Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Bodhi saw only darkness then suddenly, bright agonising orange. It burned behind his eyelids, growing whiter and whiter as he rose from sleep. For a moment, he forgot where he was. He tried to raise his head from the seat but his neck twinged and he thought better of it. Bodhi hissed between clenched teeth, immediately shutting his eyes again when the sunlight hit him.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
He stayed still for a few moments while his eyes adjusted to the glare. He was still in the pilot's seat thanks to the belt he'd pulled across his chest. He felt the shape of it imprinted on his skin, he would probably have a bruise for weeks. When he drew in an experimental deep breath, his ribs ached, making him groan. The visor he'd fought to raise before they crashed had thankfully protected the fragile viewscreen. It was still up but the impact had taken a chunk out of it, directing a bar of sunlight right into his eyes. Bodhi twitched his fingers then raised his elbows from the armrests, testing himself for any injuries the shock would stop him feeling straightaway.
When he was happy that he wasn't hurt, he undid his seatbelt, making sure to move slowly and carefully. He felt surprisingly alright considering what he'd been through but he didn't want to push his luck. The seatbelt clicked and loosened, relieving some of the pain in his chest. He breathed in and out a few times to help him stay calm then pushed the seatbelt away.
Bodhi allowed his body to slump to the side, out of the path of the vicious sun. As he waited for the green and red patches in his vision to fade, he breathed patiently, allowing his mind to process all that had happened to him. He didn't know what planet this was but they were probably somewhere in the Mid Rim. The solar flare had carried them far across the system and they'd been spinning so fast, Bodhi wouldn't have been able to pinpoint their position even with a working nav system.
The console was still beeping at him, a jarring sound that cut through the silence. It was the ground proximity warning. Bodhi smiled weakly as he reached over to switch it off. It's a little late for that. Once the sharp warning alarm stopped, his head felt a lot clearer. Bodhi cautiously got out of his seat, leaning heavily on the console as he made his way out of the flight deck.
It was difficult to manoeuvre through the ship, they'd landed at an odd angle and now the rear end of the shuttle was raised higher than the front. Bodhi had to climb up through the loading area to get to the cargo hold, trying not to put too much strain on his most likely bruised ribs as he went. Thankfully, the little shuttle had managed to survive its ungraceful landing. Although, just because the ship was intact, that didn't mean it would run.
Stepping into the cargo hold, Bodhi found it was empty. For a moment he couldn't think why this made his heart pick up. Then it all came rushing back. Where was the woman? The shuttle door was wide open, allowing black sand to pour into the hold. Bodhi stooped down and pushed his fingers into the largest pile. He raised his hand, letting the sand slip through his fingers. A cry made him look up sharply.
There were boot prints in the sand just outside the door, leading away from the shuttle. Bodhi placed one hand on the doorframe, leaning out as far as he dared. He couldn't hear much, just the whistling wind and the shuttle creaking as it cooled down. Looking out at their surroundings, he felt his heart sink. As far as the eye could see, sand dunes rose and fell in waves. Deep, black sand that swallowed the sunlight, shifting and swirling at his feet.
He wasn't going to leave the ship. He didn't know this planet, he didn't trust this planet and from what he'd seen so far, he didn't like this planet. Bodhi wanted to stay put, maybe try and get the comms working and see to his injuries. Then he heard the cry again. He swore under his breath and stepped out onto the sand.
The sun hit him immediately, beating down so hard that it knocked the wind out of him, but Bodhi didn't stop. He followed the footprints up the arching back of the closest dune, shrugging his jacket off and pulling it over his head to try and shield himself from the brutal sun. He stumbled over the top of the dune, trying to ignore the sand in his boots. From this new vantage point, he could see her, staggering stubbornly across the sand. She was still clutching her ribs but she seemed to be finding it harder to walk than before and he didn't think it was because of the sand.
"You're mad!" He called out to her, both to get her to stop and out of sheer disbelief. This woman had been in the medcentre, practically beaten to a pulp, mere hours ago and now she'd crash landed on an unknown planet and she was still going. She had to be crazy, that was the only explanation. "You're completely mad!" The woman waved a dismissive hand. Bodhi wondered if she was really listening to him.
"I don't have time for this." She didn't stop. He didn't know where she was going and doubted she knew either. "We need to get to a town and find someone who can take me to Alderaan. Or we'll have to fix the ship." Bodhi put his hands on his hips and threw his head back, trying to catch his breath but the sun made it almost unbearable.
"The ship's a write-off," he said, making Mara stop again.
