Chapter 27: Good Night

Someone was here.

The realization woke him from a sound sleep, pulling him from a sea of vivid dreams.

Jas was on his feet in seconds, wide awake, years of training, both as a smuggler, and as a Mandalorian foundling had made sure that he could awakened and be alert in moments.

Such moments were often the only thing separating a person from life and death.

He looked around the darkened room, but saw little, only a few dim lights marked the doors of his bed chamber. No light came in from the outside, the safehouse was fairly deep in the Coruscant city scape, the windows that did exist in the main room were not windows at all, but screens projecting images from holo-cameras on the surface.

Some clients did not feel comfortable in the mid and lower levels, these apartments were meant to accommodate that. The trapping of wealth made them decorative enough to please wealthy clients, while still enjoying the privacy that came with meeting below the skyline. The people that Coop brought here hadn't seemed to mind, according to the reports, they had conversed openly with the organization's representatives. Most choosing to do business near the false windows; they seemed more relaxed…thinking there was a view.

Such concerns did not matter to Jas, not in that particular moment, he reached out with the Force, trying to get an idea of who might have found him, who could possibly even know he was here.

The clients that Coop had brought here had never known the true location of this place, they were brought in aboard speeders with darkened viewports, and taken on a round about route so that the safe house's location would remain a secret.

It would not have been a very good safehouse if it wasn't.

As for Jas, he had taken his own roundabout path to get here, just to make sure that he was not followed. Yet, he had still remained cautious, using the Force to check for any who might be trying to track him, but, at the same time, trying to keep his own presence in the Force small, not wishing to draw the attention of any Jedi that might have been tasked to follow him.

Had he failed in that endeavor?

The Force offered no clues, there was so much going on in mid-levels of the city, so many desires, fears, and ambitions, it was like to trying to listen to a single drop of water falling on the edge of a raging river.

Not an easy challenge, not when the whole neighborhood seemed to be drowning in the Force.

He scooped up his weapon from the nightstand, but didn't ignite it, not yet.

He stepped into the main room, only the light from cityscape showed, and those screens had been dimmed, conserving power.

He took a deep breath, and tried to center himself. He suddenly became aware of the holo-cam in the corner of the room, it was online, powering up, and about to move. Since he had shut the system off when he arrived, he assumed someone was trying to slice it.

He took no chances; he reached out with the Force and disconnected the cam from the wall.

If someone was trying to look in, they would not be able to do it that way.

He made his way across the darkened room, not daring to reach out too far with the Force, waiting for his mysterious guest to make the first move.

Had he been followed here? He had been so careful. As far as he knew only a handful of people within their group knew about this place. He didn't think anyone in the organization would talk, but credits opened a lot of doors.

Jas frowned.

It was also possible that the person, or persons, that had found him were not Jedi or from the organization.

His thoughts turned to the Anzati and his master.

It was unlikely that Dresco could have found him, but Master Vey had warned him not to underestimate such a being, or the one who might have hired him.

Jas Dar Bynn did not consider himself a paranoid person, but he was careful enough not to underestimate an enemy.

Speaking of which…

He finally felt it, at the door, he pulled his presence even farther back, just in case he was dealing with a Force sensitive.

He remained silent, listening, curious to what this uninvited guest would do next…he…

The door beeped, the barest of warning chimes…

Jas' eyes narrowed.

Someone was trying to slice the door.

He stepped forward, lightsaber in hand, he stood to the door's right, readying himself for whatever might be coming.

He took a deep breath, and let the Force in, let its light fill him up.

The door opened, and a blaster rose up into the doorway.

Jas tensed.

His instincts told him to chop the blaster with his lightsaber, that, or the hand holding it. He started to raise his weapon…only to stop, the Force whispering in his ear.

He acted without thought, he seized his "guest" by the wrist…

…or tried to…

The arm moved back, far quicker than he thought possible, a figure in a long cloak and hood spun into the room, firing a high side-kick at his head. Jas back-pedaled, taking only a glancing strike, but catching the leg on his shoulder.

He pulled the attacker close, spun around and brought them both into a hard tumble into the room.

It should have left his "guest" breathless, and unable to strike back, but that didn't happen. The two rolled into the room, struggling for dominance.

Again, the blaster tried to come up, but this time he was ready, he swatted it away, and following a hard landing on the floor, his opponent's grip was not as strong as it had been. The blaster came loose, and Jas used his power to send it spinning away, he…

"Damn it!" the attacker gasped.

And, in that moment, Jas lost his grip on the Force, causing it to flow freely again around him, alerting him to the truth.

He now realized who it was, and what was happening.

