CHAPTER VII - A CHANGE OF FATE
Tahlka continued to fill Mina in on him and Rose's secret plan to have him as backup. If he was trying to mask his excitement, he wasn't doing a good job of showing it. "What's with him?" the Togruta asked Mina. "You know him…he's probably just exhausted from the battle." As she said this, she realized that she couldn't remember anything outside of the furious showdown they had with the Lion-like warriors. Her energy seemed to be restored and neither her nor Kei or even Ezra showed signs of battle damage. Their weapons were intact too.
She called out to Kei-Ron, "what happened to Krillitu?" He was glad for her question. "She was taken in exchange for us. There's nothing we can do about it now, we barely made it out of here as it is."
The pieces of how they were able to escape so easily began to fall into place. Ezra opened his eyes at the sudden change in everyone's sense. Tahlka turned to see how much time was left in their hyperspace journey, more to gather his thoughts than anything, and turned back around. "Something's changed" he said to the other three. Mina and Kei-Ron looked back at him but did not respond.
It was Ezra who broke the silence. "Everything's changed. You'll see soon enough…in the coming days" he said ominously. Kei-Ron looked at the aged master before falling into deep meditation.
The Guralusmii ship came out of hyperspace and into Aktoo's atmosphere in the early hours of the morning. Rose was already waiting for them on the hangar's landing platform. She waved, trying to hide her immense fatigue. Between the anxiety of waiting for their arrival and making love for hours the previous night, she had not had much rest.
They all greeted each other warmly, but Rose could tell something was different. Finn could feel the uncertainty in their sense and emerged from their bedroom. "Welcome back", he said as he sipped a hot drink and caught up briefly with everyone.
Rose marveled at the intact state of the ship before coming back into the living quarters and acknowledging Ezra. "Well? Aren't you going to ask me how I figured it out?"
Ezra mustered what appeared to be a smile. "I'm definitely impressed" he also managed to muster as he ran a hand through his short white haircut. "How did they capture you and who is their leader. We've been trying to figure…" Rose began before being cut off by Ezra.
"I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sticking my nose where I shouldn't, although that's hard to admit, nothing more. Those warlords aren't what you think and we don't have to worry about them." He acknowledged everyone in the room with his eyes for the first time. Everyone grew silent.
"Where's Rey? I'd like to speak with her." Ezra said with a diplomatic smile. "She's offworld. I think she's supposed to be back within the next couple of rotations." Rose responded. "I figured as much. I could use some rest. I'll be happy to catch up more afterwards."
Finn and Rose lead him to a vacant habitat in the small town, leaving Mina and Kei alone. They spoke into each other's mind, careful to close off their sense to anyone else. Something's strange about him Mina said. Well, he was taken apart at the molecular level and put back together Kei responded.
That's not what I mean. What do you know? There's a shadow in your spirit. Is it Hara-Ka again? Mina asked. Kei-Ron almost winced at her knowledge. Out of everyone, he wanted to tell her the most. Ahsoka too. Mina had been there in Rulun's throne room after all.
I'm still a bit confused about everything that happened on our mission. I have past memories with those warlords. I need to meditate on it all and process it. The whole things connected a lot of dots.
Well, you can talk with me about it anytime you're ready. I've been thinking about what Bridger said, that everything's changed. I can feel something coming Mina warned cryptically.
We better be ready, then Said Kei. By the way, you'll have to show me how to do that Shinge thing sometime he told Mina playfully before they parted ways.
Mina watched Kei walk back towards his quarters. So she had used Shinge during the battle on the warlord ship…she had almost forgotten. Things were starting to make more sense.
Rey came out of hyperspace in her X-Wing and the Wild Karrde soon came into view. It had been a long time since she had set foot on this particular ship. A voice came over the X-Wing's comm system, "Red Five…I'm going to have see some credentials."
Rey smirked and put the X-Wing into a sharp downward turn, coming back up alongside the large freighter before responding. "Don't make me lock my sights on you, captain."
"Prepare to board Red Five" the voice on the other side responded, the serious tone in their voice breaking. Rey's X-Wing latched onto the Wild Karrde's landing attachment as it extended from the side of the ship and covered the cockpit, creating an airtight seal that allowed Rey to board the ship safely.
She walked through the familiar areas before entering the main quarters. The large chair in the center of the room turned around and a man sat casually with long black hair pulled back, his green eyes piercing into Rey. "Well, well, well" he said as he ran the fingers of his right hand over the dark hooded cloak draped over the back of the chair. His hand came to rest on the hilt of a lightsaber, which appeared to be made out of what remained of Rey's staff. Much like her own.
Rey struck a casual standing pose, but kept her face serious. She removed her dark grey cloak and helmet and used the force to send them drifting onto a nearby garment rack. Her grey flight suit looked new and unworn.
"Heron Karrde" she said in a mock-serious voice. Heron raised a hand and a cold drink in an ornate glass floated over towards Rey. She accepted it gently in her hand before taking a sip and stepping towards him. They touched hands and looked into each other's eyes. Images of past present and possible futures flashed in their minds' eyes, the final one being of them in a passionate embrace and kiss.
They broke contact and Heron spoke first. "It's nice to see you again. I wish it was for different reasons..like old times, but since you're here…I know it can only mean one thing." Rey nodded solemnly in acknowledgment. Heron stood up and walked over to an info monitor, pulling a data card from his pocket and inserting it.
Rey looked around the beautiful room, taking a closer look at a pearlescent mural on the wall that changed forms fluidly as the moments passed. "I think your father would be proud", she said. "Your mother too".
At this, Heron turned to look at Rey, his green eyes smoldering and solemn. "I never got to meet her" Rey continued. "I only learned of her through some of Master Skywalker's journals".
She was now standing beside him and they looked at the data on the screen. "You see, practically a whole fleet at our disposal if need be. Their rag-tag, but they know what the hell they're doing" Heron stated.
"Wonderful" Rey said, somewhat morosely. "What about Poe? Can he get any of his squadron on our side? If what my dreams have been revealing, we might need more help" Heron said.
"I've kept Poe and the New Resistance members out of my affairs, remember? I know he would help me if I needed it, but he knows nothing of what's to possibly come. Same with the fledgling Neo Republic. They're small and have only been contracting New Resistance firepower when necessary" Rey said as warmly as she could.
"Ouch" Heron replied. "I'm sure your Jedi are formidable. And for all it's worth, you know you have me…until the end" he said, boring his eyes into Rey with conviction. She looked away before meeting his gaze with an equally intense look, her sense making it clear to him that their connection meant a lot to her, but that she would live on, with or without him.
He looked back towards the screen before removing the data card. "We might as well have a little fun before you go" he said and motioned towards a set of new deep space suits in a case on the opposite wall.
As they walked through the large cargo bay and meeting area of the Wild Karrde, Rey made sure to point out that they were obviously alone. Heron only responded with a half smile. They entered a small pressurized room and suited up. Heron took a look at a nearby panel as a countdown started.
When the countdown ended, the door of the room opened and spit them out to float freely in space. They each clicked on the magnetized gauntlets of their suits which steadied their spinning and kept them from drifting too far from the ship.
A gargantuan nebula exploded into view, like a colossal fireworks display, each section appearing and disappearing in is silent warp bursts. As the minutes passed, the colors became almost blinding and the warps more numerous. Just when it seemed as if the nebula might fill up the entire area of space around them, it suddenly imploded and warped away into nothingness, leaving them floating alone and dazzled.
