Chapter 4
Ord Mantell (62 ABY)
The shop was a small one and sold a mix of various trinkets that several species found interesting. However, the young woman who manned the counter hadn't had a customer all morning, but that didn't concern her. For, the trinket shop was only a cover for a cover. She and her uncle were smugglers and the shop was their cover to make them look legitimate in the eyes of the authorities.
However, it wasn't just the authorities they wanted to fool. They wanted to fool their competition as well and among them the space pirates that had been terrorizing this region of the GFFA. Their mission was a simple one but a dangerous one that could cost them their lives—infiltrate the Dro'godda and gather as much information as they could. They both understood that possibility of being caught and killed all too personally, especially the young woman. Because, only a year ago she lost her mother on a mission when her mother along with her father, brother and friend were ambushed investigating the same pirates. But after six months of pretending to be a shopkeeper's orphaned niece, she was getting anxious for some action. For, this was the first big mission for this particular young Jedi Knight and she wanted to prove herself worthy of the title.
Jedi Knight Cassie Horn was standing at the counter and was bored to pieces. Her elbows rested on the counter top, chin resting in her hands and her fingers taping on her cheeks to the beat of the contemporary music she had playing way too loudly in the background. Her intriguing grey-green eyes, which were a mix of both her parents, flitted around the shop wondering what she could do now to pass the time. She had dusted the various merchandise and even the shelves that held them. She sighed when she couldn't think of anything else to do. She stood and ran her hand through her golden blond hair which was cut to lie in layered lengths to just below her ears.
Suddenly, the upbeat music ended and another song—a slow sultry love ballad—came on which reminded her of him. Of course, Cassie really didn't need much to remind her of the man she had fallen in love with. Their last encounter had been fodder for countless fantasies over the past six months. A smile brightened her pretty oval face as thought of him. She only hoped he felt the same for her as she did for him. But even if he did, she would never be good enough for him. She may be pretty with a good mix of her mother's and grandmother Mirax's features, but a pert nose covered with a scattering of freckles set in a too oval face was not the type of woman he'd ever be content with. He came from a culture that prized beauty above all else, and besides he was the handsomest man she had ever known.
Thinking about him suddenly brought back the memory of that last night on Coruscant and the questions that had been plaguing her for six months…
X
"You cheated!" she threw her Sabacc cards on the table and turned angry eyes to meet laughing startling blue ones.
"Ahhh, Cass, you know I don't cheat," he grinned at her. Then he added, "What can I say? It's genetic."
"I don't know why I let you talk me into playing Sabacc with you. You always win." She huffed and stared at his amused smirk. No one could ever win against him. It was a good thing she never wagered anything important or credits and that he only played for fun and never gambled. Of course, every one said he could have probably out played even his legendary grandfather.
"You know why you play with me, Cass. You've always been a glutton for punishment," fellow Jedi Knight and Prince of Hapes Bail Solo D'jo leaned back and gave her a lopsided grin that recently started to do funny things to her stomach. She didn't know when she started seeing him differently. It happened when the handsome prince showed her a completely different side of himself after the mission that killed her mother. He had been on that mission and when he and her father and brother returned, Bail was there for her when she needed a friend the most.
"Yeah, being around you has always been a punishment," she shot back and she thought back over the years. She had known him since she was a child. She along with his cousins Zeth, Anakah and Meri, her brother Terrik, and Marko Quee had all attended the Academy together. However, even though she and Meri Durron were only five months a part in age, she was still the youngest of the group and had the misfortune of inheriting her father's inability for telekinesis. She was instantly put at a great disadvantage especially with a jokester like Bail around. She spent years being annoyed by him using the Force to pull at her braids while sitting in classes when the instructors weren't looking. However, the worst was when he was fourteen and she barely eleven; he levitated her and would not put her down.
But eventually she got him back because like her father and grandfather she could make anyone, including a strong willed Jedi think anything. It was on a camping trip to Endor with the Durrons and the Skywalkers when she implanted an image of a giant rancor-like creature into Bail's mind. She laughed for days every time she thought of his expression when he thought he saw it come after him and he began to run as fast has he could to escape the "monster" chasing him. She had gotten a good lecture from Master Luke Skywalker on that one, but it was well worth it.
"Oh, Cass, don't go dredging up the past. Besides, you were the one who made the wager," Bail said in his slow easy drawl.
