The Jewel Garden, early morning on Iolanthe

As relieved as Ezra was with his friends nearby, he was well-aware of the consequences when they faced Tamar. He briefly filled everyone in as they made their way stealthily back to the Jewel Garden, eyes always screening for stormtroopers.

Sabine looked up in the building in bewilderment. "This is where you've been working?" Ezra could do little but nod in confirmation.

"C'mon, Ezra. Let's go meet your 'boss'," said Kanan. Ezra took a deep breath and opened the double doors. He and his crew walked inside. The maintenance droid instantly rolled up to Chopper and delivered a string of curious bleeps and blurts. Chopper growled back and the maintenance droid squealed out of the room.

Looking up and forward, Ezra was not at all surprised to see the three Twi'leks and Hogarth wide awake and starring back at him.

Tamar was leaning against a table, her arms crossed over her chest and one finger tapping her arm. Her expression was ominous. When she finally spoke her voice was tight and frosty.

"I cannot begin to tell you how much trouble you're in, young man."

Kanan's hand fell protectively on Ezra's shoulder. He stepped forward and looked Tamar in the face. "If he has caused any problems then we will take full responsibility for his actions," said the Jedi.

Tamar eyed Kanan. "And you are?"

"Kanan Jarrus, ma'am."

"You're his master?"

"We're his family."

Ezra instantly looked at Kanan and then at Sabine and Chopper for comfort. Despite the tension crackling in the air, their presence reassured him.

Tamar sized Kanan up and down and then scrutinized Sabine and Chopper. "I fail to see the family resemblance. Do you have authorized documentation?" she demanded.

"No," the Jedi confessed. "But we remain responsible for him."

Miri approached Tamar and rested a hand upon her elbow. "Tamar, I believe he's telling the truth."

Nava gasped and clutched at her chest. "Kay, is this true? Are they your family?"

"His name is Ezra!" Sabine insisted.

"Ezra." Tamar spoke his name aloud thoughtfully.

He nodded and also stepped forward. "Ezra Bridger."

Miri looked thoughtful. "Ezra Bridger," she murmured. Her eyes lit up with fear. "I heard a senator mention that name. You...you can't be one of those rebel criminals, can you?"

She turned to Tamar in horror. "The Imperials will find out we've been harboring a fugitive! We'll all be arrested!"

"Miri, nobody has to know," Ezra tried to soothe her. "The sooner I'm out of here, the less you'll be in danger."

"Yeah? What if those 'rebels' try to tip the blame onto us for their actions?" demanded Hogarth.

"We would never do that!" Sabine shouted. Chopper burbled defiantly in agreement.

Kanan raised both hands in the air, "Everyone calm down," he ordered.

"Speak for yourself," replied Tamar. "This is my club and these are my employers. Their safety is my priority."

"Besides, how do we know you're not really slavers with tricks up your sleeves?" demanded Hogarth. "You could be brainwashing Kay to think he's this 'Ezra Bridger' right now."

"Hogarth, I'm not brainwashed!" Ezra insisted.

"And I'm still not satisfied," Tamar went on. "Ezra or Kay, our busboy has been a big help until this evening. I expect to be fully compensated."

Sabine's eyes flashed furiously. "Excuse me? You forced him to serve Imperials in your silly little 'nightclub' and you expect to get paid?!"

Her blasters materialized in the air, both guns aimed at Tamar's head. "How about we leave with Ezra and I don't shoot those lekku off your head?"

Tamar's nostrils flared. "It would be the last thing you do, little girl."

"Wanna bet?"

Click! Hogarth had produced an astro-rifle that was aimed at Sabine's stomach. "Sure do, missy."

"Everyone, stop it!" Ezra begged. "There's no need to fight!" He could feel the tension reaching its peak and with the first rays of sunlight filtering through the windows, recognized the sign that time was running out.

"Kay-I mean, Ezra, do you really want to leave us?" Nava asked. "I know life can be challenging here but we'd do anything to make you happy," she added.

He glanced at her sorrowfully. "I'm sorry, Nava. But I can't stay on Iolanthe."

"He's right, Tamar," Miri agreed. "We can't keep Ezra against his will."

"He's under contract."

"Then tell me how much you need to break the contract," Kanan said.

Tamar looked at him shrewdly. "What do you have to offer?"

"Five thousand now plus another ten once we've cleared Iolanthe."

She shook her head. "Five thousand is barely one thousand on Iolanthe"

"We have a ship, a VCX-100 fully modified…."

"We're not going anywhere."

Ezra saw Sabine and Hogarth raise their weapons higher while Chopper brandished a sparking wand. He held his breath and looked at Kanan, silently pleading for help.

