4 BBY

All four of her grandparents had been staying with them for four whole days, but her grandma's hugs weren't as good as her mommy's hugs, and they didn't smell right. Not even her mommy's mommy. Kira needed her mommy, but her daddy wasn't even sleeping in his room anymore. She wanted to sleep in his room, with the both of them.

Her daddy had been following behind, trailing with Garoche, who had been crying even more than usual. It annoyed her.

And now she couldn't hear her daddy's footsteps at all. She shifted to her tip-toes, opening her mommy and daddy's door, and let it go behind her, with not enough momentum to close. Kira stopped in place, one thumb worming its way into her mouth. Her eyes widened. The room looked exactly the same. She'd watched her mommy push the sheets under the mattress. They were still there. She liked how her mommy did the sheets, it was nicer to snuggle when they were tight and warm.

Kira ran up to her mother's side of the bed, staring up again in silence before reluctantly pulling her thumb out of her mouth and gripping the bed with both hands. She climbed, but when she shifted one of her legs over the top, she lost her footing and fell down onto the Greel wood. Crying took her a second. She sat, her mouth quivering and her chest contracting, before she plunged one thumb back in her mouth and wailed, squeezing her knee like it had broken.

9 BBY

Maia stood by the crib. She stared at Kira, who stared right back. It was strange. Here she was. She hardly remembered any of the talks with the doctors or nurses, though Dahn had said she and Kira had stayed in the hospital for over a day, and that Kira had gotten all of her vaccines. She hardly remembered how many tests and checkups she and Kira had already received, though she remembered that they were supposed to return the following day, and she'd gotten unequivocal permission to leave the chair once she was in the speeder and off hospital property. She didn't know what to do when Kira wasn't crying, except for stare. Kira's eyes were closed, and she sucked carefully on a thumb. Maia remembered she had had mittens in the hospital, but she didn't remember where they had gone once the baby came home to her room. She remembered Dahn telling her he wanted to change the hyperbolically pink decor. She had no idea when that was supposed to happen.

Kira yawned and shifted, keeping her eyes closed.

"She looks so peaceful." Laira murmured, smiling at her future daughter-in-law. "I love her."

Maia blinked, waddling to look at Laira and Dahniel. She winced when she felt blood and more drop into her diaper. "Sorry. Sorry. You were talking to me again."

"Don't worry, honey." Laira smiled. "Maybe a nanny. You need more sleep."

"We don't want a nanny," Maia said, or tried to say, before she couldn't help but let out a huge yawn. "Where's Dahn."

"You're right. I should let you go back to sleep."

As if prompted, Kira started crying. Reflexively, Maia turned to her.

"Hungry, I think," Laira said.

Maia held onto the baby, biting her lip. "So. I just-" She went quiet, and pulled cleared her nightgown, sitting back on the bed.

"Just put her there," Laira said. "She knows what to do. Clear her mouth, she will smell and feel and taste the milk."

Kira began to suck at Maia's finger with an almost desperate hunger. Maia brought her to her breast and removed the finger, hoping for a smooth progression. Kira sputtered and whined for a few seconds before latching hold and beginning to drink.

Maia bit her lip, glancing up to Laira. "Do I burp her in her sleep too?"

"You can. She might wake up and cry and then you can comfort her down."

"When I woke up, I didn't know what to do." Maia rubbed Kira's back. "Not in a negative way. Or a positive. It was more, 'oh, I have a baby now'."

"A shock." Laira offered. "The doctors thought you might sleep longer. I came in to check on you both."

"Was she asleep when you came?"

"Yes, we came in after you woke up. Just now."

The baby kept her mouth on Maia's breast, but stopped feeding. Her mother helped her unlatch, and Maia set a hand on her back, frowning.

"A short snack this time." Laira murmured. "She will eat more later."

"I don't want to wake her up."

"Then don't. She had some. Maybe in about half an hour you can wake her up." Laira murmured. "I want to play with her if she wakes up when you're napping."

They promptly heard Dahn jogging down the hall. He was smiling when he came inside, but somewhat short of breath. "Hello. Sorry, Mai." He sat next to her on the bed. "Kira," he sang, touching her hair.

Kira whined, squirming as she woke up, struggling for one second and then relaxing in her mother's arms. Maia took the opportunity to burp her.

"Did you say something about a doctor," Maia asked.

It took Laira a second to response. "Me?"

"Yeah, did you?"

"That was yesterday. At the hospital."

"What doctor," Dahn asked.

"A plastic surgeon, just to fix up anything that's making you uncomfortable after the delivery."

Maia frowned, turning quickly to look at her partner. "A. Plastic surgeon?"

