Chapter Six
When the morning came so did the throbbing pain in Lylaa's skull. Beams of light shot through the half open curtains that hung just above her bed. She couldn't remember how long they had been out, but it must have been just before dawn as they were some of the last people in off the street. She slowly stood, eyes half closed as she shut the curtains fully and flopped back into the warm blankets. When she hit the bed she was met with an annoyed groan from the dark edge of the mattress. Lylaa froze, slowly turning her head toward the wall that the bed rested against. Had she brought someone home? Gods, she hoped she hadn't. She couldn't bear to explain to Aldra why another hungover woman was sneaking out of her room in the middle of the afternoon, their teenage years had seen enough of that. She cursed under her breath, rubbing her eyes as she sat upright. She ran a hand through her messy hair and turned to face the stranger next to her, preparing herself for the worst. She gently nudged the figure under the blanket, hoping she would wake up and realize it was time to go.
"If you don't stop poking me you're going to lose that hand." Lylaa's stomach dropped, and memories of the night before slowly caught up to her. Realization hit her like a freighter and panic began to spark in her chest at the sound of the other woman's voice. She lifted her hand and pulled the blanket down, uncovering her messy red hair. Bo's tired eyes met hers and softened, making Lylaa blush as she shot out of the bed.
"Oh my god. I'm sorry I didn't know it was you I-" she was cut off by a chuckle as Bo sat up, running a hand through her hair.
"Well who else would it be? You got any girlfriends I don't know about?" Lylaa just stared at her, surprised at how cocky she was first thing in the morning.
"No! I mean, no I don't, I'm sorry I just didn't expect to have company." She was beyond nervous and she didn't know why. Yesterday she had had the upper hand, with the dancing and flirting, and now she was totally blowing it. She could barely remember getting back to the bar. She struggled to put the pieces together before Bo spoke again, almost reading her mind.
"How much of last night do you remember?" She looked at Lylaa with a smirk on her face, slowly adjusting herself so that she was sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I remember Aldra coming back with food and more shots, but after that it's fuzzy..." Her eyes met Bo's in the dim light, the green of her eyes more apparent as she looked her up and down. "Oh no, we didn't... I didn't do anything stupid did I? Shit Bo I'm so sorry I didn't mean to- Karabast I'm so sorry." She blurted out a thousand apologies as Bo laughed, standing and grabbing her hands to stop her rambling.
"Hey it's okay. I had to practically carry you to bed and I just fell asleep as soon as I got you here, that's all." She smiled at the smaller woman in front of her, the worry fading from her face. She let out a sigh of relief, moving her gaze down to her feet. Bo slipped her fingers under her chin and lifted her face back to hers, giving her a small smile. "I'm going to go see if Aldra has heard from Rex. You should come get yourself something to eat."
She dropped her hand and made her way to the fresher, smoothing out her hair and rinsing off her face as Lylaa slipped on a light jacket from the closet on the opposite wall. Bo exited the smaller room, making her way to the door. She opened it before stopping, giving her time to catch up. They exited the bedroom and made their way to Aldra's small kitchen just down the hall. Potted plants hung from the kitchen window, which illuminated a small island in the middle. Lylaa pulled out a stool and took a seat, grabbing a piece of fruit from the bowl in the center. Bo had stopped in the doorway, leaning against the wall just a few feet away. She could feel her eyes on her but she didn't look up from her fruit, still kicking herself for reacting the way she did. They stayed like that for a few moments before Bo spoke again.
"Do you remember trying to kiss me at all?" What did she just say? Lylaa nearly choked on the food in her mouth, coughing as she turned to look at Bo. She shook her head, swallowing hard as her wide eyes darted everywhere but the woman's face. This earned her a sweet laugh. Bo shifted her weight from the wall and moved a little closer. She rested her hand on Lylaa's shoulder, taking a few strands of green hair in her fingers "I didn't think so. You were quite persistent before you fell asleep," she tucked some hair behind her ear before turning and walking back to the hallway. Her smile faded as she looked back over her shoulder. "You could have, you know. I wish you had." The last sentence was almost a whisper as she disappeared down the hall to Aldra's office, leaving Lylaa to sit alone in the quiet kitchen.
After about twenty minutes of silent panicking Lylaa heard Aldra's door slide open. The two women entered the kitchen, chatting quietly before turning their attention to her. Aldra spoke first, a happy glow radiating off of her. "Rex reached out early this morning, he should be arriving tonight with some intel that can help Bo and her people. We need to meet him in a secure location when he gets here just incase he was followed." Lylaa smiled, excited to see her old friend. It had been a while since she had seen him, the end of the war kept him busy with his general and the senate kept him and Aldra apart even when he wasn't off on some outer rim planet. Bo sighed anxiously, her piercing eyes shooting right through the both of them. She understood how important this mission was to her and she knew what was at stake.
