It's All Coming Together
Moving on.
xxx
The Ghost Crew was starting to develop hyper eye with all the hours they've spent in hyperspace the past three weeks. None worse than Hera as she refused to take regular breaks and swap out pilots. No one tried to convince her otherwise. Kanan barely brushed his fingers on the wheel while she was sleeping one time. She woke up, twisted his arm, and before he knew it the wind left his lungs and he was staring up at the ceiling. Needless to say, she was the first to go stir crazy being locked in The Ghost for so long. Especially since it seems she can't trust anyone to take care of her ships when she or Katerina aren't around to constantly play mother. What was supposed to be a milk run on the Republic Asteroid Base with Sabine turned into a survival of the fittest trial. The Fyrnocks, creatures with a severe sensitivity to light, inhabiting the base ambushed Hera and Sabine as they tried to load up supplies Fulcrum arranged for them. With all the different sized asteroids floating by, the Fyrnocks were given plenty of windows of opportunity to try and make Sabine and Hera their next meal. Of course, neither woman would have had to endure the Fyrnock onslaught had Zeb, Chopper, and Ezra run a proper diagnostic on The Phantom like she told them and spotted the hole in the fuel tank. They're one stroke of luck was that Katerina was left on Lothal otherwise they would have been left as food for those shadow dwelling beasts. That might still be a possibility.
"Alright, coming out of hyperspace…" Hera prepped The Ghost's primary flight sequences, prepped for landing at their encroaching destination, "...Now!" The blue-white vortex dissipated, transforming into the infinitely starlight vacuum of space. Greeting them like a homeward beacon - albeit a beacon mostly of dying weeds, cliffs, and dirt - was the planet Lothal. The Rebel's home - Ezra's mostly - away from their homes. After a whole week straight in hyperspace, nothing for a Rebel to do but account for the new supplies they acquired and be at the mercy of Hera's proper diagnostic lecture, it was great to be back. As inconceivable as it may sound, The Ghost Crew missed the dustball. More appropriately, they missed the girl waiting for them. They can't wait to see her face.
"There it is! Lothal!" Hera announced with extreme satisfaction. "Feels like forever since we've been back. Hope Katerina hasn't missed us too much."
"Nah, I'm sure she's fine." Kanan perished the thought. "But I'd be lying if I said it's been quieter without her here."
"Quieter, or so rowdy in the norm and she's not there to stop it?"
"Touche." He chuckled. But for all the jokes, seeing Lothal, Kanan can't wait to see how Katerina's been while they were gone. Chair or not. He knows leaving her behind hurt her more than it did them. Very well could have been equal hurt. Whichever it is, he was looking forward to seeing her and confirming for his wavering sanity that there are no hard feelings between them. "It's going to be even rowdier when we tell her what she's missed."
"I'm sure she has plenty to tell us as well." Hera purred, eyeing Kanan accusingly. "She does seem to have the Jarrus Gene for trouble."
"You offend me, Madam!"
"Just means I'm right, Love." She flicked a finger up his chin. Kanan rolled his eyes adoringly. He hates when she's right. "Anyway, let's give her a call and tell her we're on our way. I think surprises are out of her depth right now."
"Agreed." Kanan rumbled grimly. Katerina's dealt with enough surprises these past few months. It'll be nice to give her a heads up. Hera initiated contact with the holo-com they left her. During Sabine's last communicated with her, Katerina installed the com into her hoverchair. So it shouldn't take long to connect with her. Oh so they thought. "Hello~ this is Handsome Devil trying to reach Greasy Devil." Hera threw him a disparaging glare at the very egocentric code names. "You do recall we were kids at one point. And how else should I reach out to my baby sis?" Hera has a list of ideas, but they involve a few unlady like words. Kanan snorted, going back to Katerina. "Hey! Riina! You there? It's us." Gargling static came in over the line, raising their brows unnervingly.
"This is The Ghost to Specter 7!" Hera spoke urgently. Zeb, Sabine, Ezra, and Chopper joined the pair on the bridge, catching Hera's unease before the door opened. "Specter 7, do you copy?! Katerina?!" She cried. The wheezing static sent chills down The Ghost Crew's spines. Down Chopper's circuits as the case may be. Hera and Kanan wanted to attribute the noise to a malfunction in the ship. Another issue Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper missed during their thorough diagnostic.
Sabine approached, putting an ear to the communications. The frequency was too erratic, the pitches scaling too often to be mere static interference. "What's wrong?" Ezra rumbled nervously.
"That's a jamming frequency!" Sabine groaned. She tuned the com signaling, The Ghost's own signal piercing through the static but making not the slightest headway. "Communications into the planet are being blocked! We can't reach Riina!"
"And she can't reach us!" Zeb snarled. He crushed a hand to Kanan's shoulder, "This has to be The Empire's doing! She could be trying to contact us right now, but they put the screws to our communications!"
"You don't think Lyste went back for round...whatever, do you?!" Ezra panicked. The Sumars! The Sumars could be in danger right this second.
"Calm down, Ezra. Katerina isn't in any trouble." Hera motioned a hand for calm in the bridge. "If that were the case The Empire would have tried to contact us, or they would have broadcasted her face to lure us out." Neither of which happened, assuring without a shadow of a doubt that she and the Sumars are safe. "And Riina's a mechanic's prodigy. She would have found a way to warn us."
"Be that as it may, The Empire doesn't jam communications with a whole planet for kicks and giggles." Kanan stated. As far as he knows they don't. "We need to get down there and ensure The Sumars and Katerina are safe." He connected his lightsaber. The igniting blue sword illuminated his electrified aquamarine eyes. "And we need to be ready!"
xxx
The Ghost's signature was cloaked to resemble a merchant class cruiser, allowing them to slip into the planet without raising anymore alarms that are already spreading. TIE's were covering the skies in threes, a new squad appearing every five minutes like clockwork. Ground Based transports, squads of Stormtroopers, and checkpoints appeared every five miles. Thousands of red flags erected in the backs of The Ghost Crew's minds with the lack of an Imperial blockade around Lothal. Meaning whoever or whatever has roused their alarms cannot leave the planet. But all of these extra forces? The Empire is looking for someone, and that someone has them on edge. Who that is will have to wait.
Hera grounded The Ghost beyond the hills. From the air the crew was able to see the Imperials haven't set foot on the Sumar's farm since Lyste's attack. A good sign. Still, they stayed on guard. The silence of the farm was deafening. Frighteningly unnatural. It's either paranoia or there may be something afoot. Kanan led the way, lightsaber and pistol drawn and ready, eyes darting left to right. Zeb and Sabine covered the sides, their trigger fingers getting itchier by the step. Hera at the rear was maintaining her head, straining her senses beyond the sounds of the planes. Ezra and Chopper were in the middle, ready to pounce the moment things get hairy. The stoop creaked as they passed onto the porch, the front door to the Sumar home in their reach. A short jaunt that felt like a 100 mile hike.
"Kanan…" Hera motioned her head. The door was cracked open.
He nodded grimly. "Mr. and Mrs. Sumar? Norio?! Katerina?!" He bellowed. He waited a few seconds. Silence. "Anyone home?" Again, there was silence. Kanan bobbed his head, warning everyone to be ready. He slid the door open, creeping in one foot at a time, barely brushing the doorway as he glared at the living room. One by one, Hera and the others entered the house, spreading out to cover the corners. Everything seemed to be in order. It sure looked better then when they last saw it. Everything was fixed and put back together. Hopefully the Sumars' lives resembled their home. "Mr. and Mrs. Sumar?!" Kanan tried again. Zeb and Ezra searched the kitchen. Hera and Sabine checked the front again. No one seemed to be home. The silence was killing him. Riina! Where are you?! He pleaded.
Creak...Came the sound from the next room. Guns, a slingshot, and taser prongs aimed at the archway. Very agitated beeps warned The Ghost Crew to hold their fire. A highly irritated D8 droid waved his prongs threateningly. "Hey, wait a sec!" Ezra tilted his head. He recognizes that droid. "Dayve?!" Eyes widened at the name. Dayve is the name of that droid Katerina employs. What The Ghost was having a hard time understanding was...how did he get here?
"Well, well, the prodigal rebels return!" Grim chuckled meandering into the living room.
"Grim?!" Kanan guffawed, linking a firm handshake with the Nautolan prodigy. The rest of the crew smiled and relaxed, putting their weapons away.
"Hello, my friends, welcome home!" Grim brought Kanan into a manly hug, both patting one another's backs. Chopper and Dayve bumped chests, tapping their prongs in a secret handshake. "It pleases me to see you all safe and healthy!" Grim hugged Sabine and Hera next. Zeb and Ezra stuck with distant waves. Hugs and handshakes aren't really for them.
