A/N - Although a lot happens to Chopper and the other troopers between the time period of Geonosis II and Order 66, it isn't yet written and may never be written because I see Chopper as essentially becoming his best self by Geonosis II. However, Order 66 is a pivotal moment in everyone's life and I've explored that just a bit is these epilogues. As always, read and enjoy.
Life on Naboo for an Ex-Trooper
Flashbacks….
Naboo after the Evacuation of Kaliida Station…
Knaps was waiting when Jester and Ash returned from the river. Their fingers were entwined and they had paused in their walk to circle their arms around each other. Jester looked amazed, incandescent. Knaps swallowed several times and when Jester pulled her closer to his body, Knaps shut his eyes and almost changed his mind. Just watching them caused Knaps to imagined himself in Jester's place; holding her softness against his hard body. But in his imagination, he had his legs.
When they reached the tent Knaps called to them softly. "Captain Pilot Ashwaeen. May I have a quick moment?" They turned toward him and sat down next to him; Ash between them, her hands on them both with a dreamy smile on her lips. Knaps could smell the musky scent of sex on them even though they'd been in the river. He could see the languor of their movements and the liberty Jester had as he reached and buried his face in her neck, gently kissing behind her ear.
"I simply wanted to ask you," he turned to the dark-haired woman,"Ashwaeen, to please speak with me before you leave camp tomorrow."
"I may be thoroughly relaxed and wonderfully laid, Knaps," her eyes seemed to caress Jester's face, "but I am coherent. Do you want to talk now?"
"I .. uh.." She may have been coherent but all the thoughts and words that he'd collected while considering how to present his situation to Ash vanished at her statement of what she and Jester had been doing. He'd known, of course, the way Jester touched her, kissed her and even the way he had walked and his expression; but to have it presented so boldly was a shock. He stared at Jester in desperation and Jester's eyes grew wide as he suddenly realized past his own immediate pleasure and understood what Knaps wished to say. He reached past Ashwaeen and gripped Knaps on the shoulder.
"Yes, Knaps. Ask her. For all of us." With Jester's touch, Knaps found courage and some words.
"I want to stay with you, Ash. Jester can't. Chopper can't." She had touched the scarred trooper also. "They're troopers. I'm simply…" He pressed his hands against the stumps of his legs. He was nothing; everything he had been destroyed in an instant. "You're a pilot and I could work for you. Null gravity, you see. Please Ash. Without you I'll be going back to Kaliida and you'll still be the best memories of my entire life." He lifted his hand to her face, his eyes damp with unshed tears, his fingers stroking the soft skin of her cheeks. "Please, Ash. I'm yours; whether you take me or not. I'll always be yours."
"Say yes, Ash." It was Jester's voice almost as emotional as Knaps. "He's right. Going back to Kaliida; he'll never get a chance to do anything he hasn't already done. Say yes, Ash and you will never regret it."
Jester rose to his feet and moved toward the tent alone. "Say yes Ash. It will be the best decision you'll ever make. Say yes to Knaps, for all of us."
She turned to him, the moonlight making her eyes luminous. She was a pilot, used to making split-second decisions, trusting her mind to know before it could explain. "Yes, Knaps."
He took her hand and delicately kissed her fingers. "I am yours, Ashwaeen. In any way you command."
"Let me sleep in your arms tonight. Tomorrow we can discuss everything else." She gave him a sweet kiss on the lips as his arms enfolded her, brought her against his chest.
He didn't have to collect memories for Kaliida anymore.
Three months after the evacuation of Kaliida Station…
Knaps looked at the papers on the table and ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. He was letting it grow longer in recognition that he was no longer a trooper; it helped him remember that fact when he started to react like one then his hair would tickle his cheek or the nape of his neck and he'd remember. He was getting better at being a civilian. He picked up the pale orange card and read it. It was a declaration of citizenship. He closed his eyes in wonder. He, crèche-decanted clone from Kamino, was a citizen. Knaps Athualla of Naboo; he was part of a family. He moved the powerchair back to the kitchen.
Although he lived with her, they hadn't gone to bed together. He had a room of his own with an attached refresher that he had modified slightly to his needs. She was usually off-planet piloting a delivery. He hadn't tasted the deliciousness of sex with her, but this little paper was richness beyond his imagination.
He remembered the musky scent of her and Jester combined as they'd sat beside him that night months ago. He closed his eyes and gave a low groan deep in his chest. He hadn't thought his lack of legs deterred her; she had kissed him then. She had touched him. She had slept in his arms.
