At the same time Silre discovered she was pregnant, Luke stood among a large group centered around one of the holo-tables inside the central briefing room. They listened as Shara Bey Dameron called out commands to the rest of her squadron as they continued to fight off a group of TIE fighters that had followed them out of Hosnian Prime's orbit.

Just as Luke and Silre had, Green Squadron stopped at the New Republic Capitol to refuel before heading to Jakku. As they departed the planet and headed towards the Western Reaches, they were nearly overcome by a fleet of unexpected TIEs advancing on them from seemingly out of nowhere. Now, Green Squadron was doing their best to transition from evasive measures to offensive tactics. Backup from Hosnian Prime was on the way, but the problem was much larger than a bunch of TIEs trying to ambush them. Everyone who stood there knew it.

Luke thought of this as he stared at the holo-table, his heart racing as he listened to the telltale sounds of TIEs exploding in the background of Shara and the others' voices. He glanced over at Leia, seeing the tension she felt in the strained lines of her face. Sensing him, she glanced up to meet his gaze. She knew it was true too. The fleet of TIEs meant something much larger, and something much bolder.

When Leia gave him a single nod, Luke understood his orders. "Antilles." He motioned to his Squadron member. "Get the others and suit up."

"Stop back here once you're ready" Leia said as he headed for the door.

Luke gave her another nod before leaving. He could still hear Shara's calls over the radio as he began down the hallway, picking up his speed and jogging the rest of the distance back to his place. He was already in strategy mode; planning how he and the rest of his squad could make it to Hosnian Prime in the fastest amount of time to not just assist Green Squadron and the help from Hosnian Prime, but to provide extra support in the event another skirmish came out of nowhere.

But it didn't come out of nowhere. Luke knew this. Leia knew this. The TIEs were a distraction created to keep the New Republic from seeing whatever it was that was coming out of the Unknown Regions. Someone in Rax's circle must have known at least some part of their plan to intercept, which meant their anonymity was compromised. He wasn't sure how they know, but he would find out.

"Let's go, R2" Luke called to the droid upon entering his apartment. He reached into his closet and yanked one of his flight suits from their hangers. "Get to the ship and program it for Hosnian Prime's orbit. I'll meet you there once I'm finished getting ready and I receive the briefing orders. Make sure there's enough fuel and don't forget-"

R2D2 let out a loud string of beeps, letting Luke know he knew the drill and didn't need reminded.

Luke paused and hung his head guiltily, then gave R2 a smile. "Sorry, pal - I just get into an old mindset and start rambling orders."

The Astromech bumped into the back of his leg and gave a happy whistle.

"Good, I'm glad we're even," joked Luke. "See you in a bit."

R2 made his way towards the door all while emitting another string of beeps. Luke listened to the persnickety droid with a half-smile, silence returning to the apartment once the door whooshed open and R2 was gone. Using the momentary pause created by his droid to take a breath, Luke tried to slow himself down. He got caught up in the moment every single time, to the point where even his droid had to tell him to slow down, so he took the time to breathe.

This wasn't the War all over again. This wasn't the Emperor's doing, nor was it Vader's. There was nothing to fear. Only trust, as there had always been: trust in himself, in his Squadron, and his family within the Rebellion. His family who, against all odds, had won the War and would defeat whatever the remnants of the Empire tried to sling at them.

Luke exhaled slowly and felt the Force wrap around him, securing him in both mind and body. Whatever happened, it was different now. He was different now. He was more sure of himself, more capable, and more confident. The Force was with him. Always.

Once he felt more centered, he shoved his legs into his flight suit and shimmied it the rest of the way up and over his body. The procedure was all muscle memory; the sequential zipping, the positioning of harness straps, the buckling of the safety vest against his chest. It brought with it a sense of bittersweet recollection of all the dozens of times that came before, back when it wasn't so certain if he or the others would make it out alive. This time, he would. It wasn't the War all over again, nor would he treat it as such. He did, however, remind himself of what needed to come next before departing:

Food.
Saber.
Silre.
Briefing.

He followed his mental list in that order, quickly swallowing a meal bar and chugging an electrolyte powder mixed with water. Next, he grabbed his lightsaber and clipped it to his belt, feeling comfort in its weight on his hip.

Finally, he needed to find Silre.

