Better Not to Know

Moving on.

xxx

Sabine was getting concerned with how long this trade off was taking. Lando and Hera should have finished their business with their mystery smuggler by now. She meandered for the docking tunnel, pondering the many ways - with a hand to her brow - on how Kanan or Katerina likely made the plan go belly up. No offense to them, but those two know how to get into trouble. Kanan more so than Katerina. She wasn't hearing gunfire, or getting any last minute shout out to have the Ghost's engines burning on all cylinders for a hasty exit. Not that it could with their limited fuel. Still, though, Sabine doesn't like being idle for too long. Makes her anxious. Anything or anyone could come at them at anytime and take them out. She wants her team back on this ship ASAP, with Lando's cargo, and on their way back to Lothal.

As Sabine entered the tunnel, relief brightened her face when she saw Kanan and Lando boarding...with a questionable looking rectangular crate being pushed inside. Must be the cargo Lando's been fussing over. Sabine silenced a gasp behind her hand seeing Lando's left cheek so swollen half his mouth was closed. And...she might be seeing things...but he's missing a couple teeth on that side. She raised a brow, Was there a fight? This has to go one record as one of their quietest brawls in history. Sabine's relief then subsided to perturbed not seeing Katerina or Hera exit when the next ship's guard closed the door. Lando's cargo...but two team members gone. That already can't be good. Her dismay amplified when Kanan went to their supply hatch by the dock doors and pulled out Katerina's gear. She boarded an enemy ship without any of her weapons, and she and Hera were nowhere to be seen! Now Sabine knows to be concerned.

"Where are Hera and Riina?!" She curtly demanded a response from Kanan, knowing full well this is his fault somehow. "And what happened to Lando's face?" Which was the real topic of interest for her.

Kanan squeezed his eyes closed, exhaling from his nostrils frustrated. This will go on record as his fourth screw up of the day, but no chance in Hell he's going down alone. "Tell her about Hera and Riina, Lando!" He commanded. "And explain why you only have 30 teeth now!" Kanan didn't bother trying to hide his amusement. He can still feel that impact.

"Hera and Riina," His swollen cheek spiked in pain. Even a ship away that girl is still hurting him, "Are following the plan. Which is what we should be doing if we want to get them back!" He stressed the simplicity in the complex plan. He needs the Ghost Crew to trust him just a bit longer. Which wouldn't be out of the question if they trusted him from the get go. "Katerina lacks the patience for the long game." Sabine deadpanned at his swollen cheek. She understands what happened now.

"Where are Hera and Riina?!" Zeb asked more virulently, intensifying his irritation on Lando. He gawked at his swollen face, then held his stomach laughing. "Where they are now," He happily poked a claw in the tender cheek, "Riina paid you back good for your crap!" Lando hissed in agony, flinching away with zero appreciation of the poke. He's paired up with sadists.

"That bruise is more because of the fact that Lando here doesn't have a plan and just improvised two of our friends into a fat, nut balls hands!" Kanan frothed at the mouth. He was getting redder by the second having lost Katerina and Hera. For Zeb and Sabine, it was nice to see him upset. For the right reason, anyway.

"Now, see, you and Katerina may have similar faces, but it is clear you both think on different levels of insight." Lando mocked, touching at his head with a sly grin. Kanan's nerves spiked at the similarity comment. "I told our two lovely ladies to take an escape pod."

"You never told them that!"

"I DID, actually! Weren't you paying attention?" Kanan feels more like he passed out and just woke up in time to see his girlfriend and sister be sold off. Lando gripped to his cargo. Zeb edged out of the way before he was hit. "Besides, Hera and Katerina seem very capable. We are LUCKY to have a Captain, and Mechanic like them." Lando saluted to the two ladies' bravery as he exited onto the ship.

"I ALREADY KNEW THAT!" Kanan was really getting sick of his sh- "WAIT! What do you mean we?!" There is no way in Hell that man was indoctrinating himself into their crew! He will learn to walk on the suns of Geonosis before that EVER happens.

"Quite a day you're having." Sabine had to put a cheeky spin on the stress. Helps her cope. "First you lose Chopper. Now Hera and Riina?" She feigned sounding shocked. This is a day of records. Nothing will surprise her anymore. Kanan's somber expression raised a red flag. He was glaring hard into the floor, clutching Katerina's things in his hands. Sabine's heart skipped a beat. "You didn't give up Riina on purpose did you?"

Kanan stammered gobsmacked, staggering away from her. He was gaping in pure disbelief that she really thought that. "No! I would never do that!" He was furious she could even ask that with a straight face. He slipped back into melancholy. "But I might as well have." Looking down at her weapons, he cursed himself. He should have slipped her a gun, or her staff. He served her and Hera up on platters. "Man. This whole thing stinks."

"Which whole thing?"

"All of them." Kanan murmured, turning in dread to see the Azmorigan's ship was already out of sight.

xxx

"Grr…" Katerina paced Azmorigan's ship while rubbing her right hand knuckles. Azmorigan and his men kept a good distance from this one, plastering themselves to the nearest walls. Might not have been the best idea purchasing her with the Twi'lek. "I'm going to rip him a new asshole when I see him." Katerina growled rabidly, really hoping to the Force that she broke the bones on the one half of Lando's face. It's the only way this whole situation will be bearable.

Hera was still depriving insurmountable joy from watching Lando get laid out. It was very satisfying. Now if she and Riina can just make it to that escape pod Lando mentioned, she can get her own satisfaction. "I'd be careful getting to rowdy. You might cause our new master indigestion." Azmorigan burped and farted at the same time, feeling a little queasy from the relief. A good thing Katerina was facing away from Azmorigan, otherwise he'd see he scrunch her nose and roll her eyes.

"Yes...yes...behave yourself!" He slurred. He doesn't need a worker causing an upset in his delicate stomach.

Katerina growled under her breath. She was writhing internally at this humiliation, balling a fist in front of her. She quelled the profane curses of her bruised pride and turned and bowed to him. "Please forgive...Mmassterr!" She hissed the word venomously. She can feel her body doing flips. Her piercing eyes sharpened like the knives she'll use to carve up Lando. Hera pat her on the back, promising her it will be fine. They just need to play the game.

