#maycher

People: Leyendecker study! My lazy ass: Leyendecker drawover! Kyrimorut New Year’s party!

@wings-and-beskargam @feralferrule @fuzzyenthusiastnelket01 @eobe @noblelightfighter @nocturius8015ficore @tahny-andthe-diamonds @lonewolflupe @eclec-tech

Ref

I made tiny Maycher, I had to have a bit of fun with them. 😋 Truth be told, I had a lot of fun making these two, and hope to be able to make more characters in the future.

Mini-Mayday heard lil’Archer had finally arrived, and he’s been looking everywhere for her ever since.

After a close call with a long, scaly creature, and finding no sign of Kebii’tra, his flower is getting wilted and he’s almost given up hope. 💔

But suddenly, there she is! (And the flower somehow springs back to life 😂)

She’s sorry she was away for so long. She was searching for the softest, warmest wool in the galaxy so she could knit him a chunky scarf for Life Day. It’s cozier than the armour she usually makes. (Did I knit the teeniest scarf using the most minute yarn ever? Yes.)

Looks like they are happy to be reunited! 💞 Will he like his present?

Bonus light box shots:

He always brings a flower, and she loves this little gesture. Eventually she’ll be able to take her helmet off too, but not quite yet. It’s still a bit of a horror show under the bucket. 🤭

Hastily drawn with no QC

Note: Hexx’s costume has changed a little. Choy let him be a nexu.

Maycher dancing at the Kyrimorut New Years Party. He managed to convince her to take off her armour for a bit. I suspect he enjoys getting a peek at her tattoo. 😁

I tried a thing. Uncertain how I feel about this thing, mainly because I’m an uneducated learner, but I do kind of like where it’s heading. I did stray very far from the style, but eh. I was inspired by @foxwithadarkside multiple sw-themed fine art studies, and just gave it a shot.

Ref image Layendecker image from a 1930 clothing advert.

Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V.

We’re back with another ~7500 words for this tale, which picks up directly from the ending of Part V. As always a big thanks to @feralferrule for her contributions, and @foxwithadarkside for piloting Mayday through the woods in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style game that was quite fun to concoct.

Part VI - in which everyone (except Veetch) is feeling their feelings (warning! Both over-protective and saccharine/close interactions ahead!), Fi offers some brotherly advice, Mayday goes on another quest, and the future of “Maycher” is finally decided. This tale picks up directly from the cliff-hanger-y ending of Part V.

Mando’a - English  

Ik’aad - baby

Verd’ika - Little warrior (affectionate term)

Medical Lab, Kyrimorut, Mandalore

Archer turned and swept from the room, leaving Choy with Mayday. As she watched the door close, still processing what had just happened, Choy felt all of the anger coming from Mayday suddenly drain away.  She looked back at him and saw his face go completely blank.  A kaleidoscope of images and emotions had started flitting through his mind as the forgotten events of GGN played out for him in fast-forward.  Archer’s use of her pet name for him must have been the push needed to snap him back to himself.

With a sharp inhale, his eyes refocused and a hand strayed idly to his chest, searching for a comfort that wasn’t there.  Choy stooped and picked up the dropped beskar kar’ta pendant, and gently handed it to him.  He accepted it wordlessly and looked at her, confusion plain in his eyes as he took in his surroundings again as though he was waking up for the first time.

Choy sighed and was about to speak when the door flew open. 

“Choy!” Hexx shouted as he burst into the room.

“Are you ok?” Veetch said right behind him. “We just saw Archer - Oh, Commander, sir!  You’re awake, but what happened?”

“Kriff, Commander! I told her you’d be happy to see her!!” Hexx shouted as he took a defensive stance between Mayday and Choy, and Veetch stood next to her and put his hands on her waist. 

“Veetch? Hexx? I-  you two were dead,” Mayday stammered. 

Hexx looked at Choy for signs of distress, "Are you alright?”

“I’m ok, guys, settle down,” Choy said calmly yet firmly in her field medic tone and squeezed Hexx’s hand bringing him back and next to her. She leaned up to his ear and quietly said, “He overreacted, don’t join him. It’s my fault- I didn’t anticipate this happening.” Hexx continued to scowl as she turned to Mayday who was looking at Hexx and Veetch like they were ghosts in their civvie clothing and haircuts. She sat on the stool near the bed and radiated calm to the bewildered clone. 

“My name is Choy, we met at GAR Goth Night at 79’s on Coruscant. This is a hidden base on Mandalore, built by the Mandalorian Skirata clan. Many clones who have defected are here along with Mandos and some former Jedi, and other wayward refugees. Archer, and two of her friends and I secretly rescued you three from Barton IV.  You remember Archer now, right?”

A soft smile lifted Mayday's expression for a moment before horrified realization of what he’d just said and done dawned in its place.  Distress flooded into his force signature as he looked down at the beskar in his hand.

Choy looked at Hexx who still seemed pretty mad.

“No..  I.. Why didn’t I know? How could I forget her?  She’s…” 

“Forgetting who someone is is still no excuse for screaming at them,” Hexx barked. Choy side eyed him, unable to explain the true nature of the situation.

“Shut the kriff up, Hexx,” Mayday said dismissively. He began to rise from the bed, uncertain where to go, but needing to do something to find her. 

“Commander,” Choy said in the same tone she’d used on the boys. He hesitated for a moment, unused to being on the receiving end of commands. “I understand this is a huge shock to the system, but you’ve survived everything so far, so I need you to focus right now.” Mayday flicked his eyes up to Choy’s, and decided he needed the additional information she might give him.  He sat, and gave her his full attention.

“Firstly, we were all given amnesia that night, it’s not your fault that you didn’t remember Archer. Once I remembered, I contacted Archer, restored her memory and we came to rescue you all from death at the outpost. I fixed their memories too,” she indicated the boys with her thumb. Mayday’s wheels were turning and Choy could see the questions in his eyes as he looked at her and the boys. “We had to make it look like you three were dead to the Empire, and everyone else. And we rescued you all at the last minute to not interfere with an important chain of events. Your friend Crosshair killed Nolan.” Mayday's head snapped up at that. “He is alive but not here, we had to leave him because he will be very important in freeing more of your brothers from a really bad situation.”

Mayday looked up at Hexx and Veetch who were nodding affirmatively to Choy’s story. “How did you know we would die? What situation?” he asked carefully.

“I’ve seen this all play out, so I know this course of events and others to come.”

“You’re a Jedi?” Mayday wondered, “Did the force tell you the future?” 

Choy sighed, “Not really, but I can do what Jedi do. I can tell you more about that another time. Right now I want the head medic here to examine you. Then we can talk about how you will make things right with Archer.”

“Wait, if you are the one fixing everyone’s memories, why-“

Choy stood up, held up a finger and flashed a fierce look at him.  He raised an eyebrow at her.  She turned to Hexx and Veetch and asked sweetly, “Boys, can you go get Fi, please?” Veetch went over to the door “Both of you,” she said to the still-fuming Hexx. He huffed and followed Veetch out the door.

Choy turned to regard Mayday. He emulated gravitas, but she could sense that he felt haggard and defeated, distressed by his uncharacteristic actions and worried about Archer.

“I’m sure you understand it wasn’t me in your dream restoring your memory. Archer made herself very vulnerable for you, just now, to do that and wake you up. She’s a Mandalorian and her people traditionally don’t take kindly to the force sensitive. She’s hidden it her whole life. And now you and I are the only people who know about her abilities.” 

“Kriff,” Mayday looked even more distressed.

“And she has a, a very well-developed sense of consent and respect and boundaries. She felt this kind of mind treatment was overstepping since you were unconscious but I talked her into it. I’m not trying to make you feel worse, but I think you should know what you’re dealing with- when you go fix it,” she added firmly but kindly then sighed,  “I’ll help, you’re not on your own. She might talk to you more about this. But, remember, when it comes to you getting your memory back and waking up and anything to do with the force, if anyone asks, it was me.” She said, fists on her hips. 

“Yes ma’am,” Mayday said, “I wouldn’t do anything to put her in jeopardy.”  The clones’ notoriously bad lying capabilities crossed Choy’s mind at that point.

A guttural roar that sounded very Copi-like rumbled through the air outside, rattling the windows of the room.  Before Choy could comment on it, the door opened again and Fi walked in, trailed by Hexx and Veetch.

“Commander, welcome to Kyrimorut. I see you’re getting acquainted with Archer’s scary friend,” Fi quipped. 

