Inyri – Unofficial Debriefing
At this rate, I don't know who I'm named after. It could be Inyri Forge, thought that wouldn't necessarily make sense. Mom knows Inyri Force, a Rogue pilot, but I can't see why she'd name me after her. Then again, what about Inyri Larse? Aunt Nicola's pseudonym. But why would Mom name me after an Imperial, since that's what Aunt Nicola had been at the time. Or...something.
No matter. Right now, the main concern was telling my parents- and Lis and Meli's parents as well- that we'd gotten an official NRI mission. Into Imperial turf. An undercover mission. As pilots. Well, at least practicing in all those TIE cockpit sims had paid off. Sort of.
I walked out of Aunt Iella's office, Lis and Meli- my "triplet sisters"- with me. It wasn't hard to tell, even without the Force, that they were both ecstatic. Of course, my face probably looked equally as goofy. A smile was inching its way steadily larger over my face as we walked out onto the hanger bay. Alright, Inyri, keep walking. You know how to do this. It's just a matter of acting. Act like you're in control and...oh space it. We're going on an NRI mission!
* * * * *
I don't really know how long it took us to fly back to base, but it seemed to take far too long. At the same time, it was far too short. What if Mom or Dad- or both- said no? Then all my hopes would go down the drain. Sure, Lis and I were in charge of the Junior Wraiths, but that didn't mean they'd allow us, and Meli, to pose as Imperials.
Hopping out of my X-Wing, I looked over at Lis. She seemed to be thinking on the same lines as I was...and there definitely wouldn't be any mercy on her part. While Aunt Nicola and Uncle Bror were my holdparents, and Aunt Nicola was also my Jedi Master, I truly have to say that I'm glad I don't have to persuade them to let me go. Of course, I didn't quite fancy convincing Dad either. Mom might be agreeable...I hope.
We walked into the building and all but ran into Ciny. I had told her we were going to see Iella again in hopes of ousting ourselves a mission. Her face was covered in a smile, and as she came to a stop in front of us, she hugged each of us before stepping back to bounce on the balls of her feet. Sith, Ciny can hug hard when she wants to.
When I was sure she was somewhat more sane again, I raised an eyebrow at her, blinking slightly. She continued bouncing there, looking between all three of us, then burst out, "You're not going to believe it!"
At once, I glanced to the other two 'triplets' to find them glancing at each other and me as well. Before I could ask Ciny what she was on about, however, my unspoken question was answered.
"Mom and Dad and Uncle Bror and Aunt Nicola were in the lounge and whatnot and they all got commed by Aunt Iella and, you guys are so lucky, but she said she'd just given you an official mission!"
Imagine that! Can you believe it? We already knew that. However, just because I thought these things, it didn't mean I said them to my little sister. She was obviously as excited for us as we were for ourselves. Of course, I can imagine she wouldn't quit drilling me over the details of the mission. Details I wouldn't be able to give her.
Around the corner came the adults Ciny had previously mentioned, all of them shining with happiness in the Force, but with other mixed emotions swirled into the blend. Quietly, Mom asked Ciny if she would excuse them. Though she looked a bit put out, I watched as Ciny complied with the 'request'.
The three of us were led into Dad's office and told to make ourselves comfortable. Mom and Aunt Nicola both had frowns on their faces and were looking as if they were unsure what they should be feeling. Dad had a trademark grin on, and Uncle Bror was as expressionless as usual. It was Aunt Nicola who broke the silence.
"Well, I guess congratulations on your mission..." she trailed off, glancing at Mom before continuing. "But you girls really need to understand what you're getting into."
Quickly I chanced a glance over at Meli and Lis, already able to tell this conversation wouldn't be as easily won as the one in Aunt Iella's office.
"We understand you three have wanted a Intel mission for a long time, so we're not even going to be cruel parents by telling you that you may not go. Besides, Iella really needs this information and you three might be the best chance we have at getting it, unless we somehow managed to turn someone important into a spy for us." As Mom spoke, the breath I hadn't even realized I'd been holding was released. She shot me a hard look as she continued, face drawn, "But that doesn't mean we expect you to believe you can get away with anything while you're off on this mission."
There was a very vivid pause before the silence was broken, the atmosphere of the room changing for the better when it was. Maybe that's because Dad had the affinity of making things seem not so harsh, or whatever, or maybe because every one of the adults wished it so. Nonetheless, it was better.
"So," Dad began, "While you're off at Bastion," and here I caught the quick glance he sent my mother, as if he were checking her reaction. That alone made me wonder what was really going on behind the peaceable façade. Of course, what I didn't notice was Uncle Bror giving Aunt Nicola the same sort of appraising look.
Dad continued talking and while I listened, part of my brain muddled over what the underlying problem was.
* * * * *
We were 'released' from our unofficial debriefing forty standard minutes later. The three of us ventured back down through the hallways to our rooms, mine a shared room with Ciny across from the room my 'triplets' shared. Quietly, we entered their room, sitting down on the bunks. There was no preamble, just straightforward questioning.
"Did you see Mom's face?" Meli said, looking between the two of us. Sometimes I wondered if she forgot I wasn't her real triplet, and not just because sometimes we all slipped with calling Aunt Nicola my mother.
Lis nodded, looking at me, before she spoke. "Yeah, she almost looked like she wanted to say something, but didn't."
"That's what my mom looked like too...like there was something she wasn't sure if she should tell us," I said after a brief pause.
The three of us glanced at each other, all thinking the same thing: What were our mothers leaving out? They never usually withheld information unless ordered to. It just didn't fit their characters for them to leave out information that they thought might be useful to us. Not that we had a long time to ponder this fact. We all had to get lunch soon enough, and the mess would be no proper place to hold a private conversation that you didn't expect to get around the two squadrons housed under Wraith headquarters' roof.
* * * * *
My sister surprised me by being up and waiting when I walked into our room to shower and change. She was seated on a random chair near the wall, her eyes cast dimly on the floor. Fearing something had happened to her, I crossed the room to stand in front of her, waiting for her to say something.
At last, she asked, in an almost-harsh voice, "Why do you insist on spending so much time with them? I mean, yeah, they're your best friends, but in case you haven't noticed, you've also got family!"
What?! How could she be dissing Meli and Lis that way? She hardly knew them, other than to go out to the demolitions range with Meli. Trying not to appear ticked, I looked calmly at her, one eyebrow raised. "Because they make a lot more sense to me than my other siblings ever will. How's that?"
Ciny scowled darkly at me, looking over my newly-dyed hair, and said, "Not good enough. Just because they're your "triplets" doesn't mean they know you any bett-"
"Actually, Ciny, they do. Can you please just give it a break?!"
I couldn't believe she was saying this. How could she be? It was 2200 and I wanted to take my shower before I went to bed. Besides, Mom had given me dye stuff to put in my hair to make sure it didn't start flaking out and she'd told me to use it tonight. I turned on my heel and walked towards the 'fresher, not bothering to look back at Ciny's still form.