Kyrimorut.

"Good you're here." Mij was already prepping Sev who was unconscious on the table. He hadn't come around and Mij was looking at how much he needed to sedate him, just to ensure he didn't come around mid operation. Unless they had another commando in here there was no way they would have restrained him. They couldn't afford for him to move.

Scout had already put restraints on him and was carefully fitting a cage to protect his neck and head.

"I can't do this, Mij." She came straight out with it; they could not afford to waste any time.

"Look. I know it's Sev," Mij continued, assuming she didn't like the taciturn commando, "but everyone deserves a chance.

"No Mij, it's not that. I would if I could but look." She pushed her hands forward. Just the stress of telling him had increased the tremors, especially in her right hand. He looked at her, then grasped her hands, holding them steady between his, feeling the involuntary tremors pressing against his own hands.

"How long? What caused it?" He turned her hands over in his, looking for something—anything.

"A few weeks." Tann replied, "We don't know exactly why but it may be an after effect of the Inquisitor's attack. I did what I could, with Kina Ha but neither of us had any experience of this kind of attack. But I think there is obviously some residual damage. We've checked every other physical possibility."

Mij turned her hands over again, they still shook. He watched her, as she looked on the verge of tears.

Tann continued, "What the Inquisitors are, what they do, is something we have never dealt with before. The Sith knew more of the dark side of the Force than the Jedi ever did, or cared to find out. It was a grievous omission in hindsight. Even Master Altis had never seen this before. But Sev, I can help. I am fully trained."

Mij stared long and hard at her before finally dropping Ryssa's hands and nodding in agreement.

"It's been a while since I did anything remotely like this." Mij admitted, looking at Sev.

"I can advise." Offered Ryssa, "But Tann's here. The two of you and Scout should be enough."

She didn't want to just stand there, watching, that felt plain wrong but if that was what was required, she would do it. If there was any way she could help.

"Appreciate that. Let's do it then. The sooner it's out the better." Mij had made his decision.

Tann and Ryssa prepped for the surgery.

.

Ryssa pulled off the synth gloves, the tremors had reduced slightly but Mij and Tann did the work, while she advised. Mij was right he was out of practice but soon improved with Tann's support. Telling him about her hands had been difficult, more difficult than she had ever imagined it would be, admitting aloud that she may not be able to operate again.

She appreciated him letting her help but it was more for her than him.

She walked out of the operating room, looking up to see A'den waiting for her; he had been watching her like a hawk since she came back. Now Sev was suspended in Bacta and they had some time to be together. His armour had protected both clones from most of the blast's force. It was being thrown around in the Tie that caused the injuries and the random piece of shrapnel that hit Sev. It could have hit either of them.

She pulled on a fresh set of gloves and facing A'den she said, "Come on get that armour off."

"It's been a long time since you told me to do that." He smiled, his eyes wrinkling at the corner. His age lines were becoming more pronounced.

He grabbed her hips, and pulled her to him; he just wanted to be close to her.

"Why didn't you help more with Sev?"

Ryssa looked at her hand; it seemed fine now, then she stretched it out towards his face; the tremors started again.

He grasped it, steadying it for her. "What's wrong?"

"We don't know exactly. But Tann thinks it's from the Inquisitor. A little reminder that I may have to live with."

"Forever?" He dropped his forehead down to touch hers.

"We don't know." She whispered before kissing him on the cheek, "Let's see what I can do. Do you trust me?"

"Always! Implicitly!"

"Good!" She smiled.

At least that's one of us.

Armed with the surgical tweezers and scanner, she swept A'den's upper body.

"There's only three pieces, small and not too deep. I shouldn't do too much damage."

"You can't damage me anymore." He knew he was already damaged. This was nothing.

"Upper chest." She noted, and leaned in with the tweezers; the closer she got the more the tremors increased.

"Relax!" Advised A'den, watching her face.

"That should be my line." She replied, looking exactly where she was going.

"It's my body." He muttered.

