Saga - OT Where Fame Meets Truth (post-ROTJ)

Title: Where Fame Meets Truth
Characters: Thane Kyrell, Kendy Idele, Luke Skywalker
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Lost Stars

* * *

Captain Thane Kyrell of the New Republic Starfleet had heard stories about Luke Skywalker. Too many, actually. Since the day he'd joined the Rebellion, it had seemed like he couldn't go two days without hearing about "Commander Luke Skywalker," the guy who blew up the Death Star. The guy who was the son of a Jedi. The guy who owned an actual lightsaber. The guy who believed in the Force. The Rebellion's golden boy.

It made him sick.

Thane didn't hate Skywalker based on his reputation. He didn't hate him at all, really. He just thought he was really, really overrated. His claim to fame was the destruction of the Death Star. Well, Thane thought the Death Star's destruction, while necessary, wasn't exactly a heroic act. He'd had friends on that battle station. He thought of tall, kind Jude Edivon, who'd died on the Death Star. Jude hadn't been evil. She hadn't deserved to die there. No, Luke Skywalker was no hero. He was the guy who'd killed Thane's friend.

More than Thane's friend, Jude had been Ciena's friend. Thane hadn't been around Ciena much after the destruction of the Death Star–he hadn't seen her grieve Jude. But he knew she had. She'd loved Jude dearly, and Thane loved Ciena. Anything that hurt her that deeply hurt him, too.

And even besides all that, Thane was still ambivalent on his feelings about the Force. Skywalker was supposedly the next great Jedi Knight, the first to rise again since the Empire had stomped out their fire at the end of the Clone Wars. But was the Force even real? Thane had never thought so. He'd thought it was ridiculous. Then, briefly, he'd started to believe in it after he and Ciena both survived the Battle of Jakku together, had finally been together again, away from the Empire. But he'd been foolish, because the first thing the New Republic did after the battle was arrest Ciena and toss her in a cell.

He remained optimistic about the New Republic, to a degree. He thought eventually they'd release her. She had not personally committed any war crimes. She would be pardoned while the true villains, the higher-ranking officers in the Empire, took the fall. And Ciena and Thane could finally be together. But the Force? No, the Force wouldn't have been cruel enough to reunite them and immediately tear them apart again like that. So Thane didn't really believe in the Force–but nor was he necessarily scornful of the idea of it, as he had once been.

So: Luke Skywalker. Rumor had it he'd given up his commission as commander. He hadn't been seen around the New Republic lately. Some said he'd visited Chandrila for the birth of his nephew, but other than that, he seemed content to stay out of the limelight. That was fine with Thane; he'd heard enough about "Commander Skywalker" for a lifetime.

* * *

Eight months after the Battle of Jakku, Thane was in the hangar, tuning up his X-wing, when a chirping sound caught his attention. He dropped out from under the X-wing's engines and wiped his hands on a rag. A white and blue astromech droid sat in front of him, tweeting impatiently.

"What's that?" Thane asked.

The droid chirped again and turned and rolled away, clearly indicating that Thane should follow. He frowned. At the X-wing next to Thane's, Kendy Idele, an old friend of Thane's and his wingman in Corona Squadron, smirked and flicked her eyes back and forth between Thane and the astromech. The droid stopped, turned around, beeped again, and resumed its journey out of the hangar.

"I think you'd better follow," Kendy said.

Thane sighed. "Yeah, why not?"

The droid swiveled toward Kendy and beeped at her, too.

"Who, me?" she asked.

The droid chirped what sounded like an affirmative.

"Well, okay."

Thane closed up his X-wing and took off after the droid. Kendy hopped down from her cockpit and followed. The droid led the two pilots through the hangar and out into the corridor. Well, this is odd. Thane had heard about how some droids had been used as dummy weapons by the Empire. He hoped this wasn't a trap. He'd left his blaster in his quarters.

He followed the droid into an adjacent hangar. The hangar's lights were off, and it was completely empty save for a single X-wing. No...there was a figure in black standing next to the X-wing. Thane reached over for a light switch and turned it on. The hangar's overhead lamps flashed on, flooding the room with light. The black-clad figure turned to face them. He was shorter than the average human male, with an athletic build, shaggy blond hair, and piercing blue eyes. A thin cylinder hung from his belt where most would keep a blaster.

Oh, no, Thane thought. He knew that face. Everyone did. It was Luke Skywalker.

* * *

"Captain Kyrell, Lieutenant Idele," Luke Skywalker said.

Kendy blinked in surprise. Luke Skywalker! What was he doing here? She snapped to attention and saluted. Skywalker chuckled and shook his head.

