This chapter is dedicated to Anthony.
Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum. Nu kyr'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la.
(I'm still alive, though you are dead. I remember you, so you are eternal. Not gone, merely marching far away.)
Hevy takes a deep breath.
This is the moment of truth. He's seen the inside of the Senate Building before in holovids, but the sheer size of it now makes Hevy feel very small and insignificant.
This is a crucial meeting. It's Senator Amidala's chance to introduce all their ideas and reasonings to the Senate to see if anyone will support them with pushing a bill forward. They need to be very convincing, and Hevy is kriffing nervous.
There are lights flashing in his eyes and camera drones swooping around him. He's briefly blinded, but his helmet automatically works to compensate for the glare. His blood thunders in his ears. He's standing at Senator Amidala's side, weaponless and acutely aware of hundreds of eyes on him as Senator Amidala pilots their platform into the center of the Senate chamber with steady hands. She seems so unaffected by this. For a moment, he envies her. He can hardly believe he's here.
"The Senate recognizes Senator Amidala of Naboo," Chancellor Palpatine's voice booms. Hevy swallows nervously. Senator Amidala offers Hevy a comforting smile before turning her head towards their audience.
"Members of the Republic Senate," she begins, voice projecting around the chamber, "I am honored to stand before you today. My purpose this evening is to bring to your attention a dire situation that could very well affect the outcome of this war."
Hevy taps his toes anxiously—it's the only movement he dares to make, the only thing he can get away with without being seen.
There are a few members of the Coruscant Guard in the building, mixed in with the blue-garbed Senate Guards. They're posted at doors and set up on various platforms as silent bodyguards. Hevy wonders what they might be thinking right now.
"As many of you know, I was present at the original battle of Geonosis, where the war is recorded to have begun," Senator Amidala says. "I was moments away from being executed by the Separatists alongside two Jedi until clone forces descended to rescue us. During the escape effort and subsequent battle, I was flung from a gunship and tossed into the sand below us, nearly losing my life."
She has the attention of every person in the room.
"In the moment that I fell, I was certain that my death was imminent," Senator says, a smile playing on her lips. "But as you can see, Senators, I did not die that day. I was rescued by a knight in shining white armor—a clone trooper, who had been thrown out of the gunship with me. He roused me and helped me hail a transport ship. If it weren't for him, I can't say with certainty that I would have made it back to the Republic. I might have succumbed to the heat and sand, and never been found again. I'm sure many of the Senators here have similar reasons to be grateful to these men. They are good soldiers, who fight daily to keep our Republic safe."
There is a smattering of polite applause. Hevy rolls his eyes. They don't even see the men they're applauding for. Eyes undoubtedly slide over him to focus on the Senator, like Hevy is invisible even though he's right next to her. They're probably under the assumption that he's there as a simple bodyguard.
"I never knew the soldier's name," Senator Amidala says. "I wish I had asked. It slipped my mind in the chaos, so I was never able to thank him. But the experience, along with many others, has inspired me to truly value the men that fill our army's ranks. Thanks to the efforts of the clone army, we have kept hundreds of systems safe from tyranny. We have slowed the infectious spread of Count Dooku's influence."
There is another ripple of applause. This time, it's less directed at Senator Amidala and more at the Kaminoan Senator, who bows her neck in acknowledgement from her own platform. There's a smug smile on her face. Hevy scowls. Of kriffing course the Kaminoans would take all the credit. Senator Amidala's neutral expression flickers.
"With all the effort that the clones demonstrate during every mission, I must raise my voice in protest concerning these loyal soldiers," Senator Amidala cuts in, interrupting the clapping. She doesn't sound angry, but her grim tone calls attention quickly. The assembled Senators seem confused as the applause dies down. "It brings me frustration without end to see an intolerable amount of discrimination directed towards them."
Hevy feels a surge of adrenaline.
"One would think that their determined service would gain them the respect of this Republic," Senator Amidala states flatly. "But I have been astounded to see that they are subjected to rampant prejudice instead."
Her words cause a low murmur to run through the building. It's too soft to identify if it's a good murmur or a bad one yet.
"Clones do not receive courtroom trials," Senator Amidala reveals. "On Republic records they are listed as property instead of people. They are bound by military law to obey orders, it's true, but there is a difference between military obedience and the right to file complaints against superiors in the case of mistreatment… or even corruption. These men have no way to defend themselves. In the ideal world, perhaps they wouldn't need to, but our Republic has failed to shelter them from abuse."
Out of the corner of Hevy's eye, he notices a few of the clone Guards around the room shifting in unease, calling attention to themselves involuntarily. The Senators nearest to them are eying them pensively.
"They are our protectors, but how can we expect an army to remain loyal to us if we don't treat them with the respect they deserve?"
Senator Amidala pauses for a moment, surveying her onlookers. The Senate is visibly uneasy now, but no one dares to interrupt her yet. Some Senators seem dismissive, and others seem curious. Others don't seem ruffled at all, casting dismissive looks at Senator Amidala. The Kaminoan Senator is absolutely still, eyes narrowed dangerously.
"If you won't take my word for it, perhaps you'll take the words of others," Senator Amidala continues boldly. "The clones of the Galactic Army of the Republic do not hold their tongues under this abuse. They speak out, because they are men, who fight and bleed for our cause. I ask you to listen to their voices, Senators, and hear them as fellow sentients instead of mindless soldiers."
Senator Amidala taps a button on the screen in front of her. The video surges to life, projected onto each of the Senator's screens and also as a hologram in the center of the spherical room.
It's a seven minute compilation of the hundreds of records of abuse they've received from the GAR under such short notice. Not every example has been used. There are video clips and audio files and written words that flash across the screen. The very first scene shows the inside of a command center.
"You can't do this, sir. It's suicide! They'll all die, please, sir, listen to reason—!" a clone pleads, cutting off abruptly when the commanding officer in front of him strikes the clone across the face.
"Know your place, clone," the officer snarls, eyes burning. "I will not have creatures bred in a laboratory telling me what I can and cannot do!"
The first clip cuts out there. The second begins. A clone medic faces down a crowd of angry citizens, hands outstretched and fingers spread wide.
"Look, I'm unarmed," he tells them loudly, an edge of desperation in his tone. "I'm a medic, I need to get through here, there are injured that need medical attention immediately! Their lives depend on it!" The civilians don't budge, glaring at him and the soldier recording behind him with hatred.
