Project Boussh: Datacard Confessions
by Alison Sky

Alison finished zipping up the vest that she had been given to wear 
over the flightsuit that Hobbie had given her, as so she would be 
protected from any stray blasterbolts that got past her sword 
blocking. He had also given her a blaster of her own, as well as some 
quick lessons on firing the thing.

The knife she had acquired from Josh Cochran lay on her bunk, a 
quickly scribbled note beside it. Word through the grapevine was that 
the flyboy wanted his knife back. Alison, however, really liked the 
small weapon and didn't want to part with it. But to avoid another 
talking to by Sci, she would give it back to him.

A musical warble announced itself outside her half-opened door. She 
turned to see Vape push his way into the room. "There you are!" 
Alison exclaimed to the little droid. She pulled out her laptop and 
the astromech/USB connector cable, and then plugged the cable into 
Vape.

I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU, Vape's translation popped up on the 
translator program's display.

Alison looked at the droid in confusion. "What did I do now?"

YOUR ASTROMECH IS NAMED AFTER WES JANSON'S. 

Laughing, Alison patted the R2 unit on the top of his domed 
head. "I'm sorry, Vape. I didn't think you'd get jealous." She 
thought for a moment. "Don't worry. When the `bago gets back, I'll 
pull him from his storage compartment and do his memory wipe, and in 
the process give him a new name."

THANK YOU.

"Now let's get this done," Alison stated, pulling out a data 
disc. "We don't have much time..."


"Where is he?" Face paced back and forth in front of his X-Wing. He 
was finishing up some final snaps and buttons on his flightsuit. In a 
moment, he would be ready to fly, except for one small thing.
Vape was no where to be found.

Dia placed a hand on his shoulder to stop his pacing. "Don't worry, 
he'll show up."


Alison closed her eyes, wiping a tear away from one of them. Vape 
ejected the disc from his recorder, and Alison took it in her hands. 
The words on this disc took a lot out of her, but hopefully it 
wouldn't be needed in the end. She proceeded to unhook the cable and 
place the laptop on her shoulder carrier.

"Hey Alison, you coming?" Emily shouted, running into the room at the 
same time. She grabbed a helmet that she had left to dry on her bed 
and put it on. "We're getting ready for takeoff."

"I'm on my way."

Emily smiled and took off running out the door. Alison stuffed the 
datacard into her breast pocket, and then picked up the sword on her 
desk and placed it in its makeshift sheath. She then grabbed the 
knife and note. As she looked at her hand holding the knife, a 
thought hit her. She turned to Vape and motioned him to come to her 
side.

Vape rolled over, and Alison pulled the rings off her right 
hand. "Open up your little compartment." The droid did as she asked, 
and Alison placed the rings inside. "If I don't make it back, give 
them to Face, ok?" The droid whistled an affirmative, and Alison made 
her way to the door.

Vape beeped a question and Alison turned around. His pincher arm was 
holding the catsup bottle that had been laying on her bunk.

"Nah, I don't need that anymore," Alison stated. "It's served its 
purpose."

Vape tooted a note, and dropped the catsup bottle in the garbage bin 
on his way out.


"There you are!" Face exclaimed, making his way toward the astromech 
as it rolled towards him. Vape tried to whistle an explanation, but 
Face wasn't able to translate it. He just shook his head. "Come on, 
we need to get you loaded."

The droid wheeled past him, and Face looked up to see Alison climbing 
down from the ladder next to an X-Wing. He eyed her curiously as she 
laughed to herself and started towards him.

"What did you do?" he asked, motioning his head towards the X-Wing.
Alison shrugged, a playful grin on her face. "Just giving someone 
back his toy," she stated. "Where's Dia?"

Face was about to respond when two hands came across his chest, 
hugging him. "I'm here."

Alison bit her lip, and gave Face a /can I talk to her alone/ look. 
Face nodded, turned, and kissed Dia's forehead. "I'll be right back," 
he told her, and walked to his ship to make sure Vape was being 
loaded correctly.

When he was out of earshot, Alison pulled the datacard from her 
pocket. "I need you to do me a favor."

Dia looked at the card. "I'm not sure you want to trust that to me. 
Your commander should take care of family notifications..."

"Oh, no... it's not that!" Alison said quickly. "This is for you. In 
case I can't return to tell you all of this in person, I want to 
still have you hear what's on this disc."

"Why can't you just tell me now?" Dia said, taking the disc in 
trembling hands. "Is something wrong?"

"No," Alison shook her head. "But a few things happened while you 
were away that I'm sure you'll be confused, maybe even angry about, 
when you hear them. I want you to be able to hear my side."

"I'm confused now," she said.

Alison bit her lip. "Just make me one deal. Don't open that file 
until you have your full memory back, and only if I'm not there to 
tell you in person."

"What is this all about?" Dia asked. Her lekku flicked in confusion 
as she ran her fingers around the disc. "Why can't you just tell me." 
She looked over her shoulder at Face, then back at Alison, whose eyes 
lingered on the Wraith Leader a moment longer. "Is it about Face?"

She watched as Alison closed her eyes and looked at the ground, 
taking in a deep breath. "While he was gone, something happened to 
him that he won't tell you about until you're healed," Alison told 
her. This will help you understand a bit more so you can help him 
through."

Dia nodded, placing the datacard in her jacket's inner pocket. "Thank 
you." She went and pulled Alison into a hug. "Thank you for taking 
care of him for me."

Alison hugged her back gently, not sure whether she deserved the 
thanks or not. A clearing of a throat made Alison turn to see Kirney 
standing beside her. She gave Alison a cold glare. "We're boarding," 
she stated, and walked away.

Alison separated from Dia and nodded. "Take care of him for me," she 
said, a bit of emotion caught in her voice. "And yourself too, of 
course."

"Of course. And I will." Dia smiled. "You too, ok? I don't want to 
open this disc unless it's really necessary."

Alison nodded. She waved to Face over Dia's shoulder, then turned and 
walked to the shuttle before Face could join them again.

"What was that about?" Face asked Dia.

Dia turned and let her arm slip through his. "She just wanted to wish 
me luck."

Face watched the retreating form of Alison boarding the ship's ramp. 
He then looked back at Dia to see if he could read her thoughts. Then 
he just shook his head, unable to make out what they had really 
talked about. /I'm sure that I'll find out soon enough, / he 
mused. /Just how soon depends on the outcome of this battle. /