"Did Ezra tell you anything about what happened to Hera?" Tolsa asked once they were in hyperspace.

Ania shook her head. "He just said that she'd been captured a while ago."

"What about your connection? Did you have any visions like that?"

She thought for a minute. "Actually, yes. When we were in the Rancor's den and I had that vision, it was of TIE's shooting down A-wings. I saw one crash. When we were building our lightsabers, I saw a battle above Lothal. I think it was a memory because I saw Hera's ship crash down onto the planet."

Tolsa shook her head, disappointed. "That's not good. I would imagine Thrawn has her now."

"I wish we knew what was going on," Ania agreed.

Tolsa's head snapped up. "Can you try to see through Ezra? Ben told me he thought it would be possible for you to do."

Ania gave her a skeptical look. "I don't know. I don't know what it'll do to us."

"Nothing worse than what's already happened."

"True." She rested her chin in her hand. "All right. I'll try."

Ania slid out of her seat and sat cross legged on the hard metal floor. She closed her eyes and cast out, searching for Ezra's familiar presence. She found him quickly, sensing the urgency and fear that surrounded him. Ania pulled his presence towards her as she had before, and let her physical form drift away.

When she opened her eyes, she was standing behind Hera. A transport waited behind them, carrying Ezra and Sabine. Another transport faced them, carrying Grand Admiral Thrawn. Kanan was holding back a wave of fire. He looked much different than normal, Ania noticed.

With a cry, Hera ran towards Kanan. He stretched a hand towards her, halting her. Hera continued to struggle, trying to move towards Kanan. He turned his sightless gaze to her. Ania's eyes widened in shock. The cloudiness vanished from Kanan's eyes, restoring them to their turquoise self. Hera reached towards him again.

Kanan sent a wave of the Force towards Hera and Ezra. Ania felt herself fly backwards onto the transport. Ezra grabbed Hera as she reached towards Kanan. An explosion of color surrounded Kanan. He disappeared from sight as the explosion engulfed him.

Ania gasped with shock, holding a hand over her heart. Tears welled up in her eyes. She looked up at Tolsa. The same horror filled expression met her gaze. "Did you feel that?" Tolsa whispered hoarsely.

The tears fell now. "Yes," Ania replied. "Kanan is...gone."

See and know. You were not there. You did not help. This is the fate that all of your friends will meet! The voice called inside her head.

Ania grabbed her montrals and shook her head. No! It's not my fault.

See and know.

I won't let it happen!

It already has.

A beeping began. Ania stood shakily and prepared to deactivate the hyperdrive. She dropped them out a ways away from the blockade and quickly activated the Redemption's cloaking device. Tolsa stiffened as they passed beneath the belly of a Star Destroyer.

Ania looked at all of the ships, dismayed. "Ezra was right. It's gotten so much worse."

At last they cleared the blockade. Ania kept the cloaking device online as they flew over the planet. Smoke billowed out of the city in the distance, noticeable even in the night sky. The two girls glanced at each other, knowing exactly what it was from.

"Where are the Rebels?" Tolsa asked as they flew past the smoking city.

"The Southern Hemisphere. I sensed them there." Ania guided the ship on. She quickly searched out Ezra's presence and guided them towards it. She spotted a large formation of rocks appear up ahead. Ania quickly set the ship down where it wouldn't be seen. Tolsa leaned over and deactivated the cloaking device, letting it recharge.

They grabbed their things and made their way off the Redemption. Ania swiftly locked down the ship before following Tolsa. Lothal's two moons drifted overhead. The cool night air whispered past them. They neared the perimeter fence before someone stepped out to meet them.

A large man with a wide brimmed hat gave them a skeptical look. "Hey, Ryder," Ania said.

"Ania. Tolsa." Ryder's shoulders sagged a bit as he waved them forward. "I wish you girls would've gotten here sooner."

"Yeah, me too," Tolsa replied softly.

