Secret Sister: Lost and Found

SECRET SISTER I: LOST AND FOUND
by Selinda S. Russell (SECRETSISTER)

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction written completely for the fun of it. All of George Lucas? characters are his; the rest are mine. No profit is garnered from this work.

Summary: A young girl, orphaned by the Death Star and stranded within a rebel cell is taken under Rogue Squadron?s wing. Take a look at the Rebel Alliance from the inside.

Venue: Classic Trilogy and EU with a lot of attention to the Chronological flow, except Tycho and Dack. Spoilers everywhere!

Original Characters: Wedge Antilles, Luke Skywalker, Rogue Squadron and many others
New Characters: Lissa, Remi Honin, Fiol, Nevanne, and many others

* * *

?The black ball is rolling! The black ball is rolling.? The child chanted the words over and over under her breath as she trotted along the trash-strewn street. Long afternoon shadows made the docking bay numbers dim and hard to read.

?Seventeen.? she finally muttered and shook her head. ?Two more.? She hurried on, fearful of the terror that had dogged her tracks all day. ?The black ball is rolling. The black ball is rolling.?

What did that mean? Why did Mistress want her to remember it? Why had she insisted that Lissa give her new jacket to that dirty boy and make her wear his? And why hadn?t Poppy met them, and why wouldn?t the soldiers let her go home? ?The black ball is rolling. The black ball is rolling.?

She glanced up at the number nineteen and ran down the stairs into the bay, coming to an abrupt halt at the sight of the tramp freighter that sat on the scarred and pitted ferrocrete. It looked like a terkle-clam shell with feet. A small maintenance droid twinkled and beeped as it made its way jerkily up the gangway. The acrid scent of ozone and scorched lubricants stung Lissa?s nose and made her sneeze.

?Hey, kid, what are you doing in here??

Lissa screamed as a heavy hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. She wrenched away and backtracked rapidly but her heel rolled on a pebble and she sat down hard. The man was big: a big round face, a big body, with big hands and big feet!

?Piggy? What?s going on?? Lissa?s head whipped around to see another man trot down the ship?s gangway. He slowed as he spotted the little girl, but continued his approach then squatted on his heels in front of her. She tried to push away but her feet just couldn?t seem to find any purchase on the neglected floor. Lissa opened her mouth to scream again, but nothing came out.

?Hey, hey,? the second man soothed, ?No one?s going to hurt you. Don?t be afraid.?

?Yeah,? the first man rumbled. ?What?s to be scared of??

?You for one thing!? the other laughed as he looked back over his shoulder. ?You probably look like a giant to her. Hutt spit, Piggy, she?s just a little thing. Tone it down!?

?Well at least I don?t have that cheesy moustache, Biggs,? Jek ?Piggy? Porkins muttered and came to squat beside his friend. ?That?d scare a gundark out of its nest!? He grinned amiably and wiggled his fingers in a childish ?hello? fashion. The sudden change of attitude was disarming and Lissa relaxed somewhat under the scrutiny of the two men.

She was a tiny thing, they noted, slimly built with little baby fat. Her dark blond hair had once been neatly plaited, but now showed signs of a day of excessive activity. Stray ends caught the slanted rays of the sun, forming a hazy halo around her elfin face. Large sky blue eyes, ringed by a darker blue, were even wider with fright. Tears had streaked the dust on her cheeks. Delicately formed lips trembled slightly.

Her blue overalls and blue, pink and yellow blouse looked well kept and expensive, unlike the tattered mud-green coat she wore over them. Her brown boots were highly polished once. Now they were scuffed and coated with dust.

Biggs Darklighter saw the tension loosen its hold on the little girl and decided to give her another moment to pull herself together. He turned to hi

 

This is really good! I'd love to see more.

NYC

 

Thanks, NYC. I just now got the courage to post it. I even still have edit time (which I will use to separate paragraphs like they are supposed to be)

 

Here's the rest of Chapter I * *

?Where?s the kid?? Porkins asked as Biggs careened past him and fell into the co-pilot?s seat.

?What kid?? the pilot asked. His hands flew over controls, and lights greened up in their wake. The freighter rose on its repulsor lifts and eased off toward the near edge of the star port.

?What kid?? the pilot pressed again when Biggs didn?t answer.

?Just hurry it up, Wedge.? Porkins said tightly.

?Sure,? Wedge countered. ?We?ll just blast outta here and let that Imp Star above us think we?re smugglers??

?Which we are??

?Or rebels??

