Inner Rim
Commenor Run Hyperspace Lane
RM-09 Alliance Shuttle

...2 Days Later...

Silre stood at the rear of the cockpit, staring blankly out at the swirling torrent of blue shades that streaked past the ship's window. She and Luke had been traveling in hyperspace for the past five hours in a pedestrian cruiser, their destination set for the Kuat Drive Yards. They hoped that by flying in a nondescript shuttle they would not raise any eyebrows once they arrived. But the closer they came to Kuat, the heavier the feeling in Silre's gut; her thoughts as turbulent as the cloudy blue hyperspace tunnel.

Behind her, the sound of booted footsteps approached and stopped. She smiled when she felt a steady hand settle onto her shoulder. "Yes I'm still standing here" she told Luke.

"You okay?"

Silre turned and met his concerned gaze. "I am. I think."

Luke understood how big of a deal this would be for her. She'd opened up to him the night before, and they spoke at length about her varied feelings on returning. If they found a Star Destroyer and their plan went into action, she was still worried that someone would recognize her, even though she would be under cover. Luke listened to her every concern and sympathized with many. In his own way, he'd once been afraid of returning to Tatooine. There was too much there; too much raw emotion, too many memories, too much pain. They turned into obstacles that settled over his mind like a haze that never lifted, but it hadn't stopped him from breaking through it and returning to help his friends. When Silre confided in him similar concerns about returning to her home, he'd given her every ounce of his confidence. Stepping into the past had a way of haunting someone no matter how much confidence they carried with them, but Luke was certain Silre had the self-assuredness to see it through. She was too resilient and too strong.

"I'll be there the entire time" Luke reminded her gently. "And if we have to do this - if we find a Star Destroyer and need to infiltrate - I know you will succeed, Silre. No one knows the Yards better than you. No one knows ships better than you. You've got this."

Silre was grateful for the faith Luke had in her, and her smile showed it. "Thank you."

Luke pressed a kiss to her forehead before taking his seat in the cockpit. Silre remained perched behind as he ran a few checks on the ship and their current position, making note of their speed and fuel reserves. "So far, so good. Another hour and we'll be there."

Silre inhaled slowly. "Guess I better get ready."

She retreated to the sitting area in the back of the ship where they'd spent most of their journey and searched through her belongings for her Drive Yards uniform. She withdrew it from her bag and held it up in front of her; its monotone brown and gray coloring as drab as the day she first wore it. When she first left, she'd scratched the KDY logo off the metal shoulder cuff, wearing it as a symbol of freedom when she escaped the likes of Admiral Rax and the others. Once she found out she and Luke would be coming back and possibly completing an infiltration, she'd had it remade by someone back at the Base in the exact likeness of the one she'd removed. It still soured her to look at, but she had to remind herself why she was returning to the Yards, and why she needed to make it out of there one more time.

After she finished changing and appeared before Luke, he thought Silre looked very much like the first day he met her, which resulted in a sudden wave of emotion. Besides letting her hair grow out, Silre didn't physically look all that different since that first day, but to Luke, it was more about the things he'd learned about the woman who wore the brown bodysuit. She was stronger, braver, and far more beautiful than he ever thought possible. She shared a piece of his heart now, and he was forever thankful for that old brown bodysuit in more ways than one.

As she came forward, Luke handed Silre her helmet. "Can't forget this" he said with a smile.

Silre inspected the metal helmet with affection. "After so long of not wearing it, it's going to feel very odd having to keep it on. Though I suppose that'll be the least of my worries."

"Keep it on as long as you can, for safety sake. But remember..." Luke tapped his finger on the helmet. "The communication device we installed is voice activated if you need it. Just say my name and you'll be connected to me. And if you need anything..."

Silre nodded. "I know." She reached up to cup the side of his face. "I know."