Azmorigan tried to recover from his shock by stuffing his face. He grabbed a spiked fruit from the platter, devouring half of it within two bites. The juices were running profusely down his numerous chins, soaking into his three sizes too small suit. He choked on a seed, spitting up most of what was in his mouth and bringing more juice to coat his face. Hera was going to throw up watching this guy. Katerina's already vomited in her mouth a dozen times. "Do you two need food?!" Azmorigan waved his almost eaten fruit at them.

"We...seemed to have lost our appetite!" Hera carefully replied. For the next century. She added with a phantom roll of her eyes. "But maybe you'd like us to serve you."

Katerina shot her a revolted stare. Hera batted her eyes flirtatiously all the while flicking two fingers back and forth. Katerina's eyes widened when she caught on and nodded. "Yes, Master Azmorigan, let us serve you. Pretty please…" She batted her eyes adoringly, at the same time felt her dignity run out of her hind.

"Yes...yes...would...uh...be good practice for you, yes…" Azmorigan was mostly mumbling to himself. Thinking burns unneccesary calries, and he was burning tons of them figuring out if he wants his new servants to serve him or watch him. "Very well! Be quick about it!" He tossed away the spiked fruit and grabbed another one, consuming what he just worked off.

Hera bowed her head to the droid, happily accepting the platter from it. Katerina snaked her way Azmorigan, sliding her hands cutely up his scrawny arms to his shoulders. He was purring like a Loth Cat as she began to massage his shoulders. "And, perhaps, you'd prefer to dine alone…" Hera purred suggestively. Azmorgian chuckled lecherously, liking where this was going. He ordered his droid and guards out of his quarters. Katerina and Hera shared humorous stares. If that were any more easy they'd feel guilty. Katerina glided her hands for the middle of his back. She nodded to Hera. "Take the whole tray." Hera told Azmorigan.

"What are you talking about?!" He barked. Katerina had to muster every ounce of strength when she punched him square in the spine. It was enough because he sat up right and screamed in pain. Hera then used the platter and beat him uncosncious with it. He flopped to the ground like Zarcanian Jelly. Just as gross too. "Should I feel guilty on how easy that was?"

"Not in the least!" Katerina huffed, stepping on Azmorigan. She pulled sanitizer from her pcoket, cleaning her hands, arms, and shoulders. She's going to need to shower for four hours when they get back to the ship.

"Just checking." Hera snickered. The two strutted out of the room. A guard was waiting outside. "The Master wishes for a little more alone time while we change clothes in our quarters." She said with such a meek voice Katerina almost cooed. She sounds cute when pretending to be submissive. Even cuter is the bruiser behind it. The guard willingly led them down the hall. Hera pulled out her handy tray, GONG! The two came strutting back like hot cats, bumping fists. "That was a really useful tray." She tossed it.

"Maybe we should get a few after this."

"Sounds like a plan." Hera agreed.

"Oh, before we go…" Katerina scanned the hallway, finding the right pipes and valves she needs. She turned three of the wheels, increasing the pressure to one section while minimizing it in others. She flashed two Bogan Fruit she smuggled to Hera. She opened the pipe with less pressure, stuffing the fruit right inside. "That should do the trick."

"What trick?"

"Any idea how toxic Bogans become when not in the proper conditions?" She quizzed, putting it back in place. A dark grin split Hera's face down the middle. She escorted Hera for their escape route. "The Master is about to lose a few dozen more calories." She fixed the pressure and on their way they headed for the escape pod.

The intesne heat and chemicals inside the pipes were already eating away at the two fruits. They were rotting from the inside out, their juices bubbling. A vapor was wafting from it. And, as it would be, the piping they were stuffed it went right back to Azmorigan's chambers.

xxx

Two guards wanting to check on their master found him regaining consciousness. They lugged him up, and he was very cranky. "That Twi'Lek…that brown haired twerp...are MY property..." Azmorigan was so heated that he didn't notice the musty, rotting fruit smell entering his room. "Stop them...STOP-ERK!" Azmorigan choked on the his own spit. His stomach was bubbling harshly, roaring in agony. He was getting dizzy really fast. His guards were feeling the same way. An intense wave of nausea hit them. Then a few seconds later they were running in opposite directions to unload the contents of their stomachs around the room.

xxx

The escape pod was spotted by the Ghost. It came about, the airlock primed to receive it. It was a good thing Sabine took Lando to go get Hera and Katerina because Kanan was another word from punching in his other eye. On top of that, Azmorgian's ship was coming in hot. Likely to come and retrieve the two ladies on the pod. Too bad for him Hera was the best pilot to all crafts. She reached the Ghost before Azmorigan came witin targeting distance. Once the pod attached, Hera and Katerina climbed inside the airlock and sealed themselves inside. The pod was detached and Kanan sent them hiding out in hyperspace.

Lando, Chopper, and Sabine went to greet them on their return. Seeing Katerina prompted Lando to hide behind Sabine. She meandered past him with a harsh glare and nothing more, heading for Kanan with every intention of breaking their silent treatment. She grinned hearing the distinct pleasurable sounds of knuckles breaking ribs. Hera got her satisfaction. Katerina happened to look toward the cockpit and saw Kanan on his way out. He gaped in awe of seeing her. He scrolled his gaze up and down her body, sighing relaxed that there were no signs of damage. She was alright. Too bad for him...PUNCH...he wasn't so lucky. Kanan got his own shiner now, and was left lying between the seats to stew in it.

"I can't believe you let him sell us!" She screamed at him, steam hissing from her ears and mouth. She was red as a cherry.

Kanan groaned at the throbbing in his head. He knows he deserved that, but did she have to hit him so hard? "It was…" He strained to speak, pulling himself up right by the chairs, "Part of the plan?" If he said that with any more uncertainty in his tone Katerina will have to stomp on his throat.

"YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE PLAN WAS!" She broked his eardrums in the cramped space.

