imthepilot | AU - Delta Base with friends

The first month after Endor is the busiest Bodhi has seen things for the Alliance since the evacuation of Hoth. Despite Mothma promoting him to Delta Base’s commander, he’s been off base more often than not. Rogue Strike were busy too.

With Galen cleared to know about his mission, Bodhi always leaves messages when he has to leave in a hurry. But mostly he finds Galen and talks to him before he leaves. It’s getting harder and harder for Bodhi to go as things get more comfortable between them.

The sex hasn’t been the same though. Since that first time, Bodhi has been careful. Very careful. Giving and loving but controlled. As if he’s afraid to hurt Galen again.

To manage the base in Bodhi’s absence, Mothma appoints him a pair of adjuncts – young Nika who turns out to be quite a resourceful young man, especially when it comes to finding scientific equipment for Galen. The other is a stern Twi'lek woman named Dana. Her blue skin shaded to purple around a network of heavy scars, the tip of one lekku permanently twisted by a deep cut. Harshly fair but dispassionate, Dana keeps things on track and organised in Bodhi’s absences but doesn’t mix with the others on base much.

Bodhi sends a message to Galen via Dana, letting him know he’ll be back soon. And that some friends are coming to Delta to see him. And to meet Galen.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

galen_erso

The message finds Galen after a meeting with a few young scientists that have been proposing projects to him -- really fascinating projects dealing with water management on desert planets. Galen thinks of dying Jedha -- while the moon is mostly abandoned now, there are still a few stalwarts far enough from the devastation around NiJedha who claim they are old, and don't want to leave their home just because the moon is likely to crumble to dust in a few decades, and helping them, while not effective, is a moral priority.

Galen is thinking of this, and not so much of whether Bodhi's friends are important persons he should be nervous about, as he walks down the now familiar corridors of the base.

From:

imthepilot

An X-wing lands, the pilot dressed in tailored black robes rather than the traditional orange or red. The sandy haired man bypasses the base and heads straight out into the forest, towards Bodhi's temple of stars.

From:

galen_erso

Galen is watching him from the entrance of the base, where he was watching for approaching spacecraft; he touches his wrist comm to see if he can raise Bodhi yet.

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi's still in hyperspace and out of range. His comm answering with a cannot connect signal.

But there's a feeling about the man, a feeling that he would welcome Galen's company.

From:

galen_erso

Galen has learned to trust such feelings, so he wanders out onto the landing pad and into the forest after the stranger.

From:

imthepilot

The sandy haired man is standing on the lip of the drop into the temple as Galen reaches the edge of the clearing. He glances back over his shoulder at Galen, smiling as he steps into the drop.

Galen may catch a glimpse of a lightsaber hanging from his hip.

From:

galen_erso

That tells Galen who that must be -- it still doesn't make Galen nervous.

Luke Skywalker. The last Jedi. So what?

Galen follows him the the Temple of Stars.

From:

imthepilot

By the time Galen climbs down, Luke is sitting cross-legged under the dome, marvelling up at the great vaulting sky of kyber.

His own sabre, floating a few inches above his out-stretched hand, is dissembled, each part floating so the green crystal at it's heart rests over his palm.

"Dr Erso." Luke greets him, without taking his eyes from the roof. "When Bodhi told me about this place, I couldn't wait to see it. I know it's a sanctuary you share. I hope you'll forgive me for not waiting for you."

He breathes a warm and joyous sigh. the crystals shining down on them as if communing with the one in Luke's hand. "It's beautiful!"

From:

galen_erso

"More than that -- it is powerful," Galen says, coming up beside Luke. "It doesn't take much guessing to know you must be Luke Skywalker."

From:

imthepilot

Luke looks away from the stars long enough to flash Galen a smile. "Ah, so you are force sensitive?"

He turns his hand, the sabre starting to click back together, the parts reassembling in his hand. At the last click, he returns it to his belt. "Yes, I am. And you're Galen Erso, the father of hope. And the man who makes one of my dearest friends happy."

From:

galen_erso

"I don't know which of the two descriptions make me gladder to hear," Galen says with a little smile. "And yes, I am, a little -- I wasn't always. It must have been the prolonged and extensive exposure to and work with kyber."

From:

imthepilot

"What is it you feel in here?" Luke asks softly, eyes reflecting the dome of stars.

From:

galen_erso

"Awe," Galen says. "Millennia of unknown history. Reverence for the universe, and the Force."

From:

imthepilot

"Warmth and welcome too." Luke smiles. "This place has been empty for a long time. But now it knows people again. It knows life. The kybers sings to be seen, to be near life again."

Luke looks at him with dancing eyes. "You should get married here."

From:

galen_erso

"But for that, we would have to let in more people," Galen says, "which Bodhi is reluctant to do. I do see his point."

Even if Galen thinks this place will, on the long run, belong to the whole Galaxy.

From:

imthepilot

"Knowing Bodhi, I doubt he'd want a big party. For all he goes out of his way to help people, he's a pretty private person."

"But then, I'm sure you know him better than me."

From:

galen_erso

"There would have been witnesses, and a celebrant, for it to be a wedding," Galen says. "The party can be a small one with his good friends and comrades, at the base; not everybody needs to come here. But they'd know there is something here."

From:

imthepilot

"Funny thing." Luke shrugs, a little cocky. "Under the laws of the Old Republic, as a Jedi knight, I'm allowed to act as celebrant. If you'll both have me."

Bodhi detaches himself from shadows of the doorway. "You're just making sure you're invited, aren't you?" He heads straight for Galen, catching his hand almost tentatively before pulling him into a hug. "Sorry it took so long. Things got messy."

From:

galen_erso

Galen pulls him into his arms, holding him.

"Solves several questions at once," he says, smiling into Bodhi's eyes. "But what mess?"

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi's eyes are so dark they almost look like the night's sky, reflecting the kyber stars, his posture a little stiff. "The mission. Wedge, a friend of ours." He nods to Luke. "He was taken while staking out Imperial hold-outs."

"How is he?" Luke asks, utterly unfazed by their affection.

"He was tortured. It's not good." There's a blunt resignation to Bodhi's voice. "The medics on Home One say he'll recover. He's putting in to be moved here when he's out of the tank."

From:

galen_erso

"That is terrible," Galen says. "I'll do my best to make him welcome, and we have Rochin to look after him, too."

Of course he knows Wedge!

From:

imthepilot

"I'm glad you were there to get him home." Luke pats Bodhi on the back, the pair clasping forearms. "But if we're going to talk about medical help, you really need to upgrade."

Bodhi grumbles quietly.

From:

galen_erso

Galen keeps silent.

He liked Bodhi when he was whole, he likes Bodhi's metal arm, and he's sure he will like any replacement Bodhi might get.

Because he likes Bodhi, full stop. Whatever the configuration.

From:

imthepilot

"The tactile input on the new models are so much better." Luke presses. If it wasn't so quiet in the dome, there would be no way to hear the soft whir of servos as Luke wiggles his fingers.

"I'm happy as I am. Thank you." Bodhi says it with the resignation of someone whose had this argument before and knows he'll have it again. "Now shut up and tell me what you two have been plotting?"

He rests his flesh arm loosely around Galen's waist.