Chapter 87
Setting the stage
Terri woke up in a familiar place, one that she never wanted to revisit again. Respirator, check, taste of food paste, check. Viscous fluid, check. Blue haze blocking your sight, you are in a kolto tank is the correct answer. She started to remember what brought her here and she started to breathe faster
What was new was the set of arms embracing her and the clearly female form against her back, more importantly the figure sensed her distress and tightened the gentle grip slightly. Terri found herself calming as a familiar presence merged with her. A persistant tapping noise came and she focused on a blurry form waving from outside the tank, yet another familiar presence. The tank shifted and started draining. Bright light streamed in as the hatch was opened and she closed her eyes against the harsh light. Gentle hands reached in and grasped her and the person holding on to her and pulled them out into a cold area. The cold increasing as the one holding her was pulled away
She gasped as the respirator and tube was removed, before breaking out in a coughing fit. She mewled in protest as lukewarm water was being sprayed over her. A gentle hand running over her bare scalp as she was being washed down
"Easy now, just a quick wash." A familiar voice spoke.
She felt a pinch against her neck and the darkness returned, the taste of the drug overwhelming the taste of the food paste.
The next time she woke she was in a bed and being cuddled. The person holding her snoring softly and rhythmically. She looked into the familiar face and had to stiffen a laugh at the bald appearance of Bastila, brown stubble starting to show as her hair was regrowing
"You are not looking much better." Melissa spoke
Terri shifted her head to look to where the voice came from. Melissa was seated in a chair close to the bed, the room lit by a simple lamp. The viewport outside showed a diorama of space. Multiple bright yellow and orange craft was seen moving around, from the amount of metal being tractored by said craft Terri deduced it was salvage vehicles
"We are on the Resolution still in the Rakatta system. It has been fifteen days since the battle." Melissa informed her.
Terri shifted slightly and the bare motion exhausted leaned in and shifted the blankets to better cover her and Bastila
"How is everyone?" Terri asked
"Carth has a broken hand, Mission is still pretending her broken arm is killing her, Zaalbar is eating so he is fine. Buir took a bolt in the leg and Annaka has him confined to bed, though if she was not already pregnant she likely would have been by now. Juhani and Bastila are fine and I dodged the tank for once." Melissa replied
"HK, T3?" Terri asked
Melissa shook her head and wiped an eye.
"Both destroyed." She replied
Terri detected and undertone of anger underneath the sadness
"What is wrong?" She asked
"They are refusing us access to their shells. The shells and the Hawke had been seized under the orders of Master Lamar." Melissa said angrily
"Should have guessed that son of a kath hound would get involved." Bastila said sleepily
Terri looked back to Bastila as she cutely yawned before turning her head to receive a kiss on her check
"Morning breath, love." She said
"And food paste making it worse." Bastila said
"Though what is with the bald look?" Terri asked
Melissa shifted in her seat and brought the intensity of the lamp up slightly
"They ran out of kolto and you were the first person to be submerged in bacta. Since it is a new substance they decided to remove all body hair to lesson any chance of contamination. When we snuck Bastila into your tank Fay insisted she get shaved as well. The two of you were in a Force trance for eleven days on and off and Fay kept you under for three more." Melissa explained
The door to the room opened and Fay waddled in followed by Ellia carrying a tray. Melissa stood up and Fay thankfully sat down. Melissa took the tray allowing Ellia to crawl onto the bed and glomp Terri.
"Go easy on her, her chest might still be sore." Melissa cautioned
Terri took a few deep breaths without feeling any pain or the urge to cough
"I feel fine." She said
"You were anything but fine when I got my hands on you." Fay said scowling
She threw a finger at Melissa
"You are just as bad as that one. The two of you will have me grey in a few years." Fay said
"Thank you, Fay." Terri said simply
Fay sat back and rubbed her stomach
"Saving those travellers from Thyferra is what saved you mostly. That bacterial medicine is a lot more effective than kolto. So much that the chief medical officer on the Reliant is pressing the Admiral to replace kolto with it."