She saw him standing there, sweaty and exhausted, and it only served to make her angrier. Mara squashed her frustration, she knew it wouldn't get her anywhere faster, but the pain in her chest had reached a worrying pitch and her patience was running out. "Don't be ridiculous, it just needs a few minor..." She waved her hand ineffectually at the shuttle, trailing off simply because she couldn't be bothered to continue. Truth be told, the dismal sight of the ship made her stomach twist but Mara wouldn't let a little thing like a burnt-out cargo shuttle stop her.
Bodhi looked between the smoking ship and his captor with wide eyes. "You really are mad." He didn't think she'd be able to hear him at that distance, so Bodhi was surprised when Mara suddenly wheeled around.
"I'm not mad!"
For the first time, she let her threatening façade slip. It certainly wasn't intentional but for a moment, there was a flash of anguish in her eyes and her determination turned into desperation. Even from a distance, he could see the bloom of blood on her forehead. Unlike him, Mara hadn't been safely buckled down when they crashed. She was so broken, her uniform was the only thing holding her altogether. Bodhi barely breathed as he watched her straighten out her expression, every ounce of emotion fading.
Mara turned her face away, her mask readjusted. "I'm running out of time."
He noticed she stood a little taller now, her jaw set.
"Come on," she muttered, then began to stumble across the sand again.
Bodhi frowned, his jaw going slack. "What?" He cried, making Mara turn around once more. "I'm not coming with you."
"Oh, yes you are."
Her voice had all the authority of a drill sergeant and for a moment, Bodhi found himself wanting to obey her orders but he caught himself just in time. "Someone has to look after the ship." He tried not to sound as nervous as he felt. In truth, he couldn't be more frightened of the woman who'd kidnapped him but they were both tired and bruised, so he felt they were on level ground. Mara laughed, actually laughed at him.
"What? Because someone's going to want to steal that?"
Bodhi glanced bashfully at the shuttle, which was looking very sorry for itself.
"I told you, I need you. Where you go, I go. I don't know this planet."
"Neither do I."
"But you're a pilot. You must know the system."
"I don't even know where we are!"
"Let's go find out!" When he didn't offer up another argument, Mara thought she'd won, but the pilot didn't move from his spot on the verge of the sand dune. He just stared at her, his expression drawn in stubborn defiance. Mara sighed and took a few steps towards him. When she saw him falter, she knew she still had some power over him, though she didn't know how long it would last. She could already feel her strength slipping away, sapped by the countless grievances that riddled her body. Mara wasn't sure that she'd be able to keep going for much longer, time really was her enemy. She slipped her hand inside her jacket and pulled out the scalpel she'd stolen. "You see this?" She raised it in her clenched fist. The small metal blade was her only weapon, her only leverage. "This means you have to come with me."
Bodhi stared at the scalpel. There was a beat, then he turned and scrambled back over the side of the sand dune. Mara hadn't been expecting this. She waited, her hand still held aloft, while the pilot hurried back to the ship. He reappeared again just a few moments later with a hammer and a tool bag. He dropped the bag onto the sand then raised the hammer so it looked like they were about to duel. Mara frowned curiously at him.
"What're you doing?"
"I'm not going anywhere with you," Bodhi said firmly, readjusting his grip on the hammer so that he held it between two hands. He had absolutely no idea how to defend himself but he felt much better with some kind of weapon in his grasp. He hoped it might deter Mara from attacking him, she was skilled but badly injured and he could probably overpower her. However, it did not have the desired effect. In fact, it only seemed to irritate her further.
Mara sighed and closed her eyes for a moment, trying valiantly to hold on to what remained of her patience. "Listen, pilot," she said. "I've had a rough couple of days and I'm really not in the mood."
Bodhi was put off by her reaction, but even more unnerving was that she still didn't seem the least bit afraid of him, even now that he'd got his hands on his own, much more substantial weapon. "You're running from the Rebellion," he said, keeping the hammer raised just in case. "Why?" Mara looked confused, perhaps even a bit offended.
"I'm not running from anyone."
"That's not how it looks."
"Can't we do this and walk?"
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me who you are."
"I told you, my name is-"
"Mara Verbanti, Captain of the Royal Guard. Yes, I know." Bodhi didn't know where his sudden bravery was coming from but he was too hot and annoyed to care. He readjusted his grip on the hammer and locked his elbows to stop his tired arms drooping. "Why are you running?" Bodhi stared at Mara, and Mara stared right back.
A breeze slipped over the dunes, dusting sand across their feet. Bodhi felt it brush his cheek, saw it play with her hair, but it did little to cool them down. Neither of them moved for what felt like an eternity until Mara lowered the scalpel. Bodhi could hardly contain his relief. Finally, he was going to get some answers. He saw her open her mouth but then she scowled and closed it again. Bodhi baulked when she suddenly turned her back on him.
