Hi,

I know Titus was demoted but I gave him a promotion back. I have assumed he has friends in high places.

Sued13

CHAPTER Seventy Two

The fair haired Imperial officer stood gazing intently out of the transparisteel window of his office, hands clasped behind his back, military fashion, he had foregone the additional synth skin covering on his left prosthetic hand but had surprised himself how well he had adapted to its use.

He was back where he belonged, Thrawn was not the only one with friends, and although it had taken time; he was revelling in it. Information had been passed to him regarding that old Clone, Captain Rex, who had defied him and he had delivered it personally to someone who had made it known he was particularly interested in the Captain.

The meeting was fraught; the second most powerful man...no being, in the Empire, who was known for his disdain for Imperial Naval officers, had actually listened to him. Even Titus could see his interest was piqued when the clones' designation was mentioned.

The mechanical breathing changed pace slightly.

"CT 7567…..It's been a while."

Titus knew Lord Vader meant those words only for himself; Titus drew himself up and spoke.

"I have intel that informs me of where he is and there is leverage that we can use to capture him."

"He is assisting the Rebels?" The black helmeted figure's voice matched the image.

"He is and has been for over a year; together with two other Clones…."

Titus was about to give their designations but the black gloved hand waved dismissively.

"It is he I am interested in. Capture him. Do not kill him."

"Understood my Lord." Titus was at his most deferential.

"You may find... this Stormtrooper..… to be most eager to be of use."

Lord Vader pressed a button on his com and Titus received the information.

"Keep me apprised of the situation; The Emperor has other duties for me to attend to urgently," He focused his black helmeted gaze on Titus, "Do not fail me."

Titus felt the oxygen leave the room.

In a dramatic swirl of his cape, Vader also left.

Now Titus had work to do.

.

The small blue holographic image of a Stormtrooper rose from the disc.

"IC 2224, reporting….Sir." The voice was just this side of impertinent; it reminded Titus of the other clone.

"What are your orders." Again the tone could be interpreted as insubordinate, as if he had no right to be issuing that order, but the Admiral was not interested in that.

The officer finally turned to face the image, "Remove your helmet, Commander."

The image paused a few seconds before complying and removed the helmet. Titus studied the white haired trooper with the scars around his left eye, the resemblance was…... disturbing, yet there were differences.

"Commander," The face in front of him brought back uncomfortable memories of the defiant Clone, who had stood insolently before him on the experimental interdictor and who was now part of the Rebellion. That clone had refused his offer and resisted the Interrogation droid. This clone, in front of him had, like thousands of others stayed loyal to the Empire, whilst that…..Captain Rex was a traitor.

He must give him the respect he is due…..for a clone.

"Sir?" The Trooper was used to being studied by mongrels, he had put up with it every day of his fighting life.

"I have some work you may be interested in. It concerns former Captain Rex, Commander Wolffe and Clone Commando Gregor."

The white haired Clone moved slightly forward, as he heard those names, "You have my full attention, Admiral." The impertinence, in his voice, replaced by interest.

.

Ana looked at the holographic image of her curly, strawberry blonde haired daughter sitting on Essie's knee and waving her hand. Only two more months and she would be back there. She had only promised the Alliance four months; her daughter needed her and for once Rex agreed and backed her decision. He was at least talking to her now. She was a volunteer after all but it was getting more and more organised, more militarised; she wasn't sure she liked that.

"And she's sitting up now, on her own." Tula's voice piped up in the background. "The signals going." Essie said and Kallie was practising her wave; Ana returned them and the signal disappeared.

"She's growing up fast, isn't she." Sasha had seen the last few seconds of the broadcast, Ana only nodded, if she spoke she would cry. "I'm sorry you can't be with her more."

"Yes," She finally regained her composure. "It's difficult. I wish…"

"I'll try and get you back to her as soon as possible." She put a comforting hand on Ana's arm, the women had become close friends. Ana had started training with the Doctor but it had become more than that; they had learned from each other. Ana's knowledge of plants and their medicinal uses, together with the Doctor's up to date medical expertise, combined to produce a formidable duo who could treat most ailments, in all kinds of terrain. They were passing on basic skills to the Rebel soldiers to reduce casualties; they now had kits that could treat potentially life threatening injuries, giving the soldiers time to get back to base for more treatment. They had lists of plants that could be used instead of Bacta; there was a surprising number of varying efficacy. Ana was proud she had contributed to that; they just couldn't afford to lose soldiers, as they couldn't replace them like the Empire, they didn't have its infinite resources but she was torn between this and looking after her daughter.

Am I being selfish wanting to raise her myself?

"How's Rex?" Sasha's question interrupted her thoughts.

There was a subtle hesitation that Sasha picked up on.

"Oh, you know, focused. He's on a mission….. that's...need to know."

"And he doesn't even tell you?"

Ana laughed, "Oh definitely not, he says it's to protect me."

"He's a good man, Rex, hang onto him."