Tonight, he decided. He'd approach her tonight, seduce her. He rubbed his hands over his thighs in comfort. He'd kiss her until she was dizzy. Tonight she would sleep in his arms again.
He wondered if, perhaps, she was scared. Kissing a man with no legs was nothing like having sex with the same man. In a kiss you could ignore everything below the neck. That was impossible with sex. He sighed deeply. Perhaps she didn't want sex with him. Perhaps she'd only taken him because he had begged.
Knaps shook his head slowly. She had introduced him to her family; most of them, though not her children. He huffed despondently. She didn't want him; she would have introduced him to her children if she wanted to keep him. In retrospect, her family hadn't been that enthusiastic about him either. At least not initially, though that had changed as he worked in the office, demonstrating a knack for numbers, a prodigious memory and a thorough knowledge of mechanics. Now he was valued for his skills and that was good.
Knaps moved off the powerchair, another gift, and pulled himself across the floor backwards to the corner of the room to lean against the walls. He knew he was sulking but decided to indulge himself for a short time.
The sun set and a large moon rose over the city. It would have been a romantic sight. If Ash had been there. If she'd be willing to touch him, to let him touch her.
Knaps decided that even if she never loved him, he could still manage. She had brought him to her apartment, introduced him to her family and her family's business. She had taken him to petition for citizenship – that had been terrifying and he'd had dreams of the Kaminoans coming for him and dragging him back to Kamino. Nothing more terrible than a long wait had happened and now he was a citizen with all the rights guaranteed citizens.
Currently he worked in the office and occasionally seconded in the mechanics shop while getting the engineering certificate that would allow him to be hired as crew on the Athualla ships. He was pilot trained, but his training had been flash-drilled. The civilian training was different in the he had to understand everything he knew. It was enjoyable and the more he understood, the more he could apply to other flash-training and understand how that knowledge had developed. He seemed to be getting a decent salary. He certainly didn't need anything.
Except Ash.
Knaps decided he could work for Ash a while; until he'd paid her back. Then he'd find an apartment of his own. They'd always be friends; at least he hoped they would always be friends. Maybe he'd find a woman who could appreciate his strengths. Sadly, he didn't think he'd find a woman like Ash. What she had given him was priceless.
Being a citizen was better than being a terminated clone; having work was better than having nothing worthwhile to do. Living with Ash… Knaps rubbed his chin. That could be difficult. Maybe he should consider it more like a training course for dealing with non-clones; for learning how civilian women acted and reacted.
He sighed, turning toward the glass fronted patio as he heard the door open and her footsteps in the foyer. He heard other footsteps and he grimaced as he glanced over to the powerchair. He wouldn't be able to reach it before Ash's guests, whoever they were, came in. He preferred no one see his clumsy backwards dragging as he moved himself by the strength in his arms. So he simply stayed by the patio. If they pitied him enough, they could guide the powerchair to him. He turned and looked out the window again.
Such a romantic sight; with the moon large and low on the horizon.
"Knaps," she called from the doorway. "Can you help me? I've got some groceries and a surprise."
That was a shock. She wanted help? From crippled him? Enough sulking, he told himself. "Sure Ash. I'll be right there." Quickly he pushed himself to the powerchair, settling himself in it even as he headed for the foyer wondering about the surprise. He had come to realize that, to civilians, a surprise was a good thing.
Her arms were full of two bags, one slipping and she had leaned against the door to keep it under her arm. Knaps quickly rescued that one from falling then took the other bag from her as well. He saw the surprise. There was a boy at her side gripping onto one hand, around eight standard years and a younger child clinging to her leg hiding behind her. He knew the child clinging to her leg was a girl though he couldn't tell by looking. Both children had her dark hair and the hint of her fine features in their faces. The boy had crystal green eyes, the girl eyes of pale smoky lavender. He smiled to them both; then a glance of wonderment to Ash. She'd brought her children.
As he took the bags, Ash turned and picked up the younger child. "They've been at the clanstead with their grandparents and all the cousins. But it's going to start our busy season and they'll be starting school."
Knaps grinned as he headed toward the kitchen. They'd been visiting grandparents. He'd learned that grandparents had more authority than parents; perhaps they hadn't wanted the children to meet him or prehaps they only wanted the company of their grandchildren.
"You don' have any legs." It was the boy and he was staring at Knaps.
