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Sued13
CHAPTER Twenty Three
Coruscant
Noormantown Residential District
Ryssa finally managed to get to see Brud; she should have done it months ago. She felt guilty; he had always been...different but without him she would never have passed her lab tests at school. He saw...what others didn't and he explained everything in a much better way for her to understand and once she did, she flew with it.
His parents, older when they had him, had been very protective and Ryssa was one of a few who he was allowed to see out of school. Her mother had been 'vetted' and he finally came out of his shell and started coming out with all of them; then Yan appeared. Ryssa knew he didn't like her but she just put it down to his idiosyncrasies. He was as astute as anyone else but he just would not let it go. He kept insisting that she was evil, and Ryssa being Ryssa had been stubborn and they had fallen out.
They had never spoken since.
He had been right.
Eventually she found his building, in one of the older residential districts, which centuries ago had been occupied by Senators, Doctors etc but now it was just run down, shabby. His parents had owned the whole block. Her Mother had once said that they were 'Old Money' and she had not understood it at the time. She hoped Brud still lived there, his parents had since died but she couldn't think of any where else he could go.
Den's agreement that she should contact Brud had astonished her. It was necessary, he said, especially if it was worrying her so much. He was understanding of the fact that Brud was different; it surprised her. It was unfinished business and she didn't want anything unfinished; she had a bad feeling about it.
She smiled to herself, Brud always talked about having bad feelings about people and things.
The jingle from the old fashioned entrance bell sounded flat, probably cracked.
A ball shot out from the wall; she jumped back. That was new.
"Fek!"
"State your name and purpose."
The TT-8L/Y7 gatekeeper droid asked in the grating voice they all had.
"Neryssa Baey, friend."
It considered this.
"Access denied, Good day." and retreated back into the wall.
She rang again, prepared for the droid.
"State your name and purpose."
"Ryssa to see Brud, and if you don't let me in, I'll pull you out of the wall." She grabbed the stalk and held tight, as it pulled her towards the wall.
It was no win situation, it was a droid but she could try.
"Brud, let me in, I want to talk to you." she paused. "I'm sorry. I should have listened to you, you were right."
The droid or Brud seemed to be considering this. Then, the door opened; it was an old fashioned one that opened outwards.
Entering slowly, she peered into the darkness; all the lights were off but there at the end of the corridor, light peeped out from under the door. She headed towards it, something scuttled over her foot she stopped and cringed but didn't look. She was like a lot of humans and had a fear of small many legged animals; the house was neglected, grimy and webs hung from the ceiling of the corridor.
She felt more guilt.
Hesitantly she opened the door and called his name, barely above a whisper; there was no reply.
"Brud?" she tried again and gently pushed the door open.
The light was blinding compared to the dark and dingy corridor; it was a laboratory. She pushed it further until she was able to enter and there he was, wearing the old fashioned lab coat that he had affected at college. His hair looking wild. Just standing there looking at her, as if he had seen a ghost.
"Hello." She tried.
He ignored her and went back to his data pad.
Ryssa took the chance to look around the room.
It was large, well equipped, well ordered and spotless; in total contrast to the rest of his house.
Brud always liked well ordered experiments; he was definitely doing some research, on microscopic animals by the looks of it.
She took a few steps forward.
"How are you?"
He looked up and walked across the room to some tank that appeared to hold some kind of soupy liquid and scrutinised it.
"Fine." He replied, not making eye contact, and walked back to his desk.
"I've divorced her...Yan."
"Good."
He was still more interested his experiment than her.
"You were right. I'm sorry I should have listened to you."
He continued to scrutinise the results.
"Hah!" he barked out. Then turned to her, a little smile on his face.
"That's a first."
Ryssa, assuming that he was talking about his experiment, asked, "Is that good?"
"Ryssa admitting that she's wrong, oh yes, that's good."
She smiled.
"Have you forgiven me?"
"I'm thinking about it."
She felt the smile disappear from her face.
"Of course, it was never you, it was always her. She was was like an arachnid crawling all over you."
Thinking about it his description it was appropriate and she cringed again.
"Your research?" Ryssa nodded towards the datapad.
"Yes."
"What is it?" he was always happier talking about science rather than feelings.
"Tardigrades."
Ryssa knew what they were, more many legged creatures, but was unsure what he could be doing research on them; she thought that they had been researched to death.
"A new species. New applications."
"Whose sponsoring it?"
