The spy had spent the last few days trying to be as invisible as possible, going to his job every day, keeping his head down. He'd seen the tall, black haired Jedi several times, but had managed to stay out of his path. Already, he knew that he'd gone unrestrained longer than even Malgus figured, but his next action might end that in a hurry. The sources he'd cultivated had been silent, and he wondered if it was due to suspicion or just normal operations. Whatever it was, he was okay with it, knowing his next force message may be his last.
Miriah put on her diplomatic face and tried to calm a ranting Chancellor Rans. "Our vessel left Odessen and had to evade bounty hunters all the way back into Republic space!" Rans said, pacing.
"I agreed to put her in your custody, alive and well. I had no control over what happened once Saresh left here," Miriah said, and saw Rans drop into her chair.
"The Hutts have a price on her so high, I'm surprised that our own crew didn't take advantage of it," Rans admitted. "The Ossus base is very thankful for the supplies you sent, though they continue to fight the Empire's forces there. Overall, the Jedi seem to be making a comeback."
"Indeed," Miriah agreed. "And our supply runs are once again safe."
"Well, Saresh is under house arrest here, for her crimes against the Republic. I'm beginning to wonder why I let some of our Senate convince me it was a good idea to bring her back." Miriah had to swallow a giggle. "I look forward to our weekly call. See you then." Miriah sighed as Rans' image blinked out, and Corso saw her pick up a datapad.
"Darlin', you should go ahead and meet your sisters for lunch," he said, and she smiled.
"What are you doing?" she asked, and saw him grin.
"Aric and Torian are coming to our place, and we're going to watch the huttball tournament." Miriah laughed at that, there had been many days when she woke to the holo with scores streaming across the feed. She stood and crossed to him, and Corso took her in his arms.
"I'll see you in a bit, then," she told him. They were kissing when Lana came in, her head down over her datapad. She stopped short and blushed, and Miriah laughed.
"I'm sorry, Commander, I wanted to just touch base with you before I went to pick up Tali," Lana explained.
"Everything is good?" Miriah asked, and got a brief run down of the next few days, which included a trip to Riggsville and the next day, Haven. She had her range qualification early tomorrow, and was meeting with the advisers soon. As usual, a full schedule, Corso thought. As Lana turned, he thought she looked pale, but she smiled and hurried off, not wanting to be late at school.
"I'm off, then, sugar. Enjoy your lunch," Miriah said, heading to the door. The detail gathered and Corso watched as they made their way to Maura's home before going through the tunnel to his own. Aric and Torian were already there, and the huge sandwiches on the low table made his stomach growl loudly.
"C'mon, Cor. We're all set up." Aric handed out the drinks and they settled on the sofa. It was that moment that Corso missed Felix, knowing how his brother in law loved to get together with the guys. He briefly wondered where Devin was, but knew his son was likely with his wife and children. Sitting back, he realized he wasn't worried. About Miriah, or his children. The feeling was strange, but welcome.
Lana hurried out of the secure area and to the school, the cool air on her cheeks making her feel better. Maybe I'm getting something, she thought, but when she saw Tali waving at her, she only felt joy. They made their way home, and Tali chatted all through their lunch. Once she was napping, Lana had thought she'd work on her datapad, but the pull of sleep was too much. She thought of having Nico home that evening and quickly ordered their dinner to be delivered, then closed her eyes, instantly falling into a deep sleep. She was still on the sofa when Tali woke, and made her way to her mother, shaking her shoulder gently, anxious to not be late for her force class. Lana sat up slowly, and once she'd had a chance to wash her face and brush her hair, they were ready.
Tali always looked forward to force class. She had learned so much, and every day that she got to go, she felt a little more confident about her place in the world. Lana had told her that her daddy would be home tonight, and she was looking forward to telling him all about her week. She looked up at her mama and grinned. Lana bent to kiss her cheek and Tali went into the classroom, her Jedi instructor already there. It's such a great day, she thought, and turned her attention to the class, as Lana sat and yawned widely.
