The Nest dropped out of hyperspace with not so much a flicker but a lurch. The starboard fuel driver had blown three jumps ago and it had taken Face and Garan all their skill to fix it. Luna piloted it, very carefully, down to the planet surface below, following the guide ship. The Resistance guide had insisted that they turn thei navicomputer off and so had flown almost completely blind since they first made contact with the Resistance. Luna had no idea what this planet was called, or even where it was in the galaxy. But it was temperate, with lush jungles and high mountain pillars that confounded her passive sensors, so she was grateful to make landfall.
The Resistance base was bustling with activity and, stepping down from the ramp, Luna wasn't sure if they were busy settling in or busy packing up to leave, but no one told not to decamp - indeed, no one told her anything. No one came to meet her. It was as if she were just another ship, which, she realised, they were. They knew nothing of their adventures, of their months spent behind enemy lines, and they hadn't yet proven themselves to the Resistance. That will change. She stepped up into the ramp and called to the others to come out. The first of which was Amoyah, who ran out holding a packet of rations held high, like a trophy, with Twitch chasing her. Then came Tarrik and Vix, and Luna stepped up to lend a hand, helping the buff Devaronian down.
'You there! Deck hand!' Tarrik yelled to a passerby. 'Which way to the infirmary?'
'Be nice,' Face gently reproved him, stepping out of the ship, blinking at the sunlight. He took a deep breath, breathed out, visibly relaxing. 'Sir,' Face smiled to the deck hand. 'My companions and I need medical attention. Could you point the way, please?'
'Of course, sir,' the deck hand replied, giving Tarrik a pointed look. 'Right this way.'
Face started to follow, then stopped mid step and turned back to Luna. 'Stay here for now. I'll pass the word along that we need supplies and I want you to oversee the cargo transfer.'
'Understood, Face,' Luna replied with a briskness that her tired body couldn't quite live up to.
Face smiled sympathetically. 'It's just for now. Once we get things squared away and a better handle on things, then you can relax. Go see the sights. But for now I need my second in command to, well, command.'
Luna smiled in return. 'It's fine. You go get patched up. I'll keep an eye on things here.'
Face still didn't leave, on the verge, it seemed to Luna, of saying something. But nothing came, and he waved as he left.
Hoshi was the next to come out, looking around her warily, almost clinging to the shadows. As she came to stand beside Luna, she looked up in the sky.
'Is your mom up there?' Luna asked.
Hoshi shook her head. 'I don't think so. But I wouldn't put it past her to have followed us anyway.'
Luna nodded. That sounded a lot like Mara. She had opted to not join Nexu Squadron when Face and Luna had announced their intention of joining up with the Resistance, retiring to her own ship and flying off to places unknown. 'It'll be fine,' Luna reassured her. 'The Resistance is not looking for you, or your mom. Besides, as far as they're concerned your name is Cora Pavin. No one's going to say anything. We got your back.'
Hoshi relaxed at that. 'Are you sure you don't want me to stay here, keep an eye on the prisoners?'
Luna's eyes flickered to Hoshi's belt and noticed that her lightsaber wasn't there. She doubted that Hoshi would have left it in the ship, though. 'It's fine,' she said. 'You go have a look around. See how things are, here. And relax. Get some fresh air. You deserve it.'
