Once again, the hum of the Ghost disappeared, leaving silence. The ship became empty and lifeless, only one person left behind.
But this time, Kanan was ready for it. He glanced around him, knowing exactly what was going on. Despite his best efforts, his body refused to wake from the dream. Instead, he sighed to himself and began walking towards the cockpit.
The truth, was that these dreams were starting to become a nuisance. They were hardly threatening anymore, just the same thing every time. Kanan hardly noticed his course of action; it's always the same as before.
But as he made his way around the ship as usual, something felt off. It took him what seemed like forever to realize why. It wasn't silent anymore. For once, there was a sound other than Kanan's breathing.
Clink. Clink. Clink.
The noise echoed off the walls, ending the rein of silence. It was metalic in sound, faint but noticeable. Kanan noted that they didn't follow a rhythmic pattern, which ment the noise was being controlled by someone or something. He turned rigid, unnerved by the fact that he wasn't alone. He stopped dead in his tracks, peering into the darkness for a sign.
Clink. Clink. Clink
The closer he got to the cockpit, the louder it became. Kanan inched his way forward, scared to move any faster. When he finally entered the room, he hesitated.
Sitting on the floor was a boy, his face covered by a tangle of hair. Kanan didn't move, but he could feel his heart quickening. This never happened in his dreams before.
Just before he took a step, the boy moved. It was just a slight twitch of the hand, but it was enough to make Kanan flinch. He watched as a small object fell between his fingers.
It was a coin, with no particularly interesting details. And yet, Kanan felt as if it was a sign.
And as the coin hit the floor, he instantly knew why.
Etched into the surface, was a symbol. The same symbol on the crates from the compound.
A gasp escaped from his lips as recognition surged through him. The boy didn't seem to notice, still bouncing the coin off the ground.
"Hello?"
No answer.
"Who... are you?"
Nothing. Just the repetitive clink of the coin. With no other ideas, Kanan stepped forward, regretting it instantly.
The boy screamed, loud and piercing. Kanan flinched, covering his ears. This wasnt a scream of anger or fear. It was the scream of a boy in pure agony, as if his heart was ripped from his chest. And the scream continued to rise in volume, blocking out everything else. Finally, he stopped. Slowly, he looked straight into Kanan's eyes. Pure shock flooded him, just before he felt the floor fall beneath his feet.
And just like that, he was floating in space, suffocating. But, just like every other time, death didn't come. What did appear was the light, engulfing him in both fire and fury. And once again, Kanan began to struggle, panic settling in. No matter how many times he went through it, nothing could prepare him for the pain. The never-ending cycle of being burned alive.
Kanan woke with a start, gasping for air. The heat had resided, leaving chills behind. The sound of the coin was still apparent in his mind, as was the shadow of the boy. Nothing like that had ever happened before. Kanan didn't know if he should be excited or terrified. He sat up, rubbing his temple with his hands. Thing never seemed to be simple. He let out a very annoyed groan. Atleast there was one thing he could be sure of.
Hera was right about that hangover.
A crash outside Kanan's door made him bolt up out of bed. Apparently the others were awake as well. There was no telling what time it was due to the fact that Kanan had no window to his room. But despite the lack of vision, he had a hunch that it was early morning. Which ment Hera would be waiting to give another mission.
Another crash sounded, and he let out a sigh. It was like living with a bunch of children. And as he dragged himself out of his room, he realized just how accurate that was.
Laying awkwardly on the floor was Ezra, his arm pinned under Chopper. Behind them, stood Zeb, a scowl on his face. He watched as Chopper began to roll across Ezra's limbs, leaving little tracks on his clothes. He yelped as he did his best to push the droid off of himself. Zeb didn't bother interfering, massaging his arms as the fight unfolded. Kanan noted similar small tracks on his arms just like on Ezra. A sure sign that Chopper had plowed over him too.
"Do I even want to know what's going on?"
Zeb rolled his eyes. "Hera told us to clean the ship before we leave."