Dahn blinked at his mom. "Let's cancel that appointment for now."

"I don't think I need plastic surgery," Maia said. "I just had a baby."

"We thought it might be a nice thing to surprise you, dears."

Maia looked down, biting her lip, and peeked back over to Dahn.

"Maia doesn't need that," Dahn repeated. "Why would she need to see a plastic surgeon?"

"Because we all feel uncomfortable after giving birth. It's not easy."

"I feel uncomfortable because I'm still bleeding," Maia said. "A plastic surgeon can't help with that."

"They can tighten you up."

"Cancel it, mom."

"Okay. Okay, we will," Laira said. "I don't like when you go on the attack."

"I don't like when you make Maia feel uncomfortable about her body for no reason."

Laira sucked her teeth. "Dahn, don't talk to me that way. You know that's not what I was doing."

Maia bit on the inside of her lip, rubbing Kira's back harder until the baby woke up and shrieked.

"Can I hold her?" Dahn asked, giving his mother one final look before focusing on Maia.

"Of course." She passed the crying baby to Dahn. "I have to go to the fresher anyway."

"Oh-I can take you. Don't you need help?"

"No, I do not. I really don't." She waddled to the bathroom.

Dahn took Kira to the changing table. Laira shook her head.

"You wouldn't have to do this yourself if you would just hire a nanny."

Dahn lay the baby down, quickly changing the diaper to a fresh one. "Easy."

Kira kept crying, but the tone was different now. She scrunched her face so that her eyes were shut.

"I think she's tired," his mother said.

"I think so." Dahn murmured, rubbing her back. "Honey just eat up and we can burp you and then sleep again, okay sweetie?"

Maia came out of the fresher, biting her lip, and waddled back to the bed.

"My mom said you fed her a little before. So this should be enough right?" He showed her the bottle.

"If she'll eat it," Maia agreed. "She's protesting a lot." Maia leaned down to kiss Kira's cheek. "Shhhh. It's okay, honey."

Kira whimpered, allowing herself to relax when both parents were adoring her.

His father peeked around the door, and then smiled. "Hello."

"Come in, dear," Laira said. Dahniel came to the bedside, touching Kira's cheek. "You must both be very tired. New younglings are exhausting."

"We are. Maia especially. Why don't you let us lay down for a while with Kira and we will see you for a late lunch?"

"I was wondering if we might hire a nanny for the evening," Dahniel said. "You won't get much sleep otherwise, or without giving her to us."

Dahn all-but interrupted. "We don't want to hire a nanny."

"Okay," Dahniel said. "We just want to help, son."

"Make sure you take the lead," Laira said. "Maia needs her rest."

"Definitely." Dahn agreed. "I've got Kira while you sleep. Maybe you can sleep for four and then I can have two?" He stared at his parents while they left the room with the baby. Shockingly, when he looked back at Maia, he saw she was already asleep.

The young man in an Imperial Intelligence uniform cleared his throat as Wilhuff Tarkin looked him over.

"Aiden Odam." The Grand Moff mused. "Is there a particular threat?" He shook his head. "Why does my daughter need to speak with you today?"

"She asked to see me, but I did not want to intrude in the first month after the birth."

"I understand that, Officer Odam." He narrowed his eyes. "I've rarely met a young man with such a clear record."

"It means a lot to me every time you point that out. I'm very happy to have been able to establish such a close working relationship with your family."

Wilhuff nodded. "I'm pleased to hear it. Alright, head on in." He glanced at the clock. "You're on time now."

Wilhuff knocked on the bedroom door. When she called for Aiden to come inside, she was thankful that her father closed the door before he could see her deep-seated scowl, and the baby sleeping in the crib next to the bed.

"If I hear you're not treating your wife right while she's pregnant."

"Of course I am," he protested. "I'm working from home three days a week now. Is this Kira?"

Maia nodded. "She's always sleeping. Like, always. It's not what I expected."

Aiden nodded. 'Children always surprise us, I've heard." He shook his head. "I'm ready to be surprised."

"You'll be a good dad." Maia's eyes widened. "Do I smell chocolate?"

"With salt crystals and caramel." He smiled, pulling a gourmet bar from his bag. "Saneará sends her love."

She grabbed it as soon as he set it on the bedside table. "Thank you. How is her pregnancy going?"

"It's not been easy. She's had a few minor complications. But smooth sailing the last month or so." His smile faltered. "But we haven't spoken for a while. I heard you went to see someone in prison."

"My security knew I was going," Maia said.

"Some forces within the Intelligence Community still aren't fond that you went."

"Still?" Maia frowned, leaning forward. "They're still mad about that."

He rolled his eyes. "It's absurd. They like that you arrested him, but somehow thing going to visit made it personal."

