The Ghost crew all stand out on the platform of the AT-TE, Kanan glaring into space. Ezra looks at him nervously, glancing at the Jedi Master every few moments. The crew wait for a few minutes, until Gregor leaves the tank. "You know, I was thinking, since we're providing you with a list of bases, um," he nervously rubs the back of his head, "there's something you can do to help us."
"No, thanks."
Keen smacks the Knight in the shoulder, "Y'know I'd do anything for you, Gregor, what d'you need?"
"Out there, deep below, roam the joopa. Elusive big game. When we're lucky enough to sling one in, it'll feed us for the whole year," the Clone says, waving his hands around as he tells his tale.
"Okay," Sabine replies, "What do you need?"
"Him," comes Gregor's response. He's pointing his finger right at Zeb.
"Huh? What?"
As the clone explains to the Lasat his plan, Kanan marches off for the Phantom. Ezra immediately follows after him. Keen stands to follow him as well, but senses a presence. Turning, she sees Rex looking at her, looking hurt. Keen smiles kindly, before going after Kanan.
As she rounds the corner, she hears Ezra say, "Okay. You don't trust these clones, but they haven't done anything."
"You don't understand. They're dangerous. They could-"
"They could what? Rex doesn't seem bad at all. Ahsoka said to trust him. You trust her, don't you?"
"You weren't there. You weren't even born," the Knight enthuses.
"Maybe he wasn't, Kanan. But I was there."
"What are you guys talking about?"
"I don't feel like discussing it," Kanan grumbles. Ezra turns to leave, his eyes meeting the Jedi Master's. Keen opens her mouth to tell the story, when Kanan speaks from the other side of the room, "It was at the end, the end of the war. Our fellow soldiers, the clones, the ones we Jedi fought side by side with, suddenly turned and betrayed us. I watched them kill my master. She fought beside them for years, and they gunned her down in a second, and then came for me. Later they said they had chips in their heads that made them do it. Said they had no choice."
"I didn't betray my Jedi," a voice says from the doorway. The three Force-sensitives turn, seeing Rex leaning, his arms crossed, "Wolffe, Gregor and I all removed our control chips. We all have a choice."
Ar'iabel smiles at him, thinking about what happened to the Clones she served with, the smile slowly sliding off her face.
"Well, for what it's worth, I believe we can trust Rex." The Padawan leaves the Phantom, and the Jedi behind.
Kanan turns to glare at Keen. "I don't understand how you can trust them after everything they did to us."
The Master turns around to look at the Knight, gesturing out toward the tank, "They didn't do anything to us. These Clones didn't turn on their Jedi. Trust me, I understand more than anyone else how you feel, Caleb, but, these guys have been nothing but helpful. You don't have to trust them, but I'm asking you to trust me."
He meets her eyes, sighing. He nods, standing from his seat to follow her out of the ship. They walk out onto the platform of the AT-TE just as it comes to a full stop. Zeb is out on the rocky terrain, a purple line of energy trailing from a backpack he's wearing. Wolffe is at the tank controls, while Rex is in the gunner's seat. Gregor is at the edge of the platform, coaxing the Lasat along, Sabine and Ezra standing with him.
Keen walks up to stand beside the Clone, who turns to look at her and Ezra. "You know, we really appreciate this. I mean, we, we should do well today, with your friend here."
"Yeah, well, Zeb packs quite a punch," the Padawan chuckles.
"Oh, oh. I'm sure, I'm sure. But really, I mean, joopa supposedly love Lasat's."
"Gregor," Ar'iabel crosses her arms, a stern look on her face, "Care to tell me what that means, exactly?"
"Well, they say they love the smell, or I guess they love the taste as well. And maybe it's about the texture. You know..."
"Wait," Ezra says, the realization finally clicking, "Zeb's not the hunter. He's the bait."
"Oh, hunter, bait, it's all the same."
"No, it's not! Zeb, you better get back here right now!" Kanan shouts.
From behind the Lasat's head, a creature explodes through the rocky terrain. As the Ghost crew shouts at Zeb to run, Keen walks over to Rex, rubbing her temple. "Next time you decide to use my friend as bait, I wouldn't mind a heads up."
