Chapter 34: A Coming Storm

"JAS?!"

Jas paused mid-weld, lowering the torch he carried.

Who was that?

"Cee-Cee? Cee-Cee, did you hear something?

The droid didn't answer, not that he was surprised, Cee-Cee had a tendency to do things his own way, including ignore his captain when they weren't in a dangerous situation.

Jas snorted.

Oh well, it wasn't like he couldn't see for himself.

He reached out with the Force, seeking the voice he thought he heard.

"Jas? Buddy? You in there?"

The familiar sensations brought a smile to his face.

Coop…and Randa. He should have known.

Still they were early.

What was that about?

"Yeah," he called down.

"Just a moment."

He unhooked the security strap, braced himself with his arms, and swung down and out of the ship's central maintenance hatch.

It had been a while since he had had to play mechanic, but it was nothing that he couldn't handle. He had gotten used to working in small crawl spaces within a starship, his time in Clan Nuna had seen him needed for such duty many times.

It had been a while, but some things came back to you when you needed them.

He could have let one of the techs at the space dock look at it, but chose not to. He was a bit protective of his ship.

The Knight Fire's computer system had been reporting an error, a power drain in its aft shields. He had isolated the problem, but it would take some time to fix.

No matter, he realized, he didn't expect for the Fire to be seeing any action in the immediate future.

Himself, however…that was likely a different story. The force was swirling chaotically around those he cared about.

It was time…to be cautious.

He emerged from the ship to find Coop and Randa waiting for him. He had not expected his friends to show up for another week, but matters within an organization such as theirs could be fluid at times.

A man in Coop's position needed to be adaptable, it was the best way to not only prosper, but stay alive.

Coop was adept at both.

"You're early," Jas said, wiping grease on his pant legs.

Coop shrugged dismissively.

"Couple clients had issues I needed to handle personally, between that, and your little lady's requests. I thought it might be a good idea to get here as soon as possible."

Randa smiled. Coop's wife looked more than pleased, a sense of happiness radiated out through the Force.

"Plus, there is someone we thought you might want to meet."

She gestured, and a pink and white nanny droid rolled up on a single wheel, in its padded arms…

Jas smiled.

He reached out with the Force, feeling the new life before him.

It was a wonderous thing to behold.

He walked over at peered down at the bundle wrapped in a blue blanket.

Randa's smile widened.

"Jas," she said warmly, "Meet Jaster."

He chuckled.

At long last the name was no longer an alias for himself.

Coop's son, Jaster Cooper, was here.

The baby looked at him, gazing up with cool serious eyes, despite the cherub-like features, Jas got the feeling he was being evaluated.

Interesting.

"Hello there," he said.

Jaster burbled softly, but did nothing more than continue to hold Jas' gaze.

The baby's features favored Randa, but Jas could still see Coop's contribution as well, Jaster had his father's nose, and would likely grow into his strong chin as he aged.

He smirked.

"So serious for such a little one."

Coop came to his side, a look of pride on his face.

"He is a bit of a frowner, but…I think we will keep him."

Jaster made no noise, the baby simply stared up at his father, and the man who was the closest thing to an uncle.

Jas was pleased, it was good to see that Coop had a start on a true family.

It would be good, for both him, and Randa.

He was happy for them both.

I'm glad things are working out," he said with a light laugh, "It took a lot of time, but it seems The Force has finally favored you. You're lucky."

Randa gave him a knowing smile.

"Well," she said, "this is different."

Jas blinked.

"What is?"

"I don't think I've ever seen you smile this much, Jas. It suits you."

"Yup," Coop agreed, "Old Jas here was the original frowner, that is why we named the boy as such."

Jas could have denied it, but his friends were not wrong.

After Corellia, after Prynne, well…

His smiles had become fewer and farther between.

"I suppose that I have a reason to smile now."

Coop gave him a sly look.

"Things going that well between you and Vess, huh? She has grown into quite the lady, not surprised she knows a way, or three, to make her man smile."

