Hi readers,
Chasing the fallout from the last chapter here.
Thank you for the reviews and continuing to read.
Sied13.
CHAPTER Twenty Five
The Barracks were large, very large; it was like a city, within a city but it had to be, it housed the GAR, which in theory was still growing. She had never been any further than the Treatment Room very often and once it was by mistake but Coric had told her how to get to their quarters, when she had to deliver something to him urgently. She hoped she could remember the way.
Somehow she felt she needed to explain the situation to Coric; she felt he deserved it. He was her friend.
Stopping mid stride, she realised that what he thought of her, was very important to her; she didn't want him to think the any worse of her. He was a medic, he would soon see her pregnancy. She truly valued his friendship, and respect but it may have been too late for that.
She hoped not.
She tried in the Mess Hall, just in case and panicked a few shinies in the process, then Jesse told her he was in the squad room; Troopers heads turned and followed her, as she walked along the corridors.
Knowing the gossip mill in the Barracks perhaps this was not such a good idea.
She knocked.
Nothing.
She knocked again, "Coric? Are you in there. I really need to talk to you?"
Silence.
She looked along the corridor either side of her, it was empty.
"Please Coric?" She pleaded. "Let me in. I know what you saw and it's not what you think."
He opened the door for her; the room was dark and she could just see Coric was sitting slumped on a bunk.
"Not what I think. It was Fekking explicit...whatever it was?" He said, his voice full of disappointment. He didn't even look at her.
She felt herself blushing.
"Not that...and yes, the place was wrong."
"You should have at least locked the door."
"At least." She agreed.
"Was he hurting you?"
"Coric, you know he wasn't."
This was more difficult that she had imagined.
"Yeah."
"Is this why you were different yesterday, because you're with him."
"Yes. I'm with him but I didn't think I was different."
"You were. You were distant."
She did know what he meant; she had kept away from him because of the pregnancy.
"I'm sorry."
She finally sat down opposite, and looked at the floor. She had a decision to make and it depended if she could trust him.
She felt she could.
"I need to tell you something. Not many people know this and it must stay that way. Promise me you won't tell anyone else. Can I trust you with this?"
Coric looked at her; she needed him again.
"Yeah."
She took a deep breath.
"A'den is my husband."
Coric's head shot up.
"Kriff...What?"
"I'm married to him, Coric."
"How?"
"Mandalorian vows. Coric...I love him and last night was the first time we'd seen each other since he came back….and …..we…we...just got carried away." She finished quickly. He was now the only other person that knew.
He sat silently, just staring at her, as if he didn't recognise her.
So that was that. She'd taken a vow.
"I'm so sorry you saw us and that it embarrassed you and I'm embarrassed that you saw us. I didn't tell you about him because…. we don't know how it affects his status. Please don't tell anyone…we're not sure what would happen. Please….I….can't lose him."
She had pleaded her case and waited for his reply.
"Married. How long?"
"A couple of weeks; but I've been with him months. We've only spent a few days after each of his missions together. He always has missions off world where he works on Special Ops, Seppies home worlds and the like. I'm sorry Coric I don't ask him too much about them."
He remembered the name 'Den'.
"I've heard that the Null ARCs are insane...psychotic killers. I thought he was hurting you but you…... He was like an animal with you."
She flushed an even brighter red with embarrassment.
"He's possessive, Coric, and I'm sorry you saw it. But I am not sorry that I made love to my husband; I love him and the next time he goes on a mission, he may not return."
She spoke with an edge to her voice on the last sentence.
"We make the most of every moment together."
"I could see that." Coric said sarcastically. She bit back the retort on her lips and took a deep breath.
"He's….. all the Nulls have issues from when they were on Kamino."
"Haven't we all." replied Coric.
"Yes, I suppose so." Ryssa said softly. There was an uncomfortable silence between them that had never been there before, not since they had first met.
"Are you coming back to the Treatment Room?"
"I'm not sure. I've spoken to Captain Rex and we may be deploying again soon; he wants me back with the 501st, permanently."
"Oh…. " she murmured. "will I see you tomorrow though?"
"I don't know."
She paused. Considering her next words carefully.
"A'den wants to meet you all tomorrow."
"Huh!" He shrugged his shoulders.
"Coric?" She pleaded, "at least meet him. Give him a chance. He's a good man."
He looked up and had that blank default expression, she had seen before on other men, including her husband, indicating the end of this particular conversation.
"Thank you,... for ….listening."
She tried again to move towards him but he put his hand up to stop her, acknowledging that sadly she left.
Captain Rex watched as the woman from the Treatment Room left the squad room; she didn't look happy. Jesse had filled him in on her visit and knowing what he did, he came back to see if there were any pieces left to pick up. He also had heard mutterings from Kix about broken knuckles the previous night.
