Fleet Support
Ord Mantell
Hela walked along the corridors, turned left, then second right and left again then stopped. It was a dead end. She looked around; all the corridors looked exactly the same and she must have gone wrong somewhere. She was tired and had not concentrated on the instructions. She turned around, turned right, then left and right again but now couldn't find the auditorium; how could she not find it, it was big enough, although it was probably dismantled now. She had to admit she was lost. She stood and leaned against the wall, eyes closed, trying to get her bearings, looking at the instructions to work out where she had gone wrong but she was exhausted. The adrenaline from the show had finally ebbed away.
She unzipped her boots and pulled them off; the ice cold floor was a relief to her feet. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, reliving the feelings she experienced during the concert; seeing Mayday standing there, arms crossed. She was happy he had managed to attend.
She finally opened her eyes again, looked around and gave in to contact Zur.
No answer. Probably asleep by now, although he said he was going for a drink; he may have found somewhere that passed for a bar. The base was for more than just clone personnel.
She tapped his number in and it tried to connect again; he eventually answered.
"Zur?"
"Hela? Are you alright?" There were clone voices in the background but he definitely sounded like he was in a bar.
"Er, yes. Just checking you're okay." She couldn't readily admit she had lost her way, he would never let her forget.
"Yes, fine. Have you changed your mind? Did you want to come for a drink?"
"Yes."
"Where exactly are you?"
"Er…I'm not sure."
"Enable the location on your com. I'll send someone."
Hela could hear more clone voices cheering in the background as she tapped the keys.
"Stay where you are!"
"Okay." She replied dejectedly and waited for whoever he was sending.
.
Mayday went to the makeshift bar, that some enterprising person had set up here, but it had little or no alcohol, unless you took your chance with the bootleg stuff that came from various battalions or ship mechanics. The 104th produced the best, he had heard it was Sinker's recipe, even then after two you would do anything.
He saw a familiar figure leaning against the bar, a little way from the RC's, "Zur?"
"Yes?" the Falleen turned around, "Ah Commander, good to see you."
Mayday wasn't so sure he was, as there was something about the Falleen that didn't add up but he was playing nicely.
"And you. Is Miss Nim not with you?"
"No. She was tired. Some of the numbers were a little outside of her comfort zone."
"I don't think the boys noticed." Mayday replied. He looked around there were murmurs of agreement with him.
"I was surprised to see her here. I thought she would have wanted to remain on Coruscant now that she….." he stopped not sure if he had overstepped the mark.
"Now that she what?" Asked Zur.
Mayday stepped closer, "I understand she's seeing someone." He said, his voice lower.
Zur tried to keep a straight face, so the clone was interested but he wasn't sure how much he knew or if it was an assumption.
"Not that I know of and I know everything about her. There was one man but she gave him his marching orders, a while ago." He frowned, "Krennic, his name was. Had a uniform I didn't recognise, and I know all the uniforms." He smiled knowingly, then his com pinged.
Mayday listened to the conversation Zur was having, with Hela by the sound of it.
"Commander, would you mind? Our friend is lost. This is her location."
He sent the location to the Commander.
"I'll go!—It wouldn't do for our guest of honour to be lost."
Zur turned back to the bar satisfied with his little subterfuge. Just one wrong direction given, turn left instead of right. He smiled before taking another drink.
.
Hela had given in and sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, wondering where Zur was.
"Ma'am? Are you okay?" Hela looked up, on hearing a voice she recognised; all the clones had slightly different inflections to their speaking voices and her ear was atuned to any changes.
She smiled at its owner, "Mayday. It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you again."
"You only saw me a few minutes ago."
"It was nearer an hour ago actually ma'am. Are you okay?"
"Tired."
"It was a good concert, the boys enjoyed it and appreciated it."
"Thank you! It was a pleasure." her voice was husky, weak.
She did look tired; she had removed her boots and her hair was all askew. She ran her hand absentmindedly through it; she had been wearing another wig.
