The two Jedi headed towards the hanger where the Soaring Dream was reportedly birthed. "Have you talked to Moira recently?" asked Des. Alias shook his head. "No, it's actually been a while. She was after her treasure and I was after Darth Angral. How about you?"

"I talked to her just earlier today. She and Corso had a nasty falling out and she's pretty depressed. Apparently, she liked him more than she thinks 'cause she was all miserable and moody when I met her at the cantina."

Alias snorted with amusement. "Poor girl. Who knows, maybe she'll finally decide to try an actual relationship for the first time since... well... you know. All this bed hopping must be getting tiresome."

They entered the hanger and as they approached the freighter, the ramp lowered and the hatch hissed open. Down it strode Moira and a young man in a Starfighter command flight officer's uniform. Alias and Des looked at each other. "Well forget everything I just said;" muttered Alias.

"Do you have to go?" pouted Moira sweetly. "I really enjoyed your visit and I'm going to miss you."

The fighter pilot, whoever he was, nodded sadly. "Yeah, I have to go. My flight group is being deployed to Balmorra. I'll miss you too. Who knows, we might meet again sometime."

Moira smiled. "I'd love that. In the mean time, you'd better take care of yourself Treven. If you die, it would break my heart."

Treven chuckled and they hugged before he hurried off. Moira watched him go before turning to face two Jedi with unreadable expressions on their faces. With a bright, happy smile, Moira hustled over and hugged Alias. "Hi you;" she said cheerfully. "Heard some great things, oh grand and glorious Hero of Tython. Nice work. You have every holo journalist on the holo net wanting an interview."

That seemed to crack his stoicism. With a smile, he kissed her forehead and said, "Thanks, honey."

Moira threw arms around each of her favorite Jedi in the galaxy and said, "Come on; let's go get something to eat and we can really catch up. Des and I talked but it was mostly me just feeling depressed and sorry for myself. Sorry 'bout that, Des."

"No problem; sorry I wasn't more help."

She looked up at him curiously for a moment before saying, "Well anyhow, congrats to you too. The supreme chancellor whats-his-name announced that the Jedi Order's 'wisest and most diplomatic Jedi Master'. He also mentioned that your were the Barsen- barsen-"

"Barsen'thor - it's a Cerean word that means warden or protector. Apparently Des here is only the second to ever be given the title;" said Alias.

Moira's hazel eyes widened. "Very impressive. Drinks are on me for the two Jedi heroes."

As they entered, the place was pretty busy. In one corner, all three of them caught a sight of Corso Riggs. He was sitting there nursing a beer of some kind, smiling and laughing as three different, very attractive, young women made bedroom eyes and batted their lashes at him, each vying for his attention and his affection - a soldier in a gray army uniform, a woman who was probably a contracted vendor or off-duty cantina worker and someone who looked suspiciously like a courtesan who was most likely just making her way from a far off planet to Coruscant or from Coruscant to another planet.

Alias and Des looked at Moira, who's mouth was open with shock. When Corso reached over and brushed a work-rough hand against one of the ladies' cheeks and she blushed, giggling coyly. Her mouth snapped shut and she cleared her throat before saying, "Come on; let's get some food and something to drink. I'm going to hazard a guess that you two are going to ask me for help on some super secret and important mission aren't you?"

"Why do you think that?" asked Alias with a chuckle. "Can't we just get together with a friend and catch up?"

Moira gave him a long suffering look before ordering food and drinks for all of them. That done, she turned to them and said, "Look, guys, I'm on vacation. I just got more many than I'll ever know what to do with and, frankly, I'm considering retiring from the business and just using my ship to visit planets I've always wanted to and enjoy my life."

"Right;" chuckled Des. "I'll believe that when I see it, sister."

Moira cocked an eyebrow. "You don't think I'd do it?"

"Nope;" chortled Alias. "You love adventure too much. That, and no matter how much you like to deny it, you are just too noble for it."

Moira was about to object then the food came. Before she could object, Des looked at her very seriously. "Listen, Moira, this is something that's big. It's so big that it makes Hammer Station and Cademimu both look like grocery runs."

