The night of Bail's party, Dahn came early and without Maia, just as Bail had requested. Dahn knew, subconsciously, that that meant Bail wanted him to keep the book from his fiancée. He didn't want to start their marriage keeping secrets, and he wondered why Bail would encourage it. Dahn had made no effort to conceal the text during the time it took to consume.

Dahn accepted a proffered glass of wine from one of Bail's droids. "Interesting read."

Bail nodded smaller, caught in the middle of swallowing some wine. "I'm glad you thought so." He claimed a seat of his own. "What did you think of the differences between this and the version you remember?"

Dahn narrowed his eyes. "I think he's right that when the common people-service workers, lawyers, businesspeople, doctors-are richer, they have more money to invest in their own lives. The quality of life naturally increases. I don't understand how he could acknowledge that and also favor high interest rates."

Bail sat back on the couch, wondering if Dahn heard himself. "People are paradoxical. I don't think he perceived it as taking advantage of anyone who didn't have the incredible wealth and influence that we have."

Dahn set his glass down. "We've had no trouble paying the interest rates since they spiked eight years ago." He shook his head. "I can't even imagine trying to start a small business. But then we've had more than enough to never work for my entire life." He glanced at his glass of wine. "Someone made this, you know? Even if a droid picked it and processed it, it extracted grapes from someone's vineyard." He swirled the wine and smelled it before taking a sip. "My family's estate winery has a much higher quality flavor than the usual, and I can only assume this is from your stock, because it is delicious." He raised the glass. "Why don't we encourage small producers?"

"Because we encourage large producers," Bail commented. "Some industries have been nationalized, but those that haven't have been monopolized by the same families that have worked them for hundreds or thousands of years."

Dahn winced-his own family was one of those for the shipping industry. "On Corellia our local laws break up trusts. In some ways they're stricter than Imperial Law." He glanced down at his wineglass. Previously, the Pryscotts had vertically integrated the shipping industry on-planet. As his father took over from Dahn's grandfather, he settled for much less than the original suit that had been trying to break them up. Pryscott Shipping had stretched their building operations off-planet, and paid for their commuting Corellian workers. They now owned a small commercial space-line between Corellia and New Plympto that also saw minor tourist activity from the mining community there. Dahn reflected that part of the reason they'd shipped workers may have been xenophobia, since the Nosaurians warble was unpleasant to most human Basic speakers. "I don't like to see some of the mega-corporations crushing all competition in their path. And." He lowered his voice. "Mon Calamari and Kashyyyk used to be hubs of development and activity, now they're. You know."

"Have you spoken to Maia about the slavery issue," Bail asked.

"I have." He finished his glass. At least his family didn't use slave labor directly, even if some of their raw materials naturally were bought on the galactic market, which, of course, included enslaved production of goods. "She says the Emperor's tied her hands, but that you've rubbed off on her."

Bail smiled. "I'm glad to hear she's at least admitted it to you. It's difficult to move away from what you were taught for your entire childhood, I recognize that. I place little blame on Maia."

"Imagine being related to her father, even by marriage." Dahn swallowed, focusing on the family portrait Bail kept on the wall. "He can be polite, in a cold way, but some of the things he's done make my blood want to freeze and boil at the same time."

"It's the same way for her," Bail said. He recalled the stories he'd been able to coax from Maia, of all of the times she used her father's war crimes to try and mock him. He knew Dahn knew the stories as well.

"It's just difficult to imagine. I was almost relieved when Maia said they wouldn't be coming tonight," he admitted. "Anyway. Let's not talk ill of my in-laws before they're even my in-laws." He shook his head. "I'd rather not be on Wilhuff Tarkin's bad side."

Bail nodded, sighing. "Back to the text. You understand it was the Emperor who shifted to even more support for select monopolies."

"No need to remind me. He's also done well financially, of course." Dahn said. "How many quadrillion credits at his disposal?" He shook his head. "Not to speak ill of the Emperor, but it's too much power in one person's hands."

Bail held back a snort. "I agree. As do many of us in the old-guard. We remember when Palpatine began to actively seize more power. You were very young."

"At the beginning." Dahn frowned. "I mean, I was barely passing maths class at the time." He looked at the older man. "What was it like? When you didn't have to whisper about your complaints to only close friends?"

Bail sighed. "Well. We still formed factions, we still associated with others who mostly shared our views. But we were naive when the changes started, we thought Palpatine would still listen to reason." He scoffed, shaking his head.

"The petition?" Dahn offered. "We discussed the inefficacy of it in my comparative politics classes. My undergraduate thesis asserted that it didn't work because the Emperor already planned to take power." He rolled his eyes. "My professor yelled at me, which told me I was at least partially right"

"I'm going to tell Maia that you said you know you're right when academics yell at you," Bail commented. He swallowed. "No, but I think that claim is correct. By that point, so many laws had already passed to siphon off control in millions of smaller ways. I don't know how we didn't see that it had gotten that far, but many of us were framed as treasonous just for signing."

