Chapter 13

Colonel Robert E. Hogan always considered himself a man of control. No matter the situation, the brown-haired man always sought control. It was very rare for a situation to be out of Hogan's control.

Like the one in he was in now.

Carter was on his knees, with a pistol-like weapon pointed at his head. For all of Carter's faults, the kid didn't look to be the least frightened. The kid was hurt, clutching his burnt shoulder where it he had been hit, though it didn't look too bad. And Solstice…Hogan had never seen a woman look so angry, so ready to kill before. It was a side he hoped to never be on the receiving end of. Her fingerless gloved hand was slowly inching towards her weapon. Hogan tried to think of something that would help, but there was a rare rise of panic. He pushed the panic down as far as he could and remained neutral in his expression.

But, like mentioned earlier, Solstice was the exact opposite.

"Why Bonga?" The brunette demanded. "Why betray us?"

"Why not?" the creature asked. He (more like an 'it' in Hogan's opinion) pressed his weapon into Carter's temple. "The Empire is paying handsomely for Jedi. So, not only do I get three Jedi, but Rebels and the infamous White Eagle as well. I'll be set for the rest of my life and won't have to work another day."

Doctor Serth shifted, catching Bonga's eyes.

"Ah, welcome Doctor Serth." The webbed-fingered creature welcomed mockingly. "Emperor Palpatine has been looking for you. He misses his high-ranking scientists."

"You mean his weapons-maker?" Doctor Serth corrected with such venom. "I refuse to make weapons of destruction for a tyrant who uses fear to control his subjects."

"Ah, but you misunderstand our beloved leader. Palpatine only wants to restore balance to the galaxy after the Jedi threw it into chaos."

"You're too blinded by greed to see what your 'beloved leader' does in order to maintain that peace." Solstice growled. "Entire species have been exterminated or enslaved because they refused to bend a knee to thefalse peace that Palpatine promises."

"That was their fault." Bonga grabbed Carter by the collar and forced him to stand. "I would love to chat but I'm afraid I have a rendezvous with the Imperial Navy. If you think about moving, pretty boy here will pay the price."

"Bonga, I'm giving you one last warning." Solstice's tone was dangerously low and calm. Hogan glanced over at the others. Rex had his weapons pulled out, as did Kanan and Ezra, though the latter two had their light-swords ignited. There was an ominous blueish glow that surrounded the group. Solstice's hand was about to grasp her lightsaber, but she hesitated, probably to give her 'friend' one more chance to lay down his weapon peacefully. "Put down your weapon and surrender. Otherwise, I will be forced to do something I may regret."

"I'm not scared of you, Jedi."

Behind him, Hogan heard Ezra whisper, "He should."

Solstice narrowed her eyes and Hogan felt himself involuntarily shiver in fear. "Then you leave me no choice."

The brunette removed her lightsaber and activated it. The emerald green light of her blade mingled with the others. A breeze came by blowing Solstice's hair out of the way. Hogan barely allowed a gasp to escape at the sight of a long scar that disappeared beneath the collar of her shirt. It must've been a part of the many scars that Carter had spotted on her back. When Hogan blinked, Solstice was charging the creature, a primordial growl ripping through her throat. Bonga hit Carter on the back of his head, knocking him out, but also pushing him out of the way of conflict. Hogan thought that the creature was done for, until he pulled out a long staff, whose ends crackled with electricity. He managed to block Solstice's attack. The others leapt into battle, but Rex moved to help get Carter out of the way of the fight. Hogan helped move him away from the four of the quarreling warriors.

"Colonel?" The young man asked as Hogan started to look over him.

"I'm here, Carter."

"Solstice is pretty angry." He rasped.

"I have to agree with that."

The boy cracked a smile, despite the pain he was in. "It's kinda hot."

Hogan glanced over at Rex, who had a smile on his face. The older man shrugged before he turned Carter over and started to a check over. A moment later, Ezra hit the tree with a painful sounding crash. While Rex was checking over Carter, Hogan went over to check on Ezra. He sighed when he realized the boy was alive but unconscious. The brunet colonel sighed before glancing over at the two remaining warriors. Hogan had to admit that Kanan and Solstice were impressive with their weapons. Flips, kicks, blocks and fancy moves were easily executed flawlessly by the two. They worked almost as if they had trained together (which they might've done considering their shared past). However, as well as they worked together, it seemed the creature known as Bonga was better at fighting as they were. He stuck Kanan with the end of his staff. He fell, smoking slightly, leaving only Solstice left.

Bonga chuckled while Solstice knelt down and checked her friend. "How pathetic. Most of the other Jedi gave some kind of challenge. You and your friends are little more than a workout."

Solstice stood up, and the two started to circle each other. Hogan managed to get Kanan out of the way.

