Miriah slowly moved away from Corso's sleeping form and sat up on the edge of the bed, one hand pushing against her sternum, a grimace of pain on her face. Not the first time stress has made me sick, she thought. Probably not the last, either. She eased the drawer of her nightstand open, hoping it wouldn't squeak, her fingers frantically searching for the container of little fruit flavored discs that gave her a short break from the burning. No luck, she sighed, but she did spot a small tin of crackers and reached for it. Tucking the container under her nightshirt to cover any noise, she took the lid off and put one of the small wafers in her mouth. She almost choked when Corso said her name, and had to swallow quickly to answer.
"I'm here, sugar," she said, brushing crumbs off her lap.
"Your stomach bad again?" he mumbled, still half asleep but checking on her.
"Just a little. I found some crackers, I'll be fine." She hoped he'd accept that and fall back to sleep, but he sat up instead.
"I'm telling Mags, first thing," he told her, his voice calm.
Miriah sighed. She knew what the issue was, and it wasn't likely to go away anytime soon. The constant stress she lived with had caused her stomach issues before, but it had gotten worse since their dinner on Zakuul, which seemed like a year ago now even though it had only been three weeks. She thought of it as "before things fell apart", and "after the betrayals". "I'll go see her," Miriah whispered, and lifted another small cracker to her lips.
Corso waited until she lay down again, and moved to her side, gently stroking her back. "Unless you need to see her tonight?" he asked softly, and Miriah shook her head.
"This is cutting the burning pain," she told him, and heard his muttered expletive. She'd waited too long, she knew, and now she'd just have to endure the next few hours. She felt Corso's arms encircle her and his kiss on the back of her neck. Just for a moment, everything felt normal, and she snuggled into the warmth of his arms and tried to sleep.
Sarai and Magdalane both woke with Miriah's discomfort, and Mags had gotten up to dress when she felt the pain subside through their force link, and instead, she climbed back into bed with Felix. We'll have to do something, she thought, but let her sister sleep. Mags had felt this coming for a few days now, but Miriah was relentless in her preparation for the conference. The attendees would arrive tomorrow, and they would make decisions that would affect the whole Alliance, she knew. Miriah was driving herself hard, trying to cover all contingencies that might come up. Mags shook her head, her sister was stubborn, alright, but she would have to have some treatment. She closed her eyes and tried to send some calming force across the space between them.
Aric stood on the balcony in his boxer shorts, breathing deeply, watching the dawn. He knew he would have his hands full today, getting all the off worlders vetted and lodged, but he looked forward to the challenge. He felt the gravity of this conference, and had to squash a momentary flash of fear when he thought of what might happen. All of the ships would be at the orbital station, just like before, and everyone brought down on Alliance shuttles. At least this conference will be without Acina and Malcolm, he grinned. So, already a better gathering. He heard Maura go to the shower, and drained his caf mug. I can at least start the day great, he told himself, struggling not to run into the refresher after her.
Corso stirred the oatmeal he'd made for breakfast, and wondered how long Miriah would have put off getting help if he hadn't pushed her last night. He'd already sent a message to Mags, who said she'd be here in a few minutes. He heard Miriah coming, so he dished up a small bowl, adding the peaches he had sliced, and handed it to her as she approached. "Pretty," she told him, lifting her face for a kiss.
"Mags is on the way," he said, and saw her wince. "Just two more days, darlin'. We'll be resting in the sun, with cold drinks and waterfalls."
Miriah managed to smile. "It sounds incredible right now." She took a bite of the oatmeal, letting the flavors burst on her tongue. "This is delicious," she admitted, having only come to like the dish as an adult. She happily ate all she had, Corso watching her as he ate his own breakfast. When she stood, he shook his head.
"No, darlin'. Mags is almost here now, no need to go to the medcenter and get all the gossips going," he said, and Miriah realized he had a point. She sat again and he put another bit of oatmeal in her bowl, pleased that she was getting some nutrition. Last night, she only picked at the food Caly had made at the cantina, so he knew she was hungry. He stood when the door chimed, meeting Magdalane and bringing her to the kitchen.
"Pain when you haven't eaten, that stops when you do," Mags said, her force aura flaring and staying bright, Miriah's hands in hers. After the light waned, the sisters gazes met. "You cannot keep doing this, Mir," Mags said softly. "You have no reserves, and this job, this life, is sucking you dry."
"I try to stay ahead, but there's always something," Miriah agreed, dropping her head. "What do I need to do now?"
"I healed the ulceration, but the area has had more than one in the same spot, so you need to eat something, not a lot but at least something, every couple of hours for the next few days. Avoid Corellian food and anything spicy. Lots of water, and I'm going to have some drinks sent to your office that you need three times a day, okay?" Miriah nodded, her eyes on her feet.
"I'll make sure," Corso vowed, and hugged his sister in law. Miriah stood and hugged her as well.
"Thanks, Maggie Mae," Miriah whispered, and smiled when Mags laughed. "I have to get going." They all walked out together, and when Mags left them to return to the medcenter, Corso took his wife's arm.
"Once you're settled, I'm going shopping," he declared, a twinkle in his eyes. He loved pampering her, and had already told himself that he could shop for their vacation as he picked up snacks and tidbits for her.
On the way to the courtyard, Corso saw his daughter, and pulled her along with him, her smile infectious. "C'mon, we're going shopping," he told her, and laughed at her frown.
"You hate shopping," she replied, but skipped along at his side, happy to be with her father.
"I'm going to love this," he said, and she believed him, his smile easy and genuine.
Aric saw Corso head out and approached Miriah's desk. "The first attendees will arrive in two hours and ten minutes," he told her. "Any special instructions?"