Uh oh!

"Stop," he growled, avoiding elbows and punches.

The attacker didn't seem to hear, lost in a sort of survival mode.

"Stop it!" he repeated, "Damn it, Val, it's me!"

The blows finally stopped, Jas reached out with the Force, turning on the lights.

He found himself pinning her to the ground, he was breathing hard, his heart pounding.

Char Valenthyne lay beneath him, her hood had fallen away, revealing…some changes that had taken place. The reddish-brown hair he remembered was gone, it had been all but shaved off, and dyed a platinum blond. Short and spikey, from a distance, he may not have recognized her…

…her electric green eyes stared up at him, between those, and the Force, he would have known her anywhere.

She was also out of breath; he could feel her heart pounding through her combat suit.

Neither of them moved, they simply lay there, staring at each other.

Finally, it was Val that broke the spell, she chuckled.

"Well," she said dryly, "It has been a while since we have been in this position."

Jas looked down realizing what she meant.

He had been asleep in his room, the heat leaving him no choice but to strip down to only a pair of briefs.

Once the realization would have had him blushing and sent him stammering to his feet, offering explanations.

It was not needed now.

He merely snorted with amusement and regained his feet.

"It has been a while," he agreed, "But…we both know that that cannot happen again, sadly."

He offered the woman his hand, pulling her to her feet.

Val sighed and shook her head.

"Took me some time to find this place, when the cams I tried to slice into went down, I thought I might have some hostile company waiting for me."

He could see that, and given everything that happened, understood it, but still…

"How did you even know about this place, Val?"

"Captain Cooper told me, he sent word that you were to be here today."

Jas nodded, that made sense, he had spoken with Coop via holo before turning in for the evening. His clan brother had mentioned that Val and Vess had finally left their base, that the two had been dropped off at a safe location where they had met up with agents from House Rist.

He had been happy to hear that, after what had happened on Alderaan, both men had agreed not to take any chances.

Still, Coop could have told him that Val might be coming by, that would have been nice, and avoided the impromptu wrestling match.

Val slipped off her cloak, revealing the blue uniform he remembered from her time on Alderaan. She nodded thoughtfully at the apartment.

"Nice place," she said, "Neighborhood is a little rough though."

"The organization uses this place for secret meetings with high officials," he informed her, "Any guests are brought here in speeders with darkened windows, to prevent them knowing where they are."

Jas shrugged.

"It is not the upper levels, but it is secure."

"And it stinks," Val said wrinkling her nose, "I expected more of the galactic capital. The heat isn't a problem, I grew up on a hot world, but the smells down here…ugh!"

He chuckled at that.

"The lower levels aren't as well maintained," Jas agreed, "But even that offers a degree of protection, people don't expect important things to happen down here, which is why senators and business types feel free to meet with people like Coop and myself."

Val ran her hand through her short hair, grumbling to herself.

"I feel soiled just from the journey here, even the trams were as hot as a Bantoon afternoon."

"I can help with that, at least," he said, "I think there are some portable cooling units around here somewhere; that should make thinks a bit more comfortable."

He smiled, them slipping into the role of host he had played often during his time as second of the organization.

"Plus, the fresher station is over there, your welcome to make use of the shower, its water, not sonic."

She gave him a sly look, no doubt wondering if there was more to his comment, considering his state of undress, it was not entirely unwarranted.

Suddenly feeling self-conscious, he made for the bedroom.

"I'm going to go get changed," he informed her, "Clean yourself up, and…then we will talk."

She nodded, turning towards the fresher.

Jas returned to his quarters, to find some clean clothes. He distantly heard the door shut, and the sound of running water.

Well, he thought, searching for a dry shirt, that was not as…awkward as it could have been.

He smiled.

Thank the Force for small favors.

IOI

"How is she?"

It was the first question that had come to mind. He couldn't help it. Vess had left with Coop almost three months ago, and he had not heard anything besides Coop's assurance that she was fine.

Val smiled as she sat down beside him, the robe she had found just a little too big for her, hiding all but her toes.

The sight of her…it made him smile.

Cute, the thought came unbidden, he could imagine what Val would say if she heard such a statement.

She was a Sworn protector of Bantoon, she was the sword and shield of the rightful queen…

…She was NOT cute.

That is what she probably would have said, but that didn't make his thought untrue. Though his passions had found a new direction, his affection for Char Valenthyne remained.

His respect for her had grown over the years, and even more so now that he had had the time to think on it during his stay at the temple. Val had been conditioned by her people, programmed to serve her mistress, but her loyalty to Vess had grown so far beyond that.