"You know, then?" Ryder glanced back at them.

Ania nodded. "Ania! Tolsa!" Sabine shouted.

Ania caught sight of her friend. Ryder nodded to them. She quickly ran over to Sabine and threw her arms around the Mandalorian. "Kanan is..." Sabine began.

"We know. I'm sorry we couldn't make it in time," Ania replied. "Is Hera all right?"

They let go of each other. "Yeah. Hera's as good as she can be right now. I'd leave her be for a while, though," Sabine replied.

Ania nodded understandingly. Tolsa had joined them and quickly hugged Sabine as well. Ania looked around, curiously. Sabine caught her glance.

"He left as soon as we got back," she said.

"Good. He needs time to think."

"I don't know about the two of you, but I'm exhausted," Tolsa said. Ania and Sabine nodded in agreement.

"I'll be on the Redemption if anyone needs me," Ania said. She turned and headed back out of the camp again.

As she walked through the stone structures, a chilling howl split the air. She shuddered a bit and sighed with relief as she stepped back on board the Redemption. Ania wasted no time falling onto her bunk. She lay flat on her back and crossed her hands over her stomach. At last, she quit fighting and let her tears run freely.

I felt it when Kanan died. Why didn't I feel Ahsoka? She wondered through her bleary thoughts. Memories kept running through her mind, unbidden. Ania attempted to swallow the lump in her throat. She closed her eyes, letting sleep claim her.

She woke hours later to a clattering inside of the ship. Ania was instantly awake, a hand on her lightsaber. She jumped off of her bunk just as the cabin door hissed open. "Sorry if I woke you," Ezra said, leaning against the doorway.

Ania shook her head. "You did that on purpose." A ghost of a smile crossed his face, so fleeting Ania wasn't sure she'd actually seen it.

"I'm guessing you know already?"

She nodded. "We left Tatooine as soon as our lightsabers were complete. I...saw what you saw when it happened."

"Let's see your lightsabers." Ania held them out to Ezra. He took them and ran a hand down one of the hilts before passing them back to her. "I like them."

"Ezra, it's ok," she said, sensing his hesitation.

Pain crossed his face and he began to cry softly. Ania said nothing but wrapped her arms around him. Shudders wracked his body as she held him.

"It's like when I lost my parents," Ezra whispered. "Only this time, I don't know what to do."

She led him to her bunk and motioned for him to sit down. "You'll do what you always do. You'll help those who can't help themselves. You'll do what Kanan would have wanted you to do."

"I can't. I'm nothing like Kanan."

"You're his apprentice. I think you're more like him than anyone."

Ezra shook his head and covered his face with his hands. "I miss him."

"I do too." She hugged him again, letting him hold onto her as long as he needed.

The sun had barely risen when Ania stepped off the Redemption again. Ezra had fallen asleep on her bunk and she hadn't been able to convince herself to rouse him. Ania stretched her arms over her head, her new lightsabers swinging on her belt.

She glanced around the camp and spotted Hera just beyond the perimeter fence. Ania quietly made her way over to the woman. Hera barely turned her head, acknowledging Ania's approach.

Ania put a hand on Hera's shoulder. Hera sagged slightly, her eyes glazing over. "Nothing you say will bring him back," Hera whispered.

"Then I won't say anything."

Hera's hand drifted over her abdomen briefly. Ania raised her eyebrows in surprise. Curiously, she let the Force pull her towards the Twi'lek. Ania drew herself back with her new information.

"He is one with the Force now, isn't he?" Hera asked.

"He is," Ania nodded. "He will watch over you and help you." She turned away. "Besides, he's not entirely gone, is he?"

"How did you," Hera began.

"It's your secret to tell. Not mine."

Hera smiled slightly and her hand tightened around the kalikori she held. Ania headed back to the camp. What she needed was some work to occupy her mind. Hopefully, the Empire wouldn't bother looking for them for a little while.