Choy rolled her eyes, “Mayday this is Fi Skirata.  Boys, let's let them do what they need, we can wait out there.” She ushered a frowning Hexx toward the door and tugged Veetch by his hand behind.

“Glad you’re alright, Commander, don’t worry, you can get Archer back.” Veetch called out as the door closed.

There was a small area down the corridor with seating arranged, a waiting room of sorts. Choy sank down onto a wider seat and pulled the boys down with her. Hexx sat down heavily and crossed his arms. Veetch snuggled up against Choy’s other side.

“Hexx-“

“He shouldn’t have done that, Archer was- you should have seen the look on her face.”

“I was there for the whole thing, Hexx, I feel awful, it should have just been me he shouted at,” Choy said.

“Don’t say that,” Veetch said. Choy idly stroked his cheek.

Hexx bristled even more, “Why would you say that?”

“I should have been- I should have anticipated that he might wake up in distress- with fight. He’s a very strong-minded man.” 

“You’re too generous,” Hexx glowered.

“Lighten up Hexx, he was probably all disoriented and hung over from the meds,” Veetch yawned and wrapped an arm around Choy.

Choy wondered about what kind of a relationship the men had while serving together and rested her hand on Hexx’s knee. “I understand how you feel, I am heartbroken for Archer. She is a special friend. Mayday feels awful, and it wasn’t really his fault.  We need to support him for Archer’s sake. He will make this right and we’ll help - even if that means staying out of it.” She gave his knee a squeeze.

***

“Here’s our fine selection of clothing.” Fi opened a closet full of all manner of shirts, tunics, trousers and outerwear hanging and some bins of belts and shoes and other items on the floor. “You should be able to fit into everything. Might be a bit loose till you fill out on the delicious Mandalorian cooking here. Ever had uj cake?”  

Mayday, standing in his hospital gown, scanned the contents of the closet. “The market down the street has more, newer things for sale, but they’re closed until morning and you don’t have any credits anyway. Take your pick from here, and the sonic’s through there. Throw the linens in the bin there.” Fi pointed to another door.

“Thank you Fi, not least of all for sticking your neck out for me and my men,” Mayday shook his hand with both of his.  “Tell me, you’re Mandalorian, right?  What would you recommend I wear?” he asked, turning his gaze back to the closet, and thinking about what Archer might like.

Fi’s face lit up, and he immediately twirled in place, sending his kama swirling gracefully out from his sides.  “I really can’t say enough about a good kama.  The lads and ladies find them irresistible!” he crowed.  “You might want to consider a little, you know, landscaping too,” he said, eyeing Mayday’s hair and beard which were sticking up in multiple directions.

Mayday shot him a withering look. “I am not wearing a skirt.”

Fi clapped him on the shoulder, ignoring the jab, “Glad to have you with us, vod’ika. You chose an interesting mando lady.  Hopefully you won’t be in the strill house too long.” 

Mayday smirked as Fi left. He looked over the clothing and thought about what the civilians that he’d seen before were wearing. He needed something blue.

***

Choy snapped her head up from where she had dozed off against Hexx’s shoulder. He was sitting more rigidly. She pushed against Veetch who had also dozed off.  The sound of Fi and Mayday’s voices came down the corridor. She checked her com for a response from Archer. She had sent her a message before falling asleep explaining how Mayday hadn’t actually known who she was, that his traumatized brain was still catching up when he lashed out. And that she was sorry. The com hadn’t even been read.

“They are probably right down here, ah yes. Well, at least some of them seem happy to see you,” said Fi as they rounded the corner and came into view. Ignoring Hexx’s glare, Mayday paused and held his arms out to the sides.

“Well, how do I look? Mandalorian enough?” He was wearing a blue vest fastened over a grey long sleeve shirt that had reinforced shoulders. It tucked into a belted pair of dark pants. He had his cowl around his neck and had put Archer’s beskar kar’ta back on over it all.

“Looking good, commander,” Veetch enthused as the trio stood up.

“The blue is perfect,” Choy said, clasping her hands to her chest. She elbowed Hexx who begrudgingly nodded. 

“So where to?” Mayday asked, striding to the exit and they followed.  “Do you know where she went?”

They all looked at each other. “We don't know for sure, but maybe it’s best to let her have her space, we can look in the morning when she’s,” Choy started.

“No, I’m not-,” Mayday growled out, before noticing Choy put her hand on Hexx’s arm as his posture stiffened.  “I can’t wait,” Mayday continued in a calmer tone, “I need to fix this now. Fi, do you know where I should go?” They all spilled out onto the sleepy village street. 

“Knowing her, she’s probably not even home.” Fi mused.

“How do I get to her home? If she’s not there I’ll wait as long as it takes.” Mayday said with finality. 

Choy could tell there’d be no convincing him otherwise. She sighed and made to lead the way, “Alright, we can take you out there if you insist.”

“Oh absolutely not,” Hexx said as he strode over to intercept her, “it’s dark out and I don't want you walking through the forest at night.”

Choy looked at him incredulously, “You’ve got to be kidding, Hexx. I’ll be with all of you- not that I need to be.”

“Veetch and I can take him, but you should stay here where it’s safe.”

“Oh, this has got to stop, Hexx,” Choy said, her voice rising with her temper.

Veetch approached them to try to calm them down. “Ooo,” said Fi to himself and he ducked back into the medical building, leaving Mayday, whose impatience was growing.

“Hey you guys this isn’t really the time-,” Veetch began. Choy’s hand came up to his chest while she narrowed her eyes at Hexx.

Fi swiftly reappeared with a container of a crunchy glazed snack and offered it to Mayday. “I’ve been waiting for this episode, and we’ve got front row seats,” he said conspiratorially as he settled on a bench against the building.  Mayday huffed, and pinched the bridge of his nose, frustratedly.

“You’ve been putting yourself in harm’s way too much,” Hexx declared. 

“What ‘harm’ are you so worried about?” Choy asked with an eye roll and hands raised to the sides.

“Well, for one thing, I found out Archer has a repulsor lift,” Hexx said as he drew himself taller. 

Choy raised her eyebrows and tipped her chin up at him challengingly.

“And I saw and heard things last night, things that are out there in those woods. And just now, I think-”

“We’re in a village full of Mandalorians and Commandos, for crying out loud!” 

“And Nulls!” Fi interjected from his seat.

“See, Fi agrees with me,” said Choy. Hexx shot Fi a look. 

“I am not taking sides,” Fi protested through a mouthful of snacks, holding up his hands. 

Hexx looked back at her, “None of them are in charge of you.”

“‘In charge?’ And just who do you think you are— telling me what I can and can’t do?” Choy spat, balling her hands into fists on her hips.

“I think- no, I know I’m someone who cares about you!”

“This isn’t how you’re supposed to care about someone, Hexx” Choy protested.

A hint of knowing he was in the wrong flashed on Hexx’s face before stubbornness won out. “And I suppose you’re the expert in that department.”

“I know a thing or two, yeah.”

“Well if you really cared about me- about us-,”

“Hexx!” Veetch shouted, noticing Choy’s wounded expression.

“Control is not care!” Choy yelled and tore off the scarf she wore around her neck, pointing at her scars. “That, I know really well,” she said with pain and tears in her eyes. 

Hexx’s anger derailed and crashed into regret as those tears fell down her flushed cheeks and past her trembling chin. 

“Show’s over,” she said venomously over her shoulder.

Fi and Mayday cleared their throats and avoided everyone’s eye contact. Choy stalked off down the street, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.

Veetch huffed and shook his head at Hexx. “You kriffin’ di’kut,” he said as he patted Hexx’s shoulder. “You’re going to need to do more than cook her a fancy dinner now.” Hexx sighed and started following as he felt another hand on his shoulder. 

“Before you go and patch things up with your woman,” Fi glanced at Mayday, “listen a minute,” he said with an unusually serious tone.

Fi pulled a small holoprint out of one of his belt pouches and held it up for Hexx to see. A very battered looking Fi was propped up in a bed with Parja at his side. 

“This is a picture of me and Parja when I woke up from the coma. I couldn’t even walk.”  Hexx studied the snapshot, noticing the softness on Parja's face as she looked at Fi. “I’d be in a chair at best if it weren’t for her.” 

Hexx looked at him, understanding the parallel Fi was starting to draw. 

“Ive seen Choy look at you like that. Us clones are lucky if anyone looks at us at all.” Hexx hung his head a little. “Parja’s so precious to me. She's mine, but not like these shoes or my tooth sonic are mine. She’s my wife like you are my brother.” Hexx perked up at Fi calling him his brother.

