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      VERY FEW people knew Araminta. Being known was a weakness. She knew it, and letting Anakin know her the way he did was a calculated decision she had made a long time ago. But no one knew her like someone she had worked alongside with. Knowing the training she had endured was different, knowing that the brand meant she was capable and worthy of Octavian's name was different.

Somskay had been right beside her. She had watched her drive blades into throats and stood idly as Araminta pried information out of uncooperative leads, and more often than not, Somskay had helped. They had been covered in the same blood and Somskay had reaped rewards with her, she had seen what it meant to represent Octavian past being marked.

She had seen the time leading up to Araminta's departure, the moments in the field that had shaped her and made her Octavian's designated strongest. No one in two years had come so close, and the thought terrified Araminta, who had hardly slept that night in case she was caught silently off guard again.

She wondered if it terrified Somskay, too, that if Araminta wished she could make the villagers never want to look at her again, that Araminta had disarmed her so quickly when they had reunited, that she knew Somskay always fired off three shots first before reloading, a compulsive habit of the Mirialan.

Think of the devil, and she would appear, as Araminta woke early as per usual, slotting her knife into its sheath and being met by Somskay's inquisitive eyes across the village.

"You sleep with a knife," Somskay mused as Araminta approached.

She only shrugged. "Some habits don't die."

Somskay scanned her up and down. "No, they don't."

Araminta only blinked at her, feeling as if she had been dropped into a memory from a time she never wanted to revisit. "There's something I don't understand," she said slowly.

"Hm?" Somskay hummed.

"What happened after I left?" she asked, the question burning at her since Somskay had reintroduced herself the day prior. Asking was opening up to a lie, but if the cut through the Mirialan's brand was anything to go off, she was about as loyal to Octavian as Araminta was.

A dark look came over Somskay's face, one that looked out of place on someone who had always, in Araminta's eyes, had a softness to her that stuck out in their ranks. "Octavian told everyone you had betrayed us and joined the Jedi."

It made sense. "Guess that's easier than explaining he sent me on a suicide mission," Araminta admitted.

Somskay's brows furrowed. "A suicide mission?"

"Yeah. I got lucky that Kenobi and Skywalker didn't kill me on the spot and gave me a debt to repay," Araminta explained.

The way Somskay looked at her told Araminta this was new information– had she really thought for two years that Araminta had switched ranks at the drop of a hat? Had everyone else? Araminta knew the answer. Of course. Octavian's word had been law, and even as Somskay looked at her oddly, Araminta knew she still doubted the other assassin.

"People liked it," Somskay said, abruptly.

Araminta couldn't even begin to imagine what she meant. "What?"

"There was a mutiny. You inspired people to fight and turn against Octavian," Somskay explained. "People deserted, some sold out secrets, others started fights. Lost a lot of people."

The news sunk in, Araminta's eyes widening at the unintentional uprising, trying to imagine it. She had trained and been grouped up with just one wave of assassins, but there were older squads too, people who had served Octavian for decades.

She tried to imagine not just people she knew and had seen loyal to the brand's namesake, but those who had been there for an entire lifetime turning against him. Had they? Had anyone from Araminta's squad?

But at the root of it all, something bubbled in her. Pleasure. Octavian's own miscalculation of his influence had turned people against him, and she hadn't needed to lift a finger. He had tried to nurse more hate for the Jedi and the revered peacekeepers, but a lie that she was dead would have done better.

He deserved it.

"Did you?" Araminta asked Somskay, quietly.

"I'm here, aren't I?" Somskay scoffed, but there was an undertone Araminta still understood from their years together. Araminta only nodded in response, lifting her eyes to the rest of the village, which was beginning to wake up now. "Your Jedi's watching," Somskay murmured.

Araminta furrowed her brows, not looking over her shoulder. "Kenobi?"

"No, the young one," Somskay replied. Of course Anakin was watching their conversation after the night before. "He really seems to think we can get these villagers up to speed, huh?" the other assassin continued, sounding doubtful.

"Is there another option?" Araminta said, dryly.

Somskay shrugged. "I'd vote to kill Hondo."

"He's smarter than that– Hondo, I mean," Araminta told her old friend. "He'll be a coward."

"Probably," Somskay agreed. Araminta turned at the sound of voices, seeing Obi-wan had gotten up and was talking to Sugi. She could feel Somskay's eyes watching her– thinking, learning. "I get it," she said abruptly.

Araminta wasn't sure what to make of Somskay figuring out the dynamic she shared with the Jedi, not so soon after she had accused her of simply being one. Instead she moved off, stating, "I need to go," over her shoulder.

Somskay stayed by the edge of the fields, watching her, as Araminta joined back with her allies. Anakin's arms were crossed over his chest. "What did she want?" he asked as Araminta passed him and beelined for Obi-wan.

"Just catching up," Araminta told him simply. Anakin still looked wary of the interaction. "If she tries anything there's no one better to take care of it," the assassin assured him.

Anakin seemed to accept the answer, turning to look down at her and not at Somskay from the corner of his vision. "The old man made breakfast," he said, Araminta not stopping to question who the old man was. "After that, we get to work."

Araminta nodded as they joined Obi-wan and Sugi in one of the huts. "You really think you can do it?" she asked.

