Republic Medcenter
Coruscant
Cato Neimoidia had been bad but he was back, all his squad were back and all the rest had avoided The Tank, all except him.
The shiny he pushed out of the way of that blaster fire had better be okay.
He lurched forward, as the Bacta tank restraints released him; the familiar feeling of gravity pulling at his body as his muscles remembered what to do and he forced himself upright, stretching out his back and the scar tissue with it.
He retched up the last of the Bacta; it always seemed to seep through the breathing tube. Plug handed him a beaker of electrolyte enhanced water to rehydrate and take the taste away.
He gulped it down, he was thirsty, but it didn't take the taste of Bacta away, it never did.
"More?" Asked Plug.
"The 501st bootleg whisky works better." He replied, handing it back.
"I didn't hear that."
"Developed selective hearing?"
"I have had to." Plug replied as he fussed over him with his scanner.
It was a relief it wasn't the med droid again; he'd had enough of them on the transport back. Kriffing things.
He swatted Plug's hands away gently.
"I'm fine." He growled.
"I'm glad to hear that Doctor." Plug replied sarcastically.
"Huh!" Mayday smiled.
Another four, or eight days in his case, of his shortened life span that he wouldn't get back; if he thought too hard about that he would get angry. And he was thinking about it a lot recently.
"Haven't you got someone to see?" He asked the medic.
"All in good time."
Plug checked the readings again, "Well Commander. You're good to go but don't make a habit of this." Then he moved closer, "Remember! You may want to take it steady the first few times. Bacta has an effect on every organ in the body, you know."
Mayday fixed him with a stare, "And you that know from experience?"
Plug smiled and turned away, replacing his datapad in the slot.
"Yeah, I thought so."
He pulled on his fatigues and looked around for his Comm; Plug handed it to him.
"I mean it! Go easy!"
"Yeah!"
He tapped in a code; she answered straight away.
"Hi."
.
Monument Plaza
Mayday reached over to the small pointed rock rising from the ground; Hela's hand yanked his back, "You aren't supposed to touch it."
"So what's the point of it?" he asked, frowning.
"A reminder of what once was."
"Huh! It's not very impressive."
They had finally made it, finally made the visit to Monument Plaza; they had planned it so many months ago but the war intervened. He had come to see the last mountain on Coruscant. Although it was no longer a mountain, more like a Naboo molehill.
She had dragged him out, despite the tiredness and their long talk into the small hours of the morning.
"Ice cream?" She asked.
"I'll get it."
"You don't have to—"
"I'll get them." It came out sharper than he intended, "There's a vendor over there." He continued softer.
"Okay."
He turned away.
"Mayday? I'm alright you know. It happened years ago. I've come to terms with it now."
He stopped and nodded, remembering the tears last night, how she held onto him and shuddered with the sobs. Yes she said she was over it but there was nothing he could do.
Glancing back at her, he smiled and waved before walking across the Plaza; she waved back at him.
He hated the Separatists now, for what they had done to her before the war even started, before he was decanted. He pulled his shirt down, he was in civvies although he had his blaster in an ankle holster that Zur had insisted he take with him. The Falleen was protective almost to a fault.
Taking his place at the back of the line, he waited as it moved slowly; there were younglings at the front who couldn't make up their minds what flavour to have. He hadn't asked which one for her. He'd have to check the flavours and guess.
He heard the younglings at the front arguing. Hela would never hear her own younglings argue or play and sing like she could, and it was eating at him that it wasn't something he could help with. He had seen how she was with Lilli and that other youngling, at the theatre. She told him that for years she avoided children, until she met Lilli.
And now Plug and Cara had proved the Kaminoans wrong when they said the Clones were sterile. Good for him! And he could see Hela was happy with their news but there was still that underlying sadness, which he would never be able to remove.
Mayday played last night's events over; remembering how she looked when she told him that she could never have children naturally, as if she was disappointing him, letting him down in some way.
He had never asked for them. He had her. They didn't need them.
And the tears. He held her but couldn't stop the tears.
That cut him more than anything.
"So what can I get you?" The vendor's voice broke through his thoughts.
He looked up.
"Clone eh?"
