Hi everyone.
Thank you for the reviews; it makes posting worthwhile. Hope you enjoy this one.
Sued13
CHAPTER Twenty one
Ryssa's Apartment
A'den had returned safely from his mission, from the debrief and he needed her; once the initial rush had subsided they talked, and talked, long into the night but she still had not was plucked up the courage to tell him about the baby.
Their problems from earlier seem to have disappeared and the longer they were together the further she fell, and now she had something to tell him.
It would make or break them.
"Hmmmm."
He woke to Ryssa's hand trailing around his chest and her nuzzling his neck, her knee was also doing things and he was already feeling some stirrings.
"Good Morning, Cyar'ika."
There was no response.
"I may have to let you wake me up everyday."
He got a nip on the neck for his comment.
He sensed that something had changed, that she was different; she felt different. Her body had changed it was more...just more.
He wasn't going to mention that, his research on the Holonet showed it could be a touchy subject. Although he could not understand why; he thought she was more desirable than ever, the way she looked now.
But he wasn't going to mention that either, as it could be taken either way.
There was something else and he had decided it was to do with Yan.
Now he laid back and accepted everything that she was doing to him; he would repay her later.
.
"What hold does Yan Barock have over you?" Asked A'den, in the aftermath of their love making." It had been more intense than ever.
"She doesn't." She replied hesitantly.
"That didn't sound convincing." He countered as he detangled her hair with a wide toothed comb. He was sitting behind her on the bed and she was leaning against him their breakfast remains placed besides the bed.
It was the first she had managed to keep down in several weeks.
"I need to have it trimmed." She commented, he was intermittently running his fingers through her hair and massaging her scalp. She knew her hair was her best feature and she kept it in good condition.
"Mmmm, that feels so good" she sighed and sank further into him. She felt rather than heard the chuckle reverberate through his chest.
"What's so funny?"
He stopped the massage and kissed her neck lightly. "This!"
"This is funny?" She asked and turned to face him.
"Yes, very." And he grinned, it reached his eyes, the laughter lines around them filling up. She suddenly realised he was darker than many of the other clones, which meant he didn't always wear his armour.
"Now I know you have a weird sense of humour." She said shuffling, to one side, facing him. "Why is it weird?"
"Well... After Geonosis, the GAR High Command were going to chill us down until they needed us the next time."
He chuckled again.
"My brothers and I, of course, disagreed with that and barricaded ourselves in the SOB building, until Kal persuaded them we could be useful during the war."
He smiled to himself.
Ryssa looked at him, with that expression on her face of total sadness; he hated that expression, hated those who caused it.
"They were going to put you into stasis until they needed you!" Her voice had risen an octave and become strident.
"Like switching off a Droid?" She almost spat the last sentence out; her moods were much more erratic with the pregnancy.
"When the Fek were you going to tell me about that?"
"Now. Mmm." A'den had moved nearer to her and was nuzzling around her neck now.
"But here I am, making love to my girlfriend and not even in the Barracks." He chuckled again. "Now, that's funny."
Ryssa pulled away from him, he could see there were tears in her eyes.
"Hey, I'm here now, don't worry."
She quickly wiped the tears away.
"Let's go out to that Jazz club tonight, have a meal, a drink...Really rub it in, to them."
Afterwards she would tell him.
"Mmm, yeah." Agreed A'den reluctantly, wanting to finish what he was just starting, "We can go. You're not in today are you." he mumbled as he moved down to her breasts."
That familiar feeling was building; he knew exactly how to touch her and her almost immediate response pleased him.
"No." her reply was husky.
"So we have some time to kill." His finger tips traced a line down her torso, to her stomach; she pulled it in as far as she could and kissed him hard, pushing at him, so that he rolled over pulling her on top.
"Is that what you want?"
"Mmmm." Her answer was made on his lips; she moved her hips against him, as she felt him growing beneath her. He cupped her breasts and a flicker of a question crossed his face.
"So, I like being on top." she asserted and kissed him fiercely.
The time passed in a blur of energy and passion.
Finally, they dressed and went to the Jazz club; the one where they first went. It seemed a lifetime ago and they looked like any other couple. Chatting and laughing, no one knew that they were anything but ordinary.