"Half the battle is convincing these farmers they're capable. After that, it's just making sure they're in the right place," Anakin explained, as if it really were that simple.

"The plan is good," Sugi chimed in. "With the silim ready to harvest, the pirates will make a move, and five of us can't hold all of them off."

"Come around on how deep you are?" Anakin said snidely. Sugi narrowed her eyes at him.

"Where's Ahsoka?" Obi-wan asked, diffusing the tension.

"Setting up traps with Seripas," Anakin told him. "The guy in the mech suit."

"Right. So we're actually doing this?" Obi-wan sighed.

Anakin leaned back in his seat smugly. "Seems so."

After breakfast, those that had eaten piled out of the hut and got to work, Araminta splitting from Anakin's side to stay by Obi-wan as they oversaw the village operations. A large group of farmers and men had gathered around Anakin and Embo, one of the bounty hunters who spoke in a garbled language and used his hat as a weapon.

Ahsoka was somewhere to the south, in the forest helping to set up traps and chokepoints with some of the less battle-worthy villagers, as well as teaching them simple slingshot manoeuvres. Obi-wan stood with Sugi, in a way Araminta sensed was distrust, as they oversaw the harvest of the cause of all their problems.

"Put it in the barn, every bushel!" Sugi instructed as they went.

Obi-wan's hands were clasped behind his as he observed, Araminta dutifully in his blindspot and her senses on constant alert. She scanned the Zabrak woman up and down, armed with a blaster and jagged knife, at least from what was visible. Araminta had no doubt she would be a worthy opponent, or at least someone worth keeping an eye on, even if their intentions were momentarily aligned.

All around them the villagers were moving the harvest up the hill and around to the barn, cutting down the stems and packaging them up, the air hazy from the dust and seeds. To their left, Anakin was still trying to split the farmers into rows, a long farming tool in his hand as their only weapon to use and adapt.

"I am curious," Araminta piped up, Sugi turning around when she said nothing else. "How did you find Somskay?"

"In a bar, drowning her sorrows," she responded with a scoff. Araminta wasn't sure she believed the answer, not that she had expected any sort of truth. Sugi shrugged at the lack of response. "It's a tough world out there. It was worth sticking together. She's good at what she does. For the sake of this village, I hope you all were."

"She's told you about me." It wasn't a question, Araminta echoing their words from the day before.

Sugi's eyes glinted. "Yes. The deserter." Araminta sneered at the title. "It's a love-hate thing."

"I'm sure," Araminta said.

Sugi moved off, Araminta's eyes fixed on where Somskay had disappeared into the forest to help teach the villagers to aim. Love-hate.

"Araminta. Are you alright?" Obi-wan asked from beside her.

"Fine," she responded flatly. Obi-wan didn't look like he believed her, but he didn't press. "You don't trust her?" Araminta said instead, gesturing to Suki on the path leading to the barn, the Zabrak occasionally stopping to bark orders at the villagers.

"No, I trust the bounty hunter leader implicitly," Obi-wan replied. Araminta gave him a look. The Jedi sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I just worry they don't have the village's best interests at heart."

Araminta arched an eyebrow. "You're worried for them?"

"If we could stay and help fend off Hondo and his gang there's a chance for the bounty hunters' ship to get us off this planet," Obi-wan told her.

The assassin shrugged. "Wasn't that the plan already?"

"Seems I was the only one who thought otherwise," Obi-wan agreed. He shot a glance back at Anakin and his amateur training before moving off in the direction of the barn, Araminta following. "You don't trust your old friend either," Obi-wan pointed out.

"Call it mutual," Araminta said, not looking at him.

"I can imagine," Obi-wan replied quietly. The villagers barely acknowledged them as they passed, the pair arriving at the barn.

Sugi shot them a look as Obi-wan inspected the barn. Araminta hung back, cautiously making sure the bounty hunter was still in her peripheral, not putting her back to anyone entirely. The barn was stacked high with harvested nysilim packed away in crates, leaving little space to manoeuvre around the ship still parked inside.

Obi-wan stepped up, looked sceptical. "What happens if you need the barn as a fall-back position?" he asked Sugi. "With all the silim here, it'll be difficult to squeeze the farmers in."

"There's room," she said, firmly.

Obi-wan narrowed his eyes, and Araminta let out a sigh. "I worry that you care more for the safety of the silim than you do for the safety of the villagers," the Jedi told the bounty hunter.

She turned slowly, eyebrows raised. "You think I'm only worried about my profit, is that it?"

"He is, yes," Araminta said matter-of-factly.

Sugi scoffed, eyes on Obi-wan. "So, in your mind, I'm just like any other pirate," she said snidely.

Obi-wan shrugged. "Am I wrong?"

"Not entirely," Sugi smirked. "But it is easier to protect the villagers, and the silim, if they're both in the same place."

"Then might I suggest–"

She cut him off, wheeling around to face him properly, gesturing dramatically. "You might suggest anything you like, General Kenobi," she snapped. "But I know what I'm doing and I will keep these people safe– my way."

Obi-wan was unfazed by the hostility as Sugi stormed off from the barn. The Jedi took one last glance at it, before refocusing on Anakin across the village from their viewpoint. "Looks like they could use some help," he stated dryly.