"Do you know how many of your kind I killed? So many, and they didn't expect a thing." Bonga's taunts seemed to roll off Solstice, her face neutral, calm and calculating. "They screamed beautifully when I stabbed them in the back, quite literally."

That seemed do it. Solstice let loose a guttural roar as she charged. There was a sizzling and hissing sound made when the two ends collided. Colonel Hogan winced as the light near about lit up the area. When it died down, he gasped when he saw Bonga's staff was cut in two. The ends sputtered before going out completely. The creature threw down the scrapped weapon before launching himself at Solstice. With a single thrust, Solstice stabbed her lightsaber through his chest. Bonga's eyes went wide and his body went rigid as the blade easily slid through his body. The stench of cooking flesh permeated the air a moment later. Solstice allowed her weapon to deactivate. The creature's dead body dropped to the ground with a thump.

"You have to move," Solstice ordered. "The patrols will be here any minute now."

"You're not coming with us?" Ezra asked as he stood with a slight groan.

"I think it's pretty obvious that I'm being targeted." She gazed toward the dead body. "It's pretty clear that even my allies have ulterior motives. If I go back, I won't know who to trust. Besides, I like it here. It's simple."

"If you ever change your mind, we could use a warrior like you." Rex stated.

"Thank you, Rex." Her face wrinkled in disgust. "Don't worry about Bonga. I'll get his body somewhere so that the patrols don't find it. Give my regards to the others."

"Will do." Ezra, Rex, Doctor Serth and his daughter quickly loaded the ship. Rex and Ezra carried a still-unconscious Kanan between them. Doctor Serth and his daughter paused, waving at the three of them before following the Rebels.

Hogan and Solstice managed to drag a slightly injured Carter behind a bush as the ship started up and started to raise into the air. The three humans covered their eyes to protect them from the dust that was stirred by the engines. Almost as soon as the ship vanished in a blink of an eye, Solstice got to work hiding the body right as lights appeared. Hogan could clearly hear shouting in German and barking of dogs heading their way.

"We gotta get out of here." Hogan whispered. Solstice had just barely finished hiding the body of the creature before the guards appeared. Luckily the three of them were still hidden deep in the shadow when the guards broke through the trees. They managed to sneak away from the guards and make their way towards Stalag 13, with plenty of time to spare before roll call. Wilson was already there to check them over when they dropped into the tunnel. The medic immediately went over the three to make sure they were okay.

"Is he going to be okay?" Solstice asked as Wilson looked over Carter.

"He'll live. It's just a bump. Maybe sore for a couple of days but it'll go away. And the burn doesn't look too bad. Just short of a flesh wound." He turned to her. "Time for your checkup."

"I'm fine." Solstice assured him. When he poked her chest, she gasped in pain. The brunette giggled nervously. "Guess I'm not."

Once her bruised ribs were wrapped, Solstice returned to her barracks. It was still three or four hours before roll call but despite the busyness of the past few days, Solstice wasn't tired. In fact, she was chatting with Hera Syndulla.

"I think I owe you one for keeping my crew alive." The Twi'lek stated with a smile.

"Was your mission to free Doctor Serth's wife and son successful?"

"You bet. Sabine is tending to them. Nothing too much a couple days in the infirmary won't fix."

"I'm glad." Solstice smiled softly. "Do you mind patching me through to the main fleet?"

"Not at all. Standby White Eagle."

The Phoenix insignia appeared a moment later. While the transmission tried to get through, Solstice grabbed her helmet that was gathering dust in the corner. She dusted it off and stared at it for a moment before she heard someone knocking on the trap door. The brunette opened, smiling when she saw it was Carter. Solstice helped him up into the barracks. Unfortunately, before either could say anything, there was a beeping noise, emanating from the comm. She held up a finger, placing her helmet on before facing the comm. A moment later, a hooded Fulcrum, Commander Sato and Senator Bail Organa appeared.

"Commander Sato, Senator Organa, Fulcrum." Solstice greeted with a nod to each one of them.

"I take it that the mission was successful?" Commander Sato asked.

"Specters 1 and 6 have the package and are heading home, Commander."

"And the traitor?" Senator Organa spoke up.

"I wouldn't worry about him. I've tied off loose ends, so we're fine until the next Imperial plant."

"You have done well, White Eagle." Fulcrum's voice modulator rasped. There was a beeping. "Your payment has been transferred."

The bounty hunter checked her wrist screen. There was a slight smile. All the money owed by the Rebellion had been transferred to her secret bank account. "Thank you. If you need anything on this side of the galaxy, know that I am here to assist."

"May the Force be with you, White Eagle." Fulcrum bowed her head.

