What if…Zeb demanded that they turn around and go back to Bahryn.
Like, he knows the Empire isn’t coming to save Kallus. He knows that. They all know that. Even if they try to tell themselves differently, they know the truth.
And Zeb can’t. Yeah, Agent Kallus is a dick who tries to capture or kill them over and over again, but they did manage to work together. They survived until the Ghost came. They even talked a little.
Even if it’s an Imp, he can’t just turn away like they didn’t spend hours on end relying on each other, knowing that Kallus is severely injured and unable to protect himself- both against any creatures like those giant birds or the weather.
That moon is cold enough to make Zeb cold! An Imp in piddly clothes that aren’t meant to survive harsh, icy weather has got no chance.
It just wouldn’t be right to let him die like that.
And yeah, Zeb knows that Kallus is an enemy and honestly? They’re lives would be so much easier without him constantly on their tails but all the same, he argues that they need to go back. Just to check. Just to make sure that the Empire actually did pick him up. Just to ease Zeb’s mind.
Much to his surprise and relief, they do.
They go back and find…nothing.
The spot where Zeb had last seen Kallus is empty, completely devoid of a blond asshole and his uptight Impy ways. The Empire must’ve come after all, someone says. They can go now. It’s damn cold and they have places to be. Besides, coming back to an area where toe Empire was isn’t a smart idea.
And Zeb is ready to agree when he notices something in the snow: footprints. Awkward, leg dragging behind him, human footprints that were quickly being covered up by latest snowstorm.
Zeb feels like a rock just hit the bottom of his stomach. It looks like there’s only one set of footprints, and it’s leading away from where Zeb last saw Kallus. He can’t see anything that might say someone helped Kallus limp his way into a ship.
Just one set of disappearing footprints.
He makes the decision to follow them, much to the dismay of the others. But Zeb is determined to find Kallus. If he’s still here….
They find Kallus collapsed in the snow, clutching a glowing rock of some sort. He’s deathly pale and probably two-thirds frozen. And barely breathing.
Zeb doesn’t even think through what he’s doing as he picks Kallus up and throws him over his shoulder. The weather’s getting bad, after all, and they need to go.
Jumping into hyperspace is a little awkward, and none of them have any idea what to do with their…prisoner? Guest? Highly questionable cargo?
He’s been defrosted (*snerk*), bundled up, and his injuries were taken care of as much as they could with what was available and what they were willing to use on an Imperialist. As it turns out, it’s not just a broken leg and the scraps and bruises from his and Zeb’s fight that they find. There’s also a head-wound.
Kallus must’ve collapsed and gave himself a good knock on the head, they conclude.
For awhile, things kind of go back to normal. Zeb stays with Kallus, while everyone else makes plans for what to do next. Every once in awhile, they pop in to make sure Zeb is okay and…I don’t know…maybe he should…not…care about Kallus?
Ezra gets a decent glare for that suggestion. Well, he tried. He can’t fathom why Zeb suddenly cares so much. And neither can Zeb. He just knows that that it wouldn’t be honorable to leave Kallus on that moon.
It takes a few hours after first picking him up, but Kallus does come to. Slowly, at first. And he seems to be in pain as his body warms up.
When it looks like Kallus is coherent enough to understand him, Zeb is the first to ask how he feels. Surprisingly, Kallus gives him a frank and honest answer: he’s not sure but he hurts. A lot.
And then Kallus gives Zeb a hard stare but asking: “who are you?”
Can you imagine would awkward that would be? Here’s Agent Kallus- someone they all despise except Zeb now apparently- and he has no idea who they are, who he is, why he’s injured, or where he is.
All he knows is that when one of them tries to take away the rock they found him with, he panics and begs them to not take it. It’s important. It…it just is.
