The Ralroost, Friday evening Fandom time
There were problems with establishing relationships with people during wartime, and that was that sometimes you lost them. It wasn't so much that she wasn't thinking about Anni, but she was still numb to it. She'd been there when the Vong's shot got her, felt her death, but the aftermath still felt unreal.
She'd gotten closer to Anni over their time together in Rogue Squadron. Jaina had told herself she didn't need friends in here, and she didn't, really. But it was difficult not to become friendly with people you worked and lived with. And logically she knew that she had to get used to people dying. They'd already lost Chewbacca. Mara was sick. Jaina herself put herself out there every day when she was as likely to be killed as anyone. But still, she hadn't really had much personal experience with loss.
She'd had a long talk with Anakin after everything had happened, because that poor kid kept racking up the losses and despite the fact that she wasn't even two years older than him, Jaina thought it wasn't anything he should have to go through at his age. She knew he would be fine, but her little brother shouldn't have to go through that. Too bad no one was really exempt from this kind of thing.
They were already replacing Anni, so at the moment Jaina was without a wingmate. She was okay with this, since she wasn't mentally ready for a replacement yet. And the fact was, she'd probably be replaced too, soon enough. After the memorial service on Kashyyyk she'd be headed back to Fandom, and she'd have to see about the Rogues the next time she came back. She knew going back to Fandom was the right thing for her personally right now, but at the same time she was going to miss this, losses or not.
She knew when she got into the cockpit of the X-wing that this might be her last time in there. She wasn't about to get sentimental, but still, she recognized her own personal investment in this. She heard her astromech beep something from behind her as she began startup, and turned her head vaguely towards him. "Hey, Sparky. Ready for one more?"
Sparky beeped what she assumed was an affirmative, and Jaina continued procedures. It wasn't that she was nervous as much as she hoped this wouldn't be the last time she did this.
[NFB for distance.]