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      THE WAR efforts surrounding Felucia were not finished, even with their detour to hunt down Bane and foil his plans, which were still swirling around the temple and setting people on edge. Araminta had regained her hearing a full week after he had pinned her in the airlock, finally able to lock onto the sounds that made her feel so safe and prepared.

Felucia was in a key position in the galaxy, especially for the war. For that reason, the Separatists had not left it alone despite their efforts. Even after the Bane incident, multiple battalions and Jedi Generals had been required to clear out the ground forces of droids, and even then the future of the tropical planet was unclear.

A medical station had been set up in Felucia's orbit once the Separatists were cleared, one of many throughout the galaxy set up for those in need, but it had stopped responding. Araminta didn't have high hopes as she got into a shuttle with Obi-wan, Anakin and Ahsoka with the mission of investigating it.

Her gauntlets had been repaired, weighing down her limbs as they pulled out of hyperspace and she shifted in her seat to see the planet around Anakin's chair. "That's Felucia, dead ahead," he spoke up.

Araminta bit back the urge to remark 'what else would it be?' or something of that effect. Instead, scanning the view of the planet as they slowly approached. For once, it seemed, Anakin was being cautious.

"I don't see anything on my scanners," Ahsoka murmured, wide eyes flicking from the view ahead and the projections on the console. "Wait, there's something."

"I see it," Araminta spoke up, the small, black dot orbiting the planet making itself known as they got closer.

"Anakin," Obi-wan chastised. "Be–"

They must have triggered the proximity sensors, as suddenly the small, unfamiliar station split open and deployed six vulture droids.

"Hang on," Anakin snapped. He tilted the ship dramatically, slamming on the accelerator as the engine roared to swerve the incoming attack.

"I guess we know what happened to the medical station," Obi-wan thought aloud as they moved closer to the planet.

The vulture droids arced back towards them, coming from above and giving chase. Anakin's eyebrows were pinched in concentration, hands tight on the controls. They were soaring close to the surface of Felucia now, burning up in the atmosphere, the overhead alarm blaring.

"That's not good," Obi-wan remarked as Anakin failed to get them stable.

"No shit," Araminta hissed.

"They took out the plasma conduit," Ahsoka declared as they sped over the expanse of jungles, heading straight for the surface now. Araminta's eyes widened at the fast-approaching rocky mountain range, stone peaking glaring at her through the cockpit window.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Anakin asked, craning over his shoulder at Obi-wan.

"Almost certainly not!" he shouted back over the roar of the wind and the failing engine.

Oxygen masks had fallen from the ceiling now, Araminta glancing over at Obi-wan to make sure he had acted first and strapped it over his face before she did, heaving a breath. The rocks were approaching now, vulture droids still right behind them and firing.

"Looks like we're doing this the hard way," Anakin scoffed, pulling at the controls. "Starting ejection sequence."

The assassin's eyes widened as she realised his intention, and the timing he'd need to pull it off. She flipped the cover off the side of her seat, twisting so she could reach down and grab the ejection lever when it was ready.

"How come everytime you fly, we crash?" Ahsoka said in exasperation.

"It's not my fault, it's the ship," Anakin ground out as he finally seemed to abandon the controls, hand at his own lever. "Get ready to eject! Wait... now!"

Araminta shot Obi-wan one last glance before pulling the switch, sending her shooting upwards into the air, still strapped into her seat as she was enveloped by the Republic's spherical survival pods.

She strained her ears against the noise, unable to see anything through the yellow material. An explosion, their ship against the rocks, followed by many more small ones as the vulture droids smacked into the surface as well. That at least was a breath of relief, as the survival pods floated to the ground.

"He always blames the ship," Ahsoka grunted from somewhere to Araminta's right as they bumped gently against what she assumed were trees.

The second the pod came to a halt, Araminta was unclipping her seatbelt and pulling the mask off, jumping to her feet and back into daylight. She blinked to clear her senses, relieved to see the pods had stuck together and landed into a clearing of trees. Not quite as dense as their last venture on the planet, but still enough to conceal them.

"Kenobi?" Araminta asked, concern lacing her voice as she heard her charge groan as he emerged from his pod. The assassin was at his side in a second, claiming her usual spot.

Anakin chuckled as he stepped out. "You alright there, Master?"

Obi-wan looked close to throwing up, shooting his former padawan a glare. "I'm fine Anakin," he said, firmly.

