Steps Into Shadow

(SHOUTS) EZRA: Hey. What? (SCREAMS) Gotta hand it to you, kid. This was a pretty good plan. You've been on a roll. Hey! I'm just getting started, buddy. Now come on. Let's move. Okay, Chopper. Jump. (SPEAKING IN DROID LANGUAGE) No rocket. It's too loud. Now jump! (GRUMBLING) (SQUEALS) (GASPS) (MUTTERING) (SCREAMS) Chop, get this door open. Hurry. (CHOPPER COMPLAINING IN DROID LANGUAGE) You're welcome. 6609. This is it. Sabine, you're up. (SIGHS) I still can't believe we're here to break this guy out of prison. Trust me, we need the information he has. - You heard the boss. Open the door. - Don't encourage him. He is in here because of us. (SCOFFS) Keep telling yourself that, Ezra. (SPEAKING UGNESE) Who's the pig? Purple guy, Mando girl, and Ezra Bridger. My, look how you have grown. Ah, I knew you would not let your old partner, Hondo, rot away in this prison. Hondo, it's good to see you. - Not really. - You better have the intel you promised. Yes, we do. - I'm sorry. "We"? - Yes. (SNIFFLES) Me and my business associate, Terba. You wouldn't believe the secrets he knows. (CLICKING TONGUE) You're right. I wouldn't. (SHOUTING IN UGNESE, SNORTS) What fun! Now we're rescuing two people. Hey, twice the fun. - SABINE: Look out! - Over here! Spectre-6 to Ghost. Change of plans. We need a 44 scoop at the landing platform. HERA: (OVER COMMUNICATOR) On my way, Spectre-6. Here. Make yourself useful. Oh! Mandalorian! I can get a lot for this on the black market. You will be giving it back. (GROWLS) (SNORTS) (GROANS) Oh! I'm keeping it! No, you're not. Come on! This way. (GRUNTS) - Is that really Ezra? - Most of the time. (ALARM WAILING) (SPEAKING UGNESE) No, you cannot have a double share, you greedy little pig. (SPEAKING UGNESE) - What do you mean, "the deal's off"? - No! Terba, wait! HONDO: This is not good business! (SQUEALING) (GASPS) No! Well, I guess the deal is off. Get down! Karabast! We're cut off! We need to make a move, or we're never going to! Don't worry, Sabine. I got us into this, I'll get us out. What are you doing? (SCREAMS) What is he doing? Are you crazy? What's that driver doing? We're not rebels! They're over there! (SCREAMS) - SABINE: When did Kanan teach you that? - He didn't. - Get ready to jump! - Jump? What does he mean, "jump"? Jump where? Means our ride is here. Now! Was that Imperial walker helping you? Yeah. Ezra used his Jedi mind trick on the pilot. Pretty wizard, eh? I did what I had to do. Ah, Captain Syndulla. I appreciate the rescue. And of course, I expect full payment even though Terba tried to betray us. Wait. Who's Terba? Hondo's former cellmate who almost botched the mission. He didn't make it. Ezra, did you know about this? Not exactly. But Hondo and I had a deal. Ezra, when it's your mission, you are responsible for all of the details. I was responsible for what I knew. We went to get Hondo, and here he is. (SIGHS) I'm sorry about Terba. Ah, the fiery spirit of youth, eh? It's not all bad. I knew the details of the mission. Terba got himself killed. It's not my fault. (SIGHS) They never would have succeeded without me. Don't they know that? FEMALE VOICE: (THROUGH HOLOCRON) Your anger gives you strength, gives you focus. You can see things clearly your friends cannot. Now, what else do you desire? EZRA: They can't see. If they can't see, I must become stronger, more powerful. I will never let my friends get hurt again. (DOOR OPENS) Governor Pryce. How are things proceeding on Lothal? Lothal is secure, Moff Tarkin. But I am here about the recent rebel attack at the prison on Naraka, which I believe is only the beginning of a larger rebel threat. I am inclined to agree. Although Lord Vader has dealt with the insurgency's Jedi leadership, these rebels have proven particularly stubborn. How do you intend to solve this problem? I want the Seventh Fleet. I see. And what of Admiral Konstantine and his fleet? Huh. Admiral Konstantine is more politician than soldier. I need someone who sees a bigger picture. Very well. You shall have the Seventh Fleet. Thank you, Moff Tarkin. (DOOR OPENS) So, so, so, how much do you insist on paying me for this intel? Being rescued from that Imperial prison wasn't payment enough? What do you want? Ah, what good is a pirate without a ship? You know, the Ghost is a very nice ship. - I could probably - ALL: Forget it. (LAUGHS) I'm