Project Boussh: Last Chance by the Lakeside
by Vickie Boyd




Vickie looked out the window and saw Brad out by the lake. She really
wanted to talk to him, but her "entourage" would not leave her alone.
She sighed and leaned her head against the window.


"Are you feeling ok," Pash asked from behind her. He put a hand on her
shoulder, which she immediately shrugged off.


"I'm fine. Why can't you guys understand that?"


He stood with his mouth open, scorned. "I'm only trying to help."


She squeezed the tears from her eyes, still not turning to face him.
"There are others around here who need your help more than I do. I'm
sure Mike and Josh would appreciate a friend to talk to. They both
have been through rather tough times. To take lives at such a young
age must be upsetting. Especially when you aren't in the military."


His shoulders dropped. She was dismissing him. He had thought they
were becoming friends. Why would she treat him this way? Shaking his
head, he turned and walked away.


Vickie banged her head against the wall. She hadn't meant to sound so
harsh. But, she couldn't get close to these people. After the mission
is finished, they will go back to Coruscant and she will never see
them again.


Looking out the window, she saw Brad standing at the dock looking into
the sky. Cloaking herself with the Force, she snuck out of the cabin. 





"Brad?"


The young man jumped and turned quickly, his hand resting on his hip
where his blaster should have been. He faced a woman with short brown
hair and glasses. She was bundled up in a coat, but still shivered
against the cold wind. "You must be Vickie."


*Very good,* she said telepathically.


His eyes narrowed at her. "What do you want? Is it your turn to
condemn me?"


She grinned and shook her head. "No. I have only come to ask a
question."


"And that is?"


"Where is she?" The serious tone of her voice startled him. She held
his gaze as she awaited his answer, her eyes boring holes into his.


He knew exactly who she was talking about. She had been the one to
tell him to take care of her. But he had, hadn't he? "Who?"


"We can stand here and play twenty questions if you want, but I know
you know who I'm talking about. I distinctly remember telling you to
take care of her. I had _hoped_ that you would get her somewhere safe.
So tell me, where is Dorset Konnair?"


Brad turned and hurled a rock into the distance. "I sent her somewhere
I thought she would be safe. Somewhere she could get the medical
attention she needed."


They stood in silence for a few moments. "Look, Brad, I am not a
heartless bitch. I have felt from the beginning that there is
something you are destined to do. I also know that it will have a huge
impact on our mission."


She paused. "This must be how Qui-Gon felt when the council refused to
train Anakin." She shook her head and looked at the ground. Pulling a
datapad from her pocket, she held it out to him. "These are the codes
for Fel's TIE. I lifted them from Kolot. Take it and get the hell out
of here." She sighed, "Piggy'll put me in binders for this."