Cara's
Decs sat staring into space, with the Tooka kit on his lap absentmindedly stroking it.
Lilli had finally cried herself to sleep.
Hela was with Cara in the bedroom, their voices carrying through to the living room as whispers barely audible.
Mayday caught some of the words from their conversation but nothing that made any sense.
His cheek still burned from Cara's slap before she collapsed after he told her, before Hela took over.
Hexx and Veetch were standing near the door, on guard but not on guard.
Splicer had gone with Tank to get some food for all of them.
Mayday had never felt like this over the loss of a brother before, even though he had lost brothers he had known since Kamino; by the way the rest of the squad were acting he they felt the same.
They had been lucky so far.
But that luck was running out.
He looked around the Apartment, most clones didn't have much but this Apartment had Plug all over it.
Lilli's pictures of the three of them.
The school work he helped Lilli with when he was on planet.
The way the fresher was organised with a spare GAR issue grooming kit.
A spare undersuit.
A trooper doll with a medic shoulder armour and back pack.
A holopicture of the baby scan pinned to the Conservator. Plug's baby, who would never know his father.
Hela came back from the bedroom alone; her face paler than normal, eyes puffy, she looked drained.
"How is she?" He asked.
"Devastated." Her bottom lip quivered, until she clamped her jaw together and she sat next to him. She slipped her hand in his; he automatically squeezed it in response.
"She wants to see you. I think she wants to apologise."
"She doesn't need to."
"I think she feels she does."
He rose and walked slowly in.
Cara was sitting and rose when he entered; she was showing and her skin was paler than normal almost translucent.
"What I said and did, I didn't meant it! It was the shock."
"Part of it was true, he was under my command, my responsibility."
"You did not kill him. He knew the risks. It was what he lived for."
"It was."
She shuffled in the chair.
"Mayday? Can you hug me?"
"Hug?"
She stood up and took a step towards him holding her arms out.
He held his arms out towards her and she stepped in. He closed his arms around her and she sighed.
.
Mayday returned to Hela, who was sitting and wiping her eyes. He'd caught her crying a few times since the news but then she'd stepped up, when she saw he really didn't know what to do about Cara. He could help his brothers deal with their loss; they helped each other but with Cara. He hadn't known where to begin.
She slipped her hand into his.
"I've suggested she go to Naboo to stay with Nola and have the baby there."
"What did she say?" Asked Mayday, surprised at the offer.
"She'd think about it. She has no family other than Lilli, so there is no one keeping her here."
She squeezed his hand back.
"She could help Nola and Lilli looks like she's a budding artist. It would be ideal for her. There's so many good schools that she could attend and I've already changed my Will to include her, Lilli and the baby."
"Will? Isn't that something for when you die?" He asked, concerned that she was thinking like that.
"Yes. And no I'm not ill but things happen." She paused, "I've had a Will for years. My Lawyer said I had to have one and I asked about leaving some of it to you but he said I couldn't. So I picked the next best person. Someone who's having a Clone's baby."
"Leave credits to me?"
"Yes I wanted to. Apart from Nola and Zur there's no one else. But he said I couldn't as you were a clone and property of the Republic." Mayday could see the disgust in her face as she said that, "He also said I could probably buy you. He would enquire. Needless to say he is not my Lawyer anymore."
Mayday was speechless. Not so much about not being able to leave anything to him, he didn't need it but the thought that someone other than the Republic could own him.
"Did I do right?" Hela asked, she had not meant to say anything about buying him, it just came out, "For Cara, Lilli and the baby."
"You did!" He pulled her to him, it was right. Cara and Lilli were Plug's family as much as he was.
They were his family.
"What you said about living on Naboo—"
"I've thought about that. We can make it work. If you're based on Coruscant, we keep the Apartment and I come back here when you're on leave. It's easier for me to move back and forth from Naboo. I'm not going to ask you to stop being a soldier if that's what you still want to do."
"I'm not sure. Let's take it one step at a time."
The door opened and Splicer and Tank entered carrying take out boxes, although Hela shook her head when offered some. She wasn't hungry.
They sat eating in silence.
The Apartment had not been this silent in a long time.
.