Anakin still looked amused, his eyes moving to Araminta. "Solarii?" he asked.

"Just another of your crash landings," Araminta jeered. "I'm great."

Ahsoka took a few steps away from their group, blue eyes wide as she scanned the trees above them. "Where on Felucia do you think we are?" she wondered.

Obi-wan followed her line of sight. "I'm not sure," he admitted.

Ahsoka flinched at the crashing of branches, moving back from where she was in front of the group. Araminta's ears swivelled drastically, too many noises of wildlife around for her to focus on anything that could be getting dangerously close.

"I don't like the sound of that," Ahsoka murmured.

"And I don't like the look of that," Anakin added, pointing to something in the distance. From where she was standing, Araminta could just see the tips of trees moving apart, as if something very big was passing through them.

"It's far off," Araminta dismissed. "And heading away from us."

Obi-wan sighed, looking back at their deflated survival pods and then back into the jungle. "Well, we can't just wander around aimlessly. We need a plan."

"You always taught me to go on instinct," Anakin told him simply. "And my instincts tell me to go that way." He pointed to a spot behind Obi-wan and his guard, neither of which glanced over in the gesture direction.

"No, that– that doesn't seem right," Obi-wan said, tersely, placing a hand to his chin dramatically. Anakin scowled at the response. "I think we should go this way." The older Jedi pointed in the complete opposite direction.

Ahsoka glanced between the pair, looking unsure, while Araminta just put a hand over her mouth and watched the exchange.

"Why do you even ask for my opinion?" Anakin scoffed. "We never do things my way."

"We crashed the ship your way," Obi-wan pointed out with a smirk.

"Very funny," Anakin drawled. "I see your sense of humour survived the landing."

"It's about the only thing," Obi-wan snipped.

Ahsoka gently elbowed Araminta, taking her attention from the bantering and gesturing to the unmistakable pillar of smoke on the horizon, wafting into the air. The assassin exchanged a glance with the padawan, looking pointedly at the two Jedi before holding up her hands in a "not me" gesture.

The padawan's face fell as she cleared her throat. "Uh, if you two are done arguing," Ahsoka cut in, Anakin and Obi-wan both turning to her. She didn't falter, pointing up ahead of them. "There's smoke on the horizon. Which means people– and a way off this planet."

Anakin just shrugged at Obi-wan as they headed off, leaving their crash site in the dust and heading towards the fire. Nothing moved except for the odd creature they startled, but Araminta was still on high alert for the sounds of anything heading their way or the clanking of droids.

But they ran into nothing, Anakin and Ahsoka leading the way with Obi-wan and Araminta at the rear. When she wasn't looking for any potential threats, Araminta would glance at him, as if she could catch his eye amidst the seriousness of their situation.

It had not been long since he had kissed her hair and smiled against her, not that long since she had sought reassurance from him for a change and chosen to believe him, pressed against his side and wrapped around it. And it had not happened again. After he had left her quarters, they had continued as if nothing had happened, heads low in front of the council and friendship the same as it always had.

No, not as if nothing had happened, as if nothing had changed.

Araminta knew what had been said, and what was happening. And Anakin knew too, in the way he looked at her and reached for her, in the way he slipped and called her Araminta instead of his teasing Solarii. But like so many things in their time together, it had simply become a part of them. The new usual. And she found she was okay with that.

Anakin stumbled up ahead, Obi-wan unable to hide his scoff, coughing into his hand when the younger Jedi sent him a lethal glare.

"It's a path," Ahsoka realised, the dip in the earth her master had tripped over was the rim of a path as wide as a road, carved into the dirt by use. "Someone comes this way a lot."

"That's a good sign," Obi-wan agreed, looking back up at the smoke, which lined up with the direction the path was leading.

"Let's go." Anakin pushed forward.

"Don't trip!" Araminta called after him.

"Obi-wan's rubbing off on you," Anakin scolded as she walked in step with him. The assassin only smirked at the side of Anakin's head.

"Better me than you," Obi-wan chimed in.

"Oh, really?" Anakin snapped over the top of Araminta's head.

"Look, there's a village," Ahsoka interjected.

Anakin and Obi-wan turned to see the buildings appearing over the top of the rise, Araminta having to wait a few more seconds to be able to. She blinked at it as they approached, scanning the entry archway, the fields and crops on both sides, and the metal huts.

It didn't look Separatist, just like someone's home, the stacks of smoke they had been trailing from a few chimneys.

