A/N A great big "Thank You" goes to all who have reviewed, and my sincerest apologies for making you wait for so long. I really didn't mean to leave this hanging for so long! Thanks for sticking with it!
Hearts Are Meant To: Chapter 19
By Knight Mara
As he made his way toward the infirmary where Narra and Fen were waiting to question Lieutenant Grey, Luke Skywalker found himself seriously questioning his sanity. What in the universe had possessed him to suddenly, and awkwardly, kiss Genna Cage? He'd never done anything so forward in his life, and he wondered if Han's Corellian influence was starting to affect him. If so, it hadn't affected him enough, because he hadn't even stayed around long enough to see her reaction. He hadn't wanted to see it. What if she saw him as a foolish, clumsy farmboy? Or worse, what if Genna regarded the feelings that had led him to kiss her as either simply amusing or downright pathetic? Shaking his head and trying to calm his racing heart, he resolved not to think about it now. There were more pressing matters to deal with, such as trying to get Genna's name cleared of these accusations. His only hope right now was that Grey could at least verify that Genna had not been the one to attack him.
His hopes appeared to be shattered when he entered the infirmary and saw the grim faces of Narra, Fen, and Laire.
He skidded to a halt. "What is it?" he asked, although he felt he already knew the answer.
Narra confirmed his fears. "Grey's dead, Luke," he said solemnly. "Cerebral hemorrhage."
Luke went cold as hope vanished with the life of yet another Rebel. He barely felt someone grasp his hand firmly, but when he noticed it, he was shocked to see that it had been Laire who had made the gesture. Luke stared at him for a moment in disbelief.
Laire spoke first. "I want to apologize, Skywalker, for my behavior earlier today. Especially since I was very wrong." When Luke frowned in confusion, he continued. "Moments ago, when I arrived, Grey briefly regained consciousness, and confessed. He was the Imperial operative, not Ms. Cage."
As Luke processed the words, numerous questions rushed to the surface. "Who attacked him?"
Narra answered, "A second operative who wished to leave no loose ends, apparently. Grey identified him as a fellow named Nil who was posing as a tech, although we haven't been able to confirm it."
"However," added Fen, "we checked the ship's records, and there was an escape pod that was launched a few seconds before the cruiser jumped to lightspeed."
"So you think he got away?" Luke asked.
"Indeed," Fen replied, "it seems fairly certain that he did."
"Gentlemen," interrupted Laire, "now I must go and release Genna Cage from custody and apologize to her as well." He saluted Fen, and added, "I will meet with you later, General."
Fen nodded to him, and Luke watched him leave.
"At least that situation is resolved," Narra commented.
Luke turned to him, his mind still reeling. "Yes, but if the second Imperial agent got away, that means the Empire knows we're here."
"Indeed it does, Skywalker," agreed Fen. "It is unfortunate, but true."
"So what are we going to do?"
"Our manufacturing facilities are well underground, so they should be quite safe and undetectable for the time being," he replied. "However, the base will have to be evacuated as soon as possible."
"How soon?" asked Narra.
Fen sighed. "By this time tomorrow, this base will be only a memory."
"And what about Ithull?" Luke pressed. If an agent had returned to the Empire with information about Derra IV, Luke figured they'd have the location of the Ithull base as well. He was pretty certain of that.
"We just received word from Ithull," the general answered. "They're preparing to evacuate and relocate to the Hoth system."
Narra threw Luke a sympathetic look before asking, "How soon?"
"I'm not sure," Fen replied with complete honesty. "We'll have to wait until we meet up with the fleet to be sure."
"I understand, General," Narra said. Then he turned to Luke. "Commander Skywalker, gather the Rogues and meet in room 27 in one hour."
"Yes, sir," Luke responded, giving Narra and Fen a final nod each before walking out of the infirmary.
The Alliance was on the run again.
Hearts Are Meant To: Chapter 19
By Knight Mara
As he made his way toward the infirmary where Narra and Fen were waiting to question Lieutenant Grey, Luke Skywalker found himself seriously questioning his sanity. What in the universe had possessed him to suddenly, and awkwardly, kiss Genna Cage? He'd never done anything so forward in his life, and he wondered if Han's Corellian influence was starting to affect him. If so, it hadn't affected him enough, because he hadn't even stayed around long enough to see her reaction. He hadn't wanted to see it. What if she saw him as a foolish, clumsy farmboy? Or worse, what if Genna regarded the feelings that had led him to kiss her as either simply amusing or downright pathetic? Shaking his head and trying to calm his racing heart, he resolved not to think about it now. There were more pressing matters to deal with, such as trying to get Genna's name cleared of these accusations. His only hope right now was that Grey could at least verify that Genna had not been the one to attack him.
His hopes appeared to be shattered when he entered the infirmary and saw the grim faces of Narra, Fen, and Laire.
He skidded to a halt. "What is it?" he asked, although he felt he already knew the answer.
Narra confirmed his fears. "Grey's dead, Luke," he said solemnly. "Cerebral hemorrhage."
Luke went cold as hope vanished with the life of yet another Rebel. He barely felt someone grasp his hand firmly, but when he noticed it, he was shocked to see that it had been Laire who had made the gesture. Luke stared at him for a moment in disbelief.
Laire spoke first. "I want to apologize, Skywalker, for my behavior earlier today. Especially since I was very wrong." When Luke frowned in confusion, he continued. "Moments ago, when I arrived, Grey briefly regained consciousness, and confessed. He was the Imperial operative, not Ms. Cage."
As Luke processed the words, numerous questions rushed to the surface. "Who attacked him?"
Narra answered, "A second operative who wished to leave no loose ends, apparently. Grey identified him as a fellow named Nil who was posing as a tech, although we haven't been able to confirm it."
"However," added Fen, "we checked the ship's records, and there was an escape pod that was launched a few seconds before the cruiser jumped to lightspeed."
"So you think he got away?" Luke asked.
"Indeed," Fen replied, "it seems fairly certain that he did."
"Gentlemen," interrupted Laire, "now I must go and release Genna Cage from custody and apologize to her as well." He saluted Fen, and added, "I will meet with you later, General."
Fen nodded to him, and Luke watched him leave.
"At least that situation is resolved," Narra commented.
Luke turned to him, his mind still reeling. "Yes, but if the second Imperial agent got away, that means the Empire knows we're here."
"Indeed it does, Skywalker," agreed Fen. "It is unfortunate, but true."
"So what are we going to do?"
"Our manufacturing facilities are well underground, so they should be quite safe and undetectable for the time being," he replied. "However, the base will have to be evacuated as soon as possible."
"How soon?" asked Narra.
Fen sighed. "By this time tomorrow, this base will be only a memory."
"And what about Ithull?" Luke pressed. If an agent had returned to the Empire with information about Derra IV, Luke figured they'd have the location of the Ithull base as well. He was pretty certain of that.
"We just received word from Ithull," the general answered. "They're preparing to evacuate and relocate to the Hoth system."
Narra threw Luke a sympathetic look before asking, "How soon?"
"I'm not sure," Fen replied with complete honesty. "We'll have to wait until we meet up with the fleet to be sure."
"I understand, General," Narra said. Then he turned to Luke. "Commander Skywalker, gather the Rogues and meet in room 27 in one hour."
"Yes, sir," Luke responded, giving Narra and Fen a final nod each before walking out of the infirmary.
The Alliance was on the run again.