Tala: *Runs into room* Bob! Bob! I've done it!
Rozella: *Gasp* Professor Tala! Have you really?
Tala: *Fails* Yes! I have found the cure!
Rozella: Oh thank goodness! And just in time too!
Tala: *Shoves Ezra's Journal, Sabine's Sketch book, New Dawn, Ezra's Gamble, Star Wars Rebels Visual Guide, Star Wars Rebels A New hero, and flash drive full of episodes & Rebels Recon into lap* Now we must read, watch and re-read and re-watch all these and we should be able to last through summer!
Rozella: Do you know how many books I have? Let me show you. *Opens closet and is covered in avalanche of books. Dies under book pile*
Tala: O_O . . . That's a lot of books . . . but how many of those are Star Wars Rebels related?
Rozella: *Floats as ghost next to Tala.* You got me there.
Tala: Now was your death really worth proving the point of how many books ya got when we really just need the Rebel ones to help us with our obsession?
Rozella: Tala please! Don't insult me. I can come back to life whenever I want. But for now I'm going to go haunt Agent Kallus.*Floats away* I'm going Ghost!
Tala: Well while Bob plays Danny Phantom, I guess I will do the disclaimer.
Disclaimer: We do not own Rebels and their awesome characters. How ever we do own our OCs.
Special thanks to Guest that came up with the OC Hass'awethu'luzeth. ^-^ Thank you for allowing us to use your wonderful character.
Arcas flinched backwards at the scene in front of him. Every part of him wanted to close that cell door and never open it again. Blood stained the floor around the upright metal table. The probes floated around the limp body in the cell. There was nothing else in the cell. No one but her.
"Lara." Arcas breathed in horror. He took a jagged step forward. The probe zapped Lara and she screamed. Arcas blasted the probes until they were nothing more than smoking piles of broken parts. Arcas moved quickly to free his sister from the metal table. She slumped against him and Arcas caught her.
"Lara?" He said in a shaking voice. He could feel his clothes beginning to soak with her blood.
A shuttered breath came from Lara and a tear ran down Arcas's face. Carefully Arcas wrapped Lara's arms around his neck and gently took her legs out from under her. Her trembling hands clinched Arcas's shirt and she held on to him desperately.
"It's okay Lar. I got you. You're safe now." Arcas said as he left the cell.
Platt looked at Lara in horror when he saw her. The youngest Bridger was holding up a blue skinned man whose face was hidden by a mess of black hair. Platt raised his com to his mouth. "Girls, get the med kit ready. We're going to need it." with that to two Bridgers nodded at each other and made their way back to the ship.
Platt lead the way and everyone gasped in horror at the sight of Lara. "Jem, Screws get us out of here." Nova ordered as Arcas gently laid Lara down in the cargo bay.
"Boys! Out! Now!" Kya ordered. The males left quickly as the girls began carefully removing Lara's clothes to get a better look at their leader's injuries.
They're escape had been almost too easy and this only set Arcas's nerves further on edge. He paced by the ladder leading to the cargo bay and waited for Kya and Nova's permission to go down.
"Arcas!" Kya called up and Arcas looked down at her with pleading eyes.
"Find something light weight for Lara to wear. I'll mend her clothes later." Arcas nodded and darted to Lara's room. He found a light weight dress and returned to the ladder. He tossed it down and Kya vanished from sight. A moment later Kya reappeared.
"Get her to bed Arcas. And don't leave her side until she wakes up." Kya didn't get to finish what she was saying before Arcas jumped down. He rushed to Lara's side and gently picked her up. Her skin felt feverish against his shoulder as he carried her to the ladder. With one arm holding Lara, Arcas climbed up the ladder and went straight to Lara's room. He laid her down gently and laid beside her.
He had never seen Lara in such a state before. Lara's body was covered in reddening badges, her cheeks were flushed and her skin too pale. Arcas began to hum their family lullaby as a means to keep Lara's dreams peaceful as he watched over her.
Arcas looked down at Lara's face. Lara who was normally up before everyone else. Lara who had always been there even when he didn't want her to be. Lara who had basically raised him and taught him everything he knew. Lara who had protected him and never abandoned him. Lara, the one who could be awoken by the smallest sound and the lightest touch. Lara, the only person in the galaxy who Arcas could never betray.
Platt went to Lara's room as a natural reaction after having a nightmare. He saw Arcas with his arms carefully wrapped protectively around Lara. She look ill and small next to Arcas. Platt smiled softly to himself before he join his older siblings in the bunk. Platt kissed Lara's fervish cheek and nestled down beside her. Lara gently took Platt's hand in her sleep.
