It was getting dark, and through slitted eyes she could see the fading sunlight filtering through the trees as she lay on her back. Her ears were still ringing, and she was having muscle spasms from the last huge blast of lightning that Valkorion had directed at her. The one that had knocked her out, and left her unable to move, her head throbbing in time with her heartbeat. Miriah closed her eyes and thought through the past hours.
She'd had nightmares all night long, and Corso had been there for her, holding her and trying to soothe her. She'd gone into her office late, and after a couple of hours of work, had been summoned to the war room. That's when things started to get screwy, she thought. I picked the team for the assault on the GEMINI frequency, and then stopped the mission, because I wanted to think it through one more time. Someone suggested I talk to Valkorion about it, not sure who now, and I walked out of the secure area. Next thing I know, I'm fighting the old man, and he's really trying to kill me, even though he says he's not. She sighed and closed her eyes again. Corso is going to be frantic, she thought.
Corso made his fourth round of the base, his steps coming faster and faster, until he reached the war room again. "Where is she," he asked Theron, but the former agent merely shrugged. Corso threw his hands up and pulled his datapad out for what felt like the millionth time. Nothing, he thought. Where did she go? He walked to each of the divisions in the stronghold, trying to tamp down his worry and not succeeding. When he saw Devin hurrying toward him, he stood still. "Do you know where your mother is?" he asked, trying to keep his face neutral.
Devin furrowed his brow. "No, Dad, I haven't seen her. Why, is there something wrong?"
Corso raked shaking hands through his already disheveled hair. "She was going for a walk to talk to Valkorion, about the upcoming mission. I thought maybe she got sidetracked somewhere, but as of right now, she's been out of pocket for almost four hours." He leaned up against the wall, his heart racing.
Devin saw his distress and tried his best to calm him. "Dad, I'm sure she's fine. I would have felt it if something had happened to her." He saw Corso lift hopeful eyes to his, at the same time reaching out to see if he could feel where his mother was. After a minute, Devin looked unsure, and Corso noticed.
"What do you feel, Dev?"
"Nothing," Devin replied. "Just...nothing. Like she's being shielded somewhere." Corso took a deep breath.
"He couldn't hurt her, could he? I mean, he told her that she was special, that he wanted to keep her alive," he started, and realized his hands felt cold and clammy.
"We'll figure it out," Devin said, and they started back toward the war room.
Miriah stood slowly, holding her head in her hands. For an old guy, he can hit, she thought as she looked around the area. It looked like Odessen, but not a place she'd ever seen here. There was a large backpack near her, and when she opened it, she saw medical supplies. I guess he felt guilty, she mused. She saw a path, and after slinging the pack gingerly on her back, started down it, hoping it would lead her to the base.
Corso and Devin walked out of the secure area and to Sarai's apartment. When the Jedi answered, she immediately knew something was wrong. "Who?" was all she asked, then realized it had to be her youngest. She immediately fell to her knees, and seconds later, rose, confusion on her face. "I can't feel her, at all. It's as if she's been erased in the force," she said, ending on a sob. "Oh, Corso!" He hugged the small woman, trying to comfort her even though he was upset as well. Devin stepped in as well, putting his arms around them both.
"We will find her," he vowed, and simply held on for a few seconds. "Let's not worry Caly just yet." They agreed, and when the men left, Sarai sat heavily.
Aric and Maura were sitting out by the lake, enjoying the sunny, cool day, when Corso and Devin reached them. When questioned, they both shook their heads. "I haven't seen her since yesterday," Maura said. "We've been out here for a couple of hours now, no speeders anywhere near."
Aric stood. "We'll find her, Cor. She can't be far. We'll call up everyone, do a grid search," he said, and helped Maura stand. They raced back to base, their worry growing as daylight waned.
Miriah walked for almost an hour by her estimate. She could see the day ending, and started to worry. There were wild animals and such, and she instinctively patted her blaster, gaining a small measure of comfort at it's familiar grip. She stopped and looked around her, and spotted a light up ahead. Warily, she made her way to it, and found a campground. There were what looked like Jedi artifacts, but some were unfamiliar in design, and when she picked them up, she felt a little zing. It looks like a force user camp, she thought, but I don't sense anyone here. She saw, further down the incline, a camp fire, and started towards it.
Everyone available at the base stood outside the secured entrance, listening to Aric. "We'll start here, fan out. Everyone an arm's length apart. Keep your eyes open for anything, even if it seems insignificant. Let's move, people!" They started walking slowly out from the elevator, their eyes down, their hearts hopeful. Everyone loved the Commander, and knew that Corso was in agony. Aric had made him stay at the base, in case she approached from behind them. Ian had searched her ship, and Magdalane and Felix were searching the cantina.
