39 BBY

The battle of Gustus had been ensuing for hours on end, and it looked as if the New Mandalorians were doomed. The Remainder of Kila's attachment had all been killed off. Lohan had lost most of his commandos with the other Commanders, Jax, and John, fighting on another front. Lohan had been severely injured in an explosion that penetrated part of his lower chest piece. However, he and Kila still had to take out a post the Death Watch and other coverts were occupying, or they would lose a vital battle in the war.

"Kila, it's too risky!" Lohan whispered to Kila, who was about to sneak into the Death Watch post.

"If we want to capture this area, those turrets must be removed," Kila responded.

"No, let's wait for backup," Lohan said desperately.

"Lohan, you know as well as I do that no backup is coming unless those turrets are destroyed." "We're all that's left of our squad."

Lohan looked around at his fallen comrades. All that was left of Squad B was him and Kila. And Kila wasn't even an official part of the squad, so he was the last true survivor of Squad B.

"Fine. Then I'm coming with you." Lohan said, struggling to get up. He winced in pain and fell back to the ground.

"Lohan, you're in no shape even to stand, let alone fight."

Lohan knew she was right. He had two severe gashes across his chest, his left leg was severely burned, and his jetpack was no longer functioning. But Lohan wouldn't let Kila take this risk. He couldn't. Even though The Mandalorian would never admit it out loud, he cared for her. He knew he shouldn't. She was a Jedi, and his House of Mandalorians barely tolerated her presence as it was; if she hadn't proved herself helpful on the battlefield, she probably would have been sent back to the Jedi temple because of the flat-out refusal from the rest of House Darius. And even if he wasn't a Mandalorian, Kila being a Jedi meant that attachments were also forbidden for her. Nonetheless, he still cared for her.

"Kila, no! There are too many of them. You'd never make it out!" Lohan said, hoping she would reconsider her decision.

"I have to. You won't make it if you don't get medical attention soon. And it's the only way we can get reinforcements. Otherwise, the Extremist coverts will be closer to winning this war and starting yet another one."

Lohan knew that this was an argument that he could not win.

"Fine. But take these. You'll need them." Lohan said while handing Kila his whistling bird's brace and some explosives.

"But it is forbidden for me to use any weaponry other than my lightsaber." Kila stuttered.

"You will take these. That is if you want me and you to make it out of there." Lohan said firmly.

"Okay. The council will kill me if they find out about this." Kila said worriedly.

"I'm pretty sure THEY will kill you if you don't take these," Lohan said, tilting his head toward the Death Watch post.

"Thank you for your concern, Lohan. I will use these if I need them." Kila said while tightening the whistling bird's strap around her arm.

"Of course. We need you." Lohan Said.

"I know House Darius and the New Mandalorians need me, but I think you need me too," Kila said with a light smile.

"Well, of course, I do! How else am I supposed to make it out of this?" Lohan said, stuttering a bit.

"Okay, Lohan. I see your argument. But I know that's not it.

"No?" Lohan said.

"Since I'm breaking one rule today, I might as well break two."

Kila said as she leaned into Lohan and kissed him hard.

"I'll be back for you!" Kila said, taking off towards the Death Watch post, leaving a shocked-looking Lohan waiting at the top of the hill.

Kila reached the end of the mesa and then crawled silently down the hill. She leaped across a chasm and leaned against the outer wall of the post. She climbed up and peeked over the wall to see two patrols of fully armed Death Watch troopers. Kila knew she wouldn't stand a chance against them, so she waited for them to pass. Once they had left the area, she jumped over the wall and ran towards the building. She jumped into an open window on the side of the building. Now all she had to do was climb the turrets and disable them. Or, in this case, blow them up. Kila walked into the hallway cautiously. She looked towards the left to see four troopers walking down the hallway. She hastily ducked behind the cover of the doorway. When the troopers had moved on, she bolted toward the elevator. She promptly whipped around, pushing the close button and sealing the door. She waited anxiously as the elevator raised to the top of the building. Kila knew she would have to act fast, as patrols were frequent. When the elevator doors slid open, she sprinted out, only to be surrounded by Troopers.

"Put your hands in the air, Jedi," The Mandalorian adjacent to her ordered.

