Coruscant lower levels.
Maze woke, immediately alert, his training kicking in. His helmet gone, he reached for his blasters— also gone; he was on a chair but not tied or shackled. Looking around, he was in some kind of gym, not upmarket by the smell of it. Limited air scrubbers.
Nat sat opposite him, across a small round table with his arms crossed and his Lekku folded around his neck. Maze tensed up ready.
"Wouldna' do that soldier boy. Ya' might be specially trained but most o' the lads in here are me mates. So ya' might get out alive … just." He paused, his Ryl accent was thicker than Sarlacc stomach acid. "We need t'talk."
Maze leant back in his chair mirroring how Nat positioned himself. Arms crossed on his chest.
"Talk then." he growled, not liking this. He was usually in control and with back up plans times two or more but this had blindsided him.
"Rax - bring us a bottle." shouted Nat to a Sullestan, who appeared to be the bartender. A couple of glasses and a bottle of an indeterminate creamy looking liquor were placed on the table. Nat poured him a shot.
Maze sat forward and eyed the drink in front of him suspiciously. He lifted it to his nose and sniffed. It smelt of alcohol.
"Drink up," ordered Nat. "It won't kill ya."
"Thought this was a gym." Muttered Maze, looking around.
"I sent out."
Maze sipped, it burnt on the way down. He downed the rest, slamming the glass on the table; the remnants of the liquor warmed his throat and enchanted his taste buds.
"So…..what do ya want wi' Essie?"
Maze grunted.
Nat sighed, "What do you want with her?"
"She's a friend"
"Yeah, sure" retorted Nat. "So, why are ya following her?"
"None of your business."
"When it comes to Essie, it is my business."
Maze stared him out.
"You stalking her?"His accent was still thick, "because if.."
"No." Maze cut him off.
"You want it to be more'n a friendship and she said no?"
"No."
"No?" questioned Nat.
Maze scowled at him.
"It's impossible."
He hadn't considered it or rather wouldn't let himself consider it. He was eleven going on twenty three; all he had ever known in his life was training to be a soldier. For the Republic. He wasn't blind and saw what the citizens of the galaxy had and part of him wanted it. What he didn't want, was to be like RC8015. You could see the want, no the need in his eyes and it did you no good.
He was a clone and clones didn't get that; they got a short life and quick death in the company of brothers, if they were lucky. If he thought about it, he became angry. He put it out of his head.
"I'm a clone. It's not going to happen."
"Sol thinks Essie would like it to but doesn't want to push you into anything because of this fekking war."
Maze didn't know what to say; his fists clenched and unclenched.
"I'm a clone Nat. Made to order. Bred for war. Its not going to happen and she needs to realise that."
He brought his fist down on the table with a loud crash and the glasses jumped. He had to stop thinking about it. The others started towards them but Nat put his hand up to indicate he was okay.
"I couldn't offer her anything."
Nat didn't say anything, just looked at him; he poured another glass and pushed it towards him.
After a couple of minutes. Nat answered. "Frotz! All Sol and I had at the beginning was each other."
They sat in silence. Maze looked up and saw that Nat had knocked his drink back in one and poured another two - one for each of them. So Maze knocked his back.
"The second goes down better, yes?" Nat confirmed.
Maze gulped the next one down, as well. He nodded. Now he felt the warm glow of the liquor spreading through his body and that delicious taste it left on his tongue.
"Essie?" Nat asked again.
"I don't know." Maze admitted. "But….I know…..bugger, I just don't know."
Nat smiled, "That's alright lad. I just wanted to make sure you weren't out to hurt her." Despite his size, Maze still looked too young to Nat.
Maze shook his head. "Never."
"Good."
Nat watched him.
"But you want to know why we're so interested in her welfare?"
Maze nodded.
"Essie's parents died when she was 'bout five or six, both Lawyers, not high class expensive ones but ones that helped ordinary folk."
He poured another round.
"When we first got together, we were in a bad place. Both worked for one of the Rising Sun." Maze had heard of them; they were into everything and particularly vicious.
"Sol was a waitress, in one of the whorehouses. They said she wasn't good looking enough to be one of the girls. I was a member of the "Cazne Chee Sezk 'vati." He paused to take another drink. "I met Sol when we were taken to the place she worked, as a reward for a win. I was Tal, Champion but I was smitten as soon as I saw her and I knew we had to get away from that place."
