Notes: So I noticed I hadn't updated this since November 2012, and its February 2013. Needless to say, I thought it was time for another chapter. So, here it is folks!
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Kol walked into the forward compartment, face freshly washed with a towel hanging about his neck. He went to the small refrigeration unit and got out a juice bottle, cracking the seal on the cap. He watched Morrigan out of the corner of his eye. She was sitting in the co-pilots seat, looking over a datapad.
He approached her carefully and leaned against the doorjamb. "Good reading?" He asked conversationally.
Morrigan looked up briefly at him then back down at the data pad. "I suppose that depends on what your definition of good reading is." She said.
"You tell me what you're reading then I'll give you my opinion." He took a long sip from the bottle.
She looked at him again and cracked a wan smile.
"Thermonuclear fusion."
Kol raised his brow.
She saw this. "Is it really that surprising I'd be interested in a topic like that? What do you think I'm some centric Imperial whose only fascination is with the military and all things related?"
"No, it's not that…"
Morrigan gave him a hard look.
He caved. "You just never exposed yourself, so it's not that implausible that I'd be surprised."
Her lips thinned thoughtfully. "I suppose you're right." She conceded, "And to answer your question…the article is mediocre at best. A lot of pomp and circumstance from over-inflated scientist, though headway is being made in this field. Though, the research is not entirely complete, frankly I don't even think they know the purpose of their research."
The Jedi Master watched her, completely fascinated by the tone in her voice. Morrigan Corde was no idiot; she was an exceptionally talented woman with a brain that could make most of her male counterparts be reduced to blithering idiots. That's why he found it hard to believe that she was an intelligence agent when she obviously should have been something more.
"What is it?"
Kol was jerked out of his reverie. "Hm?"
"You're staring at me." She was frowning slightly. "Why?"
"Sorry," He murmured. "I didn't mean to stare. I…space out for a moment."
Morrigan appeared to be amused by this.
"You, the great Jedi Master, Kol Skywalker with your head in the clouds?" There was a slight mocking tone, but it wasn't malicious.
"Even Jedi Masters can get lost in their thoughts at times."
She gave a tight lipped smile this time, assessing him. "Indeed." She got up. "Just don't 'get lost' at the wrong moment, hmmm." They locked gazes. "I'm trusting you to watch my back, Kol, and you know that's something I don't do lightly." She tapped his shoulder gently with the datapad. "Don't prove me wrong."
"I won't." He promised.
"Good." She brushed past him. "If you're interested in a good intellectual read, I'd recommend the article on the particle accelerator. It's less over-saturated with self-importance."
"I'll take that into consideration."
He watched her leave.
"I meant what I said." Morrigan said, not turning to face him. "I'm going to remain civil; but I don't want you to mistake that for anything over than it is, Master Skywalker."
He watched her head for her cabin. He should have felt distressed that she'd referred back to him as Master again. It was just her way though. She was doing it out of reflex as much as she was trying to remind him of the bottom line; maintaining control of her situation but holding up her end of compromise.
It was that one act like so many others that had drawn him to Morrigan, fascinated him.
She didn't intentionally demean him; she'd in fact called him Kol several times since their compromise. In the end though, she still maintained her singular purpose and she wasn't about to fact like there was something more other than this mission—at least that's how she saw it. Kol let her have that for the time being; pushing the subject hadn't helped in the long run.
Morrigan was still pushing him away and if he was honest with himself it still hurt.
She wasn't behaving as hostile as she had though and he sensed no duplicity in her. It should have been the opposite since she said she would act civil for the mission. That statement alone would have sounded to any ordinary man like 'I'll put up with you if I have to', but Kol heard something else. He believed Morrigan was truly being genuine.
He'd take that as his reassurance, despite the strain she was putting him through.
All was not as dark as it seemed.
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"On approach to Ord Mantell," Morrigan announced, getting their transport ready to revert to real space.
"Great. Now, what's the plan?" Kol said, settling in the co-pilot's chair.
"I get in touch with my contact," She answered. "Then once I get the information we desire, we will proceed from there. I've given explicit instructions of where we're to meet. I don't trust transceivers at this moment, not around here and not with such vital information. It's too unsecure."
He nodded.
"Smart choice."
"Thank you." There was a slight smirk to her voice.
A private joke as if he'd said something amusing.
"Let's hope they have the information we need." She pulled back on the lever, coming out over the planet. "It'd be a big waste-"
Her speech was cut short as her comm-receiver light started flashing signifying the incoming call. Morrigan reached over and flipped the switch.
A rusty voice came over the speaker, "Ord Mantell Control, identify yourself transport."
"Transponder Delta."
Control clicked off, leaving them to themselves for the moment.
"So, I wonder how legit that transponder is." Kol murmured.
The freighter they were flying had been procured for them by Saccorian government after their initial landing.
"The Saccorians are your people; if their transponder is fake then we might have a problem."
He looked to her raising a brow at the "your people".
"Not necessarily..."
The comm light blinked once more.
Morrigan made a silencing motion and flipped the switch once more.
"Freighter Delta…you have clearance to land."