"Hey there!" Kanan said breathlessly. His heart was beating on his chest, close to exploding. Being a Rebel isn't healthy for his mental state. Here he was expecting the worst when a couple of good friends were waiting around the corner. A couple of friends from Chandrila that is nowhere near Lothal. "What...what are you doing here?! Is everything okay?!"
"Yes! Now! Thanks to a man named Vizago." That was acid in his mouth.
"WH-VIZAGO!" Hera snarled. Now The Ghost Crew knows they should be on edge. Anytime Vizago is mentioned, there's a disaster not even two miles away he's ready to pass on to the next sucker he crosses.
"Vizago was here?" Zeb gestured to the very place they stood, half expecting the floor to come apart.
"Yes…" Grim laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. Dayve whirred guiltily, rolling into a corner to melt in the cobwebs. Grim pat him on the head, assuring him all would be well. "A lot has happened while you've been away." He smiled weakly. He wasn't sure where to start. "It all stemmed from us wanting to ensure our Katty was alive and well." Kanan, Hera, and the others leaned to walls, sat on the arms of the couches. The floor was Grim's and he wasn't escaping that searing spotlight until he explained why Vizago was anywhere near this house.
Grim began the tale like anyone would. Just another day on Chandrila, business was booming and the days were great. "Our work has gone up ten percent in the last couple of months." The next thing they knew, Dominique was contacting them in a fit of hysteria, screaming that Katerina was dying. That she was stabbed and lying dead in someone's basement. Sabine took the credit for spilling the beans to Dominique. Friends needed to know what happened. "Do not be cross with Ms. Wren. After being out of touch with Katty for so long, any news would have been preferable. Regardless of how horrific."
Grim and Dayve took the next flight to Lothal, found Dominique, Vizago happened to be there looking for a place to lie low and said he had a feeling he knew where Katerina and her friends were. "Truthfully, Dominique put him through grueling work for, apparently, leading a Stormtrooper raid to her place of business. And, if you've seen Katerina when she's angry, pray you are never on the same planet as Dominique when her temper flares." Kanan, Ezra, and Zeb swallowed large lumps, chills snaking down their spines.
Moving on, Vizago said he happened to see the fireworks from their grandstanding tower defense. None of The Ghost Crew were even remotely shocked he stuck around briefly to watch. One thing led to another and Vizago offered a ride - to escape Dom - only to take Grim and Dayve to a criminal friend of his. A business transaction that quickly turned sour on the vine when sowed itself. "That Devonian Devil attempted to not only collect credits on a drive he offered to his associate," Grim placed a protective hand to Dayve, "He tried to increase the payout and offered Dayve."
"Riina couldn't have liked that very much." Zeb rumbled, secretly laughing at the image of a cripple pummeling Vizago. Then again, cripple or not, she could have held her own.
"That part comes later, after Dayve gets lost in the Rono District." Ezra gasped in pure terror. He knows that district well and it is the last place anyone wants to get lost in. Grim and Vizago tried to find him, but the Stormtrooper presence was thick and tension was high with Rurri running around. So they went to the Sumar Farm, found Katerina, told her what happened, and the scariest part was how well she took the news. What did not slide with her was that Aresko and Grint got their hands on Dayve and took him to be incinerated at one of their stations in the Rono District. Following was their plan to break Dayve free, and it involved subterfuge from Katerina and a great deal of stealth from Grim and Vizago. Grim tried to play down the mass hysteria that transpired at the station Dayve was held in. The alarms blared - yes, the facility was locked down - yes, and there may or may not have been shooting, fighting, and lots and lots of running. And a few suckerpunches by Rurri. All of which led to everyone's safe escape, and Vizago vanished into obscurity. Partly due to Katerina threatening to take his remaining horn and do the unspeakable to him with it. "It's been quite the journey."
"We can see." Sabine snorted. Why didn't she ever think to take Vizago's horn ad do the unspeakable? Katerina sure is creative. "All that aside, it's great to see you guys again! You're looking good!"
"The same for all of you!" Grim admired the ragtag team of Imperial Criminals. To think, these are the people Katerina has dedicated her talents to aid. Grim is still incapable of deciding if he's proud of her, or if he wants to take her back to Chandrila and ground her forever. Not that he could, or she'd listen. But he'd sure Hell try. "I was honestly fearful when we arrived here and didn't find any of you. I thought The Empire might have captured you."
"Please!" Ezra scoffed, throwing his head back. He put boastful hands on his hips, "Those morons couldn't catch a cold on Plutonia."
"Hey now! Us and the exciting story aside!" Kanan impatiently dismissed. He didn't mean to sound rude, but there's a big cliffhanger attached to this story, and it pertains to the one person missing from that party. "Where's Katerina? What happened afterward?"
"Another interesting story!" Grim coughed dryly. Kanan eyed him hostilely, not liking the sweat he's breaking into.
"Ezra, my boy! Welcome back!" Mr. Sumar clapped boisterously, entering from the kitchen's basement. Alyss and Norio meandered behind him, elated to see all the friendly faces in their home.
"Hey Mr. and Mrs. Sumar! Good to see you again!" Ezra shook hands with Sumar. Alyss hugged Sabine and Hera.
"Norio!" Zeb pat Norio's back and shook his hand. "Glad to see you're still in one piece!"
"That should be our line!" Alyss giggled. "You've all been gone so long, we began to fear the worst."
"You doubt us? That hurts!" Hera feigned hurt with a hand to her chest. The Sumars laughed, shrugging their hands. What else can they think when no one calls anymore. "Speaking of worst fears and being hurt…" They were so engrossed in getting reacquainted and the warm welcomes they nearly forgot the reason they were there. Save for Kanan. The veins in his head were about to burst. "Where's Riina at?"
"Ah yes! She's out in the barn keeping busy." Sumar gestured happily.
"Keeping busy? Doing what?" Ezra gasped. He kept to himself about his skepticism about her working. He's half expecting a crippled girl to come falling off the barn roof.
"Our pulleys for hay bails haven't been working properly. Katerina was going stir crazy so we let her go to work on them." Alyss explained. Sumar and Norio exhaled anxiously. That wasn't a fun experience. "Last we checked she went from those to working on our tractors." The jaws dropping and aghast expressions tickled the Sumars and Norio's insides. Grim and Dayve obviously haven't told them yet. "Why don't you go see her? She'll be happy to see you." She winked. Kanan and Zeb were already out the door. Hera picked up on the manners and thanked the Sumars for their help, then she and the others raced after the fuming two. "I really want to see their faces." Alyss giggled.
"But if we all go they will know something is amiss." Sumar chortled.
"Lets allow them a moment." Grim proposed wolfishly. "This is a special time."
xxx
Zeb and Kanan pried the barn doors open, fearful gazes scouring for their disabled friend. Sabine, Hera, and Ezra shuffled inside, swallowing anxious lumps lodged in their throats. The Sumar's farm is a safe haven for her, this they do not doubt. But learning that she's working in her condition was kind of raising their heart rates. Especially when they've been trying to raise her on the coms for the past hour and she hasn't answered. And for someone who was supposed to be working on tractor parts, the barn was eerily quiet. No drilling, welding, or shrill grindings from an electric saw. Either Katerina left the farm without telling the Sumars, or she's - hopefully - taking a nap somewhere inside. It'd better be the nap because Kanan has enough wind to hunt her down and shoot her like an animal. All she had to do for...more than three weeks was stay put. Obviously she can't do that for a very long.
"Katerina..?!" Kanan bellowed. "Katerina Dume! None as Anastasia Stark on work days!" Silence replied. He was really beginning to dislike silence. Sabine and Ezra pulled a tarp off a plasma sickle. Not unlike plasma whips or lightsabers, the sickle will extend from the slot near the top. One swing and the blade will cut weeds to the roots, unleashing a shockwave that will shave down more within a two feet span. Zeb and Hera shifted their rigid leers about the dusty barn. Their throbbing nerves playing tricks with the specks of light piercing from holes in the walls and ceiling. The shadows seemed to move every time they took a step. Kanan's foot scooted the pulley Sumar said she was working on. Next to it was the tractor and gutted engine. He brushed a palm to the engine. The steel was still warm. The grooves in the rust and polished areas were recent. She's there, or was recently. "Riina, you in here?! Answer me!"
"Caleb?! Is that you?!" Katerina chimed. Zeb's shoulders sank, his head tilted back with relief.
"Katerina?! Where are you?!" Kanan beckoned. Heads whipped left to right. She sounded close, so where was she? Unless she finally mastered her ventriloquism act. Though when she started ventriloquy is another matter.
"Up here!" Their heads snapped up and their jaws hit ground in terror. Legs hanging off the edge, arms wrapped to a support post, Katerina waved down happily at her returned friends. "Hey, guys! Welcome back! I missed you!"
"We...missed you too…" Hera tossed her hands, slapping her thighs with disbelief.
