Kanan and Athena had not said much when on the plane. They had sat in silence, thinking about everything. It was a very long trip.

The plane lurched, telling them that they had landed. More guards came and took the restraints off of the wall and surrounded the two as they had done before. They walked them out of the plane onto a hot, concrete landing platform and then into a large warehouse looking building. The horizon was a red dessert.

"What is this place?" Kanan asked.

"Area 51. The place rumored to have aliens and secret weapons for the military." Athena answered.

"And how do you know about this?" Kanan asked.

"Everyone knows about it, well, at least in America." Athena answered.

They looked around to see a man dressed in a black suit and had a buzz cut standing in front of them.

"Hello,you must be prisoners Ix-42 and Ix-43. "

"What do you want from us?" Kanan asked.

"Your Force-abilities we believe are genetic and can be carried on." the man spoke.

"So what does that mean?" Kanan asked.

"We mean that your powers can be used as a military weapon for our country." the man waved to the guards surrounding Athena and Kanan. "Take them to rooms A-47 and A-59."

And the guards started to take the two in different directions. Kanan and Athena resisted the officers and tried to get away. One of the guards tased Kanan and he screamed in agony.

That set Athena over the limit. She felt the Force flood through her veins and the room shook around them. Athena waved her arm and the room filled with ice, freezing many of the guards.

Kanan looked dover at Athena and saw that her eyes weren't the same. They were a dark, blood red filling her entire eyes.

Athena waved her hand once again and the room was covered in vines, tangling everything except for her and Kanan. When she saw that all of the guards were seduced, she calmed down. Her eyes turned back to her usual green.

"Let's go!" Athena yelled as she dashed out of the building as sirens blared.

Kanan followed her outside where they ran into the vast desert.

They had run out of breath after a few minutes and slowed down.

"What was that?!" Kanan yelled at Athena.

Athena shrugged "I don't know. "

"Your eyes turned red! You could've turned to the Dark side!" Kanan yelled.

"Sorry." Athena said sarcastically "I thought you'd be a little more thankful for me saving us back there."

"I am. But you have to be careful, we don't even know what powers you possess yet." Kanan said more calmly.

"I know, but that doesn't mean that they should find out first and use it for destruction and war."

Kanan sighed "Well, do you at least know where we are?"

Athena reached into her pocket and took out her phone. "Um... where do you want to go? More populated or less populated?"

"Well, we need to contact the fleet." Kanan said.

"And that means?"

"I don't know!"

"Well, we could go to Vegas." Athena said "We can see if we can somehow contact them. You got your com?"

"Yes, why?"

"I think we can hid out easily in a large city like Las Vegas and maybe your com can still contact the Ghost."

"Good idea." Kanan said "I see what Mom was talking about when she said that we are both smart."

"Yeah, do you still have your lightsaber?" Athena asked.

"No, I think Jalo and his crew took it."

"And they didn't take your com or my phone?"

"I guess so."

"Dude, I have it. You dropped it when we were getting off of Jalo's ship." Athena said, handing him his lightsaber.

"What?! And you didn't tell me?"

"What was I supposed to say in front of Jalo, 'Hey, Kanan. You dropped your highly deadly weapon and here it is!'?"

Kanan sighed. "Let's go, we don't want to get captured again."

"Okay," Athena said looking at her phone "We go that way." she said pointing.

And the 2 started to walk in the direction of Las Vegas.

"You know, this is my 3rd time running from the authorities." Athena said.

"3rd?"

"Yep, I accidently knocked over a art work at the Cleveland Museum of Art and I had to run."

"Really?" Kanan smiled.

"Yep. Not fun. So, long story short, I'm not allowed in art museums any more."

"One time when I was about your age I almost knocked over Master Yoda with a cart in the Jedi Temple. My Master was not happy with me at all."

Athena smiled at that. "Really?"

"Yeah, got stuck cleaning the classrooms for a month."

"One time in school I accidently spilled glue on the teacher's desk and everything stuck to it, including the teacher's arms. I got detention for a week."

Kanan laughed at that, she was starting to sound like younger him. "When was that?"

"5 days ago."

"I guess we're both trouble makers."

"Yep,I guess so."

"How much further 'till town?" Kanan asked.

"Not too long, about 30 minutes if we keep this pace."

"Good, then we'll attempt to contact the Ghost and see if they can get here."

"If they can, I don't recommend that they land here."

"What do you suggest?" Kanan asked.

