Rozella: The feedback from our last little request is interesting. Though it seems as if everyone is going for a force sensitive female. Your thoughts Tala?
Tala: It does appear that way doesn't it? Well anyway, that request still stands. If you peeps come up with other character ideas, feel free to share. :)
Rozella: Indeed. Tala I do believe we should have a tea break. *Leaves to get tea.*
Tala: Sounds good. :) Oh hey! Get me some coffee! I want to stay up till 4 again! XD
Rozella: Roger roger!
Disclaimer: We do not own Star Wars Rebels. The only thing we do own is our delightful OCs. And no you may not borrow them.
The Ghost crew gathered around a table at Jho's Pit shop. They all leaned close together and spoke in whispering voices.
"Happy Empire day!" some troopers announced as they entered.
Lara, out of habit, snatched Arcas's blaster away from his belt and grabbed Nova's arm so she couldn't run off. The troopers approached their table. "I said Happy Empire day. Show some respect for our Empire." The trooper leaned over the table and looked at Arcas. They man must have looked at Lara from the corner of his eye. "Well aren't you a pretty one." and turned to face Lara. "How's about you and I get more acquainted."
Lara smiled. "How forward. One would think the Empire is full of scandalous drunkard with the way you seem to think you can speak to me." The trooper flinched. "Is that what our great Empire's troops have become? Flirtatious trigger happy boys with too much time on their hands?"
The trooper straighten and stalked off. The crew laughed when the man vanished for the Shop. "Poor buckethead never had a chance." Arcas laughed, but his laughter died when he looked at Lara's sadden face.
She raised her glass. "To dad."
The others raised their glasses "To dad!" the Bridgers cheered.
"To Uncle Ezra!" Nova smiled.
Though they weren't suppose to by order of Lara, the twins and Arcas had managed to get drunk. "Your so mean Kya. You always kick me when we sleep." Jem grumbled, his words barely understandable.
"You always elbow me in the ribs you jerk. I'd fight you, but I don't want to humiliate you in front of everyone." Kya giggled.
"Bring it shorty!"
With that Kya stood up in her seat and launched herself at Jem, knocking the two of them to the ground and they began to wrestle.
"Happy Empire Day!" Arcas yelled out. "I'm going to be a great trooper!" Arcas stood up in his chair and fell backwards laughing.
Platt fought back a laugh, Nova however bursted out laughing and Lara pinched the bridge of her nose. "Help me get them to the ship, before things get worse." Lara hissed as she stood up. They had drawn too much attention to themselves.
Lara grabbed Arcas by the ear and dragged him out. "All hail the Emperor!" Arcas called out in a slurred voice as Lara dragged him away. Platt and Nova managed to separate the twins and dragged them to the ship.
Lara threw Arcas onto his bunk and not all to gently either. Nova put Kya in Lara's room and Jem was put into his bunk by Platt. Lara angrily took the Ghost into the sky.
"Was I not clear about staying sober?" Lara grumbled as the cockpit door hissed open.
"You're were pretty clear about it." Nova grumbled, clearly put off by the fact that Arcas hadn't slipped her a drink too.
"Now we have to change the whole plan!" Lara hissed.
Platt leaned against the control panel, careful not to press any buttons. "We're just going to blow stuff up. How hard can that be?"
"What of our explosive expert?"
"As drunk as Arcas on a bad day." Platt sighted. "We could still let her do it. Drunk or sober Kya knows how to destroy things in a fantastic array of colors."
"Oh! And while I'm at it, I may as well drop Arcas off at an imperial base." Lara smiled sarcastically up at Platt.
Platt smiled, "You know he'd take over a Star Destroyer if you weren't standing over his shoulder." Platt's face became thoughtful. "What if we proceeded with the plan, only instead of an explosive art show we give them a lazer sword show. "
Nova smiled. "I like that plan."
"So do I! Let's go to the parade!" Arcas appeared at the door.
Platt smiled at his older brother. "Sorry Bubby. Jedi only."
"But Lara!" Acras protested. "I love the Empire!" Arcas pouted, something he only did when he was drunk.
Nova rolled her eyes. "Come on bucket lover." She said as she led Arcas back to his room.
"We can't use our lightsabers. . . Not unless we wear our old helmets so they can't see our faces." Lara said thoughtfully.
Platt smiled. "I'll go get them." with that he left the cockpit and Lara was alone.