"RIINA! What are you doing up there?!" Kanan cried.
"HOW did you get up there?!" Zeb stressed.
"I climbed." She shrugged. In the midst of his dead gap, Zeb felt a strong urge to punch her. She...climbed?! "As for why I'm up here, I was working, but then it was so comfy up here that I fell asleep." The straw in her hair testified to that. She yawned exhausted, wiping at the dust in her eyes. In a musty reflection off a plate, she hoped those black rings under her eyes were splotches on the plate. "Guess I fell behind on the tractor parts."
"Who cares about tractor parts! How the heck did you get up there?!" Kanan slapped an erect hand to his palm, demanding a straight answer.
Katerina glanced side to side, pretty sure she answered that. "I climbed, Big Brother."
"HA-" He stopped himself, hands up in surrender. "You know what! It doesn't matter!" He had Ezra help him replace the kicked over ladder, securing it to divots near Katerina. She smirked impishly. They didn't tell them. "Just stay there! I'm coming up to get you!"
"That's okay. I'll come to you." Katerina scooted off the edge.
"NO! WAIT!" Sabine and Hera closed their eyes. Zeb, Kanan, and Ezra threw their hands up. In slow motion, thrusting them in an unyielding whirlwind of disbelief, Katerina landed with feline precision right in the middle of The Ghost Crew. She won't lie. The jolts shooting up her relatively stiff legs was very crippling. As she slowly rose, standing tall for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she savored the bewitched stares she's been waiting to see since her legs came back to life. Twisting her torso to crack the stiffness from her spine, stretching her arms up high and behind her head - Katerina giggled impishly at her big brother, absolutely in love with his gobsmacked expression. Zeb and Ezra trailed shaky fingers up and down her erect form, unable to believe that she's really standing there without her chair. Hera and Sabine couldn't stop glancing from one another, trying to ascertain if both were seeing what the other was seeing.
Katerina snickered behind a hand, strutting center aisle to her brother. Kanan backed away with his hands parted, ogling her like she was a ghost from the force. She leaned forward with a foxy smirk, hands on her revitalized hips. She tilted her head, savoring his dumb expression. "Are you going to stand there staring at me all day?" Two soft taps of her toes to his shin sent hundreds of volts surging through Kanan. "Or are you going to be happy that your baby sis will be able to kick ass again?"
Strained noises thumped from Kanan's pursed lips. Words were barred by his clenching neck, but the finger jabbing towards her legs was screaming for his disbelief. He whipped his other hand pleadingly for someone to step in seeing as he was so speechless. "YOU'RE WALKING!" Ezra cried, hand slapped to his skull. Kanan's stomach harshly caved at his released breath. He lurched forward, thanking Ezra with that bobbing finger. "OH MY GOSH!" Ezra tapped them, kicked them, even threatened to shoot them with his slingshot. That last one would cost him his life. Who cares! "Your legs work! You're walking! There's no chair...HOLY-"
Katerina clamped Ezra's rampaging mouth closed. "Easy, Ezra. Process slowly, then speak." He nodded blankly, scrolling his gaze from her toes to her head. What he's processing now is that he's the shortest member of the team...AGAIN! Katerina slid her hand to his hair, ruffling it lovingly. "I missed being taller than you, though." She winked, reading his mind like an open book. Ezra can wait. One day in a couple years he'll be taller than her. "But yeah…" She pet Chopper, "I'm walking, running, and back to being the best mechanic around."
"Congratulations, Riina!" Hera hugged her. Kanan finally emerged from his stupor to lift her into a spinning hug. After weeks of shooting and misery, this ushered in that silver lining in the dark clouds. Zeb shook his head without a word, trapped between unbelievable joy and wrenching remorse. Nothing was definite. Alyss so much as said so three weeks ago. Yet he and the others expected to come back and see Katerina stuck in her chair...forever. Even now, seeing her 15 feet off the ground, none of them even considered her legs were working again. They just assumed she was being stubborn and limped her way up there. He lost faith in her recovery. I lost faith in her. When did that happen?
xxx
The investigation into the warehouse incident in Lecosta was heatedly underway, stretching on to day 9 and with very little results to show for it. A most unfortunate circumstance putting Aresko under the direct, lethal laser scrutiny of his own superiors. The appearance of a body in the molten vats, the disappearance of a coveted droid, and the appearance of very questionable characters have raised hundreds of alarms from on high. Questions as to the competency of the Commandant and his Taskmaster companion whispered from ear to ear. It is one thing to initiate a lockdown in the event of a breach. It is another - career ending scenario - entirely when one breach is besieged by several others. Not for a moment for him to breathe was Aresko spared the verbal lashings at having lost his I.D. Bagde and communicator in the midst of the fray. Because of his inability to maintain possession of his personal property, that badge unveiled a series of weakness in the Imperial Ranks, as well as their boarded down bases, that will forever tarnish their impeccable reputation for generations to come. Aresko's one consolation is that he's managed to downplay that the culprit behind his missing items was a crippled mechanic with a very sharp tongue. The same cripple he fully intends to make pay 100 fold for this outrage.
Evidence? Proof? Beyond reasonable doubt? Aresko needs none of it when he has the keenest instinct of any Imperial Officer. Anastasia Stark is the one who not only stole his badge and communicator, but she is also the mastermind behind the breach, the missing droid, and quite possibly the corpse in the vats. Although, before he begins throwing this cold logic about, he must ascertain how a paraplegic is able to pull any of this off. Her abandoned chair aside, it is on the wall of impossible for someone with her condition to walk, let alone break into a Imperial Facility. Or is it?
"That kick?" He growled. His shin was still throbbing. Anastasia insisted she didn't even touch him. That she couldn't. But the kick was too hard to be his imagination. "How does a crippled woman deal such a kick, and break into a highly guarded and lockdown facility?" He rumbled into his interlaced fingers. Is it possible she isn't really paralyzed? A ploy to lower his guard? If that were the case, she would have abandoned her chair in that lobby. "How on Lothal did you steal my badge and get inside the incinerator?" There were only one pair of fingerprints on his badge, several suspects, but he is certain the prints will come back to her. Then he will learn who er associates were, where the droid has gone, and then he can watch that smart mouthed heathen slip into oblivion.
"Commandant!" An officer burst into his Capital City Office, saluting with a tablet under his arm. "We have the autopsy results." Aresko set his brooding aside, intrigue highlighting his narrow features. The officer read the cliffsnotes on the tablet, "Though the body was heavily burned from the vat, bone DNA in the marrow was confirmation. The deceased is a Gran known as Rurri Eeran. Known affiliate in black market trade. Wanted on Coruscant, Toydaria, Nal Hutta, and Lothal for smuggling, theft, battery, murder, and a long list of misdemeanors growing into felonies." In short, another sort of trash making a name for themselves in the shadows of the war. And now that name will be six feet in the dirt, fading with his decomposing flesh. "There's more. His prints were in our database. Eeran's prints match the one we found on your I.D. and communicator."
"They what?!" He slammed palms to his desk, springing to his feet. So much for burying Anastasia in cement. "Are you certain?!"
"The lab ran the test three times. It's positive." He flinched at Aresko snatching the report.
Rurri Eeran...blood type...place of birth...adoptive parents...prints matching badge - "GRAH!" Aresko threw the tablet. The officer fumbled it, but managed to save it. This may or may not be his fifth one in the few months. Aresko frothed through gritted teeth, smashing a fist on his desk. Her prints weren't on the badge. But she must have stolen it. There's no one else who would or could have taken it. "Tell me there's more!" There had better be more. "There were reportedly two suspects within the incinerator when the alarms went off! That increased to four with the arrival of Rurri and Anastasia!" He stormed from behind his desk. The officer was on his toes, shivering at the daggers shredding him to tatters. "The death report cannot be all there is!"
"And it's not." He went hoarse. He scrolled to the next half of his report. "The men found unconscious in the incinerator all gave the same testimony. They apprehended a Nautolan Male and Crippled woman, only the woman wasn't so crippled." Aresko's brow furrowed. She did get up and walk in. He growled mentally. "Where they went afterward, they don't know. Traces of blood were on their uniforms so it is only a matter of time before we identify the Nautolan."
"Good!" At least something is going right. The Nautolan must have a criminal record, making him easy to locate in the database. But should it be he doesn't, their search may take a bit longer. Rest assured, no one can run from The Empire forever. Not even these vermin. "What of Anastasia Stark?"
"As you predicted, were found hairs belonging to her on the chair. DNA confirms." Aresko bounced his shoulders unimpressed. "At first when we ran her name, we were given an asylum patient on Coruscant." This raised his curiosity. "Yeah. We don't know why either." And yet still, Aresko was going to keep that in his back pocket for a while. He motioned his head for him to proceed. "After we inserted her DNA, the record on file appeared and...and…" The Officer sucked on his lips. Clearly what he has is racking his brain. "Sir, Anastasia Stark's record...we noticed there are discrepancies."