"That we get out of the United States. We can't have them capture the crew, I suggest Mexico or Guatemala."

"And how far is that?"

"About 2,300 miles, or about 3,700 kilometers."

"Ah!" Kanan screamed as he threw his hands in the air.

"Maybe we can get a car in Las Vegas to drive."

"How? We don't have any money!"

"It's Vegas, trust me, you can get some money from being a musician on the street. That or fighting in the backstreets, my usual choice is fighting."

"You've been there before?"

"Yeah, when I was 10 I moved here for a few months and I earned money by summer jobs at food stops and fights."

"Jeez, that's horrible."

"Ehh... it built my character."

"Still..."

They walked further and saw a road, they followed it. After a while of walking the city became visible in the horizon.

"We're almost there." Athena said.

"Yeah. What do we do when we get there?"

"We're gonna blend into the crowd and try to contact the crew. Cover the com with my phone as you talk into it so no one suspects anything."

"How are we going to blend in? My clothing isn't exactly what your people wear."

"You're in Vegas, you could be dressed as a Stormtrooper and not have any stares."

"Seriously? Your people are really confusing me."

"Stop calling them 'my people', okay? That's getting on my nerves." Athena said.

"Fine, so once we get into town we blend into the crowd, tell the crew we'll meet them in Guatemala, earn some money from fights and music, get a car, go to Guatemala and meet the crew."

"Now that you say it like that, it sounds like one of those old cheesy movies from the 60's. But, yes." Athena said.

"Good. So can you sing at all?" Kanan asked.

"No, I sound like a dying bird." Athena said. "Can you?"

"A little. But I still don't want you to fight." Kanan said.

"I can fight just fine!" Athena yelled.

"I know, but I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'm not gonna get hurt. It's the other guy you should worry about."

"I'm serious."

"Fine, Dad." Athena said sarcastically.

"Hey, I just am looking out for you."

"I know, but I can take care of myself. I've done it for the past 13 years."

They walked into the city where there were many buildings and people. They walked farther into the city just to make sure that they were well hidden.

"How do we start getting money from music?" Kanan asked Athena.

"We want to either find 2 trash cans and play the drums or you need to learn the guitar and sing."

"I don't even know what a guitar is."

"Well, can you play the drums?" Athena asked.

"Kinda, but not well." Kanan told the teen following him.

"Great, so I guess I have to do everything." Athena said. "Follow me." Athena walked another direction and Kanan followed.

They walked down an alleyway where there was a large dumpster at the end. Athena walked to it and started to look around in it.

"What are you doing?" Kanan asked Athena, who was now almost all the way in the dumpster.

"Looking for a...Aha! Found one!" Athena yelled, holding up a plastic cup.

"What are you gonna do?"

"There is this song that involves a cup and the only song that I can memorize the lyrics and rhythms and sing it."

Kanan followed Athena out of the alley way and back to the sidewalk where Athena sat down took off her hoodie and placed it infront of her. She started to play a rhythm with the cup she had found. And she started to sing;

I've got my ticket for the long way 'round
Two bottle whiskey for the way
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I'm leaving tomorrow. What d'you say?

A crowd started to form around Athena, some throwing dollar bills onto her hoodie. Kanan was impressed.

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Some more people stopped to listen to Athena and it formed a crowd of about 30 people, more dollar bills were thrown on the hoodie.

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Athena started to play a long rhythm on the cup she had just found, which was very impressive. Kanan smiled.

I've got my ticket for the long way 'round
The one with the prettiest of views
It's got mountains, it's got rivers
It's got sights to give you shivers
But it sure would be prettier with you

The crowd became bigger and one woman tapped Kanan on his shoulder.

"Are you the father?" she asked.

"No, I'm her brother."

"Oh, well she's very good." the woman said and walked away back into the crowd.

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

The crowd grew to about 50 people, Athena kept singing.

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're sure gonna miss me when I'm gone

Kanan felt another tap on the shoulder and her looked back to see a man with a little girl on his shoulders.

"Your daughter is very good." He said.

"I'm not her dad, I'm the brother."

"Really? How far apart in age are you?"

"Why?"

"Just wondering, my daughter wants an autograph."

"You'll have to ask her." Kanan gestured to Athena.

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Athena finished the song and the crowd applauded. She collected the money from her hoodie and got up and handed it to Kanan.

"Put this in your pocket. We'll look for a bag later for our stuff." she said.

He put it in his pocket and looked back at Athena "I thought you said you couldn't sing."

"Well, I guess I can now."