She swallowed and huffed, "Okay. Fine. My wildest dream. I want to go to Santini's someday and order the most expensive meal on the menu and be treated like royalty. But I still think you cheated."
She watched as his eyes danced with amusement. Then he turned to the black astromech droid who was plugged into a socket by the apartment's comm station. "You hear that, Vader?" The droid twittered and the Jedi Prince of Hapes turned disbelieving blue eyes back to her. "That's your wildest dream?"
She squirmed under his intense gaze and took a good drawl on the Lomin ale she was drinking. Then she fingered the worn emerald ring she wore on a chain around her neck, it had been her mother's engagement ring. Finally, she said as confidently as she could, "Yes. And what's wrong with me wanting to eat at the most expensive, most exclusive, most prestigious restaurant on all of Coruscant?"
Bail shook his head causing his long light brown hair to fall forward over his shoulders. She watched him push it back with his hand and was struck by the way the low light caught the diamond stud that pierced his ear. Finally, he said between light laughter, "Cass, that is the lamest thing I've ever heard."
She shrugged and pulled her eyes away from his to look around the main living room of the apartment he shared with his cousin Zeth. As usual it was a mess. She wandered how those two found anything among the clutter. Then she said after a thought struck her. "Alright, Your Highness, what is your wildest dream?" For the briefest of nanoseconds Cassie thought she saw something flash in Bail's eyes, but he recovered so quickly it may not have been there at all.
"Oh," he shook his finger at her and laughed, "to get that info, Knight Horn, you will have to play me another hand of cards—and win." His gaze pinned her and her heart skipped a beat.
"Well, then," she smiled and gathered up the discarded cards and as she handed them to him, "I guess I'm going to just have to beat you. That's a wager to high to pass up."
Bail took the cards and smugly shuffled them and dealt them out. He obviously was not concerned about the possibility of losing—until he looked at his cards. He pulled another from the deck and discarded one. Cassie watched him intently but Bail had an impassive Sabacc face. She then looked at her hand and chewed her bottom lip. Finally, making her decision she discarded one and pulled another from the deck and nearly let out a delighted squeal when she saw the card. She was holding a perfect positive twenty-three. She had Perfect Sabacc and there was no way he could beat her.
Bail must have felt her excitement and looked up from his hand and then he laid his cards on the table, revealing a positive twenty-one. He smiled and said as he leaned back, putting his hands behind his head, "Okay, try to beat that."
She was never so glad in all her life to have the opportunity to wipe the smug expression from his face. She smiled and laid her cards down one at a time and slowly watched Bail's expression turn to one of disbelief. His Solo's luck just ran out. She snickered, "Okay, Prince Bail, out with it. Your wildest dream."
She watched as he stared incredulously at the cards on the table then looked up at her. He swallowed and she wondered just what the handsome prince was hiding because she had never seen him look so nervous before in her life.
Finally, he took a deep breath and in an unusually quiet voice said, "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me."
"Try me. It can't be that bad," she continued to grin. She was really enjoying his sudden and unusual discomfort.
He continued to gaze at her and then said, "But I think it would be better to show you."
She narrowed her eyes but before she could say anything he stood and came around the small dining table. He held out his hand to her and she glanced at it suspiciously before taking it and standing. But Bail didn't lead her anywhere, instead he pulled her toward him and she watched as he swallowed again. She found herself closer to him then she ever expected to be. His sweet, spicy scent assaulted her senses and caused a headiness to come over her. They stared into each others eyes for a moment then she felt his hands move up her arms which caused her to shudder.
No words were exchanged as his hands found their way around her, pulling her even closer. She found it hard to breathe and her heart seemed to speed up twice its normal rate, she was drowning in his gaze. Finally, she broke the quiet by whispering, "Bail—" Then she nervously licked her lips, that was when Bail made a low groan as if he lost a battle within himself and before she knew it his lips were pressed to hers.
Her head spun and her hands slid up his chest, Bail groaned again as he broke the kiss and pulled away far enough to look into her eyes. As her hands made their way around his neck, he seemed to be asking her a thousand questions in his intense gaze.
Her breathing was rapid as she whispered, "Was that your wildest dream?"
His hands seemed bolder, moving down her back to the curve of her hips, "That's part of it," he breathed and there was a huskiness to his voice that suddenly drove her desire to heights she had never felt before. But before she could even begin to respond to him his lips were on hers again. This time, however, the kiss wasn't just a gentle pressing together of lips, but had a passion behind it that truly curled her toes. He deepened the kiss, his tongue finding hers and dueling not unlike they had with their lightsabers earlier that week.