"Once I get the information I need I must go immediately. I'll need help with the repair and refueling of my ship still if that's alright." Aldra nodded, her hands now busy with a pitcher and a few cups.
"Already taken care of. While you two were sleeping I had my guys down at the yard move it so they could start their repairs. Should be done by tomorrow morning at the latest." She handed a cup of juice to Bo, pouring another for Lylaa before moving around to the other side of the kitchen island. Bo's shoulders seemed to relax and she took her seat next to Lylaa. The three of them sipped their juice, the muffled jabber of the holonet the only thing breaking the silence. What was Lylaa going to do once Bo was gone? Would she let her come with her? Or would she just leave and never speak to her again? She hated the thought of never seeing Bo again, but it didn't seem like there was any other path in front of her. She didn't want her to leave without her, but what if there was no way of convincing her to keep her around. Her blue eyes stared off across the room, the soft shaking of her leg making her stool creak. Aldra noticed the discomfort on her friend's face and gently nudged her from under the table. Their eyes met and Aldra raised her eyebrows, looking between her and Bo who was too bust messing with one of her gauntlets to notice.
The two had always been able to communicate without using words, calling it their super power when they were children on Vardos. Aldra could sense the connection between her and Bo, not that Lylaa was very good at hiding her longing stares. She knew how to help, it was just a matter of getting the two quit being shy and to drop their attitudes. "Lylaa, can you come help me with something? It'll only take a second I just need another pair of hands." Lylaa snapped back to reality, nodding before getting up to follow Aldra into the other room. Bo watched them go, pausing her work on the gauntlet to see what they were up to. She led the shorter woman to the office, shutting the door and turning up the volume on the holonet before speaking.
"I think you should go with Bo when she leaves. And before you try to argue with me I see how you look at her and I see how she looks at you. You haven't looked at anyone like that since Kerral, I'm not stupid Lylaa. This could go somewhere and I only want what's best for you. And I think the best thing for you might be that snarky Mandalorian in my kitchen." She crossed her arms and looked at Lylaa, her brows knitting together into a stern look she had only given her a few times before. Lylaa sighed, knowing this talk was going to come sooner or later. She knew Aldra was right, she was always right. She knew her better than she knew herself most of the time. She ran a hand through her green hair and sighed, nodding her head. She gave the brunette a sad look, one filled with worry and doubt. Her mouth twisted into a frown, prompting Aldra to pull her into a hug.
"I just don't know what to do Aldra, I can't go through what I did with Kerral again. I can't break like that again I wouldn't bounce back this time. What if she doesn't want me, what if she pushes me aside after we find her people?" Aldra rubbed a hand across her back, only pulling away to look at her before speaking again.
"Lylaa, sometimes we have to be willing to take risks. Look at me and Rex, we went from sneaking around the GAR barracks and the senatorial apartments to being married and wanted for treason in twelve systems. Sometimes things work out just the way they're supposed to and I think they're going to work out for the two of you. If anything her and I talked about this morning is true then you have a better chance than you think. Have a little faith in me Veers, I've never steered you wrong before have I?" Lylaa shook her head, pulling away to wipe a few stray tears from her cheeks. She wanted to know what Bo had said to her earlier, knowing it would eat her alive if she didn't at least ask.
"What did she say to you? Maker, did she tell you I tried to kiss her? I don't even remember it, I was drunk and you know how I get when I drink." Aldra rolled her eyes, making her laugh a little. She shook her head and playfully punched Lylaa's shoulder.
"Wouldn't you like to know. And no, she left that part out but if you don't drop the act and do it soon I might have to drop you on some moon for a few rotations. She's obviously interested in you even if she doesn't show it, so you better not screw this up," Aldra clicked the volume on the holonet again, muting the audio before opening the door behind her. "Now get out so I can get some work done, Rex's locator beacon says he should be here by nightfall so I need to have my paperwork done before we leave." She shooed her green haired friend out of the room and shut the door, leaving her to stand awkwardly in the hall.