“I worry about her when we’re on a mission or we’re apart, but we have each other’s complete trust. And I listen to her needs. If I tried to coop her up, keep her away from anything dangerous, I’d smother her. I’d lose her. Women like her and Keb and, from what I’ve seen, Choy, need us to have their six, but give them the rest of the clock.”

Hexx worked on Fi’s words, frowning and cursing himself. Then he thought about Choy’s attempts to distance herself from him and Veetch earlier that day. “Maker, I really messed this all up,” he muttered dragging his hands down his face. “I’d better go find her,” he said, turning to look in the direction she left and realized Mayday and Veetch were gone, too. He looked back at Fi, “thanks for setting me straight, vod,” he held out his hand. 

Fi grasped it and pulled him into a big back slapping hug. “Go get her.”

Hexx set off, looking around and between the rustic structures of the village. He noticed Hexx pointing Mayday in the direction of the trail to Archer’s home.  The street was dimly and sparsely lit by the occasional electric lantern or bulb hung from the overhanging roofs. He heard a voice. It was soft and feminine and definitely Choy’s although kicked up in pitch from normal. He came to what looked like an open barn structure under which were cubed stacks of dried plant material. Choy was faced away from him, kneeling on the straw-strewn floor, talking to and petting something small and furry. It walked back and forth, rubbing the length of its body against her leg.

“Aren’t you such a good momma? What pretty babies you have. Of course they take after you, pretty thing.” She stroked the creature's head who seemed to be responding to her praise with affection. “I’m sorry I don't have any food for you, but I can bring you some tomorrow.”  Hexx drew closer, letting his footfalls make plenty of noise so she could hear him, not realizing she could feel his very chagrined force presence before he ever saw her. He smiled as he noticed that Choy was petting something cute. He caught a flash of green from the creature’s eyes. 

“Don’t mind him, he's not being very nice right now,” Choy told the creature, which hopped up on her lap and flashed its eyes again in Hexx’s direction. “You’re an awful lot like him, cute, smart, very protective. Just promise me you won’t corner me and bite my head off.” The creature stamped its feet and twitched its tail before jumping off Choy’s lap and back to its nest of young. 

“Choy,” Hexx said as he drew closer. “Choy I’m so sorry, I’ve been a total idiot,” he braced himself for the rejection he expected.

Choy turned her head slightly in his direction. “Go on.” 

Hexx exhaled the breath he’d been holding and jumped at the second chance he felt within his reach. “I haven’t been treating you the way you deserve.  I shouldn’t have tried controlling you. I was acting out of fear.” He paused as he composed himself. 

Choy turned fully to look at him. She could sense a feeling of profound loss from him. Hexx’s eyes were closed as he swallowed. 

“You mean so much to me, and to Veetch. I hope you can forgive me.”

Choy stood and walked up to him. She looked deeply in his eyes searching for any sign of subtle coercion he might not even be aware of. All she felt from him was regret and fear and an earnest hopefulness. But none of the manipulative undercurrent that she was worried about. Veetch appeared behind Hexx and she beckoned him closer.

“Well that’s a start,” she said to Hexx, clasping his hand with hers and taking Veetch’s in her other, “but before we continue this conversation we should help Mayday and Archer.

”I just showed him how to get up to her place,” said Veetch, “he’s already gone.” 

Choy sighed.  She hoped Archer would listen to him.  “Well, let's go back to the cabin, then.”

***

Choy tried reaching out in the force for Archer as she and the boys approached the fork in Archer’s trail. She was sure Archer was physically ok but was growing increasingly concerned about how Mayday’s outburst may have affected her. 

“Can you sense if she’s up at the tree house?” asked Veetch.

Choy closed her eyes and held her hands out in that direction. “I can’t tell for sure. I feel Mayday up that way. Archer’s probably hiding her force signature like she did when we were at 79’s. She’s really good at that.” Choy dropped her hands and cast her gaze back down at the trail. “She’s probably not super happy with me right now. I don’t know if I’m just too far away, I could try again from close to her tree.”

Hexx put his arm around Choy and she leaned her head on his shoulder. “Come on, it’ll be alright, the commander’s got to do his thing on his own.”

They made their way down to the little cabin. Hexx held the door open for Choy as Veetch hung back. Hexx looked at him.

“I’ll let you talk,” Veetch said, settling in a chair with his feet propped up on the railing. Hexx left him out there watching the moonlight ripple on the lake. Just as he began dozing off he heard a low grumbling sound. He opened his eyes to the sight of Copi filling up his field of vision and about fell out of his seat. She snuffled him and resumed pacing back and forth making whines and growls. Veetch scrambled up and knocked at the cabin door. He cracked it open. 

“Choy, Hexx? Sorry Copi is—,” he peeked his head in and caught them in the middle of a passionate embrace. “Aw you guys made up. Hey Copi is out here and I think she’s upset.”

Choy unwrapped herself from Hexx and went to the door.  Copi was pacing around and acting a bit agitated. Choy finished fastening her top as she gave Veetch a quick kiss and went out to her.

“Copi, hey sweetie are you alright?” Choy cooed, holding her hands out wide and  focusing love and comfort to the gigantic creature. Copi swung her head towards Choy and ambled over. She rested her big chin on the railing with a huff. Choy could feel the worry and anxiety and partly formed thoughts from the somewhat sentient beast. 

[Friend, gone, where?]

“Oh Copi, Archer- Keb- is sad right now but will be ok.” She stroked the rancor’s scaly head above her eye. Copi rumbled and closed her eyes. “Mayday is also looking for her, maybe you can help him.” [Mayday, Archer, LOVE,] Choy added through the force.

Copi opened her eyes. They seemed brightened and hopeful now. [Copi help,] Choy felt from her. Copi rose up and loped away into the forest.

***

Veetch’s directions to Archer’s home had been fairly straightforward. A single wooded trail with only one fork. There would be a sign at the fork to point him in the direction he wanted to go. 

Mayday was standing in front of that sign now, feeling determined. The sign was in Mando’a, which he couldn’t read, but as he examined the sign more closely he noticed two small pictograms. One looked like it was meant to be water and the other appeared to have a hammer and a tiny, familiar Mandalorian helmet. 

That’s obviously the path to take, he thought. 

As he set off to the northeast he noticed a small flower blooming at the base of a tree. He needed a flower, he was sure of that. This one wasn’t exactly what he was thinking of - he wanted one the colour of sunshine, of warmth - but he’d take it just in case he didn’t find any others. 

He stooped to pluck the blossom, placed it into his belt pocket along with the comlink and packet of dried meat strips Fi had given him, and continued on up the path.  He had a mission to complete, but he was still tired from his recovery, and questions about what the kark had happened at 79’s and in the past couple of hours and days lingered in the back of his mind.  And Hexx.  Kriff Hexx, what did he know?  He’d forgotten about his lass too, and he’d upset her right in front of everybody.

He shook his head and pushed the questions away. He could sort through these things later, and get a debrief on the parts he’d missed, right now he had to find her, and make things right again. He sighed, guilt rising in him.  What had happened?  How could he possibly have forgotten, how could he have sent her away like that?

Another loud roar echoed through the woods, shaking him out of his thought spiral.  This time it sounded like it was behind him.  He assumed the noise was Copi, and he was glad he seemed to have bypassed her - she sounded unhappy.  If he was the cause of her unhappiness, which he suspected he might be, it was just as well he didn’t run into her.

He jogged down the trail, ignoring his fatigue until he came around a slight bend and spotted several colorful flowers along the side of the trail.  Taking note of the nearby sign, he collected a pink and a yellow flower and stashed them with the blue one in his belt pocket.  The yellow one would be perfect.

Within minutes of finding the flowers, he arrived at a large clearing, where the trail ended.  He stood before a small, round building constructed of stone blocks and wooden timbers.  Some smoke was coming from the chimney and a blue glow was visible from the small windows.  This must be the workshop she told me she had, he thought.  In the distance, at the top of a very tall veshok tree he could just make out the shape of Archer’s home.

Peeking in the door of the workshop, he quickly determined she was not there.  The forge, however, was lit, casting the blue glow from the windows and he noted two incomplete sets of Mandalorian armour hanging on the wall.  Hexx and Veetch’s names were scribbled below them.

He smiled to himself, thinking about how she had taken the risk to come for him and his men, and now she was crafting new armour - beskar armour by the look of it - for them.  

