Private Chasing Stars & Stellar Winds

[Asmus Janes]

He wished Asmus wouldn't keep thanking him for his help. Vo wasn't doing this to help Asmus. It was harsh to think, but he didn't care a very great deal what became of the pilot. Vo quite liked him, but he was afforded so much opportunity in life. He wasn't like the broken people who made up the SIS. Even though their interests were aligned he knew that he was manipulating Asmus to his own ends. He did care about what happened to Kaile.

Vo was able to be closer to his family again now he was free. He was once again his wife's favoured husband. It was fifteen years since he had met her working for the old Protectorate. Vo wanted Kaile to have less weight bearing down on her, to feel happy and safe. If Asmus wasn't the route to that, then the Sullustan would find another. It was harsh and he felt a touch of guilt every time Asmus thanked him. But he could not have been more precise in the way things worked when he had explained the situation in the hangar bay a few days ago.

Vo drew his fingers up to his mouth and blew warm air over them.

“Sorry,” Asmus apologised. “Heater three is down.”

“Its okay, I've been in worse. I've tracked several accounts Kaile didn't know that I knew about. They all end at Suarbi. As far as I can tell it was almost all used to get you out safely.”

Asmus looked ashamed of himself, but nodded his head.

“Haven't seen anything matching the Solaris recently.”

“I tried a few leads a while back. Couldn't either,” Asmus agreed.

“And that tells us…”

Asmus tipped his head back and looked at Vo. He was clearly thinking it through. He was a bright lad, but needed some direction.

“She didn't sell it?”

“And that's useful to know. So what happened to it?”

“Broken down for parts?” Asmus asked.

“And do you have any useful friends who might get a lead on stolen parts? Especially such rare ones?”

Asmus nodded slowly. He was looking down at the mind map he had drawn and realising how full of holes it was.

“Or… She hid it somewhere.”

“I did suggest that,” Asmus reasoned.

Vo could tell he had been giving this all thought but had become directionless without an experienced agent to bounce ideas off. “Where did you suggest hiding it?”

“Deep space.”

“Well, I haven't got a fleet of deep space probes so let's park that one. But follow up on parts. There are patterns of activity that I might be able to trace based on the kind of identity she might be using. She's being very careful here. The situation merits it. Facial recognition?”

“I don't want to upload her face anywhere,” Asmus replied. For him, they seemed to be running out of ideas even with Vo. His optimism was taking another beating.

“That's not really how we do it. Get a photo, break it down into a series of numerical values. Put it through a one way function and then upload that. Start running images on the holonet through the same function. Can you afford to start a few databanks running? I know some good services on Coruscant that are quite cost effective.”

“I can't really channel funds we've been given into it,” Asmus apologised.

“You followed my advice to move those funds. Would any of your backers noticed if you bought one less torpedo on the black market and spent it on this?” Vo asked.

Asmus looked slightly stunned at the notion. He opened his mouth but Vo answered.

“No they wouldn't and judging by the stack of ordnance you aren't short. So just do it because it has no negative consequences and ignore the moral compass for a moment.” Honestly, how Kaile fell for someone quite so naive at times shocked him.

 

[Kaile Vera]

First things first. Kaile had to focus on what she had to do and plan in order to prevent her mind to wandering into despair. She now had the baby to consider, and that was the galvanizing strength the Lorrdian needed to keep her focus. It had been the same mindset that the agent had five months ago when Kaile set her mind in making sure Asmus had the ability to start a new life outside the SIS.

She often thought back on how Asmus managed to convince Vo to use the lockbox. Part of her feared that he had given up his new chance at freedom and returned to the SIS. If that was the case, the dread and concern would only swell to nag at her mind.

If that were the case, part of her was frustrated. After everything, he’d gone back? Why? Why go back? Why go and dive back into the fray when the first order and the Sith were doing their best to stamp out any resistance?

It wasn’t helping that her hormones were swinging back and forth, and she was equally sexually frustrated. Satisfying herself only brought back memories of the beach house with Asmus under her stars, the way he’d managed to make her—

Focus.

Part of Kaile knew that she required funds to do what she needed. Another part of her realized that the best solution would be to try and find a buyer for the Solaris. But buying a whole ship might take time. Time she didn’t have. Not to mention, as she was progressing in her pregnancy, Kaile was also becoming more and more hyper-aware of anything that could go wrong. That medical pod in the Solaris was insurance. She wasn’t sure if she could let go of that just yet.

Which meant — Kaile took a deep breath - I’ll have to start selling it for parts I can bear to let go.

There were all of the internal decorations and lavish textiles. That could be sold at Raiders Cove. Next, well, would be non-essential parts—those she would have to remove herself.

And there was a limited time until when she’d be unable to do even that.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“So… these are final orders then?” Omar asked.

It was such a small group now. Max was now an officer in the Republic, Lucy and Chad were gone. They were four pilots and six support staff. A resistance this was not.

“Yeah,” Asmus said, looking at the flimsiplasts he had handed out. “I guess they are.”

“Good.”

Asmus looked up in shock but Omar had a wide grin on his face.

