Talon gave the password Leia provided him with at the Orowood Apartments the night of their secret meeting, to access her secure residence near the palace. With Han's blessing and encouragement, they found a smaller apartment near the top of a high rise that diplomats and senators lived in called Eastport Apartments. She dreaded having to return to the imperial palace when her leave of absence from duties as Chief of State ended.
Shada, C3PO and he hadn't taken a dozen steps before a Noghri Talon had never seen before stepped from the shadows with his knife in hand.
"Stop," was ordered in his guttural basic and they paused for him to sniff their hands. He turned his attention to the droid. "Welcome home."
"Why thank you, Adarakh," Threepio greeted. "Is Mistress Leia at home?"
"She awaits." The small gray being pushed the door open after speaking in his comlink with a soft mewing set of sounds, which was answered in kind. In the opening was a second Noghri and Shada recognized him as the one called Gharakh, who she laid out on the roof of the Orowood.
She held her hand out. "I want to apologize for what I did to you."
He took her hand and sniffed it carefully. "It is not often another bests me. I would be most honored to spar with you sometime."
"You'll find I'm no match for a trained Noghri."
"True, most humans are no match for us, but you are no average human, especially for the females of your species," Gharakh countered.
"In that case, time permitting, I would love to go a few rounds with a Noghri." She accepted. He led them to a commodious living area bustling with people. She exchanged an amused look with Karrde before entering, conscious of his burning hand on her lower back as she preceded him. Once again a flash of irritation pierced her mind that a simple innocuous touch could make her wish to stop and reverse into his palm.
Han, near the door, spoke up, "Look at whose back from the unknown regions in time to join the party." He motioned them inside his home with the hand that had a liberal amount of drink in it.
Talon and Shada looked around at the people and then Talon opened his arms wide as Mara rushed into them.
Shada felt a sharp knife stab her in the heart and realized her fears of him having someone were well founded; he was committed to someone already. She pasted a smile she used with Mazzic when she had to parade as his dumb bimbo, and waited for Karrde to introduce her. Before he could, Leia Solo rushed in from the kitchen, spotted them, and made them her target, swerving around a group of men who were drinking, laughing and telling stories.
"Talon, I'm relieved to see you in one piece." She pushed in and gave him a quick hug while the red haired woman took a step back. "You got my message I take it?"
Talon smiled and returned her hug. "I'll respond more quickly to your summonses if I get hugs from the beautiful women here."
Leia turned to Shada with a smile. "I'm glad you came with him and it better not be as a body guard. I want to make it up for brushing you off on him."
"No apology necessary." Secretly Shada was happy the woman made the offer. "It worked out for the best."
Leia raised an eyebrow at Karrde.
"Shada is joining me." He used that word again, 'ME'. Now she knew he didn't mean anything by his loose use of the word. "I assumed by the message, we got as soon as we dropped out of hyperspace, that you wanted to meet and learn about our trip and bring your droid back to you, although I was mystified as to the invitation to your home instead of office until I see you are having a gathering. I figured we would have a quick meeting and take my newest crewmember to my club."
"I love a gathering of friends, to come and relax and I count both of you as such." She patted his arm. "I'm glad Threepio is here, I could use him in the kitchen." Leia turned to the droid who was talking to R2D2. They waited for the droids to finish their greetings.
"…I don't think your adventure beats mine," Threepio was heard to say. A bleep came from the short droid. "You and your delusions. I'll have you know, I went to a planet called…" he broke off when Leia called his name. "Yes, your Highness?"
"I need you in the kitchen. I have the dinner menu on the datapad. Would you finish getting food ready for our guests." While Threepio shuffled off with R2D2 rolling behind, she turned back to Talon and Shada. "You both are staying and that's not a question. We are celebrating." She waved her hand around the room. "As soon as General Bel Iblis and Lando arrive, everyone I invited will be here. We have much to be happy for, what with peace now. The bar is open so help yourselves." She looked around and yelled, "Han, come here." She waited for him to extract himself from Wedge and Tycho.
Talon remembered his manners as Mara was still standing beside him, obviously waiting to find who the woman with him was. "Shada, have you ever met Mara Jade?"
Shada felt her cheeks flush and hoped it wasn't too obvious, but from the way Karrde looked closely at her, she knew he saw, so focused on the other woman. "No, our paths haven't crossed that I'm aware of." She had a giddy relief that the beautiful redhead was his second and not a lover. Then she had a thought, maybe they were lovers and her mood dampened.
Talon wrapped his arm over her shoulders in a gesture she found welcoming in a way that was opposite the reaction Mazzic brought out in her. "This is our newest associate, Shada D'ukal."
"D'ukal!" Mara said out loud, trying to place the name. Recognition was seen in her green eyes and she threw a shocked look to Talon. "You stole her from Mazzic?"
