Sitting on his desk the Zabrak took out a piece of paper and a pen, putting the tip to his mouth as he began to think of a good starting line. He had never really been that great at these sorts of things, always keeping to himself, though he found in the heat of battle he did tend to talk just a little more than usual.

Somewhat feeling a bit of inspiration he began to scribble on the paper, pausing he began thought My handwriting is extremely good, must've got that from mom, dad's was worse than "Doctors" scratch so they used to joke. Smiling to himself he turned back to writing.

Mrs. Berhek,
I know that I am standing in front of you and this must seem so un emotional, but I cannot help it. I am not good with this sort of thing as I tend to no interact with people ever since I have suffered my own loss, as well as the loss of your husband Jemel who I admiringly called Dodger his nickname. I was there when it happened, and I feel the reason why he is not with us anymore is me. If I hadn't been so stupid and green he wouldn't have had to save me like so many others did that day. But I am digressing, I knew him for a very short time about five days but it was almost as if we clicked, I was standoffish but he was outgoing, talkative and funny.

Cy paused wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, one seemed to run away splashing down upon the paper and leaving a stain from the salt and water in it. Afraid to wipe it and smudging the other words he continued on.

I was fresh out of the academy about to go on my first assignment with this squad and your husband was a new transfer from another unit. We were assigned to the same quarters and made wingmates. I remember how he first broke the ice greeting me. "Hey there Spike, names Jemel, Jemel Berhek. Wow look at those pointy things so shiny, I bet you polish them along with those gleaming boots" he chuckled at me, and though us Zabraks are very protective about our appearance it made me laugh because I was polishing them.

Ever since then he had grown on me like moss on a boulder, starting to file down my rough edges. He told me stories about how you first met, in the Lucky Despot on Tattooine, he was just passing through and you were a waitress. He chuckled fondly remembering you spilling the drink on his flashy new clothes, adding it was love at first drop. I myself have not found anyone special like you both had; he often showed me pics of both you and Jr as he called him. You were always so happy.

I felt bad inside for your husband as he often recounted stories about being bounced around from squad to squad in different divisions. He was somewhat of a hot head, and did like to argue but his skills were outstanding. Watching him fly around in the sims one day left me awe struck.

But I must tell you about the day when we both lost someone real close to us. We were on a mission to fight some forces trying to undermine what the VE stands for, I was flying wingman with him, we were taking out a fighter when I got a missile lock.

Cyleaf stood up for a moment and towards the refresher. Tears were streaming down his face as he was recalling that moment when he almost died but Dodger did instead. Splashing the cold water on his face he paused and looked in the mirror. Water trickled down off his chin, but he bright violet eyes were dull, his pain was showing.

Grabbing a towel and walking towards the desk he wiped off his face while pulling out a bottle of water from the small fridge beside him. Taking a big gulp he sat back down at the desk trying to regain his composure to continue writing.

I called to him for help, and he was quick to respond, telling me to dive down towards the treetops with that missile following, I complied. AS the trees loomed closer I looked behind me watching the missile get closer and Dodger's own fighter. Turning back around I timed my pull up and executed and heard an explosion behind me, smiling and thanking him to myself I heard heart wrenching words "Ah crap." That sound was followed by two more explosions and me screaming for Jemel. He save my life by taking out the missile without regards to his own safety and was killed by another fighter he never saw. I know all of this must be painful to hear as it is for me to write, but I asked my commander permission to bring his things to you personally and it was granted so here I am.

Cyleaf wrapped up the letter and placed it inside an envelope. He sealed it and stood up, grabbing the travel pack on the bed he headed towards the shuttle that would take him down to the surface and from there he would catch a transport to Tattooine where Dodger's family resided.

Sitting aboard the Lamda class shuttle he headed he sat patiently in his seat waiting for the quick jump it would make to Corellia. They were to land in Bela Vista, his home city; he was excited but also apprehensive about going back there. He decided a quick detour to his parent's graves would do his some good since he wasn't around for the burial.

Leaning his head back he slowly drifted off to sleep, hoping that he had made the right choice about going to see his friend's family. They would have received the notice of his death from the Empire by now and hopefully some time has passed to help ease that, but him coming to see them might ignite that pain again.


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FM/PO2/Cyleaf Aehait/Kaph 1-3/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/DEF/VEN/VE/(=*A*=)