Kyrimorut

Kal was pacing up and down the Ops room, com held close to his ear, talking to Niner; he hadn't sorted out his hearing yet. It had felt like an eternity with little or no contact from them after the failed retrieval from Coruscant. The Empire had been keeping them busy. From the one sided conversation, it sounded as if Niner was explaining something.

Ryssa watched as he hung on Niner's every word; his own voice low and fatherly.

"Don't apologise, son. It wasn't your fault. You did what you felt was right for all of you. You looked after your brother. How is he?"

There was another pause as Niner was obviously telling Kal something more.

"Keep him close. We'll explain everything when you get here."

Kal still held the com to his ear.

"Sorry about the Corellian Commando, son, you couldn't do any more. He made his own decision, left on his own terms."

He went quiet again.

"I know it shouldn't have to be that way." Kal's voice was hardly above a whisper and the room was quieter for it, "But now it's your time son. Yours and Darman's. It's time to come home and live your lives on your terms. As it should be."

Ryssa leaned on A'den, half listening to the one sided conversation, his hand resting possessively on her stomach. She put her own on top, "How is he today?" He whispered to her, knowing she had got up several times during the night. She had eventually settled back down, so he had not disturbed her any further.

"Active, and bouncing up and down on my hip bones." She whispered back.

The room was jammed when everyone had heard Kal was on the com to Niner, finally making arrangements for Omega's return. Ryssa wondered if Vau was doing something similar for the other members of Delta but he had a different Modus Operandi.

Fi rushed in, he had heard the news; he bumped shoulders with Atin who had a grin a mile wide across his face at the thought I'd seeing his brother again, it had been so long and he had Laseema pulled close to him. She was watching Kal, they all were.

Finally he put the com down, "They're on their way but it sounds as if they have a few loose ends to tie up. The Spaarti is coming with them as well."

He still looked worried.

"Spaarti?" Whispered Ryssa, to A'den.

"Clones who were grown in a year on Centax 3. Different methods to us." he whispered not wanting to miss anything his father said.

"A year? And they sent them out to fight?" She couldn't remember that part before. Had she known about it and forgotten; she didn't know.

"Buir?" Ordo prompted Kal.

"Someone spotted them. They did a sweep before they left but it seems their new gear isn't as good as the old Katarn armour."

"Laandur Beskar'gam," Muttered Kom'rk.

"Well, as soon as they're here we can sort them out with some proper beskar'gam." Confirmed Prudii, "And decide what we want to do with their shadow. He's an unknown. Do we know his name?"

The nulls looked at each still unsure about the Spaarti clone, more so than Kal.

"Rede." Answered Kal, "Niner says he's a quick learner."

The Nulls exchanged glances, they were on their guard about him despite how their father felt.

"So what's the next step, Buir? It's their game plan. What do they want us to do?"

Kal frowned, "They're heading out into the badlands as far away from here as possible so they're heading south now. The plan is they're going to vaporise their bikes, but leaving some of their armour and fragments of DNA, so that it identifies them. Another casualty of the badlands."

"Let's hope the Empire doesn't look too carefully at the remains."

"They're clones. The Empire hasn't looked very closely at anything helpful to do with clones. Worse than the Republic." Ryssa piped up, remembering what she had seen on that moon.

Kal looked at her with a small smile pulling at his mouth for a few seconds, she was showing now; he didn't dare think that things were going well for his sons. He wouldn't be happy until all his boys were back here with him, the more the merrier. These were his boys and a new one to pull at him.

He'd never had any direct dealings with the Spaarti clones, only what had been reported back to him from various sources but they were clones all the same and being used, even worse than the Kamino trained clones. The Spaarti were literally, as the old saying went, cannon fodder. They deserved better, the same as his boys.

"Poor sod," he said, "grown to adulthood in a year and was expected to function as a soldier with just flash training. At least you lads and the other Commandos had the benefit of a trainer's expertise to give you a fighting chance."