He closed the door to the workshop and trotted over to the base of the large tree where Archer made her home.  Circling around it, he looked for a door for the turbolift Hexx had mentioned to Choy.  He found a small, partially hidden access panel with illuminated buttons.  A red flashing light on the top told him that the lift was probably locked.

He was confident that he could slice the panel, but the thought of breaking into Archer’s home was incredibly disrespectful.  He would never betray her trust like that.  Except that she probably doesn’t trust me right now, he thought with a frown.

He wandered back over toward the workshop, gazing up at the huge tree above him.  The lights were on in the home, could she be up there?  

The sounds of heavy footsteps and growling suddenly reached his ears.  Copi was pounding up the trail behind him, and she was close.  He knew the rancor was generally friendly with clones - sometime a little too friendly - and he had even met her at 79s, but he also knew that her mood could be mercurial and she was protective of Archer.  He decided taking shelter inside the workshop until he could ascertain her mood would be a good idea, and quickly ducked inside. 

Copi barreled into the clearing and stopped to look around.  From the window in the workshop door, Mayday watched her swing her head from side to side, as though she was looking for something.

She ambled past the workshop and suddenly stopped and sniffed the air. She swung her head in his direction and her eyes found his. Spotted, he thought. 

The rancor gazed at him, seeming to turn something over in her mind. After a moment, she huffed and continued on her way to the middle of the clearing. She sat down in the grass there and looked up at the home in the tree. 

He felt the low-pitched rumbling sound she made next vibrate through him, and watched as she seemed to deflate sadly and lie down on her belly. She seemed relatively peaceful, and he felt a little bad for the seemingly lonely creature, so he opened the workshop door, exited slowly and sat down on the steps, watching her for a response.  

Copi lifted her head from where she lay, quivered a bit and waved her short tail back and forth a few times, but otherwise remained where she was.

“Hi Copi,” he said, as he rose and approached her calmly. He stood next to her and gazed up at the tree house.  He wondered again if Archer was up there.  “I’m going to call for her, ok?  Don’t be alarmed,” he said to the rancor.  She blinked at him.

”Kebii’tra!  It’s Mayday!  I’ve come to apologise!" he shouted up into the limbs above.

He waited, watching for any sign of her, but the house remained silent and still.  He was confident that, even if she were upset with him, she wouldn’t ignore him calling her name.  Next to him, Copi sat up and studied him curiously.  He got the feeling that she was considering grabbing him, but was restraining herself.

Cautiously, he made his way over to the workshop again, and sat down against the exterior wall, keeping his awareness on Copi the entire time.  He would wait here as long as he had to for Archer return.  He would apologise and she would understand.  He hoped.

An anxious sigh left him and he focused on Copi.   She was watching him closely, but seemed content that he didn’t intend to leave the area as she’d laid back down.  She was definitely keeping an eye on him, too. 

With nothing to do but wait, thoughts and questions about the events of the past 6 months circled through his head.  He thought about what his purpose would be now that he was free from the Empire, and what it would be like to make a home in this place, amongst these capable Mandalorian people.  There was so much possibility here, and he was ready to be part of it. He just needed to repair the rift with his Mandalorian. 

 Fatigue soon caught up with him again, and he began dozing off.  Just a few minutes, he told himself, she’ll be back soon and everything will be fine.

***

Light was peeking over the horizon with the approaching dawn as she returned home from her night flight. 

Appropriate term, she thought. She’d literally fled from the medical lab.  Like an ik’aad, she thought bitterly. 

The hurt that had crashed over her when Mayday had demanded she leave him alone was more than she could conceal. No one had chased after her, and she’d needed the time away from everyone to gain control of her emotions again.  She didn’t want them to feel sorry for her, and she didn’t want to burden Choy with her failings.

She’d spent a couple hours hidden away in a peaceful spot and had calmed down, but even so she didn’t plan on going back to the village to face them any time soon.  She'd been so sure of herself, of him, but she should have left the force osik well-enough alone…

An icon in her HUD flickered to life, notifying her of an unexpected heat signature on the ground next to her workshop. She landed softly on the deck of her treetop home and flicked her rangefinder down, zooming in on the distant anomaly below.  The dark shape slumped against the outer wall of her workshop resolved itself into the form of a fuzzy, sleeping, clone commander.  

What was he doing here?

A warbling chirp from below had her looking back over the railing again at a very pleased-with-herself Copi.  Had Copi snatched him and brought him here? She sighed. She’d have to wake him, apologise, and send him on his way back to the village. Great.

“Traitor!” she whispered loudly to the rancor.  Copi rumbled and sauntered back into the forest, apparently satisfied that her job was done. 

Taking her helmet off and setting it on the deck table, Archer glanced at the data pad that was still sitting there. There were a couple of missed notifications. She decided to take her armour off and get this awkward moment with Mayday over with before dealing with them, and finally getting some sleep.

She quickly changed into more casual clothing, and strapped her dual Westar-35s to her thighs.  She descended to the ground in the turbolift, and felt her tension building again as it crept closer to the ground.  Would he be even more angry this time?

She approached him cautiously.  He appeared to be fully asleep.  How long had Copi held him here?  She was within a few paces of him when his eyes opened suddenly, and he rose to his feet, and focused on her with wide eyes.

***

“Kebii’tra…” he breathed, his voice barely a whisper, “you’re here.” He felt his heart pounding erratically.  He had to get this right. “I came here to apologise to you.”

His eyes burned and he desperately wanted to take her in his arms and squeeze her tight, but she was regarding him with a guarded look, every line of her posture emphasizing the warrior that she was, even without her armour on. The ghost of hurt was lingering in her eyes.  

“I’m sorry I shouted at you, I didn’t mean any of that.  I was angry and frightened… cold and… I didn’t remember..” He trailed off before he recalled Choy’s advice.  “I’m glad it was you who helped me remember.”

Her expression softened, just a bit. He took this as a good sign, so he forged on.

“I know I promised to contact you after 79’s, and I’m sorry that I didn’t.”  His fingers found the beskar hanging around his neck, and he glanced down at it “I had this with me every day, and it kept me warm when things felt most cold.”  He looked back up at her,  “You kept me warm, kept me going.”

Please understand, he thought.  She was dear to him and the thought that he might lose her left him feeling colder than any mission on Barton IV ever had.

He reached into a pocket on his belt, and pulled out the slightly wilted-looking yellow flower.  He felt a little deflated about the state of it, but he held it out in front of him in both hands nonetheless.

”You came for me. Just like you said you would... you even brought Copi.”  He looked down at the slightly sad flower. It was a little damaged, but still beautiful. “I can find you more flowers, if you want,” he began to ramble.

She still hadn’t said anything.  But she hadn’t told him to leave, either. She hadn’t called Copi to eat him, or blasted him.  Was she sensing his thoughts, even now? He hoped so.

He tried to think about the close moments they’d shared, about the way he’d felt when he’d had to leave her behind at Gar goth night, and about how even though he was made to forget, her kar’ta, her heart, had kept him warm everyday since then.

 Slowly, cautiously, he reached for her hand. Taking it gently in one of his, he quietly brought it to his face and softly pressed her palm to his cheek, his eyes searching hers for her reaction.

He saw her eyes widen and become briefly unfocused as her palm touched his skin. She took a shuddering breath, and met his gaze.  He felt like she was looking into him, like she could really see him.

”Mayday?” she whispered, raising her other hand to frame his face between her palms.  

Relief and optimism flooded him at the sound of his name on her lips.  He’d only heard her call it once before - the moment she’d summoned him, inadvertently, that night too long ago.  He drew himself up and flashed her a confident, lopsided grin, ”At your service?”

”There he is,” she said softly, a smile lighting her face, “There’s my Al’verde.”

The tension between them evaporated like mist in the morning sun. 

His grin widened, and he hummed, a mischievous look spreading across his face.  In a swift motion he wrapped his arms around her waist, and, lifting her up against his chest he nuzzled his face into hers, tickling her with his bushy beard. 

Her surprised gasp and bubbling, genuine laughter as she tried, half-heartedly, to push him and his fuzz away was music to his ears. The delighted sounds sent happiness coursing through his veins, and knowing that he was the source of that joy had his heart pounding again as heat bloomed in his cheeks. 

***

 He set her back on her feet, but kept his arms around her. She looked up at him to find him gazing down at her with open adoration, before his eyes took on a look of intense focus, like he was trying to communicate something to her with his gaze. 

Tentatively, remembering his earlier reaction to her mental intrusion, she extended her thoughts to him and brushed her consciousness delicately against his. 