Fay gave her a professional look
"The bacta as it is now called also kept you from scarring from the surgery we had to perform on you. Though how much was from the Bacta or Bastila forcing you into a healing trance is up for debate."
Fay gave a sudden foxlike grin
"The side effect is one we did not foresee and again how much of it was Bastila making wishes to the force or the medication is still under debate. Seeing as you are the only one to have that happen"
"What side effect?" Terri asked concerned
"You went up a cup size." Fay told her
"Just so you know you will be getting a lot of offers to sleep with other woman in the tanks now, it seems the general believe is that it is a combination of force healing and bacta to have that effect." Melissa said
"Okay you got me, good one." Terri grinned tiredly
"Love, they are not joking with you." Bastila said solemnly
Terri looked at her, the stoic faces of Fay and Melissa before lifting the blanket and looking down at her chest. Bastila snorting in laughter had her realise that she had in fact been played.
"You suck." Terri groused
"Maybe later." Bastila whispered in her ear
"Eww." Ellia rendered her opinion
Fay got up and motioned to Ellia
"Come on it is bed time for us. Terri, dinner and sleep only for you till I say otherwise."
Melissa extended the legs on the tray and placed it over Terri's leg.
"Remember not too long ago when I was in bed you told me to suck it up when I moaned about my diet." Melissa said innocently
Terri had a sinking feeling. Melissa whipped the cover of the tray revealing soft foods and broth
"Welcome to the suck. Feel my pain." She gloated
Melissa walked to the door
"While you are enjoying that I think I will have a nice juicy steak for dinner." She said taunting;y
"No getting your harem drunk and dragging them to your room." Bastila replied
"Do not need to get them drunk and you concentrate on your fiancé instead of my relationships." Melissa retorted
The door closed behind Melissa and Bastila sat upright to help her eat if not outright feed her
"What is this about a harem?" Terri asked
Bastila spooned up some vegetables and Moved it to Terri's mouth. Terri gave her a bland look before sighing at the pouting face before her and opening wide for the spoon
"You have missed quite a lot. Seems people have lost control of their heads and hormones after the battle." Bastila said mock indignantly
"Then it is very juicy gossip I take it." Terri said, after swallowing
"Enough to write a holosoap series for bored housewifes." Bastila replied airily
"Babe, are you going to keep me hanging here?" Terri pouted
Bastila shifted so that she fully faced Terri, eager to spread the gossip
" Fay pulled me out of the tank after four days insisting I take a break and get some real food in. After the battle the full Council of Clans and the Choir of Yukira were pulled in and given lodging on the reliant while they negotiate several new terms with the Republic. From what both Cart and Mission told me the last remainig Fett triplet was all over Melissa in the crew canteen when Astrid Kryze walked in, Apparently she took one look at that, marched over. Kissed Melissa senseless before doing so to Morgaine Fett as well, before declaring they are all in a relationship and that she would accept one more in their group and no more." Bastila said with a giggle
"And Melissa agreed?" Terri asked shocked
"She did, she has had a crush on the triplets as well as Astrid and was unsure which of them to pursue till Astrid took matters into her own hands. She simply did not act on it as she was hoping to deal with our entire mess first without dragging them into it." Bastila said
"Melissa being that selfless I can see. How is everyone else taking it?"
"It seems multiple person relationships is acceptable to the Mandalorians. The grandmothers are happy and already pushing for great grandchildren, Karana won a hundred credits of Lance betting that Astrid would eventually hunt Melissa down. Fett is happy that at least one of his daughters is in a correct relationship, meaning a mandalorian. Carth wanted to say something till the twins reminded him that he was in the same ship and that they were not willing to add a third. Amongst Twi"leks and Wookies polyamorous relationships are common so neither Mission nor Zaalbar had anything to say." Terri said
Bastila helped herself to some water before going on
"Canderous as you heard has yet to leave his room but I do not see him saying anything, Juhani looked a bit jealous but congratulated Melissa." Bastila concluded
"And what of you?" Terri asked
"If it makes her happy I am happy, and if they hurt her in any way they will be dealing with me." Bastila said
"You mean us." Terri corrected
Bastil prepared another spoon
"As to why we have not been invaded yet. The Satin claw took a quick run to Dantooine and collected Selina, so neither Mission nor Juhani has been around a lot recently. Zaalbar found one of his uncles on a Republic ship and has been spending time with him. Carth we barely see outside of his room as well." Bastila enumerated
"You said last remaining Fett, did something happen to the other two?" Terri asked
"Both got shot down and were recovered. The rescue ships did not care who they picked up and the two of them spent some time with some republic marines rescued from an escape pod and decided to keep two of them." Bastila snorted
"And the marines just accepted that?" Terri laughed
"As Canderous frequently says when a mandalorian woman decided on something the best thing you can do is stop resisting and get it over with."