But even that was not enough for a lot of them, too many of them, he thought angrily.

"We'll take in the Spaarti as well, give him a chance." He said, as if to convince himself.

Ordo raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything; Mereel put a hand on his arm restraining him. They would look after their father whatever happened.

Kal saw the gesture but didn't say anything, looking around, the Nulls were huddled in small groups already planning, probably way ahead of him.

"Let's get things ready for them and prepare the Cornucopia to pick them up."

He looked around, "Mij? They didn't say they were injured but let's be ready to check them over, especially after what they've proposed."

"Always Kal." Mij turned to leave.

"Any news from Walon, from wherever the Fek he's gone."

"Nothing yet. You know what he's like." Mij strode out of the room to get things ready just in case and he didn't want to get in between Kal and Walon, on whatever they were arguing about. Their agendas were essentially the same but seem to be heading in different directions at the moment.

"I'll get the rooms prepped." Kom'rk added.

"It'll be a shock to the system for them." Ryssa said to A'den, "Are you going with Ordo to pick them up?"

"Not sure yet. It's not finalised. But it won't take long, once we get the coordinates."

"Do you know where Vau's gone?"

"No, why?"

"Just wondered. I'm getting used to Mird being around but he seems a bit off since yesterday."

"Off? He's always off, unless he's eaten something that disagreed with him."

"I don't mean this smell you say he has and I don't think anything that he eats could possibly disagree with him. He's worse than a Dianoga."

"He stinks," confirmed A'den, "but you can get used to it. Jaing doesn't mind; he can't smell him."

"I noticed that." Ryssa looked around for that brother.

"They must have made a mistake on Kamino or he's had too much Tihinglaar."

"I think the latter." Ryssa commented, remembering how he practically hoovered up the last one that Laseema made.

A'den snorted.

"It's not that. It's the way Mird's acting. I think he's missing Vau." She reiterated.

"I can hear you talking about me." An offended voice came through the crowd.

"You prefer it to being ignored." She retorted.

"Only in some cases. But I have a surprise for you." He looked at Ryssa and held out his hand, "Come on."

She looked between A'den and his brother, "Go on then." Ryssa grabbed his hand and followed him, curious as to what this surprise was.

They ended up in the medical room, while Mij was frantically ensuring he had full supplies ready.

"Lie down then!" Jaing ordered

"But Omega?" She asked.

"This won't take long. Stomach!" He ordered.

A'den glared at his brother's brusqueness and carefully moved her top up.

Ryssa gasped as Jaing added some gel then gently rolled the ice cold scanner over her stomach.

"You alright?"

"It's cold."

"Sorry," he muttered with an eye roll.

"Be careful." A'den warned, over sensitive where she was concerned, he always had been, even with his brothers. The pregnancy made him worse.

Mird had followed them in and sat in the corner watching, eyes flicking from Ryssa to the Nulls and back, then he whined and looked at the door.

Ryssa shushed him and he lay down, still watching closely.

Finally Jaing finished and lifted the handset away, to let them see clearly.

The scan picture was improved, he had worked on it with the help of Mereel; they could now see the features of the baby boy, who was currently enjoying a good workout in his mother's womb. He looked as if he was sparring, Jaing couldn't help but smile. A'den was grinning from ear to ear.

My son. He still couldn't believe this was happening.

"He's very active." Commented Mij looking over at the new and improved scanner, smiling. He loved this new part of his job; the happy good news parts. There was nothing quite like bringing a new life into this galaxy and he had not overseen one of those in a long time. He wished they could all be like this.

"Sorry to disturb this. But I really need to get ready for our new intake, just in case."

"Is there anything I can do to help, apart from wielding a scalpel?" Ryssa asked, holding out her hands, they still had a tremor.

Although she tried to make light of it, Mij could see it in her eyes, she was still hurting from that. He looked at the Null, his face was blank but he understood.