"I saw you singing along."
"Yes, ma'am. It was a good choice."
"There you are with the ma'am again. It's Hela." she smiled at him and looked for a reaction but he didn't give one.
"Are you my guide then?" She continued.
"At your service ma'am. To the bar?"
"No. My quarters I think, is that what you call them?"
"Correct." He checked, "It's just along here."
He held his hand out, "Need some help?" he finally smiled. She hadn't seen that in a long time.
She held his hand, as he pulled her upright! "Can you manage?"
"Yes. Thank you." she linked her arm through his.
They walked slowly together along the corridor.
"So did the battle go well?"
"The usual."
"That doesn't tell me much."
He didn't really want to talk about the battle. That was in the past. No need to dwell. Just learn for the future. Move on.
"Not much to tell."
"But you're safe— and Veetch?"
"He's good."
"I heard the General was injured and something about brain worms infecting some troopers." She shuddered at the thought, not being a fan of small wriggly things.
"Yeah. The Geonosians. There was a Queen and you won't believe this, undead bugs."
"Undead?" she stopped walking, "How?"
"Not sure but you can't kill the dead again—Geonosians! You can't trust 'em." he took a deep breath, he was better than this, "But enough of that, what have you been doing?"
They continued walking, going really slowly; neither wishing to hurry.
"Planning this!"
"Excuse my manners. I haven't thanked you."
"There's no need. It was entirely my pleasure and an honour. It's the least I can do. I intend to do more but it may have to be on Coruscant unless there's somewhere else as large as this place. Are there other bases like this?"
"There are but they are further out and nearer the action."
"Oh. On one of the Venators then. How many men are on those?"
"They normally carry a crew of 7,400 personnel, including officers, pilots and enlisted crew, but can also hold 2,000 additional troops." the numbers came easy to him.
"Kriff!" the numbers overwhelmed her, so many on one ship.
Mayday smiled at the look of concentration on her face, "You would need special permissions."
"Yes. And a way to get there." she became lost in her calculations on the logistics.
"We're here." They reached her allocated room, Mayday deactivated the lock.
"Thank you."
"It was a pleasure Ma'am."
"Still so formal?"
"It seems appropriate."
"Appropriate? Why?"
"Under the circumstances…"
"What circumstances?"
"You're a guest."
"Just a guest? I'm disappointed and call me Hela, please."
They were standing outside her allocated quarters.
"Disappointed. That can't be right —Hela." He replied hesitantly. She was easy to talk to, too easy. He wanted to tell her things, things he never normally spoke of. Looking at her was pleasurable as was being near her.
"See that wasn't so hard was it?""
He inhaled through his nose, appreciating her scent.
"No, it wasn't—Hela."
He liked her, too much. He was a soldier. She was a distraction albeit it a welcome one after Geonosis.
"I had hoped I was more."
So did he, he felt it, the want, "Hela—"
"Do you want to come inside? Check it out?"
"Your quarter's? Yes. It would be prudent to check them ensure everything is …..ship shape."
He opened it, guided her in with him and turned, it was small. She leaned against the door.
"Is it what you expected?" He asked.
"I don't know yet."
"This is new." she reached up and stroked the newly formed red scar running down the underside of his right jaw.
"Shrapnel." he swallowed hard.
"Does it hurt?"
"No buts it's inconvenient for shaving."
His hand covered hers pulling it around to his lips; her wrist tasted of her perfume.
Her lips parted, as he worked his way along her arm. For a few seconds he was surprised by the unexpected softness of her hands against his lips then he pinned her with his body against the door, surprising himself at how forward he was with her and their lips met.
She pulled away, slightly breathless, "A little small, if I'm honest."
He arched an eyebrow.
"The quarters." she clarified.
"I hope so, you haven't seen it all yet." he pushed further against her.
"No I haven't, so is this a little premature?"
"Possibly." His hand stroked her face then slipped behind her head, cradling it.