“As a Zeltron do you know what it's like living in a group of ten in the back end of nowhere. I really need to get laid boss.”

You idiot, Asmus thought, but Omar had dispersed the tension with a joke and a laugh. Everyone still had their roles. Some filled them as naturally as they breathed.

“If you don't hear from me within the week, then it's time to head on. Take your IDs and head for Naboo or Rendili. Vo has the names to contact on approach. They'll take you in. If I'm back at the end of the week we all go together.”

There was a both pride and sadness as he looked around the room. “That this comes to and end here, doesn't detract from the good we've done. That ninety eight hour mission where we dropped bombs day and night got eight thousand refugees away from persecution for being non human on their own planet.

“But at the start of this I said we would be there when needed. We wouldn't hit targets because we felt like it. We wouldn't take lives unnecessarily and embody the propaganda they spread about us. I like to think that in part our enemies have lost the will to fight because we kept going. But it's on politicians and the core worlds to form a new government now. Not us. It's been an honor working with all of you.”

There weren't cheers, there was quiet back patting and murmurs of approval. It was like Vo said, nothing was black and white. Things just were the way they were.

“And we'll have a bottle of whiskey to hand, and we'll all have a sip before we fly if you don't come back,” Wilson said. “So don't you go and get killed somehow because that would look really macabre otherwise…” he laughed before shaking Asmus’ hand. Someone had let slip why he wasn't going with them at first. He suspected Jay.

The day before

“Well, I must say you've been a lot more effective with a bit of focus,” Vo said as he walked into Asmus’ office.

Asmus kept his head down, face lit from beneath by the glow of the datapad. Tens of thousands of hits required him to keep watching a stream of images scraped from the holonet.

“Thank you for putting me in touch again,” Asmus murmured, he didn't look up. Whilst his network of contacts from building this little organisation was extensive, it was Vo who had found the names to reach out to for the pilots and engineers to be taken on as refugees and given shelter.

Vo drew his attention by laying a datapad down with several cargo IDs.

“What are these?”

“I hadn't even thought of the nutrient frames,” Vo said. “The mandalorians are very particular about cargo in and out of Myrkr. Should rule out a lot of sectors.”

The sullustan had been digging deep. Asmus took the information as if it were food and he hadn't eaten for days. He wasn't sure when he had eaten properly in truth. Vo's prompts and directions had him fully immersed in the search. Thinking of negative searches to rule out certain ports and stops narrows down the search. A few taps and the new data was correlated. This was what he had done to track the Subversion. It had just taken far more blanks to be filled in a little be little to make it possible to even start.

“Still, she's too careful,” Asmus sighed. He kept scrolling right through the remaining matches. “Going to look at so many faces that I'll start convincing myself they're…”

He scrolled back one. His eyes went wide. Asmus nearly tumbled out of his seat as he reached across the desk for another terminal. He tapped away frantically as he brought up the holographic map out the Outer Rim.

“Anything?” Vo asked entirely unphased by this behaviour.

Asmus just turned around his screen.

“Ah, always did think the pink suited her in an odd way.”

Present

First light and Asmus marched promptly across the hangar bay. He didn't have a flight suit or helmet on and the biting cold cut through his jacket. It didn't seem worth covering up just until the canopy was down.

“It is cramped in here,” Jay complained from the rear seat.

“Well, you're very tall,” Asmus replied. The a low whine the power cells started to hear the vital areas of the ship so that it could take off. “Do you think she will still be there Jay?”

“You sound nervous. If she isn't, then we will keep searching.”

Jay didn't have any decals left that could be connected to Wraith Squadron. He still had several colourful war markings that they had given him. And a little cartoonish gungan that Lucy had etched into his arm.

“That's true.”

“But I hope we will get to see her again.”

“Well, it's a lot of fuel to the Rishi Maze if not.”

Vo turned to the rest of Asmus’ crew as the starship vanished into the cloud cover. “Well then, who has some cards?” He was very good at gambling. He knew when to hedge his bets. And when not to. If Asmus wasn't going to succeed or if Kaile had moved on then he was still make sure she didn't spend her life waiting.

All things turn to Ash.

It wasn't the recall notice that he posted to another letterbox. It was the very final stage of flash fire. No Command left. No resistance or SIS. Move on with your life.

He felt that posting it when Asmus still had a few hours to reach the distant world still gave him a fair shot before she would completely disappeared. Vo was fair. When he could afford to be.

 

[Kaile Vera]

The Dug smuggler eyeballed the woman with the magenta hair with a bleary eyed expression. He waddled back and forth on his hands, his whiskers swinging from left to right.

“Ba chek ga na wu ta wa,” he’d gesture with a powerful hind leg. “Ne che ke nmga bu cha to quwa.”

Kaile didn’t draw her eyes away, instead her jaw took a stubborn tilt and she pointed out with a counter,” This is authentic Naboo spun textile, you can tell by the design and the dye. You know it. I know it. I saw the way your eyes grew wide and how your were licking your lips. Retail this would go for at least 10,000 credits. In the black market you can get close to 11,000 credits or more with the current standing with Naboo. All it takes is for a rich Hutt wanting to decorate his refresher or closet and you’ll get more than the 9,000 I’m asking. “

The Dug’s nostrils gave a flare.

