Elios read over the reports with some optimism. The scientists felt that they had what he needed, and he told them that they best be right. These ysalamiri had better be able do as they assured him and that they can harness their abilities. Because if they failed, he ensured that they would suffer for it.

With that done he then turned his attention toward a set of reports regarding his errant child. He had reports of possible sightings that would need to be followed up on. There were also reports that Inquisitors had a run in with a Jedi who matched the description of the one who had been on the rescue team who had stolen Kiara away from his Star Destroyer. He made a note of the report so that he could read it over more closely after his meetings.

Moff Dume knew that if he could locate this Jedi then he would likely be one step closer to locating his daughter so that he can turn her over to the emperor. As a result, that meant that he needed to learn more about this man. He pulled up the files of recent Jedi activity; activity that had been waning over the years until this one Jedi began to show up. He and a younger Jedi, an apprentice, had mainly shown up in the sectors surrounding the Lothal System in the last couple of years.

"Interesting," the Moff said as he then pulled up the files that had originated from the planet. That was when he pulled up the personnel file of the man who had filed the first report of a Jedi in the sector after more than a decade of the Order's absence. The picture of the ISB Agent who had been in charge of quashing the rebel cell in the sector looked familiar. He'd seen that man before, somewhere. "It can't be."

Elios pulled up some security footage from his daughter's escape and freeze-framed a section as he studied the man who had joined the Jedi in the rescue. How had such a man gone from pursuing the Jedi to aiding him? Joining him on a mission on a Star Destroyer to liberate a force-user?

The Moff returned to the personnel file and saw the notation that the man had deserted more than a year ago. He was surprised that finding the man hadn't been a higher priority with the access to the information that he'd had while within the Empire. Such a desertion at his level was nearly unheard of and even less so that the deserter was allowed to live so long after abandoning the Empire. Those individuals always have a price put on their heads; high enough that any bounty hunter looking for an easy payday are willing to take care of such traitors.

"Why would the man with a price on his head be taking on such missions that would bring him back into the Empire's reach?" Moff Elios Dume leaned back in his chair as he continued to read the former Imperial's file. If asked, he would have to admit that the man's record and subsequent betrayal did fascinate him.


Kallus had decided that he'd go running instead of working out at the small base's gym since the weather was nice. He also had the suspicion that his recent Twi'lek shadow would be waiting for him to ask for his assistance with her own workout. And he knew that she didn't really need any.

He was on his way back toward the base when he spotted Kiara, who must have decided to do the same thing as he had. She'd just gotten a head start on him, that was all. When he approached, he slowed his pace so that he could match hers.

"I thought you were still out with Kanan?"

Kiara shook her head and panted as she answered, "He had plans with Hera to go to her medical checkup."

"She's not ill, is she?" Kallus asked with concern. That earned him a laugh between the gasps for air.

"No, silly. Pregnant women go to a lot of checkups to keep an eye on the child."

"Oh." He then remained silent for a while as the two ran in comfortable silence. That was until his ease of keeping pace with her seemed to irritate the woman at his side.

"How are you not even breathing hard?" Kiara asked just a bit annoyed. "We ran the same path, but you are just-" She came to a stop for a break when they hit an overhang of trees. That was when she placed her hands on her knees as she gasped for air.

Alexsandr couldn't help the chuckle which earned him a dirty look as he came to a stop to join her. "While you were digging around in the ground of various planets and sitting behind a desk doing research, for the most part, I was out chasing criminals."

"I seem to recall that you had a nice cushy desk job when I was on Lothal."

"A desk, yes. Did I stay behind it often? No. Trust me, I was still just as involved with hunting down anyone that I was sent to go after as I had been before I got that office."

"Then it's a good thing I never had to go on the run while you were still an ISB Agent," Kiara decided that she wanted to rest on the ground, so she collapsed beneath the shade of the trees. She then lay there trying to rein in her breathing as she added, "I wouldn't have had a chance. You would have caught me with no trouble at all."

Kallus stood watching as Kiara's chest heaved up and down as she tried to catch her breath. "I'm glad you never had to go on the run then, either. Being on the run together is more fun."

Kiara raised her head and asked, "What?"

"We are both deserters. So, we are both on the run."

