Rebels OOM: Meeting the cell

[childofrebellion]

Inside the catacombs, there's a hall that once was a warehouse for droids but has long been abandoned. As it sits not far from other warehouses, it makes for a good place to meet if you know it. When Cassian enters the large space, he knocks a signal onto a crate as he says, "The ice is strong this year."

From the darkness, a young voice answers, "And the snows came early."

Then from behind a bunch of crates, a human about age thirteen, a Togorian and Naotolan, both in their older teens emerged with blasters held carefully.

The human smiled at the sight of Cassian, "I knew you would come."

"Yes, and I found you a safe way to get off planet, to join other rebels," He moves to give space for Hera and Kanan to be visible.

Comments

[for_everyone]

The Phantom lifts off smoothly enough, but -

"We're not getting departure authorization." It's not something she'd usually have to announce, but the recruits deserve to know what's going on.

"But I can get us gone before we're noticed."

Chopper lets out a low whistle. Sometimes.

[notallofus]

Kanan looks back at the kids again, mouth quirking in what's meant to be a reassuring smile.

Some things are old hat by now.

"She really can," he assures them.

(And also cuts a glare at Chopper. Briefly.)

[childofrebellion]

All three of the recruits share a nervous glance but don't say anything. Too late to turn back now.

On the other ship, their departure is also delayed and Cassian's fiddling with his datapad and activates a bit of code he'd set up. Over the comm, there's a grumble as something is acting up with the port's computers. Cassian gives a nod to the pilot who speeds up and hits hyperspace as soon as they can.

[for_everyone]

They race up, banking hard as Hera sweeps into cloud cover. Akiva offers plenty of it, and that's what keeps Hera smiling even as there's a screech in the sky around them.

"Chop, you've got our heading, be ready to calculate the jump," she calls, taking another hard turn as she threads among the clouds. She can feel the TIE contingent around them, some close enough that the flare of their engines flash in her peripheral vision, yet none move closer to the shuttle.

"There's a reason she's called the Phantom." Hera rounds another cloud, and tightens her grip as she prepares to race through the atmosphere.

[notallofus]

"Two reasons," Kanan says, mouth quirking in a smile even as he grips his seat with white-knuckled hands.

(He does love watching Hera fly, even when his stomach gets jolted by quick twists and turns.)

"We're going to get out of this, don't you worry."

That last is to the kids. Because they're kids.

[childofrebellion]

Mig grips Yna and Ty's hands as they go twist and turn but they keep quiet as they make it past. Mig manages to say, "We will."

[for_everyone]

She takes another sharp turn, and the shuttle rockets up. There's a violent tremble as they hit atmo, and a burst of emerald flashes outside. Chopper whines, but Hera keeps her eyes ahead.

"Just get ready for the jump, it's too late for them now."

[notallofus]

"We've got this," Kanan says, and it would be nice to think he's speaking for the Force, wouldn't it?

But it's pretty much just his confidence in Hera and the Phantom (and Chopper, never tell him) speaking.

"Though I do kind of wish we were in the Ghost right now."

Kanan can feel his fingers itching to be around laser cannon controls, which would be fine if the Phantom's cockpit fit more than two people. As it is, all he can do is hold on and wait.

But he's learning to be good at that, too.

[childofrebellion]

Ty leans forward slightly as if trying to will the ship faster, as Yna's fur is puffed up. Mig's scared but excited as they dart through and he says, "That's where we're going?"

[for_everyone]

"Hold on -"

Is all the warning the others get before Hera pulls the shuttle into a tight spin. There's another flash of green light, but Chopper gives an affirmative whistle, and Hera steadies them just long enough to launch the Phantom into hyperspace. The stars slide into a bright blue blur, and Hera leans back in her chair. "Hopefully that gave them a distraction."

She turns back to their passengers. "The Ghost is our ship, but you'll be joining some of our allies, they'll be expecting you."

[notallofus]

"They'll know how to put you to good use," Kanan says. And then, a little hastily --

"Your skills, I mean. Uh. It's a good team."

He flicks a quick look at Hera.

"You'll settle in quickly."

Kanan hopes, anyway.

[childofrebellion]

"Being useful is why we're here," Yna says though her voice rises a bit during the spin.

"And to help more," Ty adds with a little smile, that was an amazing piloting job. Mig nods and watches the blue of hyperspace.

[for_everyone]

"You'll get plenty of opportunity where you're going."

Chopper beeps his agreement, though it comes with a sarcastic suggestion about 'swabbing the deck.' Hera rolls her eyes.

[notallofus]

Kanan shoots Chopper a quelling glare.

(Or it would be quelling, if Chopper weren't the recipient. Probably.)

"Yeah, there's not going to be an end to the workload any time soon."

[childofrebellion]

All of the recruits nod though Ty gives Chopper a look, "Your droid is very talkative."

[for_everyone]

Chopper offers Ty a pointed, one-armed salute. Hera just shakes her head.

"Chop's been fighting longer than any of us. He has a lot to say."

[notallofus]

Kanan tries hard not to smirk.

"It can be kind of comforting, sometimes."

Yeah, he said that, Chopper.

Deal.

[childofrebellion]

"A tooka cat used to live in a place we lived and it would always meow and seem to keep us informed of everything that was going on," Mig said with a fond smile, "It was nice."

Yva looks over at Mig with a smile and shake of her head, "That cat also found the warmest spots to sleep and never moved."

Ty said, "Good to have a droid who knows so much especially an astromech."

[for_everyone]

"Sounds like a nice comfort," Hera says, with a small smile. "It's too bad space isn't a great place for a tooka."

[notallofus]

"It's not a great place for porgs, either," Kanan says, shooting a dirty look at Chopper.

He knows who insists on keeping the one that snuck on board.

Chopper blats defensively, claw hands waving violently in the air. You can remove that sweet bird over his dead body, Jedi!

[childofrebellion]

Ty laughs at Chopper's gestures, "He's very protective."

Mig looks around and thinks, "Ships never have a lot of space. We haven't had a lot of it."

[for_everyone]

"There's usually not a lot of space at the margins."

Hera glances at the Phantom's controls. "But if you're ready for more training, this might be a good time to learn about plotting routes that avoid Imperial detection."

[notallofus]

Kanan raises his hands and moves to shift out of his seat.

"You're welcome to it."

This time he doesn't call them kids.

"Learn from Hera and you'll learn from the best."

And there's Chopper, too. He guesses.

[childofrebellion]

"Thank you, I'd like that." Ty unbuckles and stands up to go look at what Hera's working on.

While Mig and Yna listen from where they are, Ty really wants to be a pilot.

[for_everyone]

Hera directs the others' attention to the navigation charts in the shuttle's readouts, along with some of her own tips for quickly discerning among possible routes.

And even the input Chopper insists on offering is, occasionally, helpful.