"Not like Embo's doing anything," Araminta scoffed, the bounty hunter leaning against the farming shed in the shade.

"Is that a volunteer, I hear?" Obi-wan said teasingly.

"What? Oh." Araminta's shoulders slumped, her charge grinning at her as he patted her on the back.

"I won't go far," he said in that same teasing voice only he managed to achieve, as the pair split apart at the hip and Araminta jogged down the hill and towards Anakin's makeshift defence class.

Anakin perked up as she approached, sending her a small smile in greeting that she didn't return, looking at the rows the villagers had formed, polearm farming tools held in front of them as makeshift weapons. None of them moved at arrival and Anakin's lack of instruction, all wide-eyed and staring.

"I've been sent to help," Araminta told Anakin after a few moments of silence.

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, great."

She shrugged. "Don't shoot the messenger." Araminta's eyes scanned the farming pole up and down, taller than her by a longshot. "You're using these?"

"Best they've got," Anakin sighed.

Araminta took it from him, balancing it between her hands, spiking it in the dust. "Hm."

Anakin's eyes focused on something behind her, the assassin turning to see Somskay had pushed out of the forest, covered in a sheen of sweat but with a satisfied look on her face. A long rifled-barrel blaster strapped to her chest, lazily swinging with her movement as she approached them.

"How's it going?" the other asked lightly, hands on her hips.

"It's good," Anakin said, firmly.

"They're getting the hang of it in the forest," Somskay said, ignoring Anakin's distaste for her with a grin. "Aim's getting better at least. Your padawan's a real gun at this stuff."

"I know." Even Anakin couldn't hide the pride in his voice. He turned away from the two women, clasping his hands behind his back. "Alright. Back to it!" he shouted, the villagers moving in synch– somewhat. Their movements with the poles were still very new, very shaky. Araminta could only sigh at the progress.

"Nice lip by the way," Somskay remarked, gesturing to Araminta's face where her bottom lip had split from the other assassin's punches the day before.

Araminta scrunched up her nose. "Nice eye," she retorted.

Somskay rolled her eyes. "You got lucky."

"Sure I did," Araminta responded dryly.

The other assassin skipped back, Araminta watching her abrupt movement curiously. Somskay raised her fists. "I'll rematch you," she said enthusiastically.

Araminta narrowed her eyes. "Oh really?"

Somskay lowered her fists, shrugging. "Yeah, like when we were kids."

The words dug at something in Araminta.

"Fine. But you get the long one," she relented, chucking the pole she was still holding towards Somskay, who caught it.

She jabbed it into the dirt before removing her rifle blaster and resting it against the farmhouse, Araminta watching her cautiously as she reclaimed her pole. Somskay looked at her out of the corner of her dark eyes, stance relaxed despite her intention to fight.

As children, one-on-one matches had been common. It was a quick and easy way to gauge the skill levels and progress of the assassins, and as they got older, who specialised at what and how their squads would be organised. At Octavian's, matches would only end with concession, which was only allowed to be given when one was on their last legs and bloodied.

But then there were darker pieces. Matches that needed to cull the numbers and weed out the weakest links– a necessary evil that was uncommon but not unexpected. Not everyone made it through Octavian training, as he would say, not everyone was capable. Araminta's sister had been one of those unlucky ones.

Araminta knew that this was not that, but looking at Somskay with the pole held vertically against her body and that familiar glint in her eyes, it was hard not to erect the walls around them and imagine they were back in the facility. She had a good run with the matches, one of the sharpest weapons when she was a teenager– but times had changed.

She exhaled slowly. That would not slow her down. Somskay wanted to waste time proving something, then Araminta would make it quick.

Araminta charged first, removing one baton from her belt as she moved. Somskay swung, but she deflected it with her baton and went low, pushing up when she was in her personal space. Araminta removed her other baton, holding it horizontally to Somskay's throat as if it were a knife, the pole pushed to the side.

"Good warmup," Somskay jeered.

Araminta narrowed her eyes, pulling away as Somskay flicked the pole with her wrist, the weapon whistling through the air where the Adanei girl had just been. The Mirialan charged this time, spinning the pole as she went, Araminta ducking and dodging the speedy blows, which came from high and low as Somskay snapped her wrist back and forth to switch angles.

Araminta pushed one strike away with a baton, going low and under the outstretched pole and arm to hit Somskay's flank with the short weapon. Her knee came up just as quickly, Araminta rolling to the side and jumping to her feet to avoid the blow, immediately being bombarded with the spinning staff.

Araminta darted away, letting herself be on the defensive as Somskay pressed against her with swift and sweeping blows. She was vividly aware that Anakin had stopped his display and was watching, the villagers, too– their eyes wide and unblinking.

Somskay swept low, trying to get Araminta's feet out from under her, but she only skipped over it, landing with both feet on the end, pushing the pole down to the ground. In the precious second before Somskay attempted to throw her– which was completely possible with her size– Araminta used it to vault forward and kick her over the face.

Somskay reacted, flicking the pole back up and into Araminta's side, sending her stumbling, the Mirialan charging after her, no mercy. She blocked the first strike, the other end of the pole flicking up and catching her chin. Araminta let out a hiss of pain, before bringing up her other arm and knocking Somskay across the cheek in a way she knew would bruise

She ducked under the pole, trying to get into a position to elbow Somskay, but she reacted just as quick, spinning the pole and catching Araminta's forearm mid strike. She spun around, aiming to drive the pole upwards and vault Araminta backwards where her limb was twisted around the staff, baton useless.

