The pair had steadily climbed to the top with Tycho coming in second with his partner Laine whom the Alderaanian have had misunderstanding in the previous term.
Dayle was a human female immigrant from Bestine IV and she was excited when their Academy Commander announced that a new Imperial Military Base will be built there and that they will all be sent groundside to aide in the establishment of the base.
Dayle told Biggs about her good friend, the trader Jek, how they almost became an item but her career at the Academy got in the way and they never saw each other again.
“He’s a great guy and I’m sure the two of you will get along pretty well.” Dayle said to Biggs while they were having dinner.
“From what I’ve been hearing from you about him all these months, I’m pretty sure of that.” Biggs offered a slice of muuk’a steak to her.
“I’m sorry, am I annoying you with him. How insensitive of me, I’m really…” Dayle stopped talking as Biggs touched his finger on her lips.
“Don’t be. I know exactly how you feel. I would have talk to you about Luke and my friends back home like that myself.” Biggs smiled.
“Thank you for understanding.” Dayle reach out and kissed Biggs.
* * *
Tamis was still asleep when Biggs woke up from their motel room and went to get ready for their flight to Bestine IV. He called Tycho on the comm and the Alderaanian said he was already heading back to the Academy.
Biggs said he’ll meet them there and went to the shower. He was already getting dressed when Tamis finally got up and hurried to the refresher, playfully slapping him at the back for not waking her up at once.
Biggs was packing Tamis’ luggage to speed things up when he got a call from Hobbie.
“Where are you guys? The shuttle is here, let’s get going!” Hobbie exclaimed.
“Tamis is still on the shower…” Biggs said.
“She can take the next shuttle, come on, Captain Fel is already rushing everyone up.” Hobbie insisted.
“Alright, alright,” Biggs ended the call and called out to his girlfriend, “Tam, the Captain wants us to hurry, I’ll go ahead and you take the next shuttle!”
“Go ahead, see you topside!” she answered back.
Biggs took an airtaxi and arrived at the outer platform of the Academy shortly. Tycho was already there and caught the baggage as Biggs threw it to him.
“Last man is here, let’s go!” Hobbie shouted and the ramp of the Imperial Shuttle closed down and began to lift off.
Captain Fel swiveled on his chair to face them as the capital ship began to loom before the viewport, “The Imperial II-class frigate; the Rand Ecliptic.”
“Shuttle Tydirium, this is Captain Heliesk of Rand Ecliptic, transmit your Imperial codes for verification and clearance.”
“Captain Heliesk is aware that I am aboard yet he did not address me and still demanded the code clearance, why?” Fel regarded his cadets.
Hobbie answered first, “Standard Operating Procedures. Regardless of familiarity, protocols must and always be maintained. This is a fundamental structure of an efficient and disciplined Empire.”
“Very good, now observe the welcoming protocol once we dock.” Fel nodded.
Captain Heliesk was there to personally welcome them. After the formal greetings to Captain Fel, he simply saluted at the rest of them then snapped his heels and turned around to walk with their instructor.
Hobbie muttered behind Biggs, “Typical stiffed-neck coolant breath.”
Tycho elbowed Hobbie and Biggs tried his very best not to chuckle, Laine and Rens on the other hand failed and laughed, not too loud but enough for the two captains to stop on their track and face them.
“Problems?” Captain Heliesk asked. Captain Fel slightly shook his head at them behind the Officer.
“No, Sir!” the cadets chorused.
The Bestine Pact
The morning sunlight of Bestine made the interior of the bare room glow with a bright yellow orange tinge. The warmth adhered onto the window glass like the restlessness and fear of its single occupant. It felt so heavy that the breeze from the air-conditioning unit was hardly felt at all.
Biggs Darklighter stared at the holo image of Tamis Dayle.
She never reached the second shuttle. Captain Fel found out that she and five other cadets were apprehended by the 75th Legion stationed in Prefsbelt IV. They were charged with treason and according to the report they were taken to Carida to face the Imperial Military Court.
