Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars but if Timothy Zahn ever reads this fic and feels inspired I will die a happy lady (especially if he likes a certain OC and decides to use him!)
Author's note: Thank you to everyone who has continued to read this story and review, I appreciate every comment I get!!
Ties That Bind Ch.7
Luke watched as the star lines began to fade back into points, marking the ship's exit out of hyperspace. They had exited about an hour away from their destination planet, Seti I, so they could keep a look out for any trouble as they approached. He turned to look at Lando, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat and checking on some instruments.
"I know we decided to start with Seti I but it's a big planet. You've been here before, any idea what city we should land in?" Luke asked.
Lando turned from his work and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, since we're actually looking for Imperials, I'd say the best place to start would be Ashwaraseti. It's not just the largest city on the planet; it's also the major seat of power in the whole Killiset sector. If there's information to be found it'll be found there and if the Imperials want to make any deals with the Killisets that's where they'll have to go." He paused, thoughtful. "Plus, since tourism to the planet has been starting up again and it's the largest city, it'll be the easiest place for a group of non-Killisets to blend in."
It certainly made sense…But Luke felt a strange urge from the Force, it wasn't a sense of danger or warning though…more like anticipation…Luke hesitated then decided to push it aside for now. With a nod to Lando he got up. "OK so let's go debrief the others and head down."
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They made it down to the city with little difficulty and with their bland civilian garb they drew little attention. Of course, in a city this large, impressive and beautiful it'd be hard for anyone to draw attention. Lando may have been here before, but once really wasn't enough to take in the beauty of the place; the towering trees that lined the streets and provided shade from the warm Killiseti sun, the sparklingly white walls of many of the buildings which looked as though they were made from ground crystals, the gardens and fountains that decorated nearly every street corner. At the moment, they were walking past a huge beach park that lead to a shimmering lake which stretched as far as the eye could see. He could tell that the others were impressed too, none of them tried to hide the awe from their faces. Lando chuckled to himself, thinking of how they were acting like tourists without even trying.
"What's so funny Calrissian?" Wes hated being left out of a joke.
Lando shook his head. "Nothing really, I just think it's funny how good we are at looking like tourists…stumbling about and gawking like we are."
"Hey who's stumbling? I'm just…" Wes's answer was cut short by Luke.
"We should probably split up now. Wes, Tycho you try heading east, Lando, Wedge you try west and I'll go north." Luke turned and pointed behind himself. "As you can see, the whole south end of the city is bordered by a lake, so we're already starting from as far south as we can go. Any questions?"
Lando frowned a bit. "Are you sure you want to go on your own, Luke?"
Luke nodded. "We'll cover more ground this way and the smaller the groups the less noticeable we'll be. At sunset we meet back here to discuss any leads and we'll decide what to do next from there."
Wedge clapped his hands together in anticipation. "Sounds like a plan!"
"Not a very safe one…" Lando muttered.
Luke sighed. "I know you don't like me going off on my own but trust me I'll be safe. So stop worrying."
Lando gave a roguish grin. "Who said anything about your safety? If Han and Leia find out I let you run off on your own on a planet that loves the Empire, I'm a dead man!"
The others started laughing as they moved off to their own directions, but under the laughter Lando felt tense. The kid had been on dozens of dangerous missions, many on his own, and he always pulled through but Han had asked him to keep an eye on Luke, telling him that Leia had been having nightmares…Lando was pulled from his thoughts by Wedge's voice.
"Hey Calrissian, I asked if you knew a good place to start?"
Lando ran a hand through his hair then smiled. If Luke needed help he knew how to contact his friends and they'd be there for him, as always. "Do I know a place? Wedge, please, you should realize by now that I always know a place!"
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Theeon's arrival at the hospital had been greeted by three of the doctors he had worked with during the plague crisis, all of whom were thrilled to see him. The group had spent hours touring the hospital, meeting with patients, informing Theeon of all the progress they had made since his last visit. However, they had left what they considered their most important ward until the end and it was here, in the maternity ward, that Theeon truly felt the hope and enthusiasm of the people. Beside him, the head doctor, Dr. Ma'karet, was eagerly guiding him to the first room he was to visit.
"Of course, everyone in the hospital now knows you are here and there isn't a parent in this ward that does not want you to visit them and offer your blessing to their child." Dr. Ma'karet put his hand on the door pausing to look at Theeon before opening it. "We have set up the rooms so that there is not only a bed for the mother, but a bed for the father to sleep in during his visits as well as room for the infant's incubator. That way the family does not need to be separated during their stay. Father's are welcome to stay until both mother and child are ready to go home."