"Fine. Stay here and die of thirst, see if I care."
He felt his heart sink as he watched Mara struggle across the sand. He lowered the hammer, all his fight dissipating. He'd long since given up hope that this was all some kind of visceral nightmare. This was really happening. After all he'd been through, Bodhi just wanted a peaceful life, he didn't think that was asking for much. He looked between the still smoking ship and his kidnapper, then back to the ship and the desolate wasteland they'd collided with.
"Damn it." Bodhi gathered up his tool bag but kept the hammer close just in case. It took him a while to catch up with Mara. Even with a number of broken bones, she was far stronger than him. She moved over the sand with ease whilst he felt like he was sinking with every step. "You don't know this planet?" Bodhi asked after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence. Mara moved with such purpose, he couldn't believe she had no idea where they were.
She didn't want to talk to him but seemed to realise he'd just keep asking if she didn't.
"No." Bodhi would've been happy with that but then she said, "I don't know." Mara waved her hand about wildly, still keeping up her impressive pace. "It's not exactly well signposted, is it?"
In spite of himself, Bodhi did indeed look around at his surroundings. There was nothing but the strange black sand for miles. Above them, the violet-hued sun arched, almost at its highest point. They were heading east but again, he doubted Mara knew that. She hadn't so much as glanced at the sky, her gaze was firmly set on the horizon.
"So how do you know you're going in the right direction?" Another breeze swept across them, stronger this time so that it whipped up the sand. Bodhi pulled his goggles down from where they always rested on top of his head, settling them over his eyes. He saw Mara raise her arm to shield herself from the sand and felt a swell of sympathy. He brushed it away as quickly as it appeared, she didn't deserve his pity.
"I just do." Mara had to shout over the roar of the sand.
Bodhi barely caught her words before they were carried away by the wind. "'You just do'. Fantastic." He scoffed, once again surprised by his own bravery. Was it bravery? Or just stupidity? He could hardly tell them apart sometimes. Luckily for him, Mara seemed in far too much pain to shut him up permanently. She had to settle for calling back to him over her shoulder as they scaled another enormous sand dune.
"Look, pilot, I know this all must be very hard for you to understand-"
"Bodhi. My name is Bodhi." He was sick of the name 'pilot', he was far more than that, but Mara didn't seem to care.
"Fine, whatever." She stumbled halfway up the bank, grunting as it jarred her ribs, but she still didn't stop. "I have been trained for this sort of thing. Whether you like it or not, I'm your best chance of survival so if you could just stop bloody whingeing-"
"Whingeing!"
"We can get off this planet and go back to our lives."
Bodhi stopped, which was hard to do at such a steep incline, but he was so dumbfounded that he didn't care. "What's your plan? Hope you conveniently stumble upon a town then beg someone to take you on as a passenger?" Mara still didn't stop but he thought he heard her mutter something so he knew he had her attention. "I don't know where you've been but people aren't exactly friendly in these parts. They'd sooner sell you to the Hutts then help you."
"Then we'll just have to have the ship repaired." Mara grappled uselessly at the sand as she reached the top. She didn't take a moment to enjoy the view, not that there was much to enjoy about it. Without stopping to catch her breath, she crouched low and slipped down the other side. She stumbled at the bottom where the ground rose up again, swearing when a wave of sand seeped into her boots.
"With what money?"
Mara looked up at Bodhi, watching as he shuffled awkwardly down the dune. She wanted to laugh at his worried expression but then she remembered he was slowing her down. He looked just as miserable as she felt, they were clearly both out of their element. He stumbled like she did when he reached the bottom. Mara didn't know why but rather than let him fall, she stuck out her hand and grabbed his shoulder.
"I could always sell you to the Hutts," she said, forcefully righting him again.
Bodhi narrowed his eyes, he didn't think that was the least bit funny. Mara let go of his shirt, pushing him away. He rolled his shoulder, trying not to show that she'd hurt him or how unnerved he was by her strong grip.
"Don't worry, I'm Alderaanian. This is a matter of interplanetary security, they'll have to help me."
"Not out here they won't." Bodhi almost laughed at the idea. This woman was tough but she clearly knew nothing about the outer rims. Her confidence was persuading, he didn't know whether it was funny or terrifying that she really had no idea what she was doing. "There's no such thing as diplomacy in the outer rims."
Mara sighed yet again, regretting it instantly when her chest burned. "Listen, Beedy-"
"Bodhi."
"If you're just going to moan, it's going to make this a lot harder for the both of us."
Bodhi couldn't believe the gall of this woman but before he could argue, Mara turned to him.
