Interview Room.

Imperial Detention Centre

Rampart shuffled in his seat, the short walk had helped a little with the stiffness in his legs and joints. He had tried to keep moving, keep his strength up but unless he was out in the yard exercising he struggled to do that. He just had to keep fighting them off, then the prisoners started to ensure all the exercise machines were fully occupied when he reached them. He was now relying on simple callisthenics and his own body weight which had reduced. Rations were barely adequate here and again unless he was first or lucky, unfortunate events happened to his.

He waited, the small room empty and silent; he knew this was a well practised trick of any interrogator worth his salt. He had used it himself occasionally, when he had the luxury of time, which he often did not have due to the demands of Tarkin and the Emperor. Thinking about it all, he had a great deal of time to do that now, both Tarkin and the Emperor were not patient men.

He looked around, there was no chrono and his internal clock was no longer as accurate as it used to be with all the different times he had been kept in isolation. He now relied, as did the other prisoners, on the prison regime for their timings. Told when to rise, when to eat and when to sleep; although it was rarely possible to get a good undisturbed night's sleep here, or advisable.

He practised his breathing, despite his knowledge of procedures, the anxiety of not knowing what was going to happen next was still working on him. No one was safe now. He realised this, with the Emperor's actions against him, using him as a scapegoat.

Inhale 1…2…3…4…5.

Hold 1…2…3…4…5.

Exhale 1…2…3…4…5.

Hold 1…2…3…4…5.

Again.

Inhale 1…2…3…4…5.

The door opened.

This one is new.

Rampart had never before seen the ISB agent standing in front of him now, either as a Republic or Imperial agent and he prided himself on knowing most of the important players in this game of power. But that said the political landscape was an ever changing one. Shifting sands.

The Emperor had many secrets, Rampart had been part of them, and only the old man himself knew them all. Against all his upbringing and training, he quickly looked downwards, avoiding meeting the eyes of his interrogator. He had soon learned this avoidance on entering the prison; his goal now was to survive.

He stared at the table.

The chair opposite scraped along the floor as the interrogator sat.

A datapad was placed on the table but angled away from him.

"Prisoner Esk157936." His interrogator's voice was cultured, more like an administrator, or Senator rather than an interrogator. There was a difference between a cultured voice you were born into and not one learned in the Empire's service.

This one was born, not acquired.

He was not far gone enough, not to process any information that may be important to his—well being.

"Prisoner Esk157936." The man repeated.

Rampart finally looked up into the face of his interrogator.

He was not one given to poetry but one expected gold to exude warmth; these eyes were gold but cold. The eyes of a killer.

So that's it! The time has come.

"Prisoner Esk157936. Formerly Admiral Rampart."

Rampart looked at him again.

"Please confirm."

"Yes?" He made it sound like a question now.

"You were in charge of the decommissioning of the Clone army?"

"Why do you ask?"

"You seem to be under the impression you are asking the questions here. You are not. Now—you were in charge of the decommissioning of the Clone army?"

Rampart almost sighed, but gathered himself enough to reply with some form of control, "Correct."

"Good." The interrogator made a note on his datapad.

"Do you have records of where they were all sent?"

Rampart narrowed his eyes; it seemed an odd question.

"Why?"

His interrogator's face was impassive, revealing nothing.

"Where are the records of the clones? We are interested in ex-Republic Commandos and their Sergeants."

"Some deserted."

"We know. We need to know about the rest. They may still be in contact with their training sergeants and working from within."

"Unlikely."

"Why?"

"We weeded those out and terminated them." He replied with an element of pride.

"Obviously whatever you implemented was not effective, otherwise you would not be here."

His eyes flicked to his interrogators com device, it was flashing.

Vau looked at it, his comrade had agreed, which surprised him.

"Is that for me?"

Vau smiled.

.

Kyrimorut

Mird trailed after Ryssa, he was not letting her out of his sight and she had to remember to tell him to stay, whenever she wanted to be alone, even in the fresher. She headed to the Ops room.

Jaing looked up as she entered; he was showing Casey how to take apart some large datapad component. She stood and watched.

