Chapter 14: Innocent

He stood outside her quarters…unsure of what to do next.

You need to talk to her…all you have to do…is go in there.

That…is it. Yet…it felt…more than that, far more.

He shook his head, he was…unused to this feeling, he didn't like indecision, avoided it, most of the time…

A sigh escaped his lips.

What choice do I have?

You need to do this, you…you need to talk to her about this.

Jas Dar Bynn frowned. They had been back about a half hour, the information that they had retrieved from the tec-dealers was now in the hands of Shusk and Quire, hopefully they would be able to find what Jas was searching for, a clue to what Targo was up to, and perhaps, even the location of Val…a location they could search…and in searching, finally rescue her.

Though, he doubted it would be that easy, if they did have a location, he had to wonder what Targo's response would be. He had been a step ahead of them so far, with them only managing a few surprises, or at least, Jas hoped they had been surprises.

The bounty hunter was not all-knowing, he was careful, and knew his prey, but that didn't make him invincible.

Targo Sei could be defeated, Jas knew that, he had done it as a boy…he could do it again, provided he and his people were all on the same page…

…which…was what he was doing now, making sure everyone knew where they needed to be, and that no more surprises awaited him.

He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

Important goals.

Now, he had to make sure that Vess was still onboard, after what had happened at the tec-dealers. What Vess had done, it…it had caught him off guard.

He needed to talk to her, it had all worked out in the end, but…she had surprised him.

He needed to make sure that she held no more surprises. He needed to know she was not going to do anything that could jeopardize the hunt for Val. She meant well; he knew that…but…

He couldn't completely kill the frown that was trying to come to his face.

When it came to business, he really didn't like surprises.

REALLY.

He was still trying to wrap his head around it, both what he saw, and what he had felt in the Force. Jas had long ago learned to trust his instincts, yet, in that moment, he had been caught completely off guard.

I didn't sense it, nothing felt off, nothing at all. Vess had fooled him in a way that he hadn't thought possible, it made him question much, and then…there had been Vess…he…he…

He had no words.

He had no clue what she had planned, what she had intended to do. He had had no idea that she had smuggled a weapon into the tec dealer's office, not until it was out and pointed at the man.

In that moment, Vess had been cold, she had been calculating and determined. Jas didn't doubt for a moment that the girl had been more than capable of blasting the man, and might have had Jas not spoken up, had they not worked together to deal with the dealer's hesitancy to aid them.

Jas pursed his lips, his hand just before the door, ready to knock, but still hadn't done it.

He pulled his hand away again.

What could he say to her, he wanted to understand…?

The woman he had stood in the office with…that…

…that…that was not the Vess he knew.

He could still see it in his mind's eye, that moment that the blaster came up, and the realization how he had missed it, that and the coldness, Vess wouldn't have hesitated, he…he…

You should have caught it.

The thought came out of nowhere, perhaps his conscience chiding him for being a naïve fool again.

You still see Vessaria as that sweet little girl you plucked off Bantoon all those years ago. She is a young woman now, a young woman whose childhood was filled with darkness and fear. A girl who had to grow up enduring assassination attempt, after assassination attempt. A girl whose family, her aunt and uncle, those that should have loved and protected her, desired only her death. A girl who was poisoned on her birthday, a girl that nearly died from that…

…a girl that House Rist trained as an assassin. Rehanna Rist taught her, Val warned you of that. Why are you surprised that she would use the skills she learned to extract the information she desired?

That was true, but it also meant that he had serious blind spot where Vess was concerned, who knew what other tricks she had up her sleeve?

Who knew what else she was prepared to do?

He set his back, suddenly filled with new resolve.

You want to know how far she is willing to go? You need to go and ask her. Technically, she broke the deal you two had, the one about following your lead, but she did pull back when you asked.

You need to know if you have a problem on your hands, or a crafty new asset that can help in the search for Val.

You need to know.

You NEED to know.

He took a deep breath and nodded.

No more waiting, he needed to get this done.

He knocked on her door.

"Vess?"

He heard shifting sounds inside her cabin.

"Vess? Can we talk?"

"Just a moment."

He paused at her answer. He was not sure what she was doing in there. He had heard clicking and other mechanical sounds. He…

The door to her cabin hissed open; Vess stood before him.

His eyes widened.

Whoa!

He just resisted the urge to look away quickly.

Damn it, he thought.

Damn.

