A.N. ~ I am SOO sorry for the wait! First writers' block, then company...sorry. As for the trip I was going to be taking this week, the date was pushed up to Friday and I will be back on Sunday. Anyways, please enjoy the chapter!


Tail looked at Twitch somewhat wearily as she entered the barrack. Earlier, she had been radiating emotions that told him he had to have a death wish to push her. Now he couldn't feel anything coming from her.

Can I approach you without losing my head? He timidly asked.

Tail, no matter how angry I am, I will never seriously hurt you, Twitch promised.

SERIOUSLY?! She almost laughed at her brother's exaggerated tone; his method of making her feel better through humor.

Why do you want to approach? We aren't hugging, are we? The girl was slightly suspicious as she walked up to Tail. He suddenly swatted her head once she was in range.

"Ai!" She yelped. "What was that for?"

"The squad down the hall came to see if bloody murder was being committed after you left. I already smacked everybody else." Twitch quickly flicked the scout's forehead.

"Only fair that you get hit, too. You yelled as much as we did."

"Weellll…" Darys didn't risk continuing the sentence with a golden scowl directed straight at him.

"Fair enough. Can we discuss your sister quietly, now?" Streak and Hazard glanced irritably from the bunk they were perched on, in the middle of a sabacc game.

"Okay, but I'm telling you, we should let her be. She will come back." Twitch crossed her arms.

"What makes you so sure? Desertion isn't usually temporary." Hazard scoffed.

"This is Kat. Nearly nothing about her is usual." The girl reminded. "Besides, if she wanted to leave, she would have done it long ago."


Cad Bane wasn't that hard to find. After a little asking around in the rowdy bars, Kat discovered his favorite one by talking to multiple bartenders. All she had to do was wait for him to show up. Claws was hiding out back, since a nexu tended to bring unwanted attention in small buildings.

Finally, the Duros bounty hunter came in, and didn't really notice the teenager until he sat next to her.

"Golden eyes in humans are pretty unusual, so I'm sure you remember me. And don't mistake me for my sister." Kat didn't even glance at him as she gulped a shot of clear liquid. Bane looked her over, hand already sliding to his hip. Unfortunately for him, his gun was missing, pick pocketed by the girl. "Also, I should mention I'm not happy with you.

"I don't want to get kicked out of here. Let's take this outside." Cad kept a hand on his other gun as they walked out the door and behind the building. Just as the hunter began drawing his weapon, Claws landed on him, pinning his hands under her paws.

"You're a monster, you know that? It's understandable that you came after me, but then you went after my mother? A defenseless civilian?!" Kat drew her guns and prepared to fire.

"You were in the way, and then she got between me and my problem. That made her a problem, too."

"You could have knocked her out! Or stunned her, or paralyzed her…you could have done something different!" She yelled.

"I didn't feel like it." Bane launched an electrified string into Claws' face, drawing a screech as she leaped back. Kat shot, narrowly missing Cad's head. She did, however, scorch two holes into his hat. That, of course, crossed a line, though.

They shot and ran back and forth, Claws waiting for a chance to attack without getting killed. By the time a window of opportunity opened for her, the teenager and Duros were coated in sweat, panting, and running low on ammo.

The nexu leaped on top of her enemy, biting at his neck and slashing at his chest. She gouged into Bane's skin, leaving three bloody trails and green blood on her claws for the effort. Kat darted in and grabbed Cad's hands so he couldn't shoot or fend off any more attacks.

"I guess you're just as much a demon as Fett. And just as much a murderer." He spat.

"That's the pot calling the kettle black." Kat, however, was still Kat, and her luck was the same as always. Bad things always had to happen to her, especially at the worst times. Claws was a moment away from killing the bounty hunter when a griever decided to pop up and attack.

"Haar'chak!" Kat howled as the three of them dove away from the monster.

"Better luck next time, kiddo." Bane flicked a couple of his fingers in a mocking salute while flying away with his boot rockets.

So close. We were so kriffin' close!


Twitch eventually managed to convince the rest of Zeta Squad to let Kat be, though even Tail wasn't too happy with her. She kept catching the others giving her irritated scowls until she got sick of it and left to practice her hand-to-hand skills alone.

Somewhere in the city, there were a bunch of wooden posts with flat tops, about fifty square feet of them, and that was a perfect place for Twitch to train, since she took the precaution of bringing her cloak.

