Star Wars:

Of Heart and Beskar

By Kristopher Rose

Chapter VI

Yavin was a gas giant, with the old Rebellion era base being built in the massive pyramid like temple. Known simply as the Massassi Temple, it was a remnant of a lost age. Massive, imposing and a testament to the builders, it still filled all who saw it with both awe and terror. As it did with its newest guests, Mesh'la felt a shudder go down her spine as she looked at it from the ground.

Despite herself, she couldn't shake the fact that something horrible happened here. Dalen had been going on and on about the more recent history. He explained how a rag tag group of rebels had launched an attack on an impenetrable fortress. This fortress held a horrible weapon capable of destroying a planet in one shot, planetary shield or not. It was all before her time.

The amount of power needed to do such a thing was unheard of, so why do it at all? A weapon designed to destroy whole worlds, seemed so wasteful. Cities, forests, those were things that could be rebuilt or replanted. A planet was a whole biosphere, and its loss would be irreparable. Only truly evil or mad tyrants would consider the death of a planet for order or power, a fair trade.

Mesh'la shook her head, the imprint from the past seeming to come to life in front of her. Joyful pilots and fighters welcoming back the brave living, while some looked sadly at where old friends no longer were. She wondered what this place was doing, as this wasn't normal or natural. Even worse were the kids, they seemed to be walking through a miasma, their vision fogged.

"C'mon guys, let's keep up," she called out. All but Mace looked at her with haunted eyes.

"This place feels wrong, cold and dark," he said so solemnly. "It's hard to feel warm."

Then it was gone and even Mesh'la felt the atmosphere seem to lighten back up, and even the kids began to feel better. Dalen, meanwhile, had continued the impromptu history lesson, unaware of what had just transpired. He turned around, energy written all over his face, confused why the others were so far behind.

"Slow pokes! You're in the middle of history here," he pointed at one end of the complex. "That was where they had parked the X-Wings that went to attack the Deathstar. Oooh! Over there is where the Y-Wings were, and if you look outside, that is where the Millennium Falcon landed after the battle!"

"I can see why you chose to come back here," Mesh'la said, sounding just as tired as she felt. "Are there still any communication terminals around?"

Dalen shrugged, "Yeah, I have something rigged up over there. Should give you about ten minutes of privacy, then just turn it off and it'll reset the frequency."

Mesh'la waved, then told the kids, "Stay with Dalen. I'll be right back."

Again, Dalen went straight into the history of the place, and for a brief moment Aayla looked at Mesh'la to save her. Underneath her helmet, the Mandalorian smiled, but continued onward. She'd make it up to the kids, but at least for the moment they were safe. At least safe from gangs, and weird people wielding swords of light.

Her mind shot back to the three people, two of them were very similar. The third had a fighting style that would have looked haphazard to anyone who hadn't ever wielded a blade. Hand reaching for her beskad, she had recognized the mastery of the female warrior. It wasn't flashy, it wasn't overly elegant, it was practical and deadly. Something she could definitely appreciate, as her people were very prone to practical and deadly.

Finding the haphazard mess, that made up Dalen's "communication terminal," she again wondered about his sanity. The mess of wires, twisted up into a gordian knot like conundrum, she wondered how he had done it. Yet, as the terminal came on, it worked. Amazingly, and despite her misgivings, the target of her communication flared to life in crisp detail. Mesh'la would never let him know, how much she was impressed by this, couldn't have him getting a big head.

"Mando!" the voice of her client came across in the same distorted manner. "I was worried when I heard about Salvation Station. Are you okay, how about the children?"

"Everyone is in one piece," she replied back. "We had some company."

The distorted voice came back, "So, I've heard. Station security is doing a sweep for Anubilis. They aren't confident though, it's a slippery worm."

"I might give you a discount," Mesh'la growled. "A professional discount for a leader of thugs."

The voice laughed, "I'll pass that along to Station Security. In the meantime, I've found a safe haven for the children. They'll be safe there, safer than anywhere I can think in the Galaxy."

"Where is this place?" Mesh'la's voice for the first time edging with an air of suspicion.