She shook her head as she tilted her head back and closed her eyes as it appeared that Alex had decided to wait for her to be ready to continue their run by sitting down beside her on the ground.

"I think we need to work on your idea of fun, Alex."

"You are welcome to try," Alex teased.

"Maybe some other time. I think my lungs are trying to kill me right now." Kiara heard laughter to her side, so she blindly reached out to lightly smack her friend. He caught her hand and held it in place for a few moments before releasing it. Kiara stayed in her place on the ground until she felt ready to continue her run back to the base. When she opened her eyes, Alex was still watching her as if waiting for when she'd be ready to get back up. "Alright. I think I'll survive the rest of the run, now. Just don't tell anyone that I couldn't finish without a break. Okay."

"Your secret is safe with me," Kallus stood and then reached down to pull Valour to her feet before the two headed back in the direction of the rebel base.


A few months later Kanan waited as he listened to the leadership as several teams were given various missions. When each team received their orders, they would leave to start their planning. He knew that Kallus helped with choosing which team's skills and tactics would be best served for each mission. That explained why the crew of the Ghost had mainly been given some of the easier, less dangerous missions as of late. Hera was entering her final months of her pregnancy and while the other man may not admit it, he was making sure that nothing happened to any of them for Hera and the baby's sake. Not that he minded. But he could tell that some of the others in the cell had begun to notice. Not to mention, a mission was botched the week before because the team hadn't been ready for that kind of job.

If he, Zeb, and Sabine had gone instead it likely would have been successful. Kiara could have even joined them. She and Sabine sparred several times a week, so he knew she was prepared. Kanan knew that Sabine had taken it upon herself to make sure that the other woman could take care of herself; likely enough suspecting that such help wouldn't have been appreciated if he or even Kallus had offered it instead. That may have been how it started but it became clear that the two became fast friends. In addition, while his sister didn't have the experience that the rest of them had, and she may still lag behind the rest of them in some areas, she was more than capable of handling herself. Of course, Kanan had known that. After all, she had taken out an Inquisitor on her own.

When the meeting came to an end Kanan walked up toward Kallus but stopped when he heard General Dodonna discussing the destruction of a small cell just a sector away. He paused so that he could find out what had happened. He also wondered why it hadn't been part of the briefing. When the general noticed Kanan he addressed him.

"Kanan, I had hoped that I'd be able to discuss this with you, as well. You heard me inform Agent Kallus of the attack on the cell in the Cr'zileria Sector?"

"Yes. Do you know what happened?"

"I'm afraid so." He looked down a moment before raising his head back up to look at the two men. "It appears to have been the Emperor's Inquisitors. They were looking for someone, but we can only speculate as to whom."

"But they are only deployed when looking for force users," Kallus added. "General, do you feel that they could be part of the same team who Kanan and Kiara came across during their trip to look for supplies at the old Clone base?"

Kanan tilted his head at the cover story that had been given to the leadership for the trip since Kiara hadn't wanted anyone outside their small group to know of her force abilities.

"It is difficult to determine that. But we must consider that this may be connected. And if they are..." Dodonna looked to Kanan.

"If they are then having a Jedi here on the base may make it more dangerous for everyone involved," Kanan finished for the man.

"I'm afraid so."

"Well, I suppose that I'll just have to leave the base for a while. There is something that Sabine's been interested in pursuing-"

"Perhaps it would be best if I am not privy to what you may be doing while away from the base." With that the general walked away, leaving the two men alone.

"Let's go to the Shadow Chaser to discuss this," Kallus said in a low voice before turning toward the door. Kanan agreed since few needed to know that he may not be the only person at the base whom the Inquisitors may be sensing and searching for. Once on-board Kallus started. "I don't like this. Not just the attack but the fact that the leadership isn't telling the rest of the base about it."

"I'm not sure I do, either."

"So, what do you think we should do?"

Kanan stroked his beard as he considered. It was still possible that the attack was a coincidence. Unlikely, but possible. It was also likely that they were looking for just him. After all, the Inquisitor that he'd fought on the base only saw him, not Kiara. Nor did he know that Kiara was a force sensitive. After all, the body of the other Inquisitor would have shown that she had died from a blaster bolt. Still...

