Miriah sat straight up and sighed deeply, sitting cross legged in the middle of her bed. Three weeks since Nar Shaddaa, and she was still trying to sleep alone. She looked over at the chrono and sighed again. The wee hours of the morning on Odessen, but she quickly figured out the time difference on Dantooine and leaned across to her nightstand and grabbed her holo, the presaved frequency already trying to connect.
Corso had just eaten a meal pack out in the little walkway at the southern detachment on Dantooine when his holo rang. He hurried to put his trash in the nearby can and answered with a smile. "Hey, beautiful," he said, and instantly felt his heart squeeze at Miriah's appearance. "Why are you up so early?"
"Can't sleep," she murmured. "What are you up to?" They chatted for a minute about nothing, and Corso saw his wife start to relax.
"Lie down, love. I can still see you and we can still talk," he told her, and saw Miriah put her head on her pillow.
"I can't believe you're still there," she said softly.
"Me, either. It feels like there's something else at play here, but I don't see what it is." Corso examined his wife's face. I need to be there, he thought. "If there's no flying tomorrow, I'm just getting a speeder and going to the ranch. I figured it out, would only take two days and then I could come home."
Miriah's face perked up. "Really? That's all?" she said, but then she visibly deflated. "You know Aric will stroke out," she said. "I can hear it now, all about the security risks and such."
"Well, what Aric doesn't know won't hurt him," Corso replied. "I won't tell."
"I don't know, sugar. Maybe it would be too great a risk." Miriah shifted again, trying to get comfortable. "I know I'm being selfish, but I miss you."
"I miss you too, my love. Close your eyes," he instructed, and Miraih complied. "I'm going to stay in the channel, talking to you, until I can see you're asleep." He started to describe the area now that there had been some typical military changes, like entrance barriers and towering lights. He went on to talk about how the farms had rebounded, with bumper crops this year. He stopped and stared at his wife.
"I can't wait until you can kiss me again," she said softly. "I want you so much. I just want to whisper in your ear, and hear that sigh you make."
"Oh, I totally agree, but I'm going to make you beg," he said in a low voice. Miriah smiled then, her eyes half closed and her bottom lip between her teeth.
"Promise?" she said in that breathy voice he loved. He swallowed hard and fought his body down before he answered.
"Bet on it, darlin'."
Kira had gone early to the mission room and Ian had missed seeing her off, which made his morning start off badly. He knew a little about the task at hand, and that his mother was also working with them, and felt a little jealous before mentally shaking himself. She's here, that's all that matters, he thought. He picked up the shirt he'd given her to sleep in and held it to him, feeling her force aura as surely as if she were beside him. I can't let her leave, at least not without me, he thought. Suddenly he knew he needed to talk to Devin. With renewed energy, he went to the mess hall for breakfast, his purpose making him focused.
Lana bounced Jaren on her knee. The little boy was bright eyed, sticking to his six am waking time for food. Now that he'd finished, he wanted to engage with his mother, and she was totally enjoying it. Jaren had started to lift his head more and to love Tali playing with him, but when he was with his mother, the little guy was totally content. Now, Lana checked his diaper and wrapped him snugly in his blanket, and it had the intended effect of making him drowsy. Lana held him as he fell asleep and she placed him gently in the crib before going back to her bed. He opened his eyes one last time as she went through the door, and instinctively felt safe, letting him fall back into dreams.
Miriah woke a little later than usual, and forced herself into the shower, just to wake up. She had just emerged and was dressing when Maura came into the apartment, calling her name. "In here," she replied, and only a few seconds later, Maura came into view.
"The conference attendees are all in the conference room, and Lana is going through the agenda and housekeeping items. They've all eaten and have caf and juice, and are waiting for you, dear." Maura leaned against the wall as she talked, knowing Miriah was almost ready to head out.
"Sorry, had a rough night," Miriah said, pulling on her boots.
"Still not sleeping?" Maura asked.
"Yeah, woke up and called Corso, that helped a lot," Miriah said, heading out of the apartment.
"You didn't get anything to eat," Maura admonished her perpetually slim sister.
"I'll grab something in the conference room. This morning is just going over the current state of affairs of the Alliance in general, and this afternoon will be the delegate's turn to talk. Tomorrow, we'll have a roundtable, like last time, for Lana, Dr. Oggurobb, Admiral Aygo, and the Voss. This time, though, we'll also have Devin and you involved." Miriah heard her sister's step falter and suppressed a laugh.
"I... have to talk?" Maura asked.
'No, just answer questions," Miriah replied, as the detail stopped at the conference room door. "You'll do fine." With that, Miriah breezed into the room and Maura hesitated but followed.
Devin had been puzzling over the mission that Kira and Lord Scourge were working on. I bet that if I let my force out and searched, I would find that ship. Is that all they're looking for? He was on his way to the conference room and saw the detail ahead. I need to ask Aunt Mags, see if I can help them, he told himself. He had seen Ian's face the past few days, and knew his cousin was in love. I wonder if Mags knows, he thought, and moved inside the room, his eyes going to his mother's face. She looks a little tired but not too bad, he mused, and took a seat to her right. When he was seated, Miriah put her hand on his, and he gently squeezed her fingers, telling her in the force that he was glad to see her and that she looked beautiful. She responded with her thanks, and told him how much he reminded her of his dad. That's a good thing, she told him, and it made them both smile.
