Chapter Four
Terell and Lana

Thirty minutes after entering the bathroom, Terell finally emerged from it wearing dark brown pants and a towel draped over his shoulders. He picked the holo sphere on the night stand up without looking and walked it back to the table, while drying his damp head one handed with the towel. It wasn't until he set the sphere down and pulled on a faded yellow collared shirt, that he turned around and noticed Lana sitting up, leaning against the wall. He paused in buttoning his shirt and called her name. When she didn't answer he realized that she was still asleep. It was obvious to him that her sleep had been interrupted again by another nightmare. He sighed deeply, how many times had he found her like this? The troubling dreams, that had started shortly before their Captain's death was visiting her, it seemed, every time she closed her eyes to sleep.

When it first started she hadn't really shared with anyone what she was dreaming. Only Freya understood the fear it inspired in Lana. Concern for her Corellian friend made the empath prompt Terell to talk to her about it. All Lana told him was that she was dreaming about a man wearing black that she had never seen before and that it would be very dangerous for anyone in Rogue's Gambit to cross his path.

Terell remembered the momentary look of shocked horror on her face when he first suggested in passing that perhaps her dream was showing her the future. It wasn't the casual way in which she'd shrugged that off that caught his full attention, but rather the serious way she made him promise not to tell the others what she'd told him.

He was beginning to be very concerned, for he had noticed a subtle distance in her. Like she was afraid to get too close to those she cared most about for fear that something bad might happen to them. In an effort not to see the nightmare, Lana had began staying awake long after everyone else in the band had gone to bed. As a result the nightmare was intensifying and she was getting less and less sleep and becoming more on edge.

Knowing that she needed to catch up on as much rest as she could get, Terell left her alone. Creature was still on the bed, on her right, standing guard over her. Though his eyes were leisurely closed, Terell knew from experience that the animal was wide awake.

The Alderaanian man returned the towel to the bathroom and then busied himself with little things to do. As he did he started humming a tune that had been running through his head. He sat down in the armchair and checked the holo sphere for any damage his game of cat and mouse might have caused. This kept him busy until his creative muse urged him to stop what he was doing and pick up his instrument.

He gave in and took his six string Alderaanian guitar in hand and began lightly strumming the strings. As he played he thought of his feelings for the woman asleep in the bed and the words he'd considered putting to the music entered his mind, 'I'm going to love you, like nobody loves you.' With his eyes closed, he smiled to himself and softly hummed the new lyrics, considering were they sounded best in the song he was writing for his girlfriend. Soon he was lost in what he was doing and didn't realize that Lana was waking up.

A slow smile spread across her peaceful face as the music and his soft humming greeted her waking ears. She opened her eyes and happily watched him working out his new tune for a while, until a bittersweet thought entered her mind. What if his suggestion that her recent nightmares were warning her of the bands impending doom? What if the man in her dreams was real? She thought that she had felt his presence as though he were while she was sleeping earlier and it had startled her awake. Her soft smile wavered as she wondered what she would do if Terell was no longer in her life. The idea was troubling to her and the more her mind lingered on it, the more she wanted to be in his arms.

Terell felt her eyes on him and strummed softer, lowering the volume of his playing. He knew now, without looking, that she was awake.

Lana banished the troubling thoughts from her mind and stretched. Then began caressing Creature after he nuzzled her arm.

"I love that tune," she sighed sweetly. "It's so beautiful."

Terell grinned and played it a little louder for her.

Lana set Creature aside and rose from the bed. She went and leaned over the back of his cushy armchair and loosely wrap her arms around his shoulders. She kissed his stubbled covered cheek and his grin blossomed into a broad smile. Content to be right where she was, she gave a sigh then lightly inclined her head against his and just listened while his fingers skillfully continued to strum the instrument's six strings. After a moment she leaned in more to watch where he placed his fingers for each cord. With a mild smile, she moved away and gathered her own six stringed instrument, then sat down opposite him on the sofa and followed his lead, adding the underlining harmony that he'd taught her to play for his new tune.

The sound of the two acoustical instruments harmonizing so perfectly together made Terell think that perhaps the music was making a correlation about their relationship. It brought a tantalizing glint to the Alderaanian's eyes as he watched Lana.

This in turn made the smile come back to her face and relaxed her concerns about her nightmare, it was after all just a dream. All Lana thought about was Terell and how much she cared for him. He was her saving grace, her steadfast anchor of calm, in the hell that had become the norm in their crazy life of espionage for the Alliance. His firm belief in freedom is what kept her heart from losing hope in what, at times, felt like a hopeless fight. She would treasure this rare time alone with him for as long as she lived.

