"I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles."

The Who

.

"So how many times have you done this?" Ryssa asked, slightly breathless and taking deeper breaths, as her thighs began to burn with the effort of this last climb.

She couldn't remember ever doing anything like this but A'den was in his element. They were trekking up the last part and were nearly at the top of the mountain, even now the view was magnificent and they had seen animals, she could only, imagine up close.

"This?"

"Yes, climbing up then camping on top of a mountain."

She stumbled on the next step and he was there, to steady her. She had been reluctant to go camping but she had really wanted to see the view from the top of the mountain, and this was the best way to get there. A'den then convinced her then you had to complete an overnight stay because the trek up and down was eight hours each way and too much in one day. She didn't need convincing now.

"Hill." he said. "This is a hill."

"It's a mountain to me."

"That's 'cos you're a shorty."

She snorted, the more time she spent with him, the more comfortable and sure she was.

"And how can you manage to climb in that armour. It must weigh a ..a ..lot." They all seemed to wear it and it was different to the images of the clones on her datapad.

"Genetics and training."

"I'm not going to have to wear any, am I?" She had seen a couple of the women wearing some.

There was a pause.

"Not if you don't want to but it might be expedient." He stopped and looked around. "We camp here." He declared and started emptying the packs. They had brought enough for one night.

Ryssa emptied one of the other packs, it was a bottomless bag of items but if they got the tents up they could catch the last of the light before they ate something and slept. They had two tents. He took nothing for granted. She helped him clear the ground before watching him put the tents up; he looked up and grinned at her.

"You okay?"

"Yes."

"This is a bit different from Corrie." He said.

"Where did I live on Corrie?" The thought suddenly struck her.

"You had your own apartment."

"Ah yes." She remembered that from years before. Her mother had bought it for her when she started University, after a lot of arguing and then it had been left empty for a ling time. She hadn't been there for a long time as far as she could remember.

A'den zipped up the tent. "Right let's get up to the summit." He pulled her up, "Just follow me."

"So how many times have you done this?"

He evaded the question before.

"What?"

"Climbed this." She answered watching where she stepped, it was rocky in places.

"Never."

"What?" She stopped walking." How do you know where we need to go?"

"I just do. Trust me." He grabbed her hand tighter.

"My mother told me never to trust anyone who said 'Trust me'." She gingerly picked her way up the small rubble strewn path.

He sniggered, "Clever woman." He held out his other hand, steadying her as they climbed up the last part of the track up to the summit, eventually reaching the top. The wind was gusty, and she clung to him, holding herself steady. The sun that Mandalore circled was finally setting on the horizon. The reds, oranges and yellows from the sunset streaked across the sky, fading as the last rays disappeared.

"We need to set a fire and then we can get up early to see the sunrise, when you'll be able to see for miles."

"How do you know that if you've never been here before."

"I studied the land contours, heights etc and calculated it. Taking into account the current weather forecasts. This is the best place."

"You calculated it from a map?"

"Yes. It was easy."

"You and your brothers are exceptionally clever aren't you?"

"Only the best for the Kaminisii." He replied sarcastically, his face blank.

Jaing was an expert slicer and she had picked up snippets from some of the conversations she overheard, what the other clones had done and could do. She looked up at him and he smiled, as he held her while they watched the fading colours of the sunset.

She felt at ease here.

.

The fire blazed as they opened the self heating ration packs.

"I could have shot that shatual."

"You could have but it had young, and the little one wouldn't have survived without its mother."

"You eat meat don't you?"

"Yes. But we didn't need to kill that one."

"No you're right." He spooned some of his ration pack into his mouth. Ryssa eyed hers; they usually all looked the same to her but this one seemed to have some kind of tubers and colourful vegetables in it and the meat was recognisable, she tried a spoonful. Her tastebuds reacted in surprise.

"This is actually really tasty."

"Good. I'll remember to tell Laseema they work."

"She did these?"

"Yeah. She buys the empty packs in and fills them up for anyone going hunting or away for any length of time."