"Why should we care if a few more meat-droids die?" one man shouts, and the crowd buzzes in agreement, pressing forwards and forcing the medic back.
Another clip flashes across the screen. On the bridge of a Venator-class star destroyer, an admiral slowly raises a pistol and aims it at a clone in binders.
"CT-6479, you are being charged with high treason against the Galactic Republic. Anything to say for yourself?"
The clone clenches his jaw and breathes heavily through his nose, staring down the barrel of the gun without a word. The admiral shrugs and tightens his finger on the trigger, but before he can fire, a second clone leaps into frame, planting himself in front of the accused man.
"Wait! Sir, you're being irrational, he isn't responsible for this! If you'd just let us explain you'd understand what really happened—!"
The admiral fires twice, and two bodies drop to the floor.
There are dozens more examples, all raising their voices in front of the Senate as witnesses of Senator Amidala's words. The clone captain confronting his commander over cutting rations is the last clip to play. When the video ends, there is a long moment of silence. Hevy can identify their possible allies very quickly—some of the politicians are frozen in horror. Others sneer, and even more are silent, expressions flat with apathy.
Senator Amidala inhales slowly next to him. When he sends her a worried glance, her eyes are closed. She seems shaken, even though she's seen the video before.
"Please, Senators," she implores. "Please, you must see the error of our ways. We have committed an unforgivable crime in ignoring these men, in treating them as we treat machines." She turns just a little, looking at Hevy. He knows what's coming, but that doesn't stop a jolt of nerves from racing through his veins.
"I trust that my friend's words can further convince you of the urgency of this situation."
Senator Amidala is here to present their idea and defend them from counterarguments. Hevy is here to prove her words. He's here so that the Senate recognizes the reality of what Senator Amidala has established, and it's his turn to talk.
He lifts his gaze and blanches. Holy kriff.
They're all watching him, not entirely understanding what Senator Amidala means. A clone has never spoken in a Senate meeting. It's terrifying in a way that Hevy's never felt before, and he's looked death in the eyes numerous times already in this war. He's actually died, too, but this fear is completely different.
He has to force himself to relax, trying to keep things in perspective. This isn't a mission, or a military briefing. No one is going to leap out to attack him, and right now, he's not a soldier. He's a person. That's what he needs to portray.
His instincts are screaming at him, because there are so many eyes and too many enemies and his helmet is one of the last lines of defense that he has, but he reaches up and takes it off anyway. They need to see his face, to understand that his emotions aren't artificial. As he tucks the bucket under his arm he hears a low disturbance run through their onlookers as some start to realize what's about to happen. Some of them probably haven't even seen a clone's face in person before, let alone spoken with one. The Guards are always impeccable, formal to a fault around the Senators. They are silent shadows that don't speak unless spoken to. This is the moment for Hevy to prove that they're more than just statues.
"Members of the Senate," he begins, and nearly flinches as his voice thunders around the room, gruff and unsuited for this kind of setting to his own ears. "My name is Hevy. I serve with the 501st battalion in the Galactic Army of the Republic. I'm here to represent my brothers and appeal to this Senate for relief."
"Outrageous!"
"A clone, speaking in the Senate—!"
Now there are voices protesting. They don't dare to interrupt Senator Amidala, but they'll readily interrupt a clone. Hevy ignores them and pointedly does not look towards where Chancellor Palpatine is seated. He doesn't want to see what the traitor might be thinking right now.
"My brothers and I were made for your war," he says, clenching his jaw as a hovercam droid zooms past him. "We are loyal to the Republic. Its cause is just. We will fight for you. We want the victory of the Republic just as much as this Senate." He takes a breath and plunges on. "But we are suffering."
Emotion swells in his chest until he can't contain it. It spills out as something raw that drags in his throat as he speaks.
"This can't continue. It isn't right. We aren't here so that we can be mistreated. We are here to protect this Republic. We don't ask for much, but we do ask for the Senate's support. We beg the Senate to hear us."
Hevy never thought that the word beg would ever be part of his vocabulary, but part of Slick's mistake had been his blustering pride. He'd threatened and challenged and fought until he'd landed himself in a jail cell. His demands hadn't gotten him anywhere, and Hevy and Senator Amidala had quickly realized during their planning that it wouldn't do them any good, either.
Sometimes there is more power in quiet inner strength than there is in shrieked commands. Hevy has learned this in the quiet, steady way that Commander Fox holds his struggling Guard together, in the way that Byte hunches his shoulders and silently endures scathing comments. Hevy had always believed that it was down to the size of your blaster before, but now he knows that isn't always the case.
Demands aren't going to win this fight, but he and Senator Amidala are hopeful that that sympathy can. Perhaps genuine, desperate emotion will strike a chord in the hearts of their audience.
A platform soars forwards. Hevy jerks in surprise, half-expecting the enraged tirade of an opponent to begin—but the Senator that eases into the center is an ally. Bail Organa offers Hevy a smile.
"Thank you, Hevy," he says. "The people of Alderaan recognize your plea."
His words send a pulse of relief through Hevy's body. Someone is willing to listen.
"The Senate recognizes Senator Bail Organa, of Alderaan," Mas Amedda says redundantly. Senator Organa nods at him before continuing.
"What is it that the clones ask for?" Hevy doesn't hear an ulterior motive in the question. Senator Organa's question is honest—he's trying to help them. "The words of Senator Amidala and clone trooper Hevy are swaying, in my opinion. What are you suggesting we change?"
"We want…" Freedom, is what Hevy can't say. Not yet. Baby steps. They'll have to worry about citizenship and paid labor after the war, because there's no way the Republic will give them those things now. They need the clones too much to release anyone from their service. "The right to defend ourselves. To file complaints against mistreatment and not have them be dismissed on principle. We want fair trials. We want to be viewed as people, instead of property."
"Ridiculous!" a voice cries, and suddenly a new platform is surging forwards to float next to Hevy and Senator Amidala. Hevy isn't surprised when he sees the Kaminoan Senator. She's glaring at Hevy with a look that could kill.
"Senator Amidala, none of your suggestions today were endorsed by the Kaminoan Cloning Organization," she says aggressively. "One would think to consult with the clone's creators before attempting an endeavour such as this."
