Corso turned to look at Aric, his mouth open wide. Vaylin, no, that's Senya, he thought, walking toward them. They'd managed to follow Gault around and get the detonation charge, and the blue twi'lek, Vette who was planting the charge. Now, the only thing that remained was to scoop up the vapor, and haul jets. He knew Miriah was ready with her ship, and that Lana was nearby. He still couldn't get over Senya's disguise. His attention was diverted to the explosion that rocked the vessel, and it stunned him for a moment.

Aric saw his friend stumble and ran towards him. Miriah will kill me if anything happens to him, he thought, and pulled the large man down the hallway. Just then, skytroopers started dropping, and they both knew the escape route would have to change. "Gault! Where to now?" Aric yelled, and they saw the Devaronian swerve left.

"We just have to get to the skyhook, and meet up at the apartment," he said, panting. "Plan B." Aric saw Corso's face go dark and knew it would be a miracle if he didn't deck Gault before this was done. They were running for the elevator when they heard Senya's voice.

"Vaylin. I sense her presence." Aric and Corso exchanged looks again, and both turned to Gault.

"The elevator isn't coming, is it?" Corso asked.

"Oh, it's coming. It's just not empty," Gault replied, and they saw Vette swing the assault cannon she'd been hefting around to the doorway.

"What now?"Aric shouted above the cannon fire.

"We can still get out, we just have to get on the skyhook," Gault explained.

"How?"

"We'll have to go...out there!" Corso actually drew back his fist, but Aric stopped him, motioning back the way they'd come. They continued on, facing and defeating skytroopers, until they were faced with the end of the walkway. Skytroopers came pouring from both sides of the ship, and Aric could see no way out. He looked across at the others, and saw Gault grin.

"Remember Plan C?" he asked.

"There was no plan C, Gault." Aric put himself between the skytroopers and the others, waiting for the shooting to start.

"There's no other option but to jump," Gault said, and abruptly threw himself off the edge. Corso grabbed Aric's arm and followed, feeling the breath rush out of his body as they landed on the top of Hylo's ship. How did she get here, he wondered, then concentrated on getting air back in his body. By the time they'd been hauled inside the ship, he was dizzy and fading, and closed his eyes against the nausea.

Miriah had filled her hold, as Lana had, and broken off the contact with the ship when she'd heard Senya say that Vaylin was near. Good, she thought. I'd like the opportunity to face her. She was trying to get into position to get Corso and Aric clear when she heard Hylo say she had them, and let out the breath she'd been holding. This is crazy, stupid risky, and just insane, she thought. She tentatively reached out with the force and felt Corso's panic, which caused her to bobble in her flight path.

"Steady there, Commander," Theron told her. "Everyone's safe and accounted for. Let's get the hell outta here!"

"Roger that," she said, growling it out. He'd better be okay, she thought as she gunned the freighter, heading out of the atmosphere.

Aric was getting some kolto on a cut he'd gotten on the jump, and glanced over at Corso, who was now sitting up, rubbing his face. "Some adventure," he said quietly, and saw Corso nod. "She's okay, we're all clear and headed home."

"Yeah, I know," he replied. "Just, it seems off, somehow. Wrong. Like I've done something to be ashamed of." He stood and stretched, shaking out his long arms. "I'm almost embarrassed that we did that." Aric watched as he walked over to the window, looking out at the streaks of stars.

"I know what you mean, but really, we only took back what was taken from the Republic and Empire coffers," Aric offered. "It's not as if we're going to go blow it on stuff. It's going to provide food and supplies to keep the Alliance going and growing. I'm hoping it means better equipment for the exiles on Zakuul and more houses and apartments for the people on Odessen." He saw Corso turn to him then.

"I didn't think of it like that, thanks, Aric," he said with a half smile. "That does make it seem a little better." They stood and made their way into the small galley, where Vette had made caffa and pulled out some things to eat. Aric filled his mug and sat as Corso thanked the twi'lek.

"I wanted to tell you that I liked the name you gave that cannon," he said with a smile. "I name my weapons, too." Vette grinned back at him.

"I'll have to find another one of those," she said. "That was too much fun." They sat down and chatted, and Corso finally relaxed.

As the ships made several stops and starts, refueling and taking diverse routes in order to shake any trackers, Miriah and Maura talked and laughed. The group had decided to drift out on the edge of an asteroid field for a few hours and rest, and it was then that Miriah missed Corso. She knew they had been too busy to talk up until now, and she craved his voice. She grinned as she hit the button on her relay. "Cor, sugar? You there?" she asked.

A moment later she heard him. "I'm here, darlin'. Everything okay?"

Miriah sighed. Just hearing his voice steadied her. "Just missing you. I didn't plan on this." His deep chuckle made her smile.

"Me either." Corso shifted his large body in the smallish seat and in doing so, bumped the switch on his relay to broadcast. "So many things I wish I could do right now."

