Essie Apartment

952 Days ABG

Essie answered the door chime but she was fairly certain who it was; she could sense her now, her Aunt.

"Evening Essie!"

"Come in, please."

She looked different, the robes, the cloak - more Jedi-like.

Janyne looked down. "I've been to the temple. It would appear only Vos is allowed to get away without the traditional robes in Coruscant."

"Caf?"

"Ooh please!"

"Make yourself at home."

Essie brewed the caf, whilst her her Aunt did that. She removed her cloak, slipped off her boots and walked barefoot just like Essie did and came into the kitchen leaning back against the counter watching.

"Hope you don't mind?" She wiggled her toes.

"I think you can sense I don't." Essie turned and wiggled hers.

"Where are your mugs? You do have mugs don't you. You're not a cup person are you?" Asked Janyne. "I find cup people are…difficult to get on with. Kenobi is a cup person."

Essie felt herself smiling.

"That's better! We're not all spoilsports you know. We like a joke now and again, or used to."

Essie waved her to the settee.

"I'm glad you came. I didn't know if you were in trouble."

"Gah! Trouble, smubble. I'll live."

They sat.

"I've been reprimanded, sort of. Had to attend two meetings wearing these." She rolled her eyes. Pointing to her robes.

Essie clamped her lips shut.

"Zey?" she asked.

"He can hold his own with Mace. They go way back." She actually smiled at that thought.

"And you and Zey?" Essie asked, just a little fascinated by their relationship.

"Oh yes. We definitely do go way back."

Essie didn't want to ask anything more about that; she felt it.

"Where's the little one?"

"He's with his Gran….Grandpa. He calls Nat his Grandpa." She admitted awkwardly.

"And so he should. It was what your Mother and Father wanted if something happened to them."

"Did they know something was going to happen?" She barely remembered them now, just images that suddenly came into her head.

"I don't think so but they did upset some dangerous people so they just became ultra careful."

It was a long time ago, there was nothing she could do about it.

"Was my mother like you?" Essie had to ask, then she saw the sadness in her Aunt's eyes.

"I don't really know, we didn't spend a lot of time together. I always hoped so, perhaps a little more serious, when needed."

She had answered the question and it upset Essie.

"So, the Temple?" She asked, changing the subject.

"Yoda says…Difficult to see. Always in motion the future is." Her aunt used a funny voice.

Essie frowned.

Her Aunt saw the expression, "Sorry you probably haven't heard Master Yoda speak. It takes some getting used to."

Essie knew now her Aunt was mimicking him. Gently!

"Zey and I thought that Perrive may have been a Sith Acolyte or Cultist. There are a few planets that still revere the Sith, worship them, for want of a better word. Dromund Kaas comes to mind." She was serious now.

"Never heard of it or them."

"No and you probably never will."

"What did he say?"

"Always two there are, no more, no less. A master and an apprentice."

"Sith?"

"Yes! That's my girl."

"So what's a Sith, and how would you recognise them?"

"They're a Force user but you wouldn't recognise them. Not unless they wanted you to."

"So they could be anyone?"

"Yes."

"Even me?"

"No! You were scanned."

"The Jedi Council….they suspected and scanned me?" she asked, anxiety flaring within her.

"After the kidnapping."

"Those people you spoke to?"

She nodded, "And General Zey vouched for you."

"The General?"

"He thinks a lot of Maze." She paused, "Don't think too harshly of him. This war is difficult for everyone."

"It is." She was a little confused now.

"After everything I told him, Yoda said— If no mistake you have made, losing you are. A different game you should play."

Essie frowned, "So what did he mean?"

"I am not entirely sure and when I asked him, all he said was—Your path, you must decide."

They both sat back and sipped their caf.

"And have you—decided?" Essie asked finally.

"Oh my dear, I decided years ago and I am not going back on it now. The only regret I have is not contacting you earlier and keeping in touch more frequently. Please forgive me."

"You were there when I needed you."

Janyne smiled and looked at her chrono. "You're very forgiving but I have to go, another anomaly to investigate."

"I never did ask what exactly you do because you didn't look like a Jedi."

"I usually don't. It helps in my line of work. I'll tell you next time."

Essie took her mug and followed her to the door. A second later she was enveloped in warmth and it wasn't just from the hug her aunt gave her.

"So you've got about ten minutes before Maze comes. He's had a com message to say you want to see him to talk. You two need to talk. Clear the air of what's muddying it and keep him."

She placed her hands on Essie's shoulders. "You need to tell him about the Force. He's a good man. And….somethings are clear in the Force. You two together being one."

With that she swept out of the door.