Aresko's mind suddenly flatlined, tiny implosions riddling his senses. "What sort of discrepancies?" He replied in a deep hum, leaning in closer.
Attention went back to the tablet. "Age 30, born on Coruscant, a long list of engineer jobs, but nothing leaving a trail as to who she is or where she's been. How long she's worked at these places, where she's lived. She literally reappeared on Lothal from the blue." A ghost. And where there are ghosts, there is a shell left behind collecting dust. Where Anastasia has left her shell is a matter to investigate later. "Also, the DNA we pulled from her chair seems to match someone else."
"Someone else? A family member?"
"The was inconclusive, but by all appearances she seems to share the same DNA with another."
"Who?!" He gasped.
"That's just it, sir." The officer ominously rumbled. He tapped the tablet screen, drew the file he stumbled upon, and then astonished Aresko with the flashing alert. SEALED...SEALED...SEALED. A glorified graph outline of a heavily redacted file occupied the screen. Photo blacked out, biography voided, and not even so much as a name was provided. "The correlating person has a sealed record. Our best techs couldn't unseal it, and we are facing mountains of red tape."
"Sealed!? By whom?!" Aresko pried the tablet away, scrambling through that file for the smallest clue. THE TINIEST TAKE AWAY TO REVEAL WHO ANASTASIA STARK IS RELATED TO! That person will expose everything.
"The Galactic Empire."
Thunder from a spacial storm reverberated Aresko's spine from his head to his toes. He paled ghostly white, brought to the brink of collapse. It is not beyond officers to display humor in tense situations, but Aresko can see plainly that...this was no jest on his vulnerable state. "Are you informing me that this girl, this mechanical rodent, is affiliated with our Empire? And that...someone...has gone through tremendous trouble to seal her away?"
"There's more than that, sir." More? More! What else can there be that tops this? "She also matches the description of a rebel Agent Kallus and Supply Master Lyste have encountered."
Aresko's jaw dropped, disbelief spilling with his moan. Then as if that thin blade of straw snapped, lurched forward in crazed laughter. He slapped his thighs, cackling manically as it all just came crashing down on his head. Not only is Anastasia a loud mouth and pro burglar, she is also affiliated with someone within the senate, and bears the resemblance to a none rebel. And she may or may not be crippled currently.
"This just keeps getting more and more interesting!" And who is he to stop the intrigue from massing. Why not put this new information to work? Or rather...put HER to work. "Unique Fix is the name of the establishment headed by a Togruta known as Dominique, owned by our Anastasia." He pat the officer on the shoulder, escorting him out the door. "Let us make an appointment, shall we?"
xxx
The Ghost Crew - Katerina reinstated - sat in a circle, laughing as Kanan and company regaled her on what she missed. Suddenly she doesn't feel too upset she was left on Lothal. Two of Fulcrum's jobs going south within days of each other, sending Hera and Sabine on a suicide mission for fuel and supplies, and Zeb and Ezra failing at a simple diagnostic. It took her breath right out of her.
"Please tell me you guys didn't ruin the pumps I barely installed before my surgery!" She begged. With her legs back, she will ruin them within a breath for breaking her toys.
"No! We did not!" Ezra whined, upset she doubted them. She sneered dubiously, knowing there's a rub to his confidence. He winced guiltily, "There...might be a whole in The Phantom's fuel tank." There it is. "Easily fixed. Especially with our best mechanic back on board." He clicked his tongue, winking charmingly. Katerina didn't dignify his flattery by mentioning she's their only mechanic. And...she isn't sure she's back on board.
"Regardless, you guys sure took your time getting back." She playfully scolded. "I was beginning to think you were abandoning me."
"Never…!" Kanan wrapped an arm around her. "We'd never abandon you." She snorted, returning the hug. Her legs fluttering kept drawing Sabine's attention.
"How did this happen?!" Sabine admired. "When did it happen?!"
"Ironically, bailing Vizago out of another mess revitalized my spine." Zeb bit the inside of his cheek. Kanan and Hera uncomfortably cleared their throats. Chopper, Sabine, and Ezra frowned ominously. "By your expressions, Grim and Dayve filled you in on the gory details."
"And then some." Kanan drove her onto a stool, holding her there under his microscopic glare. The irritated twitch in his twisted smile knotted her stomach. "But I'd like to hear your side." An order, not a request. And if she tries to silver tongue her way out of this, he's not above breaking her legs.
Katerina swallowed in defeat, clearing her throat. "Inside the incinerator, Vizago's friend Rurri knocked me out of my chair and stole Dayve from me." Matching up with Dayve's high speed chase throughout the warehouse. Katerina showed off the scar Rurri left when he punched her a week ago. That would linger awhile. The swelling sure was. "Grim found me, carried me so we could chase him down, and then Stormtroopers ambushed us." She neglected to mention her freezing at the sight of a child cadet. She rubbed her tender back. Her heart skipped a beat, fingers brushing over The Inquisitor's work. "I remember this shock at my back, but forgot about it when I saw Grim. Stormtroopers were beating him to a pulp, kicking and stomping on him, laughing about it! This...haze came over me…" That was no haze. Katerina saw the same shade of red she viewed the universe in from six years ago. Those Stormtroopers signed their death warrants falling under that scope. "By the time my head came back to me, I was standing with a banged up pole in my hands and Stormtroopers lying unconscious around me." She slapped her legs, loving the feeling in them. "And I was walking again."
Hera bobbed her head in the irony. To think they owe Vizago's idiocy in healing their friend. "How did you get inside the incinerator anyway? Grim said the place locked down."
"I borrowed Aresko's I.D badge and then left it at the door." She wiggled her fingers. Ezra's not the only one with a light touch. It goes without saying that people notoriously twist their heads and pretend to not notice. Perfect smokescreen for her to slip in unnoticed.
"Where did Vizago go afterward?" Zeb approached, massive arms folded.
"Don't know, don't care!" She frothed venomously. "After last time, I don't care where he goes as long as he's away from me." Zeb's ears drooped somberly, eyes roving to floor. Katerina appreciated him not pressing the issue.
Kanan cleared his throat, growling in a low tone as he knelt down to her. He firmly squeezed her shoulder, keeping his head down as he wrapped his rationality around this whole mission impossible story. "Normally I'd be furious that you, while stuck in a wheelchair, infiltrated an Imperial Station with no backup, no plan, and no real means of escape, with only your very smart mouth as a weapon, in order to help Vizago recover a drive that one of his friends was willing to nearly kill you guys for." Katerina sucked in, caught with her pants down. When he puts it like that, her entire outing sounded very stupid. And dangerous. Very dangerous. And...more than likely...suicidal. The bright side is she sensed a BUT in his one breath summary. "But seeing as you risked life and half dead limbs for a friend, and are once again able to walk and fight," He touched his forehead to hers, smiling at her with glossy eyes, "I'm willing to let it slide." He choked up.
"Should I say hallelujah, or bob my head with modesty?"
"Bob your head and hug me!" She shot to her feet, embracing Kanan with the same joyful tears as when they reunited. "I'm glad you're doing good, Sis. I missed you so much." He ran his hands up and down her back.
"Same here, Bro." She kissed his cheek a few times. She stretched to Sabine, looping her into the mushiness. "You guys had me scared."
"You scared us too." Hera breathed. "We've been trying to contact you for the past hour."
If they were trying the projector, that went with her smoking chair. She checked her smaller com, none surprised at all by the garbled static. "Guess the Empire's still scrambling communications."
"This has been going on for a while?" Kanan questioned surprised.
"The past week, actually. Though it's the first time it made it all the way out here." The Sumars' home and most of the outlands have been jam free up until now.
"Do you know why?" Sabine pressed.
Katerina urged them to wait a moment, racing to the open doors. She peered outside, confirming they were alone. She brought them in, huddling in the center of strapped hay bales. "There have been whispers amongst the Stormtroopers about an escaped fugitive, and the Empire is up in arms trying to find him." For some reason, the Rodian with the strange head gear came to mind. Something about him bothered her. And not because the man they're looking for happens to be Rodian. "Not only are the number of troops increased beyond capacity, they've cut off communications wherever their search radius is stretched. And if you've been calling for the past hour it means they're looking for him out here."
"Who are they looking for?" Zeb asked next.
"There's no name, but apparently he's a Rodian. The Empire is having a fit trying to find him." Ezra cringed at the mentioning of Rodians. "They're literally arresting anyone or anything suspicious." Dayve as an example, and their arrest rate is more erratic than usual.
"But, just to confirm," Zeb leaned an arm to her head, almost breaking her neck. His rancid body odor made her eyes water. Ezra's right. If his weight doesn't kill you, the smell will, "You haven't done anything to anger them while we were gone?"
