Traits Of Descent

Chapter Eleven

Hours after the disaster - Jade's Fire lounge

"I can't believe he did a reverse head-butt on me. I shouldn't have been that close behind him. The oldest kriffin' trick in the book and I fell for it. But he had me gloating. Serves me right."

Corran sat on the opposite sofa from Mara with his left leg suspended. He was still tending to a cut he received from the blast. Through his physical pain, he cried out his mental anguish at listening to Mara beat herself up. "I heard you twice the first time, Mara. Ow."

Mara looked at the long scrape along Corran's outer thigh. "Never took you as one who couldn't take pain, Corran, with all that you've gone through. I told you I have some stronger bacta patches."

"That's all right. I cleaned it well enough. Besides, I'd rather feel the pain right now. A reminder of our failure."

"Now who's crying in their ale?"

Before Corran could react, Luke came in through the door to the cockpit. He walked over to them and announced, "I've set the navi-computer for a jump to Bestine IV. We just have to set up a time when we're going."

Corran asked incredulously, "Mon Mothma's still meeting with us? She does know we don't have a prisoner anymore. And that he has I'hela."

Luke nodded. "She knows. She wants to meet us on Bestine in person."

Mara remarked, "That can't be good."

"It wouldn't be like that," Luke assured. "Mon Mothma isn't one to scold for failures. She learns from them." He paused for effect. "As should we."

Corran frowned and asked, "Any word on the surviving Vigo?"

"The Ithorian? Booster said he's critical. He may not last another day."

All of them fell silent as they thought about the people who they swore to protect. All but one were dead. The last remaining ex-Vigo was barely alive. Not to mention the loss of at least a dozen of Booster's own guards, including the one whom Mahc Tiernan shot dead to get to his ship. To say Booster was furious at them was redundant. He literally ordered the three of them off of his ship. With what they had put him through for nothing, they complied. Mara retrieved I'hela's SIE fighter and put it into the Jade's Fire hangar and they left.

Luke had to state the obvious. "We have to go forward from this. We have to figure out where Mahc would take I'hela. He took her for a reason. Maybe to kill her."

"No," cried Mara. "Not yet. I think I know where he's going."

"How can you know?" Corran asked.

"Because he has a mission he has to complete. The Broadwater's were Voxan's failure. The father and daughter escaped. They were supposed to be home but little I'hela got hurt. Voxan couldn't anticipate that kind of unforeseen accident."

"And now he's finally found the last Broadwater," Corran surmised. He looked at Luke grimly and stated, "Who knows what he'll do to her."

Luke replied, "I'hela's a trained NRS officer. She can handle herself."

Corran shot back, "She hasn't been trained to deal with a psychopath intent on violent revenge."

Luke breathed in and said, "We'll just have to put our heads together and find her before he–"

"Oh, kriff the Jedi positive assurance, Skywalker!" Mara snapped. "You've been underestimating Mahc this whole time. He's been trained to kill. And if he's been trained by the most notorious assassin in this galaxy's history then he has skills that you don't want to know about. Why can't you admit defeat? Mahc beat you. He beat us at his game."