"You see, what did I tell you?"
He looked in the direction she indicated and saw a small bundle of structures off in the distance. He supposed it could be a town, to him it looked more like a brown smudge against the black backdrop. He looked at Mara and saw she was smiling. It wasn't a happy smile but a smug, self-satisfied smirk that made his scowl return. Bodhi watched her walk away, clearly very pleased with herself, and took a moment to really think about the ridiculousness of his situation and the madwoman who'd abducted him.
"Take me back to Scarif," he muttered, then followed in Mara's footsteps.
They walked the rest of the way in furious silence. Bodhi kept a few paces behind Mara and tried to make it look like it was because he didn't want to be near her, but really he wouldn't have been able to keep up with her even if he hadn't been injured in the crash. It was difficult to tell just how long it had been since they left the ship but by the time they reached the decrepit town, the violet sun was behind them. It had looked horrible from a distance, a very rough diamond in the desert's crown, but up close, it was far worse.
Mara finally ceased her frantic pace at a large archway made of twisting, rusty metal. Now she was stood at the entrance, she could see that 'town' had been a generous descriptor. It was more like a large marketplace, brimming with people. No one was stood guard so Mara assumed they could walk right in. She heard Bodhi stumble to a halt beside her. He wasn't faring well. She could hear the breath rattling around inside his lungs, his dark clothes drenched with sweat. She didn't feel much better but it'd be a long time before Mara ever admitted it.
She met the pilot's gaze and was given a heated glare in response. It appeared he was still angry with her. Mara straightened out her uniform, pulling her jacket closer despite the sweltering heat.
Bodhi watched her march straight into the bustling crowd, disappearing almost instantly between the swimming colours. He thought he saw a flash of her blue uniform between the whites and pale browns of the native people's clothes, but he made no move to follow her. Mara didn't seem to notice that he wasn't with her. Perhaps she didn't care. After all, where could he go? Bodhi looked around the market and saw speeders and tiny cargo shuttles, but they wouldn't be much use. He was surrounded by nothing but sand, there was no point running. Bodhi pulled his goggles off, shaking the sand out of them as he joined the crowds.
Mara didn't have trouble finding a trader. In fact, the place was teeming with them. Stalls sat in long lines, stretching off until they hit the wall that surrounded the market. She ignored every trader who called out to her, instead making a beeline for a large stall, right at the end of the row. Underneath a dark green canvas, a huge, bulbous creature stood, its long arms resting along a makeshift counter. He was a Dressellian, what he was doing so far from home was a mystery to Mara but she didn't think he'd appreciate her asking. He was the only one not begging for her attention so she thought she was safer with him. He wasn't desperate for her money which meant he was doing well, he was popular, and therefore wouldn't try to cheat her.
Mara ignored a Jawa trying to convince her over to a tiny jewellery stand and marched right up to the Dressellian trader lazily watching the world go by. She laid her hand down on the coarse counter with a 'thump'. "I need transport."
The Dressellian straightened up so that he was almost twice her height, his wide brown eyes scanning her with interest. She and Bodhi were the only humans in the market so she supposed she was something of a curiosity. Mara tried not to show how uncomfortable his gaze made her.
"Where to?" His voice croaked and wavered, his accent thick.
"Alderaan. In The Core."
"I know where Alderaan is," he said, irritation making his long fingers clench. Mara apologised, not wanting to offend her only chance out of here. She caught sight of a group of natives watching her across the square. They were wider than they were tall, grey-skinned, their yellow eyes flashing in the slowly diminishing light. Mara tried to ignore them, not wanting to draw too much attention to herself.
The stall owner grabbed a timetable off the wall, making the thin side of the tent shudder. Sand drifted down through a gap in the roof, piling up on the thick rug he'd laid out on the ground. As he turned, Mara saw two other Dressellians sitting in the back of the tent. They had paused their humble meal to watch her, muttering in a language she couldn't even begin to interpret. Mara turned her face away, pretending to follow the crowds as she watched them out of the corner of her eye. The owner of the stall came back to the counter and laid the timetable out before her.
"I got no ships running inward, not now the Empire monitors most of the trade routes." He ran a finger down the chart, making a clicking sound in the back of his throat in thought. "Apart from..." He jabbed at the bottom of the timetable. "A junker I got going to Coruscant."
Mara twisted her lip, disappointed. That was a start, it wasn't perfect but it meant she could get off this awful planet. "When's that leaving?"
"Three weeks."
