He looked down on Vette, who still hadn't regained consciousness, Quinn felt queasy, and the heat was getting to him. Taunt and her gang entered the house again, apparently they had finished their task. "How is she?" asked Plasmajack.
"Vette is still unconscious, but she has no fever…"
In this very moment she opened her eyes and whispered: "Malavai?"
He took her hand. "Yes, I'm here, everything is alright, the Jedi has decided to let us go."
"Is everybody okay?"
Tivva kneeled next to her. "Hey, sis… listen, I'm sorry about everything. I really only wanted to free you and I was stupid enough to believe everything the Major told me."
Vette smiled. "I'm just so glad that you don't hate me…"
"I would never hate you, you're my only family left…"
Tivva touched gently Vette's arm. "But I do question your loyalties. Are you absolutely sure that you want to go back?"
"I am," responded Vette without hesitation, she was herself surprised how quick her answer came.
Taunt seemed angry and said curtly: "I want to speak with Vette alone."
"Okay, Quinn would you please leave us?" The Captain shot Taunt a cold gaze and left the house. The sun blinded him first, but then she recognised the Jedi about 30 meters away, she was meditating next to a grave. Tivva stepped next to him and gave him a piercing look. "It is beyond me how my sister could fall in love with you, Captain. She should know better than believing in a fairy-tale romance. But she won't change her mind, neither about you nor about her return to the Empire. Promise me that you will look after her."
"I think that you still underestimate your sister, Tivva. She doesn't need anybody looking after her."
"Perhaps you're right, it's too late for me to play the big sister… we weren't close anyway. Strange, now that I think about it – I hardly know Ce'na. I was sold when she was but a little kid, and I think that she doesn't know me very well either."
"Does it really matter?" asked Quinn with an even voice. "Vette cares about you, and I think that you do too. That should be enough."
"You make it sound so cold, but anyway, I will go check up on her. Taunt can be harsh sometimes." The Twi'lek ventured inside, Quinn pulled a small food bar from his utilitybelt and started to eat it.
"So, are these the famous foodbars you were talking about back then?" The Captain turned around and saw Rycus approaching him, he still held a shovel in his right hand.
"Yes, quite." He gave the boy one of them. "Taste it for yourself, Vette did exaggerate – they're not that bad."
Rycus opened the package and took a bite. "By the stars, they're horrible!" But he still ate it.
"I wanted to thank you for your help," said Quinn, "I will arrange a reward for you once we get back."
"Thank you, Captain, but I would rather get back to Coruscant without any further ties to the Empire. I'm working in my uncle's droid workshop, if he will still have me after the Major had barged in and… I just want to put everything behind me."
"As you wish." The boy nodded and spoke on: "I… just wanted to tell you that I've thought a lot about that you told me back then… and I'm really grateful… it helped me a lot after you left. And also what Vette…"
Sornavi strode towards them and he just stopped talking and left. "He really is grateful, he is emitting very strong emotions. I suppose you won't tell me what this is about?"
"That's classified," he replied. "Why would you be so thigh-lipped about your good deeds?"
"Why do you even ask, Master Jedi? Are you gathering intel for the SIS?"
"I just try to figure you out, I still can't quite understand why a man like you would suddenly change his usual M.O."
"I guessing that you're referring to the part in my file that describes me as a 'cold-hearted boot-licker'? Oh yes, I've read it and I must say, I was disappointed in the SIS, they didn't even managed to get my academy grades right."
Sornavi was visibly surprised, she leaned against the wall next to Quinn and looked out into the desert. "Really? Were they higher?"
"It doesn't matter, Master Jedi. But tell me, how is Master Syion?"
"Interesting, how did you know that he is my teacher?"
Quinn looked at her, his face rigid as usual. "I didn't, it was an educated guess. But now I do."
Sornavi simply laughed. "I should know better than to try to draw information from you, I'm just not good with people."
"What a strange thing for a Jedi to say."
