The Rebel Twins

by GradGirl2010

For 15 years I was alone. Fixing spacecrafts to numb the pain. The Clones' betrayal of the Jedi stole my brother from me. At the time, it seemed as if it would be forever. Reunited through this war of Imps and Rebels, Caleb...huh...Kanan wants me by his side again. The problem is...the idea of fighting again terrifies me. The screams...they won't stop.

35. I Survived

I Survived

This chapter is a birthday gift to a long time fan and friend! ZabuzaGirl! I hope you love it! Also, I'd really like to thank everyone who has been patient with me. This whole ordeal I'm trying to shoulder...it's been hard. I know others go through it, but for me it hits hard. And I'm working through it. I'm talking to someone, I'm steering away from unhealthy influences meant to temporarily take away that pain, and I'm changing up my routine. I'll get better.

xxx

This is the final straw. No more games, no more mercy, no more weakness. Tracking me down to what I've called my home planet for a good chunk of my life is one thing! Attacking me is perfectly fine! I'll lay out anyone that comes within a foot of me! Unless you're trained in the force, you don't stand a chance against me! But going after my friends...MY FAMILY...I'm going to eviscerate you; leave nothing left for even the scavengers to snack on! No one from the Garage should even be mixed up into this mess! Not Dom...Not Grim...Not Dayve...Not anyone.

Since the day I agreed to travel with Caleb and his friends the life I've left behind has been uprooted, trampled, and now dragged into this muck! DAMN THEM! Make a difference in the universe my cloned ass! That's right! I'm calling it like it is! My ass is a clone and because of this...the...stupid asshole who I revered as my big brother and best friend despises me now! The Ghost Crew, that I would have adopted as a second family without a second thought was so ready to turn against me. Just goes to show I was better off staying in our garage. Telling them, "No, I don't want to embark on a suicide mission for peace that will never exist again!" But no! No...I came with you...and now I regret it.

Just so I could have you in my life once more...I came with you. I came, I fought, I re-engineered machines into death traps...slowly but surely I regressed back to the monster I was so many years ago. I tried to fight it. I really did. And all it did was leave me as alone as that night. You were better off dead, Caleb...and so was I. Maybe after I've rescued Dom I'll get my wish.

xxx

Kanan winced at a stab in his heart. A blade sharper than anything he'd taken himself. It buried itself deep within his heart. Every beat rubbing against the ice cold steel and tearing him open. A poisonous hilt melting into his veins. At the end of that blade, a grip so firm it would shatter the hilt, staring at him with cracked hollowed eyes...was Katerina. Black tears ran down her face...and then she crumbled into dust. Kanan closed his eyes, sobbing silently while biting into his cheek. Katerina...please...no more.

xxx

One moment. He needed naught but a moment of peace. The smallest of respites to lavish in what is truly a hard earned victory, and personal reward. No commands, no sudden orders to move out, no alarms about incoming enemies or enemies making a move on one of their spots. Just...zen. His eyes were closed to all the annoyances, his mind was void of all unnecessary aggravation, his senses dulled from the corporeal and drifted to the ephemeral. Finally, the universe was aligned in his favor. The weight on his shoulders released him. All the cards were coming up-

The door opened with a woosh and the chilling air coming in had nothing to do with the air conditioning. "Inquisitor, we have news!" The Inquisitor's eyes flared opened with demonic irritation. The clad in black trooper that dared to intrude on his meditation went stone still...and wet himself. Thank goodness for black pants. "Apologies! There has been a development. Three days ago, we captured a rebel affiliated with the mechanic! Senator Trayvis is questioning her now!" He begged spirits that it wasn't obvious he was shaking.

The Inquisitor knit his brow irately. He was disturbed with news of a flea being captured in place of a rat? He should cut this wretch in half! "Why bother? She won't know anything!" He rose, stretching himself out. Might as well rejoin the fray of wild dogs. Clearly Callus is incapable of tugging on their leash. "Unless the Senator is looking to test his bloodthirsty side." A joke that wasn't necessarily a joke. But it did make him smile. It's no secret anymore why Trayvis is going this far.

"That is the plan. He intends to trap the rebel mechanic in hopes of drawing the rest in."

The Inquisitor rolled his eyes. He may as well add Soothsayer to his resume. "How unnecessary. I already have my pawn in hand. He merely exerts himself for the sake of sating his grief." the Inquisitor paused for a moment. This might not be a terrible plan after all. What isn't known is that the Mechanic is a lone wolf at this juncture. And she's proven what harrowing mistakes she can perform when made desperate. Shooting a Senator, brutalizing a man who is her friend...he could use this. "Oh very well. Let him proceed. Who am I to deny a man his revenge?" He shrugged his shoulders. This will surely put her back in my grasp. He purred. Having clone that can stand on parr with Jedi at his command will make him nearly untouchable. "Where has the Senator gone with the prisoner?"

"He has gone to the Argonaut in the Odyssey Ruins."

"Chilling. I guess he does mean to erase her." He chuckled. Both her and the prisoner. "Or leave her in a slow churning Hell so she'll beg to be ended." The pieces are all lined up nicely. "You may leave now." He waved him off.

"Y-Yes, Sir!" The Trooper broke into a run.

The Inquisitor fixed up his uniform, chuckling to himself at the delicious fortune that seems to be landing at his feet as of late. He turned around, greeted by two probing droids orbiting an operating bench. "What do you think, Jedi?" He casually strutted with his hands behind his back over to a strapped down Kanan. The probing droids zapped him from abdomen to neck. He bit back his cries into grunts, tensing up to minimize the surge. The Inquisitor leaned in close, hovering over him. "Shall we reunite you with your precious baby sister?" He batted his eyes. Kanan refused to look that monster in the eye. He turned his head away, trying his hardest to pretend her heard none of it. "Oh-ho, my apologies. I mean your duplicate." Kanan still kept silent, this time using the zaps of the droids to prevent him from reacting to the obvious goad.

Kanan kept his head down and his eyes furrowed shut. He tried to tune him out, biting back the yelps coming with each zap. Three days, nearly four, since he and the rest of the crew hijacked that tower. Spread a message for a waide to every receiver that would take their signal encouraging and urging everyone with a fire in their belly to rise up and take back what the Empire robbed them of so long ago. Ezra spread that message. Ezra rose above himself, his fears, and his own reservations to speak out against these animals, and hopefully inspire them to join the fight. Kanan, even now, is continuing that fight. Being trapped with this tyrant is nothing but a bump in the road. He hasn't uttered a word. Offered any form of information or compensation for a minute to just breathe without being zapped or stabbed. He lied there and took it. He didn't sacrifice himself at that tower so he could give up his friends later. Whatever these morons think they're going to get from him...they'll be leaving with even more of a bitter after taste in their mouths. The rebellion will thrive. Even if he isn't there to see it himself.

"What's this? Nothing clever to say?" The Inquisitor hummed. The droids focus harsh flares of volts into his arm, burning him through his clothing to his bones. Kanan could resist anymore and a wail of pure agony was heard up and down the halls. The Inquisitor absorbed the sweet smell of burning flesh, nodding and relishing in the delicious agony. After a few seconds he waved a hand, moving the droids away. Kanan lurched forward, panting heavily. He didn't have the stomach to look at his arm. He barely had the stomach to stand the smell. He heard the Inquisitor stalking around the table through the blood pounding in his ears. A pressure he was all too familiar with was pressing to his skull. The Inquisitor appeared in front of him, a hand hovering near his head. "No warning for me to keep away from her? No threats of violence should I bring harm to her?" Kanan turned away from him, choking on his bile. "Oh my! How interesting." He placed a hand to Kanan's chest, getting in really close, tips of his fingers barely grazing Kanan's skin. "Are you hoping the bane of the Jedi draws her last breath?" His touch, his breath - Kanan's skill was crawling. His stomach was curdling. The bane of the jedi...that's what the clones are...the clones should have died. "YOU ARE!" The Inquisitor exclaimed triumphantly.

"YOU'RE WRONG!" Kanan snapped, so close to biting his nose off. If his reflexes were in better shape, the Inquisitor would be in the med bay. "I DON'T WANT THAT AT ALL!" He howled.

The Inquisitor drank in his fury. It was a start. He now just has to play the waiting game. The mechanic is clearly still a soft spot. "If that is the case, then why not beg me to spare her?" Kanan gaped in dismay. Beg...you? NEVER! Kanan spat at his boots, turning away. "Come now, Jedi. Let me hear you plead for her life." He cooed. "I may be able to stay her execution." SUrely the Jedi knows she will be killed if she's captured. An order from him will surely have her be brought onto the ship alive. Kanan said nothing. Though...though he...Katerina killed by him...a clone killed by him. He doesn't know what to think. "As I thought." The Inquisitor chuckled with humored disappointment. To think the Jedi are hailed as such honorable and loyal creatures. "She will be so heartbroken." He strutted out of the room, leaving Kanan alone in the dark, and commissioning the droids to return to their work.

xxx

"We have been called criminals, but we are not. We are rebels, fighting for the people, fighting for you. I'm not that old, but I remember a time when things were better on Lothal. Maybe not great, but never like this. See what the Empire has done to your lives, your families, and your freedom? It's only gonna get worse…unless we stand up and fight back. It won't be easy. There will be loss and sacrifice. But we can't back down just because we're afraid. That's when we need to stand the tallest. That's what my parents taught me. That's what my new family helped me remember. Stand up together. Because that's when we're strongest—as one."

