The next morning, Kaytoo marched into the bunks of the Sunrider to inform the two of them that they had a message from General Organa's private commlink. Anakin rolled out of his blanket onto the floor half-asleep and ran for the control panel, Tahiri mumbling sleepily as she stumbled behind him on the blanket trailing down his leg.

The blue translucent figure of Lt. Connix popped up. Anakin sighed. He'd wanted it to last so badly. He hadn't even realized he felt that way until the face of the General's assistant had popped up.

"Twin Suns Leader, this is Lt. Connix. General Organa has requested you return to the base for further instructions," she said briskly, and then the transmission was gone. Anakin looked to Tahiri.

"I'll get the Sunrider prepped," she said as she trailed back to the bunks to pull on a pair of pants.

Anakin nodded and punched in the starting programs for the passage to D'Qar.

"Pity. I had calculated a thirty-seven point five percent chance that the General would call you back," Kaytoo said. "I must say, she is rather eager to end our vacation, for someone who said we deserved a nice long one."

"The General's not to be disobeyed," Anakin said, his words clipped, not looking at the droid. "Doesn't matter, anyway. Must be important, too, if she wants to actually see me for once."

"I remember when the Annoying One was a mother," Kaytoo said reminiscently. Or at least, as reminiscent as a droid could get. "She was always fussing about the smallest of things. And she always hurried along on missions, a bit recklessly I dare say. If all human mothers are anything like the Annoying One, like my database suggests, your mother will want to see you because you are her offspring."

"That's nice," Anakin said, raising his eyebrows in suspicion as he turned to look at Kaytoo. "Where'd that come from?"

The droid made a gesture almost like shrugging. "You seemed on the verge of becoming distraught. There's a ninety-nine point three percent chance of very heavy equipment being thrown with the Force if you get distraught."

Anakin's cheeks turned pink as he remembered the three specific incidents Kaytoo was recalling: the time he had faced against his brother and barely escaped with his life, the battle that had killed all of the Twin Suns squadron but them, and the death of his father.

"You and I both know I don't get 'distraught' that easily, Kay," Anakin said, looking back to the screen.

"I told him to keep an eye on you," Tahiri said, marching back through the main corridor and into the cockpit wearing only a pale gray tank top and a pair of shorts with a scaly texture-most likely a Krayt dragon, if Anakin were to guess. "I remember losing my parents. It changes you."

"Thanks," Anakin said briefly.

"You can always talk about it," Tahiri reminded him. "Master Luke always said we were stronger together. That means emotionally, too. You don't have to be alone."

With that, she turned and exited out of the main exit.

"You should go with her, make sure she doesn't get hurt," Anakin suggested.

"Knight Veila is a competent, trained Jedi Knight," Kaytoo pointed out. "I doubt she needs me to protect her-"

"Just do it," Anakin ordered.

Kaytoo gave him a curious look before obeying and exiting the ship. Anakin sighed and finished punching in the coordinates and maneuvering the route to avoid occupied systems. He leaned back and rubbed his eyes.

I've got to pull it together, he told himself. Everyone's pinning all their hopes on me. Tahiri is. Luke was. Ben even did, for a time. The General's certainly counting on me to take over when she's gone. If I don't start acting like it. . .

He shook his head involuntarily. He knew he should talk to Tahiri, but it was hard to actually put that into motion.

You should talk to her, dummy!

He braced himself, and got to his feet to-

BANG!

Anakin fell to the floor, surprised by the rattle of the ground caused by the impact of a bomb or some similar weaponry. He called his lightsaber to his hand with the Force, and ran out of the Sunrider.

Gunfire was relayed across the beach. Several Deyerians fell, most carrying only spears for protection or lesser guns that were no match to the First Order's superior military fire.

"Over there-there's the rebels!" a man yelled, pointing at the Sunrider.

"I'll cover you-Kaytoo, get in the cockpit, and open the cargo door," Anakin ordered.

Kaytoo ran inside, closing the cockpit door. Anakin ignited his violet lightsaber, reflecting the bullets skillfully back at the troopers. Tahiri ran around, unplugging hoses and the like, until the ship was completely detached.

"Go, go, I'll hold them off," Anakin yelled, standing in front of the cargo hatch as a line of stormtroopers ran at him. Tahiri rolled her eyes, muttering a curse as she grabbed Anakin by the arm and ran. While Tahiri made it up just fine as the Sunrider began to hover, Anakin was caught by the stomach on the ramp. Tahiri grabbed his hand before he could fall, and he kicked wildly as bullets flew.

"Give me your other hand!" she shouted.

Anakin turned off his lightsaber and chucked it inside the cargo bay, the cylinder missing Tahiri's face by three inches, and she grabbed his other hand. She yanked him in, and the cargo door quickly closed and locked, knocking them both to the floor, Anakin on top of Tahiri.

Anakin blushed, and he thought Tahiri might have too, but he wasn't entirely sure. He sat up, and called his lightsaber back to his hand.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah."

I let another planet fall to the First Order. How long before I fail everyone?