"No, I didn't!" He admitted heatedly, shooting back onto his feet. He smoothed himself out, approaching her...with moderate caution. "But had I known you would have been traded, I would have stepped in!" Lando is playing by a book that constantly changes. He can't keep up.

"Yeah...sure you would have!" Katerina scoffed incredulously. She turned on her heels to march away.

Kanan latched a hand to her arm, pulling her back. "I would have." He swore with glistening eyes. He would never let her be sold.

Katerina knit her brow, ripping her arm out of his hand. She squared to him, making sure he saw the rage rippling in her irises. "Too bad for you I don't believe that anymore!" The low rumble in her tone terrified him. He's never sensed such distrust...or malice directed at him from her before.

SQQUEAAL! See now, hearing a sound like that completely eliminates the tension in any room. Espeicially when you know its a sound that doesn't belong on a ship on course for Lothal. Kanan and Katerina looked to see what it was. Katerina jumped into Kanan's arms seeing this yellow, spiked, really adorable pig running wild through the ship. "Uhh…?" The twins exchanged perplexed galnces, and seriously considered taking a vacation. They didn't know what to think of it. As if that wasn't strange enough, Zeb and Ezra were chasing after the damn thing like their lives depended on it. Which it might if hera sees it make a mess on her ship.

Katerina excused herself, meandering partly into the corridor. "What the Hell is that thing?!"

"That's what was in the crate!" She heard Lando respond from the next corridor. Ezra was keeping up with the pig, but wasn't exactly able to get his hands on her. He lunged for the thing, only to belly flop on a hard surface. "Grab that puffer pig, but don't scare her!" Lando seemed to not be able to stress that enough.

The pig was going for the cockpit. Zeb and Katerina made themsevles as barricades, bouncing side to side. "GOT HER!" Zeb bellowed triumphantly, picking the pig up with ease. The pig was squealing out of control, writhing to get away from him. Ezra was rubbing his head meandering for a closer look.

"YOU'RE SCARING HER! I TOLD YOU NOT TO SCARE HER!" Lando had to scream over the pig's squealing.

"I'M-NOT-SCARING-HER!" Zeb screamed out of frustration, and partly because he was insulted that Lando called him scary. HE'S NOT SCARY, DAMMIT! The pig begged to differ. She finally reached her breaking point and...well...Zeb was being repelled by a giant, organic balloon that was blocking the corridor to and out of the cockpit. "KARABAST!" Zeb roared, Katerina supporting him from a fall from behind. Now to add to the mounting stress of the day, there was a damn pig keeping half the Ghost crew in the cocopit, and the rest gawking in a mix of awe and dismay on the other side.

"YOU SEE! YOU SCARED HER!" Lando barked. Katerina just wants to hit him again, but feels the luster losing its take.

"What is going on out here?!" Kanan demanded. He hasn't heard it this noisy on the Ship since Sabine's Birthday. And he knows he doesn't like bug eyed, inflated animals in hallways.

"It's...uh…" Ezra rubbed the back of his neck, glancing from Kanan to Zeb to figure out how to best explain. Yeah, nothing was coming to mind. "It's a...puffer pig-"

"I don't wanna know!" Kanan just stopped him right there and went back into the pilot's seat.

Katerina was right there with him. She fanned her hands, begging them not to speak. "My headaches are bad enough today." SHe went into the co-pilot seat. She and Kanan simultaneously exhaled grudging groans, sinking under the impression that the day just kept getting better! What made it slightly worse...Kanan and Katerina can't separate themselves. "Guess we have to put up with each other now."

Kanan huffed from his nostrils, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. Katerina glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Two stared in silence, expressions blank. Then they closed their eyes in resigned unity and groaned, "... Yay…" Meek fists raised with phantom middle fingers to the day.

For once, can't they just do a job without so many hiccups? Is that too much to ask? SERIOUSLY! Someone from within the universe respond. Any sort of sign will do.

xxx

Lothal could not be a great gift from the heavens. A true sight for sore eyes. Even with that blockade in place. Easier to handle than the two unwanted guests. They just need to get past the blockade, drop Lando off, Chopper will be back in their hands, then they can return to their regularly scheduled outruns of the Empire. Honestly, though, dealing with Kallus, Tua, Lyst, and The Inquisitor would be welcomed compared to dealing with Lando another second longer.

"We've reached the Imperial Blockade." Kanan announced. "I could REALLY use Hera on THIS SIDE of the pig right now!"

"Yeah…" Zeb rubbedh is head, staring at the pig skeptically, "I don't see that happening." Now, see, by this time, everyone was trying to make a joke out of the situation. Although the cynicism was too strong. Had moron A and B not opened the crate - hint, hint, Ezra and Zeb - Hera would be using her expert flying skills to get them past the blockade...and Kanan and Katerina wouldn't be in awkward silence right now.

Katerina sighed gruffly, leering at the not at all adorable pig still plugging their out. It caled...a puffer pig. That's a thing. And that thing balloons out into this impassable wall when scared. Thanks, Zeb, for having such a scary face. Until that thing calmed down, The Ghost crew was stuck on different sides of the ship. Ezra and Zeb, in all their collected wisdom, tried to devise a way to get the pig to deflate. Katerina and Kanan sat in the pilot and co-pilot seats, leaning to elbows with their hands to their pounding forehead. Today was going to put them into a coma if this keeps up. All this just to get Chopper back. They're starting to wonder if he was worth it. Then, as they considered dropping Chopper like a bad habit, they felt an eerie chill coming from Hera and had a sick feeling she would murder them if they proceeded with that line of thinking. Kanan and Katerina exchanged glances, knowing the other was getting the same feeling, and silently agreed to not do it. Still, he isn't worth having to deal with a puffer pig.

"A puffer pig…" Katerina folded her hands behind her head, leaning back in the chair. She used her foot to rock back and forth. "Why does that sound so familiar?" She itched her head.

"I don't...oh! I remember!" Kanan staved off the irritation, putting a fist to his palm. It hit him like a comet. "One of the younglings...Christoff, I think his name was…" Yes, he thinks. He didn't know all of the Younglings. "He let three of those things loose around the temple. The numbers 1, 2, and 4 on each one!"

