Hi! Still alive here (-; I hope you had a good start in the new year- well, it isn't so new anymore now- and that everything is going well for all of you. (And hopefully you haven't caught one of the awful flus, which are everywhere at the moment- they're really a nuisance!)

So, a new chapter, about Wes and Hobbie, nothing particularly philosophical or sad ...just the two pranksters.

Thanks for the reviews- TriGemini, Demon and of course silver brillance- as always I loved them!

-Sachita

Roguish Troubles

Wes knocked on Hobbie's office door. No one responded. Wedge, who happened to pass by, shook his head at him: "He took a day off today." Wes spun around. "He did?" "Yeah," Wedge said , bemused."Why?" "He didn't tell me," Wes murmured and turned around, walking back the corridor from where he had come from, a frown on his face. Wedge shook his head at him and went on with his duties.

Hobbie walked morosely through Coruscant's many shops. He didn't really know what to do. He had taken this day off, because he really didn't want to talk with Wes, not after what had happened yesterday.

Maybe he should buy something for his cousin back home on Ralltiir – she would love to get something from Coruscant, she loved the capital planet. He had asked her, why she wouldn't come live here then, but she had shaken her head at him and had said, that someone needed to take care of his aunt, her mother, and besides, she didn't enjoy the air in Coruscant that was so unlike Ralltiir's fresh air. Hobbie had lowered his head, ashamed, but she had gently told him, that he shouldn't worry about her. She was alright with her life like that, and he had his job, his friends there in Rogue Squadron…She had told him that she would be okay, but he still felt guilty sometimes.

Speaking of friends..Hobbie snorted and gazed at his wrist and the red imprints left from Wes's hand.

He still remembered those drunken words, Wes had thrown at his head:

"You kissed Inyri! I saw it!"
"I didn't" he shouted back. "I was merely giving her a hug and comforting her because she was upset. And she was upset because you were an idiot and treated her like rubbish!" Instead of seeing the truth behind Hobbie's words, Wes yelled back and Hobbie could smell the alcohol on his breath: "Don't lie to me! Some friend you are!"
"I am not lying to you! Why would I kiss Inyri!"
"Oh yeah- you aren't even admitting to it! You know what? You're a terrible friend and I don't want to talk to you again!"

That last retort made Hobbie pause for a long moment. Then he said quietly: "As you wish, Wes. I won't disturb your Highness any longer."

But there was no humor in his answer and he didn't even turn around, when he heard Wes shout: "Hobbie!"

And so, he was here now, wandering through Coruscant and trying to forget how much it had hurt to hear those words from Wes. Wes, whom he loved like a brother, Wes, who had gone through so much with him already. Wes had been drunk of course and probably hadn't meant what he had said, but Hobbie still couldn't face him now. He felt depressed, even more than his usual dour self- the dourness was sometimes a mask for him that served as well as Wes's joker attitude.

He sighed . You're behaving stupidly, Klivian. Like a child.

He didn't know, how long he had sat on that park bench, where his steps had taken him, until someone said:

"You should be careful. The red-striped Manja is loose here in the area."

Not really listening, Hobbie answered,without looking up:

"If you would be so kind, please, sir, to leave me alone. I really don't feel like making new acquaintances now, sorry."

"You don't even want to meet the red-striped Manja?"

Hobbie looked up. Sure, enough, there was Wes, a stuffed ewok in his hands and an apologetic, uncomfortable grin on his face.

"Go away, Wes" he said tiredly.

Wes didn't go away. He plopped down next to Hobbie and the next two minutes were spent with staring at the ground.

"So, what do we do now? Staring at the ground for the rest of our life?" Wes asked, never having been one to be able to stay silent for more than two minutes.

"Why not?" Hobbie said tightly, not wanting to talk to Wes.

Wes sighed too. "Fine. Let's be morose together."

After only a second, he said, sighing: "I am morose, morose, morose, dour and not talking. My name is Hobbs 2. I am a clone. "

Then he made a grimace.

Hobbie didn't even look at him.

Then Wes said: "In case, you don't know, Hobbs, that was the rest of the 'verse, protesting against having to deal with two superb-pessimists now. Just imagine what Wedge will say!" Hobbie couldn't help it: a small, small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Wes was just about to go on, when suddenly a large Wookiee grabbed him from behind and roared something in Shriiwook at him. "Hey, hey, hey" yelled Wes, when he was lifted in the air. "I don't understand Shriiwook, buddy." Hobbie had jumped up, too, when a creepy-looking man addressed him from behind: "He said, that you're pilots of Rogue Squadron. Very famous one at that. Many people will pay a lot for your heads. That's why you're coming with us now."

The Wookiee had dragged the protesting Wes in a narrow side alley, and with Wes being in such a helpless position and the blaster pistol pointed at his head, Hobbie had no choice but follow. Their blasters had been taken- of course- Hobbie hadn't thought they'd make it so easy for them. Conveniently there were no people on the street, but Hobbie didn't doubt, that behind the windows of the buildings on both sides, there were some people. Watching, waiting, but not really caring- here on Coruscant everyone was alone responsible for his survival.