When he thought of her, he felt guilty about his soon-to-be-abrupt departure. She already didn't feel well, so leaving her for who knows how long didn't exactly sit well with him. At least she'd taken herself to the medbay to get some answers earlier. The last two days hadn't been easy for her and he hated seeing her as unwell as she was. He hoped that whatever she found out this morning would help put an end to what was ailing her.

Luke tried her apartment first on the chance she might already be home. But when his knocks on the door went unanswered, he headed for the medical floor. Bypassing the elevators, he took the stairs two at a time up to the medbay. He was pinched for time already, but tapping into a little bit of the Force helped him move faster that even the elevators could take him. Soon enough, he was making his way down to the end of the wing where the main medical rooms were located. To his surprise, he found Silre walking his direction. "There you are, Beautiful."

"Luke?!" Her smile was slow to appear, as if she had come out of a brain fog and was surprised to see him. She took in his entire form, noting the orange flight suit with a bent brow. "What's going on?"

"Green Squadron's been ambushed," he said, lowering his voice slightly. "Just outside of Hosnian Prime. No losses, thankfully - but they need backup, and will likely need all of us to escort them to Jakku until we know more about what's going." He searched her gaze, wondering about the far-away look that remained in her eyes. "Is everything okay with you?"

She smiled, and it was brighter than all the stars in the galaxy. "Yes, I...yes, everything's fine. How long are you going to be gone?"

"I'm not sure." He drew her in for a hug, surprised to feel how tightly Silre's arms locked around him. "I'll return as soon as it's possible, but I'll contact you the first chance I'm able to."

"Please don't get hurt" Silre uttered against his chest. "I need you to come back in one piece."

A flicker of worry rippled through their bond, causing Luke to break their hug. He looked into her chocolate eyes, seeing how round and full of emotion they were. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Silre shook her head, forcing a smile as she patted his chest. "Just promise me you'll come back as soon as you can."

"Of course I will" Luke said, though his concern for her remained. He flicked his eyes towards the medbay. "Were you able to find out anything while you were here?"

"I did." At this, Silre's smile turned bright again. "It's nothing to worry about, so please don't let it distract you on the mission. Keep your mind clear...and stay safe."

"I will. That's something I can promise you." He cupped the side of her face, letting his lips seal his promise. As their kiss deepened, he felt a strange depth of emotion between them, as though Silre herself was speaking to him through their embrace. The love she had for him was cemented in their bond, and Luke felt it more strongly now than any time prior. She normally wasn't this worried for his safety, though it warmed him to know how much she cared for him.

Reluctantly, Silre lowered her mouth from his. She slid her hands down the straps of his jumpsuit and tugged on them gently. "Please be careful."

Luke gave her one more kiss for good measure. "I will. And I'll call as soon as I can."

Silre nodded and hugged herself, watching the father of her child jog down the hallway and out of sight.


From the shadowed edge of the forest next to Base One, Silre wished a silent goodbye to Luke and his squadron as they departed from the runway. After the shape of their ships disappeared into the atmosphere, she turned and began her walk back to their spot near the golden waterfall. She needed moment to herself, completely alone with nothing but her thoughts and the whirlwind of emotion she was feeling.

When Luke found her in the hallway, Silre had swallowed all the discomfort and disappointment she had in letting him go, knowing the news she was dying to share with him would have to wait. The timing couldn't have been worse, but Luke's duty was never something she would put herself between. Her excitement to tell him about their baby could wait, and would still be just as exciting whenever he returned.

Now, with the desire to be alone, the only place Silre could think of in which to contemplate her news was the waterfall. The lush surroundings, the unearthly colors and beauty it possessed, and the serenity the location provided was exactly what she needed in that moment. She wanted to be alone with herself, and her baby. Because it wasn't just herself anymore. Everything from this moment forward would change; a change that Silre welcomed with dumbstruck happiness.

Emerging from the tree line, Silre stepped into the open area where the waterfall tumbled into view and breathed in deep. The misty air filled her lungs, invigorating her, filling her with that familiar connection to the living beings around her through her link to the Force. She settled onto the ground and crossed her legs, losing herself in the strange but beautiful golden hue of the water.

I will take you here someday, Little One.

A smile crossed Silre's face.

It wasn't just her anymore. She had a life growing inside her, a life created out of the love she and Luke shared. A family was something she had always wanted. The fact that she would have one now...that was the amazing part. After all the struggles, all the loneliness, all the lack - the thought of the abundance she'd fallen in to was still so hard to believe. She'd spent the past six months getting accustomed to it, though she never took it for granted. Not a moment went by where she wasn't grateful for how her journey out of Kuat had brought her here, giving her another chance at a new and better life. All because of a trade job gone wrong and a Jedi who came to her rescue. It made her wonder if she would ever not be amazed.

