Tualin Oola.
They screeched to a halt, Maze switched off the engine and covered the speeder with broken pieces of durasteel and plasti, anything to make it look like a wreck.
He had hardly spoken since they left Den, Rik and Stone lying there. She felt bad about that nobody should be left like that, alone, forgotten.
"Maze…..we need to talk." Essie tried to break the silence. She knew she had been out of her depth back there.
"Later!"
He rapped at the door. Nat slid open the peep hole and opened up. Sol rushed forward as she entered, Del followed soon after. She picked him pulling him to her.
Zey sat in the corner, mug of caf in his hand. He looked up, there appeared no fight left in him.
"General?" She greeted him.
He shook his head, "No more."
Sol shrugged her shoulders.
"So what's the plan?" Asked Nat.
"We need to get off Coruscant. It's swarming with my….with troopers with specific orders and we're in their sights. They won't give up easily. Not until every Jedi, or anyone who harbours them is dealt with."
Sol and Nat exchanged glances, then looked at Zey who still sat dejectedly in the corner. They had treated his wounds as best they could. Essie had sat next to him with Del.
"They won't give up. It's a shoot to kill policy." Added Maze, voice lowered.
Nat nodded.
"We need to pack what we can—cash credits, food, water. Blasters. Anything that might be useful."
"The Lower levels?" Asked Nat.
Maze nodded "First and then off planet. It's not safe for any of us here. A Jedi and a deserter. You keep bad company." He tried to make a joke for Sol. It didn't work.
She put a hand out to rest on his shoulder.
"I've known worse—the scum of the galaxy." She walked to the back, "We're already packed. Always were. Just in case." She looked over to Essie.
"I'm sorry." Zey said, "for putting you all in this …..predicament."
"We've probably always been in it in some way or another."
Zey nodded, their relationship with Janyne had put them in the Sith's sight. A wave of sorrow hit him. He had felt Janyne's death more keenly than any of the others. She had been hunted down. He felt it, just before her death.
"Janyne?" Asked Essie as if she felt his sorrow.
He shook his head, then felt her hand rest on his.
"Do you have your bags here?" Maze asked.
"Of course?"
She tried to concentrate on what she needed to do, as Sol and Nat retrieved their own items.
Her datapad. She pulled it out, downloaded what she wanted to keep onto a data chip, encrypted it, then purged the datapad, then she took it to the basement and smashed it. She stuffed the data chip into her bra. She picked up their bags from the basement and returned up stairs ready for what ever they were going to do next.
.
They had food, water, credits and blasters.
"I need all your comlinks." Ordered Maze.
Sol hesitated.
"Come on love." Nat urged her,
Maze sat with them in front of him at the table, carefully taking them apart and making some adjustments.
The Holonet played in the background giving up to date information on what was happening.
Essie had laid Del down to get some sleep before they set off, although they hadn't really decided on where yet.
Maze's helmet beeped. He pulled it on.
"Shab! They're onto us. I've been cut out of comms."
"Already?" Asked Nat.
They were totally reliant on the Holonet now.
Essie and Sol sat watching.
"It's chaos out there. People trying to escape. Troopers checking everyone."
"We have to get to the lower levels."
"There'll be troopers everywhere. Some disguised." Maze declared.
"How?"asked Sol.
"As Jedi. It's what I would do. We've worked with the Jedi for three years now." He looked at Zey. "We know how they act, what motivates them and how they fight. We are the perfect weapon."
They sat quietly taking that information in until Zey spoke, "Maze is right. We need to get off the planet, as far away as possible. And for that we need a plan to get hold of a ship. We can't access SOB resources anymore."
Sol dropped onto a chair.
Essie sat quietly, thinking.
"Duq!" Essie said, "Duq could help us."
"How and more importantly why?" Asked Nat, frowning.
"He'll have some connections and he said he owed Maze." She looked at him, "he said he would explain it all but only to Maze."
"I don't like it." He muttered.
"You don't have to like it but we need some help." She retorted.
"She's right, friend." Zey put his hand on Maze's arm. His was stressed and Zey considered him an equal now, no longer colleague or subordinate.
"Okay! We'll get the speeders loaded up and head down there. But I still don't like it." He looked at his chrono. "04:00 hours. Then we go."
"Maze?"
"Not now. I need to check everything."
Essie watched as he stalked outside.