He had something to tell her but she looked so relaxed at the moment he wasn't sure he could.

They had Uj cake to finish, she was developing a taste for it, especially the spices but it was so rich she couldn't eat much and they sat quietly. A'den poked the fire, which was finally dying down to its glowing embers. "Think we should get to bed; it's getting cold."

Nodding Ryssa agreed, she was tired.

.

She should have been able to sleep but it was not coming; she kept thinking about her husband in the one man tent next to her. She twisted in her sleeping bag trying to get comfortable, she was certain she had cleared all the stones away before they pitched the tent but she could feel each and everyone. She turned over and tried again.

A'dens eyes flew open. He had heard something, someone outside, slipping on the stones.

"For Feks sake." He heard a female voice curse.

He pulled his blaster ready, unzipped the tent and peered out; he put his blaster away.

"You okay?"

"Yes. Sorry. Can't sleep."

"Come here. I'm sure we can both fit in."

She dropped to her knees and crawled inside. It took a bit of shuffling but they managed to both lie down. There wasn't much room.

"Unzip the bags. We can rejoin them make one big one."

"Why didn't we do that to start with."

"I thought you needed your own space."

Didn't want to force anything remained unsaid.

"Thank you."

They shuffled around again for several minutes both giggling, as they tried to match up the zip. Finally succeeding, they lay back down, slightly breathless and warm. She automatically moved next to him feeling his body heat, despite having warmed up.

"Why is your groundsheet more comfortable than mine? I can feel every stone in mine."

"Did you inflate it?"

"Err…No. How?"

"The little green button in the corner."

"Oh, that's what it's for."

A'den frowned, he had told her. She shuffled, then he felt her lips trailing along his jaw; it would feel like the sandpaper that Yayax squad used in their construction projects, he hadn't shaved since morning. He slipped his arm around her and pulled her even closer.

"You okay, Cyar'ika?"

"Hmm." she continued to kiss him.

"Den..." She whispered, her breath hitting his neck.

He took a deep breath, before pulling her on top of him, hearing a little squeak, as he did so; a few seconds later she leaned even closer.

His fingers combed through the short hair at the back of her neck, as he pulled her to him, kissing with a passion, all tongue and teeth; she deepened it, hungrily, while pressing herself to him. Eventually she pulled away, sucking at his bottom lip, her eyes opening slowly. She lowered her forehead to his, looking straight into his eyes.

She was breathless.

"Really ready?"

"Life's too short." She slid back, her knees either side of him, and pulled off her top, it disappeared into a corner; she watched his eyes go to her breasts followed quickly by his hands, first cupping then kneading her breasts. His touch sent a current of electricity through her, as she let out a shivery breath. She watched him take her nipple into his mouth and an explosion of pleasure hit her.

A'den hooked his thumbs into her pyjama bottoms, pulling them down. She shuffled, attempting to stay attached to him till they too disappeared. Already naked, preferring to sleep that way, he felt her grind against him. His hands trailed down her back to her bottom and squeezed; he smiled at her hum, vibrating into their kiss, his hands splayed across her back, as he held her to him.

"Cyar'e." He murmured, as she placed small kisses along his jaw again; he was growing harder with each touch. His hands traced a path up her back, until he encircled her and pulled her tightly to him.

"I've missed this." he whispered, before his mouth worked on her neck, he was fully hard now but waiting for her to dictate what she wanted. He didn't want to rush her. She pulled back up on her knees, stroked his erection before she guided him in and slowly sank down, letting out a breathy moan; he held his breath, as he felt her familiar warmth encompass him and let his hands rest on her hips. She moved, slowly at first, then she found a rhythm. Cupping her breasts, he caressed her nipples in time with her movements. She braced herself against his chest. He was struggling now, as she increased her pace; her head dropped forward, mouth open, eyes closed, he reached between them to where they joined, remembering what she enjoyed. Before long, she braced herself against him, tensing, letting out a soft moan before she lay back on him, shivering with the after effects. He planted his feet on the ground and thrust upwards holding her firmly, chasing his own release, she bounced with him, until he came, moaning into the crook of her neck.