"No," Knaps replied. "But I do have this nifty powerchair. You can ride it into the kitchen with me. If you want." Knaps smiled in soul-deep satisfaction as he hooked one bag over the powerchair arm and helped the boy stand on one of the unused foot rests. They were her children; she was going to keep him.
Together they watched a vid until late in the evening. Like a family, Knaps realized. Anyeh, no longer quite afraid, had fallen asleep against him. He stroked her silken hair with a hand, amazed at its soft texture, at how beautifully perfect a child she was. Ash had picked her up and carried her to her room. She had started to wake Dan but Knaps had moved and taken the boy in his arms. The powerchair was rated for far more than his bodyweight. He had checked the tolerances; the powerchair could lift a gunship if he could only get his arms around it.
The children were tucked in and Knaps was on the couch watching the moon. He could hear Ash showering as she prepared for sleep and he sighed as he pushed the cushions of the couch to his comfort. It wasn't a sigh of sadness anymore; more a purr of contentment. She could have the bed alone. He could wait now until she was more familiar with him, less frightened by his lack of legs. She'd brought her children.
Knaps leaned back, his arms behind his head, against the cushions, admiring the moon, now high in the sky. He heard her soft footsteps on the rug.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Ash leaned over the back of the sofa, her arms crossed under her, her green eyes reflecting the moon and a quick smile for him as she glanced into his face.
Knaps glanced and grinned. "Very beautiful," he said, ignoring the moon in favor of filling his eyes with her. Tentatively he reached his hand up to touch her face and stroke his fingers through her hair. She closed her eyes with a small smile and leaned her cheek into his hand. "Sit with me and watch the moon?" he asked hopefully.
Ash moved around the couch and sat next to him. He put his arm around her shoulders, lightly in case she didn't want his arm there. She did. Ash sighed deeply and leaned against him, pulling his hand and arm tightly around her. Knaps grinned in delight and gave her shoulders a quick squeeze as he pulled her closer.
"It's been a busy few months, Knaps. I'm sorry if I seemed to ignore you. I needed …" She softly bit her lower lips and paused.
When it became evident that she wasn't going to continue, Knaps spoke.
"I did feel lost," Knaps admitted. "I wasn't sure what was going to happen or where I was going to end up. But I had the citizenship papers and the job. I was contemplating alternatives." He ducked his head. "In case you had changed your mind. In case you didn't want me." Absently he touched the curve of his leg, just above where his knee would have been if he still had one.
"I'm sorry, Knaps," she repeated, her face still tense.
He shook his head and tightened his arm around her. "Don't be, Ash. Yes, I was worried, but I was making plans, contemplating alternatives. I had alternatives, Ash, something I never had before. I thought of several different things I could do if you asked me to leave and I knew I was capable of doing them. I know you've been busy, following up on salvage and the repair of Admiral Yularen's damaged fighters." He gave her another grin; he'd be grinning all night if she fell asleep in his arms. "I do work in the office, remember."
She chuckled. "That's true. No one knows as much about my business as you."
But…." He pursed his lips together, not knowing how to say it but deciding that blurting it out and seeming a fool was preferable to not letting her know. He'd done all right with begging so far… "But, I would much rather stay with you. If you didn't know that. I'd much rather be part of your family. If you'll let me." He gestured to the sleeping rooms. "I want to be with you; want to help you with your children, they're a treasure, but I need help there." He shrugged. "I've never been around children or women or civilians. I need to know what you want. I need to know what you expect."
"I'm not sure what to expect, Knaps." As she leaned against him, her near hand rest on his thigh. "Quite truthfully, sometimes I'm scared." He opened his mouth to reassure her, but she touched his lips with a finger. "Not of you. In spite of the stories about clone ferocity, I'm not scared of you in the least; or of leaving my children in your very capable hands. But afraid, maybe of me, of my ignorance," she sucked in her lower lip, her teeth pulling at it. "Maybe of hurting you; of expecting too much. Or too little."
"What to expect, then? From me?" Knaps mused even as he inwardly rejoiced. She had touched him on the leg, barely a hand's distance from where his legs vanished. He dragged two fingers over his chin. "I'm a trooper at heart, part of a squad. That easily translates into family. Protecting you and your children is a priority for me. A blaster would be nice, but is not necessary." He looked into her eyes. "As for hurting me or expecting too much or too little… I will let you know, Ash. I will tell you if I can't do something and I'll probably give it a try anyway. I was made to follow orders. I won't ever make a good civilian pilot – too many command decisions to make for me to do that long term. I'd make a very good co-pilot or navigator or," he grinned, "your engineer."