Maia waved her hand. She crushed the wrapper into a ball and tossed it to the trash can.

"You finished that chocolate bar?"

"Honestly, what did you expect?"

"Exactly this outcome." He pulled another chocolate bar from his bag. "And good shot by the way. So tell me about the Sauro thing."

She grabbed the second bar from him. "What do you mean?"

"Scuttlebutt is that he's stopping the good-old-boy talk in the locker rooms."

"Amazing. How did that happen?"

"You tell me."

Maia shrugged. She smiled, though she looked perpetually exhausted. Aiden had yet to even consider that he hadn't seen the baby. "I finally got a tape of him harassing me."

"The old blackmail angle. I like it." He grinned. "Any other blackmailing I should know about?"

Maia shook her head, inhaling the second chocolate bar. "But um. He's reporting to Dahn while I'm here. And I've set up a network we can all use for reports of harassment in the Senate. I'll feed the reports directly to you. Or to one of your colleagues if you have someone in mind."

"I see. Well no, I think best if it's an informal operation." He nodded slowly. "Good that you have a network setup."

"We want to do something about these guys eventually, Aiden."

"We will have to. Did Senator Haas resigning two weeks ago have anything to do with your network?"

"As far as I know," Maia said. "Have people been blaming me for that?"

"Not that I know of. But I also didn't know to specifically listen for it. Hopefully more resignations start to happen."

"What have you heard people saying about me? Other than being happy Kele is dead but mad I did it."

"Kira, obviously," Aidan said. "But it hasn't taken over everything else. The supremacists want to know why you're writing a so-called human genocide bill."

"I'm not writing anything, and that's not what it is."

"Ah, But doesn't it say that we will destroy all human wealth and force them to live on one planet?"

"Do you know who started that rumor? I've been hearing most about my cousin Conan being upset."

"Surely he didn't start a rumor that you were rounding up human younglings."

"Maybe he did, maybe he didn't," Maia said. "Maybe someone took what he said and extended it. Maybe he said it but he didn't think it would be attached to me."

"Well it's only in extreme circles. But it is attached to you. Again, I'll look for a source." Aidan frowned. "Have you gotten any threats since the pregnancy?"

She glanced to the door, and then back to him. "I'm not supposed to know this, but they've been increasing."

"Damn." He murmured. "I'll try to do a round of searches at headquarters. Maybe identify why in particular."

Maia nodded. "I'm not really able to pursue it lately. My father doesn't want me to know anything is going on. I can only pick so many battles when the last fight was whether or not they can take holos in the delivery room."

"I assume you don't mean family holos."

"No, I don't mean family holos, Aiden. Crueya Vandron wanted to record the entire delivery."

He exhaled hard. "I can't relate to your life sometimes. You have so much. But so much is expected of you." Aiden pulled a canteen from his side and took a drink.

Maia shook her head, exhaling hard. "Thanks for the chocolate."

He smiled, pulling out a final bar. "I knew you'd like it. Maybe next time you're back from Eriadu, some olives?"

"And wine," Maia promised. "You'll both be able to drink it by then."

"Believe me, neither of us can wait for that." He smiled, saluting briefly. "Always wonderful to see you."

"Thank you for the chocolate." She smiled, picking up the third bar. "My wishes to your family."

"Best wishes, may I send a belated gift for the birth, or would that be strange?"

"Feel free," Maia said. "That's very kind of you, I appreciate it."

"Of course. I'm sure you'll have plenty of chocolates, but I'll send some of those and a card if that would be welcome?"

"You're so sweet. Anything you send, we'll appreciate it."

"I thank you for saying so." He smiled warmly. "Best of luck, alright?"

"And to your family." She smiled, watching him go.

Her father looked in as soon as the intelligence officer left. "Nothing I should be worried about, right Maia?"

Her eyes narrowed, and she shook her head. "Are you really asking me that question?"

Wilhuff raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't worried. Dahn has been good to you. And you're not away from him for any period of time."

She shrugged. "I'm not married yet, so it's low stakes."

"What do you mean?" He frowned. "It isn't any less serious if you're engaged."

Maia frowned, turning her head to the side. "I'm kidding, dad."

"I know." Wilhuff shook his head. "It's just a very serious matter."

"I'm not having an affair, dad. What's going on? You roll your eyes at other people's suggestion of that kind of thing."

"Because you have a child now. You're all-but married. It would be a disgrace for you to have an affair or for Dahn to." He frowned tighter, looking away. "I'm not trying to be hard on you, but it's very serious."

She nodded, watching him carefully. "I'm not having an affair, dad."

His frown broke and he smiled thinly. "I know." He nodded. "And you wouldn't."

