Home One
The next day Dash moved in my quarters together with his droid Leebo. It was cramped now and not very comfortable, but it worked somehow.
But what went really on my nerves was Dash's solicitude. He tended to treat me like a raw Krayt Dragon egg. Whenever I wanted to lift or carry something he stood at my side and took it away from me.
I wasn't this fragile as he thought. If I was allowed to fly an X-wing why shouldn't I do other work?
In the daily routine of the Rogue Squadron the usual course of action has been restored.
Since two weeks there was one combat exercise after the other. And if it wasn't this then we had to maintain our X-wings. One day I had an argument with Dash, when he saw me worm my way through my X-wing's service access.
"Nomi!" He yelled at me.
I startled and bumped my head at the ceiling.
"Are you crazy? What are you doing? Why isn't Leebo doing this for you? I have never known such an unreasonable woman like you. I almost think you don't want the children and does everything to lose them."
I couldn't believe that he really said something like this to me.
"Are you crazy, Dash? Half of my life I maintained space ships. Why should I let Leebo doing this? Every pilot is responsible for his ship. And to accuse me that I don't want the children is a piece of impudence. I'm looking forward to them as you do."
He looked at me with pleading eyes.
"I'm sorry, Nomi. I don't know what's going on with me."
But I knew all too well. Dash missed his freedom. It wasn't easy to convert an independent smuggler in a freedom fighter of the Alliance.
Shortly after a mission briefing lead by Admiral Ackbar and General Madine took place.
The upcoming mission wouldn't be easy. Our spies managed to discover the location of a secret Imperial mine complex. Rogue Squadron was tasked to destroy the complex since its ore was vital for the construction of weapons and other war material.
The mine itself wasn't heavily secured. The problem was how to approach the mine complex.
It was surrounded by a mined asteroid belt.
Admiral Ackbar addressed us: "It is very important that this mission is successfully. This mine complex is the main source for the basic component of durasteel. If it is destroyed the Empire will have massive supply problems. Commander Antilles, it won't be an easy task for your pilots."
Wedge stood up and said: "That I am aware, Admiral, that's why I ask that Lieutenant Darklighter be exempted of this mission. As you know, is the Lieutenant pregnant in her 4th month and in my opinion unable to manage such dangerous flight."
Now it was enough for me, when I heard the next overprotective man speaking in my behalf.
I tried to stay calm.
"Admiral Ackbar, Commander Antilles, I don't want to be exempted of this mission. I feel me able to fulfill my duties in the Rogue Squadron. My pregnancy isn't a sickness. I flew often through the asteroid belt of Hoth and I trust myself to fly through a mined asteroid belt."
Now Dash intervened also. I rolled my eyes.
"Please be reasonable, Nomi. Think about our children you're carrying."
"I thought about our children when I made up my decision to participate in this mission, Dash.
They should grow up in peace without having to worry about to be pressed to serve in the Stormtrooper ranks or persecuted for their special abilities. Please, let me fly."
Then Admiral Ackbar spoke again. "When Lieutenant Darklighter wishes, she can take part in the mission. You will leave tomorrow. The coordinates will be stored in your navcomputer today. The meeting is over. May the Force be with you."
After we left the meeting room Dash and Wedge talked insistently to me.
"We don't understand you, Nomi. Why are you acting like this?"
"If you don't think about yourself, at least think of our children."
I answered them calmly. "As I already said to to Admiral Ackbar and General Madine I thought about our children when I made up my decision. Because I don't want our children and the children of others to live in constant fear, I must help to destroy the Empire. And I can't do this if I sit down in a chair and knit baby clothes. Better to die trying to change something than to stand idly by while more and more star systems come under the Empire's reign. If we can't stop it, I don't want my children to grow up in a world of hatred and oppression."
I saw how the two men slowly started to understand my decision.
Dash finally said: "Forgive me, Nomi. You're right, but you must also understand me. I'm worried about you and I don't want to lose you. I couldn't live without you."