After the last raid, the spirits of the Oasis were not very high. Two weeks had passed since Boil's critical operation, and he was still kept in the stasis chamber. There were no signs of improvement, but he was still alive. But no clinical results could clearly say when he would wake up... If he ever would.

Numa almost lived in the same room where the clone lay. Spending 16 of Gwori's 28 hours of the day next to him, as if that would somehow make Boil wake up earlier. And he only left when the hospital ended the visiting period, or when one of his friends was going to ask him to go out for a while.

Mirana was another one who wasn't in the best shape either. She was often distracted, blaming herself for what happened, no matter how many times she was told that she wasn't.

But without a doubt, the biggest change was Icarus.

The droid seemed to have some malfunction. He remained distant from everyone. Locked most of the time in his computerized office who knows that thousands of times the way in which he could not provide the appearance of the magnaguardias. As if there was an imagination big enough capable of doing something like that?

It was sad, especially for little Tova, who, even understanding the reason for her emotional state, did not understand why her adoptive father had recently dedicated so little time to her. Or because he was always entertaining. Luckily Wag Too and Miraj were there to take her in, even though they themselves had to take care of her baby.

But that night would be something different. It was impossible to know if it was a sequence of coincidences or one of the many plots of the Force, but Icaron found himself walking through the passages of the Oasis. He was trying to find answers to his doubts. But above all, he was trying to find an answer to why he felt so low. And he thought that he would find the answer in a particular place.

The droid was now in front of the door to Boil's apartment. He didn't know why, but something outside of his logical reasoning told him that he should go there. And after two weeks unable to compute a correct answer to his problems, he decided that it might be prudent to follow those strange impulses that his midichlorian cores were sending to his circuits.

With his supreme leader code, he was able to access anywhere in the Oasis, and Boil's apartment was no exception. Maybe... and just maybe, in there he would find the answer he was looking for. The funny thing is that I found something else.

As soon as he entered the interior, sad eyes made direct contact with his optical sensors. Numa was there, sitting on a stool in front of the armor that was once the clone commander. She wasn't crying, she thought her glassy eyes seemed to want to. But as soon as she saw the droid enter the room, clearing the circles under her eyes, she took a deep breath to calm her pain, and she spoke to him.

Numa: -Commander. She didn't expect to see him here. -

Icarus: - I didn't expect it either. -

Numa: - What are you doing here? -

Icarus: - Honestly... I'm not sure... Looking for answers to... questions that I don't fully understand. -

Numa:-There are two of us then...-she said after a sad laugh.

Icarus saw her, and understood that the Twi'lek was not well. Of all the people close to her, Boil was like a brother, someone with whom he shared all her pranks, secrets and confidentialities. It was one of her emotional pillars that kept her serene in this shelter of metal and strangers, and now that the clone was absent, she felt an emptiness inside her.

Somehow, the droid was tempted to sit next to him. He thought...somehow, that would help. Not just her, but him too. They both looked up, and found themselves in front of Boil's armor. White with yellow patterns. Old and worn by time. Even with dirt stains and those horrible burns that ran like screams on the back.

Why were they both looking at her? Not even they themselves knew. Maybe Boil's armor was so tied to her appearance that it was like a part of himself, and somehow, a part of him lived in her. An illogical thought for the closed mind of a droid, but Icarus was aware of the emotional value that organics placed on some objects he considered special. And apparently, this was one of those.

Numa:-Who knows how many combats he has seen? - He interrupted the silence. - How many places in the galaxy... how many battlefields. -

Icarus: - Hundreds... probably. -

Numa:-How I would have liked to be next to him. See what he saw. Live what he lived. -

Icarus: - Jumping from one battlefield to another is not the best place for a girl. -

Numa: - Ryloth wasn't an easy place either. The Separatists tried to capture the planet so many times I lost count. Each battle lost more acquaintances... And in the end you rmine alone. -

Icarus: - I understand... Just as I understand the reason that my presence and that of the droids cause you. I can't blame you for that... In any case... You have every right to blame us. -

Numa: - Believe me. I have tried... Many times... But when I see this place... everything that... you have done... How many you have welcomed... It is difficult to see them with the same eyes as those who attacked my world. -

Icarus: - Don't overestimate me. I'm just a droid following its program. To defeat the Empire this is what is necessary. -

Numa: - What is necessary... And maybe what is right. -

After those words there was a long silence, accompanied by the sighs of the Twi'lek and the calculations of the droid, who... in what seemed to be a failure of logic and processing, came up with something to lift the spirits of the young.

Numa: - What are you doing? -

The Twi'lek asked in surprise as she saw the droid take the part of Boil's armor that covered her left hand to his shoulder, probably the only part of the armor she still had any use for, as the rest was cooked or filled with you scream. Then...she offered it to the Twi'lek.

Icarus:-I think... you should take this with you... Somehow... I know that Commander Boil will protect you wherever he wants you to go. -

Numa couldn't say anything. Her eyes glazed over and a tear ran down his cheek. She was feeling a mix of emotions at that moment. Pain, sadness, empathy, hope, faith. A droid's emotional comment that was pure logic was kind of funny, but deep down in her heart they thought he was right. So without much leak, Numa took the armor and placed it on his arm.

Numa: - I have something big left. - Referring to the size.

Icarus: - Maybe. For now. It will be fair in due time. -She was referring to a more metaphorical sense.

Droid and Twi'lek looked at each other, as if exchanging silent thoughts with each other. No words were needed, as the mutual gratitude was palpable in both senses.

Icarus: - And just tomorrow I have something important for you. -

Numa: - A mission? -

Icarus: - More or less... Commander Bly is having... problems with the younger recruits. Maybe with your experience and age it will be more comfortable for them to accept your advice. What do you say... Sergeant Numa? Will he be able to accept this mission? -

Numa just smiled at the comment. She was a little more cheerful now, and she knew that a task like that would help clear her mind a little, even though her heart still hurt.

Numa: - Sir... Yes sir. -

And they both greeted each other in a military manner.

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Hello. I know it's a short chapter, but I think it's a good way to start this 4th season. At least that's my version of the story of how Numa acquired Boil's armor.