She nodded again, both brows raised. "Do you want to hold your granddaughter or something? What's going on?"

He nodded, holding out his arms for Kira. "So beautiful." He murmured. "Can I walk around with her for a few minutes?"

"Of course." Maia passed him the sleeping baby. "Are you okay?"

"Don't worry about me. Let your mum and I worry about you."

She nodded, her lip twisting. Her eyes narrowed. "I'm going to get all of this makeup off and tie my hair back."

He nodded, smiling down at the baby. "Your mum will be right back, won't she be, Captain?" He kissed Kira's forehead.

"Take her for that walk." Maia disappeared into the bathroom.

Wilhuff stared at Kira, whose soft face nuzzled comfortably against his arm. He had done many things he regretted in life, but with his granddaughter there, he knew that most were worthwhile. He pulled out his comm, glancing at his latest message to his wife. They both spent so much time doing so many other things. For now he would be content with Kira.

Senator Page tapped on Maia's desk. He watched the Senator from Kuat incredulously, even as the Prime Minister appeared impassive. Baby Kira slumbered quietly in a crib by Maia's corner just as she had the last three times Page had been in here since Maia had started spending a day a week back at work. The deal he'd already put on the table was impressive and both he and Maia already knew the outcome of these so-called negotiations. If Dahn had been there as well, there might have been a concern, but he and the Pryscotts had already discussed which contracts they would be bidding on. Some called that collusion, but it was simply how business was done. It didn't hurt that Kuras continually rankled the prime minister with her directness. If he wasn't a gentleman, Page reflected that he would call her much worse.

"It's just a fact, each unit would cost one hundred fifty nine credits per square meter for the half meter thick variety designated in the order. Even with the cost to build the extruders, with the natural ore deposits already on Kuat and in the Kuat systems, the installation costs would be lower. The Page bid is eleven credits higher per unit, ultimately nearly a billion credits more, for a fourteen billion credit project versus a thirteen billion." Kuras listed the prices passionately. She and her people had calculated them.

"If the only objective is price, yes, that is significant," Page's voice raised in annoyance. "But given the extrusion facilities in place on Corulag, the project could be completed nearly a year faster. Easily a better value. As if the price per square meter is the only consideration!" He was practically biting at the senator from Kuat by the end.

Kira's eyes snapped open, and she started wailing. He yelled, it was scary. Maia jumped down from her chair, holding her daughter. "Thanks, you two." She shushed Kira, bouncing the baby up and down. "Can I trust you not to kill each other while I lay her down in the other room?"

Page, winced guiltily. "Of course."
"No promises, but probably," Kuras grumbled, folding her arms.

Maia rolled her eyes, kissing Kira's forehead. "It's okay," she cooed, slipping into the connected room they'd set up, nanny droid and all. If Kira didn't stop crying, she would have to leave her, but thankfully, Kira did quiet once away from Page. Maia kissed her forehead one more time and set her down in the crib. When she passed the waiting room, she frowned, waving to Fra'lya. "I didn't know you were coming." She looked between Bal and Lunette.

"I need to talk to you."

"I won't be here much longer. Can you. Um. Can you come to mine later? I'll tell my security."

"It's important," Fra'lya said. "It's really important. There have been credible bomb threats at my girls's school."

Maia's face dropped. "Threats. Lunette, can you take on the meeting?"

"I'll put one of the deputies on it," her chief of staff said. "Maybe Bone."

"Fine," Maia said, turning back to Fra'lya.

"We've traced the money to Seswanna."

"Conan." Maia scowled, nodding quickly. "I'm so sorry."

"I don't know what to do."

"I'll make sure they're safe. And that you're safe. Men like them don't stop unless you make them."

"How can we make Conan Motti stop?"

"Please, let me worry about it. You just focus on the work we need to be doing."

He tapped his arm, watching her. "That's hard in conditions like these. We've identified three key policies to implement. The first is to end generational slavery. The children of slaves may not be re-enslaved." He took a deep breath. "I know this will likely not pass."

She nodded, folding her hands together. "I would eliminate enslavement completely if I could."

"I know. But we need something that can survive amendment." He tapped his arm again. "We need to disallow child enslavement in the first place. Younglings under the age of maturity for their species are not to be used for physical, mental, or emotional labor. The third policy requires that families be kept together on the same property if they are enslaved."

Again, Maia nodded. "And at the party, we talked about banning experimentation on enslaved children."

"Well, I had hoped the second initiative would be sufficient, but you're right, let's make it four and spell that out."

"You said that you didn't think the first few would last through the amendment process," Maia said. "Have you talked about this with any of our other allies yet?"