Kanan's right hand reached behind his back. Instantly, Hogarth turned the rifle's aim to him. Kanan raised his left palm in response. "It's okay, I just want to show you something."

Slowly, he removed the longer half of his lightsaber that he always kept in two pieces for concealment. It appeared as a harmless metal tube in his hands. Kanan pried the lightsaber open and instantly, beams of bright blue light shot out and across the room, causing everyone else to shield their eyes.

Ezra was mortified. "Kanan, no! You can't!" he protested.

Kanan made no response to Ezra. He walked forward and extended the kyber crystal to Tamar. "This gem will sell for no less than thirty thousand on the black market. Or you can negotiate with the Imperial officers. No high-ranking officer would pay less than double that amount."

Tamar reached out and carefully picked up the kyber crystal between manicured fingers. It was no bigger than her fingernail but the luminous radiance coming off of it was brilliant, making her skin turn the color of sea-foam. Her eyes shined with fascination at the jewel in her hand. Then she closed her fingers around it and the blue light faded from the room.

"It is satisfactory," she finally declared in a calm voice. Tamar tapped in a few keys on her datapad. The cuff on Ezra's wrist gave a soft vibration and then snapped open with a crisp CLICK.

Sabine instantly put away her blasters and grabbed Ezra by the arm. "C'mon, let's get out of here."

For the briefest moment Ezra saw the faces of his former co-workers. Nava looked terribly sad and Hogarth appeared wistful. Miri was surprisingly calm as she gave him a nod of understanding.

As for Tamar, well, Ezra couldn't do anything more than glare in her direction. If he had the time he'd hurl her a string of insults at her but for now could only seethe in his anger.

His master's kyber crystal. Ezra would never forgive Tamar for this.

"Ezra, it's time."

Ezra nodded to Kanan and slipped out the doors of the Jewel Garden and onto Iolanthe's waking streets. Never once did he look back.

The club remained quiet and aloof for several moments. Then soft sniffles filled the room.

Tamar sighed and heaved her shoulders. "Miri, do you need to go back to bed?"

"I'm fine," she said. It was Nava who was crying and had just thrown her arms around Miri's neck.

"I'm going to miiiiis hiiiim!" she bawled aloud. The pale blue Twi'lek put her arms around Nava and hugged her tenderly.

A-A-A

Ghost ship, Gensu Rebellion Outpost

"Look at you!" Zeb roared with laughter. He had greeted Ezra by lifting the boy several feet up into the air and then grinding his furry fist into Ezra's head. "Got tired of living in the lap of luxury down on Iolanthe, didntcha kid? I'll bet those bucketheads got so sick of you that they shipped you back to us."

"I wasn't exactly slacking off," Ezra protested.

The Lasat continued to joke with Ezra for a few minutes until Hera had Ezra swept into the medical bay for a full evaluation. Fortunately, Ezra was found to be in good condition expect for slight weight loss from enduring the Draxo virus, and he was already gaining that back quickly.

Hera and Kanan reminded Ezra that if he had been harmed in any way he shouldn't be ashamed to tell them. The worst was the bruise on his neck from Dodge but all Ezra could do was let that fade. The memory still strung in his mind and he wondered if that would ever fade away as well.

Kanan wanted to get Ezra back onto schedule right away but yielded when Hera explained the vital information that Ezra now had from his experience on Iolanthe. He and Hera were brought to Commander Sato and together, the three of them sat down for a debriefing.

The meeting lasted for many hours. Ezra's experience at the Jewel Garden had been an unlikely yet ideal position to eavesdrop on Imperial officers without detection. Ezra took his time describing the Imperial names, ranks, facial descriptions, and their passions and interests to Commander Sato.

The information on Cato and Boller's prototype bombs was especially helpful for future Imperial threats. Ezra admitted that he had hoped to bring the two bombs he stole back to the Rebellion but Commander Sato assured him that adequate information had been provided.

"We could not have gotten a better report with an undercover agent on Iolanthe," insisted the Commander. "Your information is invaluable to the Rebellion and I am intrigued about Lin's involvement with the Mandalorian conflicts."

"Oh, he could go on for hours about his military victories. Especially if he had a bottle of amber brandy nearby!" Ezra laughed.

Hera had been listening quietly, only putting in a word or two when necessary, but now she whirled on Ezra. "And how did you happen to know so much about amber brandy?" she demanded.

Ezra looked surprised. "Like I said, it was his favorite drink. And now I know its best served at room temperature with just a hint of ice in the—"

"Do you mean to tell me that you were drinking at that club?!" Hera suddenly shouted.

"What? No!" Ezra waved his hands frantically. "Hera, I swear it! I just served drinks, that's all!"

