Miriah was sitting on the side of the cot, trying to gain her equilibrium, when Joslin knocked at their door. The Jedi had brought food and more caffa. Us being here has to be a strain on their resources, Miriah thought, but Joslin seemed happy to help them.
"Good to see you got some rest," the Jedi said, placing the supplies on the table. "I've brought some things that you all might need, as well as food." She busied herself unpacking the canvas bag, sorting the items on the small surface. Aric moved to help her, and Corso approached his wife, seeing she was still slightly dizzy.
"Come, kitten. Get some juice, maybe a bite to eat. That should help," he told her, pulling her up and close to him. "We need to get rid of her, to talk about what Aric and I overheard," he whispered, and kissed her temple to cover himself. She lifted her face to his and he kissed her, and she almost felt normal. They moved together to the table, thanking Joslin and assuring her they'd be fine with what she'd brought.
When she'd gone, Aric told Miriah what they'd heard. "I can't believe they'd try to keep us here. Maybe Joslin is just being cautious. I can see why they'd be concerned about the Sith, since they're using emotions instead of suppressing them, but the rescue squads don't even need to know they're here. I'm sure someone knows, since these are not things that they've made," she indicated the table full of supplies, "and we wouldn't change that all." She paced near the table, the men watching to make sure she didn't get dizzy again. "I'll go talk to her, tell her we'll go back to the crash site alone, we won't even mention they helped us. She will listen to reason." She looked at the men, who were unconvinced but knew they had little alternative.
Corso walked with her out of their hut, and she spotted Jestera just outside, bringing a basket of potatoes into the camp. The women smiled at each other, and Jestera pointed toward the center of the camp. Joslin sat there with Shurxan, laughing and talking with some of the other Jedi there. Miriah saw that they all held hands and spoke freely, without the reservations most Jedi would have in a group. Maybe this is how it's supposed to be, not like at the temple, she mused. They made their way over to Joslin, who motioned to them to join the group.
"We were just wondering when you'd be anxious to get back to the pods, for your rescue," Shurxan said quietly. "We ask only that you not reveal our presence here. The Jedi Order knows we're here, and we trade with them for some of our supplies. But, as you might have noticed, we're rather isolated and we prefer it. The Sith," he looked directly into Miriah's silver eyes, willing her to understand, "have tried before to 'recruit' us, make us into their accomplishments. "
Miriah nodded, understanding why they wanted to keep their anonymity. She stood, drawing Joslin up and hugging her tightly. "Thank you, for helping us and for knowing that we need to get home. I can assure you that we will say nothing to the rescue squad, and if you ever need our help in anything, I will give you means to contact us." They parted, and Corso took Miriah's arm as they made their way to the hut.
"Well done, cyare. I think we'll be trekking back on our own, are you up to it?" He was always concerned about her, but now, even more so. She glanced up at him, nodding her head. I'll carry her if I have to, he thought, anything to get back to Coruscant. They walked inside the hut to see Aric had gathered their packs, redistributed the supplies to make them easier to carry, and was ready to set off.
Sarai woke with Devin sitting quietly beside her, playing with a small toy he must have had hidden in his pocket, she thought. She had to smile at his youthful resilience, but when he turned to look at her, she felt his unease, his longing for his mother overwhelming her. She hugged him close, felt his silent tears as he wished with all his heart he could hug his mama.
Miriah felt his despair, his longing for her, as if he were by her side. She stumbled on her way to pick up her jacket from the spare cot, and Corso hurried to her, seeing her pale and her eyes fill with tears. "It's Dev, I can feel him! He's so upset, wants me so badly, it's heartbreaking," she told Corso, clutching at his armor.
"Think calm, tell him with your mind you love him and that you're coming home soon," Corso urged her, and she tried to comply. He held onto her as he felt her relax, Aric looking on with a worried frown.
"We need to get moving, you two. If the beacon is still running, we should see results very soon, and we have at least two hours of walking." He looked out the window of the hut, seeing the community gathering outside.
Sarai held her grandson as he emptied his heart, and felt him relax. Miriah must be able to feel such strong emotion, and he can feel her, she thought, smiling at the little boy and wiping his tears. "Love mama," he said with a small smile, and Sarai took him for some breakfast. While the children ate, she told Maura what had happened that morning.
