ARCA Barracks

498 days ABG

Maze strode out of ARCA Barracks to face Commander Stone. He stood to attention and saluted.

"Commander. Can I help?"

"At ease. As a matter of fact, you can."

Maze tensed, despite being at ease.

"It was a rhetorical bloody question. Can't it wait? I'm just going ….to visit someone." He was still careful who he admitted he was seeing Essie to, even though Stone already knew.

"So I see," he looked at Maze's civvies, "but like I said before 'Skyline Restaurant', Estefania Devro and giant Nubian peppercorns. I made it go away. Walk with me."

Maze ground his teeth, and rolled his shoulders and set off with the Commander.

"What do you want?"

"I need some back up. The only Guard I have free are shinies and I can't take them on this."

"Explain!" Maze reverted to Alpha ARC.

"Remember the last discussion we had."

"Yes." Despite himself he could already feel the adrenaline surging with the promise of some action, the urge to fight. Damn the Kaminoans. "What are we looking at?"

"Slave traffickers…"

"Same? Different?"

"Same syndicate, different lackeys and we know where they are."

Maze knew Stone was smiling under his bucket.

"I'm in."

"Good!"

"You realise you had me at 'I need back up." confirmed Maze.

.

Nat's Gym

"What's the matter love?"

Nat watched as Essie trained; she had glanced at the door every few minutes for the last twenty. They finished the Self Defence class about half an hour ago; then Essie started her own training, somewhat half heartedly and Nat thought he knew why.

"If you don't concentrate, you won't get the results." He watched, shaking his head, as she struggled to pull the barbell up to her shoulders, then pushing it up, her arms shook. She failed and let it drop, clanging as it hit the floor, the sound reverberating through the gym. Faces turned towards her but she didn't see them, as she was looking at the door again. She usually managed this weight easily. Del was sitting on a small chair, watching and waiting to clap when she succeeded; he was drinking and having a snack after practising some tumbling with Nat, although the banana snack was a mangled mess now. Del looked disappointed, as a frown creased his face.

"I'll ask again, what's up?" Although he had a pretty good idea by now.

"Maze." She answered, sighing. "He was supposed to be here by now." She leant down to wipe Del's face.

"And?"

"He usually messages me if he can't get." She threw the dirty wipe towards the bin and missed.

Nat picked it up and placed it inside.

"He's a soldier. Things happen. He's probably got held up. The war doesn't stop just because you want to see him, you know."

"Not helping!" She glared at him and pulled the barbell up to her chest, pushing it above her head with a forward step, adjusted her stance, holding it steady —one, two, three, four, five. She dropped it back down with less noise.

Del clapped, bits of banana flying everywhere

"Better!" he said, smiling. "Making you angry always works.

She stepped back from the bar. "If he's going to be late he sends a message. I've tried him. His com's switched off. I'm worried."

Nat put his arm around her, "It's really serious with him isn't it?"

She nodded, "I worry about him. What if he's sent off-world?"

"I think he'd let you know some way— and find a way to get back to you."

"You do?"

"Yes." He'd promised Maze he wouldn't say anything about their plans, not yet. Maze wanted to tell her himself. "Now finish that training. You'll feel better. You're worrying for nothing. He's a well trained soldier, one of the best. He can look after himself."

.

Lower Levels

Coruscant

Two hunters stalked their prey, keeping to the shadows. Helmets covering their features.

"People actually live like this?" Maze asked, wrinkling his nose. He hadn't smelled anything remotely like this since Qiilura; even Nat's gym didn't smell like this.

"Yep. Whole different planet, isn't it? You got the image?" Stone replied.

"Yeah. So tell me why exactly we are after this man and the Guard aren't?"

"Not really our remit, more CSF but they've been told to back off. Friends in high places."

"And we've got evidence?"

"It's not that type of bounty."

"One of the commanders in the CSF was in the Senate Guard before we came along. He appreciates what we clones do. One did some stupid stunt and saved some of his men a while back. He's grateful. He's old school, likes to repay his debts."

Maze knew which Commando that was, now he was gone and he could guess about the CSF Commander who was grateful to clones but it wasn't his business. He was surprised Skirata wasn't involved in this but he appeared to have his own agenda these days and Maze wasn't exactly sure what that was. He would have to do some more digging—he had let that slip.

Stone checked the corner, while Maze covered his back. It was clear. They moved through the dank ally, steam rising trough vents, flattening themselves against the walls. A Garbage womp rat sniffed at Maze's foot. He kicked at it muttering "Dirty bugger!" Scuttling away from them, it dragged its rubbish finds with it.