He felt warm and welcoming, like coming home to a mug of hot cocoa on a cold day, and he was thinking the same four Mando’a words over and over in a loop. 

She felt a tear squeeze itself out of the corner of her eye and roll slowly down her cheek. He swiped it away with a thumb, smiling softly. “I mean that.”

“I know,” she responded, feeling a little dazed.  How did he seem to know all the right things to say?   He’d completely overturned everything she’d been thinking when she’d returned, and had wordlessly reassured her that he accepted her completely.  His emotions were undeniably genuine. 

She sighed softly.

The contrast between how she was feeling now compared with just minutes ago couldn't have been bigger.  She was glad they were alone here, because she felt like a lovesick foundling and she was certain Parja would enjoy the chance for friendly teasing.

It doesn’t matter, she decided.  This felt right, and she was going to embrace it fully.

”What are you thinking?” Mayday asked, noticing her brief distraction.

Her face heated a bit, and she looked up at him again. There was a trace of concern in his eyes.  “Just that I missed your warmth and steady presence, and I’m glad that you’re here and that you can make your own choices now, make your own life.”  She paused, wondering if he’d thought about the future at all.  “What do you want, Al'verde? What will make you happy?”

She hoped that, whatever it was, he wanted to include her.

”Right now?” he asked, tucking a loose strand of blue hair behind her ear along with the flower he’d been holding, still. “I want to kiss you.”

Her cheeks were surely about to combust.  She smirked at him. “Is that so?”

”Nothing would make me happier.”  His eyes were pools of molten chocolate.

”Then kiss me, Mayday.”

***

He woke gently, feeling a deep peace and comfort that he’d never known before.  The dappled afternoon sunlight warmed his bare skin, and the deep carpet of soft moss cradled him comfortably. Birds were singing in the boughs above the secluded little clearing where he lay, and the warm breeze sighing through the trees added to the soothing natural melody. 

His precious Kebii’tra lay asleep in his arms, and all the worry and sorrow from the hours and days before were as nothing. He curled around her, feeling content and protective.  She was his, and he was hers, and this was paradise. For the moment, nothing else in the galaxy mattered. 

A shadow crept over them, and he cracked an eye open to see the huge, toothy grin of one very smug-looking rancor looming above.  Copi stared at him intently, and if he hadn’t had her friend at his side, he’d have been a bit unnerved.  He squeezed Archer a little bit closer to him, anyway.  He had a feeling Copi was smarter than the average beast.

”Shh, Copi,” he whispered, worried that she’d make a noise and wake his exhausted verd’ika.

“She wants the food in your belt,” Archer mumbled sleepily into his chest. 

Mayday reached behind them and groped for his discarded clothing.  Finding his belt, he rummaged through the leather pocket until he found the foil-wrapped meat strips.  He tossed them to Copi, who warbled happily and plopped herself down in a nearby patch of sun.

”I didn’t mean to wake you,” he whispered to her, as he wrapped her back up in his embrace.  She hummed contentedly and he felt pure contentment surround him.

Maker.  He could lie here like this forever.  

After a long moment though, she sighed.  “I suppose we should comm Choy and the guys.  They’re probably wondering if you got lost in the forest, or if I fed you to Copi.”

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and squeezed her closer. “You’re still tired. Rest a little longer, they can wait.”

She smiled up at him then sat up, stretching.  “I’ll be ok, and there’ll be plenty of time to rest tonight.”  She gave him a sly smile.  “Besides, I need food, and perhaps a visit to the ‘fresher.”

Mayday chuckled, “Well I won’t let you starve on my watch!”  He stood to gather their wayward clothing. “Choy did seem worried about you, but she tried to convince me to wait until morning to come find you.”

Archer frowned.  She probably should have looked at the messages on her datapad earlier.  She reflected that Choy probably felt a little badly over the whole misunderstanding, especially since she’d hidden herself right after.

She furrowed her brow in guilt and released the mental shield she’d held around herself. She allowed the joy and love she was feeling from Mayday, and a bit of remorse over her actions to fill that space and surround her. 

There. Choy could probably feel that. She nudged against her distant presence, just to be sure, and mused for a moment about how easy it was, now, to feel the presence of the other woman, even though there was some distance between them. Curious. 

Mayday pressed the bundle of their clothing into her lap, set the yellow flower on top, and stooped down to hoist her up into his arms. “Before you worry about taking care of anyone else,” he said as he carried her towards the turbolift and the inviting treehouse above, “I’m going to take care of you.”

***

Choy floated in the lake and watched little fluffy clouds float across the afternoon sky. She had stopped searching in the force for Archer that morning. Mayday’s presence had been the only thing human that Choy could sense out there and as the day broke he had flared up with some big, passionate emotions and then just… vanished. Choy was puzzled about that but suspected that maybe the search for Archer was having a happy and private ending. 

The unmistakable feeling of a mind nudged against hers, direct and intentional. Archer! Choy gave the feeling her full attention and felt a mixture of loving bliss and regret.  She swam over to the shore and waved at Hexx and Veetch where they were collecting firewood along the treeline. They dropped their armfuls of wood and hustled over to her.

“I heard from Archer!” Choy exclaimed as they rushed down to her, concerned something was wrong. “She’s good, everything’s worked out!” 

Frequent Fliers: @eobe @lonewolflupe @ghostymarni @foxwithadarkside @nocturius8015ficore @noblelightfighter @fuzzyenthusiastnelket01 @crosshairs-dumb-pimp-gf @eclec-tech

Part 2

(Part 1)

The continuation of this collaborative “fix-it”, post GGN tale. This has turned into a collaborative writing exercise between myself and @feralferrule, with input from a couple other vode. The thing I loved most about GGN was the collaboration and the reciprocal inspiration. Thanks so much to all of you for the ride!

Hang in there BIV boys, we’re coming!

Word Count ~5400

Synopsis - Joined by a couple friends, Archer and Choy get to know each other a little better while planning how they’re going to extract Hexx, Veetch, and Mayday from Barton IV without altering the timeline. Meanwhile, the Barton IV boys continue to freeze, still utterly baffled by their GGN ‘dreams’, but at least they were good dreams. 😙

Warnings: We’re trying to rope a bunch of chaos together (including some very non-canon shenanigans) and make it all behave. Let’s just go with it. 🤫 Some angsty-ness and tender moments. Archer isn’t sure how to process her feelings or worries. She needs a hug. Or maybe more of that pink drink.

Mando’a Words

Al’verde - commander

Aruetiise - Outsiders

Beskar’gam - armour

Beskaryc kar’ta - beskar heart

Copi - shortened from copikla, “cute”. Copi is Archer’s young rancor.

Haar Trak - “The Arrow”, Archer’s Kom'rk-class starfigher.

Kar’ta -  heart

Kov’nyn - the Mandalorian “Keldabe kiss”. The touching of foreheads, usually by helmeted individuals. Can be used in combat (I.e., a violent headbutt), but when performed gently, this gesture is an act of affection and trust (not exclusively romantic), and demonstrates a bond between the individuals involved. 

Ner - my

Ner runi cuyi ca’tra, bal gar me’suum’ika bal ka’ra - My soul is the night sky, and you are the moon and stars

Olarom - Welcome

Shab’la - screwed-up

Resol’nare - “The six actions”. Six tenets, central to the Mandalorian way of life.

Yaim’sik - home/house

Barton IV, Imperial Depot

Another frigid morning.  Not that there were ever warm mornings, but he’d settle for a plain cold one once in a while. Commander Mayday rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stood up from his cot. A thin skim of ice on the drab, grey duracrete walls of his bunk room shimmered in the pale light beginning to stream through the tiny window, and he could see each exhale as they puffed out in a swirling cloud in front of him. 

This was a miserable place to be. He and his squad had been assigned to guard the remote outpost and its cargo crates over a year ago. The base came under constant attack from raiders - local people, and over the months most of the squad had been lost in the conflicts. Morale was at an all-time low, the Empire had all but abandoned them to their icy fates, and all of his squad had been lost apart from two troopers - Hexx and Veetch.

A faint reflection of light caught his eye as he bent to pick up his armour from its neat stack on the floor. The pendant around his neck, a copper coloured metal hexagon, was swinging and catching the orange glow from his small, barely functional, heating device.  He paused to consider the simple pendant. It hung on a leather cord and had faint writing etched on it in runes he recognized as Mandalorian, but could not read.

