Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The army of words in me

Silent the soldier weeps

Lying here back to back

Waiting for you to react

And sometimes, all I need is a good push

Roll over and whisper some goodness

Go on baby, you be the hero

Now, can we go back to zero?

…

The porter droid of the public transport guided her hover chair down the ramp and left her on the arrival platform like so much luggage having completed its directive.

Genna had hoped to literally set foot on her home planet upon her return after the surgery that had restored function to her lower extremities. Her physical therapist however had insisted that the chair would be necessary for a while longer while she continued to build muscle mass and it was easier to travel with the thing than to pack it away during the journey and have to drag it out of the luggage compartment if she became fatigued. So it was the telescoping walking canes that were packed away in her carry-on bag while Genna endured the further indignity of the mobility device.

She sighed. Sitting here also made it impossible to see over the heads of the other disembarking passengers. Someone was supposed to be here to greet her and she wished more than anything that that someone could be her husband. 

They had promised to see each other again soon but she knew it would be too exposed a meeting place for the Havoc Marauder to set down here in the middle of the busy Iziz spaceport.

Genna tried to peer around the crowd of sentients and droids and thought she might have caught a glimpse of red hair before she entirely gave up on a welcoming committee. And then she heard her friend's lilting northern accent.

"There you are, Genna Carid! Or is it still Carid? I heard a rumor that vows were said in your absence." Ellie Harkon, also known as the Mollymauk network's Agent Sidhe, made her way lithely through the press of bodies and bent to give the chair bound girl a hug.

Genna laughed, "It's still Carid officially. Couldn't announce the groom's identity and disappoint my throng of admirers. And what about you? Not yet officially Mrs. Murphy?"

Ellie rolled her eyes, glancing around at the platform that was now thinning of its swarm. No one was paying the two young women any attention. "Mr Murphy will be here in two days to take you and I and all of your things up to Blackhold in the Bad Decisions ."

"That's what Dalla decided to call her freighter?" Genna snorted.

"Aye, well, it seemed apt." Ellie grinned and turned the subject back to her friend. "I also heard that yours at least gave you a ring."

"Your network of spies is correct as usual." 

Ellie was actually one of the few people she could show this to, Genna thought as she drew the item that she kept on a cord around her neck, close to her heart, from where it was hidden beneath her tunic. Ellie had been there from the beginning of the adventure and knew all the parties involved. 

“I guess I’ll have to thank Dalla when I see her. Tech said it was a gift from Cid and Mollymauk.”

Ellie’s eyes grew wide when she caught sight of the large purple stone. “From Cid and Mollymauk?” she whistled. “Maybe don’t mention it to Dalla. She might be sort of… humble about her participation in a gift like that.”

Humble? That didn’t sound like the Mollymauk Genna had met. There had to be a story there, especially if it involved Cid who had been trying to get info on Mollymauk in the first place. But Genna only shrugged and returned the ring back to its hiding place and dropped the subject. “So, you said it will be a couple of days before Sloan gets here to pick us up.” 

“Aye.”

“Then I guess I will have to find someplace to stash my stuff.” Genna knocked with her fist on the arm of her hover chair obviously ready to be rid of the thing. 

Ellie shrugged. “The rest of your things are still at your old house. I thought we could leave whatever you don’t really need there and you can say hello to the new tenants before we head out to the jungle for your…” She batted her eyelashes suggestively, “rendezvous?”

"Osik," Genna swore, although that was the pretext of this undertaking. She hadn't seen her husband in weeks, not since that mission to rescue their brother had gone sour and they had lost Hunter and had to retrieve him from Kamino. 

Tech had only given her the barest details when he had finally made contact again and they had made their plans for this meeting.

"Must be weird to be back home again." Ellie drew her out of her silent contemplation.

"Yeah, home."

As they packed her luggage into the speeder that was being borrowed from the museum/Mollymauk and drove through the streets of Iziz, Genna mused. Onderon was the only home she had ever really known, even though she was born on Manda'yaim and spent that short sojourn on Kuat. Yet the house they were going to now belonged to someone else. 

Mohan and his family had already begun to make it their own. They were settling in with their two nieces who recently arrived from Kiros and could already speak Basic, making the conversation much smoother.

Actually, the place had already stopped feeling like home after her brothers died. Genna wondered what it was like for the batch to return to the place where they were created and raised. She would be able to ask them in person soon.

…

"So this is the location where the Empire sent you the first time you came to Onderon?" Omega asked as she skipped down the boarding ramp and peered through the dense tree cover.

Echo followed her also glancing around the perimeter but for anything that might be a threat. "That's right. We were told there were Separatist holdouts but only found Saw Gerrera and a band of refugees."

"Not a single droid to blow up." Wrecker added.

"And Genna's brother?" Omega saw something on the ground and went to investigate. It was rather surprising to find anything since when Gerrera's group moved out they had seemed to vanish without a trace. Not that that had kept Crosshair from finding their new location a few days later.

"Yes," Tech responded to the question. "Her brother Ret was watching over the children." He was uncharacteristically not looking at his holo device but instead looking around and remembering the event or maybe just on the lookout for the rest of their party to arrive.

Omega picked up the object out of the undergrowth and brushed off some dirt and leaves. It was a child sized helmet that had maybe even been dropped by one of those fleeing refugee younglings. 

Omega put it on her head. It fit! "Hey, Hunter, look!"

"Tech!"

"Gen!"

Those single syllables were the last to be uttered by either of them for some time. It was all that was necessary. 

Likewise unnecessary were the walking canes that she dropped at her sides. She had wanted to run to him when they finally came together again but the speed at which his long stride cut the distance between them made the thought irrelevant. He lifted her easily from the ground as their lips met and made all other than sounds of mutual pleasure impossible. Then without further ado he carried her out of the clearing to where they could have some privacy among the trees. 

Omega frowned and took off the helmet. “She didn’t even say hello.” 

Hunter huffed, “Didn’t really expect her to once those two caught sight of each other.” 

“She missed you too.” Ellie came out of the trees from the same direction that Genna had appeared a moment before. “Couldn’t stop talking about seeing all of you on the way here.” She bent and picked up the discarded walking canes and set them with the bag she had slung over her shoulder that must have also belonged to Genna. 

Omega grinned and went to give their old friend a hug. “Did you walk all this way?” 

“She might have if I hadn’t convinced her that the bike would be faster.” 

Ellie took the helmet from Omega’s hands and set it back over the girl’s blonde locks. 

“So you’re here to check up on Mollymauk’s investment?” Hunter asked. He was still favoring the ribs he had broken in the fall he had taken on Daro. Back in the day he would have been able to seek out a clone medic or any republic sponsored med center, had a nice bacta bath and been fighting fit in no time. Things being what they were now however he would have to wait for the injury to heal at the normal rate.

“Investment?” Ellie shook her head while she bent again to open the bag she had brought with her and fished around for something within its contents.

“She paid for Genna’s surgery, didn’t she? Genna will never be able to pay that back. Mollymauk must want something in return from us.”

Ellie stood and surveyed him, having found what she was searching for in the pack. “She did that as a thank you for bringing back a favorable report to your Trandosian friend. Not that she minds having the contact to call on in future but honestly she was just glad to have Cid off her back. Here.” 

She tossed the item towards him and he caught it easily looking to see what it might contain. 

“You don’t have to pay Dalla back for that either.” Ellie cut him off before he could complain. “Genna got a prescription after her surgery for a pack of them and only ended up using the over the counter stims. She thought maybe you all could keep them on the Marauder for emergencies, but it looks like it might be useful to you now.” 

Interested, Echo went over to see that it was an extra strength bacta patch. He nodded at its present usefulness without a word and immediately began to help Hunter to apply it. 

“Now,” Ellie turned again to Omega. “Should we help these boys make camp?” 

“We got it handled.” Wrecker emerged from the trees (a different direction from that to which Tech and Genna had taken) with a load of firewood in his arms. 

“I could show you my room!” Omega said excitedly to Ellie.

“I’d love to see it.” 

Hunter didn’t protest as the two females boarded his ship. 

…

It wasn’t much longer before Tech reemerged from the jungle supporting Genna who insisted on walking. They had put their initial fast and furious greeting on hold with the promise of picking up where they left off when they could devote the time to a more drawn out reacquaintance. He had only just led her to where her canes awaited her when Wrecker came up behind her and lifted her off the ground in a crushing embrace.

“Genna!” 

“Wrecker, could you please make an attempt not to break my wife?”

“Oh, sorry.” He set her down more carefully but she only laughed.

“It’s good to see you, too. And Echo…”

The next in line approached more hesitantly to give her a one armed hug. 

Hunter however held back. 

She took a couple of limping steps towards him. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I brought some…” 

“Sidhe already showed us the bacta patches, thanks.”

She nodded, thinking that was it, and was about to ask where Omega was when Hunter spoke again.

“Did you tell her about plan double zero?” 

Genna didn’t have to be a Jedi to sense the tension in the other three at his words. 

“No, um,” Tech hesitated. “It hadn’t come up yet.” 

“What is plan double zero?” 

Hunter remained silent so she turned to face her husband. “Tech?”

His shoulders slumped and he adjusted his goggles, then he finally spoke. “Plan double zero refers to our squad going radio silent.” 

“Radio…” she repeated not wanting that to mean what it sounded like.

“When we leave this planet,” Tech continued, not quite meeting her gaze. “We will cease communications for a time until we deem it safe to reinstate contact.” 

“We?” She felt as if she had had the breath knocked out of her. “We won’t be able to have any contact at all?” 

“It won’t be forever,” he began but he was interrupted by Omega bursting from the interior of the Marauder. 

“Genna! I knew I heard your voice!” She raced down the ramp and into her sister-in-law’s waiting arms. Or the nearest approximation to open arms while she held onto the canes to keep herself upright. 

“Aw, Meg, it’s so good to see you.” Genna tried to conspicuously wipe a tear from her eye and lead the little girl to where they could sit together near the campfire that the boys were building for them. “You have to tell me everything that happened on your missions.” 

Listening to her proved to be a decent distraction from the idea of their imminent separation. Even when she got to the part about the reunion with Crosshair and the failed attempt to get him to come back with them when they escaped the bombing of Tipoca City. Then one of them remarked how the place that they were sitting now was the last mission they had all been on together as a squad. 

A dreadful silence fell over them and they all looked at Genna. 

“What?” She shook her head. “My brother made his decisions too. He knew the risks in following someone like Saw Gerrera and he thought he was fulfilling his destiny as well. Maybe he was…” She trailed off. 

After a few moments Wrecker moaned. “Mmmm! Does anybody else think that these ration bars taste about fifty times better than normal when you roast them over an open flame?” 

They couldn’t be sure who let out the first snicker, and then someone else giggled. There was a snort from the other side of the campfire and then all of them were laughing so hard they could barely breathe. It had broken the tension and reminded them all that they couldn’t worry about what would happen in the future. They had to enjoy the time they had here and now, together. 

…

Genna and Tech still weren’t really speaking to each other while he made up their bedroll and they prepared to get some sleep for the night. At least everyone else had sort of scattered so that they could be alone together. They climbed in trying to find a comfortable position and ended up lying back to back. 

That is until Tech spoke. “I’m sorry for not telling you right away about the plan.” 

“I understand why you didn’t want to.” She sighed. Maybe it was easier to talk when they weren’t looking directly at each other. “And I understand why it might be safer for a bit to not have comms going back and forth.” 

“But Genna,” He rolled over awkwardly to face her. “That’s not the case yet. We’re together now.” 

“And we should make the most of it.”

He kissed her. “I couldn’t agree more.” 

...

Just come here and cuddle up

I feel a little rough

I missed you in my sleep

Are you still mad at me?

The moon must have mended my bad mood

Come kiss me the way you're meant to

Last night I was just playing

Let's put it all away and

One more famous night to remember

Let's laugh at my silly temper

Now let's spend the morning sweetly

Get over here and complete me

Go on and get the lighter

We're gonna need some fire

Chapter Text

Can you tell I'm faking it?

But I want to be myself

A counterfeit disposition

Can't be good for my health

So many different faces

Depending on the different phases

My personality changes

I'm a chameleon

There's more then one dimension

I can fool you and attract attention

Camouflage my nature

Let me demonstrate

Makeup's all off

Who am I?

…

Haar'chak! Physical therapy was kicking her shebs worse than any limmie training session ever had. Of course back then she had already been in shape from a lifetime of playing the beautiful game. Now she was restarting from scratch. 

She almost wished she hadn't given those bacta patches to Tech and the rest of the Batch. But she'd been told that relying on the painkillers could actually slow down her progress. They were meant for healing injuries after all, not rebuilding muscle tissue that had atrophied after being stuck in a chair for over a year. 

No, Genna's road to recovery was going to be hard work and she was committed to the journey. Some day she'd be able to run to her husband and jump into his arms. 

Her chair was packed away into storage, hopefully forever, and the boys would more than likely find plenty of use for the medical aid she had been able to supply them with. That osik was expensive and despite the ring she had been given as a gift from their employer, she thought they probably didn't have the credits to spare without the support of the Grand Army of the Republic that was no more.

She wondered how it was possible that they got away with as few bumps and bruises as they seemed to acquire on their 'missions'. And she prayed to whatever gods might be listening, not that Manda or Unifras had ever done anything for her, that the members of clone force ninety-nine might be safe during this time of enforced double zero.

Shara Blackwell had asked if she wanted to attend Salt Gods' services with the family while she was staying with them but Genna had said no thanks. She was glad of their hospitality but she drew the line at being swept up into their religion. 

Shara was a curiosity to Genna. Having been brought up in the city of Iziz in the same house and orchard and marketplace, she had come to the north after her father died and made a home here in the islands of the great northern sea. But then Shara had taken naturally to the life of ships and sailing and Genna had been prone to seasickness since childhood. 

Shara had also found love in the north. She got married, had a bunch of kids, took over raising her niece and nephews when their mother died in a shipwreck, and as Genna had been told, tended to take in any other strays who wandered over her doorstep of whom Genna was only the most recent. 

Genna would never be able to repay her even though Shara's niece, Dalla Blackwell, the Mollymauk, had told her that no payment would be necessary.

Right now she just wanted to make it back to the room they had supplied her with and relax after the haran that her therapist aka torturer had put her through. Maybe she would take them up on the idea of a visit to the hot springs that their island was known for. 

Just then however a noise coming from her room threw all other thoughts from her mind. It was the rattling of transpariplast bottles and the high sweet laughter of one who could only be Shara's youngest child and only daughter of the bunch. 

"Kriff!" Genna put on a burst of speed that she didn't know she possessed after the morning's workout to get to the little girl.

It wasn't the cosmetics she was so much worried about although those supplies were meant to be the start of her salon when she was able to stand for long enough periods of time to go into business. It was the thing that was hidden behind them that Tech had insisted she keep with her for protection the last time they were together.

…

Genna waited at the bottom of the steps up into the Havoc Marauder while her husband ran inside to get one last thing he had forgotten before they parted ways for Manda knew how long. She hoped it wasn't 'something to remember him by'. She already had the ring that was doing her very little good on its chain around her neck. 

She couldn't get it resized to wear on her left hand. Too many people would ask questions about where it had come from. Maybe she could get him to take it back and sell it so they could have the credits they obviously needed.

But then he was back and she didn't want to waste a moment of the time they had left. She looked into his brown eyes paying no attention to the object he was holding out to her. 

"I want you to have this." 

She glanced down and then seeing what it was, recoiled. "What? Kriff, no!"

He advanced, "It is Mandalorian made, a Westar, and small enough to conceal…"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better? I've never held a kriffing blaster in my life!"

He took another cautious step towards her, and she noticed, between her and Ellie who was waiting by the speeder bike for them to finish. “This place where you are going, we don’t have any intel on it. You’ll be surrounded by Mollymauk’s associates and I won’t be there to protect you.” 

Genna allowed him to put the thing into her hands and cover them with his own. 

“I will feel better knowing you have this small measure of self defense.” 

She had expected the metal to feel cold but it still held some of his residual heat. She had hidden it away as soon as she arrived at Blackhold. 

…

And now if her hosts’ youngest child had found the thing! 

Genna raced into her room, propelled by her walking canes and a burst of adrenaline induced speed. “Lana, what are you…” She could see at a glance that the little girl had been distracted with other things long before she had reached the hiding spot of the weapon. “Osik, kid!” 

The six-year-old’s face was painted in a colorful array of beauty products but Genna was too relieved that it was only the red of rouge on her hands to be overly angry. She collapsed onto the edge of the bed trembling slightly. 

Tears filled Lana’s eyes as the shock of being caught washed over her, and as they spilled over her cheeks they left tracks in the rainbow sludge. “I’m sorry, Miss Genna.” 

“No,” Genna melted. She didn’t have much experience with kids but she certainly didn’t want to make one cry. “Ah come here. It’s alright.” 

The little girl barreled into her embrace nearly knocking her off balance. But when she looked up into Genna’s face she was smiling again, mischievously through her tears. “I only wanted to make myself pretty like you.” 

Alright, she knew when she was being played. Genna rolled her eyes. “You know, kid, you could have just asked. It’s not like I have anybody to practice on up here anyway. Or that anybody will want to come once I’m able to set up shop.” 

She grabbed cloth and a bottle of makeup removal cream and began to work on Lana’s face. 

“Of course they’ll want to come and see you!” the little girl beamed, “you’re lucky!” 

“Me? Lucky?” Genna laughed “Where’d you get an idea like that?” 

“Dalla said so.” She held remarkably still while the stylist applied a more reasonable amount of color on her cheeks and lips.
 

So Mollymauk was back in town. That was interesting but she wouldn’t say anything to the child so she changed the subject. “I thought it was supposed to be lucky to kiss a sailor.” 

Lana giggled. “You could kiss Sloan. He’s a sailor.” 

“Yeah, kid. I don’t think…” 

“There you both are.” Shara Blackwell entered the room and they both looked up at her guiltily. 

“Hi, Momma.”

“It’s just a little blush and lip gloss. It’ll wash right off.”

“Oh,” Shara seemingly just noticed what was going on and gave a small nod. “Oh that’s fine. I just wanted to tell you, Genna, that Dalla is in her father’s office and she wished to speak to you.” 

“Osik,” Genna swore quietly and only then did she remember that she was supposed to be watching her language in front of the kids. “She wants to speak to me?” 

Shara’s eye twitched but she didn’t mention it. “I assume she just wants to inquire how you are settling in.” 

