Bane’s P.O.V.
Bane stared down at his drink, watching the liquid ripple and swirl as he turned the glass one way and then the other.
“The Unknown Regions, hm?”
He leaned back ever so slightly, shifting his legs beneath him. Rain, sitting on the stool next to him, said nothing.
Bane continued, “So you’re giving up your crusade.” He paused, chuckling. “Must’ve taken a hell of a wakeup call.”
He expected her to act defensive, but instead she gazed passively off into the distance.
“Yes, it did,” she agreed quietly.
Bane quirked a brow at her but made no comment. Silence lingered for a time. A warm breeze blew through the open bar.
“Once we have a reliable ship, the General and I will leave the Known Regions.” She hesitated, looking back at Bane. “I might not see you again.”
It was Bane’s turn to look away.
“So what d’you expect to find in Wild Space?” he asked.
Rain offered a gentle smile, “I don’t know. But I’m ready to find out.”
Another silence.
Then, “Cad?”
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“Hm?”
“If you could decide your legacy, what would it be?”
Bane said nothing. He knew perfectly well that she was already aware of the answer to that question. What she said next proved as much.
“‘The greatest bounty hunter since Jango Fett…perhaps the greatest bounty hunter of all time.’” She paused, frowning. “But Sidious took that away from you.”
Bane’s grip tightened on his glass. He was beginning to dislike this new Rain.
“Get to the point,” he ground out.
Rain shook her head to herself, “I spent too long wrapped up in wars, I think. I wanted to achieve greatness through conflict. We were much the same in that respect. But what if a part of you could be carried on through someone else? And maybe someday they could pass that part of you on to another, and another, and—”
“What are you on about?” Bane snapped, losing patience.
Rain slowly got to her feet.
“You don’t need to chase revenge,” she said softly, “Because your legacy has been solidified for years.”
She turned away, striding to the edge of the veranda. Bane angrily jerked out his concealed pack of burns, popping one in his mouth and feeling around for his light. Then he noticed out of the corner of his eye Rain standing unmoving just off the veranda. He turned his attention back to her, wondering what cryptic nonsense she would utter next. She turned to face him again, that gentle smile having returned.
“I’ve wanted to say this for years now,” she said, “And I suspect you’ve guessed as much, but—”
She dropped her gaze, then returned it, her smile tinged with sadness.
“I love you, and I’m sorry.”
And with that, she turned and left. Bane was stunned, only realizing his jaw had gone slack when his cigarette threatened to fall out. He shut his mouth with a snap, his eyes still fixed to the spot Rain had been standing in just seconds prior.
Now why, he wondered silently, would you say a thing like that…?