Four


The flight to Corellia was quiet.

The thrum of the engine comforting considering the drama in leaving Coruscant.

Reed didn't move from the pilot seat until he was confident they had managed to convince the Republic that they were leaving on official business.

He wasn't even sure what that meant; other than there were no fighters following or tracking him once they hit hyperspace.

He knew the security at the Lielais Bralis air base was lax at the best of times, his comings and goings not even requiring a flight manifest logged with the men in the tower.

But things had suddenly changed. Reed was now aiding and abetting a soldier that was AWOL.

He didn't even factor in the politician.

He had done worse for her over the course of the war.

Transporting procured scientific equipment to the house on Oriis; not to mention an injured ARC.

He had committed treason on more than one occasion for the People's Representative. Why should this be any different?

He set the craft down and contacted air traffic control.

"Lieutenant Reed transporting two military personal to the Republic barracks."

His slip of the tongue went unnoticed.

"Copy that Lieutenant. Who you got on board?"

He gave a chuckle, trying to act casual, "just two desk jockeys. No one important."

"You get caught up in all that drama on Corrie?"

"Nah, I steer clear of the trigger happy white jobs. Nasty business with the Jedi though, who would have thought they were planning to overthrow the government the ungrateful shabuirs."

"Yeah, who'd have thought huh? You have clearance Reed. Enjoy your lay over," he laughed and Reed knew exactly what he was alluding to.

"Thanks Webb. I'll check in when I bug out."

"Copy that lieutenant."

Reed smiled to himself.

It had gone to plan.

Again.

.

"You did what?"

"Quieten down Cariss, they're in the next room."

Reed had taken them to the apartment he shared with his partner. He was right in that the commotion happening another world away had meant the powers that be weren't interested in three clones wandering off a diplomatic transport that began it's journey on Coruscant.

No one even bothered to meet the flight, too busy watching the unimaginable unfold in the heart of the core worlds.

With another stim and shot of Morpha, both Gem and Jesse had managed to walk unassisted to an awaiting transport where they were whisked away to the more salubrious side of town.

"I can't believe you put me in danger bringing them here!" Cariss was furious and Gem listened to the low tones in which Reed returned her argument.

"The morning. They need to be gone by the morning," she shrilled from the confines of their shared bedroom.

"I'm sorry about the child, I really am, but this is loyalty beyond anything she did for you!"

"She saved my life!" Reed finally cracked. "Don't you get it? Without her I would be dead after the crash or dead as soon as I set foot back on Coruscant. You just don't get it do you?"

"Apparently not."

Reed continued to argue his point, regaining control of his tone.

"No! Definitely not! This is just too much! Anyway, why was she in amongst all of this? Huh? Answer me that?"

He couldn't.

Gem looked at Jesse. She knew he neck must have been sore as he was now drooling and wiping the accumulated saliva away to avoid swallowing all together. He needed medical assistance if he was going to survive the immediate trauma to his throat, let alone the impending one of dehydration. She winced as she attempted to lift herself up from the couch, moving around the apartment. The bickering in the next room had dulled and Reed came out rubbing his hands through his hair, and Gem knew he was struggling with breaking the news of their departure to them both.

"It's OK Reed, we heard," Gem looked over to Jesse who struggled to smile. "We'll move on at first light, you have my word."

Reed looked defeated, a far cry from the soldier that had taken charge the previous day and got them off Coruscant. But Cariss was unpredictable, that he had learned over the course of the war. Her influential parents could make things difficult for him and he didn't need an excuse for them to turn on their daughter's choice in a partner. They had thought she would tire of the clone soldier and move on to a more appropriate suitor, but Cariss had stayed true to her word in defying them.

Reed knew full well his presence in the relationship was more an act of defiance than ardour.

"I'm sorry Gem, I - "

"Please, Reed, you and Cariss have done more than enough." The blonde haired woman was now standing behind him.

"You have to understand Representative Gem, this places both Reed and myself in a situation that could be construed as antagonistic to the authorities."

"I understand perfectly Cariss." There had never been any love lost between these two women.

"There are blankets and spare pillows in the laundry. Help yourselves," she turned and closed the bedroom door behind her.

"Here, I'll get them," Reed said as he moved towards the small utilities room.

Reed retrieved the bedding and looked at Gem as she snuggled under the doona. "I can't say how sorry I am Gem. The captain, Piia - " he couldn't finish the sentence, the words catching with the emotion in his chest.

"Let me make a few calls in the morning and I'll get you two to another safe house."

"Thanks Reed," she replied, attempting to smile as she watched him walk, head down into the bedroom.

Gem closed her eyes and tried to block out her thoughts but they tore at her again; the deepest of wounds that would forever be open, raw and oozing just like the one down her side. She would need to draw upon that pain; use it as a constant reminder of what she had survived and lost in one foul swoop.

.

Reed opened the bedroom door at 0500. He looked around before he realised they had both gone. The bedding folded and placed neatly on the couch, both Fox and Vail's armour stacked on the top.

"See, you didn't have to worry," he said sarcastically. 'they're gone."

Cariss placed her hand up to his shoulder, a look of relief crossed her face and he immediately knew the relationship was over.

Reed walked over to a note that had been left for him. He read the words she had scribbled in haste on the flimsy and crumpled it up in his right hand as he turned into the bedroom to retrieve his bag and armour.

"Reed! Oh, come on? There's no need to get all shirty! Come back to bed?"

He pushed past her and stepped out of the apartment, feeling truly free for the first time in his life.

.

"Where's Marek?" Freya asked as she waddled into the kitchen.