"Maybe they have a ship we can borrow," Anakin said with a shrug.

Obi-wan looked disapproving of the implication, as Ahsoka pointed out, "They're growing healing herbs."

"Nysilim, I believe," Obi-wan told her. "One of the most valuable crops in the galaxy."

They moved past the fields and into the main part of the village, where Araminta could easily imagine people passing through and going about their everyday life, but it was dead silent. Even with her ears twitching, she could hear nothing incriminating, as if everyone had disappeared at the drop of a hat.

"This place looks deserted," Ahsoka stated, sounding consued.

"I don't believe it is. The crops are ready to be harvested. Tools are lying about, there's smoke. Something's amiss," Obi-wan reasoned. Araminta had moved to her knees, tilting her head to get a better look at the criss-cross of tracks and footsteps in the dust.

"There's something here," she murmured, getting back to her feet.

"Let's check the barn," Anakin suggested.

The four walked up to the very top of the village, winding up to the largest building. Araminta looked up at the large doors wearily, as Anakin shot everyone a look to be prepared. He hit the button, the doors creaking open, only to reveal a ship, nothing more.

"This is an odd ship for farmers," Obi-wan pointed out. "Perhaps someone's here to pick up the silim."

"I still don't get it," Ahsoka grumbled. "Where is everyone?"

"It can't hurt to look around," Anakin said with a shrug, eyes lingering on the ship.

"Stay in contact," Obi-wan instructed.

They split up across the village, Anakin and Ahsoka disappearing into the nearest hut, while Obi-wan led Araminta further to the edge of the fields. It had only been two minutes, tops, when Araminta sensed something familiar, reaching at her through the Force.

She jumped to attention, hand on the hilt of her knife, desperately scanning the treeline, the shadows cast by the village's huts, anything. Obi-wan had noticed her shift, eyeing her cautiously.

"What is it?" he asked, lightsaber hilt already in his hand.

"I... don't know," Araminta admitted. "I sensed something but I didn't hear it."

She didn't have to wait long to find out what had set her off, as from the shadows of the farmer's hut someone jumped, two blasters raised before Araminta could even draw her knife, frozen in place with her hand above the handle and her knees braced to pounce or run away.

"Fancy seeing you here," she greeted, tilting her head inquisitively.

Araminta paled at her appearance, all olive-green, dark eyes and black hair pinned back tightly in familiar, braided patterns. She wasn't masked, so the way her lips twisted and her eyes narrowed at Araminta's face was visible, recognition flashing across it behind the weapon. The Mirialan tattoos on her cheeks moved with her expression, a familiar face Araminta dreaded seeing in the battlefield.

She had dreaded the idea when Bane had been infiltrating the temple, that if it was an assassin she would know them more intimately than Rizeryn on Geonosis she would falter, and as she stood before someone she had once called friend, she feared she was right.

"Is that really necessary?" Obi-wan asked, drawing his lightsaber, oblivious to the recognition between the pair.

The Mirialan's hand shifted, barrel focusing on Obi-wan. He wasn't close enough to swipe the blaster right out of her hand without leaving time to be shot at, and Araminta was still at the mercy of the second blaster.

"Don't," Araminta said, quietly. Obi-wan gave her an odd look. "She can shoot faster than you can block." The Adanei girl straightened up. "What're you doing here?" she asked in Octavian.

"Working," the Mirialan replied in the same language, and Araminta's stomach dropped.

"Anakin, we've found something," Obi-wan said into his wristcomm. No response. "Anakin," he repeated more urgently.

"Drop the weapon, Jedi," the assassin instructed. "And Sol."

Araminta felt her world slipping away, trying to figure out if this was an ill-timed assassination attempt, or someone on a mission had simply spotted her and couldn't put it to the side. Did that mean there were more? Was the entire village simply a playground for the mission? Or was it pure bad luck?

"Araminta, what's going on?" Obi-wan demanded.

"It's Octavian," she replied, quietly. Something in the green assassin's eyes shifted at the words, lip turning down.

"You think I'm with Octavian?" she demanded.

"Somskay," Araminta addressed, "what're you doing?"

Something wasn't adding up. Somskay could have shot both of them by now, in the time they had been talking. And even if for some reason Araminta was required alive, Obi-wan would have been dead long ago, or at least had a move made on him that Araminta would have tried to stop.

But nothing had happened.