"The Senate recognizes Senator Burtoni of Kamino," Chancellor Palpatine drawls. Hevy tenses at the reminder. There are enemies all around them. His fingers twitch at his sides, seeking a weapon that isn't there.
Senator Amidala meets Senator Burtoni's gaze fearlessly.
"And what exactly is your stance on this, Senator Burtoni?"
The Kaminoan scowls at Senator Amidala.
"The clones were allowed to keep their agency only to give them an advantage over their droid opponents," she hisses. "It keeps the machines from fully predicting their tactics. The ability to think for themselves allows clone armies to adapt and win. It was not meant to encourage these kinds of protests. This so-called abuse may be… unfortunate, to some, but it is a necessary sacrifice in order to keep the army funcional. The clones are soldiers, and there is a chain of command to be followed. The Republic cannot afford to take time away from other pressing matters to comply with the delusions of an overly-excited clone trooper."
"You kriffing—!" Hevy snarls, clenching his fists—but Senator Amidala raises her hand gently, and Hevy backs down, taking a deep breath. The swear word echoes around the Senate, spurring laughter from a few people.
Hevy fights to control his anger. This isn't a battlefield, this is politics. Getting upset isn't going to help.
"Do you deny the humanity we have witnessed in the clones today, Senator?" Senator Organa asks. Senator Burtoni glares at him.
"Humanity, no," she says. "They were created to be human. But they are also just that, creations. They were built under this purpose—to serve the Republic, and die for it. Nothing more. That some members of this Senate are even considering this proposal is disheartening."
Hevy barely manages to hold his tongue. He's fuming. Some of the Coruscant Guard around the room seem uneasy, heads turned and hands clenched around their weapons. Hevy feels their concern. Senator Burtoni can destroy their chance at freedom if she can convince the Senate that their cause is irrelevant.
"Senator Burtoni brings up a very good point," Chancellor Palpatine contributes without warning. He sounds vaguely concerned. Hevy's jaw clenches involuntarily. Fake, it's all fake. "I am touched by the things we have witnessed today, and I wish to be of more help to our loyal clone soldiers, but can the Republic truly afford to consider these questions at this point in the war? If we were to change things, the dynamic of the army would shift dramatically, and it could impact the effectiveness of the men in battle. During such trying times, I'm not sure it is worth the risk."
Senator Amidala smiles, but she can't hide the flash of irritation in her eyes. Only Hevy is close enough to see it.
"I wondered the same thing, Chancellor," she responds. "Then I spoke with a man that I'm sure everyone here is familiar with, and he helped me understand the stakes a bit better. If you wouldn't mind…"
She taps her screen again to play another file. This time, the screens display a hologram of General Skywalker, frowning seriously for his audience.
"Members of the Senate, I am Anakin Skywalker," he begins. A murmur runs through the Senate—everyone recognizes The Hero With No Fear. "I am here to add my testimony to those of Senator Amidala and Hevy, and to emphasize the urgency of this problem. I was not raised in the comfort of the Jedi Temple like some may believe. As a child I was raised on Tatooine and lived as a slave to the Hutt empire." Many Senators let out noises of shock. General Skywalker's past isn't exactly common knowledge. "Slavery is dangerous and destructive in any form, whether it includes the heaviest of chains or the smallest of oppressions. The situation of the clone troopers is not so different from what I experienced all those years ago."
Senator Burtoni is vibrating with rage. Hevy feels a surge of vicious satisfaction.
"We can't expect to free the galaxy if our champions themselves aren't free," General Skywalker declares. "This isn't something that can wait until the end of the war. Oppression sparks anger and hatred. It only leads to more violence if it is allowed to grow. It needs to be snuffed out now, before it can infect this Republic permanently. The longer we leave it be, the harder it will be to remove. It is a threat just as capable of destruction as the Separatist armies."
Hevy spares a glance at Chancellor Palpatine for the first time since the meeting had started. The man's gaze is fixed on General Skywalker's hologram. He's glowering at it, displeasure written all over his face. Hevy swallows nervously. He turns his attention back to General Skywalker's words.
"The men will fight harder and with more loyalty if they can trust this Republic. But they need reassurance, hope, and a reason to be loyal first. If we want this war to end, their needs must not be ignored. 'Clone' is not a 'synonym' for droid. They can't take endless amounts of abuse like a machine can. When one of my men is bleeding out in front of me, I can't take a wrench to his insides and repair him. I can only hold him through the pain, patch the wound with bacta, and hope that he'll live."
The General's eyes narrow. His expression flickers as he speaks.
"The clones are brave warriors, and they are my loyal friends. They are living beings who feel happiness and pain and frustration and joy. They may all share the same face, but each clone is unique, just as we as a people are unique."
General Skywalker glares out at the Senate, as if daring them to stand against him.
"They don't ask for much. They're asking for the respect and understanding that any other member of this Republic enjoys. And these men deserve it more than anyone else." General Skywalker bows slightly to deliver his final statement. "Senators. Consider very carefully what has been said today. I experienced firsthand the horrors of slavery, and if we are not careful, small as the problem may seem now, it could tear the Republic apart."
Hevy lets out a hum of aggressive approval that gets hidden in the sudden outburst of individual comments and conversations following General Skywalker's message. The loudest voice of all belongs to Senator Burtoni, cutting through the din.
"Senator Amidala. Are you and Knight Skywalker suggesting to this Senate that the clone troopers are slaves?"
"I am," Senator Amidala states firmly. She ignores the stifled gasps from surrounding Senators at the declaration. "Perhaps not in the manner that we have become accustomed to seeing, in the cases of the Hutt or Zygerrian empires, but they are slaves nonetheless. They are not given the choice to serve. They are forced to fight whether they like it or not. They receive nothing for their sacrifices."
Senator Burtoni's eyes flash with rage.
"They are bred for war," she says. "They are decanted with aggression engraved on their cerebrums. They are happy to fight. Are you not, clone?"
It takes Hevy a second to realize that she's talking to him. He narrows his eyes at her.
"It's all I've ever known," he says bitterly. "So I don't really know."
His back aches. It's because he's too tense, and even though he's recovered from the surgery sometimes his muscles protest anyway. He reaches for the side of the platform to support himself. Senator Amidala notices and places a subtle hand on his back—as if to say, almost there. Just a little bit more.
Hevy takes a deep breath.
"Please," he says, and "You've heard what we have to say. We're asking for the right to defend ourselves from this abuse while we serve the Republic."
