Maze scooped up Del, turning him away from the barrier, he shouldn't see this.
Maze closed his eyes; he'd failed.
He held the boy tight and felt Stone come up behind him.
"What the fuck happened?" He looked at the crumpled railing.
"Perrive clasped a binder on her. She was attached to him; it was her weak shoulder from the stabbing. Then the railing….."
Stone looked at the railing. "Metal fatigue. How did he manage to get a binder on her?"
"I don't bloody know." snapped Maze, holding Del away from the railing still. She was in my line of sight. Dropped. I took the shot then…"
"You got the bastard. I saw it! It was a good shot."
"Yeah! Doesn't make me feel any better."
Stone looked over the edge and smiled.
"Perhaps that does."
He turned Maze to the broken railing.
Maze looked over. "Kriff!" He grinned. It was the best sight he'd seen in a long, long time. "Look Del!"
He leaned a bit further with the boy.
Stone watched them for a few seconds and walked away.
.
A few minutes earlier,
"Arligan. I do not like how this is going. There's something inherently dark about Perrive. Dooku met with his faction on Jabiim. That's why I was there. But this man, he spent a lot of time with Dooku, alone."
They watched from their hideout, on a higher level.
"So you think he is…." He tried to find the correct word from his old learning. "a Sith Acolyte or Cultist. It's been known before. This Sith Lord cannot be acting alone."
"That's my guess but I have no proof and nothing to take to the Council. Only my feelings which they would say were compromised because of Family."
"But why here?" Zey asked, "It makes no sense and I too have a bad feeling about this. We need to get below them. Just in case."
Janyne looked at her old friend, more than old friend. They were still good together.
"I agree." She pointed, "Down there!"
Zey had already set off.
They were almost there when they heard the Verpine shot ring out; Zey force leapt ahead. He had not done that in a couple of years and it felt good, despite being out of practise.
Facing each other they looked up. Somehow Perrive was just dangling.
"He's dead!" Janyne had felt the loss of life.
"Yes but.."
"No! She's still there but he's attached to her! We have to be ready in case." Janyne positioned herself opposite him and looked up, silent for a few seconds.
"You ready?"
He nodded, "Just like old times!"
"I hope so." She said, voice low.
An ominous cracking rang out.
"She's falling!" Janyne stated the obvious.
The two Jedi held their hands up, summoning the Force together, they projected towards the plummeting bodies.
Sweat broke out on Zey's brow; he hadn't done this in a long time and it was taking it out of him. He glanced at Janyne, she seemed as strong as ever and finally the two bodies slowed. Working together the two Jedi gently laid them on the walkway.
.
Essie felt the air rushing past her, taking it from her lungs, then it slowed, as if time itself was slowing. She could breathe again and thought she would have hit the bottom by now.
She felt too calm. Perhaps she was already dead or nearly.
She floated gently onto solid ground.
The binder popped open and dropped from her wrist.
She opened her eyes. Her back was wet and her shoulder hurt. She most definitely wasn't dead.
"Are you alright?" It was her Aunt's voice.
She sat up right.
"Er, yes." She rubbed her shoulder, unsure if she had dislocated it. It was sore but she could still move it, "What just happened?"
"Me and Zey. We work together well. Always have done. Perhaps I should ask for a transfer to SOB?" She quipped.
Zey grunted, but it didn't sound negative.
Zey checked Perrive as Janyne talked to Essie. The man was dead, Verpine projectile between the eyes, another Separatist removed. He undid the binders and watched as Janyne hugged her niece properly for the first time since she was born.
It was at times like this that he questioned the rule on attachment. It wasn't for everyone.
He looked up to see Commander Stone and Captain Maze looking down.
Captain Maze was grinning.
Del was waving.
That was the best scene he had seen in a long time.
.
Essie leaned into her aunt's arms; it felt so right.
"I'm sorry for earlier."
She felt her aunt's hand cradling her head. "It's understandable. But you've got him back now. And that Captain. Don't lose him either."
She didn't want to but she feared that may be too late.
"Lets go get your son."
.
They reached the upper level, Essie could see Del safe with Maze, who popped her son on the ground and they ran to each other.
