DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except the AU portion of this fic. If I claim any of these characters, then you have the freedom to yell at me. Until then, I must find the six fingered man that killed my father.
Here it is! Chapter 3!
So I am officially on Summer Break this morning, and I cannot describe how good it feels to sleep in while the weather is warm and not sweltering here in Southern California. Come July, you guys will be hearing about how horrible 110 degree temperatures are. Until then, I'm enjoying this.
Yesterday, I wrote all of chapter four as well as most of chapter five, and it seems that the chapters are getting longer for each I write. And I'm not combining chapters either to make them that way. This is still progressing at the original intended rate. Go figure.
The flight scene was insanely fun to write. I took a few liberties with the Simulation setting on the X-Wings, which I think is a borrowed idea from a different fanfic that briefly mentions something similar. I don't really remember the specifics, so I've kinda just run with the idea. Also, the navi-computers with the name listing thing (you'll understand as you read) is completely mine. I've never read a fanfic that has mentioned something like that, so if there is, it's purely coincidence.
Rogue Leader: Luke
Rogue One: Dak
Rogue Two: Wes
Rogue Three: Wedge
Rogue Four: Hobbie
In the Battle of Hoth scene of ESB, Wedge is reffered to as Rogue Three. In my head, he's pretty much Second in Command, and I really don't understand the call sign numbering system. Is it like music, and first chair is the best? I don't know, but I doubt it since Wedge flew both Death Star runs. So for this fic's sake, the numbers mean nothing more than a call sign.
Chapter 3
The next day, Mara awoke early to her incessant chrono going off. She groaned, tossing back the covers, before immediately shivering. The covers were quite warm with body heat, and the Hoth Base most certainly was not. Touching the Force lightly to create a bubble of warmth around her, she slipped into some thermal slippers until she put her shoes on.
She opened her closet yet again, and smiled at the array of snowsuits. Though she'd prefer a darker color, beggars couldn't be choosers. Luke had really stocked her closet well, and she'd have to thank him for the clothes when she saw him.
She changed out of the thermals she'd slept in, before donning a new pair, and then slipping the snowsuit over that. She grabbed the darkest vest she could spot, and pulled that on. It was merely a Khaki vest, but it was darker than the white snowsuit.
Mara glanced at the mirror in the closet and grimaced. She'd completely ignored her hair, and her red tendrils were draped everywhere around her face. She glanced around her room for her brush and spotted it on the nightstand.
She reached her hand out and called for the brush as it quickly flew up. She caught it and began brushing her hair, before braiding it in two braids and pinning them in circles around the back of her head, just behind her ears.
Glancing in the mirror once more, she nodded to herself and closed the closet door. She checked her pockets for weapons out of habit and wondered as to whether or not she should be packing. Theoretically she shouldn't need to, but then again, it couldn't hurt her. She slid open a drawer in her nightstand and grabbed two folded vibroblades and tucked them in the pockets on either thigh.
Feeling content that she was ready, she stepped out and into the hallway, headed for the mess hall.
"Luke, hey, Luke!" Wedge called out, trying to snap his Commander and best friend out of his reverie. Luke shook his head and glanced at Wedge.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Geeze, what's gotten into you this morning?" Wedge asked, sitting down at the mess hall table across from Luke.
"Someone used the Force just now," Luke said, furrowing his brow.
"You mean, like that thing you can do?" Wedge asked, eyes wide. "I thought only Jedi could do that!"
"I'm not a Jedi yet, Wedge, so no, people other than Jedi can use it."
"Who was it?" Wedge asked, his voice dipping into a conspiratorial whisper.
"I don't know, but someone who knew what they were doing," Luke said, lost in thought. "I don't know who-"
He broke off and glanced up as Mara entered the mess hall.
Wedge followed his line of sight, and grinned. "She's the new recruit, right? The one that has Rogue potential?"
"Um, yeah," Luke said, shaking his head. Wedge completely missed his sudden line of thought.
Mara couldn't... No. She would have been snatched up by the Empire so quickly if she were Force Sensitive. Vader scans everyone at the Academy. That's why Uncle Owen was so terrified of me going. I think. Either that or he really did need help with the next Harvest. But Mara...
Luke shook his head and grinned as Mara approached. She sat down next to Wedge on the bench, much to Wedge's delight.
"Hi, Luke, thanks for the clothes," she smiled before turning to Wedge. "Hi, I'm Mara Jade."
She reached her hand out to shake his and he took it, bringing it to his lips. Mara groaned internally.
"Why, hello, Ms. Jade," Wedge said smoothly.
"Force, what is with you Rogues?" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.
"What do you mean?" he asked hesitantly, throwing a sideways glance at Luke. Luke grinned down at the table.
"First Janson, now you! I don't even know your name and you're already intending to hit on me!"
"How did you know I-?"