Platt stared at Lara as he began to doze off. Lara who had seemed unhurtable. Lara who was always standing between him and danger. Lara whomse voice had eased away a thousand nightmares. Lara who took care of him since the beginning of his life. His teacher, sister, and protector.
Kya and Jem enter Lara's room holding hands. Platt and Arcas were curled around Lara as if they could shield her from anything. They smiled as the snuggled into the bunk next to Arcas.
Lara was the one who took the blame for things they did when she thought they were too young to be punished. Lara who had always encouraged their skill and always helped them out of trouble when they went too far. Lara who could stop a fight before it broke out. Lara who found a way out of every mess, even when everything seemed helpless. Lara their unbreakable sister.
Nova entered Lara's room and was not surprised to see all the Bridgers in one bunk. When she was a child Nova found it odd how they slept. It only took one nightmare for her the join them and she barely ever slept alone again. To them, being crammed into a single bunk was comfortable. When one moved they all moved and no one ever fell off. Nova walked over to the bunk and poked Platt. The twins squished themselves closer to the wall, Arcas moved slightly closer to the twins, dragging Lara with him. Platt moved and Nova smiled.
Nova looked at Lara with a sense of hero-worship in her eyes. Lara who had stepped up and taken care of her when she lost her mother. Lara who trained her when she lost her father. Lara who never failed to comfort Nova, Lara who was always present. Lara who would save her family no matter the personal cost. Lara who was not afraid to die for her family and had proven as much on many occasions.
With a soft smile Nova climbed into the bunk with the rest of them and settled in to sleep.
"You are a lousy leader." Platt smiled as they all sat on Lara's bunk whispering to each other. Lara was still resting but none of them wanted to leave her side. "I can't wait till Lara recovers."
"Give me a break!" Arcas hissed. "I was dealing with the death of my sister and I've never been in charge before!"
"And you never will be again." Jem smiled.
"Hopefully." Kya laughed. "Besides, no worries now, we have Lara."
Arcas glared at the twins. "You're going to have to get rid of Zappy."
"What?! No!" Jem exclaimed in surprise.
"Arcas don't be mean." Nova defened Jem's new little friend.
"Did you think about what Lara might think you your new little friend? After all she's been through? And I'm the one being mean?"
The others fell silent and looked at Lara. They hadn't thought about that. Lara's face began to twist into fear. "Lara you quit that." Arcas grumbled. "You're not allowed to have nightmares when you're suppose to be getting better."
"I have to agree. No nightmares until you can beat all of us in sparing." Platt smiled.
"You've been cut off! No nightmares for you." The twins added.
"Five against one. Sorry Lara, looks like you lose the right to nightmares." Nova smiled down at Lara. Her face had eased back into a peaceful sleep.
"I think it's the sounds of our voices. So we're not allowed to stop talking." Platt smiled at the others.
"I think you-" Arcas was cut off by the sound of a door opening. He reached for his blasters as did the others. They all rallied at the door and opened it with their blasters pointed.
There frozen in the hallway was the blue skinned man they had saved at the same time as Lara and Jem. They had put him on Arcas's bunk and forgotten about him. His skin was impossibly blue and his red eyes looked to be as if they were glowing. His black hair hung around his face in a curled mess. All he had on was a pair of short pants and the scars the laced his body were visible. "Don't shoot!" He pleaded.
"We're not going to shoot you." Nova said as she lowered her blaster. "What's your name stranger?"
"Hass'awethu'luzeth." The man said as he looked at the other blasters pointed at him.
"Okay gibberish face." Arcas lowered his blaster and the others followed his lead. "Where can we drop you off?"
"The lady?" The man said in a pleading tone. "There was a woman imprisoned with me. Did you save her as well? Is she alright?"
"Okay gibberish man, calm down. We saved her and we don't know if she'll be alright or not." Kya said cutting off the man's stream of questions.
"She's resting now and before you ask. No, you may not see her." Jem added.
"Please! I must know if she's alright! I must know is she's safe! How can I know if she is safe with the lot of you when you point blasters at those you've saved?!" The man pleaded looking from face to face.
"She is in the safest place for her. She'll always be safe with us. We are her crew." Platt hissed. "Never question us again."
"Her crew?" The man seemed puzzled. "Which of you is Arcy?"
"The names Arcas." Nova and Arcas growled at the same time.
The man looked at Arcas with pondering eyes. "When they tortured her, she often called out for you. Are you perhaps her lover?"