Sol and Nat looked at each other and Sol started towards her but Zey, still holding himself stiffly, reached her first.
"He's stressed. But he saved me, I trust him with my life. Have done in the past. What's happening now is not something any of us trained for. He'll come around. Just give him time. He's stubborn."
Essie nodded. She had worked that out a while ago.
"Thanks General."
"Arligan." He prompted.
"Arligan."
.
"You two okay? Maze seems a little….on edge with you." Sol cornered her.
"He found out I'm force sensitive. He seems to have either a problem with that, or the fact I didn't tell him."
"He's still here for you." Sol commiserated with her.
"I'm not so sure he is." Essie replied, looking at the door.
Sol gently pulled her around to face her, "You've still got us and Del. We need to concentrate on getting away
.
It was quiet when they slipped out of the Oola for the last time; dawn was lightening up the sky but they wouldn't be able to see it, where they were going. They had purged all their devices and removed anything that could identify where they were headed and with whom before they left. Maze insisted they all ate, although Sol didn't have much. She didn't feel hungry; fleeing like this brought back bad memories.
Essie and Sol took one last lingering look, as Nat and Maze loaded the speeders.
"You know where we're going?" Maze asked.
"Yeah." He paused. "I have a favour to ask." His voice lowered.
"Go ahead." Maze respected the man.
"If there's a choice to be made, Essie and Del come first. Do you understand?"
"It won't come to that." Maze replied.
"We," he looked back at Sol, "have discussed this. We have spent our lives looking after her, protecting her and now Del. We don't stop now. So if anything happens they take priority. Understand!"
"Yes." Maze saw the determination in his face.
"No turning back for anyone. Agreed?"
Maze hesitated again.
"Agreed!"
"If that happens. Give her this!" Nat pushed a data disc in his hand.
Nat held out his arm, "This is how you Mandalorians agree on things isn't it?"
Maze nodded, grabbing his forearm tightly. They stood like that for several seconds, finally pulling apart.
"Ready ladies?" Asked Nat, as if that discussion had never taken place.
Zey sat in one of the speeders with Del, Essie and Maze joined them and the speeder pulled slowly away. They were taking the long way round. Nat pulled away seconds later, following the same route.
.
Duq's Pleasure Palace.
LowerLevels
05:10
"I am still not happy about this." Maze grumbled as he pulled the speeder to halt on the landing platform. Nat dropped in just behind.
The sign was lit up. It was open for business. Twenty four hours.
"Let me go first!" Maze slipped out onto the landing platform, and walked cautiously to the door. Zey and Nat kept watch; there was no one around. They couldn't see what transpired but less than a minute later he was back.
"There's another entrance. Next level down."
The speeders slowly dropped to the next level and entered some kind of tunnel. It was dark, Maze drew a blaster; he still didn't like this. They reached the end and slowed, dropping almost silently onto an old dimly lit landing platform.
It looked unused. Water dripping down the sides, intermingling with the litter blowing around the edges, as rodents scurried along looking for anything they could get to ear.
Maze pulled on his helmet using the light, there was a rusty door; almost hidden.
He pointed to it and they headed for it.
He heard Del whimper and Essie shushed him. She was still carrying him. Maze pushed the door; it opened into another tunnel.
"If Duq's yanking my bloody chain I'll make him kriffing pay." He muttered to himself.
They filed through, Nat taking the rear, checking behind him all the time
A dim light appeared at the end, as another door opened. A female Nautalon peered around it.
"Come on hurry!" It was one of the women from the self defence class.
They hurried through.
She quickly closed and locked the door behind her.
"You weren't followed?"
"No!" Maze answered, affronted at the question.
"Follow me, Duq's waiting."
.
This was a corridor, lit normally; the door at the end opened out into a bright day room with a large table and soft seating, nothing like his office or anywhere else she had been.
'Sit! sit!" Duq walked quickly through the door. There was none of his ambling gait now, it was all business.
"Well. Ah didn't expect so many but like Ah said. Ah owe you."
Maze frowned.
"If this is one of….."
"This is above board, mah friend. Let me explain. But first let's get you something to drink."
"We're fine."
"Even the youngling?"
"Yes!" Maze crossed his arms and waited.
"At least take a seat." He indicated.
Maze nodded to the others, to sit, "I'm fine."