The Clone shrugs, "He agreed to it."
"One, he didn't know what he was getting himself into. Two, I was this close," she holds up her hand, her thumb and index finger almost touching, "to convincing Kanan that he could trust you."
The Clone looks as though he's ready to say something, but the Jooba opens his mouth, swallowing the Lasat whole.
Rex calls for the Mandalorian, gesturing to the machine that's holding the purple energy line, "Hey, I bet you know a thing or two about mechanics."
"Yeah, good bet."
"Keep an eye on this regulator. The line can overheat and shut down. No line, no joopa, no Zeb."
"Got it," she replies, hopping up onto the machine, eyes glued to the tiny gauge.
Ezra gestures to the two Jedi, "Well, what about us?"
"You got the best job of all!" Gregor enthuses. He reaches behind him into a crate, pulling out some metal poles. "When the line swings around, you'll charge it with the electro-poles. Hit the line with the rod, and it'll send a bolt of energy down to the joopa. Do it enough, and you should bring it up to the surface."
He tosses one to Ezra, and thrusts one at Kanan, saying, "Here's one for you, General."
"Don't call me that," the Knight grouses, "I was never a general."
"Uh, my mistake. Sorry, Commander," he says, as Keen grabs the third electro-pole from the Clones hands.
"No, it's not-" he starts.
"Hit it! Now!" Rex cuts him off. The Jedi and Padawan immediately raise the poles, tapping the purple energy against the line that leads into the Joopa's mouth.
"That's it! That's it! Ooh! He didn't like that! Hit him again!" Gregor cheers.
"He's a runnin'. Hit that line! Bring him up."
Wolffe hits a button, the line of energy dragging the creature forward, toward the ship, until Sabine shouts, "We're losing the regulator."
The purple energy starts to waver, getting thinner and more erratic. "Full stop, Wolffe! Dig in! This is where we finish the battle!"
Ezra stretches up with his pole, trying to smack the line. Keen to his left, jumping up on the railing, while Kanan crouches, and Ezra climbs aboard his shoulders. He wields both his, and Kanan's pole, preparing to hit the line, while waiting on Sabine.
Gregor grabs the Jedi Master's legs, stabilizing her so she doesn't fall as the tank sinks into the ground. The line stabilizes,and Kanan shouts, at the two to go. The three electro-poles hit the line, dropping the Joopa to the ground.
"It is Big Bongo!" Gregor cheers, releasing Keen's legs, not realizing he was the only thing holding her up. She falls backwards off the tank, crashing against the ground.
The Jedi sits up, shaking her head. She glances up at the ship seeing the crew looking down at her, and the Joopa. The creature's mouth opens, and out stumbles a Lasat covered in alien insides. "What a smell." he calls, waving a hand in front of his face.
"Ah, Zeb!" Ezra cheers.
"Yeah, way to go! Now that, that was impressive," Gregor shouts down.
Keen looks up at them, "I'm fine guys, thanks for asking."
The Clone looks a bit chagrined as he shouts once again, "Sorry General!"
"All good, no worries."
Keen can sense Kanan's anger bubbling, and she looks up at the Knight, "Impressive? You almost got my friend eaten!"
"Yeah. Ugh. I was in that thing's mouth!"
"Oh! Head to toe. But look at you. You brought in our biggest catch ever."
"I-I did?" Zeb looks over at the Jedi Master, and she nods at him, "Actually, it wasn't so bad, Kanan. I I knew I had the beast from the beginning."
Keen laughs, as she uses the Force to leap up onto the AT-TE. She lands on the platform just next to Gregor. The Clone smiles at her, which she happily returns. She looks over at Kanan, the smile still on her face. The Knight turns to Rex, "We held up our end of the deal, Captain. Now it's time to get us those coordinates so we can go."
"I'll get 'em. But you might consider staying for dinner."
Gregor throws his arms up in the air, one wrapping around Keen's shoulder, as he cheers, "It's gonna be delicious!"
"That thing tried to eat me. Only fair I get to see how it tastes."
"Can't say no to that. Right, Kanan?" Ar'iabel asks him.
The Knight rolls his eyes, stomping over to the Phantom.
Rex walks inside the tank, Keen following nearby him. "Rexy, I'm sorry about him. It's just...it's a sore subject."
