Chapter Four

The mission had been a success. Starkiller Base had been destroyed, forcing the First Order to make a hasty retreat. The X-Wing squadrons had returned, along with the Millennium Falcon. Nell's jaw dropped when she saw the YT-1300 Corellian Freighter descend on to the tarmac. The ship was legendary, as was it's pilot. The entry ramp descended and out walked the Wookiee, Chewbacca, carrying An unconscious young man in his arms. He was followed by a young girl, dressed in ragged clothes and carrying a large staff. The General approached the girl, who sank in to the older woman's embrace. Nell was distracted from the sight as a man in an orange flight suit sprinted past her, running towards the Wookiee, who was placing the unconscious young man on a stretcher. The orange-suited pilot swiftly followed the stretcher as it was rushed in to the hangar and towards the medical bay that Nell had just come from.

Nell returned to her quarters, not without hearing mutterings in the hallways as she passed the returning pilots and other personnel.

"...used to be a 'trooper, heard he saved Dameron..."

"Solo's gone. Ren got him"

"Who's the girl?"

"Who's the other girl?"

The snatched pieces of conversation that Nell heard raised all sorts of questions. She carried on to her bunk, eager to rest and make sense of her new situation.

Nell had been assigned quarters in the pilots' wing, and she soon found her room. Palming the entry pad, she stepped in to the room. Her quarters were small and modest, with no window and a surprisingly generously-sized bed pushed up against the right wall. There was a small 'fresher to her right as she entered the room, and a small desk and chair were against the back wall. There was a closet with minimal hanging space on the left wall. Somebody had placed Nell's khaki hold-all on her bed, and she walked over and sat next to it. Reaching inside, she found her uncle's old, worn leather-bound flight log. Nell held it to her heart and breathed in the comforting scent of the leather.

Nell was startled out of her reverie by a chime at the door. Carefully replacing the log at the bottom of her bag, she walked over and palmed the door open. The door slid open to reveal a striking woman with long black hair and almond-shaped eyes, who appeared close in age to her.

"Nell, right? Hear you're a pilot! Name's Pava, Jess Pava. I'm a pilot in Red Squadron. The General wants me to show you the flight sims. You good to go?"

Nell was startled by the other girl's enthusiastic greeting, but quickly recovered.

"Um, sure...Jess? Really good to meet you – I don't know anyone here yet."

The other girl chuckled, "We'll soon change that. Victory party in the mess tonight! You'll meet all the guys then – they're gonna love you! Now, come on..."

Jess grabbed Nell by the hand, dragging her away down the corridor towards the hangar.

When they reached the cavernous hangar, Jess thrust a grubby orange flight suit in to Nell's hands and led her over to a large pod which contained a replica of an X-wing cockpit.

"Right Nell, you need to put that on, then we'll get you in here. You can show us what you're made of. Ever flown an X-wing?"

Nell shrugged, peering inside the pod at the controls, pulling the formerly-orange suit up over her body.

"Nope. My uncle taught me to fly an A-Wing from the age of 6 though, so it can't be too different, right? He flew in Green Squadron during the battle of Endor"

Jess looked her up and down, impressed.

"You're Dak Evaan's niece? If you're anything like your uncle, this sim'll be a walk in the park. Ready?"

Nell nodded, eager to get started. She climbed in to the pod and settled herself in the worn leather seat, flicking switches and setting the controls up for the sim flight. Jess handed her a battered old helmet and closed the door of the pod with a grin.

"See ya on the other side, Evaan!"

Nell took a deep breath, closing her eyes, and exhaled, opening them. She focused on the sim flight ahead of her, and felt her hands grip the familiar controls.

"Just a walk in the park..." she muttered, a smile playing on her lips as she effortlessly went through simulated flight manoeuvres.

Nell eased up on the controls and brought the sim flight in to land as Jess pounded on the roof of the pod, signalling time was up. Jess clambered out, removing her helmet and pushing a lock of unruly hair behind her ear.

"You sure you've never flown an X-wing before? Girl, you're damn good!" Jess breathed. "Wait 'til Dameron hears about this – you arrived just in time, we lost some good men in the last battle".

"I'm sorry" Nell murmured, unsure what to say to the other girl.

"We're in a war now. It happens. We celebrate victories, and in doing so we honour the fallen" Jess shrugged, a sad smile on her lips. "Anyway, with sim scores like that, you've earned a celebration! Come with me!"

Jess grabbed Nell by the wrist, dragging her off down another corridor. Nell could see a pattern emerging, but couldn't help the smile on her face as she followed her new friend.