Please be aware that some content of this chapter may be deemed M rated

Forty Nine

Gemma moved the gown from her shoulders and took a step forward. With little effort she slid into the water and began swimming. Her only thoughts were the repetitious one, two, three, breathe as she lapped the pool.

It was 0715 hours. She had traded the running track for the pool that morning, new recruits being put through their paces by the Sarge. She was glad for the change in her exercise regime. The morning sickness had abated and at ten weeks she was yet to 'show' any signs of her little secret. She hadn't gone to Alderaan with the entourage of Politicians. Senator Carr had been Oriis' representative and she was happy to have time to herself, working with Sionver and Reed, organising laboratory equipment to be sent from Coruscant to her old home world.

Commander Fox, entered the enclosed swimming area and watched the perfect rhythm of her arms moving up and down the 50 metre pool. He stood at one end and waited for her to finish a lap.

"Ma'am," he said as she stood waist deep in the water. He noticed her bathing costume, the neck line lower than he had expected as she took her cap off and dipped her head back, letting the water comb it's length.

"Commander, what brings you down here so early?"

"You do Ma'am," he replied with a smirk.

Gemma made her way towards the stairs. Fox grabbed her towel and handed it to her, all the time keeping his eyes focussed slightly above her head.

"Thank you Fox. Is there a problem?" She instantly felt nervous. He was there officially, and warning bells began to sound.

"Ma'am." His head bowed slightly. "HQ have asked that you attend a meeting regarding some questions raised concerning your father, I believe."

"My father?" Gem wiped the towel across her face and turned as he held out her gown. "Thank you," she said quietly as he guided her arms in and shrugged it over her shoulders.

"You wouldn't know what sort of questions Commander?" Gem knew if anyone knew anything about what was happening within the GAR, it was Fox.

"No Ma'am, I haven't heard a thing."

Gemma's face prickled. What if someone had discovered her research project back on Oriis? What if someone had stumbled across the lab without her knowledge? Fox was watching her closely. She decided to change tact.

"Have you heard anything from Alderaan Commander? Or perchance, Kashyyyk?" He smiled and shook his head.

"Everything is going to plan with the Senators visit and I have heard nothing of what is happening on Kashyyyk, but I wouldn't expect too at this early stage. I hear however, the General's are keen to leave Alderaan and met up with the Captain and Commander."

Gem swung around, "the Commander?" He could sense the change of tone in her voice.

"Yes Ma'am, Commander Tano is leading the small group into Kashyyyk."

She turned from his gaze, growing tired of the pretence of interest and spoke officially.

"Well, I suppose I should speak to someone about these questions?"

"After you, Ma'am." He said as she led the way out of the swimming area.

#

Gem strode into the room at the Grand Army of the Republic headquarters.

A solid man jumped to his feet as she stopped, dressed in her long towelled robe, her hair still wet from the pool.

"Ma'am! It is indeed a pleasure," he said as he almost knocked over his caf. He looked over at Fox and seemed annoyed at her presence so early in the morning. It was 0745 hours.

"I believe you need to speak to me regarding some messages concerning my father?"

"Indeed Ma'am. Would you like to sit, some caf maybe."

"Thank you and no," she said sitting elegantly into the offered chair. Fox was dismissed and another man in grey entered. They looked at her briefly. They had met the Representative once during the briefing following the death of the Darthomir brothers. There had been subsequent rumours about her and a certain Captain, but with her relationship with the Jedi General, they had decided to 'let well enough alone,' for the time being anyway.

They could see however, why the young Captain was so smitten; she was indeed a beauty, their eyes couldn't help but follow the line of the gown, her décolletage hinting at her milky complexion lying just underneath. The more senior officer cleared his throat and spoke.

"Representative Gem, thank you for coming. We are indeed interested in some communiqués we have intercepted regarding your father."

"Please continue," she gestured with a slight nod.

He blew out a breath and continued, pulling out pieces of flimsy as he did.

"There have been several conversations regarding the procurement of artificial limbs from a prison facility. Your father was specifically asked for."

"Well, that hardly suprises me - ?" She stopped, waiting for the larger man to introduce himself properly.

"Major Sinclair, Ma'am."

"My father was an expert in cybernetics. Well renowned in fact."

"Yes, it's just that the 'facility' in question is one of interest to the Republic and one we wouldn't expect someone of your late father's reputation would be involved with."

Gem stood abruptly, making the men move quickly to their feet.

"Ma'am, if you please."