"So—explain." Maze eyes narrowed.
"You may not believe me but ah was bought up to pay mah debts, and Ah owe you!"
Maze glared.
"Your last fight…Ah had a lil' wager and Ah came out with quite a nice profit from it."
Essie watched, as Zey stared at Maze. He didn't know about this. Maze snorted, she assumed in disgust.
"Ah'll explain further. There was a further win for me. Apparently one of my opponents wanted to take over mah business and he had hir'd Kilk to remove me after the match but he hadn't bargained on you winning."
"That doesn't make sense." Nat said, "how could he be certain Kilk would win unless he fixed the match."
"And there you have Leeha to thank. She saw Kilk putting something in your pre match hydration bottle and swapped it. If you had drunk any of it, you wouldn't have lasted five minutes."
They all looked around, expecting Leeha to materialise.
"She's working, Ah promoted her. She's mah floor manager now. A lil' harder on the legs."
Essie swore he almost sniggered.
"So. Ah owe you. Ah was gonna just give you some credits, from the win, so you could buy yourself outta that Grand Republic Army but Ah understand the army doesn't work that way especially now."
He nodded to one of the large screens that were dotted around the room.
"Something is happening!" He turned up the volume and leaned closer.
They all looked at the screen.
It was the Senate chamber but there was a hooded figure addressing the Senators. Maz Amedda stood next to him.
[1]"Citizens of the civilized galaxy, on this day we mark a transition. The Jedi, and some within our own Senate, had conspired to create the shadow of Separatism using one of their own as the enemy's leader. They had hoped to grind the Republic into ruin. But the hatred in their hearts could not be hidden forever. At last, there came a day when our enemies showed their true natures."…
It was Chancellor Palpatine.
They all looked at each other, then back to the screen.
"The Jedi hoped to unleash their destructive power against the Republic by assassinating the head of government and usurping control of the clone army. But the aims of would-be tyrants were valiantly opposed by those without elitist, dangerous powers. Our loyal clone troopers contained the insurrection within the Jedi Temple and quelled uprisings on a thousand worlds."
"And the Jedi rebellion has been foiled."
"The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated! Any collaborators will suffer the same fate."
Essie looked at Zey. His eyes were closed; he already looked defeated.
"The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning. In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganised into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society."
"By bringing the entire galaxy under one law, one language, and the enlightened guidance of one individual, the corruption that plagued the Republic in its later years will never take root. Regional governors will eliminate the bureaucracy that allowed the Separatist movement to grow unchecked. A strong and growing military will ensure the rule of law."
"Under the Empire's New Order, our most cherished beliefs will be safeguarded. We will defend our ideals by force of arms. We will give no ground to our enemies and will stand together against attacks from within or without. Let the enemies of the Empire take heed: those who challenge Imperial resolve will be crushed."
"We have taken on a task that will be difficult, but the people of the Empire are ready for the challenge. Because of our efforts, the galaxy has traded war for peace and anarchy for stability. Billions of beings now look forward to a secure future. The Empire will grow as more planets feel the call, from the Rim to the wilds of unknown space."
"Imperial citizens must do their part. Join our grand star fleet. Become the eyes of the Empire by reporting suspected insurrectionists. Travel to the corners of the galaxy to spread the principles of the New Order to barbarians. Build monuments and technical wonders that will speak of our glory for generations to come."
"The clone troopers, now proudly wearing the name of Imperial stormtroopers, have tackled the dangerous work of fighting our enemies on the front lines. Many have died in their devotion to the Empire. Imperial citizens would do well to remember their example."
"We have been tested, but we have emerged stronger. We move forward as one people: the Imperial citizens of the first Galactic Empire."
There was thunderous applause within the Senate.
"Enough of that. Nothing will change, the poor will remain poor and the rich will get richer. Just this new Empire will know everything." Duq declared, as he switched off the sound. "Mark my words, it'll be bad for business.
Essie could still see Senators applauding, as the holocam travelled around the Chamber.
Zey finally spoke, "So that was his plan all along. A galactic Empire. One that hasn't existed for more than a thousand years."
"Ah take it you still need to get off the planet, unless you've turned into one of these new Stormtroopers?" He asked Maze.
Essie expected a reaction but he was subdued.
"Yes." He replied tersely. "As soon as possible."
