Counting Stars
Set 3ABY, almost directly after Hell Above: The Sound Of Silence
"It wasn't that bad." Kat argued.
"That, in all honesty Lieutenant-Commander, was the worst loss I have ever seen."
"Wedge, you don't have to talk to me military-ish-type all the time. Secondly, shut up."
But Wedge Antilles was having way too much fun to let this go. "You're not gonna hear the end of this for a long time, my friend, because-"
"Rogue Nine," the voice of another dear friend interrupted the conversation from the door of the mess hall.
"What does Rieekan want now?" Kat whined. "Everything is in! I have no more reports to hand in! I'm innocent! Hobbie, do you know what he's-" she held up her hands defensively.
"Actually it's the Commander this time, Lieutenant."
Both Kat and Wedge seemed to be surprised at the news.
"Oh… that's a relief…" Kat sighed. "Which Commander?"
"I think we both know the answer to that one." Wedge murmured.
"Commander Skywalker requests your presence immediately." Hobbie smirked. "I honestly can't tell if somebody's in trouble, or just getting very lucky."
"That," Kat blushed as she pointed a finger at Hobbie's mischievous smile. "is something you've obviously picked up from yours truly." She stepped aside to reveal Wedge biting his lip to stop himself saying something inappropriate.
"Dejarik, Hobbie?" Wedge cleared his throat. "Corellian whiskey is going around. And tipsy Celchu is always fun."
"Just as long as he doesn't find Kat's lightsabers again, I'm definitely in it for Tycho. Don't have too much fun with Luke, Kat." Hobbie smirked once again.
"We don't want you up to late, sweetheart." Wedge joined in.
"Be back home before midnight."
"Remember to safe."
"We don't want any accidents at your age."
Kat blushed furiously at the two. "Shut up."
"We're just worried about you, Kat darling." Hobbie was smiling so hard he'd probably get toned muscles around his mouth.
"We don't want our little girl growing up too fast." Wedge kissed his index finger and placed it to Kat's head.
"I'm a teen mom, I can do what I want now." Kat played along, still blushing though, and turned out on her heels and walked away as quickly as she could, overhearing more comments like 'Don't worry dear, it's just a phase' and 'I don't want her getting in too much trouble, Bill'.
Kat quickly strode down the halls of Golrath Station towards the Commander's office. She tapped on the door and was answered by a 'come in'. The door slid open to reveal Luke Skywalker sitting at a desk with his head buried in a data pad.
Under the circumstances of how Luke had called for her, she stepped in with the door sliding shut behind her, straightened her Alliance uniform and stood as with her straightened back.
"Lieutenant-Commander Dravvaadas, reporting for duty." She almost sniggered at her own words.
She was kept waiting by a finger that was held up as Luke continued to be preoccupied with his datapad.
As soon as Luke had finished whatever tactics he was planning, he slid the datapad carelessly across his desk and rested his elbows in front of him, resting his chin in his hands.
"That was a formal entrance."
"I was called under formal commands."
Luke frowned at this. "Did Hobbie give you a hard time?"
"He was with Wedge; he had to."
Luke winced as he stood up. "I hope it wasn't too bad."
Kat waved it off with her hand. "Han was worse when he first found out about us."
Luke's pace slowed as he walked around the desk when she said that.
"Shivat." She cursed herself. She had immediately regretted putting her mind to Han.
She had never realised how much she loved the scoundrel until now.
"Don't think too much." Luke's hands came to her shoulders. He smiled at her in an attempt to comfort. "It's not good for you. I've said so to you before-"
"I know, I know." Kat didn't want another lecture on that again. "but I wouldn't be saying that if I were you."
The mask dropped and Luke's smile faded away. His head dropped and hung low as an expression of pain crept onto his face.
Of course his trust in the Force is shaken. she thought. And after all Luke had done for her these past few years, she couldn't think to do anything but repay the favour.
"Always here." She smiled at him. Somehow his hands ended up in hers and she swung them back and forth. "I say instead of watching me drink too much whiskey again tonight, how about we call it a night in?" she suggested. "Stay up late talking in one of our bunks?"
And with her suggestion, she felt the warmth she always knew creep back into Luke's soul.
"I'd do that." Luke replied, before leaning forward and giving her a kiss on her forehead. "but can I talk to you about the reason why I called for you?"
"Oh. Yeah. Sure. Forgot. Sorry."
"We're going on a trip."
"What?!"
It wasn't like Kat was completely shocked by the news. She just didn't think Luke was being so serious back on Hoth and Dagobah.
"To Tatooine."
"… oh."
Luke frowned. "What's wrong with Tatooine?- actually never mind. I never said that I know what you're gonna say."
Kat simply nodded. "Has this got anything to do with Jabba being there?"
"Uhh, thirdly."
"Thirdly?"
"Well, considering Boba Fett will likely take Han to Jabba sometime soon, depending on the information Lando brings back, we should begin planning a rescue mission. Also, Ben's hut is there. Did you ever go into Ben's hut?"
"Once or twice."
"Well, he's got a nice shelf of books on Jedi training."
"And you want me to come along to witness the glorious moment of when you become a Jedi?"
"Uh, you can loan me a lightsaber while I figure out a way to get another. But the main reason you come is, well… we'll be alone."
It took a few seconds for Kat to grasp what Luke was suggesting. "Oh! Oh, yes. I'm definitely coming." She grinned from ear to ear as she swung her arms around his body tightly.
"Pleasure." Luke groaned.
"But we can't leave until Leia and I have found the Imp spy."
"What?!"
And Kat realised that she had never told Luke of her and the Princess' plan.
"Oh. Keep quiet about that." She let go of him. "You heard nothing." She waggled her fingers in front of his face and spoke with a deep tone.
"Ok." Luke mimicked Kat by waggling his fingers in front of her face and speaking in a high pitched voice.
At least Kat was happy that he wasn't thinking too much.
"You're so dorky." She giggled at his idiotic grin.
"Says you. 'I'm Kat and I love banthas!'"
Kat turned around as blood rushed up to her face. "Yeah, their cute." She spoke in a small voice.
"Yep, just like you." Luke came up behind her and placed his hands on her hips, kissing her jawling underneath her ear.
"Ok, one: that was a terrible flirt, and two: I am not cute."
"Hm, sure." Luke's arms just snaked around her body and held her more tightly as he began making a trail of kisses towards her mouth.
Kat concluded that this was way better than too much whiskey in her system.
Ok. I'm fairly confident that now I'm gonna write prequels. I know, I know, you may not understand how but if I do prequels first the sequels will make more sense. And no I'm not waiting for the new movie (which I'm like, almost squealing over I'm so excited) because a) I plan on going all out AU with sequels and b) I'd have to wait until 2019 to be able to write it. So... prepare for Nadae?
- yoda-is-cool