Lara sighed and looked out onto the plains of Lothal. "I don't know how to handle this mom." she said half to herself. "But I won't break my promise."
Lara had landed the Ghost near the remains of their old tower and joined Nova and Platt in the cargo bay. They put on their old painted helmets and made their way to the city. Once in the city the three force sensitive being stuck to the shadows and made their way the the imperial parade. As they approached they split off.
Suddenly the large screen that was playing the holonet changed. The symbol on the screen changed from the symbol of the Empire to that of the rebels. "Attention Imperial derps and mean older sister! This is everyones favorite hacker! Yep! That's right! It's Sparks!" Jem's drunken voice came over the speakers.
Lara slapped her hand to her face. "That drunk is going to get us killed!" Lara hissed under her breath.
"Big sis! How dare you leave us out of the fun! We can still help!"
"No you can't! You've drunken yourself stupid!" Kya's tone was annoyed as she now spoke through the loudspeakers. "I was going to make all those ships so pretty."
"You shut up!" Jem yelled, clearly at Kya. "Only I'm allowed to talk!"
"Hail the Emperor!" Arcas called.
"You shut up too!"
While her drunken siblings continued to argue Lara moved closer to the area where the ships used in the parade had come to a stop. She saw Platt waiting in the shadows across the street and Nova was waiting on the roof.
"Quit it! I'm not in any of your stinking towers!" Jem yelled, speaking to the Empire once again. "You can't find me! And I don't like you!"
Lara ready her saber, she closed her eyes and stretched herself out through the force. Though this was unnecessary, it was a habit. She was ensuring that the Inquisitor was not near by. Remembering that he was dead Lara opened her eyes and activated her lightsaber. She watched as Platt activated his lightsaber and Nova leapt down from the roof. They exchanged nods and began. Lara looked sadly at the lightsaber Platt was using, it had been their father's and Platt hardly ever used it. Nova used the lightsaber Kanan had made when he was reunited with the crew when Lara was twelve years old.
Together the tree began slicing apart the ships it wasn't long before they were discovered and surrounded by bucketheads. Lara smiled. "Banshee." She said as the trio began exchanging fire with the troopers. Nova smiled as she ducked behind a heap of metal that use to be part of a walker.
"Really? Are you sure?" Nova called to Lara.
"Got a better idea?" Lara called back before shooting at the stormtroopers with her blaster.
"No! But I need a diversion!" Nova argued.
"I got one!" Platt threw a bomb. It exploded and Nova took the opportunity. She ran for a nearby Tie and jumped into it. Nova quickly got the Tie off the ground and began firing at the troopers, flipping it upside down. Lara and Platt moved backwards until they were under the tie. They forced jumped up into and Nova flipped it once more and took to the skies.
After the Bridgers had stole a tie when they were younger the word "Banshee" became a code. It meant "Use the tie" or "Take the Tie". Once in the sky Lara contacted the Ghost.
"Screws! We could use a little help out here! Mind giving us a hand?"
The mech's beeps came through the com. "No! Don't get Jem! He's drunk!" The droid gave a reply. "I don't care what he said! Just do as I say!" Lara gestured for Nova to move, she did and Lara took the controls.
She did everything she could to dodge the blast of the enemy ties, but there were far too many of them. "Screws! I could use a little help here!"
"Hello Lara." It was Arcas's sly voice that replied. "Sorry, can't help you."
"Arcas! This isn-" Lara was cut off by one of the engines were destroyed.
They plummeted to the ground and were thrown out of the tie as it tumbled across the plains. Lara pushed herself off the ground and tried to shake the dizziness away. Her arms gave out on her and she fell back to the ground. Lara was swallowed up by darkness, the last thing she remembered was the Inquisitor walking towards her with a smirk across his face.
Lara awoke and panicked as she felt someone touch her. She flinched and threw her self away from the touch.
"Easy Lara! For crying out loud it's only me!" It was Arcas's voice, slowly Lara's vision became clear. She was sitting on her bunk with her back pressed to the wall. She was panting as she always did when she awoke in a panic. Arcas was sitting on the edge of her bed with a look of surprise and concern on his face. Jem and Kya stood behind him and Platt leaned in the door. " You hit your head pretty hard when you crashed that tie."
Lara curled into a ball and hide her face. "Lara?" Kya said in concern as she moved closer to her elder sister. "Lara if you're worried about Nova she's fine. She's in the cockpit with Screws."
