Kenza Genoa blinked once. Twice.
A multitude of information was at her fingertips. In one corner: vitals, steps, etc. Also there was everything her father had left for her and more. Sometimes she called on these recordings to hear his voice again, have him tell a story or a task like he was still alive to show her.
There was much more information than anyone could have expected. Some recordings included the voice of uncles or Omega or her mother.
"Kenza?"
She lifted the visor, and her dark brown eyes could be seen from behind the helmet's slit. Kenza didn't need glasses like her father had, so her eyes were her own.
"Come on. We're needed on the bridge!" Tracyn said, beckoning her. Kenza sat up and paused her father's recording which he cataloged as Space Travel and Other Reduced Gravity Environments with two quick blinks, saving it for later.
Had he somehow known she wanted to be a pilot even before she did? She supposed it ran in the family, but it also seemed like anyone could fly a starship.
"Correct," said her father's voice, reading her mind. "Anyone is capable of flying a starship, although the title of 'pilot' is reserved for those who are proficient enough to do so with a purpose other than transportation, with combat being the most common option."
"It must be something big." Tracyn breathed. "They're assembling special forces."
"Spec-Ops?" Kenza repeated, stopping as others crossed in front of them. "Does that mean-"
"Yep," Tracyn sighed. "He's going, too. And Verco's headed down with General Solo and Commander Skywalker."
"Don't worry. Rex will take care of him."
"I'm more worried about Aidan," Tracyn said. "They put too much pressure on him, just because he happens to be the son of a General."
"Or maybe it's because he's really good at his job," Kenza retorted, following Tracyn's gaze out the window to where Home One and other ships flew beside them.
"They'll be fine," Kenza insisted, gently pulling her away.
"Mom and Buir will kill me if anything happens to Ver'ika," Tracyn continued, sitting down at her station. "But he's been wanting this for so long, to be part of the action."
"It must be a guy thing," Kenza agreed, setting her helmet down beside her as she joined her cousin. "I'm fine with staying here and putting my mind to good use. Wanna watch the race again?"
"Sure!" Tracyn agreed, always eager. Every time she and Kenza rewatched the first person footage of Tech's race on the Safa Toma Speedway, she was able to follow a bit more. Kenza's mind worked much faster, making the calculations along with her father and cataloging them for studying.
The ship rocked and a light on the console blinked after the first lap. Tracyn reached out to answer it.
Maintenance crew to deck 17.
"That's our cue."
The cousins hurried down to the lift, holding each other up when the ship rocked again. The smell of smoke filled their lungs as fire crew rushed about as well.
Thanks to the schematics they'd studied beforehand, Kenza and Tracyn knew every wire and panel on the starship. They worked in tandem together, Tracyn further up in the wiring while Kenza handed her tools before she even asked.
"Do you wish you were out there?"
"Huh?" Kenza asked, breaking her gaze away from the viewport and the chaos outside.
"Y'know. Flying."
"I know I'm not ready for that yet. I only just started flight school."
"A girl can dream, though."
Kenza nodded absently in agreement. Once their job was done, Tracyn hopped down and joined her at the viewport. It was almost slow motion, seeing how the starships weaved in and out, knowing that at any moment they could be blasted into oblivion.
"Let's go back," Kenza murmured, pulling Tracyn's arm.
She nodded.
The casualty list was extensive, and Tracyn found herself scouring it for names of friends and family. No one seemed to be answering their comms, either because they were too busy partying or-
She couldn't think any further.
"Give it a few more hours, Cyn'ika," Kenza yawned. "You're making me anxious."
"I can't. I have to know!"
"Fine, I'll make us caf." Kenza sat up and walked over to the maker they'd brought from home. It was sugary, but better than stim shots.
"Is he under your mom's name or Fett?"
"Zapal. He'll be at the end of the list."
Kenza scrolled all the way down on her datapad. There was Verco's name, but status was undetermined at the time.
"I'll keep refreshing," she said, when suddenly Tracyn jumped up.
"You see him?"
"No, not his, Aidan's. He's in critical condition. I should go…" she trailed off, biting her lip. "Shouldn't I?"
"Maybe give his parents some time first," Kenza counseled.
"I'm gonna try to call Verco again," Tracyn sighed, even more anxious. She wiped her tired eyes and smudged engine oil on her face.
"Maybe you should clean up, first. Hit the 'fresher like you should've as soon as we got back. Then I'm going to take you out to celebrate, take your mind off things."
"That won't work." Tracyn said, but did move to the 'fresher. "And stop acting like you're older than me!"
"Then quit being a baby!" Kenza teased right back, slipping her helmet on as she leaned back on her bunk.
"Observe the difference in gravity," her father's voice resumed, and she closed her eyes.
After staying up with Tracyn at a ship-wide party, Kenza was nursing a hangover when Verco finally called back.
"Where are you?!" Tracyn practically yelled into the commlink.
"Sorry, sis! I just got distracted with all the celebrations down here on the planet."
"You're still on Endor?"
"You aren't?" Verco asked.