He clasped her hands in his huge ones, "Yes you can. You can help me set everything up. Not too strenuous, I promise." He looked back over to A'den, knowing how protective he was, almost obsessive.

A'den bent over to kiss her, "If you get tired just stop. I have to go and see Buir now."

He understood that she needed to do this, to do something, while everyone else was sorting out Omega.

He pushed Jaing in front of him out of the room.

"Thank you. I need something to do." She called after him.

Mij looked over her shoulder, watching the Strill walk around in a circle settling itself, "I get Mird as well. Two for one." He wrinkled his nose and grinned, "Let's get started."

.

Propped up on a stool, despite her tremors she could sort and stack supplies just as Mij liked them; the monotony and repetitive actions soothed her tremors. She heard the door open and looked around.

"Where's N12?" A rough clone voice asked.

"Su cuy'gar, Sev!" There was only one clone who spoke like that; she looked up. He looked healed. "He's probably with Kal and the others, preparing for Omega's return."

His eyes dropped to her stomach, for a split second, she was obviously pregnant now and then her face. There was still something about her face. It was odd how you could see family resemblance in natties. But he put that thought out of his mind he had other things to sort first.

"Huh! Anyone know where Sarge went?"

"You mean Walon?"

He grunted.

"Mij might." She continued, "They've been doing a few medical supply runs together."

A euphemism for nicking what they could from the Empire or old abandoned Republic medical centres. The Empire seemed to prefer their own tech now; there was still a lot out there.

"He doesn't. I asked him." He looked at the Strill.

"Why have you got Mird?" He wrinkled his nose at the Strill, who had risen into his six legs and stretched out languorously; he might look relaxed but Sev knew it would strike without warning.

"For some reason Walon left him behind and Mird doesn't seem to want to go after him." She reached out to stroke the animal. "He took a bit of getting used to but he's a sweetheart and very protective. Sometimes A'den can't even kiss—"

Sev snorted and put his hand up, "Too much Intel."

He didn't need to know that; he could imagine what they got up to and that wasn't for him.

He suddenly turned and left followed by his shadow, who had been staring at Ryssa, especially her stomach. The stare was intense.

"And goodbye to you too." she muttered.

"Ignore him." Mij advised, "He's always been like that. Although I'm not sure why he still has his shadow following him around."

"Yes. I noticed. I suppose it takes all sorts."

Mij smiled, "I suppose it does." thinking of the partners now attached to the clones living here. He needed to include himself in that. His relationship with Ovolot had blindsided him.

.

Abandoned Republic Outpost.

Unnamed Planetoid.

Outer Rim

Zey walked out of the room he had been ensconced in with Rampart. A sheen of sweat glistened on his face, although he walked quickly and strongly back to the main area.

"How is it going?" Asked Maze.

"Slow work and nothing yet. It's not an exact science. More like growing a garden, planting a pack of unnamed seeds, then nurturing them."

Maze frowned at the reply, he hadn't been brought up to be a farmer or gardener but he knew patience and didn't think Vau had enough of that on this job.

"We have to be patient. He is a true believer. Still thinks the Chancellor or one of his staff will release him."

"Perhaps that's something we need to play on."

Zey looked at him, "It's something we could do. Do you have an idea?"

"Maybe. My brothers should have the same chance as we have." He nodded to Coric.

"Agreed." Coric replied.

"Let's have a Caf and discuss that. I'll get Vau."

.

Vau's face was implacable, "So he truly believes in the Empire and that they will see his worth to them, still?"

"He does, his arrogance and self belief is unparalleled."

"Can you make him believe this is some sort of test."

"Test?"

"Of his loyalty."

"So already he thinks we're the Empire?"

"Or employed by the Empire, contracted out, to test him."

"He knows most of us now."

"Can you do work on that?"

Zey stroked his beard, "Probably but what then?"

"Someone will come to confirm he has passed the test."

"It's worth a try. I'll try one more time. If not we may have to think yet again."

.

