Two
"Sir," Vail said quietly over his shoulder, but Fox didn't move. He kept staring at the woman lying in front of him when he realised that she had blinked. "Sir," he repeated a little more urgently, "awaiting orders sir."
With renewed optimism, Fox placed a finger under her chin, feeling for the vein.
Thump…thump…thump
It was slow, but strong. He then put his helmet back on and lifted her up into his arms and Gem made a small sound as the pain down her right side seared through her. He jostled her slightly to balance her weight before he turned to his lieutenant.
"One of our politicians has been compromised," his voice grew in strength as he looked over to Jesse on the floor, "get that soldier to his feet and follow me. Say nothing, do you hear me?"
"Copy that commander."
Vail lifted Jess up, who tried to stay with Kix.
"There's nothing we can do for him now Jess, we need to get you back to base."
But the commander had no intention of heading back to the GAR headquarters.
He wasn't sure what Vail would do if he knew that the young woman he was holding had the curse of the Jedi flowing through her.
More importantly, why hadn't he done anything?
Fox was silent as he walked through the Temple. His thoughts going over the Order and his confusion at not seeing it through. In his arms was a Force sensitive woman, she should be dead or interned, but instead he went to the one place he knew she would be safe.
He continued to hold her securely against his armour as men looked but parted to allow them through.
They all knew who she was; they had all seen what had happened at the Temple.
Turning down corridors and in and out of elevators, they were back to where her day began in no time at all.
If only she could press rewind and start this day over.
If only she had heeded his advice.
If only.
.
She could hear them talking in hushed tones, Olphina's voice had become frantic as she asked Fox after her husband and daughter.
"Dead." One word, the only word she had spoken since being removed from the Jedi Nursery.
Everyone in the room stood silent. Gem was catatonic, her body moved like a puppet as clothing was removed and they tried in vain to mend all that Skywalker had delivered.
There was no mending this however.
"We need more bacta patches," Fox said gravely taking in the extent of damage.
The gaping wound was a red hot weeping mess. Too sensitive to touch, Gem had flinched at the salve as it was applied by the woman.
She heard them fuss over Jesse and was glad of the distraction, looking over at the other injured person in the room.
Both had been caught in the rampage.
Both had unfortunately survived.
Now they had to get off Coruscant.
"She's in shock," Fox stated as her body began to shake uncontrollably, her teeth chattering loudly, inadvertently turning the attention back to her.
"Olphina. Do you have some credits?"
"Yes, yes I do."
"Well get them, along with any clothing that we can put in the packs."
Gemma watched as Olphina left the room, glad to have something to do other than watch in horror at her elected People's Representative in such a state.
"Vail, contact Lieutenant Reed. He's on Coruscant. In the barracks last time I saw him. And then strip down, give Gem your armour. You can handle questions dressed as 501st."
"Sir?" Vail was confused.
"Representative Gem needs to leave Coruscant immediately. CT-5597 can oversee her relocation to a safe place until all this," he struggled to find the right words, "all this drama has settled." Vail did as he was ordered; first comm'ing the pilot followed by the unclipping of his armour. He stood in his body glove and watched as Fox stripped down to his black shorts.
"Quick, help Jesse remove his armour," slowly it dawned on the Guard exactly what was slowly unravelling in front of him. Bound with bandages and wrapped in Olphina's scarves, Gem was brought to her feet and helped into the commanders body suit. The light weight material held the elaborate fabric in place, the pain of the pressure almost caused her to topple over. She then stood in a daze as Olphina and Vail clipped his armour back on around her.
Fox looked at Jesse, white from loss of blood.
"You're getting a promotion son," he said gently.
Jesse knew what was happening and if he was caught impersonating a senior officer they wouldn't even bother sending him back to Kamino, it would be a firing squad, probably by the men standing in front of him.
It didn't bother him, he had faced a squad once before.
This time it would be blessed relief.