The voice picked up on it, "A place where others like them are, where they can learn and grow strong. By now you've discovered they are different. Meet with…..on…'Den"

Suddenly the image went out and was replaced by a very serious looking man in a gray uniform. His scowl on such a young face didn't look right. No more than mid twenties to early thirties, he was young, and his voice hadn't matured to commanding yet. There was a bit of impetuousness to it, like he had grown up expecting people to jump at his command.

"This is First Order Commander Jenkins, prepare for our landing party," the officer growled. "You have our material. Stand down and we may be merciful."

Mesh'la hadn't needed to stick around, she was already running. Outside pinpricks of light appeared under the very recognizable shape of a Star Destroyer. In mere moments those dropships would be on the ground, and their window to escape shrunk each second.

A very encumbered Dalen and children were found, slowly carrying supplies back to the ship. He smiled at Mesh'la, but quickly frowned as he read her body language. It was then that he heard the faintest booms, as the first of the drop ships hit the atmosphere. Looking up, all the color drained from his face, and then he understood. Pushing the kids forward, he handed some of the supplies to the Mandalorian.

"Hurry! Get to the Thunderbird!" he called out. "Where did they come from?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, can you take off?" she asked.

His laugh was all she needed to hear, "Yeah, since meeting you, I'm starting to leave the ship ready to lift off at a moment's notice."

Mesh'la was the last in, the ramp already lifting as she quickly ran up and through. To the cockpit she went, the displays were already showing the landing craft, and six other incoming crafts. The computer came back with a designation of "TIE fighter variant."

"I don't think we're going to make it on my fancy flying alone," Dalen said. "Think you can man the top guns?"

"Fire them both up, I'll get Mace to take the lower one," she said. "It'd be good for him to get a chance to fight back."

"You sure about that?" he asked back.

Mesh'la nodded, "There comes a time when you have to stop running and fight. Something tells me he's ready to stop running."

"You got it, boss," Dalen joked back. "Turrets are armed."

Mesh'la sent straight for the ladder leading up, "Mace, get to the lower turret."

Mace didn't hesitate, jumped up and was down the turret in a flash. The other three sat back, unsure of what to do, when Dalen called Aayla up to the cockpit, leaving Ki-Adi-Mundi and Depa to worry alone. Depa reached out through her gift, finding her friends, and then came the response from far away. A powerful presence that had been so near back on Salvation Station, one that promised to make her strong.

"Listen, Blue," Dalen instructed. "When I tell you to hit that button, do it. That screen will show you the enemies. Whatever you do, do exactly as I say. Our scary friend is up in the turret about to give these creeps a reason to stay away."

Aayla nodded, silent, the Zabrak pilot turned and gave her a warm smile. She could feel his fear, but also another emotion, something foreign. It was the same feeling that Mesh'la had around her friends and her. She thought it was called, "protective." Maybe another word could be "responsible" or "caring."

The Thunderbird rolled as two TIEs began blasting at it with their weapons. As it came back into a straight flight, the top guns shot out a series of energy shots. Below two other TIEs dodged as the lower turret shot at them. The remaining two TIEs were weaving in and out, taking pot shots at the fleeing freighter.

Inside the upper turret, Mesh'la was swiveling the guns around. She lined up her shot, only for the TIE to turn at the last second. Part of her volley caught it in the huge vertical wing. Burning smoke was cast against the planet scape, as the fighter started to tremble. Below she heard Mace grunt as he sent out two volleys, none of his shots got closer than hers.

"Listen you two, I could really use some of those TIEs off my tail!" Dalen called up. "Don't worry, Blue, we have a Mandalorian, if she can't shoot, who can?" The teen looked at him like he was crazy, but the Twi'lek was grateful for him trying to keep it light.

He had to turn swiftly as one of the harassing TIEs came a little too close, while the other hit the ship's shields with a glancing blow. Coming up fast was the Star Destroyer, the crew aimed its weapons on the little ship, while tractor beam teams readied. Dalen steadied the ship again and pushed the throttle forward. He looked down at the display, still a ways to go before he could jump Hyperspace.