"I've spoken briefly with Bail, but I wanted to discuss with you before I put stylus to datapad."

"I want to do whatever you think is best and most practical," Maia said. "I don't think it's my place to act like the expert."

"Well you do know about legislation as well as any senator. And you have a view into the Imperial decision making process."

Maia sighed. "Less than you veterans do."

"Perhaps." He bowed his head. "But you have the Emperor's ear. That is invaluable."

That was true. And she would keep fighting to make them hear and act, not just listen. "I think we start with these four. And we can add or modulate with whatever the other people you trust have to say."

"Of course. Now, whether or not this will pass, I cannot be certain but your support will make it that much more likely." He managed a smile, his sharp teeth forming two rows. "I will get a draft to you tonight at the earliest, tomorrow morning at the latest."

Maia turned her head to the side. "You can keep speaking with Lunette. I'll tell her that you don't want Fema to be heavily involved."

"She will have to be, if we have to go to committee prior to your return."

"You've told me that you don't want to."

"I don't, but my constituents may demand it."

"If they do, then yes, you may have to work with her," Maia said.

"I understand," Bal said slowly. "And I don't think that there is any better person that the IRC would actually approve."

Sometimes, she felt she sat on the Imperial Ruling Council to look pretty. "Well, you'll get me a draft soon. And if you decide you want to move faster, we will, but I can't guarantee I can be as involved."

"I understand, I do. A youngling takes up all of your time and then more that you don't have." Bal agreed, his head bouncing.

Senator Page looked out from the meeting room. "Prime Minister?"

"I'll be with you in a moment," Lunette said. "Close the door, please."

"Kuras's costs are going to ripple."

"Please go back inside," Maia said. "It's okay, Lunette. I'll be right there."

"Bone is on his way to take over," Lunette said.

Maia shook her head, walking back into her office. "Hi," she said, lifting the still-sleeping Kira from her crib. "We've had versions of this same conversation some hundred times. I've got it. Submit your proposals to the Admiralty Board, that's how it's meant to be done."

"We just want to be sure they're considering the proposals properly," Kuras said firmly. "It isn't as though there is a single process either way."

"We're done," Maia said. "Thank you for your input."

Paige and Kuras stood, Paige failing to hide a smile at his own cleverness. Simply staying quiet was sometimes all that needed to be done to win the day.

"Prime Minister." Kuras began. Maia's look kept her from speaking further.

Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin rolled the soiled diaper and crinkled his nose. Why was he doing this? He glanced down at his granddaughter. "What do you eat?" He shook his head, glancing over to his daughter who was lounging on the couch. Maia had been upset lately, and so had he. Where his daughter had been more frustrated and sad, he felt like shooting some being. Kira gooed, trying to eat her hand as she settled down to sleep again. He carefully threw the diaper into the waste disposal before picking Kira up to move her back to the crib.
Once he'd washed his hands, Wilhuff sat beside his daughter's head. "I see your old love for the couch hasn't died."

She glanced up at him, pulling a pillow under her head. "I'm so pissed."

"Indeed," her father said. "Bills pass, bills fail. You can't take it personally."

Maia covered her eyes, squinting behind her hand. "I can take this one personally."

"It's not about you. Why do we need any tool or property? It's not that we need slaves so much as they are the most efficient way to perform certain tasks. Certainly the most cost effective. You don't need the same maintenance as droids." He frowned, not really considering. Those were stock answers.

"They're people."

"There are plenty of people," Wilhuff said. "The system requires them to function. I don't care what's happening in the senate, Maia. You need to toughen up. You can't let them see your weakness or they'll jump on you like beasts."

She rolled on her stomach, narrowing her eyes. "Yeah, okay."

"You know how this bill became coded," he said. "You know how it was amended. That's how it goes. You have to harden your heart to make it anywhere, Maia." Wilhuff shook his head again, more firmly now. "You're an adult, and a Tarkin. We make hard choices and stick by them."

"Being too stubborn isn't an answer."

Wilhuff shrugged. "It's an answer for our family. It's not being stubborn when you're right. When you're right and do not yield, you're like a wall, protecting what you believe in." He stood, looking out the sim-window.

Maia rolled on her back, and then turned on her side to watch him. "You're not right. We don't need them, and holding them is wrong."

"I don't really care." Wilhuff turned back to her now. "My principles have served me well. In some cases so well that the government names things after me."

"Usually because you buy them off or they're scared."

"I see you finally understand." Tarkin turned back to her. "I don't need the entire galaxy to be my friend. I have my family and the Emperor."

She slid down from the couch, lifting Kira from her crib. The baby woke, starting to whine, but she settled down when her mother sat, holding Kira on her lap.

