– 1 month after Never Alone

Hera was in the middle of a good book when it happened. A good, old-fashioned, Earth system book with ripped pages and a stained cover and a written threat to Chopper that she would use his parts for the hyperdrive if he ever touched it again.

How unfortunate that Earth system literature didn't come with an inbuilt lumen globe.

Just at the peak of her terror, when the waves crested over the doomed seacraft and a monstrous, white maw rose from the deep, the overhead lights fizzled, sparked, and blinked out.

Predictable.

"Kanaaan!"

"I'm in the middle of something."

"I told him to fix that months ago," Hera grumbled. She set the book aside and balanced on the edge of her bunk, reaching for the fuses. "Kanan?"

"Kind of busy!"

"What could possibly be so urgent that you can't spare two minutes?"

"Hera, I told you, I'll be there in a minute!"

"Kanan!"

Stalking from her room, Hera glanced down the hall and tracked Ezra's snorting. She folded her arms and leaned against the wall. "That busy, huh?"

"Concentrating." Kanan stared at the holochess board, eyes shifting lethally between Ezra's pieces and his own.

"Uh-huh. Ezra, if you can spare our fearless leader for a moment, I need his services."

"I'm teaching Ezra to focus."

"And I'm teaching you to be flexible. Lumen globe, Kanan."

"Why can't you use a datapad?"

"Because datapads scroll too fast and I lose half the – why does it matter? Just two minutes, Kanan."

"In a minute, Captain Hera."

"Oh, so that's where this is going." Hera's eyes narrowed.

Kanan scowled at the board. "Yup, that's exactly where it's going."

"Wait – what's going where?" Ezra looked between them worriedly.

"All right." Hera nodded pertly. "I'll leave you to your game, then."

"I'll be there in a minute."

"Do I have to be stuck in the middle of this?" Ezra shifted to the edge of the seat.

"Yeah, Hera - leave the kid out of it."

"I'm not threatening him. You're the one being a poor example."

"Oh, no – you're not using Ezra against me."

"That's funny; I believe you brought him up."

"We really don't have to discuss this, right?" Ezra queasily hopped down. "I'll change the lumen globe, Her-ah!"

Kanan nipped out and grabbed the kid's arm, pushing him back into his seat. "Stay out of it."

"Kanan Jarrus, he was offering to help! Unlike someone who has been sitting around for the past five hours."

"My knee is in a plexi-cast. If you have an alternative, pray elaborate."

"Take a line from Zeb; use your Jedi powers."

"I'm not using the force to change a lumen globe!"

"It's a perfectly practical alternative!"

"If you let me think for one minute, I'll get your stupid globe!"

"Kanan, we've been arguing about this for five minutes. You could have been three moves into your game by now."

"I would be if I could just focus!"

"Oh, I'll give you something to focus on, you –"

"Can't you just read out here?" Ezra squeaked. Duo glares turned on him and he slid under the table.

"Kanan, lumen globe," Hera snapped. "Now."

"When I'm done." He sullenly moved his piece.

Ezra peeked over the table, brightened, and used his index finger to punch his next move. Kanan flung up his hands and groaned.

"Great! Just great! I almost had him, too!"

"Now will you fix the lumen globe?" Hera said smoothly.

"Fine! Yes! Now I will fix the lumen globe! Are you happy, Captain?"

Sighing languidly, Hera winked at Ezra and stretched. "Actually, I think I'll read out here. The atmosphere is quite invigorating."

Kanan's eyebrow twitched.

"Don't clench your teeth, love."

Earth is included in some Star Wars references, and is occasionally known as "That galaxy far, far away".

Early update since I don't write on Sundays. :) Thank you to heartbreakerninja, majo2, Force sensitive, Kat Bridger, BuruPlays2, mpathy, Ichichi05, Unfathomableandoms, and AzulaBlue92 for leaving feedback last chapter!