"Me."
"You?" she could not keep the disbelief out of her voice.
"I may look as if I am half deranged but I assure you, I am not."
"You need to get a couple of droids to help you keep the house clean then."
"Why?"
"Have you seen outside this room?"
"Not very often I don't need to."
He poked his head out of the door; " If I don't see it it doesn't exist."
"It could affect you research in here."
She saw the realisation hit him; "Promise me you'll sort it out."
He nodded, she was feeling better already. Then he fixed one of his unnerving searching stares on her. They always made you feel uncomfortable; she had forgotten about these.
"So when is the baby due?"
She let out a breath.
"About six months." she thought her top would hide it. "No you don't know him." she wasn't sure how either of them would react to each other.
He picked up his datapad, "So whats the best kind of droid to get?"
"Here lets have a look."
They huddled over the datapad, laughing at the descriptions.
.
It was late, and no sign of him; the debriefing had obviously been extended.
Undressing, she noted the tightness of some clothes; she would have to get more soon.
Then the door lock clicked, A'den walked straight over, pulled her into a gentle, but firm kiss that lasted so long, it took her breath away, then he pulled away from her, a twinkle in his eye.
"There's something different about you?"
She smiled, he said it every time now, it couldn't be avoided it any longer, she was beginning to really show and he noticed every little change.
His face gradually broke into a smile; his arms snaked around her, forehead resting on hers, his eyes never moving from hers.
"You feeling okay?"
"The divorce is through."
"Good."
She felt his sigh as he rested against her.
"Will you marry me now?"
His persistence left only one answer.
"Yes."
A ring was slipped on her finger, fitting perfectly; she had never asked for one. She didn't need one. Some planning had gone into this.
"I want us to take the Mandalorian marriage vow."
"Mandalorian?"
"It's my heritage, a simple vow just between us; we could have done it before but it didn't feel right until you had the divorce."
"We need to tell everyone, especially Kal."
"I want to keep it between ourselves for the time being."
To revel in it.
He was conflicted, he didn't want something that his brothers couldn't have; it wasn't fair but these feelings would be diluted if every one knew exactly how he felt.
It was the first time he had felt like this; he wanted them to have the same as he.
The galaxy wasn't fair.
"I want to scream it from the highest skyscraper to the whole of Coruscant." Ryssa declared.
He laughed.
"Seriously….we'll have to tell them and soon; I won't be able to hide this much longer." she rubbed her stomach.
"Soon. But not yet. It's all ours just for a little while."
He felt a buzz of apprehension in his stomach, unsure why, as this was what he wanted; He concentrated on the words and translated them. She repeated after him.
"Mhi solus tome,"
"Mhi solus dar'tome,"
"Mhi me'dinui an,"
"Mhi ba'juri verde."
Neryssa couldn't think of anything more appropriate; it said everything for both of them.
They drank a toast to his brothers and Kal'buir and as she stood, he looked.
"Den?"
He shook his head and stroked the straightened length of her hair, committing to memory the texture, thick and soft.
His hand found its way to hers, stroking the pale softness of her arms. He had heard mongrels say that a pregnant female glowed. He could see that now; her eyes bright, hair shining more than ever and skin soft with a pink hue. He pulled her gently to the bedroom, by the hand.
"Den?"
Not a word passed his lips, as he sat on the bed and she stood between his legs
He pulled the tiny straps of her shift over her shoulders and undid the clasp at the back, never taking his eyes from hers; it slid down, slowing as it reached her now rounded stomach. Soon it would not fit. She shuffled and it dropped to the floor, a pool of shimmer silk around her feet.
His hands covered her breasts, letting their weight rest in them, rubbing the rose pink nipples with his thumbs.
She bit her lip, as his hands held her, his lips brushed down her neck, her breasts, along her nipples before moving back up to her; finally he pulled her to him. His kisses more fierce, more demanding, her body reacted, her need for him overtaking everything else, as she grabbed the edges of his shirt, pulling it over his head.
He immersed himself in her; the softness of her, meeting the hardness of him. He responded to her, like no one else.
A moan, as she pushed him down and pulled at his trousers; he pushed her back, she waited.
A'den stopped, as she dropped to her knees.
"Are you Ok?"
"Hmmm."
He leant back, giving into the pleasure before pulling her up and onto him; she pushed herself up slightly.
"Okay?"
