Hela's
Hela shot up in bed, her comlink was beeping, Mayday's tone. She scrambled to get out of bed, tangled her feet in the sheets and hit the floor banging her elbow, sending the com flying. Untangling herself, she slithered across the floor, finally reaching it and answered it.
"Hey!" A familiar voice said.
"Hi." She was out of breath and on her knees.
"Are you okay? You sound out of breath, did I disturb you?"
"I'm okay. I was asleep. Are you— alright?" She finally stood up, as the door flung open and Zur rushed in.
"What happened? I heard a noise."
"I fell out of bed."
"Who's that?" asked Mayday, hearing the commotion and voice through the com.
"Zur."
"Are you really alright?"
"Yes. I'm fine. I'm not in a war zone."
She waved at Zur to get him out of the room. He rolled his eyes eloquently before he left.
"You haven't been on Umbara, have you?"
"How do you know about that?"
"It's big news here and I was visiting the Chancellor when the 501st and 212th returned."
Mayday didn't immediately reply until he said, "We weren't there for the battle. We were the reinforcements. We're doing the clean up now."
"Cleanup? Is it really bad out there ?"
"Yes and yes but I'd rather not talk about it."
It was bad enough without dwelling on it.
"You never want to."
There was a pause, she was unsure whether to push it further.
"I have to escape it sometimes. I was bred for war but it doesn't mean I should think about it all the time sometimes….I just need to escape."
"I just thought I could help."
"You do. You're there." Mayday never spoke to anyone else like this. Any barriers the Kaminoans or he had put up, she had pulled down.
"I'll be waiting for you." She said softly.
"I know you will."
"How long will you be there?"
"I don't know. It's a dismal bleak world, different to Coruscant, you'd hate it. This place is dark everywhere."
"You're right I would. You know it was something that happened here that sparked the Battle."
"On Coruscant?"
"Their Senator was killed. Deechi, his name was. Padme knew something about it. Sometimes I think the Senate is just as dangerous as the Outer Rim."
Mayday laughed, "We can dodge the blaster bolts, it's difficult to dodge words."
Hela smiled, she had made him laugh; that was something.
"How's the show going?"
"Good." A thought came to her, "Next time you're on leave, I'll get tickets for you all."
"I don't think several thousand men would fit in the Opera House." She could see him smiling just by listening to him.
She stifled a laugh, "Just a select few then. Your squad."
"They'll appreciate it."
"I'll sort it out. Just let me know, when you're on your way back."
"I will. We're just tidying up loose ends here."
Hela heard the swish of a door.
"Sir? Yes sir, I'll be right there." Mayday was talking to someone else, "I have to go. I'll call again."
"Bye." The comlink had shut off by the time she had said she loved him; she didn't think he heard.
.
Umbara.
Baylan stood and waited for the Commander to pull up his undersuit and attach his armour plates. He had a strong sense that he had interrupted the Commander speaking to someone special, and not a Clone. He had inadvertently heard the tone of the conversation; it was soft, intimate. Baylan sensed it was a woman, someone who the Commander was close to.
It was the first time he had known this, although there were rumours that Ayla Sevura was a little too close to her Commander.
Within seconds the Commander was fully dressed. It always amazed him how quickly and efficiently the men were able to get armoured up; it was just like him and his lightsaber, he knew exactly where that was— Mayday put on his helmet, he pulled a piece of material from his bunk and used it as a scarf. It looked worse for wear but it had been a cloak at some point.
Mayday saw him watching.
"Stops some of the armour edges from rubbing, sir!" He explained.
"Ah! I noticed you had a couple of tattoos as do some of your men but all different designs."
"Yes sir. It is one way we can show our individuality."
"You don't need to do that for me. I can sense how individual you all are, all Jedi can if they wish to. So is there any significance to them? The yellow sunburst on your arm?"
"212th."
"Of course."
"Blue Plom flower on your chest?"
Mayday hesitated before putting his helmet on.
"Just liked the look of it, sir," he finally answered.
Baylan knew he was hiding something from him. Blue Plom Flowers seem to be popular around here, despite being rare. He had seen the nose art.
He knew where he had last seen a real one and who else liked them.