How strange life is, she thought with continued awe.

She wondered how Luke would take it. How would he would react to the news that they were going to become parents? She figured he would be ecstatic, but she didn't know for sure. There was always that flicker of 'oh shit, now what?' that crossed the mind of even the best person whenever confronted with life changing news. But she knew Luke. She knew him in a way that transcended just physical and mental connection. They had a bond through the Force; something she hadn't even known was possible until they met. And if she knew Luke like she did, she knew he'd take the role of a father more seriously than any. The difficult relationship he had with his own father would be cause enough to be a better man for their son or daughter. But more than that, Silre knew Luke's entire makeup was founded in kindness and selflessness. She'd known this before she'd known anything else about him, and it would be the reason he'd be a wonderful father. Not just because he was an inherently a good man, but because he would want to be. His desire to be good for everyone in his life would culminate in his desire to be the best father possible.

Silre looked down and placed her hands over her stomach. You're already incredibly lucky, Little One. She closed her eyes and tried to feel if there was a link somewhere in the Force she could connect to with her baby. She wasn't concerned to not feel one, but looked forward to the day when she would feel it. Her intuition told her she would, eventually.

Inhaling deep, she drew her eyes back up to the waterfall in front of her and smiled.

Things were about to change, but change was something she had always excelled at. She welcomed change, because change to her always meant something better awaited. A new door, a new path, a new journey, a new life. Shedding old skin and leaving the past behind could be difficult, and it often was, but it could also be wonderful. Once again, Silre's life was about to change, but she looked forward to the rewards within the challenges that awaited her.

With a warm sense of welcoming in her heart, Silre closed her eyes and focused on her connection to the Force. Thanks to Luke's help, it was easier for her to connect to the Force and feel the energy around her. It filled her with a sense of unity to life in a way she'd never felt before. In a way that made her feel more alive than ever. With the news that a life was growing inside her, she felt even more connected to this infinite source of life energy.

Silre.

At the sound of her voice, Silre opened her eyes. She turned her head, scanning the clearing around her for the source of sound.

Silre.

Her heart began to race at the unearthly sound. She stood, turning slowly. Using Luke's teaching, she reached out to try and feel for something beyond what her eyes could see, using the Force to detect a change in the energy around her.

She took a step away from the waterfall, steeling her nerves. "Hello?"

Hello Silre.

She couldn't have been imagining this. The voice - a male's; strong, calm, and unthreatening - sounded real to her. It felt real. Yet, there was no one there in the forest with her, she was sure of it.

"Who are you?" she asked. "Where are you?"

Listen to the Force, answered the voice. Let it guide you. Follow it. Trust in it, always.

Silre turned, looking back at the waterfall. The voice came from nowhere and everywhere all at once. She let her eyes wander over the landscape and up to the canopy above her, taking another curious step. "Why are you telling me this?"

These are your first steps. Take them willingly, and trust in the Force.

"I trust in it," she answered. "More now than ever."

Good. You must remember this on the road ahead.

"What road?" Silre took another step, eyes wandering over the forest line.

You carry a child of the Force inside you. Your road, and hers, will forever be linked. You must trust where it takes you.

Silre halted. Her racing heart all but stopped. "Hers?" The corner of her mouth lifted into an awestruck smile. "I'm having a daughter?"

The Force will guide you. Always.

A hushed silence fell over the forest then. All the insects and birds seemed to stop their chatter, leaving Silre to feel like a spotlight was shining on her and her alone. Time hung suspended, waiting for her to answer.

"I will trust in the Force," she said, her voice filling the silence within the forest. "And I will follow its guidance, wherever it may lead."

Then you will succeed, Silre. You are strong, and so your daughter shall be.

The silence was swallowed up in a strange shifting of energy. Silre felt it in her bones, sensing it leave as quickly as it had come. The forest came alive again at the flip of a switch, as if the presence leaving had allowed the birds and insects to resume their merrymaking.

Silre remained standing, staring blankly ahead as the words played over and over in her mind.

You are strong, and so your daughter shall be.
A daughter.

Tears sprung quickly within her eyes.

I'm having a daughter.