It had been too long.

As they regained their breath, her face pressed into his neck; this was so wanted and needed, making it more difficult to tell her what he was going to do. She eventually rolled off to the side, whilst still holding on to him and pressed herself to him.

"I feel that we belong together." She explained needlessly.

"It won't be easy."

"I know."

"Sleep." He pulled her closer, stroking her hair, "it looks to be a clear day in the morning."

"Hmm."

She was already dozing. He hated leaving her after they had come so far, even though she had not regained her memories, there was something there. He would tell her in the morning after she has seen the sunrise. Explain his promise to Vau.

.

He woke her with a kiss, it was still dark; she stretched out pressing into him.

"That was a good way to wake up."

"I can do that now."

"Mmmm." She squirmed closer to him.

"Up now," he slapped her bottom.

She squawked an "Ow".

"No time for that, we have to get dressed, eat and walk to the summit again."

She pulled the sleeping bag around her and shuffled out of the tent grinning, to retrieve her clothes.

"Hey! Chakaar!" He shouted after her, laughing, as the chill of the morning hit him.

.

A'den had heated some ready Caf, when she came back dressed.

"Not as good as fresh but still gives you a kick."

They sat eating a breakfast out of the ration packs. Ryssa was fascinated how Laseema managed to do this. She must ask her, she seemed a good person, wondering how well she knew her before. Then they set off up to the summit again. The sun was rising, the different hues of oranges and reds, were breath taking; then the sun was up finally, the colours, as vivid if not more so than the previous night. It was chilly but bearable.

She looked around, he was right; you can see for miles and miles. From the rocky outcrop of the Mountain, down to the woodland beneath and farmland beyond that.

He twisted her around, "Look to the south." And handed her his binoculars, she adjusted them and found the edge of a desert in the distance.

"I didn't know Mandalore had desert."

"It's not natural, it's caused by war, years of fighting, and it's why they had to build the bio domes in the South, when the Kryse's were in power."

"We're lucky up here."

He loved how she said 'we're'. He had more hope today than he'd had in a long time. They sat, as she looked at the landscape, 360 degrees all the way around. He would never have thought his Coruscant born wife would appreciate this beauty like he did. There was a reason his face looked liked it did, weatherbeaten, with more laughter lines etched on his face than his brothers. He had relished being out in the field, out of his armour, dressed like one of the locals, the fresh air on his face, although he had never readily admitted it.

Now he had to tell her about his intended trip.

.

It took them hours to walk back down to the speeder, stopping periodically for him to point out the different flora and fauna; that she was so interested in it, still surprised him. He still had to tell her about Kashyyk, delaying because he could see how happy she was for the first time since she had been rescued. They loaded up the speeder.

"Cyar'ika." He threw the last pack in, "I need to tell you something."

"Yes." She moved to him, linking her arm through his. He was her one steadying aspect, in the fog of her memories

"I have to leave. Off planet."

Her stomach lurched.

"So soon."

"You know?"

She nodded. "I listen a lot, for clues, to help me remember things but then I learn a lot of new things. I heard whispers about someone called Walon going to look for someone called Sev."

"Let's sit in the speeder."

It was slightly warmer.

"Walon was a trainer on Kamino."

"Should I know him."

"Yes. He and Kal didn't get on. He was brutal. Made it worse than it already was. But his squads survived although I don't know how they're faring now. Sev was one of his. He was left behind on Kashyyyk just before Order 66. Walon wants to get him, bring him back."

"Of course." They had come for her. "But why you?"

"When I was looking for you, he lent me his ship, several times. We used it to come to Daro, for you, but you'd already escaped."

"Daro? That's in my datapad isn't it."

"Yes. I promised to help him find Sev, and now he's got more Intel on his whereabouts."

"Is the Empire on Kashyyyk?"

He nodded, holding her even tighter; he felt her arms slip around him and she leant on his chest, her ear to his heart just as she used to, before he left on missions for the GAR.

"Please be careful."

