Signal - Part 1

Despite the brief interlude, she was very keen to return, hoping to see them again, though that would depend on whether Nala Se would accept her offer. There was quite a distance to get to the lab Nala Se had mentioned, a little pod through some tunnels.

"You have a favour you wish to ask of me." Nala Se said in that eerie musical voice of hers.

"I have a proposition." Zaiya corrected, staring ahead for a moment, hands behind her back. "You care for the science aspect, the enhanced clones were your personal project… and if I am right… there is likely more, yes?" Nala Se nodded slowly. "Do you think you could keep another project secret from your staff?" She turned to look at Nala Se with folded arms.

"This is one of the many facilities on Kamino… There are other labs we could use. Ones that aren't frequented, with… private landing pads." She offered. "What are you suggesting?

"Force user, Zabrak, who was injured." Zaiya confesses, remembering the moment in her visions, in her nightmares for years.

"How recent was the injury?" Nala Se asked.

"Ten years, bifurcation, here." she gestured to her waist.

"Zabraks… have two hearts, the heightened blood pressure alone… how have they survived?!" The Kaminoan gasped in amazement.

"I thought you might be interested." Zaiya smiled. Though she didn't approve of the Kaminoan's cold treatment of the clones, she needed her mind and facilities.

"I… can provide you the assistance you need." Nala Se admitted, "In return I would like to take notes, DNA samples and test them-"

"That can possibly be granted…" She chewed her lip, it was the hiccup in the plan of course. Would he even agree to this? She would of course have to discuss with him when she found him, but she needed to have all her bases covered. "You cannot make a clone however. This is research only." Nala Se looked disappointed, but it seemed that the research opportunity was too much to pass up.

The pod reached their destination rather swiftly and opened to the doors of a lab, all lit up, multiple pods on either side.

"This is where the other enhanced clones were created, their mutations stemmed here." She began gesturing to the room. Zaiya paused. They weren't alone. A moment later, a child stepped out from the other side of the room.

"Nala Se?" The child called, the voice higher than that of the cadet clones. The hair was short, blonde curls swept back and a decorative headpiece in place. The child, a girl, stopped in place as her big brown eyes landed on Zaiya.

"Interesting." The Nightsister mused.

"This is Omega, an enhanced clone as well, she is my assistant in here." Assistant? Zaiya looked between Nala Se and Omega, the child was again about the same age as Boba, though did not have the hardened look in her eye. Zaiya was suddenly reminded of herself, before she left Dathomir. The little girl padded over to her, looking up at the Nightsister with big eyes.

"Omega, this is Lady Siren, a… patron of sorts." Nala Se explained. Zaiya watched the girl carefully, no doubt she looked scary to a small child. The blonde child stopped before her, just staring up at her face.

"You're pretty." Zaiya blinked. That was… not what she expected. Shifting down to be on the same level as the girl, eyebrows raised.

"Am I?" She asked, tilting her head to one side. It wasn't really a question, just an amused comment. The loose braid decorated with the beads and feather slipped past the hood, dangling before Omega's warm chocolate eyes, the girl was drawn to it at once.

"What's that?" She pointed with her little hand to the item.

"This…" Zaiya's good eye flicked down as she grasped the yellow and black feather gently. "Is a very important symbol." The Nightsister spoke softly, unsure why she felt the need to explain it to the kid. "Of family." Omega looked wide-eyed and excited to hear of this, there was also a sense of sadness and longing in her. Zaiya felt it through the force, and it rang a little too close to home for her. The white-haired woman pushed herself to her feet again.

"Will you be visiting here, Lady Siren?" Omega asked. Ugh, that name from a small child was… awkward.

"How about you call me… T'ahnti?" She mused, fetching a word from her native tongue that suited her. Omega nodded.

"T'ahnti…" she practised. "What does it mean?"

"If my plans go ahead as I hope, I should be back soon. I'll tell you then." The woman grinned, but when she turned back to Nala Se, her face was impassive once more. They began to discuss usage of lab space, the coordinates of the landing pad and possibilities of Zaiya's own quarters to monitor procedures.

"I will need all the information destroyed at the end of it." Zaiya stated. This gave the scientist pause as they returned to the main facility.

"But the research-"

"I cannot risk it getting into the wrong hands, that is if this goes ahead."

"You aren't an agent of Lord Tyranus, are you?"

Shit.

Zaiya froze in the transport pod, her skin prickled. If Nala Se decided to report to Tyranus, that could cause trouble. If they chose to track her down or her Prince. Zaiya's hand flexed closed, and through the force Nala Se would feel a pressure on her long throat. Not enough to choke her… yet.

"What makes you think that?" Zaiya asked casually, but the edge to her tone was evident.

"Tyranus would not allow such a … a side project to be undertaken…" she began, evidently uncomfortable.

