Barton IV

Rebel Base

Mayday lay back; she was right he had lost a lot of muscle mass and some memories. He needed to bide his time, take advantage of this place to get stronger. He liked the music and it was sung by someone called Hela, who obviously meant something to him. He had told the woman that she was in his past. The truth was he couldn't really remember and every time he tried, it was just out of reach.

The Separatist wanted something from him but he was going to make her work for it and he had succeeded in getting the first thing he wanted, which was a datapad. He wasn't sure if they were incompetent or if this was a trap. He shuffled up the bed and propped himself up. He turned the device over and over in his hands; it was old, battered but it looked to be able to work fine. He pressed the 'on' button; it started up.

"You won't be able to get any messages out on that, our tech specialist has deactivated that part. We're not that incompetent you know."

Mayday raised an eyebrow in a query at the older man standing in the doorway; he was always around the woman called Donca. The one who had treated him.

The man grinned, "And they said clones didn't have a sense of humour." He walked into the room. "Not sure how much you'll get. It depends what you're looking for. The Holonet isn't what it was under the Republic. Your Empire has seen to that, lots of things don't get reported any more or if they do are removed almost immediately."

Mayday didn't rise to the bait but he certainly didn't feel it was his Empire; they were already retiring clones, that much he had heard on the grapevine before—-all this.

"What are you looking for?"

"Why do you want to know?"

The man huffed out a short laugh, "You're our prisoner and that," he nodded to the datapad, "is a reward for good behaviour. It can just as easily be taken away."

Mayday instinctively tightened his grip on it.

"Not a bribe?"

"That too. But it's Donca's decision, not mine. I wouldn't have given it to you in the first place. I would have left you with the rubbish."

"I appreciate the straight talking. I know where I stand now."

"Yeah. The name's Finor. Donca's family so if you hurt her….."

"I lost my family." Mayday said, staring at the datapad, suddenly no longer interested in his search. He leaned back and looked at the ceiling. "Can I have my com?"

"I'll ask."

He backed out, leaving the clone to his thoughts.

.

"What's he doing?" Donca asked, as soon as he entered her makeshift office.

"He was using the datapad to search. Just as you expected him to until I told him he couldn't get a message out."

She looked up from the datapads she was examining, "He already knew that. I told him our tech had disabled that part, when I gave it to him. So what were you talking about?"

"Family."

"Threatening him?"

"A bit of straight talking."

"I'm sure he appreciated that."

"He did."

She gave him a look to say she didn't appreciate it. "So what does he want now?"

"His com."

"It's damaged. Did you tell him that?"

"No."

"Give it to him and we'll monitor what he tries to do with it."

"Yes boss.

.

The Negotiator.

Orbiting Coruscant

Hela sat on the corner of Cody's desk, swinging her legs, upwards and back. Upwards and back.

He put a hand on her knee to stop her. She could be irritating at times.

She stopped mid swing and glanced at him, face blank then she smiled.

"How come I have never been here before? It's huge." She commented, looking around his office.

Cody looked at his desk.

"It's standard GAR issue." He replied, being obtuse.

She rolled her eyes, "Very funny. The ship."

"It's still standard GAR issue."

"It is." Hela drew circles with her carefully manicured forefinger on a tiny part of the desk that was free from flimzi and datapads, "So…you will teach me to sing that special song, won't you? The one in a foreign language, that your brothers sing before they go into battle."

Cody watched the finger, "The language is Mandoa." He explained.

"Mandoa then. Pleeease. I'll get food in."

He threw up his hands, "Okay! Okay! I surrender." It was best it was sung correctly, rather than massacred.

"That was too easy. You're not like that with the Seppies are you?" Her eyes narrowed accusingly.

"No we are not." He was serious now, accused of being easy on the Seppies was—insulting.

"Sorry. Bad joke eh?"

"Very."

"I'm sorry." Her voice displayed how serious she was, and could be, as she slipped off the desk and walked around to him. He would have stood up but she was crowding him now.

"So we're good?" She twirled her finger in his hair.

He flicked his eyes up to his hairline, "This is payback for 79's, isn't it and getting you to give Rex and Wolffe a free concert."

"And Zur an anxiety attack." She retorted.

"Are we even then, if I teach you the words."

"I'll need a recording as well. For the melody. I want to do it justice."

"I'll see what I can do."

"I really need a recording." her voice was pleading.

"Agreed." He didn't want her destroying it. It was their song, something the clones had of their own. He thought it would be good for morale, no one had ever offered to do this before.

"And remember, it is only Wolffe that howls." He reminded her.

There was a knock at his door, "Enter!"

The door opened as Hela was planting a long kiss on Cody's cheek, pulling away to see a surprised Mayday standing at the door.

"Mayday. Can you arrange for Hela to be escorted off the ship. I would not want her to get lost—again."

"No. It's all very confusing with all these corridors." She added, smiling at Mayday.

"She ended up in the Mess before and I'm not sure how she even got on board."

"I told you the very nice trooper with new shiny armour let me on board."

"Via a shuttle?"

"It is a Senate one, and his armour was very, very shiny."