Hela's
"Cara and Lilli got away okay." She told Zur as soon as he walked in the door. She looked at the empty dog bed and shook her head; it was for the best.
He grunted a reply.
"Are you okay?"
Hela watched him, as he walked into the kitchen, his body tense. He looked as if he could break at any time.
"I'm fine!" He snapped.
"No! You're not. Where have you been?"
"Out!"
"I know that but I can tell when you've been with Anoon, you're relaxed and happy. But now–"
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine." She repeated softly, as she came up behind him.
"I am." He snapped, twisting around quickly knocking her to one side.
"Sorry!" He reached out to her. Other than Anoon, she was the only person who meant anything to him.
She looked at him, for a few seconds, "Really?"
He poured the Corellian Brandy he had bought on the way back from the latest meeting with his handler. What they were pushing him to do was not right. It just didn't sit well with him. Anyone else and he would not have baulked at the idea but this was Hela.
He had got rid of the wannabe journalist for them, the one trying to to take over the Jymii Crayne show and she had been taught a lesson. There were some things even she didn't pursue anymore.
Taking a slug of the brandy, he filled the glass again and grabbed it before walking out of the kitchen and onto the balcony, avoiding Hela's stare.
She tapped out a number on her com and turned away from the window.
Anoon's face came up.
"Hi Hela. How's it going?"
"I'm worried about Zur."
"He's not been with me. So what's wrong?"
"I don't know. He went out then came back in a foul mood."
"I know. I thought there was someone else at first but he assured me there isn't. And I believe him."
They stood there in silence until Anoon spoke again, "Ask him!"
"I have."
"Ask him again then."
She sighed, "Yes, I will." She paused, "Anoon? Thank you for being a friend to us."
His lekku darkened, "It's a pleasure." He paused as if wanting to say more but settled on, "Bye."
She picked up a tumbler of water and wandered outside, sitting next to Zur. He didn't move or acknowledge her.
"There's something wrong and don't tell me it's Anoon because I've just spoken to him."
He emptied the glass again and reached down; she hadn't realised he had the bottle on the floor next to him. He poured another one.
"I'm not what you think."
Baylan's words came back to her and the familiar feeling of apprehension built up.
"So what are you?"
"I'm not your friend, never was."
Now she was worried, "But—".
"All the time I've been with you, it's been a lie."
"How—?"
"Let me finish now I've started."
Hela shrugged.
"I was a plant. I'm a Republic Intelligence Agent here to spy on you and keep you safe."
"But—"
"They picked me and trained me specifically for this job. For when you needed someone."
"But how did they know? That I would need you, or someone like you and when."
"I don't know but the instructions came from the highest level."
"By the highest level you mean The Chancellor?"
"I don't know." He replied but he could guess, not that he would confirm or deny it; that would be too dangerous for both of them.
"The Jedi?"
"They have their own Intel and don't exactly trust RI."
Hela had sat there calmly asking questions, now she had another one. "Zur, I'd like a truthful answer to this. Are you my friend or is it all an act?"
She waited, and watched not wanting to know the answer but she needed it.
"At first no but then when you let me move in and I became even more part of your life, then yes. You're more like my younger sister."
"I didn't know you had a sister."
"I don't now, she died."
Hela covered his hand with hers, "I'm sorry."
"It was a long time ago."
It felt like yesterday.
"So what now? Do you get sacked?"
He laughed, sort of, "You don't get sacked from RI. Removed, disappeared—yes. Sacked— no."
"So if they find out you've told me, you could be killed?"
"More than likely."
"So we don't tell them and don't let them find out."
"They want to increase surveillance on you. More Intel."
"More than you tell them?"
"Yes."
"And what did you tell them?" She was angry but amazingly enough not with him but with his employers.
"Too much!"
"Baylan?"
He nodded.
"Mayday?"
"Everyone. But I played down Mayday, as not serious."
"Is there anyone else watching me?"
"Yes but I don't know who."
"I'll speak with the Chancellor. I'll —"
"Don't! It's too dangerous."