Caught between broken fingers and losing her weapon, Araminta loosened her fingers and dropped out of the tackle, one of her batons flying.

Somskay's eyes narrowed, determination clear in her face as she jabbed the pole forward, Araminta dipping to the side to avoid the hit. The assassin barely stopped to think about how she only had one weapon remaining– assuming that a complete disarming would be a loss– and jumped forward, feet first.

The green assassin blocked the attack. Araminta flipped off the raised pole, pushing off hard enough to force Somskay back a few steps before she charged back in. The pole slid past her, Araminta feeling it brush her ear as she pushed the baton against Somskay's throat and used her other hand to grab a hold of the hand holding the pole.

Araminta twisted, wrapping her legs around Somskay's wielding shoulder and slamming them both to the ground, the pole coming free from the twist, Araminta's hand triumphantly closing around it. The Adanei recovered from the tackle, pushing to her knees and holding both weapons against Somskay's throat in a crossed-over position.

Somskay looked angry for just a second, before she lazily shrugged, pushing the blunt weapons away and getting to her feet. "Just like when we were kids," she echoed.

Araminta braced against her knees as well, standing in silence as her old friend sauntered off. Again, the words dug at her, reminding her the reality of her training, kids forced to kill each other and draw blood to survive. If it had been a culling match, Somskay would be dead.

Anakin was looking at her quizzically as Araminta returned to the shadow of the farmer's shed. "What?" she asked, sharper than intended.

Anakin shrugged. "I just never see you against someone who knows how to fight," he told her.

"You're right, you weren't much of a challenge," Araminta sneered, referring to their first encounter. But the way Anakin's face shifted told her he had a different idea.

"I'll go with you. Right here, right now," he declared, pointing to the ground.

Araminta looked at him in disbelief. She was still holding the weapons she had disarmed Somskay of, and had yet to retrieve the one she had lost, and Anakin was stood before her declaring another match. Was it for his ego? She had no idea.

But he was not backing down, giving her a playful but determined look as he gazed down at her. Araminta relented. "Somskay, take over," she called over her shoulder, gesturing towards the villagers. "Skywalker has a death wish."

Somskay perked up, glancing between the two with a knowing look. "Good luck, Jedi," she mused.

Anakin scoffed, using the force to bring another pole over from the shed, gripping it tightly. Araminta holstered her single baton, brandishing a matching weapon. The Jedi scanned it up and down, namely the height of the pole compared to her, but didn't mention it.

"Alright, everybody," Anakin announced, grabbing the villagers' attention. "Watch and learn."

He held the polearm with two hands, knees braced, tip pointed towards his opponent, as Araminta held it with one, loosely turning it in her fingers.

Anakin, predictably, moved first, sweeping the pole in an upward motion. Araminta skipped backwards, meeting his weapon in the middle with the end of hers, the metal clicking together through the relative silence. They duelled, matching each other's speed and attacks, polearms chinking together as they did so.

Araminta could tell Anakin was holding back, she had seen his armed fighting abilities many times, but in the same vein she was still getting used to the weight and length of the weapon. Seeing that she was not completely at a disadvantage, Anakin's speed greatly increased, as well as the inclusion of dramatic spinning movements as he transferred hands behind his back without even stopping.

The arrogance and dramatic flare of the movement spurred Araminta on as she quickly slammed his polearm to the side, moving along it and twisting, elbow going for his throat, back against his chest. Anakin blocked, shifting the staff back to catch her limb. Araminta twisted her pole, ducking under their duel and coming back up as they pressed against each other, stuck at arm's length.

Pole on pole, Araminta's nose was almost against his, Anakin's knees braced far more than hers to accustom to the height difference. Their eyes locked, both determined, but Anakin's had flickered down, and Araminta took advantage of his distraction at the close proximity.

She pushed down, the end of her pole going up and forcing Anakin's chin back. Araminta pulled back, vaulting over Anakin's weapon, hand still holding it from jumping as she twisted under it. At the same time, she ran her own pole along the hilt, forcing Anakin's hand off as she skipped back and disarmed him, gripping both farm tools in her hand.

"Okay, that was–" Anakin cut himself off, looking confused. "Must say, didn't think you'd be able to fight with a weapon taller than you."

She threw one of the polearms back at him. "You're cocky, Skywalker."

"Come on," he teased. "It's good practice."

"I'm not being baited," she said, firmly.

Anakin moved to her side, taking a hold of her wrist, fingers dangerously close to her hand. She glanced up at him, meeting his eyes, which were wide in mock offence. "Baited?" he said dramatically.

Araminta scoffed, looking annoyed and pulling her arm from his grip, before abruptly shoving Anakin back. He gave her an almost proud look as they fell into combat stances for a second time.

It was immediately clear Anakin wasn't holding back this time, and Araminta was forced to duck and dodge far more this round, metal on metal echoing across the village as they duelled. She had kept him at a distance for a while, managing to stay on the defensive, blocking and redirecting hits until he pressed forward, clearly annoyed at her lack of engagement.