Theeon nodded his head thoughtfully. "I understand. No family likes being forced to separate." The doctor smiled at him and pushed the door open. In the middle of the room a young female was lying in her hospital bed, a little squirming bundle in her arms, her husband sitting in a chair beside her. Both adults looked up excitedly when Theeon entered; the male jumped up, hurried over and taking him by the hand led him to the side of the bed.
"We are so immensely honoured that you have come to visit our baby. Please sit next to my wife." The husband hustled Theeon into the seat he had just vacated and the female smiled brightly at him, holding out her blanket covered baby for him to see.
"Isn't he the most wonderful baby you've ever seen? Look at how chubby and healthy he is! You must hold him, that some of your wisdom may rub off on him." The mother said, with a hint of pleading in her voice.
Theeon smiled reassuringly and took the little bundle carefully into his arms. Killiseti babies held many similarities to Chiss and human babies, their arms and legs disproportionately small compared to the rest of them, their heads disproportionately large. One interesting difference was that their torsos were as wide as they were long, giving them an unusually round appearance. The baby made a soft cooing sound as Theeon expertly rocked him. He had started his career specializing in paediatrics and had held hundreds of babies in his time, yet he still felt a sense of wonder at how each one was already an individual, filled with promise. He looked up at the parents, both watching him with pride and joy at their accomplishment…Theeon smiled again, handed the woman her baby and stood up.
"He is a wonderful baby, the two of you should be very proud." He paused, touched his hand to his forehead and reached down to touch the mother's forehead, and then he repeated the gesture with the father. The father then bowed low, touching his own forehead.
"We thank you, Greatest of Doctors, with all our souls."
Theeon smiled and mimicked the father's movement. "The honour is mine." He left the room with the Killiseti doctors and visited each and every patient in the maternity ward. He was as glad to see each person as they were to see him. When he had first come to Ashwaraseti Hospital, the ward had been devastated by the plague, with not one infant or mother survivor. Now it was a quarter full, not close to what it had been before, but certainly an improvement. He wished he could stay longer, but he realized it was getting late and his brother was expecting him before they went to the royal palace for the banquet. Dr. Ma'karet escorted him to the exit and informed him that he and several other doctors who had helped Theeon create the cure were also invited to the banquet then the two doctors said their good-byes and Theeon left.
The sun was still high in the sky and a gentle breeze ruffled his hair as he walked down the steps to the street. Thrawn had told him that the shuttle carrying him and Captain Pellaeon would be landing in the VIP section of the Ashwaraseti spaceport, which was a bit of a walk from where Theeon was. He knew he would have to hurry if he was to go by foot, but the weather and scenery were too perfect for him to consider taking transport. With a serene smile on his lips he turned and started heading west.
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Wedge had expected the search for information on the Imperials would be hard, exhausting work and he knew the others thought the same. So he was a little surprised that the first place Lando had led them to, a high end restaurant and casino near the spaceport, was filled to the brim with excited Killisets discussing an Imperial visit and celebration. All he and Lando had to do was sit there and listen. Unfortunately, the more they heard the more tense he knew they both felt. They had only been sitting in the place for a few minutes and already it had become clear how fiercely loyal the Killisets were to the Empire. Suddenly, he saw Lando tense and turn his head slightly. Wedge followed his gaze but quickly realized Calrissian was straining to hear something not see it. Wedge strained his ears and quickly picked up on the conversation that had caught Lando's ears.
"They say it's a miracle…the enemy had been cowardly, convincing one of his trusted subjects to stab him in the back…" The Killiseti said in a low voice. He was sitting at the table to the right of Lando with two other males who both gasped at his words. He continued. "Not a word of a lie. It happened in the middle of a crucial battle which they lost because of the attack. He would've died but the Imperials were quick and contacted the other great one, who saved him."
Wedge's eyes flicked to Lando and his throat felt dry when he whispered. "That story sound familiar to you?"
Lando's face was tense as he whispered back. "That's not the only part that worries me…Did you notice him say the other great one? If we're assuming that Thrawn's one of the great ones, who's the other?"
Wedge's eyes widened. "Oh no. Do you think we should contact-" Before he could finish Lando held up a hand to silence him and gestured to listen. On of the other Killisets was speaking now, his Basic, like the other Killiset's was heavily accented and a little difficult to understand.
"It is a good thing we are practicing our basic now…I hope to impress them tonight by speaking their language at the great banquet."
"You managed to get an invitation?" The quietest of the aliens asked in shock.
"Well, no, but I'm hoping to catch a glimpse of them at the least while they make their entrance at the royal palace."
Lando caught Wedge's eyes. "We have a place, we have a rough time and we have a major lead. Now we contact the others."
Wedge nodded, already pulling out his comlink.