"Change can be disruptive," Wilhuff nodded to Kira. "She is as safe and well off as she could ever be."

"Dahn and I can't take her to work right now, the environment is toxic."

"Silence the dissent." Wilhuff narrowed his eyes, moving closer to the window. "Tolerate no ill will towards my granddaughter."

"You know what, dad, you're not even willing to have a conversation with me, so many don't advise me on how to handle the Senate."

"I am having a discussion with you now. Just as I dictate to you, you should dictate to the Senate."

She looked up, turning Kira's head against her leg. "Don't dictate to me. I'm sick of everyone telling me how to handle this, none of you are willing to compromise."

"Well, everyone else is wrong." Wilhuff's nostrils flared. "Quadrillions of beings are yours to command, don't chafe under the rule of a few dozen. Maia, we can't compromise without our family looking weak. That's final."

"Thank you for your opinion. Let me do my job. Wilhuff looked out the window at the cityscape. "Rule the senate with an iron fist, and do your job well and you will be rewarded by the Emperor. "

"I think the Emperor is satisfied with my performance, father."

"He is," Wilhuff said. He leaned down to kiss Kira's brow. She stayed asleep, purring. She was always, always sleeping. "There are some who don't deserve our compassion, Maia," Wilhuff said. "If you stand by this bill, you know that some are in the Senate. All you owe to anyone is to keep your own family safe."

She didn't know what to do but nod.

"I'm going to put her in her crib," Maia said, but the baby was already asleep. It seemed like whenever Kira woke in need of food or a diaper change or anything at all, she was back asleep as soon as the matter was tended to. It was strange. It was the exact opposite of everything Maia had ever heard to expect. But whenever they asked the doctors, they were told that there were no observable conditions that might lead to it. Kira had been premature. She was anemic, but she still relied fully on iron stores from her mother. That wasn't the problem. After the placental abruption, they had been concerned about so many other potentialities. None had happened. But Maia had a bad feeling about this, no matter how many times she was told that sometimes babies just slept a lot. There was never anything to do but wait. She needed the waiting to end soon, for her kid's sake and her own.

8 BBY

When Bail moved up to the indoor toddler play structure, a crawling Kira greeted him a few steps from the fence. The infant squealed something unintelligible and Maia stood from a bench, beaming and folding her hands.

"May I pick her up?" He knelt down, extending a hand to greet Kira. He looked up at Maia with a grin. "She's so adventurous."

Maia nodded, watching her daughter. "Give it a try, if she cries, put her down."

Bail smiled and tried to play with Kira's hand. "Hi, Kira, how are you doing? I'm Bail. Do you remember me?"

Kira's smile spread to match her mother's. She crawled closer and then stood up, shakily. She grabbed his hand for balance.

"Hey." He moved onto his knees, holding her hand. "You're a good walker, aren't you?"

She exhaled and coughed, walking shakily up to his leg, and wrapped her arms around it in a hug.

He shifted slightly to let her sit down on his shoe. He glanced up at Maia to check it was alright and lifted his foot up. "You want to ride to your mommy?"

Kira squeaked, squeezing his leg. "Momma."

Bail took another step, slowly making his way to Maia's side. "She's got a good grip."

"She does." Maia leaned down, picking Kira up after her daughter let go of Bail's leg, yawning. "Oh, someone's tired. Does Kira want to nap?"

Kira nodded contentedly, nuzzling against Maia's chest. "Mamma."

Bail smiled cheerfully "Should I come back in a little while, or?"

Maia scoffed, shaking her head. "She'll fall asleep just as easily as ever." Maia nodded to the chair in front of her desk, taking a seat with Kira on her lap as Bail claimed his own. Maia leaned down, pecking Kira's forehead. The baby shifted, cuddling closer in an attempt to get more comfortable.

Before Maia could ask Bail what he had wanted, the shots rang. Maia carried Kira down to the floor and pressed her down flat, but by the time they were down, the shots had stopped, and she heard more shouting instead of any more laser fire. Someone had pulled Bail away, and Lieutenant Kroft kneeled next to Maia and the baby.

"Are you hurt," Kroft asked.

Maia thought about it for a second, and then shook her head.

"It's going to be okay," Kroft said. "Pick up Kira."

The singular direction was helpful with so many thoughts going through her head. She picked up her crying daughter and covered her ears while Lieutenant Kroft led her to and through the nearest maintenance tunnel. Back to her office.

The hallways were clear. That made sense. They would have been cleared, Maia thought.

"What happened," she asked.

"Don't worry," Lieutenant Kroft said. There were stormtroopers around them now.

"What happened," Maia asked again.

"Position secure." Kroft murmured into the comm.

