Hela stared at interior of the walk-in wardrobe; she had only worn most of these clothes once and some never, especially over the last year or so.
"Zur!" She shouted.
"What now?"
"I'm going to make room here for some of Mayday's clothes."
"Has he got any?"
"Yes, he has now. I've been shopping."
Zur sighed, "So that's what all the bags were for?"
"Who! Who!"
"Pardon?"
"Mayday is a who not a what?"
"I'm sorry, slip of the tongue."
"Better be!" She muttered as she dived into the pile in the corner, disappearing on her knees.
"I wish he'd come back on leave. I might get some peace then." Zur hung up some particularly expensive beaded items that had somehow landed on the floor.
She backed out of the corner on her knees, "What did you say?"
"Just wondering when he was coming home on leave."
She sat back on her haunches, "I don't know it's been months now. He doesn't say where he is, when he can get through to me, which isn't often, other than the Outer Rim.
"Sounds like most of them are in the Outer rim. No sign of Baylan either?"
"Baylan's history."
"Does he know that?"
"He'll sense it."
"But will he act on it?"
"Yes."
"You seem very confident about that."
She shrugged, "I know who means the most to me now."
Zur looked around, "Baylan has never warranted a space in your wardrobe, has he?"
"No! Never will."
He was still not convinced but he would go along with it.
"Don't forget. Meeting this afternoon with the Chancellor."
"I thought he'd cancelled."
"No! Rearranged. 16:00."
"Okay!" She paused, "Earlier. I was sharp with you. About Mayday. I'm sorry. Just worried."
"It's okay."
It was. He preferred the clone to the Jedi.
.
Chancellor's Office
Hela sat waiting, feeling in the way; the Chancellor and consequently his office were busy, more so than usual. Apparently something had happened, she overheard the name of the system—Umbaran. She thought that was where Sly Moore came from, although she hadn't seen her recently and the Senator Deechi, who was murdered.
Hela finally caught the Chief's eye and walked over to her.
"You're all busy, too busy to see me. I'll go. I can come back another day." She offered.
"No!" The Chief's hand reached out to her, stopping her from moving, "He'll just be a few minutes. He specifically said to make you wait for him."
"Oh—I thought he would be too busy."
"Seeing you, or Jedi Skywalker always calms him, he says. You two remind him of what the Republic is fighting for. Order and Peace in the future. You reenergise him."
"Oh, okay. I'll wait." she was flattered that she helped him.
The Chief smiled, a thin, short smile and then went back to her screen, frowning and tapped away, organising something.
Hela returned to her seat and sat quietly, still feeling superfluous; everyone continued to walk around with an intense sense of purpose. Something had definitely happened but she knew better than to ask.
A number of Senators enter the room, Organa, she knew, she had sung for him. Mon Mothma, she had read about, the youngest Senator ever.
She rose and walked towards The Chief, who motioned her to sit back down again. She wandered back down and then she saw the shadow overhead, blocking the sky. She walked to the doors of the balcony that the Chancellor used to look over the GAR staging ground, where the GAR ships first arrived.
There was another ship coming into land they didn't normally come this way now they usually went straight to the shipyard.
Then she saw Anakin, striding out of the Chancellors office, looking furious.
He stopped, stared at the ship that was coming into land, on the original staging ground, then he stormed out of the Office.
The door to the balcony opened and the Chancellor and Senators went to watch.
Hela looked at the Chief who had stood up and followed to the window; Hela followed her and stood next to her.
The ship was huge, dwarfing the building they were in.
"Some of the Clones turned on their Jedi and one shot him. Master Kenobi knows all about it but it was Master Skywalker's battalion." The Chief explained.
"Turned on their Jedi, the 501st?"
"Yes and some of the 212th. They're returning from Umbara now, what's left."
"What's left?"
"The 212th, as well. It appears some Clones were killed through friendly fire. We don't know exactly what happened yet. They say the Jedi who was killed was a traitor. The Jedi are investigating."
Hela felt sick; she didn't know exactly where Mayday was and hadn't heard from him in months.
But he was still 212th and a Jefi who was a traitor.
The Chief nudged her arm to look at the men disembarking.
The 212th, in their gold coloured armour, came out first, there were a few empty spaces in the formation and then the injured. She had never seen them do this before.