Devin had just come back into the temple when he saw Lana, and sat beside her. "Tali is enjoying her life," he said with a smile, seeing the little girl enthusiastically follow the instructions of her teacher.
"She is," Lana agreed. "I see such a different child than the one I initially met at the child care facility."
"I am so glad she has you and Nico. Aunt Mags says she's very intuitive about healing, which will serve her well. She listens to where the force guides her. I guess she had little else when she was in that terrible situation," he said, thinking of her time on Dromund Kaas.
"I feel blessed that I was able to be a part of her life," Lana said, and saw Tali turn to smile at her. "She's a treasure."
"She surely is," Devin said, standing. "I'll get back to my students, but it was good to see you relaxed, Lana."
Lana grinned up at him. "I'm working on it." Devin laughed as he walked away, and Lana let her head rest on the back of the chair, content to just be still for a change.
Miriah sat back, her tummy too full to move. "This was such a great idea," she said, and saw Mags nod.
"I'm full of good ideas," Maura said, grinning. "It's just that no one ever listens."
"We listen," Mags said, pouring more wine into their glasses. "I have to say, I feel more like myself today than I have in a good while."
"You need to gain some weight back," Miriah said, and her sisters laughed.
"Like you can talk," Mags finally said, cutting the cake that Miriah had brought. "But, you're right."
"It's been such a crazy year," Maura reflected. "So many things, good and bad. Our vacation, Caly's wedding. Coleen coming home, and then Caitlin."
"How are they?" Miriah had seen the girls just a few days ago, but she knew babies changed rapidly.
"Coleen's back at work and I've tried to help in the afternoons, but she's struggling," Maura admitted. "I'm trying to get her into the med center, but she swears she's just still catching up on sleep."
"Could be, but if she won't go to the med center, I can go to her," Magdalane offered and Maura nodded.
"Maybe we should do that," she said, standing. Miriah followed them, wanting to hold the baby.
Coleen opened her door and had to smile. "Wow, everyone together," she said, moving aside and ushering them all in. Caitlin sat in a bouncy seat, and was starting to fuss. "I just made her bottle."
"I've got it," Miriah said, unbuckling the baby while Mags pulled Coleen aside, getting her permission for a quick check up. Miriah took Caitlin to the nursery, and sat in the rocking chair with her great niece, loving the calm of it.
Magdalane pulled her force light back. "You need some vitamins, and good sleep," Mags said, and Coleen nodded.
"It's been better this last week, but before, it was hard," she said, and Maura hugged her.
"I know, but it only gets better from here," she said, and Mags nodded. She's malnourished, Mags thought, but knew Maura would not take that well. Instead, she asked Maura to make a trip to the med center to pick up vitamins, and sat down with Coleen.
"You're not eating," Mags said, and saw Coleen's head bow.
"I just don't want to. I'm hungry, but when I sit down to actually eat, I take two or three bites, and then it's as if I can't force anything else down," Coleen said, and sighed. "I'm not trying to cause problems."
"Dear girl, you aren't. The vitamins will help, and I'm also prescribing exercise. You know, it wouldn't be unheard of to have a little bit of depression after having a baby, especially after all the anxiety that surrounded you. We'll all work together to get you back to being healthy, okay?" Mags took Coleen's hand in her own, and squeezed gently. Coleen looked at her aunt then, a little spark of hope in her eyes.
"Thanks, Aunt Mags," she said. Magdalane only hugged her niece, knowing full well the effects of depression.
Aric stood as Mia and the children made their way into Corso's place, happy to get hugs and kisses. He left them to go to his own granddaughter, and met Miriah on the way. He only waved to the detail as they passed. He'd been in on the surprise for Miriah, and smiled as he thought about how happy she was about to be.