Terri looked out the viewport
"Why did the republic seize the Hawke and the droid shells?" She asked
Bastila rapidly lost her humour, she scowled as she looked out of the viewport
"Lamar and his faction, they showed up after the battle with a group of Senators and the politicians had taken over. In HK's case they want to suppress the fact that a single droid took out five platoons of Sith soldiers and another three platoons of droids by itself before being taken down, not that T3 was far behind.T3 got three troop carriers with the towers ion weapon and managed to keep the signal going till it was destroyed. The republic is going to alter facts to suit their purposes for propaganda and having the droids rebuilt and carrying their version of events will suit them. With them finding the droids last downloads to the Hawke's servers they can easily do so. The Hawke is to become a symbol for the Republic."
"So politics and cover ups as usual, what of us?" Terri asked tiredly
"The Council of Clans and The Choir have been keeping them away from us, but they will only to be stall for so long." Bastila said softly
Terri weakly took Bastila's hand
"As long as I have you, we can deal with anything." Terri said
"I know." Bastila said squeezing her hand
Bastila forcibly brightened
"That brings us to when Cart broke his hand. He broke Lamar's jaw with it. Them taking the Hawke he could not care about, the ship was positivey wrecked, The droids being taken upset us all, then Lamar again Carth hand over Dustil and his family. I will show you the security footage later or when we go to the crews mess. It is being showed there frequently. Lamar was down on his knees and trying to pick up shards of his teeth."
"And Lamar did not see that coming or had a force warning?" Terri remarked
"I heard a rumour that Vandar allegedly said that the force must also be tired of dealing with idiots. Lamar then tried to have Carth arrested but Altair told his that as Carth was now a civilian the fleet can do nothing and as the incident did not happen on a republic ship, republic laws does not apply." Bastia smirked more geniunely
Terri found herself being pushed in a hoverchair to a shuttle. Zaalbar reached down and picked her up before carrying her to a seat and strapping her in. The rest of the crew were already in their own seats. Terri looked to them
"Where are we going?" She asked
"To the Pride of Arkaxis. The Countess and Duchess will brief us there." Canderous said irritably
Terri looked at him questioningly at his brisk tone.
"Annaka is forcing him to quit smoking." Mission explained from beside Canderous
"Since you are using their titles I assume it is an affair of state thing." Terri said
Carth shifted in his chair
"I am guessing no one told you. Both Yukira and Arkaxis signed treaties with the Council. Yukira will now represent itself as well as the Mandalorian nation in the Senate. The Arkaxis system is now a protected system of Yukira and Keldabe with Galacticorps permission." He said
"Yukira has also made treaties with Cathar and will help with the rebuilding of Cathar. On behalf of the Mandalorians the Council of Clans have agreed to fund part of that rebuilding as reparations." Juhani added
"The Auretti did not take that news very well." Canderous smirked
"I also have news." Mission announced happily
"Go on." Terri said
Mission beamed at them
"We have not fully lost T3 and HK." She said
"What?" Several voices demanded
"T3 played a prank." Mission said
She looked at the expectant faces
"When I got my personal terminal back from the republic I checked my holomovies library file to see if anyone had tampered with them."
"You mean your porn collection." Juhani corrected
"I found a file that I did not download. The synopsis was about two humanoid droids being used to pay their owners debts. When I opened the file I found it was much larger than it should be, T3 dowloaded their specifications to the file and hid it."
