Shadow Fall (Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron, #2)

by Alexander Freed

“Good to see you, too,” Nath’s voice snapped through the comm. “Play us some music and let’s save your butt.”

where a skilled artisan could develop a cognitive module in the morning, attend a trendy concert midday, and oversee the assembly of an innovator droid army at night.

“Your kind of woman,” Chass answered with a snort, and laughed to herself at length.

Shakara Nuress was a friend, Soran thought. I want revenge as much as anyone. But he knew it wasn’t true.

Wyl’s thoughts crumbled apart like a clod of dirt from a drought-parched plain.

“We’ve found your calling,” General Syndulla had joked before takeoff.

“People are scared of her—you don’t know much about her—but I’ve never met anyone who fought harder to keep her allies alive.

What do you think a soldier is for, Wyl Lark?

“Don’t you agree?” There was a short pause. “I wouldn’t know. We’ve never spoken.” Then leave the judgment to me, Soran thought.

We can’t save the rest of the Empire, Soran thought. We can save ourselves.

Kairos…what have you been doing?

Yrica Quell…when did you start wanting to spend time with that man?

Instead she said: “Maybe it is practice. But you’d better get it right the first time.” The table erupted in laughter and cheers and mockery. Quell downed her cup of wine and wondered if she was as flushed as she felt.

She straightened in her seat, checked her angle, and ignited her thrusters even before Nath called, “You ready?” “Sure,” Chass said. “So long as no one tries to shoot me, I’ll be just fine.”

By the expression on his face, she could’ve believed Stornvein hadn’t said the words in a dozen battles before; his unwillingness to become jaded was why she kept him on staff.

She felt air against her skin. Her forearm wrappings were scorched. She had broken her last vow.

What would Ito say, seeing you distracted? he wondered, and snatched a datapad from his stack to review.

You desire victory. You desire revenge. This is the only way I can protect you and give you what you want.

If you won’t sit, she’d said, do me a favor and stand still.

but the day for tribunals was coming and Nath doubted Quell would look much better than the Death Star gunners who’d vaporized Alderaan.

“I am guided by the Force in all my deeds,” the Utai whispered, as if chanting a mantra, “and through the teachings of my masters I find harmony in its guidance.”

“Adan should rot,” Chadic cried. “The whole corrupt New Republic can rot if this is how it treats mass murderers.”

The only question was whether anyone was so horrified by her actions, felt so personally aggrieved, that she could expect to be assassinated while in custody. She might well die in prison. She decided she wouldn’t go down easily.

It’s over. You should’ve stayed at Traitor’s Remorse.

Chadic wrinkled her nose and showed teeth. “I will shoot your skull hollow before I fly with you again.”

Wyl didn’t believe in luck, but if such a thing existed? He was surely due his share.

Something about the battle was strange. Everything about the battle was strange. What was she missing?

Enjoy flying without scanners or comms, he told himself.

Enjoy the peace before the battle. This is the only reprieve you’ll get. He almost laughed. The idea appealed, but meditative reflection wasn’t easy to come by.

The orders have all been given. You are no longer a commander. You’re merely a soldier, and you know how to fight. The thought was unexpectedly pleasing.

Captain Giginivek peered at her, beak hanging open dumbly. She stared back, waiting for a question: What does that mean? or How do you know? or even How do we fight them?

You really are too much of a mess to fly, she thought.

All right, she thought. What does this junk heap have for weapons?

“Are you planning to die?” Adan asked. “No.” The comm went silent. Not that I have a plan to survive, exactly.

Was this what Pandem Nai was like? Soran wondered as he sped after his comrades, clearing the area for the second impact.

You loved Snivel. You loved Snivel. When’s the last time you thought of him? It would be the same with Alphabet Squadron.

Jyn had fought an impossible war against an overwhelming enemy. Chass was finishing an easy war from a position of strength—even if the New Republic was having a bad day.

If your death had to be pointless, you could’ve at least died in battle.

It was Keize who had told her to leave after Nacronis—ordered her to leave, and he’d promised he would follow. Had he betrayed her? Had he lied to her to ensure that she did as commanded? Did it even matter anymore? Had she betrayed him?

Make no excuses. Focus on the question at hand. What do you do now?

You’re falling apart, Soran. This would never have happened before Devon.

You wanted command of the unit, Gablerone’s ghost told him.

You sought the responsibility. What are you going to do with it?

We’re not here to rescue your world, Soran thought.

Finally, a slender female Sullustan announced that she’d been liaising with the local forces and would represent them at the meeting; Wyl hadn’t caught her name.

You asked that already, she wanted to say. That was the first thing you asked when I saved your life.

reminded herself: Put them away like Hound Squadron. Like the Cavern Angels. None of this is new to you.

she might’ve laughed at the idea of dying so soon after her rescue if she hadn’t started choking.

The light of the solar projectors painted a clear image of the land below—the ancient stone buildings built into the mountainside and the dark vegetation on the far slopes. It looks different when you’re not being shot at, she thought.

Were there other bodies to be found? Would they all be shot in the back? Maybe the stormtrooper refused to go along with a mission he couldn’t abide.