“Well, everything’s been great, more than great really.” Genna put the assortment of cosmetics she had been using into their case and reached for her canes. 

Lana, looking to be helpful, started to pick up the case. “I know where this goes!” 

“No!” Genna stopped her. “I’ll put it away when I get back.” 

“Come on.” Shara frowned as she took her daughter’s hand. “I need your help in the kitchen.” 

…

Genna made her way to the Northern Lord’s office, that she now realized Mollymauk must have been using for her own purposes when she wasn’t in Iziz at the museum, and knocked on the door. 

As soon as they were alone, the teenage fence adopted a far more familiar, serious attitude. “Just to be crystal clear, my family is to know nothing about the network.”

“I wasn’t planning to tell them.”

“We should have our stories straight. You can’t tell them I paid for the surgery, or mention the Batch at all.”

“I don’t go around sharing my husband’s identity.” When Tech’s safety was the most important thing in her life? How dare Dalla imply she would put him at risk! Genna took a deep breath. She knew Dalla hadn’t meant to insult her, only to make sure they were on the same page. “What should I tell anyone who asks?”

“Tell them you won the money on a lottery ticket.”

She hadn’t been expecting that. “A lottery ticket?”

“It's the option which leaves the fewest loose ends,” Dalla explained. “If you said the doctor did the work pro bono, he can always pop up and deny it, and if you claim it was an inheritance or a lawsuit settlement it just begs more questions. A lottery ticket off is virtually untraceable, especially since most prizes are claimed anonymously.”

“But that's so bold. Don't you want to go for something more mundane?”

Dalla shrugged. “Go big or go home is what I say.”

And hadn’t it served her well. What would people think if Genna told them the truth: my surgery was paid for by a pink-haired teenager who runs one of the fastest growing smuggling operations in the galaxy, and I met her through the interference of a squad of rogue clones working for her competition. She wasn’t looking to establish a reputation as “the crazy lady.”

Genna slowly nodded. “And that would be why prospective clients might believe me to be ‘lucky’? Once I’m ready to set up shop, that is.” 

“Aye!” Dalla grinned. “It’s a strategy that will be beneficial to both of us.”

Chapter Text

By the way, every little thing about her face

Fills him up, the image so pleasing it could never be erased

Here to stay, embedded in his mind

He wishes they could be together

All the time

By the way she says things, the tone

Just to hear her voice

He can't explain, the sound so exciting to him a perfect choice

Here to stay, embedded in his mind

He wishes they could be together

All the time

A crazy independent *Mando* speaking

Arty flirty red wine drinking sexy tomboy

With a natural way of thinking carefree

Innocent she's slightly sneaky

Confident and proud from another country

Has her way lives for today

By the way she's far away

…

“You’re leaving so soon?” Genna asked.

“I stayed through salt and light because it was tradition, and if I didn’t my father and Aunt Shara would have a conniption fit.” Dalla buzzed around the office she had commandeered, collecting datapads and flimsi files and stuffing them into her briefcase. “But damned if I’m going to be stuck up here during the entire freeze. There’s very little I can do out of a closed sea port.”

“Fair enough.” She had a point there. Genna had never experienced one herself, but she knew that the northern winters froze over the ocean and effectively shut down all sea travel. Aside from the little-used spaceport, the fence’s hands would be tied. “Before you go, I wanted to ask if you’d heard anything from the Batch.”

Dalla shook her head. “We don’t communicate, but I’ll have information on them soon enough.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s just say if Cid can send her 'top team’ after me, I can send an agent of my own to keep an eye on her. She’ll report her findings to me.”

“She?” Could it be Ellie? Genna didn’t know who else worked for Dalla, but if Ellie showed up at Cid’s parlor the Batch would definitely know who she was. 

Dalla read her mind. “Ellie is indispensable to the network’s daily operations. But yes, she. Why? Are you jealous?” 

Genna bristled. “No, our vows were, 'one when we're together and one when we're not -- together'.”

“Good.” Dalla closed the briefcase. “Then this will be a nice little test of his fidelity.”

…

He was on an island, she was on an island, there was only the tiny detail: these two islands were on different planets many many parsecs apart. Tech had made it his own personal mission, while his brothers were otherwise occupied, to find out as much as he could about the island on which his bride was now marooned for the time being.

So far, all that he had been able to discover was that the main industry of Blackhold Isle was fishing. The local inhabitants had recently celebrated a festival to their gods that was referred to as salt and light and shortly after that event the region experienced a seasonal period of cold temperatures that caused the sea to freeze over and prevent almost all travel and commercial traffic.

It certainly wasn't like that here. The system's star was shining in the cloudless, blue sky providing warm weather and… 

He bounded from the pilot's chair.

"What is it?" Omega looked up from her datapad surprised by his abrupt action.

"Something Mollymauk told Hunter," he explained vaguely while he searched through their supplies. "We don't have much to use for bait."

Omega laid aside her 'pad' roused by his excitement. "What did Mollymauk say?"

He stopped a moment, straightened his goggles, and elucidated. "She said that a squad which can feed itself conserves credits and has a steady supply of food, or something to that effect. She was speaking of the nets and other equipment she had smuggled to Iziz in Genna's muja crates."

"You mean we're going fishing?" She caught on quickly. Hopefully the sea life would do so as well and perhaps they would return to Ord Mantel with something more fresh than ration bars or nerf nuggets for their dinner.

"Precisely." Tech removed the flimziplast wrapper from one of the squad's meager protein cube supplements and attached it to the hook and line that they generally used to winch gear up to the cargo area. "That should serve as makeshift fishing tackle."

"Can I stay out here and watch to see if we get a bite?" Omega asked.

He frowned. "As long as you bring your datapad and continue your studies." 

She grumbled but obeyed and then she grinned. "While I'm out here you could have some privacy to comm Genna."

It was Genna who had insisted that part of giving Omega a normal upbringing, since she wasn't enrolled in a school of any sort, would be to provide her with a more eclectic education. And as the member of the squad with the greatest amount of knowledge on most subjects, that responsibility fell to Tech. He hadn't however yet had the impetus to share the fact with his sister that he and Genna were currently not in communication. 

"I am afraid I must wait until she is in a position to initiate contact." 

Omega deflated a bit. "She hasn't for a while now."

He straightened up to his full height in defiance of his emotions. "Genna is very busy just now with her physical therapy and preparing to open her business. Or she may be surrounded by Mollymauk's associates and unable to risk the security of placing the comm. Now retrieve your datapad and…"

"Yes, sir." She pushed past him into the cabin but then looked back to add. "I'm sure she'll comm soon."

He half smiled at her optimism. "I'm sure she would like nothing better and to hear of your academic progress when the opportunity presents itself."

…

Unfortunately the angling experiment was unsuccessful. At least they had managed to retrieve the package and deliver it intact to Cid’s client? Friend? It was obvious to Tech that the pirate who appeared to have walked right out of an Onderonian Beast Rider legend had some sort of connection to the Mollymauk network. He didn’t voice his suspicions though, he was too busy thinking about…

“She’s not as pretty as Genna,” Omega stated. 

“What?” 

“Phee. She was flirting with you but you barely even noticed.”  

“Flirting?” Of course he had noticed. “What do you know about flirting?” He was going to say that she was too young for that sort of thing but since his sister was technically older than he was, rapid maturation aside…

“Wrecker and I did some research on it when we were trying to get you and Genna together.” 

They had, he remembered, until Echo had disposed of their chosen research materials. 

The truth was that Omega was entering a stage in her development that would precipitate more questions than Tech with all of his knowledge or his brothers with their varied experience would be capable of answering. It would be invaluable for her to have a female to confide in. In other words he wished again, for more than one reason, that Genna was here to facilitate. 

That war chest. If it meant that they could really go somewhere and disappear, they could take Genna with them, giving Omega a more normal life. They could be sort of like a family like Cut and Suu and the kids. The risk would be worth the danger for that sort of outcome. 

…

Tech was rethinking that position after plummeting through the Serennian atmosphere in a freight container, separated from half their squad, with a fractured femur. He was gratified that he had insisted on Omega’s primary curricula of Imperial fleet specification, and he would reward her with an obligatory piloting lesson when they had absconded from their current situation. 

Right now however he was mostly thinking of those bacta patches that his wife had so generously provided that he would make use of as soon as they got back to the Marauder. 

“Double zero,” Omega mused as they followed the old man towards his domicile. “You and Genna are following that plan too, aren’t you?” 

He swallowed back the pain in his leg. The question surprised him. He had thought she was still focused on the war chest or on their new ‘friend’. He answered simply, “yes.” 

It wasn’t something he particularly wanted to be reminded of. Perhaps that was why he lost himself so totally in the restoration of the data core. Art, culture, history of a civilization that had existed long before the war divided the galaxy along the lines of Republic or Separatist. Serenno it seemed was not unlike Onderon which had also sided with Dooku for a time. 

Then he noticed something that was very like the culture his wife had grown up with. “This is the recording of a limmie match.” 

“You know the beautiful game?” Romar smiled. 

“My-” Tech stopped himself, cleared his throat and adjusted his goggles. “Someone I knew was an accomplished athlete before her career was cut short. Her team was forced to forfeit their championship game during the war.”

“Tough luck, Ace.” The old man nodded. “In my daughter’s case.” He pointed towards one of the players in the holo image. “It was the Onderonians’ dropping out of the running that allowed her to travel off world for the rescheduled tournament.” 

Tech’s eyes widened. He hadn’t intended to give away Genna’s planet of origin. But Romar just patted his shoulder with a wink. “My girl was out of here when the Empire started their bombardment of the city. That’s all that matters.” 

“You know that she is safe.” 

“I haven’t been able to contact her but I assume wherever she is…” he trailed off.

“Then she is not aware of your condition?” Tech rubbed his leg. He would also be unable to get word to Genna that he had been injured but was still very much alive and trying to get back to her. 

He would get back to her. They would find a way to be together someday, with or without the war chest. 

Chapter Text

Open the basket

Listen to the flute play

Toot toot toot play

Snakes in the basket

Lie to lead you astray

Snakes in the basket

Force to make you betray

Your innermost truth hidden away

Now you're falling down to the underground

Slither down to your lair

Hidden in the many trenches of a hopeless war

Those who were sold out by a corporate board

Carry the casket

Never mind the gun spray

Bury the casket

Pawns in someone's gameplay

Shoot shoot shoot obey

Cody observed his newly assembled squad as the transport made its way to Desix. He knew most of them. Some of them, like CT-9904 he had requested by name. But such was not the case for the trooper sitting across from him, helmet in hands, his hair in places had been bleached a distinctive white.

Cody glanced down at the datapad which contained the specifics of their current mission and then back up at the trooper. "CG-0113."

"Yes, Commander?" The trooper straightened in his seat.

"What do they call you?"

"Nova, sir."

"You're a Coruscant guard?" Cody again checked the pad to see the impressive service record.

"Yes, Commander."

"And yet you requested to be a part of this mission away from the capital?"

"I-" Nova began and then cleared his throat before continuing. "I decided to put in a request before someone else could request me."

"You have been requested personally in the past?" That was interesting. It meant that someone had appreciated his skills enough to want to work with him on a repeat basis.

Nova's cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink. "I was originally assigned to guard her for a single voyage but yes she requested me again when she returned to Coruscant."

She? That was interesting indeed!

He composed himself but was still a bit pink about the ears when he continued. "With the Imperial Senate reconvening and the possibility of... I thought it best to secure another assignment preemptively."

Cody only thought to give his brother a good natured ribbing for the comradery of the group. "And you didn't wish to see her again?"

Nova's brown gaze turned hard as stone. "When we were associated before it was during the war and she was friendly with the Jedi."

Crosshair chose that moment to toss in his two credit chits. "And those who associate with known traitors are branded traitors themselves."

Nova glared at the modified clone. "I know good soldiers follow orders. If her loyalty is thrown into question I just would not like to be the one to administer justice."

Onderon: 4 years earlier

Ret Carid knocked on his sister's bedroom door. The groan that issued from within confirmed that she had made it home some time in the wee hours of the morning after last night's match and whatever celebrations followed it. 

“Gen.” he cracked open the door. “Get up. I need you to do something for me.”

She groaned again and rolled over in her bed, pulling the pillow over her head so that it muffled her voice. “I thought you taking the morning deliveries meant I got to sleep in.”

“Come on,” he prodded, leaning on the doorframe. “Do this for me and I might forget to tell Keb and Sav that you didn’t go to Mona’s house after the match last night.” 

It was a guess but fairly obvious considering her track record and was confirmed by the glare she gave him from beneath the edge of the pillow.

“Alright, fine, give me a kriffing standard minute.”

…

She emerged from the room considerably more than a standard minute later, having taken the time to apply her pale foundation and dark lipstick and eyeliner that she rarely left the house without these days. She knew what her brother wanted and went immediately to the fresher to mix up the dark brown dye he required. 

“You sure you’ve got it right?” he asked, noticing that bright pink had been added to the tips of her own hair. 

“Osik.” She glanced at her reflection as if just remembering the addition herself. “I don’t know, you might look cute in fuchsia,” she snarked. “What’s so kriffing important that you had to drag me out of my beauty sleep anyway?”

Ret sat on the stool while she snapped on the flimsiplast gloves and began to work the harsh smelling chemical into his blond roots. “The first delivery is to the Bonteri estate. So yeah, it’s kind of kriffing important.” He threw her own favorite word back at her. “I don’t want to be late. It’ll be bad for business.”

Genna smirked. “Ooo her high and mightiness actually decided to grace her own planet with her presence. She hasn’t managed that since the kriffing memorial.” 

She turned away, pulling off one of the gloves and setting the chrono to buzz when it was time for his shampoo. They both remembered the Aargonar memorial when their family was given an Onderonian flag in place of the unrecoverable remains of their eldest brother. 

Genna quickly changed the subject, pasting back on a cruel grin. “ Haar’chak , that’s not it. It’s because you’re going to the restaurant after to see your girlfriend.” 

“She’s not my…” Ret sighed. “I can’t help it if Hero’s parents are some of our best customers.” 

“Dank Ferrik! You just keep telling yourself you’re taking one for the team.” she patted his shoulder and pushed him toward the sink.

…

Ret pulled the hovercart up to the service entrance of the Bonteri estate and rang the bell to indicate his presence for the delivery. You wouldn’t want to just leave something like fresh produce on the back step. 

It took a few moments for the call to be answered and a boy younger than Genna opened the door. “Yes?” 

This wasn’t some menial servant or droid but then the Senator must not have been planning on staying on the planet for long enough to require such a thing. This kid had to be the heir of the manor himself, Lux Bonteri. 

Ret reminded himself that the kid had also just lost his father and stuck to the business at hand. “I’ve got the fruit delivery.” 

“Oh, yes.” Lux opened the door further and stood out of the way. “Lord Rash must have ordered it for the meeting.” 

“Must be pretty important to drag them away from the Raxus.” Ret remarked as he carried in one crate and went back out to the cart for another. 

Lux crossed his arms over his chest. “What my mother and Tawni Ames are discussing could put an end to the war.” 

Just then, the lady of the house peered around the corner into the kitchen, much more bourgeois than Ret might have expected. “Oh good, you’re here with the refreshments!” 

He gave her a stiff bow. “Yes, Ma’am. Washed and fresh from the orchard.” 

“Then please,” she smiled and gestured deeper into the house. “Bring it right in.” 

With a glance at the still frowning Lux, Ret picked the crate back up off the kitchen counter and prepared to follow the senator. 

“As I was saying,” The woman, who must have been the Tawni Ames Lux had mentioned, continued her speech. “We should be able to present the treaty on Mandalore at the invitation of the Duchess since they have remained neutral in the conflict.”

Sanjay Rash, the third member of their party, grabbed for a piece of fruit without glancing at the deliverer. “Are you sure the delegates from the Republic will even attempt to make an appearance?” At the first taste of the shuura however, he looked at the thing like it had personally offended him. 

“They’ll be there.” Mina Bonteri assured them. “It was Padme Amidala who approached me about the idea in the first place. We’re not trying to gain control over the Republic after all. We only want to be recognized as independent systems with the autonomy to rule ourselves. Surely the Galaxy is big enough for Onderon and Desix and a handful of other systems to live alongside the Republic peacefully.”

Lord Rash, who had gone back to attack the shuura as if it were the most delicious form of torture, swallowed before he argued. “I just don’t think Count Dooku…” 

“Count Dooku doesn’t have the last word in this conversation,” Tawni Ames argued back. “We all agreed for him to be the spokesman for the Confederacy but Desix doesn’t require a Count anymore than we needed a Chancellor to tell us how to run our own system.” 

Sanjay didn’t respond. He only looked down at the core of his piece of fruit until Mina handed him another piece from the crate. 

“We appreciate your coming as Dendup’s emissary.” She also held out a plate for him to discard the first shuura core. “But perhaps you should leave the galactic politics to Tawni and I.” Then Mina Bonteri offered Ret a wink as she continued to address the Rash lord. “And perhaps I will have our produce suppliers bring a crate or two to the palace as a thank you?” 

Ret bowed at the honor she was suggesting and then turned to make his exit. He couldn’t wait to tell his brothers but he had another stop to make first.

…

“Welcome to Good Eats Diner!” The object of Ret’s fascination, Hero Calvert, grinned while she breezed past with a tray of plates balanced on her hand as if they weighed nothing. Who could blame Ret for being head over heels in love with her? “What can I get for you today?”

“Just a cup of caf.” Osik! That was the best he could come up with to say to her? 

But she was off again before he had the chance to speak. “I’ll have that right up.”

When she came back he was definitely going to say something. It wasn’t the lunch rush yet. There was only one other table surrounded by what looked like some university kids or maybe they were beast riders in from the ruping paddocks and dalgo barns. A couple of them looked a little rough around the edges. Not the sort that Hero would hang around with, surely. 

She was coming back with his caff then and she was smiling. At him! “It’s on the house.” She set the cup before him. “Dad said you just made the delivery.” 

“Well, we’ve all got to do our part,” he stammered, trying to work up his nerve.

“Is that right?” 

“There’s a war going on out there.”

“Mmhm?” She was listening!

“Yeah,” he floundered. “My mother used to say an army marches on its stomach. Somebody’s gotta provide the rations to keep them going.” 

“Droids don’t,” someone at that other table commented dryly. 

“Yeah they just eat up all the power and bandwidth,” laughed another guy.