He continued, "We've had a warning from the Capital. Some of the Militia have escaped and are thought to be heading this way."
"Are we going to intercept them?"
"Sounds like a plan Commander."
"How many?"
"Unsure of the exact number yet. They're trying to get the Intel for me. Looks like just one squad but they're an elite one. The equivalent of a squad of Republic Commandos."
"Yes sir! We'll double the perimeter guard as a start."
.
Cara's
Hela sat down on the soft cushioned settee; it was her night off, Zur was with Anoon and she didn't want to be a third tonight. Also after Mayday's last call she wanted to be with someone she thought would understand more how she was feeling.
Cara's place was small and cozy, nothing like hers. Lilli was now in bed but being with Lilli for a couple of hours helped her. She looked forward to seeing her now, on her nights off, especially after she had read reports of the casualties on Umbara. She was sure there had been other battles with just as significant casualties but she had never been directly involved. It was part of her life now.
"They play it down." She said, cradling the mug of caf in her hand.
"They do." Agreed Cara, sitting next to her, mirroring her.
"They won't tell you what it means to say goodbye to brothers."
"They have all done that. Plug has seen that so much. He has nightmares."
"What is it like to risk everything for others?" Asked Hela, "To face the possibility of never coming back."
"For people you don't know." Finished Cara.
Cara sat and watched the young woman in front of her, on the verge of tears; she knew exactly how she felt now. She had spent nights lying in bed worrying; her relationship with Plug had moved quickly, now she couldn't imagine life without him. She leaned over and put her arms around Hela, both women taking comfort in the closeness. Cara was thankful Lilli was now in bed, as they sat in silence.
.
Umbara
Baylan took point, with Mayday his left; the Jedi was right handed. It didn't bother Mayday; he was ambidextrous. The light sabre lit the way but it was still dark, despite that and their helmet lamps. They only shone a beam of light in the darkness. The night vision was also a bit iffy, it was as if something in the atmosphere was interfering with it.
"Be careful lads. Watch where you're stepping."
It had been a while since they all worked with a Jedi and he didn't think Decs had ever done so. He stood to the right of Baylan and Mayday was sure he was watching the Jedi's every move. He was the last time Mayday linked into his vision feed.
"You okay Decs?" He asked.
"Yeah Boss! Just don't like this place."
"Who does?"
"The Umbarans?"
"Still got your sense of humour."
Mayday smiled under his helmet. He had thought Decs had been a mistake but he had proved he was a good trooper and he'd got the makings of going further.
Baylan put his closed fist up. They stopped.
"Sir?" Asked Mayday, walking to his side, as soon as he put his foot down he knew.
"Mines?"
"Yes. Nobody move." Baylan instructed, "Now let's get you sorted." He knelt next to Mayday.
"What were you saying Boss?" Asked Tank, not expecting an answer.
Baylan stood back holding his hand out to the ground.
"You can move your foot now. Everyone retrace their steps, slowly."
The squad moved carefully and slowly back.
"Further!" He shouted, then backed away himself keeping his arm outstretched. Then he dropped it. Mayday blinked, as his anti glare came on his vizor a split second after the blinking flare from the explosion.
"Thank you sir."
"That's why I'm here."
Then they came out of nowhere.
"Banshees!" Shouted Tank, and fired at the green luminescent tails of the animals swirling around them.
Mayday was concentrating his fire on them, when he saw, in his peripheral vision, Decs flying through the air to the side, as a Banshee swooped down, heading straight for him, it clawed at his back , missing by inches.
Angry, it changed direction swooping towards the Jedi; Mayday fired automatically but it moved too fast and then it was over.
Baylan somersaulted over the Banshee, beheading it in the process and landing not far from Decs; he put out his hand and pulled the trooper upright.
In the darkness, Decs would have been lost had he been caught.
The Rookie was now in awe of Baylan and it showed.
"Sit rep!"
"All here sir!"
"Good. Keep each other in sight." Warned Mayday.
I don't want to lose anyone on this forsaken planet.
"Are you sure this is the way Splicer?" He asked.
"Yes sir! If the Intel is correct, this is where they're heading."
