Chapter One
The echo of screams rattled the walls, blaster fire and ash filling the air. Thick smoke and smell of burning buildings flooded the surrounding streets as what were once Republic fighters barreled overhead. All nearby cries for help were halted as another torpedo struck the center of the village, one final explosion followed by complete silence.
Lylaa jolted from her sleep, covered in a thin layer of cold sweat. Every night, the same nightmare. Over and over again like a broken holoprojector. Once her breathing had returned to normal, she ripped the thin blanket from her shaking body and reached for her cloak beside her makeshift bed. Slipping on her boots, she rose from the cot and untied the tarp shielding her lean-to from the cold morning air of whichever planet she had ended up on the week prior. The suns barely shown over the rocky hills, illuminating the smoke from her now burnt out fire. Sighing, she made her way to the rocks keeping her tent in place and began to climb to get a better view of her surroundings. Life after the fall of the Republic was much more difficult when refusing to serve the tyrant of it's remnants became a death sentence.
The sunrise on this planet was beautiful, soothing Lylaa's aching bones as she bathed in the golden rays. She sat for a moment more before a glint of something just over the hill caught her eye. No one had come out this far since she had landed and no ships had passed overhead for days, the continuing flicker of light putting her on edge immediately. Sliding off the rocks she unholstered her blaster, unhooking the latch on her vibroblade just incase. No one should be able to find her here, not after her escape from the blockade on Vardos. She had made it out, she was safe. It was okay now. She knew that was far from the truth but she couldn't help but repeat it to herself as she reached the top of the hill.
Rounding the cluster of boulders slowly, she raised her blaster in front of her. The soft crunch of soil under her boots was the only sound as her heart hammered in her chest. As she reached the other side of the rock formation she saw a frail, bloody hand limp against the dirt. Lylaa lowered her weapon slightly once she saw the woman fully. Her fire hair was matted to her face by blood from a wound on her head, her battered helmet at her feet. A Mandalorian? This far from Mandalore? She sucked in a deep breath and holstered her blaster, crouching next to the woman to feel for a pulse. Her skin was cold to the touch, a faint gasp coming from her bruised throat as her fingers made contact. She's alive.
Not thinking, Lylaa reached around the woman's frail body and lifted her from the ground. Ragged coughs shook her armored body in the other's arms. This doesn't look good she thought, cursing under her breath as she secured the blue and white helmet to her belt. She quickly made her way back to her camp, whipping the flap of her tent open to get her inside to safety. Kicking her pack and cooking equipment to the side she made her way to the bed. Her breath quickened as she placed the fragile woman down, scrambling for her medpack and canteen. The red head's breathing had begun to steady, her chest slowly rising and falling with each wheeze that escaped her lungs. Lylaa grabbed a rag and poured some water from her canteen onto it, gently dabbing as much dried blood off of the stranger's face as she could. She sat for a moment, resting her hand on her forehead before grabbing a gauze patch to cover the gash on the woman's thigh.
A hiss left the armored woman's clenched teeth as she suddenly woke, sitting almost straight up as she gripped Lylaa's arm. She jolted back startled at first but quickly came to her senses as she leaned in to comfort her.
"Hey, hey you're okay. I'm trying to help, just sit back and let me clean your wounds. I'm not going to hurt you it's alright." The woman locked eyes with her, a pained and fearful glare on her face. She dropped Lylaa's arm, inching away slowly as she began to look around the room.
"My.. my helmet, my blasters, where are they?" her voice was strained and rough. Her hands shook as she moved to distance herself from the person who had just saved her life.
"They're here, it's alright. You're safe now just stay calm, you're hurt pretty bad," Lylaa kneeled by the cot, putting her hands out slowly extending the container of water toward her. "Take some water. I'm Lylaa. I just want to help you."
The fiery headed stranger reluctantly took it and downed it in a desperate chug, wiping her mouth with the back of her gloved hand. She looked back to the shorter woman who had apparently rescued her and nodded a thank you. She looked around the small space where she was sitting, seemingly trying to decide if her savior was a threat or not. The young girl still sat at her side, eyes full of worry as they darted from her wounds back to her face. She shifted and tore at the fabric at her leg, wincing as her wound hit the air.
"Here let me do it, I think I have some bacta left," Lylaa paused the woman's hands, receiving a small flinch in return. She met her eyes again, this time taking note of the yellow and green specks that littered her irises. She nodded, allowing Lylaa to retrieve her bag. "This might sting, the cut is deeper than any I've had to treat before." she held the canister to the woman's leg and sprayed slowly and evenly, making sure to bandage it afterwards.
The strange warrior let out a relieved sigh, wincing as she brought her hand to her head. Lylaa dampened the rag she had again, bringing it to her head slowly. She met her gaze, quickly averting her piercing eyes as she wiped the last few flakes of blood from her temple.
"Thank you. For helping me," she said softly. Lylaa shifted from where she was sitting and reached into her bag, pulling out a small ration box. "I need to leave at dawn. My people will be waiting for me." Was there anyone to go back to? After the fall of Mandalore everything seemed hopeless.
"Alright. I'll see you out, you can stay as long as you need. I can help you find a ship." she handed the ration box to her and sat down on across from her. She slipped off her boots, resting them by the helmet in the corner. The woman's eyes lit up as she continued to eat, looking from the helmet to the girl. Such a strange woman. She was clearly thankful for being rescued, but something in her nature made her distant and skeptical.
"Bo-Katan," she mumbled, latching the box closed. Lylaa looked back to her, the taller woman now rested against the wall at the bedside. "My name."
She smiled at her, the first time worry had left her soft face all morning. She stood, walking toward the tent flap tying it shut.
"Get some rest Bo. Wake me if you need anything." she nodded at Lylaa, her now soft eyes drifting shut. She returned to the chair, leaning back before taking another look at Bo. Her name echoed in her mind as she took in her strong but gentle features. You can't, Lylaa. Not again. Not so easily. She shook the thought from her head and closed her eyes, hoping this time the nightmares would let subside and let her find some peace.