~~

“Stars and galaxies, Fria. You…. You’re all grown up.  And you might actually still be younger than I am.”

Captain Eva Corolastor strolled into the meeting room, and the Jedi immediately brightened up after staring out the viewport in boredom.  “Captain. It is good to see you.” She meant it with all her heart.  The Captain… had acquired more gravitas, for lack of better description.  More weight, not physically but perhaps in her soul, or whatever it was she believed she had as a smuggler.  She had changed, but not as obviously as so many of them had.  

As Fria herself had.  There were still times the scars on her cheeks pulled and phantom sensations caressed up toward her ears.

The Captain held out a hand and gestured toward another familiar figure – older than the Captain now by a fair margin.  “Risha. You remember her?  She took care of your leg –"

“After Bowdaar shot me out of a tree for following Agent Theron out of camp.  Yes, I do remember,” Fria finished.  “I trust the crew is all here?”

As Eva nodded and Risha gave her a polite but tight smile, Fria felt a wonderfully warm and happy feeling bob up inside her.  A family of sorts, reunited.  Not all could claim the same.

“I hear you have a lightsaber…” Eva said slowly.  

No, not all could claim that.

Fria dropped her eyes down to her robe pocket and carefully drew out the elegant, thin hilt.  Risha let out a sigh, murmuring something about the craftsmanship.

Fria remembered that Sumalee had designed it to match her ceremonial headdress, for the most special of occasions – good things that would come again soon, once the galaxy was all right.

Fria had no idea what she was about to do, that last evening meal before she boarded a freighter for destinations unknown.  

“Master Sumalee… was my friend,” Fria began, and stars above, she sounded like she still was that child that fell out of a tree.  She swallowed and pressed forward, sounding more like herself, as she was, after the war.  “Master Sumalee assisted me in readjusting to life outside of hiding.”  Fria flexed her hand around the lightsaber, rotating it to demonstrate that the kyber crystal had been removed; her fidgeting wouldn’t set it off.    “I don’t understand why she did what she did.”

Eva grimaced slightly, but she held her ground and looked Fria in the face.  “She and I have a history.  Back before Yavin.  We helped each other on Corellia.  Saved the Republic.  Then I used her resources to take Voidfleet for myself.  Don’t think she ever forgave me for that.”  She said it plainly.  There was no antagonism or regret.

Fria stared but then reflected.  To see the Captain at the head of yet another fleet… lauded as hero of the galaxy again … “She did want good in the galaxy. But I don’t understand how that would have been gained by destroying you.  Or your Alliance.”  

“Vengeance isn’t logical. It’s short-sighted, and the person doesn’t think beyond the chance to bloody their rival.”  Risha’s eyes fixed on the hilt.  “But Sumalee probably knew she didn’t need to think beyond that.  I don’t think for a second that she didn’t know the cost of assisting the Order of Zildrog.”

Fria brushed against Risha with the Force.  She hadn’t thought to use it initially because she knew Eva was profoundly Force-Null. But when she reached for Risha – oh, all Fria could feel was grief.  Grief, sliding through her fingers and hair like water, refusing to grasp it, wishing it would just all flow away ---  

Fria then straightened up and spoke quickly, not giving Eva or Risha a chance to say anything else.  She had to get through this.  “I come as a representative of the Jedi Order.  I wish to reassure you that the Order does not condone Master Sumalee’s actions, nor do they agree with her assessment of you.”

Risha huffed slightly. “Probably still kept a journal fuming about all the injustices committed against her.  She never did forgive easily.”

Fria blinked as all of Risha’s words and feelings seemed to point to one conclusion.  “You knew her?”

“Before I ever did.” Eva took a step back and away from Fria. “Risha and Sumalee were friends before Sumalee became a Jedi and before Risha signed on with Virtue’s Thief.” Eva paused, then continued.  “If you want to render up the lightsaber as some sort of tribute, I don’t want it.  But if you wanted to return it to someone who could remember her from before all this –”

“I’ll take it,” Risha said calmly.   “She was my friend too.  Before life got even more complicated.”

Fria gently nodded.  “Yes.  That always seems to be happening, as I grow older.  I would hate to think the galaxy is getting worse, though.  I just might be more painfully aware of it all.”  The three women chuckled lightly at that. Then Fria drew in another breath, hand squeezing the hilt one more time.  “I … have also come to offer my service directly to the Alliance.”

Eva startled slightly and looked at her in askance.  