"And If I wasn't? And you showed me… everything?" Now there were threats of punishment on both sides. Nala Se was quiet. The pressure on her neck increased. "I do not deal well with threats."

"I am not threatening you." She replied as calmly as she could manage. Zaiya relaxed her hand. "I will not say anything."

"It would behoove you not to." The Nightsister growled, folding her arms.

"As… a peace offering." Nala Se spoke and held out a small pouch. Inside were several vials and syringes. "When you find this… person, these will help with the pain and sedation." Zaiya paused, regarding the Kaminoan a while before nodding. She could not sense anything hidden or deceptive, the scientist seemed genuine.

There was so much of this Tipoca City that she had not yet seen, so much she wanted to know, she wanted to stay here a while, learn more of the Troopers and their names, how they trained… It was all fascinating. Through her nexus eye she could see them, lit up like strings of lights in each of their hearts. It was beautiful, she wanted to stay a while longer… but that changed a few moments after she stepped back into the hallway of the main facility.

"I look forward to working with you in the future, Nala Se." Zaiya began. "I do wonder if I might-"

"Siren, are you there?" Her comm crackled to life, it was Jango. She tapped the button and held her wrist to her mouth.

"Go ahead."

"I was trying to reach you, said you were out of range?" He sounded…. Concerned? She didn't think he would be so sentimental.

"No trouble, just at a… different area." She didn't really want to explain it all over comms.

"A transmission is going through the open channels. You'll wanna hear it."

"Patch it through." She replied, curious but impartial as she walked back towards the soldier barracks whence they'd come. A few moments later a staticky and garbled sound came from the transmitter in her wristcom. She frowned. This was a message. After a second she heard sounds, a voice.

"...bring… Siren… take him… me… stars.. Home… siren…!" It repeated; various words, asking for her, wanting to go home, to find him. All spoken in a raspy voice that hit her all at once like a moon fallen from orbit and collapsing atop her shoulders, a voice that froze her in place, wide-eyed. A voice she knew. In a flash she spun and pointed at Nala Se, expression urgent and tense.

"Get that lab ready. I will contact you." Were the only instructions before she turned on her heel again and broke into a sprint. "Fett, you'd better have that ship ready in five minutes!" She barked into the com.

"Already gearing up." He replied a moment later.

Zaiya flew down the hallways, boots tapping lightly, she barely touched the pristine floor. Her cloak splayed out behind her like an ominous shadow and her hood was flung back, her long white braid flowed out behind her head. Her eyes were ahead, not paying attention to who saw her this time. She didn't notice the clones that stared, that flung themselves out of her way, or that gaped at her when she had to leap over them to keep her momentum.

"Where's the signal coming from, Fett?" She cried into the comm, louder than she intended.

"From… kriff it's coming from Lotho Minor…"

"The junk planet?" She gasped, horrified, how had he gotten there?! What was worse, her ship was all the way in Ord Mantell, she'd have to travel across space to get it then get back! It would waste too much time! "I'm gonna need a ship…" She hissed, rounding a corned so sharply she skidded round it and ran three large steps up the wall and vaulted over a familiar clone with a blond buzz cut. "Tatooine is close, right?" She asked, ignoring the surprised cries of the clones she had narrowly avoided bowling over.

"I can get you there."

"I owe you one Fett."

"I think you owe me a few now, vod'ika." He laughed through the comm.


The clones were left stunned. It was a whirlwind of a rotation. The one called Siren had entered their little bubble and with just a few words had turned their world about. Was that what Jedi were like? She said she wasn't one but…

"Whatcha thinkin' so hard about?" Wolffe looked up, to his brother standing over him, Ponds was smirking. They were in the barracks with some of the others from the ARC program, his head down, chin resting on his fist.

"The visitor." he grumbled back.

"Oh I bet." Fox called from the other table. "She liked you." Wolffe rolled his eyes.

"Stow it, she was inspecting us for deficiencies." Cody scoffed.

"Then why did she wanna know our names?" Bacara questioned. He was interrupted when the door opened and a dazed-looking Rex stumbled in. His whiskey coloured eyes wide.

"Whoa, what's eating you, space cadet?" Cody laughed. Rex took a second to reply, then blinked and looked up.

"Huh?" He blurted. The others stilled.

"You alright, Rex?" Fox asked, putting down his cards.

"Yeah… I just… in the hallway…" he shook his head, "uh, the visitor, startled me is all. Came flying down the hall like her heels were on fire." This got their attention, and Wolffe leaned forward. Rex continued, "She was talking to Fett on comms." He tapped his wrist as he came further into the room. "It was… I barely heard her coming, next thing I know, she's halfway up the wall, flew right over me like it was nothin'." He shook his head. "Had this intense look on her face, and… long hair…" She trailed off.

