They started moving toward the waystation, but not as quickly as before. The enemies they'd faced had worn them down, and the heat of the day felt more oppressive than it had earlier. Corso had checked everyone's power crystals and thought they'd be ok today, but if they were still in the field tomorrow it might get problematic. Aric, as usual, brought up the rear of the group. Miriah was on point. I trust her, Aric thought. She's as quick as Maura, and their tactics were similar. He was moving without any problem from his leg injury, but he was embarrassed that he'd even gotten it. The thought of getting back to Maura and his babies kept him moving forward.
Magdalane was not holding up as well as the others in the prolonged combat. Her force use was as strong, but her body was growing weary. My diplomatic missions have lessened my endurance, she thought, and that I have to change. Felix knew she was tired, and carried her supplies as well as his own pack. He took her hand as they walked, as much for moral as physical support. She smiled gratefully at him, drawing strength from his touch.
Miriah and Corso moved as one person, so attuned to each other they appeared to share one mind. Corso kept one hand lightly on her hip, the slightest pressure would communicate direction or danger to her without any further movement or sound from him. He tapped her hipbone once just then, and she turned with a raise eyebrow. "Break," he said, nodding at a fading Magdalane. She nodded, then moved back a few feet, dropping her pack to the ground in a little clearing that provided tree cover and shade.
"By my calculation, we should reach the waystation about dusk, if we keep our current speed," Felix told them. There was noticeable relief in all their faces. "Let's rest here about 45 minutes, then move out." That would give Mags the time she needed to be refreshed for this last push, he thought. He watched her stretch out, using her pack as a pillow, and remove her tall helmet. Miriah walked over to her and sat beside her.
"You doing ok there, Maggie Mae?" Miriah teased. "If you ask nice, I'll share what's left of my chocolate bar."
"Oh please, dear sweet sister," Mags purred at her, "you would forever be my favorite." Miriah broke off half of what she had left, handing it to Mags. "Mmm that's better than," she glanced at Felix with a grin, "almost anything else I can think of." They all laughed, but Miriah could see that the sugar boost helped her sister. She was used to the rigors of being mobile most all the time, but she knew Mags was not.
Miriah slipped her jacket off, just for a little cooling. As usual, she wore a sleeveless white shirt underneath, so her arms wouldn't be restricted, and the breeze was refreshing. The muscles in her arms were well defined from training and when she stretched, her shirt came up. No fat at all on her, Mags thought, probably why she's tolerating the blood loss and all this without as much difficulty as most.
Aric noticed too. How could someone so slight practically drag him earlier? "I just can't figure out how someone your size can be so freakishly strong," he told her. "You pretty much carried me earlier, but I bet I double your body mass easily."
Miriah shrugged, "I don't know, I've just always been this way." Mags piped up, "It's because she's so damn stubborn. Her nickname when she was in school…"
"NO Mags, don't do it," Miriah groaned. It was bad enough when she was young, she didn't want her family reviving it. She was saved by the sound of a ship flying overhead, so close the downdraft rattled the tree limbs. She looked up to see Imperial markings, and tracked it visually to see its direction.
"It's not landing,"Corso said, "the gear was up and the engines weren't throttling at all. It's searching."
Miriah nodded in agreement, then picked up her jacket and pack, "Better stay in the tree line, and break's over." They started off again, somewhat refreshed. About an hour into this push, dusk started to fall. We should be close, she thought, and she felt Corso bump her hip bone again. When she turned, she was in his arms. He gently turned her back to the edge of the woods they'd been following, and pointed.
She could see the lights of the waystation a couple of miles in the distance. Following the woods had put them a little behind Felix's projection, but they could still get there without having to break for the night. She was planning their path when the air was filled with the sound of a ship, about to land in the small clearing just ahead of them. They all stared as the shuttle landed and the door opened, an Imperial officer walking down the ramp. He stopped at its edge, and called out.
"Captain Chantalle, we need to talk."
