212th Barracks
GAR Headquarters.
As Mayday walked through the barracks, preparations for deployment were well underway. 212th troopers were hurrying everywhere with a focus he understood; in the past he would be just as focused, he probably still was but now it was tinged with a sliver of regret now, the longer he knew Hela. He mentally pulled himself up and strode faster towards the Commander's office to get orders for him and his company.
Cody's door was closed, which usually meant he did not want to be disturbed but Mayday had had the summons, so he knocked and waited.
"Enter!"
Just like so many times before he entered and stood to attention.
"At ease — no sit!" Cody changed his mind.
Mayday sat across from him; Cody looked tired, more than usual he thought but weren't they all. Except for himself, who had just had several weeks of enforced rest. He was fit and ready to go.
"Orders Sir?"
"You're with the 212th but be prepared for immediate redeployment, if required elsewhere."
"Yes sir. Rumour is, it's Felucia. Anything else I should know?"
"In this case the rumour is wrong, another Company is headed there but you'll be with the General taking the 212th to the Outer Rim."
"Me?"
"You heard right."
"So where will you be?"
"On a routine mission with Rex, visiting all the outlying tracking stations. RI gave us some Intel. Something is being planned, so we need them all to be on their toes. A few spot checks will keep them in line."
"You'll enjoy that. Who's piloting?"
"Rex."
"Are you sure?"
Cody narrowed his eyes, but decided against arguing with Mayday, but he knew what he meant. Rex flew like he fought sometimes, by the seat of his pants but Cody had lost the toss.
"Could be a long one."
"Aren't they all?"
Mayday watched as Cody pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Sir?"
"Long night of planning."
"May I speak freely?"
Cody nodded.
"You need some rest. You look after the rest of us but you're no good to us if you fall down dead through exhaustion."
Cody stared at his brother', surprised a little by his forthrightness.
"I can be replaced."
"I beg to differ."
"Have you been spending time with Rex?"
"Not recently."
"It sounds like it." Cody shuffled some datapads, "There'll be plenty of time for rest when this war is over."
"At the rate you're going you won't see that."
"Enough Mayday!" Cody said warningly.
"Yes sir." He straightened up a little, he'd had his say.
"Hela asks after you. I think she worries about you."
"I said enough." This time his voice was softer.
"Yes sir."
"What do you want?"
"Can I ask something of you sir?"
"Of course." Cody wondered what this could be, perhaps another brother to transfer into his squad, that he could accommodate, depending on who he was poaching them from.
"If anything happens to me—I'm injured or if a Clanker finally gets me. Can you let Hela know. So she isn't waiting and wondering."
Cody looked at his brother. He looked well, fully recovered and not bone tired like the rest of them. Perhaps all his brothers needed a 'Hela' in their short lives. But he knew that was a luxury the army could ill afford.
"It's not normal procedure but, as it's you, and Hela. I can arrange something."
Cody had a soft spot for his newest Commander, he and his men got results. And Hela, well that was another story.
"Thank you sir."
Cody put his hands flat on the table and studied Mayday.
"Is this serious with Hela?"
"As serious as it can get for a clone." Mayday answered honestly, he wasn't sure where it was going with her, given his shortened lifespan; he had feelings for her although he wasn't exactly sure what you would call them.
Cody watched him carefully and decided to change the subject.
"New haircut?"
Mayday ran his hand over his hair, longer than normal at the top, buzzed close at the sides.
"Yes sir."
"Not quite regulation, is it?"
"No sir." He smiled, "A little bit like me then, sir, not quite regulation. You should try it."
Cody grinned, some things took the edge off the war. He ran his hand over his regulation cut.
"I don't think that would work for me."
"No."
Cody raised an eyebrow, "Dismiss."
Mayday stood to attention, saluted perfectly and left the office with Cody shaking his head.
.
Coruscant
It had taken Plug some time negotiating the walkways and transport system of Coruscant to get to where he had to be by the required time. Even though he had been stationed here for the majority of the war, he had never ventured far and only been to 79's once. Now his holomap said he had arrived at his destination.