kidding, of course. But I do need a ship. Nothing too fancy. Just something with a roomy cargo hold, hyperdrive, shields, weapons. I am a wanted man, after all. Very popular. If your information is as good as you claim, then we have a deal. I give to you the planet Yarma. And hidden in its cloudy heavens, Reklam Station, a secret Imperial salvage yard where thousands of Republic starfighters are being dismantled for scrap. My former friend Terba worked on the line there before he was arrested for trying to escape. Y-wings? Kinda old. Can they fly? Those bombers may be old, but they were solid in combat operations. If we could steal a squadron's worth They would be key to building a strike fleet, one capable of our next objective, the destruction of the Empire's factory on Lothal. Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get 'em. Not so fast. We need to scout it first. Confirm Hondo's intel and recon its defenses. You still do not trust Hondo, given our history together? You wound me to the quick, madam. Ezra Bridger, I trusted you with the last mission, and your success has not gone unnoticed. You will lead this mission as Lieutenant Commander. Lieutenant? A promotion? (CHUCKLES) You earned it, kid. - Way to go! - Well done, young Jedi. Congratulations, Ezra. Kanan will be proud of you. Yeah? Well, he has a funny way of showing it, considering he's never around. MALE VOICE: I see you. (HISSING) MALE VOICE: I see you. Come to me. Kanan, I was hoping to see you at the briefing. KANAN: I hear Ezra's doing well. He has been stepping up, but, uh You know, he blames himself for what happened to you and Ahsoka. Well, I don't. I wish you would tell him that. (DOOR OPENS) Kanan. Uh, hey, what are you doing here? I think it's time for us to talk. Really? Uh, now is not a good time. I've been promoted and assigned a really important mission. Yeah, I've heard. The Sith holocron? You opened it? Yeah, I opened it. So what? Ezra, you know only someone who uses the dark side can open this thing. The things I've learned from it have really helped me. - You're using it? - Maybe you should, too. You might actually learn something. Ezra, do you have any idea how dangerous this path is? Everything I've learned has helped me win one battle after another. I'm using it for good. Acting out of anger offers quick results, - but it's a trap! - Not for me! (SIGHS) I can't let you keep this. (DOOR OPENS) Fine. I don't need it. Just like I don't need you. We can't jump directly to Yarma from here. We'll have to drop out of hyperspace at the Sereeda Waypoint and plot a new jump. Do not take too long. That is Mining Guild territory. If they spot us, they'll alert the Empire and jeopardize my payment. (CHUCKLING) I mean, our mission. We'll be there and gone before they know it. Right, Chop? (AGREEING IN DROID LANGUAGE) MALE VOICE: I can help you. Where are you? Who are you? MALE VOICE: Come to me. Okay, Chopper, you're up. Program those coordinates fast before MINING GUILD CAPTAIN: (OVER COMMUNICATOR) Attention, shuttle craft. You're trespassing in a Mining Guild claim zone. Identify yourselves. State your business. Uh-oh. MINING GUILD CAPTAIN: (OVER COMMUNICATOR) State your purpose. Please excuse the intrusion, Captain. We'll be on our way as soon as we calculate our hyperspace jump. MINING GUILD CAPTAIN: We will not authorize any such jump until you've registered with the Empire and paid the hyperspace toll. Prepare to transfer credits. If you do not slow your speed, we will open fire. Sabine, get us out of here. (HISSING) (HOOTING) (HOOTING CONTINUES) (CREATURE SHRIEKS) (DEVICE HUMMING) This is the place. Hello? Are you there? I can sense your presence. Hello. Imperial prison is bad, but where the Mining Guild will send us is worse! Hang on! Brace yourselves. Chopper, we're clear. Charge the hyperdrive. Wait. We should destroy the transport - before they contact the Empire. - They probably already have. No! We're not leaving any witnesses. That's not our mission, Ezra. She's right, Lieutenant. The important thing here is to proceed with our mission. Fine. Make the jump. Hyperspace, here we come. Ah. You heard my call. Good. Your imbalance woke me from a deep slumber. Imbalance? Your presence is like a violent storm in this quiet world. You're a Force wielder. But you're not a Jedi. Wielder? Hmm. Jedi and Sith