Maze followed Essie into the ship, she was in the galley and by the time he reached her, she was handing Del some sweets.
"Don't be a di'kut! You can't work!"
She whipped around, "Why not, we'll need the credits." She ignored the insult.
"You're wanted, we all are! This is not a bloody game you know!"
Del stopped eating the gel sweets he had opened, looking between the two adults.
"There's no Empire here and better we get the credits now than when we're really desperate!" Her voice wobbled.
"Where the bloody well is it? And who the hell runs it?" He demanded, voice harsh, standing inches away from her face.
Del moved behind his mother, she put her hand reassuringly on his head.
"It's a little book shop. Run by an old devaronian. A few shops past the market."
He turned and headed out.
"Maze, what are you going to do?"
Ignoring her, he headed to the shop Essie described.
He stomped down the ramp, ignoring Zey who had woken from his meditation. He would apologise, when he returned but he had to check this. A few minutes walking at a fast pace and he found it. He saw immediately why she was here, it reminded him of part of the library; inside was the devaronian she described.
He looked along each side of the street, both clear, before opening entering.
It smelt of old books and was untidy to the point of chaos, apart from one bookcase. That one was in order, clean and tidy —Essie. He smiled to himself, then turned at the sound of footsteps.
The devaronian walked towards him. He wasn't young.
"Ralossirc Vihrk. At your service." The devaronian pushed his hand forward in a Coruscanti handshake.
Maze assessed him for a few seconds before returning the gesture, noting the deformed fingers on one hand which seemed to affect his ability to grip, that did not mean he wasn't dangerous.
"I saw your shop. It looked interesting." Explained Maze.
"Three off-worlders visiting in one day. This is unusual."
"Off-worlders?" Asked Maze.
"The accent. I can't quite place it but there's a hint of Coruscant there."
"Is that a problem?"
"Not to me. We've heard what's been happening in the Core and then all the droids suddenly stopped working, collapsing where they marched. Now the war is over—finally. We can move on. So, how can I help you?"
Maze looked around, deciding.
"Do you have any books on military history?" It was the first subject he thought of.
"I'd like to say yes but as you can see it's all a bit of a mess. I don't really know."
"That bookcase isn't." Maze pointed to the one he noted.
"Ah yes. I have someone coming in to help me sort it all out. She seems very good, perhaps I could ask her to look out for some for you and put them aside. Is there any particular era?"
"No, just some …." He struggled to think of the phrase that Essie used, "light reading."
"If you come back in a few days…."
"Yes. I'll do that."
"Can I take your name?"
"Vau."
He carefully wrote the name on some flimzi and ripped it off an old pad.
"I'll ask her to do that tomorrow, as soon as she comes in."
"Thank you." Maze said politely and turned and left the shop.
Ralossirc watched the well built, tan skinned man who moved like a soldier leave his shop. He had a bad feeling about this. The man looked like trouble and in his youth, Ral had seen a lot of those. He would warn Essie when she came in, just to be on the safe side. He didn't know what kind of trouble she was in but he didn't think she was a bad person, not the way she looked after her son. He could see the family resemblance there. He had bought him some gel sweets, if he was allowed to have them and some fizz pop. It had been years since he bought those but every child needs a treat now and again. He looked at the family flimzi picture on the wall and shook his head sadly.
Maze walked as if he was returning to the ship but ducked into the alley that ran alongside the shop, examining it closely. It would be easier if he had his HUD on but Jango had taught them how to do things without the equipment they had been given. He walked slowly observing everything. It looked legitimate, when he returned to the ship he had more checking to do.
.
Maze trapped her in the galley, as he came in for some caf. Her head shot up and she took a step back bracing for another earbashing. He ignored it.
"Are you sure about this work? You don't have to do it, you know."
"I'll get credits that can go towards our rations, unless you have found something because you've been to check up on him haven't you?"
Maze looked sheepish.
"Did you find anything?"
"No but I haven't checked him on the Holonet yet."
Essie stopped chopping up the fruit for Del. It was amazing to actually have real food now and not just the rations. "I appreciate what you're doing. I really do but I need to be able to do something too and…..I'm not qualified to help much in this."
Maze stood there, he should have apologised, said something more about Nat and Sol but he couldn't. The fact was, he had made the decision to leave them and he still had the hyperdrive modulator to fix, which was easier done in the natural light.
No, that was just an excuse, he finally admitted to himself. He was still angry with her.
"Maze?" Essie could see he was thinking and was angry, she had never sensed him this angry before.
"You lied to me." He accused her.
"What?"
"You lied to me for more than two years."