"You were very good."

"Thanks, let's go." Athena said walking away.

"Where are we going?" Kanan asked, following Athena.

"To get some new clothes, you'll die in that sweater of yours in this heat."

Athena was right, Kanan was sweating to death in his long sleeve sweater.

"I think we should save up for water and a car." Kanan said.

"We aren't spending much, we're going to Goodwill. Two shirts can be bought for a little over a dollar." Athena said.

"Where is this Goodwill?"

"Up around the corner here, we'll get you and me a bag, some clothes, and then get a car."

"You sure have a plan." Kanan said.

"It can change along the way."

They walked into a building, and immediately the two were cooled off by the air conditioning. Their relief must've been noticeable.

"You aren't from here are you?" a woman asked from behind the desk.

"No, we're from Michigan." Athena lied.

"I hear it gets cold up there."

"Yep." Kanan said and they both walked to the shirts.

"Here, I found you a shirt." Athena said, holding up a blue shirt.

Kanan held the shirt "Yeah, that's good. Here, I found you one." Kanan said, handing Athena a green and blue shirt.

Athena took it out of his hand and looked at the price tag. "Okay, so your shirt is 53 cents and this one is 53 cents, so we have to pay a dollar and 6 cents for shirts. We better look at some pants and a bag."

"I'll go look for a bag." Kanan said walking away.

"I'll go look for some pants. I'll try to get your size." Athena said walking in another direction.

The 2 looked for a while until each had found what they wanted. Athena found some jeans for Kanan and some for herself. Kanan found a black bookbag and found Athena near the books. Athena was looking at all of the books until she heard Kanan behind her.

"You ready? I found a book bag." Kanan asked.

"Yep, just passin' the time with some books. I found some jeans."

"Good, let's go." Kanan said walking to the desk, Athena followed.

They placed the stuff in front of the lady that had greeted them and she rung up the total cost.

"That'll be $6.25."

"Just give me the money." Athena said to Kanan.

He handed her the wad of money, and Athena placed 7 ones on the counter and the cashier put it in the register and handed the change back.

Kanan and Athena stuffed the rest of the money, the new clothes, the cup, Athena's sketchbook and Athena's MP3 player in the book bag and they walked down the street.

"Here," Athena said handing Kanan her phone "contact the others."

Kanan took out his com and held it to his ear, with the cellphone covering it in his hand.

"Hello? Anybody there?" Kanan said.

"Kanan?" Hera's voice came on crackly.

Kanan was so relieved to hear her voice.

"Where are you?" Hera asked.

"I'm with Athena on Earth, we are gonna have to meet in a part of Earth called Guatemala."

"Okay, how's Athena?" Hera asked.

"She's 's with me." Kanan told Hera.

"Where are you guys now?" Hera asked.

"We are in America, but it's too dangerous to land here, we have to meet in Guatemala, I'll tell you the exact coordinates when we're there."

"I'll tell Fulcrum, when are you going to be there?"

"I don't know, a few days I suppose." Kanan told Hera "I'll contact you everyday."

"Okay, just hang in there. We'll find you." Hera told Kanan.

"Thanks, Specter 1 out."

Kanan put the com back on his belt and handed Athena her phone back.

"Thank you." Athena said.

"Where are we going to get a car?"

"I know a guy who owes me a favor, I'll see if he'll help me out." Athena said.

"Who is this guy?"

"An old friend, I saved his life and he said that he'll help me out whenever I need it."

"What's his name?"

"What are you? Mr. Noesy?" Athena asked "He was an old friend from school, he's about 15 now and his dad owns a rental-car place."

"What's his name?"

"It doesn't matter, we're almost there." Athena said, turning a corner.

Kanan followed her to a lot filled with cars, Athena walked into the shop and Kanan followed.

"Yo, Sneaks!" Athena called.

An oiled-covered teen came out from behind a car. "Yo, Dictionary!"

"Hey, I need a ride." Athena said as she hugged the oil-covered kid.

"Sure, anything for my favorite walkin' computer." He pointed to Kanan "This a new dad?"

"No. Look, I really need something." Athena said.

"Hi." Kanan said to the boy.

"Sup." the teenage boy said back "Why you need a car so bad?"

"We're taking a trip and our car was stolen." Athena lied.

"With him? What is he your new boyfriend?"

"No, he's my brother." Athena said. "Now can you please get me a car?"

"Your brother? Now I hope I'm not gonna get pummeled for datin' ya from a couple years back."