wield the Ashla and Bogan, the light and the dark. I'm the one in the middle, the Bendu. What do you call yourself? I am Kanan Jarrus, Jedi Knight. You carry conflict with you, Kanan Jarrus, Jedi Knight. - It's this. - (CHUCKLING) Ah. Interesting. KANAN: Careful. It's (SIGHS) dangerous. How so? It's a Sith holocron, a source of evil. My student's been using it, and I'm afraid it's changing him. An object cannot make you good or evil. The temptation of power, forbidden knowledge, even the desire to do good can lead some down that path. But only you can change yourself. Not always. A-ha! Your conflict becomes clear. That device in the ground, why do you have it? It keeps the spiders from attacking me. May I see it? Hey, hey! What did you do? I am helping you. It was the only thing protecting me from those creatures! You believe that, but you must learn to see things differently now. Look, I can't see anything, not anymore. No. You are unwilling. Are you saying there's a way to restore my vision? Your sight cannot be healed, but I can teach you to see if you're willing. What must I do? I'm certain Governor Pryce is overestimating how organized the resistance is. While it's true there are pockets of rebellion, there has never been any evidence of a larger scale, galaxy-wide operation. And I would like to keep it that way, Admiral Konstantine. - Grand Admiral Thrawn. - "Grand Admiral"? The Emperor recently promoted me after my victory at Batonn. Civilian casualties outnumbered the insurgents at the time. Acceptable margins, Agent Kallus, for there are no longer rebels in that sector. Well, Thrawn, what do you think of Governor Pryce's theory about the rebels in the Lothal sector? This is a pirate our rebels rescued from Naraka prison, Hondo Ohnaka. Within the last hour, the Phoenix Squadron destroyed Mining Guild ships using the Sereeda Hyperspace Waypoint. Taken separately, they may seem unrelated, but Ohnaka's cellmate was a laborer at our starfighter reclamation plant in the Yarma system, one jump point away from the Sereeda attack. Grand Admiral Thrawn believes the rebels intend to raid the plant and steal fighters for their fleet. Every ship they add to their arsenal increases the threat to our own armada and the Emperor's plans. I trust you have a solution? I will start my operations here and pull the rebels apart piece by piece. They will be the architects of their own destruction. No Imperial traffic on the scopes, but no sign of the station either. It is down there, my friends. And those ships are ripe for plunder. There's no telling what we're flying into. Let's find out. Take us down. There it is. Reklam Station. Chopper, get a count on those bombers. (SPEAKING DROID LANGUAGE) EZRA: There! Y-wing light bombers. Looks like they're in decent shape, too. Yeah, but according to Chopper's scan, there's only 15 left. Correction. There are only 14 left. Looks like they're being destroyed. We need to move in now. There won't be any ships left if we wait. Hold on. Our orders are to recon the station, not go after ships. We should advise Captain Syndulla. What if the Empire detects our transmission? I was given command of this assignment. I know what the objective was and I am changing it. We're going in now. That's an order. Yes, sir. Hurry! We're losing ships. Well, Lieutenant, what's your plan to get 'em out of there? - Here's what we're gonna do - Look out! What was that? Oh, right, right. That is probably a dismantler droid. Forgot that Terba said there might be some guarding the station. When were you gonna share that information? Well, of course I just did. Commander Titus, we have a perimeter breach. Dismantler droids have been activated. It could be the rebels Governor Pryce warned us about. (WARBLING) Chop, get it! (SPEAKING DROID LANGUAGE) (CHUCKLING) Right, I'll handle those clankers. - Hold on tight! - Where are you going? Outside. (WARBLING) (GRUNTS) (ENGINE SPUTTERING) We're going down! (ALARM BEEPING) Chopper, get the engines back online! (SPEAKING DROID LANGUAGE) The rebel ship has suffered considerable damage. They've lost power. Where'd they go? We've lost them in the storm, sir. Bye-bye. Brace yourselves! I'm gonna lock onto the station. Sir, the rebel ship is not registering on our scanners. It may have crashed onto the surface. Alert the Imperial sector fleet. Governor Pryce will want to know of this. We gotta shut down the conveyor before they're all slagged. Come on. (SPEAKING UGNESE) Ugnaughts! (SPEAKING UGNESE) Get out of the way. I don't want to hurt you. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Every situation has the potential to be profitable. (CLEARS THROAT) (SPEAKING UGNESE) Terba (UGNESE CONTINUES) - (CHATTERING IN UGNESE) - Yes, yes, yes. I told them Terba was my friend and we've come to liberate them. I think that's what I said. "Liberate them"? Fine. They can help us liberate the ships. Hondo, get them to shut off the conveyor. Uh, very well. (CLEARS THROAT) (CONVERSING IN UGNESE) (ALARM BEEPS) Laborer 429, why have you disengaged the conveyor? (SPEAKING UGNESE) It's malfunctioning? Well, get it repaired, miscreant, or I'll have you thrown off the station! Let's just get our ships and get out of here. Well, Lieutenant, first we have to refuel them. Their tanks will be empty. Bet you didn't think of that when we walked into this. Not the first complication. Won't be the last. Let's get to work. You know, Kanan would've loved this mission. KANAN: So, tell me, how do I restore my sight? You must be empty. There is only the Force. Now, turn and walk forward. I'm not sure this is such a good idea. And why not? Because those spiders are out there, waiting. How do you know this? (SIGHS) I hear them. Good. Keep walking. Sound relates them to you. What else? I can feel them in the ground, their vibrations when they move. Indeed, you are perceptive. Are they close? No. Continue on then. How else do you relate to the spiders? Before, in the caves, a foul smell. It was old, decayed. Ah, a fascinating description. You see much for being blind. Well, I know what they look like. I saw them when I had my sight. Then picture them in your mind. Are they close? - No. - Are you certain? (HISSING) What should I do? What do you want to do? Hmm? Run. (SIGHS) But there's another one right behind me. You are beginning to see. Ha! Now, be empty and continue onward. Why aren't they attacking? It is not in their nature. Well, it has been, in my experience. Because you do not see them. - You mean, see them for what they are? - Look closer. Hmm. There's nothing. I can't sense them. Look within. I see Fear. In the spiders? Ezra! Ah, your thoughts dwell on your apprentice. He's in danger. (HISSING) No! No. It's not Ezra or the spiders. It's It's me. Fear, grief, anger, that's how they see me. (SIGHS) That's how I see myself. Ah, your sight returns. (CHUCKLES) I distanced myself from everyone. From the Force too. Your connection to the Force allows you to see in ways others cannot. If you can see yourself, you will never be truly blind, Kanan Jarrus, Jedi Knight. I understand. Where are you going? Ezra needs me. They all do. What of the spiders? (CHUCKLES) I can see them, so there's nothing to fear. And what of this, hmm? Keep it, as a gift. Oh. (CHUCKLING) (WHIRRING) SABINE: Last two, and then we're outta here. Sir, the rebels, they're alive and they're trying to refuel the old bombers. Get a squad down there. Override the conveyor and activate the magnetic locks. Ugh. Well, they know we're here. They're locking the ships down. Uh, perhaps my associates can assist? (CONVERSING IN UGNESE) (SIGHS) My friend says all systems have been overridden by the control tower. (SIGHS) Zeb, you and Sabine finish refueling. I'll take care of the tower. Rex, you're with me. (SPEAKING DROID LANGUAGE) Stop your complaining. This is the last one. Then we'll leave. (STARTLED CHATTERING) (SHOUTING, POWERING DOWN) (WARBLING) (SHOUTS) Zeb! (SCREAMS) Lieutenant! Go help 'em! I got this. Yes, yes, you go help them. We will look for a ship. I mean, help Ezra. HERA: (ON COMLINK) Ghost to Spectre-6. You missed check-in. Where are you? Hey! Still in the Yarma system, Hera. Yeah, no. Getting some great recon. So busy. No time to talk. Bridger out. It appears Commander Bridger's recon mission has turned into a recovery operation. - Sir, we had better mobilize the fleet. - Indeed. Kanan? Ezra's in trouble. Let's go. (SIGHS) It's good to have you back. Oh! You want some more, you lousy clanker? I'll show you more! (GRUNTING) That tears it! Get off! (SHRIEKS) - Rex! - Rex! Partner! I will stay here and guard the shuttle in case we need a quick escape. You do that. I assure you, Governor, we will capture these