Five days Katerina has replayed that message. And everytime...everytime it makes that soft heart of hers bleed. She's happy he's doing well. Hopefully that means the rest are doing alright as well. Better than her at least. Tears of pride welling in her eyes hearing how grown Ezra has become since she left. Sending out a message that is sure to be a light in this darkest hour of the universe. Many may either rise and take back what's theirs, or many will cower believing that these words are nothing more than the prattling of a child who has lost his way, and can't accept the new reality. No matter what they choose, Katerina won't lose faith. Ezra poured his entire soul into that message. His fear and uncertainty in the face of what he's endured was heard, but what rang the loudest from one end to the next was his unwavering belief that things can and will get better if everyone would just fight again. Death is unavoidable regardless if they sit and behave like slaves. Will the people die on their feet, or live to die on their knees? She prays Ezra's message will have them rise to their feet. And she prays he'll stay on his long after she's gone. Often she finds herself wondering how Ezra and the others were doing? How cross Zeb must be with her for leaving. Who knows? Fate is funny. Maybe she'll run into them. Not likely.

"We're coming up on our destination." A pilot announced.

Katerina tapped her earpiece, halting the looped recording. "Good. Time to tie up loose ends." She strolled up behind the pilot of the shipping cruiser, leaning her forearm to the seat. Another minute or two and she'll be where none return. The Prison Barge of the Odyssey Ruins.

There are no shortages on prisons, these days. That much is solid fact. Stygeon Prime, The Citadel, The Zygerrian Slave Camps - these prisons...ha. Prisons. It's a soft word now. Prison would mean vacation now. Normally prison is meant to incite chills to anyone threatened with it. No one wants to be trapped inside a box for the foreseeably long future. However, lump in Concentration Camps that the aforementioned prisons...and anyone would beg for a cell with minimal elbow room. Anyone can claim that there have been a number of prisons erected throughout the universe to hold the worst of the worst. That is their prime directive, isn't it? To entrap the morally corrupt, to silence the vindictive traitors, to lock away the most brutal of offenders, and so on and so on. Places like Stygeon and the ilk...that is far from their objective. They don't lock up criminals, there are hardly any inmates within those walls that were mad dogs when they arrived! Most who have been sentenced behind those walls were ordinary, happy, day to day job people who were dealt a foul hand by fate's twisted sense of humor. They take a wrong turn, get mixed up with the wrong people, pick a side unfavorable to the current ruling powers…and the final sound to snuff out their freedom are overly caked with rust hinges of barred doors slamming shut. Never to be opened save for...well...they don't want those doors to open again. It is a one way walk to the executioner's block. Or something so horrendous the inmates wish it was death that awaited them. That is the kind of place the Argonaut is.

"Coming out of hyperspace." The pilot stated. The blue vortex peeled away, and Katerina's heart plummeted into her bowels spotting an abysmally grey moon with massive chunks missing from it. "We've reached The Argonaut." Her throat closed up. There, dying away brick by brick in this abandoned vacuum of space was the battle cruiser Argonaut. A sickening chill scaled her skin, blown in from being able to make out the specks of light peeking out from those craters in the moon. Lights mean an operation, and an operation means bodies. Live bodies? Katerina really didn't want to know what was being hauled in this smaller cruisers drifting from the moon to the cruiser and back.

The radio crackled from an incoming transmission. Katerina bristled herself. Time to get this show on the road. "Mantis A5-9, your approach has been detected, stand by for scan."

The pilot put the engines on standby, and responded, "This is Mantis A5-9, awaiting scan." Katerina sneered and rolled her eyes, shaking her head at their protocol. The longer this takes, the less of a chance Dominique has.

"Scan complete." About time! Katerina snapped. It was only two minutes. might as well have been two days. "Cargo and three occupants detected. State your name, rank, and business."

If that really is all it takes, Katerina always wondered why the Ghost Crew never tried it. Might be just the trick she needs to get through here in one piece. "You heard them." Katerina motioned her hand impatiently, taking a couple of steps back. "Get your bony ass up here."

"Alright, alright, no need to be so pushy!" Supply Master Lyst reluctantly strolled up to the communications panel. He scrunched his nose at her. "Do recall you're at our mercy as much as we are yours!" He warned her. What a cute bite this little puppy has.

Katerina got right in his face, the glow of her eyes drowning his own. "The difference being I'm not scared to die." She whirred animally. "Now speak! Like a good dog." She cooed.

Lyst vows here and now, when she isn't looking he's going to bury a syringe in her neck. Lyst pressed a button. "This is Supply Master Lyst of the Imperial Commerce Embargo, requesting permission to dock!" He sent over the identification of himself, his pilot, and rank and file of the dead trooper Katerina is currently impersonating. "I have supplies here in need of deliverance and I shall be on my way."

There was silence for a good few seconds. Almost maddening. Enough to raise Katerina's anxiety levels. "Supply Master Lyst, this is Warden Quinzel Sharpe, caretaker and head of the Barge!" A manly sounding woman boomed on the radio. A pit grew in Katerina's stomach. She knows that name well. There isn't a person from Chandrila who doesn't know the Phantom of Umbara. "There have been no requests for supplies this trimester."

First snag hit and it hit hard. Protocol and Routine - the blood, sweat, and tears of the Empire that keeps their engines greased and running hot without tiring. And precisely what's leaving Katerina about to be neck deep in laser fire. Katerina nudged Lyst, urging him to get this moving. "What do you mean you didn't request supplies?!" He snarled in frustration. More so at Katerina. "I have the work orders here! These supplies are ready to be offloaded the moment you step aside! See for yourself!" He electronically transmitted the forged order. Granted, it matched what he had on hand in this miniature cruiser but it was meant for another location. A much smaller location. These wouldn't even be considered a top off."This will never work." He muttered at the idiocy. And here he saw the rebels as tactical geniuses.

The click of a drawn hammer, and the cold press of a blaster barrel at the back of his head brought bullets of sweat running down Lyst's brow. "It had better." A malignant warning, nothing more than a drone, sent chills down his spine. Lyst glanced to the window. It took every ounce of fiber in his body to not quake. From the reflection he saw, piercing holes through his skull, the virulent aquamarine daggers of his captor's glare. "Otherwise, my Dear Supply Master," When they leaned in close, the face of Katerina Dume coming into the light, Lyst paled like the moon swearing he saw her eyes darken golden brown...then return to their blue hue. What in the- "I ensure they drink your blood from the cantines." She hissed in a low rumble.

"Such bloodlust." Lyst had to choke down a massive lump in order to sound so condescending. He prayed she couldn't see his legs trembling beneath the dash. "You almost have me convinced you would-"

"Who the Hell put this order in?! We need none of this!" The lovely Warden so graciously interceded. Lyst shook his head. These women on either end of him were ridiculous.

Katerina gripped the back of his head and smashed his face full force to the steering. The pilot had learned so far out of the way that he fell out of his seat when they flinched at the impact. Lyst wailed at the sickening crunch sending waves of white hot pain shooting into his head. His fallen hat was stained by his dripping blood. "BE convinced, Lyst! Get me in there!"

"Supply Master! Are you there?! Respond now!" how tempting it was for Katerina to tell her to wait. His head was in a couple of pieces. Lyst kept a firm grip to his swelling nose, bobbing half his body up and down. Altitude of the smallest kind aggravating the throbbing spreading through his face. "There has been no request for supplies made for this base!"

Katerina lifted her hand over his head. He either spoke fast or she really will bash his brains in. She has a pilot. She doesn't need him. The same thing will happen to the pilot if she's pissed enough! Lyst waved his hands imploring her patience. "W-well...it's here!" He suppressed a pain filled moan. His head was being beaten harder than a war drum. He spat blood to the floor near Katerina's feet. "And I do not intend to leave here knowing for a fact that I've wasted precious fuel! Not that I wouldn't mind telling YOUR superiors that a lapse in your supervision caused me to waste fuel!"

"Mind your tone, Lyst! You're nothing more than a shipping and receiving merchant!" The pilot and Katerina silently cringed. "You have no real authority!"

"Perhaps not in your tiny mind." Lyst snickered. "But lest we forget it is reputation, experience, and whose ear you have that make you formidable in this business." He glanced back at katerina knowingly. Her connections may be formidable, but it is his tenure in the Empire that will leave him supreme in this arrangement. "I will say this for the last time," Lyst forced her hand by confirming the delivery of the supplies, and showing he had recorded this little exchange in case she tried to deny him, "Enjoy your supplies." Refusing him is no longer an option.

The Warden snarled animally. Likely throwing her head around in frustration. "Fine, come aboard and hurry up!"

"Thank you." Lyst replied victoriously.