"Now you try." He said to the young boy and handed him the screwdriver.

"Can I go and play with Kad instead?"

"Of course." He ruffled his adoptive son's hair, before he ran off.

Ryssa watched, it looked to have a hint of blue running through it, although he looked a lot like his father, especially around the eyes.

"You're very good with him."

"He deserves it. It's not been easy for him."

"You and L'leth, I'm so happy for you but this shooting…."

"You'll be safe, Mird won't let anyone near you." He continued to repair or build whatever he was doing, totally engrossed in it, "Where is he?"

"Guarding the door."

"I don't mind him coming in. I cant say I can smell him."

"You're the first I've heard say that. Den practically gags whenever he's near."

"That might come in useful, if my vod gets in one of his determined moods."

"Determined?" She asked.

"Obsessive." He clarified.

"Yes. He can be but then so can I."

"Well matched then?"

"Unless our obsessions clash."

"Give me a shout then."

Ryssa laughed and nodded.

"Has L'leth said anything about the shooting."

"No. She couldn't remember anything."

"What about Jilka? She's suddenly friendly with L'leth. What exactly do we know about her?"

"I didn't know about that. L'l never said anything. Why — jealous?"

Ryssa suddenly thought better of telling him, just in case her suspicions were incorrect and he did something, she'd regret, "Yes. Probably. I don't know her and…I feel guilty that L'leth was shot when I wasn't here and I…..."

That part was true, there was an element of guilt.

Jaing put his hand on her shoulder, "Don't. You probably wouldn't have been able to do anything and then we would have had two people shot. Don't worry we're checking some things out."

"Thanks. I'll go and see her again tomorrow." She leaned and placed a peck on his cheek.

"How are you feeling? Any sickness?"

Ryssa narrowed her eyes; she was familiar with the Nulls' questioning techniques now and rarely asked a question that they didn't know the answer to or had an inkling of, "I'm fine, why?"

His eyes flicked down to her stomach and back, "You're just showing."

"Showing what?"

"You're pregnant."

"How?"

He arched an eyebrow. She ignored him.

"I told you. You're just showing."

"Who else knows?"

"Most of the Nulls if they've been keeping their eyes open. Although Ordo is rather blinkered in that respect now."

"Oh."

"Yes—Oh. You need to tell Kal'buir sooner rather than later. He's got a lot on his plate."

"Omega?"

"Soon. Hopefully."

"What about Delta?"

"We have no idea where they are. We're hoping Omega knows but they've been quiet of late. I'm still hoping for your droid."

Ryssa looked over to the corner where he sat looking forlorn.

"I don't know what to suggest. I tried everything that I did before, which worked and now it doesn't, unless I've forgotten something."

"I'll have a think. He's back together, not that I could manage to take him fully apart, other than using Bard'ika's lightsaber. There were some interesting adjustments that had been made to him."

"Not me. He'd been upgraded since I had him as a child."

"But his original programming was intact, and learning. Your Buir was very clever."

"Yes. She was."

Ryssa's stomach rumbled, "I don't know about you but I'm hungry. Cake?"

"Sounds good."

"I can get some and take it to L'l."

"Good idea. I'll catch you up. I just need to check something. Go."

As she left he turned to his terminal and typed in Jilka Zan Zentis.

.

Ryssa was making the caf as she felt her husband's arms surround her, his chin rested on her shoulder.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes. I'm fine. Chronic indigestion." She turned in his arms, "Your brothers know."

"I know. We need to tell Kal."

"You're right. I was just hoping for a little longer." He wrapped his arms possessively around her and his unborn child. He had imagined this but never really thought it would materialise; it was a dream he sometimes allowed himself when he was falling asleep on some remote planet. He would protect them and what he had here with his life.

Ryssa twisted in his arms, "There's someone else I need to speak to first."

"Coric."

"Yes."

"Are you going to tell him the baby may be his?"

"No. What would that serve if only to make it more difficult for him?"

"You still have feelings for him?"