His primary concern, however, was Hera. She was nearing the end of her pregnancy soon and he didn't like the idea of her being on a base that could fall under attack at any moment. With the fact that she was pregnant with a half-human child the length of her pregnancy would be determined by whether the child takes after him or Hera. Which means the child could literally come any day or wait another three months.

"We'll need to call the others in and discuss some possibilities of things to do that are away from the base. Hera and I have discussed possibly going to Ryloth so that her father could be there to see the baby after it's born."

Kallus nodded that he understood. He could see how the woman would want to be near her family as her time to deliver got closer. "What did you mean when you said that Sabine had been interested in a project?"

Kanan chuckled before he shared, "She's been pushing for another trip to Canto Bight. The defense systems are nearly obsolete, and she wanted to go with Kiara to raise some funds so that she could really set things up right around here. I even think Zeb and Rex have added to the list of systems and supplies that could benefit from another influx of cash."

"No." Kallus shook his head. "Are you crazy?"

"Hey, they did just fine the last time. But this time, they'd have Zeb, too. Hell, you could even go." Kanan snickered before adding, "You know, to make sure no other guy gets too fresh with her."

Kallus's eyes flashed just a bit at the thought. "If they go, you'd best believe I'll be going along."

"Good. That means that I won't have to worry about her," Kanan added with sincerity. He knew that Kallus cared for his sister and if he had known about that while they had both been in the Empire, he knew he wouldn't have been okay with it. But he'd fought alongside the man in too many battles for him not to earn his respect. Not to mention, he'd been at the other man's side during the rescue of Kiara from the Star Destroyer and saw how much he had been worried for her. "There is just one thing. You'll need to let Sabine help with your disguise."

"My what?"

Kanan grinned. "You heard me. You'll need to disguise yourself if you go to Canto Bight. We don't want anyone to recognize and turn you over to the Empire, now do we?" He added with some laughter. "Come on. It won't be that bad."

"You say that, but you aren't the one who will become Sabine's latest art project," Kallus groaned.

"It'll be fine. And who knows, you may even have some fun."

"I highly doubt it." Kallus glowered as Kanan shrugged as if giving up on the idea.

"There's always the option of you stayin-"

"Fine. I'll do it. But that doesn't mean that I have to be happy about it." Kallus sighed. No, he couldn't just stay behind while they went off on this fool's errand. He knew it. Kanan knew it. And the rest did, too.

Kanan clapped the other man on the back as he said, "That's the spirit."


A week later Kiara sat up in the cockpit of the Shadow Chaser with Zeb beside her as they called in to control for permission to land at Canto Bight. Sabine was still trying to convince Alexsandr to let her give him a full makeover so that he'd be less likely to be recognized instead of just changing his hair color again the last time Kiara had gone and checked on them. She'd been going over suggestions for most of the trip with him only to have them rejected.

Meanwhile, Zeb was bemoaning that he would be regulated to staying behind on the ship with Tac since it was harder to disguise him. There were also so few Lasat roaming the galaxy that his appearance would likely stand out and make him memorable. Something that they all wanted to avoid.

When Kiara finished the shutdown procedures, she headed back to her cabin to put on her working clothes for the casino then waited for the other two who would be joining her along with Zeb who was making himself as comfortable as he could in the common area, as well. When she heard Sabine assure Alex that he didn't look that bad Kiara turned in her seat and waited to see just what wasn't that bad. When the two finally entered the common area Zeb busted out laughing. That had the effect of having Kallus immediately turning to head back toward his cabin.

"Oh no you don't!" Sabine insisted. "I worked too hard for you to go and take it all off before we've even had a chance to do what we came here to do."

Kiara watched as Alex's shoulders slumped before he turned back around to face his friends. When she saw what Sabine had settled on, she smiled broadly.

"Don't." Alex said quickly when he saw it.

"What? I just think that it'll be fun that we will be quite the matched pair. A pair of Pantorans, that is," Kiara said with her borrowed voice since she was once again using the voice emulator. "So, does this mean that you'll be my date for the evening?"

Sabine and Zeb both snickered at her choice of words. She leaned in to whisper to the Lasat, "If she only knew."