The cruiser's hangar was opened. Troopers came to the edge, guiding Lyst's pilot with glow sticks. The pilot brought the ship about, heading for a smooth landing. Smooth being a grand overstatement of this. Katerina slapped Lyst on the back. "And that is the prime result of a little spine and persuasion. I'm proud of you!" She pinched his cheek and gave it a good slap.

Lyst elbowed her sharp between the ribs. Katerina choked on her spit, backing away while clutching her stomach. "What is your plan now?!" Lyst tested her, stalking over to her. "This prison put Stygeon to shame! You barely made it out alive with a team!" Katerina regained her wind, standing up straight and coming eye to eye with Lyst. "You're alone now, from what I've been privy to hear. Even if there's the slim chance I keep silent," And it was very slim, "Take humor at your folly in invading one of our most bloodied of prisons," Because a war zone doesn't have blood and bodies, "What makes you think you'll escape here alive?" He drawled ominously. Anyone and everyone worth their salt knows of this prison's reputation, and they fear the thought of ever ending up here. No one leaves alive. If they do...they die miserably in the dirt.

Katerina took another step closer, her nose practically touching his. "Who says I plan on leaving alive?" Lyst gaped caught off guard. He studied her intensely, scanning for the smallest hesitation. Surely someone like this isn't considering-"Eyes forward!" She roughly gripped his jaw and forced him to face forward. "Time for me to suit up!"

Lyst raised his hands and meandered to the window, keeping a close eye on the encroaching ship. "Taking orders from a rebel. How low I have fallen." Though he can't deny the temptation to take a peek or two. A laser bolt shrieked an inch passed his eye. He yelped and looked forward. he won't make that mistake again.

Katerina didn't shy into some obscure room. She doesn't have time for modesty. Besides, modesty isn't going to remove the stink from the uniform of the corpse she took it from. Poor merchandise jockey. Wouldn't have had to die and be tossed off the port if she'd just minded her own business. So like the Empire. Always sticking their noses where they're likely to lose it. "Hmm…" Katerina barely had her shirt up and was perturbed by the feel of bones. She checked and found she'd lost an unhealthy amount of weight. Now that she thinks about it…she hasn't eaten or drank water in...in...if she can't remember, that's an issue. "Hey, you have any rations and water in here?!"

"The trunk at the left wall." Lyst pointed, not risking turning around.

Katerina moseyed on over. She shivered at the cold air exploding out. Nothing really mouth watering. Just protein bars, drinks that serve as both food and hydration, and some pills. Metabolism pills. Gives her a good insight as to how these guys always have the energy to chase them down. She grabbed as much as she could. She munched on a bar and chugged a drink, all while starting to strip down. Again, not the best but it will keep her running for another day or so. She removed her weapons, and dropped trow in one swoop. She fastened an earpiece to her right ear and extended the microphone. She tapped it and a series of beeps connected her to her wingman.

"Horned Leech, do you read me? I'm about to board the barge. How certain are you that she's here?!" Lyst raised a brow with intrigue. So she did come with a team.

"Very! And I would have preferred Horned King." Vizago stressed affronted. Katerina growled at him, strapping on a leather breastplate. "Fine, Leech! She is here! My information is sound."

To prove it he sent it to the wrist com she snatched from the trooper she killed. Still reeked of her. Katerina checked the information. Stats fitting Dominique's description flooded the screen. She was inserted into the system 16 hours ago."I'd question how would you even have any of this information. Then I remember you have friends in every rat hole."

"Do not pretend you are any better!" She ignored him with another chomp and swig, and slipping on the grey-green pants. Two sizes too big for her. She really has lost weight. "I hear whispers on the night's breeze, Child. I know the amount of blood that has spilled to your hands continues to dampen." Vizago bit hard on every last word, chuckling darkly in ecstacy. Katerina was buttoning the shirt, slipping on the boots and gloves, and winding up her hair to put under that hat. "From what I've heard, your wrath goes from troopers, to children, to-"

"Finish that sentence," She rumbled darkly, strapping on her pistols, "And you will join that boy and his mother in Hell!" She needed the call, marching back over to Lyst right as they were boarding the cruiser. Lyst was eyeing her dreamily with his mouth hung open. "What?!"

"Ooh-hoo…" Lyst snaked an arm around her waist, bringing her in close. She cringed sickly, "If the Lasat will no longer have you, perhaps you will consider being on my arm." He bounced his brow. Then he grunted, splotches of blood coughing out of his throat.

Katerina buried a fist in between his ribs, twisting it hard. His ribs were bending aginst her knuckles. She eased the fist out. Lyst staggered back, choking on his own spit and clutching at his stomach. Katerina lined up with him, relishing in him lurching over. She skipped in close and spun the back of her heel to the side of his head, knocking him to the floor. "Let me make one thing clear..." She stomped on his back, pinning him to the floor. She put her weight on him, the feel of his spine bending was delicious. "You ever put your hands on me again, you'll be living without them." Lyst spat blood to the floor, nodding in acknowledgment. While Katerina checked her uniform for blood or other stains, Lyst likced his lips hungrily. What does their side have to do get soldiers like her.

xxx

Stormtroopers were armed to the teeth were swarming the hangar, giving their ever famous warm welcome to one of their own. Staff on hand were running through scans, triple checking the trio on board, and disinfecting the ship as it crossed in. It may be a prison barge, but they are in a secluded piece of space. Catching infections seals the fate of all on board. At the rear of the swarm was a roguish looking middle aged woman with shaven down blond hair. Her left eyes was completely clawed out. A bubbling scar of a wound that has sealed the eye closed, consuming half the cheek along the way. Her armor was shined and polished to the nine, razor edged knives lined to the shoulders, forearms, and legs. She was a regular black knight. She glowered at the cruiser touching down, huffing agitated. The ramp extended to the hangar, Lyst strolling out with fresh bandages to his face. Sharpe regarded them with a scrunched expression of disgust, but didn't care enough to ask about what happened.

"Warden Sharpe," Lyst bowed to her, "Still as manly as ever. Brutish suits you." He was very smug for someone who looked like he lost a fight with a hover iron. It's like a tire iron...only not for tires.

"Save your snide compliments for someone of weaker fortitude!" She commanded. She was even deeper voiced in person. She slammed a data pad to his chest. "These orders are clearly doctored! None of this has been needed or requested! The troops and I have plenty more to last us!" She won't insult either of them by mentioning it wouldn't even be considered a top off.

"What about your guests in that new ward you had installed here on the cruiser?" Sharpe nibbled on the inside of her cheek. There isn't an officer in the whole Empire who hasn't heard about the new wing. "Are they not required to be given ample amounts of nourishment and medicine to continue their work?"

"Since when do we feed the walking dead, Supply Master?" She purred with a menacing laugh.

"A fair point." Lyst bounced his shoulders. "Nevertheless, regardless if these are forged, I am not leaving without making this delivery." He motioned a hand at the ship, snapping his fingers. The pilot and his assistant loaded the supplies on carts and rolled them on out. "Consider it an advance on not having to see my smiling face for an extended period."

"I'll take it." Sharpe sneered. She can't believe this. This will be extra inventory they have to account for. She leered at the pilot and second hand, unable to fathom how anyone so depleted of muscle or fat could be of any use. She spotted the assistant shuttling her load into the designated zone. She circled her head, cracking her sore neck. "Your attendant is pretty scrawny. Sure she can handle all that herself?" Katerina knit her brow, continuing to shuttle out more of the supplies.

"Do not underestimate her. She is nothing if not tenacious." He smirked at her. Lyst would hate for her pretty face to be ruined.

"Tenacity doesn't equal speed." She grabbed a couple of troopers by the back of the neck. "Get in there, you mutts! Offload the supplies and get them out of here!" She threw them at the cruiser. A nice gong echoed across the hangar. A group or two cringed feeling that helmet to metal impact. Sharp turned on her heels, leaving the hangar, and ridding herself of Lyst's stench.

"As you will. Come!" He motioned ah and to the pilot. "Let us return to the ship!" The pilot didn't have to be told twice. He ran back onboard and got ready to take off. He meandered over to Katerina as she was lifting smaller boxes onto crates. "If you wish to locate your rat," He whispered right in her ear, nudging her to one side, "I suggest you do so now and through that door." Katerina spotted a maintenance entrance.

"You're too eager to help me." She mumbled suspiciously.

Lyst chuckled menacingly, taking in all those troopers she will be dodging and evading on her suicide run. "Let's just say I am eager to see if you actually escape. Should you," And this was him being optimistic. "I will personally purchase you your own TIE Fighter."

"Save it. I would just take it apart." She hissed rabidly. "Hm? Heh-heh." A sinister grin split her face in half. The fire retardent system was right in front of her. Katerina raised a fist. Clutched inside was...a grenade! Lyst stiffly edged away from her. "I suggest you leave before you are added to my body pile." She didn't have to tell Lyst twice. He meandered to the system. Pop quiz to anyone on this cruiser. Anyone know what happens when the temperature valves are pre-set lower than the overall temperature of the room? And, as an added bonus, what will take place should the pressure release valves be manually locked in place, and pressure of the retardant spray be amplified? The answer, given time, will be one Hell of an overload. Too bad liquid nitrogen isn't part of the retardent system. Straight stuff touches the retardent and a gas known for freezing the lungs will fill a room with a fog thicker than anything Nal Hutta has. She then adjusted the grenade, set a small timer to it. She got on the other side of the line of supplies and rolled it. She took pride in how far it got, then went back to pretending to work. "You sure you wanna stay for this?"