"They'll be found soon. The orbital station has shuttles going to all the moons of Tython, so we should hear something back today." She busied herself making sure the kids all had enough, then with wiping hands and faces before sending them off to play. Aric should be here, she thought, I won't let them all go off like this again. She fixed a tray of food and took it to her sister, who was still resting, having been up with her newborn son several times during the night.
"Mags," she whispered, and was relieved to see her sister awake, feeding Ian again. "Felix is with the children, and I know you need food. Here, let me feed the little guy." Maura gently took Ian from her sister's arms, and settled in the chair with him.
"I can feel so much emotion today," Mags said, "Is Devin doing okay?" Maura explained what Sarai had told her of the morning, and Mags slowly nodded her head.
"Makes sense, their bond is very strong," she said, putting jam on a piece of toast. "Miriah is probably beside herself, poor thing, having lost her ship and now being away." She chewed thoughtfully, watching Maura with the baby. She needs another, Mags thought, wondering if it was ever to be.
Aric and Corso walked with Miriah between them, out of the hut. As they descended the steps, Joslin and Shurxan approached them, stopping in front of them. "I know that our secret is safe with you, and we wanted to wish you a safe journey home," Joslin smiled, taking Miriah's hands in her own. "Thank you for your contact info, we might just need you all someday." Miriah smiled back at her old friend, and as they walked the path that would lead to their pod, each Jedi touched them, on the arm or the shoulder, and the group could feel the force grow around them, their blessings being sent through the contact. Aric took point, Corso following up, making sure that Miriah was okay.
They'd walked for nearly an hour when Aric called a rest break, since he'd glanced over his shoulder at the growing pallor on his sister in law's face. Miriah sat heavily, taking a water bottle and a handful of nuts from the only pouch they'd let her carry. "I guess it's the fact we're going uphill, not down, that's making this more difficult than it was yesterday," she said, taking a long pull of the water. "At least Devin seems settled, that was intense." She looked at both Aric and Corso, noting their frowns. "What?" she asked.
"Sleens," Aric said, pointing behind her. She whipped her head around, seeing the long, graceful neck of one of the beasts turn in their direction. "Let's move,"Aric barked, grabbing his pack up and pulling Miriah up by her hand. They surged forward, now at a faster pace, wanting to be well away from any creature that might decide they looked like food. They kept up that pace for about half an hour, when panting, Miriah stopped in the path.
"We're close, Mir, see the flare?" Corso said, putting his arm around her narrow shoulders. All she could do was nod, her breath coming in gasps from the exertion. He merely swung her up and over his shoulder, and caught up to Aric, matching his stride as they neared the crash site. As they crossed to the fallen trees, Aric picked up the subspace beacon.
"Still going strong. Mir, next time I make fun of you for being overly prepared, you have my permission to remind me of this," he grinned, doing a double take when he realized she was being carried by her husband. "When did you do that, Corso?" he asked, amused.
"When I was about to pass out about ten minutes ago," Miriah answered.
"She's about as heavy as one of the three packs I carried yesterday," Corso replied, gently putting her feet on the ground and keeping his arms around her, steadying her. "At least the pod looks undisturbed. We can rest while we wait for the shuttles." He'd just sat down on a downed tree when they heard the subspace radio inside the pod crackle to life.
"Tython Orbital rescue, respond," the voice said. Aric scrambled over to the pod, hoisting himself over the side and into the seat, grabbing the radio.
"Alpha Pod, from the Stardancer, requesting assistance," he said, his grin big enough to see from where Corso and Miriah were sitting.
"Copy. Evac on the way. Out." Aric vaulted over the side of the pod, joining the other two to wait.
Joslin looked up and grabbed Shurxan's hand. "Their rescue shuttle is here. Let's put up a force shield, just in case." They joined hands and their auras merged, blue white light coursing around them, as they put up the only barrier they had to outsiders.
