ARCA Barracks

893 days ABG

Maze strode towards the Medbay; he was delivering again. Nat and Sol still sent pastries for Jab, although he had told them to send less. There were never many clones around anymore.

He felt like a spare part.

He stared around the room; it was neat and tidy, as ever but no Jab. He put the box of pastries on the table and turned. His face met a very hard armoured fist, which knocked him backwards. This was followed up by Jab, shouldering him to the wall and pulling back to punch him again.

Maze pushed him away by the shoulders.

"What the fuck?"

Jab's fist made contact with his face again; Maze tasted blood in his mouth. He'd had enough of this.

"Corporal! You'll be up on charges!"

Jab ignored him and went for a head butt but Maze moved just in time which sent Jab off balance but he corrected himself sufficiently to elbow Maze on the jaw.

He finally gained control of the situation, twisting Jab around by the arm and pushing him face first into the wall, pinning him there. Part of him didn't care if the medic had a broken nose or not; they had tangled before. He should know better. Both men were breathing hard just from this short bout. Maze spit a globule of bloody saliva on the floor.

"What's this about?"

The medic growled before finally replying.

"The other night. Store room. Essie deserves better."

Maze understood, "It wasn't Essie."

"I know that."Jab spat out, "It was that Support Officer. But Essie deserves some loyalty. Clones are loyal."

"Essie's moved on." Maze replied, the rumour mill had been rife about Commander Stone.

"Not from what I can see. She still looks for you. Freyu says she still talks about you. She's not the same."

Maze released him. "Then she should move on. And Support Officer Loea is none of your business."

"If you say so. What charges am I on Captain." Jab stood to attention, on being released, staring straight ahead, blood running slowly from his nose.

"Don't push it!"

"No sir!"

Maze turned to leave and then turned back.

"I….appreciate you looking out for her but it's better I keep away from her— both of them."

"If you don't mind me saying, Sir, that's a load of Osik, to use Sergeant Skirata's favourite phrase."

"I made my decision."

"And have you moved on? With Support Officer Loea?"

"That was a mistake."

"Yes sir!" He still stood to attention, face forward, no expression.

Maze stood, "If you want to spar any time just let me know."

"Sir I wasn't called Jab just because of how I stuck needles."

Maze nodded and rubbed his jaw. "Dismiss!"

Jab came to attention again as Maze left the room.

.

Senate Administration Building

902 days ABG

"You up for some Sabacc tonight?" Rik shouted from the kitchen area.

"No not tonight."

"Got a date?"

"Only with my son."

Rik gave her an odd look, "Not seen Commander Stone around recently."

"I think he's been on some missions. We're just friends."

"With benefits." He retorted.

"It was never serious and my son wants me to teach him how to play Dejarik and he comes first."

If Stone wanted to meet he would have commed me by now.

"Can you play?"

"Of course!"

"You should have said, Den loves a good game of Dejarik. Next time,"

He pointed at her.

She laughed before replying, "Next time. My place and dinner for the two of you. If you can put up with Del."

"I'm sure we'll manage that. Now go get your son and enjoy your evening."

"I will!" She waved, as she left the office.

.

Essie's Apartment

"Yeah!" Her son screeched and punched the air as his last piece devoured hers on the Dejarik holoboard. He was nearly three and he beat her. How did he manage that?

"Well! You're too good at this game for me." She said.

Del sniggered, holding his hand in front of his mouth.

"You're not as angry as grandad said you would be."

"Why would I be angry?"

"He said you didn't like to lose."

Nat was right.

'And when did he say that?" She carefully packed the board away.

"When he was teaching me how to play."

"So Grandad's already taught you?"

"Yep! And you didn't guess," he danced a little circle.

She hadn't. She hadn't sensed anything either.

"I only get angry when I lose to someone else. If you beat me I'm never going to be angry. Just proud."

He flung his arms around her knocking his bowl of jelsweet treats off the table.

"Love you Mammy!"

She smiled unsure where he had got that expression from. She blinked back the tears, as she picked up the jelsweets, while he ran to the shower.

.

Later that night.

Essie pulled herself from the deep sleep she was in or rather the door chime did. She blinked, turned over and focused on the chrono.

01:32.

Someone was banging now and shouting.

