Solasta wiped her face with her sleeve. Even though the air was very cool, being in the sun was making her feel quite warm. She was overseeing the work on the power transformers, and relaying the information to Aric, who was relating everything to Miriah. From what she could see, every time the engineers fixed a couple of things, there was another that fizzled and sparked. She paced around the crews and caught a strange scent, one she hadn't smelled in a very long time. She recalled the last time she'd smelled this particular mix of chemicals and varied explosives, and it took her back to her post on Ord Mantell. Thermite, she thought, and sniffed again. That's what was used here. She began to circle the workers, and suddenly caught another whiff, stronger this time. She made another circle and when she returned to where she'd smelled the thermite the strongest, she stopped. The crew had to stop their repairs, waiting for another sled with parts, and sat around a small fire, off to the side. Solasta just watched, her nostrils stinging, waiting for more clues.
"When are they going to get things going?" Corso asked softly, Miriah napping in his arms. He thought she felt a touch warmer than she should, and hoped he could get her out of this cold bunker soon.
"Sol says they're waiting on more parts," Aric sighed. "There's water and rations stored under the bed, and I'm so glad we have a 'fresher," he said. "At least Mir's not as stressed at the moment."
"I finally got her shivering stopped," Corso said. "I'm worried, if we're here much longer, about the temperature."
"First thing I'm doing, when we get out of here, is putting blankets in here," Aric replied. "But we've got to get things under control out there."
"Did Solasta say how things are going otherwise?"
"Everyone is calm and operating as normal, but it's not night yet, and no one's cold." Aric stood to pace, even in the small space.
Sarai wrapped up in a soft blanket and sat on the sofa, Magdalane on the other end. "We're better off here," she argued, and Mags closed her eyes.
"I'm worried about Mir, she seemed so upset," she said.
"She's with Aric and Corso, she's fine. She's worried about all of it, but she's safe." Sarai pulled force around her, allowing her a bit of warmth. She worried about the babies, who would be cold soon, and wondered where everyone was.
Mia had brought in some stones from the garden and set them in pans, using the force to warm them enough for heat in the house. By the time Devin brought Lara and the boys in, they were basking in the warmth, and Devin kissed Mia as he put Lucas in his stroller. "Clever," he whispered. "I knew we'd figure something out. Any word from anyone out there?"
"Nothing," Mia said, and clung to her husband. She knew that everyone was safe, or there would be more frantic activity, but from where she stood, she could only worry about what was in front of her. "I have food that doesn't need to be cooked, and we have plenty of water. We're going to be fine here."
"We will," Devin said, pulling her close. Mom's resting and things are progressing, he thought, and decided to stay put, waiting for more information or power, whichever came first.
Lana and Tali sat in the floor with Nico, who was telling stories of his childhood. Lana loved hearing his voice, the cadence of his words relaxing her. She was drifting along, almost asleep, when she started to think about the last few weeks. There was something she was missing, she was sure of it, but she just couldn't place what. She puzzled over it for a minute, then sleep called her, and she responded.
Nico glanced over at Lana, and smiled. Tali was nestled between them, and when Nico's attention went to her mama, she laughed. "Mama sleep, her tired."
"She works too hard," Nico said. "But I know she likes that." He wondered, in the depths of his thoughts, about any possible illness, but rejected it. She's a force user, he reasoned, and would know if there was anything wrong. Still, he worried, just a little, at his wife's fatigue and hoped he was right about work.
Solasta made several trips around the site of the explosion and always, her nose led her back to the nondescript Rodian. He's one of the refugees, she thought, and the third time she stopped near him, he stood. Walking at a normal pace, he threw his empty water bottle into a receptacle and, looking over his shoulder, began to wander farther. Solasta was momentarily distracted by the incoming sleds of parts, and it was only when she noticed the absence of the thermite smell that she started looking at each of the crew, immediately seeing who had gone missing. She strolled in the last direction she saw him and picked up the scent trail. It led into the forest and she started to move faster through the tall trees, knowing without a doubt that he had a hand in the destruction of their power supply.
Miriah opened her eyes and immediately questioned Aric about the progress. "Sol says they're almost done, and will be doing a test within the hour to see if their work holds. If it does, then they can finish more permanent repairs over the next couple of days."
"Let's hope it holds, then." Miriah rubbed her itchy eyes, and knew she'd managed to get the virus that always went around late in the winter. "Where's the water?"
Corso stood and reached under the bunk. "Here, darlin'. There's food if you want." Miriah shook her head, her throat hurt so much she didn't want to aggravate it further with eating. He watched as Miriah drank deeply and then stood, taking a few seconds to gain her balance before going to the refresher. We've got to get out of here, he thought. Mir needs to be warm and relaxed. He recognized the cold symptoms, having had it himself only a week ago, and hated that she was so miserable.
Miriah washed her face and dried it, and looked at her reflection. Why would someone go to so much trouble just to cause inconvenience, she wondered. What was to be gained? She thought about Devin's report of a mole on Odessen and wondered who he was reporting to, Malgus or Vowrawn? She sighed and made her way back to where Corso and Aric were just as the air system started to blow fresh, cool air into the bunker. "Test? Or are we good to leave?" she asked, and saw Aric's relay blinking furiously.
"Checking," he said, then, "That's the test. If everything holds for half an hour, then we're good." He listened again, and stood rapidly. "Solasta is chasing the suspect through the wooded area north of the grid," he said, and Miriah saw the broad grin covering his face.
