Gacen felt calm, he hadn't left Risha's side since arriving on Gabredor Prime, the planet was so weird it was so remote but also so beautiful, he had to admit he hadn't been looking at the planet's beauty much though. He looked down at her lying in his arms and smiled, she really had waited for him, their love was real, he stroked her hair as she looked up at him still looking as smarmy as ever but clearly happy he was here. It was impressive she'd managed to get this set up in five years but not surprising, she could do anything when she set her mind to it and he'd help her whatever it took, he wasn't a coward anymore.
Gacen frowned thinking to himself "so how do you think Sumalee is going to react when she sees me, throw me down the stairs or just groan" Risha laughed shaking her head at him
She smiled "she doesn't hate you that much just the right amount, that sweet spot I found too" Gacen faked a gasp acting all offended "oh come on don't make me feel bad dumbass" she sat up putting her forehead against his
Gacen smiled "I know I'm just kidding I'll do my best to convince her despite the fact I'd rather just stay here with you, I only just got back and now I have to go again" he pouts at Risha who to no surprise doesn't jump to comfort him
She tapped the comm link she gave him "you may go but I'm not letting us seperate that easy you better talk to me the whole time i spent ages getting these encrypted so it's safe for us to talk" Gacen smiled at her
He teased "awwww you did that for me you must really love me" Risha smirked rolling her eyes
She leaned forward "don't flatter yourself or I'll be forced to divorce you" Gacen chuckled right back to their old routine
He faked surprise "you wouldn't dare" Risha chuckled to herself clearly happy to have her 'dumbass' back
Risha winked "oh just watch me" she pulled him in close for what he assumed would've been a snide comment but as she did her face softened and she just hugged him tight
Gacen hugged her back "aw Rish I guess we can't quite go back to what we were, a few things have changed after all" she nodded squeezing him tight "it's ok it's ok though I promise I won't turn this off ok" She let him go wiping her eyes and smiling
She punched him playfully "you better not we can't have anything bad happening to the future Queen's husband" Gacen smiled at her laughing to himself what an odd nickname
He tested his comm "testing one two, 'Rish...loves... me' you getting that 'best...I am…the...best" Risha put her hand on her forehead
She chuckled "I'm already regretting giving you that but yes it does work" she tests her own "and you should be able to hear this 'No...he...isn't'" Gacen gasped comically as she spoke
He smiled "well it seems to work Rish" he looked out the window "has M4-SK prepared the ship" Risha nodded following him to the door "and he understands his 'role' right he seems eccentric even for a droid" Risha shrugged holding onto his hand
She sighed "I dunno probably he may be weird but he gets really in character so is much more reliable if he gets caught just don't give him too much backstory or he'll try to work it in" Gacen made a mental note to avoid that
Gacen took her hands and smiled "thanks Rish I promise I'll be back in a flash with Sumalee" he pulled her into a long kiss after which neither really wanted to let go holding each other for a few minutes
Risha eventually broke away "well you best be back soon I have other things I need you for" Gacen gave her a quizzical flirty look "I don't mean that! I mean other missions, come on Gacen that stuff goes without saying" Gacen chuckled squeezing her hands before turning to walk to the ship
Once in the cockpit he turned on the comm link leaning against the wall "hey girl I hear your home alone want some company" a long elongated sigh came back through with what sounded like a stifled laugh as well
Risha tutted "you are the worst I swear" Gacen strolled to the cockpit and sat down in the pilot's chair
He responded "yeah but I'm your worst it's too late to back out now you admitted how cute you find me" M4-SK looked at him quizzically but didn't press the issue
Risha groaned "are you gonna be like this the whole trip" Gacen knew what the answer was but just whistled innocently…
Later they were coming up on Wayland and M4-SK had been asking questions "if I may I'd like to know a little more about my character" Gacen had done his best to avoid answering questions so far but he couldn't hold out forever
Gacen groaned "you're a protocol droid for me a travelling mystic" he gestured to the robes he was wearing that vaguely resembled the Jedi robes he'd seen during his time in the republic
Risha came through the comms "ooo wow what a mysterious hermit of course he has magic powers why not show me a few" Gacen rolled his eyes she'd been making fun of his outfit non stop
M4-SK rubbed their chin "yes I'm aware but do you really think people will buy you as a mystic what if I played the mystic" Gacen frowned at him what was so unconvincing about that
He put his hands on his hips "um first of all rude and second of all droids can't do magic it's literally impossible" M4-SK tutted clearly disagreeing
He continued "maybe in your small minded universe but in the acting world anyone can be anything" Gacen had a look of disbelief on his face and leaned back whispering into the commlink
He asked "does he have any idea this isn't a play?" why of all the droids was he stuck with this one
Risha responded equally unsure "Honestly I don't know I've told him over and over but he just seems to ignore me so eventually I just gave up" Gacen sighed of course
He sat back up "hmmm maybe a good idea as an experiment but for now we need to nail this so I'll play the mystic" M4-SK shook his head going back to co-piloting
He tutted "fine but it's your funeral when the reviews come in" Gacen just decided to ignore him as the planet of Wayland came into view, it was a mainly mountainous planet with many trees dotted around and as they brought the ship down they found there was a decent number of inhabitants they landed close by and soon encountered the Crystal skinned humanoids.
After a quick translation from M4-SK and a crude drawing of a togrutas montrals they were directed towards a mountain with a flat plateau in the side of it, overall it seemed promising now it was just about convincing Sumalee to come with him
As he walked up the mountain he continued to talk to Risha "so why do you think Sumalee came here I thought she was a respected member of the jedi" Gacen put his hand up against the wind as it blew his cloak back he felt very out of his element
Risha responded quickly "I'm not quite sure apparently it's one of those 'strong in the force planets" Gacen got that vibe he wasn't sure why "and you know she was never really the most 'by the code' Jedi" that was true
Gacen smiled "I mean she knew us that's pretty not by the book" she had given them far too many favours and pardons over the years
Risha agreed "exactly it may just be that she wanted to strike out on her own" Gacen guessed that was possible
He shook his head "well let's just hope that she's more agreeable to smugglers named Gacen than before" Gacen hoped so anyway he didn't ever appreciate being on the wrong end of a lightsaber
He made his way up the mountain and by the end his feet were as sore as can be he was not a climber, he leaned on the stick he'd found to use as a walking stick. "Yes I made it oh my god I'm so tired" he took a moment to rest
Risha teased him "oh you poor thing whatever will you do" Gacen rolled his eyes looking up at the rest of the Plateau
He saw at the end there was a figure floating in the air seemingly meditating, he recognised the montrals and hoped this had all been worth it.
She turned and lowered herself to the ground "you have come here seeking answers mystic? Well go ahead ask away" she lifted her hood revealing the red skin of Master Sumalee
Gacen gritted his teeth ready "well not exactly" he took his own hood off with a cheesy grin "I actually came here seeking you, what's up girl how've you been" Sumalee's expression dropped
She sighed "oh fuck" she strode towards him "what do you want Gacen and if you're going to ask me where Risha is I don't know" she folded her arms and turned away
Gacen held the back of his neck "weeeeeelll I actually may have the answer to that question" Sumalee turned around her face softening "and I'll tell you if you listen to my proposition" Sumalee seemed to consider it for a few seconds
She took a long pause "you get five minutes otherwise I throw you off my mountain" Gacen nodded that seemed fair, he'd have to talk fast...