"When I said I'd help you in return for fixing our air, this isn't exactly what I expected."

"And what did you expect?" Caleb asked as he looked out the bus windows. It was a run down bus filled with interesting people, but even more interesting smells. It was probably one of the few buses that reached their part of town.

Ezra shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe yard work, repairs, painting fences."

"If you'd like to do those things instead, I can arrange it," Caleb replied jokingly.

"No! No, it's fine!"

"There's just some things I need to attend to. Running errands, boring stuff like that. Besides, it was actually your mom who asked me to take you."

"Why would she do that?" Ezra asked. Caleb stood up when the bus came to a stop and Ezra followed.

"She said you needed experience in the real world instead of staying home while she's at work."

"That doesn't even sound like something she'd say," Ezra said looking around. It was a hot day. Of course it was being Southern California and all. He wasn't exactly sure where they were, but it was nice.

Caleb walked quietly with Ezra close behind. Ezra was quiet and didn't say much because that was what Caleb was doing. He didn't want to interrupt whatever chain of thoughts he was having.

They stopped in front of a cafe. More specifically, Starbucks. Ezra followed Caleb as he got into line.

"Can I just get a cup of caf, please?" Caleb said.

"Caf?" the employee responded visibly confused.

"Did I say caf? My bad, I meant coffee. Sorry about that."

The employee raised an eyebrow and took his money. A few minutes later they were out of the building which was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Ezra continued to follow Caleb not exactly sure where they were going at all. He wasn't even sure if Caleb knew where he was going.

After around twenty minutes of walking they were in a fairly nice neighborhood. The homes weren't mansions, but they weren't small shacks either. The street was lined with palm tree's, oaks, ash's, and a array of other plant life.

"Do you know someone here, or do you happen to live here and that shack is your second home?" Ezra asked curiously. He glanced around the street wondering what kind of business Caleb would have here.

"Something like that," Caleb replied and then took a sip of his coffee.

· · ·

Anakin followed Palpatine towards the home. He couldn't believe he was going along with this. Actually working with Palpatine. But it just could've been the only the way he could fix this mess. In order to stop Palpatine, you had to understand Palpatine.

"Now, we need to be as helpful as possible if I am to be successful in-"

"In becoming mayor and retaining an honorable public image in order to become mayor," Anakin said, "you've been over it before." Palpatine glared angrily at Anakin's sarcastic remarks. Anakin shrugged and continued to talk, "How did you even find out about this place?"

"Padmé informed me about it. It's one of the many places in the city in need of help," Palpatine explained. He handed Anakin a camera. "Here, we'll need pictures to document this."

Anakin took the camera and looked at it oddly. He could not understand the technology here at all. Well, most of it. If he was going to be truly honest with himself, one of the main reasons he was doing this was to get closer to Padmé. Palpatine somehow found a way to get close to her. Something he failed at miserably a few days ago. If was going to be stuck here forever, he didn't want to be stuck without Padmé.

Anakin inspected the plaque near the door as Palpatine rang the bell. It was some home for orphans and runaway children. Anakin hated that Palpatine would go to the extent to trick people like this.

The door opened slowly revealing a young woman. "Um, hello. Can I help you?"

"You must be Miss Syndulla. If all went according to plan, Padmé should've informed you of my arrival," Palpatine explained.

The girl tilted her head. "Unfortunately, I'm not Miss Syndulla, but I can go fetch her for you." She let them inside cautiously. "Please wait here."

She ran up the stairs to find Hera. She should be around here somewhere. She poked her head into a few rooms and eventually found Hera in the study overlooking some papers. Bills mostly likely.

"There's some men who want to see you."

Hera turned around. "Oh, I completely forgot!" She stood up and headed towards the door. "Thank you for reminding me, Rey. Oh, and Rey?"

"Yes?"

"A girl named Sabine came here last night, and I was wondering if you could please show her around? I would prefer to do it myself, but with all of this going on-" she threw her hands up and sighed, then headed downstairs.

When Hera left the room Rey went to look at the papers. Overdue bills and threats of being shut down. It broke Rey's heart.

Palpatine put on a fake smile when Hera Syndulla came down the stairs. "Hello. It's so good to see you."

She nodded. "Yes, someone on the city council called and said they were sending someone to help us out. Something about becoming mayor."

"Oh, but it's not just that! I really do want to help," Palpatine said. Anakin rolled his eyes at that comment.

"Well, unfortunately there's not much you can do around here. The only problem here is past due bills."

"I will gladly give a donation to help," Palpatine said without hesitation. He pulled out a check book and motioned for Anakin to take a picture. Something Anakin did with hesitation. When he saw the amount Palpatine had wrote he raised an eyebrow. There was no way he would willing give way that much money.

It seemed Hera was just as shocked as well. "I - I can't take this. It's too much."

"Oh, but you can. I was more than happy to help," Palpatine said handing Hera the check, and left the home altogether.

Hera stared blankly and then followed Palpatine outside. "Thank you!" Palpatine said nothing and got into a car with Anakin. Hera watched them leave and spotted two people walking down the street.

Ezra turned to face Caleb who suddenly became frozen. He looked in the same direction as Caleb. "Do you know her."

Caleb was very hesitant to answer. The longer he stared, the more awkward it would become, but he was overwhelmed with memories from the past. Memories that seemed only he could remember. "No." It was a lie. But Hera didn't remember him. Just like Ezra couldn't remember either.