Gem slumped slightly, being as tall as a clone meant that the armour looked passable, hopefully with all the drama unfolding on Coruscant, no one would notice the smaller frame under the plastoid.
Fox stood back and looked at the two impersonators. Vail had redressed in the infamous cerulean and Fox quickly stepped into a spare set of fatigues he had left in Olphina's wardrobe.
There was more movement and finally Reed entered the apartment.
Ever the quintessential pilot, composed and in control.
Until he saw her.
"Gem," he looked at the expressionless face in front of him.
"Reed, they need to get off Coruscant, now. Not to Oriis, too obvious," he turned the pilot away slightly and lowered his tone. "Rex and Piia are dead. Skywalker went on a rampage at the Temple. Do you think you can pull these two off as Guard? No one should question Jesse in my armour, Gem looks different, but I'm hoping upon hope - "
"Leave it with me sir, I'll get them off and safe. I'll let you know where, when we arrive."
"No! I don't want to know. The less people that do the less likely they are to be found." He turned to Olphina who was now sitting, her legs having give way as actuality set in.
"Say your goodbyes Phina, they're going, now." Fox had taken charge again, and she resented him for it.
With a trembling lip she stood next to the woman in the man's armour. "Gem," she whispered, "I let you and Oriis down, could you ever forgive me?"
Reed opened his belt and grabbed two hypo's.
"If this is going to work, she needs to be able to keep up. Has she had some morpha?"
"No."
Reed then walked calmly over to the woman.
"This is going to smart Gem, but trust me, please, as I did in you all that time ago."
A small whimper escaped her as he plunged first the pain killer then the stim into her neck.
Reed grabbed both her arms and waited for the second to take effect.
Gem took in a deep breath as the room began to sway and the cogs in her mind started to crank over once again. Then the reality of everything came racing towards her. She looked at her arms and the familiar white covering them.
Everything seemed surreal, but with Reed standing in front of her, she knew that the nightmare must have been real.
Her husband and baby were both gone.
She opened her mouth to scream, but no noise came out, the terror visible on her face. Reed quickly pulled her into him, the plastoid clacking against one another as he waited for the trembling to slow.
"Come on Gemma, one more test to go."
It was something they shared. Each time there had been a hurdle on the mid rim moon, she would say it was a test, one they had to endure and pass. There was never a question of failure.
But this time the stakes were higher.
She then looked at Jesse and the others standing in front of her. She owed him, she had to get him off Ground Zero, do the right thing by Fox who was risking everything to do so.
She nodded as Vail lowered his helmet down over her head.
"Just breath normally ok, let the helmet do the rest."
Rex had said the same words to her once, a long time ago.
Another surge of grief made her sway slightly.
Reed looked at the two Guard and nodded at the Senator.
"Let's go," he said.
Fox stood next to Olphina who was silently crying, his strong arm around her tiny frame and watched as his armour marched first out into the corridor. Vail followed with his head up on Gems right; his lover's deece pressed hard against his chest.
.
Jesse couldn't cope with the constant stream of messages flicking through Fox's HUD and blinked a couple of times to turn them down to silent, the information was vital, even an injured, defecting soldier knew that. The pain in his neck had abated, the pharma's doing their job in controlling the agony he knew would soon return.
Soldiers moved aside as they saw the formidable red armour and the small entourage following. Jesse was doing a great job impersonating Fox, right down to the swagger of his enormous kama.
They entered an elevator after passing patrols going through to the barracks when Reed swung around.
"Right. This is where it gets tricky, Jess, you up to this ner vod."
He nodded once, not being able to talk was going to be difficult if he was asked a question from another officer enroute to the Hanger deck.
"Let me do all the talking OK?"
The doors silently opened and controlled chaos surrounded them. They all knew the frenetic activity would be an excellent distraction.
Gem looked around and noticed a repulsor stretcher being rushed through the area. Their armour was obvious to even non military personnel. Another commando held tight to the transparasteel railing, guiding it through the sea of troopers and momentarily their eyes locked, he wore the same look of despair that she hid under the guise of the helmet.
