Miriah stood and started forward, forgetting her leg until she fell. Lana helped her stand and sit in the nearby chair, the pain shooting through her already sore body. She fought it, but the tears leaked anyway. She heard people running to her and tried to not be sick in front of everyone. "Mir!" Corso said, his voice gentle but concerned. She reached out for his hand and he took hers, kneeling beside her. "Let's get her to the medcenter," he said.
"No! There's no time!" she said, gasping out the words. "We have to get our forces mobilized. Lana, tell them!" She felt Corso's arms around her as he picked her up, being careful to not put any pressure on her leg or hip. When he had her settled, he turned to Lana.
"What is she saying? Fill me in on the way," he said, already moving to the elevator. In her ear he whispered, "I know you're miserable, but hang in there, love." She nodded her head silently, she knew if she tried to speak, she'd only cry. When they reached the medcenter, Calleigh was instantly by her aunt's side.
"Aunt Mir, I'm giving you something for pain," she said, and before Miriah could protest, she felt the warmth coursing through her. After a minute or two, when the pain began to feel more like a dull throb, she was able to open her eyes.
"Lana is sending out the alerts now," Corso replied to her pleading gaze. "Mags is on her way." Miriah felt her eyes close and she sighed, squeezing his hand.
Aric and Maura were finishing a late breakfast when the alert klaxon sounded throughout the base. Aric looked at Maura, who shrugged and stood, and together they jogged to the elevators that would take them in to the war room. Once there, Lana stood at the main holo viewer. "Vaylin and Scorpio are invading Voss. Our sources tell us that the Gemini Fleet is en route there right now. We are preparing to launch fighters to verify, and have the rest of the ships ready to go." She dismissed the others with a nod, but Aric and Maura she held back. "When I saw Miriah and told her, she stood without any help and fell. She's in the medcenter now." Lana looked as guilty as she felt, shuffling her feet before the couple.
"Nothing you could have done, Lana," Aric told her. "We'll go check her out and see what else she wants done." Lana nodded and turned to the military hangar as they crossed to the elevators again.
Magdalane rushed into the center and saw the overhead monitor with the scan being done on Miriah's leg. She could see the additional hairline fracture from here and took a spot beside Corso. "What happened," she asked softly, and Corso filled her in, seeing Mags wince when he described how he found her. "I can fix it, she's been given something, so let me work." With a nod to Calleigh, she entered her healing trance, and Corso sighed, not knowing if he should stay or go get things ready for war.
Aric and Maura saw Corso as he hurried out of the medcenter. "Is she okay?" Maura asked anxiously, and then she saw the force light. "Never mind, Maggie's got it under control. Okay, what do we need to do next?"
"Get the ships geared up and ready. We'll all be taking ground troops with us when we launch. I need to find the kids, too," he said, and looked up at the elevator chime to see Devin and Mia.
"General alert has been sounded throughout the base," Aric said. "I'll go gather everyone and have them meet here, so you can stay with Mir." Corso choked up at his words, his grateful face saying more than he could have croaked out. "Maura, stay here and keep Corso going. I'll be back." They watched him stop for a moment to speak to Devin, then resume his jog.
Calypso was finished with the term at school and was walking in the Promenade when the alert sounded. She'd always thought she'd be scared and panic at the sound, but found that she was the calm one. She directed her friends home, and made her way to the elevators, only to be denied entrance. "What? I'm the Commander's daughter! I need to see my parents!" she demanded, and was growing angry when she saw her uncle exit. "Uncle Aric!" she called, and he altered his course, reaching her in a few long strides. "What's going on?"
"Caly, honey, we're going to have to go and fight somewhere. Your mom fell, she's in the medcenter," he watched her normally golden complexion pale at his words. "She's going to be fine, and I was sent to round everyone up. Maybe you can help me?" She nodded, and swallowed hard. "Find Logan and Elara and Colin. Coleen is back on Courscant. Ian and Felix, too. Aunt Mags is with your mom." Again, she nodded, and felt her resolve grow. There wasn't much she could do, she knew, but she could do this. He hugged her hard and released her quickly, and she ran for her small speeder, determined to be a part of things this time.
Mags let the force aura recede and saw that Miriah's eyes were still closed, her breathing even. She saw Corso standing on the other side of the half wall and motioned him over. "I've repaired her, tried to go and do more work on the other parts of her leg that still bother her, but she's going to have to be careful for a few days. I know the crutches are just too dangerous, so back to the cane, and I'm putting an external stabilizer on the knee for at least a week." She saw Corso open his eyes to protest, but she stopped him with a look. "I don't care how it plays out with this invasion, she has to do this." He closed his mouth and nodded, but in his heart he knew Miriah would be very unhappy with this turn of events. Even as he thought it, she started to move her head back and forth, and moan softly. Her eyes flew open, and she tried to sit up.