To his credit, the Dressellian looked almost apologetic. Perhaps Mara didn't have as much control over emotions as she thought. Three weeks? She was already way behind, who knows what the Empire could do to Leia in that time. That is, if they hadn't done it already. Mara gritted her teeth and pushed the thought away. She placed her fingertips on the chart and slid it back across the counter.
"Where's the nearest repair yard?"
She found Bodhi quickly. Just like she thought, he hadn't gone far. She stood and watched him for a moment as he moved between stalls. Despite the heat and the language barrier, he seemed to fit in quite well. Mara still didn't know if she could trust him. In some ways, it didn't matter. She needed a pilot, not a friend. But then again, he could've found transport, could've left the market and found another settlement. But he was still here. Mara didn't want to let herself believe it was because he actually wanted to help her, she certainly hadn't done anything to deserve that. Perhaps he'd realised that he needed her just as much as she needed him.
Bodhi felt her presence before he saw her. Mara moved almost silently, though with all the noise of the market, he probably wouldn't have heard her anyway. She stood close to him, watching his movements carefully. It would've been unnerving if he hadn't figured out that she couldn't hurt him. She needed him to fly the ship, he couldn't do that in pieces. Again, she didn't seem wary of him, she was simply curious.
"This planet, it's called Boz Pity." He spoke softly, knowing she would be able to hear him. Bodhi didn't trust the stall owners and thought it best to keep his voice low. "It's controlled by the Republic but they're not popular."
"Boz Pity," Mara repeated, rolling the name around on her tongue. It suited the planet. Actually, it rang a faint bell. Perhaps she'd heard someone mention it in a Senate meeting, or perhaps Breha had discussed it with her family over dinner. Mara never absorbed any of the politics that surrounded the Royal Family; she was simply there to protect Leia, not weigh-in on Republic or Rebellion matters.
"We're in the Mid Rim." Bodhi had spoken to a man who owned a stall selling engine parts. From him, he'd learned all he could about the planet without drawing too much attention to the fact that he was essentially a tourist and therefore an easy target.
Mara saw him pick up a holoprojector, smooth and round, about the size of his palm. The Kitonak who owned the stall immediately began a spiel, encouraging Bodhi to buy it. He asked for a price in the same slow, soft language and the Kitonak answered whilst Mara watched on inquisitively. Obviously, they'd asked for too much because Bodhi apologised and placed the projector back down on the table. As he moved away from the stall, Mara followed, staying close to his side.
"You have money?"
"Things work on bartering here." Bodhi showed her the bag he still carried despite their long journey. "All I've got is tools and some cabling but if people need it..."
"Don't give it all away," Mara said, lowering her voice as they perused another stall. She pretended to be interested in the Ithorian's wares. They needed to keep a low profile, they didn't know who could be watching. "We'll need them."
Bodhi smirked, catching on to her plan without her needing to explain anything. "Couldn't get a ride?" The Ithorian was selling tiny glass flowers amongst other things. He carefully picked up a curling, purple one and showed it to Mara.
She pretended to consider buying it, trying her best to ignore his smug grin. "I need you to fix the ship." She handed back the flower and Bodhi placed it down on the stall with a sigh.
"Why should I help you?" He kept up his neutral expression despite the anger in his voice as they moved on to the next stall.
Mara gave up pretending to be interested in the market. She took Bodhi's arm and turned him around to face her, though not quite as roughly as she had grabbed him earlier, or in fact any of the times she'd touched him. "Because that shuttle is the only way you're getting home too." Mara glanced at the stall owner but they were serving another customer and hadn't noticed them. She pulled Bodhi closer, forgetting in her desperation that she was trying to get him onside. "We're in the same terrible situation."
"Yeah, because of you." Bodhi sharply pulled his arm from her grip, sick and tired of being bullied.
Mara noticed he didn't step back, this pilot was tougher than she thought. "I'm not asking you to trust me. Please, let's just fix the ship and get out of here," she said, trying not to let her anger take over. Mara knew she was stranded without Bodhi and as much as she hated to admit it, she depended on him to get home. But Mara had never put her life in someone else's hands before and the thought of being helpless ignited an unprecedented anger within her. She was supposed to be a captain; people relied on her, not the other way around. Mara could hear her mother's voice in her head, telling her to trust no one, that she could only rely on herself and that there was always a way out. Looking around her, it seemed Bodhi was her only hope and he didn't seem happy about it.
"You're still not listening to me. I don't know if I can." Frustration made his voice rise suddenly and Mara shushed him as subtly as she could.
"We have to try."
Bodhi looked away. Her gaze was so penetrating, he could hardly stand it. There was a small part of him that wanted to help her but it was drowned out by spite. His head ached from the awful sun and his body still felt sore from the crash, making it hard to think straight. He just wanted to go home.
