Aria sighed again, nodding as she listened to her partner's reassurances. 
“I suppose you're right...I just don't want us to become what we were trying to prevent in the first place, because what does that prove?” her focus turned to the meeting, which would be the next thing they would need to think about, before they could worry about what they would do afterwards. A slight smile came to her face as he mentioned the movie, the Champion shaking her head slightly in mock disbelief. 
“It's a CLASSIC, Bol. I can't believe you haven't seen it yet!” 
The shuttle’s engines started and cut off any retort Yerbol might have had as they made their way back to return to Zinuthra.
__________
 
“That would certainly be a favourable solution.” Cheriss nodded in agreement. “We can't risk him going to the media and planting false stories. It would ruin the better reputation we've managed to build, if HoloNet reporters started claiming the Qyaari weren't beneath killing children in order to keep ourselves “in control”.” 
“People wouldn't actually believe that, would they?” 
“You would be surprised how quickly some civilians believe what they hear on the news, Aria my dear.” 
Thoughtful silence fell across the Elders chamber as its occupants processed the points brought into the discussion. 
“So you mean to tell me, Malu, that the fact Manus is sending these children straight to their deaths is not enough to convince their parents to stop bringing them to him?” Ailel sighed. “I find that difficult to believe…”
“They need resources, correct?” Cheriss spoke up once more, the Dathomirian’s sharp gaze returning to Malu. “We must have ways to find some to spare. A show of good faith, as it were. They wouldn't refuse that.”
“Would they offer their help in return, though?” Ailel frowned warily. “I can't see that being enough, if they aren't convinced by the fact that he's killing CHILDREN.” 
Aria groaned softly, pressing her fingers to her temples.  
“Are we not getting one step ahead of ourselves, just a little? I hate to say it, but if we are going to have any hope of cutting Master Vo’s connections to the network, we have to win the support of these supposed neutral Force users first. WITHOUT forcing their hand.” 
“And that is where we have our dilemma.” Ailel huffed, her hands clasped tightly together. 
“Then perhaps the first question for us to be asking is WHY are they so short on resources that they would accept supplies from Malu? Is it possible that Manus could be to blame for that?”
“Is there a way for us to prove that?” the Champion asked, her gaze moving over the Elders present. 
“Possibly…” Ailel nodded. “And even if it isn’t Manus, if we could send representatives, WITH some of Malu’s resources, and they could help this group to find out where their stolen goods are going, and take them back….”
“...We could win their favour.” Voldon finished, his mouth still a tight line as he nodded along with the plan that was unfolding between them.
Exchanging a glance with her partner, Aria reached out towards him through their bond and commented with a snort:
[i]Why do I get the feeling that those “representatives” are going to be us?[/i]
 
It was. 
 
After a brief respite period overnight, during which the Champions meditated and then relaxed for a few hours while they watched the aforementioned movie with Chwuq and Taral curled up snoring at their feet, they were once again situated on a shuttle bound for the capital world. 
“Everything about this still makes me nervous.” Aria muttered as they docked in the spaceport. The Tuk’ata gave low growls of agreement, their tails twitching as they padded after the Champions down the ramp. “Where did Malu say we were supposed to meet these people again?” Aria cast around as if there would be some kind of clue, whether a Force presence or a particular person who stood out to them when they laid eyes on them, but so far could not locate anything that stood out. 
“It might be risky, but I almost want to suggest that when we DO find them, we let whoever it is we’re meeting with stay in charge and follow their orders.” Yerbol failed to hide the sharp spike of surprise (mingled with amusement) that radiated from his mind at her suggestion. Even Chwuq’s head shot up, red eyes blinking at the shorter Champion as the beast gave a dumbfounded grunt. 
Smirking, Aria caught his eye with a sideward glance. “Yes alright, the thought of me following a total stranger’s orders is hilarious. Just think about it...we want them to believe we’re trustworthy, right? I doubt they’re going to like it if we march right into their little group and start bossing everybody around.” 
They were just passing through the customs terminals again when she felt a gentle tug through their bond, Yerbol lightly nudging her arm in the same moment. Turning her attention away from her search and back to him, Aria followed the subtle movement of the Champion’s eyes to the cloaked figure loitering close to the port’s doorway. They were too far away to make out any of the woman’s facial features, but her posture indicated that she appeared to be scanning the crowd looking for someone, and extending her senses out further Aria was sure she could feel ripples of Force energy coming from her. 
 
As the two Qyaari approached and her eyes settled on them, the woman gave the two Champions a somewhat nonchalant nod. Blue eyes framed by sweeping red tattoos scrutinised the pair as they stopped in front of her, a smirk colouring her features as she commented:
“You look taller on the HoloNet.” 
Aria met her gaze evenly, her tone flat as she retorted:
“Yeah, everyone says that.” 
“Malu isn’t with you?”
“That’s not a problem, is it?” the Champion quirked an eyebrow, quieting the uneasy Tuk’ata with a quick hand gesture.
“Hmph.” their new companion snorted, as if brushing off the question, then turned on her heel and beckoned for the Champions to follow her, sounding a little more friendly now that she had been given a chance to assess the strangers for herself. “Well, let’s get away from unwelcome ears and we can elaborate on the details, shall we?”