41

Neither of them got much sleep.

It was uncomfortably cold in the hut. Even with the blanket Crosshair had given her, Saedii shivered all night. Miserable. Every twitch of her body sent pain up and down her body, searing her nerve endings like a lightning strike.

Crosshair didn't fare much better. He couldn't seem to get comfortable beside her and kept adjusting his weight. Gingerly, he kept pulling at the bandages around his chest, but they didn't seem to offer much reprieve.

They didn't speak. Neither seemed to have the energy for it. Saedii could just imagine how tired Crosshair felt after carrying her for hours through the desert heat. She was tired, too, and eventually leaned into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. It was better than resting it against the hard wall at her back.

The hours passed slow. Little bursts of sleep took her, never for longer than an hour or more, and each time she woke, she felt more tired than she had before. No dreams were there to hold her when her eyes closed, and when she woke, there was only pain and cold to greet her. The night dragged.

Sometime around dawn, she slipped back into a light sleep. When she woke, the sun had nearly crested the horizon and Crosshair was nowhere to be seen. The blanket had been pulled up to her chin and the water jug had been left within easy reach.

She blinked in the growing light. The fire in her head had died down, fading to a low throbbing. Still painful enough that standing didn't feel like a good idea, but better than before.

If the pain in her chest had gotten better, she couldn't tell. The pressure was immense, like someone had parked a Destroyer on her chest. Each breath that whistled down her throat felt like it was barbed and boiling hot. She swallowed, tasting stale blood at the back of her tongue.

Heat was starting to press into the air. With every inch the sun won from the dark, its warmth pushed forward, suffocating the already dry and barren land. A strip of light filtered in through the small window, stretching across the floor in a wash of brilliant orange.

Saedii's throat felt dry. When she licked her lips, she found them parched and cracked. She needed water, but she knew they needed to save it. The jug remained untouched.

A small sound outside drew her attention. She looked up as Crosshair limped heavily inside, face red and sweaty. A cracked bowl was in his hands.

His movements were far too slow and awkward. She zeroed in on his abdomen, which he kept rigid and straight, and his left leg, which dragged. Broken ribs, she thought. Maybe his leg, too.

How had he managed to carry her and all his gear?

"You should sit," she rasped. Her voice sounded terrible, like she'd caught a cold or smoked too much drathroot.

"I'm fine." His tone was brusque. He deposited the bowl's contents onto the ground.

It was underwhelming. A few dirty jars. A clay mug. Some scraps of metal.

"What's that?" Saedii asked. Maybe her head wound wasn't as healed as she'd thought, but it all looked like junk to her. Nothing that could help them.

He spread out the scraps of metal, brushing off caked dirt. "I'm putting these on the roof. If there are any passing ships, it should draw their attention."

Right. Because there were so many ships going by. But it was better than nothing, at least.

"And the rest?"

"I'm putting it on the roof. In case we get rain."

Saedii turned to the window. To the blue sky that reached into the far distance. Not a single cloud in view.

"Tech said the weather pattern is irregular here," he said. "Rain can come at any time."

Some of her survival training came back. Carefully, she asked, "Do you think the water would be safe to drink?"

"One problem at a time."

She watched as he used the window to hoist himself up towards the roof. Puffs of dust and dirt rained down as he climbed up, and a small section in the corner caved in. Too weak with age.

Somehow, he got everything up without caving in the whole roof. By the time he'd finished, he collapsed heavily onto the floor of the hut. Breathing hard.

The sight made her chest tight, though not with pain. "Be honest. How bad are you hurt?"

"I'm not –"

"I won't stop asking until you tell me."

The annoyed look that passed his face was almost up to his usual standard. "A few ribs are broken. That's it."

"And your leg?"

He heaved a massive sigh, as if her concern was inconvenient. "It's not broken. My knee might be dislocated. Nothing serious."

"I can help, if you want." She held up a hand.

"Absolutely not. I don't want you using the Force until you've been cleared by a medical droid," he barked.

That was probably smart. She could wind up doing more bad than good if she wasn't careful.

One of Crosshair's arms swiped across his brow. He'd kept his armor off and his thermo-layer was soaked through with sweat. He pulled at it uncomfortably around the collar.