Lyst turned on his heels. he kept his strol casual but with purpose. Escaping this mad hen and her crazy reverse engineering. He's seen her kill one of his officers without blinking, and he was victimized by her steadily growth insane wrath on the ride over. He can't find the conscience - lack thereof - to be witness to this. He got on his cruiser, urging his pilot to pack up and leave. None of the troopers bothered to give them a second look when they took off, not noticing one missing pack rat slink off into the shadows. Lyst practically took out the hangar doors escaping back into space. He otuched his busted nose, flinching at the sharp pangs strobing into his head. If there is any justice in this world, that mechanic will pay ten fold for this affront. Death will be a mercy.

xxx

Katerina slithered her way inside the maintenance area. Watching the door close for any sign that those monsters in white spotted her. She released a breath of relief, leaning to the wall. The tryouts were over. Time for the preliminaries. She headed further down the corridor, the belly of the beast swallowing her whole and driving her to the bowels. Where and in what form she'll be spat out is a toss of the dice. True to form, there was less room in this corridor than the latrine. If a trooper spots her, she has nowhere to hide...and nowhere to hide the bodies. But from the hums vibrating from her shoulders to toes, there's a bigger operation around her. She just needs to get her bearings. She pressed her back to the first corner she came across. She peered around into the next hallway, spying two troopers. She already has to go on the offensive. She reached behind her back, wrapping her fingers to her pistol. She counted in her head...

BOOM! A muffled explosion reverberated the walls, bringing a dreadful sweat to Katerina's brow. It was small, but it made an impression. Had her and the troopers spooked. The troopers turned in her general direction. Guess I should have set the charge for longer. And maybe she should have swiped a grenade with less of a charge. She must have increased the intensity when fiddling with the delay. "What was that?!" One of the troopers asked, moving towards the sound...and her! Damn! Katerina had less than 10 seconds before they see her, question her...and then they follow bodies right to her. Hmm? The troopers rounded the corner and made a beeline for the exit onto the hangar. "THIS IS UNITS A5 AND A6, WE'RE EN ROUTE! INITIATE SUPPRESSANT SYSTEMS!"

Unawares were the pair of the girls plastering her back to the ceiling by ways of the plumping system pipes. She grinned very proud of herself and dropped down. "Gotta love happy circumstances." And the uniform is more flexible than she gave it credit for. Cute too. She might keep it. She followed the line the guards came from, feeling herself able to breathe when she entered an open space. As used to small spaces as she is from working on engines, she can't stand being in them with nefarious people lurking around. "Hm? What's this here?" Those guards must have gotten bored watching over the maintenance area. They had a table with cards, drinks...and cigars. Smoking in a maintenance area...not very smart. She snuffed out the cigars, then moved to what interested her. Their ear coms. All easily controlled from her wrist computer. "Just a button here...a few strokes here...find a signal and...presto." She was linked with their channels. She put it in her other ear and opened the channels, closing out her mic so she could listen in. She got a live feed of the chaos on the hangar. It made her smile. "Alright. Now I'm in business." She spotted a digital map on the wall detailing where all the hallways and doors lead. She whistled impressed. The maintenance area is a lot bigger than she thought. From where she is, if she's reading this map right, she's here in the lower quadrants. Levels D3-5 and E5-9. The Hangar was the large block. She can take the maintenance corridors up three levels...and that will bring her in the general area of the security block. Which is also the prison block. So not everyone is locked down in the craters on the moon. At least she hopes no one is down there, and that those lights are just for show. The prison block is her best bet for finding Dominique.

"Alright, Horned One, I'm inside. About to sever communications." She advised Vizago. Communications being severed was agreed upon so that the Empire wouldn't go after him...and so he wouldn't be updated on her position. "Are you sure you aren't able to get her location?" It was the one thing that would make this easier. Save her lots of time.

"Afraid not. She hasn't been officially entered into the system." Katerina threw her head back with a moan. That's never a good sign. It mean they don't plan to let her leave. And no one would know where to find her. "Then again, everyone here isn't officially anywhere. People who are sent here are meant to be forgotten." Dominique will never be forgotten! Never! Katerina, come Hell or High water, will get her back home! Somehow. "But there are whispers the ones who are useful are kept track of. They would have logs of that."

Katerina brightened with hope, pacing with a hand to her chin. "What's more useful than a supposed ally to the Rebels?" The rebels housing the monster that murdered the nephew and sister of Trayvis. This is good. This gives her...well...hope. "If Trayvis is looking to hurt me and the rebels, he won't want to lose her in the system! But he'd expect a rescue, so he won't make this easy!" She knew this whole thing would be a trap the second she heard about it. Regardless if Trayvis expects her, she won't make her capture easy.

"Your best bet of finding her is the central security modem in the upper east levels." Katerina knit her brow baffled. He doesn't know where Dominique is, but he knows the layout enough to tell her where to start looking for her? Priorities have always been twisted. Not to mention, since the logs are unofficial, they will keep them separate from everyday prison logs. Whatever she would have found in the prison records...would have led her on a wild yak-kow chase. "Level A in quadrant 5. You'll need high level clearance to get in there...and a change of clothes."

"Consider it all done. Thank you." She went to remove the com.

"You never told me what your escape plan is." She paused with her hand floating near the device. "How do you plan to smuggle yourself and Dominique out of there?"

Katerina lowered her head, scoffing at him. Everyone is so concerned for her well being, aren't they. "Whoever said I planned on leaving? Coms off." She tore it out of her ear. She used the ashtray and crushed it to dust on the table. "Goodbye, Vizago." She muttered. She downloaded the map onto her wrist com and took off into the dark corridor.

Just then a trooper in grey armor rounded the corner. Katerina wasn't able to stop in time and slammed into him. "HEY! GET OFF!" He shoved her off with his gun. Her back hit the wall. The trooper raised his gun to her. Katerina put her hands in the air.

xxx

Vizago listened to the ominous static of the dead communication. In truth, he's heard many a radio go dead from contacts willfully going dark. Either they died or went so deep underground they couldn't find their way back. He'd wish them a minimal amount of luck and go about his day. Never giving them a second thought. This time was a little different, however. The idea he wouldn't hear from Katerina again. A good time was being ripped from his hands. Having her as back up on his last couple of jobs left him untouchable. Very little he's hoodwinked into lending him a hand have shown the same tenacity or backbone she has. And the fact that she is a believer in repaying debts- her honor was her leash. She was trustworthy too. He can see why the Lasat took a shine to her. What a shame. Guess he'll have to find other nerdowells to help him with jobs.

Static broke through on a second channel of his, putting a hungry smile on his face. "Ahh, there you are." He purred with a menacing chuckle. "Yes, yes, I know. My schedule is just terrible. Anyway, if you're done insulting me," He licked his lips. He pulled up a hologram of the Argonaut, "I may have information that is very valuable to you. More valuable than the Jedi you're looking for." Certainly would be valuable to others too. Leave him in the lap of luxury for a good long time. After all, Jedi do still fetch a pretty penny on the open market. "The question that remains is how much you are willing to pay for it. And how much it would interest you to know that a certain clone survivor had the same idea as you."

xxx

Katerina poked her head out of a hatch. She flinched from the blinding light, getting an instant migraine. She blinked fast, adjusting to the light. She glared hard, scanning the wide, bright hallway. So far no troopers. This would work. For now. Unfortunately, the good came with the bad. She saw a sign on the wall that said Mid-Level C Quadrant 10. She hates quadrants! It means a whole lot of walking, and burning time she and Dominique don't have. But level C beats D, E, and the other letters of the alphabet. She pulled herself out of the hatch, closing it slowly and quietly. She needed Level C to come with barracks, a laundry room, anywhere that would have the right uniform that she needs. She checked the map she downloaded, logged in a search in the filter to weed out where she needed to go. She kept moving while she searched, obsessively checking ahead and in back of her for troopers. No sign of barracks were coming up on the search, save for maybe a couple levels down. That is the exact opposite of where she needs to go. "I knew none of this would be smooth, but Hell! Does it have to be so mind numbing?!" Normally she wouldn't be ready to rip her hair out over some clothing but she doesn't have a team to bail her out should she wound up caught. And she doesn't have time to be running around like a chicken without a head! Precisely what this whole plan of hers has been. She just kept walking for the elevators, keeping her hand on her pistol. Anyone so much as turns their head and she'll kill them. She doesn't have time for their BS right now.

"Man, what I wouldn't kill to hear Zeb or Ezra make a joke right now." The silence was killing her faster than being trapped on this barge.

