to move my legs wouldn't budge, and this time I knew it wasn't from my nerves.

I didn't even have a chance to glance over my shoulder before the Seventh Sister kicked me in the back, releasing her invisible hold on me just long enough for me to collapse to the floor. The metal ground into my elbows but I clenched my teeth shut to hold back a groan, glaring at shadowed figure towering above me. That familiar rage came rushing back as I hissed "You w-won't win…"

"And yet, you're the one on the floor, and I'm not," she added smugly. "I'd say that's a victory to me."

"I wouldn't be so sure," I snarled.

Throwing my hand forward energy pulsed through my veins as a wave rushed into the Seventh Sister and knocked her backward, almost enough to throw her to the ground. She found her balance quickly but it was still long enough for me to jump back to my feet, stretching until my spine clicked and dragging out my lightsabre.

"I may not remember everything," I growled to the Inquisitor, my blue blade shimmering against my armour. "But I didn't forget how to fight."

She hesitated at first, before mocking "Good, you're going to need it."

Lunging forward her blade became a mere blur in my vision, but I managed to block her swing with ease and aim a kick for her leg like I had done to Kanan minutes ago. But she was ready for that move and countered it by grabbing my foot and dragging me from my feet. I slipped for a moment but managed to grasp onto her arm before I could hit the ground, using her body to propel myself back up and twisting around until I was behind her.

Without wasting a moment I jumped onto her back and instead wrapped my arms around her thin neck, squeezing tightly in the hopes to weaken her. She wheezed and coughed, her claw-like nails digging into my flesh as she struggled to pull me off. Soon even her lightsabre fell from her grip as she whipped back and forth wildly.

"G-Give… Up…?" I grunted as the blood slurred around my head like a violent ocean. Between her thrashing and my disoriented gaze I could hardly tell left from right.

"N…N-Ne-…Ver…!" She sputtered through her wheezes.

And finally, just when I thought I might be sick from the swaying Seven collapsed to her knees, begging for the air I restricted her from. I released my grip almost immediately and stumbled away as she fell to the ground with desperate gasps of breath. It was like a fish who had been thrown out of the ocean, reeling for their precious source water, or in this case, oxygen.

I watched through a haze, barely able to comprehend what had just happened before activating my sabre once more and holding it to her chest. "Like I said," I growled huskily as she gazed at me wearily from the floor. "You will never win."

Her breath tightened in a disjointed chuckle. "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

I cast her an unconvinced gaze, until her presence surged with energy, and before I knew it her hands had been thrown in my direction. The air seemed to be ripped from my lungs as something hit me in the chest and my surroundings blended together like the stars in hyperspace.

"Ezra!"

I sighed and closed my eyes, before everything went black and silent once more…

Super Bomb V

The Light in the Dark

Remember Me

Lost Chapters

O' Family of Ours

There is no Death, There is the Force

To Mend the Bond

Beasts of Legend

Family Ties