He tensed, expecting some derogatory comment or a refusal to serve him; that still hadn't stopped despite their fighting and the losses he and his brothers endured. One of the shinys had died, before his feet touched the ground, before he could even fire a shot. Plug had not told him, not until he asked later.
"As it's you, it's on the house." the vendor said.
"I have the credits." he said, holding them out. He could finally buy Hela small things; the stipend they received from the Jedi didn't go far but it was enough for this, that and Hexx's side hustles meant they had a few things more than some of the troopers.
The Sullustan vendor refused his offer, straightening up, his cheek jowls flapping indignantly.
"No. I won't take them. You're fighting for me and my family, so it's the least I can do. Serving you boys is an honour and you're always so polite. So what do you want?"
"What would you recommend?"
"I make a mean Tibanna Split."
"Two please."
"Anything for you boys."
He watched fascinated, as the vendor assembled the different ice cream flavours and then stuck some kind of choco bar in one.
"There you are lad. Enjoy!"
.
Hela sat reading her messages; she had moved to sit at a table as Mayday went to get her some ice cream. He wanted to get her something with his own money. He didn't have to but he wanted to. It meant something to him, that he could do that; it never mattered to her but it was important to him, so she let him.
She thought about last night, concerned now that she had put all her sadness on him. She had not meant to; they had never discussed children before but he had seen how she looked, for that split second when she heard Cara's and Plug's news; it came out of the blue. She couldn't hide her reaction and he pressed her on the matter. They had almost argued —almost.
She heard the chair scrape next to her and looked up expecting to see Mayday but she saw he was still at the ice cream vendors.
"Baylan." This was the last person she wanted to see, "What are you doing here?"
"I felt something last night. You were upset."
She didn't reply to that.
"I thought you were off planet."
"Keeping track of me? I'm flattered."
"Not in that way. I'm here with someone." she looked over his shoulder.
"I know. Commander Mayday. I saw him."
"You know him?"
"I do. He's a good man."
Unease crept through her.
"It's a small galaxy," Baylan commented, "Many different missions and battles."
The realisation hit her.
"You're the Jedi he sometimes works with."
"Hasn't he mentioned me by name?" Baylan said, with an affronted air but his eyes showed he was enjoying this.
She knew most of his games, although this meeting, talking about Mayday this one was new.
"No! What do you want?"
"To check you're okay, after last night, and to meet the person that my, sometimes Commander, always makes time to comm with the signal that he is okay, that he is safe and uninjured, after every mission."
"You can't tell him about us." She hissed, panicking that her indiscretion would be found out and she would hurt Mayday, even lose him.
Baylan stared at her, contemplating.
"You really don't know me, do you." He flicked an imaginary speck of dust from his jacket, "No! I won't tell. You're looking very subdued today, no wigs, no over the top clothes."
"My shoes match my hair." She stuck her shiny bright blue boots out; she could play his game.
"Ah. They match your blue plom necklace too." His hand went to her neck. The blue plom flower encased in resin. He could see it wasn't expensive, apart from the chain but he sensed from her that it was significant, "Don't forget mine."
"I haven't. So—"
"I've admired your performances from afar, met you in passing in the company of Skywalker and saw you sitting here alone and took my chance to speak with you."
She frowned.
"Please." She begged, leaning forward, her hand on his, "Don't tell him."
"I mean it. I won't. I don't kiss and tell." He brushed another imaginary speck from his civilian clothes; he was wearing nothing that would outwardly indicate he was a Jedi. His lightsaber was concealed in a hidden pocket.
She watched his face; it gave nothing away, as he leaned towards her, his hand reaching out to hers. She pulled it away.
"But Mayday—"
She interrupted him, "He's not just a clone. He's a man, a good man."
"Yes. I know that, better than most. I've worked with those men. He never said anything?"
"He doesn't like to bring the war back to me. He likes to forget, he says."
"Hmm. We've been on a few missions now and I know what these men are capable of and —it's humbling. They cannot use the Force, just their training, instincts and selfless bravery."
"That's a first. You! Feeling humble!" She retorted sarcastically
"Ouch!" Baylan turned back to being serious, "Please be careful. He was bred to be a soldier and is a very good one. Remember that."