He stopped and by the expression on his face he was remembering that part of his life. It must have been hard. Maze had read that General Zey had been involved in taking some of those Cartels down. They were brutal.
"Essie's Da and Ma both worked as Lawyers, for an Alderanian charity; they helped us escape and get us new background identities. They helped us with loans to start our businesses."
"Good people." Maze slurred, a little.
"They were and after that, we helped 'em wi' Essie. We couldna' have kids ourselves."
Although Maze nodded, he didn't understand.
"We looked after her, after school and twhen they were killed, we took her in."
"They were both killed?"
"Yeah….so called speeder crash. They'd been followed; her Da, Leeo Devra, commed me, they were heading to pick her up. Her Ma was killed outright, I got to her Da just 'afore he died and swore to him that I'd protect his daughter. An' I will." He gave Maze a stare. "From anything or anyone. I'd be dead but for him."
The drink was getting to Maze now, he was not an experienced drinker. He suddenly caught up. "You said 'so called speeder crash'. What do you mean?"
"Well, when I got to the speeder there was one of those Bounty hunters zooming away with his back pack on. Mandalorian, I think. He fired on me when I got there, missed me but he was there one minute, then gone the next. CSF showed up and took over. Said it was an accident, in spite of what I told 'em."
Nat knocked back his drink.
"If you've been trying to trace her background. There ain't much as her parents kept her out of the limelight. Just in case. Especially with what they did. They were very careful. You'd need a Court Order to get more than the basics. They were clever."
There were other things Nat knew about Essie but those could wait.
"You think she's interested in me?" Maze asked, the liquor loosening his tongue and thoughts.
"Sol seems to think so, something about the way she looks at you." He watched the soldier.
"The child?"
"He's Essie's but it's up to her to tell you about him."
"Twi'lek?" He queried.
Nat laughed, "His hat, he wants to look like his Grandpa."
Maze nodded slowly.
"You need to get back to the Barracks or is there somewhere else you want to be?"
A backwards way of asking if there was anyone else in the soldiers life.
"Barracks."
"I'll borrow a bike and get you back."
Maze tried to stand but swayed on his feet.
"What was I drinking?"
"T'ssolok. You'll need painkillers in the morning."
.
ARCA Barracks
"Those reports you wanted General." Maze entered the office with an armful of data pads, reports needed to be signed off. He placed them on the desk, standing back giving the General room to check them if required.
"Just made caf Captain, help yourself."
"Thanks General." He poured a mug.
"Those pastries that you brought in Maze, very tasty. Only managed one, a couple of the Nulls reported in. I assume you didn't make them yourself."
There was a smile on the Generals face.
Maze snorted, "I know I'm good, General but not that good. Jango didn't do baking lessons. A grateful citizen provided them."
Zey sensed the amusement from his aide continued, one that he hadn't felt in a few weeks. He had been pre occupied.
"Is it something I should know about?"
"It was a gift from Ms Devro, at the library."
"Ah."
"She helps me with my research. She had overbought and said they would go stale."
The General knew he was being evasive but was not sure why.
"Accepting a few pastries won't cause any problems Maze."
"Yes sir, I'm glad. I didn't want to upset her. She's been very helpful." He took a drink of caf.
Zey sensed something else from his Captain when he spoke about Ms Devro, something he had never sensed from the Captain before except with regard to his brothers.
Maze checked his com.
"Problem Captain?"
"Possibly. Explosion at Bravo Eight Depot, Logistics. I'll check on it."
"CSF territory?"
"Normally but GAR Personnel, Sir?"
"Skirata's got a 'friend' in CSF and we don't want tread on any toes, especially the Senate Bureau of Intelligence or any of the Republic Intelligence Agencies. I'd like to keep them as far away from us as possible." Zey was being the politician. "I'll put him on it."
"Yes sir."
.
Tualin Oola.
Essie tried her caf black but she had to have sweetener in it and some caf beans were better than others. Maze sat opposite watching her reaction. He needed a distraction from the Barracks.
"That face wasn't as bad as the first time you tried it."
"All Laws." She replied, ignoring him, despite the tiny smile flickering across his face which usually distracted her. "should stem from the Galactic Constitution."
He nodded.