"Zeb, it's me! I don't do anything that hasn't already been started."
"Uh-huh. And Aresko never caught on to your lift and snatch." He wiggled fingers in her face.
"He hasn't issued a manhunt, so I'm guessing I'm in the clear." She needs to knock on every scrap of wood within a hundred miles. Her luck isn't what it used to be.
"Anyway, how long are you guys planning on staying this time?" Katerina rose, stretching her sore body.
"You make it sound as if we're going to leave you again." Sabine laughed. Zeb, Kanan, and Hera sucked nervously on their lips. Katerina turned on her heels, pretending to go work on the tractor to hide her unease. "If you're up to it, we'd like you to come back."
"Yeah, Riina!" Ezra chimed in like a puppy. His tail was wagging like one. "Come back home."
She fiddled with a wrench, trying not to react. My home...This rage burned within her. The fires parting to those corpse filled halls, and blood ridden forest grounds. Kanan sensed the discord within her, curling fingers to his chin. Zeb and Hera didn't need the force to know something was bothering her. "You may have to run that by Alyss first." She mustered a laugh. "She IS my doctor, and she WILL dissect us if I disappear again."
"Then it's time to sign your release papers!" Ezra tured Sabine by her shoulder. Those two and Chopper bolted out of the barn, already rehearsing their opening statement for Alyss.
"Ha! You'd think they didn't know which way was up without me." She blushed at their childish skipping. She remembers being that young.
"A member of our team - our family - has been recovering on a farm in the middle of nowhere." Hera rubbed knuckles to Katerina's arm. "Of course we missed you."
"Like I said, I missed you guys too." That was an understatement if ever she said one. "But if you guys don't intercede on the disaster those three are going to cause, then we might as well make up post cards."
"She's got a point!" Kanan broke into a run. "Ezra! Sabine! Chopper! Don't say a word!" Katerina snorted impishly, heading back inside the barn to work on the tractor.
Hera and Zeb moved in close, eyeing Katerina suspiciously. She started reviewing the notes on what work she's done, and were she needs to pick up at. Though her eyes were scrolling the tablet, Hera and Zeb knew they were looking somewhere else entirely. "Do you think she wants to come back?" Hera whispered.
"I can't read her mind." Zeb huffed irately.
"Neither can I." She turned to leave, tenderly placing a hand on him. "But we can clearly see she isn't in a rush to leave." Zeb's fingers curled, her distancing footsteps leaving him to wallow in knots. The question circled his hindered mind. Does she want to come back? Absolutely. There are no doubts. The real question is, does she want to come back and risk running into the man who took her legs from her to begin with? THAT is entirely up to her. Deep down, however, Zeb wants her to come back. To...come back...to me.
xxx
Unique Fix was victimized by a gripping dry spell taking over businesses around Capital City. There were maybe...two speeders in for regular checkups, and three transports having their radiator cores flushed and tubes replaced. Other than that, Dominique was locked in her office filing off finished projects, paid and unpaid bills, and a setting alerts for when long term projects are to be done and ready. With how slow business has been, she was able to get through the bills and sort the finished projects. She began working on the schedules for their long term works, and estimating their progress and due dates. If she's doing her math right - and she always does her math right - two projects should be finished by the end of next month.
"Hey, uh, Dom. We've got a problem!" A piglet man waddled in, snorting like mad.
"The highlight of our evening." Dominique bleakly retorted, attention fully engrossed by the schedules. The pig winced as as two officers harshly pushed their way inside her office. Dominique could smell the cheap cologne and uniform lint from outside the shop. "Whatever it is, it will be done in the order it came in and our absolute best won't be neglected because you have a list of people you want to bowl over!" She barked.
"Actually, Miss Dominique Lessan," Dominique froze at her surname, stiffly turning and losing her breath a Aresko and Grint, "I was hoping you could contact someone for me." And by his smirk, and Grint's boorish grip on the Pig's head, saying no wasn't an option.
xxx
Silence. Katerina basked in the silence. Nothing but the wind gathering up her tied up hair, the long weed blade rustling together, and the pitter patter of tiny paws crunching the dirt. The smell of manure was there, mixed in with the fresh aroma of hay. She let her senses flow adrift on the winds. Her platted boots grinding to the rocks. Beige pants hugging to hips a size too small strapped on by her holster. Her pistols fully loaded and waiting to tear the air asunder. Being trapped in a chair had advantages on her waistline. Her V-neck black top, loose and flapping in the wind, ventilated the tension coiling to her abdomen. The platting she normally employs was discarded nearby. Her shortened staff was squeezed in her throbbing grip, eager to feel the beats as it is twirled.
Katerina took in one slow breath, holding it as her mind filled with images of Stormtroopers, Vizago, Clone Troopers, typical thugs. With the release, those very images took up arms. A tsunami filled her flaring aquamarines. A flick of her wrist and a smooth flourish from side to overhead. The staff shot to full length, ethereal white lanceheads surging from the bulbs, a shimmering electrified ring standing her hairs and the weeds on end. She stooped into a stance, staff whipped behind her with her free hand forward. She twirled the staff from front to her other side, staking the lance to the dirt. She weaved forth, thrusting a high rise kick followed by a spin. She traded hands on the staff, unleashing a mid boy heel kick. She planted the foot, freeing her staff into a powerful stab for where someone's heart would be. Her legs became lead too swiftly, her hips starting to heart, and her agility was wavering. The chair! HIM! That golden eyed monster. She released one more breath. Push! She snarled. In one fluid, fast, unrelenting motion, Katerina twirled and lunged her staff. Her fingers tripped over themselves, growing numb the faster she went. Flailing kicks were falling short, the joints from knee to thigh ringing in pain. He blocks with both arm and staff were feeble, too easily broken through. Her punches wouldn't subdue an ill child. Faster! Harder! Stronger! Push! Every Time she dropped her staff, tripped on a rock, or hit herself by mistake, Katerina pushed herself to her breaking point. Her lungs were on fire. The sweat was stinging her eyes. Her buzzing nerves numbed her stressed muscles. The adrenaline pumping this ferocity into her veins would keep her going for weeks - Months - before fatigue made her collapse. She'd ignore the fatigue and go on for years if it meant never ending up in that chair again. Never having to see Kanan weep for her.
'You will always be at a disadvantage.' His voice penetrated his ears, fueling the anger sending her into a spiral. 'And do you know why?' She doesn't care why! What does he know? What do any of them know? The staff severed the heads of the weeds clean off, scorching the stems. You don't know what I've been through! Swing, punch, kick! The fires consuming the temple, with the clones rising from the ashes to finish any who remained breathing. You don't know the things I've done! Duck, dodge, block! Stormtroopers ambushing her in the darkest night, left bloodied and dead at her feet. You don't know the lengths I've gone to! She stabbed her staff down, swinging her full body, and flipping to a crouch. A child was dead at her feet, the horror stuck to his face. Then those icy lips were at her ear, 'You lack TRUE power.'
"You don't know ANYTHING!" She reached behind and drew her pistol. A bolt shrieked from the barrel. A blue beam deflected the blot toward the sky. Katerina stopped in terror, breathless chest rising and falling at the impassive Kanan. Not so impassive. He was upset that she tried to shoot him. "Ca...Caleb?!" She coughed dryly.
"Yo…" He saluted two fingers.
"When did you...how long have you been there?" She bent forward, struggling to catch her breath.
"Somewhere around...the beginning." His head tilted with a snarky scrunch of his nose. She must have been distracted if she never saw him. He tossed her a canteen. She savored the cool liquid falling down her throat. "I know you're feeling better, but are you sure you shouldn't be resting? Pushing yourself like this can't be healthy for you."
Katerina emptied the canteen, gasping on that sweet air. "Alyss put me on house arrest after she learned of my white lie." Kanan folded his arms disapprovingly. "Vizago said we were going on a date. Don't worry, she caught on knowing he wasn't my type." She quickly added seeing him turn green. He's going to murder Vizago when he see's him. "Anyway, I've rested enough for ten life times. That's why I've spent the last couple of days working in the barn."
"You certainly sound better. That's lifting." He admitted. He wrapped fingers to her staff. "But you shouldn't push yourself."
A bold smirk stretched her lip. He's not going to let up. Neither will she. "Tell you what…" She brazenly capped a hand to his, "Beat me and I'll plant my butt on that bench - no arguments." Kanan turned a haughty smirk to the Sumar porch.
"None?" He snorted.
"Zero, zip, nada, zilch." Scouts honor. "But…" She touched a finger to his nose. He's not getting ahead of himself, "When I win-"
"If you win…"
"Then you drop the issue," She placed a hand on her hip, locking her obstinate eyes to his, "And tell me the real reason you came out here."