50 minutes later, Luke piloted them out of hyperspace and onto the front doorstep of the Kuat Drive Yards. As their ship exited the hyperspace tunnel, it came to a halt just beyond the massive man-made orbital ring that encircled the planet. It loomed like a metal arm, suspended in space and casting an ominous shadow onto the atmosphere of its namesake planet. Thousands of ships arriving and departing littered the airspace around the ring, showing that even now, the Drive Yard factories continued to be a sought after commodity despite its former affiliation with the Empire.

Silre peered through the cockpit window as Luke brought their passenger ship closer. She recognized immediately that they were in the South Sector, near the drydocks and maintenance supply stockyards. "If we're looking for a Star Destroyer, we'll need the Heavy Engineering bays in the West Sector."

Luke headed that direction, maintaining enough distance from the orbital ring itself so they were not radioed in by any of the Kuati Traffic Controllers. Silre remained behind him, watching as glimpses of her past flew by. She swallowed her building anxiety and maintained her focus, ignoring the longing she felt as they passed by the apartment quarters where she once lived. Where her family still lived. Her eyes lingered for only a moment on her old building before she turned her sights ahead of them.

They rounded past the East Sector and came within distance of the Heavy Engineering docks on the west side of the orbital ring. Luke decreased their speed and the shuttle fell into a slow cruise, both his and Silre's eyes scanning the ring for any sign of Imperial influence. It was impossibly busy at all points, with incoming and outgoing ships and supply crates and equipment freighters crisscrossing around them.

Luke marveled at the massive spanse of the ring; stunned by the fact that thousands of people worked and lived on such a surface. "Do you see anything?" he asked Silre, eyes scanning the various sections beyond their window.

"Not yet." Even as she said this, Silre's intuition was spiking. Something didn't seem right, and a jab of fear traveled from her chest into her throat. She stared out the window as they cruised past towering hyperdrive facilities, capital ship facilities, apartment barracks, and research bays. Each section of the ring was like a familiar face to her; each one a product of both memory and misery.

As their ship passed by hundreds more incoming and outgoing ships, they eclipsed another arrival bay and rounded the other side. When the next section of the Drive Yards came into view, Silre's eyes widened. "Luke." She pointed, and his eyes followed the line of her hand. "There."

At the farthest reach of the orbital ring sat the menacing triangular form of an Imperial Class 2 Star Destroyer. Its presence loomed over all the other construction bays that sat in its wake; swallowing sunlight while casting a long shadow over the barracks, arrival ports, and maintenance divisions that surrounded it. Like the dozens of Star Destroyers that had come before it, had fought before it, and had perished before it, the sight of such a ship evoked a sense of foreboding, even after the death of the Emperor.

A muscle flexed in Luke's jaw. When he turned to look at Silre, she stood motionless next to him, eyes focused ahead at the giant ship. When her eyes finally met his, there was an unshakable determination in their color.

"Let's go" she said, then turned and left the cockpit.


Core Worlds
Kuat Drive Yards Orbital Ring
West Sector

For the first time in over half a year, Silre stepped onto the surface of the Drive Yards. She inhaled the stale manufactured air inside the transport hangar and smirked despite herself. Thankfully, her helmet hid her less than welcomed reaction to inhaling the metallic ozone stench that had been the only 'clean air' she'd known her entire life.

Donning her helmet and metal plated bodysuit, she walked away from the parked Alliance shuttle knowing that Luke was watching her. He'd played the part well to get them on the surface of the ring. Her knowledge of the proper landing codes and security clearances made for a flawless entry, and Luke assumed his role as a citizen shuttle pilot with ease. To anyone else, he was just another pilot making just another pick-up. One of hundreds - if not thousands - that visited the Yards each day. There he would wait until Silre completed the infiltration, listening for her radio signals when she finished each phase.

With a slow and steady exhale, Silre squared her shoulders and reached into her pocket, withdrawing her old clearance card.

Phase One: make it past security within the Heavy Engineering Assembly Factory.