"Coop," Randa said with a slight glare.

His clan brother shrugged.

"What did I say? Jas isn't denying it, are you buddy?"

Jas chuckled nervously; he could not entirely kill the blush in his cheeks.

No, Coop was not wrong.

Vess was…knowledgeable about certain things, and in the last two months they had been together, they had begun to... explore just what those were, or had started to…anyway.

He couldn't deny it.

He was pleased.

Yet, they had needed to…control themselves, at least for a while. Lord Errol and Lady Dorma's acceptance of him had come with one small request. That he and Vess…restrain themselves when it came to physical love.

Vess had blushed a deep scarlet when the talk with her foster parents had turned to such a topic, and she had not entirely been pleased by the request, but she understood the reason behind it.

The succession on Bantoon was muddied as it was, Lady Dorma thought it wise not to throw any more fuel on the fire. Vess openly engaging with an outsider before her ascension to the crown could alienate some of the noble allies they were trying to cultivate.

It was an annoyance, but she understood, and sort of ironic considering how Dorma Rist had been cast out of Bantoon society for her whirlwind relationship with her now husband. For that reason, Vess' foster parents understood, but that didn't mean that Vess had to like it.

Jas was not too fond of the idea himself if he was being honest.

It was at that moment that Cee-Cee finally came down the ship's boarding ramp, the droid was wiping oil from its arms.

"I've replaced the secondary motivator, Captain, it shouldn't give us anymore…"

The droid stopped in its tracks, it froze when it saw Randa and Coop, and…the baby. Its reaction was…interesting to say the least.

"Awwwwww," the droid mewed, its whole posture changing.

"Look at the cute little baby!"

Cee-Cee ambled over to Coop and Randa, its back slightly hunched, every movement suggesting a subservience that Jas had never seen before. Plus, its voice had changed, it…sounded younger, and almost female.

It leaned in close to young Jaster, the lights on its head flashing with warm colors.

"Look at this cute little poppet. Hello, little one. Hellooooo!"

Randa gave Jas a curious look.

"Jas…um…what is this?"

"Ah Randa, Coop…allow me to introduce CC61T, service and defense droid, and my new co-pilot. Cee-Cee this is Gabe and Randa Cooper, two of my best friends, and their son Jaster, of course."

"Of course," Cee-Cee said warmly, "Can't forget this little bobbin, can we, sweetie."

The baby did something then, that surprised Randa.

He laughed, and started waving his arms around, reaching up towards the flashing lights on Cee Cee's head.

Again, Jas thought.

Interesting.

Coop's brow furrowed.

"Wait. You're a CC-model droid?"

"That is correct, sir," Cee-Cee replied, not taking its optics off the child.

The smuggler chief chuckled.

"What?" Jas said looking up at him.

"Nothing, just…I've never seen a Cee-Cee droid modified like this."

Jas blinked.

"You've seen this model before?"

"Yeah," his friend replied motioning to the wheeled servant droid behind him, "You are looking at one."

Jas blinked as he regarded the nanny droid. He was about to dismiss what his friend said, but…

Yes, he could see it.

CC-61T had upgraded itself, added legs, the T-series astromech head, but…the padded arms and chassis were the same. Coop's droid's head resembled that of a human female, large optics a pouty red painted mouth, but…yes…he could see the similarities.

He turned to his new co-pilot.

"I thought you said you were a service and defense droid?"

"I am," Cee-Cee answered, its attention still focused on entertaining the young child, "My primary focus was the care and defense of my first master's progeny. The Cee-Cee model has a long and successful history in the field of child care."

Now, Jas smirked.

Looking back, he should have realized what his new co-pilot's former function was. Upon his introduction to the Rists, Cee-Cee had been…stand offish when it came to Lady Dorma and her husband. Yet, the droid had been respectful, almost fawning over the couples young children. Even Vess, who was a young woman now, was treated with far more courtesy than her foster parents. Originally, Jas had thought it was because the Cee-Cee recognized her as nobility, but…

He gave his new ally an amused look.