Hera glared. "Ezra Bridger, if I ever find out that you consumed so much as a drop of alcohol while on Iolanthe..."

"I didn't!"

"Does Kanan know about this?"

"Hera, please!"

Commander Sato chuckled softly between them. "I think we have concluded today's investigation. Captain Syndulla, you have my permission to return Ezra Brider to the Ghost."

A-A-A

Once Ezra was back home, Hera's heart was content and free. She was glad to see him returned all in one piece and safe among his friends again.

Yet Hera was aware that Ezra was struggling to adjust back to the crew's lifestyle.

The two noticeable things were his sleeping and work habits. Ezra kept waking up later in the day and was groggy or cranky for a few hours. Hera cheerily kept him up until Ezra could get back on a proper rotation cycle. She didn't mind him cleaning random parts of the Ghost and in fact, was thrilled that he didn't need to be asked to scour the windows or wash grease off the engine rotations. Chopper certainly enjoyed benefiting from Ezra's labors; the feisty astromech's carbon scoring was gone for a full week.

But in those spurts of energy, Ezra worked so hard and with such a look of such frustration on his face that Hera was concerned. She wondered if a part of him had been left on Iolanthe and if so, could they get it back?

She confided in Kanan who listened patiently to her concerns. "It isn't just me, is it?" asked Hera. "I know Ezra's fate could have been a lot worse..."

"But it still happened," Kanan agreed. "He had to be quick on his feet and think fast while on Iolanthe. It can't be easy adapting to a crazy lifestyle."

"Especially if you're used to our kind of crazy," Hera smiled faintly. She put her hands on her hips and shook her head. "I still can't believe three Twi'leks were running a club on Iolanthe. They must be insane!"

"Some people might say the same about us," Kanan suggested.

Hera tapped her foot against the ground twice before going on. "Ezra said that Tamar hit him," she said at last.

"Where? When?"

Hera told Kanan what Ezra had told her.

"And?"

"That's it. At least that's what Ezra said." Hera waited for the Jedi's response.

"Ezra knows that he can come to us if something is wrong," Kanan said slowly. "And I trust him to tell us if he was abused."

"A smack on the seat of his pants doesn't sound threatening. But can't tell you how much it bothers me. I'll admit, I don't think it was his best choice to steal an Imperial's badge at that moment but…" Hera struggled to find the words.

"It's because you're the one who wants to be responsible for him," Kanan suggested. "And not some strangers."

She gave him a knowing smile. "Right, love. Ezra's stuck with us through good and bad."

"You have a point. I think we need to clear the air."

A-A-A

Kanan found Ezra alone in his bunkroom. Ezra was sitting upright and frantically polishing his lightsaber with a rag. Seeing Kanan, he jumped down off the bunk and extended the lightsaber to him. "You can use mine to practice," he offered.

"Thanks. But right now we need to talk." Kanan motioned for Ezra to sit down on the lower bunk. Kanan pulled up a crate and took a seat.

Ezra rested his hands on his kneecaps. "What's going on?"

"I know you told use about your experience on Iolanthe. What I want to know is how you are feeling about it."

"I'm fine," Ezra insisted quickly. The tinge of irritation in his voice, however, was detected by his mentor. Kanan's steady gaze remained focused on Ezra until he threw up his hands in frustration.

"All right, I'm angry. Okay? I'm furious!"

"Why?"

"Because of Tamar. And because of you," Ezra blurted out. "I know I shouldn't let my emotions control me but Kanan, a kyber crystal represents everything important to a Jedi. And this was your kyber crystal! How could you give away something so valuable?"

Kanan leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "A kyber crystal is a helpful item to a Jedi but hardly one I would consider most important. In itself it is nothing more than a shiny rock. There are thousands, if not millions of them, spread across the galaxy."

He reached out with one hand and rested it upon Ezra's shoulder.

"A crystal like that can be replaced. But Ezra, you cannot." He sighed deeply. "We were frantic about finding you. When we discovered that you were alive on Iolanthe, everyone agreed that we'd do anything to get you back. Anything."

His green eyes glowed with empathy as he gently squeezed Ezra's shoulder. The sincerity of his master's words slowly sank into Ezra. For a brief moment, light flickered in his eyes.

"I understand," Ezra said at last. "And I promise to help you get a new kyber crystal."

"Perhaps," said Kanan. "But what about Tamar?"

Ezra glowered. "At first I thought she was just like use because of how much she despised the Empire. But that woman's got a heart of ice. She deserves to stay on Iolanthe."

"Hmmm." Kanan leaned back and stroked his beard in thought. "She hides it well but I could sense her fear. From what I saw, Tamar lives in a world of contradictions and has to be smart and cautious to survive. And as much as I don't approve of her using you in a nightclub, I'm grateful that she rescued you from that slave ring."