She approached the door that lead out of the landing bay and into the workers tunnel; a pedestrian tube that functioned as a "street" for employees. It helped them to make their way as efficiently as possible across the maze of factories. Once inside, she fell into a group of employees, all of which were dressed in the same uniform as she was. None noticed her, and none cared to. Just like Luke, her role was to play just another employee out of thousands that worked there. They all looked the same for a reason: you were just another number at the Drive Yards. You went to work, you were lucky enough to make it through another day without losing a part of yourself in the process, and you went home. Wash, rinse, repeat. Day in. Day out.

At least the monotony is useful in moments like this, Silre thought as she lined her employee clearance card up to the panel. When she heard the familiar clink that followed being accepted, she maintained control of her sigh of relief. The doors opened and she filed inside the workers tunnel without a glance from anyone around her. Thankfully, it seemed that no one had cancelled her employee clearance credentials. She chalked it up to her first lucky break of the mission, though she hoped it wouldn't be her last.

Staying within a group of employees at all times, Silre began her trek towards the Star Destroyer's factory. It took her a moment to remember how to get there; winding her way steadily towards the Heavy Engineering section. She stayed quiet but alert as she and the others traveled to their various destinations. As they walked, Silre overheard some of the conversations taking place between the other employees, many of which had their helmets removed in order to better speak to one another. She recognized none of those who spoke, but was grateful for the distraction they created.

Eventually she arrived at front entrance to the factory where the Star Destroyer was being assembled. Once her credentials were cleared, she would take a floating platform the rest of the way to the Star Destroyer. She could see its ominous gray shape rising beyond the scaffolding where it was docked, its shape compelling a sense of fear deep in her stomach. Perhaps the most frightening aspect of all was that its assembly was nearing visible completion. Panic threatened to still her blood, but her intuition was telling her Go. No matter what she ended up calling this sensitivity within her - when it spoke, she listened, and she had to push past the foreboding nature of the metal giant that loomed just outside.

A security officer in a metal plated beige uniform stood at a surveillance counter near the entryway. As Silre neared, she readied her second clearance card, hoping beyond hope it still worked. It was the clearance card the Imperials had given her following her successful interrogation; the day she had falsely promised her life and dignity away to all of them in a string of well-spoken lies. If the only good thing that had come from that day was the clearance card she held in her hands, then it was worth it. She needed this to work in order to access the factory beyond.

"Afternoon" stated the man as he stood, hands clasping behind his back. "Helmet off. Credentials please."

Silre lifted off her helmet, apprehension settling into her bones. She handed him the card, trying her best not to look up at the security cameras staring her in the face. She took off one of her gloves and lined her hand up to the bioscan device on the wall. As she had done every other time in her past, she waited for the man to scan the card before she pressed her hand to the panel for final verification. As she waited, she could feel her heart like a hammer against her ribs, pounding out a message of both fear and anticipation.

Finally, the security officer handed her the card and nodded for her to continue. "Proceed."

Silre pressed her hand to the panel and waited. The panel glowed green as it scanned her hand, then changed to bright red.

"Error. Bioscan Incomplete."

Her heartbeat nearly stopped.

"Try again" said the man. "Been having issues lately." He chuckled to himself and shook his head. "Imagine living in a place like this, with the best of technology and the finest craftsmen in the galaxy - only to have your bioscanners malfunction with no one around to fix them."

Silre forced a tight, uncomfortable laugh. She lined her hand up to the panel once more and waited.

"Error. Bioscan Incomplete."

Brow furrowing, the officer walked up to the panel and placed his own hand on top, letting it scan himself. When it read his data, the panel beeped and the door whooshed open. "Huh. Works for me."

Silre felt her stomach drop. Thinking quickly, she handed the security officer her clearance card again and changed her tone. "Try scanning this again. Now that you mentioned your malfunctioning technology, I remember during our interrogations when the Admiral warned us about the faultiness of some of the technology within this factory" she said casually. "I'm not surprised at all at the frequency it's been happening."