For the first time, Mara really looked at Bodhi. He'd tied back his long hair but it was speckled with sand. There were scrapes and cuts down the right side of his neck, all of them still healing. Patches of fresh, new skin were bordered by raw scars, like he'd been badly burned. He had every marker of a Rebel pilot, she could spot the signs a mile off. It was his eyes that bemused her; his gaze was soft but his expression was always guarded and stern. Though, that was probably due to the fact that she'd abducted him in the middle of the night and stranded him on a barren planet. Mara knew he had every reason to hate her but they couldn't just give up. Bodhi looked down at his feet, indecisive, so Mara said something she hadn't said in a long, long time.
"Please."
Bodhi raised his head and met her gaze again. Now all her anger was gone, she looked younger, softer, and considerably less terrifying. For the first time, they stood as equals. She was still definitely insane but he supposed fixing the ship really was the only way they were getting out of there anytime soon. Thoughts of his friends entered his mind. Jyn was awake, he could go and see her as soon as he got back to base. It wouldn't be long before Cassian came back to them too. He couldn't miss it, not after weeks of painful waiting. He saw a flicker of hope in Mara's eyes and knew she couldn't wait either.
Bodhi sighed and shook his head, hardly believing what he was about to agree to, but movement over Mara's shoulder made him pause. The market had grown quiet and unnervingly still. Their argument had distracted them, neither Bodhi nor Mara had noticed the crowds parting. Three enormous figures stood in a tight group, each one more muscled and ugly than the last. He didn't know where they were from but they did not look happy to see them, so he could only assume they were locals.
"Friends of yours?"
Mara frowned at him so Bodhi nodded in their direction and she span around. It was the Pitians she'd seen by the trader's stall. The three men were scowling at them which Bodhi thought was strange considering they really hadn't been there long enough to cause trouble. At least, not yet.
"Can I help you?" Mara raised her chin at them.
Bodhi thought she was showing a stunning amount of confidence for someone in her meagre situation but he didn't say anything for fear of incurring either the wrath of the Pitians or Mara herself.
"We don't like your type round here," the first one said, apparently the leader. A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd but most kept themselves to themselves. It seemed this sort of thing happened often and the novelty had worn off.
Bodhi leaned close to murmur in Mara's ear. "He's talking to you."
"I know, Bodhi."
"Core Worlders." The first to speak took an enormous step closer whilst all around them, the crowd jeered. "You think you're so much better than everyone else."
"Told you."
"Yes, thank you, Bodhi." Mara stepped away from the stall and made to leave but the spectators closed in, barring her path. No one moved to stop her but the message was clear, the only way they were getting out of there was if the Pitians let them go. Mara didn't want any trouble, she just wanted to find the repair yard the Dressellian trader had told her about but when she tried to move past, the biggest local blocked her way. He stuck out a tree trunk-like arm and pushed her back.
"Hey, hey, there's no need fo-" Bodhi hurried forward to help but the first man raised one huge meaty hand and pointed right at him.
"Shut it."
Bodhi really didn't like being told what to do but he figured it would be best to keep his head down this time. Two of the men had blasters, one had a wooden staff as thick as his arm, any fight would be over very quickly. Mara definitely did not have the same mindset. She stood toe-to-toe with the Pitian who addressed them, her face tilted upwards due to him being almost twice her size.
"Let us pass."
She spoke slowly and calmly, her expression impassive. Bodhi found himself marvelling at her composure despite himself. They were vastly outnumbered and hopelessly outgunned, yet Mara appeared to be the one in control. When the Pitian laughed in her face, she didn't even flinch. He reached for the blaster at his waist.
"I'm gonna show you what we do to arrogant Core W-"
He never touched his blaster. He didn't even get to finish his sentence. Bodhi blinked and Mara had twisted the Pitian's arm up behind his back. When one of his friends tried to grab her, she gracefully stepped aside, yanking the arm out as she went. The sound of bone snapping made Bodhi blanch.
With one man on the ground, Mara grabbed and twisted the staff out of the second Pitian's hands. She brought it down over her knee, breaking it in half. When they ran at her, she met them halfway, using the two halves of the staff to knock the blaster out of the third man's hands and strike the other hard in the back of the head. Mara span, striking the last Pitian in the neck, the ribs, the kidneys, and the backs of his knees in one smooth movement. It was all over in a matter of seconds.
She stooped and thwacked the second Pitian in the head again to make sure he'd stay down, then carelessly dropped the broken staff onto his friend's stomach. Bodhi had guessed correctly, the fight was over almost as soon as it began. Could you even call it a fight? It was very one-sided. The crowd thinned quickly and quietly, satiated but unnerved by what they'd seen.