"I'm surprised it survived—the shuttle not the trooper." retorted Cody.

"You know I'm a good pilot."

"That's not what the General says."

"Ben doesn't like anyone else flying. He likes to be in charge. The chancellor taught me how to fly and how to drive a speeder, as well."

Cody and Mayday exchanged a look.

"Thanks again Cody. Which way Commander?"

"After you! Turn left."

Cody watched as they left, before activating his com. "Trapper! You still record things?"

.

Hela skipped the occasional step to keep up with Mayday as she followed him to the landing bay.

"You're very quiet." She commented, not quite a question but she had to start somewhere.

"Nothing to say."

"Oh!" She skipped faster so she could stand in front of him and put a hand on his chest.

He stopped and looked down at it, then to her.

She moved it away from him.

"Have I upset you?" She pressed him.

"Why would you think that?"

"You're very quiet. Aloof. I didn't think you were like that."

"You're getting me mixed up with another clone. Veetch perhaps. Easily done."

She returned to one side and he started walking again.

"No, I haven't. You're all different, I've learnt that much. Like Commander Cody— he's stoic. Commander Wolffe pretends to be grumpy but he's a pussy cat really."

Mayday suppressed his reaction to huff and ignored her.

They reached the lift and she stayed quiet for a few seconds, then started tapping her foot.

He let her get in the lift first and pressed the button. And now she was humming.

"It was the cloak wasn't it? You said it was okay but you didn't like it."

"The cloak….."

"Okay okay you don't like it, I get that. And you haven't used the tickets I sent you."

"I…"

"It's okay, it's fine to say you don't like it. Not everyone would. It was a guess that you would like the colour but I thought it would also be useful."

"The clo…."

"I told you it's fine, if you don't like it."

He pulled her around by the arm, "Do you ever shut up and listen?"

She opened and closed her mouth.

"I like it. I like the colour, it matches the 212th gold, it feels nice and no one has ever given me anything like that before."

"You do? Oh I am so glad." She flung herself at him and kissed his cheek. Pushing her arm through his, she continued, "I am so happy it was okay and now I have another surprise for you but that's a secret."

"I don't like secrets." He muttered.

"Spoilsport."

She glanced up at him, still not satisfied with what he said. He was holding something back but she continued humming and smiling. They finally reached the flight deck.

"There that's mine."

"I thought you said it was a Senate Shuttle?" Asked Mayday, frowning at the vehicle sitting there.

"It was—about ten or twenty years ago. I'll give you a ride— some day."

Mayday could feel the eyes of all his brothers on the flight deck, turn towards him and the woman. They had various looks on their faces from envy with the older brothers to confusion from the shinies.

"Have a good flight, ma'am."

"There you are with the Ma'am again. It's Hela."

He nodded.

She waited but he never said anything more.

"Bye Commander." She turned and climbed in the shuttle, the ramp closing behind her. Deflated, she completed the preflight checks before pulling away, following authorisation by the Flight Control.

.

"So you've let her go again." Veetch stood next to his Commander, watching the shuttle move away. "That looks like an Antique."

"It is and there is no 'her'."

"There could be. She's definitely interested in you."

"Yeah. But Krennic?"

"What about him?"

"If they're together, she's made her choice."

"I'm still not sure she has, not by the way she kissed you."

He watched as his Commander frowned and strode off, barking orders to the men still standing around watching.

.

Hela's Apartment.

Coruscant

"Cody. l'm so glad you could make time for this."

Hela leaned forward to hug him but he side stepped her and walked into the apartment, he had never actually been inside it before. It was huge compared to what he was used to and all for one person. Bigger than those in the Jedi temple. He could get two squads in the living area alone, with room to train.

He stared out of the floor to ceiling transparisteel windows, which opened onto a platform with seating and in the distance he could see the Jedi Temple. This building was adjacent to the Senate District.

"I've brought the recording and we'll go through the words."

Hela nodded in understanding, "Drink?"

"Caf please."

He followed her to the kitchen area, again a large room, with an array of machines, some he had never seen before. She started one up.

"Black with sweetener?" She checked, looking over her shoulder.

"Of course."

The machine made a grinding noise, hissed and spluttered, as he looked around again. Although it was well furnished, he saw nothing personal in the rooms. He expected to see something, although he wasn't sure what. He waited, not actually feeling uncomfortable but it was different, she appeared different. More relaxed and yet serious. Not the exaggerated persona, she sometimes projected. The mask had dropped; this was more like her when she was with the General, when they talked, heads together, when she had a problem she couldn't solve.

The hissing stopped and she opened a cupboard, pulling out as box; she piled them onto a plate before handing Cody a large mug and an equally large plate, with the cookies.

"Thought you might appreciate these."

"Thank you."

They sat on the large cream settee and she pulled some headphones out, then loaded the data disk. Trapper had done well; Cody wasn't sure where he had found this recording but it was a good quality and clear.

He slowly savoured an extra large cookie and watched her face as she listened to his brothers singing. She listened at least twice based on his estimation of how long it ran; finally she pulled the headphones off.

"That was amazing! I never knew, or even thought…." Her voice wavered a little as she sniffled and wiped an errant tear from her cheek. "I'm not sure I can do it justice now. Would they be upset if I sang it?"