She dragged herself from her bed, hoping they had not woken Del; their Dejarik game had gone on longer than she meant it to and it had been way past his bedtime. He was not very nice in the morning if he didn't have enough sleep. He took after her.

She looked through the peephole.

"Stone?"

She quickly unlocked and opened the door and seeing one of the new neighbours, peering out, she smiled before Stone pushed his way in carrying a bottle. He nearly stumbled. She locked the door.

"Shhh!" She hissed.

"Ooh, Del. Sorry." He put his finger to his mouth, as he teetered on the balls of his feet.

"You're drunk!" She didn't know what else to say.

"Yeah! Couldn't get any spice."

He slumped on the settee and tried to drink some more out of the bottle.

"Just come to see my favourite girl."

The bottle was sliding out of his hand and she took it off him; it was empty.

"I'll get you some caf." She would have offered him some food but wasn't sure if that would mean a mess later.

He lunged towards her, "I need my girl."

She backed away, saying, "When you're sober!" She pushed him back; it didn't take much to move him.

"Need fresher!" He lurched off, swaying, in the direction of the fresher.

She walked into the kitchen wondering what caused this. She didn't think it was her; they had parted as normal last time saying he was going to call as he usually did but he hadn't. She tried to think about what happened recently. Putting the caf on to brew, she heard the unmistakable sound of vomiting. She poured a glass of water ready for him and waited, sitting on the settee.

Finally he came out, his face flushed.

"Come here!" She ordered him.

He sat next to her.

"Sorry."

"Here!" She produced the glass of water.

He frowned at the glass pushed at him.

"It's water. It'll help."

He took some sips.

"So….this is not like you. And spice? What possessed you to want that?" She asked, trying to remain calm. "What's happened?"

He looked stricken, "I should have been there on Scipio."

"Scipio? What's Scipio got to do with it? I assumed when you didn't call, you were on a mission."

She didn't ask why he hadn't called if he wasn't on a mission. She felt she had no right to ask.

"Thorn went for me instead."

"Thorn? What does this have to do with him?"

She could feel that he had everything to do with this.

"He took my place. I'd been on one mission after another. Including starting the investigation on the bomb attack on the Jedi Temple, until Skywalker and Tano took over. Then everything else that happened with Tano and then Offee."

Essie had heard about that; they couldn't really miss it. Another Jedi supposedly gone rogue and she stood trial was found not guilty and had been set up by another Jedi.

Stone had been involved in all that.

"There was a problem on Scipio. He was escorting Amidala. They were ambushed and the whole squad killed. But I should have been there. It was my mission to escort her, not his."

"I'm so sorry." She didn't know what to say and pulled him to her. He laid his head on her shoulder; her hand went to his cheek. This was not normally something he did.

This felt too close but she couldn't stop herself.

"I'm sorry Stone but it's not your fault. You didn't shoot him."

"I mentored him. He was younger than me. A younger brother."

He laid his head back on her shoulder.

"We were close."

He went quiet and Essie let him lie there; he needed this.

"I never asked." Said Stone, "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

She shook her head. "No."

She had always wanted one.

"He was always there for me. Even helped me get you."

"I thought as much." She smiled at that memory. She knew something was happening between the two clones.

"The squad was overwhelmed." He continued, "So many droids. They knew he was there, with just a small squad. They stood no chance."

He laid his head back down.

"I wanted to forget, stop the pain. That's what spice does, isn't it."

"For a time, as I understand."

"I was angry with him, for going… and with myself for letting him."

"That's normal. I was angry with my parents when they died."

"I didn't know. I…."

"It was a long time ago. I was a child."

"Oh."

"Do you want to stay tonight?"

Stone nodded.

"Do you want something to sleep in?"

"No. I'm fine."

She led him to her bed and watched as he slowly undressed, then lay down.

"Do you need anything else?"

"No."

She joined him, lying on her back looking at the ceiling; she could hear him breathing but she didn't think he was asleep.

"Essie?" His voice came out of nowhere, still slightly slurred.

"Yes." She answered, not in the mood for anything.

"Can I hold you? Just hold you?"

"Of course."

She let him slide his arms around her and rest his head on her chest.

"This is nice. Thank you."

