In This Present State of Grace

[Ben Merasska]

Jaminere was bustling, a hive of manufacturing centers and the satellite businesses which grew up around their buildings, catering to the workers and management alike. It wasn't a city planet, but most of it was developed and none of it was wild and untamed, from the deep seas where the oil rigs and refineries very efficiently mixed refined and synthesized plastics on site in some wondrous sea-platform cities, to the least developed forests and plains, where animals could roam unmolested. At least until they were brought in, slaughtered, their cells used to culture more meat, and sold for food. "Wild caught" was a selling point for most people, and distributors thought it best not to make too much of a matter over the connotations of the word 'wild'.

Ben Merasska was sitting in a café not far from his ship, Alderaan (a Ghtroc Industries 720-class freighting starship). He was alone; Cerie was with the ship and their guest, and Shuvin had disappeared last night and hadn't returned. She'd been going missing the past few days they'd been laid up in this city waiting for word to meet the client, and Ben was getting worried.

At least the weather was nice. It was balmy, warm weather with a slightly humid breeze that swept swiftly through the man-made canyons.

Ben was reading a news digest, provided free for patrons of the café. WAR? was the headline that covered the vidscreen. The Tion Cluster was on the verge of civil war, the People's Unions which controlled the poorer worlds on the far side of the Indrexu Spiral were becoming more vocally resentful of the present state of affairs, and the wealthier worlds were seeing People's Unions growing larger and larger as the working classes were seduced by rhetoric of redistributed wealth and fairer working conditions and more social and economic mobility. Militaries and security forces were being strengthened, but no crackdowns on the Unions had occurred, though rumours were that certain worlds would see Unions jailed until the fighting was over. Many worlds along and 'behind' the Desevran Trace had supposedly pushed their sector leaders to court the Empire for protection and military aid, to offset the aid the People's Unions were receiving from the Alliance.

Militaries were being beefed along both sides, in the wealthier Allied Tion and Cronese Mandate sectors, and in the more divided Tion Hegemony, where the fighting would take place and the war decided.

Despite the feeling of dread of the People's Unions, there was a sense of anticipation in the air also; editorials were postulating that one good early victory, crushing the Unions' army, could end the war before it began. 'A swift military victory,' said one editor, 'is not only preferred and desired, but likely. The efficiency of our methods, applied to the spheres of battle in space and on worlds, could be the standard by which military campaigns could be waged in the future. The glory of a victory without the pain of a long drawn out war could revitalize the whole Cluster, and a banishment of the Republic's Old Lines leading to a new united Cluster, able to defend itself and its interests, independent of both the Alliance and the Empire.'

Ben had a sinking feeling; he was more than ready to leave the entire Tion Cluster to its own destructive devices, but not until he'd met the client and been paid for delivering the cargo. He wouldn't have taken this job at all, if it hadn't been a personal request from Palara. He forced himself to not think of the giant mystery that was personified in Palara Iscandar.

"Captain Ben Merasska?"

Ben looked up and saw perhaps the most military looking man he'd ever seen, in a perfectly cut green uniform with gold hemming and buttons, a glorious moustache, the clean cut black hair, and a strong manly chin with a perfect little cleft in it. The man nodded deeply, or perhaps he bowed the shallowest bow he could make, and sat opposite of the smuggler captain in his faded jacket and white undershirt with the strap to his shoulder holster visible along his chest, his loose fitting pocketed trousers which were fraying below the ankles due to being dragged along the ground, and the scuffed boots with worn soles which were thankfully hidden underneath the table top.

"That's me," Ben answered without standing up.

"I am Captain Forlo Higgs. Thirty Fifth Jaminere Volunteer Regiment, Mechanized Infantry. Miss Iscandar spoke of you to me. She said, and I believe this is an accurate remembrance of her words, 'If there is one person who could do this, it would be Ben Merasska.'"

He fixed Ben with an intense look.

"Please tell me she was correct."

"I'm here, aren't I?" Ben answered with a question. "Yeah, I've got your cargo. My bays are so full I can't sneeze in them, and getting through the Alliance and Imperial fleets that have you surrounded took some time. But I made it, and no one's the wiser. Least, I hope no one's the wiser for it."