"And may the light of the galaxy never extinguish." Solstice bowed her head as well. A moment later, the communication was severed. The bounty hunter sighed as she took her helmet off, allowing her tangled hair to fall over her shoulder. She turned to Carter while she reached for her brush. "So, how's your head feeling?"

"Pretty good. And your ribs?"

"Bruised, but I'll live." She grunted. "Blasted hair. You don't happen to have a knife on you, by any chance?"

"Uh, sure." Carter was hesitant to give her a sharp knife but he did so anyway. To his surprise and shock, Solstice started to hack away her hair until it was a short bob. It was a messy looking cut, but it looked good on her. "Looks good."

"Thanks." She handed him the knife. "If I'm going to start a new life here, might as well start over with everything. Including a new haircut."

Carter started to fidget, unsure if he was doing the right thing. He came here for a purpose, but he wasn't sure if it was the right time. Of course, there was no time like the present. Besides, Solstice was staring at him with a cocked eyebrow, as if she was catching on to her nervousness.

"What's wrong, Carter? You look nervous."

"Oh, it's nothing." Carter took a deep breath before grabbing her hands. "Look, we started off on the wrong foot, but we have come a long way together. I was hoping, maybe, after this war, we can live our lives together, especially since you're going to be staying here a while."

"Andrew, this…I can't believe…. I don't even know what to say." Solstice stuttered. Carter took out the little box that Newkirk managed to whittle for him. Inside, Andrew managed to snag some metal and make a little ring. He only hoped that it would fit Solstice's finger. Taking a deep breath, the young man knelt, still clasping Solstice's left hand. The young woman's eyebrow cocked in shock and surprise as Carter opened the box to reveal the lumpy ring. Her aquamarine eyes went wide in even more shock.

"Carter…"

"Solstice Winters, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

There was a moment where the young man was afraid that the young woman was going to faint. All she did was stand there, mouth opened and eyes wide. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air as if she couldn't quite make the words form. After fifteen minutes and her not saying a word, Andrew was afraid that he might've broken her.

Finally, she spoke, slowly and deliberately, "Andrew, I accept your proposal."

His head snapped up. "Really? You mean that?"

"Of course. Someone has to watch your tail. However, I don't think that we should wait on the ceremony. No telling how long your war'll last."

Carter thought for a moment before he perked up. "I think I have an idea."

A few days later, Hogan had been convinced to oversee the ceremony. The ceremony was small, held underground and had very little pomp and circumstance, but Solstice preferred that way. Her now short hair was brushed back, with a dirtied white headband in her hair. She wore her old Jedi robes with a small bouquet in her hand. Carter was wearing his army uniform, his hair combed back and a dopy smile on his face. The men of the prison camp had gathered underneath the camp, in the tunnel only just big enough for all of them. It was a miracle that Klink hadn't found out, seeing how the entire camp was in the underground but it didn't matter.

Carter and Solstice walked down the aisle together. There was no music, but the men were courteous enough to hum a tune, not in harmony or in tune with each other but it was the thought that counted. Hogan was at the end of the aisle as well as Wilson and another man, whom Solstice was introduced to as the camp priest. When the two ended their walk, Hogan cleared his throat.

"Okay everyone, settle down." He ordered. When it finally quieted down, the colonel turned to the priest. "You're up, Chaplain."

"Gentlemen and lady." The man started to drone on and on but Solstice wasn't listening. She was too busy thinking about the future of her life with Carter. Putting her life as a Jedi and a bounty hunter behind her was going to be difficult, but it would do her good. Her life was changing for the better. Carter and she would enjoy each other's company for the rest of their lives. "And now, your vows."

Solstice went first. "Andrew, my life was boring and stale before I met you. I'll admit, at first, I thought you were young and naïve but you grew on me. I believe together, we can build a new life after we are free."

Carter blinked, unsure of how to follow after that. But he spoke. "Solstice, you are my whole world. The stars shine brighter and clearer with you around. Your smile outshines the brightest supernova. I can't imagine my life without you."

"I now pronounce you man and wife." Solstice broke out in a grin. "You may kiss the bride."

When the two locked lips, the crowd exploded in cheer. They were making quite the noise, in Solstice's opinion. Hogan managed to calm them down enough when the two newlyweds pulled away to speak over the noise.

"Alright, I know everyone wants to celebrate, but there's still a war going on." He reminded them. "You two will have time to spend together later. I have a mission for the two of you, if you're up for it."

"You know it." Solstice informed her new CO. "I feel like I've been cooped up in this place too long. I'm itching for some action."

"You'll get it." Hogan promised with a wink. "Andrew, you stay here and watch after everything. Be ready to leave after morning roll call."

Solstice smirked at her new husband. She winked at him before heading to her barracks for some well-deserved rest before her next mission.

Another, boring day.