Hela was standing on tiptoes, arms reaching around him; she angled her head to meet his lips again, brushing gently against them. She wasn't sure what she expected but it wasn't the slight hesitation, before his response.
Her back hit the wall, as he pushed against her, mouth hard against hers. She couldn't move against his strength but didn't want to. His knee pushed between her legs and she adjusted to it, hooking her own leg around his, as arousal flared inside her.
This was moving faster than she anticipated, until he pulled away from her, reluctantly, she thought, but he didn't pull far, instead, he dropped his forehead until it gently touched hers.
"I'm sorry." He apologised, arms still propping him up against the wall.
"Why? I enjoyed it." She kissed his jaw to confirm her feelings.
"I should have checked if it was what you wanted."
"I thought that was obvious."
"I don't have a lot of experience with women like you." He nearly said except those who wanted him as a trophy but left that part out.
"Like me?"
"I …." he was suddenly tongue tied.
"I'm surprised. But I'm sure we can rectify that."
She giggled, as she felt something vibrate against her back.
"Sorry!" He apologised again, as he removed his left arm and looked at his comlink.
"Your wingman calling to rescue you?" Hela asked, smiling, afterall he had been ambushed into this by Zur.
"I'm on duty. There's a problem."
"Now it's my turn to apologise, I've taken you away from your duty. I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"Perhaps we could reconvene at a time convenient to both of us."
"I'd like that. Now who's being formal?"
She smiled, lifting his comlink and tapping in some numbers.
"The Access Code to my Apartment. Send me a message next time you're on Corrie. I'll get food in— among other things."
He still had one arm around her and pulled her to him in another kiss, more confident, more passionate, before disappearing out of the door.
She leaned back against the closed door and touched her lips, smiling, "Kriff! I could get used to that."
.
Mayday adjusted his codpiece before striding out along the corridor checking his comlink.
"If someone has just got drunk on that moonshine and caused a fight. I might just have them cleaning the hangar with a tooth brush for the next three years." he said to no one before slowing and taking a deep breath. He needed to be calm to deal with these.
"Veetch?"
"Yes sir."
"What have we got?"
"Wolfpack versus Adenn squad."
"Kriff!"
"It's about even now."
"Keep it that way."
"Might have to get reinforcements in."
"Where are you now?"
"Training room Esk."
Mayday upped his pace and headed to to the lifts.
"How did it start?"
"You know—one wrong word about the moonshine."
Mayday could hear grunts and thumps in the background.
"I'll be there in five. We need to keep the locals away."
"Copy that."
He tapped in a number for SOB.
.
Hela was woken by a soft tapping at her door; she checked her chrono.
"Shit!" She scrambled out of bed.
Zur stood outside with a cup of caf in hand.
"You would not believe what I had to go through to get this." He declared before inviting himself in and dropping on the only chair in the tiny room. "The droid just did not understand the term 'Caf to go', who even knew there was even a planet called Caftego. Here!"
"Thanks. How long have I got before the shuttle leaves?" She took a drink and grimaced.
"An hour. I know you and I know you're alone as I've already seen the Commander organising his troops."
She glared at him before shooting into the refresher.
"And it wasn't a euphemism." he shouted.
He smiled to himself and didn't hear her reply, as the water started but he agreed with her, the Commander, all the clones were handsome. He looked down at his comlink, seeing the outstanding message blinking. He hadn't answered it yet. Unsure whether to proceed with this, whatever it was going to be for him. He never usually gave anyone his personal number.
Hela emerged.
"Have you been talking to him about me?"
"We may have had a small conversation." He indicated how small by showing her the smallest gap between his forefinger and thumb. "He's very handsome."
"He is." She replied.
"But not my type."
She pulled on some black trousers and a bright blue top, matching boots followed.
"Did he stay long?"
She stopped lacing up her boots.
"He had to go. There was some problem he had to deal with."
"Oh dear, the course of true love…"
"Shut up!"
