Chapter Twenty-Three: Unstoppable

1091 days ABG

It seemed like the commander wasn't buying his story, so in order to make a hasty exit, Stonewall and Crest were forced to pull out all the stops once they received the all-clear from Weave. After the former captain ended his explanation and realized that it wasn't working, he sent a shot of Force-energy to the other man even as Crest gave a loud groan and clutched at his chest. "Sir...I need to take him to the infirmary."

Part of him regretted the necessity of tricking a brother, but he knew that it was the only way to help the people he loved, so he continued to press against the other man's will with his own. "You should take him to the infirmary," the commander said, indicating the correct way. "After you drop him off, report back to me. We need to talk."

"Yes sir." Stonewall gave a smart salute as he and Crest turned to leave.

However. "Trooper."

Freezing in his tracks, Stonewall turned back around. "Sir?"

The other clone removed his helmet and fixed his eyes on Stone's visor. "You and your boys did good work out there. I'm sorry that your losses were so severe." He nodded once; his expression was truly regretful, and Stonewall's guilt-level increased a bit more as he saluted again.

"Thank you, sir," he replied. "But we were only doing our duty." Again, he and Crest turned to leave, keeping their pace slow until they turned the corner, after which they began to hurry.

"Just in time," Crest said with a sigh over their secure channel. "I don't think he was buying your story."

"My story was fine. It was your terrible acting that nearly blew our cover..." Stonewall couldn't help but grin behind his bucket as they moved along. We just might pull this off. I don't want to believe it, but...it seems like we're going to be okay. They met Weave, Traxis – along with Levy and Drake – at the rear entrance to the station. Before Stonewall could ask about the boys, Weave motioned to the spaceport and the clones continued on without a word, anxious to be away.

None of them spoke until they were back aboard the Stark Raven. Finn, Keo and Risky were at the ramp, watching for them; at the clones' approach Risky entered the ship and informed Ares. As the ship began to lift off, the Twi'lek glanced back at Stonewall. "Where to, now?"

Even as he opened his mouth to say that he didn't know, Weave cleared his throat. "Ambria," he said, his voice quiet. Sorrow radiated from him and Stonewall felt his earlier elation evaporate at his brother's tone.

Crest caught it, too. "What is it?"

A moment passed, then Weave removed his helmet and tucked it under his arm, his eyes on the floor. "I saw Milo's name...on the red list." His voice was soft.

With these words, all of the clones removed their helmets and for several minutes, the ship was silent. Finally Traxis threw his bucket on the floor of the cargo hold, the thunk of plastoid hitting durasteel echoing in the chamber before he turned and moved to the helm, taking a seat beside Ares and saying nothing. Crest managed to settle down on a crate, his face lowered; Finn, Keo and Risky clustered around him and leaned their heads against his shoulders. Levy and Drake stood to one side and didn't move.

But Stonewall was only aware of all this through the Force, as his eyes were closed. At some point he murmured a remembrance for his fallen brother; the Mandalorian phrase was simple but it made the knot of grief in his chest unravel a fraction. Mando'a is pretty useful I guess. Easy to learn, practical to use...the perfect language for vagabonds. Even the wedding vows are like that. But the thoughts were surreal and distant, as he felt numb.

After another moment, he was dimly aware of Weave motioning to him, easing him off into a quiet corner and speaking to him in a gentle voice; however, the only things that stuck in his mind, echoed over and over, were four words that he'd hoped never to hear.

Kalinda Halcyon is dead.

As a very wise man had once said, Stonewall was attempting to shape his own reality.

Again, he is on Japarran, and it's as beautiful as he remembers. The jessamin trees appear to be scant hours away from blooming as the setting sun gilds the entire grove; the air is high and sweet with birdsong. Standing at parade-rest, he waits, trying not to fidget or otherwise show how anxious he really is. Finally, from one end of the grove emerges the one he's been looking for: a Jedi Knight, a slender, dark-haired woman who looks around with confusion written across her features.

"Kali." He says her name in a normal tone, but it carries across the grove faster than his legs can bring his body to where she is.

At his voice she turns to him, her face is alight with joy when she marks his approach. Kalinda rushes to meet him in the center of the grove. "Stone?" They meet in the middle; for several moments, each is lost to the kiss until she pulls back and looks at him in wonder. "Where are we? It feels like Japarran..."

Ignoring her question, he takes her hands in his own and meets her gaze. "Are you okay?" There is an urgency in his voice that he can't hold back.

