Hey! Wow, I got some very nice and encouraging reviews! My ego and I thank
you a lot :) Keep telling me your opinion. I had no real inspiration for
the title of this part as you can see *winces* I'll try to come up with
something else.
So, to answer a question, yes, this story contains major spoiler of episode uh. 4 "A new hope", --I get confused with all those numbers--, and yes, the characters were talking about the Death Star when mentioning the "little moon".
*****
Both of them darted towards the bridge joining the rest of the crew. Kenobi ordered an immediate retreat before disappearing in the control room. Noor ran to her post to check the damage as the ship lunged forward. She winced when the terminal indicated several critical impacts on the shielding system and on a reactor.
"Bounty hunters!" cried out one the navigators, pointing towards the port.
Outside the view port, at least a dozen fighter ships were launching a combined attack. An almost palpable shudder of disgust coursed through the crew: here went the Hutts agreement to stay neutral. It had cost a fortune to the Senate, obviously money gone to waste.
Noor made a quick assessment of the situation; their vessel was infinitely bigger and more sophisticated than the basic weaponry of the small crafts, but it was also slower and more difficult to handle. Their well-calculated strategy based on the surprise effect and their greater mobility had enabled them to cause serious damage before the crew had had time to activate the deflector shields.
Another commotion sent the ship reeling and the lighting went off leaving only the dim red emergency lights.
"Prepare to switch on hyperspace!" Nowl'Sinn bellowed to the pilots.
A wave of unease sent Noor running as fast as she could in the semi darkness towards Gabrielle. She leaned over her shoulder, checking the parameters of their destination on the screen and saw her suspicions confirmed. Sensing her thoughts, the young commander cast an alarmed glance to her friend. They both turned and exclaimed together:
"No! Wait!"
The Admiral glared at them.
"We're going to enter an asteroid field sir; we can't drop into hyperspace now." Noor stated firmly, silently thanking Kenobi for having her draw and learn all the possible maps from the center of the Galaxy to the outer rim at the Temple.
"Listen closely, Commander, the General might be quite taken with your pretty face, but what happens in his bed certainly doesn't give you the right to counter my orders!" he spat loud and clear in front of everybody. "If *you* know that we are going through an asteroid field, then how comes our radar doesn't?"
Noor was too shocked by the innuendo of his first words to answer right away. She knew of the Admiral's disapproval of both her high ranking and her bluntness; she also knew of the various gossips going on in the crew, but nobody had ever seemed to pay much attention to it, much less rubbed it in her face as their CO had just done.
Braced on his arms over the map table in the control room, Kenobi was pondering with two of his officers a way to escape since fighting back was proving to be useless. Although he hadn't directly witnessed what had happened on the bridge, he had sensed the indignation and shame emanating from Noor through the Force and guessed its source rather easily. Apparently unconcerned, he went on scanning the maps.
In the dark room nobody noticed his tightly clenched jaws nor his whitened knuckles gripping the table.
The heavy silence was suddenly broken by the Twi'lek Petty Officer Sleelusien. "The Commander is right, sir, the instruments just showed an asteroid field within our trajectory."
"It's a trap sir," Noor commented with a hoarse voice, " They are pushing us in the wrong direction to send us crashing against the asteroids."
Nowl'Sinn turned away, "There is no other direction to go, we must go through this field and then we'll be able to activate the hyperspace."
The Twi'lek shook her head.
"The ship is too big; we won't get through it alive!" yelled Gabrielle.
The Admiral's venomous retort was cut short by Kenobi's sudden appearance on the bridge, the officers in tow. " They are right, Karr, the vessel isn't conceived for that, we won't stand a chance."
" Sir, another reactor has been hit! We're losing power!"
The two commanding officers exchanged a quick glance before the General took charge. Facing his second-in-command, he issued his instructions calmly: "Alrahan, proceed with the evacuation of the crew, make sure everyone gets out safely. There's no use wasting lives to protect the ship. "
Noor looked at him apprehensively. This was not good.