Even Alias looked at him with mild surprise. "Des;" he asked quietly, "do you know who this Jedi is - 'cause even Oteg didn't seem to know who he or the Jedi Spirit was for sure."

Des looked grim and anxious. "I have a theory. Judging by the events of three centuries ago, I think I know who they are but I'm not gonna say just in case I'm wrong. I don't want to get any hopes up but if I'm right-" and he swallowed hard. "If I'm right, we might have a chance at winning this war quickly and decisively."

Alias and Moira glanced at each other. "And if we don't?" asked the beautiful smuggler. Des shivered at the thought. "Then the Emperor's power is going to grow exponentially and any chance of the Republic and the Jedi winning will effectively be gone."

Moira nodded slowly. She turned to look over at Corso and saw that one of the girls had left but the other two were pressing against him. It was clear that the big mercenary was in complete control while the two women were totally sauced. Gritting her teeth, she turned and said, "I'm in. Did either of you contact Dren yet?"

They shook their heads. "I got it;" said Alias, who stood and headed away from the noise of the cantina.

Moira looked back over at Corso to see that one of the women was whispering in his ear and the farm boy was blushing but also smiling. "It's funny how people allow there circumstances to change there character, isn't it?"

Commented Des. Moira glared at him. "Do I look like someone in the mood for a lecture, Nedeser?"

"No;" chuckled the Jedi. "You look like someone who's jealous."

"Damn right, I'm jealous;" she all but growled. "Now, not only are we not sleeping together and not friends, I have to suffer watching him flirt with women. You know what the worst part is? I absolutely realize the irony of this situation and I can't kriffing stand it."

Des snorted into his beer, managing to avoid spilling it only by sheer luck, and burst into his booming laugh. Moira glared between him and Corso as the mercenary took notice of them, seemingly for the first time. There was curious amusement in his eyes as Des gave a friendly wave. Corso lifted his half filled glass in response. Moira began to curse and mutter under her breath and Des chuckled again before sobering. For several long moments, they were silent. When he spoke again, Des was very serous. "Moira, do you want things to be better between you and Corso?"

"Of course I do;" she sighed. "At the very least, I want my friend back."

"Then can I make a suggestion?"

Moira knew what was coming. "I feel like you're going to whether I say yes or no."

Des chuckled. "If you don't want to hear it, I can keep it to myself."

Moira waited to see if he would just tell her anyway before muttering, "What do you suggest?"

"Stop sleeping with every- every-"

"Swinging dick that comes by;" said Alias as he sat back down.

Des gave him a mildly reproachful look and Moira glared at him. She glanced over at Corso and his two new friends and was mortified to see them stand up and start coming towards them, the two women obviously excited to meet one of them. "Hey Alias;" murmured Des, very amused. "you got two fans incoming."

"Oh brother;" murmured Alias as he stood with a smile to meet them.

"Master Ordo, I have a couple of young ladies here who would love to meet you;" said Corso. "I hope you don't mind;" said Corso, just a little anxious. He gave Moira a brisk nod. "Captian;" he said respectfully.

Moira returned the nod and glared at the two women as they gushed over Alias, who stood head and shoulders above them both. They shook his hands, blushing and giggling and hyperventilating ridiculously. "You are so amazing, Master Ordo!" said the young soldier, a private who had been following the work of the Jedi for awhile and been very excited to see glimpses of what Alias Ordo, the only known Mandalorian Jedi in centuries. "I've been following your work as best as I can - cause I have limited clearance - and you are my hero."

Des was chuckling quietly from his seat while Alias cheerfully and willingly tolerated as they gushed over him. "Can we get holos with you?" they asked.

"Of course!" said Alias. "It would be my pleasure."

They pressed themselves against him and used their data pad holo-cams to take the holo. Alias had his arms wrapped around each of them and smiled. "Thank you so much!" they said and gave him hugs before Corso ushered them away, still giggling and wowing them. "I can't believe your friends with the Hero of Tython!" one of them giggled to Corso. "That is so amazing. Are you close?"

"Eh, we're friends but we aren't very close."

Moira looked like she was somewhere between shooting somebody and bursting into tears as Corso went back to his seat with the two ladies hanging off his arms. Apparently he had gained a whole other level of awe in there eyes. "He's doing that just to annoy me;" she muttered darkly.

