Chapter Four:

Shmi sighed tiredly, sitting sat back before laying the datapad on the dejarik table and rubbing weary eyes.

"You know," Han's voice said as he appeared at her side. "You're allowed to take breaks from doing your homework, Squirt."

Shmi smiled gently at her uncle's nickname for her. He was the only person alive allowed to call her that: with the exception of her parents. But even so, it was an unspoken agreement in the Skywalker-Solo family that the names Han gave to his various loved ones were his alone to give, and all knew they were his way of showing affection.

Besides, there was a lot of history in Han's nickname to his niece, and she briefly reminisced about her innocent years among the Rebels.

Han's weight joining her on the bench brought her back around, and Shmi offered a gentle lift to her lips. "I know; I just want to make sure I have all the information I need. I want to be prepared."

Han lifted a brow. "Shmi, you are the daughter of Mara Jade Skywalker: there is no such thing as one of her children being unprepared."

They both laughed at that, and Han patted her knee gently. "Take a break; give yourself a rest and let's do something more relaxing. You'll thank me later, trust me."

Shmi obliged willingly, shutting down the 'pad and standing to stretch tired muscles. "What did you have in mind?"

Han offered his famous lopsided grin. "Well, I have been teaching you the essential skill of sabacc playing. Besides, I still have a large stash of our favorite chocolates to wager."

Shmi rolled her eyes, but there was no ire in the gesture. "Alright, but be prepared to lose that stash." She detoured to gather her own bag of sweets she normally played with in turn.

Han clapped her gamely on the back. "We'll see about that Squirt."

Shmi smirked mischievously. "You know I'm getting better each time we play, so it's only a matter of time before I trump you."

Han placed a theatrical hand to his chest as they sat where they usually did to play cards. "I'll have you know that experience beats youth and beginner's luck every time."

"Are you calling yourself old, Uncle Han?" Shmi jested with a roguish grin.

He scowled. "Hey now, don't go putting words in my mouth."

Shmi was unfazed and she leaned forward, only encouraged. "Okay, so you're just more experienced is that it? That's what it's called now when one grows older?"

Han glared mildly, grumbling under his breath about ungrateful kids, and Shmi chuckled. She accepted the cards he dealt her and settled in for an evening of unpressured fun with her uncle.

00000

Kida Varik knocked on the door before her, making sure her appearance was perfect. Her clothing was utilitarian and perfectly fitted to her blue skin. Kida ran confident hands along her white and yellow headtails, preparing herself for whatever was in store.

"Enter."

Kida did so, bowing the moment she stepped through the portal. "Master."

Vexa glanced up and actually smiled softly at the Togruta. "Kida, my favorite acolyte."

Kida took great pride in that statement, and she always made certain to please Vexa, no matter what the Sith Lady asked of her. "I am ready for my assignment, Master. What is it you wanted me to do?"

Vexa motioned her forward, and Kida stepped up expectantly. "I need you to deliver a message to my man in the Senate. He will see to it that when things go south on Orinda that Ignis will end up with the Skywalkers."

Kida inclined her head. "Of course: I will not fail you."

Vexa nodded once in agreement. "I know you won't. Take this datacard; it has all the information he will need to complete his own task. And here is his name and holo so you can recognize him."

Kida stuck the second datacard into her datapad and watched as the image of a Bothan male with fur the color of lava rock appeared. His name was then displayed beneath the holo.

"Rohgah Obil," Kida read aloud, glancing to her master, "he will be at the Senate building on Coruscant?"

"Yes," Vexa answered, sitting back down. "When you find him, greet him and tell Rohgah you are there on behalf of his most faithful client. He will know who you mean, and he will take you to his office. Only there will you deliver the datachip and my message to him."

Kida bowed deeply. "I understand Master."

Vexa waved at her in dismissal. "Time is of the essence: see to this immediately. I would trust no one else with this task, Kida."

Kida smiled happily. "I am honored Master, thank you. I will leave immediately."

Kida stood and spun on her heel with military precision, then marched with purpose to the docking bay. She boarded her small, personal ship— each acolyte had a small ship to use for their missions so they could move about freely as needed— and spoke with the watch tower.

"Acolyte Varik to Bay control, I need clearance for immediate departure."

Anytime an acolyte asked for clearance to leave, it was granted, for every person on the crew of Vexa's personal ship knew her acolytes were only ever sent out by Vexa's command.

"Right away Acolyte Varik; stand by for bay doors to open."

Kida powered up her ship as the doors began to pull apart, revealing the expanse of space beyond the containment field. The field was merely a special shield that allowed ships to leave and return without all other personnel and equipment being sucked into space.

Kida waited for the doors to open fully before she lifted her craft from the deck and flew with practiced ease to the opening. As soon as she cleared the exit, the doors began to close again, but Kid paid them no mind. She was on a mission, and nothing else mattered to her.

Vexa had saved Kida, had given her a purpose and an identity when all others had used or failed her. For that reason, Kida remained loyal to Vexa and to Vexa alone. She owed Vexa everything, literally, and she repaid the woman with undying fidelity.

Turning to the built-in navigator droid, Kida spoke. "Set course for Coruscant."

"As you wish," it replied, and Kida heard the whir of its servomotors while it worked to compute the coordinates for her hyperspace jump. It took only a few moments, during which Kida flew to the jump point a safe distance from the larger vessel behind her.

"Coordinates set." The droid announced.

"Good." Kida pulled back on the hyperspace lever and the ship leapt to lightspeed. "Coruscant, here we come."

00000

Sitting upon the corner of the bed she and Luke shared, Mara breathed in a set pattern. The technique had been taught to her during her first pregnancy: something to be used whenever false contractions hit her.