"Hey, grocer!" Katerina stopped suddenly and clenched her jaw. The first head turned! "What the Hell do you think you're doing on this barge?" Katerina growled under her breath, cursing this trooper to Hell. She grudgingly turned around...and did she beam like a supernova. A regular rarity was standing before her with all her slender, armored glory. "You're supposed to be shucking supplies and shucking off!" A female stomrtrooper. Katerina never thought she'd see it. She thought they were only pilots or work for guys like Lyst. Lo and Behold one stands before her. Coming closer, and closer, and closer. "Do you plan to answer me?! HEY!" She waved ah and in her face.

Katerina hummed pensively, studying her closely. She raised a hand over the trooper's head, then her head, closed an eye and measured the figure. "Yeah...yeah, this could work. You're about my height." She stretched herself to get a better look at the goods, bobbing her head with mild displeasure. "Bust and hips are...negotiable. You'll do."

"I don't know what's in your head, Maggot!" The trooper put the barrel to her head. Katerina's whole face went barren, her eyes hollow. "But I'm sure Lyst won't miss-" Katerina swatted the barrel with her wrist, wrapping her fingers to it. She connected the full brunt of her foot to the Trooper's stomach. She staggered away, losing grip on her blaster. Katerina threw it away, pushing off one foot into a hard sprint for the trooper. She tried to reorient herself. Shocked that the wind could be knocked out of her through her armor. She blindly threw a punch at the charging Katerina. No shock that she missed. Katerina gripped her wrist and twisted the armor so far behind her back the armor and shoulder joint snapped! "AAAHHHH!" The trooper howled in pain. Katerina reached for her pistol. She pulled it from the sheath, touching a switch. A couple of clicks and a whir of gears, the pistol reshaped and erected straight. She stretched the lengthened pistol at the trooper's neck. She pulled the trigger, and without a second of hesitation...she tore it across her neck, a distinctive shriek of focused heat the final sound she'd ever hear. A plasma green green blade followed the length of the pistol barrel, vibrating intensely with rampant energy. The trooper went limp in her arms. Katerina dropped her, and there lied yet another kill for the sake of one life. "Dom...you're...worth it." She told herself. She has to tell herself this. That way she won't feel guilty when Dominique learns what she went through in order to get to her.

Katerina picked the corpse up by the underarms, dragging it to the nearest room she could find. She locked it behind her, quickly dropping her clothing and throwing the armor on. It stunk to high heaven. These people do not believe in showers. "I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not." She slipped on the helmet, and double checked the credentials on her new identity. "Level two clearance. You're as worthless as your rank!" Now her new dilemma. What to do with the body? Won't be like the grenade or the other soldier. She can't leave this body here forever. "Hm? Is that…?" She trailed off, going over to a floor chute. She stepped on a button, opening a very dark tunnel leading down...somewhere. Curious of it she took...what the Hell kind of room did she end up in anywhere? By the smell, and the bags, this was a waste disposal area. She took a piece of scrap and dropped it down. A searing orange glow and a funnel of heat washed over her. It left a twisted smile on her face. "I do love the conveniences of the Empire."

She dragged the corpse by the ankles, slipping it into the hatch. The hatch was more narrow than it looked. Katerina stomped and jumped on the body, finally managing to get it through. The roar of the incinerator was far more intense than it was with the little piece of scrap. The searing heat blew up her hair, making her eyes glow with madness, and twisting her depraved smile all the more. The distinct stench of burning flesh shot up her nose...her mind went blank...a total void. She lost her balance, stumbling against the nearest wall. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head. The world fading away in a blurred shadow. She groaned sickly, feeling that disgusting protein bar and water coming up to her throat. "This smell...I hate...this smell…" She knows it all too well. She blinked her eyes rapidly, pinching at her skin to force herself to break free of this dizziness. When her eyes opened fully, she practically screamed. She was in the temple! The Jedi temple! The bodies! Bodies everywhere! Jedi...younglings...clones...Coruscant is burning...THE SCREAMING! Katerina shook her head! She can't be here! Why is she here?! How did she get here?! EVERYONE WAS DEAD! She ran clumsily in any given direction, clawing at her head for it to stop! To take her out of here! She couldn't run straight! Only past the dead bodies, tripping over the corpses of the younglings she knew! Their eyes still open! The master...they still had betrayal frozen to their faces. One was still alive, begging for Katerina to help them, but they just died on the spot. Fresh bolts burned away at the bodies of their fallen victims! Not a single saber cut to be seen...because the Jedi never got the chance. "The Jedi...the Jedi...they-they're the reason all of this happened!" They all should have died! They never should have existed! "If they hadn't...IF CALEB HADN'T…HADN'T EXISTED...!"

"NO!" She banged her head to the wall. The nightmare was swallowed in an all consuming light, and there she was back in the scrap room...the heat of the incinerator still fresh in the room. She was hyperventilating, bloodshot eyes wide with terror. The stench had gone away...but the nightmare...it hadn't gone any further from her subconscious mind than when she killed that boy. She clutched a hand to her heart. That gaping hole she's blocked with the life she's lead was spanning faster than she could manage. All of those bodies. Everyone dead! All of them dead!

The door opened. A stormtrooper sauntered in. But when that door closed...he would be trapped with a demon. "Hey, you! What are you doing in here?! You're supposed to be scouting the-"

"GRAAH…!" Katerina shot a glare full of daggers to him. Right before him he saw the blue turn to golden brown. The trooper quaked in his boots. Katerina, wiry hair dangling before mad eyes, frothed at the mouth, saliva dripping like acidic venom. "Die...die...die...all of them...must DIE! Jed...UGH...DIE...YOU MUST DIIIEEE!"

"WHAT THE-" He was too slow on the draw. Katerina ignited her plasma dagger. She leapt from the wall live a ravenous beast, tackling him to the floor and burying the knife in his neck. It broke through the other side. Katerina swiftly jerked the knife, cutting the head clean from its shoulders. She panted heavily, sitting upon yet another kill. The rush buzzing her veins slowly dying down, leaving her a shaking mess. In spite of seeing what she had down, the cruelty she exhibited in ending this wretch's life, all she understood here and now...just like the past 15 years...is, "I survived...I survived...they couldn't get me...I survived!" She will always survive. Always...until now. She survived...against all odds...just to be dragged into another war. "Survival...the one good thing the last war taught me. That...you and Rex taught me...right, Ken"

xxx

Flashback

The middle of the woods on Naboo. Not as frightening as it may sound. Naboo itself was a beautiful planet. Always lush, green, and carrying the aroma of new spring dew. It was a marvel of the universe. Still very much is. Steep cliffside peeks that can overlook miles and miles of canopy, and still be high enough to let you see the waters where the Gungans roost. Waterfalls as tall as any tower on the palace, water fresh from the mountain peaks yet to be tainted. Grass and trees so green and soft they hug to the body. A charming place for long walks and to forget all the troubles that cause aches and pains to the body. They are at their most beautiful during the spring and summer seasons.

Then, when the year goes cold and the leaves change color to fall to the terrain, the beautiful woods of Naboo become dangerous, fraught with every peril. Plagued by steep cliffs that will bring mud and boulders upon the unsuspecting traveler! Sudden drops into caves from the ground giving way! A variety of poisonous plants will come into bloom, and creatures that could clean the flesh from bones with no effort leave their dens. The worst come at night. This time of year is not for the faint of heart. It is only for those versed in survival, and adapting to change. And who better to adapt to change than a grease monkey who also is trained by soldiers.

The aforementioned Greasemonkey was a ways up on a tree's massive trunk. She was assaulted by fervent patterns of rain. Her silver lining was they were trickling away the dirt clinging to her skin and clothes. Suspended by a support wrapped to her waist and the tree, her feet firmly planted to keep her stable. She was tying the last of the twigs and large leaves she fashioned into a shelter large enough for five people. Pretty big when trying to survive in the wilderness. Smaller ones are ideal when being pursued. In this case, little seven year old Katerina was planning to be out in the muck for a couple of weeks. Therefore would need a place large enough for her to 'work.'

"That'll do, Monkey! Come down for some food!" Kendril called up to her.

"Coming, Uncle Ken!" She used a second vine she had acquired and threw one end around a branch. She freed herself from her support, gliding down to a less than graceful landing. She scoffed at the puddle she landed in, but dusted herself off to rush back inside.

"Down and dirty as usual." Kendril mocked her. He threw her one of his white shirts for her to where while her clothes dried over the bonfire. "Is it actually possible for you not to get dirty?"

"You don't know the half of it." A man in armor sauntered in, dragging two boars inside. "When we had her she was always swimming in the grease of our engines." He set his helmets aside, and the tan skinned man flashed an adoring smile at Katerina. "Wolf was always made finding her little handprints everywhere."

"What can I say, Captain Rex? The best done jobs are the dirtiest." Katerina impishly replied, twisting with hands behind her back feigned innocence.

"No wonder Master Billaba gets mad at you and your brother." Rex snorted. Katerina regrets nothing. She went behind a curtain of vines, getting out of her soaked clothing. "By the way, Kendril. Thank you for inviting me along." Rex hoisted the boars onto a rocky slab the shelter was built around. "When you said survivalist training, I thought this would be good inspiration for the younger recruites."

