This story is set seven months after the events of Dark Tide: Ruin. Because this contains many spoilers, do not read this unless you have already read the book. These characters and situations belong to Lucasfilm, Ltd. No money was made off of this, as it was created solely for entertainment purposes. Do not repost anywhere without the permission of the author!
The Errant Venture loomed like a predator about to jump on its prey above the planet of Selonia in the Correllian system. Booster Terrik, the owner of this imposing Impstar Deuce, was a "retired" smuggler who loved rubbing his ownership of the massive vessel in the New Republic military's collective faces.
But not anymore. Over the past seven standard months since the destruction of Ithor, the EV had intermittently housed one of the most talked about refugees of the whole incident…Corran Horn. Several years back, Horn had married Terrick's daughter, Mirax. Together they had two children, Valin and Jysella .
Granted, Booster never got along with Corran particularly well, but the Ithorian incident quite frankly turned his stomach. Although Corran had insisted that Skywalker had done the right thing in disassociating him with the Jedi, Booster didn't buy it. "The NR can gripe about smugglers all they want," Booster thought, "but they can't ever accuse them of abandoning one of their own in a time of crisis.
And to Booster, that's precisely what the Jedi had done to Corran, and to his family. And it was exactly what had gotten Booster and his Errant Venture into this mess in the first place.
"Sir," a Twi'lek at the control panel called, "the Pulsar Skate has just docked with us."
Booster nodded at his employee. "Ven, you have control of the bridge until I return."
"Yes sir," he replied, prompting Booster to turn on his heels and exit the deck of the ship. "Being the father-in-law of such a high profile refugee is going to be the death of me yet," he thought to himself.
In the cabin of the Pulsar Skate, Corran Horn gently maneuvered the ship to the floor of the EV's freighter hold. Mirax Terrik, sitting in the copilot's seat, tossed her long brown hair as she turned her sparkling brown eyes on her husband.
After Ithor, Corran had been disassociated with the Jedi and had returned with her and their family to their home planet of Corellia. There, he had spent a great deal of time in Jedi meditation and with his grandfather, Rostek Horn. The time back with his grandfather had proven to be the most helpful for Corran's psychological wounds, but the Jedi still harbored a certain sense of defeat concerning recent events. Rostek had encouraged Corran to get back into the battle despite his mental pain, and insisted that this alone would be the best medicine for Corran's troubles. And that was why they were here now, with the children back on Corellia, on the Errant Venture once again.
"Corran," Mirax called softly, looking slightly concerned, "are you going to be okay?"
Corran ruffled his short dyed-blonde hair with his left hand then lowered it, running it through a newly grown goatee. "Yeah," he muttered at last, standing up from the pilot's seat and stretching. "Sure." Corran then lowered his arms, running his right hand down to his waist, feeling the cool metallic hilt of his lightsaber. Till just recently, Corran had abandoned wearing the thing. He didn't feel worthy of it…and in truth, he still didn't.
Mirax stood up next to him, putting her arms around his neck. "You'll be fine," she said, smiling at him reassuringly.
He smiled back at her, looking her face over with his brillant green eyes. "You know it's dangerous to be involved with a rogue Jedi," he quipped.
Her smile broadened, and she gave him a little kiss on the cheek. "Rogues are the ones I love best," she replied. "Besides, Luke Skywalker approved this thing himself," she countered. "With or without Skywalker and the gang, you are still a Jedi Corran Horn."
He nodded slowly, relishing hearing his name from her for one of the last times in a very indefinite future. "You are right," he admitted.
"And when am I ever not?" she teased.
"Ah," he said, a little mischief playing through his face, "Wife scores one hundred points, husband scores zero."
They laughed together for a few moments, then suddenly Corran turned deadly serious. Mirax frowned at him, wishing she could just once analyze his thoughts like Master Skywalker might. This time, she wouldn't have to wonder what he was thinking. "Corran Horn's name is marred," he said, voice growing softer but gaining an edge to it, "but hopefully someday he will be redeemed. Until then, Kieran Halcyon will fight his battles for him."
