I felt someone shaking my shoulder what felt like hours later. I kicked out at the person knocking them off balance then grabbing their arm and threw them forward. When I opened my eyes I saw Knight Xanatos on the ground rubbing the back of his head where he must of hit it.
I reached out my hand to help him back up as I stood. He gave me a grateful smile before saying," I'm sorry I scared you Obi Wan. I shouldn't have tried shaking you awake." I lowered my gaze to the floor to avoid his eyes I could bare to face another angry master after I attacked him. He said with a tired sigh," I'm not angry Obi Wan. I was trying to wake you so we could go have dinner in the cafeteria."
I gave him a soft smile as I followed him to the cafeteria. We didn't even make it half way when one of my friends Reeft came running up to us. He looked relieved to see me I waited to see what he needed as he tried to catch his breath. He said looking extremely pale and wary of the Knight by my side," Obi Wan that frequency you had me watching. I got something but they won't tell me anything without your codes. They said the were STFW. That's all I know..." Without a word to Xanatos I took off down the hallway heading for the communications room.
Once in the room Reeft immediately brought up the feed. On the holoprojecter was Commander Fox. I said putting a headset on," This is lieutenant commander Wolf of the K-9 squadron. It's good to see you Commander Fox." The stern boy's face lit up in relief and happiness as he said," It's good to see you too. God Wolf we could use you back on the W. We were attacked on our way here and the ship is badly damaged and most of the crew including pilots are badly injured. We don't have enough of the crew to land."
I cursed mentally knowing that any of the STF models were hard to land with a full crew much less when there was less than ideal circumstances. I said turning to Reeft," Reeft I need you to tell the council what's going on. I'm going to head up in my Veritech and hopefully land them safely on the ground. If you find Garren tell him to get in the air. I doubt I can do this alone."
I raced to the hangers pulling out my watch pressing a button watching as it turned into my Veritech. I frowned remembering I had yet to put identifying markers on it. Too late for that now I was climbing up into the cockpit surprised when a body dropped into the back behind me. It was Xanatos.
I growled at him angrily and said," Get out of my cockpit. You are most certainly not a Veritech pilot." Xanatos flinched at my tone but replied his tone booking no arguments," I want to help. Let me prove that I can care." I rolled my eyes and said," Fine just so you know if this thing isn't properly fixed we are both going to die."
He shrugged and said with a goofy grin," Better to die trying to do the right thing than to watch someone else die knowing you could have done something." I flinched back but said with a small smile," Spoken like a true member of STFW."
I prepared my fighter for launch noticing Garren going for his own fighter on the other-side. I opened com channels and said," This is K-9 squad leader. Call in." Garren said his voice resonating through the cockpit," This is K-9 squad unit number 16 reporting in." I heard several sound offs from other squadrons from different piloting groups answering the distress call.
Xanatos didn't know what he was expecting when he followed Obi Wan to the hanger but it certainly wasn't this. He could see a ship similar to the star cruisers used in war times. It looked like it had barely escaped with half of its hull intact. The boy hit the comm and said to all available pilots," This is Lieutenant Commander Wolf. Listen up you need to attach your supporting ropes onto the least damaged parts of the hull. This STF model can take a lot of damage but we are going to need to guide her in. Do not detach for any reasons."
I turned to look at Xanatos and said," Make yourself useful. Blue button on the right side." I could feel his amusement at my words and tone as he pressed the button indicated. Once all the ships has latched on we slowly brought the ship out of orbit and down into the atmosphere.
Fox's voice came over the com as we landed," Thanks for you help Wolf. We appreciate you returning to our aid after all this time." I grinned and said," Fox you would do the same for me. In fact you have on several occasions. Let's get the injured to med bay." He gave me an affirmative as I opened to hatch to the cockpit. I jumped out of my seat heading down the ladder with Xanatos right behind me.
The only working hatch for the STFW was the front hatch. As I was making my way to the hatch several of the onboard medics came help carrying the severely injured. I directed them to the nearest medical station while helping the lesser injured. I was wrapping one of the younger pilots wounds when a hand clapped me on my back. A voice said," Well if it isn't Lieutenant Wolf."
I turned a smile gracing my features as I said," Night it's been a long time. Still leading K-9 squadron in my place?" There stood a boy 15 years old with jet black hair wearing his flight clothes. On the shoulder of his jacket stood a proud Wolf's head to symbolize he was on of us. He just grinned and nodded. His eyes shine with excitement at having his leader back.
I could see Xanatos watching us with barely concealed amusement. The man despite only knowing me for a few hours offered to help in a time of crisis. I sighed picking myself up from the ground where I had been helping the injured. I walked over to him and stuck him hand out saying," I didn't think you had the guts to help when it counted. I was proven wrong today. I misjudged you and I'm sorry. Thank you for your help to save my crew."
Xanatos quietly inclined his head and the thanks and the roundabout apology. A small smile graced his lips as he watched the boy go around helping the injured. It was obvious that he had known these people for many years. Many of them looked relieved to see him many more greeted him familiarly. A gentle smile crossed the child's lips when someone much older maybe in his 20's walked out of the ship. Everyone went silent then altogether everyone that could stand saluted the man.
Even Obi Wan had snapped to a stiff salute. The man's eyes searched through the crowd passing over Xanatos without any recognition until he saw Obi Wan. He said a bright smile worn face making him look much older than he truly was," Lieutenant Commander Wolf. It's so good to see you alive." The man rushed up to Obi Wan pulling him into a bone crushing hug.
The boy squeaked in surprised before returning it. He said," It's good to see you Fox. It's been awhile." Xanatos watched in amusement as the man rapped his knuckles on the top of the boy's head and said," If you would send out more communications we would have that problem now would we." The boy gave him a pointed look but laughed nonetheless.
The older boy then turned his gaze upon Xanatos. He flinched back at the hard look on the other's face. This was someone who had seen many battles and even more hardships. He asked pointing to Xanatos," Another master trying to fix you? I've told you Wolf your not broken."
Obi Wan shook his head and said," He and I are doing a week trial run. I don't know what I think of him yet but he did jump into my cockpit. Not knowing what exactly he was getting into." The older boy said his eyes narrowing," I don't trust him. He's a Jedi."
He was taken aback at those words they were said with such contempt you would have thought they were coming from someone much older. Obi Wan placed his hand on the older boy's shoulder and said," He's actually not that bad. Reminds me of Fang."
The older boy tried to keep back his laughter and said," You better not let Fang hear you say that. You will end up with competition on the next full." Obi Wan's grin turned into a full smile at that while Xanatos didn't understand fully what was going on it was good to see Obi Wan smile.
The older boy placed what looked like an old picture in the younger's hand and whispered something. Even from his position he could see the tears glistening in the younger boy's eyes. Xanatos watched as the young boy hugged the older one. Whatever he was given was something important.
A tall boy a few years old than Obi Wan walked up and said," That picture is was taken two weeks before most of our squadron was killed in action. It's the only picture with all of us together. He left it behind when he came back here."
