A/N: another new experience for Maze.
Skyline Restaurant
Coruscant
Maze really wasn't interested in going but Essie did and there was food; and he admitted to himself, he wanted to please her but he always had this niggle that he couldn't give her anything or buy her anything. That was why he was here with her.
Confident he was as good as anyone else, he ignored the curious looks from some of the patrons, as he led Essie into the dining area on his arm. They looked like any of the couples already sitting there, Essie in a burgundy dress that wrapped around her and draped; he'd noticed how the material seemed to float, totally different to what she wore to 79's and he in the blue civilian suit that fit him perfectly.
The Maitre'd showed them to a window table, and handed them the menu, it was extensive, he scanned it. It didn't matter what was on it, he would eat anything. Essie chose. He gazed out of the large transparisteel windows. They were so far up, in one of the tallest buildings on Coruscant, that they were above the sky lanes, and on a level with the Chancellor's office, which he could see in the distance.
They sat and looked out across the city sky scape. Essie's hand rested in his across the table, she was enjoying this. There was music playing softly in the background and the hum of soft spoken voices; if he had his HUD on, he could check what it was, it felt soothing, relaxing.
There were on two exits, he checked — the entrance and the kitchen. There were freshers but was unlikely to be an exit in those. He did this automatically.
A Twi'lek waiter came up to the table with a tray and placed a plate between them, and a jug of iced water.
"Hello, I'm your waiter for the night. Canapés." He announced, "Enjoy!" He gave a little bow before he left with their orders.
Maze looked at the large plate, with a few tiny mouth sized pastries and balls— of something. He glanced up at Essie wondering if she was thinking the same thing. There wasn't much there.
"These are just the appetisers. They are supposed to be small." She squeezed his hand. He popped one in his mouth it was one bite size.
"Mmm. Tastes good."
"Mmm. Delicious."
Then came the first course, some type of airy mousse, with a hint of spices and they ordered wine, which the waiter poured into the over large glasses, and let him try first.
Maze tasted it, swirling it around his mouth several times before swallowing. He watched Essie's face.
"Smoky notes, with a hint of Meilooran?" He asked the waiter.
"Exactly sir."
He impressed the waiter.
"I can get you a different one if…."
"No, this one is excellent."
"It's a good choice sir."
"The canapés, was there a touch of Alderaan turmeric in there?" Maze asked.
Essie raised her eyebrows.
"Yes sir. Not many people can tell the difference." He leaned closer. "It's the last batch. The owner refuses to buy any more, says it's too expensive because of the war." He backed away.
"Maze? How?" Asked Essie, he continually surprised her.
He leaned forward, "I was trained to be a one man army and that included infiltrations, where you blend in and you need to know everything." He smiled, "I read the menu on – line."
She giggled.
"The fish course, Sir. Madam." The waiter returned.
Essie tasted it, closing her eyes. "Nubian Scale Fish."
Maze tasted his.
"Infused with Pantoran saffron this time?"
The waiter nodded. Maze poured the clear broth over his.
"Nubian cinnamon and chilli from Malastare in the broth."
"Exactly sir." He leaned forward, "More spices the owner's not buying anymore; he wants Chef to use synthetic, says the customers won't notice. Chef's leaving tonight and I'm going with him. Setting up on our own." He spoke in a lower voice.
"Shame!" Muttered Essie.
"Enjoy!" The waiter backed away.
"How?" She asked.
"I also read the critics evaluation while you were getting ready."
She shook her head, pouring more of the fragrant broth over her scale fish.
"Did you find out more about the woman who took the clone images that were posted on - line?"
"Corrin Loc?"
"Yes." Essie swirled her wine around in her glass. There was a pleasant rosy glow to her face. It was already their second bottle.
"She's legit. Some childhood friend of Senator Amidala, undertaking a project to enhance the status of the clones by showing their war. So she's attached to the 501st. The bloody 501st of all battalions."
Essie watched Maze's eye roll, before she said, "I still think Rex is a natural blonde; I mean how could he manage to dye his hair all the time in the middle of a war, with no regrowth, on a battle ship…."
"Venator class ship."
"You know what I mean. Just the time taken and then getting the dye…..."
Maze smiled.
"You lied didn't you?"
He grinned.
.
The Twi'lek waiter was apologetic, when he appeared at the table with a bag.
"I'm so sorry."
Essie could feel he was agitated, his lekku confirmed it.
"There's been a complaint. To the owner."
"By who? Against whom?"
