A Lasat's Tough Journey

Chapter 1: The Accident

The GHOST sped through space after receiving a distress call from the Wild Space world of Barrelia. IT was a peaceful world that before now had never been bothered by the Empire but because of recent rebel activity, the Empire took notice.

Kanan Jarrus sat meditating in his cabin immersing himself in the Force. Suddenly he gasped touching two Force users, both of humanoid origin. He ran to the cockpit.

Hera Syndulla started at his sudden appearance.

"Kanan, what's wrong?" she asked.

"There's two Jedi on Barrelia and they are in danger."

"Are you sure?"

The look on his face confirmed it.

Down in the cargo hold, Captain Rex a former clone trooper from the Clone Wars watched as his two friends Gregor and Wolffe dueled with electrostaffs. Watching them were Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios, the Lasat member of the GHOST crew and Chopper ship's astromech droid.

"Gregor, you need to block Wolffe's attacks better," Zeb said his deep voice full of mirth.

Wolffe saw Gregor distracted and went in to zap him on the butt. Chopper let out beeping hoots of laughter and Zeb was doubled over, his booming laughter echoing through the cargo bay.

"That hurt!" Gregor muttered looking embarrassed.

"Aw...don't worry, happened to me several times when I was learning how to use the bo-rifle," Zeb said to his friend.

"Guys!" Hera announced over the ship's 'com, "We're nearing Barrelia and it's going to be a bit of a rough ride. Hang on!"

"She's not kidding...so hang on!" Zeb said grabbing onto a railing.

Hera guided her ship through the atmosphere feeling the GHOST shudder against the turbulence. Kanan using the Force, helped Hera to guide the ship for a landing.

"Are you glad that we insisted that Ezra and Sabine stayed home on Allolon?" Hera said feeling the ship level out.

"Yes," Kanan answered, "Something doesn't feel right about this rescue."

"Think I'm gonna be sick!" Gregor muttered his face getting pale.

Zeb grinned understanding his friend's discomfort for he felt a bit queasy too!

"Just turn your head away if you're going to puke!" Zeb said his face in a big grin.

Rex and Wolffe smiled at the playful banter.

The GHOST came to a landing in an area away from a recent battle that had been fought recently. The cargo ramp lowered and the three troopers and Zeb gasped at what they saw.

What was once a lush green landscape was now a barren wasteland. Smoke hung in the air and craters marred the ground. The smell of death was everywhere!

"Karabast..." Gregor whispered and looked over at his three friends.

Zeb stood visibly shivering and what looked like tears appeared in his big green eyes.

"Looks like...what happened to...Lasan..." came a hoarse whisper.

Hera and Kanan followed by Chopper exited the ship.

"Oh...Kanan..." Hera whispered.

The Jedi/rebel closed his eyes and then opened them to see Zeb shivering and he knew why.

"Zeb..." he murmured laying a hand on the Lasat's shoulder feeling through the Force, the emotions of grief and loss.

Weapons fire from two klicks away brought their attention back to the present.

The rebels ran back to the ship and Kanan turned to Hera.

"Hera, you stay aboard because you know we'll need a quick getaway. This could get ugly."

The Twi'lek nodded, worry in her eyes.

"Take care of yourselves," she said, "I don't want to lose any of you."

"You got it!"

Down in the cargo bay, Zeb and the troopers armed themselves with quite the arsenal. The Lasat has his trusty bo-rifle on his back and cradled a rocket launcher in his arms. Rex shouldered a satchel full of Sabine's special explosives along with his two blaster pistols. Wolffe was armed with a laser sniper's rifle and grenades. Gregor armed himself with a weapon that resembled a rocket launcher but shot grenades instead.

"What a puny rocket launcher!" Gregor joked to Zeb.

"Ha! You haven't seen this baby in action!" came the Lasat's retort. He added a crooked grin that endeared him to the three troopers.

"Guys, that;s enough," Hera said as she walked down the ramp to see her friends off. Kanan was next to her and he closed his eyes sensing the two Jedi.

"We better hurry!" he added.

"Be careful...all of you," Hera said going up to give them all a quick hug. She planted a kiss on Kanan's and Zeb's cheeks.

"Geez..." Rex joked, "Don't we get a goodbye kiss?"

Hera laughed, went over to give the three troopers a peck on the cheek, and went back inside the ship.

"I've got a location on those two Jedi," Kanan said as he reached out with the Force.

Rex looked through his binoculars and saw an approaching squadron on stormtroopers.

"Oh...boy..." he muttered.