"You dated someone?" Kanan asked, surprised.

"Why? You surprised I got a date before you?" Athena said to Kanan.

"No, I'm just...uh.."

"Follow me, I got somethin' that'll work for ya." The boy said walking out of the shop.

Kanan and Athena followed him to a beat up car where he stopped. The car looked like it had gone through a demolition derby.

"You gotta be kiddin'." Athena said.

"What? Ol' Blue is as good as any other car in my shop. She'll run through the desert like nothin'."

Athena sighed "It'll do. Can I get some fuel, I don't have much money."

"You don't have much money? I'm surprised guys don't give you money just for being able to look at your face." the teenage boy said as he leaned on the car.

"Remember the last time you tried to flirt with me on a date? It didn't end well for you." Athena warned.

"A'ight, a'ight. I'll get you some fuel. How much ya need?"

"About the amount to be able to get through Mexico." Athena said.

"Geez! I couldn't give ya that much if you'd save my life 3 times!"

"Can you atleast give me enough to get through half of it?" Athena asked.

"Sure, let me go get it." the teenage boy said, walking back to the shop.

Athena and Kanan stood near the beat-up car.

"So... you dated?" Kanan asked.

"Don't say anything." Athena said with her head fixed forward.

"Fine, I just wanted to know."

"I don't ask about your life choices, don't ask me about mine." Athena said.

Kanan rolled his eyes and saw the oil-covered teen carry 10 5-liter gas cans.

"Dude! This won't get us more than 250 miles!" Athena told the boy, who was putting the cans in the trunk.

"It's all I can give ya. I'm sorry."

"Great, so I'll get stuck in the middle of Mexico with no fuel." Athena huffed.

"Look, I'm sorry. But I don't have that much."

"It's fine, but can you do me a favor?" Athena asked.

"Sure."

"Can we get some water? I'm too used to the north." Athena asked.

"Sure, I can give you a couple gallons." the boy said, walking away, Athena followed him along with Kanan.

They walked into the shop and walked to the back where the oil-covered boy handed Athena a 5-gallon water container and he handed Kanan a 5-gallon too.

"This'll hold us for a few days," Athena said to Kanan.

"Let's hope. This is the desert." Kanan said.

"Well, we best be going. Thanks Sneaks." Athena said.

"No problem Dictionary, the keys are in the glove box."

"Thanks." Athena said, walking with Kanan to the car.

They went to the car and they put the water in the back seats, along with the bookbag.

Athena got in the drivers seat.

"Hold on, do you even know how to drive?" Kanan asked.

"Yes, now get in."

Kanan got in on the passenger side and sat down.

"Hand me the keys, they're in that." Athena said pointing at the glove box.

Kanan opened the glove box and handed Athena the keys. "Have you driven before?"

"Nope." Athena started the car and crazily sped out of the lot, barely missing other cars.

Kanan screamed and Athena just laughed and drove , she took out her phone and put in directions for Guatemala. She sped out of town barely missing other cars.

"Force! You're gonna kill us!" Kanan yelled.

"Just be quiet, I'm trying to drive here!" Athena yelled back.

"Turn Left in 200 feet." Athena's phone directed.

Athena took a sharp turn left, Kanan grabbed his seat for stability.

The car drove out of the city, the horizons were filled with empty desert. Athena slowed down and turn on the radio.

"This is my favorite song!" Athena said.

Athena began to sing along with the song and tapped her fingers to the rhythm on the steering wheel.

Come on
I wanna dance in the dark
Come on
We're gonna light up the night
Come on
I wanna dance in the dark
Come on
We're gonna light up the night

Underdogs dance in the middle of the night
Can see the night skies in the mirror of your eyes
If you don't dance, make sure you got the rhythm
Make sure that your heartbeat beats with the rhythm

I wanna run wild in the middle of the night
Right under the moon, bodies glowing in the night
Nothing in between our skins but the rhythm
Make sure that your heartbeat beats with the rhythm

Kanan got tired of the music and turned the radio off.

"Hey!" Athena yelled at Kanan and she turned the radio back on.

I wanna dance in the dark
And never stop
We're gonna light up the night
Like shooting stars
Whenever you hear the sound
Don't be alarmed
Oh, oh, oh, dancing in the dark

He turned it back off.

"Hey! What's your problem?"

"I didn't want the radio on."

"The driver gets control of the radio."

"Who made that rule?" Kanan asked.

"It's just a common sense rule here on Earth." Athena said as she turned the radio back on.