She laughed and pushed closer into his side; turning, her arm curling around his chest in a hug. He closed his eyes and dropped his face into her neck. Her hair was softly sensuous on his face and her skin was softer.
"Sometimes I have nightmares of when..." he gestured to his stumps, his eyes still closed, "this happened. But I don't thrash, won't hit." He pulled her a little closer, her arms going around his neck. He opened his eyes to reach down and slowly pull her legs over into his lap. His hand was light in case she was frightened, in case she objected. He was hard, erect in his trousers and she would feel that pressing against her leg. She didn't object and he pulled her against his chest, leaning back to let her relax on him. He could wait until she was ready.
"All of this," he gestured around the room and out the patio. "It's all so new it still terrifies me. But I'm not going to quit, Ash. I trust you to help me and I will never quit."
It wasn't quite what he had wanted to say, wasn't quite what he had mentally practiced, but it did have all the essential elements. "What expectations do you have?"
"I'd like to see you every morning when we wake, Knaps." She smiled up into his face.
"That sounds good, Ash." He hoped she meant 'in the same bed'. "See me daily? I'd like that, Ash." Knaps grinned widely. He would, even if she didn't mean what he hoped. "I'd like to know where you are or how long you'll be gone. When I and the children can expect you home – you are going to leave them in my 'capable hands' as you put it?" She nodded and Knaps gave an acknowledging nod then continued. "It will make it easier to plan. My cooking has improved immensely since I've been on Naboo."
She smiled at that. "I'd like you to be part of my family, my close family. You're already family; with the Athualla name, part of our clan." She pulled back a little to watch Knaps face. "But I want you in my close family. Me, you and the children. But I need to tell you something, Knaps and I don't know how you'll take it or how it will change things."
"Straight out, Ash. Just let me know straight out." His eyes were worried at her expression. He barely understood, he realized, what she was asking of him and already there was some kind of complication. He'd deal with it, whatever it was. He'd be there for her and the children, whatever happened. Without consciously noticing, he straightened his shoulders.
"I'm pregnant." Her eyes were soft and slightly concerned until she saw his dawning smile.
"That's great, Ash." Knaps paused, considering what that might mean to her. "I mean, isn't it?" His initial enthusiasm shifted to concern for her.
Ash, freed by his words from whatever fear she'd had, laughed. "I didn't know how you'd accept that. Some men…" she paused, lifting her hands.
"…are di'kuts," he supplied. "That's Mando'a for idiots."
"It's Jester's child, Knaps," she told him quietly. "Does that make a difference?"
Knaps shook his head slowly, his grin widening. He loved the way she was blushing. She'd thought this… gift … something to be concerned about? Civilians!
"No different, Ash, than if you said the child was mine. I understand now why you waited, you needed to know and a scan would have shown no difference between me and Jester. At least, I hope that's why you waited. I only wished you had told me earlier so I could have eased your mind." He reached for her belly with a large hand, his fingers spreading. "And mine."
"I'm sorry, Knaps. It just seemed there was no good time to tell you and I was always busy." She ducked her head into his chest. "I was being a coward."
"You are never a coward, Ash, you are carrying a child," he shrugged, unable to explain, and was silent a moment. "Can I touch you?"
Ash laughed. Knaps joined her, he loved her laughter also.
"There's nothing much to touch, Knaps. Not yet."
He shook his head. "There's everything, Ash; an entire world of potential." His hand lightly stroked her abdomen. She was right, he felt nothing like a developing child in her; the difference was in him, in knowing. "We're not supposed to breed," he whispered softly. "Just war." She slipped his hand under her shirt. Her skin was smooth and his fingers drifted over slightly more than just her belly. "If there's ever a chance to let Jester know…" Knaps grinned. "Just make sure he's sitting down."
"We'll make sure he knows." Ash reached up to touch his face, her fingers resting on his cheek for a moment then guiding his lips to hers as she tilted her face to him.
It was a long, deep, satisfying, soulful kiss. Knaps shivered, his own fingers coming up to stroke her face, cradling her head, his arms supporting her shoulders. "We're not meant to understand love, Ash, but I think I love you."
"I love you, Knaps." She tilted her head. "Do you realize that love isn't contained or restricted? That I love both my children and it doesn't affect my love for this new child? Or for you."
