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Most of the time to Hera, space was a magical place.It was a place of freedom, of exploration and of total serenity. But sometimes, it was dark voids of endless nothing and you start to go a little insane.
There would be times when she would have to go a few weeks without touching down on solid ground. And on long haul trips it was easy to go crazy. The only soul she could talk to was Chopper, and those conversations tended to be more one sided (Chopper did all the talking.). But that’s how it always was, a girl and her droid against the endless void of space.
Even the most experienced of pilots would go a little insane out here, she heard her fair share of horror stories of pilots who lost their minds. But Hera wasn’t just any pilot, she had developed her own coping mechanisms. Over the years she became a pro at battling the madness that came with flying for long periods of time. She could tell when she would start to feel the cabin fever creep in, and knew how to prevent it.
Her favorite method to beat the madness was a dance party.
She cranked the radio on the ship, dimmed the lights, grabbed Chopper by his mechanical hand and danced.
There were no correct moves, no steps to learn, just closing your eyes and moving in however you felt was right. She didn’t know the exact science behind it, but it worked and she wouldn’t question it. She also knew she looked ridiculous but she didn’t care, Chopper certainly didn’t care.
Today, Hera was almost a week into flying nonstop. She knew she was starting to lose it when she actually wanted to watch the pod of purrgil in the distance float by instead of blasting them.
She put the ship to auto pilot, stripped off her flight suit down to her under shirt and joggers, and called Chop over.
“Chop! I think it’s time for a dance party!” She says grabbing the lights and switching on the radio to her favorite playlist of songs for the occasion.
Chopper came wizzing over. He liked dance parties as much as she did.
With the lights low and stars above the two of them danced around without a care in the world.
Hera lifted her arms and twirled around, feeling like she did when she was a little girl. But as she turned, she caught a glimpse of a figure in the doorway.
She gasped. She froze in an awkward position as the lights flicked on and Kanan walked in on an embarrassing scene.
With her remote Hera quickly shuts the music off. This was way too embarrassing.
Hera quickly readjusted her posture. She had completely forgotten that she didn’t live alone anymore. Though, she might as well have, as he kept to himself 90% of the day. Emerging from his so called, meditations every once in a while for food. But he never wanted to just sit and chat with her for long. So why the hell was he out roaming the ship now of all times?
Kanan just stood in the doorway with a smile on his face.
“Whatcha doing?” He asks casually.
“Beating space madness, what does it look like I’m doing?” She said defensively.
“Doesn’t look like you beat it. I think you’ve succumbed to it.” He says, motioning to her.
“This is your first long haul flight, you have no idea what endless darkness can do to a person.” She says gravely.
“Well, by all means, don’t stop on my account.” He says grabbing a drink and taking a seat.
Hera walks over to him, silently treading over in her socks.
“No, I don’t think so.” She says, folding her arms. She was trying to be authoritative but she could only do so much wearing only her under clothes. “You don’t just get to sit in here and watch, that’s not how this works!” She says.
“No thanks, I dont dance.” He says taking a sip, feeling the burn down his throat.
“You come aboard my ship, you follow my rules. Dancing on long hauls is mandatory practice.” She demands.
Kanan sits debating his options. But he knew what this Twi’lek was capable of and was a little terrified of saying no to her. Plus, the droid behind her was giving him some death threats that were probably very real.
After Kanan weighs his few options, he downs the contents of his glass and stands up.
“Can’t believe I’m doing this.” He mutters.
“You’ll thank me when you don’t go space mad.” She says, leading him to the floor.
“I should’ve just kept meditating.” He regrets.
“But you didn’t, so now you're dancing.” She says before she turns to Chopper, “Dim Cabin lights and Crank the volume!” She shouts.
Chopper agreed, and started to do as she asked. Soon the cabin was back to darkness and the stars shined through a little bit brighter.
Hera quickly runs to the stereo and changes the song. She knew exactly what song would get this guy to dance.
“So how do I do this?” Kanan asks.
“Just start swaying to the music.” She says moving her body to the beat.
“Like this?” He asks, barely moving his hips.
Hera holds back a laugh. “That’s good, just get a little looser with it. You don’t have to be so uptight.” She says swaying more herself, swinging her arms back and forth.
“Alright, Like this?” He asks, as he starts to move his hands in waving motions, he sort of ended up looking like a limp noodle.
“You need to feel it!” She coaxes. “Bend your knees like youre in combat.” She urges.
Kanan takes a fighting stance.
“Perfect, now start swaying.” She says mimicking him.
