Page 73 - Star Wars Insider #176

FICTION

her knitting away and types a long “Good. Just a quick sweep of the break free of the tractor beam. Her
code into her comm. The answer is area. We’ve heard rumors of First Order firepower is minimal, and she knows

immediate and, as always, mysterious. ships there, and it’s vital that we know they could blow her to smithereens
They never say more until she’s if they’re true. If you see anything, be and call it a win. As Gigi squeaks

confirmed her identity. ready to jump. We’ve had several pilots and burbles frantically, Vi considers
“Copy.” go missing.” her options.
“Starling, reporting to General “Bet they weren’t as fast as I am.” “I know, I know.” She locks her
Organa.” Leia sighs, sounding every year of datapad, encrypts it, and jettisons it into
A familiar voice replies, warm but her age. “It’s not necessarily about the darkness of space, along with her
professional. “Welcome back, Starling. speed, but if they come back, you can patched Resistance jacket. The chance
What have you got for us?” race them in the Five Sabers. I’ll buy of her returning to claim either item is

“Ah, General. It’s always business you a ship. For now, just a quick sweep infinitesimal, but every little bit of hope

first, isn’t it?” and then home. I need those reports.” adds up. Reaching into a storage cubby,
“When the galaxy is on the line, “Aye aye, General.” Vi salutes, she tugs out an old black leather jacket
I have a way of skipping past the wishing they had visual. “About to she pulled off a dead Kanjiklubber and
formalities of my youth. Let’s hear your enter hyperspace. Keep safe, General slips her arms inside. It smells of oil and
report.” Vi can hear Leia’s smirk and Organa.” sand and home, and it did her good
likes her the better for it. No wonder “You too, Starling.” on her last mission. Her ship eases ever
they get along. The line cuts off. The starhopper closer to the cruiser, and she pulls out
“Finally found the missing piece zooms into hyperspace. It’s a short a small mirror and plucks dark-brown
of the puzzle, although I had to hunt trip, not relaxing at all, and she contacts from her eyes, revealing their
around. Rough place.” doesn’t bother picking up her natural amber hue. What with the hair,
“Everything is rough in the knitting again. She’s jittery now— eyes, clothes, and fake documents in her
Unknown Regions. So you have what it’s been too long since she’s slept. front pocket, there’s a good chance she
we need?” And then they’re dropping out of won’t be recognized.

“‘AYE AYE, GENERAL.’ VI SALUTES, WISHING THEY
HAD VISUAL. ‘ABOUT TO ENTER HYPERSPACE.
KEEP SAFE, GENERAL ORGANA.’”

Vi shrugs. “Knowing how monsters hyperspace again. The long lines of When Gigi beeps in alarm, Vi settles
became monsters doesn’t always help stars judder into pinpoints against and taps her temple.
destroy the monsters.” a sea of black. Vi’s eyes adjust, and “Don’t worry, Gigi. I’ve got it all
“Sometimes it does. Every weapon in she mutters a curse. There should be where it counts. And they won’t
our armory has a use, Starling. Now, I nothing here, just peaceful darkness break me.”
know you’re due for some time off, but and twinkling lights. Unfortunately, Gigi makes a noise that suggests the
I’ve got one more set of coordinates, there’s rather a large something: a odds are against such an occurrence.
and you’re already in the right corner Resurgent-class Star Destroyer. Leia “It’s okay, little buddy. If I fail, you’ll
of the galaxy to drop by. Can I count was right: The First Order is here, big never know.”
on you?” time. Even before she can think the Swiveling around in her chair, she
Vi looks down at the blue yarn words, her fingers are already typing keys a code into the astromech slot and

spilling from her bag. She hates putting in new coordinates. wipes the droid’s memory.
off time with Baako. They see each “Come on, Gigi,” she mutters. Her earlier comfort and insouciant
other so rarely these days. “Of course, “We’ve got to get out of here. I hate it slouch are gone. This is not the fi rst
General. That’s why I’m here.” when the general is right.” time she’s been captured, and she’s
“Transmitting coordinates.” For all her speed, she’s not got to get her head in the game. She
On her screen, Vi plots the best route surprised when her starhopper leans back in her chair now, legs
to the general’s next stop. Leia wasn’t quavers and begins to move. Not spread, arms on the seat’s armrests.
lying—she’s already pretty close, and forward, like it should, but sideways Every muscle is tense, one foot
not many pilots have the experience or toward the enemy ship. Whatever tapping by the bag of forgotten yarn.

the guts to explore this shadowy corner new tech they’ve been cooking up Her eyes flash dangerously, her lips
of nowhere. She confirms the route and while hidden out here is hard, fast, set in a thin line.

lets Gigi plot the jump. and implacable. Vi tries every trick One way or another, Vi Moradi is
“Not too bad. I’ll be there shortly.” in her book, but the starhopper can’t going to survive.

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