"Rex, what is it?" Kanan asked.

"A squadron of stormtroopers...alot of them and they have what looks like a new type of weapon with them. Some kind of cannon. It's big!"

Kanan looked through Rex's binoculars and swallowed hard.

"Let's go find those two Jedi...before it's too late!"

Following Kanan's Force directions, they soon arrived to where the Jedi were holded up.

"It's okay!" Kanan called out, "We're here to help you!"

"Thank you," came a deep voice. The owner of that voice stepped out from behind the pile of rubble he was hiding behind. "I am Jedi Master Orec Sabela. This is my Padawan Cynda Bolec." He was a Barrelian and they were twice as tall as a human being. His skin was a dark brown with golden sheen, face human-like with irredescent gold eyes that seemed to light from within.

The Padawan walked out from behind the Jedi Master. The Padawan was a...

"Lasat?!" Zeb gasped seeing that the young Jedi was a female Lasat a youngster of around fifteen dust seasons old. She was dressed like a Jedi Padawan and had waist length purple/black hair in a long ponytail down her back and a Padawan's braid over her pointed right ear. The young Lasat caught sight of Zeb and her green eyes widened in awe. A smile appeared on her face and she ran to Zeb to throw her arms around the big Lasat.

"Hello!" she said her voice reflecting joy, "I'm Cynda Bolec and your name?"

"I'm Garazeb Orrelios," Zeb said as he felt awkward at Cynda's affection towards him.

"I thought I'd never see another Lasat...ever," Cynda said her voice quivering.

"Cynda," Master Sabela said in a stern voice, "This is not the behavior of a Padawan learner. You must control your emotions better."

"Yes, Master. I'm sorry."

Zeb gave the young Lasat a pat on her shoulder. "It's fine...kid. Don't worry."

"Hate to break up this family reunion," Rex announced, "We do have a squad of stormtroopers heading this way."

"Right," Kanan said and gestured to Zeb, Gregor and Wolffe to side up to Rex.

"Master Sabela," Kanan said to the Barrelian native, "Just follow my lead. I've dealt with stormtroopers before."

They hid behind the rubble of a large building and watched as the stormtroopers approached. Rex signaled to Gregor, Wolffe and Zeb to follow him to the opposite side of the Jedi. Kanan nodded to his four friends, Zeb giving him a thumbs up. For some reason seeing that gesture saddened Kanan. He shrugged off the feeling.

As the troops approached, Kanan felt the fear rise in all of them. Padawan Cynda was broadcasting fear like a beacon and he knew it was because of her youth. He layed a hand on her shoulder and saw that Master Sabela did the same.

Soon it was like the seven hells broke loose. Zeb, Rex, Gregor and Wolffe cut loose with their weapons, followed by Kanan with his blaster and lightsaber. Master Sabela moved with the swiftness of a Loth-cat and Cynda let out a Lasat cry of battle leaping into the midst of the squadron. She tossed aside troopers like they were leaves and she snarled activating her lightsaber to cut down the rest. Master Sabela watched his Padawan skirting close to the dark side with her attacks.

"Cynda!" he called out hoping to calm her down.

"Karabast!" Zeb gasped seeing the younger Lasat's assault on the troopers, "Those bucket-heads don't know what hit them!"

The remaining troopers pulled back and approached the cannon-like weapon that they had brought with them.

Rex gestured to Gregor, Wolffe and Zeb to look over at what the troopers were doing.

"What do you make of that?" Wolffe asked.

"Some new kind of cannon?" Gregor answered.

Rex turned to Zeb who shouldered the rocket launcher.

"Take that thing out!"

"Gladly!"

Zeb balanced the enormous launcher on his right shoulder and looked through the targeting scope.

"Eat this, bucket-heads!" the Lasat yelled, a vicious grin on his face.

Zeb pulled the trigger and sent the rocket firing towards the cannon. It exploded on impact, the rebels letting out a whoop of happiness. However, when the smoke cleared, the weapon was still there in one piece!

"What the...?!" Rex called out, "That thing must have a shield!"

"Uh...guys..." Wolffe called to his friends, "I'm reading a massive power surge building up in that thing!"

Kanan knew what was going to happen and he turned to his friends and the two Jedi.

"That thing is going to fire! Everyone, get back! RUN!"

Master Sabela nodded grabbing Cynda by the arm. Zeb and the clone troopers followed Kanan towards where the GHOST would be waiting for them.

They never made it. An explosion the likes they had never seen sounded followed by a blinding light and shock wave that threw them through the air and into rubble.

