A/N: Many thanks to Buttercup for her awesome beta help! I hope everyone enjoys the chapter :)

The Dutiful Wife

WendyNat

Chapter Six
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"How did you meet the illustrious Lieutenant Commander, anyway?" Sera handled the speeder controls deftly, and her attention appeared to be focused on the skies around her, but Natrie had the feeling that every ounce of that awareness was actually centered on Natrie's answer. Normally, discussions concerning her husband would have caused her more agitation, but with her nerves still raw from the morning's revelation concerning Lieutenant Bala, she welcomed anything that would take her mind off of it. She didn't need Mierie to sense her nervousness.

"At a tribute dinner, for fallen heroes of the Clone Wars." Natrie sighed. "My father was being honored, and my mother wasn't able to attend, so I went in her stead."

"One of those 'please love the Empire' dinners that they held in the beginning?"

"Exactly." Natrie smiled wryly as the memory filled her mind. She could smell the extravagant food, hear the subtle music, remember how awed she had felt, how small and insignificant and proud to be noticed by the amazing regalness of the Empire, even for one night. "And I fell for it. The dinner pretending to honor the fallen, the benevolent front, the beautiful hall…"

"And the charming young officer?"

Natrie chuckled, and she realized her hands had finally stopped their trembling. If nothing else, the conversation was a good distraction. "And the charming young officer, yes. We were seated all together, the guests and the military officers, at dozens of long tables. My father hadn't been important enough for me to sit with the higher-ranking officers."

"The Empire's funny that way."

"I've noticed. But at the time, I didn't think much of it. Anyway, he was a fairly new recruit, and I ended up seated right across from him." She had worn a new gown, one that her mother had chosen for her, and it was the most elegant thing she'd ever owned. She could remember practicing her walk in front of the tall mirror in her mother's room, finding just the right sway of hips and set of shoulders that looked alluring without looking coarse, and carefully committing the movements to memory.

"He's quite attractive. I can understand a young woman being fooled."

Natrie didn't answer. A fool was exactly what she had been; but he hadn't fooled her. From the very beginning, he had been upfront with her, had never pretended to be anything that he wasn't. She had let her own dreams and short-sightedness fool her into thinking he was the right one for her, had let the elegant surroundings fool her into believing that the Empire was something it wasn't. Yes, he had been himself, even then, but her youthful attraction had transformed what she saw into something else. He wasn't rigid and controlling, he was determined and protective; he certainly wasn't judgmental and righteous, but decisive and wise! The foolishness of youth.

"So," Sera began, her eyes intent on the sky around them. They had moved into the main traffic corridor - speeders and transports streamed by, above and below and to each side, and Natrie was thankful that Sera and Vrindo had talked her out of piloting herself, even if it meant a forced conversation with her 'new best friend'. "How much does Mierie know? About the Rebellion."

"Nothing… well, nothing about my involvement." Natrie gripped the metal handle attached to the side panel when Sera dipped suddenly under an open transport filled with Rhodians, and it took her a moment to regain her breath before she could continue. "We've talked about the Empire, and she knows the truth about the Jedi, and we've talked about the Rebellion. Just in general terms; I haven't told her anything about…."

"About your part in it?" Sera looked over at her, just for a heartbeat. "She'll suspect, if she's at all perceptive. What with the things you've told her already."

"She is… but she's young, yet. I don't think-" She stopped when Sera snorted, and she realized that it was a fool's hope. A chill wound its way through her stomach. "I'll be careful to keep it from her." And to keep her far out of it.

"It doesn't matter, really. What happens, happens, and there's nothing you can do about it but be ready to react when it does." Sera smiled. "I've seen some of her credentials – Vrindo showed me a bit of his first cut. She'll be an asset to the Rebellion when she's older." There was no question in Sera's voice.

She shifted in the seat, wishing suddenly that Mierie's friend lived closer. "When did you get involved?" There was a long pause, and Natrie finally looked over at the other woman as the speeder slowed.

Sera's expression was unreadable. "In the beginning. In the very beginning."

