Back to the Begining!


Zara looks around from the seat atop his mosgoth and friend, Zotos, the destruction of his home around him was devestating. All the Togorian females were gone! Including the the closest thing to a mother he ever knew. Tears welled up in his eyes as the reality of it all caught up with him. After several minutes of silence, Zara did the only thing he could do, scream! Zara sat straight up from his sleeping pallet screaming and drenched in sweat. He was much older now and safe aboard the Mon Calimarian Cruiser Rebellious. The terrifying reality of his homeworld again disappeared from his thoughts. Ever since Zara and his fellow wingmates of Fly Squadron escaped from the slavers, The nightmare had been haunting him. Zara got up from his pallet and headed for the refresher. Why had the nightmares started up again? It had been several years since Zara joined the efforts of the Rebellious. The great starship had spent several months chasing the Imperial force that attacked Togoria and many other planets before the trail disappeared. None of the slaves were ever found. With a glass of cold water, Zara returned to his pallet and sat down. He couldn't help but feel he had abonded his Togorian family. He never even tried to contact his uncle Thos when they gave up the search. Guilt flooded over Zara as he realized he had never sent word to his uncle ever again. Now, unlike before, Zara couldn't shake the feeling he should have done more. As XO of Fly squadron, Zara had been keeping busy with his responsibilities to his wingmates. He couldn't help but think he had neglected his responsibilities to his family. Zara put the glass of water down and started to get dressed. He decided he needed to head to the cantina for something a little stronger than water.

Zara entered the cantina in a daze. He never noticed the shadow that was following him. He headed straight to the bartender and requested a straight Correlian Whiskey. After recieving the drink, Zara found himself an empty table and dropped into the seat. As he sipped the Whiskey, his mind once again returned to his adopted uncle. Thos provided everything for Zara when he was young. There was never a question of Thos's love for his nephew. Untill now, Zara never questioned his alien uncle's reasoning in adopting him. Why had the Togorian tooken in the small human child so many years ago. "It's a little late for you to be up, aint it?" Zara heard from behind him. He turned to see his wingmate Steeltoe standing over him with his own drink. Zara kicked out a chair for Steeltoe and motioned for him to have a seat. Steeltoe accepted the seat and motioned for the waitress as he sat down. "I see you still have your bodyguard." Steeltoe said with a chuckle. Zara looked around the room till he finally seen the frame of a wookie standing in the darkened corner of the cantina. Zara let out a sigh of defeat. "She just wont quit will she." Zara said as he turned back to his friend. Steeltoe ordered another round for them as he drained the last of his drink. "So, are ya going to take part in that tournament in the flight sims that the Captain is doing?" Steeltoe said eagerly. "I'm signed up for it but I don't know yet." Steeltoe considered for a moment."Well, If ya need a wing in it, don't hesitate to give me a call!" Zara smiled back to his friend."I wouldn't think of doing it without ya." Zara said as he finished his first drink. "Actually, I'm considering taking some of that leave time I've been building up." Zara said finally. Steeltoe looked up in surprise. "What ya going to do?" Zara considered a bit. "I think I'm going to go pay my Uncle a visit." Steeltoe took on a confused look. "Where is he at?" he finaly asked. "Togoria." was the reply. "Togoria? Your uncle lives on Togoria?" Steeltoe said in complete confusion. Zara smiled back at his friend. "Ya, he's a Togorian!" Zara said profoundly. Steeltoe reached across the table and pulled Zara's drink away. "Man, I think you've had to much of this!" Steeltoe stated as if an expert on the mater. Zara chuckled. "Someday you'll have to remind me to tell ya the story." Zara said as he stood up from the table."Hey Crego, do me a favor. Hold up my bodyguard back there while I head out the back." Zara said as he noticed Lalaka start to move. Crego let out a short laugh. "Ya, sure man. I'll give it a try." Zara made a mock salute to his friend and headed towards the back exit.