“The Jedi have been wanting to approach the Alliance for quite some time.  They want to launch something called Task Force Nova to rebuild the order.  They need help, honestly.  But asking you -- never the right time.  Never the right feeling in the Force.  And I’m really fed up with waiting around to do something constructive.”  Fria drew herself upward.  “I’d like to join your enclave here.  When they finally get their act together, I’ll volunteer myself as liaison.”

It was when Eva’s brilliant smile appeared that Fria realized she must have been very enthusiastic during the course of her pitch.  More like the girl she once had been…

Eva tempered her grin slightly.  “How about you spend a few days here?  Get to know Sana-Rae and the enclave.  Talk to Risha about old friends.  See how you feel before any decisions.  Including about who should hold onto that lightsaber.”

Fria nodded.  “That is reasonable.”

~~

It was far late into the night, after several long walks and very tall drinks, that Fria crept into the small cell that her own private space.  She appreciated the size; just large enough to dwell in, but not large enough to hide in.  Odessen was quite the busy hive to be a part of, and she doubted she wanted to spend much time in here brooding anyway.  

It was a lot brighter here than on Corellia or Coruscant now, for Fria.

As she settled into bed and relaxed, her mind skipped through meditation exercises until she found the one she wanted, like music on a jukebox in the cantina.  

Then the voice came.

“Odessen.  Perfectly balanced in the Force.”

Fria bolted upright. She’d never thought she’d hear him again – it had been so long.  But it had been so long since she had balance.  

“I know.  I never left you.  The Jedi do have it right.  There is no death.  There is the Force.”

Fria seized upon that weak tendril and tugged it toward her, trying to bring him to her vision.

He finally arrived.

“It’s so good to see you again, Lord Kallig.”

Gacen felt calm, he hadn’t left Risha’s side since arriving on Gabredor Prime, the planet was so weird it was so remote but also so beautiful, he had to admit he hadn’t been looking at the planet's beauty much though. He looked down at her lying in his arms and smiled, she really had waited for him, their love was real, he stroked her hair as she looked up at him still looking as smarmy as ever but clearly happy he was here. It was impressive she’d managed to get this set up in five years but not surprising, she could do anything when she set her mind to it and he’d help her whatever it took, he wasn’t a coward anymore.

Gacen frowned thinking to himself “so how do you think Sumalee is going to react when she sees me, throw me down the stairs or just groan” Risha laughed shaking her head at him

She smiled “she doesn’t hate you that much just the right amount, that sweet spot I found too” Gacen faked a gasp acting all offended “oh come on don’t make me feel bad dumbass” she sat up putting her forehead against his

Gacen smiled “I know I’m just kidding I’ll do my best to convince her despite the fact I’d rather just stay here with you, I only just got back and now I have to go again” he pouts at Risha who to no surprise doesn’t jump to comfort him

She tapped the comm link she gave him “you may go but I’m not letting us seperate that easy you better talk to me the whole time i spent ages getting these encrypted so it’s safe for us to talk” Gacen smiled at her 

He teased “awwww you did that for me you must really love me” Risha smirked rolling her eyes

She leaned forward “don’t flatter yourself or I’ll be forced to divorce you” Gacen chuckled right back to their old routine

He faked surprise “you wouldn’t dare” Risha chuckled to herself clearly happy to have her ‘dumbass’ back

Risha winked “oh just watch me” she pulled him in close for what he assumed would’ve been a snide comment but as she did her face softened and she just hugged him tight

Gacen hugged her back “aw Rish I guess we can’t quite go back to what we were, a few things have changed after all” she nodded squeezing him tight “it’s ok it’s ok though I promise I won't turn this off ok” She let him go wiping her eyes and smiling

She punched him playfully “you better not we can’t have anything bad happening to the future Queen's husband” Gacen smiled at her laughing to himself what an odd nickname

He tested his comm “testing one two, ‘Rish...loves... me’ you getting that ‘best...I am…the...best” Risha put her hand on her forehead

She chuckled “I’m already regretting giving you that but yes it does work” she tests her own “and you should be able to hear this ‘No...he...isn’t’” Gacen gasped comically as she spoke

He smiled “well it seems to work Rish” he looked out the window “has M4-SK prepared the ship” Risha nodded following him to the door “and he understands his ‘role’ right he seems eccentric even for a droid” Risha shrugged holding onto his hand

She sighed “I dunno probably he may be weird but he gets really in character so is much more reliable if he gets caught just don’t give him too much backstory or he’ll try to work it in” Gacen made a mental note to avoid that

Gacen took her hands and smiled “thanks Rish I promise I’ll be back in a flash with Sumalee” he pulled her into a long kiss after which neither really wanted to let go holding each other for a few minutes

