Post-Order 66

Changes

Kev ran down the hall of the barracks. Only a few troopers were awake on this level this early and they glared at Kev as he whipped around corners at full speed in full armor.

Sergeant Chopper had late night duty. He had always preferred late duty, it gave him time with the data pad to study the droids. Now, there was no need for the droid research although Chopper took the data pad out of long habit.

Kev hoped to get to the sergeant's barracks before the auditors. New rules had come out just that morning and most of the troopers knew them when the auditors handed out the authorization flimsi and went through their barracks. He slid slightly on the steel deck as he turned the corner and took a shortcut through the showers. There was no one in view and Kev moved to the Chopper's barracks door.

Nervously he looked at the lock. Would his combination still be good? Chopper hadn't said he'd changed it and he had – long ago – told Kev that friends were always welcome. Sergeant Chopper had shared his barracks with several troopers since then, good men who had improved by being with Chopper, but currently he bunked alone. Kev punched in his code from long ago and far away.

"Please, please," he whispered to himself in the eternity before the door green-lit and unlocked.

He glanced around as he entered the room and gave a small smile as he locked the door behind him. Sergeant Chopper liked neatness and the barracks was as inspection-ready as when Kev had first bunk with the taciturn trooper. No matter how many things changed, Chopper's barracks would always be inspection-ready.

Inspection-ready; that meant the locker case was unlocked. The lid was still down and that was good. The auditors hadn't been here yet.

Normally, contraband would be considered something forbidden: currency, war souvenirs, droid parts. But, apparently, rules had changed as they'd gone from being Grand Army of the Republic troopers to being the Imperial Army. As the auditors went through the barracks they had confiscated everything.

"Anything not specifically or generally assigned by Imperial Army Command is prohibited." The shorter auditor had intoned as they'd used an override key to enter Kev's barracks. That was simply a show of power; Sergeant Zeer was with them, a stony lack of expression on his face. Kev, Kru, Torque and the four other troopers had shot to attention. 56-Target, one of the few remaining Spaarti, had opened his mouth to ask a question but Zeer had given a tiny shake of his head and a downward glance. For a Spaarti, 56-Target was brilliant and he simply closed his lips knowing Sergeant Zeer or the squad would explain it to him later so he could understand.

It wasn't the GAR anymore, it was the Imperial Army and the rules were changing.

The auditors had confiscated Kev's Phase I chestplate. When the Phase II armor had been issued, Kev had set his magnificently painted Phase 1 chestplate with magnetic hooks and hung it on the wall next to a picture of him and Ash that Sketch had also done.

His painted armor symbolized the best in him emerging from white formlessnes; the individuality of the man, Kev, shining through the ranks of white-armored clones and he loved looking at it. It was a challenge trying to live up to his armor, but Kev loved that too. Marker had liked it before he died at Geonosis. Kru and Torque thought it was great and the newer guys were in awed worship of it, touching the white often - usually before battle - for luck.

The drawing had been of friends from one night at sabacc when Ash had been there. The picture showed Kev seated in a chair with a big, sheepish grin showing a natural 23 with the cards in his hand; Ash was leaning over his shoulder, one arm hugging him, with a matching grin. Several other troopers were in the background. It had been when she discovered he cheated in her favor. She had laughingly declared herself forfeit and would bring chocolates the next time. She had too; enough chocolates for each trooper to take a box back to the barracks and share with his squad. That had been a good night. Even Kru had quietly asked Chopper and Ash if he could be dealt into the game.

The auditor had narrowed his eyes and turned to Kev, standing at attention next to his bunk.

"Who's this?" He pointed to Ash's image.

"A woman from the port, sir," Kev answered as vaguely as he dared in Zeer's presence and as honestly as he could. "A pilot. She gave me a kiss." He pointed to the cards in his hand. "To share my luck when I got a natural."

Neither Kru nor Torque, nor even Zeer added any further information about Ash.