"No need for that, Lieutenant Idele. I'm not a commander anymore. I'm just...a civilian."

She stood at ease, but she still had trouble believing she was standing in the same room as Luke Skywalker. Thane's expression was equally shocked, but she couldn't tell how he was feeling other than that. Was he excited? Scared? Annoyed? Kendy couldn't tell. Thane had always worn his emotions on his sleeve, but in this case he seemed to be keeping them carefully guarded.

"I asked for Artoo to get you two for me," Luke said. "Leia spoke to your former wing commander, Yendor, and he recommended the both of you specifically."

"Recommended us?" Thane asked. "For what?"

"No doubt both of you are aware that I am a Jedi," Luke said. He chuckled. "It seems to be impossible to keep that from getting around. Anyway, I'm always looking for more Jedi artifacts to help my cause. I have stumbled upon some, but I can't exactly get to them alone. I need some pilots to help me."

"And your sister thought of us," Thane said.

Kendy couldn't believe it. A chance to fly with Luke Skywalker! Talk about a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"That's right," Skywalker replied. "And you, Captain Kyrell, were also recommended by Commander Antilles. With that kind of a reputation, I figured there was no one better to bring along. So if the two of you are willing, I'd greatly appreciate your assistance in this."

"Would we–?" Kendy exclaimed.

"What's the op?" Thane asked, deadpan.

"The relics are currently in the possession of the Crymorah syndicate," Skywalker said. "The Crymorah are one of the more powerful crime families operating in the underworld right now. They have holdings from Nar Shaddaa to Ord Mantell and everywhere in between. But I've learned that the relics are being shipped from Ylesia to Nar Kreeta. If we can intercept that shipment, we could not only reclaim those relics, but put a dent in the Crymorah's operation."

Kendy whistled. "The Cymorah syndicate is definitely no friend of the New Republic. That would be quite the boon for us."

"It would," Thane agreed. He scratched the scruff of reddish stubble on his chin. "All right, I'm in if Kendy is."

"I'm in," Kendy said with a firm nod.

"Excellent." Skywalker grinned. "I'll leave you two to make preparations for travel. We leave at 0700 tomorrow morning."

Skywalker walked out past them, his astromech droid in tow. Kendy looked Thane in the eye and very nearly squealed.

"This is so cool!" she said.

"Yeah," Thane said, deadpan. "Thrilling."

 

Good men and women died on the death star. That is true.
Yep, Heroes on both sides

Can't wait for more. Jedi and X-Wing pilots vs Crime Lords.

Edit: FIRST!

 

Thane really needs to knock that chip off his shoulder. Yes, he had a great friend, and no, Jude wasn't evil, BUT... she was a military officer serving on a military installation which had destroyed a planet full of innocent civilians after taking out a city of innocents, as well. She had to know what they had done, even if they had justified it to themselves due to 'Rebel activity.' At the very least, she was complicit. Can Thane really claim that the Death Star wasn't a valid target after what it had done?

This does sound like a promising set up. I do like the idea: going up against the Crime Lords. And I'm curious about exactly what types of Jedi artifacts they turn up...or if they even ARE Jedi artifacts! Glad to see Kendy, too; I loved her in the books. And I loved Artoo & his 'tude... Mr. HeroAstromech, ordering people around! Ha, so like him!

So? Where's the next post already?

 

This seems very promising. I'll be watching this thread in the future.

 

I hope that Thane can overcome his Luke Skywalker issues. And that I will be able to follow your updates on a regular base. That Kendy sounds fun, too.

 

MartyAvidianus Mistress_Renata Darth Osnil AzureAngel2 glad y'all are enjoying!

* * *

That night, Thane went to visit Ciena.

He had only visited her once before, when he'd assured her that eventually the New Republic would free her. It was too hard for both of them–being separated by a ray shield that was so nearly transparent that he felt he could reach through and touch her, and yet knowing that if he tried it would be fruitless. So he occasionally gave a guard a message for her, but other than that he'd kept his distance. Now, though, he felt the need to speak to her before he left on this mission. He wanted to get her point of view on all of this.

Seeing her there–wearing a prison uniform, but otherwise exactly the same as she always had been, dark and beautiful with long, curly hair–his heart broke for her. He wanted her to be free...not just to be with him, but to be out of this prison. It wasn't fair. She hadn't committed any war crimes. She'd never hurt a civilian or bombed a world. She'd only killed military personnel, only destroyed war materiel. But he kept those thoughts to himself, and told her what was about to happen.

"Should you be telling me this?" Ciena asked.