“Bacha ka ne.”

“No. Not five thousand. I want nine.”

“Cho ke be”

“I’ll go as low as eighty five hundred. “

The Dug vacillated between agreeing or trying to haggle the woman lower. Unfortunate for him, Kaile was able to read his indecision.

“Or you can give me ninety five hundred and I’ll toss in the Gungan fertility statue you’ve been eyeballing. “ that didn’t go past Kaile. She’d been bringing the items she’d stripped from the Solaris to Raider’s Cove. One by one, she’d been working the trade market and a black market broker to sell as much as she could. The inside of the Solaris was pretty barren now, but the Lorrdian had managed to accrue a small growing nest egg. This last run had required Bujak to help being parts down from Sky Ridge Island. The Rishii always enjoyed having a chance to talk to the pirates or new batch of smugglers, so he didn’t mind.

While it was hot and humid enough to make her feel sticky, Kaile had taken care of clothing herself in baggy spacer clothing to cover her expanding belly. Most would likely low ball her if they say she was with child, and kaile needed every advantage she could take.

“Ma che.” The Dug finally agreed.

Kaile gave a big grin. “Pleasure doing business.” The rest was just a matter of trading the goods and receiving the money.

“Did you make a good trade?” Bujak would ask with that cheery tone of his. “As good as any.”

That made it close to twenty four thousand. Not a large sum, but nothing to look down on either.

“Small Bobo need food yes?” Ever since Kaile left bobo in Bujak’s Care, shed left him enough funds to cover the costs of the nutrient tubes he required. One of the great things about being on Rishi meant that smuggled goods from Mandalorian space such as Myrkr weren’t too difficult to find. Pricey, but the black market was easier to get in contact with here. Raiders Cove was the best place to get what Bobo needed, and Bujak had taken that responsibility to heart. Including over feeding Bobo.

“Just a few frames- he doesn’t need much!” She had to remind him. From here they’ll return back to Sky Ridge Island.

“We need to get back,” she reminded him, watching him leave. In the meantime, she had to find a counterfeiter that could get her a new Identity.

It was then when the alert came through her datapad. High priority for a specific catch phrase along the encryption. This was another letterbox. The one that the agent would have never guessed would ever show a reply.

This time Kaile knew it was from Vo. All things turn to ash.

Out there in the middle of the market, Kaile felt the blood drain from her face. That meant only one thing; SIS Command had completely dismantled. There was no SIS left.

Kaile was torn on what to feel. Or to be honest, she felt numb. The resistance or rebellion, whatever it was called that had created the SIS had been her entire life. She grew up on being a part of an intelligence force. It was one thing to walk away knowing she’d have to hide. Another when there was no longer that organization left to ever bother going back too.

It was a few minutes before Bujak’s perky chatter broke Kaile’s reverie.

“Time to go home, yes?” Bujark asked, clicking his beak and holding three nutrient frames in his winged arms.

“Yes,” Kaile replied quietly.

“Time to go.”

 

[Asmus Janes]

The fighter kept low to the horizon on approach. It wasn't a rare sight. There were already several old Headhunters on the outskirts of the cove. It was easier to keep low through the valley and avoid unnecessary attention. That photo had been with Rishii. The avian species kept to the higher ground in disparate colonies. He couldn't search them all so he would start in the markets.

The book had given some clues on where Kaile might have been so he had some guidance on questions to ask. Then he had to think on his feet and work out how to try and track down the nutrient tubes.

Asmus set his ship down in a haphazardly arranged field of vessels. They were mostly small freighters. The Quintessence had never been here, too large for collecting the small quantities of stolen goods that passed through here, but most smugglers knew a way through the maze.

“Are we not going?” Jay asked after Asmus spent an entire minute looking through his canopy.

“Yeah. Yeah. Just feels like this won't be it. I'll find a cold trail. Go back and face the others looking at me with pity.”

“I do not experience emotions, but that sounds irrational.”

“Also true. She could be here. Alright, stay here and…”

“No,” Jay said before pushing open the canopy. “I have been programmed to look out for you and this is a dangerous place. Besides, I have been squashed into this human sized space for several hours. I am going for a walk.”

Asmus couldn't argue with that.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Back on the Messa, Kaile sat on her bed, the bloom of holographic screens and tables floating in a semi-circle in front of her. Years ago, Kaile had installed a series of twelve small holographic emitters all around her cabin, allowing for a perfect panoramic display that was touch capable. It was highly encrypted and had allowed her to conduct research and make connections in the darknet when required.

It also had a wealth of holovideos marked from the past. Kaile had enjoyed more than once taking several pictures and holovideos when able. The first year with Kurt marked a time of exploration to several worlds, so there was a file listed under "Kurt". There was a file also listed under "Quin", a bit more bittersweet but contained holovideos and holopictures Kaile had taken during her first six months of pregnancy of various things and sights she had wanted Quin to know about. Some were merely of Kaile recording and talking over the holovideo others might have selfies of her making the documentary of her pregnancy progress. They didn't continue after the sixth month.

