"This good Han, you really out did yourself tonight," Mrs. Solo said to her husband. "At least I know you are good for something when you retire."
Tahiri couldn't help but laugh at the face Mr. Solo made to his wife, it was easy to see why they stayed together even after all the pain they been through. The love they felt for each other shown clearly in the Force, as was the tension in the room, at least to her. They were suspicious of her, but not the normal level they usually had for her. No, this seemed to be a high level as if they suspected her of doing something wrong. Well, I guess from where they stood, maybe they had the right to think that, Tahiri had thought which seemed to make sense to her. Mr. and Mrs. Solo didn't know the full story yet and she was sure after Commander Loran explained everything to them, they would be more understanding.
"This is very good Mr. Solo, thank you," Tahiri said smiling.
"Glad you like it," Mr. Solo said and gave her a look over, "you haven't grown much lately, in fact it looks like you're smaller? Have you been eating enough?"
"Oh yes, Ten cooks his heart out for me but for some reason I just never gain any weight," Tahiri said easily, hoping that they wouldn't ask too many questions about that until Poster Boy got a chance to talk to them.
"Who is 'Ten'?" Mrs. Solo asked the question casually but Tahiri could feel her tense a bit in the Force.
"Our cook," Tahiri said evasively. Tahiri saw the quick look between the older Solos and knew that things were going to go down hill from here.
"I didn't know Face could cook," Han asked while taking a bite out of his food. Tahiri tried pretending that she didn't hear the question and took a drink of her juice. "Or maybe it was Kell Tainer?"
"Maybe it was that woman from the cantina, you two seem to get along rather well," Mrs. Solo said.
"Yea, she didn't look like she missed many meals," Han said studying Tahiri. Any other time Tahiri would have found that comment funny, as would Rat, but she could feel the tension go through the roof, as she kept quiet.
"This is really good, I will have to get 3PO to give me the recipe before I leave," Tahiri said hoping against hope to deflect their attention.
"Trade you," Mr. Solo said setting down his fork, "we'll give you the recipe and you give us a straight answer."
"I did give you a straight answer. You asked who 'Ten' was and I told you, our cook." One of these days I have to learn how to B.S. my way out of problems like this.
"Who are we?" Mrs. Solo asked. "Who is still alive from Borleias?"
"I'm sorry but I can't tell you that or how many," Tahiri answered after a long pause. "One will have to brief you on that when we get there."
"Who is One?"
"My commanding officer," Tahiri answered.
"Face?" Mr. Solo asked, she could feel his frustration growing, after she didn't answer his frustration left and was replaced by anger. Slamming his open palm down on the table top, he barked out, "Tahiri enough games, I want some answers and I want them now."
"I know," she said with a sigh and rubbed her forehead where her Domain marks should be at, "the problem is I don't know how much I can tell you. That is why I rather leave it to One." If they had talk to her yesterday or even this morning, she would have told them everything since it appeared that their mission was all but over. Now, however, a new wrinkle was added to the mix. The contact talking about visions that the Chosen Ones had been receiving, the fact that they were trying to contact her at all, had told her that they were not quite done yet. The visions he had mention had included phrases such as 'leading to glory' and the 'finial battle' and other terms that made her believe that they were gearing up for some major offensive in which she, or the warrior she was pretending to be, played a major role. The amount of slaves the Wraiths had saved on that planet just before … Wait, there wasn't supposed to be a planet there that could be capable of sustain life! That thought had just hit her out of the blue like a thug bug; she remembered Road Kill and Boom-boom clearly saying that all three systems were supposed to be barren. She wondered if any of the others had though of that little factoid. A second thought came on hard after that one.
If the charts were that wrong on the first system, what is at the second site? She knew that the charts were sometimes wrong at the Unknown Region and the very edges of the Outer Rim but these systems were more in the Mid Rim of the galaxy, with in easy flying distance of Kastolar Sector. The only way they could be that wrong is someone went in there a deleted the systems during the war. Since Little Brother and the others would have the right information the first time.
Tahiri suddenly be come aware of Mr. and Mrs. Solo trying to get her attention.
"Um sorry, I was lost in thought," she said blushing slightly, " could you repeat what you asked?"
"Tahiri what is going on?" Mrs. Solo asked, laying a calming hand on her husband's arm. Mr. Solo looked mad enough to chew through the hull of the Falcon. "Do you realize just how much trouble you are in here? If your lucky you just get a life sentence for some of your and the others activities. Destroying ship yards, hijacking military ships, misuse of said ship, piracy," Mrs. Solo shook her head slowly, "murder of a Galactic Alliance operative …"
"Not true, Lt. Gillian is alive and doing well."