"Sir! The radar detected an apparently large vessel coming our way. It has not responded to our identification demands," said the Petty Officer.
"Go, Alrahan, now!" pressed Kenobi, keeping his voice even.
Noor directed the people into the emergency capsules, though the lack of light made it difficult. A good majority was already gone unharmed efficiently covered by the ship. She watched with relief as the number of the crew still on board diminished. The commanding officers including the General, the Admiral, Gabrielle and she would leave last with the pilots and the radar officer, she mused. Maybe in ten minutes they would be able t-
The ship suddenly dropped for a long second, sending everybody crashing on the floor and causing Noor to knock her head hard against the wall. She dazedly registered that the ship stabilized its altitude before abruptly rearing up, making her slide brutally on the ground.
A strong grip caught her and dragged her to her feet before she hurt herself again. Her head was pounding and she leaned on Kenobi for support. He grasped her elbows to steady her.
"Are you all right?" He hooked a finger under her chin, tilting her face up to examine the gash on her forehead.
"Since when did you become so gallant, Kenobi?" she replied, flinching at the sudden motion of her head.
He rolled his eyes and tugged on her arm after making sure that nobody was seriously injured. "Let's go collect your notes and your father's journal, we must leave the ship quickly."
"Why are we constantly lurching? Those damn crafts can't shake such a massive warship like this, now can they?" asked Noor, doing her best to keep up with the General as he dashed towards the study.
" There's always a bigger fish, and this time it's not working in our advantage!"
"What are you talking about?!"
"The ship detected by the radar earlier belongs to the enemy's fleet. It managed to catch up with us and is presently dragging us towards them with a magnetic field, that's why we are shaken like this. All the deflectors are down because of the smaller crafts' attack, we have no choice but to flee."
Within two minutes, they had gathered the most important notes and the journal. Noor cast a forlorn look at the books she had to leave behind as Kenobi grasped her hand to pull her out of the room. They stopped cold as a new tremor hit the hull.
"Too late, they are boarding," he said, backing up. He quickly scanned his surroundings and spotted an air vent. Noor followed his gaze up and immediately dreaded the rueful smile creeping on his face. He pushed her towards it.
"You guessed it all right, Alrahan. Get in the shaft, it leads to the hangar."
She inspected skeptically the dark and narrow passage.
" It's your idea, you go first!"
~*~
Inside the shaft, the atmosphere was stifling. There was not a breath of air in the long metallic maze through which they were forced to move at a crawl. Noor secured the tattered pieces of her uniform jacket that she had wrapped around her hands and arms to shield her from the heat of the metal and to muffle the noise of their progression.
Their mission was starting sooner than expected.
Kenobi was using the Force to reach the hangar where they would sneak out in one of the fighter ships and depart immediately for Earth. The whole surprise attack had given him a very bad feeling. Under his cool way of taking things in charge, Noor understood that he wasn't too happy to leave his men behind, she was quite afraid for Gabrielle as well. Jedi knight or not.
As they crept above what had to be the control room, a choppy electronic sound boomed beneath them. Noor stilled, a cold sweat coursed on her back.
Battle droids.
In front of her, Kenobi froze as well, listening and probing their surroundings with the Force. They perceived the motion of a group. What was left of the crew was being gathered there.
Ahead of them, the tunnel was divided in two directions. To the right was the way to the hangar, to the left was a broader passage ending on a grate which opened on the room.
After a short while, Kenobi stated to move to the right. She grabbed his booted ankle.
:: Wait::
:: I know what you think, but we can't. They probably won't do them any harm, just as they didn't chase the capsules earlier. They are looking for us. Now hurry up or they will seize all the crafts. ::
She didn't release him.
:: Let me pass, I have to check on them before we go. Gabrielle is here too, I can sense her.::
:: Stop arguing! The Council assigned the three of us to precise tasks, hers is to cover us. She can take care of herself, she's a skilled knight.::
:: She's my friend too, now if you'll excuse me..:: She raised herself as much as she could on her hands and knees and started to crawl over Kenobi's body.
