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happy father's day - blindrun
[Honestly? He's been here wayyy longer than he planned to be. He knew it'd be hard to escape, but it had to be possible. That's what he kept telling himself. Days turned into weeks turned into months and now? It's been over a year.
The other Inquisitors still don't completely treat him like one of them. Or maybe teasing is their way of doing so? He rolls his eyes whenever they call him "baby brother", thinking they could at least have some sense of professionalism. But everything's been going okay for the most part. As okay as it can be when you're an Inquisitor-in-training.
Except today was... well, it was something else. They were assigned to ambush a small rebel cell that was said to be working with a Jedi. It should've been easy, except for the part where it wasn't. The rebels got away and the Inquisitors had failed. Now Ezra's standing outside the Grand Inquisitor's office while the adults debrief. It's frustrating, being left out like this, but he also knows there isn't much he can do about it.]
The other Inquisitors still don't completely treat him like one of them. Or maybe teasing is their way of doing so? He rolls his eyes whenever they call him "baby brother", thinking they could at least have some sense of professionalism. But everything's been going okay for the most part. As okay as it can be when you're an Inquisitor-in-training.
Except today was... well, it was something else. They were assigned to ambush a small rebel cell that was said to be working with a Jedi. It should've been easy, except for the part where it wasn't. The rebels got away and the Inquisitors had failed. Now Ezra's standing outside the Grand Inquisitor's office while the adults debrief. It's frustrating, being left out like this, but he also knows there isn't much he can do about it.]
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Uh... well, I mean. They've been dead for nine years. I don't remember that much about them.
[That probably makes his obsession with them seem strange, but they are his family.]
They were nice, and understanding, and kind. Patient. They loved Lothal. I was just a kid, but they tried to help me understand just how important their work was. I honestly didn't listen back then. But their broadcasts made other people realize they weren't alone, and that if we stood together, we could fight back. Or that's what it was supposed to do. [There's a flicker of anger here as he thinks of Tseebo and the others, all too afraid to help his family. But then that flicker disappears, replaced by something very different.] I don't know. My dad made good space waffles? My mom's bracelets always made a twinkling sound when she walked.
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Sounds to me you remember more than you think. [ the small and big details. the officer who he spoke with comes back and offers third brother a datapad, circling back around the table afterward. he takes a seat on the other side and begins tapping away at the keyboard there. ] But there's one thing you've misremembered - your parents were taken to an Imperial prison, not executed.
[ such a detail would be hard to forget he thinks, so he's sure ezra has simply convinced himself that they died. ]
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[He didn't forget, he just filled in the details on his own.]
I wasn't there when the Empire came and took them. [That spark of anger returns, beginning to kindle into something bigger.] Sure, they were probably taken to a prison after that. But even a kid can tell you what happened next. The Empire doesn't just let rebel insurgents live.
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[ he can't fault the kid for thinking that. ezra, after all, has no reason to hope his parents are alive. even if they were, he would never see them again. they may as well be dead from the moment the Empire took them away.
Sir, they're requesting your confirmation.
third brother nods and pushes off his spot against the table to meet the officer at his screen. a few taps on the datapad and he hands it over; the officer tapping on it next to verify. his head turns to the monitor again, letting third brother see the details, as he makes the final approval. ]
You only get a couple minutes once the feed is on. You're not allowed to disclose your location, or ask for any personal information. Anything stupid and I cut you off.
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[But then the feed's on, answering his question for him. There's a man and a woman and although he hasn't seen them in years, even in pictures, he knows who they are. They're older now, more tired, weaker than he remembers.]
Mom...? Dad?
[Ezra asks in a small voice, like they'll disappear the next time he blinks. His parents brighten up instantly, despite the situation.]
Ezra! You're alright!
You're alive.
[His presence in the Force shines, lit anew with a hope he hasn't felt in years. The initial surprise wearing off, Ephraim and Mira notice their son's uniform and then begin to factor in the nature of this call.]
Is everything okay, son?
[All of a sudden, a wave of guilt washes over him, wanting to hide. Everything isn't okay, but...]
It will be. I'm going to save you, I promise! Where are you? Are you near Lothal?
