"Not so fast. The diversion was impressive, but...I know your moves too well to be fooled by a mere imitation." Darth Savik turned her back to the group, confident her force field would hold.
"You're not getting out of this," Miriah said, her voice in that low, too calm register that gave Corso chills. "Just surrender."
"Ah, Malora would have enjoyed this. 'The insect threatening the spider from within it's web,' she'd say. I sometimes miss her particular insanity." Miriah heard Aric growl then, remembering the fight on Ossus. Savik keyed the relay in her ear. "You're clear for launch, Petryph. The sensor jammers will activate when you exit orbit. You'll be all but impossible to track."
"Await my return, dear Onderon!" they heard from the speaker. "You shall know the splendor of my rule once again!"
"Let's ensure a bit of privacy, while we're at it. Shuttle Two, commence aerial assault on hostiles in zone five," Savik calmly commanded. Turning back to the console in front of her, her fingers clicked across the keyes. "Now then. I've prepared for this day for so long now… where to even begin?" She turned to face Miriah. "You struck me down in my prime, then moved on without a second thought. Corellia would have been my tomb, had my droids not found me. In truth, I should thank you. You made me what I am. Taught me the best way to move forward. I haven't risked direct combat in a decade. I send my droids, or manipulate fools like Petryph to fight for me." She took a step toward the force field, and Miriah's eyes narrowed as it lowered. "But now, at last, the force has reunited us. I've spent years studying you, crafting the ideal response to your every tactic. Shall we test what I've learned?"
"Bring it, Savik. You don't know me at all," Miriah responded, and she felt Corso reach for her arm.
Darth Savik drew her lightsaber, and suddenly Miriah was alone with her in the room. Some force trick, she briefly thought, before pulling her blaster. She didn't have time to look at her family, rolling sideways to avoid the slashing of Savik's saber. Miriah managed to find a cover spot, and her first shot found it's target in Savik's thigh. The resulting howl of pain made Miriah smile, and she tapped into the rich force on the planet to steady her hand as she continued her barrage on the darth. She didn't think, she just acted, feeling the singing of force in her movements. In only a few minutes, Savik was on her knees, bleeding from multiple painful, bloody wounds—Miriah's blaster to her head.
Savik's voice had lost the bravado, and Miriah had to step closer to hear it. "Hate was supposed to make me stronger. All of my rage, all of these years… it still wasn't enough..." She shifted her weight, trying to find a position to lessen the pain. "I've studied, trained, risen to the Dark Council! What does it take to beat you? How can you be so powerful?" The force field at the door disappeared and Corso ran to Miriah's side.
"I fight for others," Miriah replied. "My family, my people, my pact with the Republic worlds."
Savik slumped onto the floor. "Please...it's clear that I'll never beat you. I don't… I don't think I even want to, anymore. I just want to understand." She groaned and Miriah almost felt pity for the ruined Sith before her "I can't return to the Sith now, not after this. They cannot help me become more than I am. Only you can."
Savik's pleas fell silent as Tau and Arn entered the room. "Looks like we won," she commented.
"Everyone all right?" Aric asked, his weapon trained on the downed Sith.
"Some of the city guards were hit by the air strikes, but we're pretty sure they'll make it," Arn told the group.
"Looks like you have one prisoner. Was Petryph in the other shuttle that launched?" Tau asked. Corso nodded.
Savik spoke up, her eyes begging. "I can help you! You can easily track him down with his sensor jammer's algorithm. I'll give you the algorithm, whatever you want!"
"Yeah? How bout the other fleets the Empire is targeting? Where will your friends strike next?" Tau challenged.
"Mek-Sha. It's an old mining outpost that was converted to a fueling station. I don't have the details, but that's our...err...Malgus's next target."
Miriah turned to her family. "Daeruun has already requested we go there, and I told Devin to send Shae Vizla and Arcann. Let's get back to the palace, we can sort all of this out there." With nods of agreement, Miriah used her kolto packs to get Savik on her feet, and Aric slapped force cuffs on her wrists. He and Torian led their prisoner between them, Miriah and Corso behind them.
Back in the senate room, they gathered around the meeting table, Senator Nebet addressing them. "Then Savik's cooperation is sincere? She actually told you the Empire's plan?"
"It is. We already have ships on the way there," Miriah confirmed. "If we can stop them on Mek-Sha like we did here, we might just stand a chance of defending Corellia."
Theron stepped forward as Tau and Arn left, their mission sending them on to Mek-Sha. "We've got Savik on an Alliance shuttle, ready to move out. She says she wants to stay with us… well, with you mainly, Commander."
"The Republic requests we transfer her to their control," Aric informed Miriah, and saw her eyebrow raise. "How would you like to proceed?"
Miriah only considered her options for a moment. "Take her to Odessen. She could become a real asset to the Alliance." Aric nodded and gave instructions in his relay, catching Miriah's slight sardonic grin and sending one back to her.
"Using Savik's information, we've sent troops to follow King Petryph. We expect to have him back in a matter of days," Nebet informed them, a grateful smile on her face. "His trial will be interesting, of course. But I'm more concerned with what will come after. If the nobles can't agree, the question of leadership could turn violent."
"The nobles will have you to guide them. They'll make a smart choice." Miriah mind was already in flight, Corso could tell. With a few more pleasant words, they were on their way out of the palace when Theron caught up and called for the Commander to wait.
"Commander, I need a moment," he said, and Miriah met his eyes, seeing the defeat there. "I'd like to stay. I've discovered some things on the moon, Dxun, that bear a more thorough investigation."
Miriah studied the man before her. She knew that he and Mags had some sort of quick conversation that ended with him returning to his quarters. She had not even seen him after at all, and now, this? She finally decided that she wanted to learn more about this place as well, and nodded. "If that's what you want, Theron, of course."