"But you're still kicking." Dahn smirked, and then shook his head, frowning at Bail. "Do you think there is any way we can make the Emperor devolve a little power?"

Bail turned his head to the side, his brow knitting. "It would have to be a delicate project within the current system. A lot of work with very little gain."

"Very true." Dahn set his empty glass on the table. "What happens when the Emperor isn't with us any more?"

Bail shook his head, slower still. He watched Dahn. "I try not to think too much on that. If I've managed to stay in his graces for this long, when he knew of my signature and when I rallied against him during the Clone Wars, I can't worry about what might come if I continue."

Dahn winced. "I only mean he's not a young man. Can we wait it out?"

Bail blinked. He hadn't expected Dahn to be so overt. "Well, he isn't young, but he's not quite old, either. And every assassination attempt has failed. I imagine when he does pass, someone, perhaps Maia's father, if not Darth Vader, will try to keep the Empire in check. There will be a power vacuum. Someone will fill it. Maybe even Maia."

Dahn did not see that coming. He couldn't believe that Bail did, either. "If there is a military coup, then there would be a chance for factions to break apart the Empire or." Dahn winced. "Conflict would cost many lives."

"Coups so far have been led by young officer who thought themselves invincible and knew nothing of what they dealt with," Bail commented. He knew that was why they had failed. The timing had not been right. He shook his head. "At this point, anything, including inaction, costs many lives."

"If everything costs lives, and we're doing well." Dahn cut himself off. "I try to keep people safe and ensure high standards for spaceflight and construction, but there's only so much that I can do."

Bail set his glass down, folding his hands with a sigh. "You know that we can do better."

"Tarsus Valorum is long dead, and it seems like more of his ideas die by the year." Dahn gestured to the book in disgust. "People aren't being taught to think any more, only to be organic droids."

A knock came at the door, and Bail looked up sharply. "Leia," he called to the stairs.

Leia scurried, looking over the staircase. "What did I do?"

"Check who's at the door, please." He turned back to Dahn. "If you want to do something about it, you can trust that you have my confidence."

Dahn looked up at Bail, frowning as something ate away, tugging at his head. "What do you mean, Bail?" He blinked, looking at the glass of wine, next to the book and back up to Organa. "You don't." He stared on Bail until his vision blurred. "You've been doing more than writing petitions."

Leia ran down the stairs, pulling a step-stool out to check the peep-hole. Bail did not deny the accusation, his expression neutral as he focused on Dahn.

"Does that trouble you?"

"Yes." Before Dahn could continue, Leia called from the door.

"It's Maia! Drea too. Should I let them in?"

"We'll talk later, Bail." Dahn swallowed, his mind racing with the revelation.

"Let her in, Leia." Bail smiled when Leia hugged Maia and let the women inside.

Maia looked tired. Bail and Dahn both knew what to look for. On the surface, her hair and makeup were immaculate, and she smiled.

The women seemed to hang on each other as they moved inside. It reminded Bail of when they were younger. Drea was still very close, practicing on Alderaan, but they were both so busy, they rarely saw each other in person.

"Hey," Maia exclaimed, letting go of Drea and hopping to Dahn's side.

He moved forward, pulling his partner into a tight hug as Drea came behind. It wasn't so much that she was demure. She was not a fan of parties.

"Hello," She smiled, reaching out to shake Dahn's hand before turning to Bail, offering the other man a small hug after Maia did the same.

"How was the conference," Dahn asked Drea.

The other woman shrugged. "It was great. I thought Alec Pradeux didn't know I was coming to planet. And then he showed up on the second day."

Bail smiled. "He has a way of knowing everything where movers and shakers are, as well as those related to them."

Drea laughed, her head turned up and her tone self-deprecating. "Speaking of, my parents are coming tonight because they think Cassio Tagge won't be here. Will my dad be sorely disappointed?"

Bail shook his head. "Not on that account. Cassio is at the launching of several of his family's new battlecruisers. Far from here."

Drea grinned, patting Dahn's back. "Then this night hopefully won't end in a fist fight."

Bail smiled small. "That's probably a good portent for the party, then."

"Is Pradeux coming," Drea asked Bail. "Or Sate Pestage or anyone?"

"It's a relatively small affair. They were invited but have other, grander, events to attend to."

"Meanwhile, I'll bet a thousand credits you're here because Alec told you to be." Dahn raised a curious eyebrow at Drea.

"It's no bet, I already confirmed that." Drea sat on the couch.