"Luke, when are we hitting the skies? I could do to out fly these punks," she said angrily, leaning in slightly towards Luke. His eyes widened at her forwardness but replied nonetheless.
"Um, we hit the skies at 0800."
"Good," Mara nodded. "Excuse me, I have to find myself some breakfast and an Artoo Unit. Thank you once again, Luke."
She stood up abruptly and headed towards the food line. Wedge gaped after her, before turning on Luke.
"What in the nine Corellian Hells was that?" he blurted out. "I barely said two words to her before she assumed I was flirting!"
"Oh, please, Wedge," Luke laughed, rolling his eyes. "Your intentions were radiating off you in waves."
"Yeah, to you! Cause you have your Force thing!"
"Well, maybe your body language shouldn't be so obvious either," Luke covered, wondering if Mara was the Force user he'd sensed earlier.
"Yeah, well, make sure I'm there when Hobbie meets her."
"Will do," Luke laughed.
"Mara!" Leia called out, and Mara turned in the food line and grinned at the approaching Princess.
"Hello, Your Highness," she greeted cordially.
"Hello, I was wondering when you could stop by to review your base duties?" Leia asked. "I've already talked with Luke and he's informed me of your piloting test this morning, but I wanted to know if you were available afterward?"
"Of course! Would you like me to comm you when I'm done with the flying, or send a smoke signal, or what?" Mara said, grinning. Leia cracked a small grin as well.
"Calling my Comm would be fine."
"Great!" Mara grinned. Leia nodded, and left the mess hall after waving to Luke once. Mara picked up a tray and and got her breakfast before returning to sit next to Luke. Lucky for her, Wedge had gone off somewhere in her absence.
"Hey, Mara," Luke greeted again. Mara grinned and took a bite of her food. It was warm, but... off.
"See you've come into acquaintance with our rations," he teased her and Mara nodded.
"Unfortunately," she said, pushing the tray away. "That's horrible."
"Yeah, dinner is long ways away and it's rations until then or the next food shipment," Luke smiled, pushing the tray back to her.
She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Luke laughed and stood up. "Eat up, Jade, cause 0800 is coming fast!"
She nodded and watched as Luke departed the mess hall, leaving her alone to her thoughts, yet again.
The X-Wings took out of the Hangar bay one after the other, out to run their patrols and practice their runs. Mara took up the tail end of the X-Wings, following their maneuvers. She was intent to show Luke just how good a pilot she was.
"Skies seem clear, Rogue Leader," Wedge's voice came over the comm. "What's our next move?"
"Let's do the basic falling pattern, Rogue Three," Luke answered. "Mara, followed our movements."
"Sure thing," She answered back. The X-Wings followed through, turning and banking back towards Hoth one after another, before pulling up just outside of the atmosphere and returning to course. "This all you Rogues do all day? Kinda boring."
Janson's laugh came out over the comm channel. "You really think that's all we do, Jade? Hey, Luke, we should run practice fights!"
"Copy that, Rogue Two," Luke called over. "Okay, let's run battle sequence. Rogue One, Two and Four, you take Empire. Mara, you'll team with me and Rogue Three on Rebellion. Everyone set your firing to SIMULATION and we'll run this."
"Hey, Luke, how do you know Jade is even a good enough partner to keep us off your guys' tails?" Hobbie asked.
"Regardless of her skill, I can hold my own in a fight," Luke shot back.
"Your tail, Commander!" Hobbie teased, before they broke off. "Alright, Empire, take channel one! Rebels, you got Channel Two?"
"We do indeed," Luke called back. "Maintain Radio Silence between two teams until I break it or someone catches a whiff of the Real Empire."
"Copy, switching channels now," Hobbie called back, and Wes and Dak repeated it as well to announce their switch. The two sets of ships pulled apart and headed in opposite directions before looping over in a flip and heading back towards each other.
"How're you doing, Mara?" Luke called out, making Mara crack a grin.
"Great! I missed flying! Let's get these suckers," she answered, pushing down on the thruster and inching her ship ahead of Luke's.
"Aim for the engines in the back," Luke told her. "That'll slow 'em down or blow 'em to space dust in a real fight. I'm sure you're aware of how to take down a TIE?"
"Well aware," Mara smirked. "Is it okay if I go after Janson? I have a minor score to settle."
"He's all yours," Luke laughed. "Wedge, take Dak, I'll take Hobbie. We'll do a basic chase sequence before following into a cover and attack formation."
"Copy that," Wedge replied.
"Mara, when I give the signal, Wedge and I will pull away from Hobbie and Dak. You will fall back from Wes, and cover my right while I take out Wes, unless you get a hit on him first."