She took a deep breath and moved yet closer, supporting her trembling hand with the other. That helped a little, she grabbed the end of the tiny piece of shrapnel and A'den's hand covered hers, steadying it, she pulled it out quickly and cleanly; immediately covering the wound with coagulant and a Bacta patch.

"There you are all good." He said, watching her again.

"Again — my line." She replied, trying not to look at him.

"What's the matter? Something is wrong. I can see something is wrong." He held her hands, turning them over in his. "Just because you can't do, what you did before makes no difference to me. I love you, no matter what you do."

Ryssa nodded, pulling her hands away; she couldn't say it made her feel any better because it didn't and she moved on to the next piece, her hand shook even more.

"You know, if your hand shakes in bed like that, I'll be happy." He made an almost obscene gesture, hoping a joke would help.

Ryssa just looked at him and burst into tears.

It didn't help.

He pulled her to him, his arms wrapping around her. She didn't argue, simply sobbed into his chest. Just at that moment Vau opened the door a foot, he always entered whichever room silently unless he wanted to announce his presence.

He tilted his head. A'den glared at him and Vau retreated, not wishing to get involved in some marital argument despite his now paternal interest.

"Ryssa, I'm sorry. I'm a di'kut sometimes."

She sniffled in reply, shaking her head.

"It's not that. There's something else."

"If anyone else has hurt you…"

That was something she still had to come to terms with. Flashes of the torture was coming back to her. But she couldn't remember if she had said anything.

"I'm pregnant." She blurted out.

"What?" His brain, despite his intellect, took a few seconds to catch up with what she said.

"Pregnant? We're having a baby? That's great." He picked her up and swung her around grunting in pain, when the remaining shrapnel moved.

"Are you happy?" She asked.

"Of course." He replied.

She looked at his face. Yes, he looked happier than he had in a long time and she didn't want to dampen that feeling but she couldn't lie to him. Or could she.

"There's more." The words came out automatically.

"The baby's okay isn't it?"

"Yes…. But the dates. I can't be sure….." she trailed off, unable to say it.

"That it's mine?" He asked, guessing as soon as she mentioned dates.

She nodded, "I'm sorry." She blurted out.

"Let's get that shrapnel out." He replied, his face blank.

She was struggling still and looked at her trembling hands again, wondering what she could possibly do, treating people had been her life. All that training, studying. And now the baby.

She reverted to what she did know. She scanned for the other pieces.

.

A'den sat outside, Ryssa had said he should rest. He didn't feel like resting but then she disappeared with Tann to check on her hands again. Sometimes, even though he had only just met her, he felt that he was intruding when Tann was there; she had been in his wife's head. Even he couldn't get in there, not truly. She seemed to be drawing away from him.

"Problem?" asked Vau, taking a seat next to him. He kept telling himself he shouldn't get involved, couldn't get involved, that he had lost that privilege years ago. But he could no longer help himself.

A'den shrugged.

"She was with the Jetii. She'd been crying. What did you do?"

"Nothing."

"Women don't cry for nothing, even I, with my limited empathy, know that." His face was hard. This was his daughter. "So what's wrong?"

"There's a problem with her hands. Tremors. They think it's an after effect of whatever the Inquisitor did."

"So that's why she didn't operate on Sev." It fell into place for him now. It wasn't because she didn't like Sev, "Mij refused to tell me, citing some Shab'la medical mumbo jumbo, thinking I wouldn't understand."

"I'm surprised you didn't rearrange his nose again."

"I was sorely tempted. My boys deserve the best and she's the best. Plus, I'd have to deal with the other Doctor; it's obvious she and Mij have a relationship going on, as if we didn't have enough to keep track of. We still need her on our side. My boys are also in line for the cure."

"You need to find them first."

"Yeah. That's a problem."

Vau watched A'den, he still looked troubled. Technically he could call him son and it would be correct but that was a step too far at the moment.

"Is there something else you're not telling me? About the crying, something you did to her?"