"He wouldn't hurt me. He—" Hela stopped, a part of her wondering. Thinking over what had happened over her life, since the battle of Naboo. Things had happened to her, bad things and the Chancellor had always been there to pick up the pieces. Uncannily so. From the time he visited the camp, hours before Nola was due to pick her up and Nola swore when she got there, they denied all knowledge of her. She looked, she said, there was no record of her at the camp.
"Zur, you can't just lie to them!"
"What then?"
"Just be careful. Especially now that I know."
"You have that Senate Gala you have to attend next week."
"Ah yes, the Senate Gala! You can take me!"
"It's been a while."
"Doesn't matter. We won't give them anything to see. Then we'll have to look at everything else."
He nodded.
"I'm going to bed. Don't brood on it."
"I won't."
Zur sat swirling the brandy around in the glass. He hadn't been completely truthful with her but he couldn't do what they asked, if and when they asked it. That was one step too far. He would just have to try and rein her in although he wasn't sure yet what she had done to upset them, it probably was what she was potentially going to do. The message was just that she may have to be 'taken care of.'
He slugged the last of the brandy back and headed out; he had something to do.
.
Zur looked her up and down.
Hela pushed his chin back up with one finger to close his mouth.
"You said you weren't going to give them anything to see."
"I said We, weren't going to give them anything to see."
"That dress shows them everything."
"No it doesn't."
"It does from where I'm standing."
"In that case it will be an interesting night won't it."
She stood waiting for him to finish
He attached the crystal jewelled slide to her hair, it fit across half of her head; her hair slicked back severely and no wig. A single crystal width necklace matched the dress straps. Cobalt blue silk, with 5mm single crystal shoulder straps and four of the same straps holding the front to the back of the dress, on each side, exposing the sides of her body from her underarms down. Crystal encrusted shoes finished it.
"Are you wearing any underwear?"
"I'm not going to dignify that question by replying." She said haughtily.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Perhaps they'll actually talk to me about the Clones."
"You know this is a staid affair and they'll definitely look at you but they may not listen."
"Hard luck for them then."
"It won't change anything."
"Probably not but it's me saying Fuck You to the Senate for not doing anything about the Clones and it makes me feel better."
He pulled on his dark blue evening jacket.
"Where is Mayday?" He asked.
"Somewhere on the Outer Rim." She pulled on a sheer cloak, not saying anything more about him, "You look very handsome, Anoon will be jealous of me."
He huffed, "Shall we go?"
"You should grow your hair longer." She added as she picked her small clutch bag.
"Yeah. I'll think about it."
.
Senate Gala
Hela and Zur walked along the red carpet to the old fashioned ballroom allocated for this yearly event; holovid cameras hovering above the attendees as they walked. She had always attended, somewhat reluctantly and dressed more formally but this year she had something on her mind.
Clones.
She could see the looks she was getting from some members of the Press, who she didn't normally court and some of the Senators. As she walked she could see one well known Commentator heading towards her, obviously relegated to this from her previous well known show.
"Hela Nim! Do you have a few minutes?"
"Of course."
"Your dress?"
The Holocam hovered around her.
"I'd rather talk about the Clones."
"Clones?" The reply sounded confused, she had expected to be told who designed the dress.
"The brave men of the Grand Army of the Republic who are currently fighting and dying on the front lines need to be recognised by the Senate."
"I'm sorry. I don't understand."
"These men, flesh and blood men—not droids, are giving their lives for us and they don't even have the same rights as you or me."
"I don't understand."
"And that's the problem. People don't understand but just accept it. Accept that they are there for us. Slaves to the Republic—"
The Holocam whizzed away to the next attendee. Hela smiled and walked on, undeterred. She had only just started.
"That went well!" Zur whispered, sarcastically.
"The night is young." Replied Hela, the smile never leaving her face.
.
Mas Ammeda walked over to join the Chancellor as he was now free; the usual sycophants had moved on for the time being.
"Ms Nim is causing something of a stir. The Press all want to talk about her dress and how different she is to what she normally looks like and why."
Palpatine sipped his Alderanian wine, watching her closely. He normally had to insist she attend these events but something had changed; she had readily agreed and made no excuses.
"All she wants to talk about is the plight of the clones." Amedda added dismissively.
Palpatine smiled, "Perhaps she has learned too much from me."