"No, we're still up here with the fleet. It took quite a beating and I'm waiting to hear from Aidan."
"I heard his squad was wiped out. I… didn't want to tell you."
"It's fine. He'll be fine. He lived for a reason, I have to believe that."
Another voice on Verco's side of the comm made Tracyn smile. The voice was familiar, but not completely identical to her father's.
"Hey, kid! We miss you down here!"
"Hey, Rex," Tracyn smiled. "Sorry. I have to babysit Kenza."
"Shut up," Kenza supplied, covering her eyes with an arm.
"I overheard what you said about Aidan. Is he really…"
"He's in medbay right now. I'm waiting for a call to go see him."
"Maybe I should give 'Soka a call," Rex murmured.
A bit of jealousy swept through Tracyn when she heard Rex say that. Why did he think he had more of a right than her? But she calmed down just as quickly. After all, Rex had practically helped raise Aidan, so he was more important.
"Keep in touch, you two," she finally said. "I'm glad you're okay, Verco. Still be careful though, you're technically too young to drink."
"What the parents don't learn won't hurt them. And I've got Rex here!" Verco said. "Bye, Cyn'ika."
"Bye."
With her brother safe, Tracyn finally felt her nerves ease up a little.
Maybe now, she could close her eyes.
On the other side of the galaxy, Jai Genoa woke up with a headache. That wasn't uncommon nowadays, but he wondered if it was actually his sister who had something to do with it.
She was drinking again, he sighed. Not that he blamed her. If Kenza wanted to celebrate events by consuming large amounts of alcohol, that was her choice. Although he could do without the sympathy hangover.
Jax grinned at him from his crib. He didn't have any teeth yet, but he had dark eyes like him and light reddish-brown curls.
"Good morning to you, too," he said, lifting him to his shoulder.
His babbling reminded Jai of how much time had passed. Four months. Jaera was three years old, which meant that his father had been gone for all this time.
He hummed uneasily to himself, transferring Jax to his hip as he fixed his bottle. Sena had tried but was unable to nurse for more than a few weeks, so bottles it was. Jai was careful to monitor his nutrition and weight to make sure he was growing well, as he did for Jaera, too.
Outside, he found his mother already awake. Phee Genoa was older now, but Jai still considered her one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen.
"Morning, mama," he said.
"Jai," she smiled. "And there's my little treasure!"
Jax babbled happily as Phee took him in her arms. Like Jai as a baby, Jax had a habit of tugging on people's hair if it was within reach. Phee didn't mind.
"Something is different today," Jai stated. "Kenza hasn't called yet, but I can tell."
"It's the Empire," Phee interrupted. "Omega called a few minutes before you woke up. They destroyed the second Death Star."
"Oh," he responded. "That is a huge strategic victory."
She nodded in agreement.
"I wish Buir could have heard."
"I'm not sure if it will make a difference unless the Empire is gone for good," Phee said darkly, making Jax babble quizzically.
"Mama?" Jai asked.
"Who am I kidding? They can't rebuild a new Death Star without the Emperor, can they? That's at least one good thing to come out of this."
She was getting annoyed, but Jai knew it was not at him. His mother was still grieving the loss of her husband, and he suspected she always would. Just like he would in his own way.
"Last night was tough," Jai said. "Jax wouldn't fall asleep and then when I woke up I had a headache. I think it's from Kenza."
"Something bothering him?"
"Not sure. According to my notes, he could be getting his first tooth soon…"
"Probably," Phee sighed. "Do you want breakfast?"
"Yes, please. I'm going to let Sena sleep in some more since she stayed up with the kids."
"I've not had much of an appetite for breakfast these days," Phee admitted. "But I force myself to eat something. Sometimes I can hear your father telling me off for not taking care of myself."
Her grandson watched with much interest as Phee prepared a simple breakfast, spreading out rice on their plates before adding grilled fish from the morning's catch and a fruit topping.
"No, not yet," Phee told the baby gently when he reached for it. "You're still too little."
"Two more months," Jai muttered to himself.
"Do you think your sister will head home soon?"
"I doubt it," Jai picked up some of the food with his right hand. "There is still some of the Empire left, and she had to come home recently for Buir's funeral."
"Well, I can hope," Phee sighed. "It's much harder having her gone without your father here."
Wanting to cheer her up, Jai remembered something else. "I did hear from Tracyn. She'll probably come home and bring her partner."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. He got really injured, so Cole can look over him while they enjoy some time off. Rex'll come too probably."
"That'll be nice, although no one's told him about Wrecker and Hunter, have they?"
"I don't think so."
Jax began to whine and Jai took him back into his arms so Phee could eat. His son would eagerly hold the bottle with both hands and it made him laugh.
"The next time your aunt comes home, you need to tell her how thankful you are for her fighting for you," he told his son, locking eyes with him. "Just like you always tell Ba'buir."
Much too occupied with the bottle to respond, Jax just continued his meal. But his big brown eyes stared into Jai's, and he knew that somehow he understood every word he said.