Without asking, he grabbed the water jug and held it up for Saedii. With his help, she took a sip. Just enough to wet the inside of her mouth. It was still cold.

Once she was done, he reached down and handed her a rations bar.

"I'm still not very hungry," she admitted.

"I don't care. This time, you're eating." He pulled the bar from the wrapper and handed it back to her.

Saedii really wasn't hungry, but she was too tired to argue.

Crosshair watched as she began to nibble at the corner. Even after a sip of water, the dry taste of the rations in her mouth was like dust. It stuck to the back of her throat, making her cough.

As she did, something raced up her throat. She turned, covering her mouth just as blood sprayed out.

"Here." He was already at her side, using the blanket to wipe the blood from her hand.

In her head, that mental clock was ticking down. Edging closer to zero. Soon, the bacta would wear off and she'd start to get worse.

"You're alright," he said. Sensing the direction of her thoughts.

She gave a feeble nod, even if she didn't really believe it herself. Anything to make him feel better. To set his mind at ease.

"Anything from the others yet?" she asked, wiping the blood from her mouth.

He shook his head. "I'll keep trying."

For the next several hours, Saedii watched as Crosshair desperately tried to raise a signal on his comms. He tried all their short range channels, a few long range, and even switched to a public – all with no response. With the continued silence, he finally lost his patience and pulled the comms from his wrist, pulling off the panel to take a peek inside.

It steadily grew hotter inside the hut. With every passing minute, the sun drew higher, chasing the strip of sunlight further across the floor. Sweat beaded along Saedii's face, dripping down her neck as the heat pressed down. Suffocating.

She felt as the bacta started to wear out. Felt as her chest – which had been tight and painful – suddenly felt like it was made of steel. Her ribs didn't want to expand. Her lungs might as well have been lead. What small bits of air she could pull felt wet and heavy.

Dizziness threatened. Saedii fought against it, forcing her body to draw in more air. Taking faster breaths. But no matter how many times she breathed in, it just didn't feel like enough. The air was as helpful as mud in her lungs.

At the first wet rasps that drew from Saedii's lips, Crosshair grew concerned. He hovered close by, urging her to sip water every hour, despite her protests. When her head began to tip forward, he tore into his pack to search for something to help.

"Hang on." There was a metallic clink as he set something on the ground. A little shower of sparks flared. The sharp click of metal catching and grinding.

A moment later, he was crouching down beside her. Cold metal pressed to the bottom half of her face, covering her nose and mouth. A low whir sounded as it switched on and lukewarm air filtered into Saedii's nose and mouth. It felt nice compared to the sharp breaths she'd taken earlier. Like this air was softer. Easier to breathe.

An oxygen converter. An old one if the worn plastic was any indication.

"The glass is cracked, but it should work now." His voice was utterly desolate. It was crushing to hear him sound like that. She'd never heard him so defeated.

"Thanks." She gave him a weak smile.

He pulled the blanket up over her again, even though it was blazing hot. "Try to sleep. I've almost got a signal."

It was much easier to go to sleep this time. The air filtering into her lungs felt much better than the fire she'd inhaled all last night. She drifted off almost at once, leaning her head into the crook of the corner.

It was dark when she woke. Hours seemed to have passed. The first real bit of sleep she'd gotten all day.

Her chest felt like it had been split open. It was terrible and unending – sharp and blistering. She wound a hand up and rested it on her breastbone, as if she could open up her lung herself.

Something moved next to her. Crosshair's arm tightened around her shoulder. Without his armor, he was warm. It was nice against the cold air.

"Did..." Saedii's voice was a rasp. Thick and heavy. "Did they answer?"

Even though hours must have passed since they last talked, he knew what she meant. "No," he said quietly. "Nothing yet."

Panic threatened to consume her. That pressure in her chest was blood, she knew. Filling up her lung in place of air. The thought of drowning in her own blood was terrifying.

Saedii had faced death before, but not like this. This was the kind of death she couldn't face with a lightsaber in hand. The kind that killed slowly. She didn't want to go like that.

"I'll keep trying," he promised.

The low sound of Crosshair's voice as he tried to hail Hunter on the comms sounded long into the night. He paused after each message, waiting for a moment before trying again. Never stopping. The sound of it eventually lulled Saedii back to sleep.