Kila lifted her hands and lightly tilted her wrist, activating Lohan's whistling birds. The metal projectiles shot out from her arms and hit all the troopers surrounding her. The fighters all fell to the floor, except for the one who had spoken earlier, now running towards her. Kila hastily force-pushed him off the roof, leaving him plummeting down into a pile of supplies. Kila then ran to the turrets, hastily planting explosives on them. While Kila was planting explosives, One of the troopers hit by a whistling bird crawled over to a console and set off the alarm. If that didn't get their attention, then one of the explosives going off prematurely did. All the Mandalorians at the post whipped around and either charged or flew toward Kila. Kila cursed herself for not being more careful. She quickly tossed her bag of explosives at the last turret and leaped off the roof, pushing the detonator mid-air. She landed on the ground and ran towards the speeder bikes parked on the side of the building.

Lohan sat nervously at the top of the hill. He felt so useless. Forced to sit, watch, and wait for Kila to plant the explosives. He also couldn't stop thinking about what Kila had done. He thought Jedi weren't capable of having romantic feelings. So why had she kissed him? Lohan had never even considered it as a possibility. He pulled out his rifle to better see what was happening below. As he looked through the scope, Lohan saw several squads marching the outpost's perimeter through the sight. He saw Kila jump over a chasm, then jump over the wall and into the building. She escaped his view, and Lohan waited until he could see her again. He guessed she would be at the top next, so he scoped in and waited. Lohan watched as the elevator door opened, and Kila shot out the whistling birds, knocking out all the troops on the roof. He was glad that he gave her the specialized silent whistling birds. Otherwise, she would have been caught for sure. Kila started laying explosives. To Lohan's horror, he saw one of the bodies start crawling to an alarm panel, and before he could get to his commlink, the alarm went off. All the Mandalorians looked over and then up to see an explosion. As he watched Kila jump off the roof, Lohan activated his commlink.

"This is Lohan, B squad, the southern post's turrets have been removed. I am requesting immediate backup for the position in sector six!

"Acknowledged General Darius. Transport is on its way over to you."

Lohan knew Kila didn't have time, so he activated his rifle. He would ultimately compromise his position by opening fire, but he had to protect Kila.

Kila ran through the post, but three Death Watch troopers rounded the corner of the building before she could reach the speeders. Knowing she didn't have much time before the others came, She ignited her lightsaber. She charged them, slicing their blasters in two and pushing them away with the force. She hopped on the speeder bike and started it. A trooper snuck behind her and pulled out a vibro-knife. But before he could attack Kila, he was gunned down. Kila looked for where the shoot came from, then towards Lohan, perched at the top of the hill with his rifle. He saluted her and continued firing. She was amazed that Lohan could still shoot as she half suspected he would pass out from all the blood loss. She had to hurry. She jumped on a speeder, turned the handle, and zoomed toward Lohan. The Death Watch was not far behind. Kila parked behind the hill, hastily grabbed Lohan, and placed him on the back of the speeder bike. Lohan winced in pain.

"Sorry!"

"I'm fine; just go!" Lohan groaned.

Kila hopped on the bike and raced off toward the New Mandalorian post, which was still seven clicks away. The Death Watch was hot on their trail and gaining. Lohan shot down two troopers in the air, but more replaced them.

"I'm going to try and lose them in the canyon!" Kila called from the front of the bike. Lohan no longer had the energy to talk but merely nodded in response. Kila dodged some boulders and whipped around the canyon walls, causing a few less skilled pursuing troopers to crash into the canyon walls, causing large explosions that sent waves of heat toward the two. They left the canyon, but two speeders and six jet troops were still pursuing them. Now they were in the open. A few stray shots had hit Kila and Lohan's speeder, and it barely held together. Before the Death Watch could finish them off, reinforcements arrived. Two Fang fighters shot down from the sky, causing the Death Watch pursers to fall back. Gunships came down and took Lohan and Kila to a medical facility. Jax, one of the commandos from Clan Darius, picked up Lohan and carried him over to a medical lift, where a medical droid hooked him up to some medical equipment, stabilizing Lohan.

"Oh, don't look so concerned, Master Jedi; he will be quite all right," Jax said.

"Thank you. And I appreciate that." Kila said, a little more relaxed now.

"I know you do. Lohan here will be back in fighting shape soon enough." Jax said.

When they landed, Kila was escorted out, and she made her way toward her quarters to report back to the council on the battle. They had won the match, but the war wasn't over yet.