Higgs let out a breath, and settled his hands on the table, looking almost comically relieved.

"I will, of course, go and see the cargo to make sure everything is accounted for," Captain Higgs said. Ben shrugged and nodded.

"Sure. Alderaan's not too far from here. Let's take a walk."

They left the café, and slowly made their way to the freighter bays down the avenue, which was clogged with commuters, traders, and workers; the end of the workday was approaching.

"I saw you were reading the digest," Higgs said, glancing at the scruffy spacer beside him. Ben shrugged.

"Not much else to do while I was waiting," he said.

"Tell me. What do you think of this whole situation?"

"I think it's crazy on both sides. I'm glad I don't live here, and I probably won't be doing much if any business around here for a while."

Higgs nodded seriously.

"I appreciate your honesty," he said. Ben found his earlier harsh judgement of the man to be softening, and he tried to harden himself in return, but found himself genuinely liking the man. "In truth, I would probably join you in leaving if I could."

Ben's brow rose. Higgs looked down at his feet.

"My father died some years ago, and my mother isn't quite fit to run the business, so it was left to my brother and myself. Unfortunately, we've had vocal and passionate disagreements about the path of the Cluster. He has been influenced by the People's Unions on Tion during a business trip. I wish I could leave and take him with me until the fighting was over, and return afterwards, no matter the victor. At least our family would be spared the division."

"Something tells me that leaving is not an option now."

Higgs frowned and nodded.

"He left a few days ago and hasn't returned. I tried to tell him that the Unions were feeding him and so many others lies, that the Cizerack corporations are waiting for the Unions to sell them our technology and methodology; the Unions promises of distribution and fair opportunity meant that they tear apart everything our family built here and take it somewhere else and leave us destitute as revenge for the blessings we received before that others believe we kept unfairly." He looked like he wanted to continue, but they had reached the bay, and Alderaan stood in all her glory. Ben couldn't help but smile.

"She is..." Higgs trailed off. "Alderaan, her name is? She looks like she could take on the galaxy and keep going, her build is so sturdy."

Ben led the Captain over to the ship, and hit a button, causing the loading lifts to lower. A couple large crates were sitting on them. Higgs wasted no time opening one and looking at its contents with a deep breath of relief.

"Farm equipment?" Ben asked. Higgs stood straight and nodded.

"A last, desperate attempt —"

"FOR THE PEOPLE, WE WILL STOP THIS TRAVESTY!"

"Ollam?" Higgs frowned, turning along with Ben to see a group of people standing at the open bay doors. Ben pulled his pistol at the sight of thermal detonators and blasters in some of their hands.

"NO LONGER WILL WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE EXPLOITED!"

"Put those guns and explosives away around my ship," Ben called. A familiar figure broke through the front lines of the group, and Ben's eyes widened.

"Shuvin?"

"Ollam! What are you doing?"

"Ben!" Shuvin called. "Ben, listen!"

"Forlo, I can't let you do this!"

"No, you don't understand, this is —"

"FOR THE PEOPLE!"

Ben lifted his pistol and took aim.

[Shuvin Undhi]

FOUR DAYS EARLIER

"So our client is, what, unavailable? Palara, what in the Corellian Hells is going on?"

Shuvin bit off a hangnail and glanced over at Ben where he was pleading with Palara to get their client here so the cargo could be offloaded. If the Alliance or Empire got a whiff of him dodging them into the presently barred Tion Cluster, then he could be looking at them passing him back and forth to see how many charges they could stick him with. He wasn't a Jedi or Imperial Knight who basically went where they damn well pleased. He was a normal guy who couldn't do magic.

"I am sorry, Ben. 'E cannot spare ze time, and I cannot force 'im to meet you."

"Wish you could. Sure this is a big payoff, but I don't get paid until this is delivered, and I'm not making any money sitting around waiting."

"I can do only so much Ben. Please. Be patient."

The vidscreen went blank, and Ben collapsed back into his seat.