"I will always be fond of him but I'm with you." She reached up to touch his face, it was beginning to look especially weathered against his brothers, "Believe that."

She leaned into him.

.

"I need to talk to you."

Coric reached out to touch her face.

She backed away, "Don't." Her voice, barely a whisper, she'd had to prepare herself for this and had put it off, now it was dusk.

He reluctantly pulled his hand back. He had waited so long and now this.

"Rex was right, you know. I should have kept away from you. He was only thinking about you." She reminded him.

"That was a different time. Things have changed. I'll get the cure…"

She tentatively put her hand on his chest, to keep his distance but just to feel him one more time, she couldn't totally switch off her feelings for him or deny them.

"What I said before. I meant it. It's not fair on you. I'm with Den, you know that don't you?"

"Because of the baby?"

"You know?"

"Heard a couple of the Nulls talking. Is it…?"

He could do the maths. If there was a chance.

She shook her head.

He wanted to get angry but he couldn't; he had known that this day would come at some point. A decision had to be made.

"I don't regret what we did. It will always be special. The two of us but you deserve someone just for you— not a second choice."

She stepped back, then forward again, kissed him on the cheek and left.

His hand went to that spot. He knew she was right but he didn't think there was anyone else for him.

Coric wasn't sure how long he stood there, hand on his cheek, staring into the undergrowth, until a deeper clone voice interrupted his thoughts.

"You okay lad?" Maze asked, he had decided to observe after he saw the lad had received a communication from the woman. He had no problems with her but just didn't want the lad to have to face off against the Null. But he kept his distance and let her deal with it.

"Yes Captain."

"Not Captain. It's just Maze now. Is there a problem?"

"No."

"Will there be a problem?"

"No. I'll live."

"Good! She did the right thing eh!"

"Yeah, s'pose so."

"As far as I'm concerned she did. She gave you the chance to move on."

"S'pose so."

Maze watched his brother unable to advise further.

"Altis wants us to go to Jabiim, do some scouting and see what's there. There have been some rumours about surviving Jedi, rebels and an underground escape route. Are you up for it?"

"Yes. Ready when you are. Just need to grab my stuff!"

He was going to do what he was always meant to and was bred to do — fight.

.

Squad 40, Squad Room.

Keldabe

Rede sat checking his armour and contemplating the latest Intel he had received. After the last time he was unsure how much to tell his squad.

He was conflicted.

He wasn't their brother, not brought up together in a cohesive unit like them but they had accepted him into their squad and helped him, more than he could have ever imagined. He was still alive now because of them.

For a moment he wondered how many of the clones he was decanted with were still alive. Not many. The logical side of his brain cut in. They were decanted and flash trained but their battle experience came from real life, in their first battles and there was no coming back from that.

He was lucky. He had seen the footage of troopers being mown down in battle, even though it was what he was bred for, by being with these experienced men he had learned and was able to do a better job, make more of a difference in the time he had. He would be able to die a good death. He resumed the polishing of his armour at the sound of the door opening.

"Good match?" He asked, as Darman and Niner walked in both looking slightly flushed.

They had taken to playing pairs - sling ball on a regular basis, or whenever they could. Rede wasn't an idiot, he knew it was so they could talk openly, as brothers. They didn't exactly freeze him out and included him in most things but there was still 'something' that they never talked to him about. They alluded to it but never out loud.

"Yeah. One day I'll beat you, ner vod." Niner answered, jabbing Darman on the shoulder.

"One day." Darman replied, smiling in satisfaction.

Rede took his chance, "I've received some Intel."

Both clones turned to him.

"From your 'source'?" Asked Niner.

"Yes."

"Go on."

"There's more talk of ex-Jedi and a secret enclave up North, way past Enceri." He readied himself for any backlash, he didn't mention that the intel came from someone inside.

"Do you know exactly where?" Darman asked, "It could be a trap."

"Not yet. But these Jedi are being helped by Mandalorians."

"Have you run this past Melusar?"

"Not yet. Thought we could come up with a plan and then you could do the honours Sarge."

He noticed the minute glance between them.

"Let's have a look what you've got."