"Lara, when I said-" Arcas began.
"Just leave me alone. Please, I need to be alone." Lara interrupted.
The younger three hesitantly left, Arcas however didn't move. "You saw him again didn't you?" Arcas asked after a moment of silence.
Lara began rocking in her ball form. "It was too easy. . . It shouldn't have been that easy."
"What are you talking about?" Arcas said softly as he wrapped Lara in his arms.
"The Inquisitor." Lara looked up at her brother, tears streaming down her face. "Dad and Kanan couldn't kill him and they were fighting together. I disarm him and you take one shot and that's it? What if he's still alive Arcy?"
"He's not alive Lar. I promise that he is as dead as dead gets." Arcas smiled at Lara. It was times like this Arcas forget he was younger than her.
She curled back into a ball. "What if now that the Inquisitor is dead they send someone stronger? What if-"
"You're just full of 'what ifs' aren't you?" Arcas teased. "Come on Lara. We are the Bridgers. We are a crew and a family. Do you know what we have on this ship? We have an explosive artist, heavy on the explosive easy and the artist. We have a genius mechanical wiz who can hack any system. A handsome young devil who happens to be handy with a blaster and three really annoying Jedi. Now you tell me who is going to take on that?"
Lara smiled up at her brother. "You forgot that one of the Jedi thinks he's a Lasat, the mechanical wiz thinks he's a droid and the tiger happy moron thinks he's handsome."
"Oh? I also forgot that the pilot is bossy."
"And that the second in command is a jerk."
They exchanged smiles. "See? There's no one left who will take on this family. The Inquisitor is the only one who was dumb enough and look how he ended up." Arcas kissed Lara's forehead. "Love you Lar."
"Love you too Arcy." Lara smiled.
Kya sat up and looked around. She smiled, remember that is was one of those rare nights when she and Jem hadn't joined the others in Lara's bunk. She poked Jem in the ribs and he opened one eye to look at her. She smiled a gleeful smile and Jem returned her grin. Quickly and quietly the inseparable duo snuck off the Ghost. It wasn't the first time they had done this. They had started when they were fifteen and had yet to be discovered. They loved sneaking off on their own little missions and mis adventures.
As they approached the speeder they had stashed they came to a hult. There leaning against one of the speeders, her arms crossed and a sly smile across her face was Nova.
"Sneaking off eh?" She smiled up at them.
"No, we were just-"
"Spare me the lies Jem. You suck at lying. Take me with you, or I tell Lara." Nova detached herself from the speeder she was leaning on.
"No we-"
"Done." Kya said with a smile, cutting off Jem. Kya looked at her twin. "Remember the last time Lara got mad at us?"
Jem shuddered at the memory. "Okay, you can come along."
"Yes!" Nova said excitedly, pumping her fist in the air. Kya just smiled and motioned for Nova to join her.
"Come on kid, you're riding with me." The colorful twin hopped aboard the painted imperial speeder. A while back twins managed to steal some speeders when they had snuck out, since then they kept them hidden from Lara and used them whenever they went on their late night runs.
Eagerly the water blue twi'lek-human ran over and hopped on behind the explosive artist. Jem quickly hopped onto the other speeder and within moments they sped off. They raced towards the city and were soon among the countless buildings. They stashed their speeders and quietly made their way to one of the many impaler bases. Jem smiled at Kya as she slipped into a nearby vent. Jem slightly signed for Nova to duck down. They watched as Kya reappeared at the other end on the base yard. Kya slipped out of the vent and singled Jem. He nooded and gestured for Nova to stay put. Jem vanished into the darkness.
"Attention Imperial losers! Its you ever presentant hacker Sparks."
Below Nova could hear the troopers. "Oh not him again!"
"Didn't he hack into a Star Destroyer a few weeks ago?"
"I think he may be the same kid that hacked that Star Destroyer seventeen years ago too."
"I hate this guy."
"Aww, I hate you too you stinken buckhead. And yes, I am that kid. Man that brings me back! My sister was a lot more moody back then. She use to chain my brother to the ladder on our ship. Then again he deserved it. Seriously? I'm telling you a family story and you're ignoring me. Geez, you think bucketheads would learn that you can't find me. But if you insist on sending your droids I'd love the company. Oh! Did you know my brother is also the kid that stole a Tie from an ally once. You guys really need to get a better lock on those things. I mean seriously since I was seven me and my family had stole what? Around twenty ties?"