Miriah looked at the others, confused. Corso shook his head, and grabbed her arm.
"The irradiated bacteria was also tagged, so we've been able to track you and your party the entire time you've been here," he smirked. "If you come forward, the rest of your group will be allowed to continue to the waystation."
She sighed, she knew it was a lie but didn't know how they'd get around him. She took a step forward, but was blocked by both Felix and Corso, Aric behind her. "You go," Corso whispered, "we all go with you, Mags stays here to heal us."
"Heal us? You know just the guns on the ship would shred us, and I'm sure he's not alone," she said.
"But he IS alone," Felix said, "that's a shuttle, so if he had troops on board, Mags would feel their life force." He turned to his future wife, "Right, hon? He's alone, isn't he?"
Mags reached out with her force sight, "He might have droids on board, but no life forms," she told them.
They nodded, then the guys surrounded Miriah as she walked toward the ship. They'd just cleared the trees when a concussion grenade threw them to the ground. They lay there helpless, as the Imperial walked forward. He grabbed Miriah's jacket, and started dragging her to the shuttle, muttering about all the trouble this ragtag bunch had caused. He looked back to the trees, just as a blinding white light shot out and he was lifted off his feet. He let go of Miriah then, and she scrambled backward, drawing her weapons.
Magdalane stepped out of the woods then, her aura so bright Miriah couldn't look directly at her. Miriah took up a position to the side and slightly behind the suspended officer, who was uselessly flailing his legs in an effort to break the force lift. When the shotgun blast hit him, he dropped, begging for mercy.
"I was only doing my job," he whined, "trying to spare everyone that didn't have antibodies"
"SHUT UP," yelled Corso, the butt of his blaster connecting with the officer's jaw hard enough to knock him out. Corso stood over him, struggling with the desire to just kill the man who'd most likely given the order to the medic back on Tython, the man who wanted Miriah dead. Miriah put her hand on his arm.
"No, love, don't," she said in a soft voice, "he may be the only source of more info on the infections." He looked into her eyes, seeing the truth of her words but not wanting to leave anyone alive who might harm her. He finally broke her gaze, and moved to pull the officer to the landing gear of his shuttle, pulling out stun cuffs to secure him to the gear. They stripped him of his weapons, then searched the shuttle for any other useful items.
They made it to the station quickly, not stopping nor looking back. When they recounted that there was a prisoner secured to a shuttle in the nearby clearing, troops were sent out to retrieve him. It was fully dark then, and they were all on their last bit of energy. They were sitting in the briefing room when General Garza herself stode in.
"Well done, all of you, " she said. "The Jedi have been working nonstop and have produced a treatment for the infection, and the officer? He was the scientist who developed the monstrosity to begin with." Her voice softened, "go, get aboard my flagship. You'll have everything you need to be comfortable on the way to Coruscant."
Miriah spoke up," Thank you, General, but my ship is in orbit here. Corso and I will just take our shuttle back to her."
"Oh, quite right, I'd forgotten that. Well, if the others want to …" she was cut off by the looks of the group.
"With all due gratitude, General, my temporary assignment is to the Stardancer ," Aric said. The general nodded.
"In that case, the Republic is grateful for your work here. Please travel safely." She strode out, leaving the group.
"Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to be home," Miriah said, getting up and moving to the door. They all agreed, and followed her to the shuttle. In less than hour, they were coming through the airlock to the ship. They'd alerted Risha from the shuttle, and when they came through the door, it was to a celebration feast, with the crew cheering and hugging them. Bow lifted Miriah off her feet in a flurry of barks and chirps, while Risha actually hugged Corso. After greeting her crew, Miriah slipped off to the shower in her quarters, but rejoined the party.
They ate and laughed, enjoying the company, until Corso yawned and stretched, and pulled Miriah up to join him. They said goodnight, and went to their quarters, ready for rest. As Corso held her close, she heard him whisper, "Let's not take any jobs on Corellia for a while, ok?" She just smiled, nodding at him as she closed her eyes.