Kali frowns at his tone even as she nods, but he can see that her dark eyes are filled with sorrow. "Sort of. I mean, I'm alive. But Milo..." Her voice chokes on his name before she shakes her head as if to clear it. "Are you?"

"I am now." He holds her close and whispers his next words, acutely aware of the effort it's taking for him to keep their connection through the Force-dream. "I will find you, Kali. I promise..."

She kisses his cheek. "Not unless I find you first." A strange noise sounds in the distance – a rumbling like thunder that threatens his already tenuous focus – and she looks towards the sound, her eyebrows knitting in confusion. "What's that?"

But he pays no attention to the noise as he presses her close to him. "Kali...where are you? Are you still on Ambria?"

Frowning again, she shakes her head. "Not anymore. We were, but we decided to head back to the Chu'unthor. I'm not sure where we are now, to tell you the truth...somewhere near the Hapes Cluster, I think. Why? Where are you?" She squints up at him and he realizes that she is fading away, or that he is. "Stone?"

"Hapes Cluster," he says, nodding even as her form begins to dissolve before his eyes. "Perfect. Where we met the first time...that's where we'll meet, now." He kisses her one last time just as she vanishes completely. "I'll find you there, Kali. I promise."

1092 days ABG

After her strange dream, it did not help Kalinda's disposition when the first person that she saw when she opened her eyes was Hondo Ohnaka. She ways lying on a cot within – she assumed – one of the cabins on his ship; the Weequay was seated beside her, regarding her with interest. The room was dimly lit and sparse, but did not appear to be a holding cell, nor were her hands bound, which only added to her confusion.

"She is awake at last." His voice rippled low in the darkness as he set a hand against his chest in exaggerated relief. "I can breathe easily again."

Kalinda groaned; her knee throbbed and her head ached from the stunning jolt that had knocked her unconscious, so it was with no small amount of disorientation that she sat upright. "Hondo?"

The pirate leader chuckled. "And she remembers me. You certainly know how to flatter a fellow."

His flippant tone sharpened her focus away from her own pain as well as jolted her out of the hazy remnants of her dream. The pain and heartache of the past days – days, weeks and months, actually – was starting to catch up with her and she felt her face grow hot with emotion.

"You're going to do it, aren't you? After my men saved you and your crew on Florrum? After we fought at your side? After all your talk of honor and freedom? You're going to hand us over to the Empire..." It was a small mercy that her voice did not break on the last word, after which she took a shuddering breath.

"Kali," his voice was quiet as he put a hand on her arm. "It pains me that you assume the worst, my dear. I thought we were friends." He sounded genuinely hurt.

But she had reached a point where she thought it pointless to concern herself with the pirate's feelings. "Friends don't steal each others' ships or knock each other unconscious with stun-pistols, and friends don't turn in one another to the Emperor." She made to get out of the bed – for all the good it would have done her – but was stopped by his hand on her shoulder.

"Nor do friends let the crew of pirates they lead believe that they have any plans to show the Jedi mercy, especially when there is a significant price on said Jedi's pretty heads."

She gaped at him. "What are you saying?"

He chuckled as he removed his hand and laced his fingers together in his lap. "I have not forgotten our time together," he said, lifting his brow at her. "Nor have I forgotten how you and your men fought so valiantly for myself and my crew. However, I do have a reputation to keep up, particularly in such...troubling times." At this, the pirate leader frowned in distaste.

Kalinda took a breath and rubbed at her forehead. There was silence for a moment before she looked up at him again. "Where are my companions?"

"Safe. I wanted to ensure that you and I had a chance to speak first." Hondo tilted his head and regarded her; she sensed that he was debating something. When he spoke again, his voice was careful. "I must apologize, my dear."

Force above and beyond. I can only imagine where this is going. "Why?"

The pirate shifted in his seat at her wary tone, but continued to watch her. "I spoke in error, earlier, you see. When I mentioned the price on your heads. After you were brought here, I did an bit of digging and realized that you, Kali, are already dead. That is, according to the Empire."

He seemed curious at her reaction, which was, of all things, to give a weak laugh. "Something went right, at least." She lifted a brow at his look of confusion. "Long story."

"Ah, of course." Hondo leaned back in his chair and toyed with his hat, which he'd set in his lap. "You realize if you are caught, the Empire will likely recognize the error and rectify it at once."