She swung him up in the air, his arms around her neck; she was not letting him go. The years ran down her face, she had never felt relief such as this.
The next hour was a chaos of activity.
Jab examined Del pronouncing him fit and well despite his ordeal. He clung to his mother, and she to him, not releasing each other until Jab gently told him he needed to 'make her arm better,' then he reluctantly let go and stood next to her watching Jab closely.
The Coruscant Guard took away Perrive's body and completed a forensic clean up. There were a few around who looked as if they were from the Jedi Temple, talking to Zey and Janyne.
Then Maze spotted familiar armour out of the corner of his eye. He stormed over and pushed the clone back into the shadows.
"What the fuck are you doing here…Lieutenant?"
N-07 dusted down his armour, where Maze had pushed him.
"You should have said. We could have helped. We would always help a brother."
"It was being taken care of. Besides, haven't you got enough on your plate." Maze retorted.
Mereel's friendly facade dropped for a nanosecond.
"I really do not know what you mean."
"No! You don't." Maze replied, sarcastically.
"Have fun." N-07 saluted and disappeared back into the shadows.
Maze headed back to the diminishing crowd.
"Anybody I should be worried about?" asked Stone.
Maze shook his head.
"Good!" Stone turned and took a step towards Essie.
Something stopped him; he looked down to see Maze's arm restraining him.
"Not a good idea. She'll want to be with her son."
"But you'll be there?" Stone braced himself.
"Are we really going to do that here?" Maze asked.
Stone backed off.
"I'll only be there, if she wants me there."
Stone stared at him, then backed off.
Essie was strapped and Bacta'd up but was still clinging to Del who looked as if he would fall asleep at any time. She stood up and swayed; the adrenaline dropping fast.
"Shall I take him?" Maze offered.
"No. I'm fine."
"You're not but I'm here, okay."
"What was that about?"
"Stone?"
"No the other clone."
"Nobody—Shab'la di'kut!"
She frowned but was too tired and relieved to argue about what language he was using.
.
They entered the apartment, lights coming on automatically. It had not changed. Del was fast asleep; Maze had offered to carry him several times but she did not wish to relinquish him to anyone.
He understood that. The boy seemed none the worse for his adventure and Maze had met Zey's friend again, who seemed very interested in this little family and his attachment to them.
He dumped his armour bag on the floor and went to the kitchen; pulling his civvies half helmet off, he left it on the side, hating this armour and he let her put Del to bed. He had been checked over and was pronounced fit and well by Jab. Maze automatically put some caf on, hands going to the cupboards without thinking, pulling out the mugs and putting the correct amount in the pot. Getting the sweetener and milk ready. He checked the conservator—pastries. He pulled a couple of the savoury ones out and heated them in the nanowave.
"Thank you." Essie's voice came from the doorway, "You didn't have to."
She didn't recognise his head anymore, he had a severe square top cut many of the shinies had. She hadn't noticed it before. His was made even more severe by the shaving of the lower part of his skull. She had never seen him wear it like that.
"Thought you might need one and I'm hungry."
"No, I meant coming for him—for us."
The nanowave pinged; he turned towards it.
Of course he had to. He had feelings. He couldn't simply turn them off.
"It wasn't a problem. I always said if you needed me…"
He turned to find her next to him, her hand rose to touch his cheek. He backed away a little. She leaned up to kiss him on the cheek.
I should not have come here. I should have left her at the door. This was a bad idea.
Her hand remained on his scruffy cheek, he needed a shave; her thumb rubbed his growing beard.
"I've missed you. We both have."
Stone? He wanted to say but the name stuck in his throat.
He touched his forehead to hers, unwilling to risk any more as he felt her arms surround him.
"We shouldn't." He whispered in her ear, surprised at the sound of his voice.
"No—we shouldn't." she pulled away slightly, to put her hand on his chest.
He took a deep breath.
Essie took her caf and went towards Del's room.
"Maze? Will you stay with us for the rest of the night? I'd feel better if you were here."
"Of course."
"Thank you."
He saw her eyes fill up, her bottom lip quivered. He had seen her like this before. He always had her down as a strong woman but, he supposed, everyone had their weak point. She needed him now and he was by her side before the caf cup tumbled. He took it off her and wrapped his arms around her.
