How it began:
Luna sank into the chair at the salon table with a sigh of relief, closing her eyes, just for a moment, denying the outside world. It had been a good mission, everyone came back alive and in one piece. It was a win. But, Force, she had hated nearly every moment of it. She was a professional. She was used to training, practicing scenarios until you ran them in your sleep, so that, when the time came? When you were actually in the field? You knew exactly what to do. There were no surprises. There were no seat of your pants acts, no last minute changes, no relying on luck. Minimal risk. It was just her luck that she was part of a squadron that seemed to run entirely on seat of your pants acts, maximum risk, maximum reliance on luck. It felt so wrong.
And yet, opening her eyes, watching the other Nexus take their seats around the table, she was happy. They were her people. It wasn't just a bond forged from shared battles. It was true friendship. Real trust. She knew they all had her back.
'All right, everyone,' said Face to the table at large. 'Good work today. Time to report in. Luna? Stay away, now. What did you learn?'
Luna poked her tongue out at Face. She was exhausted, and she felt the deep, rhythmic thrumming of the hyperspace engine tugging at her, luring her to sleep. She took a deep breath and sat up straighter. 'We found a witness to the kidnapping of Zatt's parents and - well, I'm not sure of the specifics, but Mara was able to use her abilities to determine the likely identity of one of the kidnappers.'
'Oh?' Face said in surprise, and turned to Mara. 'That's great news, well done, Mara!'
To Luna's right, Cora let out a little squeak and Luna turned to look at her. She was smiling. Not just smiling but, perhaps it was a trick of the light, but her eyes gleamed. Cora must have sensed Luna's scrutiny, for she turned to Luna. Yes, she was on the verge of tears. Luna leaned close and reached out to hold her hand. As Mara told the table of what she'd learned, Luna whispered in Cora's ear. 'Everything okay?'
'Mhmm,' Cora nodded, and then, 'it's just so strange. You accept her. They accept her. It's a new feeling,' she laughed laughed under her breath. 'No more hiding. It feels,' she paused. Luna waited until she found the right word. 'You know how tiring it is, having to hide a part of yourself?'
Luna nodded. She knew that feeling all too well. Cora smiled at her, kissing her cheek softly. 'Of course. I'm sorry.'
'It's fine,' Luna reassured her.
'I feel so happy, not having to have my guard up all the time,' Cora continued. 'I feel like I can finally be myself with you. With them.'
Luna's heart swelled with happiness for her girlfriend and she kissed her on the lips in a deep, loving embrace.
'Excuse me, lovebirds,' Face interrupted. 'We have work to do.'
'Sorry, Face,' Luna mumbled, feeling her cheeks flame. She struggled, and failed, to keep herself from grinning like an idiot.
'Actually, I want to say something,' Cora stood up, and seemed stunned that she had even done that.
'What are you doing?' Luna asked.
Cora took a deep breath, and blurted out, 'I've been lying to you about something.'
'Plot twist,' Tarrik spoke up, 'you were the bad guy all along,' he looked about the table, expecting a laugh. Vix, beside him, patted his shoulder.
'No,' Cora smiled. 'I just - my name is Hoshi. My real name. Hoshi Jade. Please call me that from now on,' she paused for a moment, then sat down abruptly.
Face smiled encouragingly at her. 'Pleased to meet you, Hoshi Jade,' then he turned to Mara. 'Apologies, Mara. Kids today. Always interrupting.'
'I don't know where she got it from,' Mara shook her head in mock sadness. Hoshi poked her tongue out at her mother, then leaned into Luna's hug.
'Please, continue,' Face gestured to Mara.
'Oh - yes,' she said. 'During my time with the First Order, the counter intelligence unit had just one base set up, with small detachments planted on various starships and other bases. There were plans, expansions for more bases, greater reach, and there were several planets picked out for this, as well as plans for entrenching themselves on already established First Order military and civilian outposts. Theoretically, they could take political and espionage prisoners to any one of these locations. If I were to guess, though, they'd take them to the original base on Scipio. It's the most established and had, at least in my time, facilities for the prisoner captivity. Even if they're not there, it's at least the best place to start.'
Luna keyed up Scipio on the holoprojector, the image of an icy world appeared in front of them, hovering over the table.
'Friendly place,' Face said mildly. 'Isn't that a Muun world? Are they allied to the First Order?'
'That, I couldn't say. I think it was more a financial arrangement, but in the years since?' Mara left the question hanging.
Luna studied the image. 'You sure they'd still be there?'
'Positive,' Mara replied at once. 'From the plans that I helped develop, I know they were invested in making long term plans for that site, at least,' Mara leaned forward to input coordinates on the holo base. The image zoomed in on a large continent on the southern hemisphere. It looked to be a mass of white mountain ridges with cities dotted about.
'This is,' Luna paused, 'going to be very hazardous.'
'Meaning you'll need to put on a shirt,' Ro'vena gently mocked Vix, who looked affronted at the very idea.
'Meaning that we need to plan this down to the minute. Back ups upon back ups,' Luna insisted evenly. 'I know we've been operating inside First Order space for pretty much the entirety of our squadron's operational life, but let's not get comfortable. This is very hostile terrain, infiltrating what is most likely a maximum security facility, filled with people whose entire job is focused on spies and spying. This is going to be hard. We can't afford slip ups.'
'Agreed,' Face said forcefully. 'We're so close to our goal. We can't afford to take risks. But this is what we're specialised in. We can do it. So let's get to work.'
How it ends:
Luna punched the Nest's cockpit console, and the emergency alarm died. She didn't need to know how badly the ship was doing, thank you very much. She just had to look out the window to see the mass of TIEs swooping by. She ignored them. They were nearly free.
Luna keyed on the comm. 'Talk to me, Face,' she spoke into it. 'Is everyone okay over there?'
There was no response.
'Face?' she checked her radar. Face's shuttle was there, just behind her. Lots of angry red blips around them both, but it was there. Maybe the TIEs had knocked out their communications.
'Anyone there?' she asked again.
'I'm here,' said Garan, and Luna relaxed.
'Where's Face?' she asked.
'They got him,' Garan rasped. 'I couldn't get there in time. The First Order got him. They captured Face.'