"I think we're good, Aric." She winced as a sharp pain sliced through her, but quickly recovered. Aric knew she wasn't well, and had seen Mags with her as they had crossed the war room.
"What do you need?" he asked, curbing his over protectiveness, his first impulse to hug her.
"I'm fine, just a little ulcer," she told him, and he winced in sympathy.
"Okay, if you need anything at all, a break, some food, let me know. I'll be at your side from beginning to end with this conference. I'm guessing that Corso is gathering things now?" She nodded, and he felt marginally better. "Good. We've got this."
Miriah nodded again and Aric strode out, giving her detail instructions. She saw Lana's blonde hair as she pushed through the detail, and when they were seated, Lana proceeded with the morning report. All was good, everything prepared and in place, only Theron as an inpatient in the medcenter's hospital wing, and Miriah felt positive for a moment. Then Lana mentioned Morgana. Miriah had forgotten that the woman was in their brig, and her face fell.
"I feel terrible that she's just been left there," she said to Lana. "She should have at least been advised of her crime and punishment."
"She's well aware that she committed treason, and that the penalty for treason is death," Lana said, a cold edge in her voice. "I would imagine she's grateful for the time."
Miriah rubbed her eyes. "I kind of feel that Arcann should have a voice in the decision," she finally said, and Lana nodded.
"I'll message him," she said, rising. "And I have some bantha milk in my office cooler, if you need some."
Miriah smiled and thanked her. "I expect Corso to come down the hall any moment, loaded down like a pack animal."
Lana laughed, and the sound of her being happy relaxed something in Miriah. "I think you're right about that."
Corso realized he was having fun. Calypso was picking out things her mom would like on their vacation, and he was adding things like protective glasses and lotions, and soft slippers. Together they had amassed quite a number of bags, so when Maura sauntered over to them, they enlisted her help. "What in the stars have you two done?" she asked with amusement. They all just laughed and plunged ahead into the war room.
"I've got the food, so I'll go to the office, you guys got the rest?" Corso asked, and Caly nodded. He zipped inside and grinned at Miriah's surprised face. He took out some sugar cookies and a drink, putting them near her elbow on the desk. "Eat, love. Just what you can," he told her, and dropped a kiss on her head before going to his own station, his heart light.
Maura found her mate at the main hangar bay, inspecting troops. He had just pinned on his colonel rank, and Maura saw how proudly he wore it. Miriah had been astounded that she had overlooked his rank for so long, and had made a show of promoting him. If she'd had it her way, he would be the Commander now, she joked to herself, but suddenly the thought struck her that maybe Miriah was tired of the constant burden of command. Aric saw her sudden frown and turned, releasing the company he was inspecting to parade rest. He took a step toward her. "Maura, hon, you okay?"
Maura's head jerked up. "I am. I will be. Just… had a thought that startled me, that's all." Aric studied his normally calm wife, but when she offered no more information, he shrugged.
"We're waiting on the first group, the shuttle is away from the orbital station now," he told her. Lana rushed up with her datapad, and together they waited in silence for the first diplomats.
Caly unpacked the contents of the multiple bags on her mom's bed. She's going to love this, she thought, holding up the bright purple sarong. It will be good for them to have some time away, even though I'll miss them. She and Torian had found a peace, of sorts, with their desire for each other, and now they seemed content with platonic touches and light kisses. Maybe, Caly considered, with Mom and Dad on another planet, and not in danger, we might explore things a little further. That thought caused her to pause in her activity, lost in her musings of what she thought it might be like to take their relationship to a physical level. She was so deep into her desires that she startled at the sound of voices, and realized her parents were back for lunch. She draped the sarong across the bed and flew out to greet them, pushing her daydreams aside.
Theron had made a few walks, but could tell his recovery was not on a pace he wanted. He remembered Magdalane's words, and tried to be patient, but when he was no closer to being able to walk more than fifty feet without a rest, he felt discouraged. He sat on the bench and watched the activity of the medcenter, children scampering about and tired parents following, the staff crisply uniformed and efficient. He saw Sarai walking in, and was surprised when she sat beside him.
"Theron, I feel your anxiety. You have to let it go, make peace with the rate of healing you are gaining every day. Only when your mind is at peace will you be able to truly heal," she told him, her voice low and soothing.
"I want to, Master Sarai. I just keep finding things to worry about," he told her, and she smiled and took his hand.
"Miriah does the same thing. You both try to take the whole galaxy on your shoulders, and then wonder why you can't do it." She rose, pulling him to his feet, and he was amazed that such a small woman could manage that. "Go, rest. Sleep gives your body chemicals it needs to restore itself. Another thing Miriah has trouble with." She walked with him back to his room, and he fell asleep almost as soon as he was in the bed. Sarai continued to sit with him, her force waves relaxing and restoring him.
Arcann picked up his datapad. He had not forgotten Morgana, his bed was decidedly colder these days, but neither could he make himself confront her. It was enough that she used our relationship to further the Order's business, he thought. And she had brought a kind of shame to their colony, a sliver of doubt to all that thought about them now. No, it was more beneficial to his people here that he just let bygones be bygones, and the Commander judge Morgana's fate. But even thinking those thoughts put a furrow of worry on Arcann's forehead. Why wouldn't I speak for us, he reasoned. I could take a poll here, he thought, getting excited about the idea. See what everyone who worked and ate and laughed with Morgana thought was best. He knew it would be just putting off the inevitable, that she would be put to death for her actions, but at least this way, the weight of it wouldn't just be on him. He sat down and sipped his hot tea, thinking of the words he would type to Lana.
