Kyrimorut,

Mandalore

Ny, Besany and Kal stood waiting for the ship to touch down. They were on Com silence. Ordo was inside monitoring, making sure they weren't being followed, the Imps were getting keener. Shysa had mentioned there was a leak somewhere and he still hadn't found it. So they were being extra careful, as ever.

Vau was on the outskirts, again. Kal still hadn't worked out what was motivating him on this, other than he expected pay back for them using his ship. A'den especially, he had asked him to help find Sev.

The shabuir was being as tight lipped as ever.

He watched appreciatively, as the ship dropped almost silently on its struts; it didn't matter that he disagreed with Vau in a lot of things but he always did have good taste. Mer'ika would've enjoyed piloting that. He was just happy it didn't have the normal shiny exterior, that would be too much.

The Commando's walked down the ramp; Jaing shook his head. A'den was down last, his lips pressed together in fine line but no Ryssa.

"Oh no." Kal heard Besany's whisper.

Could anything worse happen. He thought, as he readied himself to be there for his son.

.

They reviewed all the Intel retrieved from Daro; it made for worrying reading. The Karayai was full of caf, shig, and food in full flow. Almost everyone was there, including Rav and some of her team. L'leth sat next to Jaing; Kal noticed that they were deep in conversation until they started the debrief.

"So what do we know." Kal took a long drink of his shig.

"You're not going to like this Buir." Kal's heart sunk at his sons introduction.

"Confirmed, the Empire are recruiting mongrels to fill the Stormtrooper Corps and definitely using clone Commandos for their training and they appear to be doing it willingly."

"Except for a few." Kal finished.

"We know that Ryssa escaped with a Commando, a cross trained ARC which we think is Coric, who she worked with on Coruscant but we're not certain, or where they're headed."

"And then there's this." Jaing produced the datapad and played the destruction of Kamino.

Kal leaned forward, to watch. He wasn't hypocritical enough to say that he was sorry, that place took ten years of his life but also gave him purpose and his boys. "If this is what the Empire does to its allies. We don't want to be found to be it's enemy. Shysa's playing a dangerous game if what he does backfires."

There were murmurs of agreement from around the room.

"As far as we know, from the Intel held here," Jaing tapped the datapad, "the young clones and Kamino Security Force were evacuated from the planet. We're not sure what happened to Lama Su but most of the cloners were evacuated as well."

"Will they never learn." He muttered. "Do we know where?"

"No idea."

"Whose pad was it?"

"Ryssa's."

"Ah."

"There's probably a lot more we can get out of it. I'll have a play." Jaing grinned, "I'll be careful with it vod." He addressed the last part to A'den.

"We could have a look at the list Maz produced of secret Imperial bases. Daro was spot on." A'den commented, breaking his silence since the return.

"Hmm." Kal seemed uncertain, was he biting off more than he could chew? The doctor was still working on the anti ageing cure. "If there's any clones out there, they still need to be given the choice."

.

Northern Territory

Mandalore

Hunting Lodge

"It's a Fekking full time job getting wood." Coric muttered, throwing the last pieces on the chopped pile; it should last them several days. Now he headed to check his traps and the perimeter. He couldn't be long, night was going to be early tonight. It had been misty all day.

He followed the path into the undergrowth noting where he had put the traps. He wasn't sure what he was going to catch. He hoped it wasn't a Strill he'd read about those and didn't want to get on the wrong side of them. If he was lucky he'd get a shatual and that would last them a while, as Ryssa didn't eat much compared to him. He'd still got his original appetite and still burned through the calories, even now.

He strode along the path he had forged for himself over the weeks. The conservator in the basement had some food in it, plenty really but mainly vegetables and pulses and he felt the need for meat. He found the first trap — empty. He pushed on, noticing the mist coming down. Wisps of frosty air hovering just above the ground. He shivered, not from the cold, but from the familiarity with another world far from here and another time. He straightened up.

"Don't think about it. You'll be alright."

He kept moving, concentrating on the task in hand, pushing further into the undergrowth. He had more traps to check.

.

