A Call in the Force
After separating from Snap Wexley and Jess Pava, Tasherit Rendar and Jaden Katarn were on their way to Hoth. They had left their starfighters behind and were underway in Tasherit's freighter Trader's Luck. Tasherit looked worried over to her copilot.
"Do you think it's true, that they evacuated D'Qar?"
Jaden looked out of the viewport where the streaks of hyperspace were passing by before answering the question.
"You know that we tried to contact them and there was no response, darling."
Tasherit nodded thoughtfully. "So everything is over? The Resistance is history now? We fought for nothing? This can't be, Jaden. Tell me that this isn't true."
The young man shrugged. "It seems so. Even Snap and Jess weren't overly optimistic. You should try to contact your parents."
His fiancée was just about to activate the comm unit when she realized something odd in the Force. Tasherit frowned. "Can you feel it, Jaden?"
The Resistance pilot looked over to her and opened himself to the Force. "Feel what?"
Tasherit concentrated on the feelings she got. "Master Skywalker and… Ben?"
She opened herself fully to the Force and sensed the same emotions her mother has sensed being on Nar Shaddaa.
"Skywalker and Ben Solo, are you sure?" Katarn looked at her with a doubtful expression.
Tasherit nodded and concentrated intently on the feelings she sensed in the Force. Suddenly she gasped and tears were to be seen in her eyes.
"He's gone," she said nothing more than this.
Jaden frowned. "Who's gone? And what do you mean with gone?"
The young pilot wiped her tears. "Master Skywalker… he became one with the Force."
Her copilot nodded thoughtfully. "I felt something, but I was unable to sort out what it might be, Tash. I'm so sorry."
Tasherit stared out of the viewport where the streaks of hyperspace were passing by and sighed. She would be never get used to lose people she cares for. Finally she unstrapped and went to the freighter's galley to pour some caf in a mug. Jaden followed her and wrapped his arms around her. Tasherit leaned her head against his chest.
"It isn't fair, Jaden. Why him?" She asked choking back her tears.
"Life isn't always fair, Tash. If it would be fair my mother would be still alive and my father would have trained me to become a Jedi," he responded.
She set the mug on the table and turned to him. "You are right, but I won't accept it, Jaden."
"You must learn to accept things you can't change, my love." He gave her a kiss on the forehead. "There are still a few hours until we reach Hoth. We should rest, darling."
He smiled at Tasherit, turned and walked over to their bunk. The young woman followed him after hesitating shortly. Maybe it would be really better to rest before they would reach their destination. She slumped on the cot at Jaden's side, closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Tasherit woke with a start and set up. Jaden opened his eyes when he felt his fiancée shift.
"What is it, Tash?"
He didn't get any answer since Tasherit listened intently to the whisper in the Force. Could it really be?
'Corran?' She sent in the Force. It took a while until she got an answer: 'Tash? Is this you?'
Jaden looked questioningly at her while she reached out with the Force to touch her brother's mind. She didn't like what she felt. There was grief and so much pain.
'What happened?' She asked.
It took a while but then her brother told her what happened until he lost consciousness.
'I think they thought I'm dead like all the others and left me behind, Sis,' he ended his report.
'You are wounded,' it wasn't a question only stating a matter of fact.
'Only a few scratches, Tash,' he said all too aware that his sister knows that he was lying. 'I could need a ride since the transports here have only sublight engines. Is it possible you pick me up?'
Tasherit looked at Jaden and answered finally her fiancée's question. "It's Corran, he needs a ride from Crait."
The young pilot wrinkled his forehead. "Crait? Never heard of, Tash. Let me look it up."
He summoned the galactic atlas and searched for intel about the planet his future brother in law was abandoned on. "Here it is – Crait. Um, not around the corner but we can make it, after we dropped out of hyperspace of course. It will take some days…" His voice trailed off.
"Some days? My brother is wounded, Jaden he needs help as soon as possible."
"I can't change course being in hyperspace. You as a pilot should know this, sweetheart."
Tasherit sighed. "I know, Jaden." Then she called her brother in the Force again. 'We are on the way, but it will take some days.'
'Yeah, just great.' he winced when shifting in the chair where he was sitting in. 'I'm waiting then here for you. Don't worry that I go away before your arrival.' He chuckled and regretted it immediately when a pain attack hit him. His sister felt his pain in the Force.
'We will come as soon as possible, Corran. I promise.' Then she cut the Force connection and huddled against Jaden. He took her in his arms and stroke her hair.
"We will get to your brother in time. Don't worry, my love. Try to sleep."
Tasherit closed her eyes but she didn't find sleep while Jaden already slept soundly.
Back on Crait Corran was limping in one of the transports where he found food and water. After eating he laid down on one of the cots and fell asleep despite the throbbing pain.