Araminta released her hand, letting her polearm spin over his before she caught it and smacked the end into Anakin's face, disorienting him as he attempted to gain the upper hand. But Araminta did not stop, lodging the end of her pole in the dirt and using it to vault and swing around, kicking into Anakin.

The moment she landed she flipped the polearm down, Anakin narrowly dodging the direct strike. Now she was on the offensive, backing him into the defensive, hits precise and calculated, but he kept up.

A bead of sweat had pooled on her forehead now, a reminder that she was fighting longer than she usually did, and that Anakin's skill was keeping him in the game far longer than her usual opponents.

His polearm made contact with her side, the sheer force throwing her to side as she struggled to catch her breath and get up to block the incoming attack. She swept at his feet, managing to trip him from the distance before she spun in again, spinning the polearm above her head as she rolled forward, protecting her from him getting close as she moved in.

Araminta made the move, holding her pole vertically, before rolling forward with it, twisting Anakin and them both onto the ground, their weapons and arms crossed over each other. Araminta landed on her knees, Anakin on his back. The Jedi let out a grunt at the impact, before he had the upper hand and Araminta knew she had lost.

Anakin had wrangled her, and flipped over with their weapons still entwined. She was the one on her back now, polearm disarmed from her to the side as Anakin straddled her, pinning her down. She glared at him as he pressed his polearm horizontally against her throat, crouched over her.

He grinned down at her, and he looked years younger. Less like a warring general, more like the twenty-one-year-old he actually was. She found that in the moment, it didn't matter that she had lost to someone she had an equal chance with, it didn't matter that objectively she had lost and that in the past she could have died for that.

All that seemed to matter was the way Anakin's face lit up at the sporting, and from their close proximity where she could almost feel his breath against her face, she could see it more than ever. She felt her own lips turn up softly.

"Now we're even," Anakin said, lightly.

"Get off," Araminta scoffed, shoving the polearm away with no resistance.

Anakin quickly got off her as she pushed to her feet, ignoring the way that he had fitted against her so well. She exchanged a lingering look with him before tearing away to retrieve her disarmed weapons.

Anakin cleared his throat, stamping the polearm into the ground. "Alright. Back to work," he instructed the villagers, gesturing to get back into formation.

Somskay was leaning against the hut with Embo, arms crossed over her chest as Araminta returned. "Well, that was entertaining," she remarked snidely.

"Shut up," Araminta said in Octavian.

She looked back to the formation of farmers trying to copy the moves and stances Anakin was demonstrating. They were much slower than he was, but most of them had the movement down, a few still stumbling behind.

Somskay blinked at the training. "We trained for over a decade and he expects to get them into shape in a day?" she asked doubtfully, looking to Araminta as the only one who would understand her.

"You took the job," Araminta pointed out, shrugging. "Not me."

Embo spoke up from beside them, garbled voice cutting through the noise. One of the farmers reacted, throwing his pole down on the ground. Araminta shouldn't have been surprised to see it was Dilanni.

"The bounty hunter is right," he snapped at Anakin. "Every minute you waste teaching us to twirl these stupid poles is time you could have spent beating those pirates yourself."

Araminta perked up as Obi-wan returned with Sugi, arriving on scene just in time to hear the farmer's protest. The older Jedi looked between Anakin and then to Araminta, before saying firmly, "And what good would that do you?" He stepped up to Dilanni. "Another band of brigands would inevitably come along. Or do you intend to give away part of your crop every harvest season?"

Dilanni did not falter at the harsh words. "If you make us do this, there won't be another harvest season!" he yelled.

Everyone gathered only watched as he stormed off, Anakin quickly looking back to the villagers who looked shaken by the outburst. "All right, everyone, get back in position," he urged. "Let's continue."

Obi-wan looked disappointed by the reaction, before turning to his bodyguard. "I said to help, not to boost Anakin's ego," he told her.

Araminta shrugged. "They seemed to have been watching," she said, gesturing to where the villagers were moving in formation, applying their sweep and jab techniques from the way Anakin had lunged at her.

The sun was setting and they continued to train, Obi-wan and Araminta actively flitting around and helping with form and technique. The Jedi was more the silent type, only stepping up and correcting with his foot or taking the weapon himself, while Araminta took it upon herself to bark instructions and give tips.

Maybe she could understand why Somskay had felt the need to issue a match, in a way it could almost feel like a day spent training in the facility. Only corrections were not made with a knife and losing your footing did not mean staying down until the beating was over.

Araminta glanced over at Somskay, who was talking lazily with Embo, blaster strung back across her chest. She wondered if the other assassin thought about Octavian the same way she did, if she also had learned to hate him since she had been cut out. She hoped she had.

"There, a scout! On the north ridge," Sugi shouted suddenly. "Somskay!"

Everyone had only just perked up, Araminta's tail twitching as she saw the small shape at the top of the ridge. Somskay had already moved past her, rifled blaster raised as she walked.

Without much hesitation, she fired, the charge disappearing in the distance. She lowered her eyes from the scope, lips curved. "Got him."

"We should confirm," Obi-wan insisted. Anakin nodded beside him.