"Even if she did it for her own reasons?" asked Ezra. Kanan nodded. "But why work so hard to give Tamar benefit of the doubt?"

"I give it because it gives me peace of mind. The Empire couldn't care less for the safety of Twi'leks and the slave rings exploit them. Tamar could have become just as cruel as them. But somehow, she's risen above those base emotions. If it means entertaining some Imperials and giving her the satisfaction of running a business, it doesn't hurt us at all.

"Besides," Kanan added. "Ever hour they're drinking wine and listening to music is one less hour less they're raging war on the Rebellion."

"I never thought about it that way," Ezra said quietly. "Though I don't know if I'll ever be able to trust Tamar."

"You don't have to, Ezra," Kanan assured him. "But hating Tamar won't hurt her. It'll just wound you further. If you can't make peace with her then at least learn to make peace with yourself. Do you think you can do that?"

Ezra looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yes I can."

"Good."

"Is there anything else?" Ezra asked.

"I'm curious why you called yourself 'Kay' on Iolanthe."

"It just seemed like the right thing to do," Ezra admitted. "I could have gotten into a lot more trouble than usual and I didn't have you to guide me with the Force. But being 'Kay' made me feel like you were there helping me. It...it made things better."

Ezra looked to Kanan for approval. "Is it okay that I used your name?"

A thousand words fell silent upon the Jedi's lips as his student gazed up at him, seeking approval. Kanan had been ashamed of himself for turning away from the Force, and the galaxy's cry for help, when they needed him the most. For years he hardly considered himself a Jedi; a master was an impossible dream.

But if Ezra Bridger needed a teacher, then a teacher he would be. Kanan sorely wished he had the resources of his youth to help Ezra; the expansive library, the variety of temples, programs, droids, and training rooms could all have been useful.

But now all they had was a master, and apprentice, and the Force. And in the end, perhaps that was all that they required.

Teaching was no longer a burden on his shoulders. On the contrary, Kanan was liberated to be in the presence of the Force again. Having someone to understand it, to connect with it, and to push yourself above and beyond your limits, had become a blessing and a light shining back into his life.

He was not the man he once was. But if he continued alongside his padawan's journey, perhaps he could become a man who exceeded his own expectations. Kanan knew that he owed his very best to the generations of Jedi before him and especially that of his master.

Pride glowed within Kanan's chest as he looked at Ezra. "It's more than okay, Ezra. I'm honored by your choice." He rose to his feet. "Speaking of the Force, it's time we continued your training."

A full smile broke out on Ezra's face. "Really? Great!" He leaped to his feet. "What will we practice today?"

"It's time that you learned Form Three," Kanan announced. "This combat technique can teach you to deflect against multiple oncoming attackers."

"All at once?" Ezra asked. "Is that really possible?"

"Yes," Kanan said. "It is possible."

"How do you know?"

A small smile of past memories graced the Jedi's face. "Because I used it alongside my master during the Clone Wars."

Ezra spoke the name of Kanan's teacher aloud. "Depa Billaba."

Kanan rarely spoke of her and Ezra imagined how her sacrifice must have left its mark on Kanan; she had laid down her life to protect her student. When he did recall Depa Billaba, Kanan had described her as a brilliant warrior, brave leader, and an understanding and compassionate teacher. His words strengthened Ezra's own resolve to honor Master Billaba's legacy and follow in her footsteps.

Relief had swept through Ezra's heart and now it felt lighter than it had all week as he followed Kanan out of the room.

A-A-A

Iolanthe, six weeks later

Tamar was wearing one of her favorite dresses, a frock of bright yellow lace that brought out the depth of her blue skin. People said it made her look like a tropical flower. Her only jewelry was a black velvet choker adored with an oblong rose-gold pedant that she fiddled with from time to time. Standing on the balcony with one slender arm resting upon the banister, she was a pretty sight for all to see.

Tamar took a sip of wine and savored the cool tart taste on her tongue. No, still missing something. She suspected even drinking an entire gallon of Mist would not ease her restlessness.

From the moment he had called himself "Kay", Tamar knew that the young man she had brought into her club was bluffing. But Tamar suspected that anything important would eventually come out. What mattered was keeping a close eye on Kay to make sure he kept his sticky fingers to himself. He had learned his lesson well after his first night on the job.

Tamar had not anticipated the busboy to turn out to be so insightful or loyal. It was his fault that they had all gotten attached to him. Why, she had nearly followed Hogarth's suggestion about that tutor!

Ezra Bridger. A helper, an ally, and a bridge-maker. The name suited him well. She would have to bury it within the deepest part of her mind; the Empire would have her head if they found out she had been harboring a criminal.