Corran and Mirax exited the Pulsar Skate and followed booster to his office without so much as a hello. Booster tapped the sensor at the door of his office, which scanned his biochemistry, identified him, and allowed him admittance. Mirax followed Booster in, with Corran close behind.
Corran's sense of warning went off a second later than he'd hoped it would. He took an involuntary step back, and stared at the big man seated in front of Booster's desk.
As Corran stood there dumfounded, Booster casually took his seat behind his desk and Mirax turned to face him, a questioning look on her face.
Corran gulped, realizing his mouth had gone dry. He wanted to say something, but with his head spinning he didn't have the clearness of mind to come up with anything.
The seated Jedi must have sensed this, and shot Corran a smile. "It's been a long time, Corran."
Corran shook his head, still in disbelief. "Ganner, what are you doing here? No one outside of this is supposed to know what's going on."
"Which is why Master Skywalker sent me. I'm going with you."
Corran shot Booster a betrayed look. Booster shrugged it off. "Don't blame me. Mirax told me only a few hours ago he'd be arriving shortly before you would."
Corran shook his head again, even more adamantly. "He can't go with me," he insisted, looking back and forth between all three parties in the room. "What if something happens to me out there? What if I screw up again…"
"Sit down, Corran," Mirax said soothingly. He looked over at her with a certain amount of terror radiating from his piercing green eyes.
He sank into the chair next to Ganner, his gaze remaining on Mirax and turning more inquisitive than alarmed.
"Until you get your confidence back…" she started.
Something that felt like a trickle of anger jolted through Corran, and he sat up straight, shooting an accusing look at Ganner. "Master Skywalker sent you to keep an eye on me, didn't he?"
"CORRAN!" Mirax said, adding an edge to her voice. He shifted his gaze back at her, frustration rolling off him. "I requested someone to go with you, NOT Skywalker. He has every confidence in your place among the Jedi and what you can do, as do I. But he's not married to you, and I am. I understand your concern about Ganner going with you into the Unknown Regions and wherever else, but I don't want you going out there alone. I'd like to have you back after all of this."
Corran nodded, seeming to accept her explanation. Some of the weariness in his body seemed to dissolve as he refocused on the task at hand. "All right," he said, shaking his head and adding a half-grin to his face. "What would I do without you?"
She sat down in the seat next to him and smiled. "We'll talk about that later," she said, taking his left hand in her right and squeezing it a little.
Corran looked back over at Ganner, smiling apologetically. "Can we start this over?"
Ganner nodded, returning the smile. "Sure thing."
Corran let go of Mirax's hand and extended his left hand for Ganner to shake. "Nice to see you again," Corran said.
"Same to you, Corran…or rather nice to meet you, Keiran. Mirax didn't tell you I'd be here because she figured you might not come after finding out," he explained, releasing Corran's hand.
Corran chuckled. "Smart girl," he responded. Corran then turned to Booster. "Is everything set for the kids to come in?"
Booster nodded. "Karrde picked them up from Corellia two hours ago."
Corran grimaced. He didn't particularly care for Karrde shuttling his children to the EV, but the alternative was worse. Mirax and the kids had been bombarded by Holonet reporters since the incident, and he just couldn't deal with them being hammered with questions on the way to the Skate. But he didn't want them alone on Corellia either, even if he did trust his Grandfather. On the EV he felt they'd at least have some protection. The Holonet ships wouldn't dare come near the Deuce, especially since Booster had finally gotten irritated with them and told them he'd have no qualms shooting each and every one of them down.
Mirax must have read his mind. "Karrde will get them here safely. Besides, if I'm going to trust him with your life, I might as well trust him with our children."
"Point taken. Ganner, have you been briefed?"
The other Jedi shook his head. "No. All I know is that we are looking for information about the Vong in the Unknown Regions."
"Right. Shada and Mirax are going to visit an old friend of Karrde's who has a wealth of datacards to search his library while the rest of us take the EV…compliments of Booster of course…to the Remnant to dig up more clues about the Outbound Flight Mission."
Ganner looked quizzically at Corran. "I thought the OFM was an excuse to exterminate some of the Jedi."