"Oh yeah! And the Masters ended up spending the whole day looking for number 3!" They held their heads laughing, slapping the chair arms. "Master Krell ended up scaring one and got trapped in the bathroom!"

"Wasn't as bad as Masters Yoda and Kenobi getting trapped in the laundry room!"

"Or Master Mundi being trapped in his ship for three hours!" Their hooting laughter echoed across the Ghost, bringing hopeful msiles to everyone on the otherside of the pig. Zeb and Ezra stopped messing with the pig in order to watch this miracle unfold. They were having a great time again! "Christoff got stuck cleaning the whole library with a toothbrush!"

"Well he would have cleaned the whole library," Kanan blew on his knuckles self satified, leaning back proudly in his chair, "If I didn't throw paint bombs on sections he had already cleaned." He shifted his eyes, not sorry at all.

Katerina felt she was just smacked with EUREKA! "THAT WAS YOU?!" She will never forget how furious Jocasta was at Christoff. She had the boy in tears. "Madame Jocasta was FURIOUS! She looked like Master Plo she got so mad." The two were falling over laughing. It looked like they would pass out. Zeb and Ezra were amazed they were rebonding over a pig. Miracles work in really strange ways.

"Oh man...I...I...woof...ha-ha…" Kanan was turning blue, fighting to catch her breath. Katerina wiped tears away from laughing so hard. They were leaning toward one another, turning their chairs. "Wow. We haven't...uh...we haven't laughed like that in a while." Kanan held his stomach.

He was right. She can't remember having this much fun with him. "We could again…more often too..." She prospeed with hope. Then she sank in sadness, facing the floor in woe, "If you didn't hate me all of a sudden." She curled herself into a ball, hiding half her face in her knees.

"No...no, Riina…" Kanan implored her. He slid from his chair, getting to one knee in front of her. He placed a hand to her hands and to her knees. "I don't...I could never hate you." He knows that to be true. No matter what she is...he can't hate her.

"Then why are you mad at me?" She pressed him strongly with glossy eyes. She deserves to know that much.

"It...I...it's complicated." He dropped his head. He doesn't know how to say it.

Katerina expected that response. Her eye partially lidded somberly. She shook his hands off her, getting him to take a step back in dismay. "It's only complicated if you make it that way." Kanan's heart sank. The wall was erected between them again. Katerina turned away from him, hiding in the shadows of her chair and the wall. I should have known.

Kanan can't let her slip away again. He reached out to turn her back. He froze in horror. The tips of his fingers were electrified by a virulent barrier, making him scramble away from her. He was gawking in terror. He just got pushed back. No, it was more than that. Kanan taking another few steps back confirmed to him that there was a void he couldn't cross into. She's blocking him, forbidding him from being allowed into her circle. She's never blocked him. He's losing her. Fast. "I...I'm sorry." Was all he could muster. He went back to his chair, turning his back to her as well.

Katerina buried her face in her knees. "Me too."

Zeb and Ezra sighed sadly, sinking miserably. They were so close. "I thought they were finally going to make up." Ezra moaned.

"Me too." Zeb rasped. He poked his head past the pig, able to catch Lando laughing smugly about something. Likely him celebrating having the upperhand over them for now. He hates his laugh.

"Alright, my little friend," Lando knelt to Chopper, "Would you like to be a hero and fix it for me?" The IT being The Ghost's cloaking technology. Without it, and with those TIE's coming to greet the ship, they were sunk. Chopper decided to be merciful and go fix it. A good thing too, because those TIE's were getting uncomfortably close.

Katerina watched their orbiting pattern closely, recognizing a scanning maneuver from a mile away. By now someone on that curiser has pinged the Ghost as the ship they're looking for...and Chopper hasn't gotten their cloaks up. "C'mon, Choppy…" She begged him. Ask and you shall receive, as a wiseman once said. An orange graph of the Ghost shaded to all blue. "Signature modulator is back online! Just in time, too!" She relaxed.

"Taun-Tiin, prepare for scanning." One of the commanders alerted. Kanan and Katerina put hands to their foreheads. So far so good. No more surprises, and they will be golden.

"Sabine, once we get to Lothal, I'd LOVE to purchase some of your art." Ezra was infuriated. He was back at flirting with her again.

"Reeaally..." She responded skpetically. "My work? You'd pay?" It's obvious she didn't believe him, and didn't want to sell her art. It's precious to her.

However, her tone went unnoticed by Ezra as he was climbing the pig to put a stop to this. "Oh...he'll pay!" Just as Kanan and Katerina were getting their hopes up about making it through the blockade unscathed, having past the scan with flying colors, Ezra had to put a foot on the pig's head to get a lift up. He made it onto the back, but he kicked the pig and scared it awake. It started squealing in a panci again, not liking the thing climbing on it.

"Kid!" Zeb called out, reaching to pull him off. "Not a good-" In the blink of an eye the pig inflated larger. Ezra was squeezed between it and the ceilgin, and Zeb was bounced hard into the cockpit, "IDEA!" He bounced off his back, sticking the landing. Unfortunately his landing involved him having to support himself on the controls...and...well...ugh. Zeb's big paws clicked off the cloaking. He exchanged horrified gawks with Katerina and Kanan.

"That doesn't sound good." Katerina trembled.

"It's not." Zeb and Kanan replied with a moan. Maybe the Empire won't notice. Green laser bolts shrieked right by the ship. TIE's were coming in hot. The trio exhaled in dread. Never mind, they noticed. Zeb took a seat fast, and everyone went to their battle stations. They are going to get more scratches for the road...AGAIN! Zeb and Katerina strapped themselves in tight and braced for a rough ride.

The two cruisers blockading Lothal unleashed half of their arsenal in hopes of blowing the Ghost out of space. Aww, how flattering they think so highly of them. But in all seriousness they need to break through and get on that planet. None of them are in the mood to die just yet. Kanan got to work on his evasive maneuver skills, show the Empire no one on this ship is to be trifled with behind the controls. Also, can't let Hera think she's the only good pilot on the Ghost.