Tamar had worried that Miri would take the full brunt of the loss but she seemed to be handling herself better than they all expected. Hogarth went on silently going about his business. It was Nava who dealt with his absence the most of all. She had been the youngest of their group until Ezra had come along and instantly became thrilled with him as if he was a new puppy to play with.

Oh well. They had managed adequately before Ezra Brider came along. They'd be fine after he left.

And yet there was no denying that it had been a lot nicer with him around, even fun at times.

Tamar smiled to herself when she remembered every time she would rattle off statistics and he would stare at her in surprise. Other people were annoyed and jealous of her entrepreneur skills. Ezra had recognized and accepted it. And if he had been irritated with her, well, it had everything to do with her personality and nothing to do with her blue skin and lekku.

And now that he was gone, Ezra could detest her for being a Twi'lek all he wanted to.

"A credit for your thoughts."

Tamar blinked to clear her head. Commander Lin was standing next to her and smiling away. "It's not like you to be so distracted, Tamar."

She shook her head and forced herself to smile back. "Forgive me, Commander. I've had a lot on my mind lately."

"Nothing to do with that cargo malfunction, I hope. Don't worry, my dear. Iolanthe's gravitational pull is completely safe," he assured her.

This time Tamar's smile flitted genuinely across her face. "I know," she said at last.

If there had been a silver lining in the last several weeks, it was the news that a cargo ship had exploded upon attempting exit of Iolanthe's atmosphere. The cause of the accident was unknown until the Holonet described it as a "minor malfunction of the thermal engine". Only behind the closed doors of the Jewel Garden did Hogarth confirm the rumors that the cargo ship was registered to contacts with Iolanthe's black market.

"But they couldn't have detonated so quickly unless the ship heated up alarmingly fast," he added.

"Hmmm," Tamar had responded.

The Holonet was more enlightening about a potential culprit. Douglas "Dodge" Axle was found unconscious near the Academy with two prototype weapons stuffed into his pockets. Despite his protests and denials, being found out on Iolanthe past curfew was enough to arouse the Empire's suspicions. Dodge was never seen in public again.

I wondered why Miri was humming so nicely all week, thought Tamar.

The clicking sounds of boots and armor broke through her thoughts.

"Tamar Ily'an!" demanded a crisp robotic voice.

Tamar turned around to see four stormtroopers in her face, blasters aimed at her chest.

"Under Section 87 of the Imperial Security Regulations for Iolanthe, you are under arrest!"

Tamar hardly heard the gasps of guests around her. She was vaguely aware that Miri's zephyr-harp had stopped playing but everything else had already faded into the background. All she could hear was a faint humming in her ears.

She swallowed to clear her throat. "May I ask what I am accused of?"

"Under Section 87 of the Imperial Security Regulation-"

"-I know that but what are the charges?" she interrupted shakily.

"Sabotage, breach of Imperial security, and harboring fugitives of the Empire."

The silence of the guests held for a few seconds of suspended alarm. No one spoke. Then suddenly, one by one, their tongues loosened and whispers began swirling around Tamar.

"Did you ever..."

"How did she manage to do that?"

"...never should have trusted a Twi'lek..."

"Always did have a suspicious look in her eye..."

She hadn't shifted an inch from her spot but their barbs and glares were prickling her skin like a thousand tiny arrows. Her guests of no more than a minute ago had instantly become her accusers. A brief glance to her right revealed Sergeant Cato, who smirked at Tamar from across the rim of his glass.

Tamar's gaze finally went to Commander Lin. He had already taken a step backwards. "Tamar, how could you betray the Empire?" he demanded.

Words tried to form in Tamar's mouth and she parted her lips to speak. But at that moment, seeing the look of disappointment on his face, hearing the gossip hissing through the air, Tamar realized that there was no point in trying to defend herself.

Her fate had already been sealed. Tamar closed her lips in defeat.

Commander Lin sighed. "I am very disappointed in you, my dear." Without another word, he turned on heel and walked away from her.

It's over just like that, thought Tamar. Four years in my club and it was never more than a business transaction between us.

"My dear," he had called her. My ass.

A stormtrooper ruthlessly grabbed Tamar by the arm. "Come with us."

"May I at least get my coat?" she asked. The stormtrooper's blank white helmet turned to Commander Lin who shrugged carelessly. The grip on Tamar's arm was released.

Forcing herself to keep her spine straight and her head tilted up, Tamar carefully walked to the front of the club and put on her coat. If this was to be her last moment under this roof, she wanted to at least leave with her dignity. Let the Imperials know that they hadn't shredded every bit of her pride even as her heart was slowly turning into lead.

Don't act so surprised, she chided herself. You knew sooner or later that this day would come.