"I talking about Fusty, Tahiri," Leia said sadly.
"Oh him," Tahiri said dismissively, "he was so crooked he made a Jawa look like a honest businessmen."
"So that gave you the right to kill him in cold blood?" Mr. Solo asked. Tahiri picked up her glass of juice and took a drink. That accusation hurt and she wanted a moment to calm herself before she answered.
"I didn't kill Mr. Fusty," she began but was cut off by Anakin's mom.
"That is not what Alema has reported …"
"Alema is the one who killed him or I should say her squad did, I was about to get some information out of him when the snipers shot him."
"They said he died of a light saber wound."
"Alema used the light saber I took off her on the Hollow Nebula and used it to cover over the gun shot wound. She wanted to make it look like I did it so she could have an iron clad reason to shoot me." Tahiri took another sip, "I been at the top of the list for almost a year now, it is a popularity contest I could do without."
"Is it any wonder you keep getting shot at …"
"Han," Mrs. Solo quietly warned her husband, but Han being Han ignored her.
"You been running around for months now pulling stuns …"
"I haven't been doing this for fun or because I had nothing better to do. Everyone from the Yuuzhan Vong to the GA Military has targeted me for elimination. I have survived three attempts to wipe me from the galaxy!" She was losing her patience quickly she could feel it. "Stuns you called it, how could you …" Tahiri blinked, the answer hitting her between the eyes. "I'm sorry," she lowered her glass and centered herself before going on, "that is the whole problem isn't? You don't know me anymore." She looked at them and continued in a very sad and weary voice, "You think 'Riina Kwaad' has risen from the dead."
"Yea," Han said, his voice and face soften, and "that thought has crossed our minds. We just don't understand what is going on here Tahiri."
"We want to help you Tahiri," Mrs. Solo said reaching over and touching her hand.
"You did today," Tahiri said reaching out and squeezing her hand, "if you hadn't showed up when you did. If Meewalh hadn't help like she did, well I not sure we would have been able to get away without causing more blood shed."
"And we want to help you more but we need to understand what is going on," Leia said squeezing back.
"I know," Tahiri let go of her hand and leaned back, running her left hand through her hair. "Both of you had been at the highest levels of government and you know that sometimes secrets must be kept. This is something that I am not authorized to share, One will be able to explain it to you." She could tell from the Force neither was moved by that argument. "Look, if I tell you where we need to go, will you promise to take us there?"
"That depends on where it is," Han said, his face reveling nothing.
"I understand," Tahiri did understand if she gave the wrong place … "Endor, we are to meet up at Endor."
"Who will meet us there?"
"Sorry General, that is all the information I can give you at this time."
"That's not much to go on Tahiri," Han said, but she just nodded and kept quiet. After studying her for a few minutes Han just nodded back. "Ok, I give you my word that on the next jump we will go to Endor but I had better get a straight answer."
"Thank you," she said giving them a Yuuzhan Vong salute. She was pleased that they trusted her that much at least. However, they felt … guilty?
"Until we get there we need to take certain steps," Han said.
Tahiri looked at him blankly, not understanding what he was saying.
"Remember Tahiri, we love you as if you were our own child," Leia said sadly, "and I hope that one day you will understand and forgive us."
Tahiri looked at each of them in confusion, forgive …why would I have …MEEWALH! Tahiri lurched out of her seat as the bodyguard turned the corner and fired two-stun blast into her knocking her back into her seat. Using the Force to keep herself conscious she tried again to stand. Three, four, this time she used the Force to hurler her quarter full glass at Meewalh to distract her. She got away from the table when five, six and knocked her to the deck. She could hear Leia and 3PO yelling something but she couldn't understand what they were saying. Using the Force, again, she tossed the dinner at Meewalh. Seven, eight, she was near the hatch, half crawling to her bunk if she could reach Bangor. Nine, ten she finally had to surrender to the stun blast.
"I thought you said that was fully charged!" Han yelled angrily at the bodyguard, as he and Leia examined Tahiri as she laid on the deck.
"I …" Meewalh, wearing the Ysalamiri, didn't say anymore, she looked and sounded as shocked as Leia felt. 10 stun blasts, there is no way she should have taken that many to knock her out. Leia looked over at Meewalh, a small part of her mind was amazed that Tahiri's aim had been that good. Meewalh had to duck the items Tahiri hurled at her; how she did it was beyond Leia since she barely felt the young woman even use the Force.
"Is Mistress Tahiri unharmed," 3PO asked.
"Yes, she out cold but she doesn't seemed damaged," Han said and then looked at Leia. "How did she do that?"
"I don't know," Leia said shaking her head, "I felt her use the Force a little but not enough to be able to withstand all that."
