Miriah smiled at the major on the holo. "I'm sure you'll manage the construction as needed, and if we need to send more supplies, just sent a message to Hylo Visz." The major was in charge of construction on Altaria, a neighboring planet. She'd been speaking to various platoons since noon, coordinating the military presence on worlds near Odessen, and was pleased with the progress there. Lana had suggested she lend her approval to those working offsite, and she'd managed to connect with all of them. This call should wrap it up, she thought, turning slightly to see Corso walk up behind her. As she was chatting, she casually reached behind her to caress his thigh, and felt him jump. He didn't move away, though, and she danced her fingers over the fabric of his casual pants, grinning when he shivered. She signed off the call and let out a breathy sigh as Corso leaned in, pressing her between the holo console and his body. It was evening, and there were few people in the room, all on the other end, making them a little more bold than they might have been otherwise. Corso leaned forward to gently bite the back of her neck and she closed her eyes as he kissed and nibbled, which is why she didn't see Aric approaching.
"You need to bite harder than that, Cor. That'll never leave a mark! What kind of honorary Cathar are you? You need practice," Aric smirked, laughing out loud when they jumped apart.
"Why do you think I cut my hair short?" Miriah retorted. Corso simply blushed.
"Come, have dinner with us. Maura says she misses being a part of the security detail." Recently there had been so many training opportunities that Miriah's detail had been left to the droids. "If anything happens, all anyone has to do is send someone over to the apartment." In the past days, Miriah had been sticking close to the holo, hoping for word of the Gravestone, wondering where Vaylin and Scorpio had gone.
Corso had put his arms around her, and leaned to whisper in her ear. "Dinner sounds good. I'll have you for dessert." She chuckled and took his hand, and they walked across the courtyard to the Officer apartments, where Maura met them at the door.
"'Bout time, the steaks are ready," she said, hugging her sister. They sat and ate, and enjoyed the relaxed company. Maura had been working with some of the newest recruits and was enthusiastically telling them about it when the door chime sounded. Aric went to check it out, and returned quickly to the dining room.
"The Commander is needed at the main holo viewer, that's all I know," he said and Miriah and Corso stood.
"Thank you for dinner," Miriah said, reaching to hug her sister.
"Hold on, we're coming with you," Maura said and saw Aric nod. They left in a hurry, and when they entered the main war room, saw Scorpio on the viewer. Miriah advanced at a run, then realized they were not watching a live feed. It appeared to be a taped packet, sent over a long transmission strand. At her nod, the technician keyed the replay.
"Commander, I have made a wonderful discovery. The Gemini units, the Eternal Fleet, the Gravestone. They did not steal my technology, we are related. The Gravestone's computer revealed that we were all created here, and you have aided our journey home. I promise to remember you kindly." She paused, and Miriah watched her take a step closer to the recording device. "For whatever it is worth, Vaylin and her remaining soldiers are on the Gravestone as well. They will be...detained. There is much ahead, but I hope you survive." The playback stopped and Miriah looked at the tech, who shrugged. She sat, and was quiet, lost in thought.
"Maybe she just had to say goodbye," Aric offered. "She did tell you where Vaylin was, and that she won't be around for a while."
Miriah looked up at Corso, who was standing beside her. "Call Lana, but let her know it's a recording and she can watch it in the morning." He nodded and took a few steps away to pull out his holo. "Aric, please let Solasta know what's going on here?" He nodded as well, and the sisters were left as their husbands worked.
Maura took one of Miriah's hands in hers. "Don't worry, Mir. Maybe this is all about to be over. Who even knows where they are? And if Scorpio is going to her home planet, the Gravestone's home planet, how will Vaylin ever get back?"
"That is a thought," Miriah replied. "Maybe we can trace the transmission, but I'm guessing if it were that easy, someone would have already brought me a location."
"Nothing you can do right now, anyway," Maura said, and stood. When Aric was ready, they left for their home and Corso offered Miriah his hand to help her stand. She took it with a smile, and they strolled the short distance to the apartment.
Lana had fallen asleep with her head in Theron's lap as they watched a video, and her holo startled her awake. She found it on the floor beside the sofa and connected, instantly on alert when she saw Corso. "What's happened? Is she alright?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Relax, Lana. Mir wanted me to tell you that we got a video from Scorpio, she's seen it but just letting you know it's here. She says you can watch it tomorrow, okay?" Silently she nodded and disconnected, still a bit dazed from her abrupt awakening. Theron reached out and smoothed her hair down before pulling her close.
"Everything's okay, sweetheart. Miriah is just fine, probably already being distracted by Corso. Are you okay?" he asked, gazing into her eyes. He saw when her thought process settled and she nodded, snuggling onto his shoulder.
"Perhaps we could use some distraction," she murmured, and he needed no further instruction.