Essie knew her aunt was going to the Tualin Oola.

Then worried what she was going to say to Maze.

.

Once in the corridor, Janyne opened up her com.

"I'll be leaving in an hour; my offer still stands."

"You know I can't, it's not me." Zey replied.

"You'd like Altis."

Zey sighed into his com.

"We have this conversation every time we meet. If I leave the Order, you will too but you won't leave unless I go."

She smiled.

"Its blackmail." Zey said.

"Its a life. We could still help with the war effort. They are."

"No!"

"See you next time Arli." She replied sadly, and closed the com.

Just as she told her niece she had made her decision years ago. If Arli wasn't leaving neither was she.

.

Ten minutes later the door chime rang again.

Maze stood there, in full armour.

"Essie!"

"Come in. I'm so glad you came."

"Your message said it was urgent." He remained at the door,

"Oh yes!"

"Was it?" He still had his helmet on.

"Come inside."

"Is Del alright?"

"Yes he's fine. It's you…..and me."

He stepped inside.

"I've just made caf. Do….?"

He shook his head.

"I thought you wanted to talk."

"Yes…. There's no way around this— I made a mistake, a big one…."

"Stone?" Maze interrupted.

"How?"

"GAR gossip." Maze pulled off his helmet. "Do you have feelings for him?"

"I liked him. We had fun, no commitment, which was the whole point."

Maze stared at her, no expression on his face, "by fun, you mean sex." He took a step towards her.

She had never seen him like this; she couldn't read his face. He loomed over her. She had been around big men all her life, at five foot, she couldn't help it, and in the wrestling community. But Maze was taller than her and wider, whilst she had never felt threatened by him before, he had never given her cause to think that he would hurt her. At this moment she could not feel anything from him or see from his expression what he was going to do, instinctively she backed away a step.

He followed her.

"You haven't answered me."

"Yes. It was sex. Most times we met."

She watched his eyes, he blinked slowly and deliberately; he appeared to be in total control.

"How many?"

She stepped back again.

"I..I can't remember."

He closed the distance between them.

She was transfixed by his eyes, she couldn't remember them being so intensely dark; in her periphery she could see the stubble on his chin.

"How was it?"

"What?—why?"

"How was it? It's a simple question. How was it for you?"

She swallowed, "Er good."

"Did you feel satisfied?"

He was millimetres away from her.

She backed away again. Her eyes flicked to either side.

"Look at me!"

She looked back up.

"Answer!"

"No, yes, no."

She tried to back away again, her foot hit the wall. It was too late. She was backed up against it. His hand pressed against the wall next to her face.

"Explain!"

"There was always something missing."

"I may not always show it, Cyar'ika, but I am a jealous man."

The strange word confused her.

He pulled off his gloves and traced down the side of her face with one finger. The expression on his face never changed.

"Jealous of the time he spent with you, when it could have been me."

Her breath quickened.

"Jealous of the pleasure he gave you, when it should have been me."

Essie had never seen him like this and yet she could still sense nothing from him.

"Jealous of any touch you gave him, when you could have touched me."

He rested his forehead against hers pushing her head against the wall; his thumb brushed hard across her lips.

"Jealous!"

Then he had her head between his hands.

When lips crashed together, it was as if he had never been away. He pushed her against the wall, sandwiched so tightly between them, she could barely breathe and didn't want to.

He felt the familiarity of her arms around him, pulling at his armour. He lifted her against him, unable and unwilling to let her go and walked them to the bedroom.

He dropped them down onto the bed, bracing himself above her. He pushed his face in her hair, nuzzling it; there was the lingering smell of her shampoo. Of her.

Finally they pulled apart.

"I shouldn't be here." He murmured, "not like this." before trailing kisses down her neck. This strange feeling of jealousy frightened him but he wanted this.

She shook her head.

He raised himself, pulling off his armour plates and dropping them to the floor. Finally standing to remove his boots; all the time feeling Essie's eyes on him. She hadn't moved.

He leaned back down, lowering himself slowly onto her.

She pulled his face down into a kiss, her tongue pushing between his lips.

"Nnngh!" he couldn't help himself, as he let out a groan.

He rolled them over, until Essie was on top, knees either side of his thighs. She pulled her top off and her bra, flung them to one side and braced herself on his chest.

Maze hands pushed slowly along her thighs, gripping her hips for a few seconds before travelling up her torso to rest on her breasts.

Her head dropped back in anticipation, seconds later letting out a groan, as he brushed his thumbs across her nipples, before taking one in his mouth, holding her steady by the waist, he pulled on her nipple, teasing her.