---

The ride back wasn't nearly as harrowing as the ride there, since she gave up the front seat to Mierie and, of course, the topics of conversation were quite different. Mierie accepted the change of plans with the grace that was expected of her, introducing herself very politely and not uttering a word of complaint about possibly missing her favorite mystery program on the holonet. It would save automatically, of course, but Mierie preferred to watch the initial showing.

Sera was at her most charming, and soon she and Mierie were caught up in a discussion of her classes and schoolmates. As they continued to speak, Mierie loosened up, and soon it was as if she was speaking to a girlfriend.

When they reached Sera's home, Vrindo's blue speeder was gone. Natrie relaxed as she sipped the tea Sera handed her, listening to the animated voice of her daughter compete with Sera's richer tones. When Vrindo and Oren appeared in the doorway, Natrie was settled enough to give them a genuine smile. It was a relief that the two men also appeared calm; surely, if something dreadful were imminent, they wouldn't wear such easy smiles.

"And who is this lovely lady?" Oren said, dark eyes sparkling as he entered the room. Mierie's breath hitched and Natrie suppressed a small smile - Oren was quite attractive, and would easily catch the fancy of a young woman.

"This is my daughter Mierie. Mierie, this is Lieutenant Saan-"

"Oren is perfectly acceptable, when I'm off duty. Lieutenant Saan sounds so stuffy." Oren winked at her. "Just don't let your father hear you say it – he's a bit of a stickler for the rules."

A bit. Natrie shook her head as Mierie giggled.

"And this is my brother, Vrindo Larzin," Sera said, waving a hand at Vrindo. Mierie's eyes went wide as the name struck home.

"But, you're the-"

"Holonet reporter, yes." He smiled at Mierie's expression. "Much to my mother's dismay - she wanted me to be a scientist of some sort. But I wasn't quite as intelligent as I understand you are, so that didn't quite work out."

"You're the one that interviewed Mom!"

"And will interview your father this evening." Vrindo smiled and took off his cloak, palming the closet door open. When a large multi-leveled crystal game board was exposed on the upper shelf, Mierie gasped.

"A stones and crystal game!" Mierie stared at the closet with pure reverence. They had a smaller set at home, but the full-sized game was quite different, and more challenging. Mierie had wanted one for months.

"You play?" Oren asked.

"I've played one at Tiria's - she's my friend." Mierie tilted her head. "Why's it in the closet?"

Sera smirked. "He put it away because I kept beating him."

"Funny, I thought I put it away because it takes up too much room, according to a certain yellow-haired woman sitting on that chair." Oren smiled at his wife fondly, and Natrie felt that bite of jealousy once again. They seemed so well-suited and happy with each other… what she had always thought marriage ought to be. "We'll have to play some time."

Natrie smiled at the excited look on her daughter's face. "We'll do that, but not right now - we ought to get home. Your father's coming home soon, and it's a homework night, besides."

Mierie frowned but quickly straightened her expression. "All right. Thank you, Sera, for the tea. It was nice meeting you all." Sera? Natrie lifted an eyebrow and stared at her daughter. Sera glanced at her before turning back to Mierie.

"Thank you for not calling me Mrs. Saan. It's so… old-sounding. And come over any time, Mierie." Sera's voice was mild, but her gaze bordered on predatory, and Natrie sensed a thin feeling of disquiet. She'll be an asset to the Rebellion when she's older.

Vrindo walked them to their speeder, for once not igniting a smokestick as they strolled outside, and Natrie had to assume it was Mierie's presence which forestalled that particular habit. She smiled slightly at the gesture.

"I'll be over later this evening to talk to your husband. In fact, if it's acceptable, I'd like to speak with Mierie, also."

Natrie froze, this time less concerned with her husband's reaction than with her own reaction. "We don't want her-"

"I won't show her image if you object, of course. But she is mentioned during the interviews with you, so a word or two from her might be a good addition."

"I'm not sure-"

"Mom, please," Mierie asked, her eyes wide.

The breeze shifted, blowing Natrie's long hair across her face, and she took her time forcing it back behind her shoulders, stalling. Finally, she settled on the tried-and-true avoidance response. "We'll ask your father."

"That's as good as saying no." Mierie appeared perilously close to pouting, which shocked Natrie. It wasn't a normal reaction for her daughter, and it certainly wasn't something Natrie would tolerate in a girl her age.

