Hela's room

Hela listened, the sound of her heart pounding filled her ears; she tried to breathe slowly, calm it but with the continued blaster fire she failed. A smell of something burning was coming through the air recyclers. That wasn't good; at some point they would have to leave or suffocate. She crawled to the fresher and pulled some towels over; there was nothing coming through the vents yet.

Should we move?

But where?

Crouching behind the bed, gave them some cover but not much; she pulled the children down even lower. J'ila was very quiet and N'ina was holding him close. They both looked so young, especially N'ina. She had always appeared so mature.

The door opened, instinctively she made herself smaller, pushing herself into the side of the bed, arm held across the children, protectively. Echoes of clanking droids rang in her ears.

There's no droids. They're gone.

"Hela?" A familiar voice hissed her name.

Mayday's gone. He's free.

She heard footsteps. Putting her arm tighter across the children, she waited, not that it would do any good if whoever it was fired but it made her feel better. She closed her eyes tighter.

"Hela?" The voice again but stronger and the footsteps stopped.

She opened her eyes to see an Enforcer's hand in front of her but the face behind the mask was a face she knew.

Mayday grabbed her hand and pulled her upright, "Are you okay? Any injuries?"

"No! What are you doing here?"

"Getting you."

"You're supposed to be far away from here—safe."

"Now it's time to save you."

"This attack—"

"Shut up and lie on the bed." He lifted her up, protesting and dropped her on the bed, pushing her face down; she squirmed under his hands.

N'ina pushed herself from the bed and screamed; hitting Mayday on the back with her fists. J'ila followed.

"Will you stay still so I can disable this chip — Kids! Stop it! Be quiet!" He ordered.

Hela stilled herself but there were angry muffled sounds coming from the mattress.

Seeing what he was doing, the kids shut up. N'ina still held onto her brother but they watched what was happening warily.

Holding the device steady against the back if her neck, it pinged, "There done!"

He released her.

"You shouldn't be here, if he finds out—"

"Too late."

She reached behind her neck; she could still feel it under the scar, "Is it really disabled?"

"Yes."

"You need to do theirs now."

The children backed away.

"It's fine. It doesn't hurt. Come here." She held out her hand, "N'ina, please trust me."

The child glanced between the two adults, then stepped forward remembering what her mother had said and she trusted Hela.

"It'll be fine. You can do this. Think about everything else you've done since you've been here. You're so much braver than I ever will be."

She lay on the bed.

J'ila's hand slid into Hela's. She squeezed it.

Mayday looked at Hela before starting, then he pressed it against N'ina's neck. Hela held her hand as the machine worked. Finally it pinged; she jumped up and scooted off the bed.

"J'ila?"

"It's Ji."

"Okay, Ji." It was the first time he had actually spoken to her, "It's your turn."

He scampered on to the bed and lay down. Mayday went through the process.

"I need to go do something then I'll come back for you." He was frantically thinking of how they were going to get all of them off the ship and out safely. They had not factored in two kids and another adult.

Handing Hela his hold out blaster, "Use this if anyone comes through the door. Staying behind the bed is good. I won't be long."

He raced off down the corridor.

"Are they really disabled?" asked N'ina.

"He says so."

"Do you trust him?"

"Yes."

She did. She had to. But she was too scared to think they might actually get out of this, as they heard more blaster fire echoing along the corridor.

.

Mayday pushed open the door and faced Aola, blaster to blaster.

Aola lowered hers, "Ah! There you are. I thought you'd got lost."

"I've disabled their slaver chips."

"On them all?"

"You mean your kids as well? Yes, they're with her now."

"Good. It'll give us more time. This is the main control room."

The door opened behind him, Mayday twisted and fired, at the same time Aola turned and fired on the Enforcer entering, with two blaster bolts, he dropped to the ground, Mayday ran towards the Control unit, this was nothing like the blueprints he had memorised.

"It's different."

"New. An upgrade." Replied Ayola.

"Can you disable it?" He asked, as she joined him.

"Yes. Contrary to popular belief, Twi'leks aren't just dancers." She quickly unscrewed the side of the unit, "And I've been studying it since it was put in. Slaves often see a lot more than they're given credit for."

She pulled off the side of the unit and peered in, "You need to keep watch. We won't have much time." She pulled out another smaller hydrospanner, "Vos will know by now and he'll bring reinforcements."

She removed a smaller cover, throwing it to one side.

"But I need you to give me your word. Hela has already said she would but she'll need help."

She held the cover steady, still waiting for his reply.

"Word?"

"Make sure my little ones get out of here and are safe. Get them back to Ryloth if you can."

Mayday stared st her, she had stopped working.

"I will."

"They know her. Trust her. And I trust her."

"You're coming with us. They'll need you." He ground out. She'd already helped them; he liked her and he wasn't going to leave anyone behind. It was against his nature.

"Yes. But just in case, my friend. Promise."

When she looked at him he could see her pleading with her eyes; this was new to him and he knew she would do anything to save her children. He was humbled by the thought of that.

"Yes. Hurry!" He wanted to get out as quickly as possible and moved to stand by the door. The armour didn't make it easy, he wasn't used to it.