"The Galactic Constitution is the document by which the Galactic Republic is governed," she stopped, seeing he was still watching her and nodding.
"Don't tell me, you learned all about the Galactic Constitution on Kamino?" she said with resignation in her voice.
"We did touch on it."
"So," she leaned back, arms crossed, "tell me what you learned."
Maze pulled himself up and leaned forward looking straight into her eyes.
"The Constitution was written over 25,000 years ago by a member of House Organa and contributed to by Sistros Nevet, an ancient lawgiver, it's aim was to unify the Core Worlds."
Essie nodded, meeting his look. "Go on."
"The Constitution invested executive powers in the General Ministry and Galactic Senate, legislative powers in the Galactic Senate, and judicial powers in the Supreme Court and the Regional Courts. It put Coruscant as the Republic capital, set the official language and currency. It made the President of the Senate—now Supreme Chancellor— Head of State and Head of Government and the Minister of Defence, the Commander in Chief. The Senate was granted the authority to levy a military and regulate trade."
"Has it stayed the same though, since it's inception?" Essie asked, leaning her chin on her propped up hands. She had never really noticed his eyes before, how dark and penetrating they were, like the black caf he drinks.
.
Nat and Sol watched them from the counter, Del safely asleep upstairs.
"Does he know about Del?"
"Yes. But he's waiting for her to tell him more."
"So he is interested?"
"Oh yes. Says he's not but he is. He's just not sure how to move forward. He was brought up on a planet, where they were taught by droids, soldiers and bounty hunters."
"A little like you and you managed okay." His wife grabbed him by the waist.
"Yeah. I think he'll be okay, eventually. Might need a bit of help. A push here or there."
Sol watched them, "Well it's the first time I've seen two people flirting over the Galactic Constitution."
"Is that what they call it?" He looked at the two sitting at the table, "He definitely needs some help. Frotz! they both do." Muttered Nat.
"What are you planning?"
"Just thinking."
"Well don't."
Nat snorted, as he slapped his wife's behind.
"Nat!" she warned him.
"Remember the first time I did that, pika?"
They moved closer.
"Of course. How could I forget."
"See you later, croator!" He winked at her.
She shook her head, smiling, as she walked into the back room.
.
"So what's that all about?" Maze asked; he and Essie stopped their discussion to watch the two older people.
"Ignore them, they're like that sometimes."
"Nat….." Maze stopped what he was going to say, unsure if she had been told about their discussion a few weeks ago. "Was he a fighter?"
"Yes. Years ago. They were both slaves, even though slavery's outlawed by the Constitution."
"Hmm." The smile had gone from Maze.
"I'm sorry." she thought she had hit a nerve.
"Why? They escaped."
"Yes. They did." She looked at Sol cleaning the tables. "So you know the Galactic Constitution. Perhaps next time we look at some of the changes made, and why." She picked up his mug, "It's getting late."
"I look forward to our time together….Essie."
"So do I Maze, so do I."
Maze saw Sol clearing up, "I'll get those." He rose and helped her put the chairs on the tables. Noticing some flimzi sheets on the counter; he leaned closer, reading them upside down.
'Members of the GAR welcome.'
"Are you sure about that?" He pointed to the notices. "There's not many troopers around and they won't have many credits to spend."
"That's okay. Sometimes some of our regulars don't have much. So on Taungsday we have a 'Pay what you can Pay' Day."
"Don't you lose money?" Maze had studied the economic system of the Core Worlds, as part of his examination of the Trade Federation.
"Not much, usually when people have better times they still get their cakes and bread from us, just more. If it wasn't for them we wouldn't have a business. So it's more about loyalty than anything."
That Maze could understand.
.
ARCA Barracks
Maze stalked along the corridor after Ordo; the General may be laid back about how he had been treated, and how Skirata and the Nulls treat him all the time but it was an insult to the General and to him. He didn't care if the Null heard him, he wasn't being quiet. He caught up and reached out to grab him, just as he did Ordo turned and deflected his arm brushing it aside; he didn't care he had something to say.
"Look Null. I don't know who your Sergeant thinks he is, but you obey a General when he—"
Ordo interrupted, "I don't have time for this." And brought his fist up hard against Maze's chin.
"Fucking Null!" Maze swore as he hit the wall but it took more than that to take him down. Then the fist hit his nose. That stopped him.