This is normal.
This is the best revenge.
It was the early hours, when they finally returned, sleepy and happy at being able to do normal, everyday things, totally against the odds. Lying in the bed and hearing A'den breathing softly against her, she had a great deal to thank Kal for, but then there was something she still needed to tell him.
She was hesitant; it had been better recently. They talked about his missions, his feelings, at times. There had been no repeat of the violence.
She was the happiest, she had ever been and didn't want that to change.
"Den?" She spoke low, almost whispering. "I have something to tell you, something to ….confess."
"What is it?" His voice was also low but sleepy.
She took a deep breath.
"I went to a bar, D.T.s, with Coric and some of the 501st."
A'den was looking away from her, he knew the club, one of a few that catered for the regular troopers. When he first saw the images, he was angry but controlled it; he could not afford to lose it again. He had to give her the chance to explain; She was not herself that much was clear. He knew exactly what happened in the walk from the club to when they had reached the Apartment.
It was what happened in there that was the problem but Coric had left minutes later so nothing much could have happened.
Logically he knew nothing happened.
He would have liked to go and speak to Sergeant Coric, personally; she had worked closely with him, but maybe another time.
She didn't know why she didn't just tell him but they had agreed, no children yet.
How would he feel?
She was unsure how he would react.
"Den, look at me" she twisted his face towards her, it was blank. "I only drank juice but I think it was spiked in some way; I kissed Coric, nothing else happened but it really embarrassed him and I had to apologise to him. He had to put me to bed."
She didn't go into the details and A'den didn't ask.
He needed to trust her.
It was enough, today, that she had told him what happened that night and it tallied with the surveillance.
"He was such a gentleman."
He looked at her, he needed to trust her; she had been worried about telling him but she said nothing happened, other than the kiss.
He could feel the anger rising even now; he needed to keep it in check, otherwise, he would lose her, he realised that now.
But she was here with him now.
He pulled her to him and kissed her.
They were still awake and talking, even though it was early morning. Ryssa suddenly sat up.
"I need something." She muttered, rubbing her chest and headed to the fresher.
A'den followed her, worried, especially when he saw her taking some small pills.
"Ner, what's wrong, are you ill?"
Neryssa head whipped around she hadn't expected him to be there.
"No, it's ok. Antacid. Indigestion."
She paused, it was an opening but she still couldn't tell him, she just couldn't. It would change everything between them and she didn't want that to happen.
Not yet.
A'den wrapped her in an embrace.
"You worried me."
They walked back to the bed and snuggled back together under the bed clothes.
"You need to look after yourself." He was looking at her intently. "I don't want to lose you. I worry about you, here, alone."
"You worry?"
She had never thought of it from his point of view, pausing, she gave him a peck on the cheek.
"There's no war here; I'll be safe."
"Mmm." He murmured and dragged her under the bedclothes.
She would tell him later.
.
Ryssa had booked another personal day, to spend as much time as possible with him.
They had lunch and were on their way to the Valorium Gardens; there she would tell him.
A'den's com chirped.
"N12!"
He listened and then let out a deep, loud, laugh that lit up his face. It could only be a brother that caused that. She had only met one brother that she could recall, so far, there just never seemed to be enough time to spend with him and also meet his family.
"Oya, Ner Vod."
He turned around, and pulled her to him, she knew what this meant.
"I've been called back, we need to go and extract Prudii. We'll go to the gardens next time I'm back."
"Is he ok?" She asked.
"Yes" replied A'den, "Just a broken down transport. But he's in CIS space."
It was more than that but he was pacifying her.
They stood quietly, in an embrace, for a little while and then touched foreheads, while the people of Coruscant walked by ignoring them.
"I want us to get married Ner, will you marry me?"
She looked away from him, so that he wouldn't see her face and the doubts, she was silent for while.
"I don't think that's a good idea, my last one didn't end well."
A'den was disappointed, he had expected a 'Yes.' He would work on her.
A'den worked on the other, whenever he could, but he was adamant that she was going to get a divorce from Yan, being paranoid, he sliced every bit of information he could about her. So they were well prepared, and then it would be up to Ryssa to go and see her, as required by the peculiar constraints of their marriage contract.
