One night as Morrigan and I were walking home past the docking bays and talking, I had an abrupt calling from the Force. Looking up at the passing lights of the cloud cars flying high above us, it had taken Morrigan a moment to realize I had reversed direction and was walking the other way. Catching up with me as I turned the corner off of the main boulevard and down one of the secondary streets, Morrigan walked up beside me and unsnapped the strap that secured her blaster in it's holster.

"What's wrong?", she asked her voiced laced with concern.

"I'm not sure. The Force just told me I needed to go this way." Stopping at the edge of an alleyway about four blocks down the secondary street, I unhooked my lightsaber and turned to address Morrigan. "Hang back here a second and let me see if I can figure out what's going on." Hesitating a second I added, "cus... um... I might need you to cover me."

Smiling ruefully at the possibility of being able to join me in a fight, she pulled her blaster and winked, "You got it sweet cheeks, now get going."

Winking back at her I turned the corner into the alleyway.

After I got about halfway down the alley I was able to make out the silhouettes of three large figures standing over the body of a fourth. Using the Force to enhance my vision in the low light of the ally I was able to determine that the three standing were two humans and a Weequay. All three were dressed in similar raggy clothes suggesting they belonged to a pirate organization. The body on the ground was that of a Duros spacer, probably a freighter captain that had wronged the pirates in some way. The two humans had their blasters drawn, while the Weequay, who was standing directly over the Duros body, was holding a stun baton, his blaster still in its holster.

"Grab his credits while you're down there." one of the humans said to the Weequay as he began going through the pockets of the Duros' flight suit.

"Found it," the Weequay grunted as he held up what looked like the passkey to a docking birth. "Doesn't look like he had any credits on him." he added as he handed the passkey to the human that had spoken earlier. Just then the Duros started to stir.

"Quick, hit him with one more stun and we can get the hell out of here." As the Weequay brought his stun baton up to strike the Duros once more, I made my presence known.

"Excuse me gentleman, does there seem to be a problem here?" Startled by my sudden appearance the two humans instantly fired their blasters in my direction. Igniting my lightsaber as they fired, I managed to deflect all the shots they had sent my way. After they saw the burning blue light of my blade, the firing stopped and cursing began as all three looked for cover.

"Of all the luck!"

"When the hell did a Jedi get here?"

"Don't worry about it now guys, we still got him out numbered and out gunned."

As their shock wore off, they stared shooting at me once more. The Weequay now adding his blaster to the mix.

Feeling Morrigan's presence coming down the ally after the first shots were fired, I set my self to the task of keeping the pirates busy so they would not see her getting into position behind the protective shield I tried to provide. Flooding my perceptions with the Force and using it to guide my movements, the cool blue safety of my blade slashed, parried, and blocked in a fluid blur of light. Effortlessly deflecting all the blaster bolts sent my direction, and even sending a few back the way they came causing the pirates to occasionally duck for cover, I was able to give Morrigan all the time she needed. Once in position, it did not take her long to put her sharp shooting skills to good use. Firing only three shots, one for each pirate, she managed to shoot the blasters out of there hands.

As I went to check on the still unconscious Duros, Morrigan put a stun bolt into each of the pirates as they reeled in pain to keep them quiet until someone from the security force could come pick them up. Bending down to check the Duros' body to make sure he was not bleeding or had any other severe injury, I touched the small glimmer that was his unconscious mind with the Force. Bolting upright with a sharp gasp of air, he began to hurriedly scramble backward away from me. Placing my hand on his knee, I used the Force to imbue my voice with as much calm as I could, "Easy friend, I'm not here to hurt you." Calming slightly he looked me over as if he finally noticed I wasn't dressed like one of the pirates. It was not until his eyes settled on my lightsaber that he completely calmed down.

"They followed me here from Naboo." he said when he had finally caught his breath.

"What did they want from you?" I asked.

"My brother owes them money. He hasn't been able to pay them back and they can't find him. They felt that taking my ship was easier then trying to find him." Finally able to get his feet underneath him, he added, "I tried to explain to them that I had no idea where he was let alone knowing that he owed them any money. Unfortunately they didn't share my point of view." Indicating the alley way he added, "So I guess shortly there after is when you showed up."


Later that night as we arrived home from filing the report and were able to relax, I looked over from where I was sitting to find Morrigan looking at me and smiling form ear to ear. "This is a pleasant change of pace." I said returning her smile.

"What is?" she asked.

"You smiling at me for once, that?s what." I returned.

"Well, that was fun. I can't believe you just walked straight down the ally like that." she said with out losing her smile.

"Well, you know, when you're as good as me," I tried to respond with as much self assured smugness and sarcasm I could muster. Morrigan though, was laughing before I was able to get halfway though the sentence. Shortly after that I started laughing and was barely able to finish. "Hey, they didn't even know I was there, and besides, you had my back, I knew I'd be fine."

Wrapping her arms around me Morrigan then laid her head on my chest. Looking out into the room she said, "Yeah, we do make a pretty good team."

"Pretty good?" I said as I looked down at the top of her head. "Ya know, I don't think I trust anyone to have my back more then I trust you."

Picking her head up to look at me, the smile on her face seemingly growing, as she looked me in the eye. "You keep saying things like that and you may be stuck with me for a long long time."

The smile on my face now mirroring hers, I leaned in and kissed her as deeply as I could. All to soon our night was over and we were asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning I awoke to find myself alone in bed. Unsure as to where Morrigan could have gone, I stretched out with the force. She hadn't gone far, I felt her presence downstairs finishing a holocom conversation. Relieved at knowing where she was, I started getting myself together. By the time I came out of the 'fresher, she was back sitting on the bed. Seeing a faint smile playing across her lips I asked, "Take it you got some good news?"

"Well kinda." she said. "Need to take a trip to Naboo, you want to come?"

"Sure." pausing a second as I thought about our destination, "This doesn't have anything to do with the pirates from last night does it?"

"Nope, need to pick up some parts for the security control computer and some new holocams." Smiling ruefully she added, "Although, now that you mention it, we probably should poke our heads around and see what we can find."

Returning her smile with the best lopsided grin I could manage I said, "Great. Guess were taking my ship then." Leaning back on the bed, Morrigan just winked at me as I grabbed my comlink to tell Deeters to start getting things ready for our departure.

More to come soon.