"And with no one of sane mind being interested in robot porn it was undetected." Carth snorted
"Then what did the Republic get?" Melissa asked
"Lance bribed a technician to get the files. The republic got the droids basic data from when we first took possesion. None of their software or hardware upgrades were included." Mission replied
"Meaning they can be rebuilt as they were without the Republic knowing." Cart concluded
"And I know where we can find some of the metal HK was built out of. Finding a T3 shell is even easier" Mission added
"The star Forge files you sliced." Melissa hazarded a guess
Mission nodded
"I added a subroutine to my terminal to back up my files to a remote server. The moment someone tries to slice my terminal the subroutine copies and transmit my files before deleting the program. When the Republic took my terminal they activated my failsafe and then deleted most of my files before giving it back to me. We have everything and they don't know it." She said smugly
Terri looked out the viewport as they approached the pride of Arkaxis, a larger ship was docked to it. The other ship showed some minor combat damage.
Stepping from the shuttle had Melissa being glomped by a happily purring Yuki. Moments later a curly haired woman joined the glomp
"That is not appropriate behaviour for the ships senior officers." Kali scolded them gently
Sukura looked over her shoulder still holding on
"You are only saying that because we beat you to it. And as captain of this vessel, I decide what is appropriate behaviour for myself and my executive officer." She stated haughtily
"Let go of Little Wildcat, we all want our turns." Ishigo said
Cart leaned over to Jack where he stood by the officers of the Pride.
"So who decided to make her captain?" He asked
"Strangely enough she is actually qualified to command light cruisers. She did attend the training after her stint as fighter pilot before leaving the Yuki fleet." Jack said softly
Terri and Bastila moved closer
"The bigger question is what is the Pride doing here? The last we saw she was still being refitted and you had no crew for her." Terri said
Jack waved the statement away
"When you left Arkaxis and the people found out why you left, it became a community project to get the Pride fixed. The entire town and the company people pitched in after hours. And when Bonita and Sukura got back Sukura drilled those that volunteered mercilessly to get them up to speed. All of us who helped steal the Heart decided to volunteer to serve. And when we heard you needed help, we came."
Terri saw movement from one of the hatches and noticed Jack's scowl when he spotted it too
"Yes, they and the eldest of Melissa's brats snuck aboard as well. When we found out they were on board it was too late."
Jack scratched his neck
"You did not hear this from me, the reason the Pride did so well was largely due to all the little hooligans." He said uncomfortably
"How so?" Carth asked
"With so little crew the Pride is heavily automated, more than a regular ship. Guns are controlled from a central deck and not dispersed gun crews and our targeting systems were ripped of from game systems."
"And the children were the best gunners available as they had the most experience with game targeting systems." Bastila filled the gaps in
"Plus with the modifications the gun control room was one of the safest places on the ship and closest to the escape pods." Jack added unhappily
"I assume Doreen And Vanessa already tore strips of them." Terri said
"Not yet, they are still on Arkaxis. They are skittish because the Yuki mothers and the grandmothers got to them first even before I could." Jack smirked
"And I am sure the punishment they received was appropriate?" Terri asked
"That is one of the reasons they are skittish. Their punishment is still undecided till all the adults have decided on their options. And with them being unable to predict what is coming their nerves are being worn out." Jack smirked
"Those kids have you exactly where they want you, so they know your punishment will not be a threat and you know it." Carth told Jack with an amused snort
Jack became serious
"They are also skittish because of what we found on the ship we captured." He said darkly
"What did you find?" Terri demanded
"We found what species kidnapped them from their planet as for the rest, you had better see for yourself."
Jack looked to Terri
"But before we get to that I believe we need to find you a chair or Fay will have words with all of us."
Marina and Daria met them at the airlock to the connected ship. Their terse greetings was an indication of the seriousness of what was to come. Daria nodded to the now serious Sukura
"At the conclusion of the battle captain Naruku spotted this vessel trying to escape and she gave chase. After a warning to power down was ignored captain Naruku employed minimal violence to ensure compliance."
