The New Adventures of Nomi Darklighter

Chapter 104 - A Special Transmission

Months had passed in which the small Resistance cell had grown and was a constant nuisance to the First Order. Their hit-and-run tactics had paid off.
The commander and her pilots were proud of what they had accomplished. In their part of the galaxy, no First Order convoy could pass unchallenged.

It was a day like any other, and the hidden base was teeming with life. There was shouting and laughter as some of the Resistance fighters unloaded a captured First Order freighter.
The commander stood behind one of her communications officers and listened to the intercepted transmissions. It was a routine to obtain information about upcoming convoys. She listened attentively to the chatter overlaid with static. Then she heard a voice, a voice she had heard in her head decades ago. But that was impossible. The man whose voice she thought she heard was dead. He had died on board the second Death Star.
But Nomi was sure it was his voice.
She was shaken to the core and sought support at the table.
Had Palpatine been there the whole time? Was he still pulling the strings? Was all the bloodshed and suffering for nothing? Would it all be over now?
The commander noticed that everyone nearby was staring at her.
The older members, veterans of the Galactic Civil War, had the same look of disbelief as their commander.
Nomi straightened up and regained her composure. Now they had even more reason to continue their fight. They had defeated Palpatine then, and they would defeat him now. She was pretty sure of that. The commander looked to those still in shock and addressed them with a reassuring smile.
"We've heard a voice from the past... we'll make sure it doesn't become our future to hear that voice again and again. Resume your duties."
She turned on her heels and left the command center.

After Nomi had left the command center, she headed for her quarters. When she entered, her husband looked at her in confusion. He got up from the couch and walked towards her.
"You look like you've seen a ghost, darling," he said and took her in his arms.
Nomi leaned her head against his chest and took a deep breath.
"Not seen one, but I heard one. Palpatine is back," she whispered in a low voice.
Dash Rendar wasn't sure if he had heard right.
"Did you just say Palpatine?" He asked, holding his wife at arm's length to look her in the eye.
Nomi nodded her head before answering.
"It's true, I heard his voice loud and clear. It was Palpatine."
The former mercenary let go of Nomi and paced around the room.
"That can't be true. Maybe it's an imposter, but for what reason? What would someone have to gain from pretending to be a man who's been dead for a long time?"
Nomi sat down on the couch and followed her husband with her eyes.
"It was the Emperor, Dash, I'm pretty sure of it."
Dash paused and turned to his wife.
"He's dead, Nomi. Luke told us that he witnessed Vader throw Palpatine down the reactor shaft. No one can survive that."
The Jedi poured herself a glass of Savareen brandy and drained it in one go.
"It seems that he has managed to cheat death. He's back again. And I have no idea how. I'm afraid the First Order was just a ruse and we'll soon be dealing with something much bigger than them."
Her husband frowned and paced around the room again.
"We need to find out where he's hiding, Nomi," he said, already thinking of all the possibilities. "And quickly, before his troops can reach their full strength."
His wife nodded her head thoughtfully.
"Most of the convoys we've intercepted have come from the Unknown Regions or were bound for them. It could be that he's hiding there. If so, that's a smart move. We don't have enough fighters to search there," Nomi said with a sigh.
"So what do you want to do, love?" Her husband asked with a scowl. "It can't be that we just sit here and wait for them to come out of hiding. Then it will be too late."
"We will continue to raid their convoys and disrupt their war effort. That's all we can do now."
Finally, Dash stopped pacing and dropped down on the couch next to his wife.
"We can only hope it's enough," he said and poured himself a drink, which he downed in one go.

Tarik had also heard the transmission and seen the commander's reaction to it. He also knew what this meant for all of them and their efforts. As he left the command center, he saw Dash Jr. talking to Draco. The former ambassador walked up to the two men. Dash Jr. looked at the non-human and sensed that he was worried.
"You look like you've seen a ghost, Tarik," he said with a lopsided grin.
Tarik shook his head.
"Not seen, I heard a ghost, Dash."
The young Rendar stared at him.
"A ghost? Are you kidding me?"
But the look on his mother's old friend's face told him it wasn't a joke.
"Palpatine's back," Tarik said, glancing at Draco, who was also listening.
Dash shook his head.
"That can't be. The Emperor died decades ago."
"Believe me, I know his voice, and your mother heard it too. We have heard his voice many times since Palpatine proclaimed the First Galactic Empire. There is no doubt that it was him."
"Kark, that's really bad news," the Jedi said, looking at Draco. "I need to tell my brothers as well."
The former pirate nodded his head.
"I wonder if the commander will tell the whole base or if she'll keep it to herself."
"We'll see, my friend. But if my mother wants to keep it to herself, I doubt that will work for long. The news will spread quickly if she hasn't declared it a secret," the young Rendar replied and made his way to his quarters, which he shared with his brothers.

Biggs, who was cleaning his blaster, looked up as his older brother entered their quarters and then resumed his work without a word.
Dash Jr. sat down in the only available chair and poured himself a drink, which he downed in one go. Corran waited patiently for his brother to speak, for he was sure something was bothering him.
"Tarik told Draco and me that a transmission was intercepted," Dash Jr. said.
"A transmission is nothing unusual. We intercept transmissions of all sorts every day," his youngest brother interrupted him.
"Not this time. This transmission was special because it was a message from the Emperor," said the young Jedi, pouring himself another drink.
"The Emperor? Are you kidding me?" Corran asked, reaching for the bottle and a glass to pour himself a drink as well.
Biggs finished his work and holstered his now clean blaster.
"He's not kidding," he said before falling back into silence.
Dash Jr. stared at his brothers and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Mama and Tarik heard the transmission and both know the Emperor's voice. So the only question is how we're going to react to the new threat."
Corran took a sip of his drink before answering.
"That depends on our mother. I'm sure she'll make the right decision."