Everything was still, unmoving, the pair held at gunpoint, completely in the dark about whatever orders the Mirialan was under. All Araminta knew was they weren't safe, and it was her job to keep them safe.

She approached, one step, two, Somskay watching her with fixed dark eyes, finger hovering above the trigger. Her refusal to shoot immediately gave Araminta the advantage she was searching for. Her hand drifted away from the handle of her knife, palms raised in surrender. Obi-wan was watching her cautiously.

"Put the blaster down," Araminta told her. "We can talk about this."

In the second Somskay hesitated, Araminta had hit the blaster closest to her away, the shot going off harmlessly into the dust. The second one swung around, Araminta grabbing the barrel without hesitation and holding it as it went off, the heat of the shot passing through burning her hands but giving her a chance to punch Somskay across the face.

She swung an elbow around as well, before Somskay dropped one of her blasters and drove her fist into Araminta's flank, the Adanei wincing at the blow. Somskay grit her teeth as she twisted Araminta's arm still attached to her blaster, earning a grunt of pain as she freed the weapon and simply hit Araminta across the face with it.

Araminta skidded back from the blow as she ducked and moved into Somskay's blindspot, using the other assassin's body as a pole to vault around, but her movements were read and Somskay flattened to the ground, taking them both low and interrupting Araminta's attempt to pin her.

She kicked at Somskay's chin as they wrestled, using her knee to hold the blaster hand down. Somskay let go of the weapon, pulling her hand free and punching Araminta in the lip, and then again in the jaw, until she pulled away, rolling in the dust and into a crouching position.

Somskay rolled backwards and onto her feet, just as Araminta pounced, shoulder and elbow going into her old friend's stomach, satisfied with the sound of air leaving her lungs. A knee to Araminta's stomach and she backed off, ducking from the incoming swing and skittering backwards as Somskay bombarded her with quick and sharp attacks.

Bane had been Araminta's first real opponent in a while, someone on the same level of deception and experience as her that wasn't a droid or a Separatist commander sitting behind a desk. This assassin, someone she had worked alongside with, slept with, ate with, was someone capable of bringing her down. That was very apparent, stabbing in the back of her mind that if she stopped for even a second, gave a window of opportunity, Somskay would take it and go for the kill.

You think I'm with Octavian? She had said, ringing in the back of Araminta's head, even as they exchanged blows like a dance. Was Somskay actively trying to kill her? What had working meant? Why hold a gun to both of them if the intention was not to harm?

Somskay was a few inches taller than her, but leaner, sweeping blows going in for the offence. Araminta, as usual, was stuck in defence, deflecting and ducking under blows until she got the chance to land precise hits. Her size didn't allow much else, but she was fast and small enough to afford to keep so close without necessarily having the upper hand.

But she continued to press forward, until they were back in the shadow of the farm hut, and Araminta a particularly hard punch to Somskay's cheekbone as she darted back. The Adanei ran and pushed off the side of the hut, spinning through the air, one foot connecting with Somskay's chin, before her other came barrelling down, catching only the edge of her jaw as she tried to move away.

Disoriented from the consecutive and harsh hits, Araminta drew her knife and approached, Somskay shaking her head and drawing her own dagger, longer than Araminta's and wickedly curved.

"I wouldn't," Obi-wan said lowly, lightsaber at the assassin's throat where he had slid up from behind. Somskay paused, eyes widening at the heat of plasma against her skin. Araminta couldn't even care that Obi-wan had intervened in their fight, as Somskay dropped the dagger where it lodged upright in the ground.

Araminta moved forward, ready for any sudden movements, before she heard many feet approaching.

"Somskay!" someone shouted, and Araminta glanced up to see a band of fighters accompanied by Anakin and Ahsoka, who looked willing in the partnership, arrive on the scene. The woman who had shouted was also carrying blasters, and had a hardened look in her eye that Araminta had seen many times.

But she recognised none of them, no Octavian faces she could recall, and no brands on any exposed right shoulders. Somskay had lowered her fists to her side, where they were clenched, but her attention had shifted away from Araminta and the plasma at her neck.

"Stop, please!" a Felucian man shouted, holding up his hands as he stood between the far more intimidating individuals. Araminta couldn't hide the way her face shifted into confusion, even Obi-wan furrowing his brows, glancing to his former padawan for answers.

"What's going on here?" Obi-wan asked, removing his lightsaber from the assassin's throat.

"It seems the village has a pirate problem," Anakin replied. "And their solution is hiring bounty hunters to protect them."