"Don't worry Cap'n," Shuvin said brightly. "Usually trouble finds us on our jobs by now, right?"

"Don't jinx us, Shuvin," Ben answered, reaching back and tweaking a montral. Shuvin smiled dumbly, causing Ben to chuckle. "What are you still doing here? I'd've though you would be out scoping out the boys or whatever."

Shuvin sighed.

"I'm waiting until late afternoon. I've heard about this great fireworks show going on at a park nearby. Romantic lake, candlelit dinners. Someone's getting dumped for sure, and I'll be able to land a dumper or dumpee for sure with the dress I got with Eluna."

Ben groaned, and Shuvin couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't worry Ben. At least we're just waiting on getting paid. Who knows, maybe we'll get some passenger who can give us a good alibi on our way out of the Cluster."

"Can't pin too much on hope, Shuvin. Better to keep both that and your standards low. That way you won't be disappointed."

Shuvin laughed.

"I'll go recalibrate the shocks on the struts. Maybe you and Cerie can make a night of it tonight? Can't stay cooped up in here all the time."

She danced off, humming to herself, visions of cute boys lit by candle and moon light dancing through her head.

[Ben Merasska]

Jaminere was a pretty temperate world, all told. It had four seasons, and presently it was in the transition from winter to spring; still some chill in the air but the days were beginning to get balmy.

Ben didn't really care so much, save for the fact that he was in fact going to the fireworks show that Shuvin had mentioned, so he dressed accordingly, and had made sure that Shuvin had a jacket herself. At least it was free to just sit and watch, which had been the clinching argument against him not going, but he might as well have needed to pay for it, given the amount he'd handed over to Shuvin to make sure she wouldn't find herself stuck somewhere having to walk the whole way back to the ship. He knew she'd probably spend it all on drinks and little baubles, but she was young and honestly he enjoyed that about her. It made him feel a little better to know that she still had life left in her to enjoy the little things a bit too much.

"Everything's so pretty here," Shuvin said, a little smile on her face. "Everything looks so old though. Even the streets are cobblestone."

"Why fix it if it ain't broke?" Ben asked. Shuvin shrugged, her eyes drifting to the larger groups of people that were walking up and down the wide boulevard, especially the women in their dresses, and the men in their fanciest clothing. She grimaced.

"Guys seem to have a thing for mustaches here," she sighed. "Hopefully I'll find a clean face or at least someone who knows how to wear a beard or something."

She detached herself from Ben and nudged him.

"Don't get into too much trouble Ben. I might not be able to save you."

"Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" he asked. Shuvin made a slight face and stepped off into the crowds towards the large lake that dominated the park they were nearing. Ben looked up and noted the groups of people on the rooftops, and a closer look showed that they didn't seem to be as affluent as most of the folks around him down on the streets. He made a note of it; if things didn't seem to be all that fun around here, he could always find some dancing and drinking to take up a bit of time.

He looked around, at all the strangers and their clothing which looked much nicer than his, their smiles and clear glasses of fizzing drinks and wine and debated just leaving already and catching the show up on a rooftop.

It wasn't like he was going to see anyone he knew around here anyway.

[Saricia Ask'lan]

"I'm going away for awhile. See the galaxy. Like you always wanted me to. I just ... can't do it with you right now, Master."

Those were the last words she had said to Master s'Ilancy. After Ossus and being duped by Dan, Saricia needed to find clarity of life in the place that she had been denied for too long. The entire galaxy. She had been bound to Sacorria due to her mother's mental illness until Dan came. He had coaxed her to be free of this life, destined for greater things because she was a Lupine - a daughter of Kroenen - and needed to meet with a special woman in order to unlock that greatness. The relationship she had with Dan and Loklorien was nurturing and true, something she had always craved with her own blood kin. They had filled the void of having no one in her life to look up, provided an environment where she could travel, experience the wonders of different races, and learn the ways of the Force and her special bloodline.