"I was so close to losing him." she murmured.
"But you didn't and I'm here. I'm not leaving. You check on Del, I'll be here."
She nodded, back under control.
He watched as she went to spend the night in her son's room.
He wasn't sure of those feelings now, the fear, the tightness in his chest, when she went over the edge.
Like losing a brother but worse.
.
Maze spent two hours updating his HUD and checking in on the Advisors; it was business as usual at SOB but nothing drastic. He did wonder were the General was but he had ordered him to look after Ms Devro, as he insisted on calling her.
Maze was more than happy to comply.
He rose, needing to stretch his legs; he had been immobile on that gantry for a while but nothing like a trained sniper would be, however it still gave him some aches.
He pushed open the bedroom door; Del was flat on his back snoring slightly. Essie was in the chair asleep, finally. He had heard movements for a while and noises but didn't feel he could interrupt. She needed time with him. He found a blanket in the cupboard and retrieved it, going to place it over her. She stirred.
"Perhaps you should go to bed. I'll be here."
She nodded, "Thank you."
Essie walked towards her bedroom, flashing him a tired smile.
"Maze….."
"Get some sleep!" he ordered.
She smiled at him again, the first time in days. It was uplifting.
.
Maze made himself comfortable on the settee, his feet hanging over the edge. It could just accommodate him. He was uneasy, this, whatever he had with Essie, was still there; it hadn't gone away or expired when they hadn't been together.
Now he couldn't sleep and it wasn't the adrenaline, it was the thoughts going round and round in his head, about all the different things that had happened to him since Qiilura.
All leading to this point.
.
Jedi Temple
Master's Quarters
Early Morning.
It was late, Zey had showered and now his muscles were beginning to stiffen up as he had not been this active or used the Force so physically in years.
"Too long flying a desk!" He muttered.
The chime on his door pinged. He had been hoping to get some sleep although it eluded him most of the time and then when he woke, he would write up his report. He went to answer it.
"I might have known." He said, then smiled.
Janyne stood leaning on the door frame, bottle in hand. Hair just damp from her own shower.
"Are you going to invite me in?" She didn't wait for an answer, sliding between him and the door frame.
"It hasn't changed much." She commented after surveying the room. She walked up to him brandishing the bottle. "Glasses?"
He went into the little kitchenette that served his needs and found a couple of old goblets, he rinsed the dust off them. Returning he found her sitting on the bed. He sat on the chair next to his now little used desk.
He spent so little time here.
She poured the wine into the goblets.
"Any repercussions yet?" He asked.
She shrugged, "Had a couple of requests to attend meetings tomorrow."
"You mean summons?" He said, pragmatic as ever.
"You say tomartoes, I say tomaytoes…"
"Okay…." He smiled. He realised he had been doing a lot of that since they lowered Ms Devro to the ground.
She patted the bed next to her.
"Can't you even sit next to me now, Arli?"
"I am in awe of you." he whispered. Raising the glass to his lips, then sitting next to her.
"There's no need. I'm just the same as I always was."
"That's the problem. I'm not. This war. These men. Men like Maze and Commander Stone."
"They are good men. Everyone of them that I've met. Their capacity for doing good….."
"But this war…" continued Zey.
"This war is killing you." Now she was on her knees in front of him, holding his hands. "It is not right. There is something just not right about it but I cannot find out what."
"The Sith.."
"Yes. The Sith but where? How?"
He nodded in agreement.
"Every time I think I've found something, it sends me back here."
"You think he's here?" Asked Zey
"Or close by but he could be anywhere."
She moved back to his side and they sat drinking.
"You do realise the Jedi Temple is built over Sith ruins?" She asked.
Zey frowned; he remembered something like that from their studies in the Temple but it was never mentioned normally, not in the Council or in the Temple.
"Are you saying he could be using that as some kind of conduit or Headquarters?"
She shrugged again.
"Isn't it built over? And surely we would have felt it?"
"Even Master Yoda says the Force is clouded. And what if this Sith is one of the strongest we've ever come across?"
"If they are? It doesn't bear thinking about."
He hadn't realised it but he had picked up her hands and enclosed them both in his.