"And you're a Jedi, from birth and trained from a youngling."
"Point taken." He leaned back on his chair and watched her.
"Hela?" Mayday was back, standing behind Baylan, holding two perfectly created Tibanna Splits, looking better than Dex's ever did and staring directly at them.
Baylan turned around, "Commander!" He smiled, glancing at Hela.
Mayday's face was blank, when he stared at the Jedi.
"Sir?"
"I didn't realise you knew Ms Nim, although she has insisted I call her Hela." he looked back at her then turned back to Mayday.
"I'm sorry, I've obviously taken your seat." He rose, "Please sit Commander. I insist. You're on leave."
Mayday hesitated, then pushed an ice cream in front of Hela.
"Sir?"
"I've admired Ms Nim's performances from afar, and met her in passing. Then I saw her sitting here alone." He turned to Hela, smiling "and took my chance to speak. I'm honoured."
Mayday looked at Hela, who appeared uncomfortable with this; he knew she had hoped she wouldn't be recognised, that they could spend this time alone, like a normal couple.
"Can I ask?"
"Master Kenobi—" she started.
"And the Concerts." Baylan finished.
Mayday stood watching the two, still uneasy at the way Hela was reacting.
"Don't worry Commander, whatever you do in your own time is your own business, nothing to do with me or the GAR."
He looked at Hela.
"Your secret is safe with me."
"Secret?" Asked Mayday.
"Your predilection for eating Tibanna splits with Ms Nim. Enjoy them before they melt."
"Now I must go. A pleasure to meet you again Hela. Mayday —Enjoy your leave."
They watched as he walked away.
"Are you okay?" Mayday asked, sitting, as he saw Hela take a deep controlled breath.
"Do you think he will report you?" She asked, clearly worried.
Mayday watched the retreating back of the Jedi, "No! Why should he? He doesn't know the extent of our relationship, does he." His hand reached across the table and grasped hers. He had never told Baylan exactly what their relationship was and there was nothing in the Regs; he kept checking, orders changed.
"No!" She lied, he knew, she had told him but it was difficult to decipher with Baylan exactly what he would do. He normally kept his promises but recently…
Mayday shook off his concerns and took a big scoop of his Tibanna split, "Mmm! This is amazing. Try it!"
She smiled at his enthusiasm and stuck her spoon in, taking a large dollop, eating and savouring the sweetness. It was a little too sweet for her. She had a few spoonfuls and then pushed hers over to him.
He grinned at her, eagerly pulling it to him.
.
Hela's
Mayday had had to leave early as usual, and she was eating breakfast alone with her thoughts. She switched on the Holonet, pouring her caf she heard the news from Sundari, Mandalore, she looked up at the screen.
The Duchess was dead.
Maul.
Hela automatically picked up her com; she tapped in Ben's number and waited. There was no answer, so she left a message. The she realised this was old news; it hadn't just happened.
Years ago he had confided in her that he had once had feelings about the Duchess Satyne, who had now been killed but he had chosen the Jedi.
But knowing Ben, those feelings were still there
Her com pinged.
"Good Morning Chief. How are you?"
"Not good. I thought you ought to know before you heard it from anywhere else."
"Yes?"
The Chief sounded serious.
"There's been an attempt on the Chancellor's life by a clone."
Hela dropped her comm.
.
GAR Barracks.
Mayday was walking back to his office when he saw him, a trooper acting suspiciously. He recognised the gait, the stooping shoulders.
"Plug?"
"Sir!" The medic came to attention immediately, the years of training winning out.
"It's a little late to go anywhere and for the moment we are confined to barracks pending the Enquiry."
The Trooper Fives episode had a lot to answer for; High Command were running around in circles and checks were being made especially on Command Staff and ARCs, "Are you missing Cara?"
"Not exactly."
A red haired head appeared from behind him.
Mayday crossed his arms; even he didn't have the audacity to bring Hela to the barracks, unless she was visiting Cody. Although he was fairly sure Bacara had heard them on Ord Mantell judging from his body language.
"It's Lilli." Cara said, "She needs something. And I can't buy it and they're going to be killed."
"So you're going to steal something? Not exactly a good example to set a child."
"We're going to save them." Explained Plug.