"Yea," Han said looking guilty and sick at the same time. Leia understood since she felt the same way. This hurt her more then she though it would; she hadn't been lying to Tahiri when she called her a member of their family. It was like shooting Jacen or Jaina. "Meewalh, 3PO help me carry her to her bunk. We'll strap her down in there and leave the Ysalamiri with her. At least that way we will be able to stop her long enough for us to explain why we did what we did before she tries anything."
"What are we going to do now," Leia asked as she watches 3PO and Meewalh gently pick up the sleeping Tahiri. Leia was struck by how much more Tahiri seemed childlike as she slept. "We going to take her back to Denon and let Luke talk to her?"
"Nope," Han said watching them carry her to her bunkroom, "we're going to Endor and ask 'One' some questions. And Face had better have some damn good answers."
"And if he doesn't," Leia asked as he started to follow them aft.
"Then I teach him a lesson," Han said turning slightly, his eyes cold and hard as the ship's hull, "the same lesson we taught Jabba all those years ago."
"This happens every time Nine and you go out on a mission together," the weary voice of Face coming across the comm. "You have to stop picking up every stray you see, this is a intelligent outfit not the GALACTIC HUMANE SOCIETY!" There was a short pause and then Kell heard, "No offence Twelve."
Kell had a hard time keeping his face straight as Ratnena filled Face in on what happened at Tatooine. They had arrived in system only a short time before and hooked up with the Sweet Sunset in orbit around the Sanctuary Moon. Face had not been thrilled when he learned what had happened. Kell was sure when some time had past that Face and him would have a good laugh but that day was not here yet. But he still couldn't help but be amused by comments like the one Face just made.
Ratnena, glancing over at Kell with an evil grin on her face, winked at him and hit the transmission key. "Yes, sir," in perfect military tone, "you are correct sir," again in perfect military tone but then she changed it to a pleading tone and said "but he was so cute!"
Kell couldn't help himself as he snorted out a laugh.
"Is there a problem Three?"
"Uh, no sir," he answered back while wagging his finger at Ratnena but wearing a grin. "Something went down the wrong pipe that is all." Kell heard Face say something else, mutter really, he couldn't understand all of it but it sounded a lot like 'get Wedge for this'. Leaning forward he sent one more message, "Yub Yub Commander."
"Oh ha ha," Face said, Kell could hear amusement in his voice and he also heard the older Wraiths, especially Runt, laughing in the background. Ratnena gave him a mystified, but amused, look. He told her that he would explain later as Face continued. "Before I send you two the galley for the next twenty years, do you have any idea how long before Nine and her strays get here?"
"Negative sir," Ratnena said when Kell waved at her to finish the briefing. "They left six hours before we did but I'm sure Nine took the scenic route here."
"It will probable take Nine awhile to convince them to come to the picnic anyways," Kell figured that was true. Han and Leia, once convince, would move heaven and earth to get the job done, not letting anyone or anything stop them for completing their mission, and taking on the entire universe if necessary to do what was right. It was getting them to listen that will be the hard part. "Come along side and we'll take your stray in. Then we figure out what to do next."
"Yes sir," Kell said as he began the complex maneuver to line up the air locks so they could link up.
"How long do you suppose it will take the Vong to convince them?" Ratnena asked while watching his manipulation of the controls, no doubt memorizing his action in case she ever had to do it.
"Hard to say, it could take a day or a week," or never, but Kell didn't say that but he knew that there was a very small chance that Han and Leia wouldn't believe her. "You can never tell …" The sensors alarm went off announcing a ship dropping out of hyperspace near by. Kell hit the thrusters pulling away from the Sweet Sunset as Ratnena powered up the shields and their only gun.
"One ship, YT-1300 class," Doran's voice coming across the comm, "can't make a positive id."
"Little Brother, see if that is the Millennium Falcon," Kell yelled back at the little droid.
CONFIRM; the translation came across almost instantly.
"Eleven says it's our guest," Ratnena sent over to the others.
Confirm, fourteen and fifteen just confirmed also, but hey are having trouble locating our package. It shows up on regular scan but not the enhance scan." Which meant she on board but they couldn't sense her in the Force. Tahiri's extraordinary biology always made her stand out like a rancor in a nerf herd. Kell wasn't sure if that was good news or not, yet. "I'm going to give them a shout on a unsecured line, no one else break in." Face paused for a heartbeat then added, "that is a direct order Eight.
"Yes sir," Kell looked at her out of the corner of his eye, Ratnena didn't look concern and hope she stayed that way.
"Hello there," Face's voice sounding warm, friendly and non-threatening, his actor's voice that seem to invite everyone into the conversation. "It is good to see that you made it, I hope you brought the dessert."
