Barton IV

Zak watched the new arrival walk away from Mayday, that had obviously not gone as the Boss had wanted. He wasn't sure what to make of her. She acted and spoke differently to everyone else he knew and she had refused to accept his help to get down the ramp when they first landed. Mayday had not even had a chance to introduce them; she had simply ignored him, as if he was nothing.

He sensed someone walk up beside him, "She's a bit standoffish, in't she? Did she actually say anythin' to you?" Tycho said, his eyes following the woman, "She's not bad looking, a bit scrawny for me. Mind I wouldn't kick her out of me bed."

"A few words. They've only just landed," he admitted.

"Looks like she thinks she's better'n us." He observed.

"She's been through a lot." Zak found himself defending or rather trying to explain her actions and he wasn't sure why.

"Are the kids hers?"

"No. You can see they're full Twi'lek."

"Yeah but you never know. These Corrie types. The Boss don't look very happy."

"Corrie types?"

"That's what I heard. The Boss met her there during the war. Apparently they were an item the gossip goes. Although I think the Boss was punching above his weight there."

"Nah." Zak hadn't realised how their Outer Rim accents sounded when compared to the new woman who came from Coruscant. He'd only ever heard the Emperor and a few Senators speak as she did on the Holonet. "I think we need to let them sort it out for themselves."

"Well. I hope she's able to do something useful. We can't afford any hangers on here."

They both walked back inside; Zak agreed they all had to be able to contribute but it wasn't his decision to make.

.

Medbay

Hela's eyes searched the treatment room they were in; the equipment was old but clean. She couldn't see any holocams, unless they were hidden and there were no droids. Not that she could see or hear. She turned to ask a question but the older man who had shown them here, had disappeared.

He'd been polite and gentle with the kids but didn't chatter.

She ushered the kids to sit; they had both been very quiet since they arrived. They had all eaten then immediately been shown here. She was still processing what happened to Ayola and needed to ask Mayday more about it.

Ji sat between her and N'ina, she slipped her arm around both of them; she didn't want to let either of them go.

As she heard the door open she slipped off the gurney, standing in front of the children.

"Hello." The older woman who entered said, "I'm Donca." She held out her hand and waited, "And you're Hela. I already feel I know you. Mayday has spoken a great deal about you."

Hela watched her but didn't take her hand.

"He hasn't said much about you or this place."

Donca wanted to smile; she sounded just like a petulant, spoilt, Coruscanti rich girl. Nothing like Mayday had described. She wondered if his memories were a little rose tinted. The only thing that contradicted that was how protective she was of the children.

"We're just a small band doing our bit to get rid of a tyrant."

"We didn't ask to come here."

"I know and you're free to go but first we're going to take those chips out. No one should have those in their heads or elsewhere. And you could be tracked. We don't know."

She saw the woman studying her, preparing her tools. Hela didn't like what she saw.

"Are you going to do it yourself or do you have droids?"

"We don't have money to throw away on droids, so it's going to be just me."

Donca saw Hela watch at her leaning on her stick.

"I have a special chair. Keeps me steady. Now get on the gurney."

The older man had reappeared at the door; he leaned against the door frame, almost daring her to make a run for it.

Hela pulled her hand from N'ina, giving her a final squeeze. She did want to show how scared she was and slipped onto the gurney.

"On your stomach and up to the top."

She shuffled up and dropped her head over the end; "Perfect!" She heard a voice, felt a scratch on her arm then struggled to keep her eyes open.

.

The light was blinding as she opened her eyes; she shot upright. The woman had drugged her; she had never said she would have to be anaesthetised. The room spun for a few seconds. She steadied herself and it stopped. Swinging her legs down, she stood then lurched for the door to look for the kids, panicking as to what had happened to them.

"Kriff! What did she give me?" She held onto the walls. Leaning against them. not sure where she was going then she heard voices and pushed open the nearest door.

"Ah! There you are. You should have shouted. I would have sent Finor to help you."

"What did you give me?" Hela accused.

"I had to knock you out for longer. Your chip was difficult to remove compared to the kids here."

N'iba and Ji looked at her; they were both drinking some kind of juice alternating with eating a cookie.

The room spun again and a pair of hands directed her to a chair; she sank into it.

"Here— drink this and stay still for a few minutes." He ordered, pushing a beaker in her face.

"Thanks." She muttered, her natural politeness pushed through.

Donca pushed a metal dish in front of her face, "See the difference? Yours is the larger one."

Hela blinked at it, cringing at the thought of it being inside her neck; she reached and felt where it had been.

"It needed to be stronger, as it was put in when you're an adult. And the explosive power was greater. Enough to blow your head off.

Turning to the children, her voice became softer, as she said, "Finor's going to show you around. There are some places you can't go. And I need to talk to Hela alone."

They looked towards her and she nodded.

Best get it out of the way, she thought.

Donca walked slowly around leaning on her stick; then she sat opposite her and stared.

Hela wanted to say something but this was what Vos used to do; wait until you broke the silence. She had seen him play with the Imperials like that. He obtained more Intel that way, instead she stared back.