"Better." Her voice taking on the husky timbre that he recognised as she moved on him. He breathed deeply to gain control and reached for her, watching as her eyes closed in concentration. She rose for a few seconds and then her warmth suffused him and his arousal increased again, as she moved down on him; his eyes moved with her, and he rose, matching her moves. He steadied her, as she headed towards her climax and caught her as she collapsed on him, a few seconds and he twisted them both over.
Even in his state, he saw her discomfort and twisted her over, pulling her to him by the hips; it was a primal urge, he didnt give into often and he entered her from behind. Holding her he rode to his release not hearing her gasps and laying over her he placed a kiss on her neck.
He had never thought it could be this intense; he had never thought he could feel about anyone like this, but he did.
Plumping up the pillows for her, he lay next to her and drew circles on her stomach, she giggled.
"Tickles!"
He let his hand rest there, protectively.
"We need to tell Kal."
"Hmmmh."
"Will he…..how will he take it?"
Having a child in the middle of a war was not the best idea and he wouldn't have chosen that option but it had happened now; so they would make it work.
"He'll accept it."
Ryssa was silent.
"What did Dr Cahu say?"
"Everything is okay... growing normally."
.
She had been to see him at A'den's insistence.
"Come in Ryssa, it's good to see you. Now what can I do for you?" He looked up at that point.
"Ah." He rose and came around his desk taking her hand and leading her to the seating area in his office; he had been in General practice for a while and appeared to be used to this reaction.
"How far along are you?"
"Twelve weeks. I've been checked over by a droid but I wanted a second opinion."
"On what?"
"How healthy it is."
"Why wouldn't you think it wasn't healthy? Have you been having problems?"
"I…"
"Was it conceived naturally?"
"Yes."
"Is the father around?"
"…..Yes."
Dr Cahu sighed, "Is he with someone else?"
"No, no."
"Is he another species?"
"No."
"He's not a criminal, is he?" He was desperately trying to understand why she was being so evasive. Then he realised; he should have thought of it first and why she was so reluctant to say. She worked with them everyday.
"The father's a clone isn't he?"
"Yes."
"I thought they were infertile."
"Obviously not." Her reply was a little terse.
He smiled at her; he was her Doctor now, not superior. He had crossed the line. It was his choice.
"But you need to know if there are any anomalies, especially from the DNA alterations.
She nodded.
"The accelerated ageing."
"Hmmm."
He put his hand to his chin.
"I'll do an in-depth scan and blood test; it will be a little invasive."
Ryssa nodded. and delved in her bag.
"This is the previous one, for comparison."
The results came through quickly, no problems identified
"I'll monitor you throughout, just in case."
Ryssa sighed, she was hoping he would say that; he was also bound by Doctor Patient confidentiality as soon as he said he would do the test.
"Thank you."
.
A'den came over the next night, a luxury for him, as he was still repaying his brothers for the times out of the rotation, when he was pursuing her but they made the most of it.
"Where's your ring?"
She pulled her mother's gold chain out from under her top; it hung from it.
"They are both from the most important people in my life. I didn't want to catch it on anything or when I sterilised, it slipped..."
He heard no more, as he pulled her to him, their lovemaking had moved to a different level, there was still a need but it was tempered.
They were ideally suited.
Unsure what disturbed her, Ryssa woke in the early hours. She was still feeling sticky from A'den; they hadn't cleaned up afterwards as he was so tired, she didn't want to disturb him. Rolling over to cuddle, she found a cold, empty space. At that moment the whimpering noises registered in her hearing; she peered into the half light in the bedroom and could barely make out a form crouched in the corner of the bedroom.
Slipping out of the bed, she padded over to the corner to find him, curled up in the foetal position, muttering in Mandoa. She couldn't catch all the words, they were disjointed and spat out. He didn't seem to know she was there or who she was and a knot of anxiety tied itself in her stomach.
"Den?"
He lunged, grabbing her wrist hard, she gave a short squeal as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into him. She realised he was still naked.
"Stay close or they'll get you!" He warned.
"Who?" She asked, looking around, as she couldn't see anyone in the apartment.
"Them."
"Who?"
"Aiwha-bait." She tried to move his arms but they were vicelike around her and he was running hot like all the clones did.
"Den, we're not on Kamino."
"They're going to terminate us, they say we're defective.
"Den, they won't terminate you, Kal won't let them."
