'There was a damn rat in the building…'

The following morning Lya found herself laying on her sofa. Cassian was at her side, lying down next to her. One of her hands found herself gently scratching his scalp. His eyes were closed as he found himself in a moment of serenity and silence. He wore a gray cotton t-shirt and was covered in a wool blanket.

'There is a fucking rat in my ward…'

Lya hadn't realized how tight her grip had become on the pages of the small book she currently held in her opposite hand. She sucked in a deep breath in an attempt to calm her tense shoulder and simply enjoy the moment of peace the two were sharing.

Unfortunately, he felt the tension too.

"Still thinkin' about it?" He asked in a groggy tone which was coated with his heavy accent.

The doctor slammed her book down to the side of the couch. "I just-!" She frowned. "I know it's him! No one else skulks around the base like he does!" She threw her hands up.

Cassian turned to look at her with a lazy smile.

"You got any evidence?" He asked.
"Have you seen the cat-man?" She asked sarcastically.
"Don't get me wrong," Cassian began. "I'm not a fan of felines either, but the man, he's straight-edge," he shrugged.
"-or maybe he's cleaned up his tracks too well… way to well…" a sly smirk made way to her face.

He looked at her and shook his head with a smile. He could never get tired of this. Lazy mornings with no care or concern in the galaxy. Just him and Lya. Just him and her smile. His eyes gazing into the bottomless orbs of violet life which allowed him to peer into her soul.

"Wait-" He said giving her arm a caring squeeze. "-I brought you something back."

An eyebrow perked at his surprise. He left the sofa momentarily to reach for his satchel. She waited eagerly bringing a hand to her lower lip. "I'll trade it with you," he said taking a seat back in the sofa once again. "For a kiss," a flirtatious smile made way to his thin lips.

"For a kiss?" She said taking his face in her hands.

"Hmm.…A rare souvenir from a foreign land. I think that's worth more than one kiss. Wouldn't you agree?" She leaned over and planted a fat kiss on his scruffy face, and another on his cheek and another on his temple and another and another.

"I'll give it to you for free if I can hold you all day like this," he closed his eyes and relaxed into the touch slowly wrapping an arm around her.

It was then he presented the gift with his opposite hand. It was an exotic flower from a distant land. Sadly, it had become damaged in transit. The flora resembled a large, golden lily. The specks were yellow and almost seemed to glow.

"Cass!" She said taking the flower. "You shouldn't have!" She said once again planting another sweet kiss on his face. She quickly stood up and turned around in an attempt to hide her blushing face. "Let me just place it in some water…" she called over her shoulder. Her own blanked trailed after her as she moved around her small kitchen. She began fidgeting with a vase in an attempt to keep herself distracted as she heard him shuffling around the background.

"Lya."

She turned her head to face him. His tone was rigid and dull. His eyes focused on her. The look on his face made the words stuck to her throat. She felt him take her hand in his an unfamiliar coldness drew her eyes to the union of their hands.

"Let's get married."

She looked at the silver band that wrapped around her finger. Her mouth felt dry. Her heart leaped to her throat halting her speech. The look on her face made his heart sink. However, Cassian was not one to give up easily.

"Cassian," she said in a ghastly breath.

They hadn't even exchanged "I loved you's" yet and this man wanted to get married? Was he sane? How long had they even known each other for? A few months?

"You're not serious," she said with a pale expression.

"Lya. Marry me," he insisted. The grip on her hand becoming tighter.

"Why?" She said in awe.

"Why the hell not?" He dropped his hands on his sides.

"Cassian! We are at war!" She snapped tossing her arms at her sides. "Exactly. That is exactly why," he repeated.
"Have you thought this through?" She slammed a hand on a table. "What if you die? What if I die? What if people know- how dangerous do you think that would be. For you, for me-" She held her breath when he approached her and grasped her head in his hands. He silenced her with a deep kiss.
"The worst is going to happen," he dropped in a harsh breath. "The inevitable will happen," he licked his lips as his eyes met the floor. "I just know- that, whatever happens, I want it to happen with you."

She looked stunned. She felt as if the floor had collapsed under her.

"I have known since the day I woke up in the medical ward… However much time we have left in this war, in life, I am giving to you."

Cassian looked at her expression of disbelief. Her glossy, watering eyes pained him. He wasn't going to ask a third time… The message was clear.

"I love you," she babbled with her voice trembling. A single tear caressed her blushing face. "Let's get married." She said reaching for his face.
"Si?" He reached for her as well. "Si!" She laughed and he kissed a stray tear that had managed to escape the dams in her eyes.