"So why aren't you cleaning it?"
"We were," Ezra grunted. He finally succeeded in pushing the Chopper off. The droid skidded across the floor, bumping back and forth off the walls. "We were trying to clean the floors, until the mop bucket decided to revolt!"
He pointed a finger at Chopper, who waved his mechanical arms around dramatically. The continued to slap at each others hands until Kanan intervened.
"Knock it off- Hey!"
Ezra, in an attempt to fend off Chopper, punched Kanan right on his knee. He shouted, almost toppling over the two of them. The look on Ezra's face showed that he knew exactly what had happened. Kanan's eyes seemed to burn holes into him as he cowered down, smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry... I was aiming for Chopper..."
Rubbing the newly formed bruise, Kanan shook his head and limped away towards the Cockpit.
The galaxy looked serene outside the ship, bright shades of blue and purple morphing together. Autopilot was engaged, so that Hera wouldn't need to slave over the controls all day. He sat next to her, giving her genuine smile. She smirked back, her hands resting gently on the wheel. The two of them were oddly at ease, considering yesterday's events.
"Sleep well?"
"Better than usual. Although," he added. "I would of slept much better with someone next to me." He gave her a lopsided grin. There were so many words he wanted to say. But to Hera, this was just friendly flirting, nothing serious.
She rolled her eyes. "Awe, well I'll be sure to tell Zeb so he can tuck you in tonight."
Kanan let out a snort. "Do you think he'll read me a bedtime story too?"
"Only if you give him a peck on the cheek first."
They laughed to themselves, Kanan could see Zeb in his mind, wearing a cute little apron like a typical mother. It only made him laugh more, which got Hera going again too. Even if this wasn't the way he wanted to be with Hera, it was still fun to speak with her as a good friend.
It wasn't often when they could relax for a moment, forgetting the responsibilities that lie ahead. Kanan loved days like these; where the stress of being a rebel was obsolete, and they could live a normal life. Not that it could technically be called a normal way of living, but it beat running from the Empire at every turn. Today, they could just be one, big, happy family.
Well, the term family was a stretch, but it fit them well. Hera and Kanan were mom and dad. Ezra, Sabine, and Chopper were the mischievous kids, And Zeb could be the grumpy uncle.
Kanan chuckled to himself, earning an odd glance from Hera. It wasn't how he imagined his life turning out, but he enjoyed his misfit of a family.
Most of the time.
"So, Captain Hera. What's on the agenda?"
The Twi'lek adjusted her ear pieces, tugging at the strap underneath her chin. "I've already informed Fulcrum of our mission on Lothal. Now we just have to wait for our next direction."
Kanan rolled his eyes. Fulcrum. Hera's go-to man for a way to tick off the Empire. He, on the other hand, tended to avoid going to Fulcrum for work. He found it hard to rely on the stranger, and he made sure to make it clear to Hera. It wasn't the fact that he was only spoke to her, it was the fact that he revealed nothing about himself. No name, no face, and only an altered voice. He refused to give any information to them, his go-to phrase being "It's on a need to know basis" which only made Kanan even angrier. How could you trust someone you've never even met face to face? Was it even possible?
This wouldn't be the first time Kanan had found himself thinking of trust. It was something he was always careful with, never forming a real relationship with anyone. Maybe it was due to the fact that he was a Jedi, always paranoid that the Empire was near. Or perhaps the paranoia came from being a rebel.
Or, just maybe, Kanan refused to get close to someone for a fear. A fear of losing everyone he loved. Just like Order Sixty-Six.
But Hera was different. From the day they had met on Gorse, Kanan had known. She was the only person he'd ever opened up to. That being said, his idea of being open was different from hers. He always refused to speak about his past, among other things, which angered Hera immensely. It made things tense between them, but Kanan never did it on purpose. He and Hera simply had different ideas on trust.