They all made a gagging noise. "No! I am her brother!" Arcas said quickly and defensively.
"Oh." The man seemed pleased by this. "Since you cannot pronounce my name you may call me Hass." The man inclined his head. He looked back up at them and flinched away in horror. They all looked behind them and saw Zappy hovering by Jem's shoulder.
"It's alright Zaps. This is Arcas, Nova, Kya, Jem, and Platt. We like them. And that's Hass. I don't know how we feel about him yet."
Screws came into the hallway and began to angrily beep at Jem. "Screws! I am not replacing you! I made a friend and we're keeping him! End of story." The mech replied in his still angry tone. "Go run maintenance or something!" Jem barked angrily.
"Arcy?" The soft, raw voice froze the entire crew. "Arcy!' They turned in time to see Lara throw herself out of bed. Arcas moved and caught her. She wrapped her arms around him and began to sob. "I'm sorry Arcas! I broke my promise and I'm sorry!"
"Shhh, Lara it's okay. You need to rest." Arcas picked Lara up and put her back into her bunk.
"Where's Hass? Did you find him? Did you save him?" Lara's eyes were pleading and fearful.
"I'm right here my lady." Hass said as he peered into Lara's room with a soft smile.
Lara visibly relaxed and smiled up at Arcas. "Welcome home bossy." Arcas said softly before kissing Lara's forehead.
"Good to be home jerk." Lara smiled.
"Lara. Lara wake up!' Lara blinked in confusion as she looked up at Hera.
"Hey." Lara said sheepishly as she sat up."What'cha need Hera?"
"I need you to watch over Nova for a bit." Hera gave Lara a sheepish guilty smile. "We're doing a supply run and Arcas is going with Zeb. Think you can handle her?"
"I don't know. She may be difficult to handle." Lara bit her lip and looked up at Hera. She meant it as a joke.
"She's three. How hard can it be to watch a three year old?" Hera crossed her arms. "You can handle all four of your siblings alone yet you think you can't handle my daughter?"
"My siblings didn't follow Arcas like a little blue shadow." Lara said with a soft smile. "I'll watch her. Just tell Zeb to keep a really close eye on Arcas."
"Thank you." Hera left the room and Lara, with a reluctant sigh, followed. They went to the cargo bay and joined the others.
Kanan held Nova in one arms and was point sternly at Zeb with the other. "Zeb, keep a close eye on that boy and don't let him out of your sight. Got it?"
"How bad can he be?" Zeb said sarcastically.
Sabine rolled her eyes and Ezra laughed. Arcas smiled up at Nova. "You be good for Lara babyface."
"No!" Nova leaned and grabbed Arcas's ears. "You stay meathead!"
Lara giggled at their odd nicknames for each other. "So I have Nova, the twins and Platt right?"
Sabine smiled at Lara. Lara's hair was still a mess from sleeping and her feet were bare. "Yes. Arcas has decide he should be allowed to go on a least supply runs so he'll be with Zeb."
"Well good luck." Lara shot Zeb a smile. "And keep a close eye on him. You can tie him to the speeder or you can just knock him out to save yourself the trouble."
"I'm not that bad!" Arcas protested.
'Let's go. The shops will be closing soon." Ezra grumbled. He gave Lara a quick smile. "Good luck with Arcas's clone."
"Daddy has to go now." Kanana kissed Nova's cheek and she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck.
"Bye daddy." She smiled and Kanan handed Nova over to Lara.
"You take care of my princess." Kanan said as he and the rest of the crew went down the ramp to the landspeeder.
"I will. Be safe." Lara called after them. She looked at the pouting child in her arms. "So what color are we going to paint Chopper tonight?"
"No! Screws!"
"Okay what color are we painting Screws?"
"Yellow!" Nova beamed.
"Yellow it is than." Lara move the child to her back and made her way up the ladder.
Once she got what she needed Lara called Screws to the commoners and let Nova have at him. She stood and watched with Chopper as Nova scribbled paint all over Jem's mech. Screws just sat there and let her do it.
"Kya is going to be so mad when she see that." Platt said as he came up from behind Lara.
Lara shrugged. "She might be, but not as mad as Jem's going to be."
"So where's Hera?"
"Supply run. All the adults went, Arcas went with Zeb."
Platt laughed. "Poor Zebby."
"All done." Nova smiled up at Chopper. "You next!"
Chopper gave out a little cry as he wheeled away. "Come back!" Nova called sadly.
Arcas followed Zeb into the bar. "What are we doing here?"
