Project Boussh: Epilogue: The Long Kiss Goodbye
by Vickie Boyd



Vickie stood in a dark doorway watching the New Republic's finest all 
getting ready to leave. All were saying their farewells to the Terrans.

Mike and Shalla stood huddle in a corner nearby talking softly. Runt, 
Tyria and Kell were saying goodbye to Becki and Thayer. Runt lifted 
Becki up and hugged her tight. He said something about her staying away 
from blue dye. The others chuckled and Tyria leaned against Kell. Vickie 
could feel the warmth coming from everyone.

Over in another corner, Crispy and Ooryl were tossing back a few brews. 
She saw Face walk up and speak to Josh for a moment before leaving. 
Following the Wraith's leader, she saw him walk up to Myn and Kirney. 
The couple nodded to him and Kirney even broke away from Myn to actually 
hug Face.

Wes and Hobbie stood with Emily animatedly discussing something. The 
other Josh, Psycho boy as Kelly had called him, stood with Sci, Wedge, 
Iella, Tycho and Winter. She could only guess what they were discussing. 
Russell Crowe had Kristy under one arm and Morwen under they other. He 
still looked a bit, how did the Brits put it? Pissed.

The Mendellian's Fir and Fenya were having a raucous conversation with 
Sixtus, Plourr and Elscol. Nick and Piggy were in a deep conversation, 
most likely about Diablo.

Elassar, however, stood alone. Nobody seemed to think to go near him. 
Then, a rather shy Mendellian girl appeared at his shoulder. She spoke 
and he smiled. Taking her hand, he led her out the door.

**You have to help me!**

Vickie nearly jumped when her 'twin' screamed in her mind. **Where are 
you?**

**Look out the window**

Kelly was walking across the courtyard towards a tall redhead who was 
checking out his A-Wing. **What do I say?**

**Just tell him. And be honest. Honesty is always good.**

She stopped at a tree nearby. "Hi Pash." She tried to lean casually 
against the trunk.

The Ace turned around with a smile. "Hi." His face fell.

That hurt. She kept her face straight and forced a smile across her 
lips. "There is something I need to tell you."

He wiped his hands on an oil rag and moved to stand before her. "What's 
that?"

The nerves came. She couldn't do it.

**Don't you dare chicken out.**

"I... I'm going back to Coruscant with you... and the others," she added.

Shock covered his face. "Really?" He blinked at her. "Why?"

She chewed on her bottom lip and looked at the ground. "Because..." her 
voice trailed off.

He had to admit to himself that she was beautiful. A perfect copy of the 
original. If she was going back to Coruscant, then maybe... "Because 
why," he asked softly as he put his hand under her chin to raise it.

Many emotions passed through her eyes. Fear, happiness, sadness... 
"Because I want to be with you." She locked eyes with him, falling into his.

He leaned forward, softly, gently placing his lips against hers. His 
hand cupped her cheek, his thumb gently stroking her face. She was 
returning his kiss, her arms wrapping around his waist. He brought up 
his other hand to her face and deepened the kiss.

Vickie turned away from the window, a deep frown etched on her face.



"A cred for your thoughts." The words barely broke through the haze. 
Vickie turned to see Corran standing beside her. "You look like you need 
a friend."

She smiled softly. "I have lots of friends now," she said looking out 
over the group milling about the castle.

"Yes you do," he smiled. "Wedge said you had something to ask me."

"Actually two things." She leaned back against the wall and crossed her 
arms. "I'm sure you know Kelly is going to Coruscant."

He nodded. "I had heard that rumor."

She rolled her eyes. "I would appreciate it very much if you would look 
out for her. Like in case the indoctrination comes back."

The Rogue Jedi shrugged. "I suppose. Anything else?"

This was the hard part. She knew he probably wouldn't go for it, but she 
had to try. "Would you... Would you please teach her how to use the Force?"

"You mean be her Jedi Master," he blinked.

Vickie nodded. "Yeah. I mean, you've shown me so much in the short time 
you were here. You're a great teacher."

He chuckled. "You flatter me."

"Of course. I want you to do this for me."

"You want him to do what," Mirax asked as she walked up and put an arm 
around her husband.

"I've asked Corran to be Kelly's Jedi Master."

The woman's eyes widened. "Really? Wow, Corran, your first apprentice!"

He turned quickly on his wife. "I haven't said yes yet!"

She grinned knowingly. "Like you can turn her down. Well, I've got to go 
get the Skate ready." She held out a hand to Vickie. "It was quite an 
experience."

Vickie shook her hand. "Quite. Take care Mirax."

"You too." She turned to wink at Corran. "See you at home, CorSec."

After she had moved away, he sighed defeatedly. "I never can get my way."

"Live and learn, CorSec," laughed Vickie. "Live and learn."



Kelly dragged Vickie across the lawn towards a shiny new X-Wing. "You 
have got to see this. It's amazing!"

"Kelly, I really shouldn't be out here." She was still brooding about 
what she had seen earlier. She couldn't figure why she was so upset. It 
was what she wanted, wasn't it?

"Fiddlesticks and nonsense," Kelly replied using an old saying.

Vickie couldn't help but grin. Some of herself was really in the woman, 
besides her looks.