"And I only take orders from Kal Skirata." Ordo finished.
I fucking know that, thought Maze as he held his hand against his now bleeding nose, steadying himself. All the Alphas and Nulls had obviously been given the same training on how to stop a human in their tracks without killing them. He would have done the same but that was where the similarity ended.
He headed back to the General's office. Zey was waiting for him, hands on hips.
"Captain. I will not tolerate brawling between my officers." He paced behind his desk, "as much as you disagree with Captain Ordo's manners, you do not brawl, understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Maze stood to attention.
"Now go. Calm down. Get yourself sorted."
Zey could still feel the anger radiating off the Alpha and it was giving him a headache; he had enough to worry about without having the clones brawling. Sometimes Maze was too much like his donor.
"I suggest you leave the base. Go to the University Library. A total change of pace will do you good."
"I don't need that sir, I am calm."
Zey looked at his aide. His face said that but not the anger that was radiating off him.
"I'll make it an order then. Dismiss."
Maze blinked for a few seconds.
"Yes sir." He saluted, turned on a coin and marched out jamming his bucket on, wincing as it pushed past his nose.
.
University Library
"Maze!" She shouted out to him, seeing him walking across to the Reception Desk. She wasn't expecting him and she wasn't sitting there for once but was cataloging some of the artefacts sent over by the Chancellors Office. They weren't what she was used to but the University had agreed to put on several displays and the library was one place where they could be put safely but she needed to learn their background. She would be expected to answer questions on them. Fine arts wasn't her speciality.
It would hopefully lead to more visitors.
She put the black onyx statuette on top of its crate; it made her feel uneasy as she looked at and touched it, like dropping into a never ending black hole; she shrugged the feeling off, as she watched Maze march towards her, his helmet still on.
"I'm just going to have a break. You want a Caf."
He nodded, distracted.
"Take a seat." She directed him to the break out area, made the 'InstaJava', and opened a new packet of biscuits— old style Coruscanti ones—he never complained about those.
She put the caf and biscuit jar, onto the small table, as he finally removed his helmet.
Sitting down opposite, she saw his face, the bruises blooming across his jaw and under his eyes, "Maze! What happened?"
"It's nothing. Sparring accident."
They were very fresh. Very recent.
"Your nose. It's bleeding again. I'll get the Med Kit."
Essie rushed off as Maze touched his face; this was nothing. He was more upset that Ordo had got the drop on him in the first place and disrespected General Zey; he didn't deserve that. He needed to up his game with the Nulls, even though they were unpredictable at best, bloody psychotic at worst. He was just thankful he came from the second batch.
And the General was upset with him; he valued the Generals opinion of him. He knew he shouldn't. It shouldn't make a difference but it did. To him.
"Well, I hope the other person looked worse than you." Essie said as she returned, "Turn around."
He avoided the half question.
"It's alright, I can do it." Maze reached out for the med kit.
She pulled it back.
"No let me. I'm used to this."
He let his hand drop and sat quietly, avoiding her gaze, as she carefully cleaned the area, leaning in close; his hand came to rest on her waist. She put a Bacta bandage on his nose, "There." She had never been this close to his face before, there was just a hint of soap about him, she pulled away.
"All done. You should have gone to a medic." His hand dropped back by his side. She missed it's steadying feeling, the frisson of pleasure it brought.
Maze snorted and winced. "Myself and Jab are not on the best of terms."
"Jab?"
"He's the medic I normally get."
"Jab, is that really his name?" She was struggling to keep a straight face.
"Don't ask."
She smiled.
"I might have to at some point."
"So what are those?" He pointed at the numerous boxes that were stacked along the wall of the building, some already opened, with various statuettes standing on the top.
"Artefacts from the Chancellor's office, we're putting them on display."
He looked at them curiously, trying to decide what they were. "Are they supposed to be aesthetically pleasing?"
"I think so. Not sure I would like them on my shelf."
"Neither would I. Like them on your shelf, I mean." His eyes focused a number of inches lower than her face.
She ignored it.
"You do that very well, you know."
"Do what?" His eyes backed up.
"Keep your sense of humour hidden."
He snorted, and winced.
Bloody Devro.
.
Cazne Chee Sezc 'vati. - An illegal cage fighting cartel of fighters raised to fight. (made that up myself)
Pika – beloved.