On the GHOST, Hera heard the explosion and started the ship's engines. A shock wave hit the GHOST like a giant hand and she fought the controls to get off the planet's surface. A blinding light appeared with the shockwave and she knew her friends were lost. She began to cry.

After the dust settled, Kanan was amazed that they had survived the blast. He coughed and saw that Rex, Gregor and Wolffe were getting up slowly, their bodies riddled with cuts and burns. He looked down and saw burns on his arms too. Cynda got up coughing as she brushed soot off her fur and clothing. Her Master got up also brushing off soot and made his way over to a pile of what looked like machinery wreakage. No one had seen Zeb yet.

"Kanan!" came Master Sabela's panicked voice, "Get over here...quick!"

Kanan ran over to where the Jedi Master was standing and felt his body tense up.

Zeb was laying on his stomach his Honor Guard uniform nearly torn from his body. His body was riddled with deep lacerations and the purple-striped fur was burned in places. He was bleeding from a deep cut on his forehead above his left eye, but that wasn't the worst. The Lasat had a big piece of shrapnel stuck in his back between his shoulder blades and the wound was bleeding bad. He was still alive...for now.

Kanan bent down to his friend and layed a hand on the Lasat's head.

"Kanan," Zeb murmured his voice weak, "Uh...what happened?"

"The Empire used a new type of weapon on us...some kind of explosive."

"Must've been a big one...uh...Karabast..."

"Hold still, Zeb, you're hurt bad."

"Kanan...uh...I can't feel my legs..."

Kanan swallowed hard and patted Zeb's shoulder hoping to reassure his friend. Zeb saw the hand on his shoulder.

"Kanan," Zeb said his voice now shaky, "I...I...can't feel my...arms, either!"

Rex, Gregor and Wolffe swallowed hard knowing the extent of Zeb's injuries.

"Kanan," Rex said seeing Cynda and Sabela kneel next to Zeb. The former trooper gestured to Kanan to follow him away from the others.

"Kanan, Zeb has a spinal cord injury," Rex said hating to say it, "He needs to be a medical facility and fast!"

"Kanan!" Zeb called, his voice sounding frightened, "I...can't...feel...anything!"

Cynda layed her hands on Zeb's head and through the Force calmed the Lasat's fear. Master Sabela knew that the chances of Zeb surviving the trip to a medical facility were slim but they wouldn't give up.

"We have to stabalize him," Rex said bending down to Zeb, "The most important thing to do on the battlefield is stabalize the injured and get them help as soon as possible. Kanan, contact Hera!"

Kanan could barely hold the communicator for the shaking of his hands.

"Hera! Hera! Can you hear me?"

On board the GHOST, Hera thought she was hearing the voice of a ghost.

"K...Kanan! You're alive!"

"Get down here quick! We've got injuries! Zeb is hurt bad!"

Hera swallowed hard and piloted the ship back to the planet.

"Hang on, soldiers!" Rex said as he watched Gregor apply bacta patches to everyone's wounds and burns.

"Uh...Karabast..." Zeb groaned his eyes half closed.

"Stay awake, Garazeb," Cynda said as she carassed his bald head, "Open your eyes."

The Lasat Padawan shut her eyes and bluish light appeared under her hand.

"What the?!" Rex exclaimed.

Master Sabela smiled at his response.

"Padawan Bolec is a Jedi Healer."

Kanan's eyes widened.

"I have stabalized Garazeb until he can get better treatment," Cynda said her voice calm but her eyes were full of fear and sadness.

Hera landed the GHOST nearby and looked out the viewport to see Kanan, Rex, Gregor and Wolffe kneeling next to Zeb who had a large piece of what looked like metal stuck in his back. His half-naked body was covered in cuts and the Lasat's purple fur was burned in places. She also saw two Jedi kneeling next to Zeb. One of them was a young female Lasat.

"Zeb..." she whispered as she ran down the ramp. "Kanan, what happened? I saw this bright light followed by a loud explosion and shockwave, and then...nothing."

"I think the Empire has a new weapon, but that doesn't matter. We need to get Zeb help...and fast!"

"We need an antigrav stretcher," Rex said, "The less we move Zeb the better. That piece of shrapnel has damaged his spinal cord. If we move him too much we could...paralyze him."

"That's already happened," Gregor murmured.

Awhile later, the critically injured Lasat was loaded onto the stretcher, bacta patches packed around the horrible wound to stop the bleeding. A neck brace was placed on Zeb to keep his head as still as possible.

