The struggle was short lived, and the now-disheveled aggressor was forcibly bent over the speeder hood while he was searched. His eyes were burning with fury, but his words were an innocence plea. Unfortunately, he would likely be cleared within a few days, or at the least bailed with his enormous amount of funds. Bast gave a nod to her partner for dealing with the senator, or at least the man she assumed to be Marty Balzeek based on his attire and course of action. It was a wise decision on multiple fronts, firstly because if another altercation would occur, he would have a better chance of winning, and secondly because Raya needed to talk. It wasn’t always the case, but Bast had found talking woman-to-woman with her clients often revealed more than was originally told. Corran had finished reciting his arrest speech and was fishing an identification card from the man’s pocket. Seeing him squirm in the discomfort of his accusation tempted her to smirk, but she resisted, ashamed at taking pleasure at the Senator’s humiliation.
The now-slightly emptier speeder took a roundabout way back to the main streets in an attempt to throw off any visual tracking done by Senator Balzeek. The vehicle was not truly less occupied, but Bast felt alone without her partner. The feeling was not worrisome or wishful, but an observation of fact. For a joint mission, they were truly separated for the first time. Of course Corran could handle himself, but she liked to be there for her team physically rather than over comm. Backup was rather difficult to provide from several blocks away, after all. Glancing into the rear view, Bast broke the silence. “What’s going on. You cannot keep us in the dark anymore for both you and your child’s safety.” The female Sector Ranger did her best to make her voice gentle, caring. Now that the threat was under control, hopefully she would find the strength to talk freely.
“He said he’d kill us both if I didn’t give up Tynir. He... he came to my house and searched because he didn’t believe me when I said I dropped the kid on the streets. I just couldn’t give him up.“ Raya’s voice broke, shifting from weak and reedy to more confident. “I would die before I left my child. I don’t care if I lose my job. I told you where I hid Tynir because I thought you could keep him safe. I ran because he deserved a better mother and I knew you could be one, or at least find him one. If I stayed, I knew I couldn’t bear to see you take him “
Bast chewed her lip. She hadn’t been expecting a full confession. Apparently, something inside the young mother had finally clicked, let loose the torrent of emotion and fear and pain she’d been holding. If only Corran were here, he would know what to say. He was good with people in that way. “We were never going to take custody of the infant.” The sentence sounded cold to Bast’s own ears and she winced, trying again. “Of Tynir. You are not a bad mother for wanting to give the best life to your child. In this case, that best life is with you.” But who was she to lecture on motherhood? She the woman who could never bare children, had never raised any. The words of reassurance felt fake and forced. Bast hated herself for being jealous of the woman in the back seat over something neither woman had any control of. She was a Ranger. She had no time for children. She had no support structure, nay what she’d made for herself. Her world would be a cruel one to drag a child into. Children had never entered her mind before, yet here she was, unable to escape from instinct.
The seconds dragged on, and the humid air in the speeder was thick and hard to breathe. It was a relief for the detective to step out into the open, leading the way back to apartment fourty-two. Once inside, the woman perched on one of the chairs, releasing a long sigh while Raya was in another room, tucking away the infant, A few moments later, after she had collected herself, she switched her comm to the male ranger’s frequency. “At rendezvous location, arrived safely. Over.“
@TerranSteel
The now-slightly emptier speeder took a roundabout way back to the main streets in an attempt to throw off any visual tracking done by Senator Balzeek. The vehicle was not truly less occupied, but Bast felt alone without her partner. The feeling was not worrisome or wishful, but an observation of fact. For a joint mission, they were truly separated for the first time. Of course Corran could handle himself, but she liked to be there for her team physically rather than over comm. Backup was rather difficult to provide from several blocks away, after all. Glancing into the rear view, Bast broke the silence. “What’s going on. You cannot keep us in the dark anymore for both you and your child’s safety.” The female Sector Ranger did her best to make her voice gentle, caring. Now that the threat was under control, hopefully she would find the strength to talk freely.
“He said he’d kill us both if I didn’t give up Tynir. He... he came to my house and searched because he didn’t believe me when I said I dropped the kid on the streets. I just couldn’t give him up.“ Raya’s voice broke, shifting from weak and reedy to more confident. “I would die before I left my child. I don’t care if I lose my job. I told you where I hid Tynir because I thought you could keep him safe. I ran because he deserved a better mother and I knew you could be one, or at least find him one. If I stayed, I knew I couldn’t bear to see you take him “
Bast chewed her lip. She hadn’t been expecting a full confession. Apparently, something inside the young mother had finally clicked, let loose the torrent of emotion and fear and pain she’d been holding. If only Corran were here, he would know what to say. He was good with people in that way. “We were never going to take custody of the infant.” The sentence sounded cold to Bast’s own ears and she winced, trying again. “Of Tynir. You are not a bad mother for wanting to give the best life to your child. In this case, that best life is with you.” But who was she to lecture on motherhood? She the woman who could never bare children, had never raised any. The words of reassurance felt fake and forced. Bast hated herself for being jealous of the woman in the back seat over something neither woman had any control of. She was a Ranger. She had no time for children. She had no support structure, nay what she’d made for herself. Her world would be a cruel one to drag a child into. Children had never entered her mind before, yet here she was, unable to escape from instinct.
The seconds dragged on, and the humid air in the speeder was thick and hard to breathe. It was a relief for the detective to step out into the open, leading the way back to apartment fourty-two. Once inside, the woman perched on one of the chairs, releasing a long sigh while Raya was in another room, tucking away the infant, A few moments later, after she had collected herself, she switched her comm to the male ranger’s frequency. “At rendezvous location, arrived safely. Over.“
@TerranSteel