Kanan used numerous barrel rolls to trace the hulls of the massive cruiser in sharply curved turns. He ducked in between the cruisers time to time to either get the the TIE's to crash, or have someone perform a little friendly fire. He's starting to hate the fact that they get smart after a while. Gradually he was losing his lead, and the TIEs shots were getting closer to nicking their hull.

"Uh...Kanan," Zeb hates to point out the obvious or be a backseat driver, "When they start shooting at us, Hera usually fires BACK!" But, you know, that's just her.

"Yeah, well, I'm not Hera!" He snapped back.

"Ain't that true." Katerina rumbled, plastered terrified in her chair. "She's too cute to be you!"

"Aww…" Hera cupped hands to her blushing cheeks hearing the compliment.

Kanan was not amused by the trap, glancing toward Hera and glaring back at Katerina. "I won't dispute that." He droned gruffly. The electricity in his glare vowed pain for her later. "Especially when I'm having enough trouble with staying ahead of these guys!" Lucky for Kanan, Sabine was on the tail gun taking out a few of those flying bombs. She was getting him more elbow room, but they were multiplying faster than she could shoot down. Kanan held onto his guts for that glory and broke through the cruisers, diving head on into Lothal's atmosphere.

"Cloud cover!" Hera called over the coms. Kanan was confused by the order. "Find some!"

"Oh! Right!" Thank goodness they caught Lothal on a cloudy night.

Katerina was not feeling good about this plan. "Zeb, if we die, I just want you to know…" He gazed upon her with sparkling eyes, waiting for a heartfelt confession, "Part of the credits you bet we're yours! I pulled them from the slot under your pillow!" She blurted rapidly, curling herself into a protective ball.

Zeb's whole "YOU WHAT?!"

Kanan rolled his eyes, sardonically thanking them for the vote of confidence. He dove into the mist, increasing his speed while the Empire played it safe and slowed down. That cautionary tale cost them dearly. They lost sight of their quarry. But they weren't about to give up. They know that ship is there somewhere. And, unfortunately, they were right. The Ghost appeared from the bank, a true phantom gracing these mortals with its presence. Kanan had those TIE chumps lined up. With two timed shots he took them out. Lothal's skies were cleared.

"Good call, Hera! I think we're in the clear!" Kanan said with certainty. Zeb and Katerina thanked their lucky stars. They were alive. Kanan threw something at their heads. They don't know what, but they know they deserve it. "You know, your job is a lot harder than it looks."

"You make it look easy, though." Katerina said with gleaming sincerity on her face. She had to show she wasn't being mean...now. Kanan nodded his head in thanks. Cracking knuckles sent chills down Katerina's spine.

"Now then," Zeb's whole hand clasped to Katerina's head. He lifted her right off the seat, bringing her nose to nose with him, "About MY credits!" He showed his teeth, clenching a fist. Kanan put a hand barricade to the side of his head, turning away. He's too squeamish for what's about to come next.

"UM...HA!" She put her work goggles to her eyes. "You wouldn't hit a girl with glasses, would you?" Zeb's face scrunched not amused. He dropped her, took the goggles, then bopped her right on the head with the flick of the wrist. "OW! Okay...well played!" She conceded. Zeb wagged a finger in her face. They will talk about this later.

Later would come sooner than they thought. They were finally landing to a very remote farm. Remote as in its more in the middle of nowhere than Sumar's farm. They need to say hi to him when this is done. By the time the ship touched down, Lando used his cryptic pig skills to get the puffer out of the doorway. The fresh current of air that circulated was blissful. Everyone, including Zeb, kept their distance from it while it let itself out down the back ramp. It was under a harsh microscope though. Zeb didn't trust it being so close.

"This time, try to keep it CALM!" Ezra pressed Zeb, feeling three sizes thinner from being squished to the ceiling. "We don't want you inflating it again."

"Hey, it wasn't my fault!"

"It's your face's fault!" Katerina curled her lips in silence. She can't deny that one.

"This is...your land?" Hera asked Lando skeptically. Seems like too decent a place for a smuggler.

"Bought it off a fellow named Vizago."

"Perfect!" Hera huffed. No wonder it reeked of shady, back alley deals. "So why was it so important to get this pig here?" A very good question. The Ghost Crew would like to know WHY they were nearly killed for this thing.

"Because of Puffer Pig has a nose for precious minerals." He elucidated the intricacy of this simple looking animal. "It can do the job of a dozen mining scanners." As it was demonstrating by sniffing its new home.

"And the Empire doesn't want private landholders mining Lothal." Hera put all the pieces together. It was genius.

"We're done here!" Kanan derailed this riveting conversation. "Pay us and we'll be on our way."

"HE HAS OTHER DEBTS TO PAY!" Came the voice of Azmorigan. And wouldn't they know it. Somehow they missed the red plume roll hiding behind a stack of crates. Who'da thought he could hold a mini pistol. The squad of men he brought with him sprang from their hiding places too. They had the Ghost Crew surrounded.

"AZMORIGAN?!" Lando's voice cracked. No one thought he could sound scared. Kanan used Hera and Lando's positions and slipped behind Katerina. She registered his hands on her waist, smiling at the feel of her holster back where it belonged.

"Did you forget...it was I...who introduced you...to Vizago, HUH?!" The man was huffing and puffing, about to blow the house down. He was limping from the exertion too. And from having his butt handed to him by two ladies. "I knew where you were headed!"

"But your ship?!" It wasn't anywhere in the sky. "You couldn't have hidden it anywhere close!" His ship doesn't have the capability to outrun the Empire, or mask itself. That's why he stays where he is normally. "Did you...walk here? You don't walk anywhere!" Clearly.

"I do what's necessary to claim my property, Calrissian!"

"What do you want?!" Hera dispensed with the back and forths.

"My demands are simple!" He snarled, saliva running down his mouth like venom. "I want my pig back! I want you and that blue eyed girl back as well!" Aquamarine! Katerina stressed. "And I'll take this ship and the crew as compensation for my sore feet!" He rubbed them. "But first...I want to bury Calrissian!"

