Signs of Life

By JalendaviLady

Chapter 21

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.

If you recognize any characters, locations, or things in the following story, George Lucas owns them.

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I guess if anyone's listening to this it means you already know that the medics on the Executor have tried to see what they could do. I asked them not to send this until after the operation was over, so I'm either in recovery or gone by now. The prognosis going in was good and I've known the potential risks for years. It was my choice to take this risk. Hear that, Anakin? Even if you're having to deal with Luke bawling on you right now because I'm dead, it was my choice, not your fault. And if my father dares come after you with a wrongful death claim, Duria has a copy of his formal disinheritance of me you can use in your defense. Luke, buddy, you know what to do if I'm no longer in this world. I trust you haven't forgotten.

First, what I want you all to know if I haven't survived:

Luke, you've been the best friend I could have ever asked for, both before and after everything happened. We're shooting stars who'll never be stopped, and I know that no matter what happens, you've got a bright future ahead of you.

Han, you still owe me that 200 credits on whether or not the first Death Star would be destroyed. Pay Duria if I'm no longer around to collect.

Leia, thanks for hanging around so much right after everything happened and for letting Duria have another woman around nearby during those first few weeks. I think my pilot buddies overwhelmed her there for a little while.

Wes, I hereby order you to absolutely not throw me a wake. Can you be serious for one day, just for me? Pwease?

Wedge, thanks for helping find me and for everything else you've done.

To the rest of the Rogues, even though I've met some of you only recently and have known the rest of you for only a few years at most, thank you for not just letting me lie there and stagnate alone these past years. You made me at least have some awareness of what was going on, even if I spent most of my time on Home One anyway.

Anakin, once again, whatever you do, don't blame yourself. Taking this risk was my choice, and as far as I'm concerned, the original situation was caused by Palpatine's political conspiracy to gain power over as much of the galaxy as he could grasp. Without that, none of the things that have happened would have happened. And thank you for saving my life when that assassin tried to kill me, and yes I know he was gunning for me and not for you. Even if it only gave me a week or so more in the world, the little while I've been able to hope there was a chance has been worth so much to me.

If everything went the way it was supposed to, I'll be in recovery by the time you guys hear this. I've been warned I'll be sedated for a while, so don't expect any news from me for a few days. The medics'll probably give you guys over on the Home One some sort of regular updates. Even once they ease off on the sedatives, it will apparently be a while before they find out how much movement I can regain, so don't expect to hear anything about sudden miraculous recoveries anytime soon. And apparently they're going to keep me pretty numbed up for a while, so don't expect word of me twitching my toes soon either.

I hear the medics outside, so I should probably finish this. No matter what happens today, you've been the best friends I could have ever wanted or needed. Thank you.

Duria, I love you. I always have and always will.

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