A happy sob broke from her chest. Silre covered her mouth despite the smile she wore, catching the rest of the sobs that shook from her.


...3 hours later...

When Luke and the rest of his squadron made it to Hosnian Prime's orbit, Leia exited the briefing room and headed directly for Silre's apartment. She quickened her pace, wishing her legs were longer so she wouldn't have to practically jog just to get anywhere quickly. Time was working against her in all sorts of ways. It had only taken Red Squadron a few hours to make it to Hosnian Prime, but the moment they arrived, they were overtaken all over again by another wave of Imperial fighters.

If it was going to be like this, Leia thought Silre should be there to listen.

She wound her way down the mechanics wing to the very end of the hallway and knocked on Silre's door. "Silre?" She knocked again, trying to catch her breath from her hurried walk. "Silre, it's Leia."

The door opened, Silre's short hair slightly messy on one side. She looked tired; the skin around her eyes puffy. "Leia? Is everything okay?"

"Luke made it to Hosnian Prime" she said, eyes scanning the dark haired woman. "A skirmish broke out upon their arrival and I thought-"

"-I'm coming."

Leia nodded, waiting outside the door as Silre grabbed her key. When she reappeared, her eyes had grown larger and more alert, though the color she usually had in her cheeks was strangely missing. Leia sensed something was amiss, but was unsure if she should mention it.

"Is he in trouble?" Silre questioned, hesitation in her voice.

"No, not yet. I just thought..." Leia gave her a sympathetic smile. "...I just thought you'd want to be there to listen."

"I appreciate that. Thank you."

Leia watched as Silre pushed the hair back from her face and rubbed her eyes. "Did I wake you? I apologize, if so."

"No apologies necessary. This is worth waking up for."

"Luke mentioned you haven't been feeling well" Leia added. The question buried within it remained unasked, but it seemed Silre understood.

"It's nothing I can't bear." She looked to Leia, though her smile was absent. "I just need Luke to come back from this unscathed."

"He will." Leia extended a hand to Silre's proud shoulders, and the women exchanged a look of shared understanding.

When they arrived at the briefing room, Luke's voice was one of many that could be heard shouting from the intercom near the center of the room. The others that stood there listening all wore looks of concern, which rattled the nerves of both Silre. She and Leia stood together near the holo-table, listening as both Red and Green squadrons fought off the TIEs. Their eyes were focused on the screen in front of them, watching as tiny triangles moved around the chart.

Silre stared with wide eyes. She began to feel a different kind of nausea now, one that had nothing to do with her pregnancy. Luke's voice was strong and clear as he radioed to the others who fought within the skirmish, hearing blasts and explosions and laser fire but unable to piece the madness together. Her eyes rose to scan the others around her, searching for any sign within their tight expressions that this was going poorly.

Leia must have sensed her growing anxiety, because her hand reached out and clasped hers within it. She said nothing, but gave Silre a nod and a tiny smile, which did wonders to soothe the fear bubbling up inside her.

"Red Squadron: break formation and split up" came Luke's voice. "We have to isolate them to take them down."

"Roger that, Skywalker."

"Roger, Red Leader."

Shara's voice came next, giving commands to her own squadron in between Luke commanding his. There were long pauses punctuated by explosions and additional commands. Silre listened, her arms subconsciously hugging her torso.

Leia noticed the subtle movement, but kept her focus on the table and the radio.

"Is that an assault ship behind you, Green Leader?" came Luke's voice.

"Affirmative, Red Leader."

"What?!" Leia leaned over the edge of the table and pressed a button. "Red Leader, do you copy? Repeat what you are seeing."

"An Acclamator-class Assault Ship has just exited hyperspace."

Silre heard this and fear gripped at her throat. She knew the design well. Had made thousands with her own hands. If the Empire was unleashing this kind of ship for such a small skirmish, she had to wonder why. Desperation? Distraction? Or did they have more hiding?

"Has it engaged in battle yet?" Leia asked.

"Not yet. And it won't, not if I have anything to do with it."

Leia's mouth barely twitched into a smile. "Do not engage it, Luke. Wait until it makes the first move. We are not trying to start another war."

"Yavin, this is Green Leader. Do I copy correctly: you do not want us to engage?"

"Correct, Green Leader. Do not fire at the Assault ship."

"Copy that, General."

Across the table, Hera Syndulla rubbed her chin worriedly. "If it does engage, two Squadrons of X-wings won't be able to match that kind of fire power. Not without something to take down their shields."