Araminta followed in their hurried footsteps, strung along with Obi-wan by association. Sugi followed after them, while the rest stayed behind, Araminta aware of Somskay's annoyed look at her kill being confirmed.

It was definitely confirmed, Araminta told herself, as they reached the top of the ridge to a dead pirate, a blaster mark straight through the side of his head.

"Well, she wasn't lying," Anakin said with a shrug.

Obi-wan looked less pleased by the scout being stopped. "Yes, but when this scout fails to report to Hondo, he'll be coming."

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      GUARD watches were assigned that night as the sun dipped below the horizon, two for the forest and two for the ridge, divided between the Republic group and the bounty hunters. By the numbers, Araminta got half a night's sleep, carefully positioning herself and with a knife against her cheek.

An attack did not come in the night, but by morning the last guard watch on the ridge– Ahsoka and Seripas– reported the pirates were advancing. The sun rose on the village rushing to prepare, Anakin revisiting the positions and formations from the day before, going over as many attacks and scenarios as he could.

The panic didn't help either, as Araminta was assigned to Obi-wan, hurrying around and helping wherever they could. A last bushel into the barn, corralling the more vulnerable villagers into the barn to begin with, making sure no one had been left behind– everything to be prepared. They had even set up energy emitters to form a fence around certain parts of the village to push the pirates through chokepoints.

Obi-wan didn't take Hondo's threat lightly this time, to Araminta's relief. The pirate leader would have no problem destroying an innocent village for profit, especially if he was peeved to have been stopped by the Republic.

Anakin approached them, Embo by his side. "The farmers are in position," he told Obi-wan, Sugi and Araminta flanking him. "Well, the ones who stuck around anyway."

"Very well, Anakin," Obi-wan acknowledged. "Turn on the fence."

Anakin nodded just before the green rays surrounded them, Araminta glancing warily around at the armed villagers rushing to their positions, then back at Obi-wan beside her. Hondo had ranks, plenty of armed men– there would be a battle, she knew that. She exhaled through her nose, knowing she had refreshed orders to keep him alive that she would not fail.

"The forest is all set," Somskay announced as she joined them. Sugi nodded at her approvingly.

"Good. They're here," Anakin announced. Araminta turned briefly to the top of the hill where a row of speeders had arrived, engines thrumming in the distance.

"Battle positions, everyone!" Sugi shouted.

Battle positions meant the Republic were a last resort, as Araminta backed up with Obi-wan and Anakin and prepared for the first wave as they raced through within seconds. Sugi and Embo charged, the latter ransacking a speeder and letting the rest pursue, straight through the section where mounted villagers charged and swung them off their vehicles with poles.

Somskay was positioned on one of the roofs, using her blaster from the day before to take out any stragglers, as the remainder of the speeder pirates followed Embo into the forest where Ahsoka and Seripas were waiting.

Araminta exchanged a glance with Anakin as the set up worked, the Jedi having hardly lifted a finger to defend the village so far. But the assassin heard it before anything, rock craning under weight, and turned to the cliff above the ridge where a tank was rolling into view.

"Everyone get down!" Araminta shouted as loud as her voice allowed.

Large cannon shots rained down on them, Araminta shoving Obi-wan to the side as their forces scattered, completely unprepared for the scale of the attack.

"Well then," Obi-wan said simply as they ducked for cover, Sugi accompanying them with wides.

"He has fucking tank," Araminta hissed. Obi-wan narrowed his eyes, but stayed quiet.

"Embo!" Anakin's cry cut across the village.

Sugi whipped around in alarm. Araminta hadn't even noticed the bounty hunter return from the forest, as he lay limply on the ground, presumably caught off guard by the cannon.

The bounty hunter leader didn't even hesitate to run out from cover and to her friend, Obi-wan following and in turn Araminta, too. Sugi fell into a crouch, cradling Embo's head. "Embo, can you hear me?" Sugi murmured. He muttered an incoherent response. "You'll be alright. We'll get you inside."

Hondo shot down at them, heat rushing over Araminta's head and the impact running through her legs. "Everyone, fall back to the barn!" Obi-wan yelled, Araminta sticking to his side despite them being completely in the open.

Sugi scrambled to get Embo to his feet, supporting him against her shoulder. "That tank is going to tear the villagers apart," she said, sounding desperate.

Around them, the villagers were sprinting to the cover of the barn, eyes wide and hands reaching for loved ones. Somskay had leapt down from the roof she had positioned herself, and was scanning the battlefield frantically.

"I'm on it!" Anakin announced, drawing his lightsaber and sprinting forward. Araminta moved to follow, but Obi-wan had stayed, and so she had to stay as well.

"There's more," Obi-wan told her, drawing his lightsaber as a new wave of pirates arrived in the village on speeders, blasters raised in their hand as they went. Araminta huffed, pulling out a knife and a blaster.

The battle followed the regular schedule Araminta had with Obi-wan; stay on his flank and cover his blindspots, be the second pair of eyes and keep him alive. But for once, they had help, Somskay providing extensive and accurate covering fire as she ducked in and out of the huts.

"Just like old times," Somskay shouted over the noise, blaster fire swarming them as the pirates sped by and looped around the village.

"If you say so," Araminta hissed over her shoulder.