Araminta sheathed her knife in one swift motion, before stepping up to Somskay, who had turned her dark eyes back to the other assassin. "What're you doing here then?" Araminta snapped at her. "This isn't your usual job."

"Wait, do you two know each other?" Ahsoka chimed in, glancing between the pair.

Somskay looked at the padawan with narrowed eyes. She said nothing, raising her right sleeve up to reveal the dreaded Octavian brand, but with a jagged mark through it, scar tissue over scar tissue. Ahsoka's eyes widened.

"I don't work like that anymore," Somskay snapped at Araminta, pulling her sleeve back down. She gestured to the lead bounty hunter. "Sugi took me in almost two years ago, that's it."

Araminta swallowed thickly at the news that Octavian might have nothing to do with this assignment and she was no longer the only former assassin. "Who did that to you?" she asked.

"Your favourite," Somskay sneered. "The day he told us you had left."

Araminta struggled to register the information, too many old wounds being torn open at once. She could see Ahsoka stiffen out the corner of her eye, see Anakin's face shift at the mention of who the 'favourite' might be, and Obi-wan was looking increasingly suspicious of the Mirialan woman.

Araminta could only imagine her face was a mixture of all three, staring at her old friend like she'd seen a ghost, worse than a training mate in the arena, closer to her than anyone else since she had left.

It was hard for Araminta to imagine Octavian after she had left. Rizeryn in the Geonosian arena had been the closest she had come, but aside from that, Araminta found it hard to imagine what had gone on after she had been torn away from their ranks. She had never had a chance to find out what lies Octavian had spun, how her squad had filled the space she had taken up.

It seemed it wasn't good.

"This is the one you talk about?" the bounty hunter woman, Sugi, asked. Araminta narrowed her eyes at the words.

"Yes," Somskay said simply.

"I'm sorry," Anakin interjected. He moved so he was next to Araminta, shoulder in front of hers, as if shielding her. "Who are you?" he asked, looking Somskay up and down.

Somskay copied the action, watching the interaction with curious eyes. "An old friend. We were in the same squad," she responded.

Anakin was unwavering in his position. "Squad?"

"Groups of eight we were sorted into after we were marked. Supposed to be like our own little family we exclusively worked with," Araminta spoke up. "Somskay was our best shooter," she added.

The new information earned her some looks, but Araminta ignored it, still focused on Somskay as she retrieved her blasters from the dust and holstered them. She couldn't trust her for a second, and she didn't.

Araminta knew what she was capable of because she was capable of the same. But it was a conflicted distrust that she didn't want to have. Somskay had been a friend, someone she had worked closely alongside for years, learning each other's movies and specialties.

To be reunited not as total enemies was confusing, and went against everything Araminta had prepared for if the situation ever happened.

A part of her wondered if Somskay felt the same, and was hiding it just as well, but Araminta could not afford to be sympathetic with another weapon covered in skin standing before her. She had to be realistic.

"It's getting dark," the Felucian leader interrupted. "Please accept my apologies for this. If you would stay for dinner, we can discuss this."

His tone was pleading, and with a pointed look from Obi-wan and their need for an escape, Anakin replied, "Fine."

The group of bounty hunters moved first, Sugi shooting the Jedi a look as she went. Somskay followed in their footsteps, moving past Araminta and not even glancing back, blasters swinging at her hips as she went.

"Araminta?" Obi-wan asked when she had yet to move, a few steps behind them. Ahsoka was still eyeing her wearily, and Anakin also hadn't moved, looking at the assassin with a frown.

"Sorry," Araminta murmured, finally tearing her gaze away from her old friend and looking to her mission. "Just caught me off guard."

"Of course," the older Jedi said, not a hint of spite in his tone or expression. "For now, let's eat."

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      SITTING AT A TABLE eating dinner alongside four bounty hunters plus one former assassin slash teammate was not a situation Araminta had expected when they crash landed on the planet. Somskay hadn't said anything else to her, but her words had hung in the air, wary looks from both the bounty hunters and her own companions shot her way as they gathered.

Cassis was the village elder and leader, the one who had stood up for the Jedi and kept them from fighting, and as he and his farmers served them food, he explained the weight of their situation the Jedi had walked in on.

"Simply stated if we don't give the pirates a portion of our crop they will destroy our homes with us in them."

"I see your dilemma," Obi-wan hummed, Araminta sitting beside him.