After a few minutes she realised he was finally asleep. She stroked his shaved head, the bristles were coming through. She kissed it before letting her eyes close.

.

"Fuck!" She heard a clone voice shout.

Her eyes shot wide open.

"What the fuck is this kriffing stuff?" It continued just as loud.

It was coming from the fresher, she jumped out of bed and rushed in, throwing open the door to see Stone covered in soapy bubbles and holding his cock, delicately.

"Do I want to know what you're doing?" She asked apprehensively.

"I was having a shower. Didn't want to wake you and thought this was soap."

He held up a bottle of bright green shower gel.

"It's kriffing lethal!" He said.

"It's an extract of Cassius Tea Tree Oil and Menthe. I use it when I've been training. It's good for muscles. It says to keep away from intimate areas."

She wanted to smile.

Stone glared at it again.

"Did it sting?" She asked, as he turned to stand under the running water again.

"You know it kriffing did!" He retorted, letting the water run over him, he paused, "You could always get in and rub it better." He smirked.

"Not this morning." She replied, tempting as it usually was, as she closed the door behind her.

It was early, Del was still asleep and she used the time Stone was showering to brew some caf and heat up a breakfast savoury pastry for him.

She turned to find him coming into the kitchen.

"Here!" She pushed the caf and pastry to him, "sit and eat. It'll help, although you do look better than you did last night.

"Thanks." He said as he sat at the table. He carefully ate the pastry and drank his caf, watching her, as she prepared breakfast for Del, ready for when he woke up.

"This would be nice."

She continued her preparations.

"Doing this more often." He finished.

She stopped wiping the counter top for a split second but didn't answer and he didn't push it.

Stone drained his mug, "I need to go."

"Yes." She nodded.

He stood and moved next to her, "Last night….Thank you."

"It's.."

"No, I appreciate it. I'm not normally like that ...but ….I'm not explaining this well."

"That's okay."

"I had to be there for everyone else who knew Thorn but then…."

"Then—There was no one for you." she answered for him.

He nodded. He pulled her into a kiss. It was different.

"Thank you." He walked out of the door, closing it carefully behind him.

Stone reached the end of the corridor, and stood for a few seconds before looking back at the door.

"This has to stop." he murmured. "Bye Essie."

He was getting too fond of her and that would not do. He jammed his helmet on and headed out into the Coruscant morning.

Essie closed her eyes and leant back against the closed door. This has to stop, she thought, I'm getting too fond of him and that won't do. It was only going to be for fun.

She fetched her Com; she always left it to him to contact her; scrolling through the contacts she blocked and deleted him.

There was no temptation now.

She looked up to find Del standing at his bedroom door, watching her, clone toy in hand.

"Are you ready for breakfast?" She said brightly.

.

Senate Administrative Building

Den Skeenah's Office.

920 days ABG

This was the first time she had been excluded from one of his meetings, every other time she had accompanied him but this one was different. She felt his apprehension. The list of attendees gave an indication, these were all high level Senators of Core Worlds, members of the Security Council - Organa, Amidala, Mothma, the big three and others. Even Rik couldn't attend.

"Essie?"

"Yes?"

"Den's going to over run with the Security Council. Can you attend this one for him?"

An invitation pinged on her datapad. She checked it.

"Yes of course."

Rik came out of his office, "I thought it may be appropriate considering your choice in boyfriends."

Her stomach dropped from a non-existent great height.

"Commander Stone! He was always coming around and Brad said what he'd done for him at your behest. He asked what were the best sweets to get Del. I told him the red Jelsweets."

"He was just a …."

"Friend." Rik butted in, "I know, you can't say anymore. There's nothing in their regulations against it but you don't want to tempt fate. Eh?"

She nodded.

"So go and argue your case." He urged her.

"The Senator's case." she confirmed, as she looked at the invitation. She slung her bag over her shoulder and set off to the Senate meeting rooms.

.

Senate Committee Room. A/423

Essie gave her credentials to the Admin Droid and was directed to a seat. She could see a few Senators milling around obtaining their drinks. She walked around; there was still a few minutes until it officially started but people were already talking, sounding out how the others felt.

She sipped the juice she had chosen and looked around. It felt a little overwhelming; there were a lot of emotions flying around regarding the clones, it was already giving her a headache.