It looked like they were having the strangest battle ever.
“Now just relax, close your eyes and just feel it.” She said moving in her own unique way.
“This sounds like Jedi training.” Kanan says.
Hera chuckles.
“Could you do this at Jedi training?” She asks as she starts doing a body roll and then swinging her hips around in a slow circle.
“Definitely not.” He says, his blush hidden by the darkness of the cabin. “Master Yoda would have hit you with his cane.”
Hera laughs. “Well he’s not here!” She goes over to him and shakes his shoulders. “Now loosen up, don't think just move!” She says grabbing his hands and moving his body for him.
Kanan started fighting it at first, he was stubborn. He felt stiff in her grip, but she wasn’t going to take that as an answer.
She decided maybe the only way to get him comfortable was if she was the vulnerable one. So she threw all cares out the window and started letting loose herself.
When the beat dropped she started hopping one foot to the other while raising her hands above her head, which sent her into a spin.
Chopper joined her and started mimicking her spin.
“Come on Kanan, the droid is less stiff than you.” She said watching him from the corner of her eye.
She could see him trying really hard to let go, but was finding it hard for some reason.
“Sometimes if I close my eyes it’s easier.” She says closing her own eyes and twirling around to the beat.
She peaked her eyes open and saw him shut his eyes and slowly, start to feel the song.
She grabbed his hands. He tried to open his eyes.
“Keep them shut!” She demanded.
She twirled them both around, eyes closed just feeling the music.
Kanan started to hop with her, he was finally doing it, he was letting go!
“Yes! That’s it!” She says excitement in her voice. She was proud of him.
Kanan opens his eyes and grins. He started to move to his own style, and to his credit he wasn’t a bad dancer. In fact, he was really good at it.
Hera laughed and joined him creating her own ridiculous moves. She started pretending like she was swimming through the air.
Kanan got the picture and laughed too, He started taking what looked like combat moves but he moved his head with it so it looked like a silly dance.
Hera started doing her own impression of a droid and started doing the robot for the fun of it.
Soon it was an all out dance battle of whatever silly move came to their heads next.
Hera pretended she had a rope and could pull him towards her. She didn’t know why but she wanted him dancing closer to her.
Kanan pretends to be snared and hopped closer… closer…
He grabs her hand again and they are dancing together. Jumping, spinning around nonsensically that slowly turns into a partnered swing dance.
They laugh as they share this moment together, both sweating, breathing heavily, smiling, as they twirl together. The stars outside the windows turn to little blurs and all she sees is Kanan in front of her as he turns her around. The two of them gliding on the floor in their socks. For all she knew the two of them were floating through the stars, leaving the Ghost behind.
The music begins to fade, but not before Kanan dips her and just for a second she could see his eyes in the darkness. But before she could register a feeling he pulled her up and let her go. The dance was over. But there was still an energy there, an energy that wasn’t there before. She didn’t know what it was, but it felt good, it felt right.
The moment didn’t last long as Chopper came over and started banging himself into Kanan's leg. He was not happy, as Hera heard the slew of curse words chopper was calling kanan for taking away his dancing partner.
Hera grabbed Chop and gave him a hug which shut him up for the time being.
Still out of breath the two of them look at each other for a moment longer than they should’ve.
“You know if the whole Jedi rebel thing doesn’t work, maybe I’ll become an exotic dancer.” Kanan says.
“No one would hire you.” Hera shot back.
“No one wants this?’He says reverting back to his terrible jerky movements.
Hera blocked her eyes.
“Absolutely NOT.”
Chopper takes this as a sign and zaps Kanan right in the calf.
“What the hell was that for?” He protests. Rubbing his leg where he shocked him.
“Sorry, I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately.” Hera apologizes for Chopper while trying to hold the droid back from him.
“I don’t think he liked my dancing.” Kanan guessed.
“No I just think he doesn’t like you.” She says with a grin.
“Well if he doesn’t mind my dancing-“ Kanan says, hitting play on the radio once again. “Let’s keep going!”
Hera took his outstretched hand with a smile on her face and closed her eyes.
After that day, she would never have to worry about space madness ever again. On every long mission from then on, the two of them would dance. And when new members joined, they would all join in too. Zeb, Sabine, and even Ezra all would partake in this little tradition. And after Kanan was gone, Jacen would join her. Grabbing her fingers in his small hands, his little movements were just as stiff as his Father’s had once been. Hera knew that with a little time, she could teach him just as she did before. But never again was she alone, and this silly little tradition was a reminder to her that she will never travel space alone again.