"That's fine with us." Katerina shrugged her hands. She swept them at him, serving him up on a platter. Lando took several steps back. His silver tongue ran dry.

"Yeah, yeah, I understand the feeling." Hera sympathized. She was going to send him out the airlock if he stepped out of line again. Too bad Hera is such a good person. "But no." She put herself in front of him protectively.

"Now, hold on," Kanan shoved Calrissian aside, "Let's think about that last demand for a second."

"I'll bury him for free." Katerina growled with a demonic smile. Lando felt he was on the end of very sharp pitchforks.

Azmorigan was making this weird hyperventilating noise. Looked like he was taking a power nap. A bad one because he came out of it fuming like a cranky baby. "I'VE RUN OUT OF PATIENCE! GET THEM!" He let off the first shot, and suddenly laser bolts were tearing the farm asunder. Big shocker!

"GET DOWN!" Hera dragged Lando for cover. The rest of the crew split up. Sabine and Zeb took to the left, returning fire tenfold. Kanan and Ezra jumped backwards behind their own crates. Katerina went with Hera to keep her safe from Lando. Chopper hide between a crate...and a canister.

"Chopper, don't hide there! That's a fuel canister!" Sabine cynically warned him.

Chopper gave it a once over...and whoa. It was a fuel canister. In the middle of the all the blasting going on, Chopper recalled that the ship was in desperate need of fuel. No way was he moving this on his own. "^Hey! Katerina, get over here and down some work!^" He motioned with his prong.

"Excuse me! I've been working!" She fumed, returning fire with Hera and Lando. "What the Hell have you been doing all day?!"

"^Will ya leave a mate to perish?!^" He dramatically countered.

"Fine, fine! Cover me!" She barked to Hera and Lando. She broke into a sprint for him.

A familiar grey bolt soared across the air, hitting one of the guards on the roof of Lando's home. "Hey! Mine doesn't do that!" She heard Kanan whine enviously. She smiled seeing Ezra have a golden moment with his surprise Saber quirk. His moment was ruined by Lando outshining him and getting Sabine's attention.

Katerina used her twin pistols and fired at any of the guards, and Azmorigan, as she reached him, crouching low to the side of a rusted metal box. The canister was bigger up close. "Watch out!" She carefully tipped it onto its side. Rolling it will be much simpler. Katerina dug in her heels and pushed...making trenches but no headway. She needs to work out more. "Hey! A little help, shorty!"

"^I fix the cloaking modulator, I get bet at a game, now I have to help you move furniture?!" He placed his body to the canister. "How much abuse am I supposed to take?^" He revved his wheels, pushing with all his might.

"If it weren't for the fact Hera would kill me…" She strained getting it to move that first inch, "I'd turn you into a massage chair!"

Azmorigan kept his blaster trained for Calrissian's head. Lando was so busy protecting the puffer pig he didn't see the barrel aimed at him. It missed and his the melta cylinder next to him. The pig got scared in all the commotion. It wiggled free of Lando, breaking into a run across the the farm. Kanan and Ezra slapped hands to their foreheads. Like they don't have enough problems, now they have to chase the damn pig! Katerina and Chopper stopped rolling the canister so they wouldn't run it over. That thing was running at mach speeds, and it was heading right for Zeb and Sabine.

"ZEB! THE PIG! SCARE IT!" Hera called.

"WHAT?! HOW?!"

"Just be you!" She huffed. Now that was rude!

Zeb got on all fours. "Hey…" The pig stopped, "PIIIG!" Zeb roared in her face. The pig scrambled in her panic and BOOM! She blew up like a balloon. It bounced like a ball, knocking over two of Azmorigan's guards. Zeb was a little offended that worked. "Hey, Riina!" She paused right as she and Chopper got the canister at the ramp. "I'm not scary, right?!" Kanan and Hera had to slap hands to Ezra and Lando so they wouldn't respond. "Not to me." Chopper was about to say something smug. Kateraina bonked him on the head with the butt of her gun. Sabine took advantage of the opening and went in. She jumped a hover car, flipped over and off of the pig, diving behind the house.

Meanwhile, Chopper and Katerina had the canister halfway up the ship ramp and the damn thing chose NOW to suddenly get really heavy. One of Azmorigan's guards aimed for the canister, narrowly missing one of Chopper's legs. Zeb shot the guy square in the chest. The canister finally reached leveled ground. Katerina's feet lost traction, and Chopper wheeling the canister away made her flop to her butt. Chopper mumbled something, taking himself and the canister inside. "YOU'RE WELCOME!" Katerina and Zeb huffed, raising fists at him. That droid is so ungrateful.

Sabine reached a high point and shot the guns out of two of the guards. They threw their hands up, and that marked the last of Azmorigan's men. The day belonged to the Ghost Crew. "NEW TERMS!" UGH! She should have known that was too easy. Zeb wasn't any happier! He threw his gun down, raising his hands. Somehow Azmorigan pulled some flash step speed from the blue and got behind him, holding him at gunpoint. "I get Calrissian and THIS ONE goes free!" Sabine kept her guns on her prisoners, but was split between them and saving Zeb. Hera and Lando, Ezra and Kanan came out of hiding, and Katerina slid halfway down the ramp in dismay. "I get Calrissian, and you all can go free!" He spiced up the deal.

"You got it!" Ezra didn't hesitate.

"Deal!" Kanan seconded.

"Take him!" Katerina begged.

"It's tempting…" Hera hummed, really scaring Lando, "But the answer's still now." Kanan and Ezra exchanged looking where they knew she'd say that and sighed moderately frustrated.

Katerina buried the balls of her palms to her head, falling flat to the ramp. That's when she remembered something. There are front facing cannons and a very angry droid on the ship. "Chopper!" He was already ahead of her. Chopper was in the cockpit. He accessed the ship's weapons and he fired at the ground. An explosion erupted right at Azmorigan's back, blasting him and Zeb forward. Zeb quickly recovered and grabbed him rifle. He turned the tables on Azmorigan and saluted to Chopper. The little droids isn't half bad after all.