Duq pressed a button on his desk and a drawer opened. He pulled out a handful of credits and dropped them in front of Maze.
"Ah can lend you a couple of speeders and let you have an old freighter. Then we'll be quits okay?"
Maze nodded, still not trusting him
"Where's the freighter?"
"Westward Space Docks."
"Why?"
"Ah don't forget the people who saved my life. Even if they don't realise it. Ah scratch your back. You scratch mine. We may meet again."
"Not if I can help it!" Muttered Maze.
"Besides, Ah always liked your girl." He winked at Essie, she grimaced in return.
"Come on, Ah'll show you." He pulled a an image of a freighter, "It's old but good. Ah use it mahself sometimes. The Dockmaster will turn a blind eye. He's paid enough to."
"How quick?"
"Might several days now to get it sorted. You can stay here."
Maze nodded. It would have to do.
.
Day 2 of the New Galactic Empire.
Duq summoned Maze to his office.
"You sure ya weren't followed?"
"Positive!" declared Maze.
"Ah've had some reports."
"Reports of what?"
"There's been some troopers around, which is unusual. And these wear cloaks like the Jedi but it looks as if they're just trying to draw them out or anyone who helps them."
Maze raised an eyebrow.
"How many."
"They operate in groups of four."
"Sounds like squads set up."
"Once you're ready we'll do a diversion."
.
Day 4 of the New Galactic Empire.
Three hooded figures sneaked out of Duq's, they wandered around until they caught the eyes of similarly robes figures.
They lit night lights under their cloaks.
Finally a squad caught up with one.
They pulled the hood back revealing a nautolan, holding a cylindrical night light.
"Well hello handsome!" she purred.
At the same time two speeders climbed slowly from the lower levels to the sky lanes heading to the Windward Docks; Duq had given them the details with the credits and paid off who he needed to. It was not enough, Essie thought.
Maze was taking it steady, no need to draw attention to themselves. So far there appeared to be no Imperial Stormtroopers or whatever they were called now, in this area.
Nat and Sol, followed behind not too close but they kept in sight. Essie kept glancing out of the window to check on them. This seemed too easy.
The sky lanes were starting to fill up and so far they had been lucky there were no checks. She looked over at Zey. He appeared to be dozing; that was good because if he needed to use the force, he needed to be rested.
They slowed as the traffic built up. Then suddenly they heard the blaring of a siren and megaphone.
"No!" Muttered Essie as she heard the description of the speeder. It was Nat's and Sol's. She watched turned in her seat craning her neck, as they peeled away and sped down another lane, taking the gunship with them.
She watched helplessly, as the gunship targeted their speeder.
"Maze we need to go back, get them!" She shouted at him.
He ignored her.
"Maze!"
"Essie?" Zey could feel her anger. Del could too; he looked at her with wide eyes.
She jumped out of her seat and rounded on Maze.
"We have to go back. Get them! We can't…"
"Its too late. They'll have them."
"Zey! Get her to sit. She'll draw attention to us."
He pulled her back.
Maze brought the speeder gently into the Westward Space Docks. He transmitted the code that Duq gave him, and it was accepted automatically. It would appear the clones had not yet reached here. He set the speeder down next to the docking bay.
Maze jumped out of the speeder and transmitted the code to the freighter. Its ramp slowly dropped down.
"So far so good." He muttered.
"We need to go back. To fetch them. We can't leave them."
Essie's voice rang in his ears. He gritted his teeth and turned around.
"No!"
"What? We have too."
"It's too late! They'll be incarcerated now."
"You don't know that."
Zey felt a small hand slipped into his. He looked down to the little boy caught up in this war. If there had been any other way he would have left the boy behind but it was just as dangerous for him wherever he was.
"I know the procedures. They were picked up by clones. By now they're in lock up. And we don't know where."
"I can find out. We can track them using their com." her voice more desperate, as she clicked on their number. It was just static.
"We can wait. They might still come. They might get away."
"No! We need to go now."
Essie lashed out and connected with his chin.
Zey saw Maze's hand move a fraction but he didn't block or retaliate. He did nothing.
She turned away, walking towards her son and not looking at Zey.
"Del come here."
He went hesitantly to her side, apprehensive after what just happened. She picked him up, carrying him away. Del watched Maze over her shoulder, his arms locked around her neck.
Maze finally rubbed his chin.
[1] Revenge of the Sith