::What the blast are you doing, Alrahan?!::
She fought back the embarrassment flushing her cheeks and answered dryly:
:: Nothing sexual sir, just forcing my way.::
When she passed over him, she heard him hold his breath, probably trying to keep his growing exasperation in check. However, he flattened himself down, allowing her to push herself to the grate, he too wanted to know how the crew was fairing.
Her breath caught in her lungs as she counted the injured people among the small group. She spotted her friend crouched down against the wall, at the far end of the room near the Admiral, her face covered with dirt. The young officer assumed a calm demeanor in front of her fellows.
Noor mentally called her. She rose her head hastily, scanning the room about her.
:: In the air vent above you on the right,:: Noor instructed.
:: Don't move from there, they are looking for you, brain mate. Where's the General?.::
:: Frying in hell for all I care.::
She could sense Kenobi sending her a dirty look behind her back.
:: Noor.::
:: He is with me.::
:: How is the situation from up there?::
:: Pretty much as it looks, Elle.::
:: Oh. that bad.::
Noor took a quick decision. ::You are coming with us to Earth. They will probably transfer you to their ship, we will get you then.::
::What will become of the crew, Noor?::
::They will be taken as simple prisoners and then probably released, they are after Kenobi and me. Don't you realize that you and the Admiral are the only CO left and that they might think that they already have us?::
Something flickered on Gabrielle's face for a split second, she shut down the mental connection and leaned towards Nowl'Sinn. Noor saw them exchange a few words, the other officer gravely nodded his assent. Gabrielle risked a brief look in their direction and it seemed to Noor that her eyes were a little too bright. She put her hand on the grate which stood between her friend and her.
Four droids entered the room demanding the officers in charge to stand up.
:: You are not doing this, Gabrielle. The two of you stay down and don't move,:: said Kenobi firmly.
::There's nothing you can do without jeopardize the crew's safety.::
::This is a very ill time to be stubborn, Gabrielle Baron. Stay. Bloody. Down!:: Noor hissed, a sick feeling knotted her stomach.
She already knew. yet she couldn't let it happen.
::Don't force me to turn it into an order Lieutenant Commander!:: snapped the General behind her.
:: This will give you time! I do what I have to, sir. Don't fail us. :: she answered.
She slowly stood, followed by the Admiral. Kenobi watched in silence.
:: You are both insane!:: Noor yelled, clutching fiercely the grate but the officers were already up in the middle of the group.
:: Elle please. What about him?:: her voiced broke through the link.
:: He will understand. Don't be troubled my friend, I am not afraid.::
From this, everything happened quickly. The droids went to grab them roughly. Nowl'Sinn's face held no other expression than solemn composure.
A single tear trailed on Gabrielle's cheek as they led her away but she was calm. She lightly turned around to catch a last glimpse of the grate before the door slid shut.
The Force came around Noor and engulfed her in her friend's warm embrace, whispering:
::Don't be sad Noor. I'll be waiting for y--::
Everything brutally crashed, the link was broken, the soothing waves died away.
Noor's mouth opened on a mute scream.
Before she had time to send the grate flying and fling herself down in the room, she was seized from behind by a strong grip. Under them, the crew was set in movement again.
Kenobi blocked her as well as he could with his arms and legs while she thrashed to free herself, sending him down on his back. He didn't let go, wedging her tightly against him. Swiftly turning her around, he muffled her broken cries against his chest.
They lay down for a moment wrestling silently until his voice erupted in her mind.
:: Stop this! The droids have movement detectors.::
Her disorderly struggle subsided and she lay still. He cautiously caught her face between his hands and lifted it from his chest. When he saw her expression, her void eyes, her colorless complexion, he adverted his gaze for a second. He knew that strange feeling of emptiness all too well, she couldn't cry, she couldn't mourn, she was slipping away. Focusing back on her, he whispered.
" Live Noor. Honor her and live."
