Chapter Twenty-Five:

"You are certain of this?" Captain Reth demanded of the black-haired woman on the holoscreen. "Because it this is a ploy, I will find and crush you."

The woman didn't even blink. "Does the name Luke Skywalker mean anything to you?"

Reth's breath caught in his throat. That man was only the Empire's most wanted Rebel. The capture of said man would lead to great rewards for Reth…

"Very well, we will detour to the Helska system."

"Helska Six, to be precise." The woman supplied. "Have fun hunting."

With that she signed off, leaving Reth to his excited thoughts of a promotion and maybe even a raise. Finally he shook himself out of his musings: first he had to capture the Rebel, and then he could daydream.

Turning to his second in command, he issued the order. "Set course for Helska Six immediately."

"Yes Sir!"

00000

Luke breathed a sigh of relief when five out of seven transports— not including the Millennium Falcon— made it to lightspeed without any incident. In fact, Luke was just beginning to doubt his choice to call an evacuation— maybe he had allowed his judgment to be clouded by past experiences with Venussia— when that warning tingle started at the back of his neck.

It quickly formed into something more urgent, and Luke straightened in his seat. "Look sharp Rogues, something's coming…"

"Right Boss."

Luke swapped frequencies. "Rogue Leader to the Millennium Falcon."

"Go ahead Kid," Han replied.

"Are you heading out?" Luke asked.

"Almost there, Kid, just waiting on a certain Princess to discover she's done all she can." Han's voice was sarcastic, but Luke understood the love Han felt for Leia.

"Let me know when you're in the air, and we'll provide cover."

"Will do." Han signed out.

Not a moment later alarms blared in his cockpit, warning Luke of a ship readying to revert to realspace.

"Rogues, we've got something coming out of hyperspace at seven-oh-nine," Luke called, and the rest of his pilots confirmed the information. "Rogues Six and Seven keep with the transport closest to the jump point. Rogues Four and Five, protect the final transport. The Rogues will be the last ones to leave."

"Yes Sir!" they chorused.

Four out of the seven X-wings peeled off to do as he asked, leaving Luke, Wedge and Hobbie to directly fight whatever was coming at them.

"Artoo, be ready to get me an I.D. on the ship as soon as possible," Luke ordered.

A confirming tootle was the astromech's answer.

00000

"Leia, let's go!" Han nearly shouted when the brunette ignored him and continued to look at the displays showing the progress of the evacuation.

"I'm not leaving yet!" Leia declared.

"Why not, you're the last one in the base, Your Worship!" Han informed her. "Now, you can either come under your own power, or I carry you to the Falcon."

Leia pitted him with a glare that would have made a lesser man flinch. Han held her gaze stubbornly, willing her to see reason. Maybe it was time to switch tactics.

"Leia, I've got Shmi on board, and I am not willing to stay here and risk her. Think of what that'd do to the Kid," Han said, softening a touch.

Leia held his gaze a moment longer before she deflated some, glancing once more to the display as if she had to see it with her own eyes. She was just turning to join Han when the long-range sensor array went off, warning of a new threat.

Leia spun around and leapt at the consol, Han joining her. Leia gasped while Han chose a few of his more colorful words to utter.

"That's it: we're leaving." Han grabbed her arm.

"Wait, I have to warn the transports!" Leia argued while struggling against him.

"Luke's up there," Han ground out, fed up for the day with her stubbornness. "You don't think he'd just keep quiet about a Star Destroyer showing up, do you?"

Sure enough, Luke's voice sounded over the open comm. halfway across the room, talking to the two transports in turn.

Leia sighed heavily, closing her eyes in gratitude for her brother, and then allowed Han to lead her swiftly from the base into the hangar where the smuggler docked his ship.

00000

"TIEs coming in from our seven o'clock, Boss!" Hobbie called as he and Luke sped to engage the Star Destroyer Artoo had designated ISD Bane.

"Got it, thanks Hobbie," Luke answered, peeling off as green laserfire zeroed in on his port-side wing.