"Hello there your self," the voice of Han Solo answered, cold, hard and very threatening. "Is the whole gang here?"
"Yes, we been waiting for you before we started the party," Face said maintaining his tone, "I hope your guest hasn't been too much of a trouble."
"We put her under arrest Face," was Han's flat response.
Kell had to reach across to slap Ratnena's hands away from the comm system. "Don't Ratnena not yet, lets hear him out."
"BUT SIR!"
"Hear him out," Kell said slowly, she sat back glaring out the view port at the Falcon.
"I see, well should we be expecting more guest soon, we made enough for all but wasn't expecting a large gathering."
"No one else, Face. This is between you and me, I have some questions and I had better like the answers."
"I understand, can I talk to her for a moment?"
"Sorry, she is incapacitated right now …"
This time Kell wasn't fast enough.
"Listen you scum suckers, if you hurt her in any way …"
"We haven't hurt her, who ever you are," the voice of Leia came across sounding sad and tired. Kell slapped the comm down and glared at Ratnena, who didn't seem to notice as she did her own glaring at the Falcon. "But she is a Jedi and we had to take certain steps to insure she stayed put."
"General, perhaps you would be kind enough to come along side. We can have you and your wife come aboard and …"
"No, why don't you follow me back to Denon …"
"Sorry sir, but we are not prepared to head there yet," there was a short pause and Face came back on. "How about this, I take a X-wing down to Endor and you meet me there and we will compare notes."
"All of you come down, I'm not stupid enough to leave any Wraiths in orbit. I know you guys too well."
"Very well, we all will go down and talk. I lead the way you follow and you have finial say of landing zone."
"I already have one pick out, I am sending it to you now."
"I have it, how about you Three?"
"Received and locked in, we lead the way down." As Kell headed down to the surface Face came back across the secure channel.
"Ratnena, relax I am sure nothing bad has happened to Tahiri. I need you calm in control, understand?"
"But sir,"
"That is a order Flight Officer Bora," Face snapped out using his 'authority' voice.
"Yes sir," she answered back meekly and became absolutely still. Kell looked over at her, thinking she gave in too easy.
"We will get her back Ratnena, but we need to play this smart."
"Yes sir," again Kell thought she was giving in way to easy. He almost wished she was ranting and raving again. Face must have thought the same thing because her reminded her one more time that they will get Tahiri free before he signed off. Kell watched her as they headed to the edge of the forest, near the spot that the old Imperial Base once stood. If her chest hadn't moved, slowly, he would have sworn she was not real. That all changed as soon as the landing gear touched the ground. She was up and un-strapped before he was completely settled.
"Bora, Bora!" He swore to himself as he locked down the landing ramp. It wouldn't stop her but it might, hopefully, slow her down. "One, Eight is running hot." He said in to the comm as he got up to chase her down. When he reached the landing ramp, she had it open and heading outside, with Little Brother hot on her heals. "Sithspawn! Bora, calm down!"
He saw Runt, Piggy and Elassar rush over to intercept the two half way to the Falcon. Runt was able to stop Little Brother a lot easier then Piggy and Elassar did stopping Ratnena. They had to wrestle her down to the ground and still she wouldn't stop fighting to get lose. When the Solos, with their bodyguard and droid, came out of the Falcon, she redoubles her efforts.
"Please forgive her," Tyria said stepping forward. Leia and Han expressed no surprise at seeing her. "Tahiri and her have become very close friends since they have met."
"Tyria, I guess I shouldn't be surprise you are involved here," Leia said watching Ratnena squirming on the ground. "What is your name?"
"My name is 'whop ass' and that what I am going to do to you when I get free!"
"Prankster, calm down or I will medicate you, understand," Elassar yelled at her. Kell wasn't sure if it was the treat or the fact she was getting tired that finally convince her to stop struggling as much.
Their bodyguard took two long steps to but her body between Ratnena and the Solos. Leia, on the other hand, laid a hand on her shoulder and step around to face Ratnena.
"You must care for her very deeply. I am glad that she has found a friend who cares for her as much as you do."
"If you hurt her all your pretty words isn't going to stop me from killing you!"
"We haven't hurt Tahiri and we won't," Han replied angrily and stepping forward next to his wife, "so you want to watch your mouth, girl."
"We are concern about her," Leia said softly.
"Which is why we are here and not back on Denon," Han said, "now I want to know what is going on around here and I want to know now!"
"And you can let her up, she won't hurt us now," Leia said pointing to Ratnena.
"No," Face said shaking his head, "we know her too well." Face took a deep breath and said "General, ma'am it started about 3 months into our training…"