"I have a feeling it's all a ruse." Leia's mouth formed a determined line. 'They're flaunting it like they're going to use it, but it would have fired by now."

A thought occurred to Silre. Depending on what design class and model this particular Acclamator was, they might be able take it down without firing one single missile. Certain X-wings contained specific electro-deadening weaponry; the kind that could destroy certain types of on-board devices without completely blasting through them with laser fire. At the very least, she knew Luke's X-wing contained this ability, so...her idea might be even more than a possibility, assuming the Assault ship was the right kind.

"Ask Luke what model the ship is" she spoke quietly to Leia.

Leia looked at her. "The Acclamator?"

"If it's a 723 FY-Falcon class Assault, we might be able to paralyze it without weapon fire."

The others in the room seemed curious as they stared at her. Leia thought it over for a moment, then pressed the comm button on the desk. "Luke, do you copy?"

"Copy, General."

"Is there a way to tell what version of Acclamator-class Assault you're dealing with?"

There was a moment of silence before Luke answered. "I'd have to fly closer, but yes, there's a way."

"Do so and let us know" said Leia, depressing the button.

They waited, listening as Green Squadron and Red Squadron continued to do battle. Silre ran through the blueprints in her mind of all the Acclamators she'd worked on in her past. Their designs were all fairly similar with the exception of how many troops and how much cargo they could carry. And, for this instance, how and where they kept their sensor and communication suites. The Falcon classes had always annoyed Silre when it came to building them because of this; the location of both were impossible for those who had to build the damn things, but it also meant she knew exactly where the weaknesses were within its design. Something anyone else from the outside would not know. And it was flawed. The weakness was in the location itself and its nonsensical design, which the Empire used to cut corners on cost while increasing its appearance. Something the Empire, even now, would rather showcase than spend the appropriate funds to make a better product.

Their loss...again, Silre thought with a smirk.

"General Organa, do you copy?" came Luke's voice.

"Copy. What did you find?"

"The Acclamator is a Falcon class, by the looks of the logo."

Silre and Leia's eyes met. "I know where the communication suites are located" Silre told her.
"With the right shot, they would be able to take those out with an electro-thermal detonation. The sensors for its shield generators are located in the same area. So if they get lucky once...they might get lucky twice."

A slow smile spread across Leia's face when she realized what Silre was saying. "One question." She motioned for Silre to step up to the communicator. "Would you mind repeating all of that again for Red Squadron?"

Silre hesitated, glancing about at the others. She was afraid of what Leia was proposing because she wasn't a General. She wasn't even a Commander. She was just a shipwright, and she had no authority to speak to any Squadron. But if Leia wanted her to...

Sensing her hesitation, Leia pressed the button linking their operations to the pilots. "Listen up, Red Squadron: we have a plan to take down the Acclamator without weapon fire."

"Without weapon fire?" Luke sounded momentarily startled. "All right, I'm all ears."

Leia indicated towards the table, a smile still on her face as Silre stepped up and pressed the comm button. "General Skywalker?" The title felt odd coming out of her mouth, even if she was talking to the man she loved.

"Silre?!"

She felt her cheeks warm at the surprise in his voice. "I know a way to take down the sensor and communication suite on the ship. Just follow my steps and I'll walk you through it."

"Roger that!" Luke's smile was evident in the tone of his voice. "Tell me everything."

Excitement had replaced the surprise in Luke's voice and somehow, Silre felt his trusting energy bleed into her. She began to list the steps on how he could take the ship's communications down, feeling more comfortable the more she spoke. This was her area of expertise. Leia trusted her enough to take the reins for this part, and Luke trusted her enough to listen. Her voice became bolder, the confidence she had in her trade evident to those who stood around her listening. Leia listened carefully, envisioning Silre's steps in her mind as best she could. By the time she came to the final instruction that would destroy the ship's comms suite, Leia could see Silre stood a little taller; her voice clearer and more sure than when she started. Almost like a General herself, Leia thought, holding back a smile. She has leadership in her.

"Sit tight, Yavin" came Luke's voice. "Antilles: cover me as I go in."

"Roger that, Red Leader. Flanking you as we speak."

Silre could feel her heartbeat in her temples. The others in the room were used to this sort of thing far more than she was and it showed. She kept her outward composure, but her nerves felt frayed for more than one reason. She had no idea how much time elapsed before she heard Luke's voice again, but it felt like an eternity.

