The Batch decided to take a small break after the sudden job on Ryloth. Just a day or two on a planet untouched by the Empire. It gave them all time to rest after running around for so long without rarely having a break. It also allows Omega to explore, the very thing she had been yearning to do since she left Kamino.
It was a forested swamp planet in the Outer-Rim territories. A very sparsely populated planet so they knew their chances of being found were slim. And that planet was called Sorgan.
Alona immediately took a liking to Sorgan after breathing in the refreshing atmosphere. The sound of frogs croaking and ribbiting in the swampy parts filled the narrow-treed forest that the Marauder was hidden in.
Wrecker and Echo had taken Omega to the wetlands not far off in the distance to explore the krill and frogs. Tech had been aimlessly wandering around with his datapad, researching anything and everything he comes across. He seemed to enjoy the planet just as much as Omega.
Alona had finally persuaded Hunter to get some rest. He had been failing on that part just as much as she had recently. So he was taking a nap onboard the Marauder.
Which left Alona alone. She had found a soft spot of grass and had taken a seat in her meditative position. This was a peaceful planet, she could sense the calmness, the freedom in the Force. She used that to heal her mind and connect on a deeper level with her surroundings.
The roots of the lily pads, the refreshed grass and the hydrated trees, the wind dancing between each living thing. It was all so happy. That energy traveled to Alona and she felt a genuine, content smile spread on her face. Her heart ached with joy, she could feel her body healing after such a tragic few months.
This was the perfect place. Alona had never felt so in touch with the Force. Strangely, Alona had a feeling that some of this was because of that door she opened in the temple on Ord Mantell. She had yet to find out exactly what her gray lightsabers meant, and why they were only like that throughout the duration of her vision, but she figured it had something to do with the middle. She had chosen the middle.
So was Alona a Gray Jedi now? She unfortunately knew that question would only be answered by going back into the temple. Alona would have to do that soon.
"Hey, Alona. We're heading to grab some grub at the Common House, wanna come along?" Wrecker asked, pulling Alona out of her meditations. She opens her eyes and looks over her shoulder at the group of clones.
Alona shook her head. "Someone needs to be here in case Hunter wakes up. You guys go, it's a bit of a walk." She smiled, watching Wrecker, Echo, Tech, and Omega head off to dinner. When they were out of sight she laid on her back in the grass, staring at the blue sky. It was beginning to darken as the sun approached the other side of the planet.
Flowing through all, there is balance
There is no peace without a passion to create
There is no passion without peace to guide
Knowledge fades without the strength to act
Power blinds without the serenity to see
There is freedom in life
There is purpose in death
The Force is all things and I am the Force
"It's quiet." Hunter muttered, walking down the steps of the Marauder. His heightened senses weren't going nuts due to the peace. Alona knew he was glad to catch a break from all the crowded parlors and gatherings.
"They just left to try out the Common House. They'll be gone a while." Alona explained, tapping the spot next to her in the grass. Hunter complied, walking over in his civvies and laying in the extremely soft grass. He props his head up with one of his hands and places the other on Alona's thigh.
"They're gonna spend all our money on spotchka and bone broth." Hunter grinned, slowly caressing his hand up and down her thigh. Alona chuckled, agreeing completely. Wrecker would down at least three bowls of bone broth.
Hunter's hand slides down to her inner thigh, sliding slowly back up and repeating that movement. Alona's heartbeat quickens and she lets out a shaky breath. She lulled her head to the side to stare at his profile, taking notice of how his green shirt perfectly complimented his skin tone and his mesmerizing eyes. "Gar haa'taylir jate o'r vorpan."
You look good in green.
The corners of his mouth lift and he rolls onto his side, bringing his hand from her thigh to her waist. "Gar haa'taylir jate an te ca'nara, ner cyar'ika."
You look good all the time, my darling.
Alona's heart flutters and she smiles, rolling onto her side to be face to face with him. She couldn't believe she got to see his face every single day. "Mureyca ni." She pleads, her eyes flickering down to his lips.
Kiss me.
Hunter leaned closer, connecting his lips with hers while squeezing her waist. Alona grabs ahold of the neck of his shirt, squeezing it in her fist and pulling him closer, able to deepen the passionate kiss.
Hunter nudged Alona onto her back, putting one of his knees between her legs so he could hover over her. Not once did their lips part. He slid his hand up her side, pulling his lips off of hers to admire how she looks. "Ner mesh'la solus." He said, trailing kisses from her jaw to her chin.
My beautiful one.
Alona shivered, each kiss sending sparks through her veins. She hooked her fingers into his long hair, tugging gently at the roots. Hunter groaned at the action and brought his lips back to hers. There was a hunger behind the kiss, one that would lead to something Alona had never experienced. She realized that when one of his hands grabbed onto the waistband of her pants.
She should probably tell him before this escalates. "Hunter," her voice wavers, sliding her hands out of his hair to wrap her arms around his neck.
"Hmm?" Hunter replied, lifting his head up slightly to check on her. He lifted a hand to rest on the side of her face.
"You should know I've never done this before. I don't know...I don't know what to do" Alona admitted, leaning into his hand. His thumb caresses the scar on her face.
"If we're being honest I've never done this either," He said quietly. "We could stop, or...or we could learn as we go?"
Alona's eyes fluttered and she slowly pulled his head down, kissing the corner of his lips. She was desperate for his touch to return. "Let's learn as we go." She said breathily, sliding one of her hands to rest on his waistline.
"You're sure?" Hunter asked, lowering himself so that their bodies were nearly pressed up against each other. Alona nodded.
"I'm sure."
–
"Okay, now cross the left piece over the middle." Alona explained, feeling her hair get pulled slightly by the girl. "Good. Then repeat. Right over middle, left over middle until you have no hair left."
Hunter watched the girls bond, the softest glint in his eyes and a loving look on his face.
Alona was teaching Omega how to braid, which proved to be easier than she thought. Omega was a quick learner, picking up on things easily.
Omega finished the braid and caught a glimpse of the unintelligible tattoo on the back of her arm. The scar had made half of it distorted. "Are you glad your tattoo got messed up?" The curious blonde asked, sitting beside Alona on the bottom step of the Marauder.
Alona shrugged, looking down at the tattoo she had been given years ago without her consent. "The person that gave me the tattoo intended for it to label me as a burden...but I interpreted it differently later on. That I bear other people's burdens so that they don't have to. I didn't hate the tattoo, but I'm not upset that it's gone." She explained.
Omega hummed, letting Alona's words sit between them in silence.
Alona looked over at Hunter, her cheeks flushing pink when she realized he was already staring at her. Adoring eyes. That's all that's been since last night's events.
"Stop with the googly eyes." Wrecker gagged from his place in the grass where he was deadlifting Gonky. Alona ripped her eyes over to him, giving the bulky clone an exasperated look.
Tech stood at the top of the steps, his datapad in hand. "I believe it is time to go. We must return to Ord Mantell." He announces, then heads into the cockpit to chat with Echo.
The people outside walked into the Marauder, assuming their usual spots for takeoff. Alona didn't really want to leave, though. She seemed to have an attachment to Sorgan. She would forever remember the last two days. They were imprinted into the front of her brain.
Alona sighed, leaning back into her chair. "Goodbye peace."
And little did she know, her words were going to go a lot deeper than she realized. Peace really was going to be gone.