Kyrimorut

A'den turned over in bed, expecting to find Ryssa lying next to him but she wasn't there and the sheets were cold. He was fully awake and sitting up in a nanosecond, "Ryssa!"

Her wrap was missing from the hook, no indoor shoes and no Mird, so he wondered where she was, although it couldn't be far.

He padded off, searching.

He poked his head around the kitchen door - just Kom'rk.

"Ryssa?" He asked.

Kom'rk shook his head; he was having a bad night, and was just scrolling down a datapad to distract himself.

A'den had had his share of those, although they had reduced since Ryssa came back fully; looking after her had given him some stability. It didn't make sense but that was what he felt.

He looked across at the Med bay but all the lights were off, so unlikely to be there. Then he caught the smell and wandered over to what they jokingly called the Ops Room; there was a low level light in there. Someone was working. They didn't need a room; a datapad would do but there was someone in there.

He walked slowly and quietly not wishing to startle whoever was there and poked his head around the door.

Prudii was hunched over a keyboard and datapad, examining data as it steamed down the screen. He turned slowly to face A'den and nodded to one side. A'den looked in the direction he nodded and Ryssa was there, sitting cross legged next to the droid, flicking through a datapad. She looked upset.

Walking slowly towards her he wasn't sure what she was actually looking at until he reached her; images of people on her datapad, he recognised a few.

He carefully sat next to her, up close, "Want to tell me what you're doing?"

"Couldn't sleep. Didn't want to wake you."

"I don't mind. If you need anything—"

"Not really."

She scrolled on the datapad, looking at each image closely.

"So what are you really doing?" He asked again, knowing full well she hadn't been fully truthful.

"Remembering." She whispered before leaning her head on his shoulder, still looking at the pad. He put his arm around her.

He watched as she flicked up the screen again; images of her past, her friends.

"Good memories?" He asked; he had a few good ones himself but a lot of bad ones too. He tried not to let those take over, that was a recipe for disaster. He wondered if she had got past those.

"Some."

He squeezed her closer, "Good. Keep hold of them."

"I miss them."

"All of them?"

"Every last one. I miss talking to Suu. I missed her child being born; although it was a surprise. But I should have been there to help her."

He wasn't sure what to say, so just held her. He had been more reliant on Kal and his brothers and never really had friends unless you counted Ny. Not even Omega and Delta. Just his brothers.

"I miss talking about surgical procedures with Ally."

"You'll see them again."

"Will I?"

"I'll make sure but we may have to wait a while, until things settle down."

"And Brud."

A'den owed his life to him and he would've been useful to have on their side.

"There's been nothing anywhere about him. I asked Jaing to check. Nobody is even doing any research in his field."

"It's a big galaxy. He could be anywhere. From what you said he doesn't like the limelight."

He didn't want to say what he thought, that he was dead. He didn't fit in with what the Empire wanted. That would upset her even more.

She still sat with her head laid on his shoulder, "And I especially miss Tod." She added.

There was nothing he could do about that. He had done what was needed at the time. Retribution had been exacted but sometimes he knew it wasn't enough. He also said remembrance for him although Ryssa probably never heard him. He tried not to let the feelings of revenge take over, to be dictated by it was not a good place to go.

"Even Em-Dee."

"Hmm." He wasn't that fond of medical droids. He changed the subject, "We'll need a name for the ikaad, when he's born. So what about Tod?"

Ryssa looked up and he saw the tears welling in her eyes, her bottom lip wobbled. He squeezed her harder.

Kriff! He didn't think he could cope with these pregnancy hormones for much longer.

"Perfect. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here." She sniffled, "But it's not Mandalorian."

"That doesn't matter. It's a good name for a good, brave man."

"He was." She agreed.

They sat for a little while until she shivered with the chill in the air.

"Come on back to bed, you're getting cold."

Prudii had left them there, alone, finally feeling able to sleep himself.

.

A/N - finally managed an update. i have been focusing on my Mayday story.