**Chapter 489**
**Quiet Confessions**
**Riyo Chuchi POV**
**500 Republica – Riyo Chuchi's Apartment, Coruscant**
Riyo Chuchi stood by the large transparisteel window, arms crossed loosely over her chest as she watched the steady stream of Republic shuttles and gunships heading toward the Jedi Temple in the distance. The giant peach blossom tree still glowed faintly against the night sky, its petals shimmering like living stars. The sight was both beautiful and deeply unsettling — a reminder that something extraordinary had happened inside those ancient walls.
Behind her, the apartment was unusually quiet. Cal had stepped out to give them privacy after the initial shock, muttering something about fetching more wine and "not wanting to intrude on Jedi business." The girls — Ahsoka, Zule, Flare, Stella, Kayla, Visenya, Shin, and Erictia — were scattered around the living room, some still adjusting their borrowed robes, others quietly talking among themselves. Their presence filled the space with a strange, warm energy that Riyo couldn't quite name.
Dagon approached her slowly, his bare chest still visible under the too-small shirt Cal had lent him. The fabric strained against his muscular frame, revealing the sculpted 10-pack of abs, old scars, and faint blue lightning-vein marks that ran across his skin like living tattoos. He looked exhausted but alive — more alive than he had any right to be after what she had glimpsed.
"So, I contacted my troops," Dagon said, stopping beside her at the window. "A transport will be here momentarily for us to leave. Should I pay you for the use of your bed? I am sort of rich, if you want."
Riyo let out a soft laugh despite herself, turning to face him. "No, that's fine. But… I think I need to talk to you about something."
Dagon's expression shifted, the red star in his left eye dimming slightly as he studied her. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
She glanced back at the girls, noting the subtle jewelry and rings on their fingers — elegant bands that caught the light just right. She had always thought they were just close friends, a tight-knit group bonded by war. But after everything she had just witnessed… the naked arrival, the blood, the way they moved around him with such natural intimacy… she needed to know.
"How many times?" she asked quietly.
"Sorry, what?" Dagon blinked, genuinely confused.
Riyo turned fully toward him, her voice dropping to a near-whisper but carrying the weight of genuine concern. "How many times have you nearly died, Dagon?"
He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck with his flesh hand. The black armored arm with the Shield of Wrath flexed slightly at his side, as if sensing the shift in mood.
"A few," he admitted, his voice low. "But you can't blame me. I was possessed by an ancient Sith Lord aiming to destroy the galaxy, stopped a Thought Bomb that was consuming souls, healed Naboo and ended a galactic pandemic… and a few more I can't really discuss right now."
Riyo's eyes widened, a mix of horror and awe crossing her face. "A few? Dagon, that's not 'a few.' That's… that's madness. How are you even standing here right now?"
He offered a tired smile, leaning against the window frame. "The girls. They pulled me back. Every time. The Force… the bond we share… it's stronger than death, apparently."
Riyo glanced again at the group. Shin was quietly talking with Erictia, Ahsoka and Zule were laughing softly about something, Flare was adjusting Stella's robe with gentle care, Kayla and Visenya were watching Dagon with soft, protective eyes.
"They love you," Riyo said, almost to herself. "All of them. It's not just friendship, is it?"
Dagon didn't deny it. "No. It's not."
She took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "I noticed the rings. The jewelry. The way they look at you. After what I saw tonight… the healing ritual… I think I understand now. You're not just their general. You're their center. Their everything."
Dagon nodded slowly. "They're my everything too. I tried to push them away once. Thought I had to walk this path alone. But the Force kept bringing us back together. Every time I tried to isolate myself, something pulled me right back. And I'm grateful for it now."
Riyo's voice softened. "Does the Order know?"
"Not fully," he admitted. "Shin's handling the politics for now. We're keeping it quiet. The last thing we need is the Council using our relationship as ammunition against us."
Ahsoka looked over from across the room, sensing the shift in conversation. "Everything okay over there?"
Dagon waved her off gently. "Just catching up. We'll be ready to leave soon."
Riyo lowered her voice again. "You've changed so much since Naboo. The man who healed an entire planet… now carrying the weight of multiple lives on his shoulders. How do you keep going?"
Dagon's gaze drifted to the girls. "Them. Every time I think about giving up, I remember what I'm fighting for. Not just the Republic. Not just the war. But for the chance that one day, they can live without fear. Without having to watch me die over and over again."
A single tear slipped from his remaining natural eye, tracing a path down his scarred cheek. He didn't wipe it away.
Riyo reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm — the flesh one. "You're not alone anymore, Dagon. Not just with them. If you ever need anything — a safe place, a political ally, even just someone to talk to — you have me. And Cal. We're in this together."
Dagon offered her a genuine, tired smile. "Thank you, Riyo. That means more than you know."
The sound of approaching repulsors outside signaled the arrival of the transport. The girls gathered their things, moving with quiet efficiency. Shin gave Riyo a respectful nod as she passed.
As Dagon prepared to leave, he paused at the door. "One more thing. If the Senate starts asking questions about Atraken… tell them the truth. We saved the planet. The rest is classified."
Riyo nodded. "Understood. Stay safe out there, Dagon. All of you."
The group filed out, leaving the apartment feeling strangely empty. Riyo watched from the window as the transport lifted off, carrying Dagon and his bonded family into the night sky.
She touched the faint scar on her own cheek from long ago — a reminder of her own brushes with danger — and whispered to the empty room.
"May the Force be with you… all of you."