Lylaa rubbed her face, turning to go back down the hall to the kitchen. She rounded the corner and walked to the other side of the island, taking the seat across from Bo. The red head looked up from her work, smiling slightly when she saw that it was Lylaa. She stopped her tinkering and secured her gauntlet back onto her wrist, locking it in place before folding her hands together on the table. She stared at Lylaa for a moment, letting the air settle around them before tilting her head upward. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off before she could get a word out.
"Rex should be here by nightfall which is in about... two hours," Lylaa said, lifting her hand to check her timepiece. "We'll have to start our hike soon but before we do I wanted to talk to you about something." Bo gave Lylaa her full attention, nodding and motioning for her to continue. She sighed, playing with her fingers as she tried to decide how to say everything she wanted without making a fool of herself. "When I was younger, there was a girl. Her name was Kerral. I loved her more than anything. Vardos was under Republic jurisdiction but one day there was an attack on our town, battle droids burned almost everything. She was shot as we were running and I tried to save her but I by the time I got her to the medic it was too late. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself for that," Lylaa swallowed hard, her voice now shaky. "I promised myself that I would never let myself care for anyone like that again... And then you showed up. The Empire burned what was left of my home and of her to the ground and I want to make them pay. I still don't know what I'm doing. I don't think I ever will," She paused again, locking eyes with Bo. "But what I'm trying to say is that when you leave I'm coming with you. I will fight with you Kryze. Not just for your people, but for mine."
Bo sat completely still, trying to understand everything Lylaa had just said. Her mind raced and her heart ached at the thought of someone caring for her in such a way. Her eyes welled with tears and she squeezed them shut, hanging her head and sucking in a deep breath. She clenched her fists and returned her gaze to the woman across from her, breathing out shakily as she reached across the table to take Lylaa's hand in her own.
"Lylaa... I understand how you feel. More than you'll ever know," She gave her a sad half smile, running her fingers over hers as she spoke. "Which is why I can't let you do that. I can't willingly put you in danger. Especially not for me." Lylaa's gaze hardened, her lips now twisted into an upset frown. She yanked her hand away and stood up kicking the stool away harshly. Bo flinched, her smile now gone. The soft twinkle in her amber green eyes replaced with hurt. Her lips twitched as she searched for the words to fix the situation but she remained frozen as Lylaa's crystal blue eyes darkened, almost turning to stone.
"Well it's a good thing it isn't up to you then. I don't care if it's dangerous or if the odds are stacked against us, I'm coming with you," She shook her head, her fists tightening on her belt. "I'm going to pack, tell Aldra to come get me when it's time to leave." She said, her tone now cold and void of any emotion. She turned on her heels and made her way to her room, the door hissing shut as she disappeared around the corner.
By the time the sun had set, Lylaa was ready to go. She sat on the steps just outside the bar as she waited for the others to meet her downstairs. Bo's words rang in her ears, her initial rage now fizzled into a sadness that brought the dull ache back to her chest. How could she expect her to be okay with just leaving her here alone? Had saving her that night at the camp meant nothing to her? Lylaa balled her fists in her lap, her leg bouncing anxiously as she waited for the two to exit the building. A few minutes passed and the door creaked open, the sound of boots against the stone steps signaling that it was time to go. She stood and looked at Aldra, getting a sympathetic look in return. She looked at Bo expecting a pitiful look, but instead was met with the cool black gleam of her visor. Lylaa clenched her jaw and secured her pack over her shoulders, not saying a word as she began walking down the path toward the rendezvous.
It was a shorter walk than she'd expected, but it still felt like it took hours. The crunching of the other's boots in the gravel behind her slowed as they cut through the forest to a run down factory building. It was old and crumbling, most likely a mill that the townsfolk no longer used. Just behind the building was the freighter Rex had acquired for his operations. As the three women neared the ship the light from the door illuminated a tall figure, who was now clumsily running down the ramp and across the grassy space. Aldra picked up her pace, passing by Lylaa to meet the man in the middle. She caught a glimpse of his white armor in the dark and a smile crept onto her face. Rex took Aldra into his arms, pulling her close with a relieved chuckle. They stood in each other's arms as the other two caught up, whispering as they held each other close. Rex looked up from his wife, the crinkles by his eyes becoming more prominent as he smiled at Lylaa.
"Hey kid, come here!" Lylaa smiled wider now, pulling the clone in for a much needed reunion hug. "I'll be damned, you don't know how happy I am to see you in one piece." She smiled up at him, patting him on the shoulders. He looked to Bo, who was now standing beside Aldra. They shook hands and exchanged nods before his attention returned to Lylaa.