Theron let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Commander. I'll send info as I get it." Miriah turned crisply and they set off again to the ship.
Caly had gotten a quick message from Torian, and was ready for them as they came through the air lock. She'd fed Ty and he was resting in one of the cabins, and she told her Aunt Maura that he'd talked to Coleen. Maura looked a little better than yesterday, but Caly knew they were all ready for the down time of space travel. "Mom, do you want to eat first or fly first?" she asked, and Miriah's face brightened.
"Fly. Then we can relax," Miriah replied and Aric and Corso ran to the bridge.
Lana had a restful night, had dropped Tali at school with promises to call if she needed her, and met Nico on the way to their weekly check in with the med center. They had just been sent to an exam room when the obstetrician came breezing in, his specialized scanner in his hands. "So, Vice Commander, tomorrow is your due date, right?"
"Sure is, and we're hoping he's ready," she said, smiling up at Nico. The doctor ran the scan twice, frowning.
"Well, it won't be much longer, but it won't be tomorrow," he finally said, looking up at her. "Just keep taking things easy and he'll come when he's ready."
Lana sighed. She loved carrying this baby, but she was definitely ready for the next phase. "Really?" she said, exasperated.
"It's okay, love. We may never get to do this again, we should enjoy every second," Nico said, his voice soothing the rough edges of her sudden fatigue. He could see her war with the emotions that seemed ever at the surface these days and then finally sigh.
"You're right," she murmured, and sat up. "Okay, when do I come in next?" They made an appointment for three days away and left the med center. Once out in the lobby, Lana stopped, Nico instantly by her side. "Let's go walk for a bit."
"You got it," Nico said, and pulled her into the weak sunlight of late winter and onto the promenade.
Miriah was on the sofa in the lounge when Maura sat down beside her. "Mir, I need to talk to you. I don't know how much longer I can continue in my commission."
Her words immediately had Miriah's attention. "Mo, I know you're under the weather but..."
"This is a chronic disease state," Maura said quietly. "The medications I have to take, the health regimen I have to keep to, makes me unable to continue to wear armor and be ready to fight at a moment's notice." Miriah could hear the disappointment in her sister's voice, and her heart went out to her.
"You don't have to quit being a part of the Alliance leadership, though. In fact, I would love to have you working with the exec team, especially since Lana will be on maternity leave soon. I need you, Maura. I will always need you by my side." Miriah hugged her then, and Maura felt a weight being lifted from her.
"I'll do whatever you need," Maura vowed, and Miriah smiled at her, at once feeling things click into place around her. "Aric said you'd say that, by the way. He's been so distracted, trying to keep you safe and me well."
"It's been a strange few days," Miriah said, and they both laughed. It truly has, Maura thought.
Magdalane had not noticed that Theron was not aboard until they all sat for dinner. When she asked Miriah in the force, and Miriah told her what had transpired, she felt peace. Yes, she thought. Peace. She ate heartily, not worried about the next day or even the next moment. She caught Caly looking at her and smiled at her niece.
Caly held Torian's hand, anxious to have him to herself and find out what had gone on. She knew that her mother had a prisoner, but that was all, and her curiosity was making her bite her tongue. She was well aware that nothing would be said at their meal, and she was trying to distract herself with the chatter around the table. Aunt Mags looks relaxed, at last, she thought. Mom looks tired. Aunt Maura looks happy. Maybe that's enough, she thought, squeezing Torian's hand.
Corso had said little since the battle with Savik, and Miriah sought his eyes as they ate. He looks okay, she thought, and was taken a little aback when he pulled her in for a kiss. "I figured you were mad, sugar," she whispered.
"Just glad you're okay and we're going home," he whispered back, his hand on her thigh. She took comfort in their touch, and sighed happily, taking another bite of the delicious food that Caly had prepared.
Lana and Nico had walked and shopped, and when they picked Tali up from school, they decided to get ice cream before heading home. Sitting in the courtyard, where the snow was beginning to melt, they laughed as Tali recounted her day, and Lana felt Devin's message that the Commander was in flight. Good, she thought, and realized she was more content than she had been in a while. When they were done, and on the way back to the apartment, she leaned into Nico, his arm around her shoulder. "Miriah is on the way home," she murmured, and felt him smile.
"So glad that they are," he responded. Thank all the stars, he thought.
Devin made his way home, and saw Mia at the window. "Hey, beautiful. You look happy."
"I'm glad Mom and Dad are coming home," she said. "I've managed to keep it from Merida, at least so far."
"Probably a good idea," he agreed, and they cooked together. When they sat the children down to eat, Declan was chattering about playing with a puppy at the park when Merida's face came up and her very light blue eyes took on a glow.
"Mimi and Pops, home soon?"she asked, and Devin nodded. The transformation of his daughter's face told him he'd answered what she wanted to hear, her smile brilliant and the whole house feeling her joy. How can I keep anything from her that would make her so happy, he thought, smiling back at her and seeing her eat everything on her plate and ask for more.
"Wow, being overjoyed stokes her appetite," Mia said, placing seconds on the table for her daughter.
"Maybe it's just the force use. It makes Mom ravenous," he reasoned, and kissed Mia's nose as she sat. Whatever the cause, he was so grateful for healthy, happy children, and out of nowhere he had a pang of concern for Lana's child that made him sober. Only for a moment, then the worry was gone, but it was enough to have him vowing to ask about them tomorrow.
Miriah was almost asleep when she felt Corso sit up. "What's wrong, sugar?" she asked. Corso didn't answer her, but when she put her hand on his back, he lay back down beside her, taking her in his arms. He never spoke but cuddled her close, and she felt comforted enough to fall asleep again. Corso didn't though. His dreams were filled with the confrontation with Savik, one in which he could only observe. Again.