He knocked on the door; he wouldn't have normally but he wanted to talk with Coric in private, Vod to Vod.
He pushed the door open, the lighting was dimmed.
"Coric?"
"Sir."
His trooper stood to attention.
"At ease."
The Captain sat on the bunk opposite.
"Sit. This isn't formal."
Coric sat back down.
"How's the hand?" the Captain nodded in the direction of the hand encased in the bacta bandage.
"Healing."
"Are you going to tell me how it happened?"
"No."
"Sure?"
"Yes Sir."
"I said it wasn't formal."
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"It's that woman, in the Treatment Room, isn't it?"
Coric just looked at his brother sitting opposite.
"I want to be with you on the next deployment, Sir."
"Of course."
"I don't want to be seconded to the Treatment Room again." Coric took a deep breath. "I don't want to work with her again, sir."
Rex had his answer.
The Captain stood up and Coric went to attention. This was formal now.
"That's fine by me Sargeant, we deploy in two days, to Malastare."
"Sir, yes sir." Coric gave his best salute.
.
"Do you always get them Cakes and pastries for breakfast?" Asked A'den carrying the box for her. It was larger than normal as A'den had insisted on meeting them, just as she had told Coric, so there were a significant number of cakes for him. She hoped Coric would be there; he was her friend and had helped her through a difficult time. She had toyed with the idea of telling him about the pregnancy, when she had been able to talk to him but decided it would be too much. A'den was meeting them before he went for his briefing with General Zey and Kal, for his latest mission.
"Always." She replied.
"Lucky Meat Cans". He snorted a laugh .
"I told you not to call them that, A'den." His face hardened for a second and then he smiled.
"As you say, Cyar'ika"
She yelled out for them as normal.
"Osik, lass. I didn't know you could shout so loud. I think I've burst an eardrum."
She gave him a small playful punch on his upper arm.
He grinned.
She loved it when he grinned and he knew it; it lit up his face and made him look young and innocent, which tugged at her heart, it was also totally what he wasn't. She looked up at him as he dipped his head to give her a peck on the cheek.
They entered the med bay, where all three of the Clone medics were working away as if nothing handed happened but she knew from that, that they all knew.
"Hi boys! Got the Cakes, pastries and a visitor; someone who wants to meet you."
The clones snapped to attention.
"At ease lads, I'm not an officer, just a NCO like you, Coric. Let's get the goodies out."
A'den was being his most charming self singling Coric out and opened the box of Cakes grabbing a big one for himself.
They stood around munching on the sweet, sticky confections and there were several mutterings of appreciation for them. Ryssa handed the Cafs out.
"A'den, N12. Good to finally meet you lads, when I'm conscious. You all did the best for me a while back. It was much appreciated and didn't go unnoticed."
The medics nodded, acknowledging the thanks.
"It's why were here." commented Tod, before taking a large bite out of one of his favourite pastries.
"Why aren't you an officer then?" Kix asked between mouthfuls. "Your brother ARCs are." He had done some research on the Commandos and the Nulls and found out there were only six and they were the first clones produced on Kamino with some enhancements that the Kaminoans weren't happy with. The others were lieutenants and one was a Captain.
"Being a Sargeant is good enough for Kal'Buir, so it's good enough for me."
"What's a Kal'buir? Asked Tod, bits of pastry flying out of his mouth.
The smile froze on A'den's face. "Kal'buir is Mandalorian for Papa Kal. It's what I and my brothers call our old training Sergeant, Kal Skirata. He saved our lives on Kamino, when the kaminisii were going to terminate us for being defective, or rather for having a higher IQ than Lama Su."
He sniggered at his own joke; the medics sniggered with him, they all knew who he was talking about.
"He's looked after us like a father since then; since we were 2 years old."
The others clones exchanged glances, they hadn't had a father figure around and their training had been very different, they had been left to form attachments in their squads. They all sat round the desk drinking the Caf and eating cakes, while Ryssa was called away to a meeting with Doctor Cahu, as soon as she left, A'den spoke.
"Ner vode, I have a favour to ask you."
Coric could see now that he looked older than the normal troopers, fatherly almost; technically he was at least a year older than he was. Is that why she likes him? He knew Ryssa was older than they physically were.
Kix studied the Null, bigger build, older, one of the first; he'd read about them. The Kaminoans had obviously had several attempts. At first you would think he was an Alpha, but no he was different to them. He thought he and Neryssa looked right together.
Tod thought this A'den looked slightly different, heavier, darker skinned, tanned but he had a face that showed he enjoyed a laugh. He could remember when he was brought in. He thought the Null was good for Ryssa, she had started to look happier of late.