"And if you continue on this way, maybe I'll just say no right now."

Mierie had the presence of mind to look properly abashed – whether she felt it or not was anyone's guess. "I'm sorry, Mom. I just want to so much-"

"We'll see."

Vrindo winked at Mierie. "Yes, we'll see what your father thinks this evening. Even if you're too young now, you won't be forever. And if you're still interested in the holonet when you're older, you can always look me up."

That seemed to cheer Mierie a bit, and with one last farewell, they climbed into their speeder and headed home.

As expected, her husband dashed Mierie's hopes of stardom when the subject was broached, for which Natrie was relieved. She wasn't comfortable with the idea of Mierie's face appearing in holonet projectors across the galaxy, held up as some sort of symbol of the Empire. Also, as expected, her daughter didn't bother trying to argue with him, though as she headed to her room to start her homework, she sent at least a half-dozen woeful glances at her father.

When Vrindo appeared at the door, her husband answered it and welcomed him in, that public relations mask – with its false smile – firmly in place. Vrindo's smile seemed more sincere, though there was a tension around his eyes that only someone who knew him well - or studied his face often - would notice.

Natrie busied herself in the kitchen, preparing drinks, but listened closely as Vrindo and her husband settled in the sitting room. Vrindo was a natural at socializing, automatically adjusting his demeanor and conversation to the audience. The discussion meandered through a variety of topics: the Emperor's new projects, the glory of a Star Destroyer in the light of twin suns, and the speed at which her husband had moved through the ranks.

When she finished setting everything on the tray and walked out to serve the drinks, she she heard Vrindo laugh at a rather flat joke. The laugh was different from the free, open laugh she was used to hearing – the laugh itself was actually genuine, it was the subject of his humor that was the deception; he was laughing at her husband, not with him. Her first reaction was to smile, though a thin feeling of guilt slid its way into her as she set the tray down. It was silly to feel even a shred of guilt, to be sure, but he was her husband, the father of her child, and she shouldn't be enjoying this. Nor should she be using him to bring down the Empire he so loved.

Then Vrindo looked up at her, and smiled his thanks, and the words he'd said earlier slid their way into her mind. Remember the truth, and the goal, and forget the false duties that you have been taught were yours. Taking a deep breath, she smiled back at him before turning to her husband. "Just let me know if you need anything else." At his nod, she made herself scarce.

She ducked in and out of the room, straightening things in the kitchen, checking on Mierie, picking up clothes that needed freshening. As she passed through the sitting room an hour later, she wondered how Vrindo could keep that interested expression on his face while her husband listed his achievements and the line-by-line history of his career. Perhaps Vrindo, too, had studied acting in school. Shaking her head, she left again to check on Mierie, this time admonishing her to finish her homework and put away the portable holonet viewer.

When Natrie returned to the sitting room, she heard her husband speaking. "No, I'll see you out-"

"Honestly, there's no need to keep them waiting - I can let myself out. Thank you again for your time."

Glancing at the comm unit against the wall, she saw the blinking Imperial emblem on the screen, and knew her husband was being called. Her stomach tightened until she recognized the symbol of her husband's superior officer in the lower right corner - he wasn't involved in the investigation, or the security committee, and so it couldn't involve the situation with Lieutenant Bala. Breathing easier, she smiled.

"Go ahead and answer that, darling, I'll walk him out."

With a nod, her husband shook Vrindo's hand and then headed for the comm. Vrindo gathered his things and, with a polite smile, Natrie led him to the front door and out onto the landing pad. As soon as the door swished shut behind them, Vrindo turned to her.

Keeping her face casual, she whispered, "It's his commanding officer. He's not on the committee, wasn't even invited to join."

Vrindo nodded. "He's concerned about you."

Natrie blinked. "What?"

"Your husband. When you left to see to Mierie, he asked me to keep an eye out – and an ear out – for anything that could be suspicious. In particular, anything surrounding you and Mierie." He set his face into a stern expression, and mimicked her husband's voice with a frightening accuracy. "Reporter types do seem to hear things before other people do."