So no, Kanan didn't believe you could trust a person whom you've never seen in your life. But Hera did. It was quite obvious that she trusted Fulcrum completely. So despite his dismay, Kanan did his best to trust him too. Hera wasn't naive, she knew how to help. She always did what she could to strengthen the Rebellion. Unfortunately, She hardly ever thought the consequences of their actions. They could easily be captured, or be killed. But to her, the sacrifice would always be worth it.
Her voice cut through his thoughts. "You may not like him, but he's our best way of getting work. He'll have another mission ready for us."
"And what makes you think he isn't working for the Empire"
"Do you really want to have this conversation?" She sighed, aggravated.
Kanan shook his head in response. "I don't like it. Any of it. We do good work on our own."
"We can't do this alone, Kanan. We need all the help we can get."
"So we need help from him? Of all people?"
Hera turned in his direction, ready to snap out a response, but a sound interrupted her. It drifted into the cockpit, A repetitive beeping noise. Kanan instantly recognized it, just as Hera jumped out of her chair. An incoming transmission. Fulcrum was ready to speak.
Kanan stood to follow Hera, but she turned and gave him a warning glare. It was another part of their deal, Hera was the only one with permission to speak to Fulcrum.
Not that Kanan and the others didn't listen behind the door.
As soon as she disappeared into the room, the transmission stopped beeping. Kanan waited, then crept forward. He pressed his ear gently to the cold, metal door. At first, he heard nothing. Then, Hera spoke.
"We've received enough supplies to last a while."
Fulcrum's voice cut in and out of Kanan's hearing. The only words he could comprehend were "disguise" and "discreet" which wasn't very specific. He switched positions, trying to get a better angle to hear.
"Kanan?"
He flinched, turning to see Ezra. He glanced at Kanan's ear that pressed against the door and smirked. Kanan rolled his eyes in response, still trying to hear behind the door. Ezra crept closer, mimicking him.
"Fulcrum?"
"Yep."
Ezra snorted, scrunting his brow as he strained to hear the conversation. Kanan did the same, catching a small bit of their talk.
"-Charming to the guests. Your formal attire will be provided-"
Ezra lifted his face from the door, confused. "Attire? Guests? What kind of mission is this?"
"I don't know, but I don't like it." Kanan's ear was starting to ache from the pressure, but he continued to listen anyways.
Ezra, on the other hand, was too distracted to care about the rest of the conversation. His eyes lit up with the possibilities, a wide grin on his face.
"A mission with formal attire and guests. Sounds like a party. Or... a wedding!"
"Seriously, kid?"
"Wait! Wait! What if it's about Hera's wedding?"
"What? What are you talking about?"
"That would explain everything! That's why we never get to listen to our mission summaries! Hera is planning her secret wedding!"
"Ezra." He warned.
"Or better yet, her secret wedding with...Fulcrum!"
"Enough! That's completely-"
Before Kanan could finish, the door to Hera's room opened. He and Ezra both took a step back as Hera glared at them. He felt as if he were set on fire underneath her gaze.
"You do realize," she hissed. "That I can hear everything on the outside of this door?"
Kanan gulped, hearing Ezra do the same. Hera's eyes could of burned the two of them to ash.
But instead of releasing her fury apon them, she took a deep breath and walked away. Kanan and Ezra looked to each other, then back at her.
"What's up with her?"
"No idea."
They followed her into the commons area where Sabine and Zeb were already waiting. Ezra plopped onto the couch next to them as Kanan stood across the table from Hera. Only then did he see the box that she held on her hip. She waited for the rest of the group to settle down before speaking.
"Fulcrum just informed me of our next mission," she explained. "But it's not how we usually handle things. This time it's different."
Her eyes scanned their faces, hesitating on Kanan. He had a feeling that comment was directed towards him. He'd never cared much for procedure or protocol; there was no reason you couldn't break a few rules. But this time, it was a necessity.
Ezra groaned. "C'mon Hera, we can handle whatever it is."
"You don't understand, this isn't a normal mission. Guns and lightsabers won't help."
