A/N: Just a heads up: this story jumps around a lot…It follows a general story-line but will resolve more around Morrigan and Kol's interaction than the actual plot.

Another heads up: This is a revamped ch 1. I took into considerations something I'd read, so I included it. The chapter is basically the same, but with some changes to to influence the tone.

Hope you enjoy! And tell me what you think…

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"Kol Skywalker, this is Agent Morrigan Corde."

"Agent Corde, Jedi Master Kol Skywalker."

Kol nodded, assessing the woman with discerning eyes. She was a tall blonde with deep-set green eyes. She was stunningly beautiful, but in a harsh way. Not that it was painful to look at her; she was just hard on the eyes as opposed to easy.

She looked hard, like some type of jewel.

Corde gazed back at him with stone-like eyes, her mouth set in a thin line as she returned his steady gaze. Her hands were placed as at her waist and she stood ramrod straight. She gave Kol a tight smile.

The moment seemed frozen; it was too strange to be real.

He shook it off and extended a hand. "It's a pleasure to work with you."

And to see you again.

She eyed his hand for a moment before taking hold of it. "I wish I could say the same." This stunned Kol for a moment. Corde did nothing to disguise her distaste for the situation.

Kol couldn't discern Morrigan Corde's attitude. She acted like they were pure strangers. Did she really loath him that much?

The man cleared his throat.

"Yes, well. You are both aware of the situation. I'll leave you to make your preparations." The man backed out easily, hoping to get out of firing range obviously.

"Shall we begin?" Kol asked.

Corde shrugged her shoulders. "Why not?"

Something was extremely wrong.

He shook it off, gesturing with his hand. "After you."

She raised an inquisitive brow. "How gallant." She said and walked passed him into the shuttle.

Kol scratched his head. Well, this is going to be fun. He then followed her into the shuttle, waving goodbye to the liaison.

He found her in the cockpit already going through the flight check. Her face was pinched and serious. When she didn't acknowledge his presence, he got out his datapad and started to look at his dossier.

Yes, this was going to be a long flight.

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Kol sat in the galley of the shuttle, spooning a type of porridge into his mouth as he went over his dossier for the second time. He'd already run through it several times before this trip started, but he liked to have all the information stored away in his brain. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she walked passed him, without saying a word, and headed straight for the caf maker.

She poured herself a cup and took up a position at the far end of the cabin.

When she turned on her own datapad and continued to ignore him, Kol sighed heavily and laid down his. He reached up and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Look, whatever problem you have with me, let's get it out right now; because I don't prefer to work together constantly biting each other's heads off."

Corde looked up and took a sip of her caf.

"Problem?" A flick of a finger. "Why would there be a problem, Master Jedi?"

"That is the problem." Kol stated. "..your flippant attitude toward me, acting like we've never met, when we have, haven't we?" He shifted so he was more or less facing her. "What did I do to make you dislike me? I don't recall anything that egregious."

She awarded him again with one of her tight smiles.

"It's not about liking or disliking." Corde answered cryptically.

"Then what is it if it's "not about like or disliking"."

"There's that rare sense of humor."

Kol returned with a smile, "We are human you know, despite what people think." He paused. "But you're avoiding my question."

"And that was?"

Kol shook his head inwardly at the unbelievable cat and mouse game that was playing out. The woman hadn't change, she was just as infuriating as last he'd met her!

"Why do you dislike me?" He pressed.

"As I said…"

"Yes, I know. Now, what problem do you have with me?"

She smirked. "You're awfully nosy."

"I like to think of it as…persistent." He returned her smile with his own tight-lipped one. "It's an admirable trait in my line of work."

"That's debatable."

Kol frowned.

"Look, Morrigan..."

"Agent Corde." She corrected. "Don't think you've gained the right to call me that after one prior meeting."

"Agent Corde…" He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know what you have against me and since you're unwilling to divulge it I feel I never will, but we were put together for this mission. I believe it would be best if we both cooperated, and attempted a bit of civility."

"When you say "we" you really mean, me, don't you? Just go ahead and say it, Master Skywalker."

"Master?" He raised a brow at this.

"Problem? That is your proper title; correct me if I'm wrong."

"Yes it is."

You know kriffin' well it is.

"If I really must work with you, I think it's the least I can do." Corde went back to drinking her caf. "A bit of civility if you will. Now, if you don't mind. I'd like to drink my caf and read this in peace."

"Fine," Kol bowed out. ""I'll be retiring to my room." He picked up his bowl of porridge and datapad, bypassing her as he retreated to his private cabin.

