xxiii

(Nova's POV)

I can't help but fidget with the cloth at my knuckles. Ma just finished the review briefing, and we're about fifteen minutes out and my mind is going crazy.

Will the child be alright with Aola? Will this mission be a success? Will I be able to keep everyone safe despite Emil's bad feelings and everyone else's concerns?

Why were dresses invented?

I'm discreetly armed, carrying much less than those around me since I have my abilities, should all else fail. There's a small blaster in my boot and a knife in the other, plus a couple of sharp hairpins in my intricate hair and small EMP disks strapped onto my wrist, hidden underneath the white cloth. Oh, and also the comm if we get separated, disguised as an earring.

They're going to scan us, but Ma is staying on the ship and is going to hack the scanners to help us bypass security without a problem. Other than that, and Din and Osak serving as lookouts, everyone else is coming with. It makes me anxious, to have so many people to look out for when I've been on my own for so long. I mean, I struggle with Din and the child already. Having the whole group here only raises the possibility that something could go wrong.

Honestly, though, as a group, we're killing it in the looks department. Besides Medeia; the tight, floor-length leather sheath dress makes it look like she's going to an odd funeral, and she has the bitch face to go with it. And Maker, there are zippers everywhere. She doesn't even have pockets! Truly, a shame.

Yeah, you can bet it was a nightmare to arm her without it looking suspicious. There isn't much room for anything to go anywhere, and it's not flattering in the least.

On the other hand, Iggy dons an outfit consisting of black dress pants and an interesting shirt. It's a long sleeved, white dress shirt, but there are designs all over the left side that look like glass, so the shirt looks like an unfinished mosaic. Although it's not 3-D, so it's not actual glass, just drawings of silver fragments that come together flawlessly.

Emil has on a plain red shirt and dark dress pants underneath a cape. There's a thick black belt around his waist, and the cape has a rather unique design. Underneath, the cape lining is a midnight black, but the outside of it looks like it was splashed here and there randomly with a gorgeous, smoking crimson. It almost looks like dye spreading in water. I have no idea where they got either of the outfits, but I have to admit, they aren't all that bad.

We're supposed to be splitting off into two groups and mingle a bit so as to not look suspicious, and to also wait for the designated time when we're supposed to break out Detre. I'm going with Iggy and Medeia, and Daechi is with Emil.

I'd be lying if I said I'm not stressed and worried, but I'm also excited for the food. Plus, I'll get to meet Detre.

I feel Din grasp my hand lightly, and I look up to him in questioning. He merely nods to my hand, and I see that I've stressed the cloth of my glove almost to the point of ripping it. I stop fidgeting, taking comfort in Din's touch instead as he links our hands.

"We're gonna be fine. It'll be over before you know it," he murmurs comfortingly. I send him a grateful smile and give his hand a small squeeze.

The ship touches down sooner than I expected, and I find that I'm not ready to go yet. Everyone files out, and Ma takes Emil's place in the cockpit where her gear is. Din and I are the only two left in the belly of ship now.

At first, I don't know what to say, so I opt for a simple, "Be safe."

Din nods. "I will. You too."

Then, it comes to me, and I look at up at him with a grin. "Hukaat'kama," I say, hoping I didn't completely butcher my Mando'a.

Fortunately, he brings me into a tight hug and I suppose I've done it right. "Troch, mesh'la." he replies, widening my smile. Thankfully, I know what troch means: certainly, or of course. He still hasn't told me what mesh'la means, damn him, but I'm happy I can at least understand simple exchanges now.

And with that, I feel just the slightest bit better marching into a situation that I may not walk back out of, without Din at my side. Because he'll be watching my back, and I trust him more than he knows.

He follows me out of the ship and we catch up with the rest of the group, walking in silence. The tension, excitement, and anticipation all hang so thickly in the air that nobody can manage to speak through it.

Osak and Din split off from the group with only a few murmured goodbyes, because if all goes well, we'll be seeing them again in just a few hours, and everyone is too wound up to say much more than we need to. We continue the short distance to the place where the gala is being held, a huge, multi-story mansion in none other than Cloud City. We already know the layouts, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get through the building and make our escape when the time comes.

I reassure myself once more than everything will be fine, chanting it like a mantra in my head as we split into our groups and join the line at the entrance to wait for our security check. I loop my arm through Iggy's, Medeia at his other side. Daechi and Emil link arms behind us, and now comes the unbearable waiting.