Then she noticed Anakin and Obi Wan standing next to the ramp watching their men come down and march with heads held up high to their barracks.
She saw Cody stop and salute the Generals but no one else. Hela continued to stare.
Palpatine watched the exhibition, his face a picture of suitable sadness; Anakin had excelled himself this time, the anger and pity that was emanating from some of the spectators, especially from Hela. And the panic, the fear if the clones turned on their Generals but with Hela it was panic and fear for a particular someone.
The 501st were now marching down the ramp; the gaps in their formation even more noticeable; you could not miss it. Sometimes there were whole lines from squads missing. Their numbers were more than halved and not many injured walked down.
Palpatine could feel Skywalker's fury.
Hela had met some of these men; Echo, who had been so interested in opera. She had heard from Mayday he had died and Fives had still been serving. She saw the ARCs walking down but she couldn't see if Fives was there or not.
As far as she knew Mayday never mentioned who he lost, and to her shame she never asked him. She held onto her locket; she had had one of the blue plom flower encased in resin and she wore it always. It was her only way of keeping him close and after this she needed to.
Finally all the troops had disembarked and headed to their barracks but she didn't move.
"My dear, are you okay?"
The Chancellor's voice broke through her inner panic and despair.
"Yes. Fine." She recovered herself well.
"There are so many gaps because of the problem in Umbara."
Her feelings of panic and despair rose as he mentioned that.
Palpatine relished those feelings emanating from her, as he did with Skywalker; he continued, seeing how far he could stoke them.
"The Jedi who took over from Anakin had fallen to the Darkside, they tell me."
Now he felt confusion from her.
"How?"
"I don't really know of these things, my dear, but apparently he thought to ingratiate himself with Dooku and his Master. He is apparently a Sith but I know nothing of these things. You will need to ask a Jedi."
He closed his eyes as he drew on her feelings, now anger against the Jedi.
"Jedi?" She almost spat the word out.
"Luckily, the Clones took matters into their own hands before it got even worse—"
"Worse? How much worse could it be?"
"As I was saying the Clones bravely took matters in their own hands and arrested the Jedi but then we are unsure exactly what happened as the Jedi was shot."
"But if he was a traitor surely he deserved that?"
"That should have been for a Court Martial to decide, or the Jedi Council."
"Let's hope they do the right thing." She said harshly.
This relationship with a clone was proving much more fruitful than the one with the Jedi.
He pulled in those deliciously negative feelings to feed on; it was such a pity she wasn't force sensitive.
.
Umbara.
"Geeze!" Muttered Decs into his bucket, "This place is gross." He lifted his boot to look at something dripping from it. He wasn't sure what he trod on, they had been warned about some of the native wildlife that were on this planet but he was thankful it wasn't a brother. All the reinforcements had been patrolling to gather all the bodies, just in case someone was alive and there had been a few. Plug was helping with that side of it.
"Shush!" Countered Splicer, he stopped and looked around sure they were being followed. The misty, dark atmosphere didn't help. There could be some Umbaran stragglers.
"Sitrep!" Veetch's voice came over the com.
"This sector is as clear as it can be, sir." Decs replied, "Given the native wildlife we have encountered."
"Good. There's one more sector to clear then you're done. There's a Jedi here."
"Jedi?"
"Yes."
All of them were uneasy, especially after what had happened; Decs and Splicer's buckets turned to each other.
"Do we know which one?" Splicer finally asked.
"Not one I know but he wants to see us all. He's with the Commander now."
"Yes sir. Should take us another hour."
"Copy that. Out."
.
Mayday stared at the brig, knowing this was where the rookie had shot the Jedi, no —Traitor he thought, he called him by what he was. He was no Jedi.
A tall Jedi dressed all in black entered, he had asked to meet Mayday, where it had happened.
"Commander Mayday?"
He turned around at the deep voice that greeted him and stood at attention, having to look up slightly as the Jedi was taller than he.
"At ease Commander."
The Jedi held out his right hand towards Mayday who realised he wanted to shake hands with him. He shook it; it was strong and firm, with callouses, not unlike many of his brother's hands, he was used to combat.
"General!"
"The name's Skoll, Baylan Skoll. The Council have sent me to obtain the facts and forensic evidence to feed into their enquiry. They are also talking to those directly involved."