His thumb lightly grazed her cheek as her gray eyed shone with the first unshed tears.
*****
So, to answer a question, yes, this story contains major spoiler of episode uh. 4 "A new hope", --I get confused with all those numbers--, and yes, the characters were talking about the Death Star when mentioning the "little moon".
*****
Both of them darted towards the bridge joining the rest of the crew. Kenobi ordered an immediate retreat before disappearing in the control room. Noor ran to her post to check the damage as the ship lunged forward. She winced when the terminal indicated several critical impacts on the shielding system and on a reactor.
"Bounty hunters!" cried out one the navigators, pointing towards the port.
Outside the view port, at least a dozen fighter ships were launching a combined attack. An almost palpable shudder of disgust coursed through the crew: here went the Hutts agreement to stay neutral. It had cost a fortune to the Senate, obviously money gone to waste.
Noor made a quick assessment of the situation; their vessel was infinitely bigger and more sophisticated than the basic weaponry of the small crafts, but it was also slower and more difficult to handle. Their well-calculated strategy based on the surprise effect and their greater mobility had enabled them to cause serious damage before the crew had had time to activate the deflector shields.
Another commotion sent the ship reeling and the lighting went off leaving only the dim red emergency lights.
"Prepare to switch on hyperspace!" Nowl'Sinn bellowed to the pilots.
A wave of unease sent Noor running as fast as she could in the semi darkness towards Gabrielle. She leaned over her shoulder, checking the parameters of their destination on the screen and saw her suspicions confirmed. Sensing her thoughts, the young commander cast an alarmed glance to her friend. They both turned and exclaimed together:
"No! Wait!"
The Admiral glared at them.
"We're going to enter an asteroid field sir; we can't drop into hyperspace now." Noor stated firmly, silently thanking Kenobi for having her draw and learn all the possible maps from the center of the Galaxy to the outer rim at the Temple.
"Listen closely, Commander, the General might be quite taken with your pretty face, but what happens in his bed certainly doesn't give you the right to counter my orders!" he spat loud and clear in front of everybody. "If *you* know that we are going through an asteroid field, then how comes our radar doesn't?"
Noor was too shocked by the innuendo of his first words to answer right away. She knew of the Admiral's disapproval of both her high ranking and her bluntness; she also knew of the various gossips going on in the crew, but nobody had ever seemed to pay much attention to it, much less rubbed it in her face as their CO had just done.
Braced on his arms over the map table in the control room, Kenobi was pondering with two of his officers a way to escape since fighting back was proving to be useless. Although he hadn't directly witnessed what had happened on the bridge, he had sensed the indignation and shame emanating from Noor through the Force and guessed its source rather easily. Apparently unconcerned, he went on scanning the maps.
In the dark room nobody noticed his tightly clenched jaws nor his whitened knuckles gripping the table.
The heavy silence was suddenly broken by the Twi'lek Petty Officer Sleelusien. "The Commander is right, sir, the instruments just showed an asteroid field within our trajectory."
"It's a trap sir," Noor commented with a hoarse voice, " They are pushing us in the wrong direction to send us crashing against the asteroids."
Nowl'Sinn turned away, "There is no other direction to go, we must go through this field and then we'll be able to activate the hyperspace."
The Twi'lek shook her head.
"The ship is too big; we won't get through it alive!" yelled Gabrielle.
The Admiral's venomous retort was cut short by Kenobi's sudden appearance on the bridge, the officers in tow. " They are right, Karr, the vessel isn't conceived for that, we won't stand a chance."
" Sir, another reactor has been hit! We're losing power!"
The two commanding officers exchanged a quick glance before the General took charge. Facing his second-in-command, he issued his instructions calmly: "Alrahan, proceed with the evacuation of the crew, make sure everyone gets out safely. There's no use wasting lives to protect the ship. "
Noor looked at him apprehensively. This was not good.
"Sir! The radar detected an apparently large vessel coming our way. It has not responded to our identification demands," said the Petty Officer.