"Great news, Yavin. The Acclamator's communication means are down. The sensor array is also destroyed."

Silre exhaled hard, feeling a wave of relief wash over her as a chorus of cheers rang out around the table. When she looked beside her, she saw Leia smiling at her.

Leia gave her a congratulatory nod, a silent thank you passing between them. "That's excellent news, Red Leader."

"Red Squadron: move into attack formation. Green Squadron: the Assault ship is nothing but dead weight now. Use it for cover and a distraction, and we'll take care of the rest."

"You got it, General Skywalker" answered Shara, a newfound confidence blooming in her voice.

"Split up, Green Squadron. Use evasion tactics around the Assault until Red Squadron can take the TIEs out."

"Roger, Green Leader. Assuming Evasion Tactic. Steer clear of Red Squadron fire!"

Silre felt her shoulders relax for the first time since entering the briefing room. When she listened now, she heard more blasts and explosions, but in time they dwindled. The empty spaces between callouts and explosions became longer until nothing happened at all. Finally, Luke's voice came across the radio one more time.

"All enemy ships have been eliminated and the Assault has retreated to hyper space. We're headed back to Hosnian Prime for now, but will escort Green Squadron the rest of the way to Jakku upon your command."

The group in the briefing room let out a collective sigh, followed by many handshakes and appreciative smiles of gratitude for the Squadrons. Leia and Silre exchanged a handshake and smile of their own, even though Leia actually wanted to hug the shit out of the dark haired beauty standing next to her.

Pressing the comms button, Leia gave her brother a nod, though he didn't see it. "Great work, Squadrons. Let's talk when you get to the Capitol and we'll go from there."

"Roger that, General" replied Luke. "Silre? Are you still there?"

Surprised to hear her name, Silre pressed the button on the table. "Yes, General Skywalker?"

"Thank you for your expertise. I love you. Red Leader out."

The others in the room heard Luke's profession and their eyes turned to Silre. Her cheeks immediately flared with heat, half expecting them to ignore what he just said over the radio. Instead she found only looks of respect and admiration for her, as well as an abundance of approval for her and Luke's shared love. It made her smile to see such warmth of affection in their gazes. Though most of those gathered there knew they were together, if there were any stragglers left unaware - they were aware now.

Leia turned to Silre and squeezed her arm. "Thank you, Silre." Her dark eyes sparkled mischievously. "And for the record, Luke isn't the only one who loves you here."

"Oh, Leia." Silre laughed and threw her arms around her smaller frame. "You have no idea how nice it is to hear that. Thank you."


Inner Rim
Planet: Hosnian Prime
New Republic Capitol City

By the time Luke and both squadrons arrived at the Capitol, were received by Mon Mothma and other dignitaries, and had their most damaged ships sent in for emergency repair - three hours had passed. Which, per his calculations, meant it was nighttime back on Yavin. He hoped that once he finished briefing Leia and the others on everything that transpired, Silre had not gone to sleep. He wanted to talk to her, to thank her for her help earlier, and to see how she was feeling. He'd left so unexpectedly that his guilt continued to gnaw at him, even now.

When all the briefings were completed, Luke was finally alone inside the room appointed to him for the duration of his stay on Hosnian Prime. His mind was taxed and his body tired; all of which felt eerily similar to how he used to feel months ago, long before the end of the War. It felt a little too much like they were rounding some unavoidable corner and spiraling head-first into another war of some kind, despite the control the New Republic was exercising. It feared him more than it should have, but he clung to the hope that remained. Whatever happened, whatever all this meant or wherever all this ended - they were on the winning side, and they would remain so.

Withholding his weariness a little longer, Luke sat on the bed and positioned his holo-transmitter on a small end table in front of him. He turned the device on, its blue electro-transmitter lines scanning him for transmission across the galaxy to Silre's own device. He crossed his fingers that she was still awake, and then programmed her device code into his and waited. There was a hesitation in the connection, which meant she was awake and had accepted his transmission. When he saw her blue holo-image appear, his grin was instant. He could only see her from the chest-up, but she was dressed in the tank top she usually wore to sleep, which meant he must have cut it pretty close. "I wasn't sure you'd still be awake" he said teasingly.

Silre's smirk was a match for his own, though the beauty of it couldn't be hindered by the blue holographic form. "I wanted to make sure I stayed up until I heard from you." Her accented voice crackled a little through the transmission, the blue lines of her jumping momentarily before straightening again. "Are you alone? Are you safe?"

