The Club

890 days ABG

"I thought there was only 79's that catered for Clones." Said Essie as Stone led her down the winding stairs to The Club. She had never heard of this place.

"This opened shortly after."

She held onto his arm tighter, he'd said dress up, it's a club. So she had the high heels on; Not the best for walking down tight, winding staircases.

They emerged into a dimly lit room, with tables and soft chairs around them. A bar with stools but nothing like 79's.

"This is …."

"Yeah. There's a dance room and bar through there. More like 79's."

She could just hear the reverberating sounds of music as the door opened to let in two clones but in here there was soft background music. They walked to the polished wooden bar.

"What do you want to drink?"

"Nubian Gin, please."

Stone looked at her eyebrow raised.

"I'm not at work tomorrow and Del is with Sol and Nat tonight."

"So your place is free now?"

She nodded as she picked up the gin from the bar.

Stone guided her to a seat, hand placed in the small of her back.

"So how did this come into being?" She asked, looking around, before taking a sip of the gin, it was a good one.

"If any of the Guard go into 79's, it can cause problems, so Fox thought it would be better if we had somewhere where we could relax. He found this. It was an almost derelict Old Republic Naval Officers Club. Then Code….Marshal Commander Cody got involved, and Generals Kenobi and Plo Koon added their weight to the request and the GAR supplied the funds to do it up because they basically owned the place."

His arm slid around her shoulder.

"I like what you're wearing tonight." He whispered, she could feel his breath on her neck.

"Thank you."

"Although it would look better in red."

She had made an effort, but was unsure what to wear because he had been so vague as to where they were going again.

"I wish you would tell me exactly where we're going sometimes."

"I like to surprise you."

"Well you do— continually."

"Good!"

She looked around again, unable to reconcile her surroundings with the clones and what she knew of their brotherhood.

"Isn't it a little…elitist?"

Stone looked a little uncomfortable at being accused of that, then his eyes flicked towards the stairs.

More clones came down; she realised that they could see everyone who entered from their seat. The perfect vantage point.

Despite them all being in their dress greys they all looked different, as the three men walked down the steps, Stone stood up; they changed direction, and walked over. One waved him back down, after clasping his forearm; Essie noticed a smattering of grey at his temples and deep frown marks, despite his young age.

"Commanders Fox, Cody and Wolffe." Stone introduced them, "Essie Devro."

She held out her hand. Commanders Fox and Cody both shook it firmly. She had the distinct feeling she was under scrutiny especially from Fox. She knew he was Stone's immediate superior.

"Ms Devro, Essie."

She turned to the voice.

"Commander Wolffe!" She made to rise but he waved her down and sat next to her, looking around before he did so.

"How are you?" She asked, it had been months since the incident in the Boiler Room and so much had happened since then.

"Good, considering."

A small smile broke through on the otherwise stern face. He looked around. "Is the Captain here?"

"No!" It came out harsher than she meant.

"Oh."

"It's not what you think." Suddenly feeling the need to explain herself; she didn't want him to think she was someone who used his brothers.

That was a little too close to home.

"It's none of my business." He said, the smile fading as he looked to the stairs.

"Stone tells me this is your drink of choice." Fox sat down next to Wolffe and slung an arm across his shoulder. "Has Wolffe been keeping you entertained?"

She took a sip and nodded, as Stone resumed his place next to her.

"I never imagined anything like this."

"It's something else isn't it?" He looked around. "And we have some visitors coming soon."

"Visitors?"

"Yes, they'll be here in a few minutes."

As Essie took another sip, an uneasy feeling swept over her. The same as when General Zey came to see her. She looked around the room. There were only clones. She shivered.

"Are you okay?" Stone asked, "You're shivering."

"I'll be fine." She looked at the figures now walking down the stairs and she knew why.

"Your hands are frozen!" said Stone as he rubbed them between his, trying to warm them up.

General Kenobi's eyes didn't even need to sweep the room he found her immediately.

"Can you sense her Plo?"

"Before we even entered Obi Wan. I sense no menace, no subterfuge, only…..fear." His deep voice reverberated.

"Yes, of us." Answered Kenobi, with hurt in his voice.

Essie watched as the Jedi walked towards her, heading straight for this table.