Luke went through a series of maneuvers as a wing of Imperial fighters converged on his position. He was amazed at how much more… fluid his piloting was, almost as though with Mara's training his connection to the Force had also increased while he as in the cockpit.

Then he snorted. Why wouldn't it increase in the cockpit too? It's not like the Force had limits.

No, but I do… Luke thought dryly.

Shaking his head to clear it when the Force screamed an urgent warning his way, Luke barrel-rolled to port, and then dove halfway through that maneuver, causing two converging TIEs to collide.

When Luke turned back toward the two remaining TIE's it was to see Hobbie take out one, and then zigzag to shake the fourth that had just chosen him for its target.

"Hobbie, veer to heading…" Luke glanced at his readout, "oh-eight-three."

"Copy that," Hobbie replied, and Luke watched as his X-wing changed to a course that would allow him to cross Luke's path at a steep angle.

Hobbie was nearly coming straight at Luke, so much so that the Imperial behind him could not see Luke. Hobbie flashed past, but Luke already has his quad-laser turrets blasting away, trusting the guidance of the Force.

He was rewarded by an exploding TIE.

Luke breathed easier for a moment while the Star Destroyer spewed a few more TIEs. Luke reflected that the visual effect was that of a swarm of wasps coming from their hive.

Luke took the opportunity given by the lull in fighting to assess the situation around him. The second to last transport winked out of realspace just as Luke spotted it among the stars, and he could only tell the two escort fighters were there due to their blips on his long-range scanners.

However, another sweep of his instruments gave him pause.

"Wedge, you still with us?" Luke asked when he didn't immediately see his second-in-command on his scopes.

"Yeah, I just fell behind a touch," Wedge said, sounding a little strained.

Worry flitted through Luke. "Hey, you alright back there?"

"I took a hit, and I think my starboard lower engine is puttering out," Wedge admitted, not sounding happy about it.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Luke growled, more than a little upset with Wedge for that. "Go dock with that last transport."

"Luke, I can…"

"Wedge, please; don't make me pull rank." Luke sighed tiredly.

Wedge grumbled something over the comm., but eventually peeled off with an acknowledgement.

00000

"Mara, I need you and Leia in the gun turrets!" Han called over the ship's intercom.

"Got it!" Mara hollered back as she unstrapped from where she sat next to Shmi. Leia emerged from the direction of the cockpit and took the dorsal turret.

"Be careful!" Shmi urged her with a worried air.

Mara smiled softly. "I always am."

Mara took the ventral turret, momentarily eyeing the underside of the Millennium Falcon as she strapped in. Out of curiosity, Mara swept the stars with her gaze, wondering if she'd catch a glimpse of Luke in action. She had yet to see him pilot his X-wing.

Realizing what she was doing, and kicking herself for it, Mara focused instead on the approaching TIE fighters heading their way.

She took aim, and let forth a salvo at the approaching quartet of TIEs. They split down the middle, two up and two down. Mara used her instincts and her training to follow their movements as much as her turret-chair would allow.

One came back into view, and by the time it realized it should have juked instead if jinked, Mara had already shot at it. The resulting fireball lit up Mara's view, momentarily rendering her eyes useless as they tried to remove the bright spots.

A glancing shot hit the Corellian freighter near Mara's turret but thankfully the shields repelled it.

"Millennium Falcon to Rogue Leader." Han's voice came over the open line.

"Go ahead Han." Luke's voice came back.

"We're on our way to the jump point, but we've got a few 'unfriendlies' on our back. If you've got someone to spare, we would appreciate the help," Han said.

"Rogue Six to Rogue Leader. Me and Seven are done escorting our transport, we'll provide cover for the Falcon," answered another voice.

"Got it: thanks Kasan," Luke replied.

Mara refocused on getting rid of her last TIE, and grimaced to see several more heading their way. She swiveled in her chair while Han and Chewie pulled maneuvers few would dare in a freighter.

If Mara wasn't used to spaceflight, she'd probably be sick from their constant vehicular manipulation.

A duo of TIEs came in from two different headings, and Mara's Force sense warned her not to shoot. With a slight frown, Mara realized why when an X-wing swooped in to take out one of the Imperial ships.