"So…you were a "nanny" droid?"

Cee-Cee turned to him, it stood up straighter, its posture suggesting offense.

"'Nanny' is far too small a term to describe my function, Captain," it answered frostily, "I not only tended to needs of my charges, I provided defense, education, and even a means of an escape if the situation called for it. Nannies are females who have far fewer skills or function than I."

The droid made a sound like an annoyed sniff.

"My model was far superior to any mere…hmph…Nanny."

Jas smirked.

He would likely need to tease the droid about this later, but for now.

He and Coop had things to discuss.

Whatever was going to happen with Vess, he could sense that it would likely happen soon.

Jas…needed to be ready.

IOI

They made their way down one of the city's large walkways, surrounded by many people and creatures from other worlds.

In the distance dark clouds were gathering the heat and humidity of the day building towards the coming rain.

They would need to return sooner rather than later.

The wise man knew when to get out of the rain.

Randa had taken Jaster back to their dwelling, while Cee-Cee had chosen to remain with the ship; finishing up the last repairs that it and Jas had started.

The Jedi, turned royal consort, glanced over at his clan brother, it had been months since they had had a chance to simply talk, talk, and not worry about some threat hanging over their heads.

Though, perhaps that wasn't true either, Jas realized.

There was still Vess, and her fight with her aunt and uncle.

His clan brother had to know that, but for now, seemed focused on the present, not the fight in the future.

Coop smirked.

"You seem different, buddy," he said, "Calmer…happier maybe."

Jas shrugged.

"It…it has been a while," he replied, "For the first time, in a long time, maybe…maybe since Corellia…I feel…well…more…"

He shook his head.

"I don't really know how to describe it."

Coop merely nodded, if anyone could guess what he was talking about, understand what he was feeling, it was Coop. They had known each other a long time.

Family…knows family.

Jas glanced over at his old friend, they had been through much together, though their lives had moved in different directions, that loyalty remained. Coop had gone from being an ambitious would-be smuggler to a powerful underworld chieftain, and now…was a husband and a father.

It was the latter fact that Jas was interested in, especially given recent events.

He sighed.

"I finally spoke with Lady Dorma and Lord Errol," he informed his friend, "I asked for their blessing in courting Vess."

A hint of a smile came to his friend's lips.

"How did that go?"

Jas shrugged.

"It was…interesting…to say the least."

IOI

He and Vess had stood before the lord and lady, they had stood together and stated their intentions. Jas had still felt more than a little unworthy. He still believed that Vess could do far better than him. Yet, he was willing to try, if she was, and they had the support of Val.

Neither the lord nor the lady seemed surprised by the request. Jas and Vess had spent much time together since his leaving the Jedi temple. He could sense their concern through the Force, they worried about their foster daughter's future, but were not entirely…repelled by the idea.

"Vess does need a strong man in her life," Dorma had said, "And, by your actions, Ser Jas, you have earned the right to ask such a boon. Many men would have asked for such a prize in the aftermath of our daughter's rescue."

"Vess is no prize," Jas had answered, "This is not about me seeking some reward for saving her."

He looked over at the girl, she wore that shy happy smile that he was coming to know so well, the same smile she had first shown him after their first night together on Dantooine. He could still feel the breeze on his face, smell the scent of the long grass, and the smooth sensation of Vess' bare skin.

A good memory, one that he had come to cherish.

He hoped the first of many.

Those thoughts warmed him.

The lord and the lady looked at each other, Jas sensed…satisfaction through the Force. He was starting to think that Dorma' question had been a test, and that he had passed."

"And what of you, Starfish," Lord Errol said to his foster daughter, "Is this what you desire? Do you wish to proceed with this match?"

"It is," Vess answered, her voice somewhat far away, dreamy, "I want to be with, Jas. I've wanted this…for a very long time. Our time on Taris, just…living together, even in hiding showed me what kind of man he is. He…he is the one I want."