His head jerked round at that; she hoped she was getting through to him, to the man she knew now. But this wasn't her area of expertise, even so, he released his grip slightly so she could squirm around.
"Kal'buir, is he here?" His eyes darted around the room.
"He's talking to them now" she lied.
"They're frightened of him." A'den announced. "He'll sort it out, won't he. He stopped them before."
"He did." She agreed. She sounded calm but her heart was pumping furiously.
"Let's go back to bed, it's cold and Kal wouldn't want you to be cold."
He hesitated, "He's not here?"
"No, he's with the ...Aiwha-bait." she replied.
"Good." He sniggered.
"Come on." She cajoled. "Let's get back to bed and let Kal sort them out."
She slowly got up and keeping hold of his hand pulled him back to the bed, and he sat down on the bed compliantly then putting his hands on her waist, he pulled her towards him. She could feel the man she loved coming back to her.
"No." She pushed him away and kissed him on the forehead. "Sleep now."
He lay down in the bed and she lay next to him; after a great deal of shuffling they ended up both on their sides facing each other with his head under her chin and her knees in his stomach. After a few minutes she could hear his rhythmic breathing.
She lay with him like that for, she wasn't sure how long but just to make certain he was in a deep sleep. She noticed his hair had grown out a little and was in tiny curls and a few grey hairs had recently appeared in it. She placed a small kiss on it.
Did that mean the accelerated aging was catching up with him? She pushed that thought out of her mind, she didn't want to think about that but this nightmare frightened her.
She moved carefully, slipping out of the bed, to find her comlink; she pressed the first number on it, and waited.
"Ad'ika. You ok?"
"Kal..."
"What's wrong? Is it A'den?
"Yes…"
"At your apartment?"
"Yes."
"I'll come immediately."
She sat waiting, worried. Kal was to all intents, his Father; he'd saved the boys when they were tiny, according to A'den, and he thought so much of Kal, loved him so much and she'd… called him because A'den had a nightmare.
She felt like an idiot; she was a qualified medic.
The door chimed and he was in the room, before she could stand and he was in her face.
"What did you do to him?" He demanded, an air of menace was never far from Kal and she saw it now, any threat to his sons.
"Nothing." She felt tears welling; she would never hurt him.
"We had dinner, Nerf and bean casserole and then we went to bed and …"
"Ok. What exactly happened? Describe it!"
She explained exactly how she woke up and found him, how he looked, what he said.
"And then you got him back into bed and he's slept since then?"
"Yes" she replied.
"Good girl, you did well." He patted her on the shoulder; she felt relieved and proud at his words, although she couldn't think why.
"It happens sometimes...to all my boys. Any Caf?" He asked.
She brewed some, extra strong, and they sat in the kitchen, while Kal explained exactly what had happened on Kamino. A'den had told her some of it but glossed over a lot of what happened to him and his brothers.
Kal explained the Nulls were the 'prototypes' that the Kaminoans had enhanced and altered Jango Fetts DNA so much that only six of the twelve developed as embryos. They developed and learned so fast;they questioned everything and disobeyed their instructors. The Kaminoans continued to 'train' them and discussed everything, in front of the young clones, who with their eidetic memory, could recall everything.
Even Kal couldn't tell her exactly what had been done to the tiny boys, as the first time he saw them was just prior to their proposed termination, when Ordo and Mereel had attempted to protect their brothers. He had taken them on with Jango's blessing and trained them, and brought them up 'as best he could.'
As his sons.
She sat, tears running down her cheeks, at the barbarity of the Kaminoans, the uncaring pragmatism of the Republic and the complicity of the Jedi.
.
A'den woke, surprised to find Kal there, taking coffee with his wife, this early in the morning.
"Problem, Buir?"
"Nah, just a courtesy call, Den'ika. On some business and decided a good strong cup of caf, just like Ryssa makes, was what I needed; sorry it's so early, lad." He smiled and ruffled his hair. "At least I didn't disturb you but we can walk back to the Barracks together, there's a joint mission you're needed for."
He moved to the door as his son and his girl took their leave of each other; there was something different about them, their actions made them appear older. He shook his head, this ageing thing was getting to him.
####
Mandalorian Marriage vow:
Mhi solus tome,"
"Mhi solus dar'tome,"
"Mhi me'dinui an,"
"Mhi ba'juri verde."
Translation.
"We are one together,"
"We are one when parted,"
"We share all,"
"We will raise warriors."