Then disaster struck and the Jedi were almost wiped out. It almost broke her heart that the man she considered a father had used her. Dan had used Saricia's blind loyalty to create another chess piece in his web of deceit. So it was with great difficulty that she spoke with her Master regarding her decision and with no return date in mind. She may never come back. It was a possibility. For now she drifted where she felt the Force guided her and tried to deflect recollections of the past in enjoying the present. Even if it was in the middle of unrest within the Tion Cluster.

Jaminere's was a planet she'd never been too before. Overran with technological advances that forced the planet to do what it's leaders in industry wanted, Saricia had found the Force tamer here despite all of the life surrounding here that had gathered for the fireworks. It felt as if the Force was knocking loudly in the distance, trying to reclaim its voice while being drowned by machines that sucked away at the natural resources of the planet. She had heard about such planets - worlds that were not full metropolis' like Imperial Center. Even here in this 'park', Saricia could tell that it was tailored to the specifications of the city's leaders. Every stone was placed just so, grass was trimmed regularly, and saplings recently added as the brown dirt surrounded it indicated from her place atop one of the roofs. It was like that all around the lake's edge.

A kind, yet curious, family had approached her since they had never seen someone dressed like her before. Her white flowing robes and cloak were not a sight to be seen. It was too clean and pure when you saw green uniformed soldiers and regular, poor, folk dressed in clothing that hadn't been cleaned in some days. They said that despite what the more affluent people of the town said, the best view of the fireworks were up on the roof. She was enchanted by the idea and followed the young couple up the ladder against a baker's store.

Now she waited for the show to begin, tickled by the family's four year old bouncing in her mother's lap and impatiently asking when they would see the pretty lights.

[Ben Merasska]

The rooftops were a bit more his speed, though it was a bit stereotypical enough it made him think of that holoflick about the doomed cruiseliner that hit an asteroid and lost thousands of people with the dancing poor folks in the third class sections.

Walkways were suspended between tenements' roofs (Ben swore he could travel half the city and never set foot on a street) and the whole city was alight with cheer and well wishes. Even among the poorer folk there were more than a few garbed in green; and he'd seen a good number of people handing out little pamphlets about the Unions and their promises for a better life. He ignored most of that, however and simply enjoyed the food, the drinks, and the atmosphere, and looked for a spot that wasn't crowded with young women hungry to get off planet or better their situation, young men hungry for glory or money or both, or children just hungry for anything.

Of course, even here he couldn't outrun his luck.

"There's some room over by the White Lady if you want a better view of the show," one grime-faced child said to him with a bright smile.

"White Lady?" he asked. "Why do you call her that?"

"Because she's white, duh." The child said. Ben nodded in bemusement. With a huff of patient frustration, the kid motioned to him and led him back to the park, where he could see a form in white easily made out in the sea of darker colors, and the feeling of nervous anxiety grew stronger the closer they came to the figure. Finally the child stopped and turned around. "Five quid."

"Huh?"

"I didn't lead you here for free," the kid said with an air of talking to a slow relative. "Pay me. Five quid."

"Uh, no," Ben answered. "That's not how businesses work. And we didn't agree to a payment before all of this."

The kid shrugged and spat to the side before making a gesture Ben could only guess was crude and walking off, leaving him standing near someone he'd long since given up on seeing again, and she was looking directly at him.

"Uh," he said, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Saricia. It's been a long time."

[Saricia Ask'lan]

The galaxy was a far smaller place than Saricia could have imagined. She had left the Jedi and the Alliance to see new places and distance herself from everyone she had ever known. Yet here on Jaminere, during this most troubling times where everyone that had any smarts would stay away from, her path intersected with Ben's. A believer in the Force, it had to be its doing to bring the two friends back together again.

She normally would have welcomed him back with a warm embrace and awkward chatter - the two of them were quite adept at that - but with her sudden departure, Saricia wasn't quite comfortable with being so friendly. Ben had to have felt it too because even he was unsure how to go about this chance meeting. At least he wasn't here to find her, no. It was clear he was just as surprised to see Saricia as she was to see him.

"Yes it has," she acknowledged with a small nod. "Here for the fireworks, too?"

It was all that she could think of to say despite the obvious being, of course Ben was here for the fireworks. The entire town was here for the fireworks, save for the few who were here for their own political agendas.