"So the CSF Commander had heard rumours. He pursued it, gathered all the evidence, prepared it and passed it up his chain of command. They batted it away. He was told in no uncertain terms not to take it any further, to leave it. They were only Clones. So he passed it onto Fox."

"Is this really sanctioned?" Not that it bothered Maze.

"Fox has, that's all I— we need."

"But why the Guard?"

"They've only been targeting brothers."

"Doing what?"

"Selling them. Broad backs, hard workers!"

"Separatists?"

"No evidence of that, just one perverted chakaar."

"Bugger!" Maze was invested in this now.

"How's the lady friend?"

"Fine!" Maze didn't like him discussing Essie. His tracker beeped. They'd found the target and some others.

"There's at least three if not more." Maze scanned the area, "the target plus two more heat signatures. They're large—impossible to say if its just humans. Do we know if they have any brothers with them?"

"Latest Intel says no. Zillo beast put paid to their operation for a short while and then the 501st left."

"They were targeting the 501st? Are they mad?"

Stone snorted, "I didn't say they had functioning brain cells. Look I'll do the business if you watch my back." He offered, "Let's do it."

"Don't mind! Your target, your plan!" Muttered Maze but equally willing to take part. He was engineered to fight and he did little enough of that here. This would take the edge off.

They primed their blasters ready.

Maze checked the door.

Locked.

He attached the dets.

He nodded at Stone.

The door blew in with a satisfying clunk and they were in.

.

Blaster fire came from all areas of the room and rooms leading off; Maze's scan was blocked there.

A blaster shot removed the lights; he counted five upright bodies just before and now there was a distinctive smell of blaster fire and charred flesh.

He fired in the direction in the blaster shots; the screams told him they had hit their mark.

The shot came from another room and took him off his feet; it hit his under armour but burned through despite that. He had just learned the hard way, it was not as efficient as his alpha rig.

Pulling himself up he followed Stone.

.

Essie's Apartment

Early Morning

It had taken longer than they anticipated even with the Intel they had and then they had put up a good fight. Maze winced as he removed his civilian top. He needed a shower—he could still taste and smell the sickly odours from the lower levels, clinging to him.

The lights came on, dimmed.

"Maze?" Essie's voice came out of the bedroom. "You alright? I was worried." She followed her voice, he could hear her padding across the room; he was still hyper alert, the lights brightening slowly. "Hells what have you been doing, fighting Rex again?"

"No! And it would be better if you didn't know."

"That's a blaster wound I'll get Jab. Why didn't you go back to the barracks?"

"It's a glancing shot and I'd rather bloody not."

"That's not a glancing shot and why not?"

"It wasn't exactly sanctioned."

She was already on the com.

"Jab, it's Essie. Maze needs you."

She looked up to see him glare angrily and wince as he twisted around; she ignored his look and the shake of his head.

"No! My apartment. Okay?"

She frowned, "Yes he'll explain. Please be quick." She closed the com.

"He'll be here soon."

"You shouldn't have."

"Yes I should, I don't have the expertise for this."

The lights came on brighter, and he moved towards the refresher; she moved quicker and blocked him, "Maze, what the bloody hell have you been doing?"

She saw his stubborn face glare down at her. She jabbed her finger in his chest just missing the blaster burn and the numerous bruises that now littered his torso.

"Sit!"

Maze sat, glaring "Bloody, bossy Devro!" he muttered.

.

The door chime sounded; Essie ran to it and let Jab in.

"Kriff! What's he been up to now?" Jab demanded, as he knelt next to Maze now sitting on the settee, still glaring.

"Don't ask me!"

"It wasn't Captain Rex again, was it? I thought the 501st had deployed!"

"Just sort it out." Muttered Maze. He realised he may never live his altercation with Rex down.

"You know, you could have just come into the med bay. Nobody would have said anything."

Maze's eyebrow arched. Jab closed his slightly open mouth, stopping what he was on the verge of saying.

He knew when to stop.

.

"What are you doing?"

Essie's voice stopped Maze putting his foot to the floor, even though it was half out of the bed already.

"Getting a bloody drink."

"I'll get it. You need to rest. Jab says….."

"Jab says—Jab says."

She ignored his comments and fetched him some water, sitting back on the bed.

"You're not a very good patient are you?"

"I don't have time to be ill. I have a meeting soon."

"All the more reason to rest then."