Little did she know, the 659th was on Naboo for shore leave, and a few months earlier, Keeli had happened to find the posts as well, and used them.

To say that Twitch was surprised at seeing her former CO standing with crossed arms behind her was an understatement.

She nearly lost her footing, and fell backward, so she had to land in a bridge, precariously balancing over the thirty foot drop.

"Captain! If you wanted me dead, you could've brought a gun." She grunted, pushing off her feet, balancing on her hands, and landing on all fours, right side up before standing.

"Didn't know you were up here. I take it you come here a lot?"

"Not recently, but I have made this a bit of a habit. Do you?"

"Every now and then." An awkward silence followed, and eventually the two nonverbally agreed to split the posts in half. By the time they spoke again, the sun was starting to set.

"You've been making a lot of mistakes. Unusual." Keeli commented. Twitch had, in fact, been losing her balance frequently, slouching into bad form during her attacks, and seeming to put next to no effort into kicking and punching.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but I'm really not in the mood for a lecture." The commando snapped. He just crossed his arms with a rather prompting eyebrow raise. She silently scowled at him while wondering why she had done that and how to take it back with at least some dignity.

Eventually, Twitch broke eye contact, still pinned by the captain's unrelenting gaze.

"Kid, what's wrong?" Keeli couldn't recall the last time Twitch had looked so preoccupied, and he'd never seen her act like a…well, like a teenager.

That's what I'd like to know, Tail growled.

Out of my head, Twitch ordered. She didn't know what to say to the older clone, and frankly didn't want to have to explain it. Keeli just sat down and watched the sunset as the girl figured herself out.

Tell him, leave, don't say anything and stay…I wonder if he'd hold it against me if I pushed him over the edge… She finally sat down with a breathed curse.

Dusk light encompassed the soldiers, giving the feeling that they were the only beings in existence. Maybe it was that sense of seclusion that encouraged her, perhaps it was her trust and respect for the captain, but Twitch finally started talking.

"Remember…how I was a rogue for three years?" Keeli glanced at her, somewhat surprised she would bring such a topic up, but nodded anyway. "I didn't actually really have much of a choice. It was either turning into a rogue, or going to a bad place."

"And you obviously wanted to stay away from that place. What's this about?" The girl sighed before taking the plunge.

"My sister has amnesia and nightmares have kept her up a lot. She left recently to find out what happened before she lost her memories. In short, the rest of my squad is thinking of her as a deserter. She had to go. She hasn't had a good sleep in years, but they want to track her down and really aren't happy. I just wish they'd have an open mind to 'desertion'. She'll come back. I'm sure of it. They just aren't."

"So you're trying to defend your sister and her choice to leave, but they aren't seeing how it's a good thing." Keeli reasoned.

"That's about everything in a nutshell, but I also want them to understand that not all desertion is bad. I know it isn't always right, but come on, not even a few scenarios can be left alone?" The almost whiny tone of a teenager was too much for Keeli's self-control and he released a huff of amusement, getting an irritated scowl in return.

"I'm not too partial to deserters, either, but I do remember one saved my shebs on a certain planet. And that she nearly became my second in command a few times." Twitch nearly fell off her post at that.

"Come again?" She slowly blinked.

"'Course, your age was a problem, what with you being only thirteen, but I really wasn't that surprised to hear about you getting promoted to sergeant. On topic, though, your squad will come around or get over it eventually. Maybe try explaining it without a raised voice."

"How did you—"

"Your temper is short enough without everybody giving your sister a hard time. Yelling from you is nothing new to me."


Kat prepared to jump from Claws' back. They were pursuing Bane on rooftops, and gaining on him. Not many people could outrun a nexu, after all.

Just as they drew level to the Duros, Kat jumped from her friend's back and tackled him, clawing with her gauntlets and even going as far as head-butting him. They tumbled right off the roof, landed on a few dumpsters, and rolled onto the ground, still locked together.

Claws bit one of Cad's hands off next time he drew it back to throw a punch, giving the girl time to pull out a gun and shoot him in the chest. He collapsed and Kat checked his rapidly weakening pulse.

"I'll let the rats eat your corpse." She spat, grabbing his hat while clambering onto Claws' back. "Let's go home, buddy."


Twitch back flipped while blocking to more attacks. She and Keeli had stayed out too late, and fighting their way to the Military District seemed like the only option.

"So have you thought about my offer?" The captain asked, shooting with the guns his sister had lent him.

