Barton IV

Rebel Cell.

Donka sat listening with the clone trooper; she had to admit the young woman's voice was beautiful. She hadn't recognised the name but then she had never been a music fan. She sat and watched his face. He was restless during the night and they called for her but now he had settled. She wasn't sure if it was the music or not but from his rapid eye movements, it would appear he was remembering something; a part of her hoped it was a good memory, wherever he was.

"Has it helped?" Finor asked as he handed her a Caf.

"I don't know but he's settled down again and we have REM which is a good thing."

"What did Fulcrum say about him?" He handed her the caf.

"Just to be careful, if he was willing to help, he could be very helpful. Apparently there are a number of Rogue clones out there, helping some people who are unhappy with the Empire but they seem to want to get their brothers out more than bring down the Empire."

"I suppose they have seen the Empire and how it works, first hand and know their limitations. And from what you say they don't expect to live as long as other humans." He shook his head. He was getting as bad as Donca, with his unexpected sympathy for this man but he could not conceive of a lifespan half as long as others of his race. He was surprised they had not rebelled against the Republic earlier.

"They also said if he believes in the Empire we could have trouble. Especially if he was one of the trained Special Forces."

"Special Forces?"

"Yes. They had troopers that were trained from birth. One man army. Fulcrum said even the Kaminoans were initially afraid of them."

"It doesn't sound like the Stormtroopers I've seen. Some of them couldn't hit a barn door at five paces."

"They weren't clones."

"You had a very long chat."

"It was very informative."

She took a long drink from her caf; her expression said this discussion was closed.

"Who's singing?" He asked.

"A young woman from Coruscant." She replied, "I searched for the song he was singing. It wasn't easy. You know me, I'm tone deaf but it does seem to be soothing him."

"Who would have thought? A clone soldier bred to fight, liking opera."

Finor listened, he wasn't tone deaf.

.

Coruscant

"Who authorised you to launch an attack on Vallt?" Amedda said with a snarl as he and Krennic left the Strategic Planning Amphitheater together followed by two red-robed guards at a discrete distance.

"It was a military decision." replied Krennic, not looking at him.

"On whose authority?" Amedda demanded.

Krennic looked at him out of the corner of his eye.

"You said you didn't want details. Have you changed your mind?"

"I don't want to know." He emphasised that, "However, intelligence reaches me and I am obliged to become involved."

They continued walking.

"Who?"

"The admiral in command of the sector. It was the deal made with Zerpen, and a way of keeping safe anything Galen Erso revealed to Vallt's Separatist regime regarding Republic warships in that sector."

Amedda grunted loudly, letting Krennic know how he felt. "Erso didn't have any intelligence to that effect."

"It was just to be sure."

"Vallt's return to the Republic has worked in our favour." Amedda's grudgingly admitted. "I understand the world can be used as a staging area for offensives into nearby systems. However, you need to respect the chain of command, Lieutenant Commander. Otherwise you jeopardise your position in the cell."

"I have to be allowed to do my job, Vice Chancellor."

Amedda grunted again.

"I have been looking into Dr. Erso's research." Amedda stated, "He may prove valuable to the project."

"I'm glad you agree."

"So why hasn't he already been recruited? Why the delay?"

"He's still weighing up his options. He needs more time."

"Time? You know of our recent defeat at Ryloth?"

"I've heard."

"And Bothawui?"

"Most unfortunate."

"Then I'm sure you'll agree time is growing short. Can we force his hand?"

"We can't. He's rejected previous offers from the military. The fact he chose prison over freedom shows that he can't be coerced. He doesn't approve of bureaucracy, and prefers to control as much of his research as possible."

"He was a Zerpen employee," Amedda pointed out.

"Only because Zerpen promised to leave him alone."

"I prefer people without principles," Amedda said.

Krennic had already noted that.

"Do Zerpen want him back?"

"Yes, but we've persuaded them not to make any offers. Dr. Erso was the price Zerpen paid for the Vallt facility returning to them."

"Is there no one who can help us? His wife, perhaps."

"I'm afraid not." Krennic replied shaking his head.

"Just what is she to him—she's no scientist— is she a minder?"

"A listener— translator. Often in charge of transcribing and organising his notes."