"Silim farming is a meagre trade. Without our herbs to sell we will have no money for food, fuel or equipment," Cassis continued despondently.

"And yet you can afford to pay mercenaries?" Obi-wan asked snidely.

Cassis didn't look offended by the harsh response. "These bounty hunters drive a far more reasonable bargain than the pirates."

"Why not just fight them yourselves?" Anakin chimed in from where he was leaning against the wall, refusing to sit down and eat.

"Easy for you perhaps, but look at us," Cassis said, gesturing to himself as an example. "We are farmers, not warriors. Even with the bounty hunters' help I had feared the worst. But now, there are nine of you!"

Obi-wan looked hesitant, as Sugi leaned forward in her seat. "What do you want, Jedi?" she asked.

"We need a ship," Obi-wan replied. "Ours is beyond repair, I'm afraid."

"The one in the barn, that'll do,"

"That's our ride," Sugi scoffed. "It doesn't go anywhere without us. And right now, we're busy."

"Busy extorting farmers?" Obi-wan pointed out, his passive-aggressiveness never failing.

"I don't hear you offering to help," Sugi snapped back.

Anakin exchanged a glance with Obi-wan, the older Jedi sighing. "Unfortunately, we couldn't help even if we wanted to."

"What!?" Ahsoka exclaimed.

Cassis seemed to match her exasperation at the announcement, as Obi-wan got to his feet and gave the padawan a pointed look. Araminta followed her charge out of the hut and down the stairs, piling out of the front door.

"Well, that made a scene," Araminta remarked.

Ahsoka stormed forward, stopping at one of the campfires burning the village for light. "Master, these farmers are in trouble," Ahsoka protested. "Why can't we help them?"

"Believe me, Ahsoka, I would like nothing more," Obi-wan told her. "However, we need to report that the medical station has been destroyed. If we stay too long the Separatists will show up looking for us here."

Ahsoka wheeled around. "But–"

"Better they get robbed by pirates than attract the attention of General Grievous and his horde," Obi-wan said, voice firmer now.

Ahsoka faltered, looking defeated, before her eyes landed on Araminta. "You never told us the bounty hunter you were bought off was Octavian," Ahsoka said directly.

Anakin and Obi-wan both turned to Araminta, who only shrugged. That lie was useless now, as Ahsoka looked at her, eyes devoid of the judgement she had expected but her stance slightly more wary of the assassin.

"Araminta was given a second chance by the Council but it is not public information, Ahsoka," Obi-wan said when Araminta stayed quiet. "Tell no one."

Ahsoka tore her gaze from Araminta and to the older Jedi. "Yes, Master," she relented.

"Pirates!" someone shouted suddenly, a village sprinting towards them. "Pirates! Pirates! The pirates are back!"

Araminta perked up at the sound engines, as the bounty hunters responded to the call and piled out of the hut, Somskay shooting the assassin a glance. They stood ready as a fleet of Weequay arrived, speeders slowing to a halt at the nine armed people waiting for them.

"That's far enough," Sugi snapped, stepping forward. "I speak for the people of this village. State your name and business."

"My name is my own business," one of the pirates retorted, jabbing a spear at them. "And my business is taking what's ours."

"There is nothing here that's yours," Sugi snarled, hand on hip. "Unless you're here to pay for it."

"Pay for it?" came a familiar voice Araminta had expected from the pirates' appearance. The leader strolled forward, hands wrung behind his back and a grin on his face as he came into view, eyes landing on the group. "Kenobi, Skywalker, I can't believe you came all this way to see me."

"Hondo," Anakin and Obi-wan realised, exchanging glances.

The pirate leader's gaze drifted to Araminta, who was shouldered with Somskay. "And... Solarii. Yes I remember you, the girl who killed three of my men," Hondo acknowledged, shaking his head and clicking his tongue.

"Four," Araminta corrected. "But who's counting."

Sugi glanced over her shoulder at the Jedi, eyes narrowed. "You know each other?" she asked suspiciously.

"Of course we do," Hondo said, holding out his arms. "Tell them how far back we go Kenobi."

Obi-wan looked disappointed in himself. "Too far I'm afraid."

Hondo laughed as he stepped up to them. "And here I thought we were friends." He placed a hand on Obi-wan's shoulder, Araminta immediately moving closer, aware of Somskay's curious eye boring into the side of her head.