Hero glanced over her shoulder at them but she turned her attention back to Ret, fully interested in what he was saying! 

He had to say something else. “Well, my family grows the food and your family gets it on the table. You have to admit, it’s a great… partnership.” 

There was a snicker of laughter from the other group but Hero didn’t pay it any mind. She nodded at him in agreement. 

“Guess where I just made my last delivery,” he burst out excitedly. 

“No idea.” She might have just been humoring him but she took the seat across from him anyway. It was the chance he’d been waiting for for weeks to impress her.

“The Bonteri estate,” he announced. “And we might have an even more important customer soon.” 

"The senator's back planetside? I guess that explains why all the droid patrols went into hiding."

Ret frowned and not just because he'd been interrupted once again by the party at the other table. He had noticed that the trek across the city had been curiously unimpeded.

"So who's your friend, Hero?" One of the girls at the table asked and to his dismay Hero got up from her seat to make the introductions.

"Everybody, this is Ret Carid. He makes our fruit deliveries. And Ret, this is Steela and Saw and Dono…" she rattled off a few other names that he didn't catch while sizing up the one called Saw. "And Hutch is the one with his nose stuck to the datapad."

"Hey." "How's it going," came a few replies.

"Fruit delivery, huh?" Steela, who had asked the original question, inquired further. "Like from the stand in Malgan Market run by those twin blond guys?"

Ret nodded stiffly. "They're my brothers."

"So you're Mandalorian?" Saw seemed to be sizing him up as well.

"And their sister plays limmie for Onderon!" Hutch the hacker took one of his hands away from his device long enough to pump the air. "Go Rupings!"

Ret had a lot of questions but his very first was stolen right out of his mouth.

"What did you mean about the droid patrols going into hiding?" 

None of them had noticed the other young man entering the establishment. Lux Bonteri must have followed him here.

Saw rose from his seat and Ret scrambled out of his as well, the better to push Hero out of harm's way if the sudden tension in the room developed into something more physical.

"Meant what I said," Saw shrugged. "The place has been crawling with droids for months until they had to make it look like everything was still right as rain for the official visit."

The senator's son must have seen his fair share of droids on Raxus but he appeared concerned. "Count Dooku must have sent them to protect the people." 

"If that's what you call protection. Sort of feels more like an occupation."

Lux straightened proudly. "My mother is as we speak drafting a peace treaty to present to the Chancellor of the Republic. She and the other Separatist representatives are working to secure our independence."

"Independence from the Republic only to leave us at the mercy of their adversaries?" Saw crossed his arms over his chest. 

"You think it will come to a fight?" The question was out of Ret's mouth before he could stop it. He and his brothers and sister had been sent away from their home to avoid one war.

Saw turned to him with a cold grin. "You're a Mandalorian. Isn't fighting in your blood?"

"The Mandalorians have declared neutrality in this war," Lux protested.

But Ret had turned to look at Hero. "I would fight to protect my family." Then he stood up to the rest of them. "I have cousins who never sided with the dutchess. The Saxon clan had ties to Deathwatch."

"Deathwatch?" Lux considered but the others looked impressed and Hero smiled at him.

…

Ret left the restaurant like he was walking on air. It took a moment for him to notice that the young man in front of him was trying to gain his attention. 

"Are you the one who made the delivery to the Bonteri estate from the Rupingwood farms?"

"Yeah." His brothers had decided to keep the original name of the place when they purchased it years ago but it was rarely used now since the Carids had been running the business for so long. "Who's asking?"

"I'm Bernard." He sighed with relief that he had found the right person. "Lord Rash sent me to find out about a regular fruit delivery to the palace."

"You're serious?" Ret took hold of the boy's shoulders to assess his validity. It was too good to be true. What better way to prove his family's Onderonian patriotism than to supply the palace with home grown produce.

"Yes." The boy flinched. "He said what he tasted reminded him of fruit he had from the orchard when he was young."

Ret didn't ask why Lord Rash would want deliveries to be made to the palace rather than his own family estate. Maybe he just wanted to share a good thing with old King Dendup. It hardly mattered if the ancient monarch had enough teeth left in his head to bite into a shuura. The Carids were stepping up in the Galaxy and Hero Calvert couldn't ignore him now.

Desix: present day

"The empire seeks to establish peace and order throughout the galaxy."

Crosshair ground his teeth. What was Cody doing? They had come this far. If he had been put in charge this would already be over and Governor Grotton would have been set at liberty per their mandate. Instead Cody allowed for this Separatist scum to make her pitiful case 

"Peace? There was a time I believed in that. So much so, my colleague Mina Bontari and I put forth a treaty with Separatist and Republic senators alike to end the war. Your Supreme Chancellor rejected it. I realized then that peace was never an option."

Cody signaled for him to stand down and Crosshair, against his better judgment, let the barrel of his rifle drop. That didn't mean he wasn't prepared to take action as soon as it became necessary and of course it would become necessary because the Ames woman was still holding a weapon on the legitimate governor they had come to reinstate.

But Cody actually took off his helmet. "It’s an option now." He laid down his blaster. "Listen, we both lived through one war. Let’s not start another. Too many people have died already. We can resolve this without more bloodshed. Please, do this for your people."

Bloodshed? What about the blood of their brothers? What about Nova and all the others who died to get them here? Did those men die in vain?

But the words had the desired effect and Tawni Ames let Grotton go.

"Nicely handled," Grotton ordered as soon as he was free. "Now execute her."

"Sir," Cody balked. His weapon was still on the ground. "I promised a peaceful--"

"You did, I didn’t. Now execute her!"

"So much for peace," Ames sighed. 

It seemed to Crosshair that she had given up on peace the moment she took an imperial governor captive and attacked the transport sent to rescue him.

Grotton wailed, "I gave you an order. Follow it, of face the consequences for diso--"

Crosshair didn't even deliberate on pulling the trigger. He did as he had been trained, as he had been ordered.

Chapter Text

Trapped in a box, four walls as sky

Got a screen for a window about two feet wide

My mind rides and slides as my circuits are fried

No room for thought, use the box as my guide

Oh, trapped in a box, I'm not alone

I know of others with a box as their home

A light only enters from a crack or a hole

Oh, this is not enough for a human to grow

Trapped in a box

Ooh, trapped in a box

Watch the world as it flocks

To life's paradox

And we're all trapped in a box

Always wanting a different view

Instant gratification for you

Reality gone with a single click

I just hope that, that switch won't stick

Ah trapped in a box my life becomes void

And all of the thought for myself's now destroyed

Controlling my mind, what to eat, what to buy

Subliminal rules, how to live, how to die

Trapped in a box

“Almost got it! Just refine a little more.”

“Not that way, chirn head. Turn it the other way!”

Genna had been hoping that the media room would be empty so she might zone out to whatever was on the old holoproj but there was little chance of that while all the Blackwells (sans one Mollymauk) were stuck up here during the seemingly never ending freeze. Judging by the voices emanating from the room however there might still be an opportunity for a bit of entertainment. 

The voices, if she wasn’t mistaken, were those of the two young teenaged boys that the family referred to as “double trouble”, and if the sounds of electronic static and a small hand tool whirring were anything to go by, the cousins were probably up to something dangerous or destructive or both. It was almost definitely something that their mother/aunt would not approve of. 

Genna had spent enough time with Shara Blackwell and listened to enough of her mothering wisdom that she was certain she could pull this off. She cleared her throat softly and then in her best approximation of the woman’s northern accent called out, “Boys, have you finished your lessons?” 

The immediate result was the sound of shuffling and a muttered, “Osik, put it away!” 

As she turned the corner into the room a shock equal to their own caused the laughter to die in her throat. Cade, Dalla’s youngest brother who had not survived their family’s shipwreck unscathed, had some sort of spanner attached below the elbow of his right arm where he usually wore a more convincing prosthetic hand. And Emoth, Shara’s second son, had a pair of safety goggles pulled down over his eyes to protect them from the device he had been soldering a moment before. It was almost like coming upon Echo and Tech working on some project on their ship. 

“Salt gods, it’s you.” Emoth grinned, relieved, and pushed the goggles up onto his forehead. 

The resemblance to her husband melted away and she breathed again. 

Cade laughed, “I was so sure it was Aunt Shara. You sounded just like her!” 

“Don’t worry,” Genna assured them before they could ask, her own smile returning. “She’s still in the kitchen baking pies. I just barely escaped.”

Emoth nodded, replaced the goggles, and went back to work on the network receiver for the holo projector. 

“What are you two doing?” Interested, Genna maneuvered her way around the sofa and sat down. 

Emoth indicated for his cousin to make some adjustment with his spanner arm and then shrugged. “We’re trying to get the galactic sports network to come in.” 

“Well it’s not limmie season.” She would have totally been up to watching a match of the beautiful game. “So what were you hoping to see?” Possibly something ‘Aunt’ Shara wouldn’t think was appropriate? “Not something like Geonosian Gladiatorial combat?” 

“Oh no, nothing like that.” Emoth removed the goggles completely. 

With one more adjustment the holo came into focus and Cade grinned. “It’s called Riot Racing!” 

The boys joined her on the couch on either side as the racers on the holo zipped around the track. 

“What is it they’re racing? Doesn’t look like standard racing pods.” Genna studied the competitors ignoring the curious glances the two were giving her. 

“Most of them are twelve series speeders, but they’ve been modified for racing speed.”

She nodded. She didn’t really know much about makes and models. Tech surely would have been able to tell her all about it. And then she winced as one of the vehicles slammed into the side of the track and another let loose a barrage of lasers. “It looks like it’s a free for all.”

As if in agreement the commentator announced, “ A friendly reminder to all our spectators, be mindful of blasterfire. Safa Toma Speedway is not liable for any injury, death or disintegration. Thank you and speaking of injury and death, the lead racers are approaching Gambler’s Gulch .” 

“I can see why Aunt Shara wouldn’t want you watching this.” Genna smirked.

“But you don’t mind it?” Cade asked clearly hoping that she wouldn’t give them away. 

“I’m Mandalorian, I had four older brothers and I was a college athlete. I was born competitive.” Then she focused again on the holo image. “What’s the deal with the left tunnel?” It was blocked off and surrounded by red lights.

“It’s a death trap,” Emoth informed her, settling in to enjoy the broadcast. 

“And the entire race isn’t?” 

Cade shrugged on her other side. “Most of the racers are droids. They’re the only ones who can make the split second calculations.”

There was a sentient she knew who might have been capable.

“ Final lap and Jet Venim remains in the lead but Uh oh the challenger is closing in fast! ”

All three of them were now immersed in the action and listened intently to the commentator. “ Uh oh it’s steel claw time! I feel a Venim crunch coming on! ” 

Genna gasped and then cursed at the holo excitedly, the boys laughing and cheering along with her.

“ TAY-O takes a tumble! ” 

It was a good thing that Aunt Shara was on the other side of the Hold and didn’t hear some of the words that issued from the spectators. 

“ And Jet Venim wins! ” 

“That Kriffing Aruetii!” 

“Actually that was yesterday’s race.” Cade snickered at her vehement reaction.

“So you already knew the outcome.” Genna shoved him as she would have one of her own brothers and then sank back against the couch cushions. “I guess Tay-O is well out of the running after that crash.”

But Emoth pointed at the listing that had just been posted on the holo. “Must have a pretty wicked pit team because he’s racing again today!”

“Seriously?” She straightened back up just as the announcer broke in. 

“ We have a wipeout down in the pits! ” 

Cade hissed at the image, “Or he was racing today. Ouch!” 

“So they’ll have to forfeit, then.” Genna was ready to see that Venim get his comeuppance and geared up to see what would be the outcome of the next bout. It was brutal!

“ Alright place your bets! Our racers are ready. Safa Toma’s Riot Champion, Jet Venim .”  

The crowd at the speedway cheered as the commentator continued with the introductions. “ Bosco “the mad bomber” Brix… “Steel Claw” Kane… “Vicious” Vid Santari… Haxxon “the war gnome” Trajanix… “Quick draw” quasar… “The trickster” Flash Raktor… “Hyper” Rod and his seven deuce blaster… ” Most of them were droids as Cade had pointed out.  

“ And finally, Tech .”

“What did he say?” Genna’s heart nearly stopped. 

“ Tech? ”

“I don’t know. I’ve never heard of him.” Emoth shrugged, curiously. 

It was impossible and yet when the holo narrowed in on the driver of the last speeder it couldn’t be anyone else.

“ Anything else on this guy? No? Guess he’s a late arrival. Is that his name? Tech? Just Tech? Okay, here we go. And they’re off! ”

Her attention was now laser focused on the images being streamed from across the galaxy to their holo unit. 

“ Uh-oh “mad bomber” Brix is up to his old tricks! ” 

Tech was almost dead last for the entire first lap but then as he edged his way forward in the pack he began to garner more notice and became the target of their blaster shots. Genna could barely breathe. And then he zipped off of the track and into the pit and something large clattered to the ground behind his vehicle as he sped away. 

“What was that?” she shrieked. 

Emoth gulped, “I think those were his weapons.”

“ It looks like Tech’s got a vaporization wish and has removed all his weapons. ” 

Genna cursed and the boys both looked toward the door to see if anyone had heard and come running to tell them off. 

But Genna’s attention would not have been diverted in any event. “What is he kriffing doing?!?!” 

Tech had taken the left tunnel. 

“ Whoa looks like a couple of blaster brains took the ole “Nellis express to Lotho Minor!” A bold move. Let’s see how this pans out. ” 

By some miracle or more likely the precise calculations of her genius husband, he made it over the unfinished section of the track and pulled ahead of nearly the rest of the field of competitors. 

And then she watched in horror as that shabuir Venim attempted his signature move with the claw once again. Genna screamed at the image as Tech jinked quickly to the left to avoid the claw which might have grabbed the speeder behind him. They were moving so fast and kicking up so much dust that it was impossible to tell.

“ Here they come. It’s gonna be close! And the winner is…. Tech! Tech, right? Tech wins! ” 

Genna was on her feet, her walking canes laying forgotten on the floor. She was actually jumping up and down and hugging the Blackwell boys until she looked again at the holo and saw Wrecker and Meg behind her husband as he climbed out of the speeder and tears filled her eyes. She missed them all so much. 

“What is going on in here?” This time it actually was Shara Blackwell who was coming down the hallway to see what all the noise was about. 

Cade quickly reached over with his mechanical appendage to shut off the broadcast before she could see the reality of their viewing preference. 

“We were just watching some boloball, Mom,” Emoth lied as she entered the room. “Genna was giving us the play by play since she was on the team at UofO.” 

“Love me some limmie,” Genna agreed helpfully with a sort of guilty chuckle. 

The matriarch didn’t look quite convinced but then she noticed her nephew. “And what is that thing you have attached to your arm?”

“Oh this?” Cade held up his new prosthetic. “Dalla gave it to me last night. She wanted to at salt and light but the order didn’t come into Iziz until last week.” 

“Dalla’s back?” Genna asked suddenly. 

“Yeah,” said Cade. “She’s probably in Dad’s office trying to get some work done.”

“If you’ll excuse me.” She limped past them, letting Shara get along with grilling the boys about what they had actually been watching. 

She had to hold onto the wall as she made the short walk down the corridor to find the Mollymauk but she was inspired by Cade. He had only been six standard revolutions old when he lost his arm but she had never once heard him complain, in fact the family joked about his superpower and called it his ‘lucky fin’ like the character in the children’s holo about deep sea creatures. 

His big sister had been the one, when she started bringing in the credits, to make sure that he had the very best doctors and medical technology to make his life easier. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why Dalla had taken such an interest in Genna’s surgical procedure. 

Genna didn’t think she had really ever properly thanked Dalla for her part in making the surgery happen. 

She mused while taking a short break to lean heavily against the wall. She had been putting on some weight and while she needed to bulk up her leg muscles she seemed to be packing on Shara's extra calories in other areas and was feeling a little top heavy and out of balance. 

Genna continued on her way but when she reached the office door before she could even knock she saw the blue glow of a holocom and heard voices from inside:

“So they didn't get any of the war chest?” That was Dalla.

And a female voice answered her, “ Well the one with the lovely magnified brown eyes got a broken leg out of it. I offered to kiss it and make it better .”

Genna gasped and then belatedly covered her mouth to keep from making a sound but no one seemed to have noticed. 

Dalla asked, “What about Cid? What is she up to now?”

“ Has them running nerf nuggets or something completely beneath their potential ,” said the woman, “Wait. No, I take that back. She actually split them up and took a few of them with her to check on one of her other ventures… don't worry I'll keep an eye on them when they get back. They aren't hard to look at after all. Maybe I can lure them into a little side quest for fun and profit and eke out a little more clearly where their loyalties lay .”

That woman had to be the ‘she’ Dalla had sent to keep an eye on Cid and they were talking about Genna’s husband. He had appeared in good health, other than being shot at and careening around a death trap of a race track, on that live broadcast just now but… he’d been hurt? His leg broken? And that woman had…

Genna's legs buckled and she slid down the wall into a heap on the floor of the corridor. She didn’t know if she could make it back to her own room or to the media room where she had left her canes. And when Dalla emerged from her ‘meeting’ she would surely want to know why Genna was there, what she had overheard. 

Was this why Genna was here on Blackhold? Was Mollymauk’s supposed hospitality while she healed actually a way to make sure that the Batch would lay their loyalties with her network? Was Genna more hostage than guest?

“Hey there.” Sloan Murphy, one of Dalla’s operatives who Genna had thought of as a friend, came around the corner and discovered her before Mollymauk could. “Looks like you still haven’t quite got your sea legs.” 

He smiled and reached out a hand to help her up without, she had to guess, any ulterior motives. 

“Thank you.” She accepted his help but then backed away one shaky step. “Did she bring you up here to keep an eye on me when she goes back to Iziz?”  

“Who Dalla?” he scowled. “I’m not gonna say I wasn’t hoping to say hello while I was in town. But it was your husband who made me promise to look out for you, me and Ellie both, and while El is on some network business I thought it might be nice to have an old friend to keep you company. Someone who isn’t a Blackwell?” 

She sighed. “Of course.” She knew he was completely sincere. “I’m sorry.” He was the one, after all, who had raced Tech to the space dock so that they could be reunited after their misunderstanding. 

He accepted her apology with a nod and a smile. “Now, if you’ll forgive me for saying, you look like you’ve been fighting a riptide and could use a little rest and relaxation. Has anybody up here in the frozen north informed you of the health benefits of a dip in our famous hot springs?”

