Kanan stood, bound hand and foot, before the leader of the Black Sword. She was a tall Nautolan, her pale blue skin scarred and tattooed. Her voice was gentle, a sweet counterpoint to the brutality of his capture. He ached everywhere.

"You cannot get her back, Jarrus," Lan Eliis intoned softly. "You have nothing I want."

"I think I do." Kanan nodded at her desk where his weapons and belongings on her desk were scattered. "That tube. Open it."

Lan laughed softly. "I think not."

Kanan shrugged. "I walked into here and you caught me without a single damn move on my part. I took my licks, and I'm standing here. I want my pilot back. I wouldn't come here without leverage. Open the tube."

Lan sighed and plucked up the metal tube. It rattled as she shook it. She studied it thoughtfully before unscrewing the cap and dropping the contents onto her palm. Her expression was thoughtful.

"Why is a backwater planet rat in possession of a lightsaber?" Lan pursed her lips.

"Leverage."

Lan smiled.

"What the hell happened?" Zeb threw his arms out.

"We have a mission." Kanan rubbed his wrists. They ached still. He strode past Sabine and Zeb, heading for the waiting land speeder. They glanced at each other, and back at the dense forest.

"Uhh, Kanan? Where is Ezra?" Sabine glanced back at Kanan's stiff back.

"He's fine." Kanan leapt into the driver's seat. "Come on."

Kanan knelt in the dirt and lifted the binoculars to his eyes. His expression still held that grimness that prevented extraneous questions.

Sabine laid a gentle hand on his arm. "Kanan."

He dipped his chin. "She's there, Sabine. We need her back. I need her back."

"You gotta give us more," she implored. "And where is Ezra?"

"He's looking out for Hera." Kanan passed his hand over his brow, pressing his fingers into his eye sockets. "And we are going to kidnap someone who is going to take her place."

"Kanan…." Sabine breathed out, her expression one of disappointment.

"A stranger … or Hera, Sabine?" Kanan glanced sharply at her.

"Oh, Kanan." Sabine stumbled back a step.

He turned on her. "This is reality, Sabine. This is what it's like out here. One life for another. One crime bigger than another."

"We are better than this, Kanan. We don't have to do this." Sabine shook her head rapidly, her hands held up in denial.

"Hera," Kanan said softly. "Or someone you don't know."