He looked at the blue door and felt uncomfortable standing in front of it in this small Apartment complex. He checked the address again and again. It was correct.
He looked around, swallowed and slipped his finger in around the collar of his fatigues pulling them away from his neck. He couldn't remember them being this uncomfortable before.
"Perhaps this was a mistake. I'm not the Commander." He frowned as he spoke aloud to the door, "I could send a message saying I had an emergency." He said to himself, before turning.
The door opened, "Plug? I thought it was you." Cara said smiling, he turned to face her, he had been caught.
"You're early but come on in." She held her hand out. Plug looked at it then took it, smiled, and walked into the unknown but it was not the first time he had done that.
.
Hela's
Zur backed into the Apartment, his hands full, carrying Hela's latest costumes; She needed to try them on to check the final fitting and it was easier here than in the Opera House, which was still having the final touches put to its repairs before the first night.
One more week and they would be on stage; they had to fit perfectly. She had to be able to sing and move freely in them, more so than the other costumes she wore. He turned and stopped, staring at the red haired youngling sitting cross legged on the settee watching the Holonet on the big screen and he decided he was either in the wrong apartment or he had had too many Tatooine Sunset cocktails last night.
Probably the latter.
"Hela!" He shouted.
"Yes?" Hela poked her head around the door of the kitchen, "I'm making spicy fried tuber chips and Nuna strips. Do you want some?"
"What's that?" he nodded to the small child sitting on the settee, as he walked towards the kitchen.
"That's Lilli. I'm looking after her for a few hours. Do you want some chips?"
"What's wrong with her parents? Are they insane?" He ignored her question.
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" Hela wiped her hands on a cloth.
"Leaving her with you. You can barely look after yourself?"
"Shhh! She's fine. Look at her."
Zur looked back at the child avidly watching the large screen, soaking up whatever childish programme was on. He was already getting a headache from the repetitive music.
"She only has her Mother, and she's going to call when she's finished."
"Finished what?"
"None of your business."
He glared, he didn't like secrets but she had turned away from him to concentrate on preparing the food.
"You need to try these on." He said as he walked around to the dressing room, this was a conversation they would have later.
"Later!" Hela shouted to him.
He hung up the dresses, walked back into the kitchen and poured himself some water. He downed it in several gulps hoping it would relieve the pounding headache he had developed and then poured another one. He looked over at the red haired child, still staring up at the screen.
"Is her Mother the receptionist at ArmyMed?"
"Yes—why?"
"Thought you hated her."
"Shh! It turns out she's not that bad."
He narrowed his eyes, not believing her for a moment, "So why the babysitting?"
"A favour, she had no one else to ask."
He looked at the child still watching the holovid.
"Is it good for her to be watching that rubbish?"
"She likes it and it's music."
"It's the same song over and over again. I've already heard it four times."
Hela huffed, "Perhaps she likes the song."
"Over and over again?"
"Perhaps she likes it a lot."
He spotted the box of gel sweets on the kitchen table, "So is she who all these sweets are for?"
Hela glared at him.
"Sweets?" Asked the small human, whipping her head around.
"Later — a treat." Hela shouted back, "What would you like to do now?"
"Watch the Holonet."
"You're watching it now."
"Yes. I like it." She turned back to the screen.
Zur and Hela looked at each other.
"Do you have a favourite program?" Hela pursued.
"Yes, this one."
"Okay but the fried tuber chips and Nuna strips will be done soon and you said you were hungry."
"Okay!" Lilli's eyes were still fixed to the screen.
Zur leaned back on the counter smirking; he had the feeling this was going to be interesting.
.
"It's ready!" Shouted Hela.
The child ignored her.
"Lilli! It's time for Dinner."
The child ignored her.
"Lilli?" Hela walked out carrying the plates and placed them on the dining table.
The child was still transfixed by the screen, Zur couldn't bear it any longer, he switched the large screen off.
"Hey! I was watching that!" The child turned around and frowned at them both indignantly.
