But there was so much about her now that was different. Her quiet studiousness had been replaced by something…harder. She was made of pure steel now. And I was probably the only one who could sense the flash of hurt—the softness—percolating underneath all the steel she was giving me.

Listen, I was at…let’s call it a low moment. All my defenses were down.

I couldn’t stop the wave of yearning that rose up in my chest, just seeing her look at me like that again.

SANA STARROS:

I look great? That’s what you say to me? I…can’t really say the same for you. Still causing trouble, though—that never changes.

APHRA:

Sana, you have to get me out of here! What are you doing, anyway…are you with the Rebellion now? How is that even possible, I thought I heard you became a smuggler? But look, we can escape together—

SANA STARROS:

Oh no. I’ve fallen for that before—never again.

APHRA (narration):

Hmm, yeah. I probably should have known she’d still be mad, even after all these years. She definitely wasn’t in the mood to help me.

So I’d have to help myself. As usual.

I surreptitiously felt along the edge of my binders. Hmm. Yes. I knew this kind of locking mechanism. I twisted my right hand around, trying to get my thumbnail to line up just… so…

APHRA:

Wow, so…what have you been up to? Anything cool? I always thought you were destined for big things—

SANA STARROS:

Sure, you did. That’s why you left me without so much as a goodbye, right? ’Cause you wanted to see me do big things.

APHRA:

I was doing you a favor!

SANA STARROS:

Which taught me never to accept favors from anyone—

APHRA:

Hey, that was the favor!

SANA STARROS:

Then I’d say you’ve done me way too many favors over the years—

APHRA:

I was teaching you important life lessons—

SANA STARROS:

Why are you like this—

APHRA (narration):

I felt the telltale click as my thumb landed on the left side of the locking mechanism. I needed to angle it just…right…without totally breaking my wrist.

There’s a click as Aphra frees her right hand from the binders.

SANA STARROS:

Wait, what are you…dammit, Aphra!

Security!

Princess Leia and a rebel security detail storm Aphra’s cell.

PRINCESS LEIA:

What…She got out of her binders again! Grab her! She’s going for the blaster… look out!

A blaster fires.

APHRA:

All right, pinheads! I’m the one holding the blaster now. Last chance to turn this ship around. Or I start putting holes in all your pretty little faces. Starting with you, Princess.

PRINCESS LEIA:

You’re quite good at getting out of binders, Doctor Aphra. That’s, what, the fourth pair you’ve escaped?