?That, too??

?And blow us out of orbit before we even get into one.? Wedge finished. ?What kid??

?Later.? Biggs answered with a wide grin. ?Just fly.?

They were moving now - picking up speed, but ground hopping to keep the orbiting Star Destroyer uninterested. They crossed a muddy river and flew over rolling farmland where robo-tillers turned the soil in pre-plant mode. Soon they were climbing out of the river valley and heading across the foothills of a young mountain range. With one eye on the Star Destroyer in the range finder, Wedge sent the little freighter over a ridge and started down the other side.

?Whoa!? all three occupants of the cockpit cried. Wedge banked hard to starboard, stomped on the rudder and stood the ship on its edge. He avoided hitting the silo, but backwash blew off the dome.

?Well! So much for sneaking out.? the pilot grumbled. Then he grinned. ?Hang on boys, we?re gonna part vapor!? Suiting actions to words he hauled back on the controls, and the little freighter shot for space.

?Yee-Hah!? he whooped as over-taxed compensators pushed him further into his seat. From the rear of the ship a high-pitched screech echoed his shout.

?Wha..??

?You brought the kid.? Porkins accused Biggs.

"Well, of course I did! We couldn't leave her there alone." Biggs admitted, his voice deeply serious.

"Yeah, you're right." Porkins agreed.

?WHAT KID?? Wedge shouted as they cleared the atmosphere. Biggs grinned like a mad jester.

?Later.? he reiterated. ?Load the nav-com. First number.?

?Thirty six point three.? Wedge snapped still glaring at Biggs.

?Thirty six point three.? Porkins confirmed, punching in the number.

?Second number - seven point oh four two.? Biggs added his piece of information.
Porkins again repeated the number as he loaded it.

?And eighty two point four, relative down - it?s in! We?re going to?? He looked at Biggs questioningly.

?Back to Yavin four.? Wedge finished with a smug grin.

?How?d you know?? the other two chorused. Wedge?s grin widened.

?Well, I figure that if we don?t get these torpedoes back pretty soon that the General will have a fit - besides the fact that he?ll have to let Karsk do the courier run to Alderaan in Biggs? place.?

?And that would cause him to have another fit.? Biggs muttered shaking his head. ?But this is the last time he gets my number three assignment.?

?Oh, you think he?s learned his lesson by now?? Porkins asked with raised eyebrows. Biggs just laughed.

?I don?t expect him to claim anybody else?s kills again, especially since Dodonna has figured out what?s going on - and why.?

?Boy I?m glad he?s working for us and not the Imps.?

?Me, too. He?d have probably shot Biggs and Karsk on sight if he were!? Wedge put in. ?But the Imps are behind us now, and we?ve hit our exit vector.?

?Engaging hyper drive?? Porkins asked hopefully.

?Yep.? Wedge and Biggs confirmed together. They pulled back on the controls and the stars seemed to stretch endlessly before them. The freighter popped into the tunnel they formed.

Biggs rose to exit the cockpit, but Wedge had turned in his seat, brought his foot up and planted it against the co-pilot?s chair.
Biggs cocked a questioning eyebrow at him, but Wedge did not smile.

?What kid was Piggy talking about earlier??

?Don?t you ever get side-tracked?? Biggs asked, narrowing his eyes in mock anger.

 

Nobody's read my story, yet (except NYC at first) I wish someone would try it. I need some feedback.

 

Well, this sounds intersting to me! I feel sorry for poor Lisa... but Rogue Squad looks fatherly to her... this could be interesting!

 

I'm glad you're interested. I've been thinking on this a long time. I'll post again soon.

 

I like this, Sis. A chapter of the story that we never saw. Well done. Can't wait for the next post.

 

I'm glad you like it, Lank. It's a little off the wall but I thought a look behind te action would be neat. And it's going to get rough occasionally.

hehehe The Rogues with a 10 year old. hehehe

 

Well, you can say you have another reader now. I found your story and I am fascinated. I haven't read any of the X-Wing books so I don't know much about that, but I like it so far. You write very well! So thumbs up and hoping for more soon!

 

Elfsheen: Glad you like it. There will be more as soon as I check and do some repairs on Chapter 2. Hang in there, people!

 

Chapter 2 comin' at you.

CHAPTER 2

?Wow.? Lissa breathed as the small freighter hovered over the rough stone paving. The vista before the viewport was astounding: Huge trees and thick undergrowth made a continuous green backdrop for the massive stone pyramid. Vines trailed over everything and dripped with exotic flowers of every possible shape and hue.