"One of the other customers. Says you're a clone, non sentient and you shouldn't be here."
He addressed Maze.
"Which one?" Demanded Essie looking around the room, everyone was studying their food, closely, avoiding the confrontation.
"I am so sorry." The waiter handed Essie the giftcard, then turned to Maze. "Your Comrades are fighting on Ryloth to free it. I'm leaving this place but it was an honour to serve you."
Essie watched as he walked away pointedly ignoring the other guests. She picked up the pot of giant Nubian Peppercorns.
As they rose from the table, Maze saw Essie's face, she was fuming. He wasn't going to respond they weren't worth it; he'd been called worse.
"Let's go!" He put his hand at the small of her back.
It had happened to clones before and would again. Essie stopped, she was twisting something in her hand he couldn't see what.
"Eeeeeek!" Essie screamed pointing at the floor.
He turned to Essie; she was screaming. She never screamed; he pulled his hold out blaster, aiming where she pointed.
"What's wrong? What is it?"
"R..R..Rodents! Sewer Womp Rats! Look droppings!" He heard the sound of something small hitting the floor, then she clung to his arm.
He stared at the 'droppings', looking suspiciously like the giant Nubian peppercorns that were on the table. He glanced at Essie. She winked. There were more screams now as other patrons had heard —'rat droppings,'
Oh!
He switched his blaster to stun, not really wanting to kill anyone— too much paper work. He aimed in the corner, sending two stun blasts. He looked around, everyone was cowering. The Twi'lek waiter was grinning, the chef stood next to him, confused, both with bags on their arms. Perhaps a blast too far. Then everyone started rushing out, Essie grabbed their take away and they ran.
They flew onto the walkway, Maze pulling her along, headed to the lifts, ignoring the hovertaxis everyone else was fighting over, finally reaching a lower level and stopping in an alley, away from prying eyes, chests heaving.
"That was crazy. Why?" asked Maze.
"I couldn't ignore what they said about you and they refused to continue to serve you because of that….prejudice."
"But rodents, sewer wamp rats?"
"No food establishment can have pests and survive."
He grinned.
"The droppings were a good effect."
She was leaning with her back against the wall; he caged her in. His hands held her face as he kissed her.
"We're in an alley." He kissed her again.
"We are." She pulled his shirt out from his trousers, sliding her arms around his back, feeling every muscle ripple, as he pulled her dress up, pushing his thigh in between her legs; she pushed onto it.
"You said you were up for it." He reminded her.
"I did…."
He pulled the tie of her dress, the front dropped open. So that's what a wrap dress did. Then he pulled her to him, reaching for the back of her bra. He fumbled.
"Front!" She muttered, as she took a break from kissing his neck.
"Planning?" He twisted the front open. Then slid his hands down, hooking her pants down, she stepped out of them, and struggled with the front of his trousers, as his hands stroked her bottom. Finally her hands was on him, he groaned into her neck and lifted her, pressing her hard against the wall…..
.
Commander Stone stood in the exclusive Skyline Restaurant at the top of one of the tallest buildings in Coruscant; it was lunch time but it was empty, which was unusual but expected due to the Sullastan Pest Control expert examining what looked to be rodent droppings in the corner under a table.
"Giant Nubian peppercorns." She declared, backing out from under the table
Stone wanted to smile, what idiot thought peppercorns were rodent droppings.
"So it was a scam." The owner declared.
Stone neither confirmed nor denied it.
"And you say it was a clone, and a woman?"
"Yes. We asked them to leave, after some patrons complained."
"About what?"
The owner shuffled, "That we were serving a clone."
Stone pressed down hard on his datapad but gave no other indication.
"Were the couple causing trouble?"
"No. They had behaved well. Even though they had been given one of the worst tables. The clone looked surly most of the time but was civil enough and had the correct manners. Then he fired his blaster."
"After the woman screamed and said there was a rodent in the room."
He nodded.
Stone removed his helmet.
"So security cameras?"
"Off line, some of our patrons don't like to be photographed."
Stone stifled a sigh, already the restaurant had broken the latest Security Laws.
"Can you describe the clone?"
"Well, he looked like you." The owner said sheepishly.
Stone tried not to sigh again, but only just keeping it in.
"His hair —was it shaved or regulation?"
"Not shaved. What's regulation?"
His own was partially shaved, so he pulled up an image of the Marshall Commander Fox.
"Like this."
"Yes, just like him."
"Did he have anything here?" He pointed to the 59 tattooed on his cheek. The last part of his designation.