Vess had gone straight to her quarters after they had returned, stopping only briefly to ask Shusk to let her know what he found out from the information they had collected, as soon as he had answers, she wanted to know. The little Chadra Fan had had promised to do so, his history with Vess ensuring that he kept no secrets from her.

Jas could guess what she had done next.

Vess's short blond hair was damp, likely from the tiny shower built into her cabin, it was one of only two cabins aboard the ship that had actual water showers, the first belonging to the captain herself, the other she reserved for VIPs. Burr had been in here when the trip had begun, but since that time, he had shifted to simply staying with Rior, sharing her bed. Neither the Cathar nor the Enforcer seemed to mind.

She must have just finished up a short bit ago, he realized, the combat suit and cloak she had worn earlier were both hung on a hook next to the door, as for the girl herself, she was wearing a large button up shirt, a man's from the look of it, Burr's probably, and it was just long enough that it could be considered a nightgown, but leaving her long shapely legs bare, and doing little to hide that curvy form of hers.

He tried to be respectful, and not look, but still…

Damn.

He tried to keep his eyes focused on anywhere but her, she…he hated to admit it, she looked good, the vision of the adorable young woman that he had known back on Alderaan.

He could sense her self-consciousness, she had not expected any visitors, especially not him.

He might have been wrong, the light in her quarters were a bit dim, but he suspected the girl might have been blushing slightly.

That thought…amused him.

It was cute.

She gave him a sheepish grin.

"Um…Hi, Mister Jas," she said with a small wave.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, no problem," he said quickly still trying not to gawk at her.

Damn, he thought.

Why does it have to be this way?

Why?

He stepped inside; the door hissing shut behind him.

They were now…alone.

Again, that simple detail made his heart beat a bit faster.

He shook his head.

Damn.

As for the girl herself, she was keeping busy, moving quickly around the little cabin, picking up this device or that, making adjustments, fiddling, or tinkering he guessed. It seemed that she was willing to do anything, anything but look him in the eye.

Nice to know we have something in common, he thought dryly.

Nice to know that she was a bit off guard here too.

"Has Shusk turned up anything, yet?" she asked, examining one of her toys.

"Not yet," he answered, "But he is working on it, between him and Quire, they will turn up something, I'm sure of it."

"Good," Vess said with a smile, and again turned away quickly, not meeting his gaze.

Avoiding it actually.

Vess sighed.

"I don't like waiting," she confessed, "I spent seven years just sitting around and waiting. I want to be DOING something."

Jas nodded.

In this, the two of them agreed. Though he could hardly call the seven years she had spent on Alderaan as waiting, she had needed time to learn, and to grow up.

If she was to regain her throne, she had needed those lessons and experiences.

His eyes wandered around the cabin, Vess had only just moved in, but she had quickly made the place her own, if felt like…her…now.

Claude lay on the bunk, rolling around happily, batting playfully at one of the devices on the bed. The Loth Cat had abandoned its place in his quarters; choosing to be closer to its mistress. The little furball seemed more relaxed now that she was back, as Jas had sensed earlier, it had missed the girl.

Jas' eyes were drawn to the small table next to the bed. It was covered by nearly a dozen various electronic devices that he didn't recognize, not to mention the one that the girl had used in the Tec Dealer's office.

"New toys?" He asked, finally risking meeting Vess' lovely blue-eyed gaze.

The girl shrugged.

"Supplies from House Rist," she responded, "I found them in the hold before we started out, brought them here, I hope you don't mind."

He shook his head no.

He chuckled.

"In truth," He confessed, "I hadn't realized we had them on board."

"Really," Vess answered, "The container bore the Rist crest, I assumed Aunt Dorma sent them with you."

Jas thought back to when he had first started out on this journey, when the Gilded Claw had first picked him and Miri up from the Rist estate. Now that he thought about it, Rehanna Rist had mentioned that she was sending along some supplies, things that might prove useful in the hunt to save Val and Vess. Jas had opened the container briefly, inspected its contents, but he had not really known what any of the stuff was, or how to use it. So, he had sealed it up, and forgotten about it, until now.

He shook his head…again.

Where Vess was concerned, he was likely going to do that a lot.

He glanced up at her, she seemed to know exactly what she was looking at, she was not intimidated by anything she had found in that crate. The tools of an assassin he supposed.

Maybe I should have looked more closely, he realized, or asked what the things inside were.

