Chapter Eighteen
"Welcome to the Harau." A high-ranking female official greeted them on the deck of the ship after a smooth docking. "We've heard your situation is unusual. If you'll come with me, we have an area where you can wait while we do some checks. We just have confirmations. The usual. Sorry about this, we just have to be so careful, especially after Yavin..."
"So the rumors are true?" Glynn asked.
"Yes. The Empire blew up Alderaan. It's sad, how almost everyone knows that, and yet we still don't have the kind of support we need."
"I guess people just don't want to act." He looked at Saera pointedly.
"Oh, um, I was wondering if maybe I could get a comm terminal. There's a friend I have down there that I really need to talk to. Actually, the reason we're here."
"Oh?" The woman seemed a bit curious. "Who?"
"Luke Skywalker. I know him from Tatooine."
"Really? We heard there was some one coming from him. Nice guy, Luke. I'll try to get you a comm."
"Tell him Saera needs to speak with him urgently. Saera Mernoai."
"Alright. Now, if you'll follow me..." She led them to a small recreation area where a few off-duty personnel appeared to be relaxing. "Please stay in this area. You can ask any of these people to get me or another officer if you need something."
"Thank you, Ma'am."
Glynn and Saera sat down next to each other on one of the couches, away from the other people in the room. Silently. The Rebels didn't appear talkative, either, and only smiled slightly to acknowledge their presence.
This room tense much?
Glynn looked over at Saera. She seemed incredibly nervous, fiddling and glancing around. It was how he felt inside. If this plan didn't work out, if they found out about Saera's 'pregnancy,' well...Saera's unrequited love for Skywalker would be the least of their problems.
They're no Galactic Empire, but who knows what they'll do to us it they think we're spies or something.
About a half time part passed before the officer returned.
"He's on the comm. Come on."
"Can I accompany her?"
The woman leaned in. "Don't tell anyone, I don't know if I'm supposed to do this. But for you guys and Luke, sure. Follow me."
Saera was giving him a dirty look, but Glynn thought his presence was necessary. What is she says something wrong?
Sure, you tell yourself that, but what's the real reason? That's right. You don't want to sit in that lounge, imagining her and Skywalker's happy-sappy- reunion. You've gotta monitor it like a chaperone or something.
I am such a loser.
They entered the little room with the comm terminal and the officer set the channel up before leaving them in privacy. Saera was pulling at a little strand of hair at the nape of her neck. Nervous.
"Wait," Glynn said just before Saera pressed the connect button.
"What?" It wasn't as venomous as he'd expected.
"Don't way anything about us being in trouble, just tell him you want to see him desperately and can't bear to wait any longer. That's the truth, anyway."
She ignored his last comment and took a deep breath, poising her finger above the red 'connect' button. She still looked incredibly nervous, he noticed.
She pushed the button. A crackle, and a long buzz, then...
Luke Skywalker. In all his blond-haired, blue-eyed glory.
He looked kind of familiar.
"Saera! It's great to see you!" Luke smiled warmly at her, but she thought she could see a little question in his eyes.
"Hi Luke." Her heart was pounding in her ears and her chest felt all tight, but somehow...she wasn't as happy to see him as she thought she'd be. She just felt really stressed.
"So why have you come here, of all places?"
"Why do you think? To find you, of course! I've been looking for you for a while. Because of the Sand People attack...well, everyone thought you were dead."
"That wasn't Sand People, it was Imperial Stormtroopers." His voice was a little distant and cold.
"Oh, Luke, I'm so sorry. But why would Imperials attack your homestead?"
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later. Go on."
"Oh, right. Well, um, I heard about the whole Death Star thing, so I figured I'd come find you. I've missed you, a lot."
"Sorry about not telling everyone I wasn't dead, but I was kind of in a hurry."
"That's alright," she said, even though it wasn't, really. She wished he'd taken the time. Why couldn't he have taken the time?
Glynn coughed off to the side. She snapped her head towards him and gave him a dirty look.
"Uh, Luke, I really want to see you. There's...something important I have to tell you."
"What is it?"
"No, I...I'd really like to tell you in person, as soon as possible. It's very important." She put as much pleading as she could into her eyes and voice.
"Well, I suppose I could ask a favor of someone I know..."
"Thank you so much! You have no idea what this means to me!"
"Hey, thank her, she's going to be the one doing all the string-pulling."
"Her?" She couldn't help asking, feeling a little silly.
"Another thing I'll explain in the long story."
"Oh. Well, thanks, hopefully I'll see you very soon."
"Bye."
She shut off the link.
Her. Who could 'her' be?
Saera turned away from the console to see Glynn looking off in another direction with his arms folded across his chest and a little scowl on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." His voice was just the tiniest bit strained, so little she almost didn't hear it.
Well, if he's not going to tell me, I'm not going to stand around playing games and sifting through his brain.
"You're going to get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that."
He cocked his head to the side, amused. "Why would I care if I got wrinkles?"
"You're impossible." She sighed, and he resumed his scowling. Whatever... She opened the door. "I'm done."
"Talk to Luke?" The officer smiled.
"Yeah." The officer winked at her knowingly and led them back to the lounge-type area. Saera couldn't help but stare at the wall chrono as they sat there in silence. Every minute was another minute they could be found out in, another minute for her to lose everything in.
She glanced over at Glynn. Well, maybe not everything...
No. Thinking about it made her even more sure that the only happiness she could ever find would be with Luke.