Then it had been Jas' turn to look away shyly. Taris was…a mixed bag when it came to memories. He came very close to falling to the dark side there, but…Vess was not wrong.

Their time hiding together. It had been…strangely happy.

IOI

So, the lord and lady accepted you? They gave you their blessing?" Coop asked.

"Yes," Jas replied, "They even summoned Brother Oswell, to bless the relationship in the name of the Bann gods."

Coop chuckled, "My brother the royal suitor…who would have thought."

Even Jas laughed at that.

The Force did move in strange ways.

"And what does Val think of all this?" Coop asked, "You two used to be pretty close."

Jas frowned slightly.

He was still not ready to tell Coop about his…deal with Val and Vess. It would have seemed strange, in truth, it still seemed strange to him. Val had offered her endorsement of his and Vess' relationship when Dorma had asked for her opinion, but the role that Val now played as Jas' "First Companion" was not discussed.

Perhaps it was not a matter brought up in polite conversation.

"It was Val that first pushed for this arrangement. Her programming doesn't allow her to marry, her first loyalty and duty is to her charge. She wished to see Vess happy, and came to think that I could do that, and that Vess could make me happy in turn. Since that meeting, we have gone out together, dinners, and I've stood at her side at political things. Vess has introduced me as her advisor and consort, and the beings she deals with seem to accept me. I've sensed no embarrassment in Vess at these meetings, she wants others to know that we are together. As for Val, she has come to see me as an extra line of defense for her charge, and knows that I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe, but above all else, Vess is happy. Val said that, being with me, would make Vess happy."

Jas shrugged.

"I think she is right about that."

Well…congrats, buddy," Coop said, "Sounds like you got yourself a royal girlfriend."

"Yeah, I suppose I do."

Coop's brow furrowed slightly.

"What." Jas asked him.

"And what do the Jedi think of this, surely they have to know what is going on?"

"That," Jas said with a sigh, "Is a good question. I haven't been hiding, and I'm sure someone in the order has noticed that I'm here, and that I'm staying with Vess at the Republica, but so far…nothing."

That last part surprised him, as a mere acolyte, he had greater freedom than most associated with the order, but still…given the council's views on attachment.

He was surprised that no one had approached, questioned him about what was going on.

The two men continued down the walkway, saying little, yet, Jas got a feeling that something was eating at Coop, he could feel his sense of curiosity through the Force.

"What is it," he asked his friend.

"While you have been here courting. I've been contacted by Rehanna Rist several times. Vessaria has been using her as a go-between. Mirax Fallenstar is also back, using me to ferry coded messages to Vess."

Jas nodded.

Unsurprising, Vess had said that she had a job for Miri. It sounded like she had accepted.

He pursed his lips.

Wonder what she is up to.

Coop gave him a curious look.

"Don't suppose you know what is going on there?"

"Vess has a plan to retake her throne," Jas began, "It has been something she has been working on for a while, probably since the whole Sunset Collective thing ended."

He frowned.

"I don't know all the details."

"But you are Vess' lover," Coop reminded him.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm in the loop. Vess has trusted her Aunt Rehanna with this, she has the contacts necessary to complete…whatever it is that Vess wants done. Of course, that help came with a request. Rehanna doesn't want me anywhere near what she is doing. Vess stressed that point to me when I asked how I could help."

"She doesn't trust you?"

Rehanna doesn't trust anyone involved with the Jedi Order. She believes that I'm going to break Vess' heart and abandon her the moment the Jedi Order asks me to."

Jas shook his head.

"I wouldn't do that. Vess KNOWS I wouldn't do that, but Rehanna remains insistent."

"Yet, Lady Rehanna doesn't mind Fallenstar's involvement in all this."