"The Holonet can go back on when you've eaten some dinner." declared Hela unused to having her instructions ignored, or downright attempted to be reversed.
The child's pout was tremendous; Hela would have been proud had she been able to do like that at Lilli's age, she thought.
"She'll be kriffing lethal when she's older." Muttered Zur, drinking his double strength Caf and watching the battle of wills playing out in front of him. He'd had to move onto something stronger, despite being dehydrated. But alcohol was not an option or appropriate when looking after a youngling, although it looked as if Hela desperately needed one as she stood hands on hips, jaw clamped together. The child finally got the message and dragged her feet as she walked slowly to the table. She climbed slowly up and sat.
Zur and Hela both sat watching her.
"You can start." Said Hela
Lilli covered her meal in red sauce.
Zur watched Hela blink and then restrain herself.
"Don't ask!" Said Hela, under her breath, she hated the blood red stuff but the Cara had given her some just in case.
He looked at Hela and blinked; "I hate Nuna strips."
She arched an eyebrow.
"I do!"
"Why, it's just meat. I thought you ate Nuna meat?"
"I do, it's just the strips."
"Is it the spicy covering on them?" She asked, struggling to understand; she was sure they'd had Nuna before, a whole bird. And she had made these from one.
"Zur!" She muttered under her breath.
Lilli was watching them carefully.
"No! Some boys at the school told me they were made out of my dead grandmother."
"You ate your grandmother?" Asked Lilli, one blood red sauce covered Nuna strip held halfway to her open mouth.
"No! They were just trying to frighten me."
"Gross! So you were frightened?" She asked.
"At first."
"But not now."
"No."
"So you can eat them?"
Zur took a deep breath, "Yes, I'll eat them."
Lilli grinned at him, when she realised he was having to do something he hated too. He stuck his tongue out at her. She glared back and jabbed another blood red sauce covered Nuna stick with extreme prejudice, it dripped red. He assumed she was imagining jabbing him.
Zur chewed carefully; he had put the spicy brown sauce on his, as had Hela. They also had green vegetables on their plates but he noticed the child didn't.
"Lilli told me she doesn't eat anything green. Especially if they look like tiny trees or leaves." Explained Hela, trying not to smile.
Zur grunted; he didn't particularly like those either but he was putting on a good show. He watched as the child cleared her plate.
"Can we have the sweets now?" She asked.
Both Zur and Hela were still halfway through their plates.
"We've got blue milk ice cream for dessert but you have to wait until we've finished."
"Okay. Can I—"
"No!" Interrupted Zur, "Wait until we've finished."
Lilli slumped back in her seat, folded her arms and glared at him.
.
Zur and Hela watched in amazement as Lilli cleared the bowl of blue milk ice cream covered in gel sweets in double quick time; theirs had barely started to melt. Then she leaned back.
"Did you enjoy that?" Asked Zur.
"Yes."
"You should thank Hela then."
Hela shook her head.
"Are you her boyfriend or something?" Asked Lilli.
"No!" Zur almost exploded, he wasn't paid enough for this.
"Good! I don't like you."
She turned to Hela, "Thank you Hela!"
"That's okay. Now what do you want to do? Other than watching the holovid."
"Hmm." Lilli made a point of putting her forefinger on her chin and looking up towards the ceiling.
"I don't know but I need the fresher."
"This way then. I could play you some music or show you how to play." Hela suggested as she showed the little girl to her ensuite fresher, not trusting her in the large one, too many buttons to press. "Shout for me, if you need anything."
"Yes, Hela."
.
Hela put the final crockery away in the cupboard.
"Hela you need to see this!" Zur shouted, from the direction of her bedroom.
She headed there, he said he was going to check on Lilli; she had been gone a while and was quiet.
Hela had to hold onto the door frame when she saw Lilli; she had got into her stage makeup. She took a deep breath and tried not to laugh at the thick black eyebrows, red stripes on the cheeks and blue lips.
"Are you angry?" Asked the little girl, sitting on the floor caught in the act.
