Luna sighed as she walked into the bar. She grabbed a pint from the server who was passing by and sat alone at a table. Some troopers were playing music a few tables away, singing drunkenly somewhat in tune with the song. She stared at these troopers. They were young, well, as young as clones could be. They were fresh, most likely a small skirmish that dirtied their armor. She sat and stared at them, not noticing a familiar trooper sitting next to her.

“Credit for your thoughts, ma’am?” Luna turned to see Knave sitting next to her, with a glass of his own drink in his hand. The captain said nothing and turned back to take a swig of her drink.

“Have you seen Coward?” She froze. He didn’t know. Knave wasn’t there. The 501st just got back from mop up operations on Ryloth. There were still some droid outposts putting up a fight, and the 501st was available to take them out. It was successful, with very few casualties. But there was one loss that struck Luna to the core.

“He borrowed my boots since I was stuck on the ship and I need them back. Have you seen him?” Luna nodded somberly. Knave didn’t notice.

“Where is he?” Luna swallowed and spoke.

“In a grave, on Ryloth.” Knave’s eyes widened. Luna went back to her drink, gulping down the alcohol in a vain attempt to drown her sorrows away.

“You mean… he....?” Knave slammed a fist down on the table, which went unnoticed by everyone else in the bar. “That means there’s… only you and me, from the Old Breed.” Luna didn’t want to hear it. But it was true. She and Knave were the only officers left. Radar was alive, but he wasn't as close to her as the officers were, as close as Coward was.

The Old Breed was the nickname given to troopers that survived Geonosis. As the war dragged on, more and more of them were getting killed, and their replacements were arriving in droves. Most of the men that fought in her company were either dead or transferred. Coward, Hardlight, and some of the troopers were all that were left after Geonosis. Now they were dead, and it was just her and Knave. The problem with being the few was that they were getting fewer.

Luna wanted to cry, but her tears had run dry weeks ago. So instead, she and Knave silently drank, remembering their brothers who had fallen in the line of duty.

Author's Note

This is just a small chapter to tide over until the next big chapter. If you can get the reference of this scene, points to you.