Miriah looked at the man she'd worked with and talked to many times as he dangled, swearing. She turned her son away from him, and walked back toward the group. "General, did this man have anything to do with this ship's order or delivery?"
"I'm sure he knew about it, and I'm already thinking the way you are. I will contact Corellian Shipworks and have their chief engineer here this evening to go over it inch by inch," she said. Garza turned to Major Blessing. "Major, take this creature into custody once Master Magdalane releases him, and no one talks to him until I do."
"Understood," Blessing responded, his squad training their weapons on the man. Mags let the force hold drop, and when the assistant landed he tried to sprint. The butt of Blessing's rifle stopped him cold, and they dragged the now unconscious man to HQ.
"I know it wasn't your plan, but would you stay at least until I can have your ship checked out?" Garza looked anxiously from Aric to Corso, and then to Miriah.
"I would love the opportunity to drive her," Miriah said, "but it's up to everyone to decide. I can always retrieve her later." Miriah was almost salivating over the idea of piloting the sleek vessel in front of her, and she wasn't hiding it well. She looked at her mom and saw a grin start on her face. When she looked at Maura, that same grin was there on her face, too. Mags saw them, and started to smile as well, when Aric burst out laughing.
"Of course, we'll wait," he said. "Besides, I'd like to see that creep's interrogation, if I may, General?"
"Absolutely," Garza replied, already moving toward the military headquarters. "Give him a few hours to contemplate what his fate might be, and I'll give you a call when I head down there." She briskly walked away, leaving the group at loose ends.
"Well, let's go back. The droids haven't taken our gear yet, and our clothes are here. We can.." Corso stopped talking when he saw Miriah stumble toward the public refresher. "Go ahead, guys. I'll get Miriah back when she can handle it. Devin, can you go with Nana and let me and Mama come in a few minutes?" The little boy grinned and nodded, taking his grandmother's hand. The group left for the apartment, and Corso sat on a bench where he could see the refreshers. After a few minutes, Miriah came out, pale and decidedly unhappy. Corso rushed to her and took her in his arms, feeling her tremble.
"I don't know if it's the roller coaster emotions, or the hormones, but that was not fun," she said, burying her face in her husband's chest. He held her there for a moment, then turned with her and slowly started walking her to the taxi stand. By the time he'd spoken to the droid there, she was a little steadier and not as pale. Corso gently rubbed her neck as she leaned against him in the taxi, his warm hands massaging the knots there. She sighed, relaxing against him, and was getting drowsy when they landed next to the apartment complex.
"Let's go up, cyar'ika, and you can rest there," his deep voice rumbled in her ear. She let him lift her down from the taxi speeder and they went to the apartment. When they arrived, all was calm. Ian was sleeping, the kids playing with their newly unpacked toys. When Devin saw his parents, he grinned and waved, but didn't rush to them as he would have the day before. Corso led Miriah to their room and sat beside her as she got comfortable. Her eyes were closed and he was about to leave her when she spoke.
"Cyar'ika, what does that one mean again?" she mumbled.
"Sweetheart," he told her, giving her a gentle kiss.
"I like it," she smiled, and he kissed her again. He left her once she drifted to sleep, to check on Devin and see what he might need to do. Devin was still playing and Maura was with Sarai in the kitchen. He joined them there, and asked if he could help.
"No, son, we're just putting together something from what we had left here. No need to bring in supplies for one night, and we'd cleared out the leftovers before we left this morning. Miriah is resting?" Sarai was concerned but knew her daughter was in good hands.
"She is, and I think it will help. I know this part of pregnancy must be awful, but I also remember my mother telling me that a healthy pregnancy always has some sickness with it." He sat at the table, and Aric joined him there.
"I'm surprised Spitfire can sleep with that beauty of a ship being hers," he grinned. "Man, it's a sight."
"I hate that she's having to go through this, but I know Logan is worth it. She'd say so, too." He looked over at Devin, happily playing with the others. "How did he know? And did he use the force for speed? I looked down and he was just a blur."
"He did use force speed," Sarai said, "and Magdalane trusted his instincts enough to act on his initiative. Otherwise, the louse might have been able to get away. Your son," she pointed at Corso, "is very strong in the force. I am predicting that both he and Ian will follow their grandfather's footsteps and become knights of the Order." Corso had a look of wonder on his face as he contemplated this thought.
Magdalane put Ian in his cradle, and thought back on the morning. Devin, she thought, is more connected than even I suspected, and I need to start working with him, helping him understand the force and how to use and control it. Although, she laughed to herself, he seems to have a good bit of control already. She stretched out on the bed, thinking she'd just close her eyes for a few minutes, but the activity of the morning combined with the multiple times she'd been up with the baby the night before, and she slipped into a peaceful sleep.
Corso went to get Miriah when lunch was ready, and at his gentle kisses she opened her eyes. "Come, darlin', let's get a little hot food in you, okay?" She nodded, still drowsy, and sat on the side of the bed. Corso put her arm around her waist, steadying her, and they went into the dining room.
"Wow, you guys did all this with what we'd left?" she asked, amazed at the food on the table. Corso pulled her chair out and when she was seated, he got her a bottle of water and a large glass of juice.