The officer stared at her. "You're working on..." He nodded beyond the window to the Star Destroyer.

"Yes. Why do you think I'm here?" Silre insisted, putting on an air of importance. "This is why Admiral Rax didn't want to bother with all of this in the first place. He wouldn't have had us questioned if he didn't believe our allegiance. It's a shame it's tested daily with such ridiculous measures." She waved an irritated hand at the panel.

The officer bowed his head and forewent scanning her card. "Please, by all means. I didn't mean to suggest that you weren't cleared to proceed." When he lifted his gaze, Silre detected actual fear in the color of his eyes as he looked at her. "Please" he said, gesturing towards the door.

Silre took back her card and placed her helmet over her head. "Thank you. The Empire recognizes your dedication." She kept her head high as she passed beyond the opened door and stepped onto one of the floating platforms. When she placed her hands on the railing, they were shaking.

As the platform rose into the air and took her towards the Star Destroyer, Silre lifted one of her fingers to her helmet and pressed the button connecting comm device. "Luke?"

"I'm here, Silre. Is everything okay?"

"Yes" she said, staring at the Star Destroyer in front of her. "I'm in."


Luke sat back in his chair with a heavy exhale. His nerves had gone raw in the moments following Silre's leave. He watched her walk away, trying to think of some last minute way he could go with her, but she knew there was no way he could aid her. This was Silre's life long before he ever stepped into the picture, and if there was anyone who could do this - it was her. All her. His duty was to remain calm, stay in his role, and wait.

He was never very good at waiting, however.

Once more, he recalled the words of Master Yoda echoing inside his mind and soul as clearly as if he'd been sitting beside him: The boy has no patience. All his life he has looked away...Never his mind on where he was.

Luke took a long inhale and an equally steady exhale and centered himself, calming his nerves as he wrapped the serenity of the Force around him.

Trust her.
Trust in the Force.

From his vantage point inside the cockpit, Luke could see the topmost section of the Star Destroyer in the distance. It rose up like an old memory, towering over everything around it with its threatening presence. He knew what it meant to see one being assembled here. He knew the implications of its presence. But he would never not look at it as a symbol of everything he, his sister, Han, Chewie, and the others fought against every single day, not even after the efforts of the past five years. Seeing something like that, like a damn Star Destroyer being built, was unsettling...even now.

An incoming message flashed across one of the cockpit's computer screens. Luke clicked a button and opened the text, reading the clipped message from his sister: Status check?

He quickly shot back a message: She's in. Now we wait.

Settling back into his chair, Luke stared out at the Star Destroyer and did his very best to remain patient. He would wait, he would trust in the Force, and he would listen for Silre's word when it was done.


Silre gripped the scomp link data reader in her right hand, thumbing the tool nervously as she walked down the maze of hallways within the constructed ship.

No, not constructed.
Nearly finished.

She'd never been inside a Star Destroyer, and for that she was thankful. The inside of this one was imposing enough, and not just in its size. Though the ship was constructed for execution, it had been designed to evoke a specific feeling for those who would one day employ it. Despite the Empire's failures, the construction of this Destroyer - The Inflictor - had been made in the likeness of the old Empire; the Empire that had too much arrogance and too much pride. She could tell the inside had been designed in a way to provide a false sense of security and importance. With its sharp angles, ominous colors, and costly materials, it was created to give the impression the Empire still had any control at all. Silre didn't know whether to find that troubling or pathetic.

She made her through the lower levels, winding her way ever upward to the main control room where she would access the most pertinent data. Her boots clapped on the polished black floors as she covered the distance towards an elevator, moving quickly to enter inside the empty capsule. So far, she had passed by very few workers, which was good news for her but bad news overall. It meant that whatever remained left of the construction process was nearing its end, with most of the work focused on detailing and quality assurance.