Nova smiled as Jem continued on rambling. Kya had moved to a tie and began painting it as casually as she'd paint her room.
"What do you think you're doing?!" A trooper asked in a stern tone.
"What does it look like? Art." Kya said as she continued to paint one of the ties.
"Wait. Not you again!" The trooper pointed his gun at Kya. "This is TK2626! The artist is back!"
"What do you mean ba- Oh! You must have met my mom! Hey Sparks! They knew mom!"
"That's awesome! So they know what comes next?"
Kya flipped backwards and slipped into the shadows. Nova watched as Kya wove her way though the Ties and leaned against one. "So you buckheads never caught her huh?" The troopers fired and Kya appeared behind them again. "Still by the book I'm guessing. We've read your book!" Again they began firing. "Not a very long one." Kya disappeared into the shadows again. "You should try reading our book. It's longer. A lot longer."
Nova smiled as she jumped off the wall, taking the troopers distraction as an opportunity. She darted over to a shuttle and made her way inside it.
"Come on sis. They wouldn't even get past the first page of our book. They can't read our lengo. The poor boys can't even aim!"
Kya was dodging troopers and lying down bombs. She nimbly flipped and dodged shoots through the entire area as if it were nothing. "I know they can't aim. They also can't seem to catch us. Is it just me or are they getting worse?"
"I think we're just getting too good at this for them. Oh look! Personal files! I love personal files! Let's see what kind of morons we got here. . ." By his tone Kya and Nova knew Jem was smiling. "Aww! L000576 you win second place in the biggest jerk award. A perfect student bravo. I'd give you first place but my brother permanently holds that spot. Second place use to be my brother. The Inquisitor was first place, until my brother shoot him through the head. Oh! You didn't know he was dead. Surprise! He's dead!"
"Oh come on Sparks! Don't tease them about their dead leader. You know how they think they're untouchable." Kya smiled as she dodged a few shots from blasters.
Nova saw a shuttle from the corner of her eye. She looked closer at it and smiled. It was empty and the lift was open. With a quick glance to see where Kya was, Nova made her way to the shuttle.
"I know Splat. Got what we came for. . . Little Blue what are you doing?"
"Oh you know. Following the footsteps of the great Rebs." Nova smiled as she took the controls of the shuttle.
"That wasn't part of the plan!" Kya yelled through the com.
"No plan. Just fun." Nova turned the shuttle to face the unmanned ties. "Oh and Slapt, you may want to move." The Twi'lek-human smiled.
Kya dove for a vent just as Nova began firing at the unmanned ties. Jem's laughter could be heard through the com. "I don't know what Rebs has taught you but your aim is as good as a buckethead's!"
After destroying the ties Nova moved to the other ships that were there, laughs all the while. Jem and Kya went to retrieve their speeders and Nova lowered the shuttle. The twins got on board and Kya smiled as she looked down at the base. "Bye bye bucketheads!" She called out before pressing the button that set off her bombs.
"Great." Jem grumbled. "Now what do we do with this monstrosity?" he gestured to the shuttle.
"I say we keep it." Nova smiled.
"Only if I get to paint it." Kya beamed.
"We keep and paint, okay. So who's going to explain this to Lara?"
They all stiffened at the thought of Lar's reaction. "We could always crash it." Nova shrugged.
"That's perfect! Then we'll all be dead and no one will have to tell Lara." Jem smiled, Kya elbowed him.
"I can set it up to where the shuttle will crash on autopilot." Nova smiled over her shoulder at the twins. "Lara showed me how."
"Let's do it." the twins said in sync.
The twins and Nova softened their laughter as they approached the Ghost. Nova searched through the force to see if Lara was awake. Lara's energy was clouded by fear and pain. Fearful Nova bolted into the freighter and went to Lara's room as fast as she could. She froze when she saw Arcas going into Lara's room, he looked to be as if he were sleep walking. She followed the sleep walking man into Lara's room.
Lara laid on her bunk curled into a tight ball with her hands pressed against her head. Nova realized with relief that Lara was only having a nightmare. Nova reached through the force and brushed against Lara's mind, sending her master calming and peaceful energy. Nova left Lara's room and saw the twins standing in the hallway with looks of confusion on their faces.
