Fradian.
Essie played the good little server, even ignoring the hands on her backside every time she walked past one particular table, until the last time, when that one hurt. She turned around scowling.
"Gotcha!" One man yelled, "It's taken seven slaps until you finally react." He slapped the back of one of his mates. They were well gone now. The beer had been flowing all night and now credits changed hands.
She turned around seeing Dreya glaring at her, so turned back to them smiling, "Another round?" She asked.
"Yeah!" He grabbed her right bicep as he said that, she reined in a retort. "How many tankards do you think you can carry—full?"
She shrugged.
"Nah, don't tell us, we'll have another bet."
"Without spilling?"
"Yeah."
They were already betting on the number, as she walked to the bar.
"Are they betting on how many you can carry now?" Asked the Zak the barkeep, with a grin and wiping the bar in front of him .
"Yes."
"I'll line 'em up. How many?"
Essie shrugged, "I don't know. Never done it before."
"There's a knack," he explained and showed her how to hold and lift them.
She gripped six in each hand and lifted them easily.
"More?" He asked.
She nodded.
He balanced four more each on top. She lifted them up, they weren't too heavy, she could lift more but it was the balancing that was difficult. She turned walked towards the large table of ore workers. They started hitting the table, as she got nearer, the rhythm and volume increasing. The tempo increased even more, as she reached the table and carefully placed them down; a cheer went up.
"How many?" came a shout.
"Twenty!"
Someone cheered and credits hit the table in front of them. She leaned over to get the empties and a credit chip was pushed down her cleavage from the winner.
"Good job!" The woman said and winked. Essie smiled and headed back to the bar.
"Spill any?" Asked Zak, wiping the bar.
"No!" She said smugly. She lifted that weight easily. She looked at the chrono. Twelve thirty, not much longer to go.
.
Hyperspace, en route to Fradian.
Maze normally took time to sleep when they were in hyperspace, this time he couldn't.
There were so many feelings and thoughts running through his head, he couldn't keep pace with them.
Concentrate!
They had a plan, of sorts, but they were still going in almost blind. He should have waited, got more back up but by then wherever she is or was could be even further away. Fuck! They could even be off the planet by now. He pulled off his helmet, the tracker wouldn't work in hyperspace. It distorted the signal and activating it didn't help, just irritated him.
Kom'rk was a crazy null boy and didn't obey orders. He hoped he wasn't going to be a problem.
His left knee took on a life of its own bouncing up and down.
"Udessi, ner vod!" Kom'rk muttered, he didn't want a twitchy Alpha, they could be dini'la at the best of times. He had always thought Maze was okay but war does things to you, changes you, despite the years of training and brotherhood. Especially this war.
Kom'rk knew he wasn't the same man, after Geonosis, or the one that was sent out after Grievous and he was coming to terms with that but he wasn't sure his father was.
He watched Maze, he'd had a run in with Ordo and yet they respected each other. ordo said he was persistent; scant praise from his taciturn brother. Maze seemed to have calmed down. He checked the intel Mereel supplied on the woman again, contemplating where she could be.
Worst case scenario was the Empire already had her and this was a trap. He may have to remove her; not his first choice but given what they knew of the Empire it may even be the kindest.
He hoped he didn't have to because he was looking forward to meeting whoever had got under Maze's skin and he didn't want to deal with Maze afterwards.
.
Maze looked back, the Null was leaning back in his chair, his eyes closed, chin on his chest, appearing to be asleep. Appearances could be deceptive.
Maze put Essie and Del out of his mind, he needed to be ramikadyc. There was no history, no warmth, no relationship, they were simply assets to be retrieved alive.
That was the mission.
He stared into hyperspace.
.
Fradian
Essie slept fitfully, thinking about Maze, Del, an escape, the consequences if they didn't. Her mind was buzzing when she finally decided to rise.
She dragged herself to the fresher and looked in the mirror; her eyes were swollen. The bruise from Raxus was still there, looking a vivid green now. The make up covered it but her cheek still hurt and was still swollen despite the Bacta she had put on it.
She questioned Del again, if they hurt him. He looked fine although he was very quiet, taking to heart what she had told him about not talking to them.
Force knows what all this was doing to him.
.
They sat at breakfast with Rae and Lina.
"He's very quiet."
