Star Wars: On the Job

Epilogue

Captain Hera Syndulla settled easily into the pilot's seat. She flipped three switches overhead and checked the monitors before bringing the sub-light engines online. The familiar hum of a healthy Ghost reverberated through the hull and echoed off the frost-webbed permacrete of the docking bay.

"Hoffin Control, this is Expedient Two requesting permission to lift off." Kanan's voice was easy and professional as he gave the fake moniker.

Static crackled from the other side. "Expedient Two, this is Hoffin Control. Stand by for approved ascent vector."

"Roger that, Control. Transmit when ready." Kanan's screen blinked with a series of letters and numbers. After giving them a brief assessment he cloned them over to Hera's display. "Vector received," he said. "Expedient Two taking off. Thanks for the memories."

"Copy that, Expedient," control crackled. "We hope to see you again."

Kanan flipped off the comm and leaned back as Hera guided the Ghost out of the bay. Low, gray-white clouds churned with new snow. She kept one eye on the pathway demarcated by Control and the other on the sky. With all the industrial traffic moving in and out of the area and kilometer-thick clouds blanketing the northern pole, flying inside the lines was more essential than usual.

The Ghost soon sailed into the pitch-white. After a minute of blindness they broke above the stratosphere and the air cleared into a pale blue morning rapidly dissolving into black. Pinpoints of starlight speckled the fading colors as the engines quieted to a gentle purr.

"Clearing planetary gravity. All space traffic is moving normally."

Hera nodded absently at Kanan's report. There was a slight shift as the Ghost eased into artificial gravity and she moved the ship farther away from the planet and into open space. The field of stars opened up in front of her.

Kanan swiveled around in his chair. "I'm guessing you want to enter the next set of hyperspace coordinates on your own?" he asked although it wasn't really a question.

"Mm-hmm," she nodded, still enjoying the feeling of the Ghost gliding effortlessly through the black.

"I'll get us some food." He set a hand on Hera's shoulder as he stood up and let his fingers trail easily off of her.

She acknowledged the gesture with a smile which he returned in a brief glance before opening the door.

Hera's lekku swayed easily as she returned her attention to the controls. She called up the navigation computer and entered her coordinates. Chopper would be glad to see her in his own way, and she would be glad to see him, too. The time away had been... Busy? Complicated? Unexpected?

Worth it.

She hit the final okay and listened to the hyperdrive come online. Hera pushed the lever and the star points stretched out before her once again.

She was still smiling.