Zey remembered the last time they had sat like this, years ago when they reached their decision and went their separate ways. He squeezed her hands.
"Zey— hold me!"
He didn't need asking twice, his arms wrapped around her and he pulled her to him. He was a bear of a man and he had been afraid of hurting her the first time; that fear had not diminished with age. He still dwarfed her.
"Arli, you always give the best hugs." She said and smiled as she leaned into him
He couldn't help but return the smile, if nothing else she made him smile.
"I should have been there for her, for Essie. I held her the day after she was born." she continued.
"I know."
"You knew?"
"I wasn't going to let you go off on your own and get caught."
"Thank you. You always did have my back—and my front."
She said with a twinkle in her eye, which turned into a flash of regret.
"And when my sister and brother - in - law died."
"I know but I couldn't get here in time but you let the Twi'lek and his wife take her. Which was the right decision. They've done a good job. She's a good woman."
Coruscant was a small world at times. Or it was the Will of the Force.
"You were a great Sentinel, but you shouldn't be doing this job."
"Someone has to."
She chuckled, "Better you than Camas— pompous prig."
Zey chuckled back, "That wasn't what you called him the last time you insulted him."
"No but there have been so many times."
Zey laughed and pulled her closer; he couldn't remember the last time he laughed like this.
"That's better." She said, twisting his face around to hers before kissing him. They fell onto the bed together laughing.
"It's been a long time, Janyne." His arms were still wrapped around her.
"We have the Force." She whispered.
.
Zey's com pinged.
"No rest for the wicked." Janyne quipped.
Zey rose and pulled on an over shirt. It would do. It was probably Maze.
He opened his com and was surprised by the image. Then cursed himself, it should have been on audio only but then that may also have raised suspicions.
"Sergeant Vau." Zey acknowledged the Mandalorian sergeant, standing there in full black armour.
The Mandalorian sergeant resisted the impulse to raise his eyebrows. The General looked dishevelled and as if he had just pulled his top on. And there was definitely a female who had just got out of his bed, trying unsuccessfully to keep out of the line of sight.
And she was naked.
"You wanted an urgent update?
"Yes." Confirmed Zey.
"That problem you had, has been dealt with."
"Thank you Sergeant."
.
Essie's Apartment.
Later that morning.
Essie woke not to an alarm but voices.
She sat upright, Del.
She rushed out of the bedroom.
"And this, this part here is the vambrace. Can you say that?" Asked Maze, as he sat on the floor with Del and his clones and droids.
"Vanbrace!" He declared. Maze didn't correct him.
"And the troopers, they call the droids, Clankers because of the noise they make or tinnies."
Especially after Lieutenant Prudii has been to work, thought Maze.
Essie let out the breath that she had been holding; Maze stood up.
"Are you okay? He woke early wanting to play with his soldiers. Is it alright?"
"Of course Maze. Thank you."
He really was good with him. She couldn't wish for anyone better but what he had said before. Was that really true? The other troopers would they really come after him?
"I'm starving Del. I think now your mum's up it's time for breakfast eh?"
Del clapped his hands, "Yay!" He held his arms up to Maze, then looked sheepishly at his mother.
As soon as she nodded, he was scooped up.
"So what have we got for breakfast?" Asked Maze.
"Anything you want!"
.
Stone walked in, he knew the door code; he'd let her have the night with her son but he wanted to ask her something now. He had regrets, for the first time.
"Essie!"
"Stone!" Her eyes flicked to the side; She looked uncomfortable at seeing him, he didn't immediately understand why.
Her son was sitting on the floor playing with his 'action figures' he thought they were called. The clones were beating the droids; all the droids had fallen over.
"Stone!" A deeper gravelly clone voice announced his presence, Maze, hair dripping and towel wrapped around his hips emerged, just from a shower.
He looked at one and then the other. He was not required here, probably never had been. It was a dream not for him, not for any clone. Not even Fox, or Maze.
Her words came back to him.
Maze had been more of a Father than Perrive ever had.
Was that what she was looking for, if so she wasn't for him. He turned and left.
"Stone!" He ignored her voice, he shouldn't have come here. "Stone! Don't go!"