Oblivious that their conversation would be heard by anyone in their group with a relay active, she giggled and asked him, "What do you wish you could do, sugar?"

"I wish I could put my lips on that little pulse point just beneath your ear. When I do that, I feel connected to you, your blood rushing under my touch. It always speeds up, too." He blushed but his words were heartfelt.

"Mmm I'm sure it does, sugar. What else?" Miriah was enjoying hearing some of the things he thought about, and his words were relaxing her.

"I'd like to fill my hands with your hair, then hold your head in my hands as I kiss you, feeling your soft lips under mine and that breathy little sound you make..." They both jumped when they heard Aric clear his throat in the channel.

"Sorry kids, thought I'd let you know you were being heard before things went too far," he said.

"You should have been with them on Kaliyo's recruitment," Lana said dryly, but she grinned at Theron when she said it. Miriah blushed then, remembering, and hurriedly pulled the relay from her ear, throwing it across the cockpit. Maura's laughter could be heard from her quarters, so Miriah set the space anchor and stomped off to her bed.

Corso hid his face with his hands as Aric came back into the lounge area. "Hey, don't worry bout it, man. Not like we all don't know you two are more in love than ever." Corso still wouldn't meet his gaze, and Aric settled into the reclining chair, falling asleep quickly. Corso continued to look out the window, where he could see just the faint outline of Miriah's ship. He sighed then, wishing he were with her in their bed. He closed his eyes and thought of her, and drifted into sleep.

The people of Odessen greeted the returning ships with loud cheers and whistles, and were gathered at the hangars as the crews came off. Miriah waited a few minutes after landing, and as she and Maura were walking toward the air lock, they heard knocking. Corso peeked his head in as the air lock opened, and pulled Miriah to him for a kiss. "Wanted to get that out of the way before we go out there," he grinned at her, and she tiptoed up for one more. At her nod, they met Aric and Maura and followed them down into the crowds.

Devin and Logan met them, and immediately formed a barrier around their mother. When Aric noticed and looked at the tall Jedi, Devin merely shook his head, and Aric knew conversation would have to wait. They escorted Miriah inside the secure area, and she turned on them. "Not that I don't like being surrounded by handsome men," she said, "but that was more than obvious that something is up. What's going on?"

Devin took a step forward. "We intercepted some messages that made us think that there are some here that aren't entirely happy, with you or with the Alliance. Lo and I felt it would be prudent to at least provide a little security. I don't think it's safe for you to be out in the open, on your own, like you have been. At least until we root out this instability." He held Miriah's gaze, his words settling around them.

Aric spoke up. "I agree, I've always wanted more security around you, Mir. You just never know when someone will snap." He put his hand on Logan's shoulder. "Good thinking." Miriah turned her eyes to Lana, who nodded.

"It's time, I think, to be more cautious. We don't personally know everyone here, after all," she said, and Theron nodded beside her. "We have someone on Sarai and Calypso still?" she asked, and saw Senya nod.

"Wait, what?" Miriah asked, looking around her. "You have a detail on my mother and daughter? Since when?"

"Since Koth left," Theron replied. "We felt that it would be better to be safe than sorry." Corso took Miriah's hands in his then.

"Darlin', it's just a precaution. Humor me, and let us protect you. If only so that I can relax," he joked, but his eyes were serious, and she saw the worry there.

"Okay, but only when I'm out of the secure area. Not at my apartment." Lana and Theron agreed, and they made their way into the smuggler hangar to check on the treasure. When they entered, and saw Hylo sitting in Gault's lap, they all stopped short. Hylo looked up and laughed.

"This is my husband," she said, and amid the astonished acknowledgements, Miriah's brows creased.

"Why didn't you say something before?" she asked.

"It's complicated," Gault replied. "But she's still my number one assistant!" He kissed Hylo's cheek and she laughed again. They discussed the treasure, and Miriah declared anything she was due to go do the people, which started another argument about it going back to Arcann in some form, but Miriah wouldn't be dissuaded.

Finally, they dispersed to their individual homes, and Miriah pulled Corso inside their apartment. "This has been the strangest adventure we've had since we've been here," she told him. "And that's saying something."

"It has been different," he acknowledged. "I missed being with you, but I'm so glad I didn't have to sit and worry while you ran around. That part was kinda fun." He held her close and she wrapped her arms around his waist, her head on his chest. "You didn't sleep," he said, and felt her nod against him. He picked her up and carried her to their bed, lying her gently down while he kicked off his boots. When he'd pulled hers off, he gathered her to him. "Just for a little bit, love." She snuggled into him, and he let out a contented sigh.

"I loved what you told me," she said softly, her eyes already closed. He just kissed her forehead, and lay back, his arms and his heart full. He wondered briefly why anyone would want to hurt her, but he knew that was pointless. The only thing that gave him any comfort was the thought that Devin was watching out for her. Like always, he thought, and held her tighter.