Epilogue: 2 Years Later

Every now and again her thoughts drifted to the man she had known, she had loved, but being strong and able to control her feelings she bashed the annoying memory on the head, knocking it out cold. It had been a bruising, brutal life but now she was just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and was glad to have her friends around her, her job back and a fresh start. There was one thing she was missing terribly but she didn't want to think of him too often as she would get worried or upset. Iz'phal sat cross legged on her bed, just wearing plain black leggings and a loose fitting shirt, her head buried into her favourite book in her third read of: A Advanced Smuggler's Guide What You Need to Know. It was full of all kinds of helpful tips and advice that she was finding useful and it took her mind off the stresses and strains of her day to day job. The ship, expertly piloted by her slicer Risha weaved through the hyperspace lanes as a roar outside her door told her, another of her closest friends wanted to talk to her.

"Captain got a lot on her mind…I know…" Her trusted pal Bowdaar, a towering Wookie warrior even by his species' standards stooped his large, brown hairy frame through the doorway to her room, almost trying to smile at her. Iz'phal had taken him aboard her vessel, saved him from a lifetime of murder and slavery when he was grown from a cub and had welcomed his company ever since. He worked hard, cared for those around him but most of all treated her like a father, like a brother and he was more than welcome in her smuggling family. His guttural roaring tone was loud at the expressions of anger and quiet with sudden tones of loud when he had something important or meaningful to say. Iz'phal had learnt to understand Wookie calls and choruses through another book Risha had given her: Kashyykk Native Tongue: For Beginners. She was able to translate and understand most of the things he said but every so often she would need to ask him to repeat or say something different. But she loved him, loved him as a friend for who he was and she was forever grateful for his company.

"Hey Bowdaar, what's up?" Iz'phal asked, a friendly smile lighting up her face as she patted the bed beside her but he merely shook his head and handed a small piece of paper to her. Looking at up at him curiously she held it close to her chest, waiting anxiously for his explanation.

"That come for you Captain…Not for Bowdaar of Risha to read. Hope it gives you the answers you seek" Bowdaar roared quietly as he ruffled her lekku with his big fluffy paw before closing the door to her room as she opened the paper, hands almost trembling as relief swam in her heart. It was from him. He was safe…He'd written to her. Attached from the very first line she read on, her heart filling with joy with each new word reaching her eyes.

Dearest Izzy,

The years have flown by and I haven't seen you once. Words can't describe how much I miss everyone. Risha, hell even that big crazy Wookie of yours but you Iz…I miss you and I can't say for sure when we'll see each other again but I want to make it as soon as I can. It's a long and tiring life most of the time but I think I'm doing the greatest good for the Republic and to protect you. Each day is a constant battle to fight back the Empire's advances and our troops are successfully holding them off for now.

Being a soldier is in my blood Iz and sometimes I wish I'd never admitted it but I've always been one for going with my gut. I've made some great friends here Iz, we Republic soldiers are all up to a laugh from time to time. They're all crazy about you as I've told them all our stories already! We'll have nothing to talk about if I don't see you soon.

War is a terrible thing Iz. I just want it all to end so we never have to fight anymore but more than anything I just want you to be safe. You have been through so much and yet you stand the strong and beautiful girl you are today. (I hope I said that right!) Anyway Iz the point I'm making is you are my source of inspiration. Every time our troop marches to battle I think of you, every shot I kill an Imp with I do it for you. I just want you to be happy Iz and you of all people deserve to be happy. I care for you Iz, you mean a lot to me and I just to be there for you.

When you get any time do come and visit me. It would mean the world to me. I enclose the co-ordinates of the base and you are authorised to land at the barracks anytime.

A lot of girls have stayed at my side and they are still my friends but you're different Iz. You make me find the light when all there is, is darkness.

Please stay strong for your family; you've made them so proud and for me Iz. Please stay strong for me.

Be the strong, courageous, daring girl I know you are and go for the stars my invincible little spacer!

Keep flying high.

Lots of love

Your Corso.