She moaned and her fingers intertwined into his hair, pulling him even closer. She marveled at how well her body fit against his. The need for air momentarily broke the kiss but neither of them was finished. They came together again as they poured even more passion into the joining of lips, tongues and exploring hands. She left his hair to move her hands back down his muscular chest and abdomen. He rained kisses to her ear where his hot breath caused a shudder to run through her. He nibbled on her earlobe and her hands found themselves under his tunic caressing his flanks and across his back. She delighted in the shudder and low moan that escaped him as she touched his bare skin.
He whispered in her ear, "I want you, Cassie. I need you more than anything." She moaned at the sound of her name and what his low passion-laced words promised. She closed her eyes and extended her neck; he answered the initiation by kissing its column down to the edge of the rounded low neckline of the tank top she wore.
His hand slipped up under her tank top and brushed the underside of her breast, and she groaned as he cupped it and caressed the nipple to a hard point, "Bail, I—" But something stopped her from finishing the declaration she was about to make.
His other hand pulled at the strap over her shoulder baring more of the supple skin of her shoulder. She felt his body respond to her as he pressed himself even closer to her and a pure delighted thrill of raw desire went through her. His lips found hers again as he pushed her top up further over her breasts baring them. He then moved to gently nibble on the dusky points of her nipples. She moaned and she pushed his tunic up, caressing his muscular chest. He lifted her and sat her on the edge of the table pushing her down until her back was suddenly against it with him over her. She pushed his tunic up and he pulled it over his head. She allowed her eyes to take in his beautifully sculpted chest and muscular abdomen.
"Bail, you are so gorgeous," she whispered hoarsely. She had never been with a man before but suddenly she had never wanted anything more in all her life. She felt like she was set on fire.
He gave her a somewhat shy smile that only set her spiraling more as he leaned over her and softly replied, "And I've never seen a more beautiful woman, Cass." He captured her lips as she gasped at his complement and kissed her with an undeniable hunger that she matched perfectly.
Then the door slid open and a very amused voice made its way through the passion fog that clouded both of their senses. "Ahh—emmm, I'm glad to see that the Sabacc game is going well."
Cassie immediately pushed at Bail, sat up and moved from the table while pulling at her shirt to cover what he had uncovered. She felt her face burn and knew she was blushing several shades of red. "Umm—Zeth…" she sputtered but could not meet the laughing green eyes of the black-haired Jedi who at that moment looked too much like his father.
Bail seemed to get under better control than she had and as he finger combed his hair back he looked at his amused cousin and smirked, "It was going quite well until about two seconds ago, wasn't it, Cass?"
Cassie stared at him and in her embarrassment felt a tinge of anger at his nonchalance. Didn't it mean anything to him? Was he only leading her on? Sure, he desired her but she knew desire wasn't love.
She glanced from the man she loved to a smirking Zeth Durron and ran from the room and the apartment. She thought she heard him call her name, but between the tears that were threatening to fall and her Force enhanced speed she was away from him in moments and into the turbolift. She didn't see Bail again; for, the next day she was called back to Ossus where she would meet her uncle to leave on the mission to infiltrate Dro'godda.
X
However, she regretted not seeing him again everyday, after the pain of his arrogant words and embarrassment of being nearly caught in the act on his dining room table, no less, by Zeth wore off. And once that did, she began to fantasize about what would have happened if Zeth Durron would have stayed away a little while longer. But, she still had to ask the question: Did it mean more to Bail than just fulfilling of his lust?
She was engrossed in her daydream when the bell rang that signaled that someone entered the shop. She looked up to find her uncle making his way to her at the counter. She instantly stood and turned the music off, her thoughts being buried where they would not distract her from the business at hand.
Jedi Master Doran Tainer was tall, with broad shoulders and a muscular build. His head was shaved but his goatee and mustache was brown with only a hint of grey. His blue eyes were piercing and always in motion, and to top of the look a large gold hoop earring hung from his ear. All in all, Cassie, thought he looked very much like the part he was trying to play: a small time smuggler trying to make it in with the big guys. But she knew this wasn't just an act, this was how her uncle really looked and what had always given him the advantage when he investigated the criminals of the galaxy. Doran Tainer had, like her parents, became an expert at infiltration and disguise.
