Chapter 10: Happy In Life and Heart

1 Year Later

Iz'phal couldn't believe the changes her life had taken over the past ten years. From the lows of starvation and selling her body to help herself and her family, the horrible ordeal of prostitution, to making friends and finding her first job and now where she was today. Since she had fulfilled all her contracts on time and hadn't missed one deadline, her piloting skills being noticed by the higher-ups she had been invited back to Coruscant to have a meeting with the supreme chancellor himself. Iz'phal could barely believe it. It was the chance of a lifetime, to finally serve the republic and make sure she did something in the galaxy that mattered, that brought help to those who needed it. The Chancellor had thanked her personally for her exemplary efforts and she was given the honour of becoming one of only four pilots to serve the republic as a personal Courier. They could send in the galaxy to deliver goods to wherever and whoever needed it and it pleased her to know she was now working with a sense of purpose but with a great sense of freedom. In her spare time she'd flown to unknown regions of the galaxy, populated with dangers that even the most fearsome spacers dared not visit but she was different, wanted to see everything the galaxy had to offer, including its dark and desperate parts. Her life was better not only because of work but because of her friends, her old friends back on Coruscant, Snix and Sabine coming to visit her while she was doing a job on Corellia and that cheered her up immensely. However, her new friends, now her best friends the mercenary Corso Riggs, farm boy turned solider and the Imperial captain Malavai Quinn made life worth living. They never let her down, always turned up when she needed them, always made efforts to spend time with her but of course they had never met each other yet. Iz'phal would worry about that when the time came but for now just having two best friends who meant the world to her was perfect. She'd gotten to know them both inside out during the past year and they in turn had shared secrets with her, some of it just stories with long lost acquaintances, other private and sensitive matters. Yet she could help but think she was falling in love again. It had been two years since the captain and the spacer had become friends but Iz'phal felt there was something between them, something that she hadn't felt since her relationship with Alexia. Sometimes it made her wonder if she could trust another man again, but she'd matured a lot to realise that most of men in the galaxy were good, she'd just had bad luck. Every time they had met up previously Iz'phal felt them becoming closer, felt a connection forming between them and wondered if she should ask about it. She had established from their long conversations over bottles of expensive Corellian brandy and other vintages that he'd had one woman and they'd been together for over two years, but it hadn't worked out, particularly when his stature in the military became important. Iz'phal had voiced her apologies at the time but Quinn had told her that was in the past. He had not been with another woman since and Iz'phal thought that spoke volumes of his genuine side. Iz'phal knew Corso was very much a gentleman. He'd only ever been with one woman who had become his fiancée so Iz'phal knew he had been very much in love with her but sadly he'd told her that he'd ended it because of the distance that had been put between them and that he was too young. It crossed her mind that he seemed to young to enter married life and so just offered her condolences as the two just enjoyed each other's company, exchanging stories and chatting all night. It felt great to have two men in her life that obviously cared a lot about her, but she didn't want this getting complicated, didn't want to make any mistakes. Of course she cared for Corso, treasured him and his friendship a lot but every time the Imperial captain looked at her she could sense he felt for her in a different way which was beyond their simple realm as close friends. She had wanted to say something as every night she couldn't help but think of him, as even though Alexia was out of her life she missed the closeness, the other side of the bed filled with a man that loved her, the loving words and constant affection that made her feel special. She felt she was ready to be with someone, to find someone who would make her feel special and the more time she spent with Quinn, the more she thought something could exist between them. The only problem was he was a soldier and Iz'phal knew how the military frowned on their troops having intimate relations and feelings for women. She didn't want to think her feelings for him would put his career in danger, so she would keep her feelings buried inside her for now, let no one know until he asked her. She almost wanted to go back to the woman she was in her childhood, playing the hard to get girl. It made her heart flutter as the thoughts entered her head but as she blasted off on a new job, thrusters roaring, hyperdrive activating as the blue serene view of hyperspace surrounded her on course for Alderann, cargo for House Organa stowed safely on board.

Iz'phal Trua, haven't you done well for yourself…This is the life…Iz'phal sighed as she kicked back in the pilot's seat and engaged the autopilot, stretching out her legs and crossing her feet on the dashboard, imaging the cool breeze from the mountains on her skin already as she pictured the beautiful scenery of Alderann shooting from the core to greet her. After a hefty two days of soaring through space she began to landing cycle, effortless as always as the moment she'd landed with the permission of the House Organa guards she'd undid her straps quickly and lowered the boarding ramp and her heart jumped out of her chest in surprise as she saw Quinn standing at the bottom of the ramp, bright blue eyes gleaming up at her as he opened his arms to her. For a moment Iz'phal was so stunned she could hardly speak before pelting down the ramp and flinging her arms around him, almost knocking him over as she clung onto his neck, the strength in his arms making her feel safe. She pulled back to look into his eyes and for a moment he just stared back, unable to say anything as if he was seeing her beautiful face for the first time.

"Malavai what are you doing here?! This is a nice surprise!" Iz'phal beamed happily, arms still wrapped around his neck as his eyes smiled down at her, grinning.

"I wouldn't be your best friend Iz if I didn't come to visit. Besides I am taking the leave I was owed and thought Alderann was the perfect place to spend some time. Unless you have other plans and people to meet I understand…" Quinn said, disappointment almost shimmering in his eyes as Iz'phal shook her head and smiled, that smile that had captured his heart over the last few months but didn't feel it appropriate to ask her now. It was not the right time and he wanted to keep things right between them, making sure their friendship was steady before he asked her.

"Of course not Malavai, no one on Alderann knows me really. I'd love to spend time with you. Means a lot to have you hear" Iz'phal nearly got emotional as this was unexpected, to see her best friend and spend time with him.

"That would mean the world Iz. I'm sure you know some good places on Alderann. I'll follow your lead" he winked at her as Iz'phal, happier than she'd ever been skipped ahead of him, her best friend the Imperial Captain following in firm step behind her. He caught up to her and slipped his arm through hers, her cheeks taking on colour as they strode from the spaceport and headed towards the hills, having much to catch up on and wanting to spend all the time they could together.

Iz'phal Trua's life had truly begun and with her new job and friends she was going to make the most of it.

The End