Several times he had offered to try and free her from that conditioning, the system that governed her mind. He still believed that the Force was the key to that, but each time he had offered, she had refused, she would not abandon her duty. She would not abandon Vess.

Jas…sympathized with that. The selfless nature of her service, her desire to serve, Val's outlook was very Jedi-like, or rather, how he felt the Jedi SHOULD be.

Plus, she had been so much more, it went beyond mere respect. What they had shared…she…she had been his first, the first time he had experienced physical love.

That meeting…it…it had left an impression on him, and that impression went beyond mere intimacy.

She had showed him so much; he could not guess what life he would have had had they not met.

She was a thief of hearts, and he was fine with that…more than fine.

A year ago, if she had asked it of him, if she had asked him to free her so that they could be together, he would have left without thought or worry, but that was then…

…now…there was Vess. After Dantooine.

He…Vess…he, she, they cared for each other.

That was a part of him as well.

It what the protector had wanted, or…so she had said.

He tried to accept that.

"She is well," Val informed him, "But…she has also been lonely, she has missed you."

Jas could not entirely kill the smile that tried to come to his lips.

She misses me.

How long had it been since he heard those words, known that a woman missed his presence, years…at least?

Memories of Taris and Dantooine came back to him, not his near fall to the darkness, but the intimacy that he had shared with Vessaria, and the finally consummation of that intimacy.

The smell of her hair, the taste of skin, the sounds she made when they…

He tried not to focus on that, remain in the here and now.

Val was his guest, he needed to remain here, and not think on…other things.

"So, she has been lonely," he said thoughtfully, "Hopefully, I can help with that."

Val chuckled.

"I would thank you. Not to complain, but it was not easy hiding in close quarters with a lovesick nineteen-year-old. Vessaria wasn't the best company during our stay with Captain Cooper, if not for Lady Randa, Claude, and Fallenstar, I'm not sure I would have lasted much longer."

He gave her an arched look.

"Lovesick?"

"I can't really think of a better word," she shrugged, "After the first few days in hiding, my queen grew…irritable. She was hardly sleeping, eating little. I had to stop her several times from tracking down Captain Cooper and asking him about your welfare. He had informed us that he would know little until you emerged from the Jedi Temple, yet, my queen didn't care. She was afraid that the Jedi would do something to you."

"All they did was keep me confined to the temple, that and interviewed me half a dozen times, trying to get a sense of what happened during my search for you and Vess."

Jas sighed.

"I hate to admit it, but…in these last few months, I had to bury what I feel for you and Vessaria. I don't think the Jedi would understand; they would have seen it as unnecessary attachment."

"How much did you tell them; about Vessaria, what we want to accomplish."

"No more than I had to," he answered, "I'm sure the council has its own plans on how it is going to deal with what is happening on your world. After Alderaan…they can no longer deny that something must be done."

Val pursed her lips; she didn't look happy to hear that.

"So…the Jedi are coming to Bantoon?"

He nodded.

"A group will be sent, to evaluate the situation there."

"And what are they planning to do?"

"They will do what they can to preserve the peace. What that means depends on the Jedi involved. Several of the masters that I spoke with during my stay at the temple seemed…curious about your world."

Jas shrugged.

"The council offered me a full knighthood. I turned it down."

She gave him a surprised look.

"That is a good thing, isn't it?" Val asked, "As a full knight, you would have been able to guide the order to help my queen."

"I would likely have never seen you or Vess again. The council would have had full control over my life if I had accepted their offer. I would have been given an official assignment, probably on the other side of the galaxy. They would have considered my closeness to the Bantoon situation as a threat to what must me, what is good for the Republic."

Jas shrugged.

"So, I said: no."

Val nodded. She seemed to understand why he needed to stand apart from the order.

"So which Jedi will be sent to my home?"

"The ones that will best serve this mission."

"Your brother," she inquired.

"I don't know. I must confess, we didn't even speak during my time at the temple. I think he blames me for what happened on Alderaan, still thinks I'm responsible for the Righteous, and the end of his deal with Vess' aunt."

"And what does your council think?"

"As I said, they will do what they feel is best, in service of the Republic and the Force."

"And is that good or bad for us."

Jas shrugged.

"I wish that I could tell you. Sadly, I just don't know."

Val's expression was grim.

He wished he had better news, but…the Jedi Order lived in its own little world sometimes.

They tried to follow the will of the living Force, but the rest of the galaxy often intervened.

"So, we do this ourselves," Val said, her eyes flashing with determination.

"You and Vess have a plan?"

"We've already started." She informed him.