There’s nothing he could do to help her, he couldn’t even be there at her side. Biggs cursed himself for not waiting for her, things would have gone differently.
Yeah right, you would have been taken with her or worse; killed.
Yesterday, he, Tycho and Hobbie had gone looking for Jek Porkins but instead they found Trent Dayle, the brother of Tamis. He was devastated when Biggs told him about his sister, then he went to tell them stories about the small and futile resistance that took place here when the Empire announced of their intent to build a base.
Their father Wayne Dayle and Jek Porkins had engaged the Imperial legion but they were outnumbered and outgunned, a lot of them have either been killed or captured. Only Jek, he and a handful of their men escaped. Wayne didn’t make it.
Trent was the only one who stayed behind to serve as their contact, and to recruit more people.
Tycho had raised his hands and told them he wanted nothing to do about this. He warned, in good faith, Trent to abandon that idea and just be thankful that the Empire had taken notice their planet and had extended their hand in providing law and order.
Biggs and Hobbie followed Tycho reluctantly but Trent secretly handed him his contact code.
That night, Hobbie had come to him and locked his room. His friend informed him that he’s been having second thoughts about the integrity of the Empire as a whole.
“I’ve done some digging and saw hundreds of incidents across the galaxy about the excessive force and abuses the Empire has been doing. How they shut down media groups that relay such news to the public, how people who vocally protests suddenly disappear and how aggressors were summarily executed in remote sectors.
Hobbie wanted to reconsider the offer of Trent Dayle, and he wanted Biggs and Tycho to come with him.
Biggs was unable to make a decision but his mind was racing, he felt being torn apart between his oath as an Imperial Cadet and what he personally sees as an act of oppression and tyranny.
Tamis was no rebel, Biggs tried hard to recall any possible hint from what he knows about her and he couldn’t see one. She was innocent. Is she?
Biggs threw his bottle of wine and it shattered at the wall before him. How could he even doubt her?
Tycho wasn’t in favor of Trent’s offer but Hobbie’s argument makes a lot of sense. Biggs hated to be in the middle then he thought what would Luke, Fixer, Tank and Camie would have done?
Tank!
Biggs took his portable holocomm and requested a line to the Prefsbelt Academy, once connected he asked to be patched through to Barracks 19 until he finally got to speak with Janek Sunber.
“Biggs?” Tank appeared sleepy and his voice croaked, Biggs suddenly remembered it would have been midnight in Prefsbelt IV right now.
“Sorry to disturb you Tank, I just want to ask you something.” Biggs said.
“Sure, what is it?”
“What do you know about the rebellion?” Biggs whispered.
He heard Tank took a deep breath and when he finally replied, his voice was so low he could barely understand him.
“Why are you asking? This line isn’t secure.” Tank hissed.
“Sorry, I just…” Biggs apologized, he should have thought of that.
“Never mind, if you want advice, I’ll give you one. Stay away from such people. If you’re friends showed any hint of favoring those criminals then stay away from them too. Listen to me Biggs you’d better not be caught on the wrong side of this war.�
� Tank growled then ended that transmission.
Biggs lay on his bed, he was somehow expecting Janek to provide a contact or at least urge him to accept Trent’s proposal. Then it dawn on him that he had already made up his mind, he wanted out.
And he’s taking the door opened for him by Trent Dayle.
Biggs rolled on his side and called Hobbie, it’s time to make contact.
* * *
The following days, Biggs and Hobbie met with Trent on several locations, they got introduced to other members of the Bestine resistance. The two were even more surprised to learn that there were a lot of cadets from their batch were also participating on their various secret meetings.
“I’m more concerned about Tycho. I can’t bear all of this sneaking behind his back. He’s our friend Biggs; we must not keep him in the dark.” Hobbie said.
“I know. I’m working on it. You know how devoted he still is to the idea of the New Order.” Biggs nodded.
That night they were ordered to return to Prefsbelt IV. Biggs and Hobbie had agreed to break the news to Tycho once they reach the Academy.
