The New Adventures of Nomi Darklighter

Chapter 45 - Seduced by the Dark Side

The Blue Squadron's X-wings, the transporter with the valuable cargo on board and the Millennium Falcon that had joined them landed safely on D'Qar after an uneventful journey through hyperspace.

Once they landed, the X-wing pilots jumped out of their fighters.
Poe Dameron was just taking off his helmet when BB-8 rolled towards him. The young commander happily greeted his faithful astromech. Nomi looked in amazement at a young, dark-skinned man following the droid and wearing Poe's leather jacket.
The two men seemed to know each other, hugging and talking animatedly. Could he be the deserted stormtrooper who had helped the commander escape from the First Order?
But then she was interrupted in her train of thought.
The Jedi could hardly believe her eyes when she saw a stormtrooper leave the transporter. At the foot of the access ramp, the trooper stopped, took off his helmet and revealed long, red hair. It was none other than Tasherit Rendar. The young woman had returned from her mission.
Before Nomi could go to her daughter, Jaden Katarn rushed to the transporter. Once there, he hugged and kissed his girlfriend. Caressing Tasherit's cheek tenderly, he spoke to her. A little later, they walked hand in hand to the pilots' quarters.
Dash had approached his wife and placed his hands on her shoulders as he watched his youngest and her boyfriend walk away.
"I guess we'll have to get used to the fact that we're no longer the most important people in our daughter's life."
His wife nodded her head.

It wasn't long before the general and Han Solo emerged from the transporter. Nomi hadn't seen Han for a long time and was a little shocked at the sight. There wasn't much left of the hero of the Galactic Civil War. He had grown old, and the Jedi sensed the same grief in him as in her friend Leia. The loss of their only son seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders. It was obvious that the Corellian felt somehow guilty for what had happened to Ben. He barely looked at his wife and walked with her to the command center.
Nomi and Dash followed them slowly, as they also wanted to find out in which part of the galaxy Luke Skywalker was hiding.
As they entered the command center, the holographic image of the map hovered in the air. But the map that had cost so many lives on Jakku was incomplete. The Jedi could almost physically feel the disappointment of those present. It couldn't be that everything had been for nothing. Poe Dameron spoke to the general and Leia looked at the young, dark-skinned man standing next to the commander.
After the holoprojector had been deactivated, Nomi and her husband left the room and went back to their quarters.
"I can't believe it was all for nothing," Dash said after opening the door and entering, followed by Nomi.
"Me neither," replied his wife, who took off her pilot's gear and put on casual clothes. "Leia had so many hopes, and now such a disappointment."
Dash also changed into casual clothes, poured himself a glass of Corellian ale and downed it in one go. But that didn't help his frustration in the slightest.

In the afternoon, Dash had gone to blow off steam during simulator training when Leia came to his and Nomi's quarters. The former Rogue Squadron pilot opened the door when there was a knock. Her friend, standing in front of her, looked bad. Leia entered after Nomi had made room for her and sat down at the small table. The Jedi placed a mug of Blum fruit tea in front of her and sat down opposite her.
"How could I have thought I would find Luke, Nomi?" Leia sighed before continuing. "Han has seen our son on Takodana. He serves the First Order."
She had tears streaming down her face.
"Snoke seduced him to the dark side." Leia hid her face in her hands, as if she, who was always so strong, was ashamed of her tears. "I want my son back. I'm sure there's still good in Ben, Nomi."
Leia took a sip of tea.
"Finn, the man who helped Commander Dameron escape from the Star Destroyer, told us about a First Order battle station called Starkiller Base. I'm sure it destroyed the Hosnian system. Finn was able to provide us with the coordinates of the base and I sent Temmin Wexley there on a recon mission."
Nomi looked at her friend in horror. Was the First Order's Starkiller Base a new Death Star? Would everything happen again? She quickly pushed these thoughts aside.
"How is Han?"
"Not good, Nomi. He's suffering as much as I am. Han has been avoiding me since that happened with Ben, and now that he's here, he's avoiding being with me for longer than necessary. It hurts so much, Nomi. Despite everything that has happened, I still love him."
The Jedi took her friend's hand.
"When your son comes back to you, everything will be alright."
Leia nodded.
"Yes, I hope so, Nomi."
She stood up and went to the door.
"Thank you for listening and for the tea."
Then she opened the door, stepped out and made her way to the command center, leaving a thoughtful Nomi behind.