Instead, a new file had been created. This one labeled merely "Kiddo." That one would have the most recent entries. Five months of holovideos. Only instead of the cheery explorations, they would mainly contain more subdued entries. A sunset that painted the sky a brilliant crimson or a sunrise that could bring one to tears. Regardless of the file, both would contain snippets of the Lorrdian talking about their father. How handsome he was, how talented, and that he would be brilliant. Quin's would reflect a sense of the potential Asmus would reach in the future, while the more recent entries revolved around how far he'd come.

There was also a file listed "Asmus." This one had seen its fair share of additions throughout the years, although more recent entries in it had become sparse. It contained the various holopictures, and holovideos Kaile had managed to pick up during her weak times. Snapshots of Asmus' life dating from his time at the Academy, his graduation, through his time in the Alliance. It even included a bit of the security recording when the agent had been in the same Alliance ball as the decorated Rogue Leader. She'd run security and had been slightly phased by the fact that Asmus was in the ballroom. So close but still out of her reach.

However, neither of these files were at the root of Kaile's focus. Instead, there were several highly encrypted screens and messenger blogs. One, in particular, was for a connection in the darknet. Kaile had to get in contact with Kai or, with a reputable counterfeiter that would be able to get her a clean handle. Kai was expensive, but there was quality to be expected from her. Anyone else, Kaile would have to screen through reputable connections.

It was lengthy work, and Kaile was working on a budget. But if the SIS was no longer an entity she'd have to worry about being under the radar, then she didn't have to get an alias as clean as the one the agent had brokered for Asmus.

It was a start.

 

[Asmus Janes]

For once he had a sensible jacket on. Muted colours and we'll worn in. The blaster at his hip didn't look as off the shelf as it had once done. Lucy had done some modifications to balance it better to his grip and to keep it firing continually. There had been a few occasions when it had been required in the last few months.

Asmus had never been here, but he knew this town. Like a thousand other smuggler's retreats he had visited. Once incontrovertible truth was that if you rushed around asking questions about someone you might not leave. Not until someone found your body after the accident you had suffered. Smugglers looked after their own.

The market was winding down, the sun low. There were still a few shops open. The streets were still still busy, a humid breeze rustling the trees that sprouted up between the wooden buildings.

“I like the paint job!” a houk laughed, walking a semi-circle around Jay. He jabbed a stocky finger at the green and orange lines across his shoulder.

“The artist has a workshop on Carida if you want the details,” Asmus laughed, trying to seem at ease. He wasn't quite sure how ingrained the defensive protocols were on Jay.

“Eh, too far,” laughed the houk. From the scars Asmus assumed he was more pirate than smuggler. He stopped off at a street food outlet and asked about a few types of goods he was interested in. It wasn't all that surprising to be asked for credentials. He didn't provide the ID Kaile had given him, but instead a single credit chit that was taken away briefly. It had a digital token to mark him as trusted by the alliance of smugglers Kairon was a part of. Everyone was welcome to buy and sell at these small outposts, but sometimes only the right people were allowed the right information.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Bujak rarely ever came down to the speederbike clearing unless he was heading into Raider’s Cove. Most of the Rishi kept to themselves but were friendly to strangers that came to visit. It was this way because the Rishii were natural mimics. They had the ability to mimic with the exact pitch and words spoken to them and most of the time, people would unfortunately believe that the Rishii were mocking them. It wasn’t the case, and as a Lorrdian, Kaile could appreciate this. She was also able to do the same, which meant that the Rishii of Bujak’s nest enjoyed having her around. She could tell them stories and they could mimic her and she wouldn’t become upset at all.

Bujak was one of a handful in his nest community that was able to speak several languages. He was insanely curious about outworlders, so if he could travel down to chat with a few locals or smugglers wandering through, he would. Which was one of the reasons Kaile would ask him to run errands for her whenever they had to make a trade or supply run.

The only reason she’d personally gone to haggle items from the Solaris was because while Bujak was kind, he had no sense of haggling for the best price. He already gave away the food from his small restaurant - if one could call the three nest shack that - than ask for payment. Honestly, he was every bit a well intentioned busy body, enjoying gossip and what conversation he could get.

As they had just traveled to Raider’s Cove last week, there was no need to do so this week. However, he was growing more and more curious on what Kaile was doing. When he discovered she was pregnant, he took it in stride, although he wondered where her mate would be. She always seemed sad, and it bothered Bujak so. He had told her many times that she is considered to be part of the nest now, that she shouldn’t have to worry. However, Kaile always seemed to look at him with an expression of melancholy gratitude.

For now, he decided that it was best to make Kaile some food. She’d been spending an awful long time at her ship recently. The bright red thing was almost obnoxious against the natural green of the jungle and the dark beach gravel it rested on. But it wasn’t a bother and no one really cared.

Yes, food would be good.