Yes but I didn't expect it to come so soon, she added. It was nice while it lasted.

"Wait!" A clear sweet voice broke though Tamar's bleakness. Nava and Miri rushed towards her, capes wrapped around their shoulders. Hogarth was by her side in a moment and bundled up in his thickest wool coat.

"No!" Tamar hissed to Hogarth. "You need to stay and look after the girls."

"Like kriff I am," he muttered. "You're not doing this alone."

To the stormtroopers he said loudly, "We all confess to being co-conspirators along with Tamar Ily'an. We willingly surrender to the Empire."

"Fine. Take them all," ordered the first stormtrooper. Hands cuffed in front of them, the four prisoners were marched out of the Jewel Garden and into the back of an open-roof transporter. A soft light rain was falling upon Iolanthe, the drops so tiny that it felt like mist falling upon Tamar's face. The air was cool and damp; Tamar was sure Hogarth would be boiling inside of his coat.

She was grateful for the wetness on her skin. It kept her distracted. The stormtroopers forced the prisoners into a circle in the center of the vehicle while they took positions on the outside. The transporter buzzed to life and raced down the street, buildings and streets whizzing past Tamar's eyes.

Her club was gone. Her protection was gone. The lovely clothes, the thick carpets, the hand-carved music boxes from Alderaan...

A cool dry hand wrapped around Tamar's fingers and squeezed it gently. She could feel Miri's eyes shining even as the lights were fading away behind them.

"We have each other," Miri said. "We're going to be all right."

"But for how long?" asked Tamar.

"No talking!" shouted a stormtrooper.

They had reached the limits of the 18th district. There were less buildings and the darkness was closing in around them. Tamar squinted as the transporter slowly came to a halt. She could just make out two stormtroopers getting out and walking several paces ahead.

"What's going on?" demanded one of them.

"We have orders to transport these prisoners to Outpost 22," came the monotone voice of another stormtrooper.

"Under who's orders?" said the first one.

"Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau. He demands that they be taken to maximum security at once."

"Where's your backup?"

"In the hanger bay. The cadet is here to be seen, not heard." The monotone voice instantly barked, "Shoulders back, cadet!"

For a moment, all Tamar could hear and see was the rain. Then the first stormtrooper spoke again.

"I was not aware of this update. What's your report number?"

"Aw, kiff..."

Blaster shots suddenly flared up like lightning, bursts of energy so quick that Tamar covered her face with her hands. Between the flashes of light she could see, or at least it looked like, one stormtrooper attacking another!

A figure ran to the vehicle and immediately fired two blasts, stunning the last of the stormtroopers guarding the prisoners. Tamar brought her hand down long enough to realize it was indeed a cadet stormtrooper with his helmet shield down. He may have been half her size but he was the one with the weapon in his hands. Her heart felt suspended in her chest, waiting for him to strike again.

Instead he leaped towards Tamar and aimed the blaster at her wrists. A ray of heat flitted dangerously close to Tamar's skin but the shackles snapped apart from the blast. She rubbed her hands together gratefully while he freed everyone else. The cadet waved a hand frantically in the air. "Come on! Follow me!" The prisoners were too stunned to speak until Hogarth finally found his voice.

"Can we trust you?"

Before anyone could answer, Miri yanked Tamar to her feet. "Go! Go!" she cried. "Follow him!" Unwilling to stay a moment longer in the transporter, Tamar followed Miri and everyone else, who was on the heels of the cadet.

They dashed down the narrow street until it opened up into a docking bay. A tiny Correllian shuttle was the only ship on the landing pad. Tamar heard the whizzing sounds of a droid and saw a red dome whirling away on top of the shuttle. The back door popped open and the cadet motioned for them to go inside.

A trap? A rescue? Stars, Tamar had just lost everything. She could now risk anything.

Everyone sprinted as fast as they could and leaped into the shuttle. Shouts and shots landed at their heels and Tamar looked behind her to see a single stormtrooper being chased by other soldiers. He was dodging their blasts while aiming over his shoulder to fire back in response. The shuttle had already rumbled to life and had risen a good ten feet off the ground when he jumped dangerously up into the air and landed inside the shuttle. The soldier rolled twice along the floor before coming to a full stop.

The door swung shut behind him and the shuttle accelerated itself up into Iolanthe's atmosphere.

"Good work, Chopper! Now get us out of here!"

The droid burbled a positive response. Iolanthe's deep blue skyline quickly faded into black and stars formed outside the windows. The stormtrooper and the cadet both sat down on a bench facing Tamar and her crew. Everyone starred at each other, adrenaline still pumping through their veins from the instant rush of danger that had just swept them up and off the heart of the Empire.

"I don't know if we should thank you or beg for mercy," Tamar said at last.