"Essie, are you sure you're okay?" Stone asked.

"Yes. I just need the fresher."

She slipped out from beside him and looked for a women's room.

"In the corner." Whispered Stone.

She walked quickly to it, closing the door behind her and leaning against it trying to stop the shaking. She had to get a grip on this; they couldn't do anything to her, could they?

She should not have come here.

She used the fresher, sitting there in the cubicle.

"I have to go back out there." She muttered to herself, "Stone can't know. Even Maze doesn't know."

She leaned on the wash bowl and looked in the mirror.

"But the Jedi will." She said to her reflection. Logically she knew they didn't want her now, she was too old but this fear had been ingrained in her since childhood. She must have picked up on her Mother's fears.

She breathed in, counted, held it, counted and breathed out, slowly.

It helped.

"Essie!" The door flew open, she jumped away from the sink startled.

"Are you alright? I was getting worried."

"Yes, fine. Just a little tired."

"We won't stay long then."

He looked down to her stomach, "It's not that…"

"No. We're fine. That was last week."

"But we can always find a way around that can't we?" He smirked.

Stone held her arm and walked her back to what were now two tables, pushed closer together and the Jedi sat at them. She noticed Kenobi taking a drink and grimacing, from what looked to be an alcoholic drink in front of him.

They stood as she approached, and Kenobi held his hand out.

"Pleased to meet you Ms Devra, Commander Stone has been telling us you work for Senator Skeenah?"

Essie shook it, firmly. She knew no other way.

When she was wrestling they used to psych each other up. She could cope with that.

"Yes. Researcher."

"Obi Wan is not a fan of politicians."

Master Plo's voice seemed to reverberate around her head, as he held out his hand.

"I have always found, as in all walks of life, some are better than others." She replied.

Kenobi chuckled. She wasn't expecting that.

"Are you sure you're not a politician?" He quipped.

"Oh I have no ambitions in that area." Especially at the moment, she thought.

The Club was filling up now with more officers and clones in red, coming down the stairs.

"Wolffe tells me your parents run the Tualin Oola." Plo said. "And they welcome our soldiers into their establishment?"

"Yes and have done for a long time. They were unsure of them at first but after meeting a few, including Stone here. They felt they must support them in any way they can."

"They sound like good people." Commented Kenobi.

"They are. My Dad knows Dexter Jettster, I think you also know him."

Kenobi stroked his beard, "Ah, Dexter. I am afraid I have not been able to see him as much as I would like to with the war."

"I'm sure he understands."

"Yes." Kenobi stroked his beard.

"Generals. How are the Outer Rim sieges really going?" Commander Fox asked.

The conversation moved on.

.

Jedi Temple

"The Commander is involved with Ms Devro." Commented Kenobi.

"He is. He has the chance to meet non clones that not many of our men have."

"What do you think of her?"

"I think she knows she is sensitive to the force, is untrained. Her parents probably refused us."

"You're right, Plo. And for our men, for many, all they know are the barracks and fighting."

"This just shows that they are truly men and deserve those rights we were talking about."

"Exactly, Plo. We must continue to push for that at every opportunity."

"I feel, Obi Wan, we are manipulated at every turn and have been for years. I am still uneasy about this war."

"I understand your feelings Plo but am unsure what we can do at the moment, without failing the Republic and the men who fight so brave and stoically at our side."

"In some matters, I sense there is still an innocence about some of the clones."

"Only some, Plo," Kenobi thought of Commander Stone and the woman. "Only some."

.

ARCA Barracks

Maze Quarters.

890 Days ABG

Maze reviewed his files. His conversation with Stone, months ago, had got him thinking and he investigated; he knew Skirata was planning something but didn't know exactly what it was. He thought it was desertion and knew if it was, it would not happen until the end of the war, when he could pull his 'boys' out easier. He might have some resistance getting them to actually desert in the middle of a war.

Skirata and his allies Vau, Bralor, Gilamar, Tay'haai and Jusik, wherever he was now but it was likely to be somewhere close to Skirata from his past behaviour.

That was a lot of squads and the Nulls.

Nulls were never where they were supposed to be even Ordo sometimes and they were the number one to go, together with Omega.