"Thank you for coming." Kendril pat him on the back. "My work does take me to remote parts of planets across this side of the rim. Sometimes I get stranded." Katerina came out and tossed her dirty clothes into a net, pulling them out of muck. Kendril smashed a hand to Katerina's wild hair, "I wanted My Little Monkey to get a feel for this sort of environment while she's still impressionable."

"I'm not a pet, you know!" She swatted his hand away.

"Of course not. Pets are much cleaner." Kendril laughed heartily, drilling his knuckles into that thick skull of hers.

Rex threw his head back howling with laughter. "You two are more like father and daughter than Master and Apprentice!"

"We get that alot." Katerina remakred, holding Kendril's big hands off her head.

"Well, hopefully your 'dad' here won't mind me teaching you how to gut an animal for some good meat!" Rex gestured to the boars. Katerina cringed, sticking out her tongue in disgust. "So this is gross, but not being bathed in oil?" Rex rolled his eyes. Katerina shrugged. Everyone has a limit. "Well first thing's first, we need that fire to be bigger if this is going to cook."

"I'll go get it." Kendril volunteered. He trudged out into the mud, making his way down a hill. Katerina shuddered with dread. She isn't going to like this.

"Alright, Kiddo, here you are." Rex twirled and handed her a knife that might as well have been as long as her arm. He escorted her to the slab, patting a spot where she could work. SHe really wasn't going to like this. "The first thing you've gotta do...GRR…" He turned the boar to have the belly facing him, "Is cut away where the skin sticks. That will be the stomach, ankles, the head. From there were need to pull the guts out and-"

The very familiar shriek of a laserbolt tore through the forest, turning Katerina's blood to ice. "GYYAAAHHHH…."

"KENDRIL?!" Katerina screeched. He sounded like he was in pain. "KENDRIL!" She ran for outside.

Rex yanked her by the collar, shoving her on the other side of the slab. "STAY HERE! THAT'S AN ORDER!" Rex grabbed his two guns and followed Kendril's path.

Katerina was about to wish him luck, and wanted to get ready to pick up and go should there be trouble. Then she saw his helmet. "Oh no!" Rex forgot his helmet! He'll be an easy target. Rule one of being a soldier is to protect the head and chest. Rex was breaking the rule. She picked it up only to drop it again. It was heavier than she thought. She put it on her head, not that it was much better. It was huge on her head. She had to fasten the straps super tight inside. She never knew there were straps. "Okay...okay...this piece here is the scope!" She brought down the tiny camera, flicking through channels until Rex and Kendril's footprints were highlighted. She put on her boots, racing after them.

The footprints were heading down the main path, diverting off towards the riverbend. the dangerous shortcut down a steep, slippery slope. Kendril told her that if she was ever to take that way, she was to use it as a slide. Trying to walk where footing can't be found is the easiest way to get injured. Katerina scanned the slope. Sure enough she saw footprints, followed by a fresh trench from bodies sliding down. Katerina got in a running start. She grabbed one of the large leaves, throwing herself onto the slop. She rode down on her stomach, weaving her tiny bodies and all of its weight into the trenches made by Rex and Kendril. A fallen trunk was crossing the trenches. She smushed herself lower, breezing below it. A couple of four legged creatures saw her blow past them...and were thrown for a loop. Another blaster bolt followed by screams shook the forest. "No! Kendril!" She screamed. It wasn't Kendril that screamed. That was Rex. She didn't hear Kendril this time.

Katerina made it to the end of the slope, coming to a splash in a small pool of mud. And she had just gotten clean. At least the helmet didn't let the mud get in her mouth. That would really ruin her day. She rubbed off what she could, cleaned off the scope and began searching for the footprints again. She didn't have to look long before hearing, "YOU'RE A PRETTY SORRY SHOT," Being screamed from a ways ahead.

"Rex?" She heard Rex! That's a good thing! Rex alive means good! She heard another voice. It didn't belong to Rex or Kendril. It wasn't coming from the river. The river down the path with all the wild wreaths. This was coming further up the path near the den with all the Saber Tooth Ly-Cats. She wishes it was those cats. She ran full speed towards the voices. The mystery man was getting louder, screaming very adult words that not even the clones would use in front of her. She stopped mid run, catching something out of the corner of her eye. A bundle of large leaves, twigs, and dirt that really didn't belong. The darkened soil at the roots meant it was fresh. Her small hands bushed the leaves aside, her fingers brushed to something cold and metal. A gas tank?! The more she moved, the more she revealed the speeder that belong to none in her party. They didn't bring speeders. It's all left miles in the opposite direction of here. The engine was still warm. Whoever this guy was...he wasn't waiting long. If only Kendril hadn't gone for-

"YOU CAN'T HIDE IT ANY LONGER!" Her little heart almost broke out of her chest. She ducked behind the speeder with how close the unfamiliar voice was. "You may have taken it far out of the Kaminoan's reach, but not ours! Our reach is limitless!" There was no cover for her. Rex's Rule two is to never approach an unfamiliar area or person without cover. or without a weapon. She has a knife, a helmet, and maximum effort. Yeah. She needs to refer to rule three...always have a entrance and exit strategy.

Katerina kept herself low to the ground, stalking lightly on her toes, darting her eyes side to side. "You keep...talking like that...I'll have to ask...if you...have...brochures!" Katerina's heart fluttered. It was Kendril. He grunted loudly, started coughing harshly.

"Ken!" She shrieked quietly. The path was coming to a drop off. That drop off is where the Den is. Now, in hindsight, making camp where potential dangerous feral jungle cats live is just begging for trouble. On the other hand, they're great look outs and good protection for other neerdowell elements. Today's example notwithstanding. Katerina's heart sank when the helmet's scope picked up on the mystery man's footprints seeming to pick up pace. She didn't need to see the smeared prints to know there was a struggle. Kendril's plasma axe he was going to use to get wood was broken to piece to the side.

"Whatever you're looking for isn't here!" Rex fumed. Katerina got on her stomach, crawling in hot pursuit to the edge. She poked her head over large roots stretching from any one of the large trees around her. Broken brush a good ways down into a large pit. Grooves from someone sliding down in spurts left large mounds. Whoever attacked Ken was big.

"I know it's here!" Katerina used the nearby plants to ease herself down towards the pit. She crawled right up against a large boulder, poking her head out. "I know you have it with you!" There was a large tree supported by its exposed roots. Pacing in front of it was a muscular Trandoshan. Katerina has seen one of those guys before. They hunted those Jedi kids who got lost. Give me the failed project!"

'Failed project,' Katerina thought with a kit brow. What's that supposed to mean? Ken and Rex didn't bring anything with them. Speaking of those two, the Trandoshan was dragging around a peacemaker, taunting a trapped Ken and Rex. They were plastered to a wall, mud slopping around them, with laser bolts in their shoulders. Those look like they sting.

"I don't...know...what you're talking about!" Kendril spat.

"Yes you do!" The Trandoshan flicked a switch on his gun. The barrel retreated inside the large barrel. Plasmic energy gathered in an orb at the end, spanning wider the longer his finger stayed on the trigger. Katerina doesn't know guns but she knows mods. He modified that gun to be a blaster and to melt the insides of its victims. "Your pal, the clone, here tells me everything I want to know. You know where it is."

"Where what is?! What do you want?!"

"I want the failed project! I want the failed Jedi!"

"Failed...Jedi?" She tapped her chin. She doesn't know anyone like that. How can anyone fail at being a Jedi? She can get the answer to that later. Ken and Rex need help. But she's a kid, and seriously underdressed for a fight. She needs to get a better angle. Give them a way to escape. "Huh? There…" She found her advantage. Rex's guns! They were strapped to the Trandoshan's back! Rex's guns come with a combustor coil to magnify the shots. Don't get excited. They don't explode when played with. But locking the hammer in place, pour a little magnesium inside - which she always carries - the coil will stress and heat up. Katerina had part of a plan...and her entrance was starting to grow in front of her. The exit...will be tricky. She went off to the side, heading for the tree.

"We don't have what you've looking for!" Kendril rasped aggressively, clutching at his shoulder. The wound was burning itself open. "We know nothing of a failed Jedi! It was fake news!"

"Yes, you do!" The Trandoshan released the trigger. The plasmic energy roared from the barrel, tearing through and hardening the mud. Rex and Kendril threw themselves to the sides. The ball exploded at the wall, bringing a small avalanche of mud down on them. "I've seen you here with it! The little girl!"

Katerina clawed her way beneath the tree, squeezing herself through the tightly woven roots. She landed in a slop f mud that went up to her waist, and she'd never hated being as tall as Master Yoda. She reached up and pulled herself out, wrapping her tiny legs to them. "Are they talking about me?" She shimmied along, keeping her eye on that Trandoshan's hips.

"She's not a project! She's not even a Jedi!" Kendril barked heatedly. "She's my apprentice!" Katerina froze. They are talking about her! Why?! Why is she being called a failed Jedi? That's a thing?!

"She is a failed test tube subject! Now hand her over!" The Trandoshan commanded. Katerina reached solid dirt, coming right up at his legs. He stunk to high heaven. "Hand her over and I won't return you to your Republic in pieces!"

"Never…" Rex growled. They'll never give her up.