"Have you found the words to it yet," she asked, while changing cords.

"I've got some idea's," was his mysterious reply.

"Only some?" she playfully teased. "You've been working on it for weeks."

"I know, but the right words aren't always easy to come by," he said casually. "It'll come to me when the right inspiration strikes."

"Oh, so it's inspiration that you're looking for?" she said, stopping the strings of her instrument and setting it down. A seductive cast was rising in her eyes as she slid off her seat onto her knees and moved over to him.

"Mmm-hmmm," Terell answered, meeting her sultry twinkle. He continued playing, his gliding fingers never revealing the anticipating beat that had captured his heart. He only stopped when Lana's body pressed his hand against the strings as she rose up on her knees and took his face in her hands.

"I think I can ignite your muse into action," she softly whispered and then pulled him into a passionate kiss.

Terell melted into her lips fond embrace. He felt the heat raise to his face. Never before had she kissed him like this. It made him think of nothing else but her. He forgot the instrument between them and drew her lips back to his before she could fully part from him.

"Is that inspiration enough, my love?" she asked slightly winded, after they finally parted.

Terell nodded and was held momentarily speechless by her use of the endearment 'my love.' Though he already knew how Lana felt about him, she had never actually voiced it outright to him. He had never wanted to push her into a confession and now his patience had at last paid off. A huge grin broke across his face, he wouldn't have traded this moment for anything else in the known universe. He let go of his instrument when she took it out of his hands to set it aside. She pulled his knees further apart and inched between them. Terell swallowed the nervous lump in his throat with some difficulties as Lana parted his unbuttoned shirt and leaned against his bare chest. She wrapped her arms around him in a warm affectionate hug and Terell relaxed with contentment and drew her closer.

"I love you," he confessed, when he finally found his voice again.

Lana smiled bitter sweetly and, holding onto him as though afraid of losing him, returned the heartfelt endearment.

Terell was struck with concern by the melancholy hint in her voice. "Don't worry Lana, everythings going to work out, you'll see."

She looked up into his confident deep blue gaze and felt a sudden regret that she couldn't explain.

Wanting to ease her worries, Terell gave her his further assurances. "I've got a good feeling about this one."

Lana smiled and kept her own concerns to herself. For now she would not let her misgivings about this mission stop her from enjoying his affectionate attentions. Again her smile turned seductive while her hands wandered down to gently caress along his inner thighs.

"I can think of better ways to inspire you," she softly cooed with an inviting cast.

Terell enjoyed the feel of her slow easy massage. His body reacted naturally to her stimulating touch. With a deepening breath, he closed his eyes and kept control of his desire for her. It wasn't easy, especially when she raised up on her knees to tenderly kiss his neck and softly whisper an invitation in his ear.

"Are you sure you still want to hold onto your Alderaanian traditions of morality?"

Terell pulled away and, instead of refusing her, suddenly found himself earnestly asking, "Are you sure you want to give that part of yourself to me?"

"I thought you knew me better then that," said Lana, feigning injury. "Corellian's don't have the same morality issues as you Alderaanian's."

"Then why have you never been with a man?" he asked in return, thinking that he was going to catch her off guard.

Lana shrugged and gave a simple answer. "I've been too busy. Let's face it, the opportunity really hasn't presented itself before."

"Oh is that it?" he asked with a teasing grin.

"Partially," she said with casual honesty. Then eyed him pointedly, "It's that and the right man has been too blind to see that I've been waiting for him to make his move for the past few years."

Terell was surprised by the confession she'd just thrown at him.

"It's not that I didn't want to," he admitted seriously. "But you were fifteen and I was twenty."

"That was five years ago, Terell. And you never seemed to have a problem kissing and holding me back then."

"That's not exactly the same thing now is it?" he said with a small pointed grin. "I wasn't going to make a move beyond that on a teenager. General Striker would have thrown me in the brig if I had and my father would have helped him lock the door."

"Well your father and Jared Stryker aren't here and I'm not fifteen anymore." She lightly kissed his lips and casually slipped her hands past his open shirt to caress his chest with the seductive cast back in her gaze, "Now, I love you and you love me, and I really don't see where the five year gap in our ages is a problem anymore."

"It'll be the first time for both of us," he said with a nervous swallow, more to himself than to her.

"That's a good thing, neither one of us has preconceived ideas about the other," Lana returned, kissing his neck.

"The others could be back at any moment," said Terell, looking at the door, to escape the unexpected anxious mood that had captured him all of the sudden.

Lana kissed along his stubbled jaw line, "Then I guess you'd better hurry up and make a decision."

His eyes fell back on her and he saw that this time there was no teasing glint in her soft gaze. She was serious. He devotedly caressed her cheek and seriously considered her offer.