"We have to get moving," she said, and realized she wasn't able to raise herself, and her sister and husband weren't helping her.
"Lana has sent three fighter squadrons up to verify the troop movements. If they tell us it's a go, we're getting the ships and troops ready now." He moved to brush her hair away from her pale face and bent to kiss her forehead.
Magdalane related her instructions, then said she was going to make preparations. Calleigh walked over to place the external stabilizer and when it was done, helped her aunt to sit. "I have your cane," Corso said, and helped her slide off the exam bed. When she was upright, she slowly made her way to the elevator, expecting to see a frenzy of activity. Instead, she saw orderly lines at the armory, everything in it's place, and smiled. Thank you, Solasta Dinn, she thought. She didn't go to the office, and instead went to the apartment.
Theron found Lana at the main holo. "I'm going with the advance team," he told her, and she caught her breath.
"Why? I don't.."
"We need operatives on the ground to find out what's going on," he explained. "I'm needed, sweetheart." Lana gazed into his eyes for a long minute before his lips crashed down on hers. When they got their breath, she sighed.
"I know," she said. "I'll see you there. I have a feeling we're going to be in for a fight." They kissed again and Lana watched him as he made his way to the military hangar. He turned back once, and looked at her longingly, but forged ahead. She shook her head and made her way to the apartment to brief Miriah on where they were, but her thoughts were with Theron.
Calypso had found her brother and sister in law, and with them, made their way back to the main base. Colin was with his company, she knew. When they approached the elevators to the secured area, the same guard as before was there, but he began to apologize to her as she approached. "No worries," she grinned. "I know how tough Mom is, I'd not do anything to make her mad either." They made their way to the apartment quickly, anxious to be with Miriah.
Miriah was on the sofa, propped up with pillows, the brace on her leg holding it in a semi-flexed position. She wasn't in too much pain, yet, she thought, and knew the family would all be in here soon. Devin and Mia were in the kitchen, but Corso remained at her side. He was quiet, and she knew he was thinking over the current situation. Instead of pushing him to talk, she reached over and ran her fingers through the thick, silky hair over his temple, lingering to brush over the edge of his ear. He moved to stretch out beside her. "You're going to be the death of me, scaring me like that," he murmured against her ear.
"I know, I was so shocked at Lana's news, I didn't think," she replied. "I still don't know why they would invade Voss, it makes no sense to me."
"I'm guessing maybe the mystics there might have been contacted to provide the medical services that Senya was unable to obtain on Ord," he said, pulling her against him. "It's Vaylin, as much as we'd like it to make sense, it might not."
When Caly and the others breezed in, followed by Aric and Maura, then Mags and Felix, and finally Sarai, Miriah looked around her at her family and was happy. Caly sat next to her, trying to love on her without hurting her leg. Beside her, James played in Corso's lap, and the adults were bringing in food. So much food, she thought. When they were all gathered around the tables, she spoke. "We really don't know what we're getting into, how long we'll be gone, or what might happen," she said. "But know this. If we don't stop Vaylin, here, she will systematically destroy our old galaxy." She hesitated, but then looked around at them all. "I love you all, but I know we have to do this. That's for tomorrow. Tonight, we enjoy this family, and all it means to each of us." She sat, the brace making it awkward, but Corso held her chair steady until she was settled. They all served up plates of food, and settled in. Pain was shooting up her leg, and that combined with the pain medication she'd been given earlier, had Miriah picking at her favorites.
Corso watched her, and tried to urge her to eat, but he knew he was fighting a losing battle. By the time everyone had cleaned up and left, she was dozing on the sofa. He gently picked her up and put her in their bed, thinking she was out for the night. When he slipped in beside her, he felt her turn toward him. "Hold me," she whispered, and he gathered her in his arms. He could feel her worries, her pain, and her anxiety, but all he could do was love her, he figured.
Morning brought news of the enemy's fleet approaching Voss, and Miriah knew they were headed to war. They had loaded the Dreamweaver the night before, and now Corso picked up two small toiletry bags they'd packed as they'd dressed. "Wait here, darlin', and I'll make sure a speeder is waiting," he told her, slipping out of the door. She nodded absently, looking around what had been their home for almost a year. When she heard Corso return, she turned to leave, but stopped at the door. It feels like this is the last time I'll be here, she thought, but she closed the door with a quiet click, moving to the military hangar.