Homecoming
Biggs Darklighter came up top. He was awarded by Captain Soontir Fel the Valedictorian Medal and the rank of Lieutenant for the Imperial Fleet Academy of Prefsbelt IV.
Tycho Celchu came second with Derek ‘Hobbie’ Klivian settling for third. Their captain held a party afterwards on his own flat but Tycho didn’t came, he left straight to the first flight to Alderaan to visit his family.
The next day he had lunch with Hobbie and their other friends and then Biggs sets off for Tatooine for a surprise visit to his parents.
The blast of intense heat that was the norm of Tatooine made Biggs flinched and wraps his face with his scarf. It has been barely two years and he had lost his inborn immunity to the desert planet’s normal temperature.
His mother was out feeding her new herd of eopies and she drop her pail of kru’umb mush when she saw a landspeeder being driven by Biggs halted in front of their house.
“By the Force! Biggs, my son!” she ran towards him and Biggs lifted his mother in a tight embrace.
“I missed you so much mom.” Biggs cried.
“My goodness, look at you! You look like a Coruscanti nobleman!” she cried and laughed at the same time then pulled him inside their house in excitement.
“Huff! Huff, get down here quick!” she shouted and Biggs heard the loud footsteps of his huge father.
Huff Darklighter came barreling down from the stairs holding his old long range projectile hunting rifle, “What is it! What’s wrong? Are the sand people crossing the borders again?”
“No father, it’s something worse than that, me.” Biggs grinned.
Huff froze then shook his head and threw down his rifle and went to embrace Biggs, much to the latter’s disbelief.
“I thought hugging wasn’t your thing?” Biggs remarked good-naturedly.
Huff let go and went to the kitchen muttering, “Still isn’t. Come let’s eat, you must be famished eating all those lousy Imperial rations for two years.”
Biggs and his mom just looked at each other and she ushered him to his seat and started serving them her specialty.
Huff didn’t go to his water store that day and the three spent the entire day catching up with each other. Biggs told them all of his experiences in the Academy and in Bestine. He told them about how great a pilot and an instructor Captain Fel was and he also told him about his new friends.
During dinner, their topic grew more serious. After Biggs’ awkward sharing of stories about how he met and fell in love with Tamis Dayle, he began recounting her questionable disappearance and all the bad things he had witnessed and experienced firsthand about the Empire.
He told them about the rebellion, how Tamis’ brother Trent made them aware for the first time how the people suffer from the oppression and injustice of the Empire.
Huff listened to him all the way and not once did he say a word. Biggs at first thought that his father disapprove of his idea of abandoning his service to the Empire and making further contact with the rebel agents of Bestine IV, but he was wrong.
“Son, I am proud that all those years of us teaching you what is right has never left you when you went to the Academy. I knew that once you go there you will see for yourself what the Empire really is, and you did. Now I’m not encouraging you at all to join this rebellion, first and foremost it is very dangerous and in fact it is highly suicidal. But I also know you all too well.” Huff started to say.
“You are a man of honor and integrity, of virtue and principles. I know there is nothing me or your mother could do to stop you from doing the right thing. You’re a man now, a real man, a man more than your father could ever be and I am very proud of what you’ve become. Whatever your decision may be, we will support you.” Huff raised a hand as Biggs was about to answer.
“As your parents, let us officially say that please do be careful and no heroics. There is such thing as a living hero and you, my son, are no good to us dead.” Huff growled and Biggs grinned, the two Darklighters grasped each others’ arms in silent agreement.
The next day Biggs went to visit Luke and his friends on Tosche Station, he told them about his experience there and his new friends. He also told them about their old friend Tank and about the woman he was supposed to marry; Tamis.
Luke excitedly shared to him that he saw an actual space battle in low orbit but Biggs knew that the Empire has no interest in their sector therefore the rebellion is more likely to overlook this place as well. He told Luke that perhaps it was just a random encounter or just a small ship docking on a larger one. Their conversation steered to their plans, especially about Luke’s dream to follow Biggs at the Academy.