Doran was married to her aunt Jysella and theirs was an interesting story. Because they married under protest when she was nineteen and he twenty-seven, Corran Horn thought the eight years too great an age difference, at least at that time. But her grandfather had only wanted them to wait until Jysella was at least a few years older but neither of them wanted that. They ran off and married and that had been a sore spot between Corran and Mirax Horn and Doran and his parents former Wraith Squadron pilot Kell Tainer and Jedi Knight Tyria Sarkin Tainer ever since. Yes, her young cousin Hope had some pretty interesting lifeday celebrations especially if Doran, Kell and Corran were drinking any.
"Well?" she asked. "Are we in?"
Doran looked around the shop and Cassie took the hint, "No one has been here today so it's still safe." She was referring to the daily sweeping of not only the dirt on the floor, but to make sure there were no surveillance devices placed in the shop.
Doran motioned for her to follow him to the back room where a small food prep area was and a well worn table. Their sleeping spaces were up stairs over the store room. Cassie knew he felt safer back in the kitchen. The shop was fronted by large windows after all, and in the dangerous business they were doing they could not be too careful.
After she was settled in her chair at the table, Doran took his seat and leaned in. "We're in." He allowed a small smile and went on," Foust wants us to go to Tatooine and make a pick up."
"What's so special about that? Two weeks ago we had to go to the Corporate Sector for a pick up." Captain Foust was their contact and loose "business partner". He was a big time smuggler and Doran and Cassie would run goods for him from which they would get a cut of the profits for their trouble. But Foust was also an underling for Dro'godda and essentially a scout. If one does a good job for Foust and is trustworthy then he would recommend you for joining the pirates. They have been waiting for the invitation. Problem was one never knew which run would be the invitation.
"The cargo on Tatooine is a live one," Doran's blue eyes twinkled and Cassie had to wonder if her uncle was taking his role as a smuggler too seriously. But then his parents had been among the New Republic's best intelligence teams, surely, he must have gotten his knack for this sort of thing from them.
"Oh." She swallowed and then added after a moment, "Not slaves, I hope." She really didn't want to be involved with that because to complete their mission she knew she would be forced to deliver them to their ultimate fate.
He shook his head and stood. After pouring a cup of caf and sitting back down he continued, "No, not slaves. I feel the same way you do about that. They apparently captured two military types and want them brought here to Ord Mantell for safe keeping and interrogation." He took a sip of the hot liquid and then said as he lowered the cup, "My guess is that they must think they can bargain with them and get Syal Barrett to do what they want her to do. Not to mention, for military information."
Cassie was quiet for a moment then asked, "Are we to go alone and use the Tycoon's Folly to bring them back? Or, are we only going along for the ride?" The Folly was an old YT-2400 Corellian light freighter they used as part of their smuggling ruse. The ship's real name was Life's Perfection and was a gift to her brother Terrik and her from her great-grandfather Booster Terrik before his death ten years ago. And she was its pilot.
Doran grinned and nodded, "We're in, I'm telling you. Dro'godda just made its biggest mistake. They trust us. We are going alone."
X
Hapes
He looked down at the tiny baby in the crook of his arm and smiled. She was looking at him and blowing bubbles and wiggling her fists. Bail laughed and said in a soft voice, "You think Uncle Bail is funny, don't you?" He reached over and tickled her belly and although she was way to young to appreciate the sensation of a tickle the smile she gave him only encouraged him to do it again only this time he made funny faces at her with baby speak.
The peal of laughter from the doorway into the nursery ended all such silliness. Bail looked up to find his sister standing at the doorway arms crossed over her chest and a very amused smirk on her beautiful face. Allana moved into the room and sat on a settee by the rocker Bail was sitting in gently rocking the baby in his arms. "Well, what I wouldn't do to have had a holocam just now. Imagine what price that little scene would bring on the open HoloNet. I see it now in the headlines, 'Handsome Jedi Prince Bail Solo D'jo scandalizes family with news of his latest antics. And just whose baby is he gushing all over? Could it be his?'"
"Ha, ha, ha. You are quite the comedian, Sis," he looked at his older sister and smiled. He enjoyed it when Allana forgot what she was and became who she was. "But I haven't even dated anyone in the past eight or nine months."
