The Jedi Hope
Nomi woke up very late and was feeding her daughter when there was a knock on the door to her quarters. Without a second thought, she reached out with the Force to find out who it was.
"Come in Luke, it's not locked," she said, sensing her friend's presence.
The Jedi opened the door, walked in and closed the door behind him before walking towards the young woman.
"Good morning, Nomi," he said and sat down next to her on the couch.
"Good morning, Luke," she replied, smiling.
Luke reached out and stroked Tasherit's copper-red hair, but she didn't let it bother her.
Nomi looked lovingly at her youngest child. When she looked up, her and Luke's eyes met. The young woman saw in her friend's eyes so much love and tenderness for her child as if it were his own.
After Tasherit signaled that she was full with a loud burp, her mother put her in the crib. Then she turned her attention back to Luke.
"Why are you here, Luke?" She asked, looking expectantly at her childhood friend.
At that moment, Dash entered her quarters.
"Yes, I would like to know that too. Good morning, Luke."
He came up to his wife and gave her a kiss.
"Good morning, darling. Did you sleep well?"
Dash sat down next to his wife and stretched his legs.
The Jedi smiled at her husband.
"Yes, Dash," she replied. "It was very late when we got home yesterday."
"I think we and Tarik were the last guests to leave the reception, Nomi. Han and Leia left much earlier," Her husband chuckled. "But we better hear why Luke is here. Well?"
Skywalker leaned back and smiled.
"I just wanted to tell your wife that the Jedi Hope is in orbit around Coruscant. Commander Xale would like to speak with you, Nomi."
Dash stared at the Jedi.
"Why doesn't he come here? I don't trust that Imp and I don't want my wife to board the Star Destroyer."
Nomi placed her hand on his arm reassuringly.
"You shouldn't forget that I'm a Jedi, darling. I know how to defend myself when it comes to it."
"You were a Jedi, but they were still able to kidnap you back then. It's too dangerous for you to meet with Xale."
His wife sighed.
"You're right, but I wasn't fully trained at that point, Dash."
"You could go with Nomi and make sure nothing happens to her, Dash," Luke tried to calm things down.
"And what about our children?" The former mercenary asked. "Leebo recharges and can't take care of them."
"Then take them with you. Your sons will find it very interesting on a Star Destroyer," the Jedi suggested.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" Nomi asked doubtfully.
"Yes, Nomi," he replied. "Why are you hesitating? Commander Xale has sworn an oath to the New Republic. Believe me, you can trust him."
Rendar shook his head.
"I don't know, Luke...once an Imp, always an Imp."
His wife nudged him.
"If you hadn't been kicked out of the academy, you would have become an Imp, darling."
Dash looked at her in dismay.
"Then my brother's accidental death at least had something good."
He stood up, went to the small dresser next to the bedroom door and pulled out his blaster. Then he checked the weapon and holstered it.
"Just in case Commander Xale plays both sides of the fence," Dash said before turning towards the children's room. "Junior! Corran! Biggs! C'mon, children, let's go on a little fun trip!"
The triplets ran out of their room as fast as their little feet would carry them. They jumped around cheering while their mother got their sister out of the crib.
"Let's go," Dash went to the door. "We'll take the Outrider. Will you come with us, Luke?"
Skywalker shook his head.
"No, I have to go to my sister."
Together they walked through the large hallway lined with Ch'hala trees. Halfway there, Luke said goodbye to them and went to his sister's quarters.
The family continued to the hangar where the Outrider was standing. Dash had taken the lead. Suddenly he stopped and turned to his wife.
"Are you sure you want to board the Jedi Hope?"
Nomi nodded.
"All right then," he sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing, Nomi."
Eventually they reached the hangar, where Dash's Outrider and Nomi's Aquarius stood side by side.
The former mercenary, followed by his family, went to the YT-2400 and entered the access code. The ramp slowly lowered. With a slight bow and a sweeping gesture, he invited his wife and sons aboard his freighter.
"After you. You know the way."
Laughing, Nomi walked up the ramp and entered the Outrider, followed by her sons and husband. After buckling up the children, she went into the cockpit, sat in the co-pilot's seat and buckled herself up too. Dash had already done the pre-flight check and warmed up the engine. Shortly afterwards, they took off at half repulsor power and left the Imperial Palace hangar.
The experienced pilot carefully maneuvered the Outrider through the skyhooks and debris of the Battle of Coruscant.
Finally they saw the huge Star Destroyer appear before them. The Jedi Hope was a breathtaking sight.
"Just as a precaution…all energy on the front deflectors, Nomi."
The Jedi did as he asked, although she found the precaution unnecessary. She reached out with the Force, sensing the thoughts of the Jedi Hope's crew. There was no hostility.
Relieved, Nomi leaned back in the copilot's seat. Dash slowly steered the Outrider towards the Star Destroyer and a few minutes later into its main hangar. They were already expected there.
The 1.93 meter tall figure of its commander stood out from the assembled crew of the Jedi Hope. As Nomi exited the freighter with her husband and children, the crew stood at attention as Commander Xale approached them with a smile on his face.
"Welcome aboard, Major Darklighter, Captain Rendar. I'm glad you came."
Then he leaned down to the triplets, who looked at him curiously.
"Hello, guys, do you remember me?"
Dash Jr. nodded as Biggs and Corran walked away from him and sought refuge with their father.
The commander stood and turned his attention back to Nomi, who was holding Tasherit in her arms.