Amedda growled.

"Dr. Erso was your idea and he eludes you. Without the weapon, our project is little more than an artificial planetoid."

Krennic thought for a few seconds before continuing. "Vice Chancellor, I understand fishing is a very popular pastime in your homeworld."

"Of course. But Champala's seas are not what they used to be," Amedda was wondering where Krennic was going with this.

"For Erso, we need a proper lure, proper bait, even a proper device to land the catch and he is swimming directly toward our net." Krennic paused, then added: "Galen Erso is destined to join the project. He just doesn't know it yet."

.

500 Republica

Hela stood outside the opulent 500 Republica yet again but she was not seeing the Chancellor this time, although she was here at his request, repaying one of his debts it would appear. Someone who served in the Senate and did him a favour. Some votes had been made. This made her feel uncomfortable but she still felt unable to refuse. She had never met them but apparently they had requested her, and her alone to perform some solos.

It appeared she was in demand for personal parties after her appearance at the Chancellor's.

The Apartments here were as lavish as any that could be found in Coruscant's most prestigious building, she expected no less. It would be something akin to the Chancellors or Padme's apartment. She was early, so she could set up.

"My dear." He walked towards her. She did not recognise him but he obviously knew her. "I so enjoyed your last performance, especially when you sidestepped the Tenor. He's an idiot. They should employ someone with more….panache."

"This is a reunion? Am I correct?" She asked.

"The Futures Program."

She nodded in acknowledgement, uneasy with thought that Krennic may be here, but she could not refuse the Chancellor, "I assumed, therefore, that you wanted some of the quieter solos, so as not to disturb the flow of conversation."

"Yes. Something like that."

"I thought these would be appropriate." She held out her datapad, showing the songs she had chosen.

"Perfect! Do you need anywhere to change?"

She dropped her cloak dramatically and spread her arms, indicating the emerald green, silky, clinging dress she wore, albeit personally designed by one of the Core's foremost young designers. She was trying to get them more notice among the older set. His eyes told her it meant nothing to him.

"My voice should be all I need." She continued.

"Of course. My mistake."

He led her to a large reception area with a raised dais. She looked around; the Apartment was even more lavish than the Chancellor's.

"Perfect!" She echoed him and began setting up her music. "Three sets okay?" She asked. "If you need me to stop, just signal."

"Yes. Yes. Perfect." He said distractedly, as his guests began to arrive.

.

Having completed one set, Hela took a break and she was invited to mingle, introducing her to the first few people they met but then abandoning her. Overhearing the conversations, she learned that most of the guests were scientists doing research and their conversation went way over her head; although there were some in military uniform, they were analysts and tacticians and equally as bad. She didn't speak in the numbers and equations they did, she understood music.

Hela meandered through the guests, avoiding some of the ones who were inebriated. The alcohol was flowing freely; although she did get cornered by an Iktotchi with a battering-ram of a forehead and a pair of polished downturned horns.

"Call me Dagio." He lurched towards her. She envisioned being impaled on the horns and could not take her eyes off them, that gave him the wrong idea. She sidestepped him.

"Unfortunately, I must go; I can see someone I need to talk to. Perhaps later." She pulled up the train of her dress and headed away quickly ignoring his voice but not sure where she was going. She turned the corner and almost bumped into a young auburn haired woman, chatting to a green skinned and tattooed Mirialan. Hela managed to stop before she knocked them both over and stood with them.

"I'm sorry." She apologised.

"Dagio?" Asked the Mirialan.

"I think that's what he said his name was."

"He can't take his liquor. I'm Reeva Demesne." She held out a hand.

Hela took it.

"Beautiful songs."

"Thank you. That's why I'm here. Hela Nim."

The auburn haired woman turned to face her; "My daughter loves your lullabies. Any problems sleeping and we just put them on, they help so much."

"That's so gratifying. I recorded them in honour of my mother and father."

"Lyra Erso."

"Pleased to meet you."

Hela saw the glint of a stone at the woman's neck and stared, the woman's hand went to it.

"Is that a Kyber crystal?" asked Hela.

"Yes. My mother gave it to me. It symbolises the Force. The force is an amazing thing."