"So a safe bet, then," Bail smirked at Dahn. "Or were you distracted by your fiancée?"

"Maia's distracting as the hells." Dahn smiled, pushing a curl out of her face. He frowned. "You look tired, sweetheart."

"She's tired of people." Drea observed. "Which is why I suggested we both avoid this party."

Maia rolled her eyes, pulling down to the couch with her. She sat next to Drea. "I am not tired of people, I'm tired and pregnant."

"Tired of people," Drea repeated. "Stressed and worn out, because you never get time alone with your fiancée to do unspeakable things with each other."

She prodded Maia's arm. "You are working too hard for your pregnancy, though. I'm surprised you're not more anxious.

Maia's eyes widened, and she turned to watch her best friend. "Leia's right here. Also, for all of your attempts to diagnose me, you don't know how babies are made?"

"I'm teasing you. And Leia knows about these things, isn't that right Leia?"

Leia Organa's eyes opened wide from surprise. "I know how it works. Yeah." She looked at her father and didn't continue.

"If she knows, it's not my fault." Maia held her hands up. "I told her nothing."

Bail gave them a disparaging look. "As if I believe that." He pulled Leia into a hug.

"Dad," Leia complained, twisting out of his embrace. "I'm not a baby."

Maia blinked, turning her head to the other side. "Wait. I think I was actually there when you told her how babies were born, Bail."

Bail smiled. "Back when you were staying with our family." He shook his head at the happy memory. It was times like those that he wanted to make more possible when they finally won.

Maia lay her head on Drea's shoulder. "Stop trying to diagnose me."

"Too late." Drea smirked. "But I require my fee before I deliver diagnosis."

"Huh." Maia winced. "How about instead of paying your fee, I correct you every time you mispronounce a Sith Lord's name?"

"You do that anyway." Drea commented, glancing over at her cousin.

Maia nudged Drea's neck.

Drea smirked, pushing her away. "You're in public."

"Whoops. Bail, can we get a room?"

Drea laughed. "What makes you think I'd settle for you?"

Bail rolled his eyes, nodding at Maia. "Do you want to lay down? We do have guest rooms, you know."

Maia rubbed her eyes, careful not to mess with her makeup. Her prep team could get there quickly enough to touch her up, but that didn't mean she wanted to have to call them. "How much time do I really have?"

Dahn checked his watch. "Up to half an hour. That's enough time to rest your eyes, even if not sleep." He pecked her hand. "I could also come with you if you wanted to talk to me. Decompress."

She looked at him oddly, trying to determine if she incorrectly read a sexual proposition into the comment.

"I think he wants to-you know," Drea commented, her tone dry. "Dahn, what's your plan, please?"

He shook his head, rubbing Maia's arm. "I'm serious! I thought we could cuddle."

Bail raised an eyebrow. "I didn't plan on changing any sheets, nor on having them changed."

Leia laughed, far more loudly than she had intended as she appeared behind the couch.

"How do you understand that joke?" Bail asked, looking at her in disbelief, "You're supposed to be three years old."

His daughter blinked at him. Maia's comlink beeped with a message. "My parents want to know if it's okay for them to come for like an hour." She looked up from the comm. "And they said not to ask you directly. So. Whoops."

Bail looked amongst the young people. "Well, they were invited, so they are, of course, allowed to come. Not that I'll try to debate them, but is there anything your father is specifically fixated on at the moment?"

Maia narrowed her eyes and shrugged. "He keeps complaining that we're talking about building heights and zoning regulations. Are you going to hold that over him?"

"Absolutely. Did you know I support no height limits? Build to space, for all I care." Bail raised an eyebrow. "I'll behave."

"Please do," Maia messaged her parents back. "I don't want to be in the middle any more than I have to."

Dahn shifted, kissing Maia's cheek. "So, did you want to rest your eyes?"

Maia watched him, blinking sardonically at his desperation. "If you mess up my hair, I'll kill you."

"I wasn't planning to mess up your hair!" Dahn protested with a smile. "Your hair always looks amazing."

"Not true," Maia commented, slipping her comm away.

Bail shrugged. "It's true, actually."

"Not true." Drea raised both brows, responding to an email on her comm.

"I always have someone fixing it." Maia rolled her eyes, looking to Bail now. "You do understand what Dahn's proposing, correct?"

"With only a few minutes to spare, I don't think you two can get into too much trouble." Organa shrugged. "But you be the judge. You seemed to manage perfectly well in the palace on Alderaan."

Maia's cheeks colored and she stood, grabbing Dahn's hand.

"Guest room on the third floor," Organa commented.

Dahn raised an eyebrow, smiling over to Maia and squeezing her hand. "Do you know the way?"

"To the third floor? No," Maia snarked.