Biggs felt disappointed when he learned Luke was still unable to rejoin him at the Academy but he remained hopeful. That night he received a priority holo message from Captain Fel himself, his first assignment has finally come.
Huff Darklighter have arranged a grand reunion of the Darklighters and made a toast in honor of his only son. The Darklighters enjoyed each others’ company, swapped stories, did some singing and dancing and drank a lot.
The following day Biggs started packing once again and bade farewell to his parents.
During the flight as he was staring at Tatooine shrinking from the viewport, he had a strange feeling that he’ll never see that place again. Biggs shook that thought away finding it ironic. He wanted to leave that world for good, but not without his family and friends and since it seems that both were going nowhere else, he had no choice but to keep coming back no matter what.
Target Starfire
Tycho Celchu has distanced himself from Biggs and Hobbie after the two told the Alderaanian about their meeting with the brother of Tamis. For the next couple of months the relationship between them become strained and affected their performance in the Academy up to their graduation.
Captain Fel had noticed this drifting and has tried to talk to them but since none of the three were willing to tell their instructor the real reason, the matter was left unresolved. Fel suspected there was more into it but kept out of it in respect to his former students, what he did though was assigned them apart.
Tycho was assigned to the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Accuser as a TIE fighter pilot under the command of Captain Firmus Piett. He never bothered to contact his old friends since then.
Biggs and Hobbie were requested personally by Captain Heliesk to be assigned under him aboard his flagship Rand Ecliptic.
Despite the slight decline in their later performances at the Imperial Academy, the two still came up top and their merits did not go unnoticed by their new commanding officer.
Captain Heliesk promoted Biggs Darklighter as his First Mate and Derek ‘Hobbie’ Klivian became the flagship’s Executive Officer. The Rand Ecliptic was then assigned back to Bestine IV to facilitate the Imperial Base there.
Biggs and Hobbie took this as a si
gn that they were truly meant to continue their previous connection with the local rebel cell led by Trent Dayle.
When the two tried to make contact, it wasn’t Trent that came to meet with them but man named Lindy, and to Biggs surprise, the rebel and Hobbie knew each other.
“By the Force, Lindy, what are you doing here?” Hobbie exclaimed the moment the other removed his face mask.
“You knew each other?” Biggs gasped.
“Hello Hobbie and you must be Biggs, nice to meet you. Trent had briefed me about the two of you so there’s no need for preamble. Come, let’s order.” Lindy waved at a server droid and handed the Imperial Officers the menu.
“If anyone ask just tell them I’m your snitch in tracking the leaders of the Bestine Rebel Cells.” Lindy said casually.
“Where’s Trent?” Biggs asked. His eyes narrowing to slits, his hand resting on his blaster holster.
“Relax Biggs. Trent has been sent to Dac to convince the Mon Calamarians to defect from the Empire and join our cause. Me, I just got transferred here from my previous rotation on the Yavin base. Anyways, I must be boring you two already. I guess the question I should be asking is what can we do for you?” Lindy dismissed Biggs’ blaster.
“We want in.” Hobbie said.
“That is if you really are what you say you are.” Biggs added.
“Still suspicious, ey? You’d be a perfect field agent. Alright, I’ve spoken to our quadrant liaison and he has conferred with the powers that be of the Alliance and this is what they sent me this morning,” Lindy placed a datachip at the center of the table.
Hobbie took it and inserted it on his datapad, Biggs leaned closer to take a look then the two turn a questioning glare at the agent.
“These are the images, rotation and patrol schedules and partial staff and crew records of the Rand Ecliptic.” Biggs frowned.
“Thank you for pointing out the obvious. Now here’s the deal, we need that ship on our side as soon as possible. The pressure of procuring battleships is tightening, we suspects that the leaders of the Alliance are finally gathering for a massive strike against the Empire pretty soon, something that will finally bring this war in the open.” Lindy explained.
“And how are we supposed to do that?” Biggs asked.
Star Wars - Biggs Page 2