"But, why would we be in any danger?"

Vrindo let a slow smile cross his face, and Natrie's confusion grew. "Oh, a little bird might have put the idea in his head. Rumors, you see, about the Rebel Alliance's ruthless tactics and increasing activity…"

"Oh, my…" She smiled, despite herself. Ruthless tactics; it was almost laughable.

"Exactly. He might let more information about their investigations slip when he speaks to you - forewarned is forearmed, and all that military jargon." He winked at her when she laughed. "And, as things get more intense, I don't think he'll object if you happen to find yourself escorted from place to place by Oren or myself. I know how much you hate flying…"

Her smile faltered. "As things get more intense?"

Vrindo shook his head, and when he spoke, his voice was very low. "Distractions only, here in the capital. We don't dare try anything more so close to the center, but if it keeps their eyes here instead of where the true activities are going on…."

"But…."

"Don't worry, Natrie. Things are just in the planning stages." He stared at her, his gaze so intimate that it felt like a physical touch. "And you're protected - you and Mierie - even when you don't realize it."

---

The next weeks passed without incident, and she relaxed as routine asserted itself. Her husband continued to attend the special committee meetings in addition to his regular duties – sometimes the meetings were held over the comm, but more often they were at various locations across the Imperial Center.

As the days passed without any progress, her husband's frustration was palpable, and she was relieved that their investigation seemed to be hitting a rock wall. As his frustration built, he vented to her more often; she found that even without pressing she was able to gather intelligence that could be useful to the Rebellion. To Vrindo. Nothing so groundbreaking as the news about Lieutenant Bala, but useful nonetheless.

She visited Sera once or twice a week, often bringing Mierie when she wasn't in classes and when there wasn't anything to report. It was, as Sera pointed out, a natural thing to do, and the more natural she could keep things on the surface, the better. Mierie seemed to enjoy the visits, though she carried herself in an increasingly adult manner during the visits, playing the part of the young lady more than Natrie was comfortable with.

Vrindo was sometimes in attendance, but not always, and Natrie worried at the spark of excitement that flew through her when she spotted the familiar blue speeder. When Oren was off duty, he would occasionally challenge Mierie to a game of stones and crystals, and Natrie had to hide a smile when she noticed Mierie sneaking glances at the handsome man through the intricate gameboard.

For the most part, things were stable. A few weeks after the news of Lieutenant Bala had reached her ears, Natrie sat curled on the couch, engrossed in a novel that Vrindo had recommended. Mierie was out, spending the night at a friend's home, and her husband was in a late meeting. The datapad glowed in the dim room, and she was so involved in the story that she didn't notice her husband come in until he spoke.

"Natrie? Why are you sitting here in the dark?" The lights beamed on, harsh after the comforting glow she'd had them set at, and she blinked.

"I was just reading." And I'd like to continue reading, if it's the same to you. One more smart comment that went unsaid.

"Well, I'm home now."

She gritted her teeth, keeping the datapad firmly in her grasp. It was as though all activities other than attending to him were just a stopgap, something to hold her over until he returned once again.

"We've been invited to another event, at Captain Decker's. It's nothing large, but he mentioned that there might be dancing, again." Her husband didn't sound overjoyed at the prospect, but Natrie was pleased with the news. She lowered the datapad and smiled, reminding herself of her duty.

"He seemed to have a good time at the Admiral's event. I guess that gave him the idea."

"Perhaps." He sat next to her on the couch and, with a slight frown, pulled the datapad from her hands. She withheld her protest at the imperious gesture; it wasn't worth an argument. "You'll need to make arrangements for Mierie."

"She asked about going without a sitter, this next time. And I know some of the others leave their older children home alone, but with it being so late at night… I don't know."

"If they wish to be fools, it's on their heads. Mierie will not be here alone, especially now, with those Rebels showing themselves more and more."

Natrie nodded. It seemed Vrindo's hints were working on him already. "I'll contact a sitter, then."

"Not that one from last time."

"Why not? Freya is a sweet old–"

"Because I say not, Natrie." He leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees, and she could see the line of muscles tense along his back. "Do you know what Mierie said to me?"

"What?"