He’d woken up one morning, about 6 months past and had discovered it hanging around his neck. The clothing strewn across the floor was not his usual blacks and his favourite, well his ONLY, pair of sunglasses had been missing.  He’d stormed into Hexx and Veetch’s quarters demanding to know what trouble they had been up to, only to find them arguing about some wild theory. About a dream. A dream with eerie similarities to the one he’d had that night, and had continued having since.  

The dream was difficult to remember, he had only brief images left when he awoke. A red rose woven into flowing brown hair.  A tattoo in the shape of his pendant, etched on a pale sternum. Soft hands running over his hair and along his cheeks. His forehead resting gently against another.  He always felt warm and a little less alone when he woke from this dream, but its appearance along with that of the pendant were utterly perplexing.  

Dreams couldn’t explain the appearance and disappearance of physical objects. He must have spent too much time trapped at this miserable base, he was loosing his grip on reality.  He’d spent several days trying to figure out what the kark had happened, but eventually gave it up for some quirk in the force. All he knew for sure, was that his new pendant was inexplicably dear to him (but couldn’t, sadly, shade his eyes from the glaring sun).  He rarely took it off, and kept it hidden in the collar of his blacks.

With a sigh, he resigned himself once again to possibly never finding the answers to all of the questions he had. He tucked his pendant into his collar and began to kit up in his amour, wondering if the reinforcements he’d requested 28 rotations ago would be arriving finally.

***

In the adjacent barracks Hexx and Veetch were also preparing for the day. Veetch was rummaging through his small crate of belongings when he came across an item of ladies lingerie. He considered the lacy scrap of cloth for a moment. It still faintly held the scent from it’s presumable former owner.  Together he and Hexx had a matching set.  But Hexx never wanted to talk about their secret treasures.  It felt like he’d gotten his in a dream, but that couldn’t be right - the fabric was real, he could hold it in his hands.  The more he tried to puzzle out the answer, the more foggy his dream-like memory became. It had to be just a dream.  A really good dream.  Like a children’s tale, full of mystery and magic.  He brushed the lacy fabric with his fingers one last time and then stood and headed out into the chill of the base. 

Hexx followed him silently, his thoughts also on the inexplicable appearance of items he and his brother kept secret. Veetch had some wild theories about the mysterious appearances and the recurring dreams he had about a mystery woman, but had given up trying to connect the dots after their Commander had reprimanded him for making a huge, slightly insane string board on the wall of their barracks.  The memory of the look on Mayday’s face when he’d first seen the huge art project still brought a smile to Hexx’s face.

Though he’d never admit it, Hexx had similar dreams, and often carried his treasure - a smaller scrap of lacy black fabric than Veetch had - with him through the day, convinced that it gave him good luck.  He surreptitiously checked for its presence in one of his belt boxes.  It was there, and the woman he’d gotten it from had to be out there too, she had to be real.  He felt assured it was going to be a good day.

***

Kyrimorut, Mandalore 

“This way, watch your head.” Archer held open a low door that curiously appeared to be hewn directly into the trunk of a vast veshok tree growing next to a pristine lake at the northern edge of the village.  Choy ducked inside the door and found herself in an expansive, partially underground space.  Numerous starships of varying sizes rested inside, gleaming in the low, artificial light.

“Wow.  Mandalorians really love their secret, hidden spaces, huh?” said Choy.  Archer chuckled.  “Well, this is a secret stronghold for some very high-profile, moderately unstable and ridiculously wealthy military deserters, ex-Jedi and other similarly unsavoury characters.  We don’t exactly want to hang out an olarom sign for the Empire.” Archer smirked.

Archer had just received a message from Jaing, the information specialist they’d visited not an hour before.  He’d informed them that an Imperial shuttle was scheduled to deploy to Barton IV two standard rotations from now.  They didn’t have much time to waste so they’d come to prepare to leave for Barton IV.

Archer led her in the direction of the large hangar door, which appeared to open directly out from the side of the tree under which the hangar was build, opposite the small door they had just entered by.  There was a medium-sized starship parked here, its wings in an upright position.  As they approached the side of the ship, a woman in dark crimson coveralls slid out from underneath it wiping grease from her hands with a rag.

“Choy, this is Parja.  Parja, Choy,” Archer introduced.  She turned to Choy.  “Parja is our resident mechanic and general technical specialist.  She’s Fi’s partner. Parja,” she said turning back towards the other woman, “thanks for doing my preflight-check on such short notice.  I’m afraid we’ve have to depart unexpectedly quickly.”

Choy studied the fierce-looking mechanic.  She looked pretty familiar, and she knew they’d met briefly. “Oh! We met at GAR Goth Night,” she realized out loud.  

Parja raised an eyebrow, “Where? ‘GAR’ as in Grand Army of the Republic?”

Choy looked questioningly at Archer who nodded [[She’s safe, just remember I’m on the down low.]] Choy gave her a subtle wink and turned back to Parja.

“Parja, I’m glad to really meet you. I only just saw you across the dance floor at 79’s on Coruscant months ago. You were dancing with your husband and his brother and Archer.” Parja squinted her eyes and looked just over Choy’s head.  “Everyone was dressed in black and the clone bar was decorated all spooky? Do you remember?” 

She shook her head, casting her gaze around, “I, I thought I had some dreams kind of like that. Fi hasn’t mentioned anything like it,” she looked at Archer. “You were there? With us?” Archer nodded.

“I can help you remember,” Choy offered, holding up her hand. “I’m no Jedi but I can do the same stuff they can. The place had some special power over it that night that gave us all amnesia, but someone helped me remember and I helped Archer.” 

Again Parja looked to Archer for confirmation. 

Choy continued, “May I jog your memory?” She held out her hand, “I promise the rest of your mind is safe, I won’t go poking around or anything,” Choy smiled. Parja nodded and placed her hand on Choy’s. Choy stepped closer, placed her other hand on Parja’s and began radiating calm and reassuring energy toward her. 

“I will show you images, [[of the club from my memories.]] Choy switched to speaking through the force. She sent safe welcoming energy into Parja’s brain, visualizing a mist lifting off of her mind. Choy then projected her own memory of Parja arriving at 79’s with Rav, her outfit, her husband, the dancing. [[it was a theme night at 79’s, gothic, melancholy, romantic]] she showed her the other patrons, the decor, the performers on stage. She coaxed out Parja’s suspended memories frozen by the strange fogginess that she could feel in the force around people who had been at GGN. 

Parja drew a sharp breath, “Yes, that’s like my dream. Oh, this all really happened. I was there!”

Choy continued. [[Archer met a clone commander in the GAR - well Empire now - Mayday, who went through quite the effort to woo her.]] Choy showed Mayday giving her the rose and a snippet of how they looked at each other.

Archer watched Parja’s expression soften from surprise and wonder to something happier as she caught Archer’s eye. Choy felt Parja’s caring and gladness directed toward her friend, and noticed Archer crossing her arms, cheeks colouring a bit.

[[And I- well, I hit it off with his men.]] Choy carefully parsed the more intimate memories from her projection into Parja’s mind, but some of the emotion slipped through, the infatuation, the deep concern. Parja’s attention was back on Choy, Archer noting her raised eyebrows and Choy’s blush.  

[[I know what terrible things are going to happen to these men, and have come here to ask Archer for her help to rescue them from the Imperial base they are stationed at.]] Choy showed her memory of the images of Barton IV, the explosion, the row of helmets, Mayday with a heavy heart, the avalanche, Crosshair, and the cold, indifferent Imperial officer. Mayday dead in the snow. 

“The Empire is throwing clones away like trash, abusing them, even experimenting on them now.” Choy said out loud with restrained passion, blinking back tears. She released Parja’s hand with a quick squeeze to bring her back to the here and now. “Thank you for listening,” Choy added and stepped back out of Parja’s personal space.

Parja blinked slowly and then looked to Archer. “So now you’re flying off to some Imperial installation, without a plan, or backup, to extract three random clones?”

Archer scoffed. ”Who said I don’t have a plan?” 

”Does your “plan” involve a crate of thermal detonators?”

Archer shrugged non-commitally, a huge grin on her face.

“You’ve been spending too much time with Scorch.” Parja smirked, then turned serious. “But you know better than to think we’ll let you go to infiltrate an Imperial base by yourself, Keb. I’m coming with you and we’re bringing Fi too,” she continued, walking off.  

“Your ship’s grounded until we come back!” she shouted over her shoulder as she left through the small door, heading towards the Skirata home.

Choy looked at Archer quizzically. “Keb?”