Still suspicious, Kalinda nodded but said nothing. The Force was giving her no indication of his thoughts, so she waited as he continued. "As it stands now, I won't turn you into the Imperials. Furthermore, I will allow you to keep your ship and can ensure that none of my crew cause you harm. However, I must stress that I cannot make this promise if we should ever meet again, Kali. After this we are even, and should we encounter one another at a later point in time...I'm afraid all bets are off."

It was so much more than she could have hoped for. "I understand. Thank you, Hondo."

"Actually there is...one more thing." His scaly face broke into an almost sheepish smile. "My men will wonder how it is that you convinced me to let you go, and since I am not susceptible to Jedi mind tricks..." He raised his brow in a suggestive manner and Kali felt her cheeks grow hot even as indignation coursed through her.

"Hondo, there's absolutely no way that I'm going to..."

"No, no," he chortled, raising his hand. "You mistake my meaning! I'm far too much of a gentleman for that. But I ask that you simply play along while you're on my humble ship, as I do have a reputation to keep up, after all."

For the love of all things holy...Kali tried not to roll her eyes. "Fine. Now may we please leave?"

The Weequay laughed out loud and stood up, moving to the door. "Your friends will be brought to you and then you are free to go."

The Stark Raven was silent as Ares prepared the jump to hyperspace. Beside the Twi'lek at the helm, Traxis watched the stars stretch and felt a heavy weight settle over his shoulders. We did the right thing, but it feels like we may as well not have done anything at all. Kalinda and Mi are dead; Zara and Tallis as well. He closed his eyes against the rushing light.

"You and your brothers did the best you could, Traxis," Ares said, his voice quiet. "You've saved the lives of those boys several times over, you know." He paused, then his fingers reached out to brush Traxis' armored forearm, as if reassuring himself that the clone was real. "I'm no Jedi, but I've been living around them for some time now, and I think that yours would be happy to know what you all have done...and you've honored your brother's memory with your brave actions."

"But it wasn't enough," Traxis replied with a shake of his head. "It will never be enough. Even after so many have died...what does any of it matter, in the end?" He was aware that his voice held a wavering edge, but he was past caring.

Ares was silent for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was soft. "I remember watching the coverage of the battles on Ryloth and thinking that your brothers fought so hard to protect my home and my people...did anyone ever thank you for fighting for us?"

Traxis shrugged. "I was never on Ryloth."

"But your brothers were. You could easily have been, if things were different." The Twi'lek paused again, then cleared his throat. "For what it's worth, thank you, Traxis." The two men shared a look that lasted perhaps a moment too long when Stonewall came rushing down from the top section, his face alight.

"Hapes Cluster," he said as he hurried to the helm. "That's where we'll find her."

Ares shot him a bewildered look but it was Traxis who replied. "Stonewall...she's dead. I'm sorry."

The squad's former captain shook his head. "No, Trax. She's alive. I don't know what happened, but I do know that she's alive. We have to get to Basrah immediately."

"Basrah? Isn't that where you two met?" Weave had risen from his place beside Crest and Levy, coming over to put a hand on Stonewall's arm. "Are you sure that you want to go there?" His voice was quiet, filled with sympathy.

Stonewall exhaled sharply and glared at his brother. "We're going to meet there, and no, I'm not crazy. I...I had a dream. Well, it was more than a dream, but..." He sighed again and looked back at Ares. "Please."

Traxis and Weave exchanged glances, but Ares was already punching in the coordinates. "Basrah...never been there, but I've been through the Hapes Cluster once or twice before."

"Stonewall, I don't think that..." Weave kept his hand on the other man's arm but Stonewall shook his head.

"Trust me, vod, okay?" His voice held an almost pleading edge. "She'll be there."

After taking Kalinda who-knew-where, the pirates had brought Zara and Honi to one of their holding cells – hands bound, of course – and left them alone for some time. It was a small room, bare and dark, reminding Zara of the place that Creon Dai had held her after she'd been kidnapped, and she found herself trembling. I'm so tired. I want to just curl up and sleep for the next month...will we ever be able to rest? She thought of the Chu'unthor and wondered if it was possible for Master Altis and his followers to remain safe in these dark times. And even if Kalinda's plan worked and we are 'dead,' what's going to happen to us?

Can I even be a real Jedi if the Jedi don't exist anymore? She began to shiver.