The auditor had seemed satisfied with Kev's answer as he ripped down the drawing. "No defacement of Imperial property," he declared as he tossed Kev's painted chestplate and the crumpled flimsi into the converted plunk-droid that followed him. Then he opened Kru's locker and began tossing out Kru's collection of oddities… something from each planet Kru had set foot on… a pebble, a leaf, a piece of grass, dried in a coil. Altogether it was a tiny handful of belongings, seemingly too small to cause the anguish in Kru's eyes.

"Plink, plink," called the droid-bin as each item landed.

Did one's highest aspirations always go plink, plink when discarded? Did one's memories mean nothing more than 'plink, plink'?

Kev opened Chopper's locker case. "I'm sorry, vod." Going through another trooper's locker was forbidden, especially a higher ranking trooper. Kev scanned with his eyes. Mostly… no… all assigned supplies except for the vid chips. There were three and Kev grabbed them, shoving them into the palm of one glove. "Where's the harmonica, Chopper?" He muttered to himself, "they'll take that for sure." He ran his fingers along the sides and bottom of the case, reaching his fingertips into spaces between med kit, armor cloth and plas-wrapped rations. Nothing.

Kev looked around the room again. Seven of the eight bunks were closed off and Chopper's armor was on-duty with him. Kev moved to the console with a frown. Chopper wouldn't know about the new rules; so he wouldn't have hidden the harmonica. Nothing! But his eyes caught sight of another chip in the vid slot and his fingers removed it, absently tucking it into his belt as his eyes kept searching for the harmonica.

Kev was moving back toward the door, frustrated by his lack of success and knowing he was running out of time. He looked at the hollow spot in the wall next to Chopper's bunk; where Chopper had fought and beaten his nightmares, where the metal of the Resolute had given way to human flesh. Kev gave a snort. "Wonder what the auditor will say about that, Sergeant? Defacement of Imperial prop…"

His words halted as Kev caught the tiny glint of metal next to Chopper's pillow. He quickly grabbed the harmonica and slipped it into the neck of his body glove. Uncomfortable, yes, but the auditors had already searched him. He pushed the pillow back into inspection ready position and was at the door when he noticed the medals. His fingers reached out and plucked the one Chopper had received from Orto Plutonia then he pushed the others together to cover the empty space it had left.

The auditors had taken Kev's first medal. They'd left the GAR medals as though the GAR and the Imperial Army were the same, as if there'd been continuity instead of the ripping apart, the sundering that had happened and continued to happen. But the medal from Orto Plutonia had been taken from Kev's medal display by an auditor's chubby fingers with no explanation.

Kev quickly took a last look. He'd already spent too much time here. Opening the door, Kev glanced out and seeing no one, slipped out, closing and locking the sergeant's barracks behind him. He was moving down the corridor.

"Plink, plink."

Kev turned into the shower room, looking for a place to hide something in case he was caught. He slipped one of the chips into the corner underside of one of the benches. Then he kept moving. As he made his way through the corridors to the hangar deck, he found small, unnoticeable places to hide the chips.

Only the medal and the harmonica remained. He had hoped Chopper would be in the hangar but CT-88-0691, one of the new guys who actually preferred his full designation rather than a name, told him Sergeant Chopper had already been called back to his barracks for auditing.

There were plenty of spaces in the hangar deck to hide something, but too many of them were liable to damage the harmonica though he slipped the medal into the underside of the loading exo-skeleton's holding frame as he moved through the hangar back to the main compartments of the barracks.

He'd have to chance keeping the harmonica with him until the auditors were gone; until he saw Chopper again. Kev was coming onto back-to-back shifts. He probably wouldn't see Chopper for a couple of days.