Early the next morning, Crosshair woke her to drink. It wasn't until he'd tipped the bottle back to pour the water down her throat that she realized it was the last of her water. He'd given it all to her yesterday. Now, they had nothing.

Talking wasn't something Saedii felt like doing. Each breath was painful enough. She couldn't even imagine what it would feel like to try and speak. To force the sharp, burning air in her lungs back up.

Crosshair looked exhausted beside her. Dark bags hung under his eyes and his lips were cracked and bleeding. His face was burnt – an angry red that had begun flaking around his forehead.

They were both going to die, she realized. He'd given her the last of their water. Without it, he'd be dead in three days. Maybe less.

A part of her wondered who would go first. Saedii or him.

The thought was interrupted by a low hum outside. Crosshair jerked at the sound. His hand tightened protectively on Saedii's shoulder before he got to his feet, creeping towards the door to glance out.

Whatever he saw made him snatch his rifle off the ground.

Saedii tried to ask him what was wrong. But only a low sound came out.

"There's a ship," he said, eyes narrowed as the humming outside grew louder. He was unsteady as he went to one knee, peering through his scope.

A ship. That was what they wanted, wasn't it? Someone who could help?

Crosshair's finger was tight on the trigger. "It's not the Marauder."

It should have sent alarm bells ringing in her head, but Saedii was so desperate for help that she wouldn't have even minded if an Imperial ship landed right outside. Just as long as someone got them out of this hell hole.

Outside, the sound of landing gear deploying was as sharp as thunder. It was followed a moment later by the shudder of the ground as it landed.

Then silence.

Earth bit beneath Crosshair's boot as he adjusted his stance.

Saedii listened, but she couldn't hear anything above her wet rasping breaths. No footsteps. No voices. Nothing.

With her good hand, she pulled one of her lightsabers into her lap. Not that she'd be much use in a fight, but she'd be damned if she went down without getting a good swing in. She did not just survive two days with a busted lung to be taken out by a poacher.

A shadow moved in the doorway.

Blue light flared through the dim hut as she flicked her lightsaber on. It hummed menacingly, though it shook in her hand.

"Well, aren't you two a sight for sore eyes," a smug voice said.

Saedii almost cried.

Phee.

She stood in the doorway, lined in bright orange light of dawn, grinning. Smug hands rested on her hips as she looked at the two of them hiding inside the hut, both far worse for wear.

Saedii powered her blade off, letting it drop into the dirt. Crosshair lowered his rifle.

"I'd say you look like shit," Phee said, cool amber eyes sliding over the two of them cowering into the dirt. "But you already know that."

"How did you find us?" Crosshair demanded, though without much of his usual fire.

Phee walked over, holding out a hand. "Tech taught me some of your secret distress signals. I heard you on the public channels."

Crosshair grimaced as she helped him to his feet, then staggered a step. She held tight to his arm until he was steady.

"He taught you our signals?" Crosshair was livid.

"Good thing, too. Otherwise, you might both be dead soon."

Blood drained from Crosshair's lips as he pressed them into a tight line. By the clenching of his jaw, Tech was in a whole world of trouble.

Smile widening, Phee gave his arm a gentle pat before she walked over and crouched in front of Saedii.

"Thanks...for coming." It was all she could get out.

"Happy to." Phee gently turned Saedii's face, looking at the oxygen converter. One dark brow rose. "This thing looks like its seen better days."

"So have I," Saedii quipped.

"Save the witty remarks for when you're not dying."

"She has a collapsed lung. She needs oxygen," Crosshair supplied.

"I've got some on board. Pain meds, too. We'll get her fixed up"

Relief ballooned in Saedii's stomach. For a pirate who'd started off by blackmailing them to steal a very rare stone from a war criminal, Phee was turning out to be pretty damn trustworthy. And a pretty good person, too. A very rare find in the galaxy nowadays.

There was so much Saedii wanted to say to her in this moment. To apologize for things she'd said to Phee in the past. To tell her Saedii had misjudged her.

But there was only one thing that really mattered.

"Thank you."

A surprisingly gentle smile stretched on Phee's lips. "Anytime, kid. You get comfy. I'll get you out of here."

Maybe she wasn't going to die after all.