"W-who was it," Maia asked. "How did they get a blaster into the building?"

"We're going to find out."

Maia tried to bounce Kira to quiet. She didn't remember any of it from when she was a baby, but she knew shootings had happened near her when she was a baby. Shootings. Kidnapping and ransom attempts. She remembered snippets. The earliest when she was five, and her mother had taken her for ice cream. She didn't want Kira to have any of it.

Lieutenant Kroft had taken her by the arm. They were inside her office now. The stormtroopers were too.

"Where is Dahn?"

"He is on the other side of the building." Kroft said quickly, showing her the map coordinates.

Maia eyed the helmet's comm unit. "It's a shooter?"

Speikre came into the office, his blaster holstered.

"What's going on," Maia asked.

He sighed. "Shooter, some kind of manifesto about alien rights. He's been subdued."

"What was he saying," Maia asked. "There was yelling."

"We told him to put his blaster down."

"What was he saying?"

"He wasn't saying much. Just to let him through."

"C-can I talk to you in my office, please?"

"Of course ma'am. We can go there Now."

Speikre closed the door behind them. Maia set Kira down in the crib and turned to him with her arms crossed.

"Please just tell me."

"We can't be sure, but the manifesto said that your bill was an attack on the whole galaxy." Spiekre frowned. "It said Maia Tarkin's Bill."

"He was here to kill me," Maia said.

"We caught him immediately."

"He got out a shot."

"We were on him the second he started shooting."

"I was out there with Kira," Maia said.

"We stopped him," Speikre said.

"H-how do you know there weren't accomplices?"

"You need to sit down," Speikre said. "Please, sit down."

"I don't want to sit down."

"You are okay. Kira is okay."

"I don't want to sit down."

"Okay. Don't sit down, but do breathe. Please breathe."

"I don't understand how he got into the building with a blaster."

"We are trying to determine that now." Speikre said slowly. "And we will plug that gap."

"Was he working alone?"

"As far as we can tell he was alone. Security holovids caught him and he was intercepted."

"How can you really know for sure so early?"

"The building is on lockdown. No one can get in or out."

Her eyes widened and she folded her arms again, moving to stand between the door and Kira's crib. Her baby had stopped crying and fallen back asleep.

"She is alright, ma'am. She won't even remember this", Kroft murmured.

Maia jumped, blinking. "Sorry." She nodded, biting her lip. "Sorry. When did you come in?"

"I'm sorry. Fict is talking with your father. Speikre had to take a call. I just came in a moment ago."

"Did you talk to him," Maia asked. "What did he say?"

"He's very upset with Fict."

Maia raised her hands, turning in panic back to her daughter. "I'm sorry, I can't deal with that right now."

"Of course." Kroft nodded. "I'm sorry, ma'am."

"Have we been communicating with Dahn's security team?"

"Yes, ma'am. He is also in lockdown."

"S-so I just wait here," Maia asked. She winced, hard. "How did he get inside?"

"They think he came in without the weapon and that it had been shipped in as part of a cleaning crew."

"Then he wasn't alone," Maia said. "Who was helping them, where are they?"

"I don't know, Ma'am. We have to find out. Honestly that may take all day."

"How long do we have to stay here?"

"Let me ask." Kroft frowned. "I'll find out, I'll be back."

"Is my staff okay," Maia asked.

"Everyone is okay," Kroft said. "Except the shooter."

"I'm scared."

"None of our people were hurt." Kroft saidsoftly. "I'm sorry. Would you like a hug?"

Maia shook her head. She sat in the rocking chair, hands on her knees.

"Okay." Kroft said slowly. "I'll be back."

Maia didn't know how much time transpired before someone else came inside. She didn't know how much time had transpired in the first place, since the shots and the yelling.

Speikre exhaled. "The lockdown has ended. Are you alright?"

Maia looked up from the rocking chair. Her hand moved up to smooth her hair. Had she fallen asleep? She must have. She looked to her baby first. Kira was still asleep. When she looked over to Speikre, she quietly saw Lieutenant Rourke behind him, though it took her a moment to place the other man.

"I'm not hurt," Maia said.

"I'm glad." Speikre said slowly. "Ma'am. This is Captain Rourke."

"I remember him," Maia said. "When can Dahn join us? You said the lockdown is over."

"He is on the way now, Ma'am." Captain Rourke stepped forward. "I'm in command of your security now."

Maia frowned, looking between both men. "You are?"

He nodded. "Your father has ordered I replace and enhance your detail."

"We will help Captain Rourke and his team transition," Speikre said. "General Tarkin is waiting at your home, and your parents are on their way."