She whipped her head around as she felt hatred emanating from one part but she couldn't place exactly who from.

There was entitled indifference from another and she placed that well and truly at the feet of the Kaminoan; they were unsure why they were even attending this.

Then she felt something she recognised.

She turned to see a tiny Pantoran talking to one of the Coruscant Guards, it may even have been Commander Fox but then he excused himself from the room. The Pantoran's eyes followed him out, their fingers lingering together for the longest second. Essie felt herself watching them over the top of her glass, as she drank the juice draining the glass. She turned away.

So that's Riyo Chuchi, thought Essie, the Heroine of Pantora. She had researched all the delegates to this Committee for Den, when he had been pushing hard for one to be set up and now he had been delayed by another meeting, something that the Chancellor had put him forward for, to do with refugees. It's not that she didn't think the refugees were important, it was just odd that it would be the same people manning both committees or their representatives and they clashed.

Essie checked off the names on her mental list. Yes there were a few missing.

Funnily enough the ones opposing Clone Rights were all here.

She was just getting more cynical the older she got.

There was a crash followed by the tinkling of broken glass.

All heads turned towards the disruption, the conversations stopped.

"Senator Binks." She murmured, "Even Senator Amidala couldn't get away."

She looked around for Organa, No he wasn't there. A young woman in a business suit was attending on his behalf. Everyone seemed to be ignoring the Gungan, she headed over to him, drawn to him.

"Senator Binks." Her voice mingled with that of the Pantoran standing next to her. They looked at each other.

"You first, please?" Essie said, deferring to the Pantoran Representative.

Essie waved over a cleaning droid, it fussed as it swept up the mess. She was a little bit superfluous now but Stone had told about a mission he had been on with the Representative and he had nothing but praise for him. He was clumsy certainly but he had been around a long time now since the Battle of Naboo. And he always praised and defended the clones.

He could be a useful ally.

The Representative of Naboo whipped around to face her, she ducked to avoid his ears.

"Me'sa Jar Jar, and you'sa?" He held out his hand.

"Essie Devro, Den Skeenah's representative. He was delayed."

"Ah. So wasa Padme. So's me'sa here."

"Let's sit."

The Pantoran Senator ushered them to some seats; it would appear the table was divided, intentionally or not. Probably intentionally, thought Essie.

"I'm Riyo." The Senator introduced herself as they took their seats.

"Essie Devro. For Den Skeenah."

"I heard the information he submitted to the committee is very thorough and in parts worrying."

"Yes. It's a pity there aren't more big guns here for our side." Essie commented looking around the table again, "No offence meant."

"None taken but I know what you mean."

The Senator looked over at the Intergalactic Banking Clan, Trade Federation, Umbaran and Kaminoan representatives all lined up opposite them. They had sent their big guns.

The chair next to Essie jostled her as Jar Jar took his seat, apologising profusely.

"It's okay Jar Jar."

Essie knew he wasn't everyone's cup of tea but if he supported clone rights, he was okay by her.

The droid chairman opened the meeting.

"Senators and Representatives…"

.

Three hours later Essie was ready to kill someone and first on the list was the Kaminoan. As the Senator from Kamino, Burtoni argued strongly that the clones were products and it was simply the Jedi, who did not know how to use them.

Both Essie and Senator Chuchi put forward examples of the clones sentience, citing various examples including adaptability and brotherhood.

At one point she was certain Burtoni made veiled threats against the Pantoran Senator, who stood her ground. Essie wanted to applaud her by the end of the meeting.

The Meeting dispersed and as they stood outside, Essie felt they were being watched; she looked around to see Commander Fox standing watching them.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Senator. Even though we didn't seem to achieve anything today."

"Oh I don't know. We have another meeting lined up. Will you be attending?"

"I don't know, I would like to, if only to see what the Kaminoan comes back with on this 'reconditioning' issue and the continued production of clones, as they put it." She shuddered saying the words, "But this is Den's baby. And I am only his researcher."

The Senator nodded.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Essie. And call me Riyo."

"I must go now, good bye."

Essie walked towards the Administrative building but couldn't resist a glance back to see the Senator walking with Commander Fox.

She smiled and decided she was going to kick hell out of the punch bag at the gym, after pinning an image of the Kaminoan on it.