"I am." He looked her in the eyes, wishing he could really see them for what they were instead of the blue translation the image provided. Their roundness, their depth of color and beauty, the sincerity he found every time she gazed into his eyes...it was a strange feeling for him to miss her like he did every time he left her. "You know, you blew me away again with your help today. It was a good strategy, and a smart one."

Silre glanced down, her long lashes doing little to conceal her bashfulness. "I was glad to help. Though initially, I felt a little weird stepping in like that. But Leia offered me the command table, so..." She shrugged, her eyes lifting once more.

"That means Leia trusts you. And it's something she doesn't give away to just anyone easily."

"Believe me, I won't take it for granted."

Luke's smile extended to his eyes. "How are you feeling, by the way? Still on the mend?"

"You could say that. Yes."

Luke felt his guilt weighing heavy in his tone. "I'm sorry I had to leave like I did. It wasn't the most ideal circumstance, I know, but I wanted to apologize nonetheless."

Silre leaned in closer to the holo-transmitter. The happy lines around her eyes softened as her expression turned more serious, though the warmth of her demeanor still carried across the miles. "I want you to know that your duty...your dedication to what you to, and to who you are as a person...I never want to come before that."

Luke went to speak, but swallowed his rebuttal when he saw Silre wasn't finished.

"You are a Jedi, and you always will be. You've given your life to something bigger, and I want you to know that I understand what comes along with that." Silre inclined her head as her mouth lifted at the corner. "I know you love me, Luke. And you know that I love you. So please, never feel like you're abandoning that love by doing what you were born to do."

A humbled silence filled the room. Luke looked down for a moment, awed by the emotion he suddenly felt by Silre's words. He shook his head in disbelief, unable to put into words how grateful he was for her. "I truly do love you, Silre." He lifted his gaze to see affection reflecting back in the holo-image of her eyes. "Your words comfort me, as does the truth in them. Thank you."

Silre nodded, though she remained quiet.

Luke felt a sudden need to reiterate the significance of what they were speaking. "You know I would never abandon you, Silre. Never."

"I know." Silre's voice remained soft and full of emotion. "I know."

"If anything ever happened to you-"

"-Luke." She gave him a heartfelt smile. "You don't have to say it. I already know."

Luke felt his connection to the Force intensify in that moment, making him wish he could be with her. There was gravity to their words; a conversation that should have been had in person, not separated by millions of miles. With a heavy sigh, he ran a hand through his hair. "Just know that, above all else, I wish I could be with you right now...if only so we can tell one another these things in person."

"I do know, and you shouldn't worry yourself about it any further." Silre settled back against something out of view of the transmitter, making herself visibly more comfortable. "For now, keep your focus on the mission and return as soon as you can, because I have a surprise waiting for you whenever you get back."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "A surprise?"

Silre did her best to keep her excitement at bay. "Yes, and don't bother trying to get any hints because I'm not telling. You'll have to wait."

"As if I needed any more reason to wish I was home right now..."

"Guilt doesn't work either," Silre reminded him playfully.

A laugh loosened from Luke's chest. "Okay, okay, I'll wait." He looked at her and felt his tension dissipate. There was a level of comfort he felt with Silre, even when they were separated like they currently were, that soothed every tense muscle and every weariness thought that lingered inside his mind.

"Do you know for sure if you'll be escorting Green Squadron to Jakku?" Silre asked.

Luke's chest deflated a little. The disappointed drop in her voice told him his answer would only disappoint her further. "We are, yes. The CR90 is still on track to make it there in about a week, but the ship can't move any faster than it already is. So...with our speed, we can be the escort and see what today was really all about."

"So another three days there and three days back?"

He nodded, feeling her disappointment as his own. "Can your surprise wait that long?"

"It can definitely wait," she said, her smile taking up most of her face.

"Good." With this, Luke leaned forward and raised an opened palm to the holo-transmitter. On the other side of the transmission, Silre did the same and raised her outstretched palm to his. In that moment, the blue holo-image of their hands crossed into one another's, their fingers passing through each other's.

"Until then," said Luke. "Get some rest."

"You too." Silre retracted her hand and smiled. "Goodnight, General Skywalker."

When her image disappeared, the smile Luke wore still remained. "Goodnight," he whispered affectionately.