Disclaimer: In this chapter, I don't own a thing to do with Star Wars. I have to admit it was nice owning something in the last chapter.

Rebels

"I'm bored," Wes Janson said, for the one hundredth time in the last twenty minutes. He was lying on his back staring up at the ceiling from his makeshift bunk, and as he stated regularly, he was incredibly bored.

"I'm bored," he repeated, after no body, answered him.

It was at this point, that Wedge Antilles lost the bat with his friend and chucked a pillow across the room at him. It hit Janson squarely in the face, causing him to sit up sharply.

After spitting out what looked like a bit of the pillow's stuffing, Janson said, "Oi Wedge! What was that for?"

"You're driving me insane!" Wedge groaned, placing his head in his hands, "Can't you find anything to do?"

Janson looked at Wedge apologetically, "I'm sorry Wedge. I'm just-"

"BORED!" chorused several people.

"Why are we locked in here again?" Janson questioned, looking slightly hurt at his friends reaction.

Derek Klivian, known more commonly as 'Hobbie' looked up from his magazine, "Because they're checking the caves for gundarks," he explained, "They want us to stay in our rooms until they are sure it's safe to go outside and unless you want to get hammered into the ground by a gundark, Janson, I suggest you stay right here."

"Yeah," Dak Ralter, the youngest man it the room apart from Luke, had been lying on his bed, sat up, "I'm sure any gundark would be proud to say he finished off Wes Janson."

Janson glared at him, "Being squashed by a gundark would at least save me the hassle of living in this place."

The room they had been supplied with was far from satisfactory. It was dark, damp, it smelt horrible and above all, it was way too small for six men to stay in, even for a short period of time.

They had been assured, by Carlist Rieekan, that the Rebel Alliance wouldn't be occupying these caves for long.

'Just long enough for them to get Echo Base ready for our coming.' He had said, 'You wouldn't want to arrive in a place that was completely uninhabitable, now would you?'

That was the most annoying thing. They were going to all this trouble and spending money, ona place that would only be lived for two months, at the most. The rebels had been hiding from the Empire for a good two years, since the destruction of the Death Star and everyone was getting tired of running.

Dak for one, wanted to have somewhere to call home. But he had known from the minute he joined the rebellion, his life would not get any easier. Apart from the constant running and hiding, being in Rogue Squadron wasn't a walk in the park. Any spare time they had they were going over attack patterns and routines or, if it was safe enough to fly, they would be out in their X Wings.

Wedge was sitting on his own bunk beside Luke Skywalker, who was the currant leader of Rogue Squadron. Dak had been surprised and shocked to learn, once they got the snow speeders working on Hoth that he would be flying as Luke's gunner. Dak had been positive Luke would have chosen Janson, who was far more experienced, to fly with him. But Luke had taken Dak aside one day. He had told him he thought Dak had great potential and he wanted him to be his gunner.

Dak was modest by nature, but he couldn't help being proud of his accomplishment. It wasn't every day that you would fly, as Rogue Leader.

Luke stood up and walked the length of the room, "This is so frustrating!" he burst out, "If there's one thing I can't stand, it's being locked up."

Zev Senesca the last member of the group rolled his eyes at Luke, "You're all so restless! It's not that bad, we've only been in here for what? Four hours, at the most?"

"At the least, more like," Janson muttered, "Zev, why do you have to be so optimistic the whole time? Do us all a favour, and be sad for once. Please!"

Zev just grinned at him and picked up one of the magazines Hobbie had discarded. From across the room, Dak read the headline on the front cover:

Death to the Death Star : Is the Emperor Sulking over the loss of his new toy?

Dak grinned. After over two years people were still talking about that? Dak had joined the rebels after the battle of Yavin, and he must have heard the story a thousand times. And if Dak was sick of it, imagine how Luke must feel.

Janson had read it too. But instead of grinning it made him look even more annoyed, "We haven't had any fun since we were on Yavin 4. It's been all work."

"And that makes us all extremely dull," Hobbie said sarcastically, "I think all the hard work is doing you good, Janson. Seeing as you wormed your way out of the battle at Yavin."

Dak gulped. He looked around and saw everyone else reacting in all most the same way. Wedge and Luke glanced at each other and Zev closed his eyes in horror. Hobbie was walking on dangerous ground. Janson hadn't been in the battle of Yavin because he'd fallen ill with Hesken Fever and was in no condition to fly when the time came. Janson had always been angry at himself for missing it.

"You make it sound as if I wanted to be sick and helpless," Janson said through gritted teeth, "And might I add, my condition was not helped, by the fact I was going out of my mind with worry about you, Jek and him." He jabbed his thumb at Wedge, who looked guiltily back.

"Yeah well, we came back didn't we?" Hobbie asked.

"Jek didn't," Wedge said sadly.

There was an awkward pause, which Dak took advantage of, "Game of sabacc anyone?" he suggested meekly, "I think I've got some cards somewhere."

After a final glare at Hobbie, Janson nodded, "I haven't played in ages. You're going to have to re-teach me the rules."

"Are we playing the normal way, or the 'Han Solo' way, which always seems to end with him winning?" Luke asked. This comment drew a smile from Janson and whatever tension was left in the room, dissolved.

Dak had just dug the cards out of his pack when a voice suddenly was heard from the loud speaker in the corner.

"Search completed. No problems found. Stand by for release Thank you! That is all."

"Finally! We just wasted four hours of our lives, for nothing," Wedge growled, striding over to the door and turning the handle. The door didn't move. Wedge kicked it, but it still wouldn't open.

Then the voice came over the speaker again:

"Attention, attention. We are having some technical difficulties with the auto lock system. Please wait, while we sort out the trouble. It should not take more than a few hours. We will keep you up to date with what is happening. Thank you! That is all."

"NO!!!"

A.N I am so cruel. I am aware of the fact Dak's name is spelt, 'Dack' on the but it's spelt 'Dak' in the subtitles on 'The Empire Strikes Back'. And the web site does say it can be spelt both ways. Plus 'Dak' I believe is the cooler way to spell it.

This may not appear to be going anywhere, but I swear to you it is!

Imperials and Rebels. Wait till the two sides clash.

Thorney