She wasn’t offended at all but she glanced at the door to the office where Mollymauk was still seeing to her business. “I’ve heard of them, but I haven’t gotten the chance yet to take advantage of the amenities.” 

He offered his arm genteelly but she was going to need a little more support than that so he slipped the arm around her instead and began to guide her down the hall. 

After all, why not? If the rest of the Batch could enjoy, what had ‘she’ called it, side quests for fun and profit? Then surely Genna could also make the most of her enforced vacation. 

…

As soon as they were out of Safa Toma's air space and had entered hyperspace on their return journey to Ord Mantel, Tech couldn't help himself. He pulled up the holo on his datapad of Genna's final limmie game.

She made a spectacular goal and then gave the cheering spectators a salute. She was amazing. She was the one who should have been out there in the galaxy performing for fans chanting her name. 

“Is that the girl you gave my ring to?” 

He hadn’t noticed Cid creeping up behind him and looking over his shoulder at the image projected from the unit. 

“Yes.” there wasn’t much use in denying it. She already knew. 

“And the surgery was a success?” 

“She is back on her feet and she will continue her recovery wherever she ends up in the galaxy.” 

Cid knew that Genna was from Onderon. Their patron did not need to know that she had returned to that planet.

Tech closed out the holo and turned to face the flying console even though there was really nothing for him to do till they dropped back out of hyperspace. 

He was perfectly able to feign indifference and if it kept Genna safe he would continue to do so indefinitely. 

Chapter Text

You and your museum of lovers

The precious collection you've housed in your covers

My simpleness threatened by my own admission

And the bags are much too heavy

In my insecure condition

My pregnant mind is fat full with envy again

But I still love to wash in your old bathwater

Love to think that you couldn't love another

I can't help it, you're my kind of man

Wanted and adored by attractive women

Bountiful selection at your discretion

I know I'm diving into my own destruction

So why do we choose the boys that are naughty

I don't fit in so why do you want me

And I know I can't tame you but I just keep trying

"So you'll be able to replace her?" Omega asked of the little droid as she handed a backup drive to Phee when they boarded the Marauder after their thrilling adventure. "Why do you call her Mel?"

"It's short for Melaana. She was a princess in an Onderonian legend."

That was true enough. Tech remembered coming across the name when he was researching the mythological aliases of Mollymauk's associates.

"What about the Belmont Dia- Dia-?" Omega attempted to remember the name of another of the items the pirate had mentioned earlier in her ramblings.

"The diadem? Ah yes! That story's real juicy!"

While Phee began the tale, her other avid listener made his way across the Marauder’s main cabin trying to be much less conspicuous. Tech stopped in front of his personal storage locker as if he had no other reason for being there than to retrieve something of utmost importance. He gave the latch a tug but it stuck fast. 

The storyteller paused. “Need some help with that, Brown eyes?” 

“No, I am quite capable of…” The hatch came open quite suddenly, spilling out a contents of spools of wire, data cards, and other electronics equipment but also leaving a small scale flimsi copy of a certain rather risque painting perfectly exposed to anyone who might be looking in his direction as Phee most certainly was.

“My my! Who’s the blonde?” 

"That's…" both Wrecker and Omega began simultaneously but Echo stepped in and grabbed the picture before they could continue. 

“That’s mine. It’s uh… a girl I met on Mandalore when I was with my old squad.” 

“She certainly has a Mandalorian look about her.” Phee whistled. “At least the ones who don’t go around completely covered by all that beskar armor. Or the ones who cover up with anything at all.” She winked at Tech who blushed and escaped back toward the cockpit. 

Echo followed him and when they were alone, handed back the picture. 

“Thank you.” Tech took the piece of flimsi without looking at it. “But I doubt she believed the fabrication.” 

“I didn’t think you would really want to reveal the truth.” Echo shrugged. “Although she seems pretty capable of making up her own fantasies.” 

“She was right about Skara Nal.”

“And all those other liberated wonders she's always going on about?”

Tech straightened his goggles. “Actually, they are real. Most of them anyway. Obviously she doesn't carry them around with her and she may or may not have been the one who liberated them but she would have needed a fence to take care of whatever items she did obtain.”

“A fence like Mollymauk?” Echo caught on.

“Precisely.” Tech nodded. “We have even had the occasion to observe the Belmont Diadem in Mollymauk’s possession.”

“When was this?” Echo asked in disbelief. 

“When we were in the museum in Iziz and I was trying not to look at the painting of Genna, The Diadem was in a case next to the plinth from which the Mollymauk revealed herself. She was wearing it during her introduction and put it back in the case when she left to speak with Hunter,” Tech explained. “I knew I recognized the name when Phee told the story. So I looked it up and it is, along with the Pearl of Novak and the Blade of Zakata Par, listed in the catalog of items belonging to the museum.”

“You think Phee’s working for her.”

“It is a near certainty.”

"But what could Mollymauk have sent her to do?" Echo pondered, "keep an eye on Cid?"

"Or to make sure that we are not sharing with Cid all of her secrets." He looked down at the flimzi image in his hand. He had crumpled the corner and he took a moment to straighten it.

They had plenty of secrets of their own.

"Do you think she knows about Genna?"

"Of that I can not speculate."

"Then we should probably make sure that Wrecker and Omega know not to say anything to her either."

"Yes." Tech agreed. "That would be a very good idea."

…

Genna slowly lowered herself into the steaming pool. " Haar'chak! I should have asked you to bring me here a long time ago."

Sloan laughed. "Consider yourself officially welcomed to Blackhold."

"Is it like some sort of initiation ritual?" She had had to borrow a bathing suit but she would definitely be shopping for one of her own so that she could make this part of her regular PT routine.

"Nah," he also relaxed. "For that you'd need to access the springs around the other side by the salt gods sanctuary."

"It's part of the religion?"

"Aye. All the wee little babies and new converts get dunked or sprinkled to make them part of the parishional school."

“Sounds a little like how they do things on Manda’yaim, except not with babies. They wait until you’re ready to take the creed before you go down to the old mines and bathe in the living waters.” She sighed. “My older brothers all did it except for Ret and he would have gone in another year or two if we’d stayed there. And then I suppose I would have gotten my turn, too. We never really had any sort of ceremony to make us Onderonians.”

He mumbled something in the affirmative. 

"What about you?" She asked curiously. He didn't really seem like the religious sort but he had lived here all his life or so she thought.

Sloan shook his head. “My mother died and Dad didn’t see the point and then when my aunt took me in she always said we’d get around to it but she died, too.” 

He adjusted the patch on his eye and she wondered if there was some sort of significance. 

“I believe in the salt gods, attend the sanctuary when I’m in port, or try to anyway.” He chuckled self-deprecatingly. “Thought about going through with it for El. Maybe her family will be more apt to accept us being married if I get dunked.” 

Genna splashed him, as if that would have a similar effect. “It doesn’t make any kriffing difference to her, does it?” 

“Nah,” he laughed more genuinely and splashed her back. “But her family takes that sort of thing seriously and if we ever had kids…” 

He said ‘if’ but she could tell he really meant ‘when’. She wasn’t sure if he was referring to when they decided to make their marriage public or when they’d made the galaxy a better place to raise a kid. She’d never given any thought to when she and Tech would be ready for such a thing, if ever. 

It obviously wouldn’t be any time soon since he was on the other side of the galaxy on some side quest with… 

“Who is she?” Genna asked, suddenly changing course on the entire conversation. 

He didn’t follow. “Who is…”

“That woman Dalla has keeping an eye on Cid?” Her jaw clenched. She knew how the question sounded but she couldn’t help being a little jealous. Or maybe more than a little. 

He raised an eyebrow, seeming to consider how much of Mollymauk’s business he could let her in on. “You mean the pirate.” 

“Is that what she is?” That pirate had been flirting with her husband, perhaps more than that. 

“She…” he chose his words carefully. “Liberates ancient wonders or so she says. They’re not the kind of things you can carry around in your pocket or spend to keep food on the table though, Aye?” 

Genna nodded, not terribly reassured.

“Well, she needed a fence to convert her finds into credits,” he hesitated and then continued. “But she doesn’t keep all her earnings for herself. She’s not on Dalla’s payroll but she’s funded some refugee relocation efforts… the sort of thing Mollymauk occasionally likes to dabble in as well. Their purposes sometimes align, especially when it comes to the security of Onderon.”

A humanitarian. Great. And someone who might be able to help the boys and Omega earn the credits they needed for their life on the run. While Genna sat here useless and pining for her husband’s return. 

Maybe Sloan was a mind reader or maybe he just noticed that not all of the moisture on her cheeks was due to the steam. 

"Hey." He waited for her to look up, blinking tears from her eyes. "You remember I was the one who drove him to the spaceport before you could fly away so he wouldn't lose you, aye?"

She gave him half a smile and repeated, "aye."

He reached over and chucked her under the chin. "You have nothing to worry about. He's crazy about you!"

"Aye," she said again, batting his hand away.

"And he's not likely to forget about you any time soon." Sloan settled back with a smirk.

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because my brilliant wife got a miniature copy of that painting of you and left it for him as a gift when Meg gave her a tour of their ship." The smirk widened into a grin. "She said the two of you were too busy off somewhere kriffing at the time to notice."

Genna's cheeks were already too warm for her to blush and she wouldn't have anyway but she did smile more genuinely, remembering that kriffing was exactly what they had been doing during their oh too short time together. 

"I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right and now that we've got that settled…"

"Osik, here it comes," she laughed. "I knew you didn't bring me out here out of the goodness of your heart."

"Huh, and I thought you were supposed to be the Mando mercenary."

“What is it?”

He ran a hand through his wet hair with a sigh. “It’s just, I got something for El. I wanted a female opinion about it and maybe when and how I should give it to her?” 

“And your sister’s opinion wouldn't be sufficient?” She knew he and Dalla were as close as siblings. Kind of how she felt about Echo and Wrecker and Meg and yes even Hunter.

“Kriff,” he scoffed. “Dalla’d probably say it wasn’t flashy enough and offer me the Grand Pearl of Novak to give her instead. Besides, your hands are about the same size as El’s, Aye? Maybe you could try it on and see if it’ll fit her.”

“A ring?” Genna surmised. Ellie already had a wedding ring that she wore on a cord around her neck just like Genna wore the one that Tech had said was a gift from Cid and Mollymauk. “Well, I’m sure Ellie will love whatever you’ve picked out for her but I’d be glad to take a look and offer what advice I can.” 

Genna glanced up at the wall where a chrono was displayed next to a posted list of rules for usage of the pool. There was an occupancy limit - thankfully she and Sloan had had the place to themselves - and a warning to consult a doctor if one was elderly or pregnant or had heart disease or some other serious illness. She wondered if recent spinal surgery was a caution but her physical therapist had practically recommended she visit the spring so she thought it was probably alright. 

Then she noticed the time limit of fifteen standard minutes. “Guess we could probably go take a look now since I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.” 

He had to turn to look over his shoulder. There was no one waiting in line for them to get out but it was as good a reason as any. “Aye. It’s, uh, in my bag up at Dalla’s place.” 

Genna smiled that he referred to the Blackwell castle as Dalla’s place. “Well, it looks like you’re going my way.”

…

Twenty standard minutes later after getting dressed in the changing room and a freezing cold walk back to the castle from the spring, Sloan and Genna found an empty sitting room where he could show her the gift he had procured for his wife. 

“Thanks for doing this for me.” He held out the small box which she opened and gasped at the sight of the contents. 

“It’s beautiful!” She took the ring out gently and slipped it onto her finger. It was a little tight. Maybe her hands were a little swollen from the drastic changes in temperature between the hot spring and the walk out of doors, but she was sure it would fit Ellie. She held up her hand to show him with a grin. 

Sloan leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek and then they heard a squeal from the hallway. 

“Osik!” He swore!

Genna fought to get the ring off as quickly as possible but it proved to be stuck fast. “Come off you kriffing…” she grumbled until the thing suddenly became dislodged and went flying through the air landing at the feet of none other than the Mollymauk herself. 

Dalla picked it up; her little niece Lana beside her exclaiming, “See I told you!” 

“It’s not what you think,” Sloan assured her.

“Oh, I know it’s not.” Dalla smirked. “But not everyone is going to believe it.”

Chapter Text

Supervision is what I need

Is what I need

Some consistence, tangibility

Some casual light days

Part of the furniture

I want to take you for granted

And see you regular

… So what you giving' up for me?

And what shall I give up for you?

The separations tired, it's been too long

… And to make it real

I need to have you here

I need to have you

… It can't be sincere

Unless you spend time here

I need to see you

I need you

… Come home now!

If you lived here you'd be home now

“Glad to find the two of you together ,” Dalla said, still grinning. “I was hoping to speak to both of you and now I don't have to go looking.” 

“Can a guy hope that you’re announcing an unexpected vacation?” Sloan snarked. 

“No, quite the opposite actually.” She shut the office door behind them, cutting off little Lana. “I need you to run over to Krownest and pick up the Arsenal of Ordo.”

“The Arsenal of Ordo? What do you want with that?”

“I don’t want it. Bo-Katan Kryze is hocking it and I happen to have found a very interested buyer,” Dalla explained. “We need to jump on this one before she gets antsy and takes her business somewhere else. I would go myself, but –.”

“I get it.” Sloan cut her off. 

“Excuse me,” Genna spoke up. She had seated herself and was drumming on the handle of one of her canes with her fingers. “You said you wanted both of us here but what does any of this have to do with me?” The name Kryze had jumped out at her and Ordo was the name of one of the other old clans but it still didn’t explain her sudden inclusion in Mollymauk business.

“You’re originally from Mandalore, right? If anyone stops you and asks your business, say you wanted to visit your childhood home.” Dalla shrugged. “And you speak Mando’a. Bonus.”

She wasn’t wrong. Tech had been teaching her the language before they had to darken their communications. Genna sighed. Well, she’d been looking for something to take her mind off her husband. And getting away from Blackhold Isle for a while had its appeal. “I was thinking about starting to look around town for my own place but if you really think I might be useful…”

“Aye, of course. I’ll even look for someplace that might be suitable.”

“Okay, as long as we’re not traveling by sea, I guess I’d be glad to help.” 

…

"Hey, you alright?" Sloan asked as she plopped down into the copilot's seat beside him.

"Yeah, fine." She might have asked him the same question if she hadn’t been the one who was just in the fresher bringing up her breakfast. She hadn't expected the hyperspace travel to affect her this much. "Sure as kriff better than being on the water." She laughed.

He nodded, arms crossed over his chest, and returned to staring out the viewport at the blue streaks of stars and planets rushing by. "When we’re done with this pickup, is there anyplace else you'd like to stop while we're out here?" He didn't seem in any great hurry to get back to Onderon while Ellie was still on her own mission.

"Actually I was wondering if you had any recommendations for a good place I could go to get a tattoo?"

Surprised by her words, he sat up a little straighter in his seat. "Aye? You want some ink? Aunt Shara will say I'm a terrible influence on you."

Again Genna laughed but sobered as she explained. "I've been considering it for a while. Tech has sort of a…" she gestured towards her own pectoral region but Sloan just nodded. 

"Saw it," he chuckled. "Asked him if you found that sort of thing attractive."

She reached over and slapped him across the gap between their seats. "We had talked about me getting something to match."  

It was a relief to be able to discuss her husband openly with a friend who knew the whole story of how she had met clone force ninety-nine. 

"Maybe somewhere only Goggles could appreciate it?" Sloan teased.  

"Maybe," she sighed and then reached across the space between them again to squeeze his hand. "Hey Ellie's gonna survive this thing with the partisans, too. She's kriffing Sidhe."

Sloan crowed, "No, that's my job." 

…

As it turned out her knowledge of the Mandalorian language hadn’t been necessary. The entire transaction was conducted in plain Basic. Though Genna had caught a few words passed between the Nite Owl and her comrades. 

“You alright? No more space sickness?” Sloan asked when they were back on the ship. 

“No, actually.” Genna dabbed the side of her mouth with a tissue at the remembered nausea. “I was thinking about that girl on Krownest, the younger one.”

“Aye? There was something kinda familiar about her. You look more Mando than her but she sort of looked like one of the paintings back at the museum. Weird huh?”

“It wasn't that. It was something she said in Mando'a to the older one,” Genna explained. “She said, ‘this will be put to good use.’ It's what my mama said when she decided to sell her beskar’gam to give me and my brothers a new start.”

“Maybe it’s a beskar selling tradition,” Sloan shrugged. “You know we're still in the neighborhood and we've got to stop for fuel before we make the jump back to Onderon. What do you say we do a flyover of your old homeplace?”

Genna nodded. “I haven’t seen it since I was a little girl.” 

Home, she thought. ‘Yaim’ was the word in Mando’a .  She wondered if that was the way Tech and his brothers and Omega thought of Kamino. And now it was gone. She’d seen the holo news about the terrible storms, though from what Tech had told her, that wasn’t the cause at all. She wished she could ask him about it. 

“Have you commed Ellie lately to let her know our status?” If she couldn’t speak to her husband at the moment she could at least make sure her friend wouldn’t suffer the same radio silence. 

Sloan smirked but he answered mock sincerely. “Aye, ma’am. While you were in the fresher heaving up your ration bars, I let her know we got the merchandise.” 

“It’s your flying that’s causing it, you know.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ve always had the sea sickness but space never bothered me till I got into this transport with you as the pilot.”

"Well don't forget it's the pilot of this transport who's managed to get you to these coordinates." He frowned as he looked out the viewport. "These are the right coordinates, aye?"

Genna studied the terrain below. She didn't really know what she had expected, maybe that it would appear smaller to her grown up eyes. She remembered running through the barq field the day they left and the stalks of grain stood well over her head. But now there was… nothing. 

She thought perhaps she could make out the shape of a hill and was that the stream from which Buir dug the irrigation ditches? It was completely dry, just a furrow carved in the ground that ran around the indication of what had been the foundations of the farm house and barn.

"Genna?" Sloan may have said her name more than once.

"Hmm?" She didn't take her gaze away from the scene.

"Would you like me to set down so you can get out and take a look around?"

"No." She forced herself to look at him instead and gave him a sad smile. "There's nothing here for me anymore."

"You know," he said with a nod and a concerted effort to keep the mood light. "We're not that far from Keldabe. We need to fuel up but I'm also told that the oldest cantina in the system is still in operation. I could go for a drink and maybe we could find somebody who could give you that ink you were talking about?" 

