Star Wars: Lost Stars

Chapter 1: Part 1

Five Years Later

Thirty minutes remained until flying practice - hardly even enough time to get to the hangar, by now. And Ciena still had to sit here on this stupid bench. . . .

No, she thought. It's not stupid. The Nierre family's honor has been questioned. They need their friends to stand with them in their hours of trial. Even if it means missing flying practice.

But I would so much rather be flying.

The rough-hewn granite bench stood in front of the small domed house of the Nierre family, other kin of the valleys whose lands had bordered the Ree family's for generations. In front of the bench lay a long trench filled with sand, which now had several flagpoles stuck in it, each flag representing a family that had declared its loyalty to the Nierres during this dark time. The tradition was an ancient one, going back to the first days of settlement on Jelucan, but it still had meaning. One member of each loyal family would remain with the Nierres, until the cloud of suspicion over their honor had been cleared.

Most of the valley kindred had brought a flag, but not all. Some few thought the father of the household was abusing his power as an Imperial communications monitor - reporting meetings and messages that were private. However, Ciena's parents had declared that no one should even want to hide important information from the Empire and those who accused the Nierres were the ones without honor. Still, it was the Nierres who had been accused, and they had to bear the weight.

The family's genes passed down blonde hair and milk-white skin. Even so, their faces had gone paler, to the point where they all looked sick. If the formal complaint to the Imperial governor was upheld and a new monitor was named, the Nierres would share in that disgrace forever - a difficult threat to endure. So friends needed to stay close to them to provide what comfort they could.

I'd want someone to do that for me, if I were falsely accused, Ciena thought. But the Nierres would be even more comforted if my parents were here, like they said they would be a whole hour ago.

Her eyes searched the skies, as if she would already see the old V-171 soaring overhead. From the bench, Ciena could see farther down into the valley, all the way to the distant silvery gleam of water several thousand meters below. Surrounding her were countless snowy peaks, like white claws scratching at a stone-colored sky. Her dark blue cloak was heavy enough not to be disturbed by the winds, and it also disguised the fact that - instead of a traditional dress - she wore the oversize flight suit she'd managed to buy at a surplus store earlier that year.

Then she heard the distant whir of a ridgecrawler - the mountain-ready hovercraft Empire-backed merchants had introduced to the world five years before. Already Ciena could hardly remember how they'd managed without them; she still loved the old muunyak, but he was even slower these days. When the ridgecrawler rounded the bend, she wanted to leap up in delight. Finally!

But she remained on the bench, face solemn, until father had stepped out and walked over to her. He was alone.

"Where's Mumma?" Ciena said as she rose to her feet.

"Another late night at the mine." Her father shook his head. "We knew her role as supervisor would require hard work, and I'm proud of her - but I miss her sometimes."

"Me too." And Ciena absolutely meant that, yet she couldn't keep her eyes off the ridgecrawler. If Pappa would let her borrow it, she could still get to the hangar in time.

Her father saw her haste and pressed his lips together in a thin line that threatened to become a frown. "Flying again today?"

"Pappa, please. How else am I supposed to get into one of the Imperial academies?"

"You should practice, and often. Nothing would make your mother and me prouder than to see you become an Imperial officer." Paron Ree paused. A few birds flew overhead, screeching their usual calls; Ciena watched them fly, because whenever her father brought up this next subject, she found it hard even to look at him. Sure enough, he continued, "We only wish you would practice more at the new simulators in Valentia, instead of spending all your time with that boy."

"Thane's my friend." She stressed the last word.

"We shouldn't take anything from second-wavers. We should rise by our own power, not because of their gifts."

Sometimes, Ciena flew into a rage at this point in the fight - but if she did that today, she definitely wouldn't get to fly. So she took a deep breath before she continued: "I help Thane as much as he helps me. We work together. Neither of us owes the other anything, and he remembers that as well as I do."

Her father sighed. "His kind have short memories. But go. Take the ridgecrawler; I'll ride the muunyak back home. Your mother and I will be back later, and you will have finished your lessons and cleaned the kitchen top to bottom."

"Yes, sir." Her spirits lifted. She'd fly today after all.

"Become a better pilot than this Kyrell boy," said her father as he straightened his robe and began to walk inside the Nierre home. "If there's only one spot for a Jelucani cadet, I want it to be yours."

Ciena laughed. We're both going. The Imperial Starfleet  won't be able to do without us!"

Even Pappa had to smile.