"Well, that really got my mind off things," she said with a nervous chuckle.

'THERE IS A SPY IN MY MEDICAL WARD!' and nothing. Not even a tear-jerking engagement would allow Dr. Lya Stryker to forget that.

"Lux," Lya barked from her desk. "What is your report on Dr. Aztin's activities?"

"I can't believe you are engaged!" The younger girl cried out in an excited squeak. The graduated assistant began rambling about flowers, wedding ceremonial attire, and romance. The doctor decided to tune this out.

"Congratulations!" Adair offered beaming at the same time.

"There will be no wedding or ceremony. Seeing as we want to keep this a most private affair," she looked away from the couple before her. "The only reason both of you are being made aware is…" Her voice trailed off into a softer tone. "Because you are a family to me."

"Doctor!" Lux cried out and almost leaped over the desk to hug the older woman. The doctor looked away embarrassed and patted the strawberry blonde on the back. "Lux, I want you to be my lady of honor."
"What!" The other gasped in excitement. Her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Besides Kaytoo, Cassian and I decided we both want you to be there on our day. Only, you two," Dr. Stryker smiled upon her interns. Both were touched by the heartfelt sentiment.

"Anyways-" She cleared her throat changing the subject.
"There is a spy in this ward, and since both of you are the most competent medics in the building- I expect you to pay a scrutinous attention to detail. Keep an eye on the Kahjjit."

Both nodded and went their separate ways. The moment they left the office Lya looked down at the thin silver band that weighted down on her finger. After some thinking she removed the band wrapped it around a very thin leather strap she found amongst her belongings and began carrying it as a necklace. It was much less suspicious this way.

Stepping out of the office the doctor began doing her rounds. Today was a particularly busy day. The doctor dodged the running meds that ushered beds of moaning patients. She could feel the tension of the environment weighing down on her shoulders. It made it almost hard to breathe. She tapped on the notepad nervously that she carried around as she wondered the hallways of the ward. Her eyes skimmed over every single detail of the environment as she sought for anything out of place or the ordinary. After all, there was no rush, correct?

"Mi vida," a familiar voice suddenly snapped her out of her train of thought. "Cassian!" she gasped. "You're not supposed to be here," she said irked. K-2SO was with him as well. Looking distraught he looked around nervously before pulling her into an isolated hallway. "You shouldn't be here," he said concerned. "What?" She repeated confused, her eyes narrowed. "We need to evacuate the medical ward."
Lya's eyes instantly snapped to the overcrowded reception that was within eyesight. Pilots, fighters, soldiers, spies, technicians all with different malaise or injuries awaiting to be treated.

"There is a bomb in the building."

Lya felt the blood drain from her face.

"I found this outside," the Captain said before pulling out what appeared to be a damaged chip the size of his hand with scrap metal which was burnt surrounding it. "It was behind the building. It's a test bomb."

"There is a very, very high chance that a bomb will go off in this building today," Kaytoo added.

"We can't waste any more time," Cassian urged.
"How high?" Dr. Stryker asked with her hands on her waist.
"87.93%" Kaytoo responded.

The doctor immediately sprung into action.
"I'll evacuate the hospital. Find the bomb Cass."
She gave his hand one last squeeze and with a longing look, they parted ways.

"Everybody. Out of the ward!" Lya shouted as she marched down the hallway. "Out. Get out. Wait outside!" She said as she entered room after room.

"What?" A med poked his head out of a room. "Why? I'm in the middle of a-"
"This is a medical emergency. Everybody out. No questions asked!" She snapped. Every second counted. Every minute. Time was a ticking by. Weighting down on her. Rushing. Lives were at stake.

At the same time, Cassian and K-2SO flipped hospital beds. They inspected desks, chairs, doors anything and everything that could trigger an explosion. Cassian heard the crying and the painful groans and moans of the patients being escorted out of the building.

"Adair," Lya reached out to the tall man who was currently pushing a burnt victim on a hospital bed. "Where is he?" She hissed between gritted teeth. "Who?" The other repeated confused. "The cat."
Adair was pushed forward and the bed hit the wall as people stampeded behind him. "What's going on?"
"Emergency. Get everybody out. Now."
Not wanting to waste any more time Lya continued seeking. It was when she reached the end of the hallway that she kicked a door wide open. There he was. Dr. Aztin Cyder performing a surgery with his apprentice Forrest Ramsenn following careful instructions.