"I read earlier that the nausea can be worse if you're dehydrated, love," he told her, his breath warm on her ear.
"Miriah, at least try to eat a little, even if it's only some soup," Sarai told her. Miriah nodded, and they spent lunch pleasantly.
Aric looked at his younger sister in law and asked, "Any ideas for a ship name yet?"
Miriah shook her head. "Not yet, maybe not til I've had a chance to fly her. Sometimes they tell you what their names are. Stardancer did just that, she danced around in the stars, graceful and light." She shrugged, "I miss her."
"I will, too, but I bet that beauty in the hanger will help you get over her some," Maura teased, getting a giggle from Miriah.
Aric looked at Corso. "Want to go see the interrogation when Garza calls?"
Corso thought about it. He could go see that worm that his son smoked out get grilled by Intelligence and probably not say anything, or he could stay at the apartment and be with his wife and son. "Nah, you go ahead. He's probably not going to tell us anything we don't already know. Honestly, the only thing I care about is getting home." He took Miriah's hand in his and squeezed gently, getting a smile from her.
Magdalane gathered the children before her and gave them their assignments. Calleigh and Devin were to pick up toys, Colin and Michi were to put blankets and pillows on the floor. When they were done, the children lay on the blankets and Mags read to them, her voice soothing them into sleep. The other adults were a little surprised.
"Mags, why haven't you done that before? It was brilliant!" Maura exclaimed. "Calleigh never goes to sleep that easily. Did you use the force on them?
"No, silly, no force necessary. They were tired, I just felt they'd all sleep better in here with all of us present than in their rooms. It's been a little bit traumatic for them to see Devin attack that man. Maura, Calleigh may not be a true force user, but she can sense things very well. She was upset at the thought of Devin being hurt or in trouble. Colin and Michi are truly force blind, but they felt the tension. This just solved the problem of them being out of sight of you all, and also gave them the opportunity to relax." She shrugged. "No magic, just logic." Felix had Ian, his bottle almost gone. "And now for the littlest one," she smiled at her son.
Felix burped him and handed him to his mother with a kiss. "He's the easy one. All he really needs is a full belly and a dry bottom, and Mom."
Aric was restless, pacing the room. Finally Maura told him, "Just go down to the complex, hon. Even if Garza isn't ready to interrogate him, someone will know if he's said or done anything." He bent over his sitting wife, growling softly against her ear.
"Thank you for knowing it's eating me up inside," he said, and he kissed her before he left. The group rested and napped while the children were sleeping, content in being all in the same place. Aric had been gone for a couple of hours when he came back through the door, a look of satisfaction on his face.
Maura saw him first, and knew that look. "He caved? Told everything?" she asked, hope in her voice.
"Not everything, but enough. The security force is out rounding up the ones we didn't know about now. Garza was amazed at Devin being the one who figured him out. I told her that he was coming into his force power, and after being without Miriah for several days, he was very protective of her." He crossed the room and sat with his wife, putting his arm around her shoulders. "It was good to see some closure. It was indeed Castellan restraints they used on Jurin, but they didn't give him the proper dosage or something, that's what caused the memory wipe." Corso and Miriah joined them, listening to Aric's account. "The whole thing centered on being the first to get to Makeb. They had to undercut the Republic influence on Balmorra to do that. Everything dominoed after that." He stretched and grinned at his audience, which now included the entire group. "So, once the ship is checked out, we're ready to head home!" The group cheered, and Miriah found she actually had tears of joy in her eyes. Devin felt her emotion and ran to her. Corso picked him up and he reached for his mom.
"Mama cry. Sad?" he asked her, and smiled when she shook her head.
"No sweetie man, happy. I'm ready to be home," she told him, and laughed when he clapped his little hands.
They decided to order dinner, and have it out on the balcony, in the warm spring evening. The children were happy, running around and enjoying being outside. Miriah was sitting with them, watching them play, when her mother joined her. "Feeling okay now, dear?" she asked.
"I am, " Miriah answered. "I can't wait to fly that ship tomorrow, and I want to sit with my husband in our porch swing and see Akaavi and Cy. I want Devin to feel safe again." Sarai patted her daughter's leg.
"We'll be there soon, and all those things are waiting for us. Helena wanted to visit, said she needed a vacation, so at some point she'll come out. I told her we could play with grandbabies and relax, but now, who knows when she'll get a break?" Sarai closed her eyes in the warm breeze, and used her force to survey the group. Corso was watching the holo with Aric and Felix, but his mind was on Miriah. Aric and Felix were happy, excited to be going home. Maura was tired but calm, anticipating… oh heavens, Maura! Magdalane, oh my goodness, she's on the same thoughts as her sister. She laughed to herself. Miriah was excited to pilot her new ship, but she was being cautiously optimistic. Devin was a pure white light of force energy, so much so that she almost turned her mind away from him, but at the last second, stayed. He felt her, and ran to his grandmother, giving her a quick hug before sprinting away to play again.
Dantooine. Home. It would be wonderful to get there. Soon, she thought.