"Then die." The sound of the peacemaker drowned out Katerina. pulling the hammer back and pouring the magnesium inside. Now she just needs to buy them time. Rule one of skinning an animal - cut away where the skin sticks! With both of her hands on that knife she ripped it across the heel of his tendon! "YAAHHH!" He threw himself back, brought to his knees. The peacemaker misfired into the air, hitting nothing but leaves. "THE HELL!"

"HEY!" The Trandoshan looked up. Katerina threw a mud cover rock right in his eye. He howled again, then growled murderously at her. "Pick on someone your own size!" She then kicked more mud in his face and took off running.

"KATTY, NO!" Kendirl begged her.

"YOU LITTLE RAT!" He slipped at his tendon tearing further, the pain shooting right into his hips. He clawed at the mud, limping at remarkable speed. Katerina's short legs leave her at a disadvantage with running.

"KATTY, LOOK OUT!" Kendril wailed. The Trandoshan was over her. He threw himself, about to pile his whole body on her.

"WOOP!" Katerina dove in a sharp right into the roots. The Trandoshan got nothing but a snout full of mud...and worms. A worm was in his nose. Katerina laughed at him, climbing into the roots. She isn't going to sink in the mud. Otherwise she wasn't going to leave it.

"I'LL ENJOY KILLING YOU! THE BOUNTY WILL STILL BE ENOUGH!" The Trandoshan threw his gun away. He buried the claws of his hands and his one good foot into the roots. Through sheer rage he climbed at lightning speed after her. He frothed at the mouth, snapping his jaws at her ankles on each lunge.

"COME ON! WE HAVE TO GET HER!" Kendril dug desperately at the mud burying half of him.

"RIGHT ON THAT!" Rex said sarcastically. A large rock landed on his foot with the mudslide.

Katerina whimpered in panic feeling the breeze of his jaws. She slithered in and out of the roots, wiggling her way onto the trunk. Climbing in engines did wonders for her physical aptitude. Every time the Trandoshan lunged she would sweep herself to the side. He got close several times, forcing her to drop past him and veer off course. Not that she had a destination in mind! She just needed Kendril and Rex to get free and run. Katerina had her back to the tree, scooting away as the mad lizard raced for her. She twisted to start getting around it. Her foot slipped, leaving her dangling with no foot support to keep going up. The Trandoshan reached out for her, swatting his claws to rip out her guts. Katerina shimmied just out of his reach. The Trandoshan attempted to get after her. His hand hooked into the wet roots. Katerina pulled out her knife and stabbed him right through the palm. He roared like a wounded animal. Katerina ripped it out, a little disgusted with herself but mildly proud. She anchored the knife into the tree, using it to pull herself up. She dug in her foot and kept going higher.

"NO YOU DON'T!" The Trandoshan grabbed hold of her foot.

"NO!" Katerina screamed.

"KATTY!" Kendril howled direly. He gaped in dismay. She was in his clutches. "PLEASE! DON'T HURT HER!"

"I'm going to enjoy peeling the skin off your bones just to see if you bleed like a human, failed Jedi!" He drooled hungrily. Katerina growled hatefully. That was really ticking her off. The Trandoshan put all his strength into a pull, dragging Katerina between him and the tree. She went to stab him in the knee or something. "NO YOU DON'T!" He slammed that hand to the tree, pinning it and the knife above her head.

"KATERINA! PLEASE, LET HER GO!" Kendril begged him. He was free of the mud...but he wasn't going to get to her.

"Oh I won't hurt her! I'll just kill her!" He licked his lips. Katerina was stuck! She hyperventilated, her short life flashing before her eyes. This was going to be it! She was going to die here.

The Trandoshan's victory was stopped by a rapid series of beeping. "What's that sound?!" Katerina batted her eyes in disbelief. She can't believe her luck. "Hot! Something's hot! What have you done?!" He was trying to reach around to find what was cooking his back. But unless he wanted to fall, or could hold something heavier than a child with that wounded hand of his, he wasn't going to be able to peel that pistol from his back.

Katerina tried out her best evil laugh, lavishing in the Trandoshan's ruined moment. She pushed herself closer to him, grinning smugly, "There isn't a machine alive I can't reegnineer!"

And as if it were a teapot heated to boiling, the pistol cooked right through his uniform and burned into his flesh. "AAAHHH!" The Trandoshan threw himself back, the pain too much for him to hang on.

"HAAA!" Katerina pushed into him, sending them both falling. She pulled herself by his collar right up to him. Mad glowing eyes met his, the roar of a monster in his ears. "NOT A JEDI!" When they hit ground…it all happened so fast. The forest when deathly still, not a creature was stirring. Neither was Katerina...or the Trandoshan. The Trandoshan had landed so hard on his back that he already had a grave mad for him. The large knife had buried itself in his forehead. Still clinging to it, shaking crazily like a petirified leaf on Orto Plutonia...was Katerina. Blood and mud was stuck to her trembled arms, her sunken paled cheeks. Her eyes wide with utter...sheer…unadulterated...terror. Guilt, confusion, sadness, and the roar of adrenaline were racing through her, sending her into overload. "He's...I...no…!"

Kendril dug himself free, rushed over to Rex and freed his foot. The pair checked themselves over a couple of times. A couple of holes but other than that they were walking out of there. The two helped each other to their feet, dusting off years worth of mud. Then they paused, hearts falling into an abyss spotting their girl. Too terrified to move, hands clinging to that knife in a desperate wish for her act not to be so, and about to puke all over herself. Cautiously did they approach her, stepping lightly with their arms open. The signs were there. Katerina was in the midst of her first ever panic attack.

"Katerina…? Hey?" Rex knelt beside her. SHe was stuck in a trance, watching the blood spill from the Trandoshan's head. "Greasemonkey? You in there?" He touched her shoulder. Her whole body spasmed, but she didn't run from his touch. It brought her back to ground level enough to shake her head.

"He...I...you-you were...and he...I didn't mean….ha-ha-" He throat closed up. Her heart hammered against her chest, on the verge of breaking out. "...HAAAA….CAN'T BREATHE….I CAN'T BREATHE!" She scratched at her throat, rocking back and forth, heaving to match her shrinking lungs. "CAN'T BREATHE! WHY CAN'T I BREATHE! KEN I CAN'T BREATHE!"

"Katerina?! Katty!" Kendril wrapped his arms around her, ripping her off the dead man. he squeezed her in his arm so tightly she's never escape.

"HE'S DEAD! HE'S DEAD! I KILLED HIM! HE'S DEAD!" She killed someone! Their life was snuffed out! She made a person, someone with a family somewhere, stop moving! He was looking her in the eye! He was going to kill her! She killed him! She just wanted to help Rex and Kendril escape. WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE! "Ken-Ken-Ken-Ken...I-I-I-I s-s-s-s-swear, I SWEAR...I didn't mean to-he just-you two-haaa-haaa-haaa!"

Kendril was in a panic himself. She was going red. The darting of her bloodshot eyes. She was going to pass out. "There, there now, sweetheart, I've got you! Breathe, just breathe…" Her little body was vibrating in his arms. Tears running down her cheeks were tearing him down the middle. He rocked her in his arms, humming close to her ear, counting out of order. "10….9...20...36…1...3…" Quick remedy for someone having a panic attack. Give them something for their out of control mind to focus on. They can't panic if they have to focus. It took a minute. He had to run his hand up and down her back, peck her with small kisses to her forehead. Her legs stopped shaking, letting him hold her better. She gradually snuggled against him, her breathing calm sighs. "5...7...8...10….99...21…" A couple more minutes later, and not without a few outbursts, she was counting with him. Counting brought that crazy train head of hers to a cool coast. She finally relaxed in his arms, curling up to him and panting his name. "There you go...that's it...sshh now…" His girl was back.

"He-he-he hurt you and...he was going to...I didn't mean...the knife came down…! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" She wasn't entirely calm yet, but her talking was progress. "I'm sorry, Ken! Rex! I'm so sorry!" She's a bad girl now! She's going to be a bad girl forever!

"No! Never be sorry for living!" Kendril brought her swollen face up, his scowl breaking her out of her stupor.

"But I...killing is wrong." That's what she's been taught.

"Listen up, Kid." Rex shuffled over to her. "Out here, it is kill or be killed." He gestured to the dead Trandoshan, but not letting her see him. "That guy there would have killed you and us had you not done what you did." Katerina had to assume that made sense. Not really. Why would someone want to kill a kid? What did she do?

"Katty, you must listen to me! You must never apologize for living!" Kendril encouraged her direly. "Always tell yourself, 'I survived...I survived!' That way you never feel guilty about not being part of the dead."

"I...I...S-S-S...survived! I survived!" She choked out.

"That's right. You survived." And he hugged her like there was no tomorrow, so grateful she was still alive. His brave little apprentice. One day...maybe he'll be more to her. "When in times of war, men like this will be abundant. They will not show restraint regardless of your age." Rex can agree that truer words were never spoken "You must always survive, Monkey. Always."