He nodded and spoke her next thoughts. "That you can love me and Jester and Chopper? Yes, I think I realized that the night you and Jester came back from the river."
"Not because you're clones either. I don't love you because of some perceived similarity to Jester, because you aren't; I love you for your own sake."
His fingers ran through her curls and he pressed his lips to the life-vein at the base of her ear. "I don't care why you love me, my dear one, my lovely, pregnant, sexy Captain Pilot Ashwaeen Athualla. I love you."
He felt her hand moving from the curve of his shoulder down his chest toward his groin.
He grinned. "You're going to find out how much."
Ash purred with pleasure as her fingers touched him and he leaned his head back, his eyes closed, and repeated what he'd told her before. "I'm yours, Ash."
Five months after the evacuation of Kaliida Station…
Knaps usually didn't like the way people stared at him in the powerchair, but today his grin was wide and he didn't really care.
"I'm sorry, sir," a uniformed man took a step toward him at the gate. "This is for crew only."
Knaps grinned. "It's my first flight today." He reached for the little pouch holding his citizenship identification, engineering certification and port credentials. It took a moment to sort through the papers and the guard gestured at own badge-holder.
"The easiest way is to have the id and port credential badge back to back with the certification between them." The guard flipped his own badge-holder showing Knaps. "We're always asking for credentials or id; less often for the certifications."
Knaps pulled out the papers and flipped them as suggested. "I see," he nodded. "You can just flip it for either."
The guard nodded at Knaps as he saw the port credentials. "Athualla office and warehouse is between dock 15 and 16."
"Great," Knaps was about to continue when he noticed the man's face, still confused. "What? You have another question. Is it about the powerchair?" He had noticed that, people were always curious about the powerchair though only children usually asked.
"Kind of. If it's not an intrusion?" The guard seemed embarrassed. "How are you going to manage in space?"
Knaps laughed. "Much easier, so much easier. The powerchair goes in a locker and I belt in at the engineer's console."
He recognized almost everyone at the warehouse from working in the office. There were a few warehouse handlers and loaders who never came to the office that he knew only by name and pay grade.
"Hey Knaps," called Gajer, still a youngling and pilot-apprentice who most often traveled with Patriarch Athualla and his engineer, the Matriarch. Knaps remembered Gajer was Ash's older sister's youngest son; Ash's nephew, his as well, by marriage. "Looking forward to your maiden flight?"
"Of course he is, Gajer. Everyone does." That was Lirane, a cousin of Ash's in some obscure way that Knaps hadn't yet deciphered, only slightly older than Gajer, a navigator-trainee and the biggest flirt Knaps had meet in his short life. She smiled at him, her eyelashes flickering and her hand running through the shortness of her dark hair in flirtation. He'd been scared of her, terrified of her; not knowing local courtship customs, until Ash told him Lirane was just practicing. Then Knaps had delighted in practicing as well. He smiled, turning his body toward hers, inclining his head to her. "Lirane knows, Gajer. I'm definitely looking forward to it." He winked at Lirane and she stifled some giggles. It was definitely practice.
"Ash will be here in a moment, she's indisposed." That was the Matriarch, Ash's great-grandmother, and the oldest woman of the clan. "And you can wipe that proud grin off your face, Knaps. She's doing all the work."
"Until the child is born, Matriarch, ma'am." Knaps' grin moved into a softer smile. Ash had presented him to her family as the father of her child since the genetics agreed. Although the clan knew he was a clone, most hadn't put the informational possibilities together. It didn't matter to Knaps or to Ash and apparently didn't matter to anyone who had thought about it, like the Matriarch. "We've already agreed that I'll be doing most of the care." He shrugged. "A pilot is more valuable than an engineer, plus I can work planetside, in the office."
Knaps had already met several of the family's children; they kept a room in the office, brightly painted and filled with toys, with a large, round pillow, for the youngest children of the clan. He ducked his head to the round, little woman with a mind as mathematically brilliant as the stars. "Besides, I haven't had enough hugs in my life." He had been delighted to discover that children loved to hug, to be held, to cuddle. Already the others in the office tended to let him deal with a crying child.
The Matriarch patted him on the cheek with a wrinkled hand. "She won't be able to fly the last month, maybe month and a half, except small local shipments." She handed him some flimsis. "This is your itinerary for today. You'll be in Athualla's Hope for this flight; it's smaller than Ash's ship, but more economical. The freight is small and light." She shrugged and looked skyward. "Anutarian fairy flies if you can believe that."