"Yes. Just like that but with the other hair."
Stone was fairly sure no other clone had a tattoo exactly like his. His brothers all wanted to be different, to look different.
"Thank you sir, I'm sure we'll find him and he will face the full rigours of the GAR regulations. We brook no conduct like that."
The owner nodded.
"Just one more question. Who booked the table?"
"If I knew then I would have told you but our booking system crashed a few hours after the incident."
"Well, Sir, leave it with me we'll get to the bottom of it."
.
Stone had stripped off ready to have a long hot shower, which he always felt he needed after dealing with some of the civvies. He felt particularly greasy after dealing with the owner of the restaurant. Then his com went —Fox.
"My office now!"
"Kriff! What's got your kute in a twist?"
"Just get here."
Stone pulled on his fatigues and headed over.
He knocked and walked in; Fox was leaning back with a glass of the hard stuff in his hand. It had obviously been a bad day. He pushed a glass towards Stone, who wasn't going to say no. He took a sip.
"This from that illegal still in the lower levels?"
"Yep."
"Not bad."
Thire didn't have the heart to get rid of it all. It was a sophisticated operation with a drinkable result.
"Hmm. Good call from Thire. The republic needs all the taxes it can get it's hands on. So it had to be closed down and fined." Fox added "So the restaurant complaint?"
"He's got no idea. Booking system crashed so they don't know who made the original booking. The clone looked like a composite of me and you."
Fox raised an eyebrow.
"This only happened when they were asked to leave after some patrons objected to eating with a clone. His partner didn't take kindly to it and screamed rodent then all hell broke lose."
Fox couldn't help but smile, "Hit them where it hurts. Now they can't trade until they've had the all clear from pest control." He took another sip, "Null or Commando? I've heard rumours."
Stone shook his head. "The Nulls are mostly off world. But could be an ARC?" Stone proffered.
"They're as unpredictable as the Nulls but not many here." Fox considered it.
"One." Confirmed Stone.
"Is he a possibility?"
Stone nodded.
Fox took a sip of his bootleg whiskey, "SOB?"
"Yes, Captain Maze."
"I heard he called Bacara personally just before a bombardment, to ask him to stop." Fox added.
Stone coughed, struggling to swallow his own drink.
"I don't really want to upset SOB." Fox emptied his glass, narrowing his eyes as he swallowed, "What about the 501st?"
"501st?"
"They're always causing trouble when they're planet side. Who's to know the difference. They'll be here soon for a couple of days, after delivering the beast. Skywalker's already been seen in the Senate District, after reporting to the Council. Got a couple of ARCs attached haven't they?"
"Rex'll go hairless." Stone commented.
"Not much difference is there?" Fox poured himself another and tipped the bottle towards Stone. He shook his head.
"They're on Corrie, let one of them take the blame. They'll be gone in couple of days then we can close the case."
Stone drained his glass.
"Yes sir."
"Go get your shower."
Stone wandered back to his quarters, the bootleg whiskey making itself felt in his system. He was 99 percent certain it was Maze and his woman Devro, just from the statements made. Ideally he would have liked to speak to the waiter but he'd disappeared with the Chef. He wasn't going to do anything about it, the report would be buried under the myriad of others and some poor anonymous grunt from the 501st was going to take the blame. That would be a first, they usually got away with it, after Rex came down and had a shouting match with Fox, or Senator Amidala intervened in her own way on behalf of the General but now they could say they'd been sent to the Outer Rim as punishment.
Tidy!
.
ARCA Barracks
479 days ABG
Maze checked on the squads. How the Republic expected two point five Jedi Generals —he didn't really count Camas—to keep track of even the reduced numbers of Commandos, he didn't know and Jusik was on Dorunna following up what Zey had asked Delta to do, go after Ko Sai, as per Palpatine's order. He shivered, when he thought about the Kaminoans. He was not totally immune to what they did, the continued checks, the continued fear that something would be wrong, that something that couldn't be corrected easily would be found. The culls. He physically shook his head. He hadn't thought about that since he joined Zey on Qiilura.
He needed to make sure they returned, where possible. There would always be casualties but they could and should be reduced where possible; he was still imbued with the feeling of brotherhood.
Listening to the com chatter from Gaftikar; N12 and the Marits had done their part and he was heading towards the exfil. It had been overkill to send the Null and Omega there, if only to find that A-30 had bought it. Although the information regarding that was somewhat vague.
