Enigma: Part 3

Chapter 9

       Hextaar, Synyc, and Jolie descended upon the forest moon, Yavin 4. They needed a place to touch down and maybe stay for good, so what better place than the heart of the Rebellion.

Jolie glanced out the window and smiled a bit to herself. "Reminds me of Zhar," she muttered.

Synyc glanced over, feeling guilty. It really didn't give him joy in keeping Jolie back like this. Like an enemy.

"So, did you make plans to lock me up again?" Jolie asked flatly. She'd come to terms with it at this point.

"Just trust me."

Hextaar landed the ship next to the massive collection of those fleeing General Fall's Base. Theirs was easy to fit, with it being the smallest.

"I have business to take care of right away," Hextaar said as he slipped his jacket on and began to walk out. "I'll come meet with you later, Captain Drea." Hextaar tossed Synyc a new badge and he caught it clumsily.

Hextaar smiled and kept on walking, ready to take care of his Rebels.

Jolie couldn't help but note the smile of childlike wonder on Synyc's face as he fumbled to put the new badge on his jacket. The smile oddly stayed in his face as he stood and held out a jacket and an I.D. card to Jolie.

"What's this?" She asked cluelessly as she stood.

"I told you I had it under control," he said with a sly smile while Jolie put the brown, sturdy jacket on. "I cleared this with Hextaar, who is now a General by the way, and he agreed you deserve to be free and fight with us. Consider it a fresh start."

Jolie smiled and stepped forward, wrapping Synyc in a hug. "I'm sorry I've been such an asshole to you."

Synyc laughed and pulled away. "I've been kind of a dick, too. Let's call it even."

"Its a deal, Captain Drea."

      "Touching down, everyone!" Evander called back from the cockpit of the Rebel Transport.

"I'll grab the ramp," Flint said as he stood from his chair and jogged around back. Evander and Flint were like a well oiled machine by now in terms of teamwork. They each knew one another's strengths and weaknesses. It's hard not to after doing jobs of questioning legality for years on end. Joining the Rebellion was by far the most illegal thing they'd done so far.

Flint squeezed through the hoard of refugees on board and waited by the ramp. Once he felt the ship's engines shut off, he pulled the old lever and the ramp lowered with a creaking hiss complimented by some steam coming from underneath the ship.

Everyone aimlessly flooded out and looked across the crowd for their loved ones. Flint stood at the bottom of the ramp, watching the faces of relief, joy, and utter heartbreak.

"Do you see them?" Evander asked as he appeared beside his friend.

"No. I've got you, at least." Flint sounded defeated. Evander rarely saw anything keep him down.

"You'll always have me. I'm sure everyone made it," Evander said as he patted his shoulder. Flint glanced over and smiled.

Meanwhile, amidst the crowd, Corr walked off the medic ship looking exhausted. He'd spent the entire flight helping the other doctors make sure the wounded didn't die before they got to a functioning hospital. The bags under his eyes couldn't begin to tell what he'd seen in his days.