He turned to Baylan, "It makes sense Sir. They know the area intimately. The information is they trained there. They're resourceful and if they reach there, the swamp, it will be that much more difficult to catch them."
"Not impossible?"
"I didn't say that sir. Just more difficult."
"And we won't lose anyone on this forsaken planet, Commander, not if I have anything to do with it."
"Sir?"
Baylan smiled, "You let your shields down for a moment. You broadcast your thoughts."
"Sorry sir!"
"Not a problem, Mayday. Happens to a lot of people. Let's get on."
They pushed on through the vegetation, soon the landscape was changing from the denser vegetation to a more swampy.
"Sir?"
"We're close. I can sense them but they're not at all what I expected. And there are others, non sentient."
"Be careful lads." Mayday instructed.
"If we can take them alive!" ordered Baylan as the pincers of a large beast missed him by only a few inches.
He stood, lightsaber shining at the beast towering above him, ridden by an Umbaran.
Mayday watched poised, then in a split second, he saw the rider of the beast move.
"Open fire!" He ordered.
His men took their positions and opened fire on the Umbaran soldiers, with the precision expected of the Clones. They still had not gotten used to the darkness of the planet but that did not deter them.
While Mayday concentrated on his own firing he could see the General batting back the blaster bolts towards their attackers. Some struck true, finally he slowed and reached out to the beast. Mayday didn't know exactly what he was doing but he knew it was something and moved to defend his back, blasting at any of the Umbarans who came near.
Finally the beast reared up and unseated it's rider; Baylan stood over him. Hand splayed above him. Mayday rushed to kick his blaster away.
As one, the remaining soldiers did something he never expected, they surrendered.
"Sit rep!"
"We've got them all." Replied Veetch.
"Casualties?" He hated uttering those words.
"Hexx and Tank are both down but alive."
.
Mess Hall
Umbara.
Baylan walked into the Mess Hall; Mayday's personal squad all sat around laughing and joking, relaxing after their little skirmish with the escapees. They were a tight knit group but he had not felt they were excluding him, even to the point that the younger ones, and they felt much younger, explained some of the Clone jokes they told each other.
This had opened his eyes even more to the Clones; he could understand now why some of the Masters were talking about civil rights for all the men that fought, the rights that most other beings had.
The Jedi Council and his own actions in the war, using these men to fight the Separatists and the perceived Sith, troubled him but he could see no other way out at the moment. He stood for a few seconds overhearing their conversation.
"He definitely spoke to her." Declared Decs, "You can tell. He's in a much better mood."
"You mean you did something right and he's not had to put you on a charge." Muttered Hexx.
"It's the food." Countered Tank, sticking his spoon into something indescribable, then letting it drop back.
"Food?" Asked Decs.
"She had this huge Conservator, full to the brim of every type of food imaginable." Explained Tank.
"And we cleared it out." Confirmed Splicer, "Especially after she found out Hexx managed to get those flowers. Mayday impressed her with those."
"So that's why we have the flower on the LAATis?" Asked Decs, he hadn't thought about it before.
"They're her favourite." He nudged Hexx, "Hexx here, old boy managed to find that out, certainly helped the Commander get lai…."
"Sir!" Hexx jumped to attention, cutting off Splicer's conclusion, cursing under his breath that the Jedi had a way of creeping up on you, even though it had helped them capture those Umbarans.
"At ease, sit, finish your meals, although they aren't especially tasty from what I've seen."
"They aren't sir but they keep us going and some are better than others. The Commander's writing reports."
"I know."
Baylan sat at the next table.
"I just wanted to thank you for your help today and before. It can't have been easy, that part. These men were your brothers."
"We're used to it sir. We know the score."
"But I appreciate it is still difficult. The Jedi have all lost friends in this war and while we don't have attachments, sometimes it is still difficult. We have to work at coping with the loss."
The clones seemed to understand what he was trying to say, that they weren't that different.
"I wondered why you had the Blue Plom as your nose art?" He finally asked.
Now they all closed down. He felt it.
He sensed it was to do with the Commander and they were protecting him, he was unsure from whom but he sensed it wasn't him. Their sense of loyalty to each other was phenomenal.
"Ah. I see."