"Her hood came off?" Wolffe couldn't help himself.

"Y-yeah, long white hair, all done up here…" He made a gesture along the centre of his head. "I didn't get a good look, it was so fast…!" The Captain flopped himself unceremoniously in a chair. "Never seen anyone move that fast."

"You in love now?" Bacara sniggered.

"What?" Rex jumped at the accusation. "Don't be stupid! Was just… different is all." He huffed. The door opened and caught their attention again. It was Ninety-Nine.

"Oh sorry boys, don't mean to interrupt, just had to check the panel." He gestured at a wall near one of the viewports.

"Sure thing, Ninety-Nine." Cody nodded, and the aged-looking clone shuffled over. He looked back at Rex. "So she nearly flattened you, is what you're saying?"

"Kriff Cody, probably." Rex retorted, exasperated. "I mean she barely touched the fucking floor…!"

"Are-are you talking about the visitor?" Ninety-Nine asked, turning from where he'd gotten the panel off the wall.

"You saw her?" Wolffe asked.

"Yeah…!" The 'defective' clone seemed excited. "I saw her in the hallway, she helped me and… It was so strange. I could hear music coming from her."

"Are you sure you haven't just-" Pond started, but Ninety-Nine shook his head.

"It wasn't like a comm or anything, it was like… I can't explain it. She touched my hand and looked at me and I swear I could hear music playing, but nothing like what's on the transmitters…" He shook his head. "It was from her, I was sure of it." The others grew quiet.

"Siren huh…?" Wolffe chucked. He suddenly found himself wishing he'd heard it. Just by touching his hand? How was it possible.

"Did you hear her singing or humming before?" Cody asked, looking at the others, "When she was looking out the viewport…?"

"Yeah, it was… eerie." Bacara huffed, looking uncomfortable.

"Maybe she was a real Siren, like the ones she told us about." Wolffe chuckled. "You think she does actually eat people?"

"...I'm not complaining." Fox shrugged, he leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers together at the back of his head, His brothers all turned to look at him. "What?" He asked. "I don't know how often I'd get to see a woman, and it's better than looking at your miserable faces."

"Di'kut we have the same face!" Ponds scoffed.

"Yeah… but I'm prettier." Fox retorted smugly. The smug expression disappeared behind the pillow Wolffe threw at him. But even if he laughed at his brother… he couldn't disagree. She had recognised him from a distance, after seeing him once. He was not the exact same as his vod in her eyes. He was sure, but the way each of them were affected, and Ninety-Nine especially, that Siren was going to have an effect on not just him, but many of his brothers.


Pain. Smoke. Cold. Heat… He tried to focus. The ship had crashed on the planet, but he had gotten the subspace transmitter working. He had boosted the signal. The rats were dead. Mangled in the crash and in pieces, or worse. Always Remember, I Am Fear! Food was hard to come by on this desolate trash heap. He'd slunk back into the depths to avoid the fire breathing monsters, scavengers were having a field day when it came to the scrap left behind. Lost. Alone. He was lost in his thoughts. Had it worked? Had his message been boosted? Yes… yes he was sure but… but what if it wasn't? He felt so alone… so abandoned. What if it did get through. Abandoned. Or worse… what if it did… but no one was coming? What if she heard but couldn't make it? If she was trapped or… or if she didn't want to-

He let out a cry of anguish, a scream that had the walls rattling like the cage that twisted around his own mind. We don't know where we'll fall. How long had it been? He didn't know! It was so long… he couldn't focus! He had to make another signal. But his hands shook, unable to keep still. No escape. Lost. Abandoned! Forgotten! No! No… he would get out of here… he would find a way off this rotten -festering -filthy… He had to, he had to…

The tapping of the twisted metal legs sounded all around him. Never still. No rest. No sleep, no silence! Always the noises, the tapping the whispers. Bloodshot yellow eyes shot open. There was more. Other sounds. Other scrapes on metal and taps. He thought he could almost hear voices. Were the rats still crawling? Scuttling about like the vermin they were? He hunkered back into the shadows, listening. It was so hard to focus, to hear beyond the own unrest in his mind. Since the crash he had been in more pain than usual, he couldn't… he had to… What once was great is rendered small. The sound… the calling… this was different… he needed to go to it, follow it. Find it.


Notes:

Hello my lovelies! Sorry for the late one today, I have had a busy day.

Some of you already picked what Zaiya's plan is, I think this interaction spells it out more or less. What did we think of her just YEETING herself over Poor Rex?

I have had a few questions, please please send me more if you have them! I will be posting them in a few days as well as an amazing piece of fanart! (My first fanart! I am so excited!) In other news, the time has come where I have to go back to one chapter a week. So as of next week I will only be posting one Part per week.

I hope you are all well, and I shall be posting the second half of Signal tomorrow. I love you all!