Des shook his head with a chuckle. "I doubt it. If I know Corso, he expects you to move on to the next good looking guy and kick him off your ship for the newer model."

Moira gasped and said, "I wouldn't do that! He's my first mate!"

"Well you yourself said that you've done it before;" pointed out Alias.

She humphed and averted her eyes, muttering to herself. Alias and Des looked at each other, wondering if she meant that for them to here. After a pause, she said quietly, "I want to be different. I want to change and to heal. Not just for Corso, either. I want to be past the misery and the grief and the endless nightmare of loneliness."

Alias and Des looked at each other again before the latter sighed and pulled her into a hug. "I cannot even express how glad I am to hear that, Moira. I just can't. You admitted you have a problem and now you care."

Moira nodded her head, her cheek pressed against his chest. Alias sighed and said, "You know what you should do next, right?"

"Not sleep with every swinging dick that walks by?" she said, a weak attempt at humor.

Alias smiled. "In a manner of speaking, yes; for human's sex is different than for other beings. It means more to them and effects your emotions and your connection with people. This is going to be quite possibly the hardest thing you've ever done but-"

"You think I should stop having so much gratuitous sex;" she sighed.

Des nodded. "And for you, that is going to be really, really hard."

"But worth it if you follow through with it, stick to it and find someone special - someone who you can really love."

Moira glanced over at where Corso had been sitting. He and the ladies were gone now and she didn't even want to think about where they had gone to or what they were planning on doing. With a sigh, she stepped back and said, "Well the best thing to do right now is take my mind off of it so now what?"

"Dren should be here any minute. He said he would help as soon as I mentioned another mission. Apparently he misses us and wants to get off the Meteor for awhile."

Alias was proved right as, presently, the broad shouldered, thickly built man strode down the stairs. He hugged each of them and clapped their backs. "So what is the nature of this critical mission of yours?" he asked.

Nedeser and Alias quickly explained and Dren nodded slowly. "Interesting. Like I said, I'm in. When do we leave?"

"First thing tomorrow;" said Des grimly. "Get rested up, make sure your gear is ready and we also need to gather wilderness survival gear. Apparently, we are going to land far out of the Imperial patrols on Taral V and trek in from there. It's going to take us two or three days. From there, it's going to be an unending fight with Sith and Imperials and stars only know what else."

Dren gave his trade mark grin and said, "Sounds like my idea of a good time. Alright, early morning it is. In the mean time, you guys eat?"

"Yes;" they all said and Dren sighed, "Well I guess I'm eating alone. I had to get off my ship for a bit. It would seem that a kicked a nest of Geonosians a little bit ago."

"Yeah?" said Moira. "How'd you do that?"

Dren winced. "I promoted Aric Jorgan instead of Elara Dorne as my XO."

They all looked at him blankly. "They really don't like each other and have very differing opinions on how things should be done..." and he paused before saying, "...and Elara and I may or may not have slept together."

Three groans rang out. "We can discuss this after the mission;" sighed Alias.

The following morning, they gathered together at the hanger where they would be transported over to the Telos from which they would take off in the captured Imperial shuttle. Their friends were there to see them off. Aric Jorgan and Elara Dorne were there, as were Qyzen Fess and Tharan Cedrax. With them was Corso and Bowdarr and Kira and a small T7 astro droid.

Des shook hands with Tharan and, to everyone's surprise, bumped heads with Qyzen - pretty hard too it seemed.

Moira got a massive, furry hug from Bowdarr. When she came to Corso, she cleared her throat and said, "Take care of everything until I'm back, Corso."

"You got it, Captain;" said Corso. When Moira held out her hand, he just looked at it. At first, everyone present was sure he would completely spurn her and were totally surprised when he scooped her into a hug. "Just make sure you do come back, Moira."

She could have cried. Right then and there, Moira could have wept for joy. Instead, she simply nodded and smiled. "You and I are going to have a long conversation when I get back."

"I'm looking forward to it, Captain."

When all the goodbyes were said, the four heroes boarded the shuttle and it disappeared into the blackness of space.