When it grew too dark to search, Corso sank onto the still warm rock floor, fighting to keep the worry in check. His body was tired, but his mind refused to settle, knowing she was out there, somewhere. Aric saw his friend and sat beside him. "She's not gone, not like before. She has to be here. Flight ops had nothing taking off from the planet," he said softly. "Has Valkorion ever caused a problem like this before?" Corso shook his head, from what he knew, Valkorion only talked, and mostly in roundabout riddles. Aric sighed and rubbed his ears. "Well, there's not a lot we can do right now. C'mon, buddy," he said, standing, holding his hand out for Corso. When they were standing, he led his friend to the mess hall. "I'd bet you haven't eaten today," he said, and got in line. He waved at his wife, who was sitting with the rest of the family.
"How can I when I don't know if she's really okay?" Corso said, his voice full of concern.
"She might need you soon, and you need to be fed and rested," Aric countered, grabbing two trays. Corso merely walked along while Aric piled both trays full. When they sat down, each of the sisters hugged Corso. They tried to take his mind off Miriah's absence, but they knew it was futile.
Miriah stopped as she reached the small clearing where the campfire was. There was a figure across from it, staring at her, and Miriah realized she knew this person. As the woman moved closer to the fire, she appeared to be talking to someone, but Miriah didn't see anyone else. "I was going to offer her stew, don't worry," she said, and then turned. Miriah caught her breath at the sight of Satele Shan.
"Grandmaster! Everyone has been wondering..."
Satele drew closer to the fire. "I am merely a force user, trying to find my way," she said. "Not the person you knew before. I know much about you, however." Miriah stood very still, afraid she was hallucinating. Satele continued. "Devin has grown very powerful, hasn't he? I'm very proud of the man he's become." Satele sat on the log at the edge of the fire, and motioned Miriah to join her.
"He is unique. He is able to use the dark force as easily as the light," she said, her voice hesitating, still not believing she was seeing the real Satele Shan.
"A lesson that we all must learn," she heard Satele murmur. "While you were in carbonite, I led the Republic forces against Zakuul. I failed, over and over again." She poked the fire and when it caught up again, she spooned a rich, thick stew into a chipped bowl and handed it to Miriah. "When everything...fell apart, we came here."
Miriah looked around, trying to see who else might be there. "This isn't a new camp, you've been here for awhile?" she asked.
"When Tython fell, I let the force lead me, gave my will to it. It led us here. We've been here for years, waiting." Satele walked around the fire. "We felt your awakening, and waited. We knew Valkorion was guiding you. When we found you in the clearing, we had a choice. We could lead you here, or end you there." The manner of fact statement caught Miriah off guard, and she stared at the woman.
"You've changed in ways even we don't understand," Satele continued. "For whatever reason, Valkorion has given you power. You were always force sensitive, Miriah. You just refused to learn it. And now, you must. And you have much to learn." She turned to look at Miriah, their eyes meeting. "Follow us. Search the valley, and you will find answers."
Corso paced. He figured he'd paced about a billion kilometers in his life, most of them due to something going on with his beloved. He was making a round of the base one more time, unwilling to just stop because it got dark out. Aric and Felix watched him. "He's going to break one of these days," Felix said. "Just blow. He'll haul Mir off to some remote planet, where no one can hurt her or even look at her." Aric grunted. He knew his friend was beyond comforting, and wished there was something he could do to help. They sat there for the better part of an hour, and jumped up when Corso's datapad chimed.
Corso had seen them, and walked toward them with the datapad in his hand. "It's Logan, they're here!" he told them, and Felix sprinted to get Mags. Aric led him into the war room, and Corso gave his authorization for Logan to land. His attention temporarily diverted, he went to the military hangar to meet his son and the rest of their family, Aric and Maura by his side, Felix and Mags on their way. They hugged and chatted, and finally Devin told Logan that Miriah was temporarily missing.
"Not again!" he exclaimed, and Corso hugged him.
"She'll be back, very soon, I hope," he told his youngest son. "We're not telling Caly yet, maybe tomorrow she'll wander back into base." He wasn't angry, not at Miriah. Valkorion was another matter, however, and Corso itched to punch him.
Miriah wandered around the camp, picking up objects that seemed to call to her. When she could see no more, she took them to Satele, who placed them in a wooden box. "Rest now, Commander. You'll be with your family soon but first you must find answers."
"What did Valkorion mean? That I have to train?" she asked, but Satele only shook her head.
"More will be revealed, but first you must rest." Satele made her way to small tent closest to the fire, but Miriah stayed put.
Corso, I am alright and I love you. I'll do whatever I need to do to get back to you, she thought.
Corso, propped up on the wall, sitting on the floor in the war room, felt a wave of warm air around him. He looked around, trying to figure out what it was, but when he saw nothing, he slumped against the wall again. I have to get her back, he thought. I won't rest until I do.