He hopes with every fiber of his body that they're seeing him for who he is, that they can see the fire in his gaze and the determination in his stance. He needs them to see him, to understand.
"We aren't just clones. We're people. My batchmates—the clones that I was raised with—are closer to me than any lifeform can be. We support each other and laugh and fight and work out problems together. They are my family. And there's nothing in this galaxy that can convince me that what I feel for them is something… artificial. We may be grown from test tubes, but those feelings are not. I love my brothers. I would do anything to keep them safe."
Hevy pauses for a moment to take a deep breath. He's revealing something close to his heart. Senator Amidala is staring at him. They hadn't planned anything like this, but Hevy needs the Senate to see that their soldiers are sentient and real.
"That's why I'm here. There are millions of clones who've been born into this war with their own batchmates, all struggling together to stay alive. It's hard enough with the war. We lose brothers every day." Droidbait and Cutup's deaths flash in front of his eyes for an instant. "We shouldn't have to deal with discrimination on top of that!"
Hevy's voice cracks as emotion threatens to overwhelm him. He struggles to keep himself collected. The battle rage that he so often feels when he's on the front lines wells up inside him as righteous fury as he lifts his head and pours his pent-up outrage into words.
"Your Coruscant Guards—I've watched them take beatings just because if they defend themselves it's them who see the consequences, not the attacker! When their brothers are killed, they don't get to see justice carried out. The murderers go free after a pathetic slap on the wrist. Leaving Coruscant, your fearsome army starves at the whim of men who have never seen combat, and that's only the beginning!" He's trembling, glaring fiercely out at his audience. "Where is the justice and honor that the Republic promises? How could this Senate ignore our suffering? It isn't right, and it needs to be changed. Could you just sit by and watch if the members of your families were being treated like this? I can't, and I won't. I'll come to this Senate as many times as I have to if it means you'll listen, and see us as the men we are."
Words fail him, then. He doesn't know how to continue expressing himself. He grits his teeth, staring into the bright lights above him, and waits. He's breathing hard. Senator Amidala doesn't chime in immediately like he'd expected her to—instead, there is a long silence. All Hevy hears is the hum of machinery as hovercams float lazily by.
Without warning, someone starts to clap.
Hevy doesn't know who's responsible, but the sound spreads, slowly growing until the Senate is full of loud applause. Hevy's mouth drops open, stunned at the realization. Some of them approve. There are members of the Senate who agree with them, who are sympathetic, who are willing to see him as a person instead of a tool.
Something they've said today has convinced them. His shoulders sag in relief.
Hevy feels the spark of hope in his chest swell until it's something warm and almost tangible. He takes a deep breath and smiles tentatively, nodding his head gratefully at the recognition. This is a good start. This is something they can work with.
This could lead to freedom. The thought makes Hevy's grin shift into something more genuine. He looks at Senator Amidala and lifts his chin when she meets his gaze, pride obvious on her face and a smile playing around her lips. Today, they've succeeded.
Of course, not everyone is supportive. He looks at Senator Burtoni and meets her gaze, resisting the urge to make a face at her. The Kaminoan sneers at him before piloting her platform back to her usual place, leaving the center of the room clear of opponents for now.
Except… it isn't clear of opponents, not quite. The hairs on the back of Hevy's neck prickle as he looks down at where Chancellor Palpatine's platform is hovering just below them.
The Chancellor meets Hevy's gaze, and Hevy freezes, ice-cold dread clawing at his chest. The Chancellor's expression is neutral, but there's something off about him. For an instant, the man looks like something dead and decaying, but when Hevy blinks, he can't see it anymore, and for the life of him Hevy can't explain why he'd come up with the comparison.
Palpatine doesn't say anything—can't, with the ongoing clapping ringing through the chamber, but he stares at Hevy intently, like Hevy's a puzzle that he's trying to figure out. Hevy wrenches his gaze away and sets his jaw, struggling to ignore the anger boiling beneath his skin. Slaver. Scumbag. Traitor.
Maybe Palpatine will try to stop them, but not today. The Senate is supportive, and even the Chancellor can't simply shut them down after so many politicians are demonstrating their agreement. It appears that Palpatine still has the image of the loyal Republic Chancellor to maintain.
A loud whoop sounds out from somewhere below him. Hevy looks down and grins when he sees one of the Coruscant Guard stepping away from his post at an exit, one proud fist raised in the air. The sight is enough to distract Hevy from his worries about the Chancellor. The Guard shouts again, and it's like a signal—the scattered Coruscant Guards start adding piercing whistles and cheers to the applause. Some of the Senators glare at them, surprised, but the clones don't settle down—some even remove their helmets in blatant defiance. Their triumphant hope is infectious. Hevy laughs, elation swelling in his chest. Senator Amidala smiles.
Senator Amidala closes their proposal with a brief word of thanks and a promise that a bill will be presented in an upcoming Senate meeting. Announcing a bill is easy, but getting one approved is another story. Hevy can't do much more to help with that subject, but fortunately, he doesn't have to. Senator Amidala and Senator Organa exchange a look. Hevy has seen that expression on various clone faces before. They're scheming, already bracing themselves for the next round. If anyone can get it done, it's them.
The clones don't have their freedom yet, but this is the first step, and it feels good.
As Senator Amidala finally steers their platform back to its normal place, Hevy realizes that he's still trembling. The adrenaline hasn't left him yet. His back still aches.
The Senate meeting isn't over yet. There are still propositions to hear, which seems to be the curse of an open session of the Senate—there's always more to discuss. Hevy groans softly at the thought of standing for hours more in this chamber, closing his eyes and swaying on his feet. When Senator Amidala grabs him and pulls him into a gentle hug, he stiffens in surprise, unsure if he should reciprocate or not.
"S-senator?" he exclaims. She smiles at him.
"You were amazing, Hevy," she says. He reddens at the compliment. "It's going to work. They're small things, like we talked about, but we're making progress. Once we get this bill passed to set up the complaint system and the military trials, everything else will fall into place!"
"Yeah," Hevy mutters with a tired grin. "I know, sir. Did you see them? They were happy. You almost never see the Guard like that."
She smiles in excitement.
"I know. It's the start of something big," she tells him firmly. "I've got a good feeling about this."
