At fifteen, Lee and Lenore had finally fallen into a routine that somewhat resembled a normal life in the encampment. Thanks to Lee's experiments and old farming techniques he learned from his mother, the garden was finally producing enough food to sell at the Capital Marketplace. Riv vaguely knew what to do to run the market stand from what Prisa had shown him when they first got married. Luckily for him his children could fill in the blanks when needed.

"How much for the loth-cat?" a ugnaught asked walking up to their stand. Viki was soundly sleeping beside the display of crops in a produce basket. Her back legs twitched as though she was dreaming of chasing loth-rats through the grasslands.

"She's not for sale," Lenore snapped at the possible customer.

"Lenore, don't be rude to our paying customer," Rive shushed his daughter and turned to the ugnaught. "You look like a meiloorun man. Can I interest you in a dozen freshly picked ones?"

"That's a jogan," Lenore corrected her father. Riv frowned not at his daughter's correction but at her attitude. The two had grown distant and he found it harder to understand his daughter's hostility toward him.

"I'm not interested in produce," the ugnaught continued, "I own a mechanic shop out by the Capital Transport hangers and I have a serious loth-rat infestation."

"I'm so sad to hear of your misfortune my friend," Riv attempted to charm the ugnaught. He knew Lenore would never give Viki up, nor would he ask her too. As desperate as times were he would never deny his children the small luxuries they had. "But I am afraid this loth-cat wouldn't be of any use to you. You see, my daughter has domesticated it. Probably wouldn't know what to do at the sight of a loth-rat. Probably think it was a toy."

"A trained loth-cat? You don't say" The ugnaught sounded more intrigued than discouraged. "Now that is worth some credits. I'll give you 500 credits."

"Are you deaf!? She's not for sale," Lenore yelled at the mechanic.

"Listen here girl," the ugnaught said, "That is a generous offer. You won't find that kind of kindness anywhere else. I can also assure you the creature would be well cared for and have a much higher quality of life than you could ever provide in the encampments."

"Listen here you half witted –" Lenore began until Lee stepped forward to intervene.

"Look Mister," Lee said. "My sister isn't interested in selling her pet. So either buy what we have on the table or move along."

The ugnaught looked at the table then at the Tersus. He shrugged and walked away. Viki turned onto her back revealing her belly as she began to snore. She continued to sleep unaware of the situation at hand. Even though life in Tarkintown was rough, she seemed content with the life Lenore had provided for her.

"Ugnaughts," Lenore muttered and rearranged the crops they had so the table would look fuller. Lee shook his head at his sister's annoyance and then caught sight of Stobo's father Toja. Lee waved at him. Riv looked up and saw the Rodian approached.

"Listen you two," Riv's voice quivered. "Can you watch the table for a moment? I need to…. do something."

"Sure thing," Lee quickly agreed.

"Do what? We came here to sell crops," Lenore questioned her father, suspicious of his request.

"Just need to run an errand," He muttered and took off before Toja reached the table.

"Riv! Hold on!" Toja called after Riv who was now out of sight. Toja sighed and looked at the twins. He had always liked his son's friends but their father was a different story entirely. Though he didn't hold Riv's actions against Lee and Lenore, he did feel sorry for them. "Hello Tersus. How are we today?"

"Just fine," Lee answered. "How's Stobo doing?"

"He's no better but no worse," Toja informed them.

Stobo had fallen ill a month ago. They had thought it was a simple cold but it turned out he had contracted a spore sickness known as Fester Lung. Stobo had ran a high fever for weeks and was on bedrest for the most part. Toja had done his best to manage from the little he knew of the disease. But what he truly needed was to take Stobo to a medical center. In order to do that he needed credits.

"I hope he gets better soon. I miss him," Lenore chimed in.

"I know he'd appreciate that Lenore. Also thank you for sending over that soup last week, Lee," Toja acknowledged.

"Of course. Mom used to make it for us when we were sick," Lee said. Lenore was taken aback at the mention of their mother. The two had hardly spoken of her since she abandoned them. "All the ingredients come from the garden."