.
Coruscant
Kraggets Restaurant.
The jaunt to pick up Prudii was quick and they brought him back to Coruscant for a check up; Kal invited Ryssa to join them for a meal.
The Restaurant was not what you called first class and although there was a significant amount of food that was placed on the table, she couldn't vouch for its nutritional properties looking at the amount of fat floating on some of the plates.
It also made her feel slightly nauseous.
Kal was all 'Bonhomie' and gave her a bone crushing hug, which she found, a little overwhelming.
"Glad you could come." He had said to her, releasing her. "Come on meet everyone."
He dragged her around the room.
Ryssa was now faced with a room full of Nulls and Omega squad, Republic Commandos, plus a young man she had never met before.
She felt old and tired, and fat.
Kriff, you can practically taste the testosterone in the room.
Looking around for A'den, she found him, catching up with Jaing, she thought; eventually he rescued her from Kal and she relaxed. She should be used to all this unless it was the pregnancy making her feel nervous; the clones were observant and she had still not told A'den.
The other young man was a Jedi; the nearest she had been to a Jedi, since Kenobi.
She avoided him; staying close to A'den. Everyone knew each other and were all talking at once, then they started on the food.
"Haili cetare, lads." Boomed Kal, when the last of the food was brought out. It was a phrase that Neryssa had never heard but assumed it meant something like 'Eat up', because at that point they started to demolish the food. It went quieter when they were eating and Kal looked the very image of the indulgent father.
I must improve on my Mandoa
This was in total contrast to the Troopers on the frontline.
It didn't seem fair.
A'den needed to go to the fresher, leaving her sitting alone. Everyone else was talking or joking with some else; she felt out of place, separate, could feel the panic rising and she was getting warm, very warm. Beads of sweat appeared on her top lip and she dabbed at it before deciding to and get some evening air. She slipped out onto the balcony….'peace', she thought and gazed out into the Coruscant skyline, fanning herself to cool down.
The hum of the sky lanes just reached here; it was hypnotic.
Closing her eyes she let it wash over her.
She turned, as someone stood next to her; she hadn't heard anyone come out onto the balcony and assumed it would be A'den but it wasn't, it was one of his brothers. She smiled, even though she felt distinctly uncomfortable under his gaze.
He put his hand out.
"Jaing." He introduced himself, "and you must be Neryssa, the little lady, who has caused my brother to get his kute in a twist."
She couldn't help but giggle, she had guessed what kute were.
"That's better." He said. "You were looking ...unhappy."
"Who's unhappy?" A'den's voice came through the door. "You alright Cyar'ika?"
"Yes, yes. Just a bit warm in there."
"That would be Mer'ika's hot air." Quipped Jaing.
A'den came over and laid a proprietary arm around her. "So you've met my brother, eh?"
"The best looking one, I think you'll agree." He replied.
She smiled again, he had a knack of putting you at ease, just like A'den could. "So Den'ika, we don't see you much now."
"We've never seen much of each other since Geonosis, ner vod."
Both clones laughed, slightly differently.
"Here's the intel you needed, Ner Vod. It makes interesting reading."
He handed A'den a memory disc.
"I'll leave you two alone, while I rejoin the party."
They stood together on the balcony, leaning on the ledge, holding hands and silent but comfortable in it. After a few minutes A'den pulled her round to face him.
"Will you marry me?" He asked.
She shook her head. "You know the answer."
She needed to tell him first. He looked down.
"I'll keep asking, until one day you say yes." And kissed her on the cheek.
She smiled indulgently at him. "Lets go inside now.".
Jusik had been sitting with Kal and he watched the pair as they came back into the room. He had not met her before, but had heard what happened in the Treatment Room; the Nulls were nothing like the Clone Troopers that served the other Jedi, even though they had soon developed distinct personalities, he had been told.
He sank himself into the force, a habit he had acquired since working for SOB, not her mind just the Force surrounding her.
There was always whirlpool of emotions radiating off Kal, the woman was no exception; older than the clones, older than A'den. But then the clones were very young, for humans. She exuded a sense of panic, fear of loss, overwhelming love and desire….for A'den, and …..oh.