Suddenly, a warm hand was on her arm and Zara looked up; there was a faint glow from the panel by the door that allowed her to make out Honi's pale eyes, which were filled with as much doubt as she felt. "I'm so sorry, Zara," the red-haired Jedi whispered. "It wasn't suppose to go like this. I wanted to teach you the ways of the Jedi like I was taught...but I'm not sure what's going to happen now." Her voice wavered and Zara could feel the other woman's fear that permeated the reprocessed air around them.

She's lost, just like me. And I thought she knew everything. She always acts like she does. Zara nodded, belatedly wondering if Honi could see her in the darkness. "We'll have to make it up as we go along, I guess."

Honi smiled at her. They were quiet for a few moments more when there were footfalls outside the door; both Jedi tensed as the door opened and the pirate leader stepped inside, silhouetted by the light from the corridor beyond. "Come," he said, beckoning once. "Kali is waiting for you."

Taken aback by the sudden change, as well as his reference to Kalinda by her nickname, Zara only stared at him. Honi, however, made another decision. "Why should we trust you?"

The Weequay chuckled at this. "My dear, you should never trust me...except in this one instance. Kali is awake and is most anxious to see you. Quickly, now. Time is not on your side any longer, Jedi." There was an edge to his tone that Zara did not like, but she could feel the truth of his words in the Force. A glance at Honi showed her that the other woman sensed his veracity as well, though she appeared not to be happy about it. However, it seemed as though they had little choice, so they stood and followed the pirate out of the cell and down several lengthy and winding passages until he brought them to a cabin door. Inside, Kalinda was replacing her boots, though she looked up and smiled at the others when they entered.

"So you see I am a man of my word, after all," the pirate said with a chuckle.

Ignoring him, Honi and Zara moved to Kalinda, and for a few moments the three woman embraced before the dark-haired Jedi looked at the pirate leader. "Thank you." Her voice was full and quiet.

But he shook his head and lifted his hands. "Don't thank me until you are off my ship."

Within the span of half an hour Zara and Honi were back at the Wayfarer, prepping the transport and waiting for the engines to warm up. While Kalinda spoke with the pirate captain, surrounded by several of his crew, they went over the ship's systems, ensuring that the pirates hadn't tampered with anything essential. "Everything seems to be in order," the red-haired Jedi said as she emerged from the rear of the ship. "They didn't disturb Milo, either," she added, sliding into the pilot's chair and giving Zara a thin smile.

The Nautolan girl nodded and glanced out the viewport, where Kalinda and Hondo Ohnaka were speaking. After a few moments they shook hands and Kalinda turned to go; Zara's mouth fell open, however, when the pirate reached forward and slapped the Jedi on her backside once, leering at her as he did so while his men guffawed and nudged one another. Kalinda's jaw tightened but she kept moving – her pace made slow and halting by her injury, though her chin was raised – until she was back on the Wayfarer. As she slid down in her chair, Honi gaped at her. "Do I want to ask...?"

"Let's just go. Please," Kalinda replied, shutting her eyes and rubbing at her forehead.

"Fine with me," Honi said. "I only hope that the Chu'unthor is still around." Beneath her hand, the ship began to rise and make its way for the hangar doors, which were opening to reveal a wide stretch of space. Zara looked at the sight and thought that she could taste freedom.

Kalinda shook her head. "Set a course for Basrah."

"Basrah?" The red-haired Jedi sounded skeptical. "Why Basrah?" The Wayfarer shot into the black and Zara found that she could breathe a bit easier.

"Because that's where Stonewall and the guys are going to be." Kalinda's voice was calm and her eyes were fixed on a nearby cluster of stars, packed so tight that they appeared to be nothing so much as a handful of broken glass reflecting light from a distant sun.

Honi looked at her. "How do you know?"

With these words, the dark-haired Jedi's gaze grew distant. "I just do. He'll be there." She sounded more sure of anything than Zara had ever been, which was a strange kind of comfort.

With a long-suffering sigh, Honi entered the coordinates for the system, casting her former master a sideways glance. "Very well. But we don't have an abundance of fuel..." She trailed off and checked the indicator, then shot another look at Kalinda, who gave a tight smile. "Hmm. We seem to have more than I thought. Another gift from your pirate friend?"

"Along with our freedom?" Kalinda nodded, then grimaced. "It wasn't one of my prouder moments, but that slap was a small price to pay for the resources to get us where we need to be."