He felt her push down on him, then he rolled them back over so he was on top. Essie fumbled with his bodysuit until she heard the ripping sound as it came apart and it was undone. He quickly slipped the bottoms off and dragged her panties down, pulling them off. He felt her ankles grip his thighs, as she pulled his head down for a kiss.

He lined himself up and pushed in. The exhale of her groan pushed into his mouth; he wrapped his arms around her further, holding her still, as his instincts took over.

"Sorry." He whispered, "I didn't mean…."

"I'm okay." She kissed him.

He smiled as he kissed her again and started moving, as his need took over. He always wanted to make it good for her but this was more than that. He felt her arch into him, groaning, her arms crossing behind his neck whilst he continued, with the one goal his body had. He pushed his hands into her hair holding her head still, as he finally came, pressing a rough kiss on her lips after crying out her name.

He lowered himself down onto her, opening his eyes to find her already looking at him. She extricated an arm and stroked her hand through his hair, noting tiny specks of silver.

"I love you." she whispered, before kissing him.

He gently dropped his forehead to rest on hers.

"I know."

.

He woke and extricated himself from her sleepy embrace; he needed the fresher. When he returned she had turned over. He slipped in next to her, his eyes going to her traps and delts, they were the best he had ever seen on a woman, not to mention her quads. His fingers traced down her back, noting the still well developed pectorals, the latissimus dorsi, the teres major, and the deltoids. His mind replaying the anatomy flash training, as part of medical upskilling for self treatment. His hand travelled further down and came to a rest.

He should not have stayed last night, not the way he felt it could have gone either way but now…

He had never experienced this before, these feelings for this woman, his need for her, to be with her, to protect her…. and her son. And the feelings of jealousy when he knew she was with another. He had never been trained for this. He had a sense of brotherhood ingrained in him and loyalty; this was like that but so much more.

"Don't stop!" She murmured, her voice husky.

"I thought you were asleep." He answered, placing a kiss on her shoulder.

"Never for you." She murmured.

"Hmm." He leant on her, his hand pushing underneath, finding her breasts and squeezing.

Pressing into her back, he felt her hum of appreciation and she pushed back into him. Last night had been urgent, a release for both of them. This was….hells he didn't know what it was anymore.

He didn't care as he leaned over her and she melded herself to him.

He wanted this for the rest of his short life.

And now he knew he would have to find a way.

If it was the last thing he did.

.

It was still early, as they lay together.

Although she had told him more about Stone, which made him sick and angry; it was past, over. He had not told her about the Support Officer.

He moved slightly.

"Hmm!" She murmured, languidly.

"There's something you need to know."

Now she could sense him.

"Was there someone else for you?"

"A female Support Officer."

"Civilian?"

"Yes but it was just sex."

Essie had gone from dozing to fully awake in seconds. Maze was a handsome, vital, intelligent, sexy man. She knew there had to be someone.

And she wanted to kill them.

"What was her name?"

"Does it matter?"

"I'd like to know."

"Alina Loea."

"Pretty name. Was she pretty?"

Essie couldn't say it didn't hurt, because it did; so what she did must have been so much worse for him.

"Yes."

"Was she the only one?"

"Yes."

Maze lips grazed her shoulders.

"But her lats were nothing compared to yours."

Essie chuckled, despite herself. The thought of him checking this woman's lats. She let him continue, she could feel him pressing against her again.

"I'm jealous!" She admitted.

"No need." Whispered Maze, as his lips continued along her body. "She was nothing compared to you."

His hand slipped to the small of her back; she was already arching into him.

.

Den Skeenah's Office

Senate Administration Building.

The next day.

Essie sat eating her lunch scrolling through the information on the screen.

"Found you!" she muttered, under her breath.

She pulled up the image.

It was amazing what she had access to now, in this role. She considered the woman before her.

"Hmm! Yes you are pretty."

Another imagined image flashed through her mind. She tried to get rid of it but seeing this had made it worse.

She had always hated jealousy in other people but now she was one of those and it was driving her mad.

She accessed the woman's records.

Multiple jobs. Never staying in one for very long. The GAR was the longest job she had stayed in. No reason why. Always shown to be punctual. Efficient. Pleasant.

Yeah—pleasant. Thought Essie.

Moved around addresses a number of times. Again no reason. No debts. Not owing rent or bills. A clean upstanding citizen.

There was nothing she should be jealous about but she hated her.

She closed the screen down and drank her caf.

.

ARCA Barracks

EasyRide Stop

961 days ABG

The SOB/GAR Support officer left at the end of her shift, logged out correctly, ensured she had committed no security breaches and headed for the EasyRide; she was in a hurry. She was going out with the girls tonight— a new club, not open long and she needed time to get ready.