 

[Asmus Janes]

A tiny bell rang out with a quiet, tinny sound as the door closed behind him. It wasn't the only sound. As it went off several creatures growled, chirruped of squawked. Cages were haphazardly piled around the dark shop. Asmus always found smuggling rare creatures an unsavory practise. These had probably all been rounded up by illegal trappers from their natives worlds. He didn't haven't the time to worry about that now.

“Yes?”

Asmus followed the source of the sound. Behind a desk, half hidden in the shadows sar an old man. He wore faded oche robes and his face seemed so wizened that Asmus could barely see his eyes. A pipe hung from his cracked lips, small puffs rising up to join a carpet of smoke across the ceiling.

“Evening.”

“It is. See anything you like?”

Asmus made a show of looking around the menagerie.

“If there is something in particular, I can have almost anything brought here within the month.”

Asmus looked to the owner. The little old man was smiling at him now. Every tooth was stained a deep yellow.

“I have a business colleague. She says you might be one of the few skilled enough to keep a Ysalmiri.”

A second of silence seemed to stretch out. “I do not supply in bulk,” the man said sharply. “My customers are collectors, connoisseurs. I do not breed for battle.”

“Oh no,” Asmus said, holding up a hand. “I'm only interested in the one. My friend enjoys certain benefits in having one close and keeping her thoughts to herself.”

“Ah, very good, very good. Did your friend tell you the price?”

“As it happens she didn’t.”

“Eighty thousand. No negotiations.”

Asmus managed to look a little surprised, but he took it in his stride. “I'll have to give that some thought.”

“Of course.”

“Care is difficult though?”

“Exceptionally. They must embed their claws in a particular nutrient gel. Either a tree from their native world or a frame I can provide.”

“You can supply the gel?”

“Of course.”

A small creature opened a wide maw and snapped at its cage just a foot to Asmus’ right. He startled. The old man shouted out in a language he didn't recognise. The creature shrank itself down almost flat to the base of its cage.

“Might have met my friend. Human girl, bright pink hair. Was staying here recently.”

“Doesn't sound familiar. And I take pride in knowing almost all collectors on this side of the core. If you want to talk to someone about ownership I have a man in mind you could talk to. If he's interested.”

Asmus felt his heart sink a little.

“Only one nearby who purchases nutrients is one of the local Rishii.”

Both of Asmus’ brows shot up together.

 

[Kaile Vera]

“Cara?” The questioning voice from Bujak went drifting from under the thatch roof, his perceptive hearing picking up on the approaching steps of the Lorrdian.

Bright yellow eyes, a broad face, and tall feathers went peering past the open bar. There, slowly walking up the trail was Kaile. Bobo sat protectively over her right shoulder, and the woman was carrying a basket. Immediately, Bujak fled from behind the bar to help her.

“It is late!” he told her, chiding her with a disapproving cluck. “Too dark. You must be careful.” it was getting close to monsoon season, when the rains would come unexpectedly and pour down.

“Time passed a little quicker than I anticipated,” Kaile replied with a faint and apologetic smile. “I’ll be more careful.” the last thing she wanted was to be climbing the mountain to the nesting area in the dark. She lost Quin to her inexperience and lack of attention. She wasn’t going to go through the same thing again.

“It won’t happen again.” Kaile promised him, giving Bujak a comforting pat along his feathered arm.

“Good.” he took the basket from her. “Is everything done?” he knew she was working on a project, and while he was curious, he didn’t prod.

“Not quite yet. “ she made a few contacts with a few local counterfeiters. However, it might be another week before she narrowed it down. If all went well, she might be able to make contact for a trade next week.

“Soon, I am sure.” Bujak replied optimistically, only to add,”Hungry yes? I made supper. You eat now.” there was no arguing with him when he was like this. He was concerned over her and the baby, that much she could appreciate.

“Alright, alright. Let me put this down in my nest. I’ll come and eat after that.”

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Didn't think a Rishii would have an interest in one,” Asmus said in an off-hand manner. He turned to look at the flattened down creature. It had skin like an aquatic creature and didn't seem to have many bones given how it had flattened down to the size of a pancake. It watched him with beady eyes.

Asmus mentally apologised for not being able to do anything about the captive creatures here. At least they were mostly sold through black market channels to the wealthy who liked to show off by owning illegal creatures. They might not end up loved, but at least they would be well cared for.

“It won't last long. I told him he wasn't feeding enough and he listened for a while. Now he insists on only buying about half the usual. Want to know what I charge?”

“Of course and can you arrange delivery?” Asmus was trying to keep his calm. Half the usual quantity. Bobo was much smaller than your typical Ysalmiri. Anticipation made it almost impossible to think all of a sudden. Was she still here or was Bobo back being cared for? Either was possible and he tried to keep his expectations in check.

“Most places. As long as it's not in First Order space. It's not cheap.”

“A shame this Rishii isn't feeding his…”

“A thousand credits for his name,” Asmus was rudely interrupted.

“What?”

“You're clearly going to try and buy his pet. That means I lose out on the price. On the other hand I hate to see such an exquisite creature not cared for properly and you'd become a good customer having nutrient gel imported.” The old man opened his eyes wide enough for asmus to see their bloodshot whites. “So, on balance… a thousand credits for his name.”