For a moment Iz'phal was so taken aback by the wonderful words she could hardly speak until she pressed the paper containing the heartfelt words to her chest and just buried her face in her hands, letting the tears flow from her eyes. All the emotion had hit her at once and had been bottled up inside her and now she let it out, not the pain from her past but from the happiness of the now. She just wanted him to be safe, just wanted to see him and everything to be alright. But how could he with the bolts and bombs raining around him. Your Corso…She opened the paper again to see those two words and they meant more to her than ever before. He truly did care for her and through the tears she felt the warmth spiral through her chest, a feeling she welcomed as to have someone like him in her life was gold dust. Ever since Quinn had turned her back on her and she realised he was never going to come back into her life she had developed feelings for her best friend, the same feelings that she'd had for Quinn. At some point she wanted to tell Corso how she felt and that was why she was frightened. He was in the heart of danger, in the middle of the battlefield with every possibility he could get shot dead tomorrow and every day was an anxious wait until she saw him again. Iz'phal just hoped with all her heart as she tried to stop the tears that through all the animosity she would get the chance to see him again and just longed for that day to come around as soon as it could. If she knew there was a chance he'd come back alive from this fighting she wanted to know now but the future felt so clouded and all she could do was hope. A small rap at her door but she didn't answer, just reading his words over and over, until they were enough to stop her tears for now as not liking her silence Risha opened the door, brown hair slicked back from her well rounded face, blue eyes clouded with worry when she saw the rueful expression on her closest friend's face. Risha was the Captain's top slicer and had helped her get out of many desperate situations, saving them in top priority missions and keeping their identities secret. Through all they had been through they were close friends but when Risha saw the Captain in a kind of saddened trance she just wanted to know if she was okay. She perched beside her on the bed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, asking how she was feeling as Iz'phal merely just shook her head, laughed weakly and swiped the back of her hand across her cheek to brush the remaining tears away.

"Oh Risha girl don't worry bout me. I'm just being so damn sensitive again" Iz'phal pushed her true feelings away, glad for the company, knowing she would always do the same for her as Risha knew she was hiding something.

"Being sensitive is a good thing Captain. It shows you have heart and courage, never lose that…" Risha comforted, running a white gloved hand up and down her arm as Iz'phal's cheeks gained colour. She knew her friend was right but she just wanted to banish all the bad memories away, particularly when she thought her best friend was at war and anything could happen to him. She dreaded the day to get a note saying his wound was mortal and he only had a few days to live…Iz'phal closed her eyes, dispelling the thought away as Risha's soft voice was enough to bring her back to the present. "I know how that guy feels about you. Corso told me a while back but I didn't want to tell you, not then with what was happening to you…" Iz'phal just wanted to know, her face a mask of uncertainty as she just waited Risha to finish what she wanted to say. "He loves you Captain. He didn't need to tell me for me to know as I know myself. I've seen the way he looks at you, the way he always wants to be close to you. Have you sensed that?" Risha asked, seeing her friend going through a mess of emotions right now as she just answered in a sheepish voice, just grateful for someone being there with her.

"He told me himself Risha but at the time I had another man in my life…I just wanted to be happy with him…Until he…He left me that morning and I'll never forgive him. He was once my best friend but after what he's put me through I can't forgive him…I won't…" Iz'phal trembled, the once strong tone in her voice becoming frail as Risha wondered who she was talking about and realised that before Corso had developed feelings for her she had once loved someone else, greatly by the sounds of it but she had never wanted to talk about it. She just didn't want to. It was too painful.

"Izzy girl listen…Can't you just talk to him. I'm sure he understand" Risha tried to suggest, a little naively on her part but despite being one of her closest friends she had little notion of what the Captain had been through, just trying to sooth her.

"No Risha don't you see…He's gone and I refuse to talk to him…He's made my life a living hell and I won't go back there again…Not ever!" Iz'phal suddenly burst out, the wild look in her eyes making Risha slightly nervous but in the end her low, soothing voice calmed her down as she just sobbed quietly in her arms, just letting all her worries spill onto her, after all that's what friends were for but Risha asked a question and it struck her, stopped her in her tracks.

