The group was speechless at the news, and only moments after they'd seen the datapad they heard the holo chime. General Garza, Aric thought, and sure enough, her blue image wavered in front of them. She's not visibly upset, he thought, so either her daughter and grandson are safe, or she's a hell of an actress.
"Have you seen the latest on Balmorra?" she asked, not waiting for an answer, "no one on the senate was injured, and we've move them all to Coruscant until this can be sorted out." She nodded slightly at Aric, and he understood. Her family was safe and with her. "Evidently, we either missed some charges, or they were put back after we'd done the sweep. " She looked down at her feet, then back to the group. "So far, there are only three fatalities, and they were maintenance workers at the capitol building. At any rate, civil war on Balmorra is imminent, so the current missions there and the plans for the outposts are on hold. We'll keep them current, but won't be doing any updates until after we get boots on the ground there and assess the area. I'm still looking forward to seeing you all in a couple of days. Garza out."
"She's the best at conveying a lot of info in a short, few sentences," Maura observed with a wry grin. Miriah nodded, agreeing with her sister. Just in that short message, she'd relayed her family's status, told them the current situation on the planet, confirmed that she'd be on Dantooine as scheduled, placed current missions status on hold, and let them know that she was aware that someone knew inside information. "It will be interesting to hear her assessment of things once she gets here."
Sarai, having herded the children into the playroom, came back to the group and put her arm around the only daughter close enough to her size to do so. Miriah turned and gave her mother a smile. "Ready for her to be your houseguest, Mom?"
"Absolutely," Sarai replied, "I've got the house droid stocking up on tea and cleaning. We'll have fun." She looked at Miriah's earrings again, noting the intricate design, and marveled at her son in law's good taste. "A thought occurred to me this morning, I wonder if Risha's assistant, the one she had just fired, might have anything to do with this leak?" Miriah looked at her mother in astonishment, she hadn't thought of that angle.
"Nice catch, Mom," Magdalane told her, "I'd forgotten she had said that when we were there."
"I'd forgotten I'd told you that," Miriah said. She looked up the hallway and started that way, half thinking about the Balmorran situation and half about getting Devin home and fed and napping. She turned the corner to the playroom and Devin ran to her, stopping just before he plowed into her legs. "Good stop, son. Thank you for that," she told him, bending to pick him up as he put his little head on her shoulder. "Sleepy, sweetie?" He nodded, grabing a handful of ponytailed hair. She walked with him to the others, "We're going home for lunch and a nap, anyone want to join us?"
Felix spoke up, "We're going home too, and Magdalane is going to rest this afternoon, so call if you need us, okay?" It was an uncharacteristic definitive statement from him, and Magdalane looked at him, a little startled, but nodded. He must be worried sick about her, Miriah thought, to make a bold move like that. Sarai agreed that she needed to rest, and they all went to their speeders.
Corso put together some sandwiches for them while she put Devin down to nap and she found her husband in their swing. She sat, grateful for his kitchen skills, feeling a bit tired herself. "Any further news out of Balmorra?" He'd checked the holonews before bringing their lunch outside, and shook his head, his mouth full of roasted nerf sandwich, which made her giggle. She kissed his nose, and picked up her own sandwich, which was huge. She took it apart, made it small enough for her to actually bite, and bit into the fragrant and delicious treat. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, glad she was at least eating something. When they'd finished, she settled against him with her datapad.
"I'm sending a message to Rish, going to see who it was that she fired, and try to trace her movements." Corso nodded, pulling her closer to him. When she'd finished tapping on the datapad, she turned to him. "I love the earrings, sugar. You really surprised me with them, too."
"You deserve pretty things, love. I enjoy getting them for you," he told her, gently stroking her back. He was full, had his love close to his heart, and was getting sleepy when he realized Miriah was already sleeping, He sighed a happy sigh and kissed her head, closing his own eyes. Akaavi and Cy had been studying the property they'd been given, and were walking back to the guest house when she spotted the other couple in the swing.
"That is their favorite spot, " she told him. "If you ever cannot find them, check there." She chuckled softly.
"Maybe we need one of those," he told her, tightening his grip on her hand. "It looks very relaxing." They smiled at each other, and quickened their steps to their house.
Corso was in a deep sleep when Miriah sat straight up, her mind alerting her to something, and moments later she realized what. The Republic army shuttle was approaching from the south, and making its way to the hangar coordinates. Corso shifted but didn't wake, and she walked down to the hangar alone. Great, she thought, the general's a day early. That's just great. She watched as the ramp lowered and General Garza appeared, and not alone. Her daughter and grandson followed her off the shuttle, the child seeming amazed by all the livestock on the ranch, pointing and talking excitedly to his mother and grandmother.
Oh my stars, Miriah thought, I sure hope Mom is okay with this. "Hello, and welcome to Dantooine and the Riggs Ranch," Miriah called to them. Garza crossed to her, giving her a slight hug and handing her a wrapped box.
"It's been a harrowing week, and I am so glad to be getting a respite from the chaos at the Senate Plaza." She turned to her daughter and introduced the women, ending with , "and this my grandson, Paolo." The child turned to look at Miriah and shyly said hello, fascinated with her eyes. Miriah heard Corso approaching behind her and turned to see both him and Devin coming down the path. Once introductions were made, they started back to the ranch house.
"I'll get some snacks going, it's cookie time for someone," she said, seeing Devin clap his hands at the word. Corso was answering questions about the ronto and bantha on the ranch while she readied a tray of goodies and tea and caffa. She got a message to Maura with her datapad, and they were on the way down. Devin just silently watched her, mouth full of cookie. Finally, he caught her attention.
"Mama need kisses?" he asked her, reaching for her. She grinned and picked him up.
