Bad News

Luke Skywalker walked through the hallways. He wanted to be the one to tell Nomi about what happened at Coruscant. The young man was aware that it wouldn't be an easy task.
Finally he reached Nomi's quarters. He took a deep breath and knocked.
Nomi opened the door and made way for her childhood friend so he could enter her quarters.
After Luke stepped in she closed the door behind him. She smiled at him, but then she noticed that something was wrong, as Skywalker didn't smile back. The young man swallowed hard.
"I have bad news, Nomi," he finally said. "There was a battle at Coruscant."
He hesitated and looked to the ground. It seemed as if he had to pluck up courage.
"A battle?" Suddenly she felt as if there was more behind this simple statement by Luke. "What happened? Where is Dash?" She asked and tried to read her friend's face. There she saw sadness and pity.
"It was a three faction battle. At some point Prince Xizor's skyhook was destroyed by Imperial forces," the young Jedi hesitated again, but then he continued. "I warned Dash, but he didn't hear. He was caught in the blast and the flames consumed him. I'm so sorry, Nomi, but Dash didn't make it."
It took a bit until the young woman processed what she just heard, but then her reaction came.
"NO! NOT DASH! THIS ISN'T TRUE!" She screamed, tears were running down her cheeks and she pounded her friend's chest.
Luke let her take out her impotent fury on him, which was born out of her grief. He tried to comfort her, but she refused. Nomi screamed and cried until she eventually collapsed and Luke caught her in his arms before she had fallen to the ground. He had never witnessed such desperation before. Yes, there were losses in their ranks and there were those grieving the fallen, but such an outburst was unusual. He fumbled for his comlink. This was something he felt unable to handle on his own.
"Wedge?" He called, while still holding Nomi, he waited for a response by the Rogue Squadron commander.
It took a while, but then he heard the older man's voice.
"I read you, Luke," he answered the call. There was background noise which told that he was in a briefing.
"I need your help, Wedge. Nomi collapsed after I told her what happened to Dash," Skywalker told his friend as he carried the senseless young woman over to the cot in her quarters.
"I'll come over, Luke," Antilles said with a sigh, before he walked over to General Rieekan asking for permission to leave.
The general listened carefully and nodded his head.
"Permission granted, Commander. The analysis of the captured plans will take a while longer. It isn't necessary that you stay here the whole time. It seems the Bothans' sacrifices weren't in vain. Sadly Mr. Rendar will never learn that he isn't to blame for their deaths."
Wedge Antilles inclined his head.
"Indeed, General. It's a pity that he died without knowing that it wasn't his fault," the commander responded and took his leave.

It didn't take long and he reached Nomi's quarters where Luke was waiting for him.
"Thank you for coming," the young man said and made way for Wedge so he could enter the room.
Antilles walked over to the cot on which the young pilot was lying with closed eyes. The commander looked at Nomi and shook his head.
"We can neither leave her alone, nor let her fly. She is posing a risk to herself and to others in her current condition. We, Gavin and Tarik must watch her, until she calms down and copes with her loss," Wedge said, as he cast another glance at Nomi. "I don't want her to do anything stupid, Luke."
The young Jedi nodded his head thoughtfully.
"I don't want this either, Wedge," he replied and noticed the same instant that his childhood friend regained consciousness.
When Nomi saw Luke and Wedge standing at her cot she recalled what happened. So it wasn't another nightmare. It was true – Dash was dead and with him a part of her had died as well. There was nothing left than a thirst for revenge. The Empire would pay dearly for what it had done.
Wedge Antilles cleared his throat.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," he said and he actually meant it. But then he had something to say he was pretty sure the young woman wouldn't like in the slightest. "You are grounded until further notice, since you aren't in the condition to fly in combat."
His pilot sat up and stared at him in disbelief.
"What? You can't be serious, Wedge. Don't take this from me as well. Please, let me fight."
She looked at him with pleading eyes now, but the commander shook his head.
"My decision is firm, Nomi," he said with a stern expression. "Nothing can change it. I will inform ground control that you aren't allowed to fly."
"This isn't fair, Wedge and you know it," she rose from the cot and looked up to her commander who towered over her.
Antilles was unimpressed and shrugged.
"It's for your own good," he replied and walked over to the door, as his comm went off. Wedge answered the call. "I'm on my way, General."
Then he left, heading for the command center, leaving Nomi and Luke behind.

Nomi sat down on the cot and buried her head in her hands. There was nothing left for her after Wedge Antilles took from her the only way to take revenge on the Imps. Tears were falling in her lap. Luke sat down at her side taking her in his arms and tried to comfort her where there wasn't any comfort. He desperately wished that he would be able to take the pain from her, but he knew all too well that it was impossible.