"I'll keep it safe, Chopper," he whispered to the air as though his brother could hear him. Chopper had lost a lot during Order 66. He had lost his entire squad during Operation Knightfall then he and Fives had taken out the commander. Too many of the 501st troopers hated him for that and Kev wondered what they would have done faced with their Jedi commander. He knew Chopper and Fives hadn't had any choice. Kev had no wonder at the darkness of Chopper's mien and attitude since then. He was no longer the commander's second and Captain Rex couldn't bear to see him yet Commander Appo didn't trust him. He had no volunteers for a squad and Commander Appo hadn't assigned him any troopers.

Kev had asked; he'd told Kru he was going to volunteer for Chopper's squad and Kru had only bowed his head, saying nothing. But when Kev had found Chopper in the gym, Chopper had shaken his head.

"I appreaciate the offer, Kev and I know you're an excellent sergeant's second but I think it's better for me to be without a squad for the moment. If the commander isn't giving me men then I don't think anyone should volunteer." Chopper had shrugged as he sat on the work-out bench, worrying his inner cheek then turning his face toward the floor with a thoughtful frown, absently rubbing the scars on the side of his face. "Let things settle down first, find the direction we're headed." He looked grimly into Kev's face. "I didn't like Operation Knightfall, Kev, and I'd like to think I'm not as gullible as when we were fresh out of the vats."

Kev froze at the words; they were almost treasonous. Without looking around because Chopper would have his back, Chopper would cover for him, Kev nodded. "I... I have my doubts as well."

What to do about the harmonica? Chopper stared at the small fistful of music in his hand.

It had been disconcerting to find that someone had been in his barracks when he'd been called up for auditing. He had noted the medals first, haphazardly strewn on the board instead of the neat pattern he'd left them. Instantly he'd noticed the silver one from Orto Plutonia missing but he hadn't known what the auditors were looking for until they couldn't find it. As they invaded his gear, Chopper's eyes flicked toward the console where the chip of Riyo usually was. Empty. He glanced at a place near his pillow, it had been straightened, the harmonica gone.

Always observe. Chopper reminded himself. Find out what is going on first.

"CT-9523," one of the auditors had questioned after finding nothing of what they'd been looking for, "Sergeant, have you any belongings not assigned you?"

"I do not believe I have anything of that nature." He prevaricated, suddenly wondering which of his former squad mates had already been audited; wondering which of his former squad mates - which of his surviving friends - would dare such a thing. He thought a moment, his brows making a harsh line above his mis-matched eyes. "I have never owned or had long-term possession of anything not assigned to me."

It was true. Orto Plutonia was a medal for military service. General Halcyon had assigned him the harmonica with the word - it could be construed as an order - to use it. The chips - they were memory files of what his helmet had recorded which he had transferred to keep them safe in the event his helmet was destroyed.

He frowned, remembering the exceptions. "Except for a few chocolates and a deck of sabacc cards. Both were gifts. The chocolates were eaten and the cards were lost in battle."

The auditors hadn't been satisfied but after an intensive search they'd found nothing because there was nothing for them to find.

Three days later, a day after the auditors had left the barracks of the 501st and moved on to a company just coming into Coruscant and likely unaware of the new rules, Chopper was in the mess when Kev moved quickly to his table and sat across from him. Without saying a word, he had reached over and passed the harmonica to Chopper's tray next to a soup spoon. Both men ignored it and, without a word of conversation, Kev went to join Kru when most of Zeer's squad came in. Chopper gave him a nod as though they's had a good conversation instead of the silence that filled the mess.

Chopper looked down at the harmonica with sadness. General Halcyon - Kalinda, his mind reminded him - had been reported as terminated by two ARCs, Shadow Squad listed as traitor. She'd been kind; she and Shadow Squad had been good friends.

"The years yet to come," Chopper murmured with a regretful shake of his head, as his fingers caressed the gift from a Jedi, "will be no better than the days of Order 66."

They'd take this small thing away from him when they discovered it and Chopper had no doubts they would find it. The chips he could destroy after downloading the images back into his helmet. The medal from Orto Plutonia he would give to Kev who's his own medal of his first assigned battle had been taken. But what could he do about the harmonica?