"You do sir?" Asked Decs.
Baylan could see he was the weakest link, the newest member, the one most likely to talk.
"It's something you all think will get you into trouble. Something that was frowned upon, on Kamino?"
He saw a few eyes move.
"It's not up to us to say sir." Hexx replied.
"Lieutenant?"
"Nothing to do with me sir." Replied Tank.
Baylan sensed he wasn't lying but he knew the truth. He couldn't fault him for that. He thought he knew but it could still be just a coincidence. He rose.
"Thank you gentlemen. Please continue with your meal."
.
Mayday saw Baylan standing in the brig staring at the prisoners; they glared back, their faces and eyes pale. A trait that had developed to cope with the darkness on Umbara.
"Have they talked yet?" He asked.
"No sir." Replied Veetch, "Plug, the medic, has checked them and says they're still hyped up on that chemical they use. We might have a better chance of getting somewhere with them once that's worn off."
Baylan continued to stare at the Umbarans, feeling wave after wave of antagonism from one in particular. This felt personal from him. Baylan moved closer to study him, then the Umbaran flung himself at the shield, with no thought of the consequences. Baylan had drawn his lightsaber without thinking and was ready to strike.
It lit up the hatred on the Umbaran's face.
"I thought they had stopped that." Said Veetch, his blaster also ready to fire.
Mayday was beside him, "They did that for the first ten minutes of their incarceration, until Splicer changed the settings. They were obviously testing it."
"Hmm! I sense that this mission is personal for that one."
Mayday considered him, "I'd say so as well. We haven't even been able to get names or ID from them. Nothing scans either."
Baylan turned off his lightsaber, "I think we need to speak to this one especially, once the drugs have worn off. Find out what's bothering him."
.
Mayday stood behind Baylan, as he looked at the Umbaran. He still sat up straight and defiant in the chair despite being attached to it with binders.
Mayday wasn't sure what the Jedi was doing. He didn't seem to be using the Force, not like he had seen other Jedi use it, when their faces went blank and they stared into the distance. Face was a picture of concentration and he stared directly at .
"So Aurin Deechi, Why did you come here? You could have escaped, off planet?"
"You shouldn't have taken this place."
"So you decided to get revenge for the murder of your Uncle."
Mayday looked at the General, he had not heard anything from the prisoner.
"Mee Deechi!" Baylan continued.
The Umbaran did not look away but locked eyes with Jedi, "We were to deny you this victory in the name of my uncle. But we have failed."
"How?"
The Umbaran smiled thinly.
Mayday moved towards him; Baylan's hand on his forearm stopped him and the Umbaran turned back.
"What difference does it make? He gave his life for our planet. His death was an affront to the Umbaran people. Being aligned to the Republic is an affront to us, it is beneath us. We gain nothing from it, not even the freedom to pursue our own technological advances and rule ourselves."
"Do you think the Separatists will give you that freedom?" Asked Baylan
"More than the Republic." He retorted. He now stared at Baylan.
"You call this a dark world. There are more Dark Worlds under the guise of the Republic than anyone knows and it is getting worse. Before long the whole Galaxy will be dark. The Jedi before had known this, he made his choice. Our world will be light compared to that."
He stared at Baylan and Mayday, smiling, "I feel sorry for you and your people."
Then he bit down.
Mayday's watched in horror as the Umbaran spasmed, electricity arcing around his mouth for a few seconds, then he slumped in his chair.
"Plug get in here fast. Resuscitation needed."
His com was going mad, messages coming through fast from everyone.
Baylan stood over the body, two fingers held to a pulse point. He shook his head just as Plug ran in, who took over, laying the Umbaran on the floor, he jabbed him with known resus drugs for Ubarans. Then he checked again.
"Sorry sir. He's gone. Whatever it was stopped both brain and heart activity.
Baylan sighed, "Thank you Plug."
"Sir. All the medics have had multiple messages. All the prisoners did the same thing, at the same time, they're all dead."
Baylan frowned, "I need to report this to the Council."
"There was nothing you could do."
"Thank you Mayday. But there should have been. I sensed he was here due to his Uncle but not his intentions after we captured him. I failed there."
.