"You can't hurry this."

He picked up the Enforcer's weapon and checked it; it had a nearly full charge pack. His own last blaster was running low on charge, and walked over to the door. Opening it slightly, he listened. He glanced back, she had her head in the unit and a small torch in her mouth. The cover plates strewn away..

"So how did you end up here?" He asked, curious.

The torch dropped from her mouth.

"Slavers took my children from their school. I traced them and got enslaved myself. I had to be near them."

"You voluntarily became a slave?"

"Not exactly." She pulled a small component from the unit, "I was going to rescue them but that's how it ended." She threw the component on the floor, "I underestimated Vos. Never again."

She crushed the component under her heel.

"There. Done. They can't do anything with the chips now, or much else. Not without a full refurb."

"Let's get out of here." Mayday turned to face two Enforcers pushing through the door. Immediately he lowered his head and powered to the first one, bowling him over before he could fire. They tumbled to the side together, Mayday grabbing his hand trying to force the blaster from it.

As they struggled he heard Ayola struggling with other one. Eventually getting the upper hand he had the Enforcer on his back; He pulled out his vibroblade, positioning it instinctively at his opponents neck and putting his weight on it he pushed. He felt the resistance as it met the deck. He pushed himself up and turned to fire at the other one currently fighting with Ayola.

Struggling to get a shot in, he hesitated, until he found a gap; he took the shot and the Enforcer dropped to the floor. Ayola followed him to her knees, her hand holding her side.

She keeled over sideways.

Mayday saw the flash of blood oozing from her wound and was beside her in two strides; he knelt down next to her.

Ayola struggled to catch her breath, "Should've known they would send more here—sorry."

"Not your fault."

"You'll look after them won't you? Make sure they're safe?"

"Yore coming with."

"Promise."

She shuddered another breath.

"Promise, now—"

"He said 'always make sure they're dead'". She interrupted him.

"Who?"

"Your brother."

Mayday frowned before hearing a shuffle, he spun around and threw his vibroblade on instinct; it hit annother Enforcer between the eyes. He knew what she had been talking about now. He pulled out the blade, holding the body down with his foot, it was so well embedded.

He turned and stared at Aola's body lying there, the blaster wound was still smoking with the residual burn, her eyes wide open, staring.

He walked back and knelt again, next to her. Moving his hand over her eyelids, he closed them; apart from the wound, she looked asleep.

"It's been an honour." He stood and saluted.

.

Holding the blaster just as Zur had trained her, CSF style, Hela pointed it at Mayday standing in the doorway; she had been expecting to see Ayola.

He stared at the muzzle; it was rock steady.

For a split second he questioned, if being with Vos had affected her. He shook his head a fraction. Then his eyebrow rose, as he heard the footsteps behind him. Hela didn't move an inch.

To the new arrival it looked as if she was preparing to shoot Mayday.

They couldn't be more wrong.

She held his gaze.

Mayday smiled.

She glanced to her left, at the Enforcer and Mayday ducked—she fired.

He had been right to trust her.

It hit the Enforcer in the chest although at four metres she could hardly miss. Mayday finished him off with a shot to the head.

"We need to go now!"

"Where's Mom?" Asked N'ina.

Mayday glanced at Hela, "I'm sorry kid but she didn't make it." He didn't know how else to say it; they didn't have time to mourn. It was just like the war, " But I promised her you would, so we need to go now."

Hela gathered them beside her, "How are we getting away?"

"We have swoop bikes and transport. Follow me."

Mayday spoke urgently into his com, arranging the pick up.

The corridors and lift were clear, and she could see the damage to the ship as they exited. She could also see Vos speeder heading towards them. Three pirates dove towards them on swoop bikes and grabbed a child each but by the time the other one had reached her, it had been damaged and its occupant had to be picked up himself.

Mayday turned to her, "Do you trust me?"

"Of course!"

"Hang on to my neck."

"What?"

"For once just do as I say and don't ask a question."

As soon as she put her arms around him she felt something wrap around her waist and pull her flat to his body; the sharp edges of the armour he wore cut into her.

"Ready?"

"For what?"

"Hold on!"

"Shit!" She screamed in his ear, as they shot upwards, thankful for whatever was wrapped around her waist but still hearing the whoosh off blasters and swoop bikes.

She held on tight.

Once airborne and away from the enemy, he checked her face; her eyes were scrunched tight shut. He smiled under his mask.

.

It all happened so fast after they landed.

She was out of breath and cold.

The children were waiting and rushed to her.

A pilot stood next to a small ship.

A being in a mask spoke to Mayday.

Mayday spoke a few words to the pilot then ushered them onboard and they took off.

It took a few minutes then Hela realised they were finally in hyperspace. She sat, an arm around N'ina and J'ila sandwiched between them, his eyes large, staring at the man dressed in the remains of Enforcer armour sitting opposite them.

She wasn't sure if he had taken in what Mayday had said about his mother but N'ina had. Hela could still feel the stifled sobs, as she leant against her.