When her elevator arrived at the topmost level, the paneled door slid open and Silre stepped out onto the central operations center of the ship. She took a few steps forward and then stopped, overwhelmed by the sight.

She was totally alone, standing atop a command bridge that faced a series of windows looking out into the void of space. On either side of the command bridge were data pits that sat well below, full of computer bays lined with numerous panels and monitors. Their screens were all dark for now, but would no doubt be up and running once the ship was done. Standing there on the bridge, Silre felt the weight of whoever was meant to stand there. It was clear those within the Empire loved to show off their hierarchy, and the bridge was an easy way of doing just that. It shouldn't have made her feel powerful, but it did, and that made her feel gross inside.

Leaping down into one of the sunken computer pits, Silre began to search for the data access point in which she could attach her scomp link and begin the download. The faster she got this part over and done with, the faster she could get out of there. After a few moments of searching, she located the port and inserted her link. With a few twists and turns of the tool, she watched as a nearby computer panel lit up with a security screen requiring specific codes for access.

Silre cracked her knuckles and began to recall all she'd been forced to remember to pass her interrogation. One by one, she typed the access codes into the boxes as they appeared on the screen. Their sequence was exactly as they'd appeared during her questioning and testing. Her smirk grew as she passed all measures of security prompted by the computer system, and was finally rewarded for her efforts by the system granting her full access to all on-board data.

Fools. All of them, she thought with some satisfaction. She navigated her way into all the backlogged maintenance and construction records, pre-programmed charts and figures, then scanned for all protocols, passwords, and additional clearances set in place so that they would never have to worry about knowing the codes after this. If she, Luke, or any of the others back on Yavin needed to board this ship again for any reason, Silre wanted to make sure she left no digital stone unturned. One way to ensure this would be to add something to the database. Something no one else knew, besides Silre and those within the New Republic.

The first thing that came to mind were the ion engines, developed and installed by the Kuat Drive Yards. No other such ship required such an engine, particularly the class of ion engine required to power a Star Destroyer like The Inflictor. Silre knew this because she'd had a hand in building a number of these very same ion engines during the War. She'd been inside them, wired them, finalized them, and then tested them. She knew how they worked inside and out.

She also knew how they could be weakened.

Her fingers flying across the keyboard, Silre opened up the control menu for the three ion engines located on The Inflictor. Just as she recalled, the engines were overseen via a program that was directly linked to the computer bays within the central operations center onboard. Nowhere else on the ship was this program available; only here, in the command tower, only to be used by those most trusted within the Empire.

That changes today, Silre thought with a smirk. Not all battles are won with firepower.

Within a few minutes time and some strategic coding, Silre had programmed in a command tree that would allow access to The Inflictor's engines anywhere on board, accessible by a password only she would know. It was a failsafe if they needed it, but she hoped they wouldn't. No one employed on the ship would ever notice she'd coded it into the system, but just knowing she had it in her back pocket calmed her nerves a little. Right now, she needed that more than anything.

And since she was already digging around inside the computer system, she was curious to see if a manifest of some kind was stored somewhere in the database. Usually, a cargo or staff manifest, even a weapons manifest, was not completed until the construction of a ship was finished and was then loaded with whatever goods it had been designed to carry. But with the Empire's clear sense of desperation in quickly constructing a Star Destroyer for who knows what, Silre had a sinking suspicion she might just get lucky and find one. She clicked through all the usual locations on the system where a ship's manifest was stored, scanning each screen before proceeding to the next until she finally found what she was looking for. When she saw it appear on the screen, Silre stopped and put a hand over her mouth. She had just located the ship's entire manifest, including all of the weapons, staff, and cargo The Inflictor would have upon its departure from the Yards.

Silre couldn't help but grin at the screen. There is hope yet, she thought, excitement coursing through her.