That little baffler that Vess had with her at the Tec Dealer's could have come in handy earlier on.

Still…

Don't get distracted, he chided himself, you came here for something, for information…

…Best get to it.

Yeah, he thought, just stifling a sigh.

He had come here for a reason.

He could not afford to get sidetracked now.

"I wanted to talk about what happened in the tec dealer's office. That…what went on in there, it…it could have been handled better."

The girl winced.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I KNEW what I was going to do if the man didn't talk."

Jas pursed his lips; okay, he could no longer say that the girl had been unaware of the consequence of what she was doing.

"You could have told me," he reminded her, "Told me about the baffler, the blaster you had hidden on you; the whole thing…it…it could have been handled far better."

The girl shook her head.

"I was afraid you wouldn't let me come if you knew. I didn't want you to think that it was too dangerous, and decide not to let me try it."

She flashed him a smile.

"It worked, didn't it? We got what we needed?"

"True," he agreed, "But I could have used the Force to get that information just as easily. there was no reason to put yourself in danger, if the man had not backed down…"

She gave him a stern look.

"We would have handled it."

"Vess?"

"No, Mister Jas," the girl said defiantly, "I've spent most of my life being told that I can't take risks, and of how important I am. How am I supposed to be the queen that Val and Aunt Dorma want me to be if I simply sit back and do nothing."

Jas didn't answer, he didn't really need to.

He had sensed Vess' courage years ago, he had felt the steel underneath the child's slight frame…

But she isn't a child anymore. She is a young woman yes, but she is a woman now, none the less.

She is also a rightful Queen. A Queen will take risks for her people, a good leader would not be afraid to take risks.

He respected that, he truly did, but that didn't make it any less worrisome, or troubling.

After all…this was Vess.

He had sworn to protect her.

You can only do so much, his conscience chided.

A leader has to be willing to take risks every once in a while, how else will they advance? How else will they be able to do what they need to do for their people?

All valid points, he knew, but he couldn't help but worry.

Val would want him to protect her, to keep her safe.

He was determined to do that.

Vess looked down at the device in her hand, a hint of a smile on her lips.

"Val told me once, that sometimes it is better to ask forgiveness than permission. I…I am sorry that I didn't share what I intended, but things all worked out, didn't they?

He had to nod, she was not wrong, but…

REEEEOW!

The yowl of a Loth Cat drew their attention. Vess had left one of the devices from the crate on the bed, Claude had batted at it, and was now tangled in a long slender filament wire.

The more the beast struggled, the tighter the net he was now secured in became. He tried to fight his way free, the Force radiated out from him, the anger of an animal.

Vess sighed and shook her head.

"Claude, baby, no," she said, going to the bunk, "Bad boy!"

She bent over, and tried to untangle the wire, she was facing away from Jas now, and her shirt was riding up, giving him a clear view of the simple black briefs, she was wearing.

Again, he looked away, no longer able to kill the blush in his own cheeks. Yet, at the same time, was extremely tempted to look.

Damn!

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Was the girl trying to tease him?

Was she doing this on purpose?

Though she seemed completely innocent, Jas was starting to wonder just what the girl was hiding from him, just how far she could deceive him, and protect her own agenda.

It was not a thought he liked.

Didn't she understand the effect she had on him, perhaps on men in general? He didn't sense that she was playing games with him. She seemed so…naïve, but again, she had fooled him back in the Tec Dealer's Office, hadn't she?

She had played him successfully then…

…maybe she was doing it again…now.

Perhaps, she was trying to draw his attention, make him realize that she was a woman now, not that he needed any reminder of that.

To gain his interest, then, and maybe let him know that…she had her own desires. If so, he needed to be careful.

He remembered the kiss she had stolen back on Alderaan, and the look on Val's face when she did. Val had said she thought he would be a good match for Vess, but that didn't mean seeing her kiss him had no effect. He, she, they…

He only just suppressed a sigh.

Why did things have to be so damn complicated, he didn't need complicated, not right now.

He…he couldn't afford to get distracted.

He still had to rescue Val.

Or maybe you're reading too much into this, his conscience chided, letting your own…curiosity, and interest, get the better of you.

He was man enough to acknowledge that that may be true.

He couldn't deny that he found Vess…attractive, he had felt a sense of desire for her the moment that he had seen her again on Alderaan, he hadn't known who she was at the time, but…

He pursed his lips.