Echo was sitting at the table, finishing a nerf steak sandwich and smiled at the sight of his wife's rotund abdomen.

"With Stoyan, down at the nets," he said as he pulled her in close. He was enjoying watching this pregnancy continue, fondly rubbing a hand over the area where the baby was happily growing.

Marek was now a rambunctious eighteen month old; constantly talking he was also a shadow to his papa Stoyan. The two had hit it off instantly and Echo was happy the relationship kept the former Jedi from leaving and continuing his drifter existence alone.

They both heard the familiar cry at the same time.

"I was wondering how long it would be before he had to come back," Freya smiled as she went to get out of the chair.

"No, you sit. I'll save Stoyan," Echo laughed as he stood.

But when he opened the door, only the toddler was there, crying on the front landing.

"Hey, there little guy," Echo said bending down to pick up son, looking for Stoyan, "sshhh," he continually whispered as he jostled the infant at his hip.

Marek continued to wail, increasing in intensity as Echo tried in vain to soothe him. Pointing behind him and swinging wildly in his fathers arms, Marek indicated an area just past the tree line.

Echo strained to look and panic filled him.

Had they been found?

His biggest fear since reuniting with Freya and his son. Being discovered by the Republic now haunted his dreams, both day and night.

He rushed back inside the house, "Frey, take Marek and lock all the doors OK?"

"Echo, what is it?"

"Just do as I say."

She knew by his tone that something bad was happening and took the screaming toddler and closed the door quickly. Echo had grabbed the weapon located above the architrave and flicked the safety off as he quietly scanned the area where Marek's stubby fingers had pointed.

He found him, face down in the dirt.

"Stoyan? What the?"

He knelt down and flipped the Jedi over.

"Freya," he yelled at the top of his voice, "Freya!"

Echo listened as Stoyan attempted to talk, the mumbling confirming all his fears.

"Freya, call an ambulance. NOW!"

.

"You have to help us." The doctor looked at the two standing in front of him.

It was 0330 and she had contacted the emergency number listed on the front of the medical surgery.

"You have to help us," she stressed again, "you took the oath, you can't turn us away."

Gem knew that and stepped back, bearing both hands showing the doctor that she concealed no weapons. They looked like criminals, Jesse hooded and cowering behind her. Gem herself unsteady on her feet, constantly scanning the street for police patrols.

The man worked the locks, bending down to release the sensor at floor level and with trepidation, opened the transparent door.

"You should go to the hospital," he said eyeing off the man with a hood hiding his face. She ignored him and guided Jesse into the warmth of the waiting room.

"My husband was in a bar fight," she said matter of fact. He waited for Jesse to remove the hood of his coat and took a look at him.

He knew what he was, more importantly, he knew who.

An injured clone soldier only meant one thing.

"You're running from the law?"

"No," she spoke clearly, all the time watching his reaction to Jesse, "as I said, my husband was attacked during a bar fight last night and he requires urgent medical assistance."

"I could be arrested for not reporting you to authorities."

"You won't do that though will you?"

It was a stand off and Jesse finished it, shaking his head and pulling his coat back over his shoulders, he stumbled to his feet, shuffling his way back towards the exit.

The doctor sighed at the pathetic sight.

"Ok, Ok. Come here." Jesse turned around and collapsed into the doctor's arms.

"Whoa there," he said quickly as he helped him into the examination cubicle.

There, he removed the heavy coat and helped Jesse out of his shirt.

For a split second he forgot his manners and was at a loss for words.

The scars that lined the escaping soldier's torso defied his very existence.

"You've seen more action that a bar fight young man. Tell me, where do I begin?"

"He can't talk. Can't even swallow." Gem was surprised how shaky her own voice had become as the doctor began to gently examine the clones throat. Jesse winced and closed his eyes in pain as he pressed around the injured area.

"I don't have a bacta tank here, but I am sure that he has a broken hyoid and probably larynx. The area is too swollen for me to make a proper diagnosis. The prognosis is poor for his voice box either way. I can make him comfortable. Put him on intravenous fluids to hydrate him and a cocktail of antibiotics and steroids to reduce the swelling and risk of infection." He turned to the woman, "you can stay here, I will make sure no one disturbs you in this room. You have my word I will not report either of you to the Empire."

The Empire.

Democracy was well and truly dead.

She nodded and Jesse visibly relaxed on the gurney.

"Thank you," she said as she began to sway.

"Now," he said looking at her more closely, "what about you?"

.

"You acted quickly and eventually we would expect him to make a reasonable recovery."

"Reasonable?" Echo questioned.

"Well yes, he's fit man and we would expect, with extensive physical and occupational therapy that he may walk again unassisted. It will be a long road, for all of you."

Echo looked with dismay at the Rydarian doctor, then to Stoyan who was hocked up to an array of medical equipment. The left side of his body had been affected.

"Your father, I presume?" She continued to look at the monitors before turning to face him, "the family resemblance is quite remarkable."

Echo smiled and moved forward stroking Stoyan's forehead, feeling helpless he sat down heavily and wondered what had caused such a catostrophic stroke.

.

Stoyan had felt the surge within the Force and had the sense to put Marek down before it became evident to him that this was like nothing he had ever experienced in the past. The pressure in his brain became unbearable as he held his head willing the pain to stop.

But not this time.

The disturbance brought him to his knees before it physically maimed him for life. A massive subarachnoid haemorrhage, that left him immobile on the ground. Marek had raised the alarm and in doing so had saved his life. Without his 'adiik prudii' Stoyan would probably have died.

The visions coupled with the voices too overwhelming for any Jedi to endure.

It was another path his life had taken him on but this time knew he wouldn't be alone.

.