New Arrivals

The rebels were already one standard month on Endor and the relationship with the Ewoks became better and better, so they were allowed to establish a small outpost on the forest moon.

Feeling bored, as Nomi wasn't allowed to take part in the outpost's construction she began to learn some Ewokese, the language of the natives. It wasn't an easy task, but she managed it nevertheless. The Ewoks were always friendly, but also very curious if it came to her pregnancy. Sometimes she wished to be back on Tatooine, where her mother could look after her. She had so many questions 2-1B was unable to answer. The droid saw only the medical requirements, but wasn't of any help if it came to the soon-to-be-mom's worries.

The young woman sat on a chair, watching her comrades and their furry helpers working, put her hands on her pregnant belly and spoke softly to the unborn babies, who were moving.
She was lost in thought and didn't notice Dash approaching her from behind until he kissed her neck. Giving in to the kiss Nomi noticed her husband smelled of sweat from participating in the work.
Dash stepped in front of his wife with a big smile on his face.
"I wonder how you would like the idea to leave Endor, darling," he said and settled down on the wooden floor at her feet. "Frankly I think you shouldn't give birth to our sons on this moon. The tribe's shaman might be wise, but he has no experience if it comes to how to assist at a human birth. What if there are any complications?" He paused for a fraction of a second, before he continued. "While 2-1B is programmed perfectly, I don't want our babies to be touched by the droid. So I suggest flying to Corellia on either the Aquarius or the Outrider."
He looked at his wife expectantly.
Nomi noticed how worried Dash was and that he actually would rather go to a civilized planet. Finally she nodded her head and her husband breathed a sigh of relief.
"Unless 2-1B objects, Dash," her answer came.
"I've asked the medi droid beforehand and it has confirmed that the journey is still possible without any problems. We can leave today."
"Then we should fly to Home One, pack our belongings and take them onboard the Outrider. It's better to take your ship. We can pick up the Aquarius at some point."
Dash stood and smiled at his wife, glad that she had agreed so easily and that they would take his ship.

They took one of the shuttles that ran regularly between the flagship and the forest moon. It was only a short flight and after landing they went to their quarters and packed. Leebo helped bring the crates aboard the Outrider. Fuzzy let out sad beeps as he realized his beloved pilot was about to leave. Nomi caressed the astromech's dome.
"I'll be back, little fella, I promise," the young woman said with a smile. She would surely miss the talkative droid.
It didn't take long and the last crate was on board the Outrider. Nomi and Dash went to the hangar bay where Wedge, Tarik and Gavin were waiting for them to say goodbye.
Gavin hugged his big sister and kissed her on the cheek.
"Take care, sis," he said.
Then he cast a glance at his brother-in-law. "Take good care of my sister, Dash."
"I promise, Gavin," Dash Rendar said with a serious undertone.
"I take you at your word," the young pilot replied, making room for Tarik.
The alien hugged his old friend and flapped his wings. As Nomi looked closely, she noticed a tear escaping Tarik's eyes.
"There is no need to cry, Tarik," she said cheerfully and ruffled the feathers on his head.
"I know," her friend replied, wiping the tears away. "But it's the first time we've been apart since we met. Until our paths cross, Nomi."
He let go of the young woman and stepped aside, a little embarrassed at being so emotional.
Now it was Wedge's turn to say goodbye. He didn't hug her, not sure if he could resist kissing her. So he just took her hand and looked at her with a smile.
"Have a good trip, both of you." the commander finally said. "You made the right decision to go to Corellia."
"Thank you, Wedge," Nomi said, turning to face her husband as the Rogue Squadron commander released her hand. "Time to go, darling."
Dash nodded his head and walked up the ramp, followed by his wife. At the hatch, Nomi turned to her friends and waved them goodbye. Then she entered the freighter and the hatch closed.
Minutes later, after Dash received permission, the Outrider launched.

After an uneventful journey through hyperspace, they fell back into real space at their destination.
But there was a nasty surprise waiting for them.
Corellia's orbit was teeming with Imperial Star Destroyers and their escort ships.
When the Outrider was hailed, Dash didn't bother to answer, instead he set an evasive course.
The same instant, TIEs were launched to intercept the YT-2400.
"Kark! We're in trouble. I thought they were rid of the Imps already," Dash muttered under his breath as he accelerated to outrun the Imperial fighters.
Nomi, knowing that possibly neither swearing nor evasive maneuvers would help, unbuckled, slowly stood up, and was about to head for the gunner station when Dash's surprised yelp stopped her.
"Where are you going, Nomi?"
His wife turned only her head after she stopped.
"To the gunner station, Dash. Someone has to operate the cannon while you fly," she answered brusquely.
The former mercenary looked at her as if he would doubt her sanity.
"Yes, someone but this someone won't be you. Leebo can fly the Outrider and I'll man the gunner station," Dash said firmly and unbuckled.
The Outrider shook violently as an enemy fighter scored a hit, but the shields held.
Nomi grabbed the seat back to steady herself.
"Damn, Dash, this isn't the time for discussions. We're running out of time."
She continued on her way to the gunner station.