Risha eventually broke away “well you best be back soon I have other things I need you for” Gacen gave her a quizzical flirty look “I don’t mean that! I mean other missions, come on Gacen that stuff goes without saying” Gacen chuckled squeezing her hands before turning to walk to the ship

Once in the cockpit he turned on the comm link leaning against the wall “hey girl I hear your home alone want some company” a long elongated sigh came back through with what sounded like a stifled laugh as well

Risha tutted “you are the worst I swear” Gacen strolled to the cockpit and sat down in the pilot's chair

He responded “yeah but I’m your worst it’s too late to back out now you admitted how cute you find me” M4-SK looked at him quizzically but didn’t press the issue 

Risha groaned “are you gonna be like this the whole trip” Gacen knew what the answer was but just whistled innocently…

Later they were coming up on Wayland and M4-SK had been asking questions “if I may I’d like to know a little more about my character” Gacen had done his best to avoid answering questions so far but he couldn’t hold out forever

Gacen groaned “you’re a protocol droid for me a travelling mystic” he gestured to the robes he was wearing that vaguely resembled the Jedi robes he’d seen during his time in the republic

Risha came through the comms “ooo wow what a mysterious hermit of course he has magic powers why not show me a few” Gacen rolled his eyes she’d been making fun of his outfit non stop

M4-SK rubbed their chin “yes I’m aware but do you really think people will buy you as a mystic what if I played the mystic” Gacen frowned at him what was so unconvincing about that

He put his hands on his hips “um first of all rude and second of all droids can’t do magic it’s literally impossible” M4-SK tutted clearly disagreeing

He continued “maybe in your small minded universe but in the acting world anyone can be anything” Gacen had a look of disbelief on his face and leaned back whispering into the commlink

He asked “does he have any idea this isn’t a play?” why of all the droids was he stuck with this one

Risha responded equally unsure “Honestly I don’t know I’ve told him over and over but he just seems to ignore me so eventually I just gave up” Gacen sighed of course

He sat back up “hmmm maybe a good idea as an experiment but for now we need to nail this so I’ll play the mystic” M4-SK shook his head going back to co-piloting

He tutted “fine but it’s your funeral when the reviews come in” Gacen just decided to ignore him as the planet of Wayland came into view, it was a mainly mountainous planet with many trees dotted around and as they brought the ship down they found there was a decent number of inhabitants they landed close by and soon encountered the Crystal skinned humanoids.

After a quick translation from M4-SK and a crude drawing of a togrutas montrals they were directed towards a mountain with a flat plateau in the side of it, overall it seemed promising now it was just about convincing Sumalee to come with him

As he walked up the mountain he continued to talk to Risha “so why do you think Sumalee came here I thought she was a respected member of the jedi” Gacen put his hand up against the wind as it blew his cloak back he felt very out of his element

Risha responded quickly “I’m not quite sure apparently it’s one of those ‘strong in the force planets” Gacen got that vibe he wasn’t sure why “and you know she was never really the most ‘by the code’ Jedi” that was true 

Gacen smiled “I mean she knew us that’s pretty not by the book” she had given them far too many favours and pardons over the years

Risha agreed “exactly it may just be that she wanted to strike out on her own” Gacen guessed that was possible

He shook his head “well let’s just hope that she’s more agreeable to smugglers named Gacen than before” Gacen hoped so anyway he didn’t ever appreciate being on the wrong end of a lightsaber

He made his way up the mountain and by the end his feet were as sore as can be he was not a climber, he leaned on the stick he’d found to use as a walking stick. “Yes I made it oh my god I’m so tired” he took a moment to rest 

Risha teased him “oh you poor thing whatever will you do” Gacen rolled his eyes looking up at the rest of the Plateau

He saw at the end there was a figure floating in the air seemingly meditating, he recognised the montrals and hoped this had all been worth it.

She turned and lowered herself to the ground “you have come here seeking answers mystic? Well go ahead ask away” she lifted her hood revealing the red skin of Master Sumalee

Gacen gritted his teeth ready “well not exactly” he took his own hood off with a cheesy grin “I actually came here seeking you, what’s up girl how’ve you been” Sumalee’s expression dropped

She sighed “oh fuck” she strode towards him “what do you want Gacen and if you’re going to ask me where Risha is I don’t know” she folded her arms and turned away

Gacen held the back of his neck “weeeeeelll I actually may have the answer to that question” Sumalee turned around her face softening “and I’ll tell you if you listen to my proposition” Sumalee seemed to consider it for a few seconds