Obi-wan removed the hand. "If you're truly interested in friendship, Hondo, might I suggest you stop threatening these farmers?"

"Threatening them?" Hondo said in mock horror. "Oh, please tell me you have not been listening to this bounty hunting scum."

"I mean the spears seem pretty threatening," Araminta pointed out.

"A precaution, my dear," Hondo insisted dramatically. "For problems such as these." He gestured in the general direction of the bounty hunters.

"A problem?" Sugi retorted. "We're just here to help them protect what's theirs."

"Oh, come, come, my dear," Hondo tsked. "How much are they paying you?" He cut himself off, holding up a hand. "Bup, bup, bup, does not matter! Whatever it is, I will double it. And all you have to do to earn it is, uh, step aside."

Araminta wondered if they would flounder, she had met bounty hunters of all levels of honour over the years who would be tempted by such a deal. But Sugi lifted her chin. "We don't break deals," she said sharply, lighting pushing Hondo away from her by his chest as he got too close.

With the contact, the pirates immediately jumped to attention, blasters raised, and in turn so did the bounty hunters, Somskay the quickest draw of them all, dual weapons aimed.

Obi-wan stepped forward, holding up his palms. "Steady everyone," he chided.

"What is your stake anyway, Kenobi?" Hondo asked, holding up a hand, his pirates relaxing slightly. The bounty hunters looked less pleased to lower their weapons, and stayed at the ready.

"All we want is a ride to the nearest Republic outpost, and I'm willing to pay you handsomely for it, twice what you would make selling this crop," Obi-wan suggested.

Araminta understood the strategy but she didn't trust Hondo as far as she could throw him. They were better off helping the bounty hunters and using their ship afterwards.

Hondo looked intrigued, but not convinced, inclining his head in the Jedi's direction. "Well, how do you plan to pay me?" he asked.

"A funds transfer when we arrive," Obi-wan told him. Araminta was still as close to him as she could get during the conversation, ready to lash out in defence if needed.

"Republic credit?" Hondo shook his head and tsked, turning away. "We've been over this before, Kenobi. My associates don't accept that currency."

"I'm offering a deal that benefits us all, Hondo," Obi-wan said, sounding frustrated. "Don't let your greed blind you to that fact."

"You know I like you Kenobi," Hondo told him. His tone shifted, "But, um, no one leaves this planet until I get my silim."

"Then I hope you enjoy it here parasite, because you'll be staying here a long time," Sugi hissed.

Hondo seemed unfazed. "You know, this crop has not been harvested," he said, pointedly looking at Cassis. "You better hurry, old man, before things start to, uh, die on you."

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      THE THINLY-VEILED threat clearly didn't sit well with Obi-wan as not moments later he was discussing battle strategies with the bounty hunters, a hologram of the village projected in the middle of the table they had been having dinner at only fifteen minutes ago.

"When the attack comes, it will come from two fronts– the forest to the south, and the ridge to the north," Obi-wan explained, gesturing on the map as he spoke. "Whatever you do, you must defend both sides."

And yet he was still standing on the fact they would not help the villagers.

"But there are only five of them!" Dilanni, one of the farmers, pointed out. "How can five bounty hunters defend against so many?"

"The farmers are right," Anakin whispered from behind Obi-wan, even if they were in the same room. "These bounty hunters don't stand a chance."

"We've been over this, Anakin," Obi-wan snapped over his shoulder, Araminta standing just behind him.

"You seem to lack confidence in our abilities, young Jedi," Sugi pointed out, gesturing to Anakin.

"I'm sure you're good at what you do– especially with the shooter if she's anything like our Solarii– but you are in way too deep," Anakin said firmly.

"Said the peacekeeper who fails to keep the peace," Sugi sneered.

"The rift in the galaxy is not our fault," Obi-wan defended, closing the holographic map. "If more worlds would stand up for themselves against the Separatists, this war would have been over long ago."

"Not everyone can afford to do that," Somskay said coolly. Araminta pressed her lips together, knowing what was coming.

Obi-wan gave the other assassin a look, one he had had once reserved for Araminta when she had been mouthier as a teenager. "If a world needs help, the Senate–"

Somskay boldly cut him off. "The Senate took ages to even include Zyris as its own world and not a splinter of Pantora, as I'm sure you know."

"That was an internal issue," Obi-wan defended. "And only one example."

"Of many," Somskay continued, undeterred. "Saying worlds only need to stand up is a privileged point of view."

