Disclaimer: The characters belong to George Lucas and/or their creators. Theme and partial dialogue stolen from Alanis Morissette's "Flinch." No infringement intended in either case.

The Reset Button

Chapter Three: Slow Motion

Callista looked around her and once again felt resignation and defeatism creeping in. They had lost twelve more people to the Vong. In the galactic scheme of things, it didn't seem like much. But Callista had known everyone of the beings who had died, and she had felt each one go.

The medical ship was quieter than it had a right to be; with all the battles in the galaxy, it should have been brimming with medical staff and patients. But far too few people were returning from the battles with the Vong; Callista counted herself as lucky once again.

Something stirred inside her. She expected to feel her commander's approaching presence, but instead got the jarring feeling of over a decade ago.

Luke.

Even thinking his name reverberated through her like an earthquake. She kicked herself mentally for the reaction; she was a grown woman after all. And he was married. But sending him that message had been the hardest thing she'd ever had to do; talking to him only made it worse. If she had to see him…she shook her head. She wouldn't know what to do.

The door opened, and she was more than a little relieved to see her commander walk in instead of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master and new father. Raimind walked over to her bed and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"You scared us there, Callista. You have to remember to throw the grenade after you pull the pin out." His voice was only a little reprimanding, mostly relieved.

She saluted him with her good hand. "Yes sir. I'm sorry, I guess I got a little carried away with the situation."

He sat down on the edge of her bed, looking at her skeptically. She had only known Raimind for a few months, but it had been long enough for him to read her no matter how desperately she tried to hide her feelings.

"Who is he?" he asked.

Callista let out her millionth sigh since he had come back into her life. She trusted Raimind, but could hardly drop this bombshell on a man who was trying to keep his tiny civilian unit of rebels in tact.

"An old flame," she answered carefully. "I'd heard some thing about him and I wanted to congratulate him on his new life. We've been talking fairly regularly." She paused. "I think he might be here."

Raimind suddenly looked intrigued, the way old women get excited when they play sabaac together. "Want me to bring him here?"

Callista stopped to think about it. If she could see him again, maybe it would really feel like it was over. Maybe she wouldn't feel so…shackled to him, but in the best possible of ways.

She shook her head. "Just let me know who the injured were that came in on that last ship. I hope nothing too bad has happened to him." Raimind nodded. "Then let's see about getting out of here."