Chapter 36: Mission Success.
As Kalifa watched the Death Star be consumed in a fiery explosion, she really couldn't believe that she had accomplished the impossible. She had saved the entire planet, The Empire had failed and Vader was scattered across the Galaxy somewhere, all thanks to Han and his excellent timing.
A warm feeling then washed over her as she heard Anakin's spirit say to her, "Remember, the Force will be with you, always." The voice then disappeared and she watched the Rebel Squadron go back to Yavin IV. The Millenium Falcon trailed next to her and Luke's X-Wing was on the other side. Suddenly she felt a cold presence sweep over her, whatever it was went quickly as it came. Kalifa didn't know what it was but she was certain that the force was trying to tell her something.
Kalifa didn't have time to wonder what the meaning of the presence was, as her train of thought was suddenly cut of by Han's voice saying, "Hell of a view isn't it kid?" At this Kalifa was grateful for the change of subject, as she was looking at the exploding Death Star she wondered about what would happen if Han didn't show up to save her. Kalifa smiled at this and chuckled.
"Hey, Han?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks, thanks for saving me. I knew you had my back."
"Don't push it kid." At this Kalifa couldn't help but smile, as she thought about the things she just went through she began to think of simpler times as well, times before she knew her mother was a Jedi, hanging out with Luke on Tatooine. She then thought of how special she was to have something like The Force guiding her every step of the way, it wasn't just luck that helped her take out that battle station, her friends were fighting along side her and she was so grateful. Even the loss of Jess had an impact on her and she made a mental note in her head that she would mourn her best friend whenever the time allowed.
"You know," Kalifa said speaking directly into her comlink, "this isn't gonna be the last time we here from the Empire."
"They're still gonna come after us,"
Kalifa let that sink in for a minute and couldn't help but think Han was right. Although Han had knocked Vader's TIE fighter out of the fight, she couldn't but help think that it was still out there... somewhere just waiting for a nearby Imperial cruiser to pick it up and when Vader recovered from this battle. He would come back stronger than ever.
"Kid?" Han said rather nervously as she hadn't answered in quite some time, "are you Ok?" was she OK? She needed a lot more time to answer that particular question. The adventures she had been on had certainly taught her that nothing would be the same again. "Just know," Han said when she didn't answer his first question, "Chewie and I will always have your back when you need it."
That softened her up as she touched down on Yavin IV just moments after the Death Star had finished exploding. She then found a landing pad where hundreds and thousands of Rebels stormed cheering her own name. She then scanned the crowd and spotted her mother smiling and waving at her. Which was something that Ahsoka Tano rarely did nowadays. Kalifa couldn't help but cry knowing that she had done the impossible and made it back to her mother alive.
The Falcon and Luke's X-Wing touched down alongside Kalifa's own ship and they exited them togther to receive a heroes welcome. Ahsoka and Leia rushed towards the group and enveloped them in a group hug as the Rebels continued to cheer, "I'm so proud of you." Ahsoka whispered and at that Kalifa really did burst into tears of joy.
She then exited the group hug and hugged her own mother and whispered "I love you mom."
Ahsoka smiled at this and said "I know you do," she then closed her eyes and continued to hug her daughter until the celebrations died down...