"Woohoo!" Wes Janson crowed happily.

"Nice shooting Wes. Now, let's get the rest of them," Han said dryly.

"Happy to oblige," Wes answered.

00000

"Rogue Four to transport Indigo Wrath," Tycho called.

"Go ahead."

"Did you get Wedge Antilles on board?"

There was a moment of silence, and then Tycho's comm. crackled back to life.

"Affirmative, he just docked with us."

"Good: get out of here, you're all clear!"

"See you at the rendezvous!"

With that, the Indigo Wrath made its jump and Tycho breathed a sigh.

"Alright Zev, let's go help Luke." Tycho peeled off to where Luke and Hobbie were alone against the Bane.

"Tycho, I want you to go help the Falcon." Luke ordered when he saw the wing pair coming. "Zev, stay on course."

"Yes sir!" they acknowledged.

00000

Luke jinked and juked like never before as more and more TIEs swarmed around him and Hobbie. It appeared that the captain of ISD Bane was getting desperate for some sort of a victory and was content to go for the smaller craft over the larger transports that were now all gone.

Except, of course the Falcon.

Hobbie was also using every ounce of skill to stay ahead of the Imperials, and already several times he and Luke had removed tails from each other.

Luke spotted Zev's approach, and he allowed himself a slight breath of relief at the added help.

One more glance to his scopes told him that the Falcon was quickly becoming a target as well. Determined not to let the ship carrying his friends and family become captive, Luke threw himself into getting a shot in at the bridge of the Bane.

Luke used the dogfight-maneuvering to cover his approach until he was close enough to come in straight. When they caught on to what he was doing, he had to dodge turbolaser fire as it came at him. After he was more than halfway to the bridge, Luke released a torpedo and peeled off to escape the blast.

He was rewarded with an explosion, but his scan showed that the detonation had been shaken enough off-course because the Bane attempted to dodge. Therefore, while Luke's shot had missed the bridge proper, it still hit the secondary bridge.

Luke shrugged. His intent was to cause as much distraction for the mother ship as he could, so that the TIEs would be less effective. Catching on to his tactics, Zev took a shot at the hangar bay on the underside as he passed during a steep, rolling climb.

"Luke," Han's voice sounded over the comm.

"Go ahead Han."

"We're coming under heavy assault here, but the TIEs lessened their attacks when you did whatever you did, so keep it up Kid," Han told him.

"Will do." Luke felt a stab of hope. "Get out of here the first chance you get."

"You too, Kid." Han's voice held both a warning and a hint of brotherly love.

Luke smiled. "I plan to."

Luke switched to a squadron frequency. "Hobbie, Zev, start hitting the Bane. It doesn't matter where, but draw the TIEs off the Falcon and toward us."

"Yes sir!" Hobbie answered eagerly.

"Will do Boss!" Zev seconded. "This will be fun!"

Luke smirked, but did not comment. He focused on following his own advice, and rained hell upon the Bane. Splashes of nebulous lava began to pop up on the hull of the Star Destroyer, with the Rebel pilots taking shots whenever they got a chance to do so amid their dogfights with the TIEs.

Luke zipped along the stern of the arrow-head ship, three TIEs chasing him angrily past the glowing blue engines. Luke gave himself over to the Force, and found himself diving, juking, jinking and rolling at completely random moments, effectively throwing the enemy pilots for a loop. Finally Luke went into a spiraling dive so steep that Artoo whistled in protest.

Luke gritted his teeth as the inertia pressed him into this seat, but he held, seeing two TIEs attempting to follow. At last they nicked wings, and that sent them spinning wildly to crash into the hull above their position. Luke rolled to port out of his dive, feeling the weight of the previous maneuver release the compression on his chest.

Luke panted slightly, but did not lose focus. He still had one TIE to lose.

He pulled his ship up and over the top of the Star Destroyer, flashing so close to the bridge as he passed that he could see personnel within.

Luke let loose a salvo of blasterfire, hitting the sensor array atop the mount that made up the bridge. The explosion chased Luke's tail like the snows of an avalanche, and for a moment he thought he'd made the wrong call, but then the fireball faded and Luke breathe a sigh of relief.