"Gotcha," she stated, and hit the thruster hard, throwing her ship much farther in front of Luke and Wedge's. She flew up and over Wes, spinning and turning back around, right on his tail. She opened herself to the Force and grinned at the certainty and power that filled her. She refused to touch the Dark Side, and the rush the Light Side gave her was exhilarating. She tipped the X Wing up, before pulling down and firing down upon Wes at a forty-five degree angle. She landed a hit upon his engine immediately, and her computer screen registered that Wes was now unable to fire upon people himself since that shot would have sent him spiraling planet side if it were real.
"Nice shot, Mara! I've got Dak on my tail, help Wedge out while I chase Hobbie," Luke called out, and Mara broke off her following of Wes and joined up alongside Wedge. Wedge fired off several shots towards Hobbie, but Hobbie was a fairly skilled pilot despite his constant landing in the Med Bay. Mara fired off a few shots as well, but Hobbie evaded them too, and instead suddenly tipped his wing downwards sharply, and spun around behind them.
Mara pulled back on the thrusters immediately, sensing Hobbie's position with the Force, and allowing him to pull back up between her and Wedge. She fired off two shots before he could get his barrings on her new position, and clipped his wing. At that moment, Dak's ship disappeared from the screen as active, having been shot down by Wedge. Dak pulled away off to fly circles with Wes until Radio Silence was lifted.
Hobbie fired furiously at Wedge, and Wedge had to duck around a few times to avoid some fatal shots. Luke banked around them and pulled up alongside Mara, firing off another shot that clipped Hobbie's wing. They couldn't quite get the shot that would put him out of commission, but they were close.
"Sith!" Wedge yelled out over the comm. His ship disappeared from her computer and listed him as a casualty under Wes and Dak.
"Alright, Wedge, go fly circles with Wes and Dak," Luke told him. "We'll take out Hobbie and return to base."
"Copy that," Wedge called out and pulled away from the fight. Mara grew frustrated again as Hobbie kept dodging shots. Now they were down a man. She opened herself further to the Force and felt the light tingle through her limbs, guiding her actions.
Luke felt a ripple through the Force again, the same signature as earlier. He glanced at Mara's X-Wing and felt almost positive that she was the one touching the Force. She had to be doing it consciously if she was emitting such a strong wave of power. Luke furrowed his brow and turned back to the fight.
At that moment, Hobbie dipped down and spun around. Luke banked down too late, and now Hobbie was behind him once more. He looked at the positioning screen and saw that Mara was now flying just behind Hobbie.
Luke felt his ship shudder as Hobbie hit his right wing. Artoo shrilled loudly in panic. "Yeah, yeah, Artoo, let's just keep in this fight."
Artoo blew an electronic raspberry at him and Luke dodged a few more bolts.
Mara slowed down some and slipped behind Hobbie again, focusing on his engine. "Desix, lock onto his engine," she called out to the Artoo Unit designated to her. Her droid beeped in response and calculated the computer to aim for Hobbie's engine. She kept herself open to the Force, needing to lock onto Hobbie's ship and take him out before he could take Luke out. Her computer locked down, and she fired several shots in succession, but Hobbie banked right with Luke and her bolts went wide. Closing her eyes and focusing through the Force, she shot out and hit Hobbie's engine dead on.
Hobbie disappeared from the computer screen and became listed under the other four Rogues.
"Woohoo!" she screamed out over the comm and heard Luke cry out in victory as well.
"Yes! Mara! You did it!" he called out, throwing his X-Wing into a spin. Luke flipped channels and lifted the Radio Silence, as the three Rogues on the Empire team returned to the main channel.
"Damn, Jade," Hobbie called out over the comm. "That was some intense piloting you've got there."
"Thanks, Hobbie," she said, shaking her head.
"Alright, Rogues," Luke said. "Let's head back down to base and and Dub Mara Rogue Five, shall we?"
"I'm in," Wedge said. "Anyone with those skills can't go near the Gold team. They might start getting cocky about their abilities."
"Yeah, they need to know who the best pilots are!" Dak laughed over the comm.
"Alright, let's get back to base," Luke chuckled, before leading the dive back to base.
Mara grinned, happy with her new position on the Squadron. She was finally somewhat comfortable being a rebel. This was where she belonged. Her decision was final.
As I mentioned above, I have a lot already written out. But, I think I'll stick with this every other day posting, until my writing speed decreases. Don't know when that will be, but I can't wait to write the ESB arc. That will be in I think three or four more chapters. Maybe more if I add a few scenes in. But until then, review, because I am honestly loving the responses and favs and alerts I'm getting. I was a little worried at first about getting more alerts than favs, but my sister is a big user of the Alert system because she checks her email so often. I on the other hand with favorite anything I'm reading to see what's updated. It's all a point of view thing I guess!
NEXT CHAPTER: Mara feels the repercussions to defecting finally and Luke takes care of her somewhat before... Inviting her to breakfast on the Falcon. And because of my being a huge fan of Han and Leia, a fight will ensue, giving Mara something to ponder over.