"You should know, 'Careful' is my middle name." He joked. She didn't laugh but squeezed him even tighter.

.

Imperial Garrison

Keldabe

Darman read the report of the abortive mission on the Hunting Lodge with the Inquisitor; he flung his datapad on his bunk angrily. There had been hell to pay with the Inquisitorious, when the remains of the Inquisitor had been returned, in two pieces. He could have told them it was a lightsaber that cut off his head. He'd seen lightsaber wounds. This confirms that there were accomplished Force Users up north, and well trained Mandalorians. Then Reau did a runner off planet.

All this meant one thing for Darman - Kal'buir.

"They should have sent us." he grumbled. They had offered, as a squad but the Inquisitor had turned them down dismissively.

"You don't argue with an Inquisitor and normally survive." muttered Niner.

"Someone did." suggested Rede, "And it looks like it was a Jedi. I agree with you Darman. They should have sent us with our track record of finding and dealing with enemies of the Empire, including Jedi. And there's this Intel." he added.

He sent the information he had investigated himself from the unknown informant who wanted off Mandalore. He was getting better all the time.

All Niner wanted was for Darman to be reunited with his son and his family, and he would be with him. He hoped Rede would desert with them. He didn't want to think about what would happen if he didn't and he knew his brother well enough to know what he was thinking.

"We could check out that Hunting Lodge, and the others." continued Rede, with more intel.

"What others?" asked Darman.

"There are others near to that one. We could check them all."

"I'll clear it with the Commander."

Niner was tired, tired of it all.

And there could be a mole with Kal'buir.

.

Kyrimorut.

Darkness had dropped by the time they reached Kyrimorut, so they snuck in grabbed some cold meat, pickles, bread and cheese and fruit. There was also some sticky buns, Ryssa popped two on the tray. Looked at it and put two more there.

"Hey vod!"

Ryssa jumped, startled.

"You were lucky I wasn't holding the tray." She muttered to Kom'rk, who had appeared behind her.

"I bided my time."

"A'den's just covering up the speeder."

"I know. Have a good time?"

"Yes. It was beautiful up there."

"You look relaxed."

"I feel better."

"Oops. Better stop talking about him now." He said in a loud voice, as A'den entered. He slipped his arm over her shoulder, as he reached her.

"We're good aren't we Cyar'e?"

"We are."

"I'm happy for you." He clapped his brother on the back.

.

A'den lay with the morning light just peeping through the shuttered window, relishing the feeling of his wife lying next to him, or rather on him; her head was resting on his chest. It was just as before but this was not a SOB mission, it was a brother. He hoped the Intel Vau had was good. Jaing had provided additional Intel on some of the gangs working there. They were well supplied. He had checked the ship yesterday, plenty of weapons, food and medical supplies, even a small Bacta tank that would do for emergencies. Force knows where he got that from.

He felt Ryssa stretch out next to him; they had a long session last night and she hadn't had a nightmare again. It looked like she was on the mend apart from the memories. He was beginning to think they would never come back but she seemed more at ease these last few days perhaps that would help.

"Time to get up sleepy head." He nudged her; he needed to get breakfast and then leave. He slipped out of the bed and headed for the fresher.

He let his forehead drop against the wall of the shower; this continuous supply of hot water always felt good. He felt a breeze of cold air flow across him as the door opened and then closed again.

She stood next to him.

"Last night not enough, Cyar'ika?"

"I wasn't thinking of that, just wanted to be close to you and thought this would be nice." He watched as she lathered up one of her shower puffs, and started scrubbing at his back, kneading into the muscles. He remembered one time he had been washed or rather something had washed him. It had been one of the caregiver droids on Kamino. This was much better. This was done with affection and love, not just necessity.

"I could let you do this all day."

"Then you'd be wrinkled like the fruit in the Uj cake. There feel better?"

"Infinitely."

"Turn around."

"Yes, ma'am." He obeyed, contemplating how much time they had left. He dropped to his knees.

"Den?"

"Shhh. Enjoy." He draped her leg over his shoulder and went to work.