Chapter Text
The speeder hadn't been destroyed; instead, it was violently knocked sideways. He could be killed before he had a chance to grasp the controls. It was a stroke of last-minute luck that another ship shot down the pursuing TIE, giving him enough time to react.
Time which he foolishly spent looking bewildered as the saving ship's ramp descended. The man in green, who had pursued him for the crates earlier, stood atop it with an offer "You want a ride?"
They were persistent, he had to admit. Ezra spent another few precious seconds calculating his next move. Should he trust this stranger, who might well be a pirate looking to sell him, or take the risk of being killed by the empire?
"Kid, you have a better option?" the man yelled from above, inviting him. Little did he know, that Ezra viewed both choices as equally unappealing.
Ezra glanced back at the incoming TIE fighters and knew he had to make a decision now. And despite the strange urge to go with the man, his survival instinct got the final vote. He leaped onto the speeder, gripping the handles tightly and cranking them to full speed.
He could sense the man's frustration as he sped away, followed by a scolding buzz in his head. It disappeared along with the pirate's ship. Weird. But, y'know what else left with the ship? two Ties, leaving just one on his tail. Ezra smirked. Easy.
He veered towards a rocky area, weaving in a zig-zag pattern, making himself harder to hit. Though it was more of a safety precaution, as the TIE struggled to land straight shots. Forget the empire lying about protecting civilians, they couldn't even if they wanted to.
A laugh bubbled out of his throat as he rounded a tall rock, entering a hoodoo formation. The TIE would either lose him or meet its end in pursuit. The TIE's wingspan made canyon maneuvering challenging. And true to his knowledge, the TIE's wing collided with the terrain, forcing the pilot to land.
Another laugh erupted from him. This, this adrenaline rush is what he lives for. Ezra absolutely loves these chases and the tricks he pulls off most of the time. But sometimes, he wishes they weren't so deadly.
He takes a longer route home, making sure they gave up on him. The moment he parks the bike, he jumps off, eager to examine his haul. And to his pleasant surprise, To his pleasant surprise, the lid falls off to showcase a treasure: the crate is full of expensive blasters."
"Jackpot" Ezra whistles. Including what he can get for the speeder, he's set for a long time.
He brought the loot inside his tower and started planning. He can't just show up with the crate at the black market; it'll make him a big target. So separate bulk selling it is. An excited smile stretched across his face as he lay down. He wonders how the Empire will react to this. Either way, he'll sleep well tonight.
"You lost four crates of blasters and provisions to a child?" an imperial officer slammed down the table in anger. Now, the Grand Inquisitor found these briefings boring and wouldn't bother paying an ounce of attention. However, this incident managed to pique his interest.
"Actually, sir, the child only acquired one; the rebels got the other three," a stormtrooper corrected, resulting in the officer turning red. "And that makes it any better? You insolent..." The Inquisitor ceased to listen to their childish bickering.
That child sounded remarkably crafty. A small, thorny rose hidden among weeds. It could hurt the unsuspecting and blind imperial that walks by. A perfect excuse to escape these tedious meetings and alleviate his boredom, if only a bit. "I heard Lothal has rather pleasant weather," he remarked, instantly silencing the entire room."
"Excuse me, sir?" an officer broke the fearful silence. They had never witnessed the Grand Inquisitor intervene in any of their meetings before.
The Grand Inquisitor raised an unimpressed brow and asked for the child's file, a request which they promptly fulfilled. They were well aware of his… reputation.
—Black hair— that's all they had on the child. Not even a picture. Useless, but he enjoyed a good hunt.