"Not really, it's easy to feel emotions for a force-user, but one also needs some psychological knowledge and skill to use it wisely. Do you have another of these food bars, Captain? I'm quite famished."
He took out one other package but didn't give it to her. "I will give it to you on one condition, Jedi."
"Everything, but save me from starving!" she replied jokingly.
Quinn kept his stiff upper-lip and just said: "Will you take Rycus to Coruscant?"
"I'm not headed that way, but I will make sure that he gets home." Quinn gave her the bar and entered the house. Vette was still lying on the floor, Taunt was whispering with her gang.
"Are you ready to go, Vette?"
She smiled as he appeared. "I'm still a little wuzzy, but Tivva offered to take me with her speeder."
xxxxx
A few hours later they arrived in Anchorhead, Vette said her good-byes to her friends and her sister, to call it awkward was a understatement. Taunt was very reluctant while Plasmajack and Flash hugged Vette a little too long. Tivva had tears in her eyes as she kissed her sister good-bye. Sornavi just bowed and handed Vette her holocommunicator, Rycus waved shyly and then Vette and Quinn left for the Fury. "Did you ask your sister about your mother?" asked Quinn as they walked up to the entrance of the spaceship.
"Yes, I did. It was but an ruse, I don't think we'll ever find her."
"I'm sorry, Vette."
"Don't be, I have found my sister and somehow it didn't change anything, did it?"
Quinn stepped closer to her and embraced her before kissing her. Vette felt how a warm feeling spread through her body. By the stars, he really is a good kisser, she thought. He pulled slightly back and put his forehead against hers. Quinn whispered: "But at least I found you… I love you Vette."
"I love you too, Malavai," she replied and pulled him in for another kiss.
xxxxx
As soon as possible they called Badesh from the commstation. Vette felt strangely reassured as she saw the Sith. "I'm relieved that you're alright!" Badesh said and she and Quinn simply bowed.
"The Jedi, Sornavi Chan, let us go after the fight, but we managed to kill all republic troops present," reported Quinn and explained what had transpired.
"How strange," remarked Badesh as the Captain had ended, "I'm looking forward to your personal report. Join me on Dromund Kaas as soon as possible."
"Yes my Lord," they said in unison and bowed.
xxxxx
They entered Badesh's office in the citadel a few days later. The Sith sat at his desk and read data pads. Once the door had slid close he rose and walked towards his subordinates.
"My Lord," said Quinn smoothly and handed him his report upon the incidents on Tatooine.
Badesh was in full armour but now he removed his mask. He was smiling. "I'm glad that you are back."
"Thank you for your support," said Vette and bowed deeply.
Badesh just nodded, and briefly took hold of their arms before putting his mask back on. "I need to travel to Makeb in a few days and want you to accompany me. I'm going to oversee the annexion of the whole system and the drilling after Isotope-5. In the meantime I want you to take a few days off."
"My Lord?" asked Quinn with silent indignation. "There is no need for vacation…"
"Thank you, my Lord," interjected Vette.
But Vette was soon to regret her words, Quinn started right away to draw up a detailed report on Makeb and she realised that apart from an imperial workaholic and a Sith she didn't have any social connection on Dromund Kaas. She decided to visit Barriss in the orphanage.
Kaas City was depressing as always, it was raining and the sky was darkened even though it was early afternoon. She waited at the tram station for the next ride and realised that she hadn't been molested on her way to the station. Was it just the uniform? The tram arrived and Vette sat down, the city flashed by and then she set her sights on a large ad screen hovering about the city. It was a propaganda picture for the imperial navy with the subtitle "For the Empire", it showed soldiers standing at attention. But that wasn't what had caught her attention, instead it was one of the soldiers, the one standing at the right edge was a dark-furred Cathar. He was the only alien on the picture, but the fact that even one was pictured on the ad was quite astonishing. The Empire was changing, it seemed that the Darth-Malgus-Fraction had won.