Senator Amidala's comm starts beeping once they're out of the Senate building as they're stepping into the transport ship waiting for them. Flak has been waiting for them along with the Senator's handmaidens, and he gets them off the ground quickly, sending Hevy a triumphant grin as he does so. Senator Amidala picks up her comm, and General Skywalker appears. He's grinning. Hevy can hear clone voices shouting in excitement in the background—the 501st.
"Senator, that was brilliant!" General Skywalker is practically shouting to be heard. "Every clone in the galaxy is celebrating! You're amazing!"
Senator Amidala flushes. She sits down as the ship taxis smoothly into the air. Hevy sits as well, wincing at the tug in his back.
"Anakin, it—" and whoa, she's slipping up more, because they aren't subtle around Hevy anymore but Flak is right there, "—wasn't just me. Hevy and Senator Organa and… you made it possible." She's suddenly flustered. Hevy smirks. Flak glances back at them from the pilot seat with a raised eyebrow but doesn't comment.
"Tell Hevy he's a little kriffer and that we're proud of him!" a clone voice bellows from somewhere off-hologram, so loud that General Skywalker wrinkles his nose before chuckling. He makes a shooing motion with his hands, and the volume of the background celebration diminishes a little.
"The men are understandably excited," the General says, collecting himself a bit. "Congratulations, you two."
Hevy leans in so that he appears in the hologram and offers his General a lazy salute. Satisfaction coils with relief and excitement in his gut.
"Thank you, sir," he says. "And… thank you for your help. We appreciate it, more than you can understand."
"I do understand, Hevy," General Skywalker counters gently, expression wavering for a moment. His smile returns just as quickly as it had left. "That's why I'm not about to leave my men alone in this."
Hevy wonders if the General still feels guilty for not realizing the parallels between the clone's existence and slavery sooner.
"Sir. Your words today were powerful. You helped prove to the Republic that we're people. We couldn't have done it without your contribution. Thank you." He wants the General to see that Hevy's not holding it against him, that General Skywalker might have fallen into the trap of ignorance, but his efforts to make up for it are undeniably impactful. He's not sure if he's guessed the Jedi's thoughts correctly, but General Skywalker eyes him for a moment before the corner of his mouth twitches upwards, and he huffs in amusement.
"I'll be there whenever you need it, Hevy," he says. "Just don't get too comfortable now that you're a holonet star. You're still under my command, after all." Hevy snorts at the teasing, rolling his eyes.
"Never, sir. Knowing my batchmates, you won't have to worry about that. They'll knock me down a few pegs just for fun when I get back."
"I'm pretty sure they're planning a party, just so you're prepared," General Skywalker informs him mischievously. "I was a bit tempted to approve the supply order for extra explosives that got sent to me when you were done speaking, but Admiral Yularen would probably have a heart attack if I did."
Senator Amidala covers her mouth with her hand and laughs. Flak snorts from his spot in the pilot seat. Hevy groans—he wouldn't put it past his squad to try to get their hands on the desired explosives anyway. Hopefully Rex is keeping an eye on them (and the bomb lockers).
"All jokes aside," General Skywalker says, expression shifting into one much more serious, "As successful as our plan was, it's going to attract lots of attention, and that Kaminoan Senator didn't look very pleased with either of you. Don't take any unnecessary risks. Senator, I want extra Guards stationed at your penthouse alongside your perimeter guards. I wouldn't put it past Burtoni to try something."
Hevy winces at the reminder. Unknown to the Jedi, there are more factors to be worried about in addition to Senator Burtoni. Chancellor Palpatine wasn't happy either. He can't come after them personally, but if Fives' story is any indication, Palpatine has many people under his thumb. They'll need to be on high alert from now on. Senator Amidala sighs.
"I don't think that will be necessary, General Skywalker. My guards are—"
"Padme, that's non-negotiable," General Skywalker interrupts sternly. "I'm worried about you both. If they send assassins or bounty hunters..."
"It will be like every other time an attempt has been made to kill me," Senator Amidala says with a wry grin, but relents anyway. "I'll speak to Commander Thorn about it."
General Skywalker nods, brow furrowed.
"Coming up on the barracks," Flak reports. General Skywalker glances back towards him, then looks at Hevy.
"Watch her back," he orders in a low voice. Hevy swallows, suddenly pinned by the General's gaze and his knowledge of something that shouldn't exist but does anyway.
"Sir. I will place her life before mine."
He says it without hesitation. He's surprised by how much he means it. Senator Amidala is a friend now, and whatever it is that she shares with General Skywalker is precious. Hevy doesn't want to see it destroyed. The General is trusting Hevy with this task, and Hevy won't let him down.
Senator Amidala makes a sound of protest, but General Skywalker nods, some of the tension draining from his shoulders.
"Thank you. Stay sharp, Hevy. We'll be in touch."
He signs off as Flak drops them into a smooth landing in front of the Guard Barracks. When they disembark, the pilot lets out a little laugh.
"Byte sent me a message mid-flight," he informs them as they walk towards the door. "Apparently it's a madhouse in there."
He's not exaggerating.
The roar that sounds as Hevy steps into the Coruscant Guard Command Center is deafening. He barely makes it two feet from the door before the crowd of boisterous Guards is upon him, slapping his back and ruffling his hair and cheering their excitement to the ceiling.
Hevy laughs as he gets whirled from one brother to the next to receive handshakes and friendly punches and shouted congratulations. Hevy's never seen this amount of celebration before, not even among the 501st. Little fragments of torn flimsi are fluttering frantically through the air, and someone lifts Hevy's own bucket straight from his head, tossing it towards the ceiling. In the middle of it all, suddenly Thorn is in front of him, grabbing Hevy's forearms and practically slamming their foreheads together with enthusiasm. Hevy shouts out a greeting that's barely heard through all the din. Thorn just grins at him wildly, pounding Hevy's back and closing his fingers around Hevy's elbow.
Thorn tugs Hevy through the throngs of celebrating brothers determinedly, waving off more well-wishers until Hevy is suddenly in front of Commander Fox. The Commander is surrounded by his own men, more at ease than Hevy has ever seen him before. He's smiling. Fox grips Hevy's shoulders firmly and stares at him for a long moment.
"Thank you," he says sincerely, words almost lost in the noise, but Hevy can hear the thick emotion in his voice. Hevy offers him a grin, and then he's tugged away by someone else, who shoves him towards one of the desks and prods until Hevy reluctantly clambers on top.