"You can thank us when we reach Kaller," said the stormtrooper. He bent over and pulled off his helmet, revealing the teasing green eyes of Kanan Jarrus.

The cadet did the same and Ezra Bridger's tousled dark hair fell around his grinning face.

Nava gasped in delight, Hogarth grinned and Miri smiled. Tamar struggled to find the right words to say.

"Scoundrels," she finally blurted out.

A-A-A

Imperial Province of Kaller, Outer Rim

"Where exactly is Kaller anyway?" asked Miri.

"In the armpit of the Outer Rim," Kanan answered with a smirk.

Tamar rolled her eyes. "How reassuring."

"Absolutely. After your career on Iolanthe, Kaller is the last place anyone will look for you."

One eyebrow lifted up in suspicion. "And your contact?"

"Let's just say he's developed an aching back from constant bowing to the Empire. We can trust him."

The Phantom touched down on a plateau overlooking its central city. Ezra was glad to leave the ship; the Phantom was not intended to carry six people. It was colder on Kaller and the stars burned fierce and bright over their heads. Miri and Nava drew their cloaks around themselves tighter.

A single figure was waiting for them; a green-skined Kalleran with a pointed chin and twin antennas on top of his head. Kanan approached first and bowed to him. "Governor Key."

"Master Jarrus," he responded. The Kalleran's shrewd face examined the newcomers. "I am Gamut Key, provincial governor of Kaller. Consider yourselves under my protection." The Twi'leks curtsied and Hogarth bowed respectfully.

Tamar stepped forward. "My colleagues and I are fortunate to have escaped with our lives," she said. "I hope we will not have to rely on your excellency any more than necessary."

"Let's start with new lodgings for your four," responded Gamut Key. "Unfortunately, life here does not offer Iolanthe's glamour or sophistication. Your transition to Kaller may be difficult."

"I can fix things," Hogarth offered.

"And I can sew," added Miri.

Gamut Key nodded. "That will be helpful. A pity we have such limited venues to amuse our residents."

Ezra detected a familiar tone in Tamar's voice. "Tell me, governor. What is the current rate of supply and demand for entertainment on Kaller?"

"At the moment we have much demand and little supply for them."

"I see," she murmured. "Then perhaps we may yet have some use here."

"I anticipate discussing it with you in further detail later on," Gamut Key declared.

Miri, Nava, and Hogarth followed Gamut Key off to the side but Ezra managed to get Tamar's attention.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"I think I can spare some time," she answered. Tamar followed Ezra several paces across the plateau until he found a smooth rock to sit down on.

"Too bad you don't have that gem with you now, huh?" Ezra said at last.

Tamar shrugged. "I already invested it into floor paneling for the club."

"Of course you did," Ezra sighed. Why did I even bother to ask? "But I've decided to follow my master's advice by giving you benefit of the doubt anyway."

"Have you?"

"Yes. Because I believe that the Empire hasn't fully destroyed your empathy," Ezra insisted. "Somewhere inside that clever businesswoman is a kind and caring person."

"Don't hold your breath," Tamar responded. "If you and your rebels do manage to topple the Empire someday then the first thing I'm going to do is open up five nightclubs and ten kaff shops."

Ezra shook his head in defeat. "You'll never change, will you Tamar?"

"Never," she echoed. "I intend to take full creative liberty with my enterprises someday. We'll have five hundred drinks on the menu and sing the silliest songs that ever came out of the Old Republic."

"Sounds nice," Ezra admitted. "Can Kay the Busboy listen in from the balcony?"

"He can." Tamar smiled and added, "But Ezra Bridger will get the best seat in the house."

Tamar's hands instantly came to the back of her neck and she removed the necklace. Then she extended it out to Ezra.

"Oh, come on!" He jumped to his feet. "After that nice heartfelt talk we just had, can't you let it pass?"

"You know me well enough, Ezra. I pay all my debts." She pried open his fingers and placed the necklace in the center of his palm.

"All right. If it gives you peace of mind-"

"It does."

Ezra fingered the necklace. "Y'know, I was on Iolanthe long enough to learn about expenses. You could have saved yourself a lot of trouble had you bought a protocol droid instead of a busboy. It wouldn't have cost much more than I did."

He smirked. "Don't tell me that you fell for my great personality."

"No, that came onto me like a hailstorm."

"Then why did you do it?"

Tamar hesitated for a moment. "Because Miri told me to," she finally answered.

"What?"

Tamar folded her arms over her chest and lowered her voice. "I'm sure you know by now that Miri is a special young woman. She has a certain amount of, shall we say, 'insight'. It's been helpful to all of us."

"Insight," Ezra repeated.