"Who from what?" He would have expected this from Decs, even Splicer but Plug. He was lost for words, for a few seconds.
"Sir!" He heard another familiar voice.
"Decs?"
"And Splicer, Sir."
"And Hexx, sir. Sorry. But we felt we ought to help. Him being our Medic an' all."
Mayday pinched the bridge of his nose; "Stir crazy. You're all Stir crazy."
This was what being confined to barracks did to highly trained soldiers, gave them time to plan things. Dik'utla things.
"It's for the youngling, otherwise they would just kill perfectly good and healthy animals."
"Animals?"
"Kits and pups."
Mayday took a deep drink of his caf and stared at his troopers for at least, ten seconds, "Why are they killing them?"
"They have no owners or nobody is admitting to owning them. They get rounded up and if no one claims them, then they put them to sleep."
"I don't really want to know." He pinched the bridge of his nose, "Now you need to get back."
He watched as Cora walked dejectedly to the entrance and he saw Plug's eyes following her.
Mayday felt a pang of guilt, as he walked past the very slow moving members of his squad.
"I expect to see you ready for training tomorrow."
"Yes sir!" They answered as one.
"I have reports to write. Now back to whatever you were doing!" wondering if they would take the hint.
The men looked at each other a little confused.
"Do I have to say it again?"
"No sir!"
"Just make sure no one gets caught." He muttered, as he walked away, taking another slug of his caf. He needed to make it stronger.
.
Hela's
Mayday shook his head, still unable to believe that ARC Trooper Fives had attempted to assassinate the Chancellor and been killed by Commander Fox. He had not yet managed to speak to Rex but he knew how close they were, especially after Umbara. He tried again but still could not get through, hoping Rex had been cleared just as he had. He switched on the large Holoscreen, perhaps some Boloball would distract him as he waited for Hela, she was visiting the Chancellor again.
The entrance door opened.
"Decs? What are you doing here?" Asked Mayday, taken by surprise by his latest and youngest recruit being able to get into Hela's, even though the 'confined to Barracks' order had been rescinded hours ago.
"Splicer showed me how to crack the code. But I've brought this. There is no way we can keep it on the base or take it with us when we go on missions. It's too young. And it can't go back. They would kill the little fella."
He opened his backpack and the small hound leapt out, landed on the wooden floor skidded to halt and then ran around in circles, sniffing and getting its bearings, until it stopped, saw Mayday and growled showing its tiny teeth and smoky breath.
Mayday stared at it. It backed off and sat down; its little underdeveloped tail swishing behind it.
He leaned over and scratched its head behind its ears; it squirmed obviously liking it then purred loudly. It was a mixture of black and grey with orange spots on its stomach and yellow eyes.
"I thought Hela could have it."
"I'd have to check with her but what the Kriff is it? a Tooka?" It continued to purr.
"No—Char Hound."
He withdrew his hand quickly; the puppy whined.
"What? It'll set the kriffing place on fire. It can't stay here!"
The puppy coughed a smoky cough. Mayday and Decs watched it carefully, as it now yawned and laid its head down on its paws and closed its yellow eyes.
"It was all on its own in the 'Defectives cage'." Whispered Decs.
"Defectives?" Mayday whispered back, although he was unsure why.
"They had a special area for pups and kits which were not up to standard. Look! I downloaded the information.
Mayday sighed as he read the details.
"It's internal temperature doesn't get hot enough?" He asked incredulously.
"No see here. It can't produce fire. And that's what the breeders wanted."
"Why?" Mayday still couldn't get his head around this, "Why breed a dog that breathes fire, especially for a city?"
It sounded insane.
It was insane.
Decs shrugged.
They both turned to look where the now snores were coming from; wisps of smoke came from the hounds nostrils on each breath.
"No! It's too dangerous."
"But sir!" He was almost pleading.
"No it can't stay here."
"What can't stay here?"
Hela's voice came from the doorway.
"Ma'am!" Decs came to attention smartly.
"Hello Decs. So what can't stay here?" She looked at the two men, then she heard a whine and looked behind Mayday.
"What's that?"
Decs grinned and as soon as Mayday saw Hela's face, looking at the pup, he knew the char hound would be staying.
.