Marina took over.
"The crew of this vessel were secured and due to the relative low importance this vessel was left unsearched till all military threats have been secured or accounted for."
"This is not a military vessel?" Carth asked
"No this is a science vessel attached to the Sith fleet." Marina said
Jack spoke up
"All we were able to do after the battle was to ensure they did not try and escape again and keep the ship fully functional and the bridge locked down. The ships entire crew is in the brig of the Serpent and the Resolution and with them being technical civilians they were considered to be a low priority."
"We only got to search this ship fully today and with what we found we decided to get you here immediately." Bonita said
Marina led the way onto the ship and moved towards the rear of the ship with the rest falling in behind her
"The researchers on this ship and Demagol would consider themselves to be kindred spirits." Marina said harshly
"Has the republic been informed of what you found?" Bastila asked
"Not yet and purely because of what you are about to be shown." Daria said
Marina paused at a door where four Mandalorians were standing guard. One reached for the controls and opened the door
Several tanks filled the room, dark yellow fluid obscured the contents. Several potted plants stood before a section containing three pods that were separated from the main group. The door opened behind the group and another group of Mandalorians entered , in their midst was a being none of them had seen before.
Bipedal, grey, long neck, long arms and legs, large head with pitch black eyes. Terri had a flashback to Taris when the children described their kidnappers.
The being ignored her guards and made its way to a terminal. Marina made a stopping motion as one of the guards moved to intercept. Machines started to whine and the dark yellow fluid started swirling in the tanks and started to clear. Humanoid shapes became visible. The Ebon Hawke crew walked closer to the tanks and the shapes became clear.
Carth reeled back as he saw his own face looking back at him from inside the tank, next to him was Canderous as well as in the tank next to his double. On his other side was blue Twi'lek teenager.
Terri took a closer look at the plants before the separated tanks as she moved he chair closer. Several large lizards were attached to the potted trees. She stopped and gasped as her connection to the force was severed.
Looking to her side she noted she was not the only one affected. Bastila. Melissa and Juhani had reeled back. Two of the three figures became clearer and Juhani and Bastila staggered back even more as they saw themselves in the tanks. The third tank contained a male
Marina cleared her throat and pointed to the being that was studiously ignoring them as it manipulating controls on the terminal before it
"This being is from a planet named Kamino. It and its kind are cloners. This one calls herself La Wei and as you can see she managed to clone force sensitives." Marina said harshly
"You can not clone a force sensitive, the force itself stop the clone form being sensitive." Melissa objected as harshly
The being looked up from the terminal
"That was before I made my discovery. The lizards came from the planet Ysalimir. Their natural predator hunts them through the force in a fashion to how the Miraluka see despite being a blind species. The lizards have adapated by creating a biological shield of sort. In this area of effect the force does not exist and this is what makes it possible to clone a force sensitive rapidly like any other clone and have it be force sensitive still."
The beings tone was neutral but all present could still detect the arrogance and pride the voice contained. Melissa looked nauseas as she studied the three special tanks
"That explains why all of us except Zaalbar had puncture marks on us from our capture on the Leviathan. They harvested our DNA." She explained
"That is correct. The clones being grown from freshly obtained sources." The being nodded
" The field those lizards create is very small that is why Melissa and I do not have copies. You can only produce a limited number of force sensitive clones." Terri realised
"Again correct. Darth Malak was most insistent that Shan be cloned first and the Cathar was chosen to ensure there is no detrimental effects when cloning non humans."
"Who is the man?" Cart demanded
"I do not know. Darth Malak demanded monthly copies of the male, this one would have been the last as I have exhausted my source of biological material. Trying to clone a force sensitive clone from cloned material has eluded me so far."