Omega were on Leveller, on their way back but with casualties. He looked down the list.
RC-3222 - broken ankle— easily treated.
RC-8015 - Head trauma – currently under treatment on the Leveller. Ready for transfer to the Med Centre on arrival.
Head trauma was bad. Maze breathed deeply, Skirata would be going out of his mind; it was Fi, one of his favourites.
"Bloody hell!"
He checked on some of the other squads.
.
The sitrep wasn't good. Maze had the list of mission requirements now he had to juggle the numbers.
Delta were on Dorunna and Jusik was suitably vague about where exactly where on the planet and what exactly they had. Chasing down a lead he said.
Yayax – Saleucami.
Ion Squad —they were just out of Boz Pity. General Shryne had sent his thanks – they seemed to have got on well but Climber was an amenable and efficient chap.
His com link pinged. Personal but he recognised the ID.
"Commander Bly?"
He opened up the link.
"Captain Maze."
"Sir?"
"I can only say that I had hoped to speak to you under better circumstances. I've already spoken to Lieutenant Aven. Yours were the only two names he left as contacts. Apart from the boys on board. They all know.
"Sir?"
"Lieutenant Ne'tra….he's MIA."
It took him a few seconds before it sank in.
"How long?"
"He was undercover. We lost contact with him after four weeks. We've had a search party…. But…. And our contacts…. There's no sign of him."
Maze was silent. He never thought Ne'tra would buy it.
"Captain? If you can shed any light on the mission it could help us."
"It's not one of ours." he knew all the missions.
"He received special orders. Eyes Only."
"Not ours Commander." Maze reiterated.
Bly looked angry. "I see."
There was unspoken words hanging there – Republic Intelligence.
"The General and I have tried to find out more but hit a brick wall. Perhaps you could find out, being nearer."
Maze nodded.
"Sir! Thank you for letting me know."
The Commander stared at him, for a number of seconds; then nodded and cut the connection.
Maze sat at checked through the available squads; he had missions to organise, prioritise. Injured to follow up, dead to tally, MIA to note.
.
Maze didn't know why he commed her so late, or even why he was going to her Apartment now; Del would be asleep. He didn't want to wake him. He could have done some reading, or some training just like all the others currently in ARCA Barracks which was not many.
No. The reason he was going was that he didn't want to be alone just now. He normally didn't mind his own company and sometimes preferred it to the Commandos but not now.
Commandos reminded him of Ne'tra.
The trainee ARCs reminded him of Ne'tra and he couldn't do anything about that.
He remembered every word of the com from Bly. Ne'tra had been on a mission, not for him and not from SOB or Maze would have known about it. That left Republic Intelligence. Something happened. Bly didn't know what and couldn't find out. Even General Secura couldn't find out and Bly confirmed he had tried but he had just disappeared.
.
Maze entered the passcode; JAN1T0r had never been repaired or replaced, the argument being that the Security Cams that swamped the city should be enough. The lights were dimmed and Essie sat there reading in the low light.
"Maze! I wasn't expecting you? You hungry?"
He shook his head.
"Are you feeling okay?" She asked, although she could sense he wasn't, what she sensed was something she had never felt from Maze before— grief. She pulled him down next to her.
"Do you want to talk?"
"It's Ne'tra."
Her stomach lurched. She liked the other clone. Maze had known him all his life.
"He's MIA— missing."
"Have they got any idea where he is? Are people looking for him? Are you going?"
"They checked— his Commander sent some troopers but they don't send people to look for ARCs unless the mission was sensitive or critical."
He didn't even know what the mission was and saw the unsaid 'Oh' on her lips.
They didn't speak.
"We can just sit?" She offered.
He nodded. They never prepared you for this. The feeling of helplessness, he hated it. Essie's hands wrapped around his and she leaned on him. His arm had automatically wrapped around her shoulder. Being here helped. Essie helped but he couldn't explain how or why but it did. He let her head rest on his shoulder and they sat.
When Maze looked at his chrono, it was was early morning; Essie had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He moved away then lifted her and carried her to the bed, laying her carefully on it. He still had his armour on and went to remove it, hesitated and replaced the piece, instead tapping a message out on his com. He wasn't good company at the moment.
She was sound asleep; he checked on Del. He was too, they hadn't disturbed him. He left the apartment closing the door carefully behind him.
.
Corrin Lok – is Aggy72's OC in a brilliant fic on AO3. "Stories". It follows Captain Rex and the 501st. Unfortunately FFN won't let me upload a link.