"It's been only five minutes. Besides, I like concentrating on the beasts trying to kill us." Wraiths weren't so much of a big deal unless they surrounded you, then they were dangerous. Of course, the two clones had bad enough luck to get surrounded by a massive group.

It took them almost ten minutes to chase off the monsters, and three hours to make it back. At the door to the complex, Keeli crossed his arms and looked at Twitch expectantly.

"Hhh, Tail can be a jerk, but he's still my brother-by-choice." She stated.

"And you think you'd have to leave him behind to do this?" The older clone guessed.

"Wouldn't I?"

"I could always ask for all of Zeta Squad."


Twitch didn't tell the rest of the squad, in case they got upset, but she did tell Tail, who seemed to be getting over earlier arguments and started acting normally.

We aren't really in any battalion right now, and you've told me that Keeli and Ghynna are good leaders. This is good. Especially what Keeli is offering you, the scout said.

I guess, but I'm worried about the others. Darys especially. The guy is…

An easy target. No kidding. It's like throwing a cadet to a pack of wolves. Especially with Ticks.

Yeah, this won't be pretty. Can I explain things to you calmly, now?

I'm listening…

I was a deserter because it was either Kamino or leaving the Republic. That was the same for Spitfire. Kat, though, we don't know about. She can't remember how she got off Kamino or what happened to her. When my memories were wiped, though, I had flashes. The memories were trying to come back. I think that's sort of what's been happening to Kat.

She keeps on remembering bits and pieces and can't sleep, and you think it just was too much for her, Tail confirmed.

She has less sleep than we do. I guess I just don't want you guys to think badly of all deserters. We don't all get a choice in this.

And most of us don't have the option of desertion at all.

I know. None of this is fair. The people who need to desert or should have the option can't and the people who can and do…agh, this is all so messed up!

Easy, vod'ika. Just sleep on it. Keeli won't have any troubles getting Zeta Squad. After all, he doesn't have to argue with our Jedi general.

Nonexistent…

Exactly.


Kat appeared in the barrack with Claws the next morning, feet dragging and a large hat in her hands. Twitch saw the accessory and grinned.

"Wait, isn't that—"

"Cad Bane's. Yeah."

"How did you get it? That guy kills for his hat!" Twitch hopped off her bunk to approach her sister, but stopped short when she saw the haunted look in her eyes. "What happened?"

"Got my memories back." Kat tipped forward and Twitch caught her. The tired girl's shaky breathing startled the other commando, who eased her onto a bunk.

The others watched with wide eyes, unsure whether or not to approach.

Tail, could you get everyone out of here, please? Twitch asked. Knowing her sister, she knew Kat would like some privacy. The scout murmured something to the others and herded them out, leaving only the females of the squad in the room.

"Oh, Twitch, how do I live with myself?" Before she could answer, the traumatized girl continued. "I was a bounty hunter, Twitch. I killed children. Little kids that were as young as I was. And I didn't even care that I did it." Tears eked out of Kat's clenched eyes.

"I don't know, vod. But that was a different you. Now you care about people and you've made up for your past, tenfold. You were only nine. You couldn't have understood the depth of what you were doing. And you killed Cad Bane, which will save a lot of lives."

"I was adopted by someone who was on Kamino. She let Bane's cousin help raise me, as a bounty hunter! I was too much competition for Bane. He came to kill me. My mom injected me with stuff so I wouldn't remember my life as a hunter. While she distracted Bane, Tal got me and Claws away. Cad killed mom."

Twitch winced at the story. Her sister took revenge and found out dark things about herself that would drive some people insane with guilt. It was a wonder no Despair-class demons had attacked her yet.

"And you are so incredibly strong for dealing with this as well as you have. Your mom would be so, so proud of you."

"Tal said I rivaled Lantana Fett for the title, 'The Golden-Eyed Demon'. Me, a nine-year-old kid, who didn't even know what she was really doing." Twitch knew that tone. She quickly grabbed her pillow and held it up for Kat, who began punching it with numbing strength.

Ow, ow, ow, she has a hard punch, Twitch thought to herself.

By the time Kat had vented all her emotions and fallen asleep, lunch had come around. Twitch pulled a blanket around her sister before leaving to explain things to Tail and eat something.


A.N. ~ hey, for once, I'm not the one who is doing all the torturing here. Kat's creator wrote her past. Anyways, I'll try to make up for the earlier wait. Please have patience!