Lieutenants Jaing, Prudii, Kom'rk and Sergeant A'den had been easier to keep track of for the most part but Lieutenant Mereel, he was a slippery fish.

He had done surveillance on Wennen. Ordo saw her regularly every time he was on Coruscant, since the CSF club. She could also be involved and then there was Omega.

General Tur Mukan was the obvious one, then there was the waitress from that Kragget place, the young one. Clones were obviously welcome there and Omega seemed to frequent it. The older waitress had given him extra helpings, when he went and the CSF were regulars.

"Jaller Obriim" Maze muttered, "another ally and CSF."

He had used them himself.

"Funds?"

That was easy, from Skirata's work on Kamino and the Corufresh job. The money taken from the Jabiimi terrorists had disappeared and was never recovered. Then there was Mygeeto. Something had happened with Vau and the Bank there, Delta hadn't managed to cover that up totally.

Maze had to admit a lot of this was conjecture.

They were accomplished at covering their tracks, he would give them that. But they had years to perfect it.

"Years?" Maze said to himself, "He couldn't be, could he?"

He looked through his notes.

"Reversing the advanced aging. Was that Skirata's plan?"

If it was, it was ambitious.

No nothing to indicate that. It would need a Kaminoan or at least their research but there had been one go missing. Delta were on that. He put it on his list of things to check and went back to the question of desertion.

"Where would they go and be safe?"

There were any number of planets in the outer rim but some were ungovernable and the risk of being informed on. There was only one place for Skirata - Mandalore.

Maze leaned back.

There was nothing concrete of course, the Nulls would have made sure of that. But it made sense to Maze.

.

Essie's Apartment

Later that night.

She input the code and let them in, the lights coming on dim. Stone looked around.

"Does it pass?" She asked.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her back into him.

"Anywhere passes with you there."

She laughed as his arms wrapped around her.

"What's funny?"

"You are. You said this was for fun only and having a laugh is part of the fun, okay?"

His smile dropped for a second.

"Too right." He held her close to him and gently pulled the straps of her dress down with one finger, dragging his lips down her neck to follow one down her shoulder. She let him take control but he didn't pull her to the bedroom, he headed into the lounge and backed her towards her desk. She could feel him pressed against her, already aroused. His hands had reached the fastening on her dress, he pulled it down, slowly, his hand finishing on her backside. The dress followed, sliding slowly to pool at her feet.

"Now these are the right colour." His brushed the deep red lace of her bra. He was being much more attentive.

She pulled at his belt, then his trousers, pulling them open. He stopped her, as his own hand slid down the front of her matching briefs. He was rewarded with a stifled moan, as he pushed inside her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against him.

Their kissing became more heated until he pulled away, undoing his jacket and throwing it to one side; her arms returned to his neck and he pushed her onto the desk, pulling her briefs off her.

Essie frowned as she watched him drop to his knees and his hands slide up the inside of her thighs, one reaching further to a breast, then her head hit the wall in response to his actions. She gripped the edge of the desk unable to move, as wave after wave of pleasure built up, while he held her there, until she finally cried out.

Pulling her off the desk Stone removed his trousers before sitting in the chair. Essie straddled his knees, as he ground up against her.

"What do you think?" He asked, bouncing slightly in the chair, his hands running down her back to rest on her backside.

"We can try."

"This is what I like about you. Game for anything." He captured her breast, with his moth sucking hard before pulling her down into a kiss. His tongue forcing its way in. This was the Stone she was used to, intent on finding release

"Ready?"

She nodded and lifted herself up before sinking down on him. They sat for a few seconds until she ground against him. Stone couldn't prevent a grunt escaping as she moved slowly, he moved with her finding the best rhythm for them both. She gripped his shoulders, as they moved in unison, the pleasure building for both of them

"Essie, I need to…," he bucked upwards, hitting deeper than before, gripping her hips, he pushed her down onto him as he built up speed; she cried out as he continued, holding onto him until he finally grunted, as he found his release.

They sat quietly, the lights and passing speeders from the city painting an intricate backdrop to their bodies.

"Kriff Essie!— I've never known anyone like you." Stone whispered into her ear, as he regained his breath.

She stared out into the night unable to respond.

.