"It's not classified," Thane said. "It's not even a New Republic-sanctioned mission. It's just Skywalker's own personal quest. I just wanted to see what you thought about it."

Ciena scratched her chin. "Skywalker destroyed the Death Star. He killed Jude. For that reason, of course, I have a difficult time picturing him as anything other than a terrorist. But from the stories I've heard of him, that's far from the truth."

Thane nodded. "There's nothing actually wrong with him, I just...it's hard for me to see him as anything other than Jude's killer. Plus, he's got that whole Force thing, and you know how I feel about that."

"Perhaps traveling with Skywalker will be good for you." Ciena chuckled. "You may come back a persuaded believer."

"Yeah, right." Thane snorted. "Anyway, I guess I'm going. Can't let Kendy go alone and anyway, I'm interested to see if Skywalker lives up to his reputation."

"Keep an open mind," Ciena said. "I don't trust him either; I doubt I ever could. But at least you and he are on the same side. I don't even have that going for me."

Thane smiled. "We'll see. I have to go now. I love you, Ciena."

"I love you too, Thane."

* * *

At 0700, Thane was in the hangar, ready to go. He'd packed a bag with a few days' change of clothes and some other essential items, thrown them in his X-wing's storage compartment, and clambered into the cockpit. To his right, Kendy started up her own fighter. She saw him looking and gave him a thumbs-up. Thane returned the gesture and started powering up the X-wing.

Thane wondered exactly what Skywalker expected of them. Were they just supposed to keep the Crymorah's fighters off him while he boarded their freighter and made off with the relics? Was there a longer operation involved? He hadn't exactly been free with the details.

"Flight control to Corona Four and Five," a voice said over Thane's comlink. "You are cleared for takeoff."

"Roger that, control," Thane replied. "Corona Four, heading out."

"Corona Five lifting off," Kendy said.

The two X-wings taxied out of the hangar and made a loop around Hanna City. Skywalker's X-wing lifted out of the private hangar they'd met him in. Skywalker's fighter rose to join them. Thane looked out over the city as they circled it. Hanna City was the antithesis of Valentia, the capital of Thane's homeworld, Jelucan. It was beautiful, majestic, full of glittering towers and immaculate parks. Thane couldn't think of a better place to be stationed.

"Corona Four, Corona Five, this is Luke," Skywalker said. "We're heading for empty space between Ylesia and Nar Kreeta. Artoo is sending the hyperspace coordinates to your droids."

"Will we be coming out in the middle of their convoy?" Thane asked.

"No, we'll arrive several hours before the Crymorah syndicate. It will give us time to prepare and plan our ambush."

"Roger that."

"Coordinates sent."

"Got 'em," Kendy said.

Thane checked his computer as his astromech beeped affirmatively. The coordinates had already been programmed in. Thane turned his X-wing toward the sky and ascended. Skywalker was just ahead of him, and Kendy flew up next to his port wing.

"The Crymorah have half a squadron of Ugly fighters," Skywalker said. "Are the two of you familiar with Uglies?"

"I've seen a few," Thane said. "They're unholy combinations of two or more fighters that really don't mesh well. I've never had the courage to try flying one; the things are death traps."

"And they're simple enough to fight off in a fully-functional T-65. I figure the three of us will have no trouble dealing with them."

"The three of us?" Thane asked. "What if the freighters have a chance to jump back to hyperspace while we're fighting? Wouldn't it be better for Kendy and I to hold them off while you get aboard the freighter and get your artifacts?"

"I won't leave you to fight alone."

"Don't think the two of us can handle six Uglies alone?" Thane asked testily.

"It's not that at all," Skywalker replied. "But I won't ask you to endure any dangers that I refuse to face myself."

Is he really my age? Thane wondered. He talks like an old fossil.

"That's very noble," Kendy said, "but Thane and I can handle the Uglies. Don't risk losing your Jedi relics just to help us."

"Don't worry," Skywalker said. "I have a plan."

Thane sighed. He supposed there was no talking Skywalker out of this. It wasn't that he didn't want Skywalker's help–he didn't need it. He wanted to prove to the hero boy that he could handle this stuff without him.

"Prepare for lightspeed," Skywalker said. "In three, two..."

A second later, Skywalker's ship blurred and then disappeared as it leapt to hyperspace. Kendy's ship followed immediately thereafter. Thane waited a few seconds longer, let his hand hover over the hyperdrive lever, and finally reached down and pulled it. I hope I know what I'm getting myself into...