Somskay smirked at the response as the battle continued, Sugi returning from getting Embo to safety, a blaster in her hand as she ran. Araminta risked a glance to the cliff, seeing Anakin on his toes duelling Hondo, who was wielding a double-edged energy staff not unlike their training the day before. In that, she knew he would be okay.

A well-placed throwing knife from Araminta sent a pirate and his speeder crashing to the end, the assassin ignoring the body of the villager he had left in his wake. She was not as good a shot with a blaster as Somskay, not by a long way, but it was the best support she could do while staying at Obi-wan's stubborn side.

The tank continued to fire, despite Hondo's preoccupation, and a shot struck the barn where the fifth bounty hunter had been laying down covering fire for the villagers falling back.

Sugi faltered, a genuinely horrified look on her face as her companion hit the ground from the blast, dead still. "No!"

"Sugi, watch your flank!" Obi-wan shouted.

"Sol!" Somskay cried suddenly as a cannon blast slammed into the dirt just beside them.

Her vision clouded, ears stung into ringing as she hit the ground. A weight across her flank, someone's arm, holding her down. Araminta let out a cough, pushing to her hands and knees through the disorientation.

She could hear blaster fire cutting through the ringing, pressing a hand to her head as the weight left her body. Araminta whipped her head around, realising she and Somskay had been isolated from Sugi and Obi-wan completely.

But her fear for Obi-wan's fate and her duty to it died quickly at the sight of the barrel pointed down at her head.

Somskay stood above her, face unwavering behind the weapon, finger on the trigger. Araminta was on her knees in the dust, head ringing, wondering if she would be able to act fast enough to avoid a lethal shot.

A second, and then her aim changed and she shot someone behind Araminta, a pirate crashing and burning.

Araminta was on her feet in a second, knife spinning as she went, slicing Somskay's thumb as she brushed past her. The blaster clattered to the ground, and Araminta ducked under her old friend's arm and raced off.

Killing her was not worth the effort right now. Not when she could see Obi-wan in danger.

"Fuck," she breathed as she arrived on the scene, staring down at the speared pirate behind Obi-wan. Dilanni stood proudly beside him.

"Are you alright?" Obi-wan asked. Araminta only nodded, feeling very small for being separated from him, for almost being killed when her back was turned.

"Where's Somskay?" Sugi chimed in over the blasterfire.

Araminta didn't respond as an explosion blew out from the cliff, drawing the attention of everyone in the village. Anakin landed roughly with a collection of debris, Obi-wan running to his side with the assassin in tow. The pirates had retreated, drawn away by the blast to their captain, leaving the village a dusty, smoking mess.

Araminta helped Anakin get to his feet. "Are you okay?" she asked. He nodded, hand brushing hers as she pulled away from him.

"The day is won!" Cassis, the village leader, announced defiantly, raising his pole in the air. Some of the other villagers joined in.

Hondo stood on the cliff, shrouded by the smoke as he stared down his nose at them. Behind him, the pirates' massive ship began to take flight. "This effort is no longer profitable!" the pirate leader announced, before disappearing. And a moment later, the ship, too, disappeared into the sky.

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

      BETRAYAL implied trust. In that way, Araminta did not feel betrayed in the aftermath of the battle, only disappointed. She had not trusted Somskay for a second, but she had wanted a reason to, and she was only met with the barrel of a blaster and an unflinching look she was wildly familiar with.

But not on Somskay, not on the girl who had preferred shooting because she could avoid the faces of her victims haunting her, not on the girl who had had the widest smile of their squad purely because she did it most often. Not on Somskay who had nursed wounds and made excuses for mistakes everyone in their ranks knew were punishable.

She had not been kind, because weapons were not kind. But she had been softer than most, a welcome presence in the cold facilities, warm eyes and a pat on the left shoulder, someone Araminta had come to trust in the few years they had worked together.

Araminta could not meet her former friend's eye as their wounds were assessed, not even as Somskay reunited in a hug with Sugi, the bounty hunter leader beyond relieved not to have lost anyone else. Not even as they helped to bury the dead, which included the fifth bounty hunter and Somskay's bitter expression.

Not even as they gathered before Cassis in the barn and the bounty hunters got their reward, Araminta watching in silence. If Dilanni had not been there, Obi-wan would be dead. If Somskay had not shoved them so far away under the guise of 'saving her' (like she needed saving), Obi-wan would be dead.

"How can I ever thank you for saving our village?" Cassis spoke to them gratefully, Araminta holding her hands in front of her.

"We didn't save your village Cassis," Anakin told him. "Your people did."

"For the first time in my memory, my people don't have to be afraid," Cassis told them, dipping his head. "We will never forget you."

The group gathered all gave varying levels of head dips and bows, as they departed, Araminta gazing out over the smoking village they were leaving behind. She could feel Somskay's eyes reaching for her, but ignored them in favour of exchanging a smile with Anakin.

"I seem to find myself light on company," Sugi said bashfully as she approached Obi-wan. "Still need that ride back to the Republic outpost?"

Obi-wan shrugged nonchalantly. "If it wouldn't be any inconvenience,"

"On the contrary, it would be my pleasure," Sugi told him.

They moved for the ship, and curiosity rather than betrayal finally overrode and Araminta paused. "Give us a second," she declared, looking at Somskay directly.

"Of course," Sugi obliged.