"Go, Alrahan, now!" pressed Kenobi, keeping his voice even.
Noor directed the people into the emergency capsules, though the lack of light made it difficult. A good majority was already gone unharmed efficiently covered by the ship. She watched with relief as the number of the crew still on board diminished. The commanding officers including the General, the Admiral, Gabrielle and she would leave last with the pilots and the radar officer, she mused. Maybe in ten minutes they would be able t-
The ship suddenly dropped for a long second, sending everybody crashing on the floor and causing Noor to knock her head hard against the wall. She dazedly registered that the ship stabilized its altitude before abruptly rearing up, making her slide brutally on the ground.
A strong grip caught her and dragged her to her feet before she hurt herself again. Her head was pounding and she leaned on Kenobi for support. He grasped her elbows to steady her.
"Are you all right?" He hooked a finger under her chin, tilting her face up to examine the gash on her forehead.
"Since when did you become so gallant, Kenobi?" she replied, flinching at the sudden motion of her head.
He rolled his eyes and tugged on her arm after making sure that nobody was seriously injured. "Let's go collect your notes and your father's journal, we must leave the ship quickly."
"Why are we constantly lurching? Those damn crafts can't shake such a massive warship like this, now can they?" asked Noor, doing her best to keep up with the General as he dashed towards the study.
" There's always a bigger fish, and this time it's not working in our advantage!"
"What are you talking about?!"
"The ship detected by the radar earlier belongs to the enemy's fleet. It managed to catch up with us and is presently dragging us towards them with a magnetic field, that's why we are shaken like this. All the deflectors are down because of the smaller crafts' attack, we have no choice but to flee."
Within two minutes, they had gathered the most important notes and the journal. Noor cast a forlorn look at the books she had to leave behind as Kenobi grasped her hand to pull her out of the room. They stopped cold as a new tremor hit the hull.
"Too late, they are boarding," he said, backing up. He quickly scanned his surroundings and spotted an air vent. Noor followed his gaze up and immediately dreaded the rueful smile creeping on his face. He pushed her towards it.
"You guessed it all right, Alrahan. Get in the shaft, it leads to the hangar."
She inspected skeptically the dark and narrow passage.
" It's your idea, you go first!"
~*~
Inside the shaft, the atmosphere was stifling. There was not a breath of air in the long metallic maze through which they were forced to move at a crawl. Noor secured the tattered pieces of her uniform jacket that she had wrapped around her hands and arms to shield her from the heat of the metal and to muffle the noise of their progression.
Their mission was starting sooner than expected.
Kenobi was using the Force to reach the hangar where they would sneak out in one of the fighter ships and depart immediately for Earth. The whole surprise attack had given him a very bad feeling. Under his cool way of taking things in charge, Noor understood that he wasn't too happy to leave his men behind, she was quite afraid for Gabrielle as well. Jedi knight or not.
As they crept above what had to be the control room, a choppy electronic sound boomed beneath them. Noor stilled, a cold sweat coursed on her back.
Battle droids.
In front of her, Kenobi froze as well, listening and probing their surroundings with the Force. They perceived the motion of a group. What was left of the crew was being gathered there.
Ahead of them, the tunnel was divided in two directions. To the right was the way to the hangar, to the left was a broader passage ending on a grate which opened on the room.
After a short while, Kenobi stated to move to the right. She grabbed his booted ankle.
:: Wait::
:: I know what you think, but we can't. They probably won't do them any harm, just as they didn't chase the capsules earlier. They are looking for us. Now hurry up or they will seize all the crafts. ::
She didn't release him.
:: Let me pass, I have to check on them before we go. Gabrielle is here too, I can sense her.::
:: Stop arguing! The Council assigned the three of us to precise tasks, hers is to cover us. She can take care of herself, she's a skilled knight.::
:: She's my friend too, now if you'll excuse me..:: She raised herself as much as she could on her hands and knees and started to crawl over Kenobi's body.