“Deal.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

Sitting inside of her nest, Kaile sipped a coconut full of hot honey ginger tea. She had her datapad in front of her, her finger scrolling through several hits.

Ever since Kaile stopped responding to the holoblog, Asmus hadn’t attempted another. If he’d also received Vo’s message after reconnecting with the remnants of SIS, the former agent could only hope he would listen this time. That he wouldn’t attempt to find another resistance to save or another intel company to dive back in the fray.

In her mind, she could still see how affected he had been by Eriadu and while Asmus could be foolishly brave at his young age, getting involved further only meant a target on his back. It was a conundrum. Kaile wanted to express her frustration but unable to do so. Even now with the final stage of flashfire, the risk… and who knows where the pilot might have gone to?

Thankfully the alert of a new message drew her from her anxious and melancholy thoughts. It was a response from one of the counterfeiters. They would be willing to negotiate a new alias for twenty thousand credits.

Kaile bit her lower lip. That was almost all of the funds she managed to make selling off the luxury goods. What would be left would require digging into parts for more — or selling the Solaris completely. That was a choice Kaile didn’t want to make. The medical pod gave her a sense of reassurance out here. There wasn’t access to quality medical care and even then it would cost money. Credits she didn’t have.

Her hand came up to rub her face. Options were so limited. Pushing her hair away from her face, Kaile stared down at the offer.

With a heavy exhale, Kaile responded that she would agree to the terms as long as it was a clean identity with no ties to the first order, the Alliance, or the sith empire. She couldn’t risk getting flagged.

The response would take another hour before it was confirmed that her requests would be accepted. She would need to pick up the documents and exchange the funds in person.

 

[Asmus Janes]

He knew this view. The thought was terrifying. Asmus stepped out of the airspeeder and dropped heavily to the ground. He slid his blaster from its holster and placed it back under the seat and then locked the airspeeder. He turned and looked back up the side of the valley, his heart racing.

“Why are you leaving that?” Jay asked curtly.

“Don't want to scare the locals. Shouldn't have any trouble, she told us this nest was very welcoming to strangers.”

“And if there is trouble?” Jay asked.

“Well that's why you are here!” Asmus wasn't that interested in worrying about defending himself from the Rishii. It seemed unlikely that they would decide to murder him with primitive weapons based on all he had seen so far. Instead he was looking at the view and comparing it to a holo image from Mara's book. The caption read: View of Sky Ridge Island. Taken on the first day before my two month stay.




The two Rishii landed ahead of him on the winding path. He didn't sense any hostility from them, but they did block his way. One of them twisted its head to one side at an angle that would have snapped a human spine.

“No traders were expected today?” one of them asked.

“Wasn't here for mining!” Asmus said with a smile.

“Not for mining then,” the second Rishii replied, almost perfectly matching his inflection on the word mining.

“No, a friend of mine, Mara visited here a few months ago. After reading her book I thought I would visit.”

“You'll have to talk to the chief, but you are very welcome…”

“Liam,” Asmus replied. The name rolled off his tongue easily now. The identity had grown since the bare details had been purchased. Liam had his own likes and dislikes, favourite foods and films. There was even a particular way he dressed. “So does Cara still live near here?” he asked.

A look passed between the Rishii. Neither answered as they escorted him up the path they told him of the history of their nest.

---

“So does Cara still live near here?” Asmus voice rang out around the Solaris. Everything was perfectly captured. The trepidatious tremble at the end, the hint of hopefulness. Asmus had campared the nest to the images from the holo book and realised he was in the right place. But it wasn't Asmus who spoke.

“There is a human asking about you,” Bayuk added in his own voice. Asmus’ voice had merely been the Rishii mimicking what had been asked by the newcomer back up at the nest. Bayuk was on his own.

“He seems friendly enough, but I thought it would be best to check with you first. No one will tell him anything unless you say it is safe to do so.” The Rishii could be welcoming, but they were not stupid. They lived in peace, but they looked after their own.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Kaile had been finishing up her biweekly check up. Truth be told, she’d taken a few more precautions and everytime she came back the past two weeks to bring an item back for sale at Raider’s Cover, she’d taken the time to step into the pod and check the baby’s progress. The nausea had long since left, so she was eating healthier now. Granted, there were a few odd cravings that Bujak attempted to please, but there was only so much apple cider vinegar over fruit he could stand.

She was just about to step out of the Solaris when Bujark’s perfect mimicry of the inqury made her freeze in her tracks. Her right hand came up, clinging to the airlock, knuckles white. Her left immediately came over to rest over her belly. The blood left her face, draining away as if it felt her stomach had fallen to her feet.

Only when she was able to recognize Bujark’s Avian shape wasn’t Asmus himself, was she able to breathe easier. That didn’t mean her heart didn’t feel as if it hammered in her throat.

“Wh… what?” Wide eyed, the heavily pregnant woman stared at the Rishii behind wisps of magenta hair.

Did he actually just say what I thought he did?

“A human is looking for you. His name is Liam. Nice fellow, very curious. Said Mara is a friend of his.”