She sat and watched him drink the water, "And stay hydrated."

"You're a bloody tyrant!"

"I think you like it." she said taking the glass from his hand.

"Why?"

"This!" Her hand snaked down the muscles of his stomach.

"Ah!"

"Is that all you can say?"

"I'm injured."

"Okay." Essie moved to the other side of the bed.

"I didn't say stop!" Maze sounded put out.

She turned back, "We'll have to be careful. Tell me where it doesn't hurt."

His eyes crinkled, "There!" He pointed to his forehead.

She placed a kiss there.

He pointed to his cheek. "Here."

She kissed him there.

He pointed to his lips. She leaned over, kissing him gently; he pulled her down to him, kissing her.

"Nothing wrong there." She whispered.

"I'm feeling better all the time." He smiled, then winced as she touched his chest.

"Perhaps we should avoid the chest area." She suggested.

"Yours or mine?" He quipped, as he sat up pulling her onto his legs.

"Now this is different." Essie leaned forward and kissed him again.

"Where there's a will there's a way." He pulled at her nightdress, what little there was, off.

"Feeling better?"

"Bacta works quickly in some injuries."

"Glad I called Jab." She closed her eyes as Maze's hands squeezed her backside sending a frisson of arousal through her, then his hand moved up her back. It was as if ectricity coursed through her.

"Shhh!" Hissed Maze; he pulled her closer, kissing her like there no tomorrow, as her legs reached behind him. He reached between where they joined, watching her face. She ground against him, she had not expected this with his injuries.

He lifted her onto him.

They stayed still, adjusting until Maze moved, pushing upwards with his hips, as his lips moved across her breasts. Essie held onto his shoulders, grinding against him when she could but mainly letting Maze do all the work as she clung on.

.

ARCA Barracks

503 days ABG

Everyone assumed the General ignored the casualty figures Maze supplied every day. Even if there were no casualties, then you could see the hint of relief on his face for a few seconds before it was back to business.

Maze appreciated that.

This was different. The General suspected something. One minute RC-8015 was there, albeit in a coma and destined for termination, which left a bad taste in Maze's mouth—then he was gone. Off the database. Zey smelt a rat and that rat was Skirata. He wanted to see him right now.

He wanted an explanation.

Maze sent the summons.

Skirata was fuming, Maze saw that, but he was coming and on time, no prevarication; he was relishing this. Maze saw him, his limp was still there, if not more pronounced but it was not affecting him at all, no wince, no hiss of breath to hide the pain.

He was raging mad.

Maze tensed. Ordo followed obediently behind, just as tense. Something had happened.

He listened to Skirata, really listened and then a thought hit him. If he was injured, like RC-8015, so badly that his treatment would be withdrawn, as it was uneconomical to treat him. Would he be left to die? He wasn't afraid of death but he was afraid of what it would do to Essie and Del.

He clenched his fist. He was getting angry.

He picked up the conversation.

Zey and Skirata were still going at it.

Both men were angry, he stood watching the argument between them; it had been a long time coming. Zey had lost control of Skirata early and there was no regaining it, even if he still needed him.

If Skirata stayed it would be on his own terms.

Maze didn't like that, it wasn't right, it had never been right.

Zey cared about the clones under his command, in his own way, in a pragmatic way, not an emotional way like Skirata but the losses still affected him.

Maze watched, as Skirata dropped an ID tally into the General's hand; it meant nothing, 8015's body could be anywhere but he wasn't sure why Zey was so intent on getting it back, it would prove nothing. There were thousands of clone bodies out there now.

Ordo stood looking almost proud of Skirata and at this moment; he and Ordo locked eyes.

It was understood, if they had to intervene they would but it would mean nothing.

Then Skirata dropped the bombshell.

"And I don't mean with the aid of one of your covert ops death squads, either."

Maze watched as Zey stared at Skirata.

"Is there something you want to tell me, Sergeant?"

"Either you know, or you need to know, that ARC troopers who get out of line end up executed, and I have proof that at least one was targeted by our own covert ops troops."

Maze was fixed on Zey's face, he had worked with the man long enough to know that look —Zey didn't know a thing about it and now he saw an angry man whose face showed a dawning realisation of what was happening under his own nose.

"I know nothing of this."

"Then it's about time," Skirata said, "that you Jedi took your heads out of your shebse, stopped contemplating your midi-chlorians, and did a reality check."