::What the blast are you doing, Alrahan?!::
She fought back the embarrassment flushing her cheeks and answered dryly:
:: Nothing sexual sir, just forcing my way.::
When she passed over him, she heard him hold his breath, probably trying to keep his growing exasperation in check. However, he flattened himself down, allowing her to push herself to the grate, he too wanted to know how the crew was fairing.
Her breath caught in her lungs as she counted the injured people among the small group. She spotted her friend crouched down against the wall, at the far end of the room near the Admiral, her face covered with dirt. The young officer assumed a calm demeanor in front of her fellows.
Noor mentally called her. She rose her head hastily, scanning the room about her.
:: In the air vent above you on the right,:: Noor instructed.
:: Don't move from there, they are looking for you, brain mate. Where's the General?.::
:: Frying in hell for all I care.::
She could sense Kenobi sending her a dirty look behind her back.
:: Noor.::
:: He is with me.::
:: How is the situation from up there?::
:: Pretty much as it looks, Elle.::
:: Oh. that bad.::
Noor took a quick decision. ::You are coming with us to Earth. They will probably transfer you to their ship, we will get you then.::
::What will become of the crew, Noor?::
::They will be taken as simple prisoners and then probably released, they are after Kenobi and me. Don't you realize that you and the Admiral are the only CO left and that they might think that they already have us?::
Something flickered on Gabrielle's face for a split second, she shut down the mental connection and leaned towards Nowl'Sinn. Noor saw them exchange a few words, the other officer gravely nodded his assent. Gabrielle risked a brief look in their direction and it seemed to Noor that her eyes were a little too bright. She put her hand on the grate which stood between her friend and her.
Four droids entered the room demanding the officers in charge to stand up.
:: You are not doing this, Gabrielle. The two of you stay down and don't move,:: said Kenobi firmly.
::There's nothing you can do without jeopardize the crew's safety.::
::This is a very ill time to be stubborn, Gabrielle Baron. Stay. Bloody. Down!:: Noor hissed, a sick feeling knotted her stomach.
She already knew. yet she couldn't let it happen.
::Don't force me to turn it into an order Lieutenant Commander!:: snapped the General behind her.
:: This will give you time! I do what I have to, sir. Don't fail us. :: she answered.
She slowly stood, followed by the Admiral. Kenobi watched in silence.
:: You are both insane!:: Noor yelled, clutching fiercely the grate but the officers were already up in the middle of the group.
:: Elle please. What about him?:: her voiced broke through the link.
:: He will understand. Don't be troubled my friend, I am not afraid.::
From this, everything happened quickly. The droids went to grab them roughly. Nowl'Sinn's face held no other expression than solemn composure.
A single tear trailed on Gabrielle's cheek as they led her away but she was calm. She lightly turned around to catch a last glimpse of the grate before the door slid shut.
The Force came around Noor and engulfed her in her friend's warm embrace, whispering:
::Don't be sad Noor. I'll be waiting for y--::
Everything brutally crashed, the link was broken, the soothing waves died away.
Noor's mouth opened on a mute scream.
Before she had time to send the grate flying and fling herself down in the room, she was seized from behind by a strong grip. Under them, the crew was set in movement again.
Kenobi blocked her as well as he could with his arms and legs while she thrashed to free herself, sending him down on his back. He didn't let go, wedging her tightly against him. Swiftly turning her around, he muffled her broken cries against his chest.
They lay down for a moment wrestling silently until his voice erupted in her mind.
:: Stop this! The droids have movement detectors.::
Her disorderly struggle subsided and she lay still. He cautiously caught her face between his hands and lifted it from his chest. When he saw her expression, her void eyes, her colorless complexion, he adverted his gaze for a second. He knew that strange feeling of emptiness all too well, she couldn't cry, she couldn't mourn, she was slipping away. Focusing back on her, he whispered.
" Live Noor. Honor her and live."
His thumb lightly grazed her cheek as her gray eyed shone with the first unshed tears.
*****