Mara stood in the middle of it all, panting and clutching her ribs. She stayed still for a moment, collecting herself mentally and physically. It was only when she heard Bodhi's bewildered cry that she looked up.
"Who are you?"
He was staring at her, open-mouthed and stunned. Mara couldn't decipher the expression on his face. Was he appalled? Amazed? She didn't know what she preferred.
Bodhi could feel eyes on them. He didn't think anyone would be brave enough to approach Mara after what just happened but he couldn't be certain. As if on cue, one of the men on the ground began to stir, letting out a low groan. "Come on." Bodhi almost reached out and took her arm but thought better of it just in time and shoved his hands safely in his pockets.
Mara made sure to grab the men's blasters before following him through the crowd.
Bodhi spotted a food stall on the other side of the market earlier, so he led her there. He bought them a portion of bread each and a tankard of what looked like, though certainly didn't smell like, water. They sat down on the outskirts of the market in the shade of a speeder rental, resting their backs against the wall. Bodhi drew his knees up to his chest but Mara stayed straight-backed and vigil. She scanned the horizon, her gaze lingering on anyone who happened to cross their path.
They ate in silence. Only when Bodhi was finished did he look at Mara. She picked at her food, chewing thoughtfully on every small bite. He didn't blame her, the bread was dry and tasteless as the sand beneath them. He didn't ask any of the hundreds of questions rolling around in his head, he just waited patiently for her to speak. Bodhi didn't care how long it took, he wanted to hear the truth in her own words. Several empty moments passed before Mara bowed her head.
"I told you I'm on the Royal Guard."
Bodhi nodded slightly, uncertain of whether it was a question or not. Everything about this woman terrified him. She was so fast, so strong, not even her broken bones could hinder her. After what he'd seen, he knew he'd never be able to defend himself against her. But still, he was curious. Mara was as mysterious now as she was lying in the medcentre. Her back was still ramrod straight but she lowered her chin a little more, her dark eyes focused on the uneven ground.
"I'm charged with protecting Princess Leia Organa."
Bodhi tried not to show how impressed he was. "Breha's daughter?" That explained her frankly incredible skill. He didn't know much about Alderaan, he'd never even flown in the Core, but every Rebel knew how integral the Royal Family was to the Resistance and how heavily they were guarded. At last, Mara looked up. For a moment, he thought he saw her smile faintly at the Queen's name but if so, it faded as quickly as it appeared.
"She was taken by the Empire." The name left a foul taste in her mouth. Mara hated them. Hated them with every fibre of her being. When she saw Bodhi flinch, she thought it was because he felt the same.
It was true to an extent, Bodhi did hate the Empire, he despised the shadow it had cast over his life and the pain it had brought the ones he loved, but he was suddenly overwhelmed with guilt. Every day on Yavin 4 was a gift, he was safe, he was free, but every ship shot down, every Rebel murdered, every planet starved weighed on his conscious until sometimes, it felt like he could hardly breathe. He was only a cargo pilot but he'd helped the Empire, he'd fed the machine that had eaten whole worlds. Yavin 4 was supposed to be his home now but every second spent there was a reminder that he would never belong, and now they'd taken a beloved princess.
It wasn't his fault, Bodhi knew that in his heart of hearts, but now he was sat beside a woman who'd almost died because of his actions, no matter how indirect, and it was difficult not to feel remorseful. Although, Bodhi felt his anxieties loosen their grip just a little as all the pieces finally fell into place.
"That's why you have to get back to Alderaan."
"And why I don't have time to argue." Mara regretted how sharp her tone became but she couldn't bring herself to apologise. She ached all over, she felt lost and alone and terrified. She just wanted to find Leia, to go home, but the universe seemed against her.
Bodhi watched her press her thumbs into the spongey bread. Her hands were calloused and bruised, much like his own. There was a speck of someone else's blood on her knuckle. "What happened?" he whispered, finding he couldn't look away.
Mara almost didn't want to answer. She tried to convince herself that it didn't matter. She didn't have to explain herself to a complete stranger. But Mara's conscience was eating away at her and she was afraid that if she didn't confess, it would consume her completely. "We were heading to Tatooine. A general lives there, someone who can help with the war." She tried relaxing her back but it compressed her ribcage and she straightened up again, her jaw tight. "We were almost there when a star destroyer appeared out of nowhere. They killed my soldiers. They took the princess."
It was all her fault. Trew, Sillian, Kranna, they died because of her choices. And Leia, she should never have let her out of her sight. What was Bail going to say when she told him that his daughter had been taken by the Empire? Or Breha? Mara could hardly bear to imagine the look on the Queen's face. She looked away, her heart in her throat. That was enough confessing for now. She pretended to watch a speeder race across the horizon, just a silhouette against the purple sky.