Knaps was thumbing through the papers. "Time sensitive cargo? Why? And what's the repair history on this ship?"
"A wedding decoration; make sure to collect certifications of neuter or Customs will refuse importation. Last three pages, Knaps, dear."
The Matriarch called almost everyone 'dear' but Knaps enjoyed it more than most and smiled each time. It felt like home; like Anyah or Dan in his arms late at night, like running his fingers over Ash's belly, like rest and water after battle. It felt right and good and refreshing.
"The Hope is a tight little ship and there shouldn't be any problems. Your main work will be monitoring and maintaining cargo tolerances."
"Last maintenance check was only a tenday past. Malakeen." Knaps said as he ran a finger over the records, nodding. Malakeen was a knowledgeable mechanic and hard worker who didn't try short cuts.
The Matriarch paused, peering at him with kind, pale-blue eyes. "Are you looking forward to null?" She asked quietly, her voice not extending into the rest of the office, as she gently patted his thigh next to the nothing that was what remained after war.
"Yes, Matriarch," he spoke no louder than her. "More than almost anything else I can think of." He glanced toward the 'fresher as Ash emerged. "Almost."
"The Hope is an older ship, Knaps; the first one we owned. Many of the repairs and modifications are evident as bars, pipes, cables; welding in the corridors and cabins. Wonderful catch-holds or spring-boards." She watched him; smiling as he understood and his eyes widened at the implications. "Enjoy flying, my dear boy."
Seven months after the evacuation of Kaliida Station
Ash came into the apartment a little later than she'd originally thought but Knaps was waiting for her though he'd already tucked Anyeh and Dan into their beds. She sighed deeply and sat next to him; he pulled her closer.
"How was your trip?" He asked after a while and several deep sighs from her.
"Jester was on Coruscant. Chopper made sure he was at the sabacc game and Jester finally knows," she said softly.
"A good trip then, Ash. I'm glad." She seemed quieter than normal and Knaps waited, knowing there was more on her mind.
"He cried." She seemed about to cry as well. Ash had told him she cried a lot when she was pregnant and he shouldn't worry about that. The Matriarch had told him the same so Knaps didn't worry too much at her emotional outbursts.
Softly Knaps rubbed her back. The baby was large enough to cause backaches. Knaps had experienced how much she cried during her pregnancy already but this seemed slightly different.
"Of course he cried, Ash." Knaps explained. "He's a clone and a trooper and this is something beyond his wildest dreams."
"He asked if I could keep him informed about the child." Ash was crying now, silent, large tears rolling down her cheeks.
"As much as possible." Knaps pulled her into his side to comfort her. She tried to pull her legs up, but that was an impossibility now with her belly so he lifted her legs over his lap and held her to his chest. "Every time you go to Coruscant, you leave a message in some way. He gave you some contacts?"
She nodded. "He said to keep Chopper informed." She smiled wryly. "Chopper, I'm sure, knows everything. Jester also asked that I keep Sketch in the Coruscant Guards informed about my health." She paused. "Your brothers are wonderful men; kind and brave. But they are deficient."
"How are they deficient, Ash?" Knaps shivered, wondering if she was going to find a new man, a non-clone.
"They are deficient in having their own lives, Knaps. They want so little and it's too much for them to request." Tears rolled down her cheeks.
They sat together in their thoughts until the sun rose the next morning.
Nine months after the evacuation of Kaliida Station
Knaps wore fingerless gloves of soft nerfhide in space most of the time. The palms were double-layered against the impact of smacking against a bar and roughened to provide friction for turning himself down a corridor by grabbing the corner, yet allowed sensitivity and dexterity in his fingers. He delighted in pushing himself off a wall and catching Ash in his arms, holding her, kissing her, pressing his evermore sensitive fingers against her belly, as they soared down a corridor in null gravity.
He teased her; telling her she must have swallowed a bolo ball and calling the developing child 'Bolo'. She might have taken offense – the Matriarch later informed him - except he was so obviously excited and took such pleasure and pride in touching her, in holding her and kissing her. In making love with her once she'd assured him it would be fine until the last several weeks.
