The clone was unconscious, Essie wasn't exactly sure why and all she had was basic first aid but he looked in a bad way.

"Damn!" Muttered Maze, "I hoped he would be awake, so we could talk to him. Check on his chip."

"You still don't trust him?"

Maze arched his brow, "You know what the troopers did, under the influence of the chips. And you propose we take him into a mixed colony of Jedi and their supporters?"

"He didn't feel like a threat."

Maze almost rolled his eyes, Essie wasn't sure which was worse, him doing that or not. She had some training now.

He leaned down and rolled the unconscious clone over onto his back.

Essie finally got a good look at him; he was dirty, his hair grown long and with an unkempt beard. It was anyone's guess when he last saw the inside of a fresher, sonic or otherwise. She stared harder, moving closer; there may even be 'things' crawling in his hair and beard. Essie automatically reached under her helmet to scratch her head.

Maze slapped his face, "Hey! Wake up!" And leaned in closer, sniffing.

"He's drunk!" He exclaimed and pulled away, pacing back and forth, in disgust.

"And?" Essie asked, "perhaps he had a reason to be. It can't be great living on the streets." She remembered some of the people on Coruscant years ago. Sol and Nat always gave them food, not credits.

"He's a clone. Adaptable. Should be able to make a living or something of himself anywhere."

Essie glared at her husband; she had not seen him like this, for a long time. She bent over the clone, to check him again. Yes he stunk of alcohol but that didn't always mean you were dead drunk. Suddenly his hands were around her neck, now that had taken her by surprise. She had not sensed that coming at all. All her training kicked in even though she could hear Maze shouting her name; her vision blurring already, as she ducked under his arms to escape his hands and rolled away from him. She heard him groan as blaster fire hit him.

"Maze!"

"He's only stunned." He declared holstering his blaster, "Are you okay?" He checked on his wife.

"Yes!" She rubbed her neck, he may be older but he still had a vice like grip, it would bruise soon.

"Are you still sure about this?"Maze asked.

"Yes!"

"Come on then!" he could never refuse her, even against his better judgement; he could deal with the clone if needed. "Let's get him back to the bloody ship. We've spent enough time here." He glanced at the bodies lying in the alley, checking they were still unconscious. He had disabled but not killed them. He didn't want another warrant out on him.

Maze pulled the clone upright and they stood him between the two of them; his head dropped down and he looked as drunk as he smelt. Everyone ignored them, as they dragged him along the streets to the spaceport, trying to avoid bumping into anyone; that was the last thing they needed.

They entered the space port, to the looks of disgust on the faces of the guards at the entrance. Essie smiled at them half heartedly and received a look and nod of sympathy from one.

They were approaching their ship when she heard it but she couldn't sense anything organic, just the whirr of motors and servos and a distinct feeling of obsessive searching, seeking. She shivered and slowed.

"Essie?"

"Something's here!"

"Something?"

"I don't know anymore. It's not organic."

He pulled his blaster out slowly.

"Where?" He whispered.

She closed her eyes, it was difficult trying to work out where it was, when your eyes could see other images. It was disorientating.

"Behind our ship. Front!"

They propped the clone down against the wall.

Maze crept silently around the rear of their ship and she heard blaster fire again. Maze ran back to them.

"We have to leave now! It's a probe droid. If it recognised us that's it! Come on!"

They bundled themselves up the ramp and deposited the clone, still out cold, into the spare bunk. Maze started up the ship requesting clearance to take off. They waited for clearance; Essie's foot tapped impatiently until it was granted. Maybe they had been lucky this time.

They took off and Maze punched them into hyperspace as soon as they left the atmosphere. He came back to see Essie, adjusting the clone on the bunk, making him comfortable. He slapped binders on his wrists, chaining him to the bunk.

He felt his wife's glare.

"Is that really necessary?"

"Yes! We still don't know about the chip or if he's loyal to the bloody Empire. I'm not risking you, or anyone else we know."

"I didn't sense …"

"And stop using the bloody Force we're only a few days after the Inquisitors."

Essie glared at her husband again, "But you just …."

She stopped, she knew what he was saying made sense, even if he was in one of his moods. She swept around and stormed off to the bathroom, to ground herself, as Arligan had taught her.

.