Flashback End

xxx

Katerina was at ease now, as ridiculous as it sounds. Walking about the ship in the armor, no one stealing a second glance at her, not bothering to ask her where she's going or where she was assigned. This was too smooth. She was getting antsy. At least she was on level B before long. Level two clearance was nothing to sneeze at. Hell, it would be laughable if it weren't for the fact it at least got her this far without anyone triple checking her authorization. But if she wants to get to that room, she needs better clearance. Where to get it. Not many people walking around with the clearance she needs.

Funny. She didn't think a blast to the past would bring her peace. It was just the trick she needed. She'd nearly forgotten that a Trandoshan, whose name she never learned, was aware she was a Jedi clone. And that someone paid him to come find her and take her back. Guess her leaving Coruscant really aggravated someone from Kamino. The first clue that she was a clone...and not once did she ask about it. Ever. After that whole ordeal, Kendril made it his mission to ensure she forgot about it. Took her fishing, swimming, arcades, had her break things in the garage. He went to Hell and back to protect her from nightmares. Only for her to be thrown back into them. Boy the earful he would give her if he was still alive. She must be breaking his heart right now. She's a monster like the one that shot him and Rex. How the mighty have fallen...again.

"You look lost." Katerina glanced to the side, joined by a male stormtrooper on her walk. He gave her a friendly wave. Good thing he can't see the look of disgust behind the helmet. "I saw you a ways back. You walked down the same hallway five different times. I was shocked that you didn't come out of the vent." Katerina cursed herself. Her reminiscing lead her in circles. And to think she was trying NOT to be noticed. Hold up? How do these guys tell each other apart? "You must be new here."

"I just started. Level two clearance. What do you have?" She asked casually. If she wants to get far, its time she plays nice.

"Top clearance! Unlimited access everywhere. Level five. One step away from restricted access. Just got it today." He boasted. He was very proud of himself.

"Ooh…! Ain't you just special." She played her sarcasm so well she got him laughing. She'll let him laugh for now. It'll be hard to do with a slit throat. "I'm actually hoping you could help me. I need to get on Level A Quadrant 5 to do some digging through files for a particular inmate. Any idea which direction I should take?"

"Actually, I'm on my way there now too. Lucky for you." He guided her to a ladder, popping open the hatch. He let her up first. He was such a gentleman. "You wouldn't have been allowed in without permission or an escort. I would know, I had to be babysat anytime I had to retrieve anything from the central security room."

"You don't say." It cannot be put into words how little she cares about this asshole's life story. If she didn't need to find the room, she'd kick him off the ladder and listen for his bones to break. But...for the sake of Dominique, she will endure his dorning. And boy could he drone.

This guy went on and on about how he came from humble beginnings, was nothing during the clone wars and even less than nothing when he joined local law enforcement. Treated like a joke because his dad was a yadda-yadda and his mom liked to dabble in the blah-blah. She really, really….REALLY didn't give two flying shits about his seven brothers and six sisters moving onto bigger and better things, and now that he's up in the works he can make them envy him. I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOU! She must have killed him 20 different ways in her head, tortured him 15 different depraved ways, and brought him back to live 35 ways just to do it all over again. This man is more mind numbing than Master Sinube's lectures.

"And here we are!" The trooper announced animatedly. THANK THE FRICKIN GODS! Katerina howled in her head. It was a long story, but it brought her the to threshold that held the location of her friend's cell. If she was even in a cell. Katerina had chills over her skin. The door barring her had tiny windows carved into it. She saw a black, circular room with dozens of ultraviolet blue lights. The center was a core modem that, from where she was standing, reached all the way towards the ceiling. Two guards stood at attention, watching the trooper and Katerina carefully. He pulled out his badge, holding it up to the door. The system recognized him and the doors parted.

"Damn. I need me one of these!" Katerina hooted.

"Don't worry, you'll get yours one day. It took me years to get mine." He waved his his, strolling on inside.

Katerina grinned darkly, reaching for her modified pistols. "It sure does take years to become great," The pistol shaped into their dagger forms. Before either trooper had a chance to remotely raise their guards, Katerina stretched her arms and impaled the sides of the necks. She wrenched the knives forward, tearing out their necks. Down they fell. "A shame yours is short lived."

"What?!" Turning around was his final mistake.

Katerina sliced his neck open too, walking away from his toppled body. "Not boiling oil, but it shut you up." She wasn't able to really appreciate the majesty of the central security modem. The room was a lot bigger than it looked from the outside. There were thousands of those little blue lights on a wide wide spanning cylindrical wall. The main nerve of the room a giant black tower going all the way to the ceiling. Yeah. She didn't care. She isn't going to marvel, appreciate the engineering. She is going to hide the stupid bodies and start searching.

Katerina dragged in the two troopers. Would it have killed the Empire to build the central modem over a bottomless pit? Would make hiding these bodies a lot easier. Beggars can't be choosers. She swiped the level five clearance card, putting it inside her armor. "Ugh...at least...they feed you guys!" They were heavy. She dragged them to the farthest wall, propping them up like guys who had too much to drink. "You guys would make a fun picture." She pat them on the shoulder and got up to get to looking. A clack to the ground stopped her. Something Katerina had been carrying this whole time fell from her armor. It isn't made public...pretty much at all...but she always kept it close. It was a small charm that could clip anywhere. Inside the charm, a silver square guarded by lances, was an image that flickered in and out from years of bouncing around in her pockets, against her chest, or anywhere she could put it. It was her favorite. The one of her, Mon, and Kendril at a fair. Back during the days where she can testify to being truly happy. Such happiness where nothing and no one could bring you lower than the dirt, that everyday the sun was shining. Days where she was still a human girl, her brother was dead, rebels were far away. Simple...peaceful...times. Now here she is. Cleaning blood off this keepsake as she fights to free her friend. "Always watching me, Ken." She rapsed, tears dropping to it. "Sorry to make you cry again."

She feels it all over again. Katerina was slowly feeling her sanity fade. This whole operation was getting to her like a hostile disease. Choking her, corroding her, dragging her down beneath the depths from where she will never rise again. The further in she went, the longer it took her to find Dominique, the more she wanted to throw her head back and scream. Scream so loud that everyone heard her, and so long that she would not be able to speak. She doesn't want to do this. She doesn't want to be here. She wants to go back home...take apart engines...go to bed...then wake up and do it all over again. Funny. She used to have nightmares about Coruscant. She couldn't sleep for months after the Jedi were killed. Always woke up screaming in the middle of the night. She had to sleep with a light for years thinking the dead were going to get her.

"Hmmm~hm-hm~hmmm~hm-hmm….Hmmm~hm-hm~hmm-hm…." She stopped in a nostalgic daze. "Huh. I haven't thought of that song in years." There was a song. Long ago. Kendril sang it to her, passed down from his Aunt - Mon Mothma's mother - to sooth the rampant minds of children when nightmares would keep them awake. When the night seemed as though it would never end, and the scary monsters going bump in the night would never leave them be, all they had to do was sing this song and it would disappear. How did it go again. "Ne~ver~ mind~ the dark-ness...Ne~ver~ mind~ the...storm...Ne~ver~ mind~ the-blood-red-moon...The ni~ght will be o-ver soon~" The night will end and the monsters will vanish. The sun will rise and she'll be amongst loved ones. She'll face the day with her head held high, conqueror of her own demons. That's how it should be. How it should have been. Now here she is.

When will her night be over? When can she close her eyes again and see the light? When will the morning come that she can be happily ignorant...and not be part of a damn war. "Damn you...Caleb! Damn you to Hell!" She shouldn't be here! None of them should! Dom, Grim, Dayve, the garage, Mr. Sumar - none of them should be anywhere on the Empire's radar! She and the rest should be fixing up engines, taking apart cruisers, making a decent and honest living, all the while beating the Hell out of anyone trying to skimp them. Not...killing troops and saving friends from inescapable dungeons. "I hate you...I hate you so much…" This is all his fault. She's here - in this prison and in this life - because of him. He never should have existed. He should have stayed dead. She raised her hand, rage burning in the tears running down her face. "Do you see this blood...this fresh blood…? I DIDN'T WANT ANYMORE BLOOD!" SHE DOESN'T WANT TO KILL ANYMORE! SHE DOESN'T WANT TO FIGHT! She never told Kanan this...but she left with Kendril in hopes she wouldn't be trained for war! She didn't want to fight. She likes putting things together, making the obsolete come to live, putting together some piece of someone's day. More than what anyone else involved with the war, Separatists, and Republic! Those two Padawans had the right idea to leave! She left...she should have stayed gone. "GO TO HELL, CALEB! JUST DIE! DIE LIKE YOU SHOULD 15 YEARS AGO!"

xxx

Kanan was thrown out of a dead sleep, scarred and bruised by the droids. He panted hard, eyes darting left and right as he searched his senses. He heard her. He heard Katerina! She screamed at him. She screamed...at him...to die? "No...please no…" She...wants him dead? No. This can't be. "Don't say that…please don't say that…" He sobbed, lowering his head. Tears dripped to the cold floor. His heart tore to ribbons. "I'm sorry...Riina. I'm so...so...sorry…" He never, ever...wanted this.

To be continued.

The song is from the Final Episode of the Walking Dead Game. Why am I using it? If you've played the game, you'll understand where I plan to go with this.