Skirata went over the same old story…"We told you we should be concentrating forces on a few main theatres, cleaning up before moving on, and not scattering forces so we never quite have the strength to root out the enemy. Again, nothing changed. None of this is wining the war. It's just keeping it going."

All Maze heard was that covert ops troopers were taking out ARCs who stepped out of line, that was until Zey snapped.

Zey suddenly slapped both hands on his desk, an ordinary man at the limit of his endurance now, not a Jedi. Ordo didn't flinch neither did Maze.

"Skirata, the Jedi command doesn't run this war!" Zey roared. "The politicians do, and the Chancellor says this is how we fight. End of story."

"Doesn't that scare the osik out of you?"

"Of course it does. What do you think we are, idiots? But I've learned that's how wars always work—politicians don't listen to the military, everyone lies wildly about their assets, and there are never enough troops to go around. Maybe Mandalorians live in a different reality."

Covert Ops Death squads — the phrase reverberated around Maze's brain. He was never going to get out of this war alive, even if he wanted to do something different. Even if he made plans. There was no thanks for old soldiers, especially ones like him, specially trained, dangerous. Maybe the Kaminoans were right after all— the Alpha's shouldn't have come out of stasis.

Is that what happened to Ne'tra?

Was he taken out by a brother?

Had he wanted more and tried to take it?

Maze would never know; one thing he did know was, the Death Squads left no survivors and no trail leading to them. There would be collateral damage, that was ordered and agreed.

As Skirata and Ordo left, Zey got straight on the com.

Maze strode after Ordo.

"Captain, a word."

Skirata looked at Ordo who nodded, and Skirata walked around the corner, leaving the two ARCs to discuss whatever ARCs discussed.

"Agent Wennen…"

"Yes Captain."

"We….clones…..don't often get the chance." There was a great deal left unsaid but a great deal understood.

"I could give you the same advice Captain."

"I'm already making plans. So much for the Chancellor's promise."

Ordo raised an eyebrow.

"Soldiers of the Grand Army, in honour of your courage and service in the fight against oppression, you shall want for nothing, and become instructors of the next generation of young men to defend the Republic."

"Politics." Ordo said, offering him a piece of Ruik root.

Maze nodded and took a piece, pushing it straight into his mouth and chewing.

Ordo couldn't quite find it in himself to feel sorry, he knew of the people concerned but they definitely were not part of who he counted as his family and Maze was taking care of it. He wouldn't interfere, it was the best he could do at the moment. He needed to look after Kal'buir.

"Captain." He acknowledged him.

Ordo walked down the corridor to his father debating whether he ought to tell him about Maze and his family because that was the images that Mereel's little covert op had produced, and what his subsequent investigation had uncovered.

The trouble was he knew Buir; he would do anything for clones and children. He decided against telling him. They didn't know these people and didn't know when they were going to bug out but it could be sooner rather than later. He didn't want anything to upset their preparations and there was something he had to ask Besany.

.

General Zey's office

The General was pacing up and down his office, when Maze returned.

"I've scheduled a meeting with Camas and then if I get nothing from him, I need to talk to Isard about these covert ops troopers, who's in charge of them where their orders come from.

"Maze, find out who knew about Sull," He paused, "and any other unexplained losses in ARC's we've had.

"Yes sir!"

Although he had been distracted by the revelation of the death squads, he heard everything that was said including, the half implication that there were reinforcements being made. Skirata said —'you have plenty of assets, actually' —then the General cut him off. Maze wondered what Skirata meant by that. It was an odd thing to say. He knew as much about the GAR's current strength as anyone. He walked down to the Ops room to check on the Sull file.

.

Maze pinched the bridge of his nose; he had been going through file after file, regarding Sull and he could see no leaks; he also cross referenced it with everything he knew about Ne'tra's disappearance but it resulted in nothing. Still, Skirata's comment about the assets kept coming to the fore. They were still producing clones on Kamino but they weren't coming through fast enough and they were being put in the field younger and younger. But the way Skirata said it, it was as if the assets were already available but being kept aside.

He shook his head, it didn't make sense but then this war didn't. He glanced at his chrono; he'd promised to meet Essie at the gym. He closed his datapad, he would just check on the squads then leave.

.

The Ops room was still full, Zey didn't need him but Maze still wanted updates.

Yayax- Felucia.

Ion - Saleucomi.

Delta – still on special assignment.

He wasn't sure exactly where Jusik was so he was keeping well out of that.

Same with General Tur Mukan.

Omega – training up with Corr.

His neck was stiff and he really needed a workout. He'd come back to this tomorrow.

.