Ryssa stood at the door looking. Coric had been outside most of the day and freezing fog had dropped; she knew his armour would keep him warm for a short time but it wasn't specialised armour for cold climates. She squinted to see as far as possible, there was no sign of him. The worry was gnawing at her now, so she found the old coat, several sizes too big and a shawl, the only things to keep her warm, as she ventured outside.

"Kriff it is cold," she shivered. She just wished the armour wasn't so white and searched the surrounding area that was now various shades of grey and white.

"Coric!" She shouted. She tried again and was met with an eerie muffled, silence. She shivered, it was too cold to stay out long and she headed back inside.

.

Five empty traps, it may be a wasted trip today. The mist enveloped him now and the light was drawing in. One more to check, he was still on his path and his next trap wasn't far.

He stopped. There was something following him; he couldn't see anything and was almost sure it wasn't humanoid. It was his soldier's sixth sense prompting him, either that or this mist. He shuddered and stepped forward.

"Kriff!" He'd actually caught something. His trap was full of a large animal, a Shatual he thought. Damn it was still alive he could see it moving. He'd have to finish it off. He did that quickly before he removed the trap and prepared the carcass ready to take it back.

He stopped again. Convinced he had seen something move, to the left of him. He searched the undergrowth and then he saw it. Hanging down from the tree, an animal, eyes glowing, it's jaw wide open, a frill flicked open at the side, lit up with Bioluminescence. It lunged towards him, he stepped back but lost his footing on the ground and it slithered quickly, wrapping its length around him, it's jaws snapping at his head.

In seconds he was on the floor struggling, trying to get his blaster pointed towards its head, trying to breathe. He held its snapping jaws inches away from his face, while the rest of his body was being squeezed by its length.

Now or never, he pulled the trigger. The pressure around his middle eased, as the body dropped away. He scrambled away himself, covered in bits of green skin and blood. He rolled in the snow to get clean, unsure what the remains of the animal would do to his armour. Blaster ready he spun around checking for a pack or a mate.

He could hear nothing but his own laboured breathing; the light had gone now, leaving only the mist and reflection off the snow. The shatual was still there. He tried to lift it but the animal, whatever it was, had done something to him and he struggled. He dragged it, pulling it by the rope, reluctant to leave it.

It was taking him longer than he anticipated but he was determined to get it back.

"Coric! I need help here there's too many. He's going to kill us all."

He stopped. No it couldn't be. He looked around frantic.

"Kix? Is that you? How?"

He shook his head. There was no way he was here. He was missing.

"Krell's going to kill us all." Another voice from the past, he knew Jesse was dead. He'd seen his helmet.

Coric sank to his knees, "Not now." He murmured to no one in particular. As he looked up the trees had a phosphorescence about them that hadn't been there before. He didn't think. He just needed to keep going. He pulled himself up.

"Stay alert! The enemy has our weapons and our armour." Rex's voice called out to him

"Rex! Is that you?"

He looked around frantically but continued moving.

"We're under attack." A brother's voice called out in the darkness that had descended.

He looked around, "Where's the enemy?" He shouted.

"I don't know I can't see anything." Another brother answered him, and neither could he. He searched for the enemy but kept moving.

"Get those mortars up here!" Rex was still there, giving orders. It was chaos, explosions and blaster fire ripped through the darkness.

"Anyone have a visual?" Rex asked.

"Negative too dark." Coric replied. He looked again. "Oy. I see them. They're disguised as clones alright."

He rushed forward and picked up an injured brother, dropping him on ground out of harm's way, before firing again.

He heard Rex again, at the front as always, "Everyone stop firing. We're shooting our own men. They're not Umbarans, they're clones. Take off your helmets show them they're not the enemy."

Coric pulled his helmet off and miraculously the firing stopped. He pushed forward until he saw the face of a clone, one of his own. He had shot them. He dropped to his knees in despair, no longer able to breathe.

He let his head fall forward. Not again.

.

Ryssa stared out of the small window, the sun had set and he hadn't come back. She found one of the energy torches from the basement and stood at the door. Although there was little light, the snow reflected what there was and it appeared lighter.

She could see him, on the edge of the undergrowth. On his knees. She blinked concentrating on him, no helmet.

"Kriff!" He wasn't moving and looked as if he had collapsed, "Coric! Hang in there. I'm coming."