"Can I speak to you alone, Major?"
"Of course, Commander," the Jedi replied.
"Then please follow me to my quarters, Major," Xale said, turning to leave the hangar.
As Nomi moved to follow the commander, Dash stopped them, his hand lingering over his blaster.
"You won't go with him, Nomi," he said, keeping a wary eye on Commander Xale.
Through her Jedi senses, Dash's wife noticed the impending hostility in the minds of the crew. She had to reassure her husband or the visit would end in disaster.
"Please Dash, the commander just wants a private conversation with me."
Her husband finally nodded and removed his hand from his holstered blaster.
"Okay, Nomi, go with him. But if you're not back here in twenty standard minutes, I'll get you." He took his daughter from his wife's arms. "Tasherit stays here."
"Thank you, darling." Nomi turned to Xale. "We can go now, Commander."
The Jedi followed Commander Xale through the hallways of the Star Destroyer to his quarters. There the man entered the access code and the door hissed open, revealing a sparsely furnished room.
"After you, Major," he said, making room for the woman who owned the capital ship under his command.
Without hesitation, Nomi entered. She looked around as the commander closed the door after entering too. Now she was alone with the man who had served her father and the Empire for so many years.
"Please take a seat, Major. Can I get you something to drink?" Asked the elderly officer with the graying hair. "I have excellent Corellian brandy."
"No, thank you, Commander," Nomi replied. "What would you like to discuss with me? I think you should finally get down to business. My time is limited. You heard what my husband said."
The former Imperial smiled.
"He should know that as a Jedi you can take care of yourself and there is no need to worry." Xale went to the small sitting area. "Don't you want to sit down? It's easier to talk then."
Nomi followed him and sat on a chair. Relieved, the commander sat down opposite her. He poured himself a drink and took a sip before looking at the copper-haired young woman he had first seen when she was brought aboard the ISD when it operated under the name Ulic's Revenge. Since then a lot has happened.
"I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am to you for averting the court-martial against me and my people," he began. "You gave us the chance for a new life. Please don't get me wrong, but you are a lot like your father. He was always fair to us. How is he?"
Nomi swallowed hard as Xale asked how her father was doing.
"My father is dead, Commander. He died in the detention block of the former Imperial Palace."
Commander Xale looked at her in shock.
"I'm sorry to hear that. My condolences, Major."
At that moment there was a knock on the door and the Jedi heard her husband's voice.
"Nomi!"
His wife quickly stood up and went to the door to open it before Dash got any strange ideas.
After pressing a button, the door hissed open and she saw her husband standing in front of her.
"The 20 minutes aren't over yet, Dash," she said, frowning.
"I would like to apologize to Commander Xale, Nomi," her husband said quickly as he saw her frown.
"Come in."
Dash entered and Nomi closed the door behind him. Then they walked together to the sitting area, where Xale took another sip of his brandy.
"I'm sorry, Commander. Sometimes my temper gets the better of me," Rendar said, holding out his hand.
The commander put his glass aside, stood up and took the outstretched hand.
"Everything is fine, Captain Rendar. If I had been in your shoes, I probably would have behaved the same way. It's hard to understand that a man with my past can change so completely. But believe me, I will not break my oath to the New Republic. Major Darklighter trusts me, I ask you to do the same. Let the past be past."
"Yes, let the past be the past," Dash replied. "I hope you never betray my wife's trust in you."
"I won't. Please sit with us, Captain."
Nomi was already sitting and Dash sat next to her while the commander also sat down. Xale poured a second glass of Corellian brandy and offered it to Dash, who took it.
"It could be the last time we see each other," the commander began after taking another sip of his brandy. "We have volunteered for a mission. The Jedi Hope will invade Imperial territory and deploy two X-Wing squadrons to destroy an Imperial base. One of the would-be emperors has gathered all of his forces there."
Hearing this, Dash almost choked on his drink.
"You know it could be a suicide mission, Commander? The odds of success are very limited."
Xale took another sip of his drink and smirked.
"You are Corellian like me, Captain, and so you should know that you should never tell me the odds."
Nomi couldn't help but smile at that comment.
"Then all that's left for me to do is wish you and your crew good luck." Dash raised his glass. "To the New Republic."
Then he downed his drink in one go.
"To the New Republic," the commander repeated before downing the rest of his drink.
Dash and Nomi stood up.
"We should go and leave you to prepare for the mission," the Jedi said smiling, taking her husband's hand. "May the Force be with you and your crew, Commander."
"Thank you, Major."
Xale stood up, led his two guests to the door and opened it. His personal aide was waiting outside to take them back to the main hangar.
When they arrived at the hangar, their sons were already waiting for them.
"They showed us everything on the hangar bridge, Papa," Dash Jr. said, beaming. "And they took care of Tasherit."
"That's great, Junior, but now we have to go," his father replied, stroking his eldest son's curls.
The triplets made a face, but turned and walked towards the Outrider.
"Your daughter is already on board," the commander's aide said before leaving the hangar.
Hand in hand, Nomi and Dash made their way to the YT-2400 and walked up the ramp, followed by their sons. After closing the hatch, Dash went into the cockpit while his wife secured the children. As she got into the cockpit and sat in the co-pilot's seat, her husband started the engines and took off.
"I hope Commander Xale will not betray our trust, and especially yours."
"He won't, darling, I'm sure," Nomi replied, hoping she wasn't wrong.