Ana smiled, with a distracted look in her eyes, "Oh, I intend to."

She didn't know if anyone knew about the split but she was keeping up the pretence; she didn't think she could cope with any sympathy, from anyone.

.

A few days later she was thanking Sasha for letting her leave earlier than her rotation allowed, even though she was a volunteer.

"So where are you heading?"

"Back to Seelos, to my Aunts'. They've been looking after Kallie for me. I trust them implicitly but I still miss her."

"I'll miss you, as well." Ana couldn't resist giving the older woman a quick hug before she left for the hangar, where she managed to get a lift with Wedge, who was going on some reconnaissance for Hera. She had missed taking her leave of the Ghost crew, they were on some mission.

.

Wedge dropped her off just outside the Capital and Jay picked her up; he was there to collect some medical diagnostic equipment. She didn't like to say but he would have been jealous of some of the most basic equipment they had on Yavin IV; it was much more up to date than that available on Seelos and it wasn't getting any better now the Empire was there.

"Is it my imagination or are there a lot more Stormtroopers around than there used to be?"

"Yeah," Jay surreptitiously checked who was near them and lowered his voice. "Apparently, they're looking at setting up a Garrison; they are going to mine the Desert, something in the sand that can be extracted. They say they will need to protect the miners and mining vehicles."

"The Desert?" Ana asked incredulously, "I thought they were strip mining in the North, near the Poles?"

"That's proven too difficult."

"So, what on earth is in the sand that can be of use to the Empire?"

"Not sure," His voice had returned to a normal level, as they had left the city limits and were well on their way to Lonlea. "It all appears to very Hush, Hush. Nobody's talking about it but they were definitely heading out to the southern desert."

Ana breathed a sigh of relief, at least it was the southern desert, which had fewer settlements and was nowhere near her family. She felt a little ashamed of that thought, as she settled back to watch the passing scenery.

It took several hours to reach Lonlea, with several comfort stops but finally they drew up to her Aunts' house; other than the Imperial forces in the capital, they had seen no more on the way here and she hoped it would stay that way. Seelos was not known as a hotbed of rebel activity but usually where the Empire went, Rebellion followed, as result of their methods.

Her Aunts' voices reached her before she had even got out of the speeder and the giggle of a child, several children but she could tell which one was Kallie; the seat belt had a mind of its own and wouldn't let her unclamp it. Jay leant over, "There." He added as he undid it for her, she had re-fastened it in her haste to get out.

There she was, a curly haired strawberry blonde child being carried by Megs, who seemed to have grown even more since she last saw her. Mattie followed immediately behind and then came her Aunts. Her heart felt as if were going to break. She choked back tears and took her daughter from Megs, immediately the child wrapped her arms around her neck and squeezed tight. The child wasn't going to let go now and neither was she, not yet; not until her brain believed what she was feeling. She walked back into the house with them, a babble of voices; Essie and Tula were saying what she could do now. How she was meeting the milestones Wolffe had set them.

Wolffe.

She stopped momentarily when they mentioned his name; he was obviously still welcome here and so he should be. He was Kallie's Uncle.

"They have all visited, been to see her; they take their roles seriously." Her Aunt paused, "Rex was here last week."

He hadn't told her. She still wasn't sure where they stood. She knew he had read her letter but there was no reconciliation; at best it was civilised. He had said he needed more time and the least she could do was give him that, even though it was driving her mad.

"Good." She said and left it at that, not wanting to talk about it further. Jay brought her luggage in.

"Upstairs." Indicated Tula with her right hand, while getting the cookie tin for Mattie with her left. Ana couldn't help but smile, as she realised both her Aunts enjoyed having all these children around them.

.

Essie found Ana standing on the balcony, arms wrapped around herself, for comfort; it broke her heart to see her like this. She knew what her niece had done but she couldn't, wouldn't judge her and she was paying for it now. Rex was a complicated man, obviously proud and stubborn but her niece still loved him; she hoped this eventually worked out for her, for them both. She liked him.

"I sent a letter to Rex, he's read it but wants more time. I can't do any more."

Essie put her arm around her shoulder and they both stood quietly watching the meteor shower that had suddenly decided to appear.

.

Rex read the letter again. He smelt the flimzi, it still smelt of her and now him.

Please don't ignore this….

He knew the contents by heart.

What I did was wrong. I should have told you what happened from the beginning, so that you could have made your decision then. I needed you but you weren't there and you had said we couldn't be together. Afterwards, I didn't tell you about Wolffe because I was frightened I would lose you.

I'm sorry.

He knew he needed her and that his reaction had been excessive, and the longer he left it the worse it would be.

He valued loyalty.

Hated lies.

Now you've gone. I realise just how much you mean to me; I love you, always will and there will be no one else.

Ana.

He carefully folded the letter back up and put it with the scarf she had made for him, Kallie's lock of hair and the holograph of them all. They went where he went.

Nonetheless:

She had made him question her loyalty.

She lied to him.

Could they really get past that?

More to the point could he get past that?