"Then let's find it quick," Dahn teased.

She rolled her eyes, pulling him up the staircase and leaving Bail to tend to last minute preparations while Drea replied to client messages on her comm.

Bail Organa shifted into Dahn's view as the younger man finished a conversation with Jase Valorum, who had replaced Maia as Eriadu's Senator at her appointment to the Prime Ministership years prior. "Can we continue our talk," Bail asked.

Dahn glanced around to make sure no party-goers watched and that Valorum had retreated. Everyone here was a politician. Everyone was listening. Everyone was kriffing asking the baby's gender and recommending names. Dahn held back an eyeroll and refocused on Bail. "Where?"

"Just over there. Be subtle." He chuckled. From a distance, it would look like they enjoyed polite conversation. "I think you understood what I was saying." Bail commented as they moved towards one of the empty corners of the room.

Dahn managed to keep from frowning, but his eyes were like glass. "I'm starting a family, Bail."

"So are quadrillions of sentients." Organa shifted, raising an eyebrow. "And I heard what you said about slaves. Don't you think they have families as well?"

Dahn shifted between his feet. "I have to think of my family."

"Of course. The wealthy always have the most to lose. Do you think we're safe as it is? You don't think they're watching us, recording us?"

Fear gripped Dahn's chest, and he peered around, lowering his voice. "You said it yourself, how many of your friends have been murdered over this? My predecessor, Fang Zar, Padmé Amidala is dead. How many others?"

"It's not an easy thing to ask, but what I need from you right now is a promise to keep this secret."

"I won't tell anyone," Dahn said. He tensed. "You knew I wouldn't. That's why you asked me, right before your party."

The senior senator raised an eyebrow, glancing towards Maia and Dahn's parents, who had begun to talk in the other corner. "You won't tell anyone?"

Dahn followed his gaze. "You can't ask me to inform on her."

"I won't. I don't want you to do that unless she's involved in something personally."

Dahn looked back to him. "She is the most important thing. Don't ask me to do that."

"I'm not. Dahn, please. This is not about getting to Maia." Bail's tone was firm. "I have a direct enough line to ask her myself when the time is right. This is about knowing where we stand, Dahn."

"I won't. Tell. Anyone," Dahn repeated. He looked down at his comlink, startled at its buzz. "Maia and my parents know something is wrong." He showed Bail a message Maia had sent. Are you okay?

Bail smiled, shaking his head. "Then we need to change the subject."

I'm fine, Dahn sent back. Want to come talk with us?

Maia showed his mother the message, and the three of them uprooted, moving to Dahn and Bail's side. "What are you boring him with this time," Maia asked, wrapping her arms around Dahn's waist.

"Dahn seems to want to raise the height restrictions." Bail said, frowning in faux concern. "I think he may have had too much to drink."

"Just think, we could build a tower from here to Corellia." Dahn said, his tone dry. "It would be so majestic." He winced, glancing around the room. "Did the Motti's already make their getaway, or do I just not see them?"

Maia narrowed her eyes, peering up at her partner. "They left about an hour ago. Drea was ecstatic. Did you just use the word 'majestic'?"

Dahn raised his eyebrows, poking her arm. "You didn't waste any time transitioning there. Majestic things are majestic." He cocked his head to the side. "I don't know when was the last time I used the word in conversation."

Laira raised her own eyebrows in exactly the same expression. "I believe it was when you were five and first saw cousin Shura."

"Okay, it was more recently than that, mom." Dahn blushed. "And you can stop talking about that, I was five."

"No, mum, never stop talking about that, I love that story," Maia said, snuggling Dahn tight.

Laira's head turned to Maia. She seemed to beam, bouncing once and grabbing Dahniel's arm. "You're both adorable. And perfect." She looked ready to say something else but broke into an uncontrollable yawn instead, squeezing him harder.

"We've been up for thirty-nine hours now." Dahniel commented. He smiled as well, though he didn't want to draw attention to the epithet and risk making Maia or his son uncomfortable. "We returned from the trade summit on Duros, and here we are."

Laira nodded, reaching up to mess with her husband's hair. "Your parents called us when we got home, Maia. Not that we're unhappy to see the two of you. And we enjoyed spending time with them here, too, before they left."

"Of course." Maia smiled at them, feeling that she'd gone too long without sleeping herself. She thanked the Force they her parents weren't still there to keep introducing her to people she already knew. "Maybe it would be good for you to turn in. You can stay with Dahn and I."

Dahn shook his head. "I don't know what you're thinking, inviting them."

"No speeder, three days." Dahniel Pryscott remarked.

"Dad, you can't-"

"Three days," Dahniel repeated.

Dahn blinked, looking to his father and then to Maia. "Is this a dream, and I actually still sixteen?"