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Kol stared at her. She remained silent, seated at the captain's chair; she'd insisted on piloting on the shuttle and wouldn't have it any other way despite his objections.

Stubborn woman.

Stubborn maddening woman.

He'd acquiesced, of course, if a bit reluctantly. He still couldn't figure her out.

She remained hostile to him in that barely concealed way, but at the same time remained quite professional. She was…business-like; a no-nonsense, let's get right to business kind of woman. He supposed it was the Imperial in her.

Just like last time.

Corde didn't make time for small talk, so when she did speak to him it was on a professional level. She spoke about the mission and her intelligence on it and strategy she thought would be best.

Other than that, she made no attempt at personal interaction, nor did she divulge any bit of personal information. She had no interest in him, and it was clear she saw him more as a hindrance than a partner in this mission.

"Morrigan." He attempted.

"Agent Corde." Her voice was hard and rebuking.

Kol shook his red-haired head. "I just don't get it."

Corde sighed. "What don't you get, Jedi?"

"You claim not to dislike me or like me, but you still remain hostile."

She didn't take her eyes off the instruments. "What you interpret as hostility I see as professionalism. Why should it matter who we are or what we feel? Our personal problems—existent or otherwise—have nothing to do with this mission. I don't see the purpose of involving them."

Kol countered, "When it interferes with our potential ability to succeed on this mission, I think to it makes all the difference."

You're acting like you don't know me.

"I see no problem, Master Jedi. Only the one you're making."

Kol tried his best not to grit his teeth in frustration. She was hard case, but he was too stubborn to let this go.

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They arrived on the Sacorria and were met by the local delegation. Kol allowed Corde to go first, but was granted no niceties from the Imperial. He had grown to accept this much.

She was stubborn to the core.

Anyone else might have already been burned out by her lack of interaction, but Kol felt he was stronger than that. He would crack her that he was sure of!

Corde stepped in front to greet the Prime Minister, Rolis Tan. "I am Imperial Agent, Morrigan Corde. The man behind me is Jedi Master Kol Skywalker. We are here, acting on behalf of the Galactic Empire and the Galactic Alliance, to see to your matter."

Kol stepped in beside her and bowed his head in greeting.

Rolis's gaze swept over Kol. "Well, Master Skywalker, you are…not what I was expecting."

"Let me guess…brown robes and tan outfit."

"Something like that, yes."

"I'm afraid I have to disappoint you, Prime Minister Tan. I left my robes back on my ship; such formal dress wouldn't be suited to our mission here."

"Ah, yes. Quite so." He gestured. "If you'll follow my aid, she will see you to your quarters."

"Thank you." Kol and Corde said in unison.

They fell in step behind the aid.

"Formal dress?" Corde muttered. "You actually consider those ratting things formal wear?"

"So you do acknowledge my presence."

The blonde shot him an irritated glance.

"I only sought to point out your ridiculous statement." She whispered furiously.

"Ah, I see."

Corde turned red at this, obviously annoyed with her partner's jesting nature.

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Tan's aid showed them to their suites and informed them that mid-day meal would be served shortly.

Kol set his bags down, looked around, and then immediately went to Corde's room. He knocked on the door and was made to wait for a whole minute before the woman opened her door.

"Yes?"

He folded his arms across his chest. "I thought we should discuss the situation further."

"What situation?" She wrinkled her nose. "I see no situation. Have you even bathed yet?"

I don't think so, he thought. You're not going to bait me that easily.

Kol flashed her a small smile. "An attack on my personal hygiene; and here I thought you weren't going to get personal."

"Are you through with your ridiculous attempt at levity?" She took on a bored expression. "I'm tired, and I want to take a nap before mid-day meal."

She turned and the door started to slide shut. Kol stuck his hand out to stop it. "Wait, Morrigan." His voice was semi-desperate.

"Agent Corde."

"Yes, I know." His voice became hard. "I know how you feel about relinquishing your personal identity. If you were to allow me your given name—to actually act like we had a relationship—you'd lose control of the situation you're so desperately trying to hold on to. What I can't understand is why."

"Master Skywalker..."

"Kol, my name is Kol. That is the name my father gave me—and you are certainly well aware of it." He frowned displeased. "No more of this "Master or Jedi" nonsense. If you won't tell me what you have against me, you can at least allow me that much."

She sighed. "Very well, Kol."

"There…that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Is that all, Kol?"

"For now, Morrigan." He let the door go.

"Now, wait just a second, I didn't say you could…" Her protest was cut short as the door slid back into place.

Kol turned back around, grinning, and headed for his room.

A nap and a shower did sound good.

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