I wanna dance dance in the middle of the night
Can see the night skies in the mirror of your eyes
If you don't dance, make sure you got the rhythm
Make sure that your heartbeat beats with the rhythm

Kanan turned off the radio.

"Rude." Athena said.

"Shouldn't you be focusing on the road?" Kanan said.

"Music helps me focus."

"Well at least change the song." Kanan suggested.

"Fine." Athena said and turned the radio to another station.

I'm too hot (hot d-)
Call the police and the fireman

Kanan immediately turned off the radio.

"What was wrong with that song?!"

"Do you even listen to the lyrics?" Kanan asked.

"Yeah. And?"

"You are killin' me."

"Same here. We'll be crossing the Mexican border in about 7 hours."

"7 hours?!" Kanan asked.

"Yep. We don't want to be there at night, so we'll cross the border at near dawn. That way we can go through most of Mexico in the daytime."

"How long to Guatemala?"

"When we get to the Mexican border, then it'll be 35 hours straight."

"That's 42 hours straight!" Kanan yelled.

"Don't yell at the driver!" Athena yelled back.

"We're gonna have to take turns driving if we want to get their faster."

"You don't know how to drive, Kanan."

"Neither do you, but that didn't stop you." Kanan said.

"I learned over the years, this is just my first time behind the wheel. I'm not legally allowed to drive 'till I'm 15 and a half."

"You're kidding."

"Nope. So I'm gonna have to attract the least amount of attention as possible."

"So, about that Sneakers kid..." Kanan was cut off by Athena.

"Say one more word and I'll throw you out of the car." Athena warned.

"Fine, at least tell me how many boyfriends you've had."

"I don't know, like 12." Athena said. "How many girlfriends have you had?"

"None."

"You don't even count Hera?" Athena asked.

"Well, I..."

"You guys are adorable together, and I'm gonna count you as a couple."

"Athena..."

"Think of it, if a guy were to hit on Hera, you would go and tell the guy to back off. Excluding the fact that Hera could probably do it herself."

Kanan thought to himself and she was right.

"And I think if you were to be hit on a woman and accepted it, I think you'd be kicked off of the ship very fast." Athena said.

Kanan sighed."You're right."

"As always."

"You stayin' with the crew then?" Kanan asked.

"Heck yeah! This has been the best few days in my life!"

"You were chased by the police as a wanted criminal, you had a nightmare, you got shot, and you and me just got kidnapped by pirates and now we have to go 42 hours in a car in the middle of the desert. These were the best day of your life?"

"Yep. If you think of it I met you guys,I went into space, I'm now a Padawan, I found out I have a brother and now I have 42 hours to spend with him." Athena said.

Kanan was surprised by her positivity and smiled.

"And, plus I get to see Mexico and Guatemala!" Athena said.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Athena turned the radio back on.

I've got my ticket for the long way 'round
Two bottle whiskey for the way
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I'm leaving tomorrow. What d'you say?

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone...

Kanan sat back in his chair and looked at the ground as Athena sang along to the song.


On the Ghost

"They're okay?!" Ezra excitedly asked as he sat up from his lunch.

"Yes, we're going back to Earth to get them in Guatemala." Hera told the crew.

"Where is Guatemala?" Sabine asked.

"It's south of America, they'll be there in a few days." Hera said.

"Do you think that the Americans will capture them?" Zeb asked.

"I hope not, but I think they'll contact us everyday to let us know if they had." Hera said.

"Have you told Ahsoka?" Sabine asked.

"Yes, I sent her what Kanan said and she's having us get them with some back-up." Hera said.

"If they are in America, why can't we just get them there?" Ezra asked.

"America will probably get us as soon as they see us on their ground." Zeb said.

"He's right, we have to go to a place where there won't be as much military looking for us." Hera told her crew.

"So, when will they be there?" Sabine asked.

"Kanan said in a few days, so I'm thinking that means about 3 or 4 days." Hera answered.

"What is going to take them that long?" Ezra asked.

"Because they are probably going by Earth transportation, which isn't too fast." Hera answered.

"Well, I'll go paint in my room as we wait for 3 or 4 days." Sabine said, walking to her room.

"I'm gonna meditate." Ezra said.

"I'll go take a nap." Zeb said.

After Ezra, Sabine and Zeb left the room, Hera sat down and thought to herself 'I hope they are okay.' .


Disclaimer; I don't own any of the music.


Thank you all for your positive comments! They have been encouraging, they are appreciated!