"Good to see you too old timer," He tilted his head to the side, giving her an amused look. "I know, I know, enhanced aging and all that, blah blah blah. You've still lived more of a life than I have for a thirteen year old." He laughed harder than he probably had in years and Aldra sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Okay you two, that's enough. Don't make it weird. I need some time with my fully grown adult husband before he leaves me for another two weeks." She smiled at him, grabbing his hand as she led him back to the ship. Bo and Lylaa followed closely behind. Lylaa fought the urge to look at her, knowing all she would get in return was the cold stare of her helmet. They made their way up the ramp and into the makeshift briefing area, gathering around the small holotable. Rex flicked on the feed, pulling up a map of the prison complex on Mandalore.
"You should be familiar with this area. This is where your people are being held, as well as any citizens the Empire has deemed traitors," He tapped a few buttons, the hologram switching to a small landing pad a few buildings away from the prison. "This is the best place I could find to land. We'll need to get in and get out as quick as we can, or we'll have troopers and Imperial loyalists on us like flies on bantha fodder." Bo nodded, crossing her arms as she stared blankly at the picture in front of her. Lylaa shot her a quick glare, sighing as she moved to take a seat across the room. Rex looked between the two and Aldra gave him a shrug, signaling for him to get back to his briefing. "I can get us in and Aldra will stay with the ship incase we need a quick getaway. My sources say the best time to make our move is tomorrow night, so we'd better get back to base for some rest. We'll go over everything again before we leave." Bo nodded again, thanking Rex before making her way back to the ramp and out of the ship.
Aldra and Rex began shutting off the ship's controls, motioning for Lylaa to follow them outside. He secured the ship and the three began walking, the distant crunch of Bo's boots fading ahead of them. They reached the bar after about forty minutes of walking, hurrying inside so that Aldra could lock the door behind them. The group made their way up the stairs, unloading their things in the living room before meeting in the kitchen. The four of them were exhausted, slumping over the stools for a good half hour before Rex made a sly comment about being hungry. Lylaa rolled her eyes at him, standing to rummage through the cabinets for some cookware. She was quickly stopped by Aldra, who insisted she sit before she 'started another fire in her beautiful kitchen'.
Bo was obviously not in a talking mood, her tense posture apparent as she stood and made her way to the dimly lit living room. She sat on the couch and folded her arms, not bothering to remove her helmet. Rex looked at Lylaa, swinging an arm around her shoulder in reassurance. Aldra set plates and cups in front of them, taking a set to Bo before tossing the pot she was using in the sink. She always was a quick cook, but that didn't mean she was always a good cook. Lylaa looked down at the food in front of her, looking back at her brunette friend with a skeptical smile. She rolled her eyes and sat across from her, tossing her a spoon. They all ate as quick as they could, making light conversation and joking back and forth just like old times. Before they knew it they were all yawning, stacking their empty plates on the counter.
"I think it's time we all turned in, we've got a lot of work to do tomorrow." Aldra said, rinsing off the dishes and flicking off the overhead light. Rex nodded, saying a quick goodnight before making his way to the bedroom he and Aldra shared. Lylaa moved from her seat, giving Aldra a hug.
"Thanks for dinner. I don't know what I'd do without you." She squeezed the other woman's shoulder, smiling at her weakly.
"No need to thank me Veers, I've always got your back. I'll see you in the morning." Aldra moved past Lylaa to her room, the rest of the house falling silent as her door shut. Lylaa sighed and walked into the living room, stopping in front of the couch where Bo sat. She looked her up and down, trying not to let her emotions show as she reached for her hand.
Bo looked at her for a moment before accepting her outstretched arm, standing from her seat on the couch. Lylaa led her back to the room across from Aldra's, letting her enter first before shutting the door. She shrugged off her jacket and threw it on the foot of the bed, sliding off her boots as well. She tucked them under the bed, looking over her shoulder at the other woman who was still standing there motionless.
"Are you gonna stand there all night or were you planning on sleeping?" Lylaa said dryly, removing her belt and hooking it over the bedpost. Bo's helmet turned to her feet for a moment, turning back to the shorter woman. She let out a soft sigh and began to remove her armor piece by piece. She stacked it by the side table and slid her boots beneath the bed next to the other woman's, removing her helmet last. Her gloomy expression seemed to cast a shadow over the room as her eyes met Lylaa's.
She set her helmet down and moved past her, crawling into the bed. She rolled toward the wall without saying a word. Lylaa flicked off the light and took the open spot next to her, facing the opposite direction. It didn't take her long before she was drifting off, her last conscious memory the feeling of Bo's arms slipping around her from behind.