Donca smiled, finally breaking into a grin. Then she went serious again.

She tilted her head on one side to look at her, "You're a cool one but it must have been bad with Vos?"

Hela stayed silent, not sure yet what she wanted.

"I told Mayday not to go after you. That it was too dangerous. That we needed him here, so we could do our bit against the Empire but he insisted, demanded and disobeyed me. And I didn't want to lose him. We've got used to having him around. A lot of my people like him."

"Your people?" Hela relented and asked a question.

"The ones he's trained. They're alive because of him. Its why I brought him here. Sort of."

"Sort of?"

"We were only a small cell to start with, a few like minded citizens but we're growing and there are more and more of us, spread across the galaxy. At some point, we will organise and there will be a full blown war. But I probably won't be here by then. We need soldiers and Mayday was one of the best and he's passing that expertise on."

"You said sort of?"

"I was a Separatist but always felt uneasy about using droids to fight flesh and blood men. I saw how they died. How they bled. I know they had feelings."

"They do. Just like anyone else." Hela could not deny that, "Especially for their brothers, often they only had them."

"I hope you'll stay. For his sake."

She watched Hela stare into the distance.

"That may not be the best idea. Times have changed. We have changed."

"That's the nature of things."

"I'm not sure I'm rebel material."

"We'll see."

"Is that it? Can I go now?"

"Of course. We're setting up a series of inoculations for you all. Make sure you don't get any nasty bugs to pass on to us. The last thing we want us to be laid low with a virus. Finor will show you your quarters, for however long you're here."

As if he was listening, Finor opened the door.

He wasn't smiling.

.

Barton IV - designated hangar bay

Lin watched Mayday approach; he stood tall but the frown on his face made him look old, dangerous.

He wasn't, not to her, not physically any how; emotionally that was another thing but she herself had let that happen despite her protestations and their agreement.

"So, how's it going?" She had seen Hela watch them from afar; from the expression on her face she knew, or had a strong suspicion about them. What they had.

He shrugged.

"Is she staying?"

"I think so."

"What has she said?"

"Nothing."

She saw the muscles twitch in his cheek; he was struggling with whatever was happening and she wanted to help. She hated seeing him like this.

"You retrieved her from Vos and she's said nothing yet?"

"No."

"Why?"

"We haven't discussed it."

"Have you asked her?"

"Yes, no, not really. I wanted to give her some time."

"Don't leave it too long."

He stared at her; one of those stares he had where you're not sure what they're thinking.

"That was some kind of ship, Vos's, wasn't it?" She changed the subject. As a pilot she was interested in any ship, "I had never seen a Kalevalan yacht before."

Mayday concentrated on his datapad.

"We did good, getting her and the kids out. He's a really bad man. I've heard stories. None are good. It was a good call. Is she okay?"

"I think so."

"Think so?"

"Like I said. She's not talking to me."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

They had said 'no strings' at the beginning and she had meant it —then. This— what they had, had run its course. Possibly at one time it may have lasted longer till one of them bought it but not now. Things had changed and things would not work out for Mayday if she was still here to make it awkward for them all. He needed to work this out with Hela.

"She's better for you."

"How?" His frown deepened.

"She'll be with you to the end. I won't. I wouldn't. I can't. It's not in my DNA. I've signed up for another mission."

"Can you—?"

"Not sure where yet, or what. It's with Gerrera."

Mayday worried about her answer.

"Are you sure? He's a bit wild. Takes chances."

"Don't we all?"

"There's a difference between taking chances and being a martyr."

"I'll be fine. I know when to quit."

"I hope you do. Just don't get caught up in his —type of rebellion."

She smiled and touched his cheek.

"But it was good while it lasted, Yes?" She asked, it had been for her.

"Yes?"

"No regrets."

He shook his head, "None."

She reached up on her toes; she was small like Hela and kissed him on the cheek. Just above his scratchy beard regrowth, around his scar.

"I'm happy for you."

She turned and walked away.

Then she was gone.

He went to look for Hela.

To try talking to her again.

.

Hela leant against the wall in the hangar bay; the medics had sent her out of the room when they were examining N'ina and Ji and left her here.

"Hela! We need to talk."

She turned to see Mayday striding towards her.

"I don't care if you slept with Vos, it was to survive. But you're here now."

A flash of hurt crossed her face. Then it went blank.

"I didn't."

"It doesn't matter if you did and you don't have to tell me." He ploughed on regardless.

"I said I didn't. Nothing happened."

"Okay."

She heard disbelief in his voice.

"You don't believe me."

For whatever reason and despite what she had said about the children, it was important to her that he believed her. That she hadn't totally capitulated to Vos. That she had held out in some way. She still wanted his respect.

"It's fine." He replied.

She stared at him.

"I want to be alone now."

Turning, she pulled away from him, her face blank. No emotion. That had all been used up.

He held onto her. Tighter not wanting to let go now he finally had her with him.

"Let me go!"

"Why?"

"I need to be alone. With no one."

