Story Title:  Collaboration
Author:  AdraLoran, co-written with NicolaAfyon
Keywords:  Wraith Squadron, Face Loran, Adra Loran, Nicola Afyon, Bror Afyon
Timeframe: AU Post-Battle of Yavin (Approx. 11 years ABY)
Dramatis Personae:
NRI Head Iella Wessiri Antilles (female human)
General Wedge Antilles (male human)
Colonel Jagged Fel (male human)
Colonel Jaina Solo (female human)
Colonel Tycho Celchu (male human)
Commander Garik 'Face' Loran (male human)
Captain Kell Tainer (male human)
Captain Nicola Afyon (female human)
Captain Tyria Tainer (female human)
Lieutenant Adra Loran (female human)
Lieutenant Bror Afyon (male human)
Lieutenant Jade Veila (female human)
Lieutenant Tyria Ritril (female human)
Flight Officer Cloud Ritril (male human)
Flight Officer Ryok Necxo (male human)
Liselle Afyon (female human)
Melidere Afyon (female human)
Inyri Loran (female human)
Davin Fel (male human)
Rane Fel (male human)
Doran Tainer (male human)
Koyi Afyon (female human)
Tynian Afyon (male human)
Kavin Ritril (male human)
Jacinta Loran (female human)
Elex Tainer (male human)
Saraiyu Tainer (female human)
Keira Fel (female human)

Chapter One – The Set Scene

Face Loran took one more glance behind him his gaze finding that of Nicola Afyon. She held his two children in firm check, the three-and-a-half-year-old Inyri by a hand and the half-year old Ciny on her thigh. Then Face looked ahead of him again and climbed into his X-Wing. Vape was already settled there, whistling and tooting the information about his craft.

Adra had been missing for two and half weeks, having gotten caught in the Knight Hammer's tractor beams in the New Republics run on the Imps at Cloud City. In spite of the fact that his wife was missing, the sacrifice on her part had allowed the NR to seize victory. The only thing was that Face didn't think it had been a fair trade, not in any sense. His daughters hadn't understood why Mommy hadn't come home with everyone else.

However, according to General Antilles, there was reason to hope. Even though Adra had been on Daala's most wanted list, along with most of the other Wraiths, for a while now, Wedge had said she probably wouldn't even be with the Imps over a month. Face had believed, albeit begrudgingly, that Wedge was right. The only thing that caused him to doubt now was that not only Nicola and Cloud couldn't feel Adra in the Force, but Inyri had questioned him as to why Mommy was 'invisible'. And while he didn't know for sure, Face was pretty sure Ciny would've made the same complaint if she could've expressed herself properly.

With a jolt, Face realized he had landed at Rogue Squadron's headquarters. He climbed out of his X-Wing's cockpit, told Vape to stay put, and walked inside the building. Wedge, along with his message not to worry, had asked Face to come over as soon as possible. In compliance, Face had gone to Rogue as quickly as he had been able to beg Nicola to watch his kids.

"Face," a voice called behind him. "Come on, I've got someone you might be...er...'interested' in talking to," Face turned around in time to see Wedge hurriedly pointing him into a nearby conference room. Briefly, hope flared in him that it would be Adra, but the look Wedge wore quickly stifled it.

As he entered, Wedge grabbed his forearm. "Face, you can't say anything; promise me that. If you do, this could fail." Perplexed, but nonetheless willing to comply if this little 'mission' told anything about Wedge trying to get Adra back, Face nodded. Wedge gestured towards a chair to the side of the room as he himself sat down in front of a Holocomm.

A minute passed in silence, and then the comm sprung to life. They only thing that kept Face in his chair and not yelling at the figure was his promise. He saw Wedge cast him a silencing glance before his gaze locked on the figure before him. On Admiral Daala.

"Admiral," Wedge greeted her with a nod.

Daala nodded a reply, and then said, "General Antilles." She stopped to scratch her cheek, then went on. "Before you say anything more, I want some things answered. Specifically, about your friend, Miss Tallon." Face felt his throat constrict as an obviously-battered Adra was shoved into the Holocomm's view. Daala put a hand on her shoulder as if she were a long-time friend gripping an acquaintances shoulder. Face grit his teeth in an effort to remain quiet as an expression of pain flashed across his wife's face. The Imperial was speaking again, grinning sardonically as she spoke half into Adra's ear, half at Wedge. "Say hello to your friend, deary."

Even at this distance, Face could make out Daala's hand tightening on Adra's shoulder. The contortion on her face told enough to enable the viewer understanding that there must've been a hidden bruise there.

"Hi...Wedge," she said, wincing. Daala did something else and Adra's face contorted into a far more wrenching expression. Next instant, the Admiral had literally shoved Adra aside, no doubt to waiting stormtroopers.

"Now, back to what I was saying." Face hardly paid attention to her, his eyes boring into the projection above the Holocomm, willing Adra to reappear. "Some of my officers have 'suggested' that your computer hacker married Face Loran a few years ago." Face saw she was grinning slightly, albeit a cold one. "Should such honestly be the case, there can be no agreement. As you know, I'm sure, I have a bit of a grudge against Face Loran which would make the idea of giving her back, while already against my better judgment, quite preposterous."

Wedge stared at Daala's figure, a weary expression on his face. He glanced up quickly, and Face thought he saw an 'I'm sorry' on it. "Marred to Face Loran? Come now, Admiral, I thought you were more intelligent than that. Surely you know that the only time those two get together is to fight."

Face stared at him, mouth slightly open, then he shook his head. Well, whatever worked. Admiral Daala, Face saw, was grinning very slightly as she nodded.

"Well enough, I suppose," she said. "That wouldn't explain why she's pregnant, would it?" Face closed his eyes, cringing. So Daala knew. Wedge's surprise was clearly etched on his face. "However," Daala continued with a sneer, "I'm open to trading. The Cloud City arrangement still stands. Daala out."

Immediately, questions filled Face's mind. What Cloud City arrangement? How had Daala figured it out? What was Wedge going to do? Wedge slumped back in his chair as he stared out in front of him across the table.

"Wedge..." Face began, only to trail off. What was he supposed to say, after all?

Wedge looked over at him, sighing heavily. "Loran, how come you couldn't've been the one to tell me that? Why did it have to be Daala?"

Inhaling sharply, Face sighed as he released the breath. There wasn't actually a reason, only that that had been the last thing she'd said to him before her comm had quit in her X-Wing. That and that she was several weeks pregnant- six, to be precise- and she was having twins and that she was sorry she hadn't told him sooner. Not to mention that the twins hadn't been planned, though that hadn't been said. After that, he'd been so consumed with trying to get Adra back, and yelling at Wedge and Tycho and nearly everyone else he knew to do the same, that he'd forgotten to mention it.

"Because, sir, it slipped my mind." Wedge looked at him with a disbelieving raised eyebrow. "I only found out when she was in the tractor beams." Face knew the 'excuse' sounded lame, but it was the truth. Wedge shook his head, cursing quietly. "Twins," Face mused aloud, more to himself than anyone else. In spite of himself, Face felt a tear roll down his cheek. The first was soon followed by another. If Daala had done anything to Adra to affect the twins, there would be more than hell to pay. Quickly he wiped his cheeks, looking up to see Wedge watching him.

"You okay?" Wedge asked. Face nodded silently, hoping more tears wouldn't start. Wedge saved him from answering verbally by asking another question. Or something like it. "Boy am I glad Iella never got dragged off when she was pregnant... Face, pity an old guy and his hearing, but did you say 'twins'?"