Chapter 9 Calm Before the Storm

Still smarting, Lark went to find her father. He was checking off things on a datapad and giving orders. She sat on a box and watched him.

"You're not flying?" she asked when the people he'd been talking to had left.

Jesse looked up and smiled when he saw her. "Nope. I'm in charge of getting everyone out of here directly after the attack."

Lark nodded.

Jesse touched her chin. "You've grown up a lot since I last saw you."

"Guess I have." Lark admitted. So much had happened.

"Want to talk about it?"

She shook her head. "There's too much to do right now."

"Ok. But remember, I always have time for my little girl." He tweaked her ear.

A few weeks ago Lark would have playfully protested to being called little, but now she only smiled and basked in her father's love as he went back to work. Maybe she had grown.

> > > >

Bob found Han doing what he'd expected: collecting the reward. He stood behind him and cleared his throat.

"Didn't see you there." Han didn't look up.

"Han maybe we should stay." Bob said, bracing for Han's reaction.

Han whirled to face him. "Stay? Stay! Are you crazy? This place will be going up in flames in a minute, and you want to stay?"

"How do you know it's going up in flames?"

"You heard that guy and their attack plan." He shook his head. "It's crazy."

"You've done stuff just as crazy."

"Look, you can stay if you want, but I'm out of here." He stalked off.

Bob shook his head. He wanted to stay, but he had a feeling he could get at Han if only he stuck to it. He looked around. He hoped he was doing the right thing.

"All flight trooper, man your stations. All flight troops, man your stations." A voice over the loudspeaker said. Bob followed Han. They would be leaving.Luke came up behind them. "So you got your reward and you're just leaving then?"

"That's right, yeah!" Han said. "I got some old debts I've got to pay off with this stuff. Even if I didn't, you don't think I'd be fool enough to stick around here, do you? Why don't you come with us? You're pretty good in a fight. I could use you."

"Come on! Why don't you take a look around? You know what's about to happen, what they're up against. They could use a good pilot like you. You're turning your back on them." Luke pleaded.

"What good's a reward if you ain't around to use it?" Han argued. "Besides, attacking that battle station ain't my idea of courage. It's more like suicide."

"All right. Well, take care of yourself, Han. I guess that's what you're best at, isn't it?" Luke spun on his heel and walked off.

Han hesitated and snuck a quick look around. "Hey, Luke...may the Force be with you."

Luke turned and lifted his hand in a small wave. Bob sighed. Luke had definitely touched a nerve.

> > > >

"Leia!" Lark ran to catch up. "M'lady." She corrected.

Leia rolled her eyes. "Lark, we're not at the senate anymore."

"Right. Leia. Where's Luke? I want to wish him luck."

"Then come with me; that's exactly what I was going to do."

Lark nodded and followed. They found Luke under a huge space fighter. He looked upset.

"What's wrong?" Leia asked.

"Oh, it's Han! I don't know, I really thought he'd change his mind." Luke tried and failed not to show his frusteration.

Leia put a hand on his arm. "He's got to follow his own path. No one can choose it for him."

"I only wish Ben were here." Luke sounded so miserable, that Leia reached up and gave him a tiny kiss.

"Good luck." She whispered, walking away.

"Same goes for me." Lark told the blushing Luke. "Only I say it better: May the Force be with you."

"Thanks." He said.

Lark watched him go as another pilot caught up with him. She wished for a brief instant that she could be flying too, but she shook her head. X-wings were way to cramped for her. She went to the control room where her parents and Leia were sure to be.

Kind of short, but I wanted to get something up. ANNOUNCMENT! I put up the beginning of my original story on The link's on my profile, so if you have a couple minutes, I'd really apprecitae reviews and constructive crititsism.