Such as right now. This was the first of what could be many, Mara knew. But she had been down this road with her previous pregnancy: she would get false labor pains. Normally they occurred if she was too stressed, or if Mara didn't drink enough during the day.

So it was with today. With Luke gone, and thus unable to share the load of their family's day so Mara could rest, her routine was in array. Even if it was only she and Ben in the house, Mara still had to take the boy to school, appointments and such. And the constant on-the-move had drained her far more than Mara cared to admit.

Even if I am nine-months pregnant... Mara thought.

She had been too focused both on her work, and getting her son to the places he needed to be that she had neglected to take in her usual amount of water. Mara normally made it a point to keep a water bottle with her at all times so she could nurse it throughout the day.

But in her haste to get everything done, she had forgotten the bottle. So now she was trying to hydrate to stave off the false contractions that were hitting her tonight. A large glass of water, partially drunk, sat nearby. As Mara rubbed the space between her hips, she reminisced how it also helped her when Luke massaged her lower back during such contractions. But since he was absent tonight, she was alone in her discomfort.

Not that Mara was afraid of the pain. She had birthed before, and she knew the routine. But the warning from her doctor that every pregnancy was different kept nagging at her. Thus, Mara couldn't help but wonder if this pregnancy would be more difficult than her first when it came time to deliver her child.

Mara knew that her misgivings would only escalate the problem, so she was also breathing to calm her nerves. Luke and Emry would only be gone for two more days, so she could manage.

A knock at the door brought Mara's attention to it, and she sensed her eldest son waiting for her.

"Come in," Mara called when the contraction finally eased. She breathed a sigh of relief and offered a warm smile to her son as he entered. "Hi Ben."

"Hey Mom," Ben said, and Mara only then saw that he bore a tray with food and a drink on it. "I brought you something to eat. You really should rest: you've had a busy day."

Her sweet son... Mara shifted and glanced at the clock. "Sweetheart, it's not dinner yet."

"I know, but you need to relax. I can make a sandwich for myself tonight, and I can get myself to bed." Ben told her, setting her tray on the bedside table with great care so he didn't spill. "Please, Mom."

Mara gazed at him, sensing his worried state. It wasn't like him to try taking Luke's place. Then again, with his father's absence, maybe Mara's son felt the need to take care of his mother.

"Ben, I appreciate the gesture, but I will be fine." Mara placed a hand over one of his when he tried to reach for her. "I'm not sick or weak."

Ben looked down. "I know. You're really strong. But I... I am scared."

Mara's brow furrowed. "Why?"

Ben bit his lip, glancing to the side of the bed Luke used. "What if the baby comes while Dad is away? What will you do? How will you get to the hospital, and what will I do?"

Mara felt the light click on, and she squeezed Ben's hand. "If I should need to go to the hospital, and it's just the two of us, you first call Aunt Leia, understood? If she doesn't answer, call the emergency line and tell them your mother is in labor and needs a ride to the hospital. Then tell them where we live."

Ben nodded, paying close attention. "And what about me?"

Mara blew out a breath as another false contraction hit her. She spoke through it, using the speech as a way to distract herself. "You will ride along to the hospital and wait near my room. The hospital staff will keep tabs on you until I can."

"And should I call Dad?" Ben asked.

Mara nodded. "Once we are at the hospital, yes." The current contraction passed much quicker than the first, much to her relief.

"Here," Mara turned and reached over to open her bedside drawer. From within it, she collected one of the extra comlinks she kept handy for emergencies. "Take this comlink and keep it with you in case you need it. You know your Father's comm. codes, and Aunt Leia's, so you're all set."

Ben clasped the item like it was a life-saving tool. "Understood."

Mara smiled at him, then made it a point to take a large swig of water to stave off more false labor pains. Ben watched her, eyeing her like she would burst at the seams. Mara tried not to laugh at his innocent mannerisms, not wanting him to feel like he was doing anything wrong.

No, he was just a young boy who knew nothing about pregnancy except that there was 'a baby in her tummy', as Emry put it.

When the infant within Mara began squirming, Mara had an idea. She took her son's hand again and laid it on her belly. Ben swallowed nervously, but didn't fight her.

"Relax, Ben," Mara urged. "Just let yourself appreciate the miracle of life. Can you feel your sibling kicking?"

Ben jumped with a gasp when indeed Mara felt a kick from within where Ben's hand was resting. His eyes shot to Mara's face, and she chuckled.

"Whoa!" Ben was in awe. "Does that hurt Mom?"

"No," Mara answered, enjoying the moment. "Unless he or she kicks my..." Mara sissed when just as she spoke her baby kicked Mara's bladder. "Hold on, I need to go potty."

Mara hustled to make it to the toilet on time, thanking the Force when she made it. But her hustle to the refresher had only sapped more of Mara's strength, and she sighed. Only after she had cleaned up— a task that went slower than normal— did Mara have to admit that she indeed needed the rest her son had encouraged her to get.

Mara offered a smile to Ben when she returned to the room proper. "I will take a nap now, Ben. I guess I'm more tired than I realized." Upon seeing his expression shifting back to worried, Mara lifted a hand. "Sweetheart, it's perfectly normal for me to be tired a lot right now. I'm living for two people right now, and that takes a lot of energy. And my body is getting prepared for when your sibling comes."

Ben nodded, though Mara knew he didn't fully understand. "Okay. I'll behave tonight; don't worry about me, Mom."

He hustled to the bed and pulled back on the covers for her, and Mara sat while propped up against the headboard. She remembered the tray and took it up as Ben covered her legs with the blankets.

"Thank you again, Ben. If you need anything you can come get me." Mara assured him.

Ben kissed her cheek. "Okay Mom. I love you."

"I love you too, Sweetheart."