The New Adventures of Nomi Darklighter

Chapter 109 - After the Battle

On the way back, the mood on board the Aquarius was subdued. Nomi stared out of the cockpit window, where the streaks of hyperspace passed by.
Corran knew from experience that there wouldn't be much point in talking to his mother now. So the young man just sat there and made plans for his future, which was now bright after defeating Palpatine.
He and his siblings would never again be forced to live in secrecy and deny being Jedi. Corran didn't understand why his mother wasn't happy as well.
The commander turned her head and looked at her son. She saw how happy he was, but she was also aware of how costly this victory had been.
Snap Wexley and hundreds had paid with their lives for the freedom of the galaxy. Hundreds she could never know, hundreds who would forever remain nameless and faceless to her. She sighed and turned her attention back to the swirl of hyperspace.

When it came to the mood, it was very different on board the Outrider.
Dash had poured his sons and himself a drink and all three were now enjoying it. The Galactic Civil War veteran leaned back in the pilot's seat with his feet propped up on the console. After taking a sip of his drink, he savored the taste. Yes, this was the taste of victory. He smiled at Dash Jr. and Biggs. They had been through so much, but now it was over and his children would have a free life. The brothers sat casually in their seats, sipping their drinks. They were glad they were still alive. Eventually Dash Jr. raised his glass.
"To our victory," he said, before downing his drink in one go.
Biggs smirked and raised his glass too, remaining silent as usual. Then he took a sip of the drink. He wondered what he would do now that the war was over. Maybe he would find a girl, get married and have children. He smiled and drank the rest of the drink. As much as he enjoyed the company of his brothers, it was time to go his own way.

Biggs wasn't the only one thinking about what he should do in his future life.
On board the Trader's Luck, Tasherit Rendar and Jaden Katarn were in just as good a mood as the crew of the Outrider. They were planning their wedding and the small cargo company they wanted to start. They both thought of names for the company, laughing a lot. The two young Jedi hadn't been this happy in a long time, but now they were ready and eager for a new life.

Nomi was snapped out of her thoughts when a signal indicated that they had reached their destination. The commander pulled the lever and the streaks of hyperspace turned back into stars. Ahead of them, she and Corran saw the planet Ajan Kloss, where the part of the Resistance that had escaped the First Order attack on Crait had found refuge. One by one, the ships of the ragtag fleet re-entered real space and approached the planet.

A few minutes later, Nomi landed her battered freighter near the Outrider and Trader's Luck as the victorious fleet landed in a clearing. She shut down the engines, unstrapped and left the Aquarius, followed by her son.
The commander was glad that her family and the members of her Resistance cell had survived.
She was greeted by happy faces and cheers. Being embraced by humans and non-humans she had never seen before, she too was finally in a happy mood.
The long fight was finally over. After all the decades, after all the sacrifices and suffering, the galaxy was free.

Dash had left the Outrider  with his older sons. He had trouble seeing his small wife in the crowd, but then he caught sight of her being embraced by a Trandoshan. He grinned and hurried to his wife, who had just been let go by the non-human. Dash took her in his arms. The former mercenary smiled and Nomi sensed how relieved he was that it was all over now.
Their children and Jaden came up to them and they hugged each other. Tarik was standing a little to the side, talking to a young woman.
"Hey, Nomi."
The commander turned her head when she heard the voice of the former leader of Rogue Squadron. Wedge Antilles was coming towards her. He walked slowly, leaning on a cane. Now she knew why he had been a gunner aboard the Millennium Falcon and not at the yoke of an X-wing. He gave her a lopsided grin.
"It's been a long time since we last saw each other. But we've made it again, Nomi."
The Jedi Master chuckled and hugged her old friend, who almost dropped his cane. Her husband suppressed a laugh and slapped Antilles on the shoulder.

The improvised celebration lasted until nightfall, and Nomi had many conversations with those who had fought alongside her.
She was chatting with Lando Calrissian when Poe Dameron approached her. He sat down next to her and inclined his head to those sitting with the commander.
"Rey suggested a memorial service for General Organa and her son. She told me that Ben Solo saved her life on Exegol."
Nomi looked at her children, who had suffered so much because of Ben when he was Kylo Ren.
Surprisingly, it was Biggs who spoke up first.
"We should do it. They both deserve to be honored. Ben was our friend before he turned to the dark side. With the rescue of Rey, I think he's rehabilitated."
His siblings nodded their heads in agreement and Nomi smiled.
"We will, but only those who were close to them."
"Then meet me in the small clearing nearby in 30 minutes. I'll let Rey and Chewbacca know," said Dameron.
Then he took his leave and made his way to the Millennium Falcon.

At the appointed time, they gathered in the small clearing in the middle of which a large fire was burning. One by one, they said goodbye to General Leia Organa, the former Princess of Alderaan, and her beloved son Ben Solo. The last one was Chewbacca, who had tears in his eyes.
Then the Jedi attending the memorial service stood in a circle around the fire and bowed their heads in respect.
In a split second, they ignited their lightsabers in perfect unison and raised them in salute. Nothing could be heard but the crackling of the fire and the humming of the lightsabers. It was a great moment to see the assembled Jedi honoring two of their own.
Nomi took a deep breath and then deactivated her weapon. The others followed her example. Now it was only the fire that lit up the clearing.
They waited in silence until it had died down before they left.