Chapter Text
“Deck! A-Tench-Hut!” The Commanders voice was punctuated with the sound of nearly five hundred boots clacking together. There was a special guest visiting their Star Destroyer, and so here they were positioned in the hangar waiting for the ship to arrive. Oran was positioned to the right of his commander, Apparently the guest wanted to meet him personally. Emilia was to his left a few columns down in formation. He was starting to think that Commander Lihng was just screwing with them when a ship entered through the mag shield. A T-4 shuttle slowly pressed onto the ground. Steam hissed out of the vessel as the ramp lowered.
A black boot loomed out of the steam followed by a second then armor clad legs and a body. Finally the steam cleared revealing a heavily armored man. He towered over the nearest storm trooper. His face was covered by a menacing mask. The Man strode forward his boots echoing in the silent hangar. Deep slow and even breathing hissed out of the helmet. The Ships Admiral, a man named Karish, stepped forward and greeted the strange and intimidating man.
“Lord Vader, it’s an honor to have you aboard.” Lord Vader stares down at the admiral before continuing his stride. Karish has to almost jog to keep up with Vader’s Massive steps. The masked man was coming straight towards he and Commander Lihng. Oran was glad he had his helmet on, it created a safety barrier between him and this intimidating individual.
“You must be the pilot I’ve hear about.” His voice was deep and mechanical and it sent a chill down Oran’s Back
“Yes Sir, Senior Lieutenant Oran Fel.” He was glad his voice had come out smooth and even without any tension in it.
“Your reputation proceeds you Lieutenant, I look forward to seeing you in action.” With that Vader strode past him his dark cloak swishing as he marched past.
As Vader excited the hangar Commander Lihng called for the deck to fall out. Emilia came right for him. They took their helmets off almost in sync.
“Do you know who that is?” She hissed at him.
“I’m guessing it’s Lord Vader, whatever that means.” Her eyes widened at his statement.
“He’s the Emperors personal Enforcer. He does all of the Emperors wishes, he’s also the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet. He’s the one who is in control of Black Eight Squadron”
“The Black Eight! Well shit I’d wish I’d known that before he got on board.” Emilia grabbed his hand and dragged him towards his fighter.
“Come on you’re going to be doing a combat drill for your demonstration.”
The two spent the next half hour prepping his ship for the demonstration, normally Oran wouldn’t trust anyone with pre flights for his ship but he trusted Emilia with his life, which expectedly this was.
They had just finished when a chime sounded over the intercom.
“Lieutenant Fel. In one minute board your craft and begin your demonstration.” A second chime signaled the end of the announcement and Oran scrambled started climbing into his fighter.
“Oran!” He stop and turned to see Emilia was still there below him he dropped down.
“What’s up? I have to get moving.” She opened here mouth then closed it before stepping closer to him quickly kissing him. Her perfume once again gracing his senses.
“Good luck.” Her cheeks were dusted with red and he smiled.
“Is that all I get?” he asked with a cocky smile he went in for another when she pushed him towards the ladder.
“Maybe you’ll get something more if you do well” he rolled his eyes before climbing the ladder again.
“I guess the pressures on then.” He threw back over his shoulder “I’m gonna hold you to that deal!” He strapped himself into the TIE before flipping a few switches to start her up. He closed the hatch winked at Emilia before saluting and taking off.
The scream of his fighter got his blood moving as he flew through the tight hangar and shot off into space. As always the beauty of the stars and nearby planet took his breath away
“This is Lieutenant Fel ready for demo flight, Tango India Echo, mock dogfight.”
“Copy Lieutenant, your target for today’s red air sim is a TIE Advanced x1 fighter good luck.”
A TIE advanced, no one flew those they were reserved for special forces and Black Eight. He scanned as much space as he could through the small growing port. He almost missed it, the craft blended in to space so well. But there it was,slightly lower than him off his port wing.
He yanked hard to the side and hit his engines. Just in time for two green lasers to whiz past him. He dove down to get on a level field before charging at the opposing craft. His target didn’t let up keeping a constant barrage of fire on him as he dipped and dodged,perhaps a dozen shots later the weapons needed to cool down. By the time Oran had a chance to shoot it was too late as he was too close to land a hit. He shot past the other craft before cutting his engines and turning completely around.his vision dimmed a bit as his blood rushed away then back into his head. He let off a few shots before hitting his engines again. Just when Oran was sure he had won the pilot of the other craft rolled out of the way less than a second before collision. His shots flew past harmlessly.
The two of them played a game of cat and mouse dodging shots and barely avoiding each other. Just when Oran felt they had reached a stalemate the other pilot swept back around and shot a burst of lasers, as Oran began to evade another series of shots intercepted his path and his ship rocked with the impact. Even though there was no real damage his display blinked what it would have done had they been real shots. His starboard wing had been crippled and one of his engines was critical. He had lost. Bad. He had gone down in one hit.
“Mock fight has been terminated Please return to hangar Lieutenant, better luck next time.” He piloted his ship in silently his anger slowly building in his system. When he landed Emilia was there. He dragged himself out of the fighter and climbed down the ladder. Tucking his helmet under his arm, he started walking anger visible in every line of his body. He heard Emilia struggling to catch up to him. He didn’t slow down, she sped up to catch him. He finally felt her hand on his shoulder and it was like she had hit a switch on him. Throwing his helmet down he turned and punched the side of the hallway, he kept hitting it shattering the lights imbedded in the wall. Finally he stopped and leaned against the wall before sliding down it. Broken glass crunching under his boots.
“Oran. I-“
“I lost.” He interrupted. “I lost to someone I don’t even know, and I made a fool of myself in front of the commander of the entire military. Do you understand what that feels like!” She sat down next to him grabbing his hand. His knuckles were red and there were several large gashes in his hand from broken glass.
“No, but I know that you did your best and that’s what really matters.” He scoffed at her support, he knew is was a horrible thing to do but he couldn’t help himself.
“People aren’t gonna remember me for my best, they’ll remember that I lost.”
Her hand cupped his cheek and turned his face towards hers.
“I won’t.” She Lenard in and kissed him, this time it was slow her lips soft against his own, her perfume making his head swim. Something inside him deflated and all of his anger and frustration seemed to seep out of him. His good hand settled on her waist and the other was resting on her cheek. He felt her other hand slide up to his hair. she broke the kiss leaning her forehead against his. Laughing softly
“As far as I’m concerned you did well.” He remembered what she said to him before he took off.
“So what’s my Consolation prize then.” She smiled and bit her lip.
“Why don’t you follow me and find out.” She stood up and started walking again he got up as fast as he could grabbing his helmet and following her. She grabbed his hand as he came even with her. She laced their fingers and lightly pulled him into the direction of her quarters.