"My terms!" Hera boasted victoriously. "You and your men leave now, and we let you live." Not exactly negotiable. With the day she's had, she'll make her first kill of the day be him. "Start walking!" Zeb gave the butterball a KICK in the right direction. Sabine shot at the feet of whatever guards were left, getting them to scuffle after their master. Katerina and Chopper left the ship to join the others. She wasn't going to let Azmorigan leave without a present. She threw a yogun at his head and felt really good about it.

"I like everything that just happened." Which was Lando speak for thank you for saving my sorry ass. "Except you let Azmorigan live. That'll be a problem for me later."

"You have a problem now!" Hera warned him. "You don't have the credits you owe us, do you?" She cut him to the quick. "In fact, you never did."

"But I will." He so smoothly transitioned, kneeling beside the pig. "Once this little beauty has worked her magic." The pig was loving the pets.

"You mean IF she finds what you're looking for, AND you've mined and smuggled it off world?" That's a whole lot of IFS for the bruises they've all sustained.

"I can give you back your droid." A great compromise on Lando's end, but small corn nuts for the crew. Except Hera.

"It doesn't settle your debt to me, or to her!" Hera bolstered herself. Katerina came up beside Hera. "Not after what you pulled!"

"Then how about we settle that debt with a little game of Za-" Katerina cracking her knuckles with a blank scowl hitched that proposal in his throat. "On second thought, Zabak was getting old for me anyway."

"Then you'll just have to owe me one!" And Hera will hold him to that.

"Understood." Lando agreed with his hands in the air. He cast a sly glance to Kanan and Katerina who were still on edge near each other. "You know, it isn't my place," Something that hasn't stopped him before, "But might I leave you two with a piece of advice. Might help settle a portion of my debt to Ms. Katerina here." She scrunched her nose, snorting dubiously. She highly doubts anything he says or does will settle things with her. "No matter the cause behind it," He strutted between the pair, pulling them close in by the shoulders, "Brothers and sisters really should bury the hatchet." Katerina, Kanan, and the others gaped shocked. When the Heck did he find time to figure that out? "Oh, so I did get it right." He plays innocent, but he knws damn well he was right. "I thought so with how alike you two are in looks and personality." He pat their cheeks, adding insult to injury. He escaped them just as they were getting ready to hit him...again. "I apologize for spoiling your secret." He placed a hand to his vacant chest.

"It's not a secret!" She fumed. And she refuses to let anyone think it is. It won't be perverted into leverage. "It's also no one else's business!" She bit hard. "Kanan is my big brother, I'm his little sister! We get into arguments and ignore one another like any other family!" He stood beisde her, placing a hand to her shoulder in agreement. "Outsiders have no right to comment!"

"You're absolutely right! I apologize." He replied with...shocking sincereity.

"It'll be accepted when you're out of our hair!" Kanan snarled. He placed a hand to the small of Katerina's back, guiding her into the ship. Lando let them part ways on that mildly happy note.

xxx

Aside from the rough patches, today wasn't too bad. As soon as some positives come out of today - aside from getting Chopper back, stealing Lando's fuel, and making a few smugglers look bad - the Ghost Crew will be a bit more appreciative for walking out alive again. Well...one positive is that Lando's suave and deceptive nature didn't ruin the dynamic of the ship. And, yeah, Kanan and Katerina are starting to get along again. Oh yeah! Kanan knows he can fly with the best of them now. So, huh, a few good notes. They can go to bed feeling fine.

Hera got the Ghost up and flying, kicking up extra dust in Lando's face. A small bit of revenge for what he's pulled. Sabine, Zeb, and Ezra went off in different directions of the ship in order to unwind from today. Katerina was going to go to stay in the cargo bay and see what she can play with for a while. Tinkering with machines always relaxes her. She kissed Zeb, reassuring him that he was never scry to her. It made him feel better. Chopper and Ezra teased him on the way up. Katerina turned to go inspect the speeder they were interrupted from working on.

"Kat...Riina!" Kanan caught her by the arm, and caught himself. Katerina was genuinely surprised, and happy, that he said her nickname again. Saying her full name just sounds too formal. Kanan was glad she was lightening up. "Lando...he was right." He smacked his lips on that strange taste. That was really weird to say. Katerina felt Hell freeze. Kanan bolstered himself, having to keep licking his lips because his mouth wouldn't stop drying up. If his heart would stop pounding he would be able to spit out a decent sentence. "There...there is...SOMETHING I need to talk to your about...but I need to sort it out for myself." Katerina arched her brow, tilting her head in bewilderment. "I know! I sounds like my other excuses! But it's not! I'm just scared what I have to say will hurt you because it hurts me too!" Katerina lifted her lip, finding that to be self serving. In a way, though, it made sense. It's hard to not hurt someone when you're already hurting. Kanan grasped her by the shoulders. "But I promise, it hasn't stopped me from loving you."

"I...I know that…" She stammered, her breath robbed from that barrage of sincerity. He's been so distant that...she wasn't expecting it. She hasn't exactly been closing the gap either. She tucked hair behind her ear. "I have a feeling I know what you want to talk about." Kanan went rigid. She does?! Does she know she's a clone? She took his hands. "Caleb, there's something I've been meaning to tell you as well. Something I did a long time ago...that I'm scared will make you hate me."

"Never!" He blurted unwaveringly, hugging her so tight she melded with his armor. She hugged him just as strong, her barrier dissipating. "Katerina, I would never hate you. Ever." He ran a hand down her back, sucking on his lips in sorrow he let it get this far. "I love you too much, Baby Sister."

"I love you too, Big Brother." She broke the hug and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Kanan's complexion was glowing. That was a great feeling. "Imma go check in on Hera. She was still pretty shaken from what happened on the ship."

"Sure. I'll talk to you later." Katerina bobbed her head. It was a date. Time to clear the air. Once she left, Kanan's brilliant smile faded into a woeful frown. "I love you...but I'm scared of you. Scared for you too." He mumbled.

xxx

Hera charted their course for Ezra's tower. As good a place as any to kick up their feet a while. A call was coming in over a secure channel. She let the ship coast on auto and answered it. The small hologram of Senator Bale Organa erected on the panel. "Senator Organa, thank you for getting back to me." Hera bowed.