"I …..don't…"
"Yes you do. The Force sensitivity. Zey told me. You knew about it but you never mentioned it."
"I …." She struggled to find the words.
"Everything was a lie."
He turned away before she could think of a reply.
.
"Essie?"
"Yes Ral." She said, turning towards him, covered in dust.
He had let the shop rundown over the last couple of years, after the death of his son and then partner, what with the War and the Confederacy with the Senate being run from Raxulon.
"Are you in trouble?"
She swallowed, she wanted to be honest with him and Maze checked him out but he had been a Separatist. She hesitated.
"Look. I can see that you're running from something or someone. Perhaps I can help. I do know people."
The young woman looked at him, wary. It didn't really matter to him what she had done. He was tired of war, tired of the fighting but if he could help one person in trouble, then he would.
"Essie. You can tell me. There was a human here a few days ago. Unshaven, tan skinned, black hair, walked like a soldier, obviously checking me out."
He was checked by similar men during the war.
"What did he say?"
"He gave me a story about wanting a book on military history."
Maze.
"Was that the flimzi you asked me to check for?"
"Yes. Is he looking for you?"
"No." She shook her head, "I've found some books though." She stared back at him daring him to say anything.
"If you say so." He turned, "but you can tell me you know."
"I know." She felt his sincerity but she couldn't be certain.
"Would you like a Caf. I'm brewing." He offered.
"Yes please."
"I'll get some juice for the little lad." He added as he walked away.
Essie breathed out; she didn't think he was dangerous or that he would turn her in. She didn't sense that from him. She pulled all the books from the bookcase in front of her and started sorting through them.
.
Maze was on the Holonet trying to pick up some chatter on where the Empire was going next; they had tightened up recently. There were no leaks anywhere that he could find yet. If anyone wasn't happy about it they were keeping their bloody mouths shut. He didn't blame them.
Zey appeared with some caf. "I'm sure she's alright."
"Huh!"
"Essie isn't stupid she won't give anything away."
"Huh!"
"Essie is her own woman and you have to let her help us in her own way."
"Huh!"
"My friend, that is an elegant series of 'Huhs", that you have delivered so far."
Maze turned, looked at Zey, said nothing and turned back to the datapad.
"I suppose you're right." he agreed, checking his chrono, "I'll just go and meet her, make sure she's okay."
Zey sat down, finally he felt he was getting somewhere. If he was going to meet her, they may even talk.
Essie carried the two books Ral gave Del and held onto the credits he had given her. It was more than the rate they agreed on but he would not take any back. Saying he could not take it with him. She wasn't sure what he meant by that.
He was leaning on the corner of the building at the end of the street; she held on tightly to Del.
"A little faster, Del. You can eat your sweets when we get back. " she never said out loud what or where 'back' was, just in case someone overheard. They hurried towards Maze.
He joined them and fell in step with them.
"Ral was suspicious of you."
"Doesn't matter. I checked him out and that's all I needed."
"He thinks you're after me and I'm running away from you."
Maze grunted.
He picked up Del and hoisted him on his shoulders.
"Are you?" He asked.
"No." She replied softly, following him.
.
Ral watched them from his living room above the shop; it gave him a good view of the whole street. He had spent many hours here, just looking, while he was nursing his partner. He took another sip from his Corellian brandy and tried to work out what was happening with them. She readily went along with the man—soldier, he was definitely a soldier; the look on his face, the wariness and his stance, they were just like Eli the last time he came home before….. He tried not to think of that anymore but he spelled trouble. He frowned as she let him carry her son on his shoulders.
He finished off his drink, worrying about someone he only met a few days ago. It didn't make sense.
He poured another drink and let himself sit in his chair, closing his eyes. He was tired, tired of everything. The woman and her son had been a welcome respite in his life.
.
He watched for her the next day, and on time she appeared around the corner, talking to someone just out of sight. Del looking up to whoever it was with a smile on his face; a hand came down to ruffle his hair. He wondered again if it was the soldier.
He heard the bell on the door and made his way downstairs. She was already at work emptying a bookcase. Del sat in his chair with a book reading out the words to her. He was a gifted child, Ral had decided.
"So what does the picture look like?" She asked him.
She was still trying to teach him even though they were obviously displaced persons.
"Morning Ral!" The little boy shouted as he saw him come into the room.
"Morning Del! Have you two had breakfast? I'm going to the market to stock up. Do you need anything?"
"No, we're fine, thank you." She answered, blowing dust from the books she had found.
"Okay. I won't be long." He pulled on his coat and walked out of the door to the market.