"Do you love him?...Corso?" Risha asked timidly just wanting to know the truth as Iz'phal bit her bottom lips and just gazed into her lap, realising her hands were shaking slightly just feeling so lost. Risha knew she was asking a personal question but she just wanted to help her, wanted to be there for her.

"I don't know! I don't know I…" Iz'phal cried, just feeling helpless that she couldn't control her emotions but in the end she confessed how she felt, knowing she could trust Risha until the bitter end. "I just don't want you to frown on me if I did…" Iz'phal said just gazing up into her warm face as Risha arched an eyebrow down at her. Why would she think that?

"Izzy girl, why on a Kath Hound's backside would I think less of you for loving him…I have always told you, you'd make a lovely couple. You're not just another woman in his life Captain. He wants to be with you…It only depends if you want to be with him" Risha explained, just glad to have this heart to heart with her closest friend as Iz'phal just let it out, all the frustration she'd bottled up.

"I didn't know how to react at first when he told me…But there were times we'd look into each other's eyes…Risha I could hardly breathe…I was so taken away by how he treated me but I couldn't tell him…I loved another…To ask for his love would've be wrong" Iz'phal said, a new life dancing in her deep brown eyes as Risha just stared down at her, comforting her when she needed.

"Girl don't be silly!" Risha sighed, examining her beautiful face and realising now why he'd fallen for her. Not only was she one of the kindest, most caring person Risha had ever met but now she realised he loved her for her beauty too. "Just because you used to love another it doesn't mean you can't fall for someone else. If you really feel that way about him you have to ask him…He needs you…" Risha explained, a smile lighting up Iz'phal's tear sodden face as she sniffed, brown eyes blotchy and red.

"I can't Risha…Not just yet. I've been through so much…Yes I do love him but I just want to be friends for a little longer. I need to get myself together first…That's all…" Iz'phal breathed quietly, Risha letting her arm fall from her shoulder, guessing she'd got it all in the open now.

"Girl I understand…You'll see him real soon promise. Trust me when you love someone like that you know and when you get the chance to tell him it'll be the best decision of your life. He's besotted with you, can't stop thinking bout you….He told me all the time before he left…" Risha beamed proudly at her like an older sister, as the two women practically were sisters, not by blood but by closeness. Iz'phal was just so glad she was there, just glad to have a shoulder to rest her weary head on when she needed it but she saw the future now. She did love him, just wanted to be with him. It had been bottled up inside her for so long but very soon she would tell him face to face how she felt and then life would be as it should. Iz'phal Trua was a brave girl, heck she heard it from everyone but now she knew just how brave she was when she'd tallied all the events in her life and what she'd been through.

"Aww thanks Risha…I feel so much better…Thank you…" Iz'phal sighed, a comforting warmth spiralling through her chest as Risha just patted her on the shoulder before striding through for the door.

"Captain you ever need me all you need do it ask…okay?" said Risha, Iz'phal flashing a sweet smile at her before closing her door, Iz'phal just gazing at the letter in her hand and knowing the next word they got from the Republic Base they were going to see him, no matter what else was happening.

Iz'phal Trua was a girl of many talents but keeping her friends close to her was one of them. She refused to let anymore of her friends or loved ones be hurt and if that meant taking on the whole Empire herself she would do it.

The past had been so dark, just full of misguided ventures and misfortunes that hadn't gone to plan but now she was ready for the future and had never felt so energized. She was ready to start the next chapter in her life…With the people that meant everything to her: Her crew, her job that she loved so much and a best friend who loved her more than any of the men in her life had.

Her star was shining bright on the horizon shining bright and as she lay down to sleep that night, the letter still pressed against her chest she dreamed of her parents, saw their loving faces and the expressions they wore and they were proud. Always would be proud of their daughter and would always tell her to stand strong, for her friends and for them.

Iz'phal Trua…Captain of the Stars.