"He is sometimes."
"This is a shock for the little ones but they get used to it."
Essie hoped he never would because they wouldn't be here long enough but perhaps that was a vain hope. The longer they stayed the more difficult it would be to get away. She sat quietly sipping her caf and chewing on the toast Rae pushed in front of her, her mind wandering to Maze, hoping they had reached wherever they were going. She wondered if he thought about her; he couldn't come back, it was too dangerous. She and Del had to get through this themselves.
She had to be clever about it and get more information about this place.
.
The aggressor landed without a hitch, using a fake transponder signal and no question from Fradian ATC. They were in the forest on the town outskirts where the ore terminal was; the freighter they used to escape Coruscant should still be hidden not far from the landing. If they had time Maze could retrieve it. There was little in the way of cover, so they did the best they could, hopefully they wouldn't be here too long. Kom'rk scanned the surrounding area.
"No life signs or heat signatures." He declared. "Nearest large buildings are at the ore terminal. Bard'ika tells me the aesthetics of the architecture there are interesting."
"Bloody ugly!"
Kom'rk laughed as he retrieved the Stormtrooper armour.
"The ones I saw patrolled in two's." Said Maze. "Just like local law enforcement. They weren't brothers."
Replaced already.
Kom'rk threw a pauldron at Maze, "Here you are Cap. You're in charge."
"What the f…. "
"It's your pauldron." He interrupted.
Maze held it up between his finger and thumb and raised an eyebrow at his ship mate
"This" he shook it , "is neither of any use nor ornamental."
"Well it's part of the armour— alor'ad."
Maze stared at him before reluctantly attaching it to his shoulder. He attached the rest, muttering to himself as he attached each piece just as he would have done with his ARC armour. The helmet went on last.
"I may have to take this off if we have to shoot."
Kom'rk snorted.
"This isn't funny. I should never have let them leave the speeder."
"Then why did you?"
"Del, he had toilet issues. They were just going to the freshers. It was 100 yards away. I checked on them after a couple of minutes. But they were already gone. There was a woman there. Denied seeing them. Someone must have got them. Then there was Zey, he was getting weaker and Bardan….."
He huffed. It put them all in danger.
"Split second decision." Muttered Kom'rk.
Maze didn't need reminding; if they hadn't been angry with each other. If they had talked like they used to maybe…..he had to put it out of his head and move on.
He clicked on the icon to check where she was.
The little red dot blinked in a stylised map of the area, not at the Ore Terminal but a residential area, although he couldn't guarantee she was there.
He wanted to speak to the woman first, if they could find her. Then there was the store Essie went to.
.
Ore Terminal.
The terminal was as he remembered—ugly.
Kom'rk pulled out his datapad, as they entered the public freshers.
"Hmm. Let's hope not many people use it and it's not cleaned regularly."
He scanned the floor, "She was here. Bled a little on the floor." He looked to his companion for a reaction. There was none.
"Her DNA courtesy of Mereel." He added, again, no reaction.
He tapped into the security cams, rolling back several days, to just before Maze and Zey were picked up.
He saw her leave the speeder, then a few minutes later Maze appeared and a few minutes passed before he returned and toed the speeder into the freighter. He went on from there, accessing other cams from different angles. It took several minutes but he found them being driven away in a speeder accompanied by two men and a woman.
"Got 'em!" He relayed the images to Maze.
"That's the woman from the freshers." Confirmed Maze.
"She's not far from here. At a store. She was dropped off. You want to pay her a visit?"
"Yeah, let's." Maze was out of the building before he'd finished speaking.
.
Pria was surprised when two Stormtroopers entered the shop, they usually asked for information via the Holonet; she prepared herself to be asked to provide information on her sales.
Kom'rk did his impression of a Stormtrooper.
"Chain code!" He demanded.
Pria produced her ID.
Kom'rk inserted it into his datapad, his helmet dipped as he studied the result.
"Is this the woman?" He asked on their private channel.
""Yes." Maze replied, tersely, watching her closely.
"Udessi!" Kom'rk cautioned.
"Ni udesla." Maze replied.
"What's the problem troopers?" She asked, this was unusual.
Maze pushed the datapad under her nose, "Have you seen this woman?"
Pria looked at the image.
Damn! I Need to contact Ka.