Reluctantly he let go of her arm and watched as she walked away, rubbing at the places he touched her, as if to erase his touch.

.

Hela rubbed her arm, where Mayday had touched her; he hadn't hurt her but — she her head pushing whatever feelings were rising away and walked over to where the mechanics were working.

She watched them struggle with the shuttle's engine; she could hear the problem with it. She'd had the same with hers and it had been explained to her when the band of specialised speeder conservationists worked on it. She shook her head. Compared to now, her life then had been a lot less complicated despite what she felt at the time.

The engine misfired again; she winced, it was subtle but there. If you knew what to look for. And for her, it hit like a discordant note in the operas she used to sing, a lifetime ago.

The mechanics dipped their heads into the engine compartment again.

If she had been in the mood, she would have laughed at the sight of the Ugnaught's legs waggling up in the air.

But she wasn't. She had no laughter left in her and couldn't see a time when she would have.

His friend pulled him out and they did laugh; then they tried the engine again.

She clamped on her teeth in response.

Impatient with their lack of progress, she pushed herself away from the wall and strode over to them.

"You'll need to replace the ion capacitor in the thrusters."

The one introduced to her as Zak, who was supposed to be more IT specialist then engineer, looked at her surprised.

"You mean flux capacitor." He said, and turned back to the engine he was taking apart, as his ugnaught colleague snorted in agreement, then jabbered something unintelligible to her. She had never mastered their language. He also went back to looking at the engine.

She stepped nearer; she had had enough of being ignored as a slave.

"I know what I mean. You can hear it. Listen."

Zak sighed, he wanted to be kind to her, charitable, given that she had been held against her will. But she had been a singer. What did she know about engines?

"Okay." He nodded to the other mechanic.

"There!" She said.

"No! Still can't hear anything."

The ugnaught snorted in agreement.

"Just trust me."

The mechanics glanced at each other; Zak shrugged.

The ugnaught stepped forward.

"I am Bilkoll Hildur. I will do as you say. I have spoken."

"Good. Or the next time you fly it you won't have an engine."

He grunted.

She turned to walk away.

"Stay!"

She stood, used to taking orders from Vos.

"I—"

Zak toed a box of tools across the floor towards her, "He'll tell you what he needs. I have other work to do."

"Is there—"

"No. The others were killed."

He turned and jogged away before she could say another word.

She looked down into the tool box.

"Size three hyrospanner!" The ugnaught demanded. They were in order in the box, she retrieved it easily and placed it in his outstretched hand. She could hear some grunts and squeaks from inside the engine compartment. She assumed it was swearing it usually was from a mechanic with their head in an engine compartment.

There was a few Metallica bangs and more grunts.

He handed it back to her.

"Fusion clip!"

She raised her eyebrows, "Fusion clip?" She queried.

He grunted.

"Fusion clip." She repeated, finding it, she handed it to him, replacing the hydrospanner.

There were more ill tempered grunts from the depths of the engine compartment.

A few seconds later he appeared. "Its jammed solid. They used a durasteel replacement instead of original alloy. Whoever did it kriffed it up. Imbeciles!"

He huffed and puffed.

"Idiots!" She agreed. "You can't mix durasteel and alloy. It's asking for trouble."

"Exactly! I'll have to cut it free. A major job."

"It is. What will you use— a fusion cutter?"

He nodded, "Well I'll not get very far with a carbon chisel." He snorted, laughing at his own joke, "Then I'll have to use the fusion drill to clear the inlet holes or else we're in for a world of trouble."

"We'd have to clear the hangar bay, if you didn't."

"Exactly!"

He put his hands on his hips and studied her.

"You help tomorrow. Here!" Throwing what appeared to be a large oily rag at her; she let it hit the floor, "Oh nine hundred. You wear that."

Hela picked it up with two fingers.

"What? Don't you like the smell of ugnaught?" He asked accusingly.

"No. It's not that, it's so— oily." She held it at arm's length.

"Clothes sanitiser. Sonic level 10. Although for your nose you might have to do it twice."

He snorted again.

"Don't shrink it!"

He trotted off.

She frowned, "I didn't think anything would shrink on Sonic?"

She could still hear him chortling loudly on the other side of the hangar, as she headed back to the med bay.

.

"So how did she do?" Donca was on the com to Finor.

"There was a problem with the mechanics but they sorted it out. Bil didn't shout at her—much."

He looked at the Ugnaught, his face was impassive, he muttered something.

"He says she can work with him and vice versa."

"I have spoken." Bil stated.

"So he didn't shout at her at all?" Asked Donca.

Bil squeaked in reply.

"That's good enough for me. She stays there. Helps Bil. He's always inundated."

Bil grunted and squeaked in reply. Finor put a hand on his shoulder.

"The kids? She'll ask."

"I'll look after them. Get them up to speed on their learning. Kriff knows what Vos had been teaching them."

"How's Mayday?"

"He's keeping away from her at the moment."

"Perhaps best. Can you chat to him?"

"I'll keep an eye on him."