"My father's work went well beyond political agenda's gentlemen. If someone, is fortunate enough to have a doctor interested in procuring the best for his patient, then good luck to him I say. I am yet to receive any communiqués regarding such a matter and if I do, I will be sure to recommend a supplier on Oriis for the unfortunate soul who requires them. Good day to you both."

They waited for the doors to silently hiss shut before they continued.

"We need to monitor her more closely."

"Agreed."

The larger man leaned forward and pressed the commlink. "Commander Fox, report in on the double."

#

Echo had spent the past three months working on his upper body strength, waiting for his new legs to arrive. He and the doctor had been disappointed as the new warden had stopped all unnecessary supplies for an undetermined period of time.

She hid him during the day in her private rooms, he slept on her bed and read anything that he could get his hands on. Scouring through her medical library with such voracity, moving on to, and past the manuals for the medical equipment and layout of the med centre. He had familiarised himself with the air conditioning system and had postulated ways of getting out of the facility.

But once out, where did he go?

He then memorised all the mdeical transport ships in and out of the Citadel, remembering that they were mainly droids that piloted them adding another degree of difficulty in escaping. Difficult, but not impossible, for and ARC.

An ARC with both legs.

He looked down at his stumps. Some days the sight of them made him physically ill, yet on others he was buoyed by the mere fact he was alive, and then his thoughts would drift to Freya and the baby. He had counted down and knew that she would have delivered by now. He had a child out there, someone in the Universe there was a piece of him and it made him stronger, the need to stay alive and get back to them both paramount.

He hadn't divulged any other information to the doctor. He would watch her wondering what her ulterior motive for keeping him alive was. She didn't elaborate and Echo knew that if she ever double crossed him, he would have no hesitation in killing her. They continued the cat and mouse game. Their relationship remained strictly doctor/patient.

She was doing her best to find some legs. She had managed to enquire surreptitiously around some of the CIS Hospitals and Cybernetic suppliers as to where she could acquire some new limbs. She knew the make and model, just getting them sent was the issue. She could see the man was becoming impatient, and the longer it took to get them meant the inevitable physiological and more importantly psychological, set back once they were attached.

Apart from the obvious medical dilemma he posed, the growing concern was his boredom and his incessant need for nourishment. Echo knew she was giving him her rations and that she had asked for more, which to the Warden's credit he had accommodated. Echo could tell Marlo had lost weight, it was evident in her clothes, which she would hide under the white lab coat but more so in her face, which looked thin and tired.

The Warden would make unannounced visits, which meant they had to be on their toes regarding the hiding of the ARC. Echo knew where he could fit in a moment's notice, one cupboard she had removed supplies and with little help, he could crawl in and wait out the impromptu inspections. He wasn't sure who he hated more, the previous Warden or this new self-appointed character. He was Devaronian, calm and untrustworthy, ruthless but for some reason had taken a shine to the young doctor, making sure she had the extra rations she had asked for. Then one day, his affections were made clear.

This was a quid pro quo arrangement and the day had come for Marlo to reciprocate.

Echo had hidden in the cupboard and had shut his eyes listening to the two of them talk until he heard stifled sounds coming from the woman. He opened the cupboard just a fraction to see the woman on her knees, and was horrified to see the creature grinding himself against her from behind. Marlo was petrified, but not of what she was experiencing, but of what would happen if the soldier decided to be chivalrous. She looked desperate and Echo was caught in a position he had never been in before.

What did he do?

He knew what he should do, but then that would compromise not only himself but also Marlo. He wasn't the fit fighting machine he once was either.

'Fek my legs,' he thought.

She looked into his eyes and shook her head quickly mouthing 'no' as she continued her plight. She looked away from the face staring back at her and closed her eyes, the thought of 'him' watching more unbearable than the act itself.

Then it was over. The Warden left satisfied and Marlo returned to the business of being the prison doctor, opening the cupboard door as she went past, saying nothing of what just happened.

It wasn't until later that night that she finally spoke to him, bringing in the extra food that Echo just looked at.

"I suppose you think I am a whore," she said blankly.

"No, no I don't." He wasn't stupid, Echo knew what she had done was to protect him and keep him alive.

"Well, believe me, I've done worse." Echo could see that there was more to this woman in the white gown than he first thought. It was at that moment he decided to give a little something back. Going against all military protocol for a captured soldier, he cleared his throat.

"Echo, my name is Echo."

Marlo looked up startled, then smiled.

"Well, nice to meet you Echo," she replied. They continued to sit in silence, eating the food that had come at a hefty price.

#