Ash told Knaps she had seen Chopper several times on Coruscant and he always tried to make sure that Jester was there; made sure that she and Jester had some private time together at the end of an evening of sabacc when he was there. Ash thought Chopper might have known Jester was the father beforehand – why else delay meeting Jester alone until after most of the game was done, after the others had left the room? And he had been on Naboo. After she told Jester it would have been obvious in his behavior toward her. Chopper most often gave them his room and he usually had a room alone.
Knaps had nodded when she told him about Chopper's behavior. "He has probably guessed, Ash. But as long as no one tells him, as long as no one confirms that you're carrying a clone trooper's child, he can ignore it. It's only his opinion, after all, and he doesn't have to report his opinions to a superior officer."
"Is it that important, Knaps?
He signed. "Probably. There are rules against fraternization. The Kaminoans trademarked our DNA; we're a trademarked commodity."
She'd gotten sick then; less over a kicking child and more over the enforced slavery of so many men; so many good men like her husband.
When the baby was born, Ash had yelled and screamed until Knaps' hands were bloody from his own anxiety. He'd been despondent but resigned when she'd screamed she'd never have sex again, bewildered when she yelled she hated men and by space and starlight she was going to become a woman-lover.
Knaps had held her, supporting her shoulders and back, hoping only for a healthy child. He'd give up the sex with her; he hadn't had that much sex before her. She could move as many female lovers as she wanted that would fit into the apartment… so long as he could stay with Anyeh and Dan and this new baby, so long as Bolo was healthy. So long as they were a family.
"Anything, Ash. Anything, just please, everything be all right," he murmured, sometimes to her and sometimes to himself until Bolo, a squalling, red-faced, wrinkled boy was delivered into the Matriarch's equally wrinkled hands.
They named him Knathen Jesten Athualla but called him Bolo. Knaps thought he was the most fantastic child the galaxy. Ash returned to her more normal self after several weeks, seducing a confused but happy Knaps.
"You're not going to move in all the women-lovers?" He had asked.
"Knaps, where did you get such a silly idea?" She had risen off his chest to look him in the eyes with a confused expression.
Knaps just shrugged, thinking it better not to remind her. "From somewhere," he mumbled as he ran his fingers over her skin, over her belly.
"I don't want any woman-lover; I want you in my bed," she declared and Knaps only gave her a silly grin.
Life on Naboo was good.
Order 66
"Knaps," Ash called him over the ships comm. "We need you here. Soonest, please."
Knaps, closed down the cargo hold board controls, switching to automatic and pushed off the console. Cargo would be good for longer than it would take to finish delivery and they were in Ash's ship where he oversaw all repairs and maintenance. He swung his way to the cockpit, pushing off the walls and headknockers in the corridor under low-G, to see Ash, pale-faced, and Lirane staring wide-eyed, ignoring the readout at the navigator's station.
"What's happened, Ash?" He asked. From their faces, it looked bad. Like a death in the family. Not the children, he worried, nor the matriarch, not young Gajer on his first solo, not old Kalamya who played a mean game of dejarik, not….
Ash shook her head in bewilderment. "The Jedi attempted a coup and assassination attempt on Chancellor Palpatine. The GAR has invaded the Jedi Temple for treason. All Jedi are to be considered criminals and reported immediately to the army."
Knaps frowned. "That doesn't sound right. Are you sure that was the message?"
She nodded, "But that wasn't the important part." She turned her head up toward Knaps, swaying gently from his momentum as he pushed himself into the co-pilot's seat and pulled on the restraints. "Matriarch says my favor chit was used to bring someone from Coruscant." She paused, "a Togrutan woman."
Knaps tilted his head, remembering when he'd first landed on Naboo more than two years ago now. "The commander of the 501st. Commander Tano."
"Commander means she's a Jedi," whispered Lirane. "Doesn't it?"
"Yes," replied Knaps absently. "What's the word, Captain?" He was all trooper now, waiting orders.
"What do you," Ash glanced at her cousin, "both of you suggest?"
"Unless there's reason, we continue the run." Knaps spoke first after a glance at Lirane; although navigator ranked the engineer, she was deferring to his experience. "We're almost to Pelpont at any rate and the Matriarch has everything well in hand, I suspect."
Lirane nodded her agreement. "House rules, Ash. Finish the first contract before entering the second."
"Those are my thoughts," replied Ash as she glanced at Knaps. "I wanted to make sure there was no reason to do otherwise."
"Cautiously though, Ash." Knaps spoke as his eyes contemplated the bright infinity that was hyperspace. "It seems very wrong."
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Thank you to all my reviewers.