"And I'm pregnant, the scandal that it is." Maia nodded, sending a message to her guards that her future parents-in-law would be returning to her quarters. "No wonder the speeder is being taken from you."

"I'm nice, though," Dahniel pointed out. "Only three days."

Maia frowned to Bail. "Would you be terribly angry if we ducked out?"

Bail shook his head. "Maia, you're young, but you're pregnant, I think the two more than cancel out. Get whatever rest you need. Will I see you for brunch at Wyr Lokkonal's?"

"Probably," Maia replied. "Yes."

"Then you should RSVP so security can do their dance." Bail shrugged, nodding.

Maia scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Security doesn't need to do anything, it's just going to be senators. What, are you going to kill me there?"

"Yup," Dahn murmured.

"Uh huh." Bail confirmed.

"Count us in." Laira commented. "For the brunch, not the murder."

"Oh, mom, it'll be really boring." Dahn protested. "Not that I won't get you tickets if you want them, but it'll be really boring."

Laira turned her head to the side, ignoring her son. If she wanted to invite herself to brunch, she would. "Why haven't you sent us the new sonogram holos? Why didn't we see them until Maia was so kind?"

"Maia didn't send them to me, she's the one who didn't forward them along."

"Wow, don't try to blame this on me, I showed your parents," Maia commented, flicking his shoulder.

"Exactly. Fixed now," Dahn protested.

"We lost vital hours of not having the holos." Dahniel sighed, shaking his head. "I'm not sure I can ever forgive you two."

Maia smirked, squeezing Dahn's lower back before she pulled away, forwarding Dahniel and Laira the holos.

Dahn half jumped as his mother beamed before yawning again. "I think we have to excuse ourselves." She commented apologetically. "We'll see you before brunch, right?"

"Absolutely. You're going to be staying with us tonight, at least. Though tomorrow, I'll probably kick you out to your own apartment." Dahn inhaled, giving his parents a look. "Why don't we get ready to leave?"

Laira nodded. "I like that plan." She glanced at her husband. "You know, since we invented Dahn, technically we invented this baby too."

"Yes, dear." Dahniel smirked. "But let them think it's their idea."

"It's hardly novel." Maia rolled her eyes, winking at Dahn. They hadn't been planning to get pregnant at all when they had. The process necessary was even less novel of an idea than human reproduction.

Dahn shifted, awkwardly avoiding his parent's eyes as he gave his fiancée a squeeze. "Shall we?" He asked. When she nodded, they moved through the crowd, finding their way to every group before joining her security outside.

Armand Isard glanced at the clock, smiling as the hour ticked closer to two thirty. The fact that Dahn Pryscott was coming to see him somehow made the meeting feel even more right. It was a show of power he rarely afforded himself, his real strength coming from information rather than brute force, physical or social. In truth, Dahn was doing him a favor, and he would in no way gloat over the fact that the busy senator had scheduled around him. He reminded himself to thank Maia for asking her fiancée to do this, as the II historically had problems infiltrating the social networks on Corellia. Always one to play the long game of stability, Isard was less than concerned about a Jedi or untrained force-sensitive causing problems for a crime lord-the Inquisitors would not be hard pressed to capture them. But the chance to get valuable social intelligence on Corellia was well worth the investment of time and energy. He glanced up a knock on the door. "Come in." Armand commented, standing and moving around his desk to greet his visitor.

Pryscott beamed, shaking Isard's hand and accepting the offered seat in front of the other man's desk. Isard's expression gave away nothing, tried and tested through years of field work, but it didn't put Dahn off. He'd had more than enough experience of his own with politicians and businesspeople and spies.

"Thank you for coming." Isard nodded as they broke hand contact. "Good to see you. I'll cut directly to the point." He inhaled, eying the other man coldly, though not aggressively. Was it so simple as asking? "You've read the briefing materials that we've gathered, yes? Xizor is the one who initially gave us this tip, but his claim of a half dozen or more Jedi on the loose on Corellia seems spurious. Unless II has been looking in the wrong places. But I think not." He afforded himself a rare eyebrow-raise. "Whatever the case, many of Xizor's questionably legal crops have been damaged. This is of less concern to us, but the fact that it is widespread hints at a greater problem." Isard's elbow slid down his desk, and he picked up a pen. He surprised Dahn by doing nothing with it but hold it in place. "Have you heard of any shipment issues for your family's company? I suppose more in parts and construction than your overall industry."

Dahn shook his head. "As I suspected, we don't seem to have been targeted at all. I hope it was all right, but I asked my father to see what he could find out, and it looks like no legitimate businesses in the system have been targeted like Xizor's shipment was."

"Thank you for that." It never hurt to have the signals intelligence confirmed by a human. "I assume that means that illegitimate businesses have."