"Speech!" someone hollers. "Speech, speech!" The chant picks up until the majority of the battalion are yelling it. Hevy blinks in bewilderment, casting a look towards the door where Senator Amidala stands, hiding a laugh behind her hand as she watches the antics. When Hevy gestures frantically for her to save him, she turns away, shoulders shaking and a smile on her lips. Traitor.
The clones fall silent when Hevy waves a hand at them, waiting expectantly. Hevy sighs.
"I'm not going to give another kriffing speech, I already did that today," he complains, sending a ripple of laughter through the Guard. "Now can I please get down?"
"You're not getting away that easy," someone calls, and Hevy looks down to see Commander Thire watching with a smirk on his lips and a cup of what must be some sort of moonshine in his hands. "Come on, the entire GAR wants to know how you feel right now!"
The entire GAR…? Sithspit. Byte is standing next to Thire with a holorecorder in his hands and a satisfied smirk on his lips. Hevy glares at him, but the Guard just offers him a cheerful thumbs up.
He exhales slowly. He hadn't signed up for this, but he doesn't really have the option to back out anymore.
"If I don't get a promotion after this, I'm filing a complaint," he jokes weakly. There's an assortment of good-natured cheering and chuckling, but then the clones settle down again, waiting. They're serious about this speech.
Hevy's not sure what they want to hear.
"I dunno what I should say," he admits. "I didn't do this so that I'd be recognized. I did it so that we could be free. And we might not have our freedom yet, but we will. I swear it. And now we're a few steps closer."
"Here, here!" someone adds loudly, spurring more cheers and jostling from the Guard. Hevy smiles.
"And it's all thanks to Senator Amidala," he reminds them, and the clones turn towards the Senator still hovering near the door. She waves at them.
"To the Senator, then!" Fox shouts suddenly. Senator Amidala beams as the clones erupt into cheering once more, and just like that, Hevy's little speech seems to be over, because he gets pulled down from the table and sucked into a bear hug from a brother that he's unfamiliar with. Hevy doesn't mind. He lets out a cheer himself and for a few minutes, just focuses on celebrating.
(It would be better with his batchmates, but he'll take what he can get.)
"Holy kriff, Hevy." Echo is laughing, face flushed and eyes bright. "I can't believe this. You really gave it to 'em."
Hevy's batchmates are practically drunk with excitement. The 501st doesn't see abuse, but the prospect of rights is more than enough to get them excited.
"Hey, look who it is!" Cutup crows, cramming himself closer to the hologram. "Mr. Hotshot himself! What an honor that he's stooping down from his prestigious position to speak with mortals such as us!"
Droidbait chuckles. Fives is beaming.
"The holonet is exploding," he says, holding up his datapad victoriously. "No one can believe it, the Republic is in an uproar. You looked good up there, brother. Made the 501st proud!"
"Thanks," Hevy says. He grins. "Couldn't let my battalion pride fade, could I?"
"You made a good call with the flames when you painted your armor, Hevy," Droidbait compliments with a smile. "It looks good in a hologram. I was surprised. I thought they'd put you in civvies."
Hevy shudders.
"Not in a room like that, kriff no," he says. "I wouldn't have agreed to it. Too many enemies around to feel comfortable outside of my armor."
The statement sobers his brothers. Echo frowns, drumming his fingers against his leg.
"Speaking of enemies. What's the high-and-mighty Chancellor going to do about this?"
Hevy purses his lips. A good question. Palpatine certainly hadn't looked pleased.
"He has no clue that we know about the chips, so he shouldn't do anything drastic," Fives says. "He only bothered to hunt me down because I knew too much. As far as he knows right now, you're just a determined protester, not a security breach."
"That's true," Hevy affirms. "But he still doesn't like this. I'm worried about Senator Amidala. General Skywalker is, too."
"I'm worried about you!" Cutup interjects. "You've turned into a symbol for this whole debacle. If they want anyone out of the picture, it would be the clone who started it all."
Hevy shakes his head.
"They're too late to stop me from becoming a symbol, even if they do kill me. But I have zero political power in the Senate, and if they can take away my support, the bill won't go anywhere."
"Do you think the Kaminoans are gonna go after her?" Droidbait asks tensely.
"I don't know. Maybe. Or maybe they'll come after me. I'm not entirely sure. Regardless, we'll be on high alert until I can get back to the 501st."
That makes his batchmates perk up.
"Oh yeah? Do you have an ETA for that yet?" Fives asks. Hevy shrugs.
"I'll stay for as long as Senator Amidala says that she needs me, but if all goes according to plan, I'd say a week, maybe two."
Droidbait cheers. Cutup punches the air.
"Hang on, I said if it all goes according to plan!" Hevy exclaims, but he's smiling anyway. They haven't been apart for that long, in the grand scheme of things, but it still feels like ages and comming just isn't the same.
Hevy takes a deep breath and tries to stay optimistic. With any luck, the bill will get passed, he'll be back with the 501st, and Palpatine will be none the wiser within the next week. Shouldn't be too hard.
It's been two days since Hevy's proposal to the Senate. The Guards have been ecstatic over changes visible even in such a short amount of time—citizens are painfully aware of them, more respectful. There are still plenty of stubborn shop owners who refuse the clones service, but others have changed their tune, though Hevy wonders how many of them had actually wanted to change or simply felt forced to by the pressure of the upcoming bill. It makes Hevy hopeful that everything will work out as planned.
They're standing guard over Senator Amidala's penthouse, keeping watch as General Skywalker had instructed. Although Thorn is usually tasked with protecting the Senator, Thire has taken over tonight—Thorn is otherwise occupied, busting a drug ring that has been rumored to be assembling tonight in one of the lower levels. Fox is with him, leading from the front as usual, leaving Thire. The Guard have taken the protection of Senator Amidala very seriously—she is currently just as worshipped as Hevy among their ranks. Thire and Hevy are stationed by the front door of the penthouse, keeping their eyes on the staircase that descends to the lower levels of the building. Jek and Rys are inside, making sure there's no funny business from the large window that oversees busy air highways. Senator Amidala is resting, thankfully. It's late, and she doesn't sleep as much as she should.
"Perimeter guard, check in," Thire says quietly into his comm. There is a crackle of static, and Senator Amidala's personal guards announce their statuses one by one. They're scattered on various other levels of the building as well as at the building entrances. Thire nods in approval when they finish.