"No!"

"Now lad, even I know you're lying. So I have to think the worst." Vau's voice had that edge to it— patrician with more than a hint of menace. "Or is it something that happened when she was with the Empire. Has she talked about that yet?"

A'den considered his reply. At some point she could find out this was her father. He had to tread carefully.

"We haven't. She says she doesn't remember everything yet."

"You need to be prepared for when she does. They wouldn't have been happy with whatever she was doing before deserting."

"I understand that and….she's pregnant."

"Ah, the crying. I thought you would be happy about that?"

"I am but…"

Vau hated 'buts' he had come to believe his life was permeated with buts. He had been born into nobility—but— the family was flawed. He'd been in love with women, more than one— but — he couldn't commit to them. He had a daughter—but— he hadn't been around for her.

Could he rectify that?

"So why aren't you with her now?"

"She's with Tann. They're checking her hands again."

"Jetii!" He muttered, "The baby?" He continued, "You're happy about it but I've not heard Kal singing or dancing so I'm assuming he doesn't know yet."

A'den shook his head. This whole conversation felt unreal.

"Is it healthy?"

"Yes."

"But?"

"It may not mine."

"Ah!" Vau leaned back. "The trooper's, Coric?"

"Yes.

"Hmm!" perhaps this was something he could help with.

"How Mandalorian are you?" He asked, eyes narrowing.

A'den stood up towering over the man in black, "What do you mean? I picked my Mandalorian name when I was two." he jabbed his chest, "Kal'buir brought me up to be Mandalorian."

Vau watched as the anger rose, as it should.

"Sit down and listen. I was in my early twenties, when I became a Mandalorian, a grown man, adopted by a Mandalorian, just like Jusik. It's the Mandalorian way."

A'den sat there, frowning.

"If you're truly Mandalorian, you will bring the child up and accept it as yours. It's the Mandalorian way. These things happen. Comfort is taken where it can be in times of war, when partners are not available, as you yourself know."

Vau missed nothing.

"The child will be yours and my grandchild, which is not something I ever expected to say, or want but things change."

"Your family?"

"Won't know. I'll make sure of that. I'll be around, you'll be around. With any luck."

"It's just…."

"The fact she was with someone else. You feel betrayed."

"Yeah."

"You need to let that go or it will destroy you, both of you. Potentially all three of you and anymore ad you have."

He watched the Null hoping he had got through to him. They could be stubborn chakaar at the best of times and could fly off the handle at a moment's notice for what appeared to be no good reason. He'd keep an eye on this situation as far as he could.

But there was something else he needed to do. Once again it was after the fact but was needed.

.

Vau finally left him alone with his thoughts. He had not yet said he was fine with the baby, was he?

It would look like him, it was a clone's baby. Ryssa's baby. He was Mandalorian. He could adopt it before it was born. He would be his son, he would raise him, him and Ryssa.

He rose to go and find her. It was time they talked this through properly.

He found them together, Tann holding her hands, steadying them. The Jedi's eyes were closed. He knew that look, he had seen Jusik look like that when has treating Fi.

He cleared his throat.

"This pregnancy. The baby's OK isn't it? Tann didn't find anything, did she?" his eyes were drawn to his wife's stomach, but he was ignoring the Jedi. He hadn't dared hope when she told him but he still had that anger and feeling of loss from last time.

Against the demagolka, who caused it.

"No. He's fine but we need a specific obstetric scanning machine." Answered Tann, "My powers are not sufficient and the scanners are not calibrated correctly."

"Are you okay? You look angry." Asked Ryssa.

"Not at you." He said, shaking his head, letting the anger go.

"Coric?" He shook his head again, although he was still working through that one.

"The baby is okay?"

"Yes. It's just that I haven't told anyone else yet, except Tann, she had guessed."

His hands covered her stomach, ignoring the Jedi, who moved aside.

"I told you….the dates…we can't be sure." She added. "Then there's the rapid ageing…..Kad is the only one we can compare it to and Etain did some force thing when she was carrying him. So….."