"There you are," she growled out instantly reaching for a surgical knife from the operating table. Aztin lowered the mask that covered his furry face and whiskers.

"What is the meaning of this?" He growled. "I am in the middle of an operation-"

"Cut it with the crap Cyder. Stitch that woman up and follow me outside. Same goes for you Forrest," she said holding her stretched arm towards them. Without any hesitation, Forrest raised his hands and did as he was told. "Wait-" The Khajit hissed as they began ushering the patient out of the room. Her heart monitor beeping dully under the effects of the anesthesia "Why?"
"There's a bomb in the building. So why don't you cut the crap and tell me where it is?"

It happened in a second. There was no hesitation in his swift movements when the male doctor twisted around his apprentice and held a scalping tool against his jugular vein.

"We are going to do this the hard way then?" Lya licked her lips as her hand began to tremble. A hostage situation… One wrong move and Forrest would be a casualty. She saw the apprentice's green eyes widen in fear. His skin dipped under the pressure from the knife being held against his life. "Spit it out you swamp rat. Where is it?" Aztin suddenly said.

The doctor stopped. She looked at the cat man confused.

"I-I don't know what you are talking about!" The young man cried out. His face swollen and crimson as he sweated bullets. "You want me to poke it out of you, eh?" Aztin spat out some words which sounded like curse words.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Lya stood hopelessly unsure of how to proceed with the situation.
"I've been following this podunok since Naboo. Nothing but a filthy traitor - RAT!" His voice boomed and echoed across the room. "This boy doesn't know anything!" It was obvious. "But I am certain-"

It was then that reality came crashing down for Lya. Dr. Cyder's golden eyes suddenly grew in size. Both had arrived at the same conclusion. He wasted no time in following Doctor Stryker out of the room. "Take this patient outside!" Aztin barked at the trembling young man as he exited the room.

It was the same profile. A medical student arriving from Naboo. Aztin had been on the right track, he had the right profile.

Just the wrong student.

Most of the ward was completely empty by now. Lya didn't know where Cassian and Kaytoo were, or just where or how the hell Lux and Adair were dealing. Her heart was hammering in her rib cage. "Burn victims unit," Aztin said in a hushed breath as they sprinted down the hallway to the center of the medical ward.

There he was.

"Seena!" Lya shouted in rage.

The Togruta stood still for a moment. He turned his head eyes wide in panic as they met the doctors. Aztin growled, his claws sharp as he prepared to strike.

The terrorist was on the move. He sprinted towards the outside of the ward where all of the ward's patients were currently being guarded. "Stop!" Her voice thundered as she pushed forward.

Seena kept on looking over her shoulder as she rushed, almost at the exit when.

"I got him!" A voice cried out as Seena N'Aviid was stopped. Relief momentarily washed over Lya as she saw Lux appear from a corner and wrap her arms around the apprentice holding him in place. "Thank goodness," she sighed in relief.

And just as he was about to exit the ward! It had been perfect timing. "Where is the bomb?" Aztin demanded as he stomped towards him.

The Togruta struggled against Lux's strong grip. Her freckled face twisted into a frown as she held on with all of her strength.
The two doctors approached the med and the terrorist.

"Where did you put it?" Aztin said as he placed his sharp claws around Seena's lemon-colored skin. Instead, he simply swallowed his pride and glowered at the Khajit. "Don't make me ask again," he threatened. Lya stood a couple of feet behind Aztin observing the young man carefully. From across the long hallway, Cassian and other observed the scene with caution. His heart lodged in his throat throughout the interaction.

It was then that N'Aviid reacted. He cracked.
The slightest of smiles cracked upon his foreign features. Something wasn't right. A low beeping noise suddenly tore the silence in the ward.

Aztin reacted before Lya could process what was going on. He turned on his back and tackled the doctor away from Lux and Seena. "He is the bomb!" Aztin shouted. "This is a suicide mission!"

The beeping continued, louder, more rapidly.

It all happened so fast. Lya's last words were a blood curling cry "Lux!"

A deafening buzz echoed their eardrums as the explosive set off in the ward. Lux barely had a moment to react and remove her arms from the Togruta before being blown into oblivion. The blinding light and fire engulfed the ward as the windows shattered, walls came apart and the room came coming down.

The northern part of the ward had collapsed and under the flames, rising smog, and fallen debris lay Dr. Aztin Cyder and Dr. Lya Stryker lost in action.