Shocked and confused faces all turned to her, Kanan's included. It was obvious that they were all thinking the same thing. What kind of enemy is one that you can't fight?
"This mission is purely for information purposes. We can't cause problems in any way." Hera put a large amount of emphasis on the word "any" looking directly at Ezra and Zeb. They refused to make eye contact, laughing nervously.
Sabine broke the tension, turning towards Hera. "So, what info are we trying to get?"
"Fulrcum wasn't specific-"
"He never is." Kanan muttered.
"-But," she continued, glaring his way. "We have reason to believe that the Empire has called in reinforcements to deal with the rebellion. Inquisitor reinforcements."
Silence covered the room. Hera and Kanan were grim, understanding exactly how bad this was. But the kids, they didn't seem to be as concerned about the Inquisitor. They didn't understand how dangerous he actually was.
"That doesn't sound that bad." Ezra hopped off of the sofa. "So, we go in, find the info, and get back out. Easy."
Kanan intervened. "But go where?"
"I'm glad you asked." She responded. Hera had a suspicious look on her face as she grabbed the box from her hip. She placed it onto the table as the rest of the crew leaned in to see. She lifted the lid from the box, pulling out a bundle of fabric. It unfolded, glittering in the light.
"A dress? You're joking right?" Ezra blinked, turned to Kanan. "She's gotta be joking."
"Yes, Ezra. A dress. Because where we're going, you'll need to look your best." She dug back into the box, pulling out more outfits. Each one was designed to fit perfectly, there was even something for Zeb.
Hera tossed the outfits to their corresponding crew member. "The Empire is known for throwing celebrations to keep people happy. And tonight, they've whipped up something special in Garel City. They opened up one of their own facilities to hold all the guests."
Sabine put a hand to her chin. "If it's the same facility that I'm thinking of, then I think I know where to find the information. But who's getting it?"
"Ezra and Chopper."
Ezra groaned. "No, no no no no! I can't work with him!" He jabbed a finger at Chopper who let out a series of agitated beeps. "He always starts trouble!"
Hera rolled her eyes in response. "All you had to do was clean the ship."
"We were! Until Chopper rolled his little wheels all over us! Look at my arms!"
He held out his hands, covered in little tracks just like Zeb's. Hera sighed, putting a hand to her temple. "Ezra, he doesn't even have wheels."
Ezra blinked, looking down at Chopper's blocky feet, then back at his arms.
"Huh. How is that possible?"
Chopper made a sound very similar to a laugh, earning a glare from the rest of the crew. Hera sighed again, returning to the mission at hand.
"While Ezra and Chopper infiltrate security and get the information, the rest of us will try and get clues from the crowd. Some of the Empire's most powerful allies will be there-"
"Aw c'mon!' Ezra blurted. "Why do you guys get the fun job?"
Kanan snorted. "I'd rather take on security."
Hera groaned in exasperation. Her patience was finally running thin. "Thats enough. This mission has already been decided. Does everyone understand their part?"
They all nodded. Kanan felt his stomach drop, he hated missions like this. When he joined with Hera as a Rebel, it never occurred to him how much of his time would be spend observing instead of fighting. But as much as he hated it, missions like these were necessary.
Kanan grabbed his outfit, letting it unfold in front of him. Robes made of black and white with intricate designs embedded into the cuffs.
Definitely not his style.
Ezra was apparently thinking the same thing. His robes were a navy blue and white with similar markings to Kanan's. He wrinkled his nose at the fabric.
"Are the outfits really necessary?"
Hera grinned at his disgust. "We have to blend in as best as we can, Ezra. I expect all of you to be ready in a few."
And just like that, she walked away. Leaving Kanan and the others to scowl at their clothes. One by one, they drifted to their rooms to get ready. Kanan lingered for as long as possible, until he was the only one left in the commons area. He shook his head angrily. There was no way a mission like this would be good.
And as soon as they landed on Gorel, he knew that he was right.