"You all know who I am now, in relation to Ryssa and I'm leaving in a few hours on a Mission. I don't know when….., or if I'll be back, although I fully intend to be."
All three clones went quiet. They understood this it was something they all faced in every battle.
"I know how much Ryssa values your friendship and I think you value hers. I am asking you all to look out for her. Protect her and keep her safe for me, while I'm away. Can you do that for me, Ner Vode?"
The medics looked at each other and Kix answered for them all. "Of course."
"Vor'e, Haat, ijaa, haa'it." A'den then went to each medic in turn and clasped their right forearm and shook it, in the Mandalorian way of greeting; it sealed the oath. "Ni cuy' o'r gar entye."
Coric would have done it, without the oath.
At that moment, A'den's comlink beeped; the briefing had been brought forward, and just as he ended the call, Ryssa returned.
"Haven't you eaten all the cakes yet?"
A'den nodded to the other clones. The medics immediately attended to business and A'den turned to her, taking her hands in his, he moved her towards the door.
"No, not yet." She shook her head. This was too soon.
"Cyar'ika" he pulled her to him and she melted into his arms, attempting unsuccessfully to wrap her arms fully around him but laying her head on his chest. He propped his chin on the top of her head and said the words she dreaded to hear.
"I have to go."
She tried unsuccessfully to stop the tears but with the pregnancy, they came anyway. Slow. Silent. "I'm sorry. I can't….."
"Ni kar'taylir darasuum gar." Whispered A'den, as he brought his forehead down to touch hers.
She looked up at his face, her eyes shiny with unspent tears. "Ni kar'taylir darasuum gar."
He took her in his arms again, for a minute and she clung to him, desperately trying to hold him back. Then he reluctantly peeled her arms off, holding her hands in his large gloved ones, for several seconds, he kissed them and let them drop. He turned abruptly and walked through the door. She watched him swagger down the corridor, he had his Kama on.
A'den never looked back. He couldn't. He was ARC N-12 now and the rules said he was a possession, a unit, property of the Republic, and as such, he couldn't admit to having a wife he loved or a baby on the way.
Ryssa came back into the med bay, walked straight past the medics, shaking her head, silent and straight into her office, closing the door behind her; she never dealt well with the departures.
Coric watched all this with his stomach churning with the jealousy that he now realised he felt. He wanted to be that Commando but Ryssa had made sure he understood that would never be.
It would be his secret, his and Rex, of course, Rex knew.
He moved to console her in spite of himself but Kix stepped in front of him and shook his head; he was going to argue but decided against it. He had made a promise to a brother and he would honour it.
Ryssa stayed in her office all morning, working on the reports that she so hated, and the medics completed the consultations for her during that time. The medics realised what had happened that morning and knew now what, occasionally, would make her stay in the office and do the paperwork for hours on end.
At lunch time she came out with her datapad, eyes red rimmed. Kix saw her and came over to her, touching her gently on the arm he said.
"I'm sorry."
She nodded. "He's a soldier, it's hard and gets harder every time he goes out but I have to live with that."
Kix knew what she meant, a clones life on the front was measured in months, nit even years. It made for depressing reading. He didn't envy her the waiting, the feeling of powerlessness. Kix now had to deal with his brother, while she went on to complete her consultations for the day, not knowing when, or if, she would ever see her husband again.
.
Eighty minutes after leaving her, A'den was on a TIV that SOB had fitted out for insertions, when he found the flimzi message; they had just entered hyperspace. She always said it, in some way, he looked at it. Yes, there it was "Be safe." underneath was a red smudge where she had kissed it, in that awful lipstick that, when she wore it, wound up everywhere, and that he secretly liked to see her wearing, just for him. He snorted a laugh at both the message and the memories but pushed them down; he needed to focus.
"Problem Sergeant?" Asked, Winco, his new pilot.
He missed Sicko.
"No just a message"
"Good one I hope, from a female friend? I've heard about you commandos. You get to go walkabout on Corrie, like the Guard."
"Nah. Nothing important."
You don't know the half.
He put the flimzi in the recycler and checked his pack; he also ensured that the package he had been entrusted with was safely stowed.
His instructions were clear; under no circumstances were the Separatists to get hold of the 'Spice Package', however, the other packages he could distribute as per the list.
"Got the itinerary?"
"Of course, it's not a magical mystery tour you know."
A'den guffawed; he was in a good mood; Ryssa was well, they were back on course, he was going to be a Father and he would need to tell Kal. He was definitely coming back from this one. SOB had designated it a potential suicide mission; weren't they all. Not for him, not any longer, he had everything to live for.
"What's our ETA on Malastare?"