She swiftly began the download process, adding every piece of data she had access to that was on board. As the download process began, the muffled sound of voices emerged from the hallway beyond. Silre listened and waited, shielding her work with her body while keeping the scomplink inside its port. She didn't want to abruptly remove it out of fear, only to have to insert it again and begin the whole process over for nothing. As far as she could tell it was only two voices, and it seemed they had passed by the control room without consequence.

Easing out a sigh, Silre kept her eyes on the screen as she watched the data continue its download. Thousands of images flashed in a quick sequence on the screen as they transferred to her scomp link. Under normal circumstances, a droid would be performing this duty - but she was fresh out of droids and the luxury of bringing one with her, so a manual download it was.

When the panel read that it had reached 96% completion, Silre pressed the button on her helmet. "Luke, it's me. I'm almost done inside."

"Any trouble?"

"None that needs explained right now." She watched the percentage on the screen reach 98%. "Just a few more minutes."

"I'll be waiting. I'm proud of you, Silre."

She smiled, color rising into her cheeks. "Talk soon." She let go of the button and watched as the percentage went from 98% to 99%. That last percent seemed to take a decade to complete, but the moment she saw 100% flash on the screen she pulled the tool from the panel, shut the monitors down, and climbed back up to the bridge. She cleared the length of it in four quick strides, then pressed the panel on the wall and exited into the hallway.

As she turned the corner, Silre saw the owners of the two voices she'd heard from inside the control room. With as much subtly as possible, she slid the scomplink into the inside pocket of her uniform before coming into view. The two individuals stood with their heads together, speaking quietly near the end of the hallway where the elevator was. Silre kept her eyes focused on the elevator and pretended the two individuals weren't even there. She pressed the button and waited, feeling her heart begin to double its pace all over again.

That's when she felt her intuition spike so hard it made her dizzy. She reeled momentarily, steadying herself as she felt a familiar jolt of energy travel the entire length of her body, rising along her skin and raising the hairs on the back of her neck.

Behind her, Silre heard the sound of her brother's laughter fill the silence within the hallway.

No.

She turned, frozen in place as her blood slowed.

Barron?

Her brother stood with the other male, their laughter dwindling as they resumed a more serious topic with hushed voices.

Silre stared, her eyes burning with tears.

They interrogated him.
They employed him.

It was as if she'd been suspended in some horrible nightmare, where time slowed and her brain stuttered to make sense of what she was seeing. Her stomach clenched with dread as she stared at the face of her brother.

No, please.
Not Barron.
Anyone but him.

Barron and the other male finally turned their heads in Silre's direction, staring at her with question.

"What is it?" Barron asked, unaware of who he was asking.

A rush of tears flooded Silre's eyes beneath the shield of her helmet. Her big brother. Her friend. Her confident. The one who comforted her when she had nightmares as a child. The one who always stood up for her. The one who likely knew she had a gift, but never said anything to anyone. They were staring at one another as they had a million times before and they didn't even know it.

Please. Don't harm him, Silre wished silently of the Force. Don't let any harm come to him.

The other male nudged him. "Probably a newbie still scared out of their mind after what we all went through."

Silre caught the darkened look in her brother's eyes and it made her heart hurt. His smile tightened grimly before turning his attention away from her. He and the other began to walk in the opposite direction, but Barron took one more look back over his shoulder. Silre saw the way his brow furrowed as he glanced at her again, but then he turned and looked back no more. He and the other male continued on their way down the hallway without further concern.

Behind her, the elevator door whooshed open but Silre was too frozen to move. The pain of seeing Barron was too much to do anything but stare.

What have I done? she wondered. Did they come for him when I left? Or did he choose to be here?

The elevator door swung shut, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She turned, stunned, and pressed the elevator button again. She took one last look down the hallway and swallowed her sadness, remembering what waited for her beyond these walls. Her purpose was tucked away inside her pocket, and her future sat waiting for her back at the ship. She made the right decision to leave the Yards before, and she was making the right decision to leave again.