"Maybe. Probably. But I doubt the Jedi were that gullable. They had a galaxy-a specific destination that had been defined-that they were headed for. I'm certain their mission initially had a definite purpose, even though Palpatine made that purpose their destruction. After the OFM was destroyed, he must have assumed that whatever threat the Jedi perceived in that galaxy would be taken care of when Thrawn returned to the Unknown Regions. From what the Chiss told Mara back during the issue over the Camaas Document, Palpatine was wrong."
"And if our Unknown galaxy does happen to be that of the Vong?" Ganner asked.
"Then you and I, my friend, will be taking a trip to the other side."
Later the next day, a small passenger ship landed in the EV, with Booster, Corran, and Mirax watching not far from it. The ship's engine cut off, and the hatch opened only a minute or so afterwards. First off the ship was Talon Karrde, a suave looking man with a goatee and short hair that showed a fair amount of gray. Following him was Valin Horn, a twelve year old with intent hazel eyes and long brown hair that came down just below his chin. Of Corran's two children, Valin had taken the last few months the hardest. Valin had been studying at the Jedi Academy when Ithor fell, and Corran, as well as Luke Skywalker, felt it would be best to pull him out until things settled down quite a bit. Valin was not too pleased with this decision. Not only was he adamant that his father had done nothing wrong, he felt that the Jedi had abandoned them. A result of being around Booster Terrik too much, Corran decided.
About that time Jysella darted down the plank, her long hair flowing behind her as she dashed for Corran. Corran leaned over and scooped her up, kissing her on the nose.
She grinned mischievously, eyes sparkling.
"How's my girl?" Corran asked her.
"I got to play dress up all the way here," she blurted.
"She took a liking to my things," a tall slender woman who Corran had not seen getting off the shuttle after his daughter's entrance.
"Shada Du'kal," he said, extending his free hand.
The tall woman smiled. "Guilty as charged," she responded, shaking his hand.
Corran shook Karrde's hand as well. "Your boy makes a good pilot," Karrde told Corran and Mirax. "Flew the ship some."
Corran chuckled. "Taught him everything he knows about the flying art."
Valin's grin broadened. "Someday I wanna be a Rogue just like Dad was."
"Me too, me too," Jysella chimed in.
Corran just smiled. He had decided about one month into the Ithor incident that every man who is in a valley should have about two kids who still looked up to him no matter what he'd done. They were some of the best therapy.
"All right, all right," Booster cut in, clearly a little miffed that Corran was the center of attention, "let's get some food and finalize our arrangements. I'm sure you kids especially are hungry."
Jysella nodded emphaticially, and Valin responded with a "Sure thing, Granddad."
"Okay, then let's go."
Corran pressed his lightsaber against the Yuuzhan Vong's stomach. The lightsaber hissed. Ardent light poured from the Vong's mouth a second before he vomited black blood. Then it happened, the same as it always did. As the Vong warrior collapsed, his face morphed into the face of Elegos A'kla, his violet eyes pleading for Corran to have mercy.
Corran jolted up from the bed, sitting up straight. From the burning in his throat, he surmised he'd been screaming again. Feeling Mirax touch his right hand softly and caress his arm confirmed that he indeed had, and in the process he'd woken her up as well.
"Same dream?" she asked softly.
He nodded numbly, a little sweat rolling down from his forehead. He wiped it off with his left hand.
"Lay back down," she urged him.
He shook his head, grabbing a robe on the bedpost next to him, standing up and putting it on, tying the cord. "It's no good, the dream will just come back. I'm gonna go take a walk," he told her, sliding some slippers on.
"Then I'm coming with you," she said, standing up and putting on her own robe and slippers.
"Mirax, you don't have to…"
"Horn, this is my last night with you for a while. I'll not spend it alone."
He nodded. "All right. No use arguing with you anyway."
She smiled softly, coming over hugging him. "You got that right. Just promise me one thing?" she asked, releasing him and taking his right hand in her left.
"Hmm?"
"Whatever this thing is that's eating you, will you talk to Ganner about it?"
Corran's eyes glazed a little as he led her out of their sleeping quarters into the hall. "There's not much to tell him. No more than I've already told you."