"She was in a mood-" Natrie nodded; Mierie had been having many such moods lately, and Natrie suspected that the teenage years weren't going to spare them as she'd once hoped. "And she snapped at me, something about the Emperor not knowing everything, or not telling everything he knows, or some such nonsense."

"Oh… my…" Natrie's heart froze in her chest as her husband turned to her.

"Someone's filling her head with it, and I have a suspicion it was that sitter."

"Freya? But that's…" Be careful, Natrie. "You don't think it might be someone in her classes?"

He snorted. "Nonsense. I studied that academy very closely before enrolling her." It was the truth, and she knew that proceeding down that line wouldn't be fruitful. Her mind raced, but she could think of no other options that would be believable.

"But, Freya is just an old woman… oh, darling, you're not going to…" Her voice caught, and she had to blink rapidly.

Her husband looked at her, and his eyes were cold. She knew why – it wasn't a question she should have asked; she shouldn't care about the fate of a possible Rebel sympathizer. Summoning an appropriately apologetic expression, she shrugged. "I… I know she would deserve it, but…"

His face cleared and he reached out to stroke her hair, smoothing it over her shoulder. "Ah, Natrie. I don't know how I keep forgetting that soft heart of yours." He stared down at her, a condescending fondness in his expression, and she realized that – this time – the look didn't infuriate her. It relieved her. Better a favored pet than a Rebel sympathizer.

There was safety in condescension.

"I'm sure it was just a comment or two taken out of context, and you know Mierie with those mystery programs she keeps watching on the holonet…"

"I'll need to keep an eye on that, actually. That time could be better spent working on useful things." He pulled one lock of her hair through his fingers. "Even if it was just a comment or two, I really should say something about this, but-"

A sudden thought hit her, and she gasped, reaching up to grip his hand. "Mierie! If you said something, they'd look at her, suspect her-"

He jerked his hand from her grasp, and shook his head. His expression this time was that of one explaining something to a rather dull child. "That's the only reason I'm not saying anything, Natrie."

So that would be enough to keep him from talking. The fact that she felt surprise at his words was a sad commentary on how she viewed him. She had honestly wondered which he would place first – career or his own family. Luckily, this challenge was fairly simple - he had no solid proof, only conjecture, and an old woman like Freya would hardly be a huge threat to the Empire. His own flesh and blood would certainly rival any accolades he might receive for something that small.

Of course, Natrie herself wasn't of his flesh and blood - the thought was a sobering one. Would he hesitate, if he found something that exposed her own duplicity? She honestly didn't know. She needed to be careful.

And she needed to speak to Mierie.

The next day, she took Mierie to the park, or what served as a park on this planet of cities. It was indoors, but one would never know it – each large area was constructed to give the feeling of outdoors, and a vast outdoors. The holographic scenes on the walls made it seem as if the park stretched on for eternity. Mountains and hillsides surrounded them, lush greenery lay under their feet, and flora from hundreds of planets and dozens of systems flourished in the bright, artificial sunlight.

It was quiet, and had a number of private niches surrounded by thick foliage, which was the most important thing. Her husband was in one of his conferences, so there was no danger that he would volunteer to accompany them. There was, however, every danger that he would walk into Mierie's bedroom were they to speak there, and Natrie couldn't risk that. Not with this conversation.

Mierie walked beside her, eyes studying everything that they passed, at times making comments about the habits of certain flora in their natural environments. "This is beautiful, but it's just not real," Mierie muttered, touching one large blossom. "This stone lily would never bloom next to an evenstar blossom."

"Of course not, they come from different planets."

Her daughter shook her head and spared her a glance that bordered on disdain. "No, Mom. That's not it – well, that's not all. The plants use different chemicals from the soil – the hillsides on Alderaan have stones that leech certain chemicals into the surrounding soil. That's why stone lilies only grow in the hills, there. The evenstar usually grows near pools and lakes on Chandrila."

"You know a lot."

"I used to think so. But now, every time I learn more about something, I realize how much I don't know."

Natrie looked at her daughter, at the young woman beside her, and it struck her again just how much she'd grown and matured. Mierie's personality was like a pendulum, swinging between childhood and adulthood, and Natrie never knew which would appear from one moment to the next.