He then noted that the final TIE had been caught in the blast Luke had just survived.

However, his attention was drawn from the battle long enough to hear Han shout a farewell, and then the Falcon's blip disappeared from Luke's scope.

"Luke, the Falcon is gone!" Kasan called.

"Good, go with it!" Luke ordered. "We will break off as soon as we can."

"Are you sure?" Kasan asked.

Luke gritted his teeth. "Yes."

"Okay, see you in a few."

Luke watched as all but himself, Hobbie and Zev disappeared into hyperspace.

"Hobbie, Zev, we're done here: let's go home!" Luke told them.

"I'm out, Boss!" Hobbie told him. "Zev, where are you?"

The final pilot's voice came back strained. "I've got… too many… on my… six!"

Luke sought him out from amidst the thick group of TIEs, and found Zev cornered by the hangar bay he'd shot at earlier.

"Hang on Zev, I'm coming for you," Luke said, already flipping switches.

A blast from Zev's ship caught his eye even from this distance. Moments later an S-foil rocketed away.

"Negative, Lead." Zev sounded grim. "I just lost a wing. I'm afraid this is going to be my final run with you guys."

Luke's gut went rock-solid and his blood iced over. "Zev, don't give…"

"It's been an honor, Sir, to serve with you," Zev spoke over him, his line full of static.

"ZEV!" Luke hollered, pounding a fist against his leg.

But Zev either ignored him or did not hear Luke, because he angled his X-wing in for the hangar bay and drove straight and true. Zev let loose with everything in his arsenal as his ship flew to her death.

Luke's vision darkened and he growled forcefully as he peeled off. He only then realized that Hobbie was waiting for him.

"You ready to go, Luke?" Hobbie's voice was as soft as Luke had ever heard it, and instead of snapping at his friend, he merely gave a quiet 'yes'.

"On three." Hobbie counted down for them. "One… two… three."

Luke pushed his hyperspace lever and watched as the pinpricks of light became starlines, his mind going into a state of semi-shock even as his heart struggled to cope with reality.

He'd lost his first pilot.

Luke knew it had only been a matter of time, but the Rogues had gone so long without a death among their ranks that Luke had begun to fool himself into believing they were a little invincible.

Having the truth shoved into his face so ruthlessly did not help his mood any. With a world-weary sigh, Luke rested his head back and swallowed hard.

He still had to tell the others…

Thinning his lips, Luke found the commander side of his brain already trying to formulate a way to break the news. But the greater part of Luke, the one who'd been Zev's friend… he was still in shock.

He did not want to wake up and acknowledge that Zev was gone… and never coming back. But Luke knew that he would have to.

They were at war, and loss was a big part of war.

00000

The main hangar bay of the Indigo Wrath was full of bustling techs, droids and other Rebels after the escape from Helska Six. The Millennium Falcon and all but three Rogue pilots were already there and milling about in their own little corner.

They were waiting for the arrival of the final trio of X-wings that remained unaccounted for.

Han allowed his gaze to wander the little family of Rebels that stood in a very loose imitation of a circle near his beloved freighter.

Wedge was not in a very good mood overall, due to the fact that his ship had been hit and he'd been forced to abandon the fight, as he saw it. Tycho stood to Wedge's right, brooding as he peered without seeing at the opening of the large space.

Kasan and Leia were conversing quietly a little to the right of Tycho, and Han found himself amazed that Leia had not instantly run to the command center to demand an update on the evacuation.

Then again, she'd been on the comm. the second the Falcon had left hyperspace, so Han figured she'd already done that.

As for Shmi; the child was standing with Mara, who held her hand gently as the girl stared anxiously into the star-studded view of space. The red head did not seem as concerned, but Han knew that was just a practiced mask. Mara had to be as worried as the rest of them at the lateness of the arrival of their fellow members.

Han himself didn't particularly feel like talking, and the entire assembly of pilots and friends seemed to have a somber air. Chewbacca stood behind Han, as silent and still as a sentinel.