"Yes sir."
He stared at the individual cell in the brig, a small blood stain indicating the actual spot where Krell had died.
"How long have you been here, Commander or can I call you Mayday."
"Mayday is fine Sir, and just coming up for 24 hours. We were already on our way as reinforcements before everything happened. So they left us enroute, but you ought to know sir. We are part of the 212th. We knew some of the men who died."
"Thank you for your candour, Mayday, but I am sure between us we can find out the truth."
"Yes sir!"
"Would you walk through the base with me?"
"Of course sir. Where do you want to start?"
"Here!"
"Apart from Gen— Krell's body, which was removed by General Kenobi and some of the 212th, nothing has been moved. According to Captain Rex, the traitor was imprisoned here after the 501st finally managed to subdue him."
"You spoke to the Captain?"
"No, General Kenobi did."
"Ah yes. He sent me the transcript."
They walked along the corridor towards the barracks.
"How long have you been out here, Commander?"
"Several months sir. Various missions. We had a break on Ord Mantell for a couple of days. We appreciated that."
Baylan felt a flare of emotion, rolling off the Commander, a feeling of longing he thought, at the memory of that time.
"All these rooms are used for storage. Medical supplies we initially thought but we have found some of the chemicals the Umbarans used to enhance their soldiers, in there also. We have separated those off, for further analysis. One of the medics was going to complete a basic test to identify them." Mayday coughed, "But there was an accident. He needed a few hours to recover from the after effects. They've been sealed now."
"I trust the medic is okay?"
"He is sir and back on duty."
They reached another building. There were a number of Clone helmets lined up against the building.
A Memorial.
"Barracks sir. We've isolated the area used by the 501st. No other battalion was on this base. The 501st took it and I understand used several of the fighters to make an attack on the Seppie ship and succeeded. Changing the course of this campaign."
"Ingenious!" Commented Baylan.
"That is why we are better than droids and will win this war, if…"
The Commander stopped mid sentence.
"If what Commander? Please speak freely."
"If we were allowed to press our advantage sir, when it arose."
"I agree with you Commander. All too often we are pulled back from completing the action we need to do. And I can assure you, it is not always the Jedi that wish us to pull back from the brink."
"No sir!"
"You don't sound convinced."
"I…"
"Although we aim for peace, sometimes that can only be achieved by some degree of violence against specific threats."
"I think I understand, sir!"
As they walked along the perimeter of the base, Mayday felt at ease with this Jedi, he was more like Skywalker and a little like Kenobi, in his more pragmatic moments and he hadn't mentioned the Force once.
.
Hela's
Zur walked into an empty apartment; now he was worried. She hadn't answered her com. He'd heard on the RI grapevine what had happened on Umbara but as far as he could see Mayday and his particular squad had not been involved.
"Hela?"
"Here!"
He turned to see her sitting on the terrace, glass in hand, with a worried expression on her face.
"Did the meeting with the Chancellor go alright?"
"Yes. It was fine. Is Anoon coming over tonight?"
"Yes. Unless you don't want him to."
"No, it's fine. I may not be very good company though."
"I'll warn him."
She sipped her drink— must be brandy, thought Zur.
"I've heard some rumours." He added.
"About what?"
"A clone killing a Jedi. In the field?"
"So did I, apparently the Jedi was a traitor."
"Are they sure?"
"They're investigating, having an Enquiry."
"Ah! So it's being covered up is it?"
"I hope not. If Jedi are traitors they should be treated the same as anyone else." Hela said vehemently.
"He may have had his reasons."
"So why do they have a Jail for Jedi?"
"They do?"
"Yes but now it's in the Separatists' hands."
"I may have been young when the Battle of Naboo happened but I overheard things. The Jedi talking. They talked about a special facility for Jedi who had gone off the rails so to speak."
Zur knew about that, it had come up in his training but he was certain, it wasn't common knowledge. Too scary for the general populace. Who wants to know they actually have a jail for Jedi. It didn't bear thinking about.
"Mayday?" He had to ask.
Hela showed him her comlink.
'I'm okay.'
There was a date and time—six hours ago.
"That's good, isn't it?"
"Yes. I'm going to have a shower."
.
Umbara
"These men are your personal squad?" Asked Baylan.