"Glad the garden is flourishing. Look, do you know where your father went?" Toja asked. "I need to speak with him. It's urgent."

"He's running an errand," Lee replied, noticing the shift in Toja's tone. "Is there something me and Lenore can help with?"

"I hate to bring you two into this," Toja sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

"Bring us into what?" Lenore curiously asked.

"I'm sure your father has an explanation. He always does. But I need the money I loaned him about a month ago," Toja explained. "Normally I would never ask for it on such short notice. I trust your father and I see that my loan has definitely helped you get back on your feet. It's probably only been a few weeks that you've been able to make a profit, but I need my money. I need to get Stobo to a medical center. I fear if I wait any longer…well…he's in rough shape and I think I've done all I can."

"I'm sure he'll pay you as soon as he can, Toja," Lee said as assuringly as he could.

He had no idea that his father had borrowed money. In fact he wondered what his father had used it for. It wasn't for the market or the garden. Him and Lenore had pulled their credits together to get the market stand up and going. He had made his earnings at the Capital University cleaning droids. Lee never asked how Lenore had made hers but he had a feeling it was better that way.

"Would it be too much trouble to ask him to come see me after his errand?" Toja asked.

"Of course not," Lenore answered. She had a feeling Lee would be convinced by their father that the situation was not what it seemed. But knowing their friend was ill she wanted to make it clear that this was an issue they were going to make their father face and take responsibility for.

"Don't worry, I'll tell him," Lee replied. Toja sighed with a sense of relief. "Here take a jogan."

"No, thanks. Don't need to be giving your inventory away. Well good luck today," Toja wished them luck before leaving.

"Did you know dad took a loan from Toja?" Lenore asked Lee.

"No," Lee shook his head. "Wonder what for."

"Why?" Lenore said oddly. It was as though she knew something he didn't.

"What do you mean why? Aren't you curious?" Lee questioned.

"Nothing," Lenore lied. "Let's get back to work."

Riv did not return to the market place. Fortunately, the twins were able to sell the majority of the produce and had collected thirty-seven credits for their produce. It wasn't much but it was ten credits more than the previous week. Things were looking up, until they returned home to find Riv shuffling through their homepod. The place was in disarray and Riv appeared manic.

"Hey you two," Riv responded as he was caught off guard by his children's return. "Is it already that time? Wow. So how did we do today?"

"Thirty-seven credits," Lee said and watched Lenore walk over to the kitchen table and take a seat. She was in no mood to humor her father.

"Well done, that's ten credits more than last week," Riv scratched his head.

"Why didn't you come back?" Lenore asked. "Toja wanted to speak with you."

"I got caught up," Riv said. "I'm a very busy man, young lady, you have no idea."

"I'll bet," Lenore snarkily said with emphasis on the 'bet'. Riv turned his attention to his daughter. What was she trying to insinuate?

"Dad, Toja said you borrowed money from him," Lee tried to direct his father's attention back to the issue at hand. He could tell something was brewing between Lenore and Riv and he wanted to avoid a fight if at all possible.

"Oh that," Riv tried to laugh off the information. "I wouldn't say it was exactly a loan but more of an investment."

"Well he needs his money," Lee explained. "Stobo isn't doing too well and he wants to take him to a medical center as soon as possible."

"He shouldn't have told you about the money. Also using his son as a bargaining tool is very deplorable," Riv solemnly said. "Stobo is a strong little Rodian. He should get better in no time. But investing in a business is a risk. One needs to be patience to reap the rewards."

"Dad," Lee was shocked by his father's reluctance to help Toja. "Toja wouldn't lie about Stobo. It must be bad if he wants his money back."

"Lee, I know you're worried about your friend," Riv placed his hand on his son's shoulder trying to calm him. "It's an honorable quality you have. But worrying never helped anyone."

"How much money did he give you?" Lenore abruptly asked.

"Not enough to need on such short notice," Riv said.

"How much!?" Lenore raised her voice. "And what did you do with it? Lee and I scraped together all the credits we had to get the stand up and going. If you took money for the market stand we deserve to know how much and why."

"Six hundred credits," Riv reluctantly responded.