"It makes no difference to me."

"Den. I don't want him to be treated any differently because he may be Coric's."

"He won't be. He? You've said 'he' twice now."

"Tann says it's a boy. She's the only one, and you, who knows about it and she sensed his sex."

"And Vau." A'den added

"Vau?" She wondered how he could possibly know.

"He asked if you were okay, after the surgery. He thought you were a bit off. I told him."

"Why?"

"He needed to know because it was just after Sev. This way he's satisfied."

A'den inwardly cursed at what he knew but he had promised Vau. He just wanted her to be healthy and content, and the baby. They couldn't risk anything else, especially after last time. He finally turned to Tann.

"Tann! Thank you for looking after my wife, but we'll take it from here."

"Den!" Interrupted Ryssa.

"We need to talk."

Tann nodded and left them alone.

"Can we tell the others?" He asked.

"Can we just wait a few weeks, so it's our secret?"

"Alright."

He held out his arms; it was an invitation she couldn't refuse.

.

Vau found the ex stormtrooper going through his exercises in the small gym. He had bulked up following the ARC training, as they all did. The clones were indeed adaptable.

Coric stopped as the ex training Sergeant approached him.

"Sergeant! How can I help you?"

"Daro. I want to know everything about Daro."

Coric wiped the sweat from his face and took a large drink from his water bottle.

"Can you be a little bit more specific? Because I know the Nulls have already been there."

"That was before we knew what had happened to Ryssa, exactly what they were doing and which Commandos were there. Any more of my boys, of Delta squad."

"Why don't you ask her?"

"I'm asking you… son."

Coric narrowed his eyes, "I'm not your son!" He flung the towel around his shoulders, just missing Vau's face.

Kriff! The older some of them get, the more like Jango they become. His worst traits.

"Let's start again shall we. I want to get my boys back, give them a chance at the cure just like you. I trained them to be soldiers not lackeys for a Sith power crazed Lord."

He let that sink in.

"So what happened to her, did she and her droid treat any of my boys. Do you know if any were there?"

Coric stared at the older man for a good ten seconds; he knew there was something else but he also knew he was unlikely to tell him. Vau was one of the original training sergeants from Kamino, as tough as they come.

"What has she said?"

"Nothing much."

The droid is the key. They worked closely together. It rarely left her side; it would have a record of every trooper that was treated. There was a machine as well, for the normal troopers, with chips. It was built by the Kaminoans to reinforce the potency of the chips but Ryssa had the droid reprogram it so that it neutralised the chips."

Clever girl.

"Commandos, which commandos were there."

"There were a lot. They…we were used to train the new stormtroopers and also special escort duties, for high ranking Imperial officials and Kaminoans."

"Did you recognise any?"

"Captain Gregor— he escaped. The others kept themselves to themselves."

"I'm looking for the remains of Delta squad."

They all knew of Delta squad.

"I heard there was one called Scorch. He was used for the escort duties, so he wasn't around much."

"None of the others?"

"Not that I knew of."

"Shab!"

"Did Ryssa tell you exactly what they— Rampart did to her."

"No. She's not opened up about that unless it's to the Null. She's just got her memory back but not all of it. So what happened?"

"Rampart personally interrogated her but as far as I know she didn't reveal anything."

"Interrogated?"

"Yes and when I say personally, I mean personally and a new Imperial Probe."

"So tortured." Vau felt the icy cold need for revenge start trickling down his spine.

"Yes. And from what I could see he enjoyed it. He used his new toy, until we got out."

"You helped her?"

"It was the least I could do. I'd known her before. But what is it to do with you?"

"None of your business. Rampart? What do you know about him?"

"Not much really. He appeared from nowhere. Reported to Tarkin. Was put in charge of the Stormtrooper programme and the decommissioning of clones now. I understand." Coric smiled, "but he has fallen from grace, according to the Senate records."

"So he has." remembered Vau.

.