 

The six most terrifying words in the Galaxy! And this is where Kendy or Thane would be muttering "I have a bad feeling about this!" So, things are about to get interesting. Can't wait to see what happens.

They haven't put Ciena on trial yet? Hm, that could be a good thing. I remember the books, and while she did serve with the Empire, I can't see that she committed what our society would consider war crimes. Could be that the prosecution is desperately searching for charges to place, and I'm sure her defense has time to prepare, too. While she was of fairly high rank at the end of the war; I think that was after the Emperor's death, wasn't it? And she was primarily incapacitated due to injuries, if I'm remembering correctly. I think Thane is right to be optimistic.

 

A good imperial is hard to find.

Don't betray the Empire Ciena! Hang in there.

 

Ciena scratched her chin. "Skywalker destroyed the Death Star. He killed Jude. For that reason, of course, I have a difficult time picturing him as anything other than a terrorist. But from the stories I've heard of him, that's far from the truth."

I have a difficult time picturing Luke as a terrorist. But thinking of Old Ben it always depends on one´s particular point of view, right?

And when you wrote Uglies, I somehow was reminded of Ooglies. Sorry!

 

MartyAvidianus Mistress_Renata Darth Osnil AzureAngel2

* * *

During the hyperspace journey, Thane had a lot of time to think. For a while, he tried to think about Ciena, daydreamed about her being free, the two of them being together in peace. Thane could retire from the military, they could settle down, maybe on Chandrila or, if Ciena preferred, somewhere away from the New Republic. Things could be the way they were supposed to be. Thane tried to turn his thoughts toward the mission, but that only made him remember that he was flying with Luke Skywalker.

You're being ridiculous, he told himself.

Even Ciena had said that he and Luke were on the same side. He knew that. It wasn't that he hated Skywalker, or even disliked him. He was just apathetic toward him. Maybe, he admitted, he even resented Skywalker a bit–the fact that his claim to fame was destroying the Death Star, and along with it Jude and Thane's other comrades. And maybe he was even a little bit jealous, because for years Thane had thought he and Ciena were the best pilots in the Empire, and when he'd joined the Rebellion he'd believed he was the best pilot of them. And maybe, just maybe, he was jealous because...because Skywalker might just be better than him.

Not that he'd ever admit that, especially to Ciena or Kendy. And definitely not to Skywalker himself.

Thane's astromech beeped at him, indicating that they were about to come out of hyperspace. Thane switched everything over to manual control and prepared to pull back into realspace. If Skywalker was right, they'd emerge into empty space, just the three of them, and they'd have plenty of time to strategize their strike on...

As the X-wing dropped out into realspace, Thane had to swerve to avoid smashing into a freighter. His astromech chirped in fright. We're definitely not alone! Thane fired up his laser cannons and spun away from the freighter–which, he saw at a glance, was guarded by several squadrons of not just Uglies, but Clone Wars-era Rogue-class starfighters.

"What the kark?" Thane exclaimed.

"It's a trap!" Kendy cried.

"Take evasive action," Skywalker said. "Jump to hyperspace; they must've known we were coming."

Thane fired as he flew through the mass of fighters, destroying two Uglies on the way. His astromech began plotting a reverse hyperspace course. None of the enemy fighters, presumably from the Crymorah syndicate, had sent out a single warning message or request for identification before they'd opened fire. That meant, Thane suspected, that Kendy was right; this was a trap. He wondered if they were even shipping Jedi artifacts at all.

It didn't matter right now. What mattered was escaping. Two destroyed Uglies and one Rogue fighter later, Thane managed to get free long enough to jump to hyperspace. When the stars turned to long, blue lines, Thane breathed a sigh of relief.

At least for the moment, they were safe.

 

Hey, Thanks for giving me a headup on updating.

Good update, if a little short

well, at least there's actually a freighter for them to find.

 

Oooo... don'cha just HATE when that happens? Yup, sounds like a trap to me! Tell me this wasn't the great Skywalker plan!

I like that Thane is being a little honest with himself, admitting his jealousy. I don't imagine he and Luke will ever be friends, but maybe Thane will come to terms with the destruction of the Death Star. Particularly if he gets to encounter Alderaanian survivors, who have a very different view of how it all went down.

But first, there is a frighteningly well organized (if not necessarily well equipped) task force to deal with...

 

Excellent interactions and introspection. Thane and Luke have a lot to learn about one another and this intriguing mission is just the perfect way to do it. And I do agree about Ciena not being a malicious dangerous "extremist" kind of terrorist. She might have been on the wrong side as defined by who won eventually but she didn't take lives even in a situation where it might have been necessary or when following orders.