The street was empty, as usual, and a few minutes later he reached the market.
"Morning Norah!"
"Morning Ral! The usual?" She asked, already putting fruit and vegetables into a bag for him.
"Yes. And a bag of those Raxapples, the red ones."
She looked at him with a frown, "Didn't think they agreed with you." She pulled up one of the ready filled bags.
"I have a couple of visitors who like them."
"Visitors eh? Off worlders?"
Ral looked at her, he knew she liked to gossip; if you wanted anything spreading just tell Norah.
"Not that I know of, just new to the area. One of them is helping me in the shop."
"Good for you. 'Bout time you opened up again."
He smiled as he went onto the next stall, sure he would get some customers now after she had spread the news. He felt optimistic, an emotion that eluded him for years.
.
Essie walked slowly to the book shop; Del skipping alongside her. It was her last day there. It was all sorted, cleaned and in order now; she had even set up a database for him and yesterday had proudly sold two books. She looked around the shop, it actually looked inviting with the old comfortable chairs and small tables. She would miss coming here. She would miss Ral.
Maze and Zey, minus lightsaber, were at the local government offices again, enquiring where they could potentially settle on the planet. Previously the bureaucrat in charge seemed quite helpful explaining all the rules, especially after Zey convinced him of their predicament, with a little help from the force.
Tamwith Bay was a good place to start.
She opened the door to see Ral hunched over his datapad.
"I like this database you set up." He scrolled down
"It will help you keep track of stock." She looked around. "I was thinking…."
"Yes?"
"You could also serve caf while people browse. The longer they're in the shop, the more likely they are to buy."
"Are you angling for a job." He smiled.
"Only if you're offering."
"I'll think about it."
He continued to scroll, when a frown appeared on his face; he rarely used his datapad preferring the flimzi books.
"Are you okay Ral? Has something happened?"
He continued to scroll.
"The Empire, they're here, on Raxus."
"What?" Essie dropped her bag and rushed forward, to look at the image he pushed in front of her face.
There were Imperial battle cruisers surrounding the planet sending gunships and fighter ships. Tanks were being transferred by gunships, through the atmosphere to be deployed on the ground.
"Where are they?" She was beginning to panic.
"Everywhere, all the major cities and strategic areas." He looked closely at her, she was breathing fast now.
"You're fleeing the Empire aren't you?"
Essie nodded; it was pointless denying it.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing, except my job. I worked for a Senator."
"Is that all?"
Fell in love with the wrong man
"The man, he's a soldier isn't he?" He asked.
She nodded again.
"Your partner?"
"Yes."
"Is he a clone?"
"Yes but…"
"I'm sorry Essie but you need to go."
He was getting messages from neighbours, they had set up a messaging system during the war and they were flashing up on the screen again.
The Empire is here.
There are Stormtroopers in the streets.
"Essie! Keep away from the window."
She moved nearer to the inside office.
The Senator, Avi Singh will be making a speech.
"Avi would never let them take over." He murmured.
"Ral? Who's Avi?"
"Our Senator, I attended university with him. He's a good man. He would never let them take over. I'm surprised he even let them land."
"Perhaps he didn't have a choice." She added.
"They're that bad."
"Worse than you can imagine. The Emperor ordered all the Jedi killed. Anyone who opposes him…"
Ral put the datapad down.
"And your Senator opposed him?"
"Yes. He advocated clone rights and was murdered."
"Are you a Jedi?"
"No, but my friend is."
"Never really had much time for them."
He looked at her and the young boy. "You can stay here, until we know more."
"Thank you."
.
Maze looked up, the familiar sound of the LAATi alerting him to the fact the Empire was here. What had once been a familiar and welcome sound, now spelt trouble. They had still not replaced the Republic armaments apart from the clone armour.
Zey was in the queue. Hearing the same sound, he looked around.
Maze nodded and moved to the door. They hadn't landed yet. Zey excused himself and moved quickly next to Maze.
"I can't sense anyone. And the officials here are as surprised as anyone."
They looked up at the holofeed on the overhead screens that were dotted about the Office, they normally displayed local information.
"There's at least three ships. This is an invasion." Muttered Maze.
"Some of the locals are getting anxious, despite the Senator's assurances and his forthcoming address. We should go." Advised Zey.
"Agreed."
They slipped out of the door.
Once in the street, it was crowded with people coming outside to see the ships. They filled the sky menacingly, blocking out the light above people's heads.
.
Ral returned from the window.
"I can't see any troopers. Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"If I can get back to the ship, yes."
Her com beeped.
"Essie, where are you?" It was Zey, breathing hard, he was hurrying.