"I quit, sort of." Shada spoke for herself.
Mara smiled and held her hand out. "This is perfect, especially with my news."
"What news?" Talon questioned.
"You'll have to wait, along with everyone else." Mara stepped back as Han made her side.
With a grin, he held his free hand out to Karrde. "Karrde, did you achieve what you went for?"
Shaking his hand, Talon replied, "Yes and no. We didn't find a copy of the Caamas Document, but Shada is part of my organization now."
Han grinned and winked at her. Any comment he might have made was interrupted when Bel Iblis entered with a woman on each arm. He was escorting Sena and Irenez, his two formidable human associates.
"Now that's an entrance," Han joked as they angled to where he was standing. The General introduced his assistants to Talon and Shada. He turned to Shada. "I was given a report that you quit working for Mazzic. I'm sorry I didn't get to see you on the Errant Venture a few days ago, but remember you traveling with Mazzic."
"General," she greeted with a smile of her own. She met him several times with his dubious dealings with Mazzic.
"So, you are with this smuggler now?" He pointed to Talon. "He told Pellaeon and I he was going to recruit you. Did you fall for his glib line?"
"Ex-smuggler," Talon cut in, "and yes, she was foolish to fall for my line." He grinned and winked at her. "The General has driven me to drink, what can I get you?"
"I'll serve myself." She skirted the furniture on the way to the bar on the sideboard at the edge of the large room with several sofa sections arranged in a circle, after the custom of Alderaanian homes. There was another section in front of a large window overseeing the vast view of the Coruscant night. She was surprised night had fallen. The original plan was to drop the droid and go to a nice restaurant where he would answer her many questions. She'd spent the trip from Yaga Minor reading his files and needed holes to be filled in, but with his promise of a new direction for his organization, she was willing to gamble on him. She noticed as she looked around the room only a few faces had names attached to them, like Admiral Ackbar, whom she knew from holovids, and a few others. Talon had gotten sidetracked by Mara so she was on her own.
She looked at the large selection of bottles as a man moved to her side. "I'm Wes Janson," he introduced himself. She looked at a handsome dark haired man with a twinkle in his brown eyes, sporting dimples in each cheek.
"Shada D'ukal." She introduced herself.
"I saw you come in with Talon Karrde. Please tell me you're not his mistress?"
"Why should you care?" She poured a pricey scotch from Corellia in a tumbler.
"Because I fell in love with you the moment my eyes beheld your beauty." He reached over and took her free hand.
'Oh brother,' she thought and took a large swallow. "Did I mention I kill people for a living?"
To her relief his hand dropped away swiftly. "No, but with therapy, you could leave the killing to me. I'm with Rogue Squadron."
"How about a simple, not interested, then."
"Works for me, but you just cost me some credits. See that man over there." He pointed to what was probably another pilot, she surmised. "His name is Hobbie and he dared me to ask you out."
"Do you often take him up on his dares?"
He turned sad eyes to her and nodded. "Can't think of one I've refused."
"I think you need the therapy then." She moved off, back in the general direction of Karrde.
Mara was telling Karrde about losing the Jade's Fire and how upset she was. His eyes stayed on Shada while he commiserated with Mara, and he hoped she didn't kill the Rogue pilot coming on to her. He watched her walk away and almost laughed aloud at the expression of the pilot he identified from memory as Wes Janson. It wouldn't have been an appropriate time as Mara was wiping a tear away. He put an arm around her shoulders for a hug and watched as a white haired woman approached Shada. "That's Winter, isn't it?"
Mara looked to where he pointed. "She is. How is Shada working out so far?"
He looked questioningly at his second. "She has been my official employee for all of an hour, but the few weeks in her company told me she can rival you, in fighting that is, and she's a Mistryl. Did you know that?"
Mara's eyes widened and she shook her head. "That would explain why Mazzic kept her so close."
"I got to see her in action about ten years ago and again on this trip, and she's impressive for someone not a Jedi. She even took a Noghri out."
"Really?" Mara grew more impressed.
Lando and Tendra were last to arrive. He made straight for Talon and slapped his back. "Glad you made it back. Did you see Car'das?"
Talon let his eyes flicker over Lando and smiled as he took Tendra's hand and kissed the back of it. "Tendra, my dear, so good to see you again. Lando needs to bring you out more often." He hadn't seen her since her wedding to Lando.
"Hey, get your paws off my wife." Lando took his wife's hand.
"At least Talon is a gentleman, unlike some I could name here." Her tone dropped several degrees as she pulled her hand away from Lando's and she headed towards the bar. Both men watched her bare back covered only with a thick swath of honey gold hair.