"You are so beautiful, Lana," he whispered tenderly. "Just being around you tests the limits of temptation for me."

Lana smiled flirtatiously.

"Just doing my part in corrupting you further, oh virtuous one," she returned, inclining her head some in a mock bow. She then gave an exaggerated sigh and feigned a pout. "But since you obviously can't handle it I'll leave you alone."

She stood but Terell caught her by the wrist before she could turn.

"Come here, you," he said and she laughed when he pulled her into his lap. He leaned in close to her but she stopped his oncoming kiss with two fingers pressed against his lips.

"I thought I was too much of a temptation for you," she reminded him with a teasing twinkle in her eyes.

"Are you complaining?" he asked, toying with her shirt. His hand slipped under the soft fabric to caress her.

An anxious beat captured Lana's heart. His gentle advance made wonderful butterflies take wing in her stomach and spurred her blood to run hot with desire. She pressed his hand to her breast and Terell felt her pulse racing. Still her eyes reflected her delight at his tender caressing touch.

"Cause, I can stop if you want me to," he said softly.

Lana shook her head. "Definitely not complaining," she answered in a shaky breath.

Terell returned her inviting smile and then kissed her.

The storm raged on. Lightening splitting the angry skies, sporadically lighting the way for the two Corellian brothers and their female companion's return to their hotel. They entered the busy lobby and headed without a word to anyone straight to their adjoining rooms.

Terell and Lana broke from their kiss and looked up from their shared seat when the three entered the room. The trio presented quite a sight dripping wet and slightly muddy. Still the mutual looks of astonishment on all their faces was evident. Lana and Terell both blushed when they realized the position they had frozen in when the door opened. Lana let go of Terell's hand and he extracted it out from her shirt and helped her from his lap.

Keirdan strode forward with his brow cocked high in interest. "Sooo. . ." he drawled, by way of a greeting, "did anything interesting happen while we were away?"

"No," Terell answered easily. He stood next to Lana with the slightest hint of a guilty grin hiding in the corner of his mouth.

"Right. It looked like you had you're hands full to me," Keirdan teased, looking from him to Lana and back again. Terell remained fully composed and said nothing. "Well, you can go on the next food run," he handed the sandwiches they brought back for them to Terell while looking at Lana with a charismatic grin, "and I'll stay behind with her."

Lana, used to Keirdan's friendly rivalry with Terell, ignored him and avoided Freya's examining gaze while she spoke to Bailen. "So what did you find out?"

"We're definitely in the right place," he answered.

"Which one of you used the Force?" Freya interrupted.

"What?" said Lana, as though she hadn't heard her correctly.

"I felt the disturbance," Freya told them. "Which one of you did it?"

"You know perfectly well that neither one of us--"

"I did," Terell answered, speaking over Lana.

She turned a very curious examination on him.

"You did? " she asked, amazed. He nodded with a flicker of a grin. "You said that you were through with relying on something that was so sporadic."

"I was, but-- Well I've gained better control over it just recently," he replied.

"You've been practicing on your own," guessed Lana.

Terell nodded, his grin spreading wider, "I was going to tell you."

Lana's brow furrowed some, "When have you found the time to practice?"

"Why did you use it? I think is a better question," Freya interrupted, before Terell could answer her.

"I thought I felt something strange, a kind of presence, in the room standing next to Lana while she was sleeping," he explained. "And I was trying to tell what it was."

"Well, what was it?" Freya asked expectantly.

"I didn't get anything that was concerning, just a calming feeling," Terell answered honestly. "Like whatever it was, was only curious about her."

Lana stared at him, surprised. Not so much that he had used the Force but that he felt the same presence that had interrupted her sleep.

Terell caught the subtle cast in her eyes and understood. "You felt it too. That's what woke you up."

Lana avoided his gaze. "You know what I think of that suggestion. You and Freya are the only ones with special abilities on this team."

Terell was slightly hurt by her brush off.

"So tell us what you found out," Lana said, changing the subject while sitting down on the cushy arm of the chair they stood next to.

"It's a good thing you're sitting down, boss," Bailen said, nudging Freya, who went over to the holo sphere. "It turns out that the Captain did leave a final message for us on one of our own demo discs."

The holo sphere rose into the air after Freya placed the disc into the narrow playing slot and stepped out of the way. Once again Creature was attracted to the humming sound it made. He flew off the bed to the back of the cushy armchair, staring intently at the hovering metal ball. Terell caught his playful interest and set the sandwiches down, then scooped the animal up to stop him from lunging at the sphere.

Freya gave a nod to Terell and instructed, "Hit the fifthteenth track."

