Chapter 9

It hadn't been the only ship I'd served on, but the Wild Karrde still felt so familiar to me. It was almost nostalgic… A feeling I never allowed myself to indulge in before meeting Luke Skywalker.

We'd been underway to Coruscant for little more than half an hour. I should have tried to settle in for the trip, but I felt too restless to even try. Sitting on the bed in our quarters, I watched Ben as he nibbled on his bantha plush.

"I swear, I'm gonna turn my back one day and you'll have eaten that poor thing," I muttered softly. These days he was starting to teethe on everything, and it made me feel old. He was already growing up, and I was pretty sure I'd never given him permission.

I only hoped his whole childhood wouldn't be spent with his parents always busy running in the other direction. As soon as we reached Coruscant he would be staying with Leia until we sorted out our shady business in the lower levels. I hoped it wouldn't take long, but after Migo, even a day away from him seemed too much.

Luke was quick to assure me that everything I was feeling was perfectly natural. After all, almost dying and then going straight into unraveling your own possible assassination plot wasn't exactly restful to the psyche. I knew he was right, but that didn't make it any easier. It was all the perfectly natural things that usually were the hardest to deal with, after all.

Looking up, I sensed Shada at the door before she even knocked. "Yeah, come in," I called.

Shada always had a very unassuming presence. Something that came from both a difficult past and a special degree of training. Both of which I could understand. Even though she wasn't Force-sensitive, I thought there was something very Jedi-like about her way of quiet observation.

"I hope I'm not intruding?"

I folded my arms casually. "No, of course not, Ben and I are happy for the company. Right, buddy?"

Ben let out a happy shriek followed by his most handsome smile. He was already exceptionally good at winning over all the ladies with that.

Shada gave a faint but sincere smile of her own, her eyes seeming thoughtful as she looked at him. "He's certainly grown."

"Like a weed. Funny thing is, I can't figure out a way to stop him."

I didn't need to be a Jedi to feel that something was weighing on her mind. Something soft and personal. It felt intrusive to pry, but I could sense the gist of it without having to. Her relationship with Talon was one they'd mostly kept lowkey. I knew they'd come to some sort of understanding, but I didn't know much more than that. The air of professionalism she excelled at made it hard to admit to being more than his loyal bodyguard. I imagined she was yet to admit it to herself let alone anyone else, but I could feel the truth of it. She'd rather be his wife…

I wanted to smile and feel sorry for her because I understood it all too well. But Luke had been clear on trying not to push them along too fast. So I kept my feelings to myself, or at least I would for the moment.

"I'm sorry this has all taken such a possibly sinister turn," she finally said, likely meaning Becro.

"Sadly, I can't say I'm surprised. What can you tell me about Talon's contact? The one we're going to me?"

She folded her arms thoughtfully. "He's not someone who cherishes loyalty beyond whatever price it can bring. But he's straightforward, a man of little deception."

"Unless that deception has a price too?" I ventured.

"He values Talon's ongoing business more than any one-time client. He'll tell us what we want to know, it's just a simple equation to him."

I sighed, hoping she was right. But something in me doubted it would be that simple. Or at least, doubted the information we got would be simple. Even if the contact told us the whole truth, that truth was bound to be messy. At best, it meant some no-name criminal wanted Leia or me dead, at worst it could have been a political conspiracy that threatened a small-scale war.

But I tried not to speculate too soon. And at the moment, it felt good to be back home in a way…

"Well, whatever happens, it's good to be working with Talon and the crew again, I've missed all of you."

She nodded gently. "I have to be honest, it wasn't always easy to fill the spot you left. You were uniquely capable, Talon most of all knew that."

I grinned playfully. "I wouldn't worry about it, Shada, I'm pretty sure Talon was happy to give me the boot in favor of you."

She turned sheepish quickly enough. Her feelings radiated both embarrassment and a sense of secret happiness. But underneath it all, was an ocean's worth of self-doubt.

I walked over causally to pick up the toy Ben had thrown. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure being in love with you made losing me very worthwhile."

I know I'd told Luke I wouldn't push too hard, but a little shove couldn't hurt, right? And nothing did it quite like making people own up to the L word.