Talon smirked. "Honeymoon over? What, it's only been a couple years."
"It's not my fault." Lando threw his arms out. "Han here," he glared at his friend who was openly laughing, "talked me into going to Bastion before the battle at Yega Minor. I kind of forgot to tell Tendra where I was going and just disappeared for several days."
"Leia needs me." Han made the excuse and hurried off.
Talon stroked his goatee. "You know I heard about an art show and auction on Celanon." Talon watched Lando ponder the information.
"Tendra does like fine art," he finally admitted, but needn't have, for Talon was very well aware of Tendra's eclectic tastes ranging from clothes to expensive art.
Winter approached Shada. "I am Winter, aid to Princess Leia and wife of Tycho Celchu. He's a Rogue. Leia asked me to make sure you've met everyone."
"I seem to have met at least one Rogue already." Shada sipped her drink.
"Always on the make, Jansen. He's harmless unless he's in his X-wing; then he's lethal." Winter took her from group to group and made introductions. She ended back with Talon, who was now nursing his own drink and talking to a shorter, blond man with bright blue eyes. Talon smiled and asked, "What can I refill for you?"
"I'm sticking with Corellian scotch." She held her glass out, her gaze drifting to the man openly looking at her.
Talon set the carafe with the contents etched into the glass back. "Shada, meet Luke Skywalker."
Luke held his hand out. "I have a hunch we'll be seeing much of each other."
She released from his short, firm grip. "And why's that?"
Luke looked around. "Well, everyone's here so if you'll excuse me, I have an announcement to make." He left them standing together.
"Did he just avoid answering me?" She looked up to Talon. She still didn't know if he had a wife or was dating Mara Jade.
Talon looked down at her. "How are you doing? Mingling that is?"
"I've met everyone now. So this is the core of the resistance." She never expected to be in such illustrious company. Even Mon Mothma was present. Karrde had depths to him that Mazzic couldn't imagine. She was happy fate threw her in with Karrde.
Han was on his personal comlink. He got off and turned to Luke. "Luke, hold off. I just invited Booster. He just made orbit and is on his way."
Mirax spoke up from her place beside Corran on a sectional. "Dad looking for me?"
"That, and he wants to pound the kriff out of Bel Iblis for some reason."
The General laughed. "I told him he was losing the weapons we put on his ship."
"Do you have to do that?" Han responded.
Bel Iblis stroked his moustache, thinking. "I'll talk to him, but I did agree to paint his garbage scow some awful red. Where in Corellia's nine hells am I going to find that much paint?"
"General," Talon spoke quietly and when he had the General's attention motioned him to join him. They moved to the side of the room away from the revelry that started up again. "If you promise to never mention my name, I can sell you the paint. Terrik can never learn where it came from or he'll refuse you, on his honor as a smuggler."
"I heard that." Mirax joined them. "General, that's a great idea. Dad can get his ship painted and Talon can secretly laugh whenever Booster tells him he did something without his help for once."
"If I can appease your father that easy... Talon, you have a deal." The two men shook on a bargain. Soon the large frame of Booster Terrik filled the doorway and Mirax rushed to give him a hug.
"And where's my grandson?" Was the first thing Booster asked her.
"He's with the other children in a childcare area in this building, so the adults can party."
"Who's watching them?" Booster didn't trust his grandson in the company of strangers.
"I have two Jedi from Yavin 4 who volunteered to come and help out," Luke called from across the room. "I'll give you their names and you can have them checked out."
Booster relaxed at that and joined Talon by the bar with a dismissive wave to Luke. He grinned at Shada. "Well girl, I'm not sure Talon is a step up from Mazzic or not. Needless, I was surprised to learn you'd gone, unescorted, on a trip with this scoundrel."
"You love me like a son," Talon complained.
"The son I keep meaning to kill." Booster rose to their longstanding joke, his red artificial eye glowing brighter as he laughed. Booster turned back to her. "I hope you're the one. Goodness knows I've thrown enough women at him and none has stuck."
Talon made an exaggerated sigh. "Booster, you've got to stop matchmaking. You know I don't fraternize, AT ALL," he emphasized the last words, "with my hired help."
Booster turned his full stare to her. "You mean you left Mazzic for this?"
Shada learned what she wanted and felt a weight lift off her heart. "Talon, you don't have a wife?" She sounded shocked and joined their game.
"Nor any bastards floating around that look like me," he responded to her, but glared at a smiling Booster.
"And what about those who don't?" She pushed.
"I can assure you there are none. It's bad for business to have baggage of that nature, just ask any of Chordak's twenty offspring that are in every port."
"Since we can't tell one Rodian from the other, I think his prowess was exaggerated." Shada had run into plenty of Chordak's children and killed more than one.