Taking the remote from his belt, Terell started the phantom track. He then placed his free arm around Lana's shoulder while they watched Ehker's hologram come to life.

They all quietly listened.

Freya felt their moods turning somber. She glanced at Lana when she sensed building anger over shadow the Corellian's already burdened spirit. Her arms were folded casually and her stoic facial expression did not match that of her rising emotions. Although that changed with the last words of Ehker's message.

"If no one shows up in ten days, destroy the disc, and disband. You've all done your bit, go find a quiet place far away from this madness and settle down."

Lana was looking intemperately at the floor, her burning gaze filled with moisture, at this final command. She was so angry that she barely heard Ehker's final farewell. "Keep each other safe and may honor always keep you and peace find you well. " She scoffed at his, 'And may the Force be with you all.'

The holo sphere, having finished it's track, lowered back to the table and fell still. The silence that remained in the room was almost deafening.

"Well, I guess that's it," Terell finally sighed, breaking the muted moment with his ever calm voice. He met Keirdan, Freya and Bailen's expectant gazes. "In ten days time we'll know whether we're all still a part of the Alliance," he said, to gauge where their minds were on their captain's last command. Their joint protesting response was just what he knew it would be. Lana's however was not.

"Ehker's gone," Keirdan flatly stated. "I don't see where we would have to follow the orders of a dead man."

"Yeah," Bailen chimed in, "Show me where it says we have to. Lana's our official boss now. I say that it's up to her."

"It's an individual choice to continue," Terell told them all, agreeing some with Ehker's holographic message.

"Well I'm in," said Freya without hesitation.

"Me too," said Bailen loyally.

"You're kidding me right?" Keirdan asked Terell with sudden heat, "After everything we've been through to get our hands on these damn plans, you're just going to walk away from it all in ten days if no one shows up?"

"I didn't say that," said Terell, unruffled by his friends confounded temper.

"Then you agree with us, you're in for the long haul," Keirdan returned. He looked at the Corellian woman after Terell gave his nod of agreement. "And what about you Lana?"

She surprised them all when she rose to her feet and walked away from them. Lana went to the closet to pull out her bag and started gathering her minimal belongings from around the room in stoic silence. Creature broke from Terell's easy grip and flew to the bed, where Lana had set her things. The animal trilled up at her and butted his head against her hand. But she paid him very little mind as she packed.

Terell exchanged a worried look with the others before he approached her.

"What do you think Lana?" he asked curiously.

She paused in her packing. "If you're asking me, if I'm tired of living this kind life--" Lana stopped herself before she said what she was really thinking. No matter how much she didn't want the burden of her new position, she was in real command now. She couldn't show her friends that she'd lost hope, especially not when they were looking to her for their orders. "He can go to hell, if he thinks we're not going to see this through to the end," she said bitterly. She began aggressively shoving the rest of her belongings into her bag as she gave her first command. "Gather your things. I'll straighten up in here. One of you will have to fix up the other room. Make sure you get everything out and put the other room back in order, just the way we found it. I want to make sure that it looks like we were never here when we leave, which is in about ten minutes."

No one moved. It seemed that they were all taken aback by her flat commanding tone and her automatic straightening of the bed. They watched her go back to packing after the bed was fixed. None of them had ever seen her behave like this and they weren't sure they liked it.

Finally Terell stopped her from what she was doing and turned her around. Resentment flared in her moistened eyes when she looked at him. It was obvious that she was angry at their deceased Captain. Not just for thrusting the full command of Rogue's Gambit onto her, but for forcing her hand in his death.

Terell took her in his arms when a few tears escaped past her control. She held onto him, grateful for his comforting embrace.

"He didn't die for nothing," she insisted, her voice thick.

"I know," he affirmed with quiet conviction. He pulled her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her palm. "We'll find a quiet place after we've delivered the codes," he told her softly. "Just you and me. Far away from all this."

There was a moment when the three onlookers all seemed to hold their collective breath. They fully understood Terell's meaning and looked at Lana for her answer, hoping that it would be favorable.

"We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves outside of 'all this,' " she told Terell quietly.

He smiled affectionately. "You can take my name and we can finish what we started."

Lana gazed up at him. Once again, as always, his tender words had restored some hope of happiness for her. She returned his smile and nodded, accepting his implied proposal.

Terell's smile broadened and he kissed her.

Bailen let out a triumphant whoop and punched the air with his fist. Then he slapped Keirdan on the back with a jeering, "Look's like you just lost big time bro!"

"Show's what you know about women, little boy," he returned with sarcastic humor, "It's not over until there's a ring on her finger. Do either of you see a ring?" he asked pointing to the embracing couple before them.