What I'm doing is right.
It had to be.
Glynn chewed his lip violently, trying to rack his brain for where he'd seen Skywalker. Wanted posters? No, those were only the Princess' face. There weren't a whole lot of them, actually. Imperial cover-up...
Where!
It had been half a time part since Saera had contacted her Lovey-Diddums. Why weren't they on the surface yet? Or at least getting ready to go down?
It's OK. Half a time part is not all that long. Not really.
Hey, he should be happy that he didn't have to play nice with Saera's boyfriend yet. Every minute they waited was a minute they were together, and not even Skywalker could take that away from him.
Tell her now, then, while you're still alone and together...
No. Now was not the time for a confession of love. They weren't really alone, anyway.
Oh yeah, a bunch of rebel pilots and crewmen really care about your love problems.
Well, if her wasn't going to tell her he loved her, he might as well tell her how gorgeous she looked right now.
"Saera?"
"Yes?" She turned to look at him.
"I just wanted to say that--"
"Mernoai?" That stupid officer had come back again! Glynn was really starting to dislike the well-meaning rebels.
This is the second time they've interrupted me...
"Yes?"
"You and Torshnar here have been cleared to go down to the planet's surface. Guess you said something right to someone." She smiled mischievously. "I'll escort you to your ship. It's about time you guys got going--I'm becoming your own personal butler."
"Thank you."
Thank the Gods.
"Glynn, what were you saying?" she asked in a low voice as they trailed behind the Rebel officer.
"Huh? Oh, nothing important."
"OK."
Idiot!
When they got back to the Gaellia they strapped in and Glynn got directions from flight control for where to land, etcetera. The base was quite large compared to what he'd expected, and some parts looked like they'd been there for a while. They'd probably had a small outpost here already, then built on when they'd come from Yavin.
He didn't know exactly what would be waiting for them down there? A note for Saera? An escort to Skywalker? Skywalker himself?
Uggh, please not that. I don't think I could deal with a face-to-face with lover boy just yet.
It's your own fault you have to see him at all. If you'd just told her and got rejected, at least she'd understand why you DON'T want to see her stupid boyfriend.
It occurred to Glynn that he was only putting off telling her, perhaps, because he still held out some hope that she could possibly, maybe love him back.
Get that thought out of your head; there's NO chance of that.
As soon as they'd landed, Saera rushed off to the guest room. "I just have to do something." A few minutes later she was back in the cockpit as he did some post-flight checks on the Gaellia's system. She was a bit flushed, with considerably less lipstick on and not wearing the trench coat. Apparently, underneath it had been nothing more interesting than a pair of feminine slacks and a shirt made of some strange flowy material. She'd taken out her hair, too, but it was still a bit curlier than usual.
"That's it? I thought you were wearing some incredibly low-cut shirt or nothing but see-through underwear, you got so uppity."
"Some day, Torshnar," she said, red-faced and through clenched teeth. "Some day I'm going to kill you."
"Is that a threat? Take it easy! There you go, all uppity again. Just a joke."
"Take your stupid coat." She shoved the big bundle she'd been carrying at him.
"You need to lighten up."
"You need to grow up," she shot back. "Do you really think I'd wear nothing but see-through underwear?"
He grinned and shrugged. "I wouldn't bet on it, but I'd love to see it."
"And I thought you were impossible before."
"You're pretty impossible yourself. And since when do you get over calling me immature?"
She sighed and brought her hand up to her forehead. "Look, I don't want to get into another fight, please? Can we just drop it? Not now."
"Whatever."
She moved towards the cockpit entrance.
"Where are you going?"
"To, uh, check out the base and stuff, I guess."
More like going to go check out Luke and stuff. And I don't think I want to know what 'and stuff' stands for...
"OK." He didn't want to push his luck, but as soon as she had left the room, he jumped out of his chair to follow.
Gods, you're an idiot. Sat still and you could've stayed behind.
And imagined their reunion. And them touching. And kissing. And holding each other. And...
STOP!
You're going to drive yourself crazy.
"What are you going?" Saera asked when he caught up with her at the ship's entrance.
"Coming on the tour."
"Oh. Well, I, um, kind of..."
He gave her a questioning look.
"Well, I guess there's no reason you can't come." She gave him a smile, one he knew was fake.
Maybe she's already figured it out and feels bad for me. That's plausible.
And stupid.
His head hurt. Maybe he was going crazy.
So. Yeah. I know, not much happened this chapter. And I would've gotten it up a coupleof days ago, but I was talking to my grandma. :P
Freetrader - Wow! Three reviews! Lots to respond to. OK, starting with...
Chapter 16: Erm, I'm not sure if I can make them make out...they didn't exactly make out before. It was, like, one kiss. That's not really making out ;) But yeah,Glynn has Force Powers. Sort of. It's complicated. He can only do that one thing, and he's more Force-sensitive than powerful in the Force. He's never been trained (and won't be), so it's not a very big thing.
Chapter 17: Sorry! Couldn't have Glynn meet Luke this chapter, it was getting too long. But I promise it will happen next chapter (which I have an urge to type up, so you might get it very soon). And yeah, Saera is kinda being a loserfor not falling for Glynn. I mean, he's hot! (At least, the way I picture him :D) But it would be boring otherwise!
Chapter 4: See, nothing bad happened! I love them too much to make them die or something.And you are not a fool. The enthusiasm of your reviews makes me happy. See, a smiley:)And I hope I didn't kill you ;)