Senator Riyo Chuchi woke the next morning with tears in her eyes. She hadn't really ceased crying in the weeks since the death of Padme, since the execution of the Jedi and the destruction of the temple. Since Bail Organa had come and told her of troopers firing on children. Since seeing Captain Rex to one side of that black-robed figure in the Senate council as he enumerated the names of Jedi conspirators confirmed dead.

She wanted Chopper.

She wanted him to explain but mostly Riyo wanted him to comfort her, to hold her in sorrow.

Jedi Ahsoka Tano had been one of the dead traitors named by the general, Sith Lord Darth Vader, as dead. Riyo thought she saw Captain Rex's face pale and his eyes close but her own eyes were too blurred with tears to be sure. Surely, if any Jedi escaped it would have been her who'd once been commander of the 501st? She who had led them, fought with them, bled with them and loved them as much as anyone could love?

Riyo put her hands to her face, covering her eyes.

The tone of her door sounded indicating a visitor. Her heart leapt for a moment, then she remembered Chopper would simply enter his home, a bemused smile on his lips at the very concept of 'his home'. Her shoulders slumped and she decided not to answer. A second tone, accessable only by the officer of the day, told her she had a delivery and the troopers would keep it downstairs at the desk for her.

When Riyo felt strong enough to face the troopers, she went downstairs to claim the delivery. Passing by Padme's apartment to see an open door, she glanced inside to see the room empty and a make-ready team preparing it for some new senator. Riyo choked back a quiet noise as she continued to the desk in the lobby.

"We found it in the gardens," the desk officer said as he set a small rectangular box onto the counter. "It didn't come through any delivery but it had your name," he gestured to the letters and Riyo, seeing Chopper's even writing on the lid, blinked in shock and nodded to the trooper. "We ran it through security, of course and inspected everything but found nothing. Possibly from some admirer..." He paused, shrugged and slid the box toward her. She took it in her hand and turned but he had one more thing to say. "Senator," his voice was gentle, as if he was trying to be kind but didn't know how after everything that had happened, "protocol is we check all electronics as well. It's... uh... good music but some is sad so you might want to hold off on listening."

Riyo nodded, saying something appreciative as she turned back toward her apartment. She felt oddly violated by knowing the troopers had listened to the chip. Once inside the safety of her apartments, she opened the small box with trembing fingers. Inside was a single scrap of flimsi, a computer chip and a harmonica.

Chopper's harmonica, she realized. Her fingers touched it and in her mind it was still warm from the tunes he had played in happier times; when he'd bared his skin to her expecting only disgust and disdain yet still brave enought to show her, when he had escorted Commander Tano to some senatorial reception neither General Skywalker nor Captain Rex could attend and had laughingly shared his dances between Ahsoka, Padme and Riyo. And the last time she'd seen him, only a week before the entire orderly world of the Republic had collapsed into chaos, when she'd told him it was time.

My lady love… the note began but there was nothing further; as if his mind had been too full of what needed saying or too bereft of words at what had happened, at what he'd done.

My lady love…As if everything that needed saying was in those three words.

Slipping the chip into the household slot, Riyo sat on the sofa. Music, his music, rolled over her. She buried her face in her hands; the message the troopers had missed so evident to her.

It was the first song he'd ever played for her; a tune of sorrow and pain. A trooper dying on the battlefield, alone. He had told her that before.

He'd never said that it was his own song.

Sigh - I do love angst. You noticed? Anyway, next chapter will be in a week or so and (if the characters allow) should be 2nd to final chapter. It's been a long haul but we're in the final stretch. Chopper is ready to retire!

General Kalinda Halcyon and Shadow Squad is courtesy of Laloga (so is Chopper's harmonica) who paired up with Chopper in her story 'Better'. She's written so much more about Shadow Squad so go. Read.

I love your reviews (hint, hint).