"No," Freya answered plainly, then placed a mild hand on Keirdan's shoulder and added frankly. "But, his proposal was genuine. You are going to be hard pressed to top that move, my friend."

They watched Lana return Terell's passionate kiss.

"Yep, It's going to be interesting to see what you come up with," Bailen laughed and then he went into the adjoining room to retrieve his belongings.

Keirdan smiled briefly at Terell and Lana's embrace, then played up the part of wounded bird and followed after his brother. Though happy for his two friends he couldn't resist the urge to drag Terell away as he passed the Alderaanian. He took a hold of his friends shirt collar, "Come on, lover boy, you have to pack too you know."

Terell parted from Lana with a silly grin on his face as Keirdan pulled him away. Freya walked up to Lana, who's expression was similar to Terell's.

Like Keirdan, she couldn't resist.

"Breathe, Lana," she whispered in her ear. Lana blushed and went back to her packing. "So I guess this means that I'm going to have to find a new roommate," said Freya in passing as she too started packing.

"I'm not going to leave you behind Freya," Lana assured her.

"As much as I like the idea of following you two into wedded bliss, an empath living in the next room while you're in the intimate embrace of your mate is not something that either of you are going to want. And I don't really need to know when the two of you are doing that."

Lana took pause, blushing even further with a sheepish grin of embarrassment.

Artoo-Detoo swiveled his domed head around to the rear of the X-wing and secured a loosened stabilizer with a mechanical arm. He then let out a series of beeps and whistles to alert his master that they were coming to the end of their hyperspace journey.

Luke opened his eyes and straightened with a yawn. "I'm up Artoo."

He stretched his legs while reading the small droid's report of their space flight on his view screen. Luke nodded, agreeing with the droid's assessment of his ship's condition. "Yeah that stabilizer is going to have to be replaced. It's just one more thing to fix on this old girl."

Luke switched the control of the ship back to himself and opened a channel to the Millennium Falcon.

"Han, you still with me?" he asked.

"Yeah, where are you now? " answered Solo, over the comm.

"I'm about to finish my jump." Luke replied.

"How'd you get ahead of us? "

"I've made a few modifications to my X-wing."

"You really must not want to buy the drinks," Han teased.

Luke eyed his comm with a slight smirk. "Yeah well as you so adequately put it, there's no point in buying something you can't afford."

"I'm right behind you on that one," chuckled Han.

"I'll pay for the drinks," came Leia's happy voice over the comm speaker.

Chewbacca's barking chuckle next flooded through the cockpit speaker.

"Yeah I know pal," Han said in reply. "What about you Lando? You got any credits? "

"Are you kidding? Jabba cleaned me out when I entered his services," he scoffed sarcastically. "Said it was an honor to pay to start working in his presence."

"Yeah but I know you, You didn't give him all your money," Han said wisely.

"What he didn't find I used to bribe the guards to secure my position in the palace."

Han's exaggerated sigh broadened Luke's reminiscent smile. He knew what was coming, even before Solo spoke.

"I tell ya kid, it's a sad day indeed when a beautiful lady has to dip into her own pocket to buy the drinks for the group of misfortunate guys she with."

"I can think of worse things, then being broke," Luke returned with an easy grin.

"Oh yeah, name one."

"Being alone," he answered automatically. It was a profound statement, in more ways than one, that took everyone off guard especially Luke, himself.

"You're not alone Luke," said Leia, her gentle voice full of compassion.

"I am in this X-wing," he replied with humor in his voice enough to cover his sudden embarrassment. "Not much room for anyone, but me in here."

Artoo-Detoo interjected his mechanical response.

"I'm sorry Artoo," said Luke after reading his translation. "Of course I didn't forget about you."

"Far be it for me to interrupt your cozy little moment, Luke," teased Han, "But the Falcon's exit jump is coming up. And it looks like there's an obstruction in our path."

"I see it, but I can't tell what it is," said Luke, rechecking his ships readout. "It's not coming up on any of my charts as a normal occurrence in this sector."

Chewbacca's growling bark confirmed what Luke was seeing on his long range scan.

"Yeah, I thought we were making too good a time," Han said, agreeing with his copilot.

"It looks like it might be an illegal floating shipyard or maybe it's an asteroid field," Luke suggested.

"With my luck it'll be an asteroid field," Han replied sarcastically. "I'll reopen this channel once we're out of hyperspace."

Luke agreed, while he prepared himself for the exit jump. "I'll catch back up with you in a few," he said, then closed his comm and concentrated on his flight. All the while he was thinking of good reasons to keep his friends from venturing too far from the Falcon once they landed.