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[ he says sharply to the prisoners, stepping over to stand behind ezra and make clear his presence. behind his parents as well ezra can see two storm troopers carrying their standard issue rifles. this may be a heartfelt reunion, but only under the heavy gaze of the empire.
suddenly he sets a strong hand on ezra's shoulder and squeezes tight. he doesn't do it as a warning to the boy though as he stares down the two past the hollow of his helmet. ]
Any attempt to exchange information will be swiftly punished.
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They're my parents! You won't punish them.
[And then weirdly enough, one of the stormtroopers behind his parents repeats after him. We won't punish them. Ezra didn't technically mean to do that, but!]
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he says nothing to ezra and turns head to the officer. ]
Shut the feed.
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[Ezra throws the officer back with the Force, but it's too late. The feed has already been turned off and his parents are gone.
At least he's super dark sidey now?]
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officer down, we need a medic, copy!
third brother regards the scene with only muted interest. well, that's one way to motivate someone. ezra is lucky he's considered high rank enough that no one seems to be interested in actually doing anything to him at the moment. at least no one who actually matters. ]
Finished?
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At Third Brother's question, he scowls.]
You knew.
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[ he searched up what happened to the bridger family a couple days after he brought ezra to base. it was surprising to learn they were being kept alive after everything that happened. perhaps after so many years they decided there was no point killing two people who could simply be forced into effective workers. prison labor is free labor and all.
there's another factor though. a much stronger one too, as third brother read. ]
You weren't wrong though, Bridger. They were set to be executed... alongside you. You were meant to be taken away with them on that day. However the storm troopers couldn't find you, and the neighbors didn't know where you ran off to either.
And so you became motivation - to keep them in line. Obedient.
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[What happened in the past doesn't concern him. Not now, when he's so close to finally having a family again.]
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[ repeated dully, because it isn't even funny to make a sardonic quip out of. the couple officers in the room, currently trying to help their colleague, turn their head over when they hear ezra's cries of treason. third brother shuts his eyes behind his helmet, exhausted, and turns around. ]
With me.
[ and he starts to walk toward the exit, just as the requested medics rush in and make their way over to the officers. too many ears and ezra has crossed the line. ]
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But he does notice the looks, so he sighs and follows Third Brother.]
Fine.
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once done he removes his helmet and sets it down on the table in the center of the room, taking a slight lean against it. ]
Bridger, ask yourself: why did I decide to show you that?
[ he's been sitting on this information for a year and revealing it now is done with purpose. ezra is smart, he wants to see how the cogs in his head turn. ]
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[He's smart, sure, but it's hard to think things through when you're blinded by rage. That, and his thoughts are a million miles away, making plans on how he'll force the officers to reveal his parents' location, steal a ship, break them out, and so on.
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--except he has to stop laughing to hiss instead, body shifting a little and the sore reminder of yesterday cropping back up. ]
Ahah... damn. Well, you'd be putting me out of my misery. [ he smirks lightly. ] I know what you're thinking. You want to break them out. But you can't.
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What, are you gonna stop me? Like that?
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But if you go as you plan to, guns blazing and sword out, you'll get yourself killed. Your parents will also be killed for your actions. I'll definitely be killed too for letting you go so far.
[ ezra, he thinks, should be able to reason all of this out on any normal occasion. he's smart, even if he's also stupid. ]
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[And he's not planning to completely run in. He'll interrogate, torture a little, mess with people's minds. All the usual stuff.]
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[ and they will fire if ezra breaks in. ]
You're thinking about this the wrong way. Brute strength is not the only option here. There's a way for you to free your parents and also ensure they can go back to living their lives in peace, rather than fugitives on the run for the rest of their lives.
[ and frankly? they did not look to be in great shape. ]
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What do you mean?
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I didn't plan any of what just happened Bridger. I had an idea, talked to an officer, and got your parents on the line in a few minutes. That is the power of rank in the Empire - you can pull strings, get around the bureaucracy, and get results unhindered.
[ he crosses his arms, tsking lightly. ]
My siblings, and even you, often forget Inquisitors have more than just brute strength in power. We have rank and that matters just as much in this system. If I wanted to? I could arrange your parent's release in a matter of days.
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Then why don't you?
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