“Yeah,” she decided. “Maybe I can pick up some behot leaves for shig as well. Might settle my stomach for the trip back.” 

…

“You look like you need one of these,” Sloan commented and drained the last of his tihaar when Genna limped into the Oyu'baat. 

“I should have gotten that done when I couldn’t feel my legs,” she complained and lifted her pant leg to show off her new ink, two aurebesh number nines just above her right ankle. 

Honestly she was just happy that she had managed the short walk from the tattoo parlor to the bar without the aid of her canes. She was supposed to be practicing. 

" Shek’eta-she’cu ?" A voice from behind her almost made her stumble. " Tion partayli ?"

She regained her balance as she turned to face not one but two men who wore full beskar'gam but for the helmets they had removed when they entered the building. Swiftly she translated the words in her head. It was a question obviously and she recognized the root of the word 'to remember'. 

" Shek’eta-she’cu ?" She repeated, playing for time and then responded with a smile. " Ner meshgeroya aliik ."

"You played the beautiful game?" The second man scoffed in plain Basic.

 " Ner balac shuk'la be shupur ," she explained with an edge to her voice.

" Nar dralshy'a lo vencuyot ." 

She scowled. " Ne shab'ru --"

The first one stopped her before she could get any further, " Udesii, ad'ika. Ner vod didn't mean anything by it."

"I'm not a child!" She switched to Basic again since he had.

"And you're not from around here."

"Actually I was born on a farm just a few klicks north of here." 

The two men looked at each other. 

" Ori'haat !" she insisted. 

 She felt rather than saw Sloan rise behind her, protectively.

 " Tion'ad hukaat'kama ?" The second one nodded towards Sloan. 

"Ni hukaatii'ni shebs ti kama!" She scowled again and then sighed. "He's just a friend, a pilot."

" Tion gar gai ?"

"Genet Carid."

"Carid?" The two shared another look. "You wouldn't happen to be related to Parja Saxon Carid?"

Genna had never imagined that she would ever meet anyone who knew her parents. "She was my mother. Why? Did you know her? Do you know what happened to her?”

"Our father was her older brother."

"Uncle Ghez?" She remembered the name and tried to recall the other details. "Then that would make the two of you Gar and…" 

"Tiber." The second one who had spoken supplied his own name and gave her a smile that was not at all pleasant. 

The one she supposed was Gar was not smiling. "What are you doing here?"

"Just a briikasak ." She was trying to brazen it out but her overtaxed leg muscles decided then was a good time to give out.

Sloan stepped forward quickly so he could wrap an arm around her for support. "It's been a real nice family reunion but, maybe we should just get back to the ship. Unless there was something else you wanted to do before we leave?"

Genna nodded her thanks. "I already got the behot ." 

"So you're just going to fly back to your vode ? There were more of you weren't there?" Gar asked.

"That's right," Tiber added. "Didn't Auntie Parja have a whole akaata of ad'ike ?"

"I had four ori'vode . They all died in the war." That was technically true although none of them were what the Mandos would call soldiers.

"So you just decided to briikasak right here?" Gar continued the interrogation. "And I suppose that's your ship out in the space dock?"

"That's right…" Sloan began but the Mandalorians ignored him.

Instead Gar narrowed his focus on his cousin. "You see I don't think this was just some sort of joyride. I think like mother, like daughter, you found yourself shupur'yc ," she couldn't deny her injury, " bal solus, bal yaihadla . So you came running home to your aliit to take care of you in your hour of need."

She wasn't familiar with the third word he had called her but she knew she wasn't the second. "I'm not alone! I have friends and I have a home that I will be returning to shortly if you'll kindly allow us to leave."

"We usually search all unfamiliar vessels that wander into our space port."

Sloan's grip on her tightened. 

"That won't be necessary." Genna stood up straight and proud with her last bit of strength. "We'll be off your planet within the hour. Come on," she said to Sloan and he helped her to exit the cantina past her cousins.

Gar and Tiber followed them out to the road and watched as Genna leaned heavily on her friend for support as they hurried away. 

But Tiber called out one more parting shot at Sloan. "Hey aruetii , don't worry. Gar taldin ni jaonyc; gar sa buir, ori'wadaas'la ."

Genna was shaken when they reached the ship and she exchanged Sloan's support for her own walking canes so that he could start the engines. 

"You were great back there," he complemented. "I was sure they were going to keep us there so they could come aboard and find Dalla's prize."

She shrugged still processing the meeting with her estranged family and all they had said. Mostly she just wanted to go to the cabin and crash till the flight was over and they were back in Onderonian space. 

"Hey," Sloan asked before she could escape down the corridor, "what was that last thing your cousin said as we were walking away?" 

Genna halted for a moment. "Oh, it was an old saying. It means, 'it doesn't matter who your father was, just the father you will be'."

"You don't think he thought that you and I…" he broke off with a laugh as if it was absurd.

When she was settled in the cabin with her feet up and a cup of shig to ward off the space sickness, Genna pulled out her datapad to look up the unfamiliar word Gar had called her in the bar, ‘ yaihadla .’ It meant, pregnant. 

She laughed. That was ridiculous. And they had assumed Sloan was the father? Well, wouldn't her Saxon cousins be shocked to find out that Parja's baby girl married a Fett. 

Her laughter turned to tears. She wished she could share the joke with Tech but at least they were headed home.

…

“ The girl? ” Yanna asked in Shyriiwook.

Tech knew that the elder could understand Basic perfectly well but since the others had continued past them into the dwelling he answered her in kind, “ She is a clone like us .” 

It was a courtesy to speak the language but it was also good practice to wrap his own vocal cords around the foreign syllables once again. 

Genna had once remarked how much easier it was to learn Mando’a when she had someone to converse with regularly rather than just trying to pick it up from a holo. He wasn’t sure about that but it was certainly more enjoyable. He wondered if she had come along any further in her vocabulary since they had last had the opportunity to engage in discussion. 

“ She is a child like Gungi ,” observed the matriarch, bringing him back to the present. “ Does she have a home to return to? ” 

“ No, our home on Kamino was destroyed .” Even if it hadn’t been, hadn’t she begged Hunter never to return there? 

“ Many of our villages have also been destroyed but we still have our tribe. Home need not be at a rooted location. ” 

No, Tech supposed it did not. Their current home was an Omicron-class attack shuttle. However, he could not help but think that their entire ‘tribe’ was not ‘tome’ as the Mandalorians phrased it, because of the continued separation from his wife. 

He did not want to think of how long it might be until he saw her again. It was a sacrifice he had made to keep her safe. 

Other wookie voices interrupted his musings, Yanna’s scouts with news that a large convoy was approaching. 

“ Before they arrive ,” Yanna implored Tech, “ You should leave .” 

He was quite certain that Hunter would not agree but he passed on the information dutifully. 

And so they would stay to help ensure a safer home for their allies the wookies (and their allies the trees) before continuing on their own path to find home. 

Chapter Text

It's just like you to fret like you do

So take the afternoon and maybe someday soon

You won't have to worry yourself sick till you're blue in the face

But you'll make ends meet I know you will, so please pull up a chair

And take your time the world's not going anywhere

Honey, you worry yourself sick till you're blue in the face

Blue in the face

'Cause you're always in a hurry

Blue in the face

'Cause you always tend to worry

You're just like a honey bee

You panic, you sting, then you die

Her Pantoran guards didn’t ask how she knew that this would be the best place to come to speak to the clones, how she knew the exact address to give the speeder driver to this remote neighborhood of Galactic city. She hadn’t needed them the last time she came. She had felt perfectly safe on the arm of her personal guard.

The last time she had worn her hair down. Yes, she had covered her own yellow clan markings on her cheeks with blue foundation and repainted on something more ambiguous. But it wasn’t because she was ashamed of being seen with her companion. On the contrary she couldn’t have been more proud of the way he served the Republic. 

It was just that, well, she never would have been able to take on this moral crusade if anyone from the senate had known. None of them would have taken her seriously. How could she campaign for clone rights if she had been known to have been romantically involved with one of them. Baron Papanoida might have even recalled her back home to Pantora because of the scandal. 

It was better if she didn't see him again and maybe he knew it too. Still she hadn't been able to help herself, only a few days after her return to the capital, she requisitioned him to escort her to a formal event. Not that she had really been interested in the opera, but it was a chance to see him again. She had been informed, however, that he was unavailable and had spent the evening alone in her apartment trying to figure out what that meant.

She wondered if he was still the same man she had known. Of course she had heard all about the clones turning on their Jedi generals but she hadn't been there that night to witness it for herself. 

The Baron had summoned her home to Pantora for an emergency that turned out to be nothing more than a state dinner designed as a matchmaking scheme involving herself and Papanoida's son. 

Ion had followed her out to the balcony of the ballroom to apologize for his father's behavior when the news arrived that Obi-wan Kenobi had defeated Grevious and the war was over but the Jedi had turned traitor against the Republic and then the clones were ordered to destroy them!

It had been impossible to believe then and even now several standard months later with more of the details, she couldn't quite wrap her head around the series of events. 

Then Papanoida, who had thankfully given up on marrying her into the family for the present, insisted that she delay her return to Coruscant in the direct aftermath for her own safety. And when she had finally been able to get back to her job of 'senating' everything had changed.

Was it too much to hope that one thing had remained the same? The one person who she had most desperately wished to find waiting for her was… Nova.

"Senator, we've arrived at the address," one of her guards informed her.

"Thank you." She glanced at her reflection, dabbed at the moisture that had pooled in her golden eyes, and pasted on her senatorial sabacc expression.

Senator Riyo Chuchi exited the vehicle and stood before the flashing neon facade of Seventy-nine's. She could do this. It was the least she could do for Nova and his brothers.

…

She tried to make eye contact with as many of them as possible as she made her entreaty. She would have done anyway even if she hadn’t been searching for that spark that she felt every time she had looked into Nova’s eyes. She wanted them to know that she truly cared what they had to say and she would make every effort to see to their concerns. 

Originally she had planned to ask one of them when she had finished the interview if any of them had heard anything about a brother called Nova but when one of them drew her back into the doorway of the establishment and revealed his secret, her own situation was temporarily placed on the back burner. 

“Kamino wasn’t destroyed by a storm,” he whispered to her urgently. “It was an attack ordered by Rampart himself.”

“Why would you make such an accusation?”

“I was there, aboard his Venator. He had us open fire on the cities.”

It simply couldn’t be possible. She shook her head. “If that were true, the Senate would know. Someone would have come forward.”

“Rampart made sure no one could.” He was completely in earnest. “Clones who tried to speak up were either reassigned, went missing or ended up dead.”

Riyo reached out and touched his arm. “You don’t look well, trooper.”

“The name’s Slip. Check my service record if you don’t believe me. CT-0409. You seem like one of the good ones, Senator. Be careful.”

Be careful? He had certainly acted as if he was in fear for his own life. And should he be if clones had indeed gone missing or were even killed for possessing this information, for trying to tell the truth? 

Could this be why Nova was unavailable?  

No! She shook her head. She couldn’t think like that. This, if it were true, was a galactic level cover up!  

“… The problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans …” the old holo quote flitted through her mind and again she shook it away. 

Slip had told her to look up his service record. Why hadn’t she thought of looking up Nova’s service record? Not now! The truth must be brought to light! 

“Is everything alright?” Her guard asked her.

“Yes,” she answered automatically. “Everything is fine.”

It was not fine at all and she would do everything that she could, starting with bringing the wishes of the other clone troopers to her scheduled meeting with Admiral Rampart but now she couldn’t help but wonder if she could believe anything he said. 

And under the radar, she hoped, she instructed her own guards to find CT-0904. She felt responsible for getting him to a place where he could be safe and then to stay safe until he could tell his story. 

…

Riyo could hardly stomach her interview with the Admiral later that evening. Oh yes, of course, he said all the right things but there was something about his words that didn’t sit right. 

She remembered times during the war when she had had similar conversations but had had General Kenobi or Ahsoka Tano at her side. She wished now that she might have their insight into the situation. Or perhaps just one of their lightsabers to stab the lying… 

She managed to keep her own sabacc face while trying to come up with the word in Huttese or Pantoran or Mando’a that would precisely describe her feelings for the man at this moment. 

She had hardly collected her thoughts after leaving the Admiral’s office before she was summoned to another even more interesting meeting. She had long suspected that the Senator from Alderaan would be an ally if she wished for one, but had never guessed he might be so knowledgeable about the issues to which she had devoted herself. 

She had no trouble in determining him to be trustworthy. She knew that mutual friends had found him to be such and she was thankful that he had sought her out. Thankful also for his advice. 

It only made her more certain that she was on the right track and that she needed to find Slip as soon as possible.

…

And then she found him. And then he was dead, and there was more blasterfire. And she was running and her guards were shot and then… Captain Rex was standing over her. 

“You alright, Senator?”

“Captain Rex? Wha- what’s going on?”

“I was hoping you could tell me.” 

So she did and he shared with her what little he knew. They approached the stunned assassin and couldn’t hide their shock when they realized he was a clone. 

Or, as he called himself before he bit down on a suicide implant, a believer.

“Dank ferrik!” Rex swore and closed the man’s eyes. “I should have gotten here sooner.”

“You couldn’t have known this was happening.” She couldn’t help but think it was her own fault for leading the sniper right to his target. 

“That’s not what I meant. I was trying to help a bomber pilot, which took longer than it should have, and then I got delayed with some brothers on an outpost,” he sighed. “We can’t go on like this. I’m spread too thin.”

This was definitely bigger than her own hill of beans, and from the strain in Rex’s voice she could tell they needed help, and fast. But it wasn’t like she could offer much in their current position. 

So she changed the subject. “What about the information Slip gave me, about the proof of Kamino’s destruction being on the Venator?”

For the first time Rex smiled. “I do believe I know someone who can help us with that.”

…

“We got the arsenal,” Sloan said over the comm as they made their final approach to Iziz. “No complications, thanks to Genna. I don’t know what she said to those Mandos but it stopped them from searching the ship. We’ll be at the dock to unload in twenty minutes.” 

“I’m glad to hear it,” Dalla’s hologram flickered. “Good job, Sloan. And Genna…” The fence paused, processing what Sloan had just told her. “I know you’ve just come back, but I wanted to ask if you had any available appointments. My hair is in need of some help.” 

She wanted her hair done? Genna slipped into her professional persona to mask her surprise. A few extra credits certainly wouldn’t hurt as she began her new life. “I don’t have a salon space but I could do a house call. Would later this afternoon work for you?” 

Dalla assured her it would and a few hours after they settled the details of what Genna needed set up and what Dalla would like, Genna finished blow-drying Dalla’s freshly redyed pink tips. 

“Thank you,” Dalla said once the dryer shut off and they could hear each other. “It looks great.” 

“You can’t be without your signature look,” Genna said, admiring her work. Honestly it was one of her best dye jobs, incorporating different shades of pink and fuschia to give the hair some depth.  

“Aye. I’d much rather be the girl with the pink hair than the girl with the broken nose.”

Genna’s eyes went to Dalla’s nose. It had obviously been broken some years ago and left to heal crookedly, but as someone who’d also been stared at she had never brought it up. 

“When I was thirteen my family was on a fishing voyage when a storm blew in. Our ship went down and took half the crew and my mother along with it.” Dalla touched her nose. “I was hit with debris during the crash and we don’t exactly have a plastic surgeon at the Hold, not that I really minded. I’m not sure I would want it fixed even if it was possible.” She rallied and met Genna’s gaze in the mirror. “But no one will be looking at it now when they can look at my hair.” 

“It’s definitely eye-catching.” Genna had already moved on to sanitizing and packing up her tools. “I changed my hair after my brothers and I moved to Onderon because I didn’t want to look Mandalorian anymore. But today I met someone who knew my mother, and I was proud to look like her. It was like she was standing there with me.”

“Right.” Dalla finger-combed her hair over her shoulders and stood up from her chair. “Before I forget, I want to thank you for your flexibility in helping Sloan with the run. It sounds like you were really invaluable.” 

“I was happy to help, but I’m not sure I’d make a career out of it. I’d rather keep doing what I’m best at.” 

“All the same, your assistance is appreciated.” Dalla reached into her pocket and handed over a neatly folded piece of flimsi. “You’ll probably like this better than the one bedroom place you put a deposit on.” 

She couldn’t...Genna unfolded the flimsi and caught the key card that fell out before reading it. It was an address in Blackhold Isle’s port town, commercial property with attached living quarters. 

Under regular circumstances she’d have protested it was too much. How could she accept someone just handing her an apartment and the space for her fledgling salon? But nothing was free with Dalla. This was a payoff. The fence may as well have written take your salon and stay out of my network’s way as a footnote. 

“Thank you,” she said through gritted teeth, and only because she knew Dalla wasn’t trying to insult her. “Oh, and I guess I have this to thank you for as well. Tech said it was a gift from you and Cid.” 

She pulled the cord from under her shirt and held out the ring strung onto it for Dalla’s inspection. Ellie had told her not to but she wanted to make sure she was on the same page with the Mollymauk. “I wasn’t expecting purple, but I love it.” 

“I, um...” Dalla stammered, unable to take her eyes off the glittering amethyst set in the tiny golden prongs. “You said this was from Cid?”   

“It is. Why do you ask?” 

“No reason.” Dalla shook her head to clear it and grabbed up her purse. “It’s beautiful. I’m glad you like it.”

Chapter Text

Hey lover why you gone?

Hold on, I'm almost there

It's too late you've killed the trust

Don't act so unaware so

Why are you so destructive?

Do you realize what you've done?

You can't bring it back to life now

What are you running from?

Peek in, sneak about

I'm gonna snoop and call you out

I've caught you, you're hands are red

Now I'm your broken hearted detective

I don't like the way it feels

I just want you to be real

Hey girl, save the liar

Can't you see his pants on fire?

I'm rummaging through your closet

Imagining all the worst thoughts

The apartment was incredible. The salon space below it was also completely amazing but she couldn't wrap her mind around the idea that it was all hers. For now she was focusing on the three bedrooms and two bathrooms and a full kitchen! What was Genna supposed to do with all this space to herself? 

Certainly not fill it up with the few purchases she had made in Iziz. She laughed uproariously when she and Sloan managed to get everything up the stairs and the boxes of waiting to be assembled furniture barely made a footprint in the floorplan. 