Zara stood alone in front of the door leading to Captain Maalihan's room. He reach over and hit the call signal again and waited some more. After a few more moments, A very tired looking Jughead opened the door. "Zara?" Jughead said as he looked back into his room for the time. "It's the middle of the damn night!" Zara smiled at his friend. "I'm sorry man, but I couldn't sleep." He said. Jughead's eyes widened. "So now you have something against me sleeping?" Jughead said with amusement. "I need ta talk." Zara said trying to not laugh at his friend. Jughead slumped against the doorframe and crossed his arms. "I hear droids are good listeners."Jughead said as he was fully becoming awake. "But droids dont have the authority to grant thier pilots a leave of absence."Zara stated as the thoughtful insight had just occured to him. Jughead held Zara's gaze for a moment before opening his door farther and motioning him to come in. Zara entered into a room unlike his own. It was nothing like most pilots would expect from thier Captain. There was only a few pictures alligned on his desk of battles fought and friends long gone. A couple medals hung on the wall alone and looking out of place. the rest of the room gave Zara the feel of a motel room. It was very plain and very impersonal, and it was a mess. "Wild party sir?" Zara said with humor. Jughead frowned at the joke. "I've been busy lately and havn't had time to clean up." He said as he indicated a chair and headed for his own desk. Zara took the seat and waited for Jughead to do the same. "Now, lets here this excuse that you think is going to get me to grant you a leave after you wake me up in the middle of the night!" Jughead said as he streached back in his chair. "Well, there isn't much of an excuse. I need to go see my Uncle." Zara said. Jughead was quiet a moment more till he realized this was all Zara was offering for an excuse. "Request Denied." Jughead said firmly as he reached behind him for a flask of liquid to fill his glass. Zara was in shock. "What?" he said. "I can't grant ya an extended leave without a better excuse than that. You know better than that. The Commander would have my head." Jughead said smoothly. Zara searched for a better excuse but couldn't think of one. "But I think I really need to see my Uncle. It's been along time since I've heard any word from him." Zara said almost pleading. Jughead frowned. "Then I need to know why you feel you need to see him. I need ya to help me with that flight sim tournament. I'm not going to let ya go without some fight." Jughead said. Zara knew what Jughead was getting at. It would look bad to the other officers also if he left on a feeble excuse. "Ok. I've been having some bad dreams ever since we got back from the spice mines. It's about my Aunt and Uncle on Togoria back when they was attacked by the Empire. I havn't spoke to my Uncle since we lost the trail on them. I feel I should go and see him personally. I have questions for him and I want to be able to explain everything thats happened with me since I left." Zara said confidently. Jughead took on a look of concern. "Have you mentioned anything about these dreams to the medical droids?" He said. Zara seemed to sink in his seat. "No. I figured it was personal." Zara said almost shyly. "Well, you should check with them anytime with problems that can distract you. Physically or mentally!" Jughead said. The room was quiet for several minutes. "Request Granted! But I'll have to have ya checked out with the medical droids before ya can fly in combat." Jughead said in an official tone. "Thank you. I owe ya one." Zara said. Zara got up and saluted before heading to the door.

Zara stuffed his bag in the underside compartment of the old T-Wing class fighter that he had recieved for his temporary leave. Zara fought with the compartment door before finally getting it to latch closed. He walked out from under the small fighter and almost ran into a wall of fur. "Geez, Lalaka, don't sneak up on me!" said Zara. The wookie snorted his reply causing Zara to frown. "I'm not sneaking around on you. I've just been busy" Zara said. The wookie woofed another reply as she put her hand on the T-Wing. "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you knew. I'm headed to see my uncle for a couple days." Zara said as he turned to finish his inspection of the fighter. Lalaka just stood back and watched as Zara finished his inspection of the craft. Then she snorted her expectations to him. "Oh no your not. This is a one person craft. One Person! I can't have ya following me out there either. It's going to be just me visiting my family." The wookie slammed a fist down on the nose of the fighter and growled her reply. "I don't need you to protect me. I'm just going to visit my family! I'm sure you would be needed more here!"Zara stated in a harsh tone. Lalaka turned away from Zara and sat on the deck plating in front of the fighter. Not hearing a reply from her, Zara walked over to her to see what she was doing, And was taken by surprise when he saw. "Your crying? Why?" Asked Zara as guilt started to fill him. The wookie woofed a very shy reply. "Your not losing me too. I'll be back! I just need to see my Uncle for a couple days."Zara said as he put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry you lost your son. He was very brave. I'm not your son, but I am your friend."Zara said soothingly. Lalaka looked up to him and woofed a question."All of us are your friend and we do need you. Just right now I need to see my family by myself. The rest of the guys need you here."Lalaka stood back up and ruffled Zara's hair. "I promise to hurry back." Zara said as he scratched the wookie's chest. Zara turned back to the fighter and began to climb in. Lalaka barked again to Zara. "I promise! Don't worry!" He said as he closed the canapy on the fighter around him. Lalaka stood back as Zara started the repulsors and the craft eased off the deck. Zara eased the craft towards the opening to space seeing Lalaka waving goodbye to him till he was completely out of site. Zara couldn't help but realize she would probably be around him the rest of his life. He would have to do his best to enjoy these few days away.


CHAPTER 2