Chapter 7: Repeating the Past

~It had been a long time since she had seen her former Master. Years since their falling out at her choice of professions. He voiced, quite vehemently, an objection to her working in the Special Intelligence and Tactical branch of the order. To him they were just a step up from being smugglers and thugs. So now, as she looked into his eyes and saw the recognition there, she veiled her eyes and bowed her head as a good concubine would. Her mind, however, reached for the bond that would never fully break. 'Do NOT blow my cover.'

The conversation he had been having with the ruler suddenly occupied less of his attention. 'What are you doing here?' It was more of a demand than a question.

Shae's eyes shifted up and to his right very briefly taking in his partner on this expedition. 'I am your contact. The better question would be what is SHE doing here.' The emphasis was more to let him know that she had noticed the woman by his side than a burn of jealousy. 'She's in more danger than I am.'

'Where my wife decides to go with me is none of your business young Knight.' To his host he stated. "I would be more than happy to stay but we have already made other arrangements."

Shae's head shot up and she gave a startled gasp as his sentence finished. She didn't have time to dwell on her momentary shock as she was roughly pulled to her lord's side.

"What is so shocking that you would dare make a sound without permission my firebrand?" He questioned menacingly.

When she answered there was a suitable tremor of terror in her voice. "I...It's just t.t.that I've never heard of a.anyone turn down y.your hospitality before, m.m.my l.lord.

"Oh, but it has been my poppet." He stated as he loosed his grip on her hair enough to allow her to pull back. As she did, strands of her red curls separated from her scalp and stayed between his fingers. "It has, but look you have embarrassed me in front of our guests. " His gaze narrowed. "Leave us and send out L'roh, she knows how to maintain a proper silence."

She bowed her exit. The annoying voice of Master Tamsis followed her. 'Why?'

'He's been eyeing Dia all night, either you get her off this rock or you'll never see her again.'~

Avingale woke with a start. It took a moment to realize where she was, being on the capital world again was a bit disorienting after several thousand years. She was a guest of the Chief of State. She took a look around her room and tried to shake off a sense of impending doom.

She padded over to the comm. and punched in Jan's code.

"Ors here."

"Jan it's Avi. Please do not go on this mission."

"Sweetie it's too late for changes, were already in the air."

"Be extremely careful then, I ."she broke off because she couldn't find the words to express how worried she was.

"Don't worry. We'll be back before you know it."

She heaved a sigh. "Just watch your back. I have a feeling that you'll need to. Bye."

"Until later." Jan signed off as Kyle entered the cockpit.

"Who was that?" he asked.

"Avingale." She watched a brief scowl cross his features. "She was just concerned, said she had a bad feeling about this mission."

"Well I'd be filthy rich if I had a credit for every Jedi who's said that phrase over the years. Was she worried that I might not make it back?"

Jan hesitated. "No actually she called me directly. Your name never entered the equation."

That caused him to pause. He was almost certain that the child was still fixated on him. He knew that was a problem. What he couldn't figure out is why she would suddenly change her focus to Jan. /She isn't only Jan/ that other piece of him stated. Then it clicked. Avi knew that Jan was his wife from a former life, not only his wife but soul mate as well. /If something were to happen to her./ he let that thought trail off and tramped down his insecurities. He covered Jan's hand with his own. "Don't worry, we'll get this small imperial problem taken care of and come back. It will be nice to prove a Jedi's instincts wrong for once."

Jan looked at him skeptically as he walked away.