Technically he did all of the heavy lifting while she had to grasp the handrail and force her legs to do the work. This was exactly the sort of thing that her physical therapist had suggested would be good for her to build up her endurance.

So the first thing she did, after she commed the landlord of the other place she had looked at and listened to him grumble about returning her deposit, was to use those credits to buy the adorable little antique sofa she had seen in the window of the upscale second hand store and have it scheduled for delivery later that day. Then the two of them set to work deciphering the instructions for all of the other purchases she had made. 

Genna and Sloan joked that what they really needed were Tech's translation and mechanical knowledge and Ellie's agility and insight to do the job but they made do with their own half-shebed efforts. And then while the sofa was being delivered Sloan offered to go and grab them something to eat and came back with a couple of bottles of a lot better wine than he usually purchased when he was drinking alone.

Then the party began. 

"Here's to your move up in the Galaxy." Sloan lifted his glass. "Although, I totally knew my way around that other neighborhood from frequenting it during my pre Ellie days."

Genna gasped a laugh and snorted a bit of her own wine, coughing. She had realized that the apartment she had thought she was able to afford was in a dodgier area but she hadn't known it was quite the red light district. "At least you had the Lord's daughter to come and fish you out and get you shipshape for duty after your carousing." 

"Aye, my baby sister came more than once to douse me over the head with a bucket of water to get me on my feet." He took another drink. "You know I think she's a bit jealous of you." 

"Jealous of me? With her posh upbringing in a castle and her crates of credits?" And her living family that she can visit anytime she likes .

"You're free." He added wistfully. “Free to do whatever you want with your life, to love whoever you choose.”

“Can’t she? I thought the days of arranged marriage are over.” 

“When you’ve been told that one day your marriage will strengthen the north and ensure political stability, love doesn’t really enter the equation. She dated Lux because they thought they could unite the north and south. You know what she told me one night? Love isn’t meant for people like me. Like she didn’t even deserve it.” He snorted in disgust but remembered where he was and changed the subject. "And you got to go on an adventure with her favorite big brother while she had to stay home and mind the store." He winked or is it considered a blink if you've only got one eye?

"You're a brilliant ori'vod . She's lucky to have you." She took a long drink. "And so is Ellie."

Before either of them could dissolve back into melancholy he jumped up, poured himself and her another glass of wine, and rubbed his hands together. "What do you say we take a stab at that armoire before we're both too sloshed to see straight?"

…

Omega gazed with wonder at all the Senate pods that were now empty and asked, “why are you doing this for us, for all of the clones, I mean?”

Riyo sighed. “Back during the war there was a trooper who…”

“Did you love him?” Omega guessed from her tone. 

Riyo was speechless. 

Omega spun around to face her with a grin. “Did you want to marry him?”

“Marry?” she choked. “I didn't think that was possible.”

Omega leaned in closer and whispered, “you see when two people love each other very much…”

“Yes! I know about that part of it! I just… Marriage is a legal contract and I thought with the clones' legal status…”

Omega shrugged. “Tech is married.”

Again the senator was rendered speechless at the revelation. 

“We're not supposed to tell Phee about it. We like her but we're not quite sure who she works for. But you work for Rex and for our rep-re-zen-ta-shun!” Omega pronounced each syllable of the word as if it tasted good on her tongue and looked out again over the gathering place of the Galactic Senate. “I think he wouldn't mind if I told you.” 

And then Riyo couldn’t help but laugh. “I think that you would make a very good senator, Miss Omega.”

“You don’t have to worry about my brothers getting that data about Rampart.” Omega assured her with a grin. “Maybe they can find out where your boyfriend is, as well, and then we could be sisters!"

…

The first thing Genna noticed when she forced her eyes open was that the armoire was still in pieces on the living room floor, halfway assembled before it had been abandoned. Maybe she shouldn’t have drank all that wine last night. She and Sloan would have gotten so much more done if they’d been sober.

Instead, Genna remembered stumbling around the apartment laughing and trying to find food, then doing something that involved running water and a chemical smell, before she stumbled onto the couch next to …

Her eyes snapped open and she whipped around. Sloan Murphy lay draped over the back of the couch, his mouth open in a snore. Did they --? Genna looked down and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw all her clothing was still in place. At least they hadn’t completely lost their inhibitions. Still, sleeping on the same couch with a man not her husband was not going to go down on her list of proud accomplishments. 

“Sloan, wake up.” 

Sloan snored in reply and Genna was about to try again when the wine she’d drank last night decided to make a reappearance. She bolted for the fresher and just made it to the toilet in time. 

Her hair flopped in her face (gods, please let the pink color be a trick of the light and not permanent hair dye that would explain the chemical smell) and she fumbled for a hair tie. What had they gotten into last night? She was no stranger to hangovers but they usually weren’t this bad. 

Just to illustrate that point a knock on the apartment’s front door took on a volume comparable to a blaster cannon. 

“Genna?” Shara Blackwell called and Genna slumped over the toilet, unable and unwilling to move. Of course Shara was going to show up now of all times. Maybe if she stayed put she could pretend she wasn’t home and then --. 

There was the sound of boots hitting the floor and some unintelligible muttering about “Dal” and “Ellie” and “too early for this osik” and before Genna could make a move she heard her apartment door opening. 

“Morning, Aunt Shara,” Sloan said thickly. “What are you doing over here?” 

“I brought Genna one of my fruit cakes for a housewarming gift.” Genna didn’t have to see the older woman to know her eyebrow was raised. “I can’t say I expected to run into you.” 

“Genna? What’s Genna got to do with …” Sloan trailed off and then swore under his breath. “Kriff! It’s -- it’s not like that, I swear. Genna’s, Genna’s uh…” 

Genna vomited in reply and two sets of footsteps pounded through the apartment until Sloan and Shara appeared in the ‘fresher behind her. 

“Are you alright?” Sloan dropped to his knees beside her.  

Genna nodded, the nausea abating. “I’m never drinking again.” 

Shara smoothed her long skirt and set down the basket containing the housewarming gifts. “Perhaps I should have thought of bringing a pregnancy test?” 

“And that would be my cue to exit,” Sloan said. 

 …

 “Get this to Senator Chuchi! Hurry!” Rex handed off the data to Omega and watched her run back into the building with the senator’s guards on her heels. 

Echo shifted the speeder into gear to take them back to meet the others at the Marauder. "I hope we got the proof they needed to the senator on time."

Rex patted his shoulder. "Riyo Chuchi is one of the good ones. She'll do everything she can."

"I have to say, it feels good to be doing something useful again." Echo admitted. "Not that I haven't done my part with the squad."

"I know what you mean. Their priority is Omega and keeping a low profile…"

"They saved my life, along with you and the General!" Echo shifted the speeder into park at the side of the traffic lane letting another impatient driver pass him by.

Rex sighed. "That doesn't mean you have to go into hiding with them if there's somewhere else you feel you need to be."

Echo gave him a stiff nod and reached for the control for the radio on the dashboard. "There's a channel that broadcasts the Senate sessions, isn't there?"

"I believe so." Rex had never tuned in to such a thing but it would be interesting to hear what was going on. 

"I think I found it." 

Echo tweaked the dial until the static reduced and they could hear Riyo Chuchi's voice speaking out proudly to the entire Senate.

" I assert that the Kaminoan cloning facilities were intentionally eliminated! "

There was a clamor from the gathering and then Rampart's response. " I will not dignify such baseless accusations with more of my time ."

Echo swore and then apologized, "sorry, Captain."

"No, I agree."

Then they both went back to listening.

" If there are no further issues, let us proceed with this vote ."

" I motion that Senator Chuchi be removed from these proceedings, and she be censured for her misconduct ."

This comment elicited a similar curse from Rex. "Where is Omega with that data file?" 

He didn't blame her of course, only worried that something might have held her up.

" I second the motion ," another delegate wheezed. 

But before they could take action Bail Organa's voice rose above the tumult. " Senators, new evidence has come to light that must be considered ."

Echo gave Rex a nod and a smile of relief.

" What so called proof do you have? "

Riyo announced victoriously, " the recovered command log from Admiral Rampart's Venator. Which indicates his own ships caused the destruction of Tipoca City ."

The two clones could not of course see the images that were played before the Senate but they could hear the audio and Echo remembered what it had been like to witness the event from inside the cloning facility.

Rex noticed his brother's distress and placed a hand one again on his shoulder. "She did it! Rampart will be brought to justice."

The Senate seemed to be in an uproar but after a moment the audio of the bombing cut out and an alarm sounded. Gradually the noise from the broadcast quieted.

A new voice, that of Mas Amedda, the Emperor's Grand Vizier, spoke to the assembly. " It would appear that Senator Chuchi's horrific assertions are correct ."

The crowd gasped.

" This unprovoked attack on Kamino was a cowardly act by Admiral Rampart to further his own personal agenda. Guards arrest and detain the Admiral ."

Rampart's voice could still be heard as he was taken into custody. " I was just following orders !"

That sounded a little too uncomfortably familiar.

But Amedda continued, " Order! We shall have order! "

Suddenly there was silence from the Senate chamber and a voice spoke that was all too recognizable.

" I am deeply troubled by this recent revelation. My gratitude to Senator Chuchi for exposing a rogue element in our ranks. Many lives have been lost. But I assure you, Admiral Rampart will face the consequences for his treachery. However, he did not act alone. The fact that the clones under his command so blindly followed orders, inflicting such carnage without hesitation, gives me pause. Perhaps it is time for a change. Now more than ever, building a strong galaxy requires protection and security. Due to the nefarious actions of Admiral Rampart and the immediacy of the bill on the floor today, it is my opinion that this legislation is our future. With this momentous act we shall usher in a new era heralded by the Imperial Stormtrooper ."

"Dank Ferrik!" Rex sat back in his seat as Echo pulled heedlessly back into the traffic lane.

"We have to tell the others."

…

"This is very interesting." Tech's goggled eyes flew over the text of the document on his datapad.

Hunter tossed his knife in the air and caught it between his fingers. "You found CG-0113?"

"Yes, although I am afraid I do not have good news to relate to the Senator."

"Killed in action? Aww that's too bad." Wrecker hung his head reverently.

"Apparently so." Tech continued. "A member of the Coruscant Guard called Nova made a request to participate in the mission to liberate an Imperial governor from a faction of Separatist holdouts on the planet Desix."

"Least he went out blastin' droids."

"Yes, but that is not what I found intriguing. This report was filed by CC-2224."

"Commander Cody?" Hunter ceased his knife tossing and leaned in to take a closer look at the report.

"It would seem to be the commander's final report before he went AWOL. And that is not all." Tech held out the datapad for his brother to see. "Also mentioned in the dispatch as having taken part in the mission…"

"Crosshair."

Hunter raised his head at his advance notice of the speeder approaching. 

Tech's discovery could wait for the news that Rex and Echo had to share. 

“It is an unfortunate development but not entirely surprising,” Tech ruminated when they had finished divulging the details.

Echo’s next pronouncement, however, came as an even bigger shock. “I’m going to stay with Rex. I think I can be of more use to our brothers than just pulling jobs for Cid.” 

Silence greeted the declaration until Hunter stepped forward and grasped his brother’s shoulder. “We always knew when you joined up with us that you might find a better fit. Rex is lucky to have you on his team.” 

“It’s not because I want to leave the rest of you.” Echo frowned. 

“Of course not.” Wrecker gave him a hard pat on the back. “Who’d wanna leave us?” 

But Tech had still not yet spoken so Echo went to him. “You could come with us. Your forging skills would be invaluable to get new identities for our brothers who need to start over.” 

“You are just as capable as I am at creating chain codes from the algorithm I created.” Tech snapped. “I will stay with the squad and…” He looked Echo directly in the eye, and then, avoiding the discomfort of eye contact, looked away. “In your undertaking with Rex you may have the opportunity to come into contact with Mollymauk.” 

Echo brightened. “I had never thought of it before but, you’re right, with her network she might be a powerful ally to our cause!” 

“That is not exactly to what I was referring.” Tech dithered. 

“You meant if I run into Genna.”

“Will you pass on a message to her for me?” 

“Surely you’ll go to see her yourself. The Empire still thinks we’re dead, right?”

Tech shook his head. “I want you to tell her that she is free to find someone else, someone who does not put her into danger by association.” 

“You’re not serious.” 

And then Tech told him all that he had found out about CG-0133, finishing with, “Senator Chuchi has chosen this fight. Genna did not. She should have the opportunity to…”

“Genna chose you.” 

“The stakes are higher now. She may wish to change her mind.” 

…

"Is it Sloan's?" Aunt Shara asked gently, laying a hand on Genna's shoulder. She didn't need to see the actual result of the test since she could read it plainly in the younger woman's expression. "I thought perhaps since the two of you met in Iziz and now since you've been here and he has been so attentive."

"No," Genna shook her head, still processing the information. "He and Ellie… he's a friend. Actually my husband asked him, both of them, to look out for me." She lifted the cord out from under the neckline of her top and held out the ring that was tied to it for the other woman to see. 

"Your husband?" She seemed to relax a bit at the revelation and wrapped an arm around Genna.

"He's a soldier on a mission."

At this Aunt Shara tensed again and resisted making a sign to the salt gods. "Imperial?"

"No, quite the opposite actually." Genna gave a halfhearted chuckle. "It's why I have to keep his location, his identity even… Aunt Shara, how am I going to tell him?"

"Oh my dear girl," Shara fully embraced her. Being called by her chosen moniker seemed to have unlocked the permission for her to do so. "We'll find a way to contact him and tell him the wonderful news!"

"These missions he goes on though, they’re so dangerous." She hadn't really allowed herself to consider how dangerous and she couldn't now especially with the added certainty that if he didn't come back he would never meet his child. 

Genna shook her head. "I don't know anything about being a mother. I flew away from my own with my brothers when I was four."

"Did I ever tell you that my mother died when I was about that age?" Shara soothed her and brushed the now strikingly pink hair out of her face. “But maybe you’d rather have some time to yourself to process?”

Genna nodded. "Could you come back another time maybe so we can talk about what I need to do and get ready and…"

"There will be plenty of time for that." Aunt Shara patted her hand and then made her exit.

…

Riyo made her promise to keep fighting and then she stepped back to let the clones say their goodbyes. With all that had happened it wasn’t until they had taken off that she remembered her own inquiry. “Oh!”

“Is everything alright, Senator?” Echo asked. “I mean besides the obvious.”

She wasn’t going to say anything but then. “I completely forgot to ask him if he found out anything about my... friend.”

Telling the next of kin about the death of a soldier was not something their training on Kamino had prepared them for. The clones were their own next of kin and other than a few training sergeants and Generals and Commanders who got more attached than their own temple training dictated there was no one else to tell when one of their brothers fell on the battlefield. 

Riyo wept quietly at the news and Echo hesitantly embraced her while she cried.

Chapter Text

There's a knock on my door 

But I'm not gonna open it 

I'm gonna close my eyes 

And maybe it will go away 

I want a platinum blonde life 

So I keep bleaching out the colors 

Where did my lamb go? 

I wish he could stay 

I feel as empty as a widow 

I'm gonna sleep it all away

Echo pushed the steaming mug across the table towards her. It smelled bright and citrusy.

“It’s shig, a sort of Mandalorian tea.” 

Riyo took a sip and coughed. It had a kick to it.

“I added a bit of tihaar to it, alcohol, I thought it might help calm your nerves. I hope that’s alright.”

She took another sip and nodded. “It’s just the right thing.” 

Rex had said they could stay at the garage for as long as they liked. He had things he needed to do but Echo hadn’t been given an assignment yet and Riyo wasn’t ready to go back to the senate district where everyone was cheering her brilliant achievement of exposing Rampart’s treachery. 

“I just can’t stop thinking about those poor soldiers who are being blamed for following his orders.” 

Echo lifted his own mug in agreement and took a drink.

“You know, Nova told me once about a battle.” She went on wistfully, “It was on Umbara I think. And the troopers were fooled into believing that the enemy had stolen their armor. But they hadn’t.” Her voice broke. “They were firing on their own brothers. Nova wasn’t there but he said the very idea of it gave him nightmares. The thought of lifting off a helmet and seeing his own face looking back at him.”

Echo hadn’t been there either, though he had heard about it, and shuddered. Rex had been there, and Fives.

“He said,” she continued. “He said that he was glad that he was stationed on Coruscant where something like that would never happen but…” 

Riyo wiped a tear from her cheek and Echo pulled his chair closer to hers. He laid his good hand on top of hers and she clasped it. 

“Then,” she sniffed. “There was a night when he was called away to hunt down an arc trooper who they said had attacked the Chancellor. Nova didn’t pull the trigger himself, the commander had the shot, but he said they all felt responsible. They had all been given the order to take him out.” 

Suddenly, she looked up at him, blinking. “Rex was there.” 

Echo nodded and cleared his throat. “He told me about it. The Arc trooper, Fives, he -- he was my brother. We were from the same squad, the only two left.” 

“I’m so sorry.” She reached up and touched his face. 

“I don’t think I ever met your Nova. I mean we weren’t officially introduced. Fox and Thorn we knew. We traded insults with them when we were here on Coruscant before we flew off on the Citadel mission. Told them they had nice cushy Capitol jobs while we were out fighting the real war. That was right before…” He motioned to his cybernetic attachments with his prosthetic arm. 

She traced the edge of his headgear where it met with his skin with one narrow blue finger and then she drew his face closer and kissed him. 

He must have been emboldened by the tihaar because he deepened the kiss and pulled the senator onto his lap. 

She gasped. “Is there somewhere we could…” She didn’t finish but blushed a pretty shade of violet. 

“One of those doors probably leads to a bunk room. And…” he added before she could ask. “I do still possess all the proper equipment.” 

The two of them scrambled from the table and found a small room that housed a bed and little else and closed the door behind them.

Echo knew they probably shouldn’t be doing this but he wasn’t sure he had the willpower to stop. What they were doing felt so amazing, but he had to make sure she understood so he managed to hold himself completely still.

“Riyo. You know that… I’m not him. I’m not Nova, we're not interchangeable.”

“I know,” she breathed, her golden eyes looking deep into his.

“Then say it.” He buried his face into the side of her neck just below her ear. “Say my name.” 

“Echo.” 

He growled in response, coming undone at the sound of her voice. 

“Echo," she moaned again. 

He didn’t really know what he was doing but his instincts must have been right on target because then she nearly screamed, “Echo!” 

…

“Havoc-4, this is Havoc-5. Do you copy? Echo? Are you there?” Omega tried desperately to make the connection while they trudged through the canyon.