Now Kaile felt unsteady. Bujak wasn’t one to be oblivious, as he went rushing forward through the low tide rock covered cavern to get to her.

“Are you well? Sit. Sit. “ he ordered, but Kaile’s mind was flying in overdrive. Liam. That combined with the perfect mimicry by Bujak meant only one thing. It was Asmus. Asmus. How did he ever find her? When? How?
“W-when?”

“Hmm?” Bujark gave his head a slight cant to the right.

“When did he ask for me? H-how long ago?”

“Oh, not long. Chiak and I found him come up. Not here for mining, he said.” A fine trembling took her. Trepidation, anxiety, fear, surprise, alarm, and such intense longing.

“Is… is he still here?” Kaile would ask, part of her wanting to hear the answer and the other dreading it.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus was starting to suspect that the group had been given specific instructions not to talk about Kaile. He didn't want to push the subject and they were quick to divert when it raised it. They were a welcoming species and in truth were just being slightly protective of one who loved among them now.

They were high here. Even with the canopy of trees the wind cut across the island. Apparently they lived in much higher mountains than this, content to by on nearly sheer valley sides rather than the flat swamps below.

She didn't emerge as they offered him some food. Maybe he was too late. Asmus kept trying to imagine that each way he looked he could see the spot where the photo was taken, but in truth the focus had been on the chick and it was impossible to pick out a particular view from the background.

It was fortunate that Jay had a boundless enthusiasm for asking questions about the way the Rishii lived. Asmus decided that whatever happened next he would need to take Jay somewhere a little more stimulating for his circuits than hidden resistance bases.

 

[Kaile Vera]

If Asmus was waiting for Kaile to show, she didn’t. Instead, Bujak came back to chat with Asmus again. He gave him yet another bowl of food, and began to pick at his brain.

“So you come here because of Mara’s book?” he would inquire, captivated by what Asmus might say. No mention of Cara as of yet, the conversation he had with Kaile kept to himself.

“You come to learn of the Rishii?” Bujak wasn’t dumb, but he wanted to see for himself just what this man would say. He could already glean some information from Cara, but she was too lost to make a decision right now. Perhaps, this person was special, yes? Enough for the woman who he had invited to stay at the nest community to be placed out of sorts due to their appearance.

Meanwhile, Kaile had left the Solaris, choosing to instead head for the Messa. She had to think. To process this. The last thing she ever expected was for Asmus to be here. It baffled her. As she made her way through the jungle, the woman kept gliding her palms over her swollen belly.

Had Jay told him that she took the Solaris? No, he couldn’t have done that. Not with the parameters she’d given him. There was no way that Vo could have informed him either; even Vo didn’t know where the former agent would have gone undercover. It was not only for her safety but for his.

This meant - and Kaile gave a shaky gulp - that the former Wraith Commander had been doing his own investigation to track her down. There was no way Asmus could have pulled this off with the final stage of flashfire only sent but a day or so ago.

Nerves a wreck, Kaile made it to the Messa. Asmus didn’t know that was her ship and it was the safest place that she could hide while she thought things through. The sun was already starting to set, casting long shadows along the mountains and the chain of islands. Her eyes went drifting towards the landing pad, immediately searching for any other silhouettes or speeder bikes. Amidst the few she already recognized, there was an unfamiliar landspeeder there. That knot that had formed at the base of Kaile’s throat just grew larger.

Part of her wanted to hide. To make sure Asmus couldn’t, wouldn’t see her. To do so would invite a series of questions that she couldn’t avoid. Not when she was five months pregnant. Then to see him, to come face to face with him again would break the carefully cultivated dam she’d constructed to keep herself together. It was just too much to reconcile so fast. First the final message from Vo, then to learn Asmus had somehow managed to find her here.

Overwhelmed, Kaile brought down the ramp to the Messa, the faint glow of the lantern she held illuminating her steps into the tiny cargo hold. There was a new moon tonight, there wouldn’t be anything but starlight to see with come nightfall. In the meantime, she had to think. To process. Bujark said that he would keep Asmus busy -- but he couldn’t promise he’d be able to keep his attention for long. Either way, it would require him to eventually make his way back here to the landspeeder.

Hopefully by then, Kaile would have made up her mind whether to meet him or not.

By the time nightfall fell, the light’s of the Messa were completely dark, the starlight barely enough to see faint silhouettes. There, on top of the ramp, Kaile sat in the dark, Bobo perched on her shoulder. In this light it would be difficult to discern she was there with how still she sat, although in her mind, she could have sworn her heart was thundering loud enough for the entire island to hear.

 

[Asmus Janes]

It became quite clear that no only did they mimic tone and inflection but the rishii always started to match language and structure. They used it to intersect their own questions and observations into his sentences and to direct the flow of the conversation. Asmus started to wonder if Kaile had originally come here to learn from them.

He had explained that he was more of a casual tourist than an ornithologist, but that he had four Mara's book incredible. Asmus had showed the group a few of the photos from the book on his datapad. Bajuk seemed interested in his story, but so did the rest of the nest. Jay meanwhile was a buzzing hive of questions. He wanted to know if they could fly long distances, did they migrate, how large were their eggs and a host of other things. Asmus was glad of a break to just think and observe.