"Mama always needs kisses, sweetie. Always," she told him, getting several cookie enhanced kisses from her son. They were turning to wash hands when Maura and Aric came in with the twins, and behind them, Sarai. I should have realized Mom would feel the force change, Miriah thought. Sarai took Devin from her and brushed cookie crumbs off Miriah's cheek, smiling at her.
"Don't worry, it's fine," Sarai said, laughing at Devin making faces at her.
"Well, we'll have dinner here then, it's the least I can do," Miriah responded, already pulling things from the pantry and freezer. She set to work, putting together a meal for them all, and inviting Mags and Felix and Michi.
As she worked in the kitchen, Aric and Corso watched the women's conversation from the side of the room. "Think she just needed to get away or that she felt it would be prudent to get them away from Coruscant?" Corso asked, seeing Aric was thinking along the same lines. The Cathar was thoughtful, but quiet, but finally answered.
"I think it's a little of both. The child would be uncomfortable in a city, used to Balmorran moors. But it's got to be stressful on the general, having so much going on along with the other missions." He crossed to refill his caffa mug but returned to their spot, in front of the fireplace. Felix joined them when they arrived, getting his own caffa after getting Magdalane settled with some tea.
These men are a study in contrasts, Sarai thought. There's Aric, always looking like a soldier, no matter what he's wearing, but even more so in cortosis weave gear, black cargo pants and black shirt, the contrast with the fine fur of his body striking. Corso, always a little more casual, light colored long sleeved soft shirt with dark military style pants, blaster always present. Then there's Felix, casual pressed pants with a buttoned up shirt, usually blue, that made him look more like a businessman than a former lieutenant. She could feel the emotions of the men as they watched the room. Corso was wary, not liking the sudden change in plans, Aric mostly the same.
Aric stretched, and turned so that the women couldn't see him speak. "I'm going to check out their shuttle, make sure there's nothing extra on it that might be a problem." Corso nodded, and when Aric walked out, Corso joined his wife in the kitchen after checking on the kids. She was working steadily, but he could see she was thinking, too. He stopped her movement with a hand on her arm, and she looked up at him with those sparkling silver eyes.
"Everything going well in there?" she asked. He nodded.
"Talking about kids and senate work, " he told her, washing his hands and preparing to help her with whatever she needed him to do. He asked, and she nodded at the mushrooms she wanted sliced and he got to work, guessing at what dish she was cooking. They worked quietly, in sync, until Miriah noticed Paolo just inside the kitchen, watching them.
"Paolo, would you like to help?" He jumped at her voice, but quickly nodded his blonde head. "Come over here and wash your hands first." She showed him where the dishes were and he set about putting them on the table, carefully lining up the edges, humming to himself. Poor kid, Miriah thought, has to be hard being shuttled all around, not having a home right now. After a few minutes, the young boy began to ask Corso questions about the ranch, and they could see how intrigued he was by the animals. The two males chatted happily, and their conversation continued through dinner. Miriah just observed, smiling. The little kids had been fed and put to bed, and the adults had just sat down to dinner when Diedre's holo chimed. She blushed and rose, taking it to the other room, where Magdalane heard Zenith's voice and smiled. Miriah saw the general scowl, but it was gone quickly, replaced with a small smile at her grandson.
After they had gone to Sarai's house, Miriah cornered her sisters. "Okay, now what was being discussed while I cooked? And what was with the general not liking Zenith?"
"Garza feels like the Balmorran explosions were a statement, a public show rather than an actual attempt to kill. They were superficially set and detonated on a holiday. Not saying I agree, but that's her take on it," Aric said. "I've got Tanno looking at them now, sent the specs to him, anyway. He's on a date." The grin on Aric's face was huge.
"Dinner was wonderful, by the way, Mir," Mags told her, a contented smile on her face. "I'd be ronto sized if I ate your cooking all the time." Maura agreed.
"Garza is also sending a 'maintenance team' to the transponder station, to check it out. We didn't talk about the fact that she has a possible intel leak, just didn't want to get into it with her daughter there," Maura stated, stretching and yawning, Aric stroking her back.
"Well, you all are welcome to stay here, since the kids are all sleeping. I'm going to bed, we can talk to her more tomorrow." Miriah made her way to their room, and Corso found her soaking in the tub, eyes closed.
"Feeling okay, darlin'? I know you must be tired, but dinner was awesome." He knelt and kissed her forehead, seeing her responding smile.
"I am tired," she said, "and thanks, sugar. You helped with it, you're a better cook than I am, at least with meals. I still own the cookie market." He laughed, loving the relaxed tone of her voice.
"Enjoy your bath, love. Want a glass of wine?" he asked her, seeing her nod in response. He was getting glasses out of the upper cabinet when he saw Aric come into the dimly lighted kitchen. When he turned to speak to him, he saw Aric grinning at him.
"So glad we're on the other end of the house again," he said, making Corso laugh. He got two more glasses out, and poured the wine, handing two of them to the Cathar.
"I didn't say anything before, but I did find it odd that Garza would talk about the bombings but not about how the info got out," Aric stated, looking at the dark red wine. "I can't tell if she just doesn't want to upset her daughter or if she just doesn't want to discuss it yet." Corso shrugged.
"I have no idea, but what I do know is that Zenith is more involved with this than I thought before, or at least more involved with Diedre." Aric agreed, and took the wine back to their room, Corso doing the same.
Neither had any idea that Zenith was in orbit over Dantooine, and Magdalane was so deeply sleeping that the change in the force signature didn't alert her. Sarai and her new houseguests slept on, and Sarai herself did feel a change, but didn't know what it might be. She sighed, knowing more would be known tomorrow.