Hunter informed her gently, “He’s too long-range. Echo won’t pick up our signal.”

"Especially since he disabled his communication device," Tech added with more spite.

"What? Why?" Omega cried.

"I assume he's on a sensitive mission." A mission that may very well involve informing the woman he loved that she was free from the vows they had spoken. Tech was aware he was being peevish. But maybe they could cut him some slack.

…

Echo and Riyo had spent the night in a pleasurable daze, a daze which came to a screeching halt when Rex found them the next morning with only the sheets to protect their modesty.

“Ahsoka commed,” he said without preamble. “Mollymauk opened the crate.”

“Not the crate with the defecting bomber pilot.”

“That one. He’s fine, but Mollymauk is furious and we know how she can get. If we’re going to talk to her, we need to do it now.”

“Do you want me to prep the ship?”

“No, I want you to go on the mission. You're the one with a previous introduction to Mollymauk.” Rex tossed Echo his pants on the way out. 

And so here he was, standing in Mollymauk’s office next to the holograms of the clone network’s leaders. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. If the clone network joined forces with natborn defections, he would be working closely with Riyo…

“So, you’re going to talk to me face to face instead of stuffing unconscious defectors into crates?” Dalla asked, her eyebrow raised at Echo and the holographic forms of Rex and Senator Organa. “Good to know I’m appreciated around here.”

“We need your help,” Echo said. “Our clone network is growing, but we can only do so much. If we’re going to reach everyone who needs help.”

“And by everyone, you mean the conscripts whose defection percentage is almost double that of clones?”

“Triple,” Organa corrected her. “They defect at nearly triple the rate, and their extractions tend to be even more dangerous. They come from better equipped facilities, they have families—.”

“And they don’t trust clones.” Rex said. “When I spoke to Jon Vander, he almost shot me before Ahsoka stepped in.”

“You think they’ll trust me.”

“You have an uncanny ability to move things around under the Empire’s nose,” Organa said. 

“I’m already running an entire network!” Dalla gestured to the haphazard piles of datapads and flimsiwork surrounding her. “This is a bigger problem than one person. I can’t possibly pay for your rebellion and simultaneously vet and transport multiple defectors, never mind weeding out the spies.”

“We don’t know who else to ask,” Echo admitted.

“Don’t suppose you could pay off Cid to do it?”

“I wouldn’t trust her with all those lives.”

“And yet you trust me.” Dalla took a deep breath and then looked directly at Organa’s hologram. “If I do this, then I’m in charge of it. All the handlers report to me, and I report to no one. I decide who we transport, where we transport, everything. The credit stops with me. Agreed?”

Organa nodded. “I can help you get started.”

“Much appreciated.” Dalla nodded and they knew the conversation was over. 

“Thank you,” Echo said when the holos were put away. 

He still had questions that didn’t directly pertain to their official discussion but Dalla spoke first. “So you're losing your faith in Cid?”

“The squad are still working with her but the jobs are not quite as lucrative as anyone would like.”

“Phee said as much.” Dalla drummed her fingers against the top of her desk. 

“So, she does work for you?”

“Not directly,” she shook her head. “We've never met face to face but we both are working towards the good of Onderon…”

“Tech figured that was the case.” He didn’t really expect her to give him any more information than that. 

Then again maybe she was hoping that by doling out these small bits of intelligence that he might reciprocate by offering her some of what he had been able to gather. 

She surprised him again when she shrugged and casually remarked, “Phee mentioned something about Scaleback getting her claws on an old Ipsium mine.”

Echo frowned. “If she did, you know more about it than I do.”

“It can be dangerous, extracting the stuff, highly volatile, so I’ve heard. Valuable, undoubtedly, but I wonder if she’d risk sending your boys out for it.” 

Echo snorted. When had Cid ever cared if someone got hurt in one of her schemes? He wouldn’t be surprised at all if that was exactly the mission the squad were given as soon as they left Coruscant. 

“Have to make sure Goggles can make it back to his beautiful wife.” Dalla gave him her crooked toothed smile. 

“Yeah, well, about that,” Echo began. He did have a message to deliver. 

“I’ve done my best to keep tabs on her.” She informed him. “She’s got a new shop just up the road.” 

“Thank you. If we’re done here, I’d appreciate that address.”

…

" No can do, fellas. I’m all tied up at the moment. You’ll have to figure it out yourselves ." 

It was not the response they were hoping for when Tech finally managed to make the long range connection through the abandoned communications array.

Hunter practically growled, "Cid, you sent us on this mission."

" Well, I didn’t tell you to get your ship stolen, did I? "

"Cid, we need your help," Omega pleaded, usually that was all it took.

But Tech also felt compelled to remind their patroness, "Just like we helped you regain control of your parlor from Roland Durant, and when we cleared your sizable debt with Millegi…"

" I didn’t ask for a recap, Goggles." She groaned . "All right. Give me a few days, and I’ll see what I can do ."

"We don’t have enough rations to last a few--" Hunter's protestation was cut off by Cid ending the transmission. 

Wrecker grumbled, "What do we do now?"

"We’ll figure it out like we always do," Omega smiled confidently at Tech. 

She was right and he was glad that they had gotten a chance to speak while they were trapped in the mine, not that he had confessed to her the precise reason for his distress.

Now however, as they all looked into the distance, lightning flashed with its accompanying roll of thunder.

"Another storm's coming." Hunter sighed. "We need to find shelter." 

As they were reconnoitering for a suitable building that wasn't in too much disrepair, Omega noticed an ancient skiff.

"Do you think this could get us to the next town?" She suggested.

Tech did a cursory examination. "I might be able to get it into working order with some of the other detritus lying around."

“It’ll have to wait until morning.” Hunter decided for them. “We all could do with a rest and I don't like the look of that storm.” He motioned ahead towards a building that looked like it might fit their needs. 

Omega obeyed orders but she still asked Tech in a lower voice, “What if we contacted Mollymauk? Surely with the long range transmitter we could get a message to her and then maybe Genna could come along to pick us up!”

"Omega," he stopped walking and adjusted his goggles. "You know that Genna and I instituted plan double zero so that we would not bring attention to her location and put her in danger of discovery by the Empire while we are on the run."

"Yes, but Echo said that the Empire thinks we're dead. And nobody knows we're here but Cid and she can't come so…"

"The situation changed when the Emperor made his declaration about the stormtrooper program." He pushed her forward to get her moving again towards the shelter but she looked up at him while he shunted her along.

"But you love her."

"It is because I love her that I feel the need to let her go."

The wind was picking up now and the thunder and lightning strikes were much closer than before.

"Let her go!?!!?" 

Wrecker lifted her bodily from the ground and carried her the rest of the way into the building. “Let who go?” he asked. 

Tech opted that it was best to just explain it to them both at the same time. “When we left Echo I asked him to pass along a message if he should run into Genna on his travels that I would allow her to be free from our arrangement and find someone else who might not put her in constant danger.” 

Wrecker gasped, Omega crossed her arms over her chest giving him a disapproving frown, and Hunter, who Tech had been certain would agree with his motives in this situation, shook his head. 

Outside the wind howled and the thunder crashed. 

“What?” Tech demanded of them.

“You made vows to her,” Hunter reminded him. 

“Vows to live as a husband to her which I cannot now perform as we are several parsecs apart and stranded on a hostile planet.” He paced the darkened room. “It is not fair for me to force her to wait for a husband who may not ever be able to return.” 

“You don’t know that,” Omega insisted. 

“Well,” Tech threw up his hands in frustration. “Perhaps if we could settle on a perfect tropical island on a planet...”

“With no giant crabs,” Omega added.

“Yeah,” Wrecker agreed. “Last tropical island we went to had giant man eating crabs.”

“Fine. A perfect tropical island, with no giant man eating crabs, on a planet the Empire has never heard of.” Tech reached for his datapad on his belt as if he actually meant to do a search. “Do you know the odds that we would find such a place? They are low, very low.”

“Still,” Hunter advised. “You probably shouldn’t have just sent the message along with Echo. She deserves to hear it from you face to face.” 

It was a cowardly move, now that Tech thought about it. “He may have already had the opportunity to deliver the message.” 

“Sooo, after the storm we’ll try to contact him with the long range array.” Omega grinned. 

He gave her a noncommittal nod. “It was not a bad idea that you had to try and contact Mollymauk to come and pick us up. We do have other associates who would surely be willing to lend us a hand.” 

The storm raged all night, but in the morning light they found that the long range communications array had been destroyed. The skiff that Omega had noticed the day before was their only option to get them to the town and find transportation off the planet.

…

Genna screamed as if she had been physically attacked. She hadn't of course but she had been galactically stupid. 

She looked at the small print on the back of the box of platinum blonde hair dye that she had chosen to return her vivid pink mistake to its natural shade. There in plain aurebesh, black and white was the warning, "consult a doctor before use if pregnant." 

She knew that! In cosmetology school she had been tested on all sorts of toxins that beings of different species and physical conditions should avoid. But she had been so focused on just getting back to some sense of normal that she had completely forgotten. 

Maybe this was the "pregnancy brain" that she had heard other women complain of. That and she was just so exhausted. It seemed from the moment she had seen that positive test all of the symptoms had hit her at once. 

With another scream of annoyance at her own stupidity she dunked her head under the running faucet and scrubbed away at whatever poisons may even now be seeping into her bloodstream to infect her unborn child.

A moment later she raised her head, dripping from the sink. Was that a knock at the door? She wasn't expecting anyone. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it turban-like around her cranium. 

Whoever it was would just have to be disappointed. She wasn't taking any appointments today. She had drawn the curtains and locked the door and she was going to go to bed and just try to sleep it all away.

The knocking started up again a little harder than before. Genna ignored it. She headed down the hall toward her bedroom but then the sound changed. The latch rattled and then there was a scraping as if someone was trying to force the lock. 

Kriffing Manda! They were trying to break in! What the kriff! Had someone taken the lie about her lottery win seriously and thought she had the credits stuffed under her mattress? 

She had thought this was a decent neighborhood, maybe one in which Tech could come and be with her and they could raise their child together. Well, she might not know much about raising a child but she could sure as kriff defend herself and the baby from a home invasion. Tech had given her the means to do so, after all. 

As she drew the blaster he had given her out of the back of the drawer where she had hidden it with trembling hands, Genna thought she may have felt her very first truly maternal sensation. She would do anything to protect this child!

…

Echo had arrived on site at the precise moment to hear the screaming. He knocked on the door but didn’t get any response. Maybe whoever was inside hadn’t heard him, so he knocked again and heard another scream. 

Clearly something inside that apartment was horribly wrong. 

He knocked again more urgently this time but still his attempts went unanswered and he was beginning to worry that perhaps Genna or whoever it was could not get to the door to let him in. 

For all of his, “I am prepared to set her free,” Echo knew that Tech would never forgive him if something happened to his wife while his brother was present to prevent it. 

The skill of forced entry was something that every cadet was taught as soon as they were tall enough to reach an access panel and though blasting the mechanism might have been the quick and easy method, Echo didn’t want to give whoever was inside the idea to start shooting back. 

What he found when he slowly slid the door open was the very last thing he expected. Genna herself held the blaster pointed directly at the entryway and after a moment of recognition her eyes grew wide and the weapon fell from her nerveless grip. 

“Kriff! Echo! It’s you!” 

He was about to remark about the fact that she was standing on her own two feet when gravity took over and her legs began to crumple. He was across the room in two long strides and caught her before she hit the ground. 

Genna wrapped her arms around him. “I just can’t believe you’re here!” Then she immediately pushed back and looked over his shoulder towards the door in expectation. “Are the other’s here? Is Tech…”

“Nah, It’s just me.” He answered her gently and watched as her blue eyes went dark with disappointment.

“Oh, well.” She disentangled herself and stood, eyeing the blaster on the ground and then giving him a sheepish grin. “I thought you were some kind of kriffing burglar.”

“I thought you were being attacked.” He countered as he also stood. “Was that you screaming?”

“At myself.” She rolled her eyes. “I am my own worst enemy and only a danger to…” 

Genna waved off the rest of the explanation and plodded towards her kitchen. She was certainly getting around better than the last time Echo had seen her a couple of months ago. 

“Would you like something to drink? I don’t have any alcohol in the place but I’ve got some shig straight from Mandalore.” 

“Shig would be fine.” The last time he had sampled the drink had been with Riyo but he tried to push that memory to the back of his mind. 

Echo bent to pick up the blaster she had dropped noticing that the safety was still on. Good thing, too. He knew that Tech hadn’t had the time to give her proper instruction on how to use the thing. She might have managed to get off a lucky shot, or not so lucky rather. 

“So how is everyone?” Genna spun around to face him once she had set the water on to boil. “Are they on a different mission?” 

“I would assume so.” He set the blaster on the kitchen table with a promise to himself that he would teach her how to use it if he had the time. “I have parted ways with the squad for a time.”

“Oh?” she frowned.

“We ran into Captain Rex and while the rest of them are still trying to keep a low profile, I decided I could be of more use to some of our brothers who need assistance in leaving the Empire.” 

“Are there that many who want to leave?” 

“Well with the defense recruitment bill and the stormtrooper initiative… didn’t you hear the news?” 

Genna shook her head and turned back to the cabinet to get out some mugs for them both. “I don’t really watch the news much. It’s too depressing.” She set the cups on the counter and smiled at him. “Now the sports network I do watch occasionally. Speaking of keeping a low profile. Blue cream? Sucrose?”

“Both, please.” 

She nodded. “The last I had heard from Mollymauk’s spy was that my husband had broken his leg on a mission to collect some kind of treasure chest but when I saw him win that riot race he seemed to be doing just fine.” 

That certainly didn't sound like someone who would relish the news that her husband was letting her go, so he deflected. "Hunter was not happy when he found out that the event was broadcast on the net."

"I kept checking back to see if he would race again but…"

The teapot whistled and she jumped and laughed. "Kriff!"

She poured the water over the shig leaves and bustled around the kitchen for the sucrose and cream.

"You look well," she changed the subject back to Echo. "I think maybe working with Captain Rex agrees with you."

"Yeah."

"Of course I'm sure you miss the rest of the squad." It was obvious she missed them too.

Genna added the condiments and passed him the mug. "But I assume you're working with a new team. It's not just you and Rex."

The aroma reminded him forcefully of Riyo.

"Is there possibly a female member of this network?"

"What?" He sputtered. Was she some sort of Jedi?

"Awe, there is!"

"How did you…"

"It's my sisterly intuition." She took a sip of her shig triumphantly. "And you blushed when I mentioned the new team."

He took a drink to cover his embarrassment and burned his mouth.

"If it's a secret I promise not to tell anyone. Not that I'm in contact with anyone to tell."

"It's just that we haven't known each other long and I'm not entirely sure how she feels."

She had mercy on him and didn't ask him anymore about it. "Well, I will keep your secret if you will keep mine that I'm… that I went to Mandalore for this shig and came back with a tattoo."

He was almost sure that she'd been about to say something else. 

"You seem to be getting along quite well with this place and the new shop." 

She had always been independent. She had run the fruit stand on her own and that was when she was stuck in the hover chair. He needed to tell her.

She sighed. "When I'm not screaming at myself because I'm a terrible mother and the baby's not even here yet?"

"What?" He couldn't have heard her right. And was she crying?

She threw her head back with a mirthless laugh and then admitted. “I’m pregnant.”

No, Echo could definitely not give her the message from Tech. In fact it sounded like it would be much more important for Echo to deliver her news to him. “As soon as I finish with this mission I will get in contact with him and…”

“No!” Genna slammed her mug down on the table. “Kriff, no. You can’t tell him. I don’t want him to be distracted, to worry.” 

Her hands were shaking and she balled them into fists. “When he decides that we can kriff this osik’la double zero… I’ll tell him myself.” 

…

“It isn’t here.” 

They had their ship back, the young ipsium miners were free of a tyrannical leader, and most importantly Omega had come out of their scrape with Mokko alive. The boys had said that they had returned all of the squad’s belongings but before they took off they each did an inspection for their own personal items.

“What isn’t there?” Wrecker asked Tech, giving his Lula another squeeze. 

“His painting of Genna.” Omega smiled. She was just so happy to be back on the Marauder that she didn’t think anything could spoil it. “You want to go and ask them about it? I’ll go with you.” 

“No, I’ll take care of it.” 

Tech entered the room where Benni had said the miners were gathering to eat and although there was plenty of food on the tables the boys seemed to be huddled around devouring something else. One of them whistled and a few of the others laughed or made evocative noises.

“Excuse me,” he announced his presence. “I believe you still may be in possession of something that belongs to me.” 

“Oh, and what would that be?”

“It is a print of a painting about fifteen centimeters by…”

“You mean this?” The one called Drake held up the piece of flimzi and the other boys chuckled. 

“Yes, that is exactly…” Tech stepped forward to claim the item but it was pulled back out of his reach.

“Come on, guys. Give it back.” Benni tried to use a bit of his new clout as he was the one who had discovered Mokko was cheating them all, and they might have listened to him, but for something like this.

“Who is she?” one of the boys called out.

And another yelled, “do you know her?” 

Tech fought the urge to grind his teeth. “She is my wife.” 

This brought on another round of tooka calls and rather risque comments. “You get to kriff that?” 

Benni managed to wrestle the picture away without destroying it and handed it to Tech. But it was in that moment, when the image had been returned, that Tech realized he had made a grave mistake. 

He walked back and boarded the ship and slid into the pilot’s seat, placing the piece of flimsi on the instrument panel where he could see it while he made the calculations for take off. The looks on those boys’ faces as they ogled Genna had shaken him. He would never capitulate to her finding someone else. Though now, did he even have the choice?

Omega skipped up to the seat beside him and strapped herself in. “We could try to comm Echo now,” she suggested as if she had been reading his mind. 

Tech checked the comm channel. “It seems he is still unavailable.” 

“Then try Rex.” She smiled encouragingly. “He’ll at least be able to tell you what sort of mission Echo was on.” 

It couldn’t hurt to try, he supposed, and perhaps he could forward a message to rescind his previous message. 

“ Hello, didn’t expect to hear from you all for a while. ” Rex didn’t seem to mind the interruption however. 

“Omega, was interested to hear how Echo was doing.” Tech hedged the primary topic.

“ We took your advice and sent him to see your old pal Mollymauk. Would you believe she actually agreed to work with us? Well, not directly with our operations but the natborn side of things while we focus on getting our brothers out .” 