Captain Rourke nodded. "They will arrive on separate ships, and your father wanted your uncle to stay with you for the time being. When your husband arrives, we will escort your family home."

"My dad doesn't want to talk to me," Maia asked.

"He was told you were asleep, and he said to let you rest."

Kira started crying out of her deep sleep. Immediately, Maia came up from the rocking chair and lifted the baby.

"How long was I asleep," Maia asked over the cries.

"About two hours." Kroft said clearly, straightening out.

"Maia?" Dahn rushed in from the outer office.

"Da," Kira greeted, waving.

"Kira," Dahn exclaimed, rushing to be beside his wife and child. "I was so scared."

Kira sniffled, reaching out to her father. Maia passed him the baby.

"We were at the playground," Maia said.

"Hells" he whispered, kissing Kira's forehead. "Are you hungry my love?" He pulled a soft melt candy from his bag, glancing to Maia.

Kira's eyes widened, and she quickly nodded, grabbing it from his hand.

"Honey, we need to open it," Maia said.

"Gab," Kira exclaimed, eyes wide, as she held it out to her mother.

"Ma'am. Tell us if you want to go home or if you'd rather keep working. We'll arrange either."

Maia frowned, walking to her daughter to open the candy. "Thank you, Captain Rourke. We'll go home now."

"I'll only need a few moments to set that up, ma'am." He nodded. "Please remain here." Rourke looked over her old security detail. "Perhaps offer your goodbyes."

Dahn frowned. "We'll see each other again," he said.

"For now, we need to leave," Maia said. She looked among the two, and then at Fict when he came inside. "It's not your fault," she said.

Fict nodded. "Your father disagreed, ma'am. We did our best."

"For now, we need to get Kira home," Maia said.

Gideon leaned back in the chair beside Where Maia and Kira reclined on the couch. He watched his niece. "Are you okay?"

Maia chewed on her lip, shaking her head. Her uncle squeezed her shoulder and stood.

"Captain Rourke," he greeted.

"General." Rourke saluted. "I've been placed in command of the Prime Minister's security team."

"I am aware." Gideon Tarkin saluted in return. "At ease. Thank you for bringing them home safely."

"I didn't know you were on planet. Where is my father," Maia asked. "Why doesn't he want to speak to me?"

"He does," Gideon assured her. "He is in the middle of something. Your mum is on her way, and so is your father. But he's not on Eriadu."

"Okay. Why doesn't he want me to call him?"

"You can. He's just busy getting things underway to travel here." Her uncle sighed. "Things are complicated right now at the front."

Maia frowned, narrowing her eyes. "Okay."

"Thank you, Captain Rourke," Gideon repeated, nodding to the rest of the team.

They all saluted and left the room for the security office.

"Scary day." Gideon sighed, offering a hand to his niece.

"Is my dad in the hospital," Maia asked.

"No, but he's preparing to be en route here." Gideon nodded. "I'm sure he'll call shortly."

"Tell me what's going on," Maia said. "This isn't normal."

Her uncle sighed, looking over at Dahn as he came into the room. He took a moment's pause and then looked back to Maia. "He'll tell you when he's ready."

"You can't do that," Maia said. Her eyes looked like they would pop out. "What do you mean?"

Gideon's lips pursed tightly - making him look more like her father than he usually did. "I'm sorry, Maia. I can't tell you."

Her eyes darkened now. Kira chirped and then whimpered.

"Fine," Maia said. "Then I'll call him myself and say you told me something is wrong."

"You could tell." He shrugged. "I can't be threatened by holding my older brother over me."

"S-someone. Just tried to kill me." Maia bared her teeth. "You're telling me something is happening in the family too."

"Maia, someone just tried to kill you. That's more important right now."

"Then where the kriff are my parents," Maia demanded.

"They're on the way, Maia. They're on the way." Gideon rubbed his forehead. "It isn't mine to tell."

"So do what you're supposed to be doing. Where's your kid," Maia asked.

"Maia. Stop it," her uncle said.

Kira started to grab at Maia's breast, and Maia passed her to Dahn.

"Don't tell me what to do," Maia exclaimed, turning on her heel to walk away.

"Maia." Gideon exhaled, trying to follow. "Get yourself under control."

"I'm the one trying to be alone right now," Maia said.

"You need to hold yourself together, Maia." Gideon said. "I'm sorry I raised my voice. Can we talk about something else?"

"No," Maia said. "No, we cannot. You can leave me alone."

Kira started crying, gripping her father's shirt.

"I'll leave you. But try to gather yourself."

Maia threw up a hand and closed herself into the bedroom.

She didn't have the heart to ask either of her parents what was going on. She didn't want to call anyone. She closed herself in under the blankets and tried to sleep.