"Er yes. She came in a few days ago trying to buy food. But she didn't have her chain code with her. So I couldn't let her have any and she left. Haven't seen her since."
She adjusted a display of processed Ruik Root in front of her.
Maze's hand went to his blaster.
"She knows more!" He muttered into the private channel.
"Yes but let her lead us to Essie or whoever has her."
Gallingly, Maze had to admit he was right. "Yes. We know where her com is but that may not be with her. And this woman has an accomplice." He turned to the woman, "Thank you. Ma'am."
They walked out of the shop and to the corner, standing looking as if they were checking the buildings.
"She's contacting someone." They both listened. "Someone called Ka. So she's not with the Imps. Maybe slavers." Muttered Kom'rk.
"We'll follow at a distance." Ordered Maze, "If she sees us again, it won't matter. We all look the same."
"One good thing about being a clone."
"Yeah, but we're not the same, ner vod, are we?"
Maze wanted to agree, but it was that hint of a crazy null in Kom'rk's voice that worried him.
.
The House.
Kom'rk parked the speeder bike he hot wired and made his way to where Maze was already holed up. He squatted next to the Alpha.
"She's gone in. There are numerous heat signatures, all looking to be human, some smaller than adult size, both female and male."
Kom'rk took a look.
"Hmm. Plenty of security there. And it looks like it's more to keep people in than out. Must be nice there." He added sarcastically.
Maze turned his head. "Two guards on each door and several wandering around trying to look inconspicuous."
"More security than the Banking clans vaults." Commented the Null.
Maze ignored him.
"You should ask Vau about that." He continued
Maze didn't want to know, he was watching the door.
"There's movement."
They watched as the doors opened; a number of women and children left the building. The guards watched them closely.
"She's there, with Del." Maze voice was tense.
Kom'rk saw them, flanked by guards and felt Maze move forward.
"Udessi, ner vod. Too dangerous—possible casualties. We follow them."
Maze was tense.
.
The Bar
Essie kissed Del before leaving him with the old woman; he was subdued, not his usual self. She walked to the dressing room, put her makeup on, then to the bar to begin her shift. She looked around, it was quiet, just starting to fill up. There was a low hum of voices.
A door banged as Pria came rushing in, Essie watched as she, Dreya and Ka disappeared into the office. There was something wrong, she could feel their agitation. The guards were watching everyone closely, more so than usual. There was no banter between them and the other women.
"Table three." Zak instructed her, filling up a glass. "You okay?"
"Yes. As much as I can be." He didn't comment on that. He knew what was happening— he had to.
She nodded to the office, "What's happening there?"
Zak looked at her, "Don't know and don't ask, it's safer." He warned, as he filled up the tray.
She took it to the table, it was a few regulars, who were chatting, as she put their drinks down, they went silent, the whole bar went from a low hum of voices, to total silence. People were anxious.
Keeping her head down, she glanced at the door, seeing Ka, Dreya and some Imperial Officers. She quickly looked away and walked back to the bar, picking up empty glasses and keeping her back to them. She slipped out of the bar into the back and to the dressing room, sitting at one of the tables listening.
Nothing.
Nobody came for her; she headed upstairs to get Del. She may not have another chance. Again no one was around, until she nearly reached him.
"There you are." Dreya caught her.
Essie poised, adjusted her stance; she was sure she could take her. She spun around, hit Dreya in the face and followed up by a takedown. She was on top of her, arm pulled back, when she felt the blaster barrel in the back of her neck.
"Don't!" It was one of the bouncers. He pulled her up off Dreya, pulling her arms behind her.
Dreya stood up, wiping her hand across her mouth.
"You were always going to be trouble."
Dreya's backhander came from nowhere; Essie shook her head, it was ringing.
"It's too late now. Take her to them."
Essie was dragged, struggling, along the corridor towards one of the private rooms.
.
Two stormtroopers pulled up on their speeder, the larger speeder had long gone.
"They stopped here."
Maze honed in on Security on the door. They were serious with some heavy firepower.
"We need a way in—the back?" Kom'rk asked.
"Or just walk in the front." Suggested Maze.
"Wait. Imps."
They watched as three officers plus two troopers walked in, Security stepped aside to let them in. Maze started forward.