"Many things are like that," Natrie said, wondering how to bring up the topic of Freya, and Mierie's loose tongue. Luckily, Mierie gave her an opening.

"Like the Empire – the surface seems so perfect, but then you look underneath, and it's…"

"Beautiful, but it's just not real," Natrie said in a low voice, repeating Mierie's words from earlier. Mierie clearly caught the reference, and smiled slightly.

"Yeah."

"It's important for others to think you believe. Your words can cause more damage than I think you understand."

Mierie let out a breath. "He told you, didn't he?"

"He did."

"I just… I'm sorry, Mom, I just couldn't keep quiet!"

"You have to, Mierie," Natrie said, her tone harder than the rocks that gave life to the stone lilies. "You have no idea what could have happened-"

"Father wouldn't do anything to me, Mom."

Natrie gritted her teeth, scrabbling at calmness. Her daughter could be so perceptive at times, and so very obtuse at other times! "Not to you, Mierie! Think about other people for a half a second."

"He wouldn't do anything to you…" Mierie frowned and bit her lip. When her voice came again, it was very small, and Natrie's heart broke. "Would he?"

Natrie didn't answer at first, just reached out and brushed one heavy stone lily petal with her forefinger, thinking about Captain Neroon, and Suni, and her husband's reaction. Finally, she looked at Mierie, and saw the distress on her daughter's face. The maternal desire to give comfort warred with the need to be honest. Mierie was maturing, and part of that maturation was to see things without blinders on, even her own father. With a sigh, she shook her head. "I don't know. I honestly don't."

"But-"

"Let's just leave it at that, sweetling." Natrie touched the stone lily one more time before pulling her hand back. "He thinks Freya was the one who filled your head with the 'nonsense'."

"Freya?"

"Yes." Natrie let out a breath. "He agreed not to say anything about his suspicions, though he certainly could. The only thing holding him back is that it might bring unwelcome attention on you."

"But… she didn't do anything! She didn't tell me… couldn't I just let him know it wasn't her?"

"And who would you say did bring these thoughts to your head?"

"Why would it have to be anyone? Why couldn't I have just figured it out-"

"It'd be near impossible for a young woman who had no memory of the events themselves to see or hear anything other than the Empire's preferred version." Natrie reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind Mierie's ear. "Let's keep moving." Taking her daughter's arm, Natrie walked along the path, listening for others about. The park was large enough that they could find solitude, but remaining in one place for too long might bring curious ears near.

As they strolled through the taller leafy plants – most from the Outer Rim territories – she said, "Suspicions would then go to me, your schoolmates, teachers… anyone. Parents of your friends, even."

"And that would mean…." Mierie blinked rapidly. "Would he really? Turn them in, just on the basis of some words?"

"Those are his orders. It's what's expected of him, of any Imperial officer." Natrie stopped and looked at Mierie, and saw her daughter's pale face.

"Why? Why is he like that?"

"Your father is… he loves you very much." Natrie's mind raced. How to explain, without making him seem a monster? He wasn't the monster, not in truth – he just supported and followed and did whatever the monster demanded. Which, perhaps, did make him a monster…. "But he has a very set way of viewing the universe, and anything that doesn't match that set view is automatically wrong. He doesn't question, and doesn't believe others should, either."

"But if we don't question, and just follow orders blindly, we're no better than droids!"

Natrie smiled, then. She could see her grandmother's features superimposed on Mierie's young face, and it warmed her. "Exactly what your great-grandmother once told me." Then her smile faded. "The Empire is very concerned about the Rebellion. To the point where…." She hesitated. Would Mierie slip up again? She didn't think so, but the risk-

"Mom?" Mierie took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I won't say anything to him again, I was just… I thought maybe if I could ask him… but I won't. Not again."

Natrie stared at her daughter, then nodded. Mierie already knew so much, as it was, that one more secret shouldn't overburden her. "You might have noticed your father around more often, at home-"

"On those conference things."

"Exactly. This is very secret, darling, so don't repeat it to anyone, even your father." Especially your father. Natrie glanced around and then continued walking, moving closer to Mierie as she did, so that her low voice could be heard. "He's been appointed to a special committee that's investigating the presence of Rebel spies in the Imperial ranks."