"Six hundred?!" Lenore and Lee repeated in unison.

"What did you do?!" Lenore demanded to know.

"I was trying to get us ahead. When you're older you will understand how harsh and dangerous the galaxy is. Making your way won't be as easy as you think," Rive tried his best to explain.

"Easy? What part of this is easy? We're barely surviving!" Lenore shouted.

"I've had just about enough of your attitude Lenore," Riv shouted back. He was frustrated. Frustrated that his daughter had no tolerance for his behavior. Frustrated that she could see straight through him. "I'm doing my best. It hasn't been easy to raise you and your brother all on my own."

"Well try harder!" she yelled. "Lee and I are always fending for ourselves. I hate it!"

"If you hate it so much, why don't you just leave like your mother," Riv said coldly. Lenore fell silent. Lee could see she was on the verge of tears from her father's remark. Riv sighed. He knew he had crossed a line. "Lenore…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

Lenore marched out the door. She knew she was about to cry and would not give her father the satisfaction of seeing her tears. Lee glared at his father. He knew he was trying but he also knew Lenore was right. He was caught in the middle. No matter what he did to try to keep the peace there would always be something that happened to keep hardship a constant for the Tersus.

"Dad," Lee began. "You have to give Toja his money. And apologize to Lenore."

"You're right son," Riv admitted. "Give me the thirty seven credits."

Lee reluctantly handed over the credits. He had a feeling that Riv was not going to hand them over to Toja. But without proof, what could he do? Riv was his father. And even though he was failing in many ways, he didn't abandon them.

"What are you going to do?" Lee asked.

"Not to worry son," Riv said, looking over the credits. "Your sister is right. I need to do better. And I will. I promise you."

"Can I help?" Lee was unsure of his father's intentions. Perhaps if he helped things would turn out alright.

"You do too much as it is," Riv said. "I'm grateful. But sometimes I wish you could just be a boy."

"It's ok," Lee smiled. It was nice to know his father knew how much he was carrying.

"I'll be out late. Please find your sister. God only knows where she's run off too," Riv turned and left.

Lee knew exactly where Lenore was. She was at a vista point overlooking the grasslands that led back to their family farm. She would go there when she was upset. Him and Stobo were the only ones who knew of her spot. She was sitting on the top of a rock hugging her legs gazing out into the openness.

"What are you looking at?" Lee said, approaching.

"Where do you think she went?" Lenore asked, continuing to peer off into the distance.

"I don't know," Lee responded. "Hopefully someplace better than here."

"Do you think she'll ever come back?"

"No Lenore," Lee said. Lee looked at his sister hoping his honesty would comfort her, even if he still was hopeful that one day Prisa Tersu would return and take them with her.

"Liar," Lenore said, smiling and slid off the top of the rock. "You still think she will, don't you?"

"Why do you fight with dad so much? He's the only family we have." Lee avoided his sister's question.

"I dunno," she admitted.

"It puts me in an awkward situation," Lee informed her.

"What happened with the thirty-seven credits?" Lenore switched subjects.

"Lenore–"

"He took them, didn't he?" Lenore's tone changed to anger.

"Don't jump to conclusions," Lee pleaded.

"I'm not," Lenore snapped. The two glared at one another.

"Alright, what do you know that I don't?" Lee asked honestly.

"I think it's better if you saw it with your own eyes," Lenore said.

"This oughta be good."Lee shook his head.

"I'm serious Lee. Go to the eleventh block district in the Capital. There will be an unmarked door across from the minced loth-rat pie stand. Knock and tell them you're a runner."

"A runner?" Lee was perplexed by her instructions. He had so many questions. "What is this? Is this how you've been making your credits?"

"Lee," Lenore said sternly. "Just do it. Once you come home I'll answer all your questions. I promise."

"Won't you come with me?" Lee asked uneasily, afraid of what he would find.

"You'll be fine," Lenore placed her hand on his shoulder as their father always did. "I've got an errand to run. I'll be out late."

She walked away. For as much as she disliked their father she seemed to have a lot of him in her then she would ever admit.