I saw the small-scale war raging on her face. The fact that Talon had surely told her as much before, and yet that relentless sense of unworthiness still plagued her. I knew all too well it was an enemy no one else could defeat for you. So I did what I could, and smiled at her. A sincere look that held all the understanding and reassurance I could muster.

My belief in the power of a smile was perhaps the truest testament to Luke's corruption of my mind. But I'd learned the hard way just how powerful it could be… Seeing Ben's smile, Luke's smile, reminded me of that every day.

"Thank you, Mara…" was all she whispered before trailing awkwardly out the door.

Home sweet home. I'd never thought I would look at Coruscant so fondly, but after everything that had happened, I almost felt moved. But any deep Jedi reflection on the matter would have to wait. We had a seedy contact to meet, and Ben had to be dropped off at Han and Leia's first. Leia contacted us at the last second, saying she'd been called away to deal with some typical New Republic political infighting. All in all, I felt sorry for her, but she assured us that Han would be more than happy to watch Ben for us.

I had to grin at the thought. The once grand smugger was reduced to babysitting. I guess it was true that misery loved company because I was enjoying it. If I'd gone soft, I liked the thought of taking Han with me.

Being more than happy seemed like a stretch as far as Han was concerned. Sure, he loved his nephew, but I doubted he liked the thought of missing out on the action in favor of watching a toddler chew on a toy bantha. When we finally arrived at his and Leia's apartment, I saw how right I was with just one glance at his face.

"Well, have a seat anywhere," he mumbled in a monotone.

"Sorry, I don't think we have time," I explained, trying to keep the grin off my face.

"Right, too busy with your big underworld dealings," he snarked. "Sure you can't use some help, Talon?" he asked glancing at Karrde. "I've been around Coruscant's lower levels a time or two myself, ya know?"

Talon smiled politely, the same irony not lost on him. "I'm sure we could use your expertise, Han, but then who would watch Ben?"

He huffed out a final sigh before deflating into the couch. "Right…"

Luke seemed mostly oblivious to the comical annoyance playing out over Han. He was too busy saying his final gushy goodbyes to Ben. "Please behave for your uncle, okay, Ben?" He left a kiss on top of his head. "We love you, and we'll be back soon, I promise."

Han smirked and folded his arms, glancing at me. "Why's he been at that for less than a year and he's already better at it than I am?"

I grinned. "Call it, Skywalker charm." Walking over I ruffled Ben's hair before handing him to Han.

I didn't want to get caught up on long goodbyes, after all, this was going to be a short trip, I'd make sure of it. So we were almost out the door when I glanced back at Han from over my shoulder. "Just don't take him with you to a cantina, alright, you won't want to face me later if I find that out."

The tease wasn't lost on Han. He rolled his eyes. "I was planning on sitting him on the sabacc table while I played a few rounds. With all these Jedi powers, I thought I might put him to use reading the other players' hands." He bounced Ben on his knee playfully until he laughed. "We could make a small fortune, couldn't we kid?"

"Not on your life, Solo," I playfully shot back.

"See what you're missing out on, Talon," he teased Karrde. "Join the club, it's more fun than it looks."

Karrde smiled politely, trying to hide the sudden awkwardness that secretly made me grin. It seemed like Han thought misery needed company too.

Our escapade took us to the lower, more forgotten parts of Coruscant. Back streets that were somehow drenched in both shadows and vivid colors. The brazen glowing signs from shops bled into every corner of the street, save for the dark alleyways lining the walk. I wasn't new to this sort of place. Hardly, I'd seen my fair share of rough and tumble joints in my day. If anything, Luke's wide eyes reminded me of the secret farmboy hiding beneath his calm Jedi exterior.

I smiled a little to myself before noticing where Talon was headed. The sign said it served lunch at a bargain price, but I had a feeling most customers came for more than the daily special. Slipping in the door, Luke and I followed Karrde's lead. Judging by the sudden grin on the face of the man behind the counter, Shada was right when she said our contact enjoyed Talon's business. The way that grin disappeared when he saw the two Jedi, said he wouldn't like ours nearly as much.