He turns and faces her, "I get it. My brothers killed his Master. Kriff, they probably tried to kill you. He has every right to be mad. I'm surprised you aren't mad."
"Eh, you know me, I don't hold grudges. Well, not easily anyway. How have you three been?"
"We've been okay. Not great, we've all got our issues, but we're better off than most of our brothers. What about you?"
"Oh, y'know, normal stuff. Hid from the Galactic Empire. Got roped onto this rebel crew. Got captured by the Empire, escaped. Got captured again, almost died. Oh, and I took on a Padawan."
Although she speaks with a cheery tone, the Clone can see right through it. "Tell me what's bothering you," he says, typing into the computer.
"Honestly Rex, I'm tired. Tired of the fighting. It feels like there should be more than this, yet, all I do is fight in Galaxy wide wars."
"Believe me, I understand. That's why I'm not coming with you. I'm done fighting."
The conversation subsides, the click-clacking of keys the only sound in the room. A little while later, he stands from the computer, walking back out to the platform.
"I've assembled a list of potential bases and clearance codes and a few protocols the Imperials still use. Should be of some use."
"Thanks, Rex," Ezra says, fake saluting at the man.
He tosses a thumb back toward the inside of the tank, "They're on our main computer. You're gonna need-"
"Data tapes? I got this," Sabine says, storming past the Clone.
"You were brave today, kid," he says, walking up for Ezra, "You jumped right in there to help. A great Jedi once told me that the best leaders lead by example. You do that well."
"This great Jedi was also an idiot," Keen pipes in.
"Thanks. I've learned from a great Jedi too. Kanan."
"And he's an idiot as well. Seems all great Jedi are idiots."
Rex rolls his eyes at her, addressing the Padawan, "Mmm. You know, I don't think he likes me. Or ever will. Can't say I blame him. The war left its scars on all of us."
"Won't you reconsider joining us?" He asks once again.
"You know, I've outserved my purpose for that kind of fighting, I'm afraid. After the war, I questioned the point of the whole thing. All those men died, and for what?"
"I guess what they thought was right."
Keen prepares to respond, just as Sabine burst out of the tank, waving a data tape. "The clones gave us up. They warned the Empire we're here."
The Jedi's head snaps to look at Rex, apprehension spreading across her face. The Clone stands, "Wait, what? You're mistaken. We would never do that."
"Oh, I found the binary transmission to the Empire. And there are messages Ahsoka sent to Rex, and he never answered her!"
"What?" he says incredulously, "I never got any messages from Commander Tano."
"I knew it!" Kanan shouts, "I told you, they can't be trusted."
"Kanan, wait," Ar'iabel orders, "Is this true, boys?"
Rex turns to look at Wolffe, glaring, "Wolffe. What did you do?"
"I-I contacted the Empire. If they found out that we were helping Jedi, they'd wipe us out."
"Tell me you're drukking kidding Wolffe."
"Sabine, go warn Hera," Kanan says, "Tell her to scan for incoming ships."
"Tell me what the pfassk you were kriffing thinking, Commander!"
"I wanted to protect you guys, protect our squad," the Clone says, guiltily looking at Rex.
"The war is over. We are free men. We can't live under the fear of the Empire for the rest of our lives, Wolffe. That's not freedom."
"You're right. They're not our enemy. I'm sorry."
From inside the Phantom a probe bursts, flying away. Keen launches for it, narrowly missing it.
It gets a few kliks away, while Ezra hands Rex a large blaster-rifle, "Rex. You gotta make this right."
The Clone carefully aims the rifle, pulling the trigger back. The blaster bolt collides with the probe, it exploding into a million pieces.
"Yes!" Keen cheers him, patting his shoulder.
"Huh. Nice shot," the Mandalorian says.
"How long has this thing been watching us?" Ezra asks, turning to face his Master.
"Long enough. How's the Phantom?"
"Well, engine took a direct hit. We're not going anywhere until I can fix it."
From the planet's surface, the Lasat shouts up, "Wait. You mean we're stranded?"
"Yep," Rex says, "And the Empire's on its way."
"Esehigi, we are in some deep bantha poodoo now!"