"Deal!" He didn't hesitate. He wasn't going to lose to her. He released her staff, watching humorously as she backed away. He shed his pistol and lightsaber, tossing them with her platting. Katerina set aside her weapons, then fixed her fingerless gloves to her hands. "For the record," Kanan raised his fists, taking his stance, "I'm not going easy on you."
"Oh I know you won't." She cracked her knuckles, circling her fists, bouncing on her toes. "I'll break your nose again if you do."
"A lucky shot."
"That left you crying."
Kanan charged full speed, a devastating fist drilling through the air. Katerina braced herself, catching the fist seconds before it touched skin. The pair shared bloodthristy grins, neither giving quarter as they poured the last ounce of strength into their arms. "I'm done crying."
"So am I!" Swiftly she twisted behind him. Kanan's weight making him stumble forward. Katerina's elbow connected with his back, sending him for the dirt. Kanan caught himself on his hands, prickle pods sticking into his palm. He dusted his palms, darting back into his stance, half curled hands bobbing up and down. Katerina wiped her nose with her thumb, her smirk warning him they said no mercy.
Kanan spat at the ground. Time to be serious. He let Katerina have the first move this time, two fists drawn as she charged. Kanan dodged the first punch, then diverted the second off to the side. He pushed his palms to the ferocious punches, nullifying the trauma. He skipped backwards, allowing Katerina ground as she unleashed a barrage of kicks and punches. He regained his ground, countering with forearm blocks, and well time parries. He thrust flat palms, jabbed at her with a few knees, each one blocked in turn. Wind brushing the skin as fists missed, He planted a foot at her sweeping leg, savoring her pained yelp. Mostly due to the fact pain in her legs meant a fully recovery. Still, tactless as he is, he stepped to her ankle and dealt a kick to her cheek. Katerina sustained the kick, sharply sucking in dry air. She clamped both hands to his leg, pulling from under him. Her foot darted for his stomach. Kanan caught the foot, and in one move swung and tossed her like a sack, sending her skipping to a less than blissful stop on the weeds. She huffed her bangs, not humored by how far she can be tossed.
"Done already?" Kanan teased.
"Not even close!" She spat up dirt, dusting herself off. "Barely tickled."
"Good to know." Kanan clapped then thrust both his palms. The tall grass was smashed by a rampant gust. Katerina crossed her wrists and buried her feet. The kinetic wave crashed into her like a tank. Groove dug deeper and deeper as she willed herself to remain standing, refusing to be pried from the solid earth...again. The easing pressure caused her to lower her arms. Kanan was right in front of her, catching her crossed wrists. He swooped behind her, pressing his whole back to hers, lifted her by her belt and flipped her over and onto her stomach. The searing pain igniting her lungs crippled her breath. She wrenched her feet beneath and tackled him. Kanan grabbed hold of her, staggering to steel himself. He interlaced his legs with hers, twisting her legs out from under her. She fell forward, grasping at the soil to catch herself. Kanan coiled himself to her like a snake, slithering an arm under one of hers and hooking a hand to her neck. He pinned her free arm, wrapping his legs to hers, leaving her with a face full of dirt. "You've lost your touch, Katerina! Taking it easy has made you sloppy!"
"Oh...NO...you did NOT just call ME lazy!" She frothed, choking in dirt. Kanan impishly bounced his brow, chuckling mockingly. "Caleb Dume...I am so shaving every last piece of hair on your body and dousing you in aftershave!"
"You mean like you did when I was asleep that one time? That reminds me!" Kanan tauntingly twirled a finger into his mouth, working a fine lather of spit. "I never paid you back." He hummed
"Caleb Dume, you wouldn't dare!" Katerina turned green. Oh but he would. He most certainly would. Kanan cackled insanely, wiggling the finger for his writhing sister. Her struggles were futile as the finger neared her ear. "Caleb! CALEB! THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" Her voice cracked.
"You sure~" He crooned, teasing a touch and pulling away. "Because I'm on the verge of busting up here."
"COME ON! THIS IS DISGUSTING!" She begged.
"Noo! It's divine retribution for the aftershave."
"CALEB!"
"You gonna do what I say and rest?!"
"YES!"
"You gonna rest the whole time?"
"YES! I PROMISE! YOU WIN! NOW GET OFF!"
"Good girl." He couldn't spare her entirely. He wipe the finger on her pants, then finally released her.
Katerina felt her life flash before her eyes. Her heart was sure ready to stop. "YOU...SON OF A BITCH!"
"Language, and you know full well we don't know what our mom was."
"Low blow, and what else do you call someone who gives up both kids five years apart."
"In hard times?" Dirt splattered to his face. "Touche, and a freebie." Katerina was quite proud of herself.
"Here you two are." Zeb trudged up the hill, brow arched at the filthy pair. "Sibling dispute again?"
"Not much of a dispute since someone's out of practice." Kanan mocking pointed with a thumb. Katerina snapped her jaws, narrowly missing the the appendage. "What's up?"
"Ezra's having a hard time with a new force trick ya taught him. Says he needs your help."
"On my way. Master's work is never done." He shrugged.
"On the bright side," Katerina dusted him off, using his own shirt to clean his face, "Ezra's got one of the best."
Kanan appreciated that. In spite of the dirt, he kissed her forehead and marched for the house. "Rest up. I don't need you collapsing while we're here."
"YES, MASTER JEDI!" She partially mocked. She gawked at a cloth Zeb was holding out. He touched a spot on his cheek. Katerina caught on and cleaned her face. "Thanks."
"Hye, gotta keep them female looks of yours intact." Zeb's huge fingers were able to lift her finger in a simple pinch. "On glance at these man muscles will be an instant turn off."
"At least I am capable of looking good!" She threw the cloth onto his face. "That ugly mug of yours scares small children and animals."
"Calling me a beast does not make you beautiful."
"Yeah, yeah…" She droned, sitting the the hill's slant. Katerina rolled her eyes, knowing full well this will go until someone's lying on the floor. Most likely her. She'll be kicking herself for a year at how fast Kanan pinned her. Maybe watching the horizon will cool her shame. Zeb decided to join her, not entirely trustful she'll stay resting. He couldn't help watching her toes pat the dirt. Her legs able to curl and uncurl again. She's standing taller than usual. The chair worked in more ways than one for her. He's glad it didn't stop her. "What? Why do you keep staring?" She blushed.
"I dunno…" He lied back, folding arms behind his head. "Maybe because I haven't seen you in three weeks, and the last time I saw you very unflattering hardware was strapped under you." She won't deny that. That chair clashed with the essence that is Katerina. Besides, she felt old and decrepit. "Before that you were lying dying on a bed in the basement...after bleeding on the floor of The Phantom." He choked up, coughing to put that behind him. "SO many rises and falls. The falls going farther and farther, drawing closer to the brink where you can never rise up again.
"Quite a ride." She exhaled.
"A very...terrifying...ride." He propped up, folding his arms to his curled knees. He lowered his head. The joviality long evaporated under a sorrow he's been carrying. "One where I was terrified to see end because...because I didn't know if you'd be there...waiting with a smile...or lying in a pool of blood." He forced the last words. You almost lost her, you fool! Just admit it! These are the words he wanted to say. He knows it. Or something along those lines. I almost lost you...without ever...ever...
"Zeb I-"
Zeb smothered her in a strong embrace. One arm at her waist, pressing her body flush against his. His free hand was clamped to her head, running down her long hair. Her scent, her heartbeat, the feel of her skin - all that is Katerina filled him with warmth. The joy he felt being able to hold her again, coupled with the sorrow at having lost her for so long. Zeb felt his soul tearing itself in half. Did he want to cry? Did he want to scream? Did he want to laugh? He doesn't know. He doesn't know anything. Except one thing. "I missed you." Her eyes widened. "I missed you so much." She clenched her teeth, eyes glossing as his words scaled her skin with bumps. "Every time I rounded a corner, heard a knock on the ship's walls, smelt Sabine using your shampoo," She used my shampoo? "I thought...hoped...I'd see you. Only to have my heart shatter that you'd never come."
"Zeb...please...stop…" She put hands to his chest, pouring every ounce of muscle to free herself from his arms, "I can't...I can't take it!"
"Too bad! I'm not done!" He barked, tightening his hug. "I...I don't want to let you go!"
"Zeb...I missed you too." She grunted. "I missed all of you so much. But this…"
"This? What this? TELL ME!"
"I CAN'T BREATHE!"
Zeb paused, then glanced at her very blue face. "OH! SORRY!" Katerina flipped to her hands and knees, gasping desperately for sweet, fresh air. "Didn't mean to hug you so hard!"
"It wasn't that! It's the smell!" Her eyes were watering. Zeb raised a brow, smelling under his armpits. He smelt like something that died in space and was brought onto the ship to be cooked by the engine fumes. "When's the last time you took a bath?!"