"The book shop."
"Okay!"
"We can head for the ship…." She offered.
"No! Stay there, we're on our way back. There's troopers around. Stay out of sight."
"Okay!" The com closed.
"Change of plan. Can we stay here for a while?"
"Of course! Come away from the window." He leaned and pulled one blind down, prompting Essie to do the other.
They sat at the rear checking the holonet; she didn't see Del go look for a book.
The noise of the door opening, then two sets of footsteps disturbed them.
"Get out the way kid!" A clone voice instructed, before she heard a yelp and whimper. She spun around and without thinking ran, flinging herself over Del who was lying, sobbing on the floor. She covered him.
"Shhh! I'm here."
"There was no need for that gentlemen. He would have moved. He's a good boy." Ral addressed them.
"Name?"
"Ralossirc Vihrk. How can I help you?"
"ID?"
"I own this shop." He said as he handed his ID chip over."
Essie scooped Del up and moved away from the troopers keeping her face hidden, as they scanned the ID chip.
"You! Stop!" She stopped still.
"Turn around!"
Essie looked to Ral. He moved his head as a negative. She stayed facing away.
"She's my assistant. She's nobody."
She heard something click; she let Del go and pushed him towards the back. "Hide!" She hissed. He looked at her but didn't move. "Hide!" She pushed him and he ran towards Ral who scooted him behind his desk.
"Turn around with your hands up!"
She glanced at Ral.
"Last chance or I fire!"
Ral nodded.
Essie raised her arms and turned slowly; she guessed she had twenty seconds if that before the facial recognition kicked in.
She saw the slight tilt of the head, information was coming through the helmet already. He walked towards her, as the other trooper faced Ral.
"Gentlemen…." Ral started to say.
The other trooper raised his blaster.
Then she saw them at the door.
She lunged for the trooper, hitting him in the midriff, pushing him back; Maze rushed through the door and Zey followed him, using the force to pull the other Stormtrooper into Maze's eyeline, who felled him with a head shot.
Essie struggled with the Stormtrooper trying to get a grip on him. Her hands kept slipping off the armour, then pain exploded behind her eye, as a vambrace hit her, once, twice.
Ral pulled a blaster from somewhere, and was trying to find a shot. Zey eventually force pulled the trooper off her and Maze took the shot.
Then it was quiet.
.
"Mammy! Mammy! Wake up." She vaguely heard Del's voice and blinked. She looked up to see Zey and Del staring down at her.
"You need to go now." Ral spoke.
Maze looked at the troopers.
"I've got some people coming to help me clean this up. Now go!"
"Thank you." Whispered Essie.
They reached the door, Maze checking before they ventured out.
They had only gone a few steps when they heard the sound of boots on the durocrete. Three troopers emerged from the corner and Ral faced them with his blaster, he fired — one fell. Maze shot the other two in quick succession but not before one had fired hitting Ral in the chest.
Essie turned to see the woman from the market hurrying down the street. She ushered them inside, while Maze and Zey moved the unconscious Ral inside; she knelt beside him with Norah on the other side.
"He'll be okay, love. You go now. I've got someone coming to move the bodies and we'll get him to a place of safety. We've done this before. Just get away safely, for him."
.
Day 28 Of the New Galactic Empire.
They pulled away from Raxus, as Essie saw hordes of stormtroopers, and Imperial tanks converge on Tamwith Bay. Her shoulder and head were sore but they couldn't treat either until they were in hyperspace.
Del was sitting on her knee this time the straps around them both; they didn't have time to put him in separately. She pulled him closer and kissed the top of his head.
She was scared, as was he, and confused at times. She could feel it, whatever he was feeling.
"Are you okay?" She whispered to him.
"I don't like the troopers any more mammy. They're nasty."
"That's okay. I don't like them either."
"But Maze is a Trooper." He looked at the man piloting him away from danger.
"He was, darling." She looked at the back of Maze's head, his body tense with concentration. She couldn't destroy her son's confidence in him, besides she still had confidence in him. "But Maze is not one of those Troopers anymore and never will be. And. If I'm not here—he will look after you. He's a good man, always will be. Remember that."
"Yes, Mammy." He replied not understanding everything she said but he felt it. He felt warm again.
Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around him tighter, holding him closer.
As Maze concentrated on getting them away, he heard what she said to Del.
He would look after him.
He would.
He was a good man.
Sometimes he doubted that. Born in a tube, raised to kill from birth. A product.
Zey overheard the conversation.
"She's right." He said gently, "You are a good man. A good friend. Never forget that."
.