"It surely is. My planet was saved by the Jedi. Naboo. But I have only seen these," she pointed to the crystal, "in their lightsabers. Master Obi..."

A commotion of loud voices interrupted her and drew their attention away from it.

.

Krennic originally had no plans to attend the Futures Program reunion until he learned Galen would be there.

He found a vantage point in the room and looked around, then he heard her. He had not expected to see her here.

With so much drinking going on, he thought, one could almost forget that the Republic was at war.

Krennic began to circulate among them, interacting with friends and colleagues he hadn't seen in years, all the time watching Galen Erso. Surprised, he saw Hela with Lyra Erso speaking to Reeva Demesne, whom Krennic had drafted into the shield generator program. They were a vibrant three in a room full of frumpy researchers.

Krennic still wasn't used to seeing Galen with his wife; Galen had never appeared interested in women.

Once he had persuaded Galen to join the project, was she going to be a problem?

He listened to a small group of people speaking of Galen, and glancing at him.

He moved closer to hear a computer engineer, Dagio Belcoze, ranting, inaccurately about Galen's imprisonment on Vallt. He was a member of Dr. Gubacher's artificial intelligence team, designing enhanced overseer droids for the battle station labour force.

The near-human was ranting that the Republic should simply bomb the Separatist capital world of Raxus out of existence—and Galen Erso was an insult to the goal of victory.

Krennic watched as Belcoze staggered up to Galen, who was a centimetre or so taller than Dagio, but several kilos lighter.

"Here he is," the Iktotchi slurred. "The prodigal kyber specialist who refuses to join the cause. Perhaps he thinks he's too intelligent to work with the rest of us. He'd rather work on a Separatist world than serve the Republic."

Galen appeared to ignore the allegation. "You're drunk, Dagio," he said. "Which comes as no surprise. What does, is the fact that you're so obviously deluded."

Dagio became angrier.

"The elusive Erso. I'd like to hear you deny the charges of treason publicly." Galen shut his eyes for a moment. "I've nothing to deny, and nothing more to say to you."

Krennic spotted Lyra winding through the onlookers to reach Galen as he turned to leave. At the same time, Reeva Demesne attempted to mediate by stepping between Galen and Dagio and stretching out her arms. Hela stood a little bit further back away from them, as if indicating this is nothing to do with me.

"Gentlemen, please," Reeva said, "this is not an occasion for recriminations."

Dagio sidestepped, outmanoeuvring her, and spun Galen around by the shoulder. "Just what intelligence did you share with them while you were allegedly in custody?"

Galen's face coloured. "I told them what everyone here already knows, that Dagio Belcoze is a second-rate slicer who for years has taken credit for coding written by far more gifted beings."

Krennic placed himself quickly behind Dagio's left shoulder, as he hurled the icy drink into Galen's face.

Krennic had already seen the drink was a feint and Dagio's free hand was cocked, ready to launch.

When Galen fell back, the Iktotchi launched a powerful jab towards the side of Galen's jaw.

Galen was ahead of him; he slipped to one side and raised his arm. Dagio's punch deflected and Galen came in under Dagio's extended arm with a powerful cross that connected solidly with the Iktotchi's cheekbone and sent him stumbling back, confused and bleeding.

A few of Dagio's friends held him back, as Lyra was at her husband's side ready to plant a heel directly into the Iktotchi's forehead.

"Just like old times," Krennic said, stepping carefully to Galen's other side, "except it seems I no longer have to fight your battles."

Galen wiped the drink from his face and nursed his fist. "You never did."

Hela watched as the room divided into two camps and the woman she had just been talking to, slipped her arm through Galen's and began leading him toward the door.

Krennic watched them go. Galen had been publicly accused of being a traitor, and now humiliated because of his reluctance to serve the Republic. Krennic couldn't have orchestrated it any better had he tried. He walked over to Hela.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

"I didn't know initially, that ait was to do with the Futures programme, or that you would be here."

Hela turned and walked towards the dais, people were walking past them, the reunion breaking up. Picking up her datapad, she went in search of the host.

.

Krennic joined her in the lift and travelled down with her in silence; Hela moving away from him, as he moved closer to her.

Finally she spoke.

"Well! I didn't expect it to be so exciting."

"No. It was unusual." He had never seen Galen retaliate like that.

