Almost

Chapter Ten

"I don't think you're suppose to be up there."

Kaz was sitting over in the top bunk, dangling his legs over the edge. "Why? She said to make ourselves comfortable."

Tam glared up at him. "I don't think Nena meant climb all over her things."

He scowled at her. "I'm not climbing all over her stuff. I'm just... jittery."

She raised her eyebrows at him. "The plan is simple. Go to the old ruins of that star destroyer, and scout it out. Plus we get to take prisoners."

"Or maybe the decoded message is a trap." He grumbled. "No one is that stupid to send out a signal that strong and expect not to get noticed, even if they are with the Order."

Tam rolled her eyes. "Well anyone who sends a signal out is desperate."

"Exactly."

"Your not making any sense."

"Maybe that's my job. Too keep you on your toes."

Tam raised her hands to her temples and rubbed an oncoming headache away.

Nena popped her head around the corner. "We're approaching Castilon, and about to enter the atmosphere. Hang on to something."

Nena's ship was interesting- it was small, but rather roomy. It had a main area and a 'fresher, not to mention the cockpit. When Tam had asked where she acquired such a ship, the nikto replied with, "It's a long story."

"Alright. What do you call her?"

A ghost of a smile crossed Nena's face. "Serenity."

Tam wondered why she named her ship Serenity of all things, but before she could ask the other girl was up the ramp and heading into the cockpit.

"Alright." Nena's voice crackled over the com system, snapping her back into the present. "Everyone off my ship."

As the airlock opened, Tam was rushed with memories- happy ones. She half expected to see the Colossus perched on the glittering sea. But there was only ruin. Lots and lots of ruin.

"Ohhh..." Neeku gaped.

The star Destroyer was in pieces, shards of broken glass that cut through the blue water.

"The Resistance thinks someone could've survived... this?"

"You heard the recording."

Tam looked over at Nena, who had a pair of macrobinoculars and was scanning the horizon. She lowered them and said, "Me and Neeku will go east. Tam and Kaz go North. Check in every hour, no late check ins. We meet back here at nightfall. Capeesh?"

The Tam nodded and Kaz did a salute. Neeku bobbed his head and turned to follow Nena.

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"Can I ask you something?"

It had been about fifteen minutes of surprisingly comfortable silence, and the only thing the two had managed to find was a couple of good parts they had salvaged.

Kaz dusted off another part and put it in his satchel. "Shoot."

She took a deep breath. "Is this... a test?"

He looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Tam looked away. "I mean, is this to see if I'm with the Resistance- and if Tierny pops out under a rock I won't betray you?"

"Well if it is, then I'm not in on it." He tilted his head to the side. "But this whole ordeal is a bit strange."

Tam snorted. "Maybe it's a bit of both. Real mission and also- trust fall."