Project Boussh: One Last Time by Majick Mike had resigned himself to losing his access to the Force. It had never truly been his anyway, so looked on it as returning an album he'd enjoyed listening to, or a book he'd enjoyed reading. Losing the abilities he'd leased from Corran didn't mean losing the abilities he'd had all his life however. Feeling the familiar sense of certainty settle in his mind, he'd bolted from the dining table, pausing only to grab Shalla before he vanished from the scene. He dived around a nearby corner, Shalla right behind him, frantically chewing a mouthful as she ran to keep up with him. "Would you mind explaining why you tore me away from breakfast like that?" Shalla asked, still holding half a pancake. "Not that I mind a little time alone with you-" Mike hushed her as a low rumble in the near distance picked up volume. Mike peered cautiously around the corner, before yanking his head back. Shalla leant past him, and grinned. Spouting Huttese swear words she could only have learnt from Alison, Emily stalked along the corridor, her sword at her side, a mean look upon her face. Shalla grinned, a look Mike recognised as meaning his team-mate had found the silver lining. "What is it?" he asked her. "That's everyone. All the members of the Wraiths, all the Rogues, all the members of Terra Group. They're all in the dining room now." "And we're out here. Alone. Unwatched. I see your point," Mike said, a broad smile on his face. "Maybe we should go and enjoy the morning sun. . ." "Yes. It's still the crack of dawn, after all. One last sun rise. . ." They stood on the battlements above the dining room. The barely controlled riot of a groups of soldiers about to go back into war reached their ears. Above the general din could be heard the occasional call of Wes for more pancakes, or Piggy's deep grunting laugh. Oblivious to it all, Mike and Shalla watched the sun continue its rise. Mike held Shalla tightly, as though holding onto his reason for living. Shalla clasped Mike's arms around her as though anchoring herself in this world. "We can never work," Mike said. "For now, we have each other," Shalla said. "It's enough." "We won't be on the same team when we assault the Admonitor, will we?" "No. You're better suited to mass destruction. You'll probably work with Kell's team. I'll more likely be working with Kirney and Kristy, trying to bring down their computer systems." "If you were hurt, and I wasn't there. . ." "Mike," Shalla cut him off. "You mustn't think like that. We'll get through this. Besides, on past form, it's you we have to worry about." "Not this time. No Force to protect me. If there's bombs to blow up, Kell and Corran can take care of them." He hugged her a little harder. "I've got my share of scars." "I remember the guided tour you gave me of them," she replied. "Yes, well, just in case you forgot." "Almost. . ." For a while longer, they stared out to sea. ~ "Can we do this? I mean, storming an Imperial Star Destroyer?" "We shall have to use every asset at out disposal." "Oh dear. . . Why couldn't USA Josh have trained as an astronaut?" "What you said, about us never working. . ." "It's true, as I'm sure you know. You live in another galaxy, you fly with the Wraiths. . . This is not a story where we wake up in he same bed each morning. We have to make the most of the time we have together, but that won't be too much." She shifted in his arms, turning into him. "I know you're right. I just think it seems so cold. Like we're together purely for. . ." "I'm sure there are one or two Antipodeans who might believe that," Mike said, a lopsided smile tugging at his features. "But ever since we started working together, we've been good together. I've taken comfort from you being there, and this was just he next step." "You've been a comfort for me, too, Mike. Helping me adapt to a new world, letting me throw you around when I needed a work out-" "Not really a case of letting you," Mike said, wincing at the memories. "I did try and not let you beat me into a pulp." Shalla giggled, and the tension between them was gone. "Mike, you're right. I always knew it, but, well. . ." "Go on." "My daddy always warned me against forming emotional attachments inside your work. It can get difficult later on." "It shan't," he replied, kissing the top of her head. "We have the most amazing time together. We bleed off the stress each other feels, we share a common outlook on life, but are different enough to not be the same person. We go well together, and I'm glad you've been here for me." She stood on tip toes, and kissed him, gently. "I'm glad we were here for each other. Now, I plan on being around for the party after the Admonitor is taken apart. I need a date. Interested?" "Well, I was supposed to be DJing, but if you can help me program Whistler and Pratfall with a decent rhythmic algorithm so they can do their own mixing, I think we can spend some time together." "I'm glad to hear it," Shalla replied, her brown eyes twinkling. "I'd hate to get myself a new dress for nothing." "New dress?" Mike asked "Oh yes. I was talking to some of the other girls earlier, and they were saying the only way they'd attend a formal party, held by a King, no less, would be after a long treatment at the beauticians, along with a new outfit for each of them." "Lord above. Did anyone with a Y chromosome overhear any of this discussion?" "Tycho Celchu and Myn Donos, I believe." "What did they do?" "Backed away, avoiding eye contact. Winter and Kirney were among the more insistent of us." "You girls are having clandestine meetings? I'm not sure that's on. . ." "We'd have been happy in normal clothes, most of us," Shalla said. "However, a lot of our clothes have had to be taken to the laundry lately, due to unfortunate meetings with treacle, fish, acid. . ." "I'm all for women meeting, whenever, and wherever they want," Mike said, a nervous look in his eyes. "Just so long as it's kept away from the rest of the guys. . ." "Uh-huh. . . So, if we're only temporarily a couple. . ." "Well, I guess. . ." "And there's a mission in a couple of hours which we may well die on. . ." "Make the most of our remaining time, is that what you're saying?" "Exactly," Shalla replied, an impish grin tugging at her face. ~ Beneath them, Sci finished conferring with Tycho. They activated their comlinks to inform the members of the groups to gather in the landing zone for the briefing. Neither Mike nor Shalla heard their comlinks buzzing. Later, they would be thankful for the answering service each device was fitted with.