Miriah was restless all night, and finally just gave up, going into the refresher and closing the door with a soft click. She took a hot shower and dressed for the day, choosing a soft pink shirt instead of her usual all black wardrobe. Caly will be pleased, she thought, since she's been on me about being monochromatic. She grinned as she picked up a black sweater on her way out. Boots in her hand, she bent to place a soft kiss on her sleeping husband's cheek, her heart suddenly full with the love she felt for him. She watched him sleep for a few moments, a quiet smile her only expression. By the time she left the apartment, putting her boots on outside, she could hear the main holo and knew without a doubt who was up as early as she was.
Lana stood motionless before the recording. She'd seen it several times now, and had replayed certain parts to commit them to memory. She saw Miriah approaching and killed the playback. "I see you didn't sleep well, either," she told Miriah.
"Just can't resolve this in my mind," Miriah admitted. "If Scorpio and the Gravestone are gone, where does that leave Vaylin? And what planet are they on?"
Lana shrugged, but before she could respond, the tech on the shift interrupted them. "Another one," was all she said, and the holo flickered to life once more, Scorpio standing in her usual stance.
"Currently I am imprisoned in an unknown location on Iokath," the image said, her mechanical voice oddly serene. "We were captured and taken off the Gravestone to be used as test subjects." Scorpio looked around her, then continued. "If we cannot free ourselves, we will die here." She was quiet for a moment. "No one deserves the fate that awaits us." Miriah paused the playback.
"She's talking about all of them? They're going to die? How can that be?" she asked, and without waiting for an answer, she started the recording again.
"Iokath." That was all Scorpio said before the holo ended, and Miriah balled up her fist, stopping herself from punching the machine in the nick of time. Exhaling loudly, she saw Corso running towards her.
"Oh, darlin', I was worried," he said, relief flooding over him. "When I woke up and you were gone.." he pulled her into his body, wrapping his arms around her. Miriah could feel him tremble, and rubbed her hands over his back, attempting to soothe him. Over her shoulder, he saw Lana grin.
"Interesting choice," she said, nodding at his feet, which were bare and now, cold. He blushed, but didn't let go of his wife.
"Figured if she wasn't here, I'd start the tracking program on the droids," he said, then kissed Miriah's head. "Let me go get dressed, love, and we'll have breakfast." She pulled back enough to nod, and he kissed her before turning back toward the apartment.
Lana appraised her friend. "You look nice today, love the pink," she said, hoping to divert Miriah's thoughts from Scorpio's transmission. Miriah nodded absently, and Lana knew she was mentally chewing over the idea of Iokath, and how to find it. With a sigh, she touched Miriah's arm. "I'll have people start researching, we'll have more soon." Miriah shook herself out of her thoughs.
"Come, have breakfast with us. Where's Theron?" It was seldom one saw one without the other these days, Miriah knew.
"Holding a table for us. When Corso returns, with shoes, come eat with us." At Miriah's nod, she grinned. "And don't go back to bed with him. At least, not right now." Miriah's saucy smile made Lana laugh as she made her way to the elevators.
Corso hurriedly pulled pants on while chewing on his toothbrush. He was so relieved to see Miriah, he had ignored the state he was in. I must have looked like a wild man, he thought wryly. When he was fully clothed, he strolled out of the apartment, and felt his body relax when he saw her waiting for him. "You look like a dangerous flower today," he told her and saw her confusion. "The pink is pretty, inviting, but you have to get past the black leather first. It's very you." She hugged his arm, her hand already in his, and they entered the mess hall.
As the family wandered over in various intervals, the transmissions were discussed and dissected. Aric had heard tales of Iokath as a kit, but couldn't remember much about them. Miriah continued to listen to all the theories and ideas, but she knew that until Scorpio revealed more, they were in a holding pattern. After breakfast, she kissed Corso and sent him with Aric to greet a new ship full of recruits from the Republic, and followed Lana into the secured area, thinking she would go to her office but her feet led her to the medcenter and the unconscious woman there. She sat at her bedside, lost in thought. Oh Senya, she mused. Your daughter might have really messed up this time. She had no idea how long she'd sat there, alone with her thoughts, until Devin strode in. He said nothing, just pulled up a chair beside her. After a few quiet minutes, she reached out to him through their force link. You've heard about the transmissions?
I have, he replied. I know nothing of Iokath, but I do know that Dad is wondering where you got off to." With a smile, she stood, and touched her son's face with her fingertips.
"I'll go find him. You are okay, sweetie?" At his nod, she hugged him and made her way to the elevator, leaving him alone with Senya. He settled into the chair and his force light flared around him, trying to feel any trace of the Zakuul Knight lying before him.
Miriah stepped off the elevator and made her way to her office, seeing Lana and Corso waiting for her. "I was just visiting Senya," she told them, and at Corso's hopeful look, she shook her head. "What's been going on here?"
"I've found nothing on Iokath," Lana said. "It simply does not appear on any known maps or charts. There's no mention of it on any holo records. I have people still looking, but I'm not hopeful." Miriah simply nodded.
"The reason we don't have any info is because once there, there's no escape," she said, and when she looked at Corso, she saw the uncertainty in his eyes that she felt.