"I know a guy who'll give us charges cheap." Zeb grabbed Arcas and tossed him into a booth in the corner. "Just stay there and don't do anything." Zeb started to walk away, he turned and looked back at the boy. "I mean it. Stay."
Arcas put his hands up in a surrendering position. "I'm staying." Zeb nodded before walking off. "I'm staying," Arcas smiled his mischievous smile. "In the bar at least."
Arcas was tall for his age and looked older than he was. He climbed out of the booth and went to the bar counter. "Bartender your strongest drink please."
The crew gathered in the cargo bay and went over the list of supplies they had gotten. The trip went well and without any trouble from bucketheads. When they returned Ezra and Kanan had laughed at the sight of Lara and Platt. They were both scribbled with multiple colors and Nova looked like a proud little artist when she ran up to her mommy.
"Look what I did!" She smiled pointing at the Bridgers.
"That's great sweety. " Hera smiled as she tried not to laugh.
"Lara, Platt, what happened?" Sabine asked, laughing at the two of them.
"She got done with Screws and Chopper ran away so. . ." Platt shrugged.
"Where's Zeb and Arcas?" Lara asked looking behind them.
"They should be here soon." Kanan smiled.
As if on cue Zeb appeared with an angry, guilty look of his face. Clinging to Zeb's arm was a red faced Arcas.
"Ummm Zeb?" Sabine said cautiously as she looked at her son. "What did you do to him?"
Zeb's ears pointed downward. "I turned my back on him for one karablasting minute and the kid got drunk."
"Zeb!" Sabine and Ezra gave Zeb a disappointed look.
"You the scariest when you mad. Did you know that mommy?" Arcas swayed on his feet with a goofy smile on his face.
"I told you to keep an eye on him!" Kanan pinched the bridge of his nose.
"And you're a liar." Arcas looked to Kanan now. "He left me alone longer than a minute. . . I counted."
"How long Zeb?" Lara crossed her arms and looked like Hera and Sabine both when they were angry. "How long did you leave him alone?"
"About five minutes." Zeb said hesitantly.
"Garazeb Orrelios!" Zeb flinched at the way Lara said his full name. "Five minutes?! You left my brother alone for five minutes?! Do you know how much damage he can do in five seconds?!"
"We were at a bar! I didn't he think could cause trouble!" Zeb protested.
"Arcas can cause trouble anywhere!" Lara glared daggers at Zeb. "How could you have been so irresponsible?!"
"I take that back." Arcas looked at Sabine, moving slightly behind Zeb. "Lara is the scariest when she's mad."
"Damn right I'm scary!" Lara reached past Zeb and grabbed ahold of her brother and dragged him out from behind the Lasat. "You are in so much trouble!"
"Ezra get your son to his room. I'll deal with him later." Sabine's tone was cold and flat. This made even Kanan stiffen.
"Why is he my kid when he's in trouble?" Ezra grumbled as he went over to get Arcas.
"No Dad, you stay. Zeb put him to bed and clean up any mess he makes. And don't even think about trying to run. Because I will hunt you down Lasat." Lara said coldly.
No one argued. Zeb threw Arcas over his shoulder and headed for the ladder. "I'm not a baby! Put me down you stinken fur ball! Lara! Help the beast is trying to steal me!"
"Shut up kid." Zeb climbed the ladder and disappeared with the drunken twelve years old. Platt followed Zeb up the ladder.
"She's definitely your clone." Kanan smiled sheepishly at Hera.
"That just means she's knows how to handle her crew." Hera smiled at Lara.
"I don't 'handle' my crew. I tell them what to do and if they argue I make my point very clear. And if they still argue, I put them in their place quickly with a little force."
"She's your kid." Ezra and Kanan both said to Sabine.
Lara smiled in her sleep as fond memories filled her dreams. "Wonder what she's dreaming about." Jem said softly to Kya as they watched over her.
"Who knows." Kya shrugged. "Maybe she's dreaming about a world without an empire."
"I think we'd all smile if we dreamed about that." Jem chuckled.
Lara went to check on Arcas and found Platt and Zeb trying to keep the fighting Arcas in his bunk. The twins were awoken and had left the room with tired, angry glares at their older brother.
"Lara." Arcas whined like a child. "They're being so mean to me! Make them stop!"
"How are they being mean to you?" Lara crossed her arms.
"Zeb is rubbing his ugly off on me and Platt won't let me play with Nova."
"Why you! I'm going t-" Zeb began but was cut off by a warning glance from Platt.