?No other word for it.? Wedge added in awe-struck tones. Biggs tapped him on the shoulder and pointed out the viewport and down. A ground crewman was impatiently signaling the ship to continue on through the hangar door at the base of the gigantic temple.

?All right, all right.? Wedge muttered. ?Keep you thrusters down.? He brought up the repulsor lifts again and moved the ship into the converted chamber. Settled at last, the three pilots shared the shutdown checklist.

?Oh! There?s Poppy!? Lissa squealed as they rose to depart. Jek grabbed her hand
?Come on, then! Let?s go surprise him!?

The four of them ?raced? through the ship?s passageways; the three pilots, grinning like over-grown kids, trotted while Lissa actually ran. She snatched up her pack and Wedge took the lead in order to pop the hatch and extend the gangway. With a ceremonious bow, he urged Lissa down the ramp.

?Poppy!? The cry froze General Jan Dodonna in his tracks and his heart lurched as he recognized the child running toward him. He bent to catch her as she hurled herself into his arms.

?Stars in heaven! Lissa, child, what are you doing here??

?Poppy! Where were you? The soldiers tried to take me away from Mistress Lants, but we ran and ?? Lissa?s works tumbled out so fast - and so quickly dissolved into hiccupping sobs, that the General was soon at a loss to understand the whole of it. She finally buried her head against him and just wept.

Dodonna raised his eyes to the three pilots who snapped to attention, bringing their hands up in a sharp salute. The General quickly acknowledged it; but before he could even begin to form a question, Biggs stepped forward.

?Sir, we couldn?t just leave her there - she was all alone and scared to death.?

?And she knew the code words, sir.? Porkins put in.

?We had to bring her here - to you, sir.? Wedge finished.

Dodonna stared at the three young men, his expression registering both relief and chagrin.

?Yes. You did.? he acknowledged quietly as he pushed to his feet. ?And you?ll never fully understand how grateful I am that you did.? He turned, then, and scanned the hangar, looking for a particular officer; and spying him, he raised his voice.

?Commander Willard!?

The officer trotted over, came to attention and saluted.

?Yes, sir.?

?See that this cargo is unloaded.? the General instructed. ?Bring these men up to date on our latest information.? He turned back to the pilots.

?You got the torpedoes? Good.? he said shortly even as he received mute nods from the three men and then continued: ?You three are to make out full reports on your run. I want all the details, gentlemen, all of them!? His voice softened again. ?My granddaughter and I need to talk.? He nodded to them and to Willard and, with an arm around Lissa, he led her away. They hadn?t gone far when Lissa broke free and came running back. She gave Biggs, Jek and Wedge quick hugs and scurried back to her grandfather.

Biggs took in Willard?s somber face.

?What is going on??

Willard chewed his lower lip, reluctant to be the bearer of bad news.

?The Tantive IV was destroyed off Tattooine.? he said bluntly.

?What?? Wedge felt as if he?d been gut-shot. ?But wasn?t the princess aboard?..?

?No survivors reported.? Willard finished tightly. ?It looks like Vader caught up with her. And if he did, then the plans to that super weapon are lost.

?The General went ahead and sent the courier on to Alderaan earlier than he had planned, so you?re off the hook, Darklighter.? He gave Biggs a warning look. ?Next time??

?Yes, sir.? Biggs said, conveying a contriteness he didn?t really feel. He tur

 

I'm just going to post here so I can find it again. I'm in a hurry so I'll have to read later!

 

Awwwww, I love how this is soo sweet, everyone's so fatherly to Lissa... and I take it Leia's coming into the picture soon... wonder how the two will interact??

 

It won't be long, Bobill. Ah. Hero(ine) worship. I'll try to post more this weekend.

 

* shameless plug*

I would be deeply apreciated if some of you would mention this story to your cohorts.

*end shameless plug*

 

Very good, Sis. I'll pass this around the clubs I frequent. I think some of the people would like this story.

 

Very much appreciated, Lank. Here's------

CHAPTER 3

?How do we tell her about Doc?? Wedge asked Biggs over the comlink as they eased their X-wings through the atmosphere of Yavin?s moon. His throat was aching with suppressed sorrow.

?We just tell her.? Biggs returned tightly. ?We tell her what happened and why as gently as we can. Doc?s gone, and there?s nothing we can do about it - except take it out on the enemy.?

?And I?m going to do a lot of ?taking out?.? Porkins added and got agreeing clicks from Biggs and Wedge. The old temple was before them and it was time to land.

