Oh, wow, it's been a long time. I am so sorry, guys. Next installment, though!

It's another OC clone #SorryNotSorry

I really like him. He's so precious. Insp for him is a Tumblr post (I'd link you guys but my computer is acting up :( )

Enjoy!

Through the Eyes of Lieutenant Cosmos

Cosmos huddled close to the fire, well-aware of the young Togruta woman across from him. She was shivering, like he was, but at least he had his climate-controlled armor. She only had her cloak.

My fault, my fault, he sighed silently, more than ashamed he wasn't able to lead them to the safety of the base. He risked another look at her and was met with piecing blue eyes dancing with flames. He froze. She cocked her head slightly.

"Is everything okay, Cosmos?"

Her voice was gentle, a soothing sound over the crackle of the fire. She'd forgone his rank, suggesting a familiarity they didn't quite have with each other. Was it her way of asking?

Cosmos ducked his head. "Yes, commander."

Commander Tano. He had been excited to work with her, even for something as simple as a trek through the forest. She had been dispatched to oversee his unit's progress on the base they were building, and since he was Second behind the captain, he had been assigned as her guide of sorts.

Not that a Jedi needs a guide. But she was kind and thoughtful, and didn't seem to mind a chaperone as she wandered around the semi-constructed base. She spoke with the men, asking about their roles, how they felt, what they thought could be improved. It was impressive, awe-creating; a Jedi, listening to clones.

It was only when she started fidgeting that he realized how young she might be, how boring this might seem to her. It had been him who suggested an expedition through the surrounding forest. She had agreed quite happily, those bright eyes lighting up at the thought of doing something else.

The walk through the forest with her was almost fun. They didn't speak, not really, but the few words they exchanged were thoughtful. Maybe she is offering friendship.

Chattering teeth drew his eyes to her again. She was huddled in on herself, body quivering, cloak as tight around her body as possible. It was almost painful to look at.

Cosmos knew, just knew he'd be getting reprimanded for this. There was nothing he could do about it now, though. Instead he leaned forward slightly. "I can build the fire a bit more, commander."

She was shaking her head before he finished speaking. "A bigger fire will make us visible." Her smile would've been reassuring if her lips weren't blue. "I'll be okay."

Cosmos dug his fingers into the dirt. "I should have been better prepared for local resistance." Di'kut, di'kut, di'kut.

"And I should have been paying more attention to our surroundings." Her voice was gently admonishing. "This isn't just your fault."

He figured it best not to argue. "Yes, commander."

It was kind of her to share the blame, to try to lift his spirits even as she risked hypothermia. She huffed softly, tucking her hands into her armpits. "Would you mind telling me about your name?"

His head snapped up. Did she know what she was asking? What it meant? Friendship, friendship, was she really offering? Was she aware she was offering?

He cleared his throat once, twice. "Sure, commander." She seemed to settle down more comfortably, leaning closer to the fire, to him. The flames lit her ruddy skin in glowing light, reflected in her eyes; she looked ethereal. "It's not really that exciting."

Her smile of humor was easier to believe than her smile of reassurance. "I doubt that."

He snapped a picture with his helmet cam before thinking about it. This night might be a mess, possibly his worst failure since Kamino, but there was something soothing about the way she looked in the firelight, the way her smile pulled at her lips and crinkled her eyes.

He wondered if her captain, Rex of the 501st, had similar thoughts about her.

"I like the stars. My squad used to tease me about back on Kamino." She couldn't see through his helmet, but he grinned anyways. "Memorizing star charts and systems doesn't make you very popular."

She seemed so intrigued, though, it almost made him want to keep talking. "So you can navigate by stars?"

He nodded. "Yes, commander."

She glanced up, studying the heavy clouds that blocked the sky from view. Something like resigned amusement twitched on her lips as she looked back at him. "Is that why you feel so guilty?"

"Partially." This was a much more candid conversation than he'd ever thought he'd have with a commanding officer.

She wasn't condemning or accusing, though. She was asking, and listening, and seemed more quietly entertained by the entire situation than anything else.

Are all Jedi like this? He hadn't met another one in his life. Kamino had taught him differently, taught him Jedi were almost like gods, that they couldn't be touched. But this commander seemed so, so on his level.

"Cosmos," he started slightly at his name, "I think this planet is trying to kick us out." Something like laughter danced beside the fire in her eyes. "Trigger-happy locals, cloudy skies, freezing nights; why would the Republic even want this place?"

Oh, she really was young, he could see it in that sentence. Was he older than her, by years of experience? There was a niggling suspicion he was.

That suddenly made talking with her easier. "I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you, commander. I was hoping you'd know." A tentative attempt at teasing, and she received it happily, the laughter moving from her eyes to her mouth and into the cold air.

Friendship. Yes, it seemed she was offering it.

Did her captain teach her about that, too? He doubted the Jedi did.

"Do you know more than just star charts?" She seemed to want to continue the conversation. "What about myths?"

He obliged her, fathoming the fact that she wanted to speak with him. "I know a few; you probably know more."

A shrug. "Just Togrutan stories."

"One for one?" This time he almost believed she could see his grin through his helmet: her eyes met his through the visor and she smiled back.

"Deal."

It was hours until the clouds cleared enough for him to navigate them back to base; enough time for him to learn more than myths. Childhood stories and crazy adventures and early life in the Temple. In return he shared the lighter tales from Kamino, the pranks young cadets would pull on each other, the unrealistic plans whispered late in the night.

Dawn was breaking when they finally made it back to the base. She paused him as he turned to report to the captain.

"Cosmos."

"Yes, commander?"

The few on duty watched curiously, inconspicuously; he'd be getting questions later.

Her eyes looked paler in the morning light, fire no longer reflecting in them. They held bright curiosity, though. "Would you mind teaching me about the stars while I'm here?"

He blinked once, twice, a broad smile on his lips, faint blush on his cheeks. He had never been more grateful for the helmet. "Of course not, commander. Let's see if we can accomplish it without getting lost again."

Another bit of teasing that she welcomed, her laughter quiet and tired and wholly delighted. She nodded once, confirmation and dismissal, before turning and moving tiredly towards her quarters.

He wondered if they had possibly become friends sometime during the dark, cold night.

###

A short debrief and hot shower later, he set his helmet on his bunk, projecting the still-frame of her into the center of the room.

Fire in her eyes, laughter on her lips. It might have just been his exhaustion, but he thought he maybe saw stars glittering in the flames.

So, as this is almost like my "comeback" post, what'd you guys think?

Again, sorry about my sudden disappearance.

Read, review, share.

Kisses!