James and Declan played happily in the floor as Merida clung to her father. Logan and Devin had brought the spirits, and Caly was in the kitchen, Torian helping her. Corso took baby Lucas in his arms and saw Lara lift the cake from the stroller. "You guys are the best. Miriah wanted to just gloss over her birthday this year, but I know she'll love this."
"She's on the way," Devin said, reading the message that Aric had sent. When Miriah came in, she only saw Corso, but when he kissed her and led her into the family room, everyone called out and she smiled widely. Their dinner went until the babies were all asleep, and when everyone had gone home, Miriah found herself being carried to bed.
"Happy birthday, love of my life," he whispered to her, before kissing her deeply.
"Mmm it was wonderful, sugar. Thank you, so much," she told him when they'd had to breathe. "It's been a very long week, and that was just perfect."
"You're perfect," he told her, and then words were lost as they loved each other, long into the night.
Miriah went into her office, refreshed and looking forward to a new day. The usual items were in her inbox, and she was leaving shortly for the range. Lana was off today, and Miriah was glad she was getting a little break. She had just finished the items marked urgent when the lights flickered, but remained on. Only a few seconds later, they went out altogether. She could hear the urgent voices, and waited for the backup to switch everything back on, but nothing happened. Suddenly she saw Aric as he barreled through the door, a lightstick in his hand. "Move! Now!" Startled, Miriah jumped up and, with Corso on one side and Aric on the other, the detail hustled her into the bunker. Once the heavy durasteel door clanged shut and the lock engaged, she turned to Aric.
"What happened?" she asked softly, and could see by his face that it wasn't merely a failure.
"Someone sabotaged the power grid. The whole base is down," he said, the lights in his relay flashing with each incoming transmission. "It could be nothing. It could be a diversion."
"We're okay here," Corso said, and saw Miriah shiver. It was cold in here, he thought, and wished he'd thought to grab coats.
"We will be, for a bit. But I'm not letting us out until we've been able to reestablish the power. Otherwise, you're too vulnerable, Mir."
Miriah nodded, understanding Aric's worry. She was worried, too. If there was no power, there was no heat. No food, no running water. This could be a disaster, she realized, and reached her hand out to Aric.
"Ask Sol to open the bunkers. At least there's stored water there, and rations." Aric nodded and relayed the request, which Solasta had already done.
"She's secure," they heard Aric say, but no more. The detail was sent home to be with families, and those who would only go back to barracks stayed in the tunnel.
Maura had helped Coleen get the baby to the child care facility and they were both inside when the outage occurred. She knew that Aric was taking care of Miriah, so she grabbed Caitlin and took Coleen's hand, and they made their way to Devin and Mia's house, just for shelter. When Coleen questioned her, she replied, "The base will be in lockdown, love. At Mia's we can at least have a place to stay out of the cold."
Mia felt the slight panic that ran through the base, but forced herself to be calm. Merida was already anxious when Maura and Coleen knocked, and Mia gratefully let them in, glad the house was warm. She'd reached out to Devin, who was at the temple, and he was on his way to check on Logan and Lara. So far, everyone was accounted for. She sat with a smile and told herself they'd be fine.
Caly had been cooking in her mother's kitchen when the outage occurred, and she met Torian at the door. "We can go into the bunker, there's food and water there," he told her, but she shook her head.
"We have that here, I just stocked the kitchen earlier. I have food already warm," she told him. "Where's Mom and Dad?" Torian explained the bunker and protocol for any threat to the secure area, and she nodded. They'd all be okay, she reasoned, since everything would be back to normal soon.
Miriah asked for and got reports from all over the base, via Aric's relay. The work crews were attempting repairs, but it was slow going, and Miriah tried not to be anxious. She had been here about two hours, she thought, and she knew the batteries for the meager lights here would last more than three standard days. I'm not staying in here that long, she told herself, and snuggled closer to Corso. Finally Aric sat, and sighed. "What do we do now?" Miriah asked.
Aric's eyes glittered in the low light. "We wait."