"Can I tempt you with the special, old friend?" the man asked Talon, his tone friendly but cautious.

Talon leaned into the counter, casually surveying the empty restaurant. "Information is more to my taste today, Draxx."

"I might have known," he mumbled, eyeing Luke and me with curious suspicion. "And what about your friends, what are they in the mood for."

I smiled at Draxx. "Same as Karrde, just some information."

"Such as?" he asked, turning to polish a glass.

"You sold a Simmering Mist to someone recently, didn't you?" Talon asked, calling the detonator that nearly ended Leia and me by its street slang.

"Maybe I did, they do have legitimate uses, you know. Mining, for example."

"Attempted murder for another," Luke chimed in, no little concern on his face.

"I'm sorry, I can't control what my customers do with the product, Mr. Jedi."

Talon nodded smoothly. "Of course. Though, a respected businessman like yourself must keep excellent records…"

I watched Draxx chew his bottom lip until it was almost raw. His emotion told me he was afraid to give Karrde the information he wanted. That meant someone dangerous was behind this…

"A mercenary," he finally spit out. "Cock Blent. Worst of the worst. But I swear, Talon, I'll deny this conversation ever happened if it comes right down to it."

"Naturally," Karrde agreed. "Now what else can you tell me about him?"

Draxx stiffened. "That he won't tell you who he's working for, that's what."

"Leave it to us to get saddled with a mercenary that has a sense of employee loyalty," I grumbled.

"Not loyalty," Draxx corrected me. "Vendetta. He was an Imperial before Endor. I think he was all too happy to take a job that landed a blow to the Jedi and the New Republic."

"I thought you didn't know what he was going to do with the detonator?" Luke questioned frankly.

"He didn't exactly tell me, but I can read between the lines. Not that it made his money any less spendable."

"Still," Talon went on slowly, an edge of intimidation in his voice. "Those are two very powerful organizations to make enemies in… I wonder if they'd be as forgiving of you as your own conscious is?"

Talon's voice never raised, it never needed to to make his point, but his tone still cut like a vibroblade. Talon still refused to officially take sides politically, but when it came to his crew, his family, things got very personal. I would have been touched that it mattered to him whether I got blown up, but I was a little too disgusted by Draxx to bother. He was a greedy coward, little more, but a part of me wondered what greater potential he'd squandered over the years. It was something I thought about when I noticed the sad pity in Luke's eyes. It was strange how all life inherently has value, and yet so many beings choose to willingly cheapen their own.

"I-I told you all I know, old friend, I swear!"

"Good," Talon added, turning to leave. "Then let me give you some advice. Close up this shop and disappear with what wealth you have, old friend. The next time your business nearly costs a member of my crew their life, you'll spend the rest of your life rotting in a New Republic prison."

All in all, I thought Talon had made his point, and frankly, I was impressed. But my nostalgic admiration would have to wait, we had bigger problems now. And bigger questions than answers.

Who hired this former Imperial, and why?

Ducking into the cover of a side alley, the three of us hid from the vivid lights and tried to gather our thoughts. "Now we know they wanted Leia and me dead," I mumbled, stating the obvious.

"Originally I was supposed to go on the mission," Luke countered. "They could have just as easily been after me as a target."

"Unless it wasn't the Jedi and the New Republic they wanted to pay back," I shot back.

"What do you mean?" Karrde asked.

"Our mercenary might still have loyalties to the Empire, but he's not the mastermind here, he's just being used."

"Becro…?" Luke whispered, regretting how much sense it made.

"They knew I was the one being sent," I reminded him. "It might be a stretch, but they have a motive. The Grand Governor's wife was killed by Imperials under Thrawn."

Talon nodded, following my line of thought. "As odd as it may seem, Mara, you are perhaps the most notable former Imperial now. It could make you a target…"

"What more can you dig up on this Blent, Talon?" Luke asked, shifting our focus to the practical.

"I'll get my people on it right away. Hopefully, we can find something. In the meantime, I suggest you two keep a low profile, Blent may try again."

It wasn't like I hadn't already thought it, but it still felt like an ominous parting remark as we watched Karrde disappear into the sea of lights…