"I won't be. And I am sure others won't. So long as you do your best." Which he was fairly sure she would.

"Let's start then. I'll start with the tune."

She started humming, a deep vibrating hum, picking it up pretty quickly from what he could hear.

She stopped and put up a finger, before going to the cupboard, retrieving some kind of datapad which looked different to a normal one, longer, more rectangular. She plugged it in and hummed the tune, transferring it to some kind of synthetic instrument.

"Best I can do for my baseline." She explained, "Now I need the words. Go through the words with me slowly."

Cody started, "Kote!"

She repeated, "Kate!"

"No! Kote! It means, glory!"

He was sharper than he intended but she didn't complain or retort.

"No!" she interrupted him, "Let me learn it phonetically then translate for me afterwards. Whole sentences are better."

"Isn't that more difficult?"

"No, I could put the emphasis on the wrong note, or interpret it incorrectly. If I follow it phonetically there's less chance of that."

"It makes sense."

He started saying the words, the first sentence slowly; she repeated them watching him intently, following Cody's lead, watching his mouth and how he produced the words. They went back and forth.

.

They had been working for three hours, when Cody's com pinged, then the door opened and Zur entered. The frown in his face turning to a forced smile as he closed the door behind him. He walked towards the kitchen, "Evening Commander."

"Evening, Zur." Cody turned to Hela his eyebrows raised in a question.

"Zur's between accommodations at the moment. He's staying with me."

"Ah. Well I have to go. New orders, we're being deployed again tomorrow."

Hela knew better than to ask where.

Cody rose to go, "You learn quickly. You'll do well."

"If it's music—yes."

He smiled at the reply and turned, feeling her hand touch his arm.

"Be careful! Wherever you go." She saw the look on his face, the one that gave away the fact he didn't really believe her.

"I'll look after the General, I always do."

She frowned "No! I mean it. All of you be careful out there. You all deserve to come back."

He nodded, and turned to leave giving her one last nod before going through the door.

All his brothers deserved to come back but he always knew some wouldn't.

.

"What was that all about?" Asked Zur as he made a Caf, after the door had shut.

"I'm learning a song."

"No, the other."

"What, wishing they would all come back?"

"One particular clone to come back?" He asked.

"No! All of them. I'm going to bed."

She swirled around and headed to the bedroom.

He smiled, knowing he had touched a nerve.

.

Chancellor's Office

Hela sat in the Reception area, her fingers drumming on her knee, the only outward sign of her irritation with being kept waiting, otherwise she had a fixed smile. She had things to do, outfits to plan, the band to organise, the other songs to decide on. The band had agreed to do it, they owed her one.

The clones deserved this. It was the least she could do for them.

Finally the door opened and the Jedi walked out; she could not see Ben which meant the 212th had already left. She watched them file out looking serious, although she could not tell from the masked Kel Dor, who nodded at her as he passed. Ben always spoke so highly and fondly of him; so many of the Jedi were Generals now.

She waited patiently until she was called in; one of the red guards motioned to her to enter. The Chancellor was sitting behind his large desk looking tired, as he always seemed to, after his meetings with the Jedi. They were always so fraught these days.

"Sit down my dear. It's always a pleasure to see you, a pleasant distraction from my normal duties."

A service droid brought a small tray for them with the usual selection of teas. She picked a gentle bland fragrant one, although what she really wanted was the harsh taste of reality with a Caf.

Palpatine poured the teas, then leant back, steepling his fingers.

"Although today, the two overlap."

He watched her and she felt his eyes boring into her as if he could read her thoughts. It was always the same, that feeling of losing control when she was with him.

"This concert you're planning."

"I thought it would be good for morale, for the soldiers. All they seem to do was fight." She sipped her tea.

"It is their life, their reason for being, even though they are very brave men, fighting for the Republic."

He watched and felt for her response.

"But surely they should have more."

"It would be a distraction, my dear."

"But a welcome one, surely."

"I don't think it is such a good idea, my dear, it could be dangerous for you."

"It's only Ord Mantell."

"Should I forbid you to do it?"

"I hope not, Chancellor. It's my time. My money. I would hate to have to …..disobey you."

She looked up and he saw the determination in her eyes. He had not seen that for a long time, not since he pulled her out of the camp on Naboo. Her determination to do well. He leaned back.

"If you insist my dear. Now I must get on."

That was quick and easy, she thought.

"I'll do it, Chancellor and it will help the Republic and you."

"Yes, my dear."

His head went down, looking at the datapad, she was dismissed.

.

Mas Amedda stood waiting for the Chancellor to make his feelings known; he was staring out through the large transparisteel window looking out across the Coruscant sky lanes towards the Jedi Temple. Mas Amedda sensed that he seemed to take strength and purpose from that view.

"It may yet prove to be useful." The Chancellor finally spoke, searching in the force, following the ebb and tides of various timelines.

"Krennic didn't work."

"Krennic needed no persuasion. He is a believer."

"Yes, Chancellor. As am I."

"Yes, I know."

Mas Amedda believed even more at that moment.

.