"Front door it is." declared Kom'rk, following Maze as he strode towards the bar.
The bouncers looked at them and moved.
"That was easy." Commented Kom'rk. "I'll try and get into their com channel."
"Too easy." Added Maze
"We'll see."
All the staff gave them a wide berth, as if they were used to this.
They searched the ground floor — nothing.
"Got it! The Imps are upstairs plus some more." Noted Kom'rk.
Maze headed back to the stairs.
"I'll cover your six." Muttered Kom'rk, as he followed closely cocking his blaster, the troopers didn't sound like brothers.
.
"So Ka. You thought you'd try skimming a little off the top by not telling me of this woman you had. That wasn't in our agreement and not why I let you continue to operate as you do."
One of the troopers stuck his blaster in Ka's back, pushing him forward. Dreya and Pria stood to one side.
"We had a nice little arrangement and you had to spoil it but I'll deal with that later. So where is she?"
The bouncer pushed the woman into the room and held her.
Essie saw the seated Imperials.
"Ah! Estefania Devro. At last." A Coruscanti accent addressed her. It was the middle one; two others sat either side of him, there were two troopers. "Someone told us you were here."
He looked her up and down and beckoned her to him.
"I have never met a Jedi, or a Force User. You don't look any different."
"I'm not a Jedi!" She managed to reply.
"No but you are a Force User and you know Jedi."
She didn't answer that.
"Ka here, has been keeping you a secret in the hope of getting a larger reward."
Her eyes flicked to Ka, who looked uncomfortable at best.
The Imperial leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers.
"However, he was a little late. We already have your companions and now we have you."
Essie's mouth dropped open slightly. Then she closed it.
"But contrary to what Ka thought, you are also valuable. The Emperor is very interested in people like you and you'll be sent to Coruscant immediately."
He turned to his subordinates, "Troopers….."
Two more troopers entered the room. He didn't seem to realise that was a problem.
"Take the woman, and be careful. She may have certain…talents."
One of the troopers yanked her to one side.
Then the blaster fire started and he dropped; she took her chance and ran.
The new troopers worked in tandem, like a well choreographed dance, knowing exactly what the other was doing but built from years of training.
The Imperial officers and the bouncers were taken down within seconds.
Maze looked for Essie, realising she had run when the blasters started.
"I've got this. Get her!"
Mae left the Null to deal with what was left.
Essie was running to where Del was, when she heard someone behind her, she turned.
A Stormtrooper.
She backed away from them until she hit the wall. There was nowhere else to go.
"Ess!" The stormtrooper said— her brain didn't register it; she looked for a way out. He moved closer. "Ess! It's me, where's Del?"
"Maze?"
"Yes. Where is he?"
"A room…just follow me." She raced down the corridor, vaguely registering more blaster fire in the background.
Maze blasted the lock and pushed open the door; he stopped on seeing the children and the old woman.
"Don't!" He said. His voice harsh, brooking no argument from any sensible being.
She wasn't sensible and picked up Del.
Maze was there in a second, his blaster at her forehead.
"Essie. Get him!"
She grabbed Del from the woman, shielding him, as Maze held the woman at blaster point. They moved towards the door and a blaster shot skimmed Maze's pauldron before hitting the wall.
He turned without thinking and shot her through the forehead.
The children started crying.
"Come on!" He dragged Essie away from them and along the corridor. Kom'rk met them at the end.
"All clean, tidied up, Alor'ad. No loose ends."
Rae poked her head around the door. "Essie?"
"Get Lina and leave, as soon as you can. I can't explain."
Maze dragged her away, pulling a coat from somewhere, he didn't look and wrapped it around them. They ran down the stairs, the bar had emptied but they couldn't hang about. They'd just taken out a bunch of Imperials.
.
Hyperspace - enroute to Mandalore.
Kom'rk watched his passengers; the woman called Essie and the child were both sleeping now and he wasn't sure what was going on between her and Maze. They had only spoken a few words. He had offered to retrieve the other ship, so they could have some privacy and take it back to Mandalore but Maze insisted on tidying up that loose end himself.
"I wonder if he'll disappear." It wasn't unheard of. Details were filtering through now of clones disappearing, deliberately. Jaing was monitoring that.
"Crazy Alphas." He muttered, turning back to watch hyperspace.
.