"What about you, Shada?" Booster was curious. "Do you have anyone or miscellaneous offspring on Emberlene you are providing for?"
She felt herself turning red again and cursed her lack of control and chalked it up to the alcohol and kept her gaze totally on Booster. "Mistryl's who get pregnant are banned from the Shadow Guard, so no. We're prohibited from having husbands or children." She tried to keep her tone neutral, but missing out on children or a man of her own was a gaping hole her isolation ripped larger.
"I'm sorry," Booster murmured.
Talon put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "You're no longer part of that organization. Now you can marry and have children."
"I'm sorry, Talon. This is still so new for me." She smiled and made a daring move and covered his hand.
Booster watched them with a small smile.
Mirax had been quietly listening and also looked closely at Talon. She had never seen that look on his face before.
Corran joined them, nodded to Booster, and slipped his arm around Mirax's waist.
Luke let out an earsplitting whistle and waited for the complaints to die down. "I want to thank my sister for having this party for me." He looked around and smiled. "What? You thought it was for our peace declaration?" He laughed. Mara joined him and Talon let out a small frown.
"Just get to the important part, Farmboy." She elbowed him.
"Oh yes, the important part." He grinned at Mara and looked back to the gathering of his friends. "We found the Caamas Document."
There was a widespread gasp.
Admiral Ackbar responded immediately. "You're just now announcing it?"
"Everyone was having such a good time I hated to spoil the mood, but yes, we have it and it does disclose the Bothan names of the guilty." He noticed the room grew quiet as the news sank in.
Leia spoke up from Luke's other side. "Tomorrow, I'm turning the document over to President Gavrisom." She looked across the room at Talon. "Talon, with your permission, I'd like to promote your meeting with him and General Bel Iblis as top priority."
Talon nodded his appreciation. "Thank you. It will save me the trouble of going through channels to see him."
"I'd have gotten you in, but Leia can do it faster," Bel Iblis spoke from his place on a sectional where he was talking to Mon Mothma.
"That by the way was not what Luke was going to announce. My brother is a coward at heart." Leia looked to Luke. "Now for the real announcement."
Luke grinned and wrapped his arm around Mara. "I asked Mara to marry me and she said yes."
Anything else he might have said was cut off as a mad rush was made to the couple and they were enveloped in handshakes and hugs. Leah and Han stood to the side and enjoyed the moment. They got the news that morning.
Shada looked up at Talon, gauging his reaction. To her surprise, he didn't join the group. "Aren't you happy for them?"
He looked down at her with a mysterious smile. "I have to check my records, but I believe I owe ten thousand credits to Solo and another twenty to Calrissian, and then there's Aves and Chin."
"What was the bet?" She was curious.
"That Mara and Luke would get together in three months. I'd been throwing them together every chance I got, but he moves so slow."
"Maybe Mara made the first move," she guessed.
"I think that's something we'll never know." He pulled his pocket holopad from a vest pocket and started transferring funds.
Han wandered over with a huge grin. "Anytime I can take you, Karrde, it's a great day for me."
"Me too." Lando was beaming. "Tendra and I are taking a second honeymoon on Celanon. You know, Karrde, if you'd join us married smugglers, you could stop being the bridesmaid and be the bride."
Talon ground his teeth together. "You know where you can put it, Calrissian." That didn't stop his friends from laughing and Booster had joined him in time to overhear Lando's remark. His booming laughter earned him a glare.
"Everyone, Threepio just informed me dinner is served. It's buffet style, so line up and help yourselves," Leah hollered above the din.
Talon finally got his chance to congratulate the couple as they all got in line. He gave Mara a tight hug and whispered in her ear that he was happy for her. Shada smiled at the happy couple and wondered if someday she might dare dream she could be standing by some man like this.
"You know this means I'll be leaving you," Mara told Talon.
"I thought Luke would be joining my organization. Just imagine how far I could go with another Jedi smuggler." His grin defied his statement.
Luke shook his head. "What's the odds that Shada here will be Mara's replacement?" he asked Talon.
"Pretty good, I'd say." Talon looked at Shada. "I was giving you a special position, but now I need a second."
"What about Aves?" She didn't want to cut his top people out of a promotion and pay the price with backstabbing and alienation from those she now considered friends.
"Aves is in his niche. He knows his limitations. He can fill in for short periods, but if something were to happen to me, he couldn't hold my empire together; you could."
"You have a lot of faith in me."
"In the two weeks we've been together, I've gotten a good read on you. You're intelligent and motivated to learn. Car'das was impressed with you and he's never that way, ever. A good word from him is the highest reference you'll ever get for a job."
"I wouldn't mind returning to Exocron someday and visiting him again." Shada was thrilled at Karrde's words.
"I'm sure we will."