Mesh'la led her target, then focusing in, she fired quickly. This time the TIE exploded, sending its wing flying away. The wingman had to quickly evade, and the Mandalorian didn't waste time. Lining up her shot, she hit the trigger again, slicing the wing off the TIE. Below she heard Mace shout in excitement.

On the scope, two fighters disappeared, one right after another. The wounded TIE with one wing was caught in a spiral, but still alive. That left the two harassing fighters to break off before coming in from the side of the ship. Their hope was to come in under the firing arcs of both turrets. A quick rocking of the ship right to left, gave both gunners a shot, which they took.

Two quick fireballs illuminated the sky, and knocked the ever increasingly erratic wounded TIE, back to the planet. However, they weren't out of the woods yet. The Star Destroyer was in range, and the ship shuddered as the tractor beam hit it. However, Dalen managed to pull the ship out with a tight turn and increasing the thrust.

Just as he was about to pat himself on the back, the first shot from the destroyer hit the shields on the Thunderbird. Inside the lights flickered, and the controls fought Dalen. He kept them straight, and pulled back and to the right, dodging another shot. Then another hit, nearly took the engines out. The shields were near buckling, and he could smell the overheating.

"C'mon baby, just hang in there," Dalen whispered.

Aayla felt something though, and she quickly said, "Turn now, then go down."

"What?" Dalen asked, but just as quickly he pushed the controls right and then sent the ship into a dive. Behind it, multiple blasts from the Star Destroyer shot by. It would have been enough to disable them, or worse, possibly destroy the ship. He'd have to ask how she had known that, but that would be for later.

For the next few moments, they dodged, with the gunners on the bigger ship getting closer. One time, it was a miracle that Dalen dodged. Aayla tried to help, but she was tiring and was getting slower. Her guesses became less accurate, but even with that, still helpful. Behind them, sparks exploded out, as overload circuits tripped. They'd have to be reset, and possibly replaced.

Aayla shuddered, weakly saying, "I'm sorry, I tried."

"Don't you give up yet, Blue. I still have plenty of tricks," Dalen said. He wanted to give her a comforting pat but couldn't spare it from the controls.

It was then that the computer pinged, and Dalen felt joy fill his being. He winked at Aayla, pulled the Hyperspace controls back, and the starfield stretched out. To the Star Destroyer, the ship was there, and then it was gone. The commander unhappy with this, punished the gunnery crew for their incompetence. Moments later a rescue ship was sent for the still spinning TIE, and debris were collected in orbit.

"You did good, kid," Dalen turned and gave Aayla's shoulder a quick squeeze. "Now get back there and rest, I think I can handle it up here for a bit."

The returning Mesh'la helped her up, and led her to the passenger area. Mace rejoined the other two, uncharacteristically jubilant at his success. Dalen let them have their moment, because he too was feeling the events. Despite how calm he appeared, inside he was shaking. Normally he didn't make it a habit to be shot at by Star Destroyers. He hadn't even come across one till escaping that one, and why were they showing up everywhere?

That question would have to wait, as they still had a bit on their jump before coming back out in real space. Then he'd have to find a place to do some quick repairs. He hoped his poor ship wasn't too damaged, it had taken a beating in that last exchange. Dalen had put a lot into her, made a lot of modifications himself. He had faith that she'd hold together, just wished he didn't have to prove it in such a manner.

Mesh'la watched the pilot, and something akin to guilt affected her. She had hijacked his ship, and gotten him into this mess. She hadn't meant to, had just meant to get a ride and leave it at that. Despite all of this, he was good with the kids, and she hated to admit, was growing on her. There wasn't anything romantic there, but she had begun to respect him. Anyone willing to protect young lives, that weren't his, and sacrifice so much, was special.

The debt she owed him was growing it seemed, and maybe it was best that she let him escape. That would be the best way to repay him, by getting him out of danger. He wasn't Mandalorian, and it wasn't his mission or fight to help these kids. That was hers, a quest she had appointed to herself, but still hers. Mesh'la couldn't ask any more of him, and only hoped he'd understand.