The weather had turned, and yet another storm was due to hit them; the sky was full of white unfallen snow and large flakes started dropping, increasing the depth of the snow but thankfully it didn't push down the temperature any further.

She tied the shawl around her; she had to bring him inside.

Her boots crunched on ever deepening snow, not reaching the solid ground underneath. When she reached him he was unconscious, his helmet dropped to one side, with new green marks on his armour. She pushed it on and by dragging him by the armpits, she tried and failed to move him more than a couple of inches. She took a deep breath.

Think!

She remembered what one of the medics had done, when she was with Shryne, even though her memory about that time was erratic; she returned to the lodge, found rope, tied it around his torso, fashioning two handles from it, near his arms. She then lay on him, her back to his chest and turned over.

"Ooph!" her breath was pushed out of her as his weight pressed down on her and a sharp pain jabbed in her injured side. This was going to be hard but she had to do it. She owed it to him. She put her hands on the ground and pulled her legs up scrabbling to get a grip and pushed up.

Yes! She was upright, almost. Now all she had to move him. She had pushed Gregor, so she could do this. Slowly, painstakingly, she moved one foot in front of the other and dragged Coric with her. She daren't stop. If she stopped she would not get going again.

"Agh." Reaching the door had taken precious minutes but the fire was on, the blankets warming but it may not be enough.

"Just need….. to get….inside." She told herself, with each step until she fell forward.

Breathing hard and spreadeagled in the doorway of the lodge, she was trapped under him. She pulled one last time, dragging him the final few feet into the lodge and warmth, before untangled them, quickly closing the door.

She removed his armour, then body suit, wrapping him in a blanket and pulling him in front of the fire, not too close; luckily she had built it up. She checked his breathing, that was steady.

"C'mon, Coric."

He wasn't responding. She stripped her top off, lay next to him, shivering as his cold skin met hers, tucked his head into her neck and wrapped the blanket around them.

Then waited.

.

Kyrimorut

"How are you getting back to Rav's?"

Jaing's question took L'leth by surprise; yes they had been talking whilst they were waiting for the debriefing. She had come to welcome back Ryssa, she wanted so much to see her, for Casey to meet her and then Jaing was saying how he was worried about his brother. She had offered to come and see A'den more often with Casey. He always seemed to perk up when he played with him, although Yayax squad had practically adopted her young son.

"Walking."

"All the way, alone?"

"Yes." She slipped out the small blaster Rav had given her. "Levet's been teaching me how to shoot. He says I'm good."

"I'll walk with you. I need the exercise."

She looked up at him, a question on her lips.

"If that's okay?" he anticipated it.

"Yes. I'll appreciate the company."

They walked along the path towards Rav's, it was a decent walk but Jaing had always taken a speeder, so hadn't done this route. The snow had just started falling again.

"A'den was down wasn't he?"

"Yes. I'm worried. After this we have no more Intel on where she could be. He needs something."

"The Ryssa I knew would do all she could to get back to him."

"Yes but there was something on the datapad. Our warrants had been amended, showing we were deceased. Obviously the rumour of our deaths was greatly exaggerated." He paraphrased a common saying.

She gave a little smile. He realised he had missed her. They had spent a lot of time together on Corrie but then it all changed and he'd forgotten how easy she was to talk to and he liked it when she smiled.

"Do you think Rav will have some Tihaar for us?"

"Oh yes, but you can try mine, if you want. It should be ready."

"Yours?"

"One of the first things she taught me." She pointed, "look we're nearly there."

He could see the Rav's and farm in the distance, well more in the undergrowth where it was situated, you could not actually see the buildings they were totally hidden, especially under the snow.

As they walked up to Rav's, he could see all the building work the clones had undertaken. It was impressive. Dev stood a few feet from the door, Casey in his arms, a worried look on his face.

"He wouldn't settle without you." he said, as she approached him.

She held out her arms and took her son, his eyes fixed on Jaing. He held out his finger for him and he grasped it.

"Strong little Ad', isn't he."

Jaing looked at L'leth and Dev, and hoped he hadn't caused her any problems.

.

The Hunting Lodge

The soup bubbled away in the pan almost ready. It would help warm Coric up. The floorboard creaked behind her, "You are supposed to be having a warm shower."