Solasta followed her nose, and felt her claws descend as she ran through the trees. She was getting closer, she thought, and slowed to get her bearings. Stopped, she send a brief report to Aric, and then resumed her trail, making a slight adjustment, trying to be as quiet as possible. Everything was wet, so her footfalls were muffled, but the underbrush still whacked against her thighs and arms. She stopped again and raised her head, catching the faint trace of thermite in the air and adjusting her course again. He's running toward Haven, she thought, and at once was glad she'd regained her stamina since her leg injury. She ran a little longer then stopped for water. She had just put her canteen away when she saw movement and went still.
Lana woke and stood, stretching. Nico and Tali had found candles and they were at the dining table, playing a game. She shuffled over to them and Nico put his arm around her waist. "Sorry," she said, dropping a kiss on his head then Tali's.
"I'm glad you got a down day," he told her, looking into her eyes. "Feeling better?"
"Some," she admitted, turning to their kitchen. She took a large container of soup out of their fridge and warmed it with the force, making Tali laugh. When it was ready, she put it on the counter with bowls. Nico and Tali put their game away and Lana brought their bowls to the table. She had her own and had just sat when she was overcome with nausea. She just stared at the bowl for a few seconds before bolting to the refresher off their bedroom, Nico following. He found her just sitting on the floor, pale and sweating.
"Sweetheart, you need to go to the medcenter. I don't think either of us want Tali getting this bug," he told her, and she nodded weakly.
"As soon as everything is up, I'll go," she promised, and Nico handed her a washcloth, dampened with cool water. He helped her to stand and then to their bed, and just as she sat, the lights flickered then remained steady. Nico helped her to stand again, but she shook her head. "You stay here, with Tali, and I'll go to the med center. They'll treat me and send me home. No need to expose either of you any further," she told him, and reluctantly, he agreed.
Solasta could smell him now, not just the thermite. His fear, his sweat. She could see him trying and failing to climb into a tall tree, and grinned to herself. Stealthily she made her way to him, his attention so focused on the tree that he didn't hear her until she breathed on the back of his neck. "Thermite. I haven't smelled it in so long," she whispered. With a spike of fear, the Rodian tried again to climb the tree, to Solasta's laugh. "Do you really think you can get away now?" she asked him and, with a mighty pull, she tossed him to the ground, her stun cuffs on his wrists so fast he hadn't even had time to register that he now lay on the damp soil, her foot in his back.
"I need prisoner transport at these coordinates," Solasta said into her relay, and moved to sit on a nearby log, her blaster trained on the culprit. That felt really good, she thought, and took a deep breath, the air cool and clear, and thought about the pristine woods, the beauty of Odessen.
Devin received the message that Solasta had a suspect in custody in the power grid sabotage, and sighed in relief. Mia felt his release of tension and smiled at him. The babies were all on their way home, and Merida and Declan were playing in the floor after their naps. "All in all, everything went smoothly," she said, and he nodded.
"Thanks to you, love. We kept the babies warm enough and everyone was comfortable, fed and happy. That was all your doing," he told her and she sat beside him.
"So does this mean all is well, and your parents can come out of the bunker?" she asked, and he nodded.
"They'll be just fine," he told her, and kissed her cheek. He didn't say anything about his mom not feeling well and the suspect, but he didn't want to worry her. Instead, he relaxed, and enjoyed the kids and being with his family. Tomorrow would be time enough to interrogate Solasta's prisoner.
Miriah stood anxiously at the door to the bunker, hearing the mechanism as it started it's unlock sequence. The foreman engineer had assured Aric that the grid was working as intended, and he'd finally sent the signals for the door. Now, she wanted reports and information, but she knew that the base would still be in a recovery process. She tapped her foot as the hydraulic locks cycled, and heard Aric's side of the conversation he was having with Solasta. Good, she thought, at least something positive is having the spy in custody. The rush of air as the door opened invigorated Miriah and she shot into the hallway, immediately surrounded by her detail. "Thanks, guys," she told them with a wry smile and the group set off to the offices.
Caly grinned up at Torian as they both lay naked on her parent's sofa. At least we made good use of this unexpected interlude, she reasoned, and almost felt disappointed when the power came back on. "We need to get dressed," Torian said softly.
"Don't want to risk being here when my parent's arrive?" she teased, and saw his smile.
"I have a feeling that they wouldn't be amused, cyare (sweetheart)," he told her. "But I am very glad for the break."
"Hmmm me too," she replied, running her foot up the back of his bare leg. With a sigh, Torian stood and began to dress, and she sat up, looking for her own clothing. She knew her mother would be tied up with base operations before she came home, but she couldn't rule out a quick stop to check on everything. Smiling, she put her arms around her husband, and lay her head on his chest. We'll be decent, she thought, and wondered how long until they might make their way home. Together.
Miriah gathered her datapads, but her head ached so badly that she lay it down instead. "Mir, darlin'. Let's go get some meds and get you home. You can be comfortable and warm and still read through all the action reports." She lay, not moving, for several seconds before lifting her head and sneezing.
"Okay," was all she said, her throat on fire. She was entering the med center when she saw Lana in a room, and hoped that neither she nor Tali was sick. She was ushered into a private area and seen immediately, and afterward, taken home by the detail. She didn't remember seeing Lana until later, when she was drinking hot cocoa, her body covered in a warm throw and soft lounging clothing, and she hesitated to message, hoping that if her friend was indeed sick, she would be resting.
Lana had heard the diagnosis, but she didn't believe it. There was no way this was accurate, yet when she searched herself, she knew it to be true. Her unborn son was doing well, and her symptoms would subside over time. She shook her head, trying to clear her senses, as she saw Nico coming through the door. His grin said it all, and she lay back, tears of joy streaming from her eyes.