”My name.  It’s Kebii’tra.  “Archer” is a nickname of sorts.”

Choy nodded as she considered the irony that her own name now was a nickname derived from Archer’s language. She looked around at the space and wondered about the construction of the place and how these enormous compounds couldn’t be older than the huge trees above. 

She looked at the comically small door that Parja had just left through and tipped her head. “So if you want to use the force on this adventure, you can just blame me. But that Parja’s a good egg. Would you ever feel safe coming out to her as a force user? Why’d you tell me anyway? You have that pink booze they were passing out? That stuff was something else.” Choy waved a hand up dismissively, and cast her gaze around Archer’s ship. “You don’t have to answer any of this, I’m just thinking out loud right now. But if she’s going to help- which is great, don’t get me wrong, I just think that says a lot about how much she cares about you.” She turned to Archer and looked her in the eyes, “Now, I’ll take your secret to my grave but I don’t think you should have to.”

Archer shrugged in Choy’s direction.  “They liberate and take in defected clones here.  It’s part of the reason this place exists, and it’s how they live by the Resol’nare.  But Mandalorians have a long… tumultuous history with force users.  The conflicts between us have shaped our culture for centuries.  Distrust of the Jedi runs deep in our blood, and Mandalorian force users may be hidden away or shunned. It’s different here, people are less traditional, obviously, but I don’t have a great many friends and I don’t want to lose any because I’m different.”

Choy didn’t fail to notice the slightly pained look that briefly crossed Archer’s face.  

”And to your second question,” she said abruptly changing the subject, “You threatened me.” Choy received a teasingly wicked grin. “It was only fair I let you know what you were getting yourself into,” she said with a wink. 

Continuing, she said, “Since you mentioned them, those pink drinks - what did they do to us? They made me feel strange. Like I wasn’t quite myself in some ways. I did some things I wouldn’t normally have, and everything I felt seemed exaggerated. It was all so intense by the end of the night. ” 

“Hold up,” Choy laughed, “Is it really a threat if I don't know you can hear me?” she smirked at the other woman. “Anyway, yeah we were definitely in an altered state,” she squinted her eyes and thought back to that night. “I’ve had a while to reflect on this and I believe what I was feeling was genuine. Like, I was really annoyed with Jesse, but I was already annoyed with him. I avoided Echo after the drinks because I knew my heart would break in a million pieces if I saw him. I felt very platonic toward the Bad Batchers and all the ladies felt like sisters I never had. It was like I felt everything stronger, but it all came from me.”   

She shifted her weight to one leg and held a hand out. “But would I have jumped in the sack with two men had I been sober?” She shrugged, “Possibly. Probably- honestly,” she nodded, “ that’s exactly what I would have done then. I was still hormonal like a tooka in heat- sorry, I know, TMI. But between the force being new for me and the stupid GAR-issue birth control implant, I was a hot mess. I still have to focus every day just to manage it, but it’s better. I wasn’t eased into the force from birth like you or anyone else in this galaxy. Yoda said it’s the nature of power to fill voids. Apparently I was a void,” Choy added sardonically, eyebrows raised. 

She looked at Archer again who seemed not at all reassured. Choy sighed, “Here’s what I think- whatever you did with Mayday, that came from your heart. It didn’t feel like regular drunk inhibition to me and you didn’t seem drugged. I’ve seen that and your mind felt clear. We’ll just have to see how we feel about the guys when we get them, and how they feel about us, too. Who knows, maybe we just end up rescuing them and it’s like catch and release.”

She paused and stepped a little closer to Archer, “Hey, nothing you did was inherently bad. Do Mandalorians have cultural rules, taboos about this sort of thing? Or your own rules you have for yourself?”

“There’s no cultural taboo. Far from it.”  Archer paused, looking a little uncomfortable. “I’m just…not usually into the casual scene I guess.  I don’t really regret anything, I’m just still unsure how things seemed to move so quickly for me. And of what that might mean.”

Choy sensed something behind Archer’s words, but let it be for the time being.

Archer continued, unprompted. “I gave him my kar’ta…” she admitted. “He was still loyal to the Empire, I couldn’t tell him about this place,” she gestured around them, “couldn’t yet offer him, them, a place to get away to.  But still, I gave it to him.”

“Your kar’ta?” Choy asked her, unsure of what she meant, but sensing a weight to the admission. 

“My heart. My beskar heart - from my armour,” she hedged slightly.  “He hung it around his neck, and wore it as a pendant the rest of the night.”

“I’ve read that piece is special.  It symbolizes the heart and spirit of the Mandalorian people, right?”  She eyed Archer knowingly.

“Yeah, that’s right,” she trailed off, apparently unprepared to go further.

”Hey,” Archer began anew, once again changing the course of the conversation, “since we have a bit of time before Parja comes back with Fi, let's head back to my yaim’sik for a minute.  I should introduce - or maybe reintroduce - you to someone.”

“Yes, of course,” Choy said a little absentmindedly. She followed Archer out of the little door and back through the woods. She was considering how deeply affected Archer seemed to be by her dalliance with Mayday. Choy felt deep guilt seeping up. A memory of Hexx throwing the back room key to Mayday at her suggestion played across her mind. She realized that she had drawn Archer into the storm she was caught in, her lack of boundary and control stoking that far deeper power than the force, the fires of desire, the very thing driving all the conflict and war for power around them. She realized that maybe she wasn’t supposed to be here just for the boys, but for Archer, too. She felt a strong resolve to help Archer regain her sense of integrity and to set things right. 

Sensing her inner turmoil, Archer looked back at Choy who had straggled behind with her thoughts. Choy just smiled and quickened her pace. “So who’s the mystery person? Someone from GGN, I’d imagine?”

”Oh yes, I think you’ll quite like her.”

***

Hyperspace, en-route from Mandalore to Barton IV

Archer reclined in the pilot’s chair of her Kom’rk-class starfighter - Haar Trak  - content for the moment to rest and process some of the memories and information Choy had unlocked. They were presently speeding through hyperspace on their way from Mandalore to Barton IV, a journey that was nearly complete. 

Parja and Fi had joined them, Parja being convinced that they would need the help.  Or maybe she was just eager for another opportunity to see some of their new gear tested in action.  She wasn't sure.  Both Parja and Fi had spoken with Choy and were relieved of the fog over their memories.  They were now seated towards the rear of the ship, conversing quietly.

 Choy was seated beside her in the copilot’s chair, apparently lost within her own thoughts. She’d made it clear to them that in order to maintain the integrity of future events,  the three clones must be extracted without the knowledge of anyone on Barton IV, and that they must all be believed to have been killed in action. This was going to be… interesting.

The Imperial clone trooper known as Crosshair would soon be arriving on Barton IV with one Lieutenant Nolan. Crosshair had been at GGN and had seemed to know Mayday then.  It was curious that this day would be the first time they’d be meeting, according to Choy. Now that she was thinking of the people she’d seen that night, she realized there were quite a few people there who seemed to be from another time.  Curious. She wondered, not for the first time, what purpose the minstrels had had for bringing all of those beings together the way they had. What a story that must be.

This mission to free the three steadfast clones trapped on Barton IV was the right thing to do, and aligned with Kyriomorut’s objective of liberating and bringing more vode to the stronghold. But she’d also promised Mayday she’d come for him, and she felt compelled to fulfill that promise - no matter the ultimate outcome.  Sure, he hadn’t known exactly what she’d meant and probably didn’t remember anything about that night, but still she’d given her word.

 Choy had made it clear that all three men had experienced much in the past months and would be happy to move on to a different life, if given the chance.  It was time to fulfill her promise, then.  She recalled the last few moments of GGN, and felt her resolve strengthen. The memory played before her eyes.

Mayday hugged her close at a table near the bar, she was seated sideways across his lap. He laid his head against her shoulder, pressing his face into the crook of her neck. He sighed deeply as she waved to Eo and her squad as they departed for the night. 

She looked down at him and stroked his hair soothingly with her free hand as the tumult of emotions roiling inside him washed over her. He’d seemed lost in thought, trapped in a loop of “what-if’s”.

“Are you tired, Al’verde?” she’d asked. 

He’d looked up at her, his large eyes tinged with emotions she didn’t want to name. It was a heartbreaking look, and one she couldn’t deny held more than just weariness.

 “No.” 

“Then what’s wrong, ner kar’ta?”

“The club is closing soon.” He paused for a long moment, searching her gaze and clutching her more tightly to him. “And I don’t want to leave.” 