"They are—three ARCs, including myself. A medic, pilot, splicer and two general troopers who can turn their hands to anything. We can cover most things on a mission."
"And you are fully recovered after your previous mission involving the new blasters?"
Skoll had done his homework.
"Yes sir. I am fully recovered now."
"The Separatists seem to be able to come up with ever more lethal weapons for you, the clones, especially."
"Yes sir! We notified SOB."
"Ah yes, Master Zey. He taught me a lot. I was with him on a few missions, before I passed my trials."
"Really sir."
The Jedi smiled.
"We didn't all sit in the Meditation halls and try to make the crops grow faster. The Galaxy was a bad place before this war. It has been brewing for a long time and in the process has hurt a great many people. It should stop."
"Someone you knew sir?" Mayday sensed there was something personal there.
"Yes Commander, someone I know."
"Was it on Geonosis?"
"No before that. Were you at Geonosis, Commander?"
"Yes sir."
"A lot of brave people died that day."
"They did sir. We have the perimeter secure now but we can't be sure there aren't others still out there, regrouping, just waiting to attack us again. Biding their time."
Skoll stopped walking, "Is that what you would do Commander?"
"In the absence of other orders and if I was drugged up like the Umbaran soldiers were, probably."
"Drugged up?"
"Yes, in their helmets we think. It was obvious they were highly trained in combat, and they caused heavy casualties using the cover of darkness, which continuously covers Umbara. Even with our buckets—helmets, it is not our natural environment. I'll show you some of their equipment."
They continued to one of the repurposed storage areas.
"It's obvious someone was working on some of this Tech, trying to understand how it works, possibly the 501st."
"Have any of your men touched it?"
"No sir! Just scanned to ensure it wasn't booby trapped. Except the medic and that was an accident. A capsule of the gas they used had been dropped and he was bagging it to test when some escaped and he inhaled it."
"He's recovered?"
"He has sir but we are monitoring him."
"If you need any help, I'm no healer but may be able to help a little."
Mayday stared at the General for a few seconds.
"Thank you sir. The offer is appreciated."
They walked further along.
"These are the protective suits which covered them and the helmets which fed the wearer the gas mixture."
Skoll studied the suit laid out on the table.
"Plug, our medic, has hypothesised that it kept them ready for combat, improving their reflexes and increasing their aggression level. There are also other weapons they have that we have never seen before."
"These appear to be small droids. It's tail is electrified. Sufficient to kill you."
"You have been busy Commander."
"One of my men likes the tech side sir. And then there's this!"
"The Umbaran Hover Tank." Skoll answered, looking at the vessel in front of him, "I too have been doing my homework. Excellent work Commander. I think I'm up to speed now."
"There's just the Command Centre left, sir."
"Ah yes! That should be interesting. Let's have a look."
Two troopers guarded the Command Centre and looked towards Mayday as they walked towards them.
"Thank you, troopers."
They moved and let the two men in, "Your men are well trained Commander. They're a credit to you."
"They are loyal to the Republic, sir, not me."
Baylan smiled at him, knowing how much a good leader inspired his troops, "Of course Commander." He walked around the holotable, checking the instruments.
"It has been identified that Krell, was jamming the communications himself and to the clones manning the communications, it would look to be the Umbarans or the Separatists jamming all communications from their ships."
"Yes sir. General Skywalker himself checked with General Tiin."
"Ah yes. The Council has their report but I have been asked to check it." He slid under the table.
Mayday looked at the troopers then followed the Jedi; they were both lying on their backs under the holotable. Baylan studied the underneath of the table, then reached up right into the middle of the internal workings and pulled. A small attachment came away in his hand.
"It appears they left something behind. It doesn't look like Republic issue, and it's not a Jedi issue."
"Jedi have their own instruments?"
Baylan smiled, "What did you think we did before? We were never so close to the Republic. You should speak to Master Zey, Tholme or Vos." He thought for a few seconds, "Perhaps not Vos." He added, before pushing himself out.
"Now Commander. I don't know about you but I could eat a Bantha between two slabs of meal bread."
Mayday wanted to smile but suppressed it. He liked this Jedi.
Mayday was surprised by this new General and his thought was, had he arrived instead of Krell, this would have turned out much differently.