That was it then. Echo would have delivered the message and Genna would understand why the proposition was logical. 

“That’s… excellent.” Tech tried to keep up with the briefing that Rex was giving but his brain had stopped listening. 

Through Rex’s shimmering holoimage Omega looked up at him sympathetically. 

“He may not have told her.” Omega offered once the transmission had ended. “He may not have even seen Genna when he went to meet with Mollymauk.” 

“That is possible.” Tech turned to focus on his piloting. It was a slim hope but there was still hope. 

Chapter Text

While I'm in the waiting room

A thousand thoughts I think of you

Whatever you did, it's got me glued

You're the one I'm dreaming of

Why does this feel like wasted time? 

What a price is traveling love? 

You and me trapped between these lights

Oh, you're so mine

If we both want the love and I wait long enough

Then the ground that we're on might be coming

I'm all alone in the waiting room

All I can do, is wait for you

“ Not sure what’s got you all twisted up in knots .” Cid’s holographic image was not inspiring confidence. 

“We were stranded on that planet, Cid. We needed you, and you left us.” Even Omega was done with her osik.

“ You’re fine now, aren’t you? And you got your ship back. ”

“Yeah, with no help from you,” Wrecker scoffed. 

“ Do you want to mope or make money? Because I’ve got a tip on a downed ship, which means cargo ripe for the taking. I’ll even give you 30% of the cut. ” Was she really doing this now?

“That is our standard percentage,” Tech reminded her. 

“ All right. This one time let’s say 35%. ”

They all crossed their arms and continued to glare.

“ Okay, 40 .”

They glanced at each other in disbelief.

“ Fine ,” The trandosian concluded. “ 50% as a token of my goodwill, that you seem to have forgotten. I’m sending you the intel now. Don’t come back unless you scavenge something valuable .”

“What makes you think we’d come back at all?” Hunter asked. It was a valid question. 

“Don’t test me, Bandana. Just get it done.” She cut the transmission before they could reply.

“Severing ties with Cid could be problematic, considering what she knows about us,” Tech observed. “Perhaps we choose a diplomatic solution and complete this one last mission for her.”

Hunter inspected the incoming data. “Cid only sent coordinates. No ship transponder code or indication of what caused it to crash.”

“Limited intel.” Wrecker shrugged. “Huh. There’s a surprise.”

“How hard could scavenging cargo be?” Omega asked.

Hunter sighed deeply but Tech straightened his goggles and got to work. 

This was exactly what he needed, another mission on which to focus. It would provide a distraction from contemplating exactly how much knowledge Cid did possess, not just about their squad but also about Rex, who had come to visit them at her parlor, and Mollymauk, who she had sent them to investigate, and about… Genna. 

…

“What are you doing here?” Ellie asked over the jingling of the bells attached to the salon’s front door. “Last I checked Genna didn’t give you permission to set up shop.”

“It’s a matter of security.” Dalla set down the holozine she’d been flipping through. “My family keeps bugging me about what I’m doing in Father’s office. Trust me, it’s the last place we can have a closed-door meeting.”

“And a public salon is?”

In reply Dalla took out a key and locked the door behind Ellie. “Closed door.”

“You have a key?!”

“What? I paid for the place.” She pulled the shades. “So, tell me. What did you see?”

Ellie lowered her voice. “Ever since Gerrera left, the partisans have been gathering forces in the jungle. They’re securing contacts for food, building supplies, munitions — heavy on the munitions.”

“You think they’re trying to reestablish a base camp?”

“You don’t need that much explosive for a base camp. Unless they’re going to blast a cave in the Highlands, they’re getting ready to do something big.”

“Well, Dxun.”

“I wish I knew what their target was, but I can only stick my nose so far before it gets chopped off. The last time I was listening, someone was talking about a mercenary from Lasan. Something Skimanos.”

Dalla looked up from her black comm. “Zalyanov Skimanos?”

“I’m going to take the fact you found him online as a bad sign.”

“You would be right. The first thing that pops up on the dark net is a slew of murder warrants from the palace of Lasan. Skimanos is a stone cold killer, and those don’t come cheap. Who’s paying for this?”

Ellie chewed on the thought. “Could something have slipped through the cracks?”

“Not on our end. Gerrera’s probably conning people out of refugee money.”

“You don’t think it might be the pirate using some of what she got from you fencing one of her treasures?” 

“It’s not impossible. She’s gotten involved with the refugee effort before, and she isn’t the type to stop now.” Dalla grimaced. “I’ll talk with her. We can’t have any overlap with Gerrera.”

“I thought I heard voices down here. I don’t know why I should be surprised,” the proprietress of the salon made her presence known as she descended from the upstairs apartment. 

Ellie was about to register her own surprise at seeing her friend walking so well on her own two feet when something else caught her attention, the gentle roundness of Genna’s abdomen. She left Dalla’s side, their conversation would have to be tabled for the moment anyway, and went to greet the mother-to-be. “I didn’t think I’d been away that long.”  

Genna accepted her hug. “You haven’t,” she said pointedly to let Ellie know they needed to talk and then realizing that the Mollymauk was still observing them she stepped back with a pasted on smile. “Unless you're asking Sloan and I believe he would say that you have been gone for a kriffing age.” 

“Well, he might have said something of the sort when he met me at the dock but he didn’t tell me anything about this.” She reached out a hand to touch the small but obvious baby bump.

Dalla snorted. “Maybe because half the north thinks it’s his.” 

“I can assure you,” Genna shot the fence a glare, “that Sloan has been the model of brotherly love while you were gone. And I’m sure you two had much more pressing concerns in mind. I know if…” she caught herself and corrected. “ When Tech and I are together again we won’t be thinking about much else either.”

“Surely he’ll be here at hyperspeed when he finds out about the baby.” Ellie gushed.

“I told Echo not to tell him, so he won’t be distracted from his mission.” 

Dalla cleared her throat. “I guess if you have nothing else to report.” 

“For salt gods’ sake, Dalla.” Ellie rolled her eyes. 

“What? We came here to discuss network business.”

“In my place of business, which I can’t perform with the door shut and locked,” Genna added dryly. 

"It's not like you had a line waiting around the block. And I'm the one who…"

"Alright, alright." Ellie stepped between them before the argument could escalate any further. "Dalla, I'll send you a comm if I remember anything else from my trip that might be useful." 

The little fence stood silent in shock for a moment. It was rare for anyone to give her so direct a dismissal and get away with it. But this was her most trusted lieutenant and she had just supplied a most helpful report. 

"Aye. Make sure you do." And then as if it had been her idea and she had many other pressing matters to attend to, and who knew, maybe she did, Dalla spun on her heel and unlocked and marched out the door.

Genna also deflated with a sigh and collapsed into one of the salon's rotating chairs in front of the wall length mirror. 

It was Ellie who went to make sure that the open sign was turned on and looked out the door in the direction her boss had disappeared. "Has business been that bad?"

"It'll pick up." Genna waved her hand, unconcerned. "I knew it wouldn't be easy starting out. Sloan sent over a few of his old friends." She raised an eyebrow, knowing the man's wife was well aware of his past. "And Aunt Shara has been trying to get the word out to some of the more reputable ladies of the island."

"And what does Aunt Shara have to say about all this?"

"She knows it's not Sloan's, though she was the one who insisted I take the test on the day that he came over to help me get my stuff moved into the apartment." Genna fidgeted in the chair making it rotate back and forth. "I told her that I have a husband whose identity I can't reveal." 

Ellie leaned back against the counter and crossed her arms over her chest. "And she believed you?"

"Well, she thinks I must have been in denial about my early symptoms and that maybe I have my dates mixed up and I'm further along than I thought." She laced her fingers over her small baby bump. 

Ellie could do the math and she was aware of how few opportunities there would have been to produce the results she saw in front of her. "Have you been to see the doctor yet?"

"No. Not yet. Shara wanted to go with me and… I didn't know how to explain if they found something… abnormal."

"Regardless of what they find you need to get checked out." Ellie pushed away from the counter and crossed to her friend. She couldn't help but think of her own experience and the baby she had lost, Sloan's baby. "Tech would want you to get the best care possible, for you and his kid."

"I know." Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes and Genna dashed them away with her hands.

"And I'll go with you," Ellie promised.

…

“The creature appears to be headed in the direction of the village,” Tech reported. This mission had turned into a fine mess. They were only supposed to examine the remains of the Kaminoan science ship, and now here they were with a rampaging beast on the loose. 

“We’re the ones who let it out,” Hunter said. “We have to neutralize it before it hurts anyone.”

“How? Our blasters are useless on it,” Wrecker asked.

“Given the fact that the crew was most likely eaten by the creature, I doubt it is currently hungry.” Tech pointed out what was, at least to him, obvious.

Apparently not to Omega. “It ate the crew?”

“How is that helping, Tech?” Wrecker quipped.

“It ate the crew.” Omega repeated in a horrified whisper.

Hunter didn’t bother with horror. “Access the lab files, and find out what species we’re dealing with and how to stop it.”

“Mmm, I can help. I know my way around Kaminoan tech,” Omega volunteered.

“Go. Wrecker, with me.”

The bridge, where Tech had begun his investigation, was pretty much like any other ship he had ever boarded but this lab was cold and sterile or at least it had been sterile before the creature had turned it into a feeding ground. 

He couldn’t help but think how artificial it all seemed. It was all so contrived and he had never considered the Kaminoan cloning operations like that before. Now, however, he had experienced something real and natural with Genna. She had made him feel real. 

He returned his concentration to the matter at hand. “This data is highly encrypted, even within the ship’s own system.”

“Start here,” Omega suggested. “This is used to extract and manipulate a host’s genetic material.”

“You are familiar with this type of cloning?”

“Not exactly. I heard rumors of other Kaminoan experiments, but Nala Se kept that data away from me. I think whatever they were doing was happening off-world.”

“These appear to be designs using the creature’s genetic material for modified armor plating. That must be why it was unaffected by our blaster fire.” 

The data was fascinating. He could spend weeks analyzing it all. 

“Then how do we stop it?” Omega’s question brought him back to their current situation. 

“Uncertain, However, this confirms that the species feeds on energy, which propels its rapid growth.”

“You mean it’ll get even bigger?”

“Yes, much bigger.” 

The growth acceleration was in fact very much similar to that of the Fett clone manipulation. It would reach maturity more quickly but it would also experience a shorter lifespan. Just as the time he might have spent with Genna would have been abbreviated. 

Tech couldn’t dwell on the idea. He activated the comm. “Hunter, the creature is the same species that attacked Coruscant during the war. You must not let it get near the power grid, or it will increase exponentially in size.”

Hunter responded, “ Too late .”

…

“But I got in the hot spring, and dyed my hair, and got drunk!” Genna paced in front of Ellie while she worked herself into a frenzy. “Nevermind the baby’s father is genetically modified, what have I done to this kid already?”

“Lots of other women have done stupider things while pregnant and their babies were perfectly fine,” Ellie tried to mollify her. 

“Were they having a child with a clone who ages twice as fast as normal? Look at me Ellie, I’m huge already. Other women aren’t this big at fourteen weeks.”

“Were you looking up things on the HoloNet? Genna, surely you know better than that!”

“I had to do something! If Kamino hadn't been blown up Tech would have probably downloaded the entire kriffing file on the subject.” Genna rubbed her wedding ring between her fingers, trying to calm herself. 

“You’re going to wear grooves in that thing,” Ellie noticed, maybe she should change the subject.

“That’s what Dalla said.”

“Dalla’s seen it?”

“Yes, but she didn’t seem to know about it. I’ve been meaning to ask you about that; Cid said it was a gift from her and Mollymauk.”

Ellie sighed. “Have I told you the story of how Dalla became Mollymauk?”

That sounded like as good a distraction as any. Genna settled in for the telling. 

“When Dalla was fifteen, she dated Lux Bonteri,” Ellie explained. “Long story short, some things came up and he had to break up with her quickly. And the next time he saw her, they were at a funeral.”

Genna’s eyes widened. “He didn’t.”

Ellie nodded. “To say Dalla took it badly would be an understatement. That’s when she first dyed her hair. So a couple of weeks later, when Lux handed her a jewelry set that had been passed down in his family for years and told her to, and I quote, ‘get rid of it,’ she took no prisoners.”

“She sold it?!” 

“On the HoloNet. For ninety-nine ninety-nine.”

She couldn’t believe it. Genna had a rough appraisal of her wedding ring thanks to some research, and a set containing multiple stones of the same type would be priceless. But the repetition of “ninety-nine” had stirred another memory and she reached down to scratch the tattoo on her ankle. “How did Cid get a hold of them?”

“She was the buyer. Apparently she wanted them to display in her parlor,” Ellie sighed. “And when Dalla realized that Lux had to dump her to protect her, well, it was too late. She’s still cringing about it.”

“Is that why she named her ship…?”

“Aye, that’s why she named the flagship Bad Decisions. Our other freighter is Horrible Ideas and we have a shuttle called Spite.” 

Genna stifled a chuckle just as the Mollymauk herself and her Aunt Shara bustled into the waiting room. 

“Did we miss it?”

“No, they haven’t called her back yet.”

“Genna Carid?” The nurse called from the doorway to the exam rooms.

“Sounds like we were right on time.”

While Genna went to put on her exam gown, Shara and Ellie sat down in the room’s two guest chairs and Dalla hopped up onto the counter. Aunt Shara gave her a disapproving frown but Dalla just shrugged, “There was nowhere else for me to sit.” 

Genna reemerged before they could get into an argument, sat on the exam table with a sigh and Shara stood to help her arrange the provided sheet over her knees. “Are you sure you want all of us to be here? One or more of us can step out if you’d rather have more privacy when Doctor Niamh comes in.” 

Aunt Shara gave a pointed look at the other two young women as if wondering why they felt the need to be there in the first place. Obviously Genna would want her there as she had the most experience with this sort of thing after six pregnancies of her own. 

“No, it’s alright.” Genna looked to Ellie for support. She wasn't quite sure about Dalla but she guessed the Mollymauk was still keeping tabs on her investment. “We’re all girls here, I practically grew up in a locker room, and those two have already seen the painting of me hanging up at the museum.” 

“You’ve modeled for an artist?” Aunt Shara took her seat again and asked conversationally since her advice had not been taken. 

“Same one who painted you,” Dalla mumbled from her perch. 

Ellie grinned at Genna. “I wonder if Tech still has the print that we gave him for lifeday up in the ship?” 

“Oh yeah, Sloan told me about that.” Genna rolled her eyes. 

Aunt Shara inserted herself back into the conversation. “It’s such an interesting name, Tech. Is it short for something or a nickname from his military squadron?” 

“It’s umm… something like that.” Genna agreed hesitantly.

“Where is his family from?” The older woman asked and then demurred. “If that is too personal I’m sorry. I know you’ve said that it might compromise his safety if you share too much information. But I assure you I would never…”

“No, it’s alright.” Genna settled on a partial truth. “He’s umm… his family is originally from Mandalore, like mine.” 

“That’s why you enjoy speaking the language together?” Aunt Shara beamed. “I think it’s so sweet that you have that hobby that you can still engage in while he’s on deployment.” 

Genna nodded and was saved from further questions by the arrival of the doctor. 

She looked up from her datapad as she entered. “Genna, It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Doctor Niamh and it looks like you brought along the entire entourage.” She smiled around at the rest of the familiar faces, and reached out to shake Genna’s hand. 

“Well,” Genna breathed, “Since Daddy couldn’t make it. I will be able to get a recording of the scan to send to him, right?” Maybe it would make it easier to tell him if she had proof.

“Of course. We’ll get to that right after the physical exam and we’ll check the heartbeat.” The doctor gave Dalla a wink and shoved her to the side good naturedly so that she could set down her reports on the counter beside the girl. 

“Genna, Doctor Niamh delivered all of my babies,” Shara informed her. 

“And Dalla here,” Niamh sighed teasingly. “I keep saying I’m going to retire one of these days but Shara’s got me pressured into delivering her grandbabies.” 

“You can count this one as the first.” Shara reached forward and squeezed Genna’s hand. “I’ve already let her know that this one is welcome to call me Nana.”  

“I thought you weren’t old enough to be a Grandma yet, Aunt Shara,” Dalla crowed. 

“None of the boys are ready for that sort of thing yet, thank the salt gods.” 

“I don’t know about that,” Ellie grinned. "You didn't see how well Thias and Kason were getting along with Mohan’s nieces when we visited the orchard a few weeks ago.” 

“What? No one told me about this.” Shara looked honestly alarmed. 

“Is that why they were leaving me alone when Sloan and I stopped off in Iziz so we could…” she stopped herself just in time before she spilled the real reason for their layover. “So I could give Dalla her haircut?” 

“You did a great job.” Dalla ran her fingers through her pink hair drawing the attention back to her appearance. 

Aunt Shara rolled her eyes. “I want to hear more about these girls later on. You said they’re Mohan’s nieces, so they’re togruta?” 

“How about we focus on the patient or patients actually?” Doctor Niamh hovered her exam chair toward Genna with a smile. 

"Is working with hair dye especially dangerous during the first few weeks?" Genna rambled worriedly. "I mean I did Dalla's hair a couple of weeks ago but then I did mine after I had been drinking and then I had to dye it back. And then there was the hot springs and the tattoo…"

The doctor touched a finger to her lips for silence and then placed the listening portion of the stethoscope into her ears and began searching for a heartbeat. Her eyebrows drew together slightly as she listened to first one side of Genna’s baby bump and then the other. 

“Remind me,” The doctor glanced back at the document on the counter but didn’t reach for it since she had a better source of information right in front of her. “Did you mention in your family history that there were any multiples on either side, yours or the father’s?” 

“Two of my older brothers were twins.” Genna supplied immediately but then she looked from Ellie to Dalla and back again before she answered. “And I guess you could say that the father’s side has… multiples.”  

Dalla snorted. 

“Is that like a risk factor or something?” Genna asked. 

Ellie encouraged her, “Go ahead and tell them. It won’t go beyond this room.” 

Shara looked confused and Doctor Niamh just nodded. 

Genna took a deep shaky breath and then let it out in a rush. “He’s a clone. The baby’s father is a Fett clone. His DNA was modified and his aging accelerated. I don’t know if any of that will pass on or effect…” A tear rolled down her cheek and she swept it away with the back of her hand. “ Haar’chak , these hormones!” 

“Genna,” the doctor