"You know," Thire muses quietly, "When I served with Jedi Master Yoda, he once told me that I shouldn't rush into fights. That it was only by surviving the war that I would prevail, or something like that."
Hevy turns his head to give the Commander a baffled look, and then realizes that Thire won't be able to see it due to their helmets.
"Why'd he tell you that?" he asks instead.
"I wasn't sure for a while," Thire answers. "But now I get the feeling this is sort of what he meant. We've got to pick our battles carefully. I wish I'd taken his advice to heart faster. You and the Senator played this one smart, and it's more effective than any amount of rioting could have been."
"Yeah, I think I'd agree," Hevy tells him, thinking of Slick. "How'd you get personal advice from a Jedi General?"
"Well, we were about to die, so he told us to sit down and take our helmets off and proceeded to talk some sense into us until we didn't feel like we were about to die," Jek explains helpfully on comms. Hevy chokes on a startled laugh. "He told me that words are more powerful than weapons. I hardly believed him then, but I do now."
"Then he went out and blew up a couple of Seppie tanks all on his own," Rys adds, voice full of admiration. "General Yoda is something else. I wish we could accompany him more often, but he doesn't leave the Jedi Temple much anymore."
"Wow," Hevy comments honestly. He can't imagine it—the little wrinkled Jedi seems the very opposite of a warrior, but Hevy knows that looks can be deceiving. Commander Tano is small too, but deadly when she needs to be. "Why doesn't he leave if he's that powerful?"
"Apparently he's almost nine hundred years old," Thire informs him, adjusting his grip on his rifle. "He's not exactly in his prime anymore." Hevy jolts.
"No way. You're joking! He can't be that old!"
"Nope, it's true," Jek confirms.
"Seriously? No, I want proof. That's unbelievable!"
They let the banter flow easily, if only to pass the time. They're going to be here all night, after all, and they need some way to entertain themselves.
Jek and Rys are in the middle of a ridiculous story about a prank war they'd managed to start between the two of them (which had only ended when Fox had handcuffed them to a chair for several hours in retribution after getting caught in the crossfire) when Rys abruptly goes silent.
"Hang on, hang on. Thought I heard something."
The clones immediately still. Hevy can't hear anything from where he and Thire are waiting, but Jek must hear something too, because he hums agreement into the comm.
"Yeah. That's kind of weird… I don't know what—"
He doesn't get to finish his sentence.
Suddenly Hevy hears the sound of shattering glass and twin shouts of surprise from Jek and Rys both through comms and echoing through the building. He and Thire are moving without a thought. Thire wrenches the door open, and they sprint down the hallway.
"Thire to command, Senator Amidala is under attack!" Thire barks into his commlink. "Repeat, we're under attack! Get a squad up here, now! Perimeter guard, there's been a security breach!"
They turn into the main lounge, guns at the ready. The massive floor-length window is lying in pieces all over the floor. Jek is grappling on the ground with a masked assailant dressed in all black. Rys is scrabbling for his gun from his spot on the floor where he'd been thrown. There are more shady figures descending on grappling hooks through Senator Amidala's open window.
Hevy and Thire open fire. Hevy shoots the man that Jek is struggling with in the back, and the assassin crumples, allowing Jek to push him off and roll to his feet. Thire shoots down another, but two more are already charging forward. They're fast. One sprints for Hevy and rolls to dodge his blasterfire, coming up and lashing out with a kick that connects with Hevy's gun. Hevy has to let go in order to avoid breaking his fingers. He throws a punch instead and feels a jolt run up his arm as it connects with his opponent's chin. The assassin jerks back, hand reaching for something at his belt.
Hevy swears inwardly and dives at his attacker, tackling the dark figure to the ground. There's a metallic screech as a knife slides across his chestplate. Hevy hisses and punches the assassin in the gut, but it barely gets a reaction. The assassin gets his knees into Hevy's chest and flings Hevy off of him.
"Holy kriff, how many of them are there? Where's the perimeter guard?" Rys' shout morphs into a sudden yelp. Hevy can't spare the time to make sure he's okay—his own opponent suddenly isn't alone, and the second assassin has an electrostaff in his hands that crackles to life as he charges.
Hevy throws himself into a roll, barely slipping under the electrostaff as it hurtles towards him. Every hair on his body is standing on end as he gets to his feet and narrows his eyes—that had been too close. The assassins close in at the same time now. Hevy smacks his hands against the knife-wielder's wrist to redirect the blow and then twists his body backwards to keep out of the way of the electrostaff. A hefty push sends the knife-wielder sprawling, so Hevy can briefly focus on the bigger threat at hand.
He's never been so grateful for Fives and Echo's close-quarters combat training. The electrostaff buzzes a threatening purple as it gets twirled around, and it's difficult to find an opening in the assassin's defenses—Hevy tries to dart forwards and growls when the staff connects with his shoulder, sending shocks through his arm and chest. It's a glancing blow, not enough to incapacitate him, so he steels himself and kicks out, landing a solid hit on his opponent's chest. The man gets knocked backwards, and his grip on the staff loosens for a half-instant.
Hevy seizes the opportunity.
He swoops in with a double-handed blow to the side of the assassin's head while he's off-guard. The staff gets raised in an attempt to block him, but Hevy is faster, and the assassin crumples, finally releasing his hold on the staff.
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees motion. He backpedals frantically, because there had been a second one, the fast one with the knife—!
A gunshot sounds. The knife-wielder crumples. Hevy looks up to see Senator Amidala standing in the doorway of her room, hair loose around her face and dressed in a simple blue nightgown. She's holding her pistol in steady hands.
"Senator, get back!"
She doesn't respond to him, narrowing her eyes and turning her gun towards their other attackers. Thire is struggling with two men just as Hevy had been, rifle abandoned across the room, while Jek and Rys tussle with two others, glass crunching under their feet as they fight. She fires twice, and one of Thire's attackers goes down. The other escapes from Thire's grasp for a moment and flings something in the Senator's direction. She drops instinctively, barely avoiding the knife as it whizzes past.
"Hevy, get her out of here!" Thire roars as he engages the assassin once more. Hevy doesn't think, he just reaches to grab her by the arm and runs. Thankfully, she follows him.
"Who are they?" Hevy asks frantically as they hurry into the hallway. Senator Amidala just shakes her head at him.