Acknowledging that, it wasn't helping, and then, there was the matter of Val's suggestion, she seemed to think that he would be a good consort for Vess, that he would make a good husband for her.

He had balked at the idea, at first. Yet, he did know quite a bit about advising those in power, at least in underworld circles.

He was starting to think that the political world was not that different, and besides, he wouldn't be just an advisor, would he? He would be Vess' husband, her mate, they would be able to…

He shook his head.

No, I'm not going to go there, bad place, extremely bad place.

He wouldn't go there; he wouldn't even think about it.

Nope.

"Claude, stop," Vess hissed, "Stop wiggling, I'm trying to help."

The Loth Cat hissed and swatted at his mistress.

Seeing the chance to help, Jas stepped over, and reached out with the Force. He could sense the animal's fear and anger.

It is okay, he murmured into the Force, reaching out with his senses, trying to calm the struggling loth cat.

We're here to help, Shhh.

It will be okay.

Meowr?!

Claude stopped struggling, the Force touch doing its thing, he was still frightened, but Jas had gotten through the initial panic, and helped the poor animal understand.

"It is okay, Furball," he whispered soothingly, he leaned down beside Vess, and together the two of them began to unbind the creature, Claude looked up at them with his black button eyes, pleading for help.

Vess chuckled.

"You have a way with him," she said happily.

"I've always had a talent for communing with animals, never really had a chance to hone that skill at the temple, or with the clan, or the organization."

Again, Vess giggled.

"Jedi sorcery wins again."

The two worked quickly untangling the loth cat, their four hands worked as one, occasionally they touched, and Jas felt a spark pass between them. Soon, the task was done, and Claude was free, he sprang up, hissed at the cord that had tangled him up and darted off the bunk and hid beneath it.

"You're welcome," Jas said dryly.

The girl chuckled.

"Thank you," she said warmly, picking up the device and retracting the cord, "For helping free him, and caring for him these many months. I…I know he can be a handful sometimes."

It was nothing," Jas said smiling down at her, "I was happy to do it. I…"

Vess stepped forward, he had not backed up when he had finished freeing Claude, and now…the two of them stood close together, perhaps…too close.

She reached out, and took his hands in hers.

He looked down into those guileless blue eyes, they radiated simple innocent joy and gratitude, but he sensed something underneath as well…

He sensed…desire…need.

It...it frightened him a little, to be honest.

He could feel the pads of her fingers on his hand, soft, the simple caress made his arms break out in gooseflesh.

They were so close now, he stared down into those deep blue eyes, and feared he was starting to get lost, he tried to remain focused on the mission, to bring up Val's face, but Vess, her closeness, her touch, and the look in her eyes seemed to be taking that all away, he was drowning in that soft warm gaze.

He…he didn't wish to leave.

He…part of him didn't want this moment to end.

Yes, she was definitely not a child anymore. What he was sensing…it wasn't the affection of a child.

What he sensed…it was…intense.

He tried to focus on his training and sense of control.

It…it had been so long since he had felt such affection from another person, Val, despite their closeness always kept at least some shields up, afraid of letting the system that governed her mind and will, harm what they shared. Vess wasn't like that, the last time he had felt anything like this had been with Prynne, and that had ended badly. She…

"Jas."

Vess whispered the word, omitting "the mister" honorific she usually used. He…he felt something stir with in him, it was not the girl addressing him, but the young woman.

He wanted to pull away, but…he couldn't.

He could sense it now, moving closer and closer to the surface.

The girl felt…desire…

…lust.

It…the sense of it took his breath away.

He…

She started to move in even closer, going up on her toes, he started to lean down, he…

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Jas startled, they both did.

He and Vess stepped away, a wave of self-consciousness rippled from the girl.

Jas shook his head.

He understood why.

He felt it himself.

The spell had been broken.

Thank the Force.

Vess blushed a deep scarlet and looked away.

"I…um…excuse me."

She retreated into the fresher as the knock at the door sounded again.

"Kid? Hey kid? We found something."

Jas took a deep breath, using a technique that Vey had taught him, a means to center himself, the desire and confusion went away. He blew it out with a heavy sigh.

Not now, he thought, annoyed at himself.

Perhaps…not ever.

He went to the door and opened it. Shusk stood there, an animated look of excitement on his bat-like face.

His whiskers twitched when he saw Jas, yet, he didn't question his presence in the girl's quarters.