The freighter was rocked by the shelling, despite Dash's maneuvers, and Nomi had difficulties to keep her balance. Finally she reached her destination, lowered in the seat, buckled up, donned the headset and activated the cannon.
They were swarmed by half a dozen TIEs already and the deflector shields were down to 70%. It was only a matter of time before they would fail.
"I would be able to aim much better if you didn't fly like a wild space jockey!"
Dash heard his wife on the intercom and grinned.
"Hey, sweetheart, if I wouldn't fly like this, your butt would have been grilled already."
He steered the Outrider to starboard, avoiding a direct hit.
His wife got a lock on an enemy fighter and fired. She scored a hit and the laser beams pierced straight through the TIE's cockpit.
"Gotcha," Nomi muttered under her breath.
But there was only one less. More and more TIEs were launched and attacked them. Dash did his best not to get hit while his wife did her best in taking out enemy fighters.

They put up a good fight until something unexpected happened. Nomi was just about to fire when intense pain hit her. She let go of the fire button and pressed her hands against her belly.
The pain subsided as quickly as it hit her. Nomi took a deep breath and refocused on the task at hand. She took out one fighter after another, but for every TIE she shot down two or more of them came to continue the fight.
Nomi and Dash were lucky enough the Star Destroyers weren't yet joining the fight, but even without them their situation was already desperate.
Another intense pain hit the pregnant woman and she gasped. Nomi began to understand what the pain meant.
There was no doubt. It wasn't just pain, it was contractions. The triplets wanted to be born in the midst of a raging battle.
"Bring us out of here, Dash!" Nomi called out as the pain subsided.
"I'm working on it, honey," her husband's reply came.
Dash flew every maneuver he knew to shake the TIEs that were tailing him.
Sweat trickled his forehead as he cast a glance at Leebo who sat with stoic calm in the copilot's seat.
Nomi felt the next contraction and couldn't speak until it eased.
"Then you should work harder. The babies are on their way," she was finally able to tell her husband while firing at another TIE and missing as Dash steered the Outrider to port.
"Are you kidding me? They're due in a month," Rendar replied, finally seeing a way to jump into hyperspace and to safety.
"I'm in no mood for jokes," the Rogue Squadron pilot said as she was pressed into the gunner's seat when her husband engaged the hyperdrive and made the jump.
It was a close call, just a little longer before the shields would have failed and the Outrider and her crew would have become space dust.

Once in hyperspace Dash jumped out of the seat and headed for the gunner station, followed by Leebo. The former mercenary unbuckled his wife, picked her up and carried her over to the bunk where he laid her on the bed.

The contractions were coming in quick succession now. Nomi clutched in the bed sheet and grit her teeth to keep from screaming. After some hours her water broke.
Feeling helpless, Dash stood by the bed and looked over at Leebo who was standing there unaffected by the situation. It wasn't planned this way, but he had to deal with it and do his best to support his wife with the birth of the triplets.
Finally a head was visible and Nomi instinctively pushed until the baby slid out and into his father's hands. Dash cut his firstborn's umbilical cord and cleaned the baby up as best he could. It wasn't long before the second boy was born, followed closely by his brother.

Dash placed his sons in a crate that would serve as their crib, while Leebo changed the wet bed sheet before heading into the cockpit.
Nomi was totally exhausted, but happy at the same time. Her husband walked over to her and gave her a kiss.
"Thank you, love," he said tenderly. "Our sons are healthy even if they came a little earlier."
He took a cloth and wiped the sweat from his wife's forehead.
"We will fly to Nar Shaddaa," Dash continued.
Nomi looked at him in astonishment.
"The Smuggler's Moon? Wouldn't it be better to fly back to Endor?"
"Maybe it would be better, but the forest moon is too far from here. Nar Shaddaa is faster to reach. Also, there are some friends we can stay with for a while. After this difficult birth you need rest."
The young mother nodded her head and fell asleep.
Dash sat down on a chair not wanting to leave his wife and children alone, knowing that Leebo would take them safely to their destination.