"I think the fact that Fallenstar was abandoned by the order has convinced Lady Rist that she is trustworthy. The fact that she is a woman might also play into that decision. From what I've gathered, it was a would-be Jedi suitor that spurned the Lady Rist, and now…well…you could guess why she chooses to want me out of the loop."

Jas turned to his friend and clan brother.

"I don't suppose you've managed to discover anything about what Miri's been up to?"

Coop shrugged.

"I've been well paid for my services. Of course, that doesn't mean that I've not been curious. I've tried looking into matters…discreetly, but the Rists have a long history of keeping things quiet, and Fallenstar, when she has contacted me, won't speak a word on the matter, client/hunter privilege she calls it."

Cooper glanced over at Jas.

"I know the Rists are assassins. Could Vess be planning…?"

Jas' eyes narrowed.

"Vess wouldn't do that."

"Yeah, but…"

"No buts, Coop. Vess would NOT do that. She would not try and assassinate her aunt and uncle."

Coop nodded, but he didn't seem convinced, Jas could feel that through the Force. That sense of dark certainty.

"I talked with Vess about this," Jas assured him, "I warned her the dangers of going down such a path. She promised me that what she is doing is not about revenge. She wants justice. The plan is about regaining her mother's throne with minimal bloodshed, and little to no loss of life.

Jas sighed.

"I asked her if she was planning an assassination. She said she would not do that, Coop, and I sensed no deception in her. She doesn't want the death of a family member on her conscience, not if she can help it. Plus, she doesn't wish to martyr her uncle, which might be what happens if he was to die mysteriously. Vess doesn't want to provoke his allies."

Coop nodded, he had always had a gift for seeing the various angles when it came to plots by his rivals, and this was little different. Direct bloodshed was not really in Vess' interest. Yet, even he understood that getting Vess' aunt and uncle off the throne would not be easy.

He was curious, just as Jas was.

"I know you Coop, you're not the type to let things continue within the organization beneath your notice. You probably know more than I do."

His clan brother said nothing, which, to Jas told him everything.

He DID know something.

"What have you heard?"

"I know the kid has been busy. I know that Fallenstar has made several trips to Bantoon in the last few weeks, and before you ask, no, I have no idea why."

Coop shifted uncomfortably.

"I also know that Rior is involved, Fallenstar has requested the use of the Gilded Claw."

Jas winced.

Rior.

He had not gotten the chance to speak with the Cathar since the fall of the Sunset Collective. Though her motivations in helping had been mostly mercenary, she had still lost her lover on that mission. Such a loss led to scars, and possibly blame.

"How is Rior? I…I didn't get a chance to speak with her after the Sunset Collective thing. Does…does she…?"

"She misses, Burr, but…she doesn't blame you for what happened. Rior has been in the business long enough to know what can happen. Burr knew the risks, we all do."

"Yeah," Jas replied.

They did know the risks…still…

…he…he was sorry.

The two men finally stopped moving. They found themselves on a long walkway, overlooking the distant Jedi Temple. Jas stared at the building. His thoughts not only on the past, and people that had been lost, but the future as well.

"You think she can do it," Coop asked him, "You think Vessaria can win her throne back?"

Jas took a deep breath and tried to reach out with the Force. Strangely enough, he could see nothing; not a single possible future came to mind.

The Force had become…muddied, clouds of darkness were blocking visions of all possible futures.

He didn't like that. No.

He didn't like that one bit.

"Things will happen as they will," he told his friend.

"Nothing is certain."

Coop shook his head.

"One thing is certain, old buddy."

"Yeah, what is that?"

Coop's eyes focused on the temple, and the towers of 500 Republica, where Vess was likely standing even now.

In the distance, dark clouds had finally formed, even over the rumble of Coruscant life, the thunder rolled.

A storm was coming.

Coop's expression was as grim as those clouds.

"Everything is about to change," the smuggler chieftain said, "You don't need the Force to know that."

Jas considered that, and realized his brother was correct.

Yeah, he thought.

Something…was coming.

And again…the thunder rolled.