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Leia gazed at the ships sitting in the Yavin 4 hangar as they waited for a personnel carrier to bring them through the base. Her eyes idly passed over each in some unconscious attempt at keeping her thoughts away from Alderaan.
Her people.
Her parents.
A tap to her shoulder startled her out of her unwanted musings and her eyes jumped to Luke’s furrowed brow and concerned eyes. Leia fought down an embarrassed flush as she quickly turned her attention to him.
“What did you say?”
“I asked if you were okay,” He said, “you seem a little out of it.”
“Oh yes, I’m quite fine.” Leia responded, forcefully pushing any thoughts of Alderaan out of her head, “Just observing the-” She trailed off as she saw a familiar light freighter peeking out from in between other rebel ships. “Excuse me for a moment.”
Leia broke off from her rescuers and half jogged through the bustling of the other rebels. Her heart lifted a little as painted armor and green lekku came into view around the hull of the Ghost.
She carefully slowed to a walk as she saw Sabine look up from her datapad, taking notice of her as Captain Syndulla walked up into the ship.
“Hey, Leia. I haven’t seen you in forever,” Sabine’s tired eyes glinted in approval as she looked at Leia; her datapad resting on her hip as if it were her helmet, “looks like you’re finally fighting on the outside with us now.” Leia gave her a small smile in return.
“Indeed I am, unfortunately not under the circumstances we hoped for.” She couldn’t help her eyes being drawn to the ramp that Captain Syndulla had climbed up only a few moments before. “Sadly, I don’t have much time before my ride comes to get me. I was actually wondering if Ezra was around for a quick hello, I haven’t heard from him since the relief mission on Lothal.”
Leia regretted asking as soon as she saw Sabine’s face fall.
“Ezra’s gone,” She said, her voice resigned, “since the Liberation of Lothal a few months ago.” Leia felt her heart grow heavier. She knew it was possible, likely even, that this would be the case; but having the fragment of hope that came with seeing the Ghost stomped out didn’t hurt any less.
Another life, taken by the Empire. An entire person, remembered by only a few. One of the millions of sentients whose lives had been destroyed.
Leia couldn’t help but picture Ezra, still a shaggy haired fifteen year old, looking longingly at a holo of his parents. Using his untuned force abilities to pull the guns away from the storm troopers, only to get hit by them as they came in too fast. His mischievous smile as he shot a stun blast at her.
She briefly wonders what kind of person he had become in the four years since she had met him. Hopefully she would survive the upcoming battle and live long enough to hear the stories.
She placed a hand on Sabine’s shoulder, “I see, I’m very sorry.” Sabine gave her a strained quirk of her lips, the corners of her eyes crinkling the slightest amount as she placed her own fingers over Leia's.
“We knew what we were getting into, right?” She looked down at the sound of her comm beeping, “I’ll see you around Leia, good luck.” Nodding and quickly giving Leia’s hand a comforting squeeze, she turned and walked into the Ghost.
Leia stood there for a moment before she took a deep breath and turned to go back to her companions. She was quiet as she slid back into place between Luke and Han, who’s bickering fizzled out just as the carriers arrived. She once again locked eyes with Luke as they sat down on the carrier, and quickly set her gaze forward as they started moving. She heard the silent question loud and clear.
“Just… another loss.”