"Done that and that smells just too good, thought I'd come and sample it."

He was looking and sounding better.

Ryssa felt him move close behind her; she continued stirring, as his hands rested on the swell of her hips and his breath warmed her neck. "Coric, I.."

"Kuur."

"Coric?" She swung around and met his face millimetres from hers. He closed the short distance claiming her mouth with his. She pulled away in surprise.

Moving further away, she wrapped her arms around herself to cut him off and stepped briskly away from him.

"What?" He asked, as he followed her.

"Don't do that, I'm not ready. Den….…"

"Really? Aren't you?"

"What?"

"Ready."

Coric's mouth opened before his brain engaged. "I can't believe this. He used to hurt you. I saw the bruises. And Tod told me it wasn't just physical."

"I forgave him."

"Even the woman." her memory of that came back to her.

"That was …..his mission." It had hurt though.

"He's a clone, a man…. flawed at best ….."

Crossing her arms tighter, her mouth set in a determined line, "We knew each other in ways that you can't begin to imagine and it's none of your business."

"He asked me to look after you."

She stared at him a frown pulling her eyebrows down.

Another one?

"And you thought he meant this way as well?"

Coric winced - no he hadn't thought that.

"Well hard luck because it's not going to happen. I still love my husband." She grabbed her shawl, whipped it around her shoulders, just missing him, and headed out of the door.

"Ryssa, it's freezing out there." She ignored him, "And you had me when we first met at the outer rim." He added softly.

The door slammed. That was impressive given it's weight. This was like the disagreements they had as Medics; words would be thrown out, they could be harsh and then after a few minutes it would be over.

She'd soon be back.

He ladled out some soup; it was thick, filling and warming. She had put some hard Meal grain biscuits ready, he broke them up in the soup, they almost tasted like bread, if you left them in long enough. He finished the soup; he wasn't sure what she had done to it but it was especially tasty and he helped himself to another serving. The second one went down just as easily.

She still hadn't returned; he put some water to boil. She would need some shig, something warm, when she got in.

"Atin'la dala." he muttered, as he went to look for her.

She hadn't gone far and was standing just outside the door to the lodge, shaking, shivering from the cold. Grabbing her arms, he pulled her back into the lodge and pushed her in front of the log fire. He got no argument from her and shoved the mug of hot shig into her hands. They shook so much, it spilled over.

"Drink." He clasped his hands around hers to hold the mug steady whilst she drank.

"I'm sorry. I…can you forgive me?"

"Drink!" He made her drink more.

"I didn't want to believe it but I think I already knew, he's dead isn't he."

He nodded.

"I miss him so much." She drank again. "We had so many plans."

"I should've realised."

"S'okay."

Coric went to get the soup and brought back a small bowl and hard biscuits.

"It was good, the soup?"

"Yeah."

"Good." She tasted it, and it was good; she was getting better at cooking. She used to only do Nerf and bean stew and cookies. She took another spoonful.

What Coric had said unsettled her and she thought of what happened at the outer rim, the planet where her Mother died. Then it suddenly made sense.

Coric sat himself next to her sipping some strong Caf.

"I didn't realise how you felt."

"Always lo ...really liked you."

"Oh." She was lost for words.

"I only told Rex. He told me to tell you but it was never the right time." He paused. "And then….. you told me you were married.."

Ryssa remembered that vividly, she thought he had simply been embarrassed about the way he caught them. She swallowed another spoonful of soup.

"I saw you on Umbara with the Mortuary teams but you never came to see me."

Umbara was something she tried to forget.

"Rex warned me off. He said you'd be better off without me, even as a friend." She said sadly, "And I believed him."

"I never wanted to be 'just your friend'. But hadn't thought you could possibly love a clone. You did, just not me." He took a leap of faith, he could get shot down, or…..but he went for it. "I still don't want to be just a friend. I…. I haven't got the time."

She stopped drinking, the cup still held to her lips, and stayed very still, for several seconds. He watched her slowly put her mug down near to the fire and turn towards him; she framed his face in her hands and gently kissed him.

"What now?" He asked.

"I don't know."

.

A/N - I am not a fan of hunting but it fits in the story.