"WHAT?! I showered last week!" She frothed. Katerina deadpanned skeptically. "Okay! Fine! I haven't showered in...19 days. But in my defense it's been so hectic that I just...forgot."
"Hectic? Is that what you call letting a hole in The Phantoms fuel tank go unnoticed." She emphasised her irritation. She's gone a few days and they break something.
"You're still up for fixing that, right?" He clicked his tongue charmingly, bouncing that childish brow.
"Of course." She rolled her eyes. Who else was going to fix it.
"And...maybe...come back and be Specter 7 again?" There's the moment killer. Katerina turned away, hugging her knees to her chest. Zeb's heart sank. No... "Wait. You don't wanna come back?" Please...don't say you want to leave! She can't leave him.
"I do! More than anything! Farm life is...not my thing." She's grateful to the Sumars, but living on the farm is too primitive.
"Then why the hesitation?" He rumbled, coming up on her back.
Katerina went further into her ball. "I don't want to see him." Squeezing her eyes, she can see him. The Inquisitor. Losing to Kanan so swiftly. He'll mop the floor with her in a breath. "I'm...I'm not ready! Not to face him! I don't...I don't want to come that close! Not ever again!" She doesn't ever want to see Kanan so scared. The thought that they'd be separated for eternity. That break would shatter her into pieces from which she can never be reassembled. "He put me in that chair. Almost made it so I'd never be able to stand against anyone who came my way again." She buried her face into her knees. "Next time...he won't be so sloppy."
"Riina…" Zeb embraced her gently from behind. Through her back she felt his powerful heart. Each thump imbued her with newfound strength. And...warmth. He's so warm. "I promise you, here and now, I won't let that monster come anywhere near you." This he vowed. Katerina touched his large arms, snuggling in the embrace. This...this is what he wanted. What he's needed those past three weeks. He can deny it all he wishes and say it was space madness taking its hold on his fragile mind. Nothing so simplistic. The sorrow, the grief, the frustrations he took out on others. All of it had one common denominator. Katerina. "He'll never...never take you from us again." From me. For as long as there's breath in his body...Zeb won't let anyone take her from him.
"Thanks Zeb. Really." There, in his arms, she felt nothing could touch her. I'm safe...I feel so safe. Kanan's the only other one who's ever made her feel this way. She clutched at his shirt, wanting to stay like that for a while longer.
"Katerina…" His voice broke. A war between his screaming judgement and his unmanageable impulses was splitting him in two. The throbbing in his chest, the spinning in his head made him sick to his bowels. There are voices he is ignoring with every effort telling him to turn back before he makes a mistake. The only mistake would be running.
"Yeah?"
Zeb broke their embrace, his large hands cupping to her round cheeks. Her heart skipped ten beat, mind instantly returning to that moment on the porch. The difference here, the second her wide and glossy eyes met Zeb's, his eyes were closed and his lips...enveloped hers in a tender kiss. Her eyes went so wide they would have fallen from the sockets. Her breath stopped in her throat. This...this is...what I wanted...all those weeks ago. A split second, possibly, is all it would have taken. But he ran. He swore he'd tell her what was on his weighing heart when they returned. That is, if he could sort it out by then. He's quicker and more accurate with his rifle than he is with words. What he's doing now...though every neuron in his brain is questioning why...it feels right. Enough is said. I nearly lost you, I've left you behind. If that should happen again, I will have no regrets.
Everything went blank. The sounds were gone, the air became hot and cold, the planes around them dissipated into nothingness. Her muscles were solidified like stone, and yet were kindling like wet noodles. She wonderful, then awful, then awfully wonderful, and the vice versa that followed made the nausea in her stomach curdle, yet fill with beautiful butterflies. Slowly did she give in, closing her eyes, blushing madly as his surprising soft lips consumed her. When the kiss broke, Katerina was left in a haze. Either her or the space around her was fuzzy. Zeb was filled with a sense of guilt, and yet was engrossed in peace.
Katerina was completely stunned, no words able to escape on her shuddering breath. She tapped her lips together, her mind unable to grasp what just happened. Zeb's head finally caught up to him. He coughed and stammered bashfully, backing away from her. "Umm…" Zeb's whole face was cherry red. He couldn't bring himself to look her in the face. She touched hands to her lips. His own flesh upon them. "S-Sorry…" He gagged on the air. YOU IDIOT! WHAT WAS THAT?! Forget his whole no regrets speech! This must have been the most out of the blue thing he's done since pretending to propose to that barmaid three years ago.
"S'okay…" She squeaked. She's losing feeling in his legs again. She had no thoughts except, he kissed me...he kissed me...he-kissed-me. Something inside he was screaming to run and not look back, while a majority of the other was telling her to… meet him halfway. "Uhh-"
"Riina!" Zeb and Katerina yelped, falling with a loud THUD. Hera sprinted up the hill, gasping for air. Zeb and Katerina ogled her worriedly. She was pale. "Sorry to interupt, but Dominique's looking for you! She says there's trouble!"
xxx
The Ghost Crew, Sumar Family, Grim, and Dayve were gathered in the family room, surrounding projection coming from Chopper. Hera returned with Zeb and Katerina, the looks on the neighboring faces sent chills down their spines. Dominique was both terrified and relieved to see Katerina. She'd cheer for her walking if things weren't so dire. "Dom! Are you alright!?"
"Ania, we have a small problem here!"
Alarms blared in Katerina's head. "Chopper! Hit pause! Now!" She screeched. Chopper froze communications. "Get back! All of you get back!" She pushed them way out of the projector's sight, throwing sheets over the Sumars out of paranoia. Grim and Dayve nearly ducked behind the furniture. "Don't breathe, don't move, don't even so much contemplate itching your noses! None of you can be here!"
"What's going on?" Sabine cried.
"She called me Ania." From her alias. Heads shook as they missed the problem. "Dom never calls me Ania unless Stormtroopers are around."
"The Empire is at her shop!" Grim wailed.
"And they're looking for me. Anastasia, but me." Her brow furrowed, her nerves steeling as she approached. "And I have a sinking feeling as to who it is. Chopper, tell me you've scrambled the signal." He beeped with insult. As if he'd give away their position. She nodded and Chopper reinitiated talks. "Go ahead, Dom. What are we looking at?"
Dominique was shoved off screen, Commandant Aresko's grinning, squinty face souring the entire room. "Possible charges of treason, Ms. Stark." He pretended to read off a chart. "On top of that: breaking and entering into an Imperial Facility, trespassing, assaulting officers of The Empire. I'm sure there are other charges I can rack against you." He threatened with his worm wiggling brow.
"What are you on about now, Aresko?! Didn't you and Grint have enough time hassling me the last time?!" Last time! Hera scolded mentally. She heard the story, but has that feeling certain events were neglected. "By the way, where's my droid?!" The inside joke nearly made her, Grim, and Dayve burst in laughter.
"Ah! Right to the topic of interest! Just how I like it!" Katerina didn't show it, but she had stepped in it now. There's only one reason he'd call, and she may have just given herself and the other two away."But might I digress and congratulate you." She blinked confused, then paled at him pointing at her legs. "Your legs seemed to have regained their vigor." DAMMIT! She was a paraplegic. She should have sat down. "Now then, as you well know, we faced a security breach at our facility in Lecosta. As such, we activated our security protocols, sealed every exit. No one was able to get in or out."
"I'm sure there's a point in there somewhere!"
"You disappeared without a trace after the alarms went off. And, most notably," The nefarious chair was dragged on screen. Alyss was horrified by the shambles. "Your chair was found in the incinerator warehouse, along with several unconscious Stormtroopers. Witnesses also state there were a few others in the warehouse. One who took the body of a Gran and threw it in one of the molten pots." Pressure was mounting oppressively on her shoulders. Grim and Katerina shared nervous stares. Those unconscious Troopers ratted them out...and seemed to retain their faces. Kanan and others were growing suspicious. Thoughts on the body twisted their stomach, but also made them ponder as to what it was that they missed. Katerina started to think on the body too. Must have been Rurri. Vizago... "On top of all that, the droid you wanted has gone missing. Now, you couldn't possibly have crippled my men because you yourself are a crip-WAIT A MINUTE!" He threw a finger into the air. Yes, yes, rub it in now. Katerina hasn't concocted a way of explaining it away yet. When she does, she'll love watching the grin drop off his face. "Tell me, tell me. How did your legs come back to you? And how did your chair end up in the warehouse?" Her fists balled. She needs to think fast. Otherwise...all involved are sunk. Except for Vizago. "See, I think, you and cohorts in your employ created that whole brouhaha, in order to take back your droid and also disable our station for something nefarious." His smirk dared her to tell him that he wasn't on the mark.
"One second…" She tugged at her collar. Chopper paused the feed again. Kanan's glare was peeling her back. "I can totally explain."
"You'd better." He rumbled.