Even Wes, despite his usual cheerful self, was abnormally reserved.

Finally, a cheer went up among the techs crowded closest to the command hub for the hangar, and Han's group perked up. People were pointing and techs began to prepare for the arrival of ships.

Han was not the only one craning his neck to get a first glimpse of their expected arrivals. But no one rushed forward to greet them at their landing places, instead waiting for the all clear from the techs and mechanics doing post-flight checks.

The mood of their little family brightened noticeably when the first X-wing entered the docking bay from the darkness of space. Han's eyes went to the astromech slot, and saw that this pilot was not Luke.

It was several moments more before a second X-wing slowly entered the hangar, and this time Han recognized Artoo's blue and silver dome. He relaxed a great deal, hearing the murmur of conversation buzz about him.

However, the lightening mood of their group cooled when— after several minutes passed— they counted not three, but two X-wings.

Only two.

Out of three.

Han glanced back at the Rogue pilots, feeling his heart clench in sympathy. He found himself praying that Luke didn't take the loss too hard. His hopes for that outcome dampened some when Luke did not immediately pop his canopy.

Not even when Artoo was out of his socket did he make any move to exit his ship. The techs crowded about Luke's snubfighter, trading words of confusion until Hobbie appeared from where he had landed to shoo them away.

Looks were traded among the Rogues, and the pilots of the small squadron moved to join Hobbie.

When Shmi started to follow, Mara's hand to her shoulder stopped her.

"Not yet, Shmi," she murmured.

"Why not?" Shmi asked.

"Luke… the Rogues need a moment," was the soft answer.

00000

Wedge was first to reach the cleared space around Luke's still-occupied X-wing. He already knew the answer, but he had to hear it for himself.

"Hobbie… where is Zev?"

Hobbie thinned his lips, throwing a glance up at Luke's ship, but when he opened his mouth to reply, Luke finally opened his cockpit. He descended the ladder in silence, not bothering to remove his helmet until he was on the ground.

He took a deep breath and then turned to face his pilots.

"Zev went down when he was cornered underneath the Star Destroyer. They shot his wing off, but instead of just quitting, he took as many out with his death…" Luke's voice cracked, "as he could."

Utter silence greeted Luke's pronouncement.

They all heard, but none wanted to believe it. How long had they gone without a death among their ranks? It wasn't possible… was it?

"Once things settle down, we'll hold a memorial service for him," Luke said softly. Then he looked up to find Kasan with suddenly hard blue eyes. "Do not ever question an order I give you in the heat of a battle, do you understand?"

Kasan swallowed, but nodded. "I do."

"Good." Luke caught sight of his daughter, and took another breath before he excused his pilots. He caught Mara's gaze, and the red head released Shmi, who then came forward timidly.

"Daddy, is everything okay?" Shmi asked in a small voice.

Luke paused to look at the growing number of bruises on her face, and the bacta patch visible via the extra bulge to her jumpsuit. He had to fight the rising anger in him at the sight of his little girl beaten and bloodied.

With a hard swallow, Luke knelt before Shmi and took her hand. "We lost a pilot Shmi. Zev's gone."

Shmi elicited a small gasp, and she blinked at tears. "Uncle Zev is gone?"

"Yes." Luke nodded, though he threw Leia a look full of meaning.

"Oh Daddy…" Shmi wept, moving to embrace him. "Was it because of that woman?"

He was sorely tempted to curse Venussia and blame everything on her… but he chose not to. At least, not entirely.

"She may have given the Imperials our location, but she did not directly cause Zev's death," Luke told her. "I don't think we will have to worry about her coming back any time soon."

"What makes you say that?" Leia asked.

"Yeah, she said it wasn't over," Han put in

"She doesn't know our location anymore, and I don't think she'll try," Luke replied. "But she may do something else."

"Like what?"

"I don't know for sure." Luke shook his head. "But she will try to cause us trouble."

Luke broke off from Shmi, who looked to the other Rogues. "Can I go talk to the others Daddy?"

"Why don't we give everyone a bit to time to cope first," Luke decided.

"Okay."