Redemption steadied himself against the edge of the entry and brought up the blaster. It wasn't a sniper rifle but it was accurate enough that he could choose his shot. Leg or arm would be the Army's choice, so they could interrogate him. Red raised aim incrementally. He could take out Jester with a shot to the back of the head, at the base of the skull. Instantaneous.

They'd reprimand him, might even kill him but almost anything was better than his life. And Jester would probably appreciate it as well.

He felt the woman's hand brushed the armor of his elbow. "Please don't."

In that moment of making a decision, he'd lost his chance for a quick, painless kill. The stormtroopers caught up and swarmed Jester like insects.

Redemption straightened, took a step back and turned. Her eyes widened, possibly at the thought of his anger then she nodded. "Thank you."

He reached up and almost, but not quite, touched the scar half-hid by her hair. Not enough to touch her skin, but enough that she felt her hair move.

"For this," he murmured thoughtfull. "Blaster burn. Long range. Probably a DC-15X. Sniper."

Though it wasn't a question, Lirane nodded, her hand reaching up. It brushed against his gloved fingers as he withdrew.

"I have one like it." He tapped his shoulder with a humorless chuckle. He'd seen the scar often enough even if he didn't remember what happened. "Though a bit larger and the shooter was somewhat closer. Not a sniper." He gestured at her temple again but not close enough for her to touch his gauntlet. "I'm glad he wasn't a clone."

"How do you know he wasn't?"

Red gave a twitch of his lips. "You're alive."

She ducked her head then brought it up. "I was saved by some clonetroopers. They're good men and… and..."

She stuttered as if she really didn't know what to say. Until he looked away, back at Jester trying to fight off a number of stormtroopers. One grabbed the shackle he was using as a weapon and jerked Jester's wrist back. Red ducked his head to stare solemnly at the metal decking.

"Do you have a name?" She gestured at the crowd of troopers wrestling the escapee to the ground. "Does he?"

Red paused in surprise. She could identify a clone. Both armored and not. It whispered something to him though he wasn't sure what.

He stared out over the market, Jester overwhelmed by sheer numbers, and wondered what they'd do if he started shooting stormies.

"He's CT-64-4646, called Jester before the formation of the Empire. He was a sergeant in both the GAR and the Imperial army. A good trooper." He went silent at her surprised gasp then slowly turned his head to look at her through his helmet, his head tilted in curiosity. After a little nod, Red continued speaking. "He deserted from Coruscant Guards taking a political prisoner with him, providing a decoy while she escaped." He gave another harsh chuckle. "Command isn't happy with that and it will probably be immediately classified. But if you check the Senate rolls you'll easily figure it out."

Lirane couldn't help that gasp of surprised recognition but he ignored her as he continued looking absently looking over the docks. As if giving her time to compose herself. "A good clone. I'm not surprised he got this far in his escape. If I'd been there…" His voice faded.

Lirane had a sudden realization that an arguing portion of her mind insisted had to be wrong. That she'd understood she'd had to stop this stormtrooper from firing at the escaping clone even if she hadn't known why. "If?" Her voice was a hesitant whisper. She didn't really want to know what he'd say, because she already did.

"If I'd been one to confront him in escape or take him to lock-up. If I'd…," Red dampened his lips, running his tongue over them. "If I'd had a clean shot, I would have killed him."

She raised her hand to her lips, her eyes wide in shock.

Red knew that expression. He'd seen it many times directed at him, at clones, at stormtroopers. But for once, it mattered. He didn't want to be thought of that way. Not by this woman who'd been rescued by vode and could identify a clone in anonymous white armor.

"He doesn't want to be interrogated. He'd rather die than reveal everything he knows." Red spoke quickly, his head bowed slightly. "It's the only thing I could give him. A clean death."

He raised his face to hers when her hand reached out to touch his arm again. There was only sorrow and sympathy in her expression now. As if she understood, but he still jerked away from her touch.

He looked down at her hand hovering near his. "I knew him once. We might have become friends under different circumstances. I'd get a medal. He'll get tortured. I'm not sure which one of us I would want to be."

Lirane's voice was sad as she laid her palm against his gloved hand. This time he didn't try to jerk away. "You'd rather be him so he wouldn't be there. He has something you don't. A reason to escape. And you'd give the chance to him if you could."

He didn't answer, wondering how she knew. They both stared as the troopers dragged the unconscious prisoner back into the ship. She looked like she wanted to cry. Her sorrow was far more genuine than her flirting and Red was sorry he'd come to get Fero. Sorry, they'd captured rather than killed Jester.

He was sorry for so many things.

And those, just what he could remember.