"There's an ion storm in the upper atmosphere," Weave said as the Stark Raven orbited the small planet that seemed to be coated with a luminescent, oily sheen. "Communications to the surface won't work, and we really shouldn't try and land through it."

But Stonewall – for the most part – ignored his brother's words, as he had fixed most of his attention on the world before them, the place where he and Kali had first met. I can't sense her – yet. But I know she understood. I know she's alive. She'll come. His hands were loose at his sides and his eyes were unfocused as he searched for her through the currents of the Force.

He was aware of Drake at his side, of the boy's attention that shifted from the planet below to the former captain, but it was a peripheral awareness. He could see her face in his mind's eye. Kali. Kali...where are you?

"Look." Ares pointed to the screen of the Raven's sensor array. "A ship's coming out of hyperspace..." He glanced behind him; Stonewall's eyes had refocused onto the planet beyond.

Crest had hobbled up beside the others. "It's them! It's the Wayfarer!"

But something's wrong. "They're coming in too erratic and fast," Stonewall said, leaning forward. "Can you contact them?" Kali...

Suddenly he heard her voice in his head, as if she was shouting in his ear. Kriffing alluvial dampers are going out again...we're attempting to land...where are you?

"Get to the surface," he said to Ares. "Their ship is malfunctioning."

Traxis frowned and shook his head. "It's an ion storm...we'll be torn apart."

In response, Stonewall reached within himself and called on the shut his eyes and felt the ship thrumming beneath his feet; within moments he could feel everything: from the broad, sturdy bulkhead to the delicate clamps that held the power cells in place. As he had managed to do on Perdax with Kalinda, he imagined a shield around the vessel, a protective barrier of energy that would keep it in one piece so that they could survive their journey."Just go," he said through gritted teeth. "We'll be okay. I promise."

There was silence for a moment as the Twi'lek seemed to debate; finally Traxis sighed and nodded. "He doesn't make promises he can't keep, Ares...you have my word. Everyone hang onto your shebse."

"Right." The Twi'lek sounded nervous but the ship began to move, following the path of the Wayfarer, which had disappeared beneath the swirling, purple clouds. Once they broke the atmosphere they could see that it was early morning on Basrah, though much of the pale sunlight was distorted by the thick spirals of the upper-level ion storm.

It was not an easy journey; the entire ship shuddered as the ion particles seemed to try and claw it apart. For several minutes they couldn't see anything but dense clouds until they breached the edge of the storm and hurtled towards the ground; Ares swore in his native tongue as he struggled to bring the ship around so that they wouldn't crash into a nearby cluster of trees. Finally the Stark Raven settled to the dirt with an almost audible sigh of relief as the landing gear extended; they were about two hundred meters from the Wayfarer, which had not experienced such a smooth transition from sky to ground.

All of Stonewall's focus transitioned from the ship to his own body, to propel himself forward as fast as he could. When he burst out of the Raven and began sprinting to the other ship, he could see smoke rising from the transport's engines; as he called her name, he wasn't certain if he was speaking to her through the Force or using his voice. The clone boys, Weave and Traxis were beside him, though the latter and Ares fell back to assist Crest even as Stonewall called on the Force to accelerate his movements further.

There was so much smoke. Combined with the miasma of clouds from the ion storm it was nearly impossible to see anything, but he didn't care because he knew that she was alive. As he approached, he made out three shadowy figures emerging from the smoking ship, the one in the center supported by the other two. He called her name and felt his heart lift when the middle figure's head jerked towards him.

And when he finally reached her, when she was finally in his arms, it was as though she'd never been anywhere else. As she looked up at him he could see that so much had happened; she whispered an apology for something she'd said that he supposed had bothered him at one point, but he shook the words away because they were not necessary. Instead he held her as close as he could and took this one small moment of their lives to be selfish and focus all of his attention into the kiss that followed.

As he did so, Stonewall marveled at how she was real and warm, even though she was shaking – or maybe he was – but in any case they were together, and he decided in that instant that he was never going to be parted from her side again.

Only one chapter left! It's a long 'un...

Next week, look for a tie-in fic to Alchemy, as well as a sneak preview of the third and final part of the trilogy that has consumed my life for the past [mumble] months.

Additionally, consider this a shameless plug for a smaller fic I've been working on, which I'll be posting in the interim while Alchemy is being polished. It's tentatively called Better, and features the clone Chopper; it was inspired by reulte's amazing WIP, Scars, which you should check out if you haven't already.

Thanks for reading and commenting! :D