Blinking away her tears, Silre turned her back on her family and her past one final time and boarded the elevator.


Luke felt Silre's presence before he had a visual of her. Her energy stretched out beyond her body, feeling like a turbulent storm of both sadness and resolve clouding over the docking bay where he waited. When he felt it, he stood from his chair and watched out the window. When her saw Silre cross the tarmac, he engaged the boarding platform to the ship.

The moment Silre boarded the ship, she took her helmet off and flung herself into Luke's arms. Her body started to shudder against his, her sobs coming on hard. Luke held her close, confused but quiet while she cried. He could feel her ragged breaths and the strength of her arms around him, clutching him for support. He held her close, one hand braced behind her head, and let her weep. He didn't need to know what happened, he just wanted to be there for her.

When Silre was ready, she leaned back and looked into his eyes. "My brother..." She shook her head, water blurring her vision. "I saw him. He's working on the Destroyer."

Luke exhaled sadly. "I'm so sorry, Silre." He watched as her lower lip began to tremble. "Did he see you?"

"I had my helmet on" she said, wiping her nose. "What if I compromised my family, Luke?" Her eyes searched his desperately. "What if when I left, they went after them? What if they forced my brother to work there because of me?" She could feel the sobs coming on again, her chest shaking a little as she tried to keep control of her breathing.

Luke took her face in his hands and wiped away the tears with his thumbs. "Listen to me, Silre. Youdid not compromise them. You did not endanger them. And you're not endangering them now. What you're doing right now, today, will save them from all of this."

Silre looked away, her thoughts stuck on the pain she saw in Barron's eyes when his friend mentioned 'what they went through' to get there. "What if..." She looked back at Luke, the hurt she felt audible in her voice. "...What if he willingly decided to do the work for them? For the Empire?"

"If he did...it was his choice." Luke tried to smile for her. From experience, he understood what she was feeling, and the sympathy he felt for her knew no bounds. "Remember what we talked about that day at the waterfall? Good people make bad decisions every day, no matter what their reason is. It doesn't make it any easier to accept, I know. Believe me, I know. But understand that what you're doing right now will help him to get away from whatever the Empire is doing here."

He brushed his thumb along Silre's cheekbone, looking past her tear laden eyelashes to the hope he found in her gaze. She was a strong woman who felt emotions just as strongly. It was a combination that so few people had; one that the galaxy could use more of. He loved her for the authentic way she lived and loved, though he knew it could make for a heavy heart at times.

"You're right," Silre uttered quietly. Her smile was weak, but it brightened her face in a way that completely transformed it, chasing away her sadness for the time being. "Thank you."

"Come here." Luke drew her in for another hug, feeling her arms tighten about his back in a way that told him she trusted him. She clung not just to his body but to his words and his experience, and he swore to never lead her astray with either of them. "Let's get out of here while we can. Once we get to Hosnian Prime, we can relax more."

Silre gave him a nod. Before she broke from his embrace, she pressed her lips to his in a chaste kiss. "I made the right decision leaving here when I did" she said. "It lead me to you, and I know in my heart that was meant to happen." Her smile widened further before she stepped away and headed to the back of the ship to change.

Luke glanced after her. "Silre." When she turned to face him, he smiled. "I love you."

The corner of Silre's mouth lifted. "And I love you, Luke."


Author's Note: Hello all! Brace yourselves...I'm about to get nerdy. :-) If you haven't heard of Kuat or the Kuat Drive Yards before, it's worth researching for just how interesting of a place it is. I found the KDY (Kuat Drive Yards) to be incredibly creative and fascinating for a Star Wars planet, and its importance in canon is insane. So much so, that I had no idea how much importance the place held during the Galactic War alone. If you feel the urge, Google Kuat or the Kuat Drive Yards and check out what a marvel the structure of the KDY "Ring" is (and see if you can picture our girl, Silre, being bad ass working there!) ;-)