It was quiet in the craft, only the hum of the engines and she didn't know where they were going but it was away from Vos and that was all that mattered for the moment.

Everyone's adrenaline was crashing.

She saw the looks exchanged between the pilot and Mayday, in the confusion of the escape she had not seen her but there was no mistaking what those looks meant.

She should be sad about losing Mayday if she was correct but she couldn't be sad; she was relieved to be alive. She let her head fall back against the bulkhead and felt N'ina lean in further against her; she turned to check on her. The child was finally fast asleep, her lekku relaxed. J'ila's hand was wrapped around a chunk of the material of her top, as if he wasn't going to let her go. She wasn't sure what to do with them; she always assumed Aola would survive and be with them but she couldn't think of that now, she was too tired. She'd think about everything tomorrow. She just needed to rest; letting her head drop back against the hull, she closed her eyes.

Mayday watched Hela fall asleep; she looked drained, as did the children clinging on to her. They were a surprise, a complication that had not been factored in, not until Aola turned up. Then there were the chips; they still needed removing from each of them but that couldn't be done safely whilst on the ship. Too cramped and on the run in hyperspace. He looked at the device in his hand; he could only hope the chips weren't reactivated, otherwise Aola's sacrifice was in vain.

Lin pushed a Caf into his hand; she held two others. "Guess she doesn't want it now." She poured half of it into his and drained the rest herself. She stared at the woman; she looked vaguely familiar but couldn't put a name to the face. She took a slug of her caf.

"So the kids?"

"She— we promised a friend we'd look after them."

"Slaves as well."

"Yeah!"

"Bugger."

She took another slug of the caf and looked at the sleeping woman she had rescued; her arms encircled the children.

"Why did you agree? Is she some kind of do-gooder?"

"Sort of. I suppose."

"So you met her on Corrie?"

"Yes. She was a singer."

Then she realised why she knew her face.

"Bugger!" She muttered to herself.

.

'First Light'

Vos studied the security feeds; he threw the Mandalorian helmet at the screen. It shattered. The helmet rolled away, still intact.

"I want them found. Both of them. And brought here. Alive. Get the best hunters on it. I don't care how much it costs." He ordered.

"Of course." Q'ira made a note on the datapad, as she stood calmly watching him, the red striations still vibrant against his pale skin. He was beyond angry.

"They had help from Nest. But what does she get out of all this?"

"Friends. Allies." Q'ira said calmly.

"Overrated."

"Not to her." Qira replayed part of the security feed, highlighting the faces.

"The male isn't part of the pirate gang. He's a trained soldier." She observed.

"They can still be pirates."

She increased the magnification on his face on screen.

"We might have a problem identifying him."

"Why?" Vos asked as he signed off on a bounty for the pair.

"He's a Fett clone."

"Fett Clone?"

"One of thousands still around. I've heard some didn't like the Empire."

"Then we know who we can use to catch them."

Q'ira frowned.

Vos leaned back in his chair.

"Another clone, Boba Fett."

.

Barton IV

Lin banked the ship hard to come into a landing approach. She was relieved this was over, safely; she had other places to be. She had offered her services to Garrera for a mission, apparently he needed all the pilots he could get. He was a bit too intense for her but he knew what he wanted to do and she couldn't fault him for that.

It would help put Mayday out of her mind.

Turning to look at her passengers, she wondered if they knew what they wanted now. There was going to be a few hard conversations to be had and she didn't want to be part of it.

That would be too complicated and she didn't like complications.

"That's it. We're here." She announced, as the struts settled.

She watched the children wake and stretch; they looked exhausted and traumatised. She felt sorry for the poor sods. She knew what it was like to grow up without your parents and — so did Hela from what her Holonet biography said. Then somehow she had fallen into the grips of Palpatine. She shuddered at the thought; he had always given her the creeps, there was something off about him, even then.

She smiled at Mayday; he'll have his work cut out but she bore him no ill will and she hoped the two if them could work it out.

Hela said nothing as she helped the children walk down the ramp. A stranger came up to her and put his hand under her elbow as a help; she shrugged him off.

"I'm fine. I can walk."

The man let her go.

"It's okay, Zak. They're not injured." Mayday reassured him.

"Hela!" He called out.

She stopped and turned back to him, ignoring the stranger; Mayday joined her, touching her arm.

"Yes?"

"You'll need to speak to Donca. She's in charge. Then we can get you all settled in."

She stared at the hand he automatically put on her arm.

"She'll remove the chips or get one of the medics on to it."

"Who is she?" Hela asked again.

"Technically she's in charge. She set up this group."

"Where are we?"

"Later, when we've sorted you out."

"No now. Where are we?"

"Barton IV."

Hela was no better informed when she was told that.

"Is it safe here?"

"Yes and you can trust Donca."

"How do you know that?"

"She saved me when they found me."

"Here?"

"Further up in the cold regions."

"You were stationed here?"

"Yes. But we can talk later."

He put his other hand on her arm; she shrugged both of them off.

"There's nothing to say. My priority is the kids. Keeping them safe."

She turned away from him and strode after them, Lin was leading them somewhere.

Mayday stared after her, confused.