"Oh." Mierie grasped the implications immediately. "So if he suspects anything about anyone… he's under even more obligation to turn them in, isn't he?"

"Exactly."

"Oh, Mom. I didn't know! What's going to happen to Freya?"

"Nothing." Natrie stroked Mierie's arm, concerned by the tension in the muscles. "I spoke to him about it, and insinuated that an over-active imagination on your part and a few misconstrued comments on her part was all that prompted your little outburst."

"Are you sure he won't-"

"I'm as sure as I can be, Mierie. As it is, she won't be watching you in the evenings anymore."

"But I really liked her!"

"That should have crossed your mind before you decided to indulge in your little fit of pique," Natrie murmured, squeezing Mierie's arm.

"I'm sorry, Mom."

"I know you are. This time, there was no real harm done. Just don't let it happen again, because that might not be the case the next time."

When they returned home a little while later, her husband had already left for the afternoon meeting, which surprised her. It was at least two hours earlier than normal, and when she saw the message on the comm unit letting her know they called the meeting early, she felt a thread of disquiet wind its way through her. Why would they call everyone early, unless they had found something?

It was difficult to hide her worry from Mierie, and as afternoon turned into evening, she became more agitated. In hopes that Mierie's addiction to those mystery programs would keep her from noticing her mother's distress, Natrie allowed her to watch several in a row despite the earlier conversation with her husband.

Finally, Natrie turned off the holonet projector. "Go on to bed, Mierie. It looks like your father won't be home any time soon."

Mierie looked rebellious, but she still stood. "I don't know why I have to have a bedtime, still. No one else I know-"

"No one else you know is my daughter. And, unless I miss my mark completely, you spent most of last night giggling and talking with Tiria instead of sleeping."

"Yeah, yeah." Mierie muttered some additional words under her breath, but wisely didn't voice them. Natrie didn't call her on it; she knew Mierie was exhausted – it was pride alone that had kept her up this long.

"Go, go." Natrie shooed her to her room, and with a small grin, Mierie complied. Once she was in bed - asleep moments after putting her head down - Natrie poured herself a glass of wine and walked out to the balcony. She needed something to calm her nerves, and the night air and a smooth wine seemed to be the best combination.

She leaned against the railing, watching the speeders and transports zip by, trying to keep her mind blank. But when a dark blue speeder passed, she couldn't stop her thoughts from centering on Vrindo, and the Rebellion, and what might be occurring in that meeting. Surely they couldn't be sitting in a conference room this long? She bit her lip, realizing that the alternative wasn't any better - if they were on an active investigation, rather than a meeting… they had found something. But what?

She was pulled from her ruminations when her husband suddenly appeared behind her. She turned, but before she could even greet him, he had taken the wine glass from her hand and pulled her close, kissing her soundly. Shock lanced through her - shock and fear - he wasn't known for any sort of spontaneity, unless something particularly wonderful had happened.

And his idea of something wonderful was quite different from hers.

She set a smile on her lips when he pulled back, studying what she could see of his face. "What's happened?"

"There's been a breakthrough."

"A breakthrough?"

"The Rebel spy - the one I told you about - has been caught."

Natrie barely withheld her gasp, and was once again grateful for her time studying acting as a teenager. "They caught him?"

"I," he said, with a particular emphasis on the word, "caught him. I had a suspicion, all along, that it was Ensign Chireth. You remember my telling you that, don't you?" The jubilation in his expression was impossible to describe.

She put a hand on the railing to steady herself, the relief overwhelming for a moment. Just a moment. Then confusion threaded its way into her mind. Frowning, she said, "Ensign Chireth? But… I mean, how did you know-"

"I found some evidence."

"What-"

"Transmissions made to him from a known area of Rebel activity."

She nodded, numb. It wasn't real. It wasn't. Transmissions…. She wanted to scream that they had the wrong man, but she knew she couldn't, not without implicating Lieutenant Bala. And herself. "So he's been captured?"

Her husband pulled her close again and kissed her neck, his breath burning against her skin as he whispered, "He's been executed."