"Captain Cooper did what he could to help," she began, "He offered Vess the use of his contacts, contacts that he has been trying to expand into our home world."

"Did he find anything useful?"

"Yeah," Val said placing a small object on the table in front of them, "and troubling."

Jas frowned; he recognized the item.

It was a bounty puck, the kind given to members of the hunter's guild.

The hologram sprang to life, showing Val's face, both as she had been when they first met, as well as when she had been living on Alderaan, the image showing her with the various hairstyles she had had over the years.

He looked up at the protector, her face was cold, her green eyes angry.

"I guess this explains your new look," he said gesturing to her short blond haircut.

"It is more function than about fashion. I figured I wouldn't make it too easy for any hunters that come sniffing around the Alderaani embassy, or Republica tower, and it is yet another reason that Vess and I will not be able to stay here for long."

Jas shook his head.

"Do we know who has posted this bounty?"

"It is a private job, apparently," Val said, "I'm wanted for questioning, regarding the death of Queen Annara V."

"Vess' uncle, then," he said.

"Or one of his loyal supporters," the protector growled, "The bounty makes no mention of Vess, maybe my queen's enemies feel that if I was removed, it would be easier to get to her."

"That is not going to happen," he promised, "I just got you two back, I'm not going to let some new bounty rat come out of the shadows and take you again."

Val smiled.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing, it is just good to see that you are truly with us, this time."

Jas shrugged.

"I probably should have been with you from the start, but I can't undo the past, all I can do now…is try and make up for it."

I will need to keep an eye out for any hunters as we proceed, he realized, fortunately, he was not without his own resources. He had made his own share of contacts within both the fringe, and Republic. He would speak with them before they made their next move, and…if he was dealing with hunters…"

"Did you ask Miri about this? She is a member of the guild; she might have some ideas."

"It was Fallenstar that gave me this," she said gesturing to the puck, "She got it right before she left Captain Cooper's service."

That news surprised him.

Miri had left?

Coop had said nothing about that.

"Miri left the organization? Did she say why?"

"Not to me," Val said, "she did stop and say good bye to Vess before she left. My queen tried to recruit her into our service, it couldn't hurt to have another "Not a Jedi" on our side."

"She refused?"

"She said something about needing to think, and that the true justice she served had suffered in her absence."

The protector sighed.

"She claimed that she was returning to her old trade, but promised that Vess and I had nothing to fear from her. She said she knew the truth, and would do what she could to keep other hunters off our scent."

That was something, Jas supposed.

Still, he had had hope that Miri Fallenstar would have abandoned the hunter life and returned to the order. He had asked her to stay when he had surrendered on the Collective's station. She had said no, and, to be honest, she had been in no shape to face the Jedi, not after her encounter with Dresco.

Jas had let Coop take her and the others, should he have insisted that she stay? There had been a bit of tension between them, Miri had seemed to think that he had chosen her to be killed by Dresco, which he had not.

Was that why she had left? Had she believed that he betrayed her?

Jas hoped not.

He still believed that Fallenstar was capable of saving.

He needed to believe that.

He looked at Val.

"It sounds like we are not going to have much time. That we need to start making some moves if Vess is going to regain her throne."

"We're already doing that," Val assured him, "I was not simply hiding during my stay with Captain Cooper. I reached out to Lady Dorma, and she managed to make contact with several matriarchs on Bantoon, women that might be able to help advance Vess' claim."

"Do you trust them?" he asked.

"Their names are familiar to me; they were strong supporters of Annara when the Republic first came to open up our world. They have agreed to send representatives to speak with Vess. If she can win them over to her side, we will have the beachhead we need to start making a real difference on Bantoon."

"What about Vess' aunt and uncle?"

"High General Lyron and Queen Adira remain a problem, Vess would not be safe if she returned home right now, but at the same time, the lack of an heir to the throne is a bigger concern for the matriarchy. Lord Lyron remains committed to naming his son as heir, and his off-world allies continue to support that, but Bantoon is still Bantoon."

Val wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"We do not forget the mistakes of the past, and none wish to see a return to the days of Unstable.

Jas, who knew about Bantoon's history, nodded thoughtfully.

Things would not be easy for Vess moving forward, but what choice did they have.

If she intended to regain her throne, they had to do something.

"What is my part in all this?"

"Your skills will be needed as we move forward, I don't doubt that, but, for now, your main role is to show the matriarchs that Vessaria can offer an alternative to Lyron. The matriarchs already see Vess as a strong war leader, having a paramour at her side that is also a warrior, or advisor, is key in establishing her power, and what she has to offer the throne."

"How has Vess proven that she was a war leader," Jas had to ask.

