Project Boussh: Storm Boy
by Josh Nolan

A hand grabbed his shoulder.

The response was simple - catch the wrist, bend the hand back, twist the
arm, shift a hand to the elbow - submission with the option of breaking
the assailant's arm.  But he could not do it.

His arms strained against his bonds, the elastic cord biting into his
flesh as he struggled to free himself.  Then he opened his eyes.

Terra Lead stood before him, one eyebrow raised, three Ewoks arranged
behind him, having jumped back at Josh's first movements.  "Easy.  You'd
dropped off so quickly I thought there was something wrong.  We've got
work to do - are you all right to move?"

"Yes, sir," replied Josh dully.  Lead nodded at the Ewoks, who yubbed
cheerfully and began untying Josh with gusto.  "May I ask what task I
have been assigned, sir?"

"You're with the rescue team," Lead said shortly.  "You, Becki, Kell,
Tyria, Runt and the Ewoks are assigned to free Quiara.  Is that all
right, soldier?"

Josh missed his superior officer's emphasis on the last word, and
frowned.  "Sir, should it matter, sir?  I follow orders, sir.  Every
good soldier does."

Lead looked at him quizzically.  "Are you all right this morning, Josh?"

"Sir, yes sir!" barked Josh.  "There will not be a repeat of the
incident before, sir!"

"Where you tried shooting Face."

Josh nodded, not looking Lead in the eye.  Lead shrugged, and said,
"Well, good.  Now, get up.  We've got to get moving."

Josh stood.  If he had no choice about being a soldier, then he was
going to be the best damn soldier he could be.

***********

Josh stood by apathetically as Lead and Lord Thayer Atner of Mendellia
spoke over the comlink.  He dutifully kept track of the sparse tactical
data that arose out of their conversation, and kept himself from
noddding in approval while Thayer detailed his plans for the coup.  Josh
had only signed up for one mission - Quiara's rescue.  If helping with
the plans of some dictator wannabe facilitated the mission, Josh had no
complaints.

During Lord Thayer's detailing of his plans to capture the local
television stations, the door to the cockpit hissed open, revealing
Wraith One.  "Sci," he said irritably, "Why'd you let the Ewoks -"  He
caught sight of Josh, and fell silent.  "Good morning," the New Republic
officer said coldly to Josh.  "Sleep well, I take it?"

"Yes, sir," Josh replied, remaining at attention as Lead handed him
another datapad.

"No sudden urges to shoot me again, I hope?"  Wraith One took a few slow
steps towards Josh.

"Leave him alone," interjected Lead.  "Neither you nor him were in your
right minds - and Mike was there to stop it."

"Yeah, but I'm not Mr. Stab-With-Pointy-Things any more, but look at
Crispy there!  If he's not still Mr. I-Don't-Breathe-Without-Written-
Orders-But-I'll-Shoot-Anything-That-Moves, I'll eat my X-Wing!  Can
you blame me for at least being a little apprehensive?"  Wraith One
paused for a second, trying to get his breath back.

"With respect, sir," Josh said brusquely, trying to head off an
indecorous argument between officers, "I have been given strict orders
not to shoot you, sir."

It was a reason any soldier should understand, but Wraith One only
seemed to be more irritated by it.  He gestured at Josh as soon as the
soldier had stopped speaking, and cried, "See?"

*There's never been a requirement that officers appreciate good
soldiers,* muttered the voice in Josh's head.  *But we have our duty.*

*********

"There you go, Mike," said Lead as he lightened Josh's burden by a
datapad, handing it to Terra Four.  Josh's fellow soldier was still
dressed in his wildly impractical trenchcoat, but since Four was a Jedi,
it seemed impolite to point it out.  Lead continued, "Detailed layouts
and schematics of the Palace and the cloning chambers.  Everything that
Thayer, Tede and even Becki can remember about the place, all the
passages, everything."

Remembering something Tede had said to Lead in passing, Josh added,
"Lord Thayer was, apparently a big help with that."  Four nodded
knowledgeably.

"Let me guess... He roamed the Palace as a child, and knows all the
secret passageways, all the hidden doo-dahs, all the mysterious defence
systems..."  Four broke off, his confidence vanishing as he continued to
stare at Lead.  *Officers hate being looked at by soldiers,* whispered
the voice in his head, *Never look them in the eye unless they wish it.*

"No..." said Lead slowly, emphasising his rank.  "He bribed the
architect."  Josh, out of the corner of his eye, saw Lead throw a
questioning look at him, apparently asking for an opinion on Mike's
answer.  Josh merely shrugged.

"You're a romantic deep down, am I right?" Josh asked, his apathetic
voice not showing any of the contempt he had for that quality in a
soldier.  Four's Jedi skills were apparently on the wane, as the British
soldier smiled and spread his hands.

"You got me.  I must admit.  On that note, do you realise I'm the only
one who hasn't actually got to work with, in fact *meet* his wingmate
yet?"  Four asked this of Lead as if it was Lead's fault.  Josh caught
his breath involuntarily as he waited for Lead to chastise the
insubordinate Jedi.

Fortunately, Terra Eight cleared her throat and said, "Fascinating as
this is... We're on the way to a briefing, remember?  Besides, I haven't
got to work with my wingmate, either."

As Eight led Four away from them, Josh could have sworn he'd heard the
Jedi mention haggis.  Josh quickly flicked his gaze to Terra Lead and
then back at the shuttle's wall as he awaited Lead's next order.

Lead was still staring after Four and Eight, shaking his head and
smiling slightly.  "Come on, Josh," he said, "After we drop them off,
we'll get you and your Ewoks hooked up with your team."

"Thank you, sir," Josh replied.

********

"How are the burns coming?" Lead asked as he took the pilot's seat of
the shuttle again, having just overseen the rendezvous of Mendellia
Group Three-One.

"Burns, sir?" asked Josh dully, dutifully standing to attention near the
rear of the cockpit.

"What you're wearing the bacta patches for.  Are they ready to come off
yet?"

"Negative, sir.  Terra Eight estimated two more days, sir."

Lead nodded thoughtfully.  "Do they slow you down much?"

"Not enough to notice, sir."

"Good."  Lead briefly glanced up from his instruments and looked at
Josh.  "And what's happened to your accent?"

"My accent, sir?"

"It's not as... broad... as it used to be."

"Forgive me, sir, I don't know what you're talking about, sir."

Fortunately, Lead stopped talking for a while.  Why was he worried about
Josh's accent?  What difference did a soldier's accent make?  If Lead
had decided to pursue the matter much further, Josh would have started
having serious doubts about Lead's sanity.

Lead cleared his throat.  "Uh, Josh, you might want to sit down.  We're
in for a bit of a ride."

Josh immediately sat down on the chair behind the pilots' seats.  "Why
so, sir?"

Lead nodded briefly at the sensors, then stared resolutlely out the
transparisteel canopy.  "Because it looks like Eugor Atner has gotten to
your team before we did."