Essie had indigestion and it wouldn't go away but she knew why. She leaned against the tiny sink in their ship's refresher. The veteran was tucked up in the smallest of their crew quarters, unconscious still and still shackled to the bunk at Maze's insistence.

"You alright?" His low voice gravelly. They were heading towards the Cornucopia. It would take a few days but Scout was on board and the plan was to communicate every time they dropped out of hyperspace. They had just completed their first mini jump and picked up the signal. Encrypted as always. There was someone with her, Mereel; the last person Ordo should have sent. Scout knew the two clones never saw eye to eye but there was no one else available; it was getting a little dicey on Mandalore. She was thankful he kept his mouth shut.

"Yes, fine."

He touched the blossoming bruises on her side and neck; she winced, pulling away from his hand.

"I'm sorry—earlier."

She nodded.

"There's something else bothering you. I can tell. Is it the bloody clone?"

She turned around, "No." she slipped her arms around his waist and looked up. "You know how we said we wouldn't have any more, that there were enough children without parents in the galaxy."

"Yesss." He drew out the word, wondering where this was going.

"Mij did a test. I miscounted."

Now it didn't take any guesses, "You're pregnant?"

She nodded.

He stood watching her, silent, giving nothing away.

"I love you." He pulled her hard to him, kissing the breath from her. When he finished, he asked, "How far?"

"Seven weeks."

"Still early days but are you alright?" He touched the bruise on her side again. "You'll need to be checked over just in case when we get back."

She nodded, "You're not angry after we agreed."

"Never. These things happen."

"You mean you happen." She teased.

"What?"

"You walk around naked and expect me to ignore you."

"Can I help it, if you have no self control?"

"Any normal being would put clothes on."

"You like it and wouldn't have it any different." He pulled her to him again, watching her trying not to smile at his comment. "We have the ship mostly to ourselves. He's not going anywhere….."

"You are incorrigible!" She pushed at his chest plate ineffectually.

"I know." He grinned as he lifted her off her feet and backed her into their cabin.

.

They lay, a tangle of limbs, on the double bunk in their quarters. It was supposed to be a double but they always had to sleep close together; it was a little tight.

"How many more jumps do we have to make?"

"Seven. To make sure we're not followed. Cornucopia is taking a different route. There were rumours that the Empire have been developing ships that can track through hyperspace. So….we're being extra careful. We'll drop out in ..." He checked the chrono on the side shelf, "15 on this one. They are all different lengths."

"Why are you so angry about him, or should I say with him?"

"I'm not!"

"That's not how it's coming across and I'm not using the Force this time."

Maze lay silent; years with him told her he was debating with himself what to say.

"He reminds me of what I could have become."

"But you didn't."

"No! But it was touch and go. A split second decision not to shoot Arligan."

She kissed him on the cheek. She wasn't sure what would have happened to her if he had taken the shot.

"I'd better check on our guest, just to make sure he's okay."

"Hmm, suppose so." agreed Maze as he pulled himself up, "I'll get that sonic while you're doing that.

.

He was marching with hundreds of his brothers heading to the Jedi Temple, following Skywalker. They had to end the Coup. Take out the traitors in the Temple. He'd heard the Order.

"Execute Order 66." Commander Appo ordered. "Every Jedi must be hunted down and killed."

He knew what he had to do.

There were flashes of light sabers everywhere, all different colours. Flashes of blaster fire streaking across the halls and corridors.

The Jedi were falling!

Brothers were falling!

They entered the Younglings Quarters after Skywalker— there were none left standing….

.

The veteran clone tried to sit upright, to get away but something was holding him down; he always woke nauseous at this time in the dream, seeing the younglings lying on the floor. He needed a drink but he couldn't move his arms. He blinked open his eyes.

"Where the Kriff am I?"

He blinked again and listened; he could hear voices and other noises. A few giggles, then he remembered the female, who had given him money. He thought he knew her but it was a long time ago. And this one in the next cabin was enjoying herself by the sound of it.

He listened again. This was the last thing he wanted to hear the way he felt; all he really wanted was a drink— a drink of anything.

Anything to take the memories away.

He tried to move his hand to rub at his temple but the republic era binders bit into his wrists. He swung his head back in frustration, it hit a soft pillow.

He wasn't expecting that.

He swallowed, his throat as dry as the Dune Sea on Tattooine; he was dehydrated.