"There are too many people in this galaxy that want me dead, I couldn't tell you—duck!"
Hevy throws himself to the floor at her shout, and a knife goes whizzing over his head. He hears a heavy thunk as it embeds itself in a wall. He scrambles to his feet just in time to see Senator Amidala lash out at the man who aims another knife at her throat—he's gotten in close so she can't get her gun up fast enough. Her kick gets him between the legs, and thankfully he's humanoid, because he groans in pain and curls in on himself for an instant. Senator Amidala hits him hard across the face with the heel of her palm while he's vulnerable, and Hevy finishes him with an elbow to the temple. He drops like a ragdoll.
"Nice work, Senator," Hevy compliments breathlessly. She snorts.
Footsteps sound behind them as Hevy wrenches the front door open. Jek, Rys, and Thire enter the hallway just as Hevy jerks back and slams his hand on the button to close and lock the door, barely avoiding blaster fire originating from the staircase. That explains why the perimeter guard isn't helping them.
"Sithspit!" Hevy swears. "There's another squad inside, we're pinned down!"
"Kriff—back to the lounge, we'll have better cover there. We took care of the assassins that came in from the window—call Flak, have him pilot a ship up there to pick us up!" Thire orders as he whirls. He's limping. Rys reaches for his comm unit immediately. They've recovered their weapons. Jek tosses Hevy his DC-15A wordlessly.
They're moving back down the hallway, Senator Amidala in front, when a loud clicking noise echoes through the hall.
"They've got a slicer!" Rys hisses as the door slides open of its own accord. Hevy whirls and fires on instinct, panic clutching at his throat, because he hadn't expected them to unlock the door so quickly—but no one comes through. The door slides closed, and Hevy tenses in confusion.
A small shape makes a metallic sound as it rolls quickly towards them, beeping menacingly. Hevy's stomach drops.
It's an active thermal detonator. And they're in a hallway, with no windows and the door is shut and there's no way to disarm it in time or throw it away from them—!
"Jek, no!"
Hevy hears Thire's frantic scream, but it's too late to do anything but turn his body to shield Senator Amidala and close his eyes.
The explosion is loud. The shockwave batters against Hevy's back, and he goes down, struggling to shield the Senator beneath him. It takes a moment, because Hevy is gasping and half-convinced that he's already dead, but then he realizes that he hasn't been torn apart by shrapnel. The shockwave hadn't blown out his eardrums or sent him through the wall like it should have.
He pulls himself away from Senator Amidala, looking her over to make sure she's alright. He feels bad about half-crushing her to the floor, but she only winces and nods gratefully when he helps her stand.
They should be dead.
"Jek, no, Jek—!" Rys cries in horror, struggling to his feet from further down the hall where he'd been thrown. He takes a few staggering steps forwards, but Thire rises to stop him with a heavy hand on his chest.
"Rys, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, hold on, stop, not yet—there could be more—I won't kriffing lose you too, look at me—!"
"Let go, Thire!" Rys snarls, trying to shove him away, but Thire doesn't let him go any farther. The Commander's shoulders are slumped. Rys comes to his senses after a moment, dragging in a shuddering breath and raising his gun. They can't let their guards down yet. Thire is right, there could be more assassins.
Force. Jek is dead. He'd used his own body to shield them all from the detonator. Hevy bites the inside of his cheek so hard that he tastes blood.
Senator Amidala lets out a quiet noise, tears gathering in her eyes. Hevy sees her attempting to look over his shoulder at where the explosive had detonated.
"Senator, don't look," he whispers.
It's not something she should see.
She turns her head away at his request. Hevy clenches his fists as he looks back, eyes skirting over what remains of Jek's charred body to watch the front door for more attackers.
Rys is trembling, the barrel of his gun rising and falling with the tiny motions. His entire body jerks periodically as if he wants nothing more than to run to his friend's side. Hevy almost wants to as well, but he knows it won't do any good. Jek had made a choice, and the price of such a decision is always fatal.
Hevy is bracing himself for the enemy to come charging through the door when sudden blasterfire from outside makes him flinch. Thire's communicator blinks.
"Commander Thire, we've engaged a squad of hostiles just outside of the Senator's penthouse! We're forcing them away from the door as we speak, sir!"
The squad of Guards that Thire had called for has arrived. Hevy wants to groan in relief. Thank the Force.
The news shatters what remains of Rys' self Guard lets out a pain-filled groan and turns suddenly, shoulders heaving like he's going to be sick.
"No… no, you—you kriffing moron, Jek, you shouldn't have—we were gonna survive this kriffing war together, you can't just…!" He lets out a wordless shout of frustration and then goes abruptly silent. Hevy's heart aches for him.
"Sergeant, do you need backup?" Thire asks quietly into his comm. The Sergeant takes a moment to respond, and the blasterfire outside intensifies for a few moments before dying back down to a few shots.
"I don't think so, sir! We caught them by surprise, they're disorientated. There are only two left, and we have them pinned down. It seems to be under control."
Thire lets out a breath and bows his head, allowing his grip on his gun to slacken.
"Thank you, Sergeant. Take them alive, if you can," he says, and hangs up, immediately reaching for Rys. For a moment Rys flinches away, but eventually he lets Thire pull him into a hug, pinning his arms against his sides and holding on like their lives depend on it. It's only then that Rys allows himself to crumple, gun clattering to the floor as he chokes on a muffled sob.
Hevy's shoulders slump as he watches Rys and Thire mourn. He shifts his grip on his gun just in case, but the attack is over, and the sounds of blasterfire peter out in the distance—the Guards have succeeded. Senator Amidala's jaw is set, unshed tears glistening in her eyes. Thire doesn't cry, but his breathing hitches and he visibly deflates, suddenly appearing small and helpless.
The squad of Guards make their way into the penthouse slowly, still on high alert, but they pause at the sight of Jek's body and his grieving friends.
They've arrived just in time… and far too late.
A/N: Happy monday! Who's ready for order 66 to go down this friday hahahA
As usual, infinite thanks to lancerfate, who is a LEGEND, for editing this chapter!
Ahahaha brace yourselves for the oncoming storm, because things are just starting to pick up ;)
I can't remember if I was going to say anything else important about this chapter, so I'm just gonna end, I guess heh. meridiansdominoes on tumblr for more!