She leaned in. "Thanks, Control." The Imperial said shortly then switched off the comm and turned to him. "Well, I guess it's not…or if it is, it's a very good one I'll give them that."
"That really doesn't matter in the long run. Our job is to get down to Ord Mantell undetected and not cause any trouble that might alert people to us." Kol eyed her as he spoke. "This is Ord Mantell, even if it was fake I doubt they'd bat an eye."
"They could also be hiding something."
"Which we don't know for sure; I suggest we reserve judgment until we have further evidence."
Morrigan set her lips as she directed the ship through the planetary atmosphere. "I still don't like it."
"This was the agreement our governments made. We'd need a nondescript shuttle that couldn't be linked to the Alliance or the Empire."
"Yet, we traveled to Saccoria in your GA shuttle."
Kol's cheek twitched. "As you pointed out, the Sacorrians are "our people", this is really a matter of the Galactic Alliance; the Empire was involved out of courtesy for your borders."
"Ah, so the truth comes out." Morrigan snorted. "….I was wondering when you were going to reveal how you really feel."
He let out an exasperated breath. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Morrigan."
"Don't you?" She challenged, her green eyes piercing him. "See, I'd like to think I know you better than that. After all that posturing and pleasantry, you were really holding back how you really felt."
Kol's jaw tightened. "How exactly do I feel, Agent Corde?"
"What, you need me to spell it out?" She scoffed. "I thought Jedi were smarter than that, I guess my Emperor was wrong."
"Isn't that considered blasphemy?" He replied snarkily.
She shot him a deadly glance. "This is what I'm talking about. You appear to be good and humble Jedi, but you really are a vindictive man who looks down his nose at those not having affiliation with him. You are so…"
"I'm so what?" Kol's temper was rising. When she didn't respond, he made a sound of disgust. "I see, so that's how it's going to be." There was a hint of sadness to his voice. He sighed. "Let's just focus on the mission."
"That's what we're here for."
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Their freighter docked at the city's main spaceport. Morrigan powered down the transport and had Kol run through the checklist. Once they were done the two gathered their things and proceeded toward the hatch.
"Now, remember let me do all the talking. It's best that I handle this."
Kol fought the urge to sigh. "Really? And you think I'm inept at this sort of thing?"
"Not inept. I'm just better qualified." She corrected. "That's why I'm here."
He countered, "And I'm the diplomatic one; that's why I'm here."
They stared eachother down, neither flinching.
"Very well," Morrigan acquiesced. "So we stick to our strengths and try to use them to our governments' mutual benefit. This will work better if we work together after all."
"Agreed." Kol hit the button. "Shall we?"
The ramp began to lower.
Morrigan regarded him for a bit then nodded. The ramp touched the ground, exposing them to Ord Mantell's atmosphere. As Kol stepped forward ready to poke his head out, Morrigan spotted something out of the corner of her eye. She grabbed hold of Kol's arm and turned him slightly toward her.
"Wait." She demanded.
Kol frowned. "What's wrong?" He asked, clearly confused.
She pointed to the lightsaber hanging from his belt. "Surely you don't expect to bring that along."
"I'm not leaving it. I am a Jedi." He stated staunchly.
"Kol, be reasonable." Morrigan hissed. "No one is going to talk to us if they see that hanging from your waist."
He chewed his lip seeming to take this into consideration.
"All right," He unhooked it. "But I'm not leaving it here, instead I offer a compromise."
"What sort?"
"I don't carry it openly on me, but I'll carry it in my satchel." He looked at her. "Is that acceptable?"
She pursed her lips and nodded. "That's fine."
He then opened the pouch laying at his hip and slipped the lightsaber inside, tucking it beneath his other belongings. He closed the flap and gestured to his companion.
"Shall we?"
"Mmm."
They excited the freighter, triggering the hatch behind them. Making their way from the ship, they exited the docking bay.
Kol frowned. "So when is our transportation getting here exactly?"
Morrigan checked the streets then checked her chrono. "Should've been here by now."
"Is that usual?"
"No," She replied. "My contact is always punctual."
"Absolutes are a dangerous thing to deal in. Nothing is easily so black and white, Morrigan."
"Yet the Jedi deal in absolutes all the time. The Jedi are good…everything that opposes them are evil. Is that not so?"
Several beings shuffled passed them. Kol remained silent for a moment, silently diverting their attentions.
"I think we should stop now; we haven't garnered attention yet, but if your intention was conceal what I am, we won't be able to keep it from people."
Morrigan looked to where the beings had gone suspiciously.
"What?"
"Nothing." She spied a speeder heading toward them. "That's our transportation."
Kol eyed it as it came near. He paid particular attention to the driver behind the speeder's yoke. He was a raven-haired man, unsettling young; in his early twenties—maybe late teens—if Kol read his age right. He wore dirty brown cap pulled low over his eyes and his clothes were made of a neutral colors, mainly blacks and tans.
He pulled the speeder up beside them and turned his face up.
Morrigan stepped up, assessing their driver first. "Cal?" There was astoundment in her voice.
He gave her a charming smile. "Miz Morrigan, it's good to see you again."
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