ARCA Barracks

891 days ABG

Maze sat in his office reviewing the expenditure on supplies and logistics. He lifted his caf mug and sipped, grimacing when the sour cold beverage hit his taste buds.

He rolled his shoulders, trying to relieve the tension; he needed a rest from this. He looked at his armour plates. His body suit was like a second skin but the armour plates, although they made him feel secure, they could rub in places where they had no right to.

An image of Essie came to mind; he wasn't sure why now. He rubbed his neck as he left his office, his armour stacked neatly against the wall. Technically, he supposed he was out of uniform but there wouldn't be many senior officers around at this time, if any.

He walked along the corridor towards the Mess Hall. He wasn't going to bother with that Instacaf stuff; he needed something stronger. He knew Jab was in sick bay, so he avoided that corridor and took the long way round.

.

Alina Loea was still in the barracks, way past her end of shift. She had decided she needed to take direct action with Captain Maze; he was intriguing. Lieutenant Mereel was fascinating but there was no depth to him. There was, she decided, a lot more to Captain Maze than met the eye and what did was good to look at. In fact all the clones were easy on the eye; the Barracks should have been over run with females.

She didn't tell any of her friends that.

Checking his schedule, he was on base tonight; she went in search of him. A plan was forming.

.

"So, how long have you been off Kamino?" Jab asked the three rookie medics he was mentoring for a few days, pending their assignments. They looked younger everyday.

"One day sir. We came straight here." The one who had appointed himself spokesman answered. There was always one. Jab had been the one in his batch. He didn't suppose they had medic batches anymore and was surprised they even trained medics.

"I'll just give you a quick run down of the Barracks. Same layout as any of the others, except the Parade ground. So once you know one, you know them all."

They listened intently, as he pointed out the various rooms.

He turned into the next corridor; eventually they would end up at the Mess Hall and hopefully they would bypass Maze. He knew he was around, he just didn't want him frightening the shinies on their first day. The Nulls were bad enough but they weren't around most of the time and several of them were amenable.

"So along this corridor are mainly supplies, consumables for every eventuality."

"Do you have a Jedi?" Asked the spokesman. He was just beginning to recognise their distinctions.

"General Zey is in charge of SOB and he has an Aide, A-26, Captain Maze."

"An Alpha?"

Jab sighed, he heard the awe in the shinie's voice.

"He is."

He pointed to the next door.

"Now this has all the replacement parts for the Bacta tanks. Unless it's totally malfunctioning, in which case you call Procurement to check it. It's usually a filter or something that needs replacing. The maintenance droid does that."

"We never saw any of the Alpha's on Kamino, we were too late. Saw some cross trained ARC's. They were…"

"awesome." Finished one of the others.

Jab rolled his eyes.

"Maze's got a bloody fan club." He muttered, under his breath.

He returned to his subject.

"We'll stock up the med bay while we're here. We need more Bacta patches mainly due to the increasing number of training accidents inflicted by Sergeant Vau."

"Not the Sergeant Vau?" Asked shiny number three. They were coming out of their shells, quicker than you could say Skywalker.

"What do you know about Sergeant Vau."

"Just what we've heard sir. He's got an animal that eats Kaminoans."

Jab rolled his eyes again. If they were here much longer he'd develop a squint.

"There aren't any Kaminoans around here."

"But the animal….."

"It's a Strill and will only eat you, if he tells it to. Now the restocking…."

In his peripheral vision, he saw them glancing uneasily at each other,

He attempted to open the door, it didn't move but he heard movement inside.

"Shh!" Jab raised his fore finger.

The shinies went quiet. There were noises being emitted from the said supply room. Unusual noises. Feminine noises. Scuffles, bangs and scrapes.

He heard one of the shinies whisper, "It's a woman." With almost the same awe as he said Alpha.

Lieutenant Mereel was off-world, so it wasn't him. Jab mentally ran through who was left. His eyes widened then he closed them.

Then there was a regular rhythm of bumps against the door.

"Oh Captain!" A female said, Jab recognised that voice, "you've kept that well hidden." And it wasn't Essie.

"Change of plan. We'll get some caf from the mess hall." He ushered them away from the room.

"Bloody Maze!" He muttered under his breath again.

.