There was no room for the shuttle to land among the wreckage, so they lowered a cable to the ground. "Cor, you take Miriah and go first," Aric said, and knowing that Miriah was the one in most need of being secure, Corso agreed. He attached the tether to his armor, pulled his wife close and held onto her as they were lifted into the shuttle. Aric followed soon after, and once they were secured in the seats the shuttle returned to orbit, where a larger ship waited for them.
"Welcome aboard the Experian," said the captain, an older Twilek who wore a huge smile. "Your family will be pleased to know you are safe aboard." Corso and Aric shook the man's hand, and the captain turned his smile to Miriah. "I've been told there's a certain little boy who needs his mama home as fast as we can get her there." She nodded, unable to speak around the lump in her throat, and he patted her shoulder.
"We're taking you to Tython first, for a quick debrief and med check, then we'll get you on your way to Coruscant," he told them. Miriah nodded, and they all returned to the lounge area, where the ship's droid had put out food and beverages. All Miriah wanted was to rest, and when they sat, she put her head on Corso's shoulder, asleep almost before he noticed she was there.
Felix rushed to the holo when the chime started, and only beat Maura there by a few seconds. They watched as Satele Shan's image came into focus, and Sarai came to a halt beside them. "You'll all be relieved to know that we have your family members aboard one of our ships, en route to Tython as we speak," she said, grinning at the cheers from the Coruscant end of the transmission. "We'll get them to you as quickly as we can once we make sure they're ready to travel that far."
"What about Colonel Jurin?" Sarai asked, but knowing in her soul the answer.
"He wasn't with the group, Master. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened any more than you do, but we'll put them on the holo when they get here. I've informed General Garza already, and we'll talk soon." The holo fizzled out, but the spirits in the apartment were high at the news.
I knew he was alive, Maura thought, as she gathered the twins close.
"Daddy coming home?" Calleigh asked, her silver eyes hopeful.
"Yes, Daddy is coming home," Maura told her, seeing both her daughter and Colin grin. Not soon enough, Maura thought, and smiled at her children. Devin watched them, moving toward his aunt. She caught the little boy in a hug, whispering to him, "Your mama is coming home soon too, Dev." He squeezed his aunt's neck and smiled his father's smile.
Sarai felt the force disturbance as Garza entered their floor, and met her at the door of the apartment. "Helena," Sarai said, and caught the other woman as she collapsed, pulling her into the apartment. It was later in the evening and the children were all asleep, save Ian, who was in his father's arms on the sofa. Sarai led her friend there and Maura poured the general a cup of tea.
"I'm so sorry, Helena," Sarai said softly, letting the woman get control of her emotions. Garza accepted the tea with a grateful smile.
"We'd been friends for a very long time, but had only been seeing each other as more than friends for a few weeks, " she said, sniffing. "I think he had a feeling or maybe he knew but couldn't say, that something was going to go wrong." She took a sip of the tea. "He seemed to be saying goodbye that last night on the ship." She looked around at the people she'd come to see as an extension of her own family. "I don't even know how to go about this. Replacing Miriah's ship? Credits?" She shook her head, it had been a very long and exhausting day.
Sarai patted her friend's hand. "Don't worry about all of that now. Allow yourself to grieve over losing someone you cared about, Helena."
"You're right, I know," Garza acknowledged. "I got word today that the Balmorran senate is returning home, and of course Diedre and Paolo with them." She glanced over at Ian, asleep in Felix's arms. "And Magdalane, he's beautiful. So many changes." She started to get up but found she had no desire to leave this refuge, the caring and warmth of these people. Sarai felt her reluctance and told her to stay, and the others agreed. Felix stood and took Ian to his cradle, and Maura brought a pillow and soft blanket.
"Now, my friend, rest," Sarai told the general, slipping off the other woman's shoes and covering her with the blanket. Helena felt the calming touch of force just as she closed her eyes, and sank into rest.
Corso and Aric talked quietly about what to do now. "Do you think she'll pick out another ship?" Aric asked, his eyes on the sleeping Miriah.
"Probably," Corso replied, "she hasn't said too much about it. I think all she wants right now is Devin, and I'd have to agree. I miss him, so much."
"I'm with you on that. I want Maura and the twins beside me," Aric confirmed. They flew on, toward Tython, their hearts already on Courscant.