Iggy leans over, whispering in my ear, "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be." I breathe deeply, bouncing on the balls of my feet and hating the wait. I'm ready for the night to begin.

He chuckles. "We'll be fine. It's a simple mission."

"I know."

"Well, you look nervous, and you haven't stopped moving since we boarded the ship. I'm just trying to calm you down, is all."

I shoot him a look and an eye roll. "I am calm."

He snorts, not saying anything more.

We quiet as we reach the front of the line. They order us to walk though the scanners, and I hold my breath until we're through. When the light on the scanner blinks green, I exhale in relief. Ma never fails.

I tap my comm earring, trying to make it look normal and be as discreet as I can. "Osak, Mando. You there? Can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear, mesh'la." Din's voice confirms.

"Ready when you are," Osak agrees. I nod, although they can't see me, and turn to Iggy so it looks like I'm talking to him.

"Daechi and Emil? Everything good?"

Medeia rolls her eyes. "Everyone's fine. Now, can you shut up? Maker."

"No one asked you, Medeia. And yes, there have been no problems so far. We are good." Daechi says reassuringly.

I blow a forceful breath of air. "Great. Now, we wait."

>>>>><<<<<

It's been two hours. I've seen Daechi and Emil across the room a couple of times, but this place is huge. Mostly, we're mingling until the right time to strike.

Medeia left after an hour with us. I'm glad; an hour was more than enough time with her. Now, it's just me and Iggy. We're dancing idly in the middle of the floor, biding our time. This party hasn't been entirely eventful.

"Nova?" Iggy asks, waving a hand in front of my face with a chuckle.

"Sorry, what?" I offer a sheepish grin, having zoned out while listening to the chatter across our comms. I hadn't heard Iggy.

"Just asking what's on your mind."

"Oh." I nod, not knowing what else to say.

He grins. "Well?"

"Not much. I was listening to everyone talking over comms. I'm just antsy, I guess, and worried about the rest of the group." I explain.

"Hey, everything is gonna go fine. We'll be out of here before you know it." Iggy smirks. "You look nice, by the way. I think you should wear dresses more often."

I scoff at his teasing and not-so-subtle flirting. "Yeah, right. I'm never putting one of these on again."

"Never say never." That gets an eye roll out of me.

But before I can comment, Ma's voice echoes through my comm, above everyone else's. "It's time. Move into position."

Iggy moves quickly, but I catch his arm. We need to go slowly, or we'll look suspicious. He seems to catch my drift, so we stroll leisurely to the rendezvous. Medeia is the last to show up; no surprise there.

"Alright, I'll tell you when to go. The guards rotate every two minutes, so I'm estimating about ten to get to the cells, if all goes according to plan. I'm expecting none of you to screw this up. We have one shot, and a very small window to get Detre and get out before they notice a thing. If we're lucky, they won't see anything amiss until after the gala." Ma says, repeating the same words that she has a thousand times.

We move on her signal, and her signal only. Medeia almost gets us caught twice. I'm starting to think she's trying to purposefully screw this up for us, which honestly wouldn't be that far-fetched.

Finally, we reach the cells. Daechi pulls me aside, turning her comm off and gesturing for me to do the same. We linger behind, staying out of earshot of the rest of the group.

"Medeia's going to betray us. Ma found her plans this morning." she tells me, her voice low and dangerous. This is the most important mission she's ever run, for her daughter, and the blue bitch is striking a low blow to mess up the rescue mission for a child. She's furious. I can feel my own blood boiling.

"What's the plan?"

She lets a small grin slip. "The cages, cells, whatever they're called. Ma found out something earlier, something we hadn't known before. They require some type of life-form in them at all times, until the cage is disabled. And we can't disable it without setting off any alarms, not even with Ma's hacking skills. It would raise a red flag, since all of the cages are supposed to be full tonight."

I nod, beginning to see what she's planning. "So, this is some Indiana Jones-type shit, is what you're saying." She gives me a strange look. "Never mind."

She shrugs. "And since she hates you the most, you can do the honors," Daechi finishes. A wide smile breaks on my face and I pull her into a light side hug as we walk.