Alina Loea reached the stop and leaned against the plasti covered timetable; pulling out her datapad, she scrolled through the chats she had open there, checking the times indicated by her friends and smiling at some of the comments there, before adding some of her own, then she looked up and saw a face she had seen a few times recently.

"Hmm! It's that woman again." She thought she had been imagining things for the first few times. People took the EasyRide all the time, usually the same time but no there she was. And this was a different place to the others but it was the same woman. She popped her datapad away in her bag and looked back up.

"She's gone."

She considered mentioning it to Captain Maze but he hadn't been around much recently.

14 days later.

After the fifth or sixth time she had seen the woman, she had mentioned it to one of the Advisors, who found Captain Maze and she was summoned to his office.

"Support officer Loea. You have a possible security incident to report."

"Alina." she corrected him.

"The incident please."

Well. That told her where she was.

"There's this woman, small, brown hair. Sometimes she wore it up, sometimes not. Not fat but sturdy looking. She appears on or near the EasyRide train I use to get home."

"Any specific days?"

"It's all been on different days."

"Could she just be a new user?"

"No! She watches me. I know when someone watches me, Captain." Her remark was pointed.

The Captain looked up, face blank.

Perhaps he wasn't as much fun as the Lieutenant, after all.

"Can you be a little bit more specific with the description?"

"Not really, she was …..nondescript."

"Okay." Maze took a deep breath. "I'll scour the security footage if you give me the routes you have taken. Tonight you will take your normal most direct route home and I will follow you. You may not see me but I will be there. Do not acknowledge me in any way. We do not want to frighten her off if she is a subversive."

Maze pulled up the various security cams footage from the routes the officer supplied. He went back two standard weeks and it didn't take him long to find a familiar face.

He leaned back in his chair.

"Bloody hell!" He swore.

.

Essie stood at the corner of the little shopping precinct. It had some lovely shops in it; she especially liked the toy one. There were some droids that collapsed if you hit them. Del would like those. But the shop the woman went in just did not cater for her build. The underwear was nice enough, although a little tacky and she was certain it would scratch, the lace looked cheap even if it wasn't. She took solace in the fact— she did not need it.

She stood watching and yes the woman had come out with another little set in another little see through bag.

"Huh! Bright red and black this time." She muttered to herself then dodged back behind the corner just before the woman turned.

She sensed someone just behind her; she ducked and pivoted on one foot, swinging a leg low to take whoever out but hit nothing and ended up on her backside, facing a clone in armour that she recognised.

"Shit!" She'd been caught.

"Exactly!" Said Maze, hands on hips. "What in Haran do you think you're up to following SOB personnel?"

He offered a hand to pull her up.

"I was..." she knew she was being stupid but just could not resist and once she'd started she did it again.

"Being stupid?"

"That's one thing I would never have accused you of and I didn't think you could be jealous of the one mistake I made."

"She's still there!"

"And I don't want her. I thought you understood that."

She sensed his truthfulness.

"I'm sorry!" She felt truly stupid now.

"Now we have to make this look good or she could take it further."

Essie nodded.

"Okay — You are under arrest!" His voice rang out, amplified by his helmet.

He slipped the binders on one hand and turned her around, pushing her out of the shadows.

"She's watching." said Essie, "Can't keep her eyes off us."

"You have the right to remain silent." He continued, loudly.

"Can I struggle?"

"By all means."

Essie pulled forward, pulling him off his feet slightly.

"But anything you do say will be taken and used against you! Do you understand?"

"Yeah! Republic lackey."

Essie heard his incredulous snort without the volume up, as he took her away.

.

They reached Essie's speeder bike and he undid the binders.

Essie rubbed her wrists.

"So this was because you were jealous?" He asked. Leaning back against Ruby.

She nodded, cringing inwardly now and looked down. She had never done anything like that before.

Maze pushed his finger under her chin, looked at her and shook his head.

"No more!" He ordered.

"No more." she agreed.

Maze swung the binders around his forefinger, smiling.

"Hmm! You know we Alpha ARCs were bred to be independent and innovative."

"Yeesss?" She drew out the reply not entirely sure where he was going with this.

"I have an idea how we can use these at home!"

Essie's eyes went as wide as saucers.

"Tonight?"

"Del is at Sol's and Nat's isn't he?" Confirmed Maze.

"Yes."

"Good!" He said, climbing onto the speeder bike and holding out a hand to her.

.

A/N:Maze is still learning about relationships.

Reviews are welcome.