.

Kyrimorut

Ryssa watched as the small freighter Maze piloted rose and left, hurtling into the atmosphere.

"You okay?"

Den was behind her, he was her shadow these days; sometimes it was comforting after all the time they spent apart, at other times she felt she just needed to be alone. But now they had an announcement to make to Kal, if he didn't already know.

"Yes. I think so. I just didn't think he would leave so fast."

"He'll be fine. Maze is a good man. And there's Zey too. And that's something I never thought I would say. Are you ready?"

"A United front?"

"He's not that scary."

"Not to you but he can be." She remembered when he visited her and asked about her feelings for A'den.

"He loves you like a daughter."

"Let's go find him."

.

Kal had just sat down with his third caf of the day, while Ordo had gone to liaise with his brothers on the Intel they picked up. He took a big gulp, the last two had gone cold half way through but that was only because he had been playing with Kad. Bard'ika had taken over now but his play involved the Force.

A'den and Ryssa entered, looking more content than he had ever seen them. As far as he was concerned they deserved this. His son had aged more, looking older than his brothers; exacerbated by his time undercover.

"There's more caf in the pot." He shouted.

A'den moved towards the stove.

"I'll have some tea." Ryssa said, softly then headed towards him to sit.

A'den waved a hand in reply.

Kal took another drink anxious not to let this one go cold.

"How are you feeling A'dika?" He put a hand on hers.

"Good. Really good. Little bits of memories keep coming back. Some I'm not so happy with but at least I know what I've done. And what other people have done to me."

"The Empire?"

"Especially them." The frown that had suddenly appeared, disappeared just as quickly.

"You're here. Survived. We're all survivors. Learn from what happened and now we move on."

A'den sat next to his father, "We have something to tell you."

"It's a little early to move away lad but if that's what you want."

He knew something had been preoccupying the couple the last few days.

"No not that but it might be something we have to consider in the future, if just to accommodate our growing family."

"Yes." Kal had always known some of his sons may fly the nest but not yet.

A'den glanced at Ryssa, "Ryssa's pregnant."

It took Kal a few seconds to process the information, he needed to get his ears sorted next then he realised he hadn't misheard and pulled his son and daughter into a hug, or tried to, he couldn't quite envelope them both but before he realised it, tears were rolling down his face.

Within minutes the room was full of Nulls and others; Kad and Bard'ika had sensed something in the Force and pulled others with them, as they rushed to the emotional Kal.

Ryssa began to feel like a cushion who had been plumped too many times; she could remember when she had been hugged so many times and the questions flying at her. Even Qail had given her a little hug. It was a little overwhelming but she was happy.

Happiness was contagious in this house.

The only one not looking happy was Jilka, standing at the door. She turned and left.

.

Interview Room.

Imperial Detention Centre

"There's nothing else I can tell you." Rampart declared putting on a brave front, he was never going to let that facade drop. He had too much pride at the end of the day.

Vau watched him impassionately.

"I think we need to adjourn this."

Rampart had a fleeting moment of feeling he had succeeded.

"To somewhere more suitable." He pressed the button for the guard.

"Bind him. We're leaving. He's being taken to another facility."

"Sir? We don't have any orders to that effect."

"Check again."

The guard spoke into his com.

"Yes sir. At once." He put the binders back on Rampart.

.

Vau escorted his prisoner out of the Imperial Detention Centre, whilst confident of his abilities, he had not been sure how well his disguise would stand up. He looked more like Dooku, with his newly grown, neatly trimmed beard, coming through grey, than the Mandalorian he was.

The exit was surprisingly easy, after he had paralysed his victim, no prisoner. Studying the clones, he could see, especially the one with beard with his minute tells, that they had no problems letting Rampart leave; going to somewhere they probably realised or hoped was worse than where they were.

It was common knowledge what he had done to Kamino and as a result putting the blame on the Clones.

Everyone had a breaking point.

The black Imperial shuttle was waiting there for him.

Vau loaded him up and secured him.

He took over the pilot seat.

"Where can I drop you?" He asked the pilot.