Jusik pulled out of the force, those feelings were much too personal; he wondered fleetingly if he would ever have some of those feelings but dismissed it almost immediately. He was a Jedi but not by choice, not any longer. He was happy for A'den, that he had found someone like that and that she was having his child.
But he didn't know yet and Jusik didn't know why because she knew.
The room had calmed somewhat after the clones had eaten but there was still sweet things to be had and they had been put in bowls on the tables. A'den had already had a handful.
Ryssa had thought that all the clones would be one happy family but there were little niggles all around between the various brothers but on the whole it was good natured. She heard them talking about what Kom'rk was doing and why Ordo had been unable to attend, they were searching for Grievous, he had gone off the grid again.
"I hope you get the bastard." She heard herself saying; the room went quiet. It was the first time she had spoken more than one word and louder than she intended, she paused.
"He...it ...killed my mother, in front of me."
There was silence in the room now; looking around at the faces they wanted further explanation, she heard A'den whisper, "Go on".
"I was on a factory planet for five years with my mother. She designed droids."
Gripping A'den's hand hard now, she knew how it sounded and someone said it.
"She's a Seppie."
A'den was upright in an instant and Kal tensed up, ready to break up whatever ensued.
"A'den." she pulled him back down to his chair, "My mother was a scientist and took the job to get off Coruscant, for a while, as I was ill."
She didn't elaborate on the illness, instead she watched the clones and Kal, who were looking expectantly at her, as if, they were waiting for a story, she carried on.
"While she was there, she found some information that indicated, the role was not as innocent as she had been led to believe. She was supposed to be designing high functioning medical droids but unknown to my Mother the specs were altered, and then the manufacturing was done on Geonosis not on one of the Core planets. So after the Battle of Geonosis, she offered the information together with her droid blueprints, plus some other information, to the Republic."
Her voice began to waver, she had never fully explained it all, to anyone, even A'den. She felt him squeeze her arm, he was right next to her and she needed him now.
The silence following that revelation was deafening, and Ryssa was beginning to wish she had never mentioned it, she sank back into A'den, who held her, steady, comforting.
"Go on." he whispered.
"We couldn't leave, Grievous had the planet on lockdown, but we were trying to escape and he caught up with us; he killed a friend who was coming with us and shot my Mother. But then the Jedi came and he was more interested in them. He sent droids after us."
Ryssa struggled with the next part
"Her Mother died in Ryssa's arms just before some of our brothers arrived." A'den finished it for her but didn't mention Kenobi.
"That just makes it personal."
This was Jaing talking, whilst balancing a vibroblade on his forefinger.
"Hurting a member of our aliit." He put the vibroblade down and picked up his glass of ale raising it to her.
"Oya!"
She turned to A'den, who nodded, she turned back to the table.
"Thankyou." She said softly.
The evening quietened down with the clones, seeming to part into particular groups. Several had asked her how she escaped, including Kal; she explained how they had gradually prepared their craft. Her Mother, an engineer, had been quietly working on modifying it, ensuring it was fit to fly, and could clear the planets defences. She was also working on an override code so they could leave. They were just waiting for Grievous to go on a mission.
It was a risk.
Grievous was paranoid.
Ryssa had eventually become her mothers assistant; her speciality had been microsurgery, she was used to intricate work. Her Mother sent a message to the Jedi council explaining about the information.
She heard some asking A'den how he met her, one called Fi was especially interested and asked A'den if she had a sister.
Holding A'den's hand tight she said to Kal.
"I can't believe, that I thought the first troopers I saw, were droids."
His face darkened.
"I had never heard of the GAR; we just knew of a big Jedi battle at Geonosis. We were on a total information blackout."
Kal sat with them for a little while.
"Do you two need anything?"
Both shook their heads.
Kal left them as they seemed engrossed in each other, but not before he had given both of them bone crushing hugs.
Ryssa noticed he did that a lot.
As they arrived home, A'den pulled her to him and put his hands either side of her face, looking into her eyes intensely he said.
"I want you to get that divorce as soon as possible, so that we get Yan out of our life; I don't want her to have any claim on you."
He had reviewed the data on the disc.
She nodded, she would do it.