The beautiful and elegant queen mother of Hapes raised a delicate russet brow and said, "I can't help but inquire. Why the sudden change in the playboy status? I'm not really disappointed but to give up dating? Please, don't tell me our monkish cousin, who thinks his perfect bride will someday fall out of the sky without him even having to go looking for her, is suddenly influencing you?"
Bail laughed at her jibe at Zeth. It was a common joke among them that while Anakah seemed to have no problems with finding a man, her twin Zeth seemed to shy away from women. He just didn't like the fuss of dating. "No, I'm not being influenced by Zeth." Then he looked back at the baby in his arms and thought about the real reason he had not dated anyone in the better part of the last year—
Cassie Horn
She filled his every thought and he wondered if she felt the same about him. He still regretted the night of the Sabacc game. But he had been swept away on the tide of emotion and her utter beauty. He had only wanted to kiss her but he never expected to find as much passion and desire returned to him. He also regretted not telling her that he loved her. But he was afraid she didn't feel the same and he knew his heart could never take the rejection. And most of all, he regretted not going after her and letting Zeth intimidate him. He knew his words had hurt her.
He fell in love with her after her mother was killed. At first, he was her friend and as such, if they were on the same planet they would meet up and he would convince her to play Sabacc with him. He nearly always won but it didn't matter they never wagered more than silly things—in a sense their games were nothing more than glorified truth and dare games. However, as such, he learned more about Cassie Horn than he ever expected. In the process she began to recover from the incredible grief she felt over the loss of her Master, best friend and her mother. And Bail fell in love with her.
Allana was watching him intently then a knowing smile lit up her face and she said almost disbelievingly, "You're in love. My little brother has finally fell in love."
He glared at her and she went on but suddenly she was no longer just his sister but the queen mother, "I'm happy for you, Bail. But you know whoever you choose will have to survive the scrutiny of the Hapan nobles."
He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders, "Allana, I don't see what the nobles are worrying about. You gave them an heir. I'm off the hook, if I ever was on it to begin with."
"Bail, you know that is not true. Our family will always be in danger. Our cousins and Ni'Korish will always debate our claim to the throne. Not to mention those who feel our father killed Ta'a Chume and that in doing so forfeited our claim to the throne."
Bail gazed at her, "So, that was why you have increased security around this mausoleum. I thought that maybe it was because you were just concerned about the birth. That you sensed that you would have problems."
"No, Bail, that wasn't the only reason. I—" she looked down at the sleeping baby in his lap and swallowed, "I was worried someone would try something." She then looked back at him and went on, "You and I have to stick together, Bail. We are the future of Hapes. If—if something were to happen to her or to me, you will have to provide an heir to ensure Mother's legacy lives on."
Bail was uncomfortable with the morbid turn this conversation was taking but he knew what she said was also true. However, Bail Solo D'jo didn't want the responsibility of providing an heir as he looked at his niece. "Yeah, well, nothing happened and nothing will. Besides, I think the more possible heirs that are thrown into the mix, the more fighting for the throne occurs," he smiled and added, "Just look at Ta'a Chume and her sisters. Their heirs are still fighting each other as much as they are fighting us."
She nodded, the motion causing the array of russet braids to slightly shift, "That is a fact, however, there is a distinct difference between us and our cousins, Little Brother." Her intense brandy brown eyes pinned him as he looked back up to meet her gaze, "We love each other and know the importance of family. Our relatives were never taught that important aspect of being a family. They only know how to hate each other." Then she smiled and asked, "So, who is it? Who has finally stolen the heart of 'Playboy Jedi Prince Bail Solo D'jo'"
Bail thought about what she said before the teasing question and sighed, "I'm in love with Cassie Horn and would do anything to have her."
Allana smiled and said, "I should have known." She the reached over and squeezed his hand as it gently rested on the baby's belly. "Does she love you?"
He swallowed and quietly said, "I wish I knew. I hope she soon returns from her mission so I can tell her how I feel. And to apologize for our last time together."
Allana was quiet for a moment and as though she sensed Bail's reluctance to continue, changed the subject by grinning slightly and asking, "Do you really think Dad is serous about becoming a Healer?"
Bail laughed, "Sis, you know Dad better than anyone. Since when did he not go after something he felt he wanted? If our father wants to become a Healer, he will. And why not, after all, Grandma Leia was in her fifties when she became a Knight. Dad only needs to get his medical degree and apprentice himself to a Healer."
"I was afraid you would say that," she said, her grin becoming larger.
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