Again, thank the Force.

"You found something?" he asked the Chadra Fan.

The alien grinned, showing his pointed teeth.

"We did," he said with a merry twinkle in his eye.

"Come and see."

IOI

Ten minutes later they had all gathered in the ship's salon, the holo-proj broadcasting the data that Shusk and Quire had retrieved from the tec dealer's drop box.

Most of it was random number's or…at least they appeared to be random.

Jas hoped for more than that.

Vess sat across the room from him, sandwiched between Miri and Hylla Ko.

The girl refused to meet his gaze, there…there was a tension now between them, one that he didn't like, but didn't see any way to dismiss.

The thought made him frown.

Why did things have to be more complicated than they needed to be?

Why did he need to make things harder on himself?

It was happening again, just like it had on Corellia, he had allowed himself to get too close, and feared he had done more harm than good, he…

"WAIT!"

Vess' voice cut through his musings; his eyes drawn to the holo floating in front of them.

"Stop right there," the girl repeated pointing, her eyes narrowing. She was staring at a symbol mixed in with the random numbers.

"There," she murmured.

Jas looked at the symbol, it looked like something you might see on a Corellian billboard, red and gold, and brightly colored, some kind of logo, he supposed.

"I know that mark," Vess murmured.

"I know it."

"Most of the data in the drop was pretty garbled," Shusk informed them, "Even with the times provided by the tec dealers, it was still pretty touch and go as far as finding anything useful."

Quire Ko nodded.

"These people are careful, very careful, they set up their drops to degrade the messages inside, it takes times, but…eventually what is stored there is useless. Good business that, I suppose"

"Yet you found that symbol," Miri said.

"We were able to reconstruct it," Quire corrected, "It wasn't related to the message itself, perhaps part of whatever comm program the person who sent the message was using, regardless, it has given us something to look for at least."

Burr turned to Vess.

"You said you know the symbol, kid?"

Vess nodded.

"I saw it before, back home…"

Her eyes narrowed.

"It IS from Bantoon. My mother…she was working in her office, I was playing, not far from the screen, I…I remember seeing that symbol when the transmission ended."

"Do you remember who your mother was talking to?" Quire asked.

Vess shook her head no.

"I was not really paying attention to the man, but…I do remember that symbol. I…I thought it was pretty."

Jas nodded.

It wasn't much, but it did give them a clue of who was involved in this.

Someone on Bantoon was interested in buying Val from Targo.

How…interesting.

"Have we identified it?" Jas asked.

"It is the symbol of Caetus Shipping Company," Shusk informed him, "Fairly well known, offices throughout the core, according to the computer."

Jas nodded.

"Does that name sound familiar?" he asked Vess.

The girl shook her head no, but…it was interesting.

A shipping firm wanted to buy Val?

He…he didn't get it.

"Company could be a front for someone," Burr offered.

"They don't seem to be, according to the records," the Chadra Fan said with a shrug.

"Were you able to get anything else from the data drop?" Miri asked.

"We were able to extract several dates, and a set of coordinates, and the mention of acquiring something two days from now."

A hint of a smile came to Jas' lips.

"Could we reach the location in two days?"

"Maybe," Rior said, "We would have to push the engines…but…maybe."

Jas nodded again.

It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

Vess looked at him, her eyes radiating concern.

"You think it is Val? You think she will be there?"

Jas didn't answer, he tried reaching out with the Force, trying to get a sense of what might await them.

He…he sensed nothing, shadows and clouds moved across the future, obscuring any attempt to see what might be ahead.

The fact that he got no clue worried him.

It had been like this for years now, the Force…it was changing again. I was shifting, towards the darkness. Peace and prosperity should have favored the light, but what was going on behind the scenes was giving strength to the dark side.

The Jedi understood this, and it worried them, the shadows, like his friend Mondar, had been moving through the galaxy, trying to figure out why, and identify any possible threats. When the dark side was in ascendance, bad things grew strong…strong…and hungry.

He pursed his lips, as he looked into Vess' eyes, she seemed so young in that moment, just the girl he had saved all those years ago.

He took a deep breath.

"We can turn over the data we found to Coop and his people, see if they can find anything else, as for us, we have location, it isn't much, but it is worth checking out."

Rior smiled at him, showing her sharp teeth.

"So," she purred, "We are going, yes?"

Jas nodded.

"Yeah."

"We're going."