"Hera...Kanan..." Zeb whispered.

"We're here, Zeb," Hera said laying a hand against his face.

After getting Zeb on board and secured on a bed in the medical bay, Hera headed to the cockpit. Kanan, Master Sabela and Cynda stayed with Zeb.

"Hera," Rex said to the Twi'lek as he sat in the co-pilots seat. Gregor and Wolffe sat in seats behind them. "The medical facility on Attolon can't handle an injury as bad as Zeb's. He needs a fully equipped medical facility with doctors who specialize in spinal cord injuries."

"Where do we go?" Hera asked.

Rex rubbed his bearded chin. "Naboo."

"Naboo?"

"One of the best medical facilities in the galaxy is there and I know a doctor there than can help Zeb. He was a clone medic during the Clone Wars. After the war, he got his medical degree and is one of the leading authorities on spinal injuries."

"Rex."

"Hera, Zeb's best chance is for Dr. Triplet to help him."

"Kanan, are you there?" Zeb asked not seeing his friend.

"I'm here, buddy, so is Cynda and Master Sabela."

"Kanan," Zeb voice quivered, "I...I'm scared."

"I know you are."

"Kanan," came Hera's voice over the ship's com, "We're heading to Naboo."

"Naboo? Why not Attolon?"

"Naboo has a better medical facility for an injury like Zeb's," Rex answered, "I know a doctor there that can help."

Hera changed course for Naboo knowing that it could be too late for Zeb. She didn't want to lose the Lasat. Even though he was older than her and Kanan, he felt like one of the "kids". Her heart lurched at the thought of Zeb dying.

"Garazeb, please calm down," Cynda said carassing his face, "You need to keep your head still."

"Easy for you to say." came the answer, "It's the only thing I can move."

That statement stabbed at Kanan's heart.

Rex called ahead to the medical facility and said he needed to speak to Dr. Triplet and that he was bringing in a critically injured person for him to see.

"Captain Rex?" the former clone medic said over the tranceiver, "What brings you to Naboo? Old age finally getting to you?"

"Uh...no...Triplet, we've got an injured person on board our ship. A possible spinal cord injury."

"Is it Gregor or Wolffe?"

"Uh...no...the patient is an adult male Lasat named Garazeb Orrelios."

"The Garazeb Orrelios from Phoenix Squadron?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"We were on a rescue mission on the planet Barrelia when the Empire launched a new bomb that packed quite a punch! The explosion was the biggest I've ever seen! Zeb got caught in the shockwave."

"Where is Garazeb injured and what are his symptoms?"

"Zeb has a big piece of shrapnel imbedded in his back between his shoulders. He's bleeding alot from the wound but we packed bacta patches around it. He can't feel anything from the neck down. There is no movement in his arms or legs. The only pain he feels is in his neck and head where he's got a nasty laceration over his left eye. He also has numerous cuts all over his body and burns."

"Keep him still and get him here as soon as possible. Don't move him anymore than you have to. That could cause more damage, but from what you've told me it could be too late. Garazeb might be paralyzed permanently."

Hera shut her eyes at that last statement. The thought of Zeb being...disabled nearly made her cry.

The GHOST arrived at Naboo and landed near the medical facility where Dr. Triplet was waiting with a group of nurses and orderlies to help get Zeb inside.

"Hello, Garazeb," the clone doctor said bending down so the Lasat could see him, "We'll take good care of you."

"Uh...okay."

"Get him inside now!" Dr. Triplet ordered his team, "Get him prepped for immediate surgery! That shrapnel has to be removed now!"

He turned to Kanan and Hera.

"The sooner we operate, the the sooner we can see how much damage has been done to Garazeb's spinal cord. This kind of surgery can take hours."

Hera blinked back tears and Kanan put an arm around her shoulders.

"Take care of him," the Jedi/rebel said also blinking back tears.

After Dr. Triplet left, Hera let the tears fall.

"He'll be fine," Kanan said knowing he was probably wrong, "Zeb's tough. He's pulled through some bad injuries before."

"Not like this..." Hera whispered.

"I know," Kanan said trying to sound reassuring.

"W...We have to tell Ezra and Sabine," Hera murmured her head against Kanan's chest, "They need to be here in case Zeb..."

"I'll go get them," Kanan added.

"No, Kanan," Rex said seeing how worried they were, "You and Hera stay here. Zeb needs to see his family when he comes out of surgery. I'll go get the kids. Gregor and Wolffe will stay here with you in case..."

Kanan nodded and shook the trooper's hand.