For most people, running away from a band of stormtroopers chasing you wasn't an everyday occurrence. For most people. Unfortuantely, Hera and Chopper weren't most people.
"Chopper, hurry up and get the Ghost ready for take off, I'll deal with these troopers." Hera reached into her holster and pulled out a blaster. A stormtrooper quickly was moving no more, but several more were still chasing her and Chopper.
"Bloop beep bleep!" Chopper complained, turning his 'front' back at his loyal friend. It was clear he didn't want to leave Hera.
"I'll be fine Chopper, don't worry! Just hurry up!" Two more stormtroopers fell down, and several bright shots flew past Hera, who easily dodged them. "Stormtroopers can't aim!"
Chopper whistled reluctantly, and turned on his jet packs. The droid flew away, leaving Hera with a small squadron of stormtroopers on her tail.
The night lit up with exchanged shots. A fellow twi'lek's fruit cart was knocked over, spilling meilooruns onto the street. The stormtroopers ignored them, squishing the fruit and anyone in their way.
Civilians gasped at the damage, as they ran to avoid the blaster shots being exchanged. A few even glared at Hera, though most were aimed at the Stormtroopers. Still, this was one more planet Hera wasn't going back to.
Hera tried to ignore the destruction she was leaving in her wake. I'm helping these people. They might not know it, but I am. Hera reminded herself. It was the only way her conscience could survive some of Fulcrum's missions.
Hera sprinted a corner, she could see the hanger where the Ghost was being kept, and raced into a small squad of Troopers.
"Oh hell!" Hera skidded to a halt, staring at the troopers.
The troopers pointed their blasters. One stepped forward "You are under arrest, rebel scum."
Hera cursed, "Chopper, now would be a good time for a miracle."
The trooper tilted his helmet. "Who's Chopper?" he demanded, pushing his gun closer.
Two shots fired from above. It was the Ghost!
"WEEE! BLOOP BEEP BOOP!" Chopper tweeted in victory, shooting several more nearby troopers.
"Thanks Chopper!" Hera called out, the Ghost's deck lowering itself to admit Hera. She leapt the small gap, hurrying into the ship.
"Boopy bloop Babeep!" Chopper called out.
Hera shook her head as she raced up to the cockpit to take over. Fingers flying over the dashboard, she gracefully twirled the Ghost into space. With a few button pushes, she had calculated the hyperspace jump, and left the system for good. Hopefully.
As soon as the ship was several systems away, Hera allowed herself a brief sigh.
"Well, that went better than expected." Hera pulled out a small datastick, rubbing it off on her pilots uniform.
"Beep boop weee booppo Babeep?" Chopper smirked at Hera.
"What about Crait?" Countered Hera, the droid next to her quickly going through the Crait mission.
Chopper soon retorted, "Beep whee wheee whee!"
"Not true! The vulptixes were there!" Objected Hera, raising her hands in mock innocence.
"Wheewee!" Chopper beeped exasperated.
"What about me? And don't forget that rodian." Hera pointed out, knowing she had won. Chopper never won against her.
Chopper sighed, "Wooo…"
A loud beeping noise came from the ship.
"And there's my cue. Take care Chopper." Hera stood up from the pilot's chair, and turned to go to her room.
"Beep, bloop boop bloo?"
"Chopper, it's for security. You know what could happen if Fulcrum gets out. I was lucky to meet him when I did, back on Ryloth."
"Boop bloop Beep?"
"Fine, it's a deal. If you get me some more crew, then I might take you.
"Whee! Bloop beep Babeep!"
Hera chuckled, "Same to you Chopper."
She turned to get to her room. Hera trusted Chopper with her life, from when she first met him at twelve, to now at 18. She knew he wouldn't eavesdrop, much as he wanted to.
The halls of the Ghost were empty, almost lonely. The ship had been made for more people then only a droid and a Twi'lek. There were 4 bedrooms after all, and plenty of living space. Hera didn't mind the loneliness. Once she might've, but everything changed when she met Fulcrum. Everything.
"Fulcrum." Hera greeted, looking at the cloaked figure. The voice changer came on.
"Ghost, you have the datachip."
"Affirmative, where should I meet?"
The voice crackled, "I am sending you the hyperspace coordinates now. Drop it off and leave."
"Yes Fulcrum," Hera replied, "any other jobs open up?"
"Ghost, you've been doing missions nonstop for the past few months. This is your 5th since we last spoke in person." The voice paused, "I am ordering you to take a break, preferably on a planet with a low imperial presence."
Hera almost collapsed. "What do you mean Fulcrum?"
The cloaked figure sighed. "I mean that I am ordering you to take a rest. Find some more crew. See the empires 'glorious sights'. Get a job. Anything. I can't have you burned out since you are too busy running around trying to please me to relax."
"But, but…" Hera started, trying to find the right argument, "where should I even go?"
"Hmmm…" Fulcrum's voice changer crackled, "maybe Lothal? Low imperial presence, no major targets, no cells in need of saving, perfect for you to get a rest."
"Yes Fulcrum."
"Ghost, you know I can't always get you work. It'll be good for you to explore the bigger galaxy then just where I find items."
"I know Fulcrum. Signing off." Hera turned off the holoprojector, leaving the dark room even darker. After checking to make sure everything was hidden, she raced to the cabin and punched in the coordinates that Fulcrum had given her.
"Boop? Bleep boop Pabeep boop, Babeep?" Chopper asked, detecting her anger.
"Fantastic," Hera muttered, "simply fantastic."
"Wooooo… Bloop beep boop?" The ship started to calculate the new route.
"Fulcrum is worried I've been working to hard ever since I left Ryloth to help her- I mean him."
"Boop bleep!' Chopper excitedly chirped, "Pabeep boop blopp!"
"Fine Chopper, Fulcrum is a girl, we use him and he though okay?"
"Weep!" Chopper consented.
"So anyway, we have been ordered to take a break from these missions and relax. On Lothal."
"Beep, bloop bleep boop boopabeep beep."
"These missions have been doing something Chopper. I know it seems that we are only running around, picking up datasticks, but I trust Fulcrum." Hera breathed in deeply, her lekku waving side to side, and turned to CHopper. "We are part of something bigger than you and I, than this ship, than Ryloth. Father might not have seen this, but I did. And someday, the whole galaxy will be free from the Empire."
"Boop… Bleep bloop beep beep."
"I know I'm good at speeches Chopper." Hera smiled, and patted the droids head. "Now let's get this chip home."
"Bloop Pabeep bloop?"
"I'll see. Maybe Fulcrum will change his mind about this. I don't see how hiding on Lothal would help."
With almost perfect timing, the Ghost finished calculating the jump, and leapt back into hyperspace.