She knew that face.
Thinking of anything up to that point had been difficult and she was glad of the mental challenge.
Darman?
Her thoughts were quickly abrupted as they were stopped by a soldier in white. With no markings on his pristine armour, it took them all by surprise.
"Sir," they heard him say and stand to attention.
What struck the four was his voice.
It was different.
They all heard it at, and it stopped them dead in their tracks.
"At ease," Reed said as Jess pushed forward, Gem and Vail following from behind.
They saw the craft, the one Reed flew in between Corellia and Coruscant, the one that would take them to safety.
They were almost there when they heard that voice again.
"I'm sorry sir, we have orders to halt all air traffic on and off Coruscant."
Jesse stopped and turned around quickly before looking the soldier up and down as Fox had done on more than one occasion to him in the past.
It was intimidating and the soldier backed off slightly before standing his ground.
"Commander, sir, we have our orders."
Reed stepped forward. "Stand down trooper; you do know who this is don't you?"
"Sir, yes sir, but as I - "
"Well you have new orders," Reed continued.
Jesse nodded and moved to the craft. His heart was racing and he felt feint, but stood as erect as he could and ignoring the trooper, walked on.
They were almost there when they heard the clip of metal. Jesse knew that sound. Fek, he'd done it often enough; engaging his weapon ready to fire.
He turned slowly, waiting, no, wanting for it all to be over. The dull ache was throbbing and he was tired, just so tired.
Vail looked at him and stepped out in front of Gem to hide her smaller frame. He was wearing the infamous blue. They had hap hazardously washed the breast plate down, but some blood splatters could still be seen. He looked menacing, even if underneath the helmet he was struggling with his orders.
He was loyal to Fox, that he knew for sure.
But why was Representative Gem leaving? Wouldn't she be safer on Coruscant getting medical treatment?
"Commander Fox, what are your orders sir?"
Reed thought quickly, and pressed his hand into the small of Jesse's back. Jess got the hint and placed both hands on his hips and moved his head slightly as if he was talking allowing the other man to play out the charade from behind. This soldier had no markings on his armour and maybe, just maybe they could bluff their way through.
"We are taking this craft to Dantooine. We have reports of an insurgency involving Republic troopers. Our flight path has been logged with HQ." Jess looked around at the men running through the deck before coming to a rest on the young soldier.
"Sir," the soldier diligently flicked through the manifest on the data pad, "there is no flight path listed." Reed had to give him credit. This soldier was standing his ground, even with the level of authority in front of him.
"Well, look again!" Reed's bellowing was intimidating enough and Jesse turned and walked up the ramp into the craft.
They all held their breath as they followed the soldier wearing red.
It would be then, if they weren't believed, they would all feel the heat of the blaster burn in their back.
Reed rushed ahead as Jesse slumped into a chair removing his helmet. His blue Republic tattoo luminescent against his pale white skin. He took deep breaths as Vail helped direct Gem to the ground.
Jesse looked up as he saw Vail standing in front of him shaking his head.
"Jess, look. I'm sorry. I – I can't."
Jesse went to speak, drawing himself up from the chair, but the pain of trying coupled with the fact that he couldn't sobering.
The noise coming from him so alien it was too painful for Vail to hear.
"I'm sorry Jess, good luck Representative Gem," he said as he quickly turned and almost stumbled back down the ramp.
Reed could hear what was happening from behind and once he saw the white armour leave the vessel he simply closed the ramp door and continued preparing for lift off.
Gem gathered herself together and went to Jesse's side where they grabbed hold of each other.
They then slid back down onto the floor together as the craft lifted off the Hanger bay deck and moved slowly into space.
"Shh," she whispered quietly into his ear, and began rocking, it was maternal and natural. She continued over and over until he finally succumbed to the past four hours and slipped silently into unconsciousness.
Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one for me. [1]
[1] Goodbye My Lover. James Blunt & Sacha Skarbek. Back to Bedlam (2005)