"Jedi thing." Nova shrugged and offered no other explanation.
No further explanation was needed. The twins only nodded before disappearing into their cabin. Nova returned to her cabin and settled in for sleep.
Arcas awoke and found himself in Lara's bunk. He had no recollection of entering Lara's room but shrugged it off. He slipped out of the bunk, careful not to wake Lara and left the room.
"Is it just me." Nova began, startling Arcas as he had not been expecting her to be leaning against the wall by Lara's door. "Or has Lara been acting a little strange since you two killed the Inquisitor?"
Arcas relaxed his shoulders. "She keeps have nightmares about the Inquisitor. I wish your dad was here to help her." Arcas said as he leaned in the doorway, looking back at the still sleeping Lara. Arcas looked at his elder sister with a look of both concern and adermation. He knew the burdens she bared and the fears that plagued her mind.
"I wish he was here too. " Nova's voice was laced with sadness and she slide to the floor. "He always knew how to turn nightmares into pleasant dreams. Do you think they may be visions?"
"No." Arccas joined Nova on the floor. "I shot the Inquisitor straight through his head. There's no way he's still alive. I think it's just her old fear on him. She was always afraid that the Inquisitor would one day destroy our family. I think that that fear is what drove her to be so protective of us."
Nova smiled. "She'd be protective of us if we were raised as normal citizens. That's just who Master Lara is."Arcas smiled at Nova. It was rare that she called Lara "Master" but when she did it just felt right somehow. As if Nova calling Lara her master made Lara seem invincible. "And so are you. Master Ezra would be proud."
"And Master Kanan would be proud of you Nova Jarrus." Arcas smiled before rising to his feet. He helped Nova to her feet before heading to the cafe. Nova hesitated by Lara's door unsure of what to sound of a tie flying over head set the crew into a frenzy. Nova barely had time to sidestep away from Lara's door before Lara came rushing out. Lara took the controls of the ship and waited. She was ready to go is the tie attacked but she waited to see if it was an attack. The tie came back around and Started firing. Lara took to the skies, Arcas from the turret returned fire. Kya and Jem stumbled out of their room and went to man a gun. Nova took her place as the co-pilot.
Arcas missed the tie and more appeared. "Where'd you learn to shoot?!" Lara yelled at Arcas through the com.
"At the academy!" Arcas yelled back. Though their tones did not portray it, the two of them were only joking.
"Well go back and take more classes!"
"Lara how about a little less attitude and a little more altitude!"
Lara shot past the clouds and scent the Ghost into hyperspace. The crew all sighed and relax when they were surrounded by The familiar and comforting blue light. "Well good morning Nova. "Lara smiled as she put the ship into autopilot.
Nova laughed. "Good morning Lara."
"The only good tie is a stolen tie." Arcas grumbled as he enters the cockpit. "Stinken Imperials."
"Arcy are you hungry? Is that why you're so grumpy?" Lara teased.
Arcas spoken in a childish tone. "Yes mommy. I hungry."
Nova bursted out laughing at the exchange. "Okay, mommy will make you breakfast baby. You go play and I'll call you when it's ready."
"Thank you mommy." Arcas smiled leaving the cockpit.
Lara laughed lightly as she headed to the cafe. As Lara cooked Jem and Arcas played Dejarik on a hologame table, Kya watched while Platt and Nova spared in the cargo bay. Screws beeped at Jem and the man waved his hand at the droid. "Shush Screws! I know what I'm doing."
"Breakfast!" Lara called from the cafe.
"Noms!" Platt's voice rang from the cargo bay. Nova's laughter soon followed.
The six of them gathered at the table and ate. They talked and joked and it was altogether pleasant. Kya and Nova cleaned up after the meal while Lara landed the ship back on Lathal. Once they landed the three force sensitive beings went outside to train.
Rozella: * Drinks tea* I kind of feel bad for Lara. Arcas drunk can't be that much fun to deal with.
Tala: x3 You always feel bad for her. And yeah, Arcy drunk is fun to write. XD Who would have thought one of the Bridger Brats would have wanted to join the Emper.
Rozella: XD Only when he's drunk and I blame sabin. She did always want a kid that didn't cause trouble.
Tala: Can't cause trouble? Its Arcas. XD He always causes trouble, even when he is with the Imps.
Rozella: XD Ture. Tala drink your coffee. We must begin. On to the next chapter!