Dahn exhaled, nodding. "It seems like only they have. The most akin seemed an incident at what he described at a Hutt-Black Sun trade-off point on Tinnel IV that Moff Jerjerrod hadn't even heard about when I asked him. But there have been issues with smaller players too." He took a stack of flimsiplast from his briefcase, sliding it across to the other man. "I wrote it up for you, though the format may be atypical." Dahn wasn't a spy.

"Thank you." Armand accepted the flimsiplast, holding it up, but not reading it. If it had stemmed to the Quanta sector, that did broaden the scope of the problem. He frowned, though his face remained still.

His door opened and Isard frowned, snapping to look at the intruder. Dahn noticed him clapping a hand to his blaster.

The pack ejected onto the ground with a click. A simple force trick. Jerec smirked as he walked into Isard's office. "Fancy seeing you here," he commented to Dahn, though the senator got the impression the comment was a formality. " I have a message for your fiancée."

Dahn glanced at the Director, and then looked back at Jerec. He was a Miraluka, a member of the Near-Human species of Force Sensitives that used the Force for vision. Jerec had been a Jedi Archaeologist, and was now a senior Inquisitor. Dahn knew that Jerec knew Maia. They spoke infrequently, and typically around their research. "Have you called her?"

"Her busy schedule has gotten in the way. Has she spoken to you of the absurdity that is moving the jurisdiction of the Inquisitors to the Imperial Security Bureau?" He held his face turned toward Dahn, though he had no eyes. "Tell her I strongly disapprove," he said it, as if that would settle it.

Dahn smirked, cocking his head and nodding. "I will let her know." Maia spearheaded the plan for the move. Truly, it made much more organizational sense than the current housing of the Inquisitors by Imperial Intelligence.

Behind his desk, Isard blinked, grabbing his blaster pack from the floor. These kriffing Inquisitors. "Jerec, we are in a meeting."

Jerec moved forward, sending the comm a request for three dimensional data that he could parse. "The Inquisitors will take care of it." He smiled. "Though that confirmation will help."

Isard spread his hands, narrowing his eyes in annoyance. "You'll take care of what? Do you even know what we're talking about?"

"The attacks on the criminals we suddenly care about. They're clearly the work of a Jedi." He continued even as Dahn shifted uncomfortably from that revelation. "The security tapes reveal a clear pattern of a laser melting metal, not to mention the sound of an igniting lightsaber." He tapped a finger against his own. "This type of action is why the Inquisitors need to stay under II's jurisdiction."

Dahn scoffed. "You couldn't have recognized that if you were in ISB?"

Jerec scowled. "ISB would have us crawling up our own kriffing asses to sign in three different places before we so much as looked at the map data." He shook his head. "I don't think we need the civilian any more. Too dangerous."

"Dahn confirmed our data." Isard said. "Jerec, he's been helpful. And he is a senator." Which didn't change the fact that he had come to Isard's office, the sovereignty of which Jerec was quite obviously disregarding. Isard kept his face still, though he allowed a hint of annoyance to seep through.

Jerec snorted, lifting a pen with the force and pulling it to his hand. He twirled the pen, smiling at the Director before tossing the pen in a low arc to Dahn. The other man surprised Jerec by snatched it out of the air with no difficulty.

Dahn smirked, waving the pen. "If we're done playing games, do you need me or don't you?"

Jerec tilted his head. "I would recommend distancing yourself from this. Even if you can help, it would be unwise to draw ire from a Jedi gone rogue. Let my Inquisitors handle it." He turned to focus on Isard. "Use us while you have us, Director."

Isard narrowed his eyes, tapping his fingers on the desk. "I'm inclined to agree. If our target is a Jedi, you shouldn't be involved, Senator."

Dahn watched them both, and then nodded. He could tell that Isard was picking his fights, but wasn't certain Isard picked the right one. Allowing Inquisitors, senior or otherwise, to come into his office in the middle of meetings seemed like a dangerous precedent. "Anything else I can do, or just put you in touch with the governor?"

Isard considered the question for a moment. "Do send us any more information that you come across and if your father hears of businesses being targeted, let us know." He glanced at Jerec before refocusing on Dahn. "Do you have a direct line to the governor? I hate to have agents doing searches for these things." It wouldn't take as long as some other menial tasks, but still, that minute could be used elsewhere.

Dahn wrote the number down on a sheet of flimsiplast, and then skipped a line and wrote another. "In case you want to talk to Jerjerrod. And let me know if I can do more to help."

Jerec smiled. "I'll be sure to reach out if my people need more help on Corellia itself."

Isard turned to Jerec. "Thank you for your input. No, Dahn, we appreciate what you've already done. If you receive communication, it will be through me."