rebels momentarily. I hope so, Titus, but know I will be there soon to reinforce you. - You? - You? Last time we met, you were captain of a top-secret Star Destroyer. Now you run a junkyard? Your capture and execution will mean my return to ranking status. Yeah, get ready for another demotion. I'm asking nicely. Unlock those bombers now. Sorry, but I've sabotaged the control unit. The only way to unlock the bombers is to cut power to the entire station. - Okay. - Wait! If you disable the power, this station will drop to a fiery destruction. You would doom us and your friends for a few old ships? I believe in my friends. They'll be fine. You, not so much. (ELECTRICITY CRACKLING) Better get going. Evacuate now! The bombers are unlocked. Spectre-5 to Spectre-6. What was that blast? EZRA: I had to cut the station's power. Get in those bombers and get out of here! What about you? EZRA: I'll take the Phantom. Now get going. That's an order! Chopper, tap into the relay navigation system. I need you to remote-pilot those four ships. (SPEAKING DROID LANGUAGE) Yes, you're getting in a Y-wing too. (COMPLAINING IN DROID LANGUAGE) Zeb! - Come on! Get in there! - (CHATTERING IN DROID LANGUAGE) Hondo, I thought you were guarding the shuttle in case we needed to escape. And I am. We are making our quick escape now. Or at least Hondo is. I will see you again soon, partner! Another successful adventure! Well, I better get moving, too. (SPEAKING DROID LANGUAGE) Stop complaining and focus. You've gotta get those bombers in the air. (MUTTERING ANGRILY) (BEEPING) Detach bombers from the dock. Nice work. Now keep 'em steady. Chop, set the coordinates in the navi-computer. (SPEAKING DROID LANGUAGE) What? There's no hyperdrives? (BEEPING) They must have removed them. Karabast! My thoughts exactly. SABINE: (ON COMLINK) Spectre-6. The Empire is here in orbit. - We are in big trouble. - Whoa! I'm in trouble, too. Spectre-5? Spectre-5, come in! Can you hear me? Sabine, come in! (EXPLOSION) (SIGHS) This is wrong. (STAMMERS) It's all gone wrong. Kanan! Where are you? They're trying to drive us toward their tractor beam! Ghost to bombers. Get your ships on the carrier. We'll cover you. Copy, Ghost. We are glad to see you. They fight so hard to gain so little. Contact Grand Admiral Thrawn immediately. SABINE: (ON COMLINK) Ghost, any sign of The Phantom? Spectre-6 should be up here by now. - Ezra's not with you? - No. - The station. - We better hurry. There's something on my scanner. I'll try to get as close as I can. Ezra, I'm here. There he is! I'll get him. (WIND WHOOSHING) Ezra, I'm right here! Kanan? I can't reach you! It's too far! It's okay. I've got you. Go ahead. Let go. KANAN: (ON COMLINK) Got him! We have the admiral. Put him through. Update me on your progress, Governor. The situation is proceeding much as you anticipated. The rebel fleet, composed of three star cruisers, have come to the rescue. That is not the rebel fleet. Break off your attack and allow them to escape with their meager reward. Very good, Grand Admiral. We're letting them get away? I don't understand. I know you don't, but rest assured, Thrawn has a much larger objective in mind than the capture of a single rebel cell. I can explain everything. Save it. Commander Sato, everyone is accounted for. Get us out of here! (BEEPING) I'm sorry. Okay? I messed up. As a leader, you've a responsibility to Phoenix Squadron. You almost got your team and yourself killed. - And - I know. Okay? The Phantom is gone. But we're back in one piece and we've got five new Uh, or old bombers. You disobeyed orders. I have no choice but to suspend your command. You suspend him, you should suspend all of us. We went along with him. Your loyalty is admirable, Zeb, but this was Ezra's mission, not yours. At least we got the Y-wings? They're not for us. We have orders to deliver these bombers to General Dodonna's unit. They're part of a wider rebellion we're working to build. It's growing every day. Well, I guess if we're going to defeat the Empire, we'll need all the help we can get. I should have told you I was using the Sith holocron. I wanted to believe it could help us. Well, we don't need that thing. We'll find another way. Um, what'd you do with it anyway? (CHUCKLES) It's safe. Ah. Oh, um, one more thing. I wanted to thank you for coming back. I'll always come back. I know.