Not good, Hobbie thought, when he analyzed their situation. There was a speeder waiting for the headhunters and them. Two black-clads were sitting in there: a human and a Rodian. I can't let them force us in the speeder, Hobbie thought frantically.

He turned around suddenly, twisted the man's blaster out of his hand and, quicker before the headhunter could react, he fired two blast shots. The human crumpled to the ground, and mad with rage, the Wookiee threw Wes aside like a rag doll and then came charging at Hobbie. The two other headhunters were coming closer too, blasters in their hands. Hobbie quickly double-pressed a button on his comlink, a help-call to the other Rogues, or the "eject-button for all situations of everyday life", how his comrades called it jokingly. This button initiated an alarm on a low frequency, that would hopefully alert Rogue Squadron's Central computer and then would be transmitted to everyone's comlink. Hobbie hoped that someone would locate the signal quick enough. He fired a double-blast at the Wookiee, who simply dodged the blast.

Hobbie risked a look to his side.

Wes had been thrown against a wall and was now lying on the ground, groaning quietly.

Hobbie fired again and sought shelter behind some crates.
This could turn out to be bad, he thought. He focused on the two other headhunters again and fired on them. The Rodian fell on the ground, but Hobbie had no time to be relieved, because he was suddenly grabbed from behind and lifted off of the ground.

The Wookiee had grabbed his foot and was now swinging him around merrily, Hobbie hanging upside-down.

Everything was blurring before his eyes to a big, blotchy image. Hobbie only had enough time to think: This is the end then when suddenly a huge wall appeared in front of him. Then everything was black.

He woke up in a bacta tank. Dazed and without any orientation, he looked around and was relieved, when he was pulled out of the green, thick liquid. After taking his obligatory shower and slipping in some clothes, he went outside, the bacta taste still strong on his tongue. Sure enough, there was Wedge along with Tycho, Corran and Inyri waiting for him.

Tycho, Wedge and Corran slapped his back, Inyri slapped his cheek.

Wes lowered his head in shame. "Sorry. I know I deserved it. I am sorry."

"You have already apologized, Wes and I forgave you. That slap was for treating Hobbie like that," Inyri said, her eyes softening.

"Yeah, I know" Wes mumbled, evading her eyes. "That's what I went to talk with him about. Before we could finish our talk however, we were rudely interrupted."

Wedge laughed. "If I had known this would happen when I gave you and Hobbie a day leave at the same time, I would have never done so."

"Well" Wes imitated the tone of a teacher "now you've learned your lesson, little Wedge. Do your homework the next time."

Everyone laughed and the tension in the room dissipated.

Wes, however, stopped laughing after some seconds. His eyes were drawn to the other bacta tank at the back of the room. He walked quietly over and rested a hand on the glass. Hobbie was limply floating in the bacta, his eyes were closed and the faint motions of the swirling bacta played with his sandy hair. Wes looked down at his friend's side and winced.

The bruises had almost faded but Wes could still see how angry and red they had been.

"He had a blaster burn, some broken rips and a severe concussion" Wedge said quietly, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You had some bruised and broken rips too. The Rodian was dead, when we arrived, as was a human male. We stunned the Wookiee and the other human. They're now under police arrest."

Wes nodded quietly. "I am sorry, that this all happened. I was no big help to Hobbie."

Wedge gave him a slap on the back. "Don't make yourself smaller than you are, Wes. It happens to the best of us."

Wes nodded and gazed motionless up at Hobbie's face.

Two hours later…

The medics had informed them , that they would pull Hobbie out now, and so they waited for Hobbie to arrive in the little waiting lounge. They didn't have to wait for a long time, then Hobbie was heading for them with his usual dour expression, but Wes hadn't ever been happier to see his face and this expression. It meant that everything would be alright.

"Hey, Hobbs," Tycho said . "Welcome back."

"Thanks, Tych," Hobbie said and he was hugged by the other squadron members. When it was Inyri's turn, she whispered in his ear: "Everything will be alright now, Hobbie."

Hobbie nodded and she released him.

Wes was still standing in the corner of the room, smiling awkwardly. The others left the room, sensing that the two had to work out the tension between them alone.

Wes spoke first. " I am sorry, Hobbie. For constantly getting you in trouble, for yelling at you, for being such a bad friend."

Hobbie actually smiled. Wes's words felt wonderful. He had known that Wes hadn't meant his words, but actually hearing that know out of said man's mouth, felt better.

"You have already been corny enough, Wes" he said, grinning slightly, "But don't you think, something is amiss? "

"What?" Wes said, taking him completely serious.

"Apologizing to me for getting thrown around by a Wookiee."

"Hey," Wes said, but the typical Janson-grin was on his face.

"I am not responsible for everything, y'know. Still sorry, your Highness."

"Thank you" Hobbie said mock stiff-sounding.

Wes laughed and drew him in a tight hug.

"Love you bro" he whispered quietly, sounding quite embarrassed.

"Love you too, bro" Hobbie whispered back.

He knew, eventually they would be alright. As always.