They stopped beside the X-Wing. Kelly pointed to the freshly painted 
kill marks along the nose of the ship. "Look. Isn't that cool!" There 
were several TIEs along with part of a Star Destroyer. "Everyone got a 
partial Star Destroyer. Wedge figured it was a complete group effort."

"That's great," she replied. She wished she had a ship with kill marks 
on it. "Is this all you wanted to show me?"

Excitedly, Kelly shook her head emphatically from side to side. "Nope, 
this is." She whistled and a green and silver R2 unit rolled under the 
wing towards them.

Vickie's jaw dropped. It looked similar to Whistler, but she knew it 
wasn't. "Winger," she whispered.

THAT IS THE CASUAL DESIGNATION I HAVE BEEN GIVEN. MY FORMAL DESIGNATION 
IS R2-M9.

"Isn't this awesome?" Kelly nearly bounced around the droid.

She reached out and ran a hand over the domed head of the droid. "It's 
amazing."

"Winger, give Vickie that thing I gave you earlier."

A compartment opened on the dome and the handle of a lightsaber 
appeared. Vickie chuckled. "The other lightsaber."

"I figured since it was yours..."

"Keep it. You may need it."

A small mouse droid zoomed over to them and began circling Vickie's 
feet. "What is it?"

FOLLOW ME.

"Follow you where?"

IT IS A SURPRISE. FOLLOW ME! PLEASE?

She chuckled. He was going to make quite an addition at home. The dog 
and ferrets will love the little droid. "Oh, alright. Let me tell Kelly 
goodbye first."

They looked at each other. Identical mirror images except for the 
goggles. "I'll keep in touch, I promise."

"I know you will," Vickie smiled. "You better." Her smiled became sad. 
"Take care of them."

"I will." Kelly tried to force back the tears in her eyes. She hugged 
her counterpart, running a hand up and down her back. "You take care of 
these guys."

"I will." She let her own tears flow as she returned the hug and back rub.

After a few moments, they pulled away from each other and wiped their 
eyes with a sleeve. Kelly looked down at the mouse droid. "Got a name 
for it yet?"

"No."

"How about Spaz? It gets excited all too easily."

She chuckled. "I like it. And I better follow him before he goes off and 
bugs someone. Good luck Kelly."

"May the Force be with you."



Vickie followed Spaz to an A-Wing that rested among all the X-Wings. 
Pash stood under it shoving his things in the hold. Spaz bumped into his 
foot and squealed to get his attention.

The tall redhead looked down then looked up at her. "Hi."

"You sent him to fetch me," she asked nodding towards the mouse droid.

"Well, I wasn't sure if you'd come on your own." He turned back to close 
the door to the hold.

"Smart move," she said quietly. "I hate good-byes."

He leaned against the ship for a moment before turning back around. "I 
don't like them much either."

There was a deep sadness in his eyes. It went straight to her core. 
"Pash, I..."

He crossed the distance between them in one step and lay a finger on her 
lips. "Don't. No apologies. No explanations. I wanted to see you, not to 
say goodbye, but to..."

"To what," she asked in a hoarse whisper, her eyes locked with his.

Leaning down, he kissed her. It was a gentle touching of lips. He wasn't 
about to force himself on her. It did surprise him when she returned his 
kiss. She reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand. He slid his 
arms around her and held her close.

Eventually, they both had to breathe. She buried her head in his 
shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered.

He ran a hand up and down her back. "I had to know."

**Know what?**

He stiffened slightly at hearing her in his mind. Relaxing, he replied, 
"I had to know what it would be like to really kiss you."

"Is it any different than kissing her?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Very. I must be honest and tell you that it truly is 
more electric with you. But, I know we can't be together. I love Kelly 
as well, just not as much as I've fallen for you. I promise I will not 
hurt her either mentally or physically. I'm sure my love for her will grow."

She pushed back away from him, his hands now resting on her hips. "I 
wish I had enough of a grasp on the Force to make you forget."

"I don't," he said with a shake of his head. "I want to remember you 
forever."

She brought her hand up to run along the side of his face. She felt the 
fuzz of hair from where he hadn't shaved in days. It tickled her hand 
and she smiled. "I'm glad to know you are exactly like I've always 
imagined."

He chuckled lightly. "Well, it's nice to live up to someone's expectations."

The distinct whine of engines starting interrupted their reverie. She 
looked out to see that many of the others were climbing into their 
ships, ready to leave. "I guess it's time for you to go."

He pulled her into a hug then kissed her forehead. "Thanks for everything."

"Take care, Pash."

"Take care of yourself." He pulled away reluctantly and climbed up the 
ladder into his ship.




Vickie stood against a wall of the castle, her arms wrapped tightly 
around her, watching the ships take off. It was like a child was 
reaching down and picking them up one by one.

She saw Kelly take off smoothly. The green and silver domed head behind 
her moved back and forth as if looking around. When she got above the 
island, she kicked it and broke the atmosphere.

Pash was one of the last to take off. He looked over and saw her. "I 
love you," he said to himself.

**I know,** she replied and waved.

He waved back and lifted from the surface. In a blink of an eye, the 
A-Wing disappeared.