Hela couldn't be, the child looked a mess but she put on a stern face.
"You should have asked."
"I'm sorry. It hurts." Big tears appeared in her eyes and rolled down her face making no impression on the make up.
Hela scooped her up and sat her on the makeup table, "That's because it's stage makeup and very strong. We'll need to take it off. So you have to be brave."
She nodded her head.
Lilli sat on the table top quietly, as Hela gently wiped the make up from her face; Zur stood behind them watching, a small pack of gel sweets in his hand.
"It won't take long." Hela assured her. She sat quietly until the last of it was removed. Then Hela put some cooling gel on her face. "This will help."
Zur handed over the small packet, "I trust these will as well." He said gruffly.
Hela turned and smiled at him, then noticed the child staring at the drawings on her wall. Some things that Editta had sent over for her to look at for the latest project she wanted her to do. Hela was still undecided.
"Do you want to look like a Tooka?" Asked Hela.
Lilli nodded.
"We'll let the gel work and the sweets, and then check. But we need to put it on correctly, okay?"
Lilli nodded and held her arms out; a little surprised Hela picked her up from the table and steadied her on the floor.
She and Zur had discussed this, Frey had already said yes to the project. She was still undecided. It was totally different to what she had done before. She was concerned she would look like a Zygerrian, a slaver species, not something she wanted to be associated with.
They sat and watched another of Lilli's favourite programs; it involved a lot of different animals singing and dancing.
"Can I learn how to play that?" Lilli asked, pointing at the screen,
"We can try. Let's have a look at your face?" Hela wiped a little of the cream off, it had done it's work well. "Let's get the rest off."
Hela threw away the flimzi tissues, Lilli's face was fine but Hela saw her looking at the sketches on the wall again. The ones that Editta had sent over to her to consider; they were the preliminary designs.
"Can I look like that one?"
It was ideal, the tooka's colouring was red.
"Close your eyes and keep them closed. This is going to feel cold."
.
Bridge of the Resolute
Mayday checked his datapad; he always wondered how Cody managed to complete all this 'Flimzi work'. He probably volunteered to do these inspections just to get out of doing the Flimzi work.
Mayday signed off the last one, then looked to the transfers. There were always some brothers who wanted to be with the 212th or 501st. An alert came up on his datapad. He checked it.
"Huh! Cody's late reporting in. Not like him."
He went over to Comms Section.
"Trooper! Get Commander Cody on the comms. He's late reporting in."
"Yes sir." His brother's fingers danced over the keyboard.
Mayday waited, "Is there a problem?"
"Can't seem to raise him, sir." The comms officer looked irritated.
"Are we being jammed?"
"No sir!"
"Natural Interference?"
The comms officer tried something else, "No sir!"
"Try Captain Rex."
Again his brother's finger danced over the keys, much faster than he could do himself.
"Nothing, sir."
Mayday checked their flight plan. They should have been at the Rishi Moon outpost by now, completing the inspection.
"Is the Rishi Moon still transmitting the All Clear signal, nothing out of the ordinary?"
"Yes sir."
He had a bad feeling about this; Cody would never miss a scheduled Sitrep, although he couldn't say the same about Rex.
"Admiral, Generals." Mayday stood to attention as he addressed them. He had heard Skywalker complaining about not being able to find Grievous. He wasn't sure how that would go down well with the Admiral. Mayday respected the Admiral, he had studied his career and he had a history of service in Planetary Security Forces. In the Kwymar Sector Forces, in command of an Outer Rim patrol, Captain Yularen, single handedly, cleaned up the sector. He fought slavers on the Listehol Run and destroyed several Sikurdian pirate bases in Wild Space.
"Commander Cody and Captain Rex have failed to report in. We can't get hold of them."
"That's not like the Commander. Is the Rishi Moon still transmitting?"
"Yes sir. We'll keep trying to get hold of them."
Kenobi nodded, "Keep me informed."
"Yes sir," Mayday watched as the Admiral and Generals planned to catch Grievous.
.