Melissa crossed her arms and glared at the tanks
"And these abominations have not been destroyed why?" Melissa demanded
"As always quick to suggest violence and never pausing to consider the consequences." A Despised voice came from the door
Jolee Bindo led a group into the room. On his heels were Atris, Vrook and a Givin male. Vandar followed behind in a hoverchair well behind the main group
"They have not been destroyed as the clones represent an unique opportunity." Vrook said
Vrook nodded to Marina and Daria
"The council thanks you for informing us on your find and not having destroyed it as is your peoples habit." He said
"We only did so because of the treaty in place. Melissa is right these things should be destroyed." Marina snarled
Terri moved her chair forward and studied the new group. Vandar looked his age and beyond tired, she closed her eyes as she realised what himbeing alone meant. Bastila gasped softly as she came to the same conclusion Terri did
"I am so sorry, Master. You do not deserve this." Terri said to Vandar
Carth shot her a look that clearly demanded an explanation. Bastila sighed and placed a hand on Terri's shoulder.
"Master Vandar may have helped win the war against the Sith but he lost the war for the fate of the Jedi. He is the grandmaster in name only now." Bastila explained
"Politics. While we were risking everything for the galaxy you could not stop playing your power games." Carth spat
Melissa looked over to the tanks and her hands drifted to her weapons. She jerked her head to the Givin
"And that is why he is here. Blank slates awaiting new personalities that will eagerly tell the galaxy whatever Vrook and company wants them to."
"And that makes us loose ends." Carth said, copying Melissa
Vrook walked closer to the cloner
"Crudely and bluntly put but an expected response and in essence correct." Vrook commented
Terri leaned back in the chair
"And the only reason you are talking to us is because you need something from us instead of just making us disappear as much as you like that idea" She said
"Be careful what you say, fallen. You do not have the moral high ground here. Do not compare us to your low standards and aspirations." Atris snapped
"Oh forgive me. Of course you have very noble reasons we could never understand. Clearly you are not here acting like the lowest of politicians." Bastila retorted hotly
Melissa noted the Givin studying Carth, Canderous and Mission and stepped in front of them
"Not happening." She said bluntly blocking his view
"Melissa." Mission querried
"They want access to our minds to program the clones. A clone of Terri they can do with as they please, Bastila and Juhani's can be programmed easier as they had trained them and thus they believe they can easily turn them into perfect Jedi. As for Zaalbar, one Wookie looks like another to the general public, hair dye and they can get away with it and very few understand Shirrywook so getting their actor to keep to his lines is easy if someone should bother to try and get the story from the Wookie. Zaalbars banishment from Kashyyk ensures that native speakers will not look to closely. It is the rest of us they can not predict."
The Givin gave her an impressed look
"Much more logical and observant than your profile suggested. Again in essence you are correct. Though I do not understand your reluctance to assist."
Jolee snorted from his position
"She is under the impression that they are still alive because we need them intact to copy their personalities before executing them."
The Givin looked shocked and repulsed
"Why in the galaxy would we resort to such crude methods. We are not common gangsters"
"A matter of perspective." Melissa stated dryly
While the discussion had been ongoing the Mandalorian contingent had grown well beyond the original four guards. Marina strode forward
"Time to end this. We are at an impasse. The republic wants to send a sanitized version of events to the galaxy. One with the Republic and Jedi made to look good and with no mention of interference from the rest of us. The Council of Clans and the Choir have agreed to have our presence here be written out of the narrative in exchange for several concessions, one being the ensured safety of the Ebon Hawke crew and their families." She said
"And for that safety we let them copy us." Melissa stated
"Actually we do not need a copy of you." Atris sneered
Carth looked at his clone
"And if I agree I am guessing my clone will continue to serve the Fleet." He said
"With promotion to rear admiral." Vrook said
"And if I agree there will be no more groups looking for us or my son." Carth demanded
"We will have no reason too."
Melissa noted that Canderous had been curiously silent. She slipped her helmet on and moments later so did he
"Buir, why are you not saying anything?" She asked into her comlink
"There is a larger plan in play that is all I can say for now. Trust your family." Canderous replied
"Fine, but I want a full explanation later." She replied
She lifted her helmet and shook her head at Terri's questioning look. Melisa signed to her to agree using the thieves guild sign language and to trust her
Terri looked straight at Vrook
"Fine, you win. We will give you what you want in exchange for letting us disappear."