The Spider and the Storm

Sirejj was quiet for a moment. He had sensed the change in other corners of the galaxy. Something was brewing in the dark corners where the Empire had tried their hardest to stomp out any semblance of rebellion. And yet they endured.

"Survival is the goal, under the radar or not." He tapped his staff on the ground once. "I would stand better against them with the Treacle than I would on my own." He waved his hand and the glass door slid open.

The doors opened onto a lavish patio lit by the sun and dozens of little crystal windchimes reflecting the light onto the stonework. Winding walkways spanned over two acres of gardens sporting flora from countless planets. Orchids from Eriadu, fruit trees from Lothal, Alderaanian herbs, it all flourished here. The scent of the place was overpowering, but Thalassa relaxed slightly as it hit her nostrils. This was a familiar place for her. A safe place.

"I'm glad to hear that," she said. "I like you. It would be a shame to toss you into something you didn't sign up for, but then again I'd much rather have you where I can see you even if you didn't want to be. Wilhuff was sloppy--he probably should have had you killed after you finished your work. I'm glad he didn't." She clasped her hand since front of her and walked down the steps. "What a mess."

"That was probably his original plan. Which is one of the reasons I laid low...I suspected once he got his wits about him he would've sent Vader's dogs after me. I'm still curious to see if he does." He walked slightly beside her on her left side. He took a deep breath of the fresh air.

"He won't." Thalassa's voice was firm. "I had another question. About the girl, Saro. It's true what Wilhuff said? That she and Garoche were lovers? That's certain?"

"It was." The screen flashed in his mind again of their final embrace. His hand on her stomach. The tears in their eyes before the walls had fallen in. He huffed, bringing his mind back to the present. His brow had furrowed slightly.

"I see." The walls in Thalassa's mind trembled a little, and her brows knit together. "And she had no living relatives?" A grandchild, she was thinking. I almost had a grandchild.

"None that I am aware of." His voice quieted a little. He had not explored that option while still on Atoa. He'd still been reeling from all that had happened and had turned his focus to escaping Atoa as quickly as possible.

Disappointment clouded her thoughts, but she nodded. "Very well." She walked on for a little in silence, eyes moving over the greenery. "This is where I first spoke to my husband," she said at length.

The feelings that surrounded the garden were conflicted. Sirejj was quiet, studying both the landscape and its mistress.

He remembered when they'd had a similar conversation on Eriadu, overlooking the courtyards of Tarkin's home. It seemed much longer ago than it had really been. Back then, Sirejj never would have dreamed that he would discover secrets on Atoa that'd change the course of so many lives. The channel of things had certainly changed. The future was unsteady, more than it had ever been.

"He really was something," she mused. "We were both so young back then. No idea what lay ahead..." She trailed off, gazing into the foliage, then shook herself a bit and looked back at Sirejj. "I liked him very much, you know. I think he liked me, too. I know he did, actually. But now we're about to stand on opposite sides of the incoming conflict. You're willing to do this despite having worked alongside him?"

"With all due respect, he left me to find my way off a deserted planet and probably would have attempted to kill me if he'd been thinking straight." He let a little smile cross his face as if it amused him. "I will manage."

"Ah." She returned the smile, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, he did mention that. Our conversation about that day was rather brief, though." The smile faded. "I'm glad I can count on you. It's always nice to have a Force user in your back pocket. Especially with this other business--some threats we've been getting lately. It would seem that assassination attempt last year was just a precursor."

"Oh yes, the Phindian. Pitiful fate she received. Truly chose the wrong target that day." He felt a slight coldness as he remembered seeing Vader shatter her mind as he stood and watched. That had truly rattled him. "Do we have any leads on who is responsible? I assume you have more than a few enemies."

"It's a narrow pool," Thalassa replied. "Zee's been working on it, along with some of my best agents. I have many friends with many connections--they're keeping an ear out. But no, we have no conclusive leads just yet."

"None I hope have made it as far as the walls of this compound." Even Sirejj himself knew that he would've had a hard time getting in if he wanted to do so unnoticed. And was able to cast illusions and see things before they happened. He'd make a great assassin if he'd wanted to get his hands that dirty. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't thought about that line of work before.