"I'll give you cliffnotes after this." She swore. Right now she needs a wringer of an explanation or she gets to watch Dominique and everyone at the shop be carted away for a very hands on interrogation. Chopper turned the feed back on. She bit the inside of her cheek. "Alright, you want an explanation?" Aresko was eager to hear it. Appeal to his vanity and ego. The only believable circumstance someone like Aresko wouldn't question for too long. "The second I heard that alarm, I bailed! I wheeled myself out of there as fast as I could because alarms mean all Hell is about to break loose. And considering my injury at the time, I wasn't in any sort of state to handle it!" Aresko squinted at her mentioning her injury. She made a note. "As for what my chair is doing there, I couldn't tell you! I was suckerpunched out of it!" Shows off bruise. A not entirely white lie. There's color there. "Next thing I know, someone's making off with my chair and I'm being carried off to the hospital to be treated for a concussion." She snuck a hand behind her back, inscribing the air with a fake pen. Alyss took Sabine and began working on documents. Chopper can put the final touches later.
"You won't mind if I ask what hospital you were admitted into."
"Nothing I could afford. Had to go to a friend's clinic." Again. Not a lie.
"We'll still need to verify."
"Fine!" By the time they do, she'll be admitted into a room and no one would be the wiser. Hopefully.
Hera's communicator beeped. Kanan and everyone pales. She snapped a hand to it, escaping the room. She released a held breath, answering the call. "Really bad timing, Fulcrum." She whispered, walking outside.
"Regardless, that doesn't explain how you are able to walk again." Aresko huffed.
"A miracle." She spat. Nothing short of a miracle. Ironically, those Troopers helped. The real miracle is he didn't hear Hera's com.
Aresko huffed stuffily. A not improbably tale. Certain is well put together. "You have my most profound praise on your recovery." There's a but in that sinister grin of his. "And while I am sure your story is...credible, I sincerely doubt a tribunal will sympathize with your tale."
"Excuse me?" Grim and Zeb shared disturbed glares. Ezra and the Sumars knew where this was going. Aresko answered her anger with a warrant for her arrest. Already signed and ready for processing. "You can't be serious! I haven't done anything!"
"Nothing that our testimony won't confirm nor deny. And who do you think will be the most credible in a court of law."
"You enabling, manipulative piece of shi-"
"Now, now, Ms. Stark, is that anyway to speak to the person offering you work."
Everyone within earshot had their jaws hit the ground. It's amazing Aresko didn't hear it. "I'm...sorry…" She must have crazy in her ear.
"Empire Day is upon us, Ms. Stark. The anniversary of when our glorious Empire was established and reaped rewards of the Jedi Genocide!" Kanan and Katerina were very glad their friends were close by. Every ounce of fiber in their bodies would not have held either back from jumping through that projector and slitting his throat. Ezra hugged his elbow, leaning to the farthest corner. "As such, in honor our resplendent birth, we are in the midst of unveiling a new piece of artillery to our arsenal."
"Uh-huh. Yeah…"
"This artillery is currently under development at the Imperial Academy here on Lothal. Unfortunately, at the rate our engineers are working, we'll fall behind to next Empire Day."
"How does this involve me?!" He'd better not be saying what she thinks he's saying.
"Your skills with everything advanced and machine is legendary. Fixing four vehicles - each of a different class - within weeks of each other is quite the medal of honor." Dominique's inner conversationalist must have taken hold. Trooper or normal customer, she's been flapping her lips. Exaggerating clearly, but not too far off from the truth. "It would break the hearts of everyone, including Governor Price, if our unveiling was postponed. If someone of your renowned and unparalleled caliber were lead, I'm sure we wouldn't disappoint our people."
"Yeah…" She trailed off. YOU'RE STARK, RAVING MAD! NO WAY IN HELL! GO SUCK A GUNDARK'S MANHOOD! KISS MY NATURALLY TAN CORUSCANT ASS! Kanan and Ezra shivered at her tirade. She's ripping Aresko to shreds. "Let me call you back!"
xxx
The call was cut. Aresko leaned back in Dominique's office chair, quite pleased with how smoothly his plan was flourishing. "I don't get it." Grint itched that rather empty head of his. "Why didn't tell her about the discrepancies in her file? Or that she matches a rebel we're chasing? Or that we know someone in our senate is protecting her?" He stressed. All of this evidence, they could throw her into prison, and sentence her to death three times over. And Aresko just tanked all of these hard worked man hours for...A JOB OFFER?! "Why aren't you bringing the hammer down on these filth?!"
"Because, my overweight friend, that would adversely influence her occupation to me." Aresko purred.
"I don't follow."
Of course he doesn't. This level of thinking is beyond this muscle bound oaf. "I knew her documents were too uniform the day she arrived." He tapped on his tablet, a hologram of Anastasia materializing. Her biography scrolled beside her. "They were too perfect, too clean, and prepared in advance. As if she's done this before." He whispered. She's a professional "Not to mention, for someone with such an unforgettable face to be walking about in broad daylight with no fears of being discovered means she's confident no one can unearth her true identity." Hence her senate ties. "If this girl is a rebel, and a member of our senate is protecting, having her under our thrall will lure her cohorts to us. Also, she does amazing work. I would see those hand put the final touches on our latest TIE fighters."
Now Grint was starting to get it. It's all a trap for some huge fish. Ooh! Fish potpie. "What makes you think she won't just decline? You gonna show her what we found?" He proposed.
"Oh she won't decline." Aresko was confident of that.
"How do you know?"
"Because, Grint," He crooned, leering past the liquid glass window to the workers and Dominique. The Togruta used every effort to sneak glances at him, "She'd never endanger her employees. Not even to save her own skin."
xxx
"No way in Hell are we agreeing to this!" Zeb roared.
"Damn straight we're not!" Katerina put her foot down. "I am not doing anymore work for these people than I've had to do!" Their insurance rates are fine for their finances, but they really do suck at taking care of their stuff.
"That may not be an option." Hera interjected. Trouble outline her face. "Umm...I just received intel from a viable source, and our it's imperative that we extend our stay on Lothal." Fulcrum is that viable source more than not. Sabine knows better than to ask, seeing as Hera will just dodge the question. "The academy Aresko offered you a position."
"Yeah?" Katerina really doesn't like where this is heading.
"Sources say there is a decoder in the Empire's possession, and it's at the Imperial Academy." Hera heard it from the mask man himself, still she can hardly believe it. She licked her dry lips, raising her head to meet everyone's wary stares. Especially Katerina and Kanan's. "The decoder contains the location of one very powerful, very deadly, Kyber Crystal."
"A kyber crystal?" Kanan gasped.
"The same crystals meant for lightsabers?" Katerina stressed.
"That's not all they're meant for." Kanan warned her.
"Kanan's right." Hera moaned. "The one this decoder is set to find is supposedly large, and contains terrifying power. More power than what a lightsaber can handle."
"According to legend," Kanan continued, "There are larger, more rare crystals, that possess enough power to shatter worlds in a breath. The ones who discovered this power...were the Sith." All minds focused on the red blade who hunted them on Stygeon. "The Inquisitor isn't a Sith. But odds are he knows how to put such an item to use for The Empire."
"And that item is on the other end of a decoder already in their hands." Ezra slapped a hand over his eyes.
Katerina slapped a fist in her palm. "Not if we get it first!" Gasps and falling jaws were directed at her.
"Riina? Are you sure? If it's too soon-"
"I don't want to do this anymore than you do," She reassured Kanan, "But we both know Aresko and Grint will hurt Dom and the others if I say no. Not to mention the damage The Inquisitor or his people could cause with a crystal like this." As much as it corrodes her soul to acquiesce, she's going to have to say yes. And Kanan knows he can't stop her. "Guess I'm polishing up my resume. And my fighting moves."
"Not alone you're not." He slapped a hand to her shoulder. "Never alone again, Katerina." Zeb, Sabine, Ezra, Hera, and Chopper nodded firmly.
"Never alone." She repeated. Kanan backed away again.
Chopper reestablished contact with Aresko. "Ahh. Come to a decision have we?" He taunted.
"If I agree to this, I have conditions!" She put her foot down.
"Name them." Either way, she's his.
"You NEVER go near Dominique's business again. My pay will be decided by me. I get unlimited access to all the tools, tech, and equipment. And, after this job is finished," She leaned forward, mustering the darkest glare, shredding him with the sharpest daggers, "My name never leaves your lips again! I slip into obscurity in your mind from then on!"
"Is that all?" He hummed.
"Yes." She grudgingly answered.
"Then our bargain is struck." He penciled her in, aware she'd agree. "Your first day is on Monday, 3AM sharp, at the Academy Hangar in lot 4-B9. Do be punctual." As if she'd be late to throw a wrench in their works. "Welcome to The Empire, Ms. Stark."
To be continued.