Somskay warily watched the bounty hunters and Jedi leave them alone as they piled into the ship, the other assassin looking at Araminta cautiously. Her hand was bandaged from where Araminta had cut her, and if she made a move, Somskay would be a slower draw than usual.

But Araminta wasn't sure if she'd be able to drive a knife into her throat as easily as others. She had thought about it, the same general threat evaluation she did whenever encountering someone new. And she knew she would struggle to. A weakness.

"You were going to kill me," Araminta stated once they were alone, standing just outside the barn.

Somskay blinked at her. "I thought better of it," she said after a few moments of silence.

"Why?" Araminta asked simply. Somskay didn't owe her a response, but the downtrodden look on her face made her think she'd get one anyway.

"Maybe if I killed you it would make up for the last two years," Somskay said, bitterly.

The words caught Araminta off guard. "What?"

"I lied," Somskay spat. Araminta only inclined her head. "You don't look surprised," the Mirialan realised.

"You've been off ever since I saw you," Araminta told her. "You never would have lost a fight to me so easily. You're distracted and angry."

Somskay scowled. "I didn't choose to betray him or leave, no, no. Dae came after me– she said I had to have had something to do with it because god forbid you left. Thought you would have told me and I kept it or something," she explained suddenly. Araminta's face shifted at the name.

"She went batshit when you left, didn't believe me when I said I had nothing to do with it. Chased me down and told me I was dead to them and to never come back," Somskay continued.

"She was batshit. She was the one who told him," Araminta snapped. She had never asked for Daesha to do that, like many things.

Somskay rolled her eyes. "Told him what?"

"What happened– why he needed to send me on a suicide mission, get rid of me," Araminta told her. "I wasn't supposed to find out but I did and he knew... he had to get rid of me."

"I didn't believe he would get rid of you," Somskay said with a shrug. "He liked you too much."

"Do you know why I was his favourite?" Araminta sneered, not liking that Somskay was talking to her. Somskay only looked at her. "Because I represented him the most. I understood what was necessary. I understood what the brand meant and I acted like it. I was not the strongest or the fastest or the biggest. I was just adaptable and quick on my feet. And I was most like him."

Somskay swallowed thickly at the words, shifting her right shoulder. "Maybe I'm bitter," she said quietly.

"Why the fuck you would be bitter?" Araminta asked in exasperation.

"Because for two years, I believed you joined the Jedi. Almost two years," Somskay spat. She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Two years I've lived in exile because I thought that you had left us behind," she said, softer now. "And that I was blamed for something I had nothing to do with."

Araminta furrowed her brows at her. "You wish you had stayed?" she asked, slowly, trying to understand.

Somskay shook her head. "Octavian ruined me. Sugi has been kinder to me in two years than he was in a decade."

"Funny that," Araminta scoffed.

But Somskay didn't look like she was listening, eyes far away and glassy. "I only associated your absence with my suffering. Not once did I think you hadn't had a choice, that you were forced into a situation you couldn't control. It just didn't sound like you."

"Trust me I've spent the last two years trying to work through that failure," Araminta told her with a shrug.

Somskay's eyes cleared. "You made the right choice," she said, softly.

"I didn't choose to leave," Araminta reiterated, pointedly.

"Neither did I," Somskay said, pressing her lips together. "Without Octavian, I was no one."

"And where do you think I was without him?" Araminta replied, eyes dark.

Somskay shrugged, like she hadn't really thought about it. "You became everything we were taught to hate." There was an edge of distaste in the tone, something Araminta wondered if she would ever lose after being exiled so harshly, but also a note of envy.

Araminta didn't feel like it was worth being envious of her. "Not everything," she said, firmly.

Somskay didn't look convinced as she relented, "Well nobody's perfect."

Araminta could see a piece of herself in Somskay, both new and old. Something growing from the two sides of the same coin that they were. Maybe she could understand, because of course she would, but Araminta did not care.

Somskay was another piece of her past she had left behind the day Anakin had stood up to the Council. Araminta had never once craved a friend from that time, she had not wished for the old wounds to be picked at after so long. Somskay was a wildcard, a threat she had not expected, and though she wanted to trust her, because once she had, that time was over.

The versions of the pair that had worked and lived together were no longer, and Araminta could not risk a knife (or more accurately, a blaster shot) in her back simply because she wanted to sympathise with someone from her old life.

"If you come after me again, I will kill you," Araminta told her. It was a simple statement, no malice or threat in her voice– a fact.

Somskay only looked at her and nodded.

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

this chapter took longer than intended i'm sorry, the dialogue and words were just not coming to me 

had to rewatch mizu vs mikio from blue eye samurai to get the pole choreography somewhat good lmao sorry if it makes no sense

lots of small details and dialogue clues in araminta/somskay here. also i hope her motivations make sense in the short time we've seen her. realistically somskay would be just as layered and traumatised as araminta is by the years of conditioning and brainwashing, we just don't get to see it like we have with her

more anakinta touches and stuff in this one, the last wasn't really focused on them tbh

also star wars timeline makes not much sense/very clear so it's very rough when i refer to two years since araminta was inducted and she met anakin and somskay would have been kicked out

next two chapters are juicy but be prepared for araminta flashbacks

somskay will return, bye