Bodhi saw her thumbs press further into the bread and knew he ought to think of something to say. "What are you going to do?" His gaze fell to a scar on her arm, pale and jagged. He followed it as it arched across her forearm. Bodhi wondered, against his better judgment, if she was tired, if she was hurting. This was the most still he'd seen her since the medcentre and he suspected she wouldn't have been nearly so peaceful then if they hadn't put her under. Mara hadn't stopped since the crash, she must be exhausted.
"Get back to Alderaan, tell the Queen what happened."
Just as he suspected, Mara had a plan. She couldn't wait any longer, not while Leia was in danger. She was fixing that ship whether he helped her or not. When Mara turned her head and met his gaze, her eyes were full of fire. It made his heart skip.
"I'm going to get her back."
Bodhi believed her. He still thought she was completely mad but he believed her. Mara stood up and dusted herself off and he followed her without argument.
They went back to the market and with what little he had to spare, Bodhi gathered as many tools and parts as he could. Many of the stall owners had been present during the fight and were much more lenient because of it, probably afraid that Mara might do to them what she did to the thugs who attacked her. When they had salvaged all they could, they left the tiny town behind them. Mara was glad to put it behind her, she hoped never to see it again.
They walked side by side across the desert, both silently praying they were heading in the right direction though neither of them said it out loud. By the time they found the shuttle, it was starting to get dark but it was still uncomfortably hot. The ship looked an even more sorry sight than they remembered. Once again, Bodhi was surprised by Mara's determination when she grabbed the nearest tool and approached the shuttle.
"Where do we start?"
He smiled to himself, amused by her enthusiasm despite clearly not having any idea what she was doing. He dropped his tool bag onto the sand and shrugged off his jacket, letting that fall on top.
"First we need to get it out of the sand," he said, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt as he scanned the shuttle. It would be an arduous task but they weren't going anywhere until the ship was righted. He didn't have a shovel, they'd have to dig it out. He led Mara round to the front of the shuttle where its blunt nose was buried. Whilst she started the excavation, Bodhi found a jack he'd managed to swap for a few spark plugs and the hammer. When he went back to see how she was getting on, he found that Mara had cleared away most of the sand. Pleased with their progress, he gave her a smile, forgetting how furious he was supposed to be with her for a little while. "Here." He passed her the jack, thinking she'd like to do the honours.
Mara reached out to take it from him but something made her pause. She didn't know how she hadn't noticed it before, but the entirety of Bodhi's right arm had been replaced by a metal prosthetic. Cybernetic limbs were common, especially amongst soldiers, so it wasn't anything she hadn't seen before. Mara followed the mechanism until it disappeared into his sleeve. She wondered what had happened to him, where he'd got it, but didn't think it was polite to ask. She started when she realised she was staring and saw Bodhi watching her closely. Thankfully, he didn't seem offended. He actually looked quite amused by her reaction.
Mara cleared her throat and took the jack from him, quickly changing the subject by asking where was best to place it. Bodhi found himself smiling again as he watched her awkwardly walk away. At last, he'd seen an emotion in her other than anger. Once they'd elevated the shuttle, the real work began. Bodhi raised the engine cover, pushing it right up above his head until it locked in place as he'd seen Yunlo do a thousand times. From what he could see, everything looked like it had survived fairly well, but 'fairly well' wouldn't get them far.
"Do you know anything about mechanics?" Mara was staring at the engine like she'd never seen one before. That was fair, he thought, the tangled cables and endless layers of machinery were incredibly intimidating at first glance. "It's alright, I'm still learning." He passed her a screwdriver and she took it gingerly, the most gentle he'd ever seen her. "We'll figure it out together."
Mara didn't know why he was suddenly being so kind to her. It couldn't be because of the fight in the market, he already knew what she was capable of before that. She stood back a little so that Bodhi had more space to work, carefully watching his every move. If she got stuck again, she wanted to know how to help herself, that way she wouldn't have to depend on anyone again.
Bodhi swore as a jump-lead suddenly spat sparks at him. He shook out his hand, a little embarrassed, but when he glanced at Mara, she didn't laugh. She did raise her eyebrows as if to ask if he was alright, a gesture he really hadn't expected from her. He dove straight back in, unafraid despite the numerous injuries he was bound to get. Every so often, he'd ask for a new tool and Mara would pass it to him like they were performing surgery. As the desert grew steadily darker, the black sand made it seem as if they were enveloped in the night sky, the pinprick lights in the market their stars.