If Kaile had gone and there were no clues left then this was really going to be the end of the trail. Someone had issued an Ash call as he had been arriving. Kaile would be a ghost by now. A memory that would slowly fade with time. It was difficult to have that nervous anticipation lead to no tangible answers.


If Kaile was still on the ramp she would see a bright light coming down the path. Asmus was a silhouette in the beam. Jay had insisted on lighting the path for safety reasons. Asmus had refused the offer of a bed for the night, but had promised to return soon. He wasn't even going to make the journey back to the cove. In truth he was more comfortable in a reclined seat than an unfamiliar bed.

There was a big difference between planning for the future and really thinking about it Asmus had been taking steps to ensure that everything was prepared for him to settle down on either Naboo or Rendili. Both had shipwright industries that his identity could provide. Both were sympathetic to the plight of his small resistance group and were willing to take them in.

It wasn't the same as truly imagining himself in a future where Kaile was gone for good.

 

[Kaile Vera]

In the darkness, Kaile would watch that faintly swinging beam of light, heart kicking starting again with longing as well as trepidation. She observed as he came down the path, noting with an almost bittersweet relief that the source of the beam was none other than Jay.

The knot grew in her throat, her mouth dry. It was as if she’d stuffed it with cotton, soaking up every ounce of moisture. There was fear in her heart. A nervous coil low in her belly. Perhaps even the baby could tell, as even as she sat there, knees drawn up to hide her stomachs as much as she could, the life within seemed to flutter along with her anxiety.

There was a line of demarcation coming. A before and after. Kaile could feel it in her bones and she knew she was quickly becoming a nervous wreck. It was easier to think without recognizing the familiarity to Asmus gait, the way he weighed his steps with his emotions. He might just be a silhouette, but Kaile recognizes him as well as her own shadow.

It would be hard to notice her at the top of the ramp in the darkness, but the Lorrdian knew if she were to call out, Jay’s protocols would kick in a full sweep of the area. She wasn’t ready for that.

Sorry, Jay, Kaile would apologize in her mind. Fingers trembling, anxiety driving ice into her veins, Kaile sent a push of the Force out. Within a few seconds, as the pair drew closer to their airspeeder about ten meters away, the large lumbering droid came to a stop. His light dimmed, and his processors seemed to move into a sleep function. By all accounts, it was as if he’d was moving into low battery mode.

While Asmus would likely start to wonder just what was going on with Jay, out from the darkness, a quiet, but familiar voice would said with the faintest quiver, “You’re a long way from the Outer Rim. Ain’t safe to fly away from there.”

Without Jay’s light to shine on where the voice came from, it would be up to Asmus to determine the origin. Should he attempt to step towards that direction, Kaile was ready to ask him to please not come any closer. Not yet.

She had to ask a few things. Determine from his answers. Find out why he was here.

And what he was expecting.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Jay you can't turn it off if… .” Asmus stopped abruptly at the sound of her voice. Suddenly losing sight of the ground didn't matter.

He took a breath, almost forcing air into his lungs. There was his answer. She was here. She was here, but whether she was happy to see him was still up in the air.

“The theatrics aren't quite as impressive as last time,” he admitted. It was certainly not quite as intimidating as being presented with a wall of Kaile heads. Bringing Jay had always been a risk. The droid would follow her commands and might well try and bundle him off in an embarrassing manner. The truth was that if she was willing to use force to keep him away, whether that was through the droid or plain old agent skills and the Force, then he couldn't bring himself to struggle.

“No one sent me but me. And if I plotted a course so badly than any run of the mill scout could follow me through the maze then you might as well shoot me now.”

Asmus brought his hands slightly out to the side. “Please don't shoot me,” he murmured after his bold proclamation.

 

[Kaile Vera]

There was a slight twitch tugging at the corner of her mouth of amusement that Kaile couldn’t help. There it was, his elastic ability to seemingly be able to bring humor in almost any situation. It was good to know it was back.

“You forced my hand last time,” she admitted in regards to theatrics back on the subversion. “Made me panic.” It was far more information of what lay in the depths of her mind that the agent had ever allowed in front of Asmus before.

“In hindsight, I should have thought it a bit more thoroughly. “ the sound of her taking a steadying breath filled the night along with the song of the frogs and the gentle lap of waves of the secluded lagoon nearby.

“No, scouts,” she assured,” you’d be careful of that regardless.” A passing commentary of the assurance of his skill.

“Ess Eye Ess wouldn’t have scouted you otherwise…” her voice would drift, searching. Weighing.

“How did you find me?” It was taking every ounce of strength to try and keep her voice steady, but every now and then there was a tell. A quiver in her voice. She was nervous. What he couldn’t see was that she’d been curling her fingers tightly against the fabric of her pants. Forcing herself to stay seated and not rush over to him.

There was too much that had to be said. That she had to know. Asmus came here expecting something. What Kaile didn’t know is if she could ever possibly fulfill it.