Dahn looked between the two, and nodded curtly at Isard.

"But do talk to Maia for me. I would very much appreciate it." Jerec pushed, focusing away from Isard. "Congratulations are also in order, I think."

Dahn beamed, unable to catch himself. "Thank you. I'll let her know your thoughts. But the plan is very much in its preliminary stages, as I understand it. I don't think it's even drafted yet."

Isard smiled small, resenting the control Jerec was attempting to enforce on his space. "I know that we'd truly appreciate being at the table for any discussions. Many of my subordinates feel as though we've been excluded, and we know Maia has the best interests of the Empire in mind, but presence implies importance."

"I understand where you're coming from. I'll let her know." Dahn closed his briefcase. "Good day, Inquisitor. Director."

Isard waited for the door to shut. "Jerec."

"Director." Jerec nodded to the door. "He'll speak to her. I see that as a win, don't you?"

"I do. But I don't appreciate you bursting into my office." He raised an eyebrow. "You will refrain from doing so in the future."

"Yes, sir." Jerec's tone was so clipped. He moved closer to the desk. "Can I take that report he wrote? We'll handle it."

"I'll send it to you once I've reviewed it myself." People had tried to dismiss Isard before, and always come to regret it. "I am sending you to Prakith. You're due for training."

Jerec nodded. "I won't pick up Sellin and Arche first? How certain are you that this isn't their handiwork? We know they're on Corellia."

"I know." Isard's own tone was steel. "They're laying low, Jerec." He nodded to the report. "We'll have it for you in three hours. You're dismissed."

Jerec inclined his head in a sarcastic bow. "As you wish, Director." He straightened. "I do hope it's on my desk in the three hours you said it would be." He smiled small, moving for the door.

Isard watched him go, and messaged his daughter to take care of the analysis. Jerec would have the report, of course, but Armand Isard would have to have a word with the Emperor about his increasingly forward subordinate.

"Senator?"

Dahn looked up from one of Maia's ridiculous number of books on ancient Sith history as the voice of his head of security came over the com. "Yes, Captain Vodex," he said, taking off his reading glasses.

"Senators Organa and Mothma to see you, sir," she replied.

Maia was not home, and they had recently begun testing a detail for moments like these when Dahn could not be guarded by Maia's own security. Dahn's security would increase further following his marriage.

He frowned, standing from the desk chair in the study. "Send them in," Dahn replied, moving out to the hall as another member of his security team pulled the front door open, allowing the two inside. "Bail. Mon. I didn't expect you."

Bail beamed, putting on a perfect show for the guards. "Thank you for hosting us on such short notice. Did you pull what I asked for?"

Dahn nodded, biting his lip and gesturing them inside. He held back what would be a give-away glance to his guard, ignoring her presence. "Let's sit in the study, there were some books I planned to show you at work."

Bail brightened still. "You found them. Wonderful."

Mon's face betrayed no emotion. "Shall we?"

Dahn kept himself from glaring at Bail and nodded. "This way," he said, and led them to the study, closing the door behind them. "You were right," he told Bail. "Speikre and the others found bugs. They cleared them, we haven't found new ones since." He assumed that since Bail had brought Mon, it was safe to discuss this with her there. He blinked, realizing, then, that Mothma must also be involved in the Rebellion.

Bail noticed, and smiled small. "You're beginning to see how deep this goes?"

Dahn swallowed, sitting back behind the desk. "We don't know who put those there. If it was the Empire, Maia already knows. So why are you here?" Mon Mothma's face was steel. Force, why couldn't she give him any sort of indication?

"We need to know. Are you in?"

Dahn looked between the two, staying silent in hopes that one of them would speak. When they didn't, he exhaled. "I have a baby coming," he repeated, though they all knew, and he'd used the same line to stall Bail for a week.

"Mon and I have families." Bail narrowed his eyes. "And don't your children deserve a chance to live in a Republic instead of an Empire?"

Dahn inhaled, shaking his head. "What are we going to do to get there? I have to think about my fiancée too. Bail, we're in the line of fire, you've recognized that."

"I do recognize that. I wouldn't ask you to do anything I don't already do." Bail exhaled. "Its dangerous, but we have managed to keep our members safe so far. We haven't had many successes but we've continued to grow."

Dahn gestured up, shaking his head again. "How can you say that, you've acknowledged yourself how many of you have been murdered. How can you ask this of me?"

Mon scowled now. This wasn't the time for politeness, nor for respectability politics. "Our children deserve better. Because sentients everywhere deserve better than slavery."

Dahn held his head, setting his elbows on the desk. "I know," he snapped, frustrated.

"It's a difficult, dangerous choice." Mon said, claiming a seat despite the lack of an invitation. "But you know it is the right one."