"Oh no sir. She could never surpass you."
Palpatine continued to watch, amused at the feelings he was getting from the assembled guests, so inconsequential in his grand scheme of things. She approached several Senators and their base feelings when they saw her became fully evident but he could also see that she was manipulating those feelings to get close to them.
It amused him further.
"Should we do anything to deter this obsession with the Clones?"
"No! It is of no consequence. She is needed for another project yet to be realised."
He observed her; it was truly a pity she wasn't force sensitive but manipulation of midichlorians can take various forms, as his Master had taught him and Palpatine was an attentive student. She was going to be of use in his next even more ambitious project.
Mas Amedda watched as she moved onto the next Senator, smirking as she was unlikely to get anything from Orn Free Taa, other than a bruise on her backside or somewhere even more intimate based on the dress she was wearing.
.
Hela stood on the balcony breathing in the cooler evening air. Zur always said it was hot at the Gala because of all the hot air the Senators gave out; after tonight she was inclined to agree. A lot of words were spoken but nothing really said.
"May I join you?" A male voice she didn't recognise interrupted her moment alone.
She turned to find a human male dressed in traditional Chandrilan robes watching her.
"Den Skeenah." He held out his hand, "I am so very pleased to meet you and surprised at the conversations you are having with some of my fellow Senators."
"And not getting very far." She clasped his hand and shook it.
"There are more Senators sympathetic to your questions than the ones you have spoken to."
"Yourself! I have listened to your speech and already contributed to your charity. But these men don't need charity. They need the law to recognise them. They need to be able to make their own choices and lives."
She resisted the urge to jab her finger in his chest to emphasise her point.
"You seem very passionate about this." He said calmly, her reply could be what he said himself.
"I am!"
"Do you know any clones? Or is this just a publicity stunt?" His voice was still calm.
She stared at him, eyes narrowed, unsure how much to reveal.
"I've met a few." she answered cautiously.
"Ah yes. The concerts. Entertaining the troops. Keep them happy to go on fighting. Avoiding the real issue."
"It was something I could do. And no one else was bothering at that time. Including you."
"You're right. It was before even I got involved—"
"And is this involvement to bolster your popularity? You're not—or wasn't well known previously."
"Touché!" He moved further out from the building, to lean over the balcony railings, "I spent years studying to become a Senator, it was my ambition. The pinnacle of public service. I studied my planet's Laws and the Republic's Laws and when the war started, I was dismayed. The Republic was splitting apart. The treatment of the Clones is against the Law and was the final straw for me. I could not let that go on."
"You really believe that don't you?"
"Yes! And why do you believe it?"
"I ... .my boyfriend. He's a clone and risks his life every time he's deployed. I'm not saying he would want to do anything else but he should have the same rights as any Republic citizen to make his own decisions."
The Senator stared ahead.
"Could I meet him someday?"
"That's up to him."
He turned around, smiling, "You should meet Senator Chuchi. I'll introduce you."
"I'd love to."
Hela was prepared to meet anyone who could help her.
.
Outer Rim
Temporary Barracks.
Splicer sat with his datapad scrolling through the latest news. He stopped at one page and started watching it. He turned up the audio, to drown out the cannon fire in the background; luckily the Seppies had not yet pinpointed their position. He listened to the description and now the interviewer was talking to —Hela. He leaned forward, even more interested.
He stared at the dress, wondering whether or not to mention it to Mayday on his return from the briefing. He listened to the interview, the usual banalities until Hela spoke again, making a statement now not simply answering a question.
"As a Democracy we must—must ensure our soldiers are full members of our society, with full citizen rights. The right to make choices—" the interviewer cut her off abruptly and quickly walked away.
Splicer recognised a flicker of anger crossing her face, then she smiled at the holocam again and walked away.
After a few minutes it appeared boring, the same people talking to each other; there were numerous shots of Hela talking to various Senators, shaking their hands. He frowned, some were downright rude and obviously walked away mid sentence. The interviewer spoke to one.
"Excuse me. What's the main topic tonight?"
"It's that singer. All she wants to do is talk about the Clones. We have better things to do. There is a war on, you know."
"Di'kut!" Muttered Splicer.