She’d looked up then, noticing that indeed the club was beginning to clear out, patrons saying their farewells and making their way to the exit. Hexx and Veetch had been hovering nearby, both looking dispirited after Choy’s departure. It was time for them to go as well. 

Setting her nearly empty glass of pink-drink down on the table behind her she pressed her palm to Mayday’s cheek, running her thumb back and forth softly. He leaned into the touch.  

“Shab,” she thought to herself with a heavy sigh of her own, “this one is the call for help that has brought me more trouble.” What was it that made these three bearded troopers so sweet and hard to deny? And why-oh-why must they still be with the Empire? Why couldn’t she just offer him and his men a safe place to go?”

She’d brought her forehead to rest against his in a gentle kov’nyn and said softly, “Ner runi cuyi ca’tra, bal gar me’suum’ika bal ka’ra.” She knew that he’d probably understood only a few of the words but she could feel their impact on him nonetheless. 

Their fast-growing attachment to each other was probably obvious to everyone in the club.  She should have kept her distance, knowing they would inevitably have to part - maybe permanently - at the end of the night, but she’d been as helpless in the end to the mysterious atmosphere of GGN as everyone else.

”Come with me?” he’d asked then. 

Before she’d been able formulate a response Hexx and Veetch appeared over his shoulder and cleared their throats.

”Uhm, commander?  Sir?” Veetch spoke hesitantly.

Mayday’s posture stiffened immediately, and he nearly growled his response. “I know, Veetch.”

Mayday sighed once again before rising from the chair and setting her on her feet. He took her hand in his, and as a group they walked towards the doors. He paused with her, eyeing the two troopers meaningfully. They walked through the doors with a nod… and seemed to fade in a pink-tinged mist that definitely hadn’t been there a moment ago.

What the kark? She hadn’t questioned that at the time. Mayday hadn’t seemed to notice.

He was hesitating, his reluctance to go etched in every line of his posture and rippling off him in strong pulses. His eyes said everything he wouldn’t voice. She squeezed his hand and tried to send a subtle wave of calm reassurance to him. He took a shaky breath and crushed her to his chest.  She squeezed him back as he said, “I’ll comm you. Promise.”

He pulled back and grinned at her. Mand’alor, that cheeky smile was contagious. She returned it with a wink and kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t forget, Al’verde. I’ll come after you if you do, and I’ll bring Copi,” she threatened teasingly.

“Promise?”

“Ni haat’mitir.”

Eyes shining, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. He turned quickly and passed through the doorway, fading away in swirling pinkish mist.

Again she hadn’t questioned that decidedly not normal departure at the time. 

And of course, he hadn’t contacted her.  She’d promised to come after him, and now she was. But the uncertainty she felt about where would they would stand after all the time that had passed was distracting. She sighed quietly.  “Stop it,” she chided herself.

It didn’t matter what happened after.  Getting the three men away from the Empire, saving their lives, giving them a chance to live and make their own choices was all that mattered. She was a professional.  She was not going to let these dikut’la pink-mist generated emotions and worries get in the way of completing this mission with everyone intact.

Clearing her throat, Archer turned fully in her seat to face Choy. ”Show me again, the events of the afternoon when we’ll have to get your two lads out.”  Choy took Archer’s offered hand and sent images of Crosshair overhearing an urgent comm message from Veetch relaying that Hexx had been taken down by raiders, followed by images of a shuttle stationed in front of the base exploding and sending a man in clone trooper armour - Veetch - flying through the air.

Parja and Fi, overhearing the activity joined the planning in the cockpit.

”It seems as though there are only a couple minutes between when Veetch reports Hexx to have been taken down at the back of this depot and when he himself is caught up in this shuttle explosion near the southwestern end.” Archer said, deep in thought.

“Yes, and Crosshair will be closely watching the shuttle explosion from the eastern watchtower, while Mayday is investigating in the northwestern area.  The light from the detonation will blind Crosshair temporarily but only for a few seconds.  There won’t be much time to get to Veetch without him noticing us,” said Choy.

“Hm.  We’ll have to split up into two teams to get to both men in time, I think,” Archer returned. “If we can covertly station one team on the east side near where the raiders make initial hard contact with Hexx and Veetch behind the barracks building, they can provide the boys with some subtle non-lethal cover fire and transport Hexx to the ship after Veetch breaks away to the south towards the shuttle.  A covert stun-shot on Hexx while Veetch has his back turned should maintain his story of being taken down and prevent him from actually being shot.”

Choy looked slightly aghast at the idea of deliberately stunning Hexx, but said, “I’m a pretty good shot, I can probably manage that.”

Fi brightened.  “Looks like you’re teaming up with me!  I’ve heard I’m ok with a blaster rifle.” He winked. Parja rolled her eyes fondly.

“Make sure you’re not firing unless you really need to.  Stun bolts will be really obvious and if anyone notices, your cover will be blown”, Parja added. “But what about the other man, Veetch?”

Archer crossed her arms. “You and I will get him.  This might be a good chance to try out that new remote override device you guys been working on. You up for a covert installation and remote “self-destruction” of an imperial shuttle?”

“You know it.” Parja smiled.  She was always game for testing out new tech. Especially if it caused a little mayhem for the Empire.

If we detonate that shuttle just a bit earlier than what Choy’s seen, it’ll still provide the flash of light we need for visual cover, and it’ll throw Veetch up into the right spot without it being fatal for him.  If my timing is right, I should be able to jet in and snatch him from the air as he’s blown back away from the shuttle.” Archer looked thoughtful for a moment. “I suppose the intensity of the explosion may be enough to explain the fact that he is suddenly missing too.”

“Wait,” Choy interjectected, “you can carry the weight of an armoured man while flying your jetpack?” asked Choy a bit doubtfully.

“I once scooped up a fully Katarn-armoured commando.  Dropped him in a mud pit.  It was hilarious,” Archer reflected with a smile. 

“You… what?” Choy blinked incredulously.

“He called Copi ugly.”  Archer shrugged. “Anyway, these skinny lads shouldn’t be a problem”.

“Wow, ok.”  Choy blinked.  “Oh!  We’ll have to make sure some armour pieces stay behind, or at least their helmets.” Archer looked at Choy questioningly. “Trust me,” said Choy.  

Archer shrugged. “Very well.”

Fi wondered, “The base’s perimeter sensor array may be problematic for us trying to stage ahead of time. Do you have an explosive plan to deal with that too?” 

Archer considered for a moment.  “If what Choy’s shown us is accurate, their sensors are shab’la.  But we may be safest to get into position after the raiders have triggered the alarm themselves. Timing will be tight, but we’ll avoid detection, save time, and it should be workable with all the chaos, right?”

“The larger concern though is the likelihood that those troopers will have no memory of us and will probably resist our abduction efforts. Choy, can you remedy that before they regain consciousness?”

“They should be conscious for me to help them remember. I think I can handle them though.” Choy smiled at the group reassuringly.

“And Mayday?” Archer asked gravely.  “When can we get Mayday out?”

Choy glanced to the side for a moment, before returning her gaze to meet Archer’s. “Mayday has to believe that Hexx and Veetch are gone.  He has to stay with Crosshair for a bit longer. Just until the next morning. It’s Crosshair befriending Mayday, being saved by him, and then witnessing what he thinks is Mayday’s death that lets him move past the Empire. It seems cruel, but I believe it has to happen.  For the sake of a lot of lives.”

There was a long silence, as the group looked at each other. Archer felt deeply unsettled.  “We have to allow him to be injured and then appear to die under these horrible circumstances? What if he does die?”

She wasn’t sure she could remain composed if she had to witness that.  

”I’m almost certain he doesn’t,” responded Choy immediately.  “At least not right there, like I showed you.  Fi interjected “He certainly will suffering from hypothermia, which in its final stages can cause loss of consciousness. Pulse and respirations can be difficult to detect too. We will need to get him quickly to the ship and stabilize any injuries he’s got from the avalanche.  He’ll probably need the bacta tank back home.”

[[I believe you can get to him in time, and we can look after him and Hexx and Veetch.  It’s all going to work out, you’ll see.]]  Choy was looking at Archer, and she felt her trying to convey confidence and reassurance. “We can do this,” Choy then said aloud to the group.

The ship’s navicomputer emitted an auditory tone before dropping the craft out of hyperspace.  The icy visage of Barton IV loomed large in the viewscreen.  Archer looked at her hastily assembled rescue squad and nodded. 

“Well, we’ll soon find out.”