"Hela? Are you alright?"
"Yes. Just don't joke about him. He could die in his next battle. I just…."
"Come here!" He pulled her in, "Zur's here. He'll be fine. He's had special training."
"How do you know that?"
"They were talking in the bar."
"They?"
"The other clones. They like him, respect him. He's a good Commander and sounds like a good man."
But he was going to reserve judgement on that.
"You were spying on him?"
"No. Looking out for you."
"Perhaps you need to look out for yourself? Are you going to reply to that message that keeps pinging on your comlink."
"Eventually."
"He's very persistent. Perhaps he's nice, good for you."
"Huh." Zur, deleted the message.
"I'm only looking out for you."
"Touché."
.
Zur followed Hela to the shuttle. She was still irritated he had been checking up on Mayday. She thought he was a good man but she was a little blind in that way sometimes.
His comlink pinged again another message. The twi'lek was persistent. Hela was irritated with him but he was just doing his job although not the one she knew about.
"Hela!" She stopped and turned, smiling as she saw Mayday walking towards her with a Caf in his hand.
"Thought you might want this."
"Oh thank you. Just what I need."
"Caf that tastes like paintstripper?"
"So it's an acquired taste?"
"Yes. Can I walk you to your shuttle?"
"Please do."
They walked slowly towards it, as Zur hung back
"Last night….."
"You still have my code?"
Mayday stopped and turned.
"I do. I can delete it if you…"
"No! I meant what I said."
She smiled at him, then leaned up and kissed him. He returned it and then some before realising he was giving his brothers a free show and pulled away.
He watched as she climbed on board the shuttle, Zur following.
Mayday turned to see any number of brothers eyes on him
"Right ladies, back to work." He barked.
.
Veetch watched as his CO talked to the singer; they seemed to be getting on well, especially when they kissed. The whole bay went quiet. It was about time; he knew how fickle life as a trooper was and they deserved every little bit of comfort they could get.
"Yes Hexx. What is it? " he recognised the footsteps of his brother walking up behind him.
"So that's her up close, eh. Nice ass."
He made a gesture with his hands.
"Don't let the Commander hear you say that, or see you."
"So, the Commander's finally gonna get laid eh?"
Hexx leaned an arm on his shoulder.
"I think he has already." Veetch said.
"No, not last night. Too quick."
Veetch turned to look at his brother, who shrugged
"Before." explained Veetch.
"On Coruscant?"
"Yes."
Hexx watched his Commander walking away, "Are you going to tell him about the lipstick?" he indicated his jaw.
"Eventually."
They turned and followed Mayday.
.
Barton IV
Rebel Base
Mayday lay there trying to remember; there were still areas that felt fuzzy. He should remember things, it was how he been designed.
Mayday cracked an eye open, when he heard the door; he was resting as much as he could when they were around, then training when they weren't. Sure enough the man had brought his com.
Finor held it out to him.
He pushed himself back up in the bed and accepted it.
"It looks broken." the man said.
Mayday turned it over, examining it. There was some damage but it could still work. He'd seen them sustain more damage than this and they still worked perfectly well. They were built to withstand battle conditions.
"If so, why did you keep it?" asked Mayday.
"We have to salvage as much as we can. We're not made of money, not like the Empire, who can seemingly throw away men at the drop of a hat."
Mayday flicked a glance at him, as he continued to examine the comlink.
"I can probably repair it but I need the tools."
"Yeah. Like we're going to give you something sharp you can attack us with. Thats not going to happen. Donca may think you won't do anything but I'm not so sure."
Mayday studied the man's expression and stance, it was all he had to go on really. He looked like an ex soldier. Wiry. Strong. Looked as if he'd been around.
"I… just want to contact someone, not the Empire. I need my list of contacts."
Finor held his hand out, "I'll see what the tech can do."
Finor felt as if there was something different about this clone but if he was playing him. He was a dead man.
"This better be true."
"I don't lie."