There isn't time to say anything more before we reach Detre's cell, so instead I turn the comm back on. Daechi immediately runs over to her daughter, nearly tripping on her dress.

"Oh, baby, it's okay. Don't worry. I'm here, you're safe," she murmurs reassuringly, still unable to touch her through the plasma wall. The little four-year-old begins to cry.

"Mommy?" she asks in disbelief.

She hasn't been treated well. The poor girl's covered in dirt, scratches and bruises. She's stick-figure thin, and her hair is a greasy mess. I clench my fists, seething. She's only a child. She did not deserve this.

Iggy instructs Ma to open the cell. I nudge Medeia a little closer to it, and though she shoots a glare over her shoulder, she offers no argument.

As soon as the wall disappears, Detre launches herself into her mother's arms, sobbing. The cell begins a countdown from thirty, but I'm the only one who notices. Everyone else is watching the mother and daughter, reunited and weeping tears of utter joy. I notice Medeia fingering the handle of a blaster, tucked in her boot.

The countdown reaches fifteen, then ten. I'll only have one shot at this.

Iggy glances to me, and I know he sees the numbers, too. I nod, communicating to him that it's fine, I have it under control. She doesn't know that we're aware of her plan, so she won't be expecting it. I hope.

Five...

Four...

Three...

On two, I shove Medeia's crouching form as hard as I can into the cell. It reaches one, then zero. The plasma wall comes down right as she launches herself at me, so she collides with it instead of tackling me. I exhale. It worked. We pulled it off, we're safe, and I never have to work with Medeia again.

Detre clings to her mother's legs as she stands. Daechi doesn't hesitate to lift her into her arms, holding her close and making me wish I was with the child again. Just a few more hours, at most.

We make our way out, following Ma's instructions still. Everything is going smoothly, until it's not.

I hear grunts from the comms. Nobody around me made a sound, so my mind immediately shoots to Din and Osak.

"Mando?" I question in a low whisper, though one he should still be able to hear through the comms. No answer. "Osak?" Again, I'm greeted with a heavy silence.

Emil shoots me a worried look. "Maybe they turned off their comms?"

I shake my head. "They weren't supposed to."

It feels like ages until we're out of the building. Ma had found a side entrance close to Din and Osak's post that we could use for an escape. We rush outside, with me leading the group. I know exactly where they are.

Or at least, where they're supposed to be.

When I get to the ridge, there's nobody there, only two abandoned sniper rifles. I recognize Din's favored weapon immediately, picking it up and cursing. Further away, there are signs of a minimal struggle.

I march back to the group, my anger burning and my hands trembling. We were so close, and now Emil's fears have been realized and they could be kidnapped, or worse.

"We have to go after them," I demand before anybody can say anything.

"Nova..." Daechi trails off, looking at the frail child in her arms.

"Okay, so you take Emil and go to the ship, and we'll meet you there when we have them." Nobody meets my eyes. "Guys, come on. Something happened to them. We can't just leave them-"

"You're right, we can't. But we also don't have a plan or any information, and we didn't prepare for two jailbreaks. It's late. We can come back." Iggy tries to persuade me, his tone soft. But his words are hard and unforgiving. I won't leave them to someone else's mercy.

I narrow my eyes. "No, I'm not leaving them."

Iggy releases a breath. "I thought you wouldn't." He turns to the others. "Wait for us. If we're not back in two hours, or if there are complications, leave."

My jaw drops a little, but I don't argue, grateful that i have backup. Daechi nods reluctantly, tucking her daughter closer to her side. Emil turns on his heel, forcing her to follow.

I turn as well, before I hear a sound that makes my stomach drop. Screaming, and then blaster fire. I whirl immediately, seeing my other two companions crouching in defensive positions and trying to fish out their weapons. Without thinking, I rush over to them and begin firing at the gala guards. Looks like they noticed something off.

All four of us have our weapons in hand now, Detre cowering behind us. I hear Emil shout, and turn to see him clutching his leg. I cry out his name, only to feel a burning pain in my shoulder. I look down, shocked. I've been shot.

Iggy's clutching his side, and I realize how hopeless and suicidal it is to stay here. We have to get to the ship, and as much as it pains me, we have to leave. For now.

Ma is screaming in my ear, so I forcefully turn my comm off to concentrate. I create a shield from the fire, and we run.

{word count: 2,683}