Their trip to Commenor had started out easily enough, but toward the end, had turned into a series of fights; first with what seemed to be local toughs over their rented landspeeder, and then with Imperial TIE fighters on their way out. They had gotten free with the freighter full of R2 units, but Doc?s X-wing had been hit hard. Realizing that she couldn?t make hyperspace, the Twi?lek pilot had put herself in position keep the enemy from catching her squad mates and their charge, and lost her life doing it. Biggs, Porkins, and Wedge were not looking forward to telling Lissa about Doc?s death. Though the two had not known each other long, they had quickly become friends.

They never got the chance. When the three pilots had settled their respective X-wings in their landing circles, gone through shut down procedures and raised their canopies they were confronted by a hanger buzzing with frenetic activity! Commander Willard was waiting for them, his face a mask of anger and sorrow.

?There?s no easy way to tell you,? he began without preamble, ?Alderaan has been destroyed.?

?WHAT??

?You heard me right.? Willard reiterated. ?Alderaan has been destroyed. Grand Moff Tarkin took his Death Star and blew it up - out of existence. The whole planet - all the people gone - destroyed, dead. Bail Organa and -and any of our leaders who might have been there are gone. And our courier and its escort have failed to return, too. We can only assume that they were on the ground when it happened.?

For Wedge, time seemed to stop. His mind?s eye envisioned a huge explosion that was instantly mirrored by a greater one. His stomach went into a spasm and he folded in half trying not to vomit. Biggs turned sharply and grabbed a landing strut for support. Porkins? legs gave way and he suddenly sat down on the hard deck.

?No.? he grated, then shouted, ?NO!? He gulped air, desperate to control the horror that rose within him.

Biggs turned back quickly.

?Is there any word on the Princess??

?No.? Willard answered.

Wedge, his face pale and twisted with anger and grief and his hands clenched into fists, straightened and stared out at nothing.

?Wh - what about the General?s granddaughter? Is she still here??

Willard looked down at the floor.

?Yes. She?s still here. She fell apart - had hysterics and ran. It was hours before we found her in a sub-hallway huddled in a dark corner. She?s with the General - in his rooms.? He took a deep breath, raised his eyes to the distant ceiling, and blew it out.

?Did you get the droids??

?We got them,? Wedge said tightly. ?And lost Doc. Somehow the Imps got wind of us. It was a running fight to get out of the system.?

?Well, we?d better see to them.? Willard sighed. We?re really going to need them now.? He shook his head again. ?It?s too bad about Doc. She was a good pilot and a good friend.? Then there was nothing more to say and he watched three young faces grow old, cold, and hard.

?The black ball is rolling.? Porkins said bitterly as he pushed himself to his feet and followed the Commander.

* * *

Jan Dodonna sat on the end of his cot and rocked Lissa gently in his arms. What could he say to her? How could he comfort his granddaughter when he mourned the loss of his elder son and his family, too? She had endured being hunted by storm troopers, had lost her protector to the violence of that pursuit, and now?

?Lissa

 

I hate doing this but, for the sake of the story, I'm going to bump this thing it hopes that it will be found more easily.

 

Argh, it's sad that this story isn't recieving more publicity, as it's just as good as the most popular stories here, if not better! but it IS cool, and I'M following, so please keep it going!

I love how you had certain phrases like "The black ball is rolling" and "May the Force be with you," which seem simple, but have so much symbolism! This post was so sad, too, with so much sadness, but it's great how you showed how Lissa reacted to this and kept going, even though she felt so greived. Also, I like the introduction of Luke in Jek and Bigg's place, at least he'll live longer than them... Hope to see more soon!

 

Ah! Bobilll! 'Tis good to see you. Yeah, she and Luke will become close as will the rest of the 'Fab Four'. That's all I'll give away for now. Things (if you know the chronology) are going to get worse before they get better. So dig out the tissues - you may need 'em. Will post in the next couple of days.

 

This is really great! Sorry I wasn't around, but I had 8 tests this week . . . anyway, this is awesome and I'll recommend it.

NYC

 

Excellent post, Sis. It brought a tear to my eye to think about someone caring about those that didn't make it through the battle.

Keep up the good work!

 

Well, Lank just recommended this to me, and I love it! You write really well, Sis I'll be sure to mention it to some of my other fanfic friends, and see if we can't get you some more publicity

 

Hey Sis

Great Story!

I know how frustrating it is to not have many readers.