She arched an eyebrow at him. "I might be great at solving the kids' problems, but I'm no ace when it comes to Jedi problems. You say you danced on the Dark Side, and maybe you did. But it seems to me any Jedi who can admit they might have used the Dark Side and feel so guilty about it isn't playing for keeps. But I don't have your and the kids' gift with the Force. I can't always understand it. Ganner can. So talk to him, all right?"
Corran stopped walking and Mirax did the same. She turned and took his other hand, looking into his eyes. "Please?"
He nodded slowly. "It's a deal."
The next morning, when it was still fairly early, Corran and Mirax entered docking bay 13 on the EV, where Shada's shuttle the Lioness sat. Shada, who already stood there by the ship waiting, smiled at them. "Good morning," she said to them both. "Ship's warmed up whenever you are ready."
Corran, who carried a sleeping Jysella, replied, "Thanks. I've got a little cargo that needs to be strapped in first."
"Sure, go right ahead. I've got to go make sure Karrde has finalized the arrangements. I'll be right back," she explained. Seeing Corran and Mirax acknowledge her, she headed out of the area.
Corran watched her leave, and grinned, turning back to Mirax. "Couldn't miss that goodbye kiss, I guess."
Mirax shot him a not-too-convincing scolding look. "You know that's never been confirmed."
"Yeah, and Karrde's never denied it either."
Mirax gave him a lopsided smile. "That's true enough. Now, let's get Jysella on board," she said, turning for the shuttle's open hatchway.
Corran followed, and Mirax lead him into the ship's cabin, where he gently settled his daughter into a passenger's seat and buckled her in. She stirred a little, reaching out for him with her left hand. He touched it softly, tenderly leading it back to a resting position on her lap. After seeing she was settled, he gave her arm a soft pat, and nodded to Mirax that she was all right.
Corran headed out of the cabin, followed by Mirax, who set her carry bag in the cargo hold and then followed him down the gangway.
"I'm gonna miss her," he said, nodding to the ship.
"She'll miss you too. Are you sure Valin will be okay here with you?"
"Sure. Your Father likes it when the kids are around anyway, and I'd hate to deprive him of his grandfatherly duties completely on this mission."
Mirax made a face. "He wasn't that mad you decided Jysella should go with me."
"Tell that to the dinner table he left a fist-mark in."
She giggled, turning to face the shuttle. "He just thinks you believe he can't take care of her."
Corran wrapped his arms around her waist, and she leaned against him. "I know better. He did a fine job with you."
She turned slightly, kissing him on the cheek. "Don't ever let him hear you say that. You'll never hear the end of it."
He smiled, relishing the feel of her body against his. "I know. Wouldn't be the first time he'd have one up on me though. Took him forever to stop reminding me how he successfully inserted the family into Corellia."
Well, Corran dear," Mirax said hesitantly, "I'd better get on that shuttle. Shada will return soon and I don't want Jysella waking up alone either."
"All right," he said, releasing her. She turned to face him.
"I'll see you when we rendevous in a month. Until then, and even while you possibly will be venturing into Vong territory, I want you to hang on to something for me."
With that, she reached around her neck and released the clasp that held a chain together around it. She pulled the chain up, revealing a medallion, the Jedi-credit that Corran had given her when he proposed.
He frowned. "Mirax, I want you to keep that," he said, extending his right hand to touch the medallion.
"I will," she replied. "You'll give it back to me when you return. This was your good luck charm in the past, and if its got any power left in it, you'll need it more than I will. Besides, you need it to remind you who you are, Corran, and where you've come from."
He accepted the medallion, fastening the chain around his neck and dropping the medallion under his shirt. "Thanks for the encouragement," he told her.
"For you, anytime," she responded, smiling.
He enfolded her in an embrace, and she kissed him long and full on the lips, sending a jolt of heat through him. He tightened his embrace, returning her kiss. Finally, their lips parted, and she slowly and softly pulled away from him.
"Mirax, I love you so much," he said.
"I love you too," she replied, giving his right hand one last squeeze then letting it go. "I'll see you soon."