"It sounded urgent." He replied with a bothered smile. "Have more inquiries been made about Katerina? We have heard nothing." He lead off.

"No, not formal inquiries. But one that is equally important, if not more so." Organa braced himself. Informal questions are more terrifying than formal ones. They breed curiosity and misconceptions, leading to disarray. Hera steeled her nerves, resigning herself to understanding there is no way around this. She came right out and said it. "Katerina is a clone! Did you and Senator Mon Mothma know?!"

Organa was taken so far aback by her bluntness that he blacked out for a moment. His stoneface was demolished into dust. He would swear he heard wrong. Katerina a clone? The clones were...eradicated long ago. He was shaking his head, trying to come up with a pacifying means of answering her. In other words, plausible deniability. Hera's glare warned him she is in no mood for lies. She's had enough of them for the day. Organa gave in to her stern expression. He would never insult her like that. "Who told you of this?" He treaded the waters before he was drowned.

"Tseebo." Was her curt reply, she folded her arms. She was blocking any attempts he had at misleading her.

"From whom is she a clone of?"

She's getting suspicious of his question dodging. "Kanan Jarrus - her revered big brother!"

"The Jedi…" Organan remembers him, and he remembers how alike he and Katerina looked. He thought it a mere coincidence when they met. Now he knows he was foolish to think so. "So the rumors were true." He folded his hands behind his back, bowing his head with a sense of failure. "The Kaminoans were attempting to clone Jedi."

Hera's nails broke through her gloves, piercing her skin under her suit. "So you did know!" She roared.

"No. I knew nothing of the plan...but whispers had reached my ear." He rubbed the back of his neck, cringing at how stupid he was to think they wouldn't go that far. Especially when it was turned down. He had better explain fast before Hera figures out how to reach through projectors and choke him. The future of her friend, and her relationship with her big brother, hangs in the balance! Organa motioned his hands for her to wait. He will explain. "There were rumors floating about the senate during the Clone Wars. The Kaminoans wanted to clone Jedi. 'Help the order grow,' Is how they spun it." As shame it was all in the pursuit of aiding their Separatist friends and their twisted Emperor destroy everything the Jedi built. "I thought nothing of it because it was ridiculous and the Jedi would never allow it. The plan was dismissed by the senate effectively." Having too many Jedi running around must have been scarier than clones of a bounty hunter. That's accurate. Jedi are stubborn, opinionated, and have the skills to go off script. "Eventually the rumor faded and everyone forgot. The Jedi included."

"When was this rumor started?" Hera pressed on. If she can create a timeline, then maybe this can make it easier to explain to Riina later.

"Oh...I don't think I can remember." A lot's happened since then. "It was powerful, but brief." As he said, everyone forgot about it when the next proposal was dropped on the floor.

"Best ballpark." She insisted.

"Egh...um...hmm…" He drummed his fingers to his skull, digging at any sign posts that would guide him to it. There was...something significant that took place. He got it! "You know, I came across the rumor whilst proposing a lower interest rate on medical supplies. It got past." He got the rate dropped from 26.98% to 20.34%. It was a significant drop that let the Republic purchase a great many more advanced health products. "Twenty...FOUR years ago." He was certain of it.

"Katerina's 23." Hera murmured troubled. She knit her brow. "She was eight when the clones turned on the Jedi."

"The timeline...does fit…" Organa regretted to confirm. Hera lurched forward, balling a fist on the panel. She was hoping Tseebo would have been wrong. By one year - if the math was off by ONE YEAR - this would have been debunked, and consequently proved that Tseebo's implant wasn't perfect. "And...I do know Jedi Younglings were taken to Kamino to be introduced to their future brothers in arms." It was part of a process to let Jedi and Clone meet and revere one another as future allies. Needless to say...no one saw what happened next coming.

"You've known Katerina for the longest time! You didn't notice anything?!" Hera realizes she was screaming, but this is all crap. How could he and others not know anything about this?!

"I never looked. She's been her own person from the start." It's not like Organa knew everyone who lived on Coruscant. There were Jedi he's caught passing glances at but never learned their names. Forget similar facial features. "I never got the chance to know her brother...Caleb, I believe his name was...before the fall of the Jedi." He wishes he had spoken to more Jedi than what he did. "I never realized she was a clone...and I am not certain if that IS the source behind her redacted file." Hera gaped at him stunned. He doesn't know what the LEADING cause was? Does that mean...the redactions go back further? "All I know is that she's being protected to protect Mon Mothma." The Cousin to Kendril and a leading member of the Imperial senate who would have been killed long ago if anyone learned she'd related to the rebel mechanic.

Hera groaned loudly, pressing her fingertips to her skull. She knows he's right and can't fault him for it. Still, though, this wasn't helping anything. This was too vague! Someone had to have known! "Would anyone else know more? Mon Mothma? Fulcrum? Anyone?" Organa was growing worried. "Please, Senator! My friend's future is at stake! I need to know."

"I am afraid the only ones I'm certain who knew anything were Kendril Mothma and The Jedi Council." He cleared his throat. He was trapped in a corner. "And...as you know…"

"Yeah…" Hera fell against the seat. "That secret died with them." There goes that lead. She has nothing. How is she going to tell Katerina? Can she even tell her? "Thank you." She reached to end the call.

"Hera, wait…" He implored. She paused with an arched brow. "Are you, your crew, or she in danger?"

"Not now…" It was an honest response. "But our team soon will be." She ended the call on that cryptic note. She grasped at her head, bringing it to her lap. This has gotten so out of hand...a time bomb that will decimate everything. And it'll only get worse if she and Kanan keep hiding this from Katerina. She has to tell her. This can't go on. Hera spun out of her chair. She opened the door. Her soul was terrified right out of her body in a scream at the body in the doorway. Katerina, with tears running down her petrified face, was in a daze right at the door. She heard everything.

To be continued.