Val grinned.

"That was Captain Cooper's idea, actually, he made a holorecording of Vessaria on board his flagship during the battle against the Collective, that recording was given to the matriarchs who now see that my queen is capable of leading forces again an enemy that wronged her, and…the fact that you rescued her from that enemy, has also been released."

Jas almost laughed.

Smart move, Coop.

He had to admit, so far, he liked this plan. Coop's help had given Vess a boost, and her people would respect that, he believed.

Still, he was not sure about his place in all this, he cared for Vessaria, but…he still couldn't help but wonder…

…could she do far better than him.

"What do these matriarchs that we are meeting know about me? Do they understand what kind of life I've been leading these last few years?"

"They know that you have served both the Republic and Jedi, but that you also have allies within the galaxies…fringe elements, which will be useful as well."

Val frowned.

"Coop's sources also found out a few things about the mining operations on my world. The moons have been infested with off world criminal organizations, no less than three syndicates are now vying for control of the vice trades that have sprang up with the mining guild's arrival on Bantoon's moons."

Again, Jas was not surprised.

He would need to make some discreet inquiries about that. Most of the larger syndicates respected Cooper/Halcyon, he might be able to make an ally or two."

"So, that is it," Val said smiling proudly, "The situation is far from perfect, but we do have an in, at least."

She gave Jas an expectant look.

"What do you think?"

Jas' eyes narrowed.

What was about to happen, it was no simple plan, there were many moving parts to this particular puzzle.

It would take both time, and thought.

"I think that it is late," he said, "Definitely not the best of time to be making plans. "I say we retire for the night, and make our way back to Vess in the morning."

"We could leave now," Val offered.

"True, but I'm more interested in seeing if anyone is watching us. The safehouse's security systems are online, I don't doubt your skills, but if you were followed…"

"We might see who," Val finished, "Giving us an idea of who we might be up against, at least, as far as being on Coruscant is concerned."

Jas nodded.

Sometimes, a bit of patience paid off.

Char Valenthyne nodded, through the Force, she radiated with a sense of contentment.

"You slip easily into the role of advisor. Vess is lucky to have you."

"I hope so," he replied, "I'm…I'm still not sure if I'm the right person for this. Vess…she needs someone who can not only advise her, but sway new allies to her side. I'm not sure that I'm that person."

The protector chuckled.

"The fact that you worry about such things is another reason that you had to be the one."

"I'm still not sure. I'm still a…"

She didn't let him finish.

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, the sudden closeness stopping him in his tracks.

For a moment, they just stood there, him holding her, and her holding him.

"Thank you," she murmured softly.

"For what," he asked, her short hair tickling his face.

"For coming after us. I…I never got the chance to say thanks back on the station. If you hadn't saved Vess; I'm…not sure what would have happened.

He tried to back away, but again, she took him by surprise.

She kissed him on the cheek, such a little thing, but it made the Force between them flare.

What could have been, and what was…it flowed around Jas in that moment, leaving him almost breathless.

He shuddered.

He knew what he had, and what he wanted, both before and after.

Now he needed to decide exactly what that was.

She slipped out of his arms then, that sly smile he desired so much gracing her lovely face.

"Goodnight, hotshot, I will see you in the morning."

She slipped past him, their hands touching, again he felt that old electricity, but it was something different now, not hot like the fires of lust, but something deeper, more…profound.

"I…I think I'm in love with Vess." He said quickly.

Val paused, and smiled, yet, he could sense a flicker of sadness and regret in her eyes.

"I'm glad to hear it," she said, "My queen deserves a good man at her side."

He smiled then, he was not sure if he was a good man or not, but…he wanted to be.

He was also…truthful.

He had to tell her the truth.

"Before Vess, before Taris and Dantooine, if you had asked me, if you told me that you wished us to be together. I…I would have gone with you. I would have been what you needed me to be."

She frowned.

"You should not say such things."

His smile returned; a bit more sheepish than it was before.

"I think I'm in love with Vessaria," he repeated, "But…that doesn't mean that I don't still love you. My feelings for Vess doesn't change that I care for you, that I will always be there…if you need me."

Val didn't respond, she looked away, she may even have been blushing. She picked up one of the cooling units he had found, and took it with her, it would make the room comfort for the night.

He stood there, wanting her to say something, to admit that she understood what he had told her.

When she answered, it was barely a whisper, but he still heard it.

It was something he had waited to hear almost a decade for.

"I love you too," she murmured, "And…that is why I know, you will be good for my queen.

She slipped into the guestroom closing the door behind her, but not before he heard one last thing.

"Good night."