The New Adventures of Nomi Darklighter

Chapter 58 - Course for Nar Shaddaa

Dash Rendar woke up and looked at his chrono, then activated the intercom.
"Still no sign of the fleet?"
Biggs woke up with a start when he heard his father's voice. He rubbed his eyes, looked out the viewport and then at the sensor readouts.
"No, father," came the young Jedi's reply.
The former mercenary frowned.
"I wonder what's taking them so long. I'm coming over to the cockpit, Biggs. We should hail your mother."

Dash got up from the cot and stepped out of the bunk. Then he walked to the cockpit, where his son was sitting in the copilot's seat. The lights were dim and Dash saw Biggs only as a dark figure. He smiled at the sight, proud that his son had taken all the precautions he had taught him when Biggs was a toddler. Dash lowered himself into the pilot's seat and activated the comm.
"Aquarius for Outrider. Do you read me?"
"I'm reading you, Outrider," came the reply in his favorite voice, his wife's voice.
"Hello, sweetheart," said the Jedi's husband, smiling broadly.
"Hello, my love. Why are you calling?" Asked Nomi.
"I wonder what we're going to do now that the fleet isn't showing up here. Do you have any contact with Corran?"
The Jedi shook her head, even her husband couldn't see it.
"No. Corran is hiding in the Force, it seems. I can't contact or sense him, Dash."
Dash Rendar tapped impatiently on the console.
"So we're completely blind? I don't like that idea. So what do we do now? Stay here and wait or go somewhere else?"
His wife pondered the question. Finally, she came to a decision.
"We're going to Nar Shaddaa."

"You heard your mother, Biggs. Set course for Nar Shaddaa."
His son wordlessly punched the coordinates into the nav computer.
"When do we leave?" asked Dash.
"After breakfast, my love," Nomi answered him.
It was only at that moment that Dash Rendar realized how hungry he was. It had been hours since he had eaten his last meal. That was before the impromptu funeral on D'Qar, to be precise.
"I'll let you know when we're done, Nomi."
He disconnected and stood up.
"C'mon, son, let's get something to eat."
Biggs stood up as well and followed his father into the galley.
Dash looked over his shoulder. Sometimes his son's quiet nature got on his nerves.
If Biggs was too quiet, Tasherit was too talkative. He smiled at the thought of his youngest.
"So, what do you want to eat, Biggs?"
The young man shrugged his shoulders.
"It doesn't matter, Papa, just something to fill the stomach. I'm not picky."
Dash rummaged in the locker and pulled out a few cans.
"It's not much I have to offer."
He showed his son the labels and the young Jedi frowned.
"Is there no bread?"
His father raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry, son, there wasn't enough time to restock."
Biggs grabbed one of the cans and opened it.
"That'll do, Papa. It's still better than protein bars."
He grimaced as he mentioned the less-than-delicious food they got on their field missions. Dash laughed and opened another can.
"We can heat it up if you want."
Biggs nodded, emptied the contents of his can onto a plate and placed it in the heater. His father did the same, and minutes later they were sitting at the table eating in silence.

Meanwhile, Dash Jr. was busy preparing breakfast for his mother and himself aboard the Aquarius. If anyone was watching him, they wouldn't have guessed that the young man had lost his right arm in a lightsaber battle.
"We'd better hurry so we can get out of here, Mama."
"Is that what you think, Junior?" Came his mother's reply, who was sitting at the Dejarik table in the mid section.
"Yes, I have a feeling that more First Order freighters will be coming here from the Unknown Regions. And they will certainly be better protected after the freighter we attacked never arrived at its destination. They're not stupid," her son replied as he brought breakfast from the galley. He sat down on the bench opposite his mother and began to eat.
"So we're going to Nar Shaddaa?" Dash Jr. took a sip of caf.
Nomi nodded and swallowed the bite of bread she had just chewed before answering.
"Yes, it's the best place for us. Nar Shaddaa has always been a safe haven. No government has succeeded in taking over the Smuggler's Moon, neither the Empire nor the New Republic. And so it will be for the First Order."
She grinned sardonically.
"I hope you're right," her eldest son said after taking another sip of caf and swallowing the bite of bread. "I've already called Shug through the secure channel."
"Good."
The Jedi took the last bite and stood up.
"I'll let your father know we're ready to go."
She walked over to the cockpit and strapped herself in after settling into the pilot's seat. A few seconds later, Dash Jr. jumped into the copilot's seat and strapped himself in as well. Then he punched the coordinates into the nav computer.
"We're ready to go, Mama."
Nomi smiled and hailed the Outrider.
"Aquarius for Outrider. Do you read me?"
"Yes, honey," Dash replied, "we're ready to go. I was just about to call you."
He grinned.
"I'll see you on Nar Shaddaa."
Biggs switched on the cockpit lights and activated the hyperdrive.
"We're ready too," came his wife's reply. "Have a good flight."
"You too," replied her husband.

Dash Rendar then cut the connection and the Outrider made the jump into hyperspace, followed shortly afterwards by the Aquarius.