Dahn didn't say anything for a moment, closing his eyes. He calmed his breathing, and held his head in place. "What would you need from me?"

"We would need you to stay in touch. You don't need to spy on your partner, but you have your own resources and intelligence." Organa said. "See who on Corellia is interested and trustworthy. We are not yet ready to strike a decisive blow."

Dahn shook his head, his chest hurting. "I wouldn't even know where to begin on talking to others on joining this. I don't even know what this is going to entail, are you stockpiling weapons? Or do you plan on trying another petition?"

"Dahn." Mon snapped. "You're one of us. We plan together. And we have many possibilities for destruction and others for propaganda."

"I haven't said yes yet," Dahn replied, his own tone harsher, still, than hers.

Bail raised an eyebrow, holding back a scoff. "You will."

Dahn exhaled. He stayed silent for almost a full minute, and nodded. "Do not ask me to spy on her," he warned them, looking up. "I won't. Ever."

"Then we won't ask." Mothma said. "We don't force people to do things unless it is truly victory or defeat."

"I won't ever," Dahn repeated, his tone sharper. "No matter what, I'm not kidding."

"Even if not doing so will result in your child dying?" Bail offered. "Ultimatums tend to go poorly."

Dahn steeled, narrowing his eyes and looking up to the older man. "Really? Has no one asked you before if you would have given Leia up to save Breha? Can you answer that without fuming?" He jumped up, grabbing the book he had been reading and, in need of something to do, shoving it back onto the bookshelf. "What a ridiculous question."

"There are realities." Bail bowed his head, peering up at the younger man. "My wife is dead and my child is all I have in the world to live for. Leia deserves a real future. No matter the inconvenience or cost."

Dahn rounded on them. "The current reality does not involve sacrificing my partner to save my child. I can't believe this is what we're talking about." He moved back behind the desk, his hands in fists. "I will not inform on my partner. Never ask me to. Do you both understand?"

"Dahn." Mon Mothma frowned. "We wouldn't ask anything of you lightly."

"Don't ask it of me at all," Dahn shot, his face reddening. "Tell me you understand."

The room was silent, Bail and Mothma seeming to flank Dahn, though they were a distance from him. After a moment, Bail spoke, maddeningly calm. "Dahn. I don't think you're ready for this."

"You're the ones in my study, without an invitation."

"Don't be a child." Mon Mothma's lip slacked. "We've said twice already that we will never ask you to spy on Maia. It is insulting that you would ask is for a third confirmation. But since you didn't seem to hear, we will not ever ask you to spy on your fiancée, ever." She extended a hand. "I swear."

Dahn shook, watching her in silence for a moment. He accepted the offered handshake.

"Good. Then we're agreed. " Bail said. "Then you're in, Dahn?"

Dahn nodded before he could change his mind.

"Excellent. We will not linger." Mothma said. "Would you show us out?"

Dahn wasted no time in approaching the bookshelf. He pulled a random book, tossing it to Bail. He didn't even check the title. "Take this."

"One more," Bail pressed. "Two looks better."

Dahn grabbed a second, passing it off. He didn't say anything, the tension palpable amongst the three of them as he pulled the study door open, striding far ahead of them to the entrance.

Vodax looked up from the dining room table. "Good day, senators," she commented, taking in the view of the books. "Drive safely."

"Thank you, captain. And you, Dahn, for the visit." Mon Mothma's grin was small and victorious.

Dahn watched them go and tightened one of his hands into a fist, turning on his heel for the study.

Vodex closed her book. "You're not going to stay up too late, are you, Dahn? Maia said I wasn't to let you stay up waiting for her."

He narrowed his eyes. "Thanks, mom." He glanced back at her. "She won't be home so late tonight."

"No guarantee of that." She shrugged. "You should be asleep when she gets back."

Dahn swayed. "I think I'll be able to distract her well enough."

Vodax raised her eyebrow. "Maybe I should get a tranquilizer after all."

"And deprive the Prime Minister?"

She snorted. "Tarkin sense of humor. Somehow, I think Maia would wake you if she felt deprived."

Dahn slid his reading glasses back on without a word, moving back for the study.

Vodax laughed, watching him go. "Maybe we should call II. We've got a rebel on our hands."

Dahn kept from drawing in a breath. He forced himself forward and closing himself in the room. Dahn stalked behind the desk and looked at the holos from their daughter's most recent sonogram. He had made the right decision. Of course he had. This kriffing doubt. Dahn swallowed, shaking his head and holding a hand to his temple. He fully intended to wait up for his partner, but if this anxiety grew any worse, he knew he'd have to retreat for bed. She would see right through him, like this.

He let out a long breath and flipped open the book one more time. For now, he'd focus on diluting the tension. The text was sure to help.