"And I certainly didn't expect to see you there."

They reached the ground floor and walked out of the building; Hela pulled her cloak around her.

"A last minute decision." He finally replied.

"Yes, of course. A last minute decision."

There was further silence between them.

"How long have you been back?" She asked, attempting to sound normal. She hadn't seen him in a while.

"A few weeks and then I've been busy.

"Too busy to get in touch?" Hela had no idea why she even asked that. She knew this was an on-off thing and not serious for either of them.

"Yes."

"It's an honest answer."

Krennic hailed an air taxi.

"I'll get my own." Hela stood back as one drew up.

"Don't be stupid. There could still be terrorists around and you are close to the Chancellor. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you."

Hela reluctantly stepped into the taxi, thinking it was more likely to be Krennic's career that was in jeopardy if anything happened to her in his company. She wasn't blind to his ambition and she had wondered if that was why he had pursued her.

Commander Mayday would have ensured she reached home safely at any time, she thought.

.

212th Barracks.

Veetch pulled the fully loaded brush carefully along the edge of his vambrace; the Commander had come through with some paint, or rather the General and the quartermaster had in the 212th colours. Now he truly felt part of the 212 th. The QM appreciated that the soldiers of the GAR wished to identify themselves as other men did and it felt good to have those colours now. He belonged again.

He was as happy as any clone could be. He was a member of the 212th under Commander Mayday, Marshall Commander Cody and High General Master Obi Wan Kenobi.

The General was a very different Jedi to the one he had been used to; he looked after his men as much as he could, just with the little things, such as the paint. He had even introduced himself after he had returned from whatever Jedi business he had been doing. He didn't have to.

Now Veetch needed to look after his own Commander. He couldn't quite believe it when Mayday had told him he had chosen him as his second and they were setting up the battalion from scratch; he had hoped. After they had completed their training and that mission, he had felt they were a good match. The Marshal Commander had probably put them together to see how it went. The only downside was that they were building it up from the remnants of other battalions plus shinies from Kamino; it would take some work to get them all to mesh.

But for now they had some R and R on Coruscant and he was heading to 79's, to let off some steam. They needed something; it was dangerous to have battalions of Battle ready clones holed up in an enclosed space. Although it would remain to be seen how it went. He expected the Guard to be out in force.

He pulled his dress greys out of his locker and wondered what Mayday was doing. He had been tight-lipped as to whether he was going there or not and Veetch realised he hadn't seen him for the past couple of hours.

.

Mayday straightened his tunic and walked into the building; this set of dress greys fit him perfectly. The protocol droid was there, it was the same one, and it lowered its head to acknowledge him. He was not sure what Hela had said to it but it seemed to have worked. He reached the lift and pondered if he was doing right. He should have waited for the message to be returned but it was getting late and he just wanted to check in with her. He checked his com as he rode up to her floor.

He memorised the apartment number and turned right out of the lift and left at the end of the corridor. He stopped suddenly at the corner.

He saw immediately why she hadn't returned his com.

She was in a passionate kiss with someone dressed in a white jacketed uniform. He would recognise that person anywhere.

Krennic!

He didn't stay to watch any more of the show.

.

"There is no need for you to escort me home, Orson. I am perfectly safe." Hela had declared as they left the lift. The doors closed quickly behind them, as it returned immediately to the ground floor

"Let me be the judge of that. There are a number of Venators docked, so the number of clones on the street will have increased."

"I'm sure they wouldn't hurt me."

"Your experience with the clones is limited to Commander Cody and he is one of the civilised ones. I have seen what they are capable of."

Hela frowned as she reached her door; Krennic was crowding her, as she attempted to open it. She squirmed around and he took his chance, pulling her into a kiss. For a few seconds she responded, then came to her senses. She turned away, and moved, getting some space away from him.

"I think this has come to an end." She said calmly.

"End?"

"You are more interested in your work than me and that isn't for me."

It wasn't the truth but she couldn't tell him that because she didn't really know why.

Krennic looked at her; he knew her well enough now to know that she was adamant on this.

He could expend his energies better elsewhere.

Hela pushed open the door and flicked the light switch.

She stopped dead, "Karking hell! What are you doing here?"