"I needed to expand our staff but few people would willingly work for me," Tamar explained. "The black market was my last resort but Miri insisted I go. She said someone would be waiting there."

She glanced up thoughtfully. "I'll admit I was skeptic. But I followed her instructions and they lead me to you. I wasn't surprised at how quickly you two got along. It must be kindred spirits."

Slowly the pieces of the past began to fit together for Ezra. Miri's deep insightful mind, her quick recovery from her meltdown, and her interest in a young man with eyes the color of hope.

"Must be," Ezra agreed softly. "You'll watch out for Miri, won't you?"

"Don't worry. If anyone tries to get close enough to manipulate her, my charming personality will drive them off."

"Ezra!" Kanan was waving at him from the shuttle. "Time to go!"

Ezra and Tamar looked at other as Kaller's chilly breeze whipped around them. Tamar stepped forward and put her arms around Ezra. For a moment the breeze was replaced by the fragrance of flowers and the warmth of her skin.

"Goodbye, Ezra Bridger. May the stars light your way." Her voice was as soft and gentle as the moment he had first heard her sing.

"Goodbye, Tamar." Ezra felt his heart give a painful tug and he added, "May the Force be with you."

She gave him one final hug just before Ezra ran back to the Phantom, waving his arm at her all the way.

Tamar watched the shuttle lift off the plateau and dissolve into Kaller's night sky. She exhaled and then walked back to the rest of her group.

"Well governor, we four refugees must now rely on the kindness of strangers to survive."

"We can open another club," Nava offered.

"Not since the Imperials confiscated my business," said Tamar. "We're flat broke."

"Not so, boss." Hogarth pulled out a pocketknife and instantly cut away at the seams in his coat. He stuck his hand inside the lining and suddenly pulled out a fistful of credits. Then he handed the knife to Nava and Miri, who eagerly cut away at their cloaks where Miri had cleverly sewn in several concealed pouches. Several rings and brooches spilled into Tamar's hands.

Tamar could only stare at her friends in disbelief.

"Look at that! The boss finally has nothing to say," Hogarth laughed heartily.

"Not so destitute after all," Gamut Key spoke aloud. "But then again, it appears you never were to begin with. Come, I will help you make the most of your possessions and we will see about establishing a business in town."

Tamar glanced once back up at the sky. A whisper of thanks and a prayer of gratitude followed the Phantom's journey back home.

A-A-A

Back in the Ghost, Chopper frittered away while Ezra toyed with the necklace. "I don't think its Sabine's type and Hera doesn't wear jewelry. What should I do with it?"

"Keep it. It'll be your memento of Iolanthe," suggested Kanan.

Ezra rolled his eyes. "Right. Lots of good times in the heart of the Empire."

"You made some new friends, learned Imperial secrets, and thwarted a weapons plot. You should be proud of yourself, Ezra."

"I wish I was. Or at least I wish Tamar would join the rebellion. She could be a big help to us."

"Maybe someday she will."

"When?" asked Ezra.

"When she's ready."

Ezra got off the bench and walked towards Kanan at the front of the Phantom. "Kanan, do you really think she will?"

"I hope so. You may not see it Ezra but I think you made a definite impression on her." Kanan kept his eyes on the navigation while he spoke.

"The Empire thinks it can bring peace to the galaxy by forcing people to comply with each other. But you can't make a perfect world because there are no perfect people in it. We make mistakes, disagree, and fight along the way. But we can also forgive and ask for forgiveness. We can inspire each other to do our best."

He gave Ezra a nod of understanding. "The Force recognizes the kindness that you do for others. It's that light which gives hope to the galaxy. And someday, when you least expect it, that light that you sent out will shine back into your life as well."

As Ezra was listening he was also concentrating on the pendant in his hand. Now he held it up and watched the rose-gold glitter under the Phantom's lights.

"Kanan, do you hear that?" Ezra asked softly.

Kanan fell silent and indeed, could detect the faint but distinct humming presence of the Force. He instantly switched the Phantom onto autopilot and turned to face Ezra. The boy held up the necklace between them and the vibrancy of the Force grew stronger.

Their eyes met and Kanan nodded. "Together."

Master and apprentice closed their eyes and stretched out their hands. The necklace hovered in the air between them.

The connection was made and then a crack appeared in the center of the pendant; a hidden locket. Hinges formed and the crack widened. A tiny compartment swung open.

Ezra's eyes opened to the reveal and then glowed with joy while Kanan looked on in fascination.

The brilliant blue light of a kyber crystal filled the Phantom, illuminating itself among the stars.

END

Author's notes:

Fans will recognize Gamut Key and Kaller from the entertaining "Kanan: the Last Padawan" graphic novel series.

Thank you for reading. May the Force be with you.