Lara stared at her brother with a look of annoyance. "You two out. I'll deal with him."
"You sure?" Zeb asked. "I'd love to knock him out for ya."
"Yeah I'm sure, just go."
"No!" Arcas grabbed Zeb's arm and looked at him with pleading eyes. "Don't leave me alone with her! She'll eat my soul! She's mad enough! She could do it!"
Zeb jerked his arm away and Arcas fell out of the bunk. "Ow! Lara! Zeb hurt me!"
Lara pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a deep sigh. "Go. I can handle him by myself." Platt and Zeb left the room and Lara moved to help her brother. "Why'd you do it Arcas?"
"Why'd I do what?" Arcas looked at Lara in confusion.
Lara helped Arcas back into the bunk and pinned him down when he tried to get up. "Why'd you have to go and get drunk?"
"I wanted to try it!" Arcas smiled. "Lighten up big sis! You can get drunk and then . . . " Arcas's cheerful voice faded as he looked at Lara's face. He could tell she was not in a joking mood.
"I'm sorry Lara! Don't be mad!" Arcas wrapped his arms around Lara and pulled her down on top of him. "I was just trying to have fun! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to break my promise!"
"What promise?" Lara asked as she tried to get free of her brother's grip.
"I promised I won't grow up too fast." This made Lara freeze. "You asked me not to grow up too fast because it made you sad and I promised I won't."
"What does that have to do with you being drunk?"
"Only adults drink to forget." Arcas released Lara and she sat up and stared at her brother in bewilderment. "I wanted to forget that we'll never have a childhood friend and I wanted to forget that when we die no one will care or remember us. I want to be normal and have friends like everyone else my age."
"Oh Arcas," Lara said in a soft loving tone. "We can't change our upbringing. Even if we were to stop everything and try to live a normal life we'd blow it. You'd shot the first buckhead you saw, Kya would graffiti everything, and Jem would collect old droids. And I don't know what'd I do."
"You'd take care of us." Arcas smiled.
"No, I won't. If we were normal mom and dad would be around to take care of us."
Arcas made a face. "Mom and Dad don't know us. They don't know how to stop me and Jem from fighting, they don't know how to make Platt feel better after a nightmare. And speaking of bad parenting. Why'd you let Nova paint you. You know that she'll try to paint everyone else now too."
"Arcas we weren't talking about Nova. And what do you mean 'bad parenting'? We're not Nova's parents so you can't lecture me on how I babysit."
"We might as well be." Arcas rolled his head and looked at the wall. "Did you know they're going on a mission and leaving us at dad's old house?"
"Yeah. They're going to leave in three days. Why is this news to you?"
"They're leaving us just like they did before. The tower is destroyed and so their dumping us at the next safe house."
"We'll be fine. Mom and I already got the place cleaned up and no one will know-"
"Exactly! No one will know who we are and we'll be all alone again." Arcas looked up at Lara. "I can't do it Lar. If you leave I won't be able to protect them."
"If the Inquisitor-"
"If the Inquisitor comes you have to run with us." Arcas cut Lara off for the second time. "We'll need you."
"Than I won't leave." Lara started to leave but Arcas caught her arm.
"Don't leave now. I don't want to be alone with my 're evil and I don't like them." Arcas rolled her eyes and moved so Arcas's head was on her lap. "Will you sing to me?"
Lara smiled. "Always little brother." Arcas closed his eyes and Lara sang their lullaby.
Rozella: Arcy and Lara 3 I love their sibling bond.
Tala: If they weren't sibs I would ship them. XD But they are so I just enjoy their sibling bond. v.v I wish I wasn't an only child… sorta.
Rozella: XD You can borrow my siblings anytime you'd like!
Tala: Nah. XD They to violent for me. But I could just always kidnap you and you can be my sister. XD
Rozella: We're not violent all the time . . . .Just , MOST of the time. And Yes, kidnap me anytime.
Tala: YAY! :D Expect to go missing sometime soon. Oh! Almost forgot! Lara's not dead! You lied about spoilers and death! xI
Rozella: The crew can't function without Lara. I had to bring her back! DX
Tala: True true. Arcy doesn't make the best leader, especially when he is drunk. XD Which was pretty much all the time.
Rozella: XD Yeah, Arcy is just a bad boy and Lara is going to have to straighten him out.
Tala: That will be fun to see. x3
Rozella: It would be. XD Come along my unbiological sister! We shall have coffee tea and cupcakes!
Tala: *Flails* Yay! And then we go onto the next chapter! :D