Corso hadn't wasted any time, and once he was sure Miriah was asleep, he'd gotten a speeder and was on his way to the ranch. He'd made good time, since there was no traffic on the roads in the middle of the night. He stopped once for caf at a sleep little town at dawn, having depleted the supply he'd set off with, and felt energized. By noon, he was more than halfway home, and decided to stop for a little sleep. Pulling between two large rocks, he considered calling Miriah, but remembered the conference, and knew that by the end of the day, she'd be talked out. Instead, he pulled the broad brimmed hat he'd bought at the races over his eyes and was almost instantly asleep.
Miriah sat at the dinner with Devin by her side. "How are you, really, Mom? You look good," he told her. She'd opted for a plain black dress, with her moonstone jewelry, and pulled her hair on top of her head.
"Thanks, son. I feel good. I will be ready for sleep once dinner is over, for sure." She didn't mention her middle of the night call with Corso, but just thinking about it made her cheeks a rosy pink.
Lana had gotten Caly to sit with the children, and was enjoying a quiet dinner with Nico. Even with all the delegates, the atmosphere was jovial. The delegates were enjoying having some time with the Commander, and Lana had received several baby gifts from all over the Alliance. Aric and Maura sat next to them, and across from Miriah. Even with this room full of supporters, Aric is cautious, Lana thought.
"This is almost as good as Corso's steaks," Aric said, taking another bite. "Hey, Mir, have you talked to him today?"
Miriah caught herself from blurting out when, but just replied "Yes".
"I'll be glad for him to come home," Maura said. "This is excellent food."
"All sourced from Odessen," Arcann added. "Riggsville for the fish and the Extension for the vegetables and ronto. Riggsville is starting to farm bantha as well, but those animals are still babies."
"That's amazing," one of the other delegates said, and engaged Arcann in a discussion of agriculture and animals. Shae looked on, a smile on her face at seeing Arcann talk about what he loved. She glancing around when she saw Miriah staring at her. She's trying to tell me something, Shae thought, and excused herself to head to the refresher off the conference room. She saw Miriah stand, and was confident that they'd talk there.
Miriah saw Shae stand and put her napkin on her almost empty plate. "I'll be right back," she told Devin, patting his shoulder. She quickly made her way over, and saw Shae waiting. "Corso needs a ride," Miriah explained. "We don't have any ships in the area. I was hoping you might have one close to Dantooine."
"Let me look," Shae said, and pulled her holo out, keying up a map. While the Mandoade belonged to the Alliance, those who were not military worked their own ships. Shae located one in only seconds, and grinned at Miriah. "I have just the ship. It can be there in a day."
Miriah returned her grin. "Excellent! I'll tell him tonight," she said. They quickly washed their hands and made their way back to the table, Miriah's mind eased and Shae pleased that she could help in some way. Under the edge of the table, Shae messaged the captain of the vessel she'd seen on her map.
Rukisa frowned at the beep of her datapad, and carefully wiped her hands on the nearby greasy rag she'd been using to repair one of her sensors. When she saw the message, she quickly opened it. Mandalore did not ask favors lightly, she knew. Rukisa, I need you to please go to Dantooine. You will be picking up Corso Riggs, and I cannot stress how important it is that he return to Odessen as quickly as possible. You will be rewarded handsomely, and have the eternal gratitude of the Commander of the Alliance. If you will do this, just acknowledge this message. We do not want news of this to be broadcast. Very well, Rukisa thought, and entered her acknowledgment. She called up to the bridge to give them the course, and saw that Shae had entered the coordinates on Dantooine for landing. Sighing, she again ducked under the console and attempted the repair, wondering about the man she was going to meet.
Corso woke just as the sun was going down, and hopped out of the speeder, stretching. He went around the rock to relieve himself, and then set off for home. He could be there by midnight, he thought, and opened the throttle again.
Aric and Maura walked home with Miriah, and once she was inside, she pulled her holo out. When Corso answered, he smiled at the excited face Miriah had. "Hey, darlin'. You look happy," he told her.
"I am. I have a ship for you," she replied, and related the info. "Where are you, anyway?"
"When I ended our call, I just couldn't wait. I should be at the ranch in about, oh, four hours," he said.
"Oh, Cor, " Miriah said. "I can't believe you did that, but I'm so glad. The ship will be there tomorrow, they have the coordinates to the hangar. If everything goes right, you could be home in four days!"
"I can't wait! Does everybody know?" he asked, wondering if he could expect an angry call from his best friend.
"No, I wanted to get the details set before I said anything. Shae knows, but that's all. Aric is going to be so excited to see you!"
"Well, I hope he won't be the only one," Corso said with a big smile, making Miriah blush all over. "You look really pretty. Were you just at the conference dinner?" Miraih told him about the conference so far, and when they closed the call, they were both the happiest they'd been since their rendezvous on Nar Shaddaa.
Ian pulled Kira into his arms, and they kissed. He was unaware of his mother, who had just left the conference dinner. Hmm, she thought. I knew there was something there, but I had no idea. She watched them head out of the secure area, hand in hand, and Magdalane was content with the idea. Mags continued home, which didn't feel as empty as it had, but still was more her mother's home than hers. The idea of moving was one she'd considered several times, but she hated to lose anymore of her mother's presence. The craft room was now empty, and the plan was for Coleen to use it to get ready on her wedding day. Mags entered the kitchen and used the force to heat water for tea, chastising herself for using force so wastefully, but needing her tea before bed. She thought about all the children growing up, and knew that Ian had been looking for something these past few years. She just never knew it was Kira. Feeling content, she took her tea into the bedroom and got ready for bed.