The Adventures of Nomi Darklighter

Chapter 1 - The New Rebels

Nomi Darklighter looked in shock at her copilot Tarik, a winged non-human. She had just learned that her cousin Biggs was killed in action. Tears were running down her cheeks, but there was also a hot fury, when she slammed her fist on the console in front of her.
They were just on the way back from a successful smuggling run. But now it didn't matter any longer to her.
Biggs, with whom she was flying through Beggar's Canyon along with all those other crazy guys who were regulars at Tosche Station. She knew him as one who was always in a good mood and someone who couldn't stand any injustices. To see the galaxy under the Imperial boot must have been the reason why he joined the Rebellion. And now this idealistic man was dead. She looked over to Tarik who witnessed her raptures in stoic calm.
"I want to join them," she said, while wiping her tears.
"You want what?" Her copilot asked, staring at her in disbelieve. Maybe he had heard wrong.
"I want to join the Rebellion, Tarik," Nomi responded with a firm voice.
The always calm copilot raised his feathers. So he had actually heard right, his friend must be crazy. To follow the Rebellion would mean she would leave behind everything she held dear. And it would mean their partnership would end and he would lose her. He swallowed hard, but he had made up his mind.
"I'll come with you, Nomi. Do you have any idea how to get into contact with the rebels?"
The young woman shrugged and stared out of the viewport, where the whirls and streaks of hyperspace were passing by.
"Biggs gave me a frequency where I could contact the rebels if I want to join. They might be on the run now. There were rumors about open recruitments on planets they had liberated from Imperial oppression, but I take this with a grain of salt. So I will rely on what my cousin gave me."
Tarik nodded his head.
"We have to be very careful, Nomi. This frequency might be compromised already. I mean, we don't want to run into an Imperial, while looking for a rebel recruiter, Nomi. Am I right?"
"Yes, you are right, Tarik. But we were able to avoid the Imps so far, so I'm pretty sure we can do it also in this case."
She reached for the comm, activated it and adjusted it to the frequency provided by Biggs.
First there were only statics to be heard, but then her call was answered by a male voice. The voice told her where and how to meet the recruiter. Nomi smiled after the call was finished and she cut the connection.
"Our destination is Corellia; there we will meet the recruiter in Groola's Place," she told Tarik, as she entered the coordinates in the nav computer. After this she put her feet on the console, closed her eyes and took a nap.

Nomi woke when the signal that indicated they had reached their destination was to be heard. She sat up and pulled the lever. Seconds later the streaks of hyperspace resolved in stars and the planet Corellia was in front of them.
After she got permission, Nomi landed the Aquarius smoothly at the assigned docking bay. She cut the engines, unstrapped, opened the hatch and lowered the ramp. Followed by Tarik she left the battered YT-1300 and tossed the port master a credit chit for the landing fee.
"And where will we go now?" The winged non-human asked, as he walked at Nomi's side after they left the docking bay.
"We are supposed to meet our contact at a cantina near the spaceport, my friend," her answer came. "Look it's right over there. Groola's Place, that's the name he gave me."
The young woman pointed at a building where a sign with the name was hanging over the door. Tarik nodded his head and walked over. He opened the door and entered, followed by Nomi. The cantina was dimly lit and the guests were the usual mix of humans and non-humans. Both smugglers made their way to the bar and ordered their drinks. When the drinks were served they looked for a booth to sit down. They finally found one, sat down and enjoyed their drinks. It didn't take long and a man entered the bar, looking around as if he would be searching for someone.

The man hadn't much information about those he was supposed to meet, only that he should look for a young, red haired woman and a non-human with a feathered head and tiny wings. He walked over to the bar and ordered a drink, and then he turned and looked around. There, in a booth was a woman sitting who matched the description. Her companion wasn't to be seen clearly, but he walked over nevertheless after his drink was served.
Nomi watched the man who was approaching their booth and let her hand drop under the table. It was lingering over the holstered blaster now.
"May I take a seat?" The man asked and looked at the two smugglers expectantly.
"It's always hot on Tatooine," Nomi said and felt a bit awkward. If this wasn't their rebel contact, the man must think that she had lost her mind. But the man smiled and sat down, as he said the second part of the pass phrase: "It's because of its twin suns."
He leaned over and continued to speak with a subdued voice, so nobody could eavesdrop on them.
"So you want to join the cause?" He raised an eyebrow looking at the young woman and her companion.
Nomi nodded her head and put her hand back on the tabletop, which had still lingered over her blaster. You couldn't be cautious enough in such an environment.
"I understand that a relative of yours was with us already and that your business is; how shall I call it? A bit outside of what the Empire permits," the man said with a smirk and took a sip of his drink.
"My cousin died at Yavin 4; does this qualify us to join?" Nomi asked after taking a sip of her own drink.
"He died as a hero of the Rebellion, as so many before him." The man slid over a flimsy plast. "Here are the coordinates where others will assess if and where we could need you. Travel with micro jumps so nobody can tail you and destroy the flimsy after entering the coordinates in your nav computer. May the Force be with you."
The man downed the rest of his drink in one go, rose and headed for the door without looking back.