"If you have a problem with the Jedi please put it aside for this," Obi-wan said in exasperation.

But it only gave her more ammunition. "For what? A small problem you can ignore and turn away from?"

"Somskay," Sugi warned.

"I'm the only one saying it, but not the only one thinking it." Somskay jabbed a finger at Araminta. "Sol thinks so too. She's just gotten good at keeping her head down so she doesn't get punished."

"Leave me out of this," Araminta said indignantly.

"Are you not Jedi now?" Somskay asked sharply, the distaste in her voice palpable.

Anger flickered at the association. "Do you see a lightsaber?" Araminta snapped.

"Oh, so that's why–" Anakin shushed Ahsoka quickly

Somskay grinned. "Look at you," she cooed, leaning back in her seat. Her dark eyes went back to Obi-wan. "If the Jedi really wanted peace maybe he would have been taken down years ago," she told him.

"You think the Jedi could have prevented you from becoming a mercenary?" Obi-wan asked, sounding shocked by the implication.

"Yes," Somskay said with a shrug.

"That's it," Anakin said suddenly, drawing the tension, everyone turning to him. "That's it! We'll just train the villagers to defend themselves."

"But we are just simple farmers!" Dilanni the farmer protested. "Why are we paying bounty hunters to defend us if we are just going to end up doing it ourselves?"

"Hush, Dilanni," Cassis spoke up.

"Trust me, we'll have you ready," Anakin said firmly.

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      "WELL, that was intense," Anakin remarked once the meeting ended, the Jedi piling out to sleep under the stars while the bounty hunters split up to take night watches. Somskay had not restrained a disapproving look at Obi-wan as she left, the older Jedi looking annoyed more than anything.

Obi-wan had wanted to set up a perimeter, but in such a quiet village Araminta suspected she could hear anything before it got too close. Besides, she had watched Somskay head towards the southern forest, which was the main threat for the night. The other assassin had managed to perfectly sneak up on her before, keeping quiet enough that Araminta had not noticed until she was right on top.

"Solarii?" Anakin cut in when she didn't respond.

She pulled herself from her thoughts, knees pulled to her chest beside the fire. Ahsoka had gone with Obi-wan, leaving just the two of them.

Araminta glanced at him. "You know I agree with everything she said, right?"

"I know," Anakin responded.

Araminta only nodded, looking into the fire. "Somskay was nicest out of all of us," she scoffed, Anakin hanging onto her every word. "She used to steal on the streets to survive and give to others until Octavian got to her. Told me once she liked being our squad's shooter because she didn't need to take in everyone's faces before she killed them."

"She's like you," Anakin pointed out. "Thinks the Jedi could have done more."

"They could." Araminta shrugged, giving him a challenging look. "Who knows?"

Anakin looked like he didn't want to go down that path of doubt again, as he cautiously asked, "Do you miss them?"

Araminta let him deflect. "It's hard... to put a word on it," she admitted. "Up until we were marked we didn't really make friends. We just trained together and slept in a ward. You could make friends but... since we hadn't passed training anyone could disappear at any time."

"Sounds lonely," Anakin murmured.

"Yeah," Aramint agreed with a frown. "Three years. Three years I worked, ate, slept and bled with them and now it's just..." she trailed off, lost for a word.

"Weird," Anakin supplied.

"Weird, yeah," she scoffed, looking at him fondly. "I want to trust her because she could be the same as me. And it would be easy. But it's because she's like me that I can't trust her and I hate it."

"Maybe she feels the same," Anakin suggested.

"Maybe," Araminta said. "Maybe she plans to kill me in my sleep."

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

first chapter of '24 and this chapter took the overall word count to 150k let's go

i feel like i could turn these chapters into commentaries about the actual episodes because that first section? not even 2 mins in and crash landing, no one crashes ships like anakin good lord

also if you haven't watched clone wars or just can't remember, these are the same pirates from chapters 13 & 14!

because of the amount of octavian storyline and commentary on araminta and where she came from and how it builds into who she's becoming, i've split this episode into 2 parts. there's just a lot with the already existing plot, anakinta, araminta and somskay reconnecting and reflecting, i didn't want to rush it to cap a word count but also didn't want to give a bloated chapter that dragged. 

i rewrote the somskay reunion and fight three times i could not get it to a point i felt was realistic and felt organic, and i still don't really like this chapter because it's a big info dump (if necessary) and jumps around a lot, but yeah

next chapter soon!