AU - Delta Base with friends

[imthepilot]

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.

Comments

[galen_erso]

"Yes, he is cooking again," Galen says. "Of course not every meal, but yes. A little bit of Jedha survives in his recipes."

[imthepilot]

"I never saw Jedha." Luke smiles, "I hope I get to taste something of it."

He cocks his head. "I heard there are projects in the works to help recover the survivors of Jedha?"

[galen_erso]

"Yes, there are," Galen says. "Systems that will allow the older people who don't want to leave live out their lives on the moon, as it will break apart, but not just yet. And other projects for the settlements of displaced Jedhans. They have priority."

[imthepilot]

"Can I help?" Luke asks, honest and open.

[galen_erso]

"The whole culture is on the brink," Galen says. "If you, the one Jedi in existence, would go and try to learn about the Jedhan traditions in addition to what you are practising, then it might help them to keep it alive, show them that Jedha still is needed in the galaxy, even if the place itself will be entirely gone in twenty to fifty years."

[imthepilot]

Luke smiles warmly and nods. "I can do that. I'd like that. And with Bodhi's help and blessing if he's willing."

He nods towards the base. "Should we be getting back?"

[galen_erso]

"Yes, let's," Galen says. "We might get back just when food is ready."

[imthepilot]

Luke jumps up through the gap, reaching back down to help Galen up. "I'll have to talk to Bodhi about making the entrance a little safer. If we're going to bring Wedge down for the wedding."

He pauses as they reach the top, taking a deep breath. "There's such peace here. Even with the base and all the bustle. And so very green. Took me so long to get use to that. Anywhere."

[galen_erso]

"Because you are from a desert planet?" Galen says.

He won't pretend that he hasn't heard about Luke. Everybody in the rebellion has, and many people beyond.

[imthepilot]

"Tatooine." Luke nods, either ignoring or not noticing Galen's knowledge of him. "It was something Bodhi and I bonded over. The humidity on Yavin IV. We both wilted under it. Not that Bodhi showed it the way I did."

[galen_erso]

"I don't think Bodhi showed much of anything, at first," Galen muses.

The worst had already happened. Why would he complain about tiny things, then?

[imthepilot]

"He does keep a lot close to the chest." There's a worried note to Luke's voice. And regret too. Like he's failed Bodhi as a friend.

He pauses outside the base, not wanting to talk about Bodhi around other people.

[galen_erso]

"It won't all change at once," Galen says, words neutral but tone heartfelt, "but we are getting there."

He makes his way into the now familiar base.

[imthepilot]

Luke reaches out to touch Galen's arm, smiling honestly. "I'm glad I met you, Galen. And I'm glad Bodhi has you back."

Bodhi comes out of one of the holo-conference rooms as they come in, looking grave. But his expression lightens at the sight of them. "I'm sorry, that took longer than expected." He reaches a hand out to Galen, squeezing softly. "Lets get some food."

[galen_erso]

"Okay," Galen says, squeezing back. So no time for cooking today; but they still need to eat. "What was that meeting about? It was awfully sudden."

[imthepilot]

"Politics mostly. There have been protests at the reopening of the new senate. Olia Choko handled it but there are arguments about how it will affect the demilitarisation vote." Bodhi gesturing to Luke. "Leia says hello."

He heads for the mess and starts collecting ingredients. He still plans to cook but nothing as elaborate as he planned.

[galen_erso]

Galen nods wearily at the politics -- why is it poor Bodhi's job to deal with that? -- and offers to carry things.

[imthepilot]

Luke can't help but smile. "No doubt she's hip deep in it all. She loved that sort of thing."

He holds his hands out too as Bodhi loads them both up, nodding towards his room. Their room. The kitchenette Bodhi requisitioned for their rooms wasn't big but it was practical. And meant they can cook and eat in private.

[galen_erso]

"Some people do love politics," Galen says resigned, trudging along.

He loves his work. Helping people. But not the politics needed to get there.

[imthepilot]

Luke shakes his head, smiling. "Leia is good at what she does. Which I don't understand either."

Bodhi lets them into their room and gesture for Luke to make himself at home as he starts the prep. "What have I missed while I was away?"

[galen_erso]

"Did I tell you about the woman with the idea for recycling Stormtrooper eye-pieces?" Galen asks.

Bodhi is probably not asking about whatever they talked about in the Star Temple.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi cocks his head questioningly, giving Luke a threatening look as the Jedi creeps in to steal a bit of the fruit he's chopping.

[galen_erso]

"Collect them, use the lenses for heat collectors," Galen says. "Simple devices to power small ovens."

[imthepilot]

"What a brilliant idea." Luke hums, managing to dodge the flat of Bodhi's knife as he gets away with a piece, backing off to offer half to Galen as Bodhi scowls. There's an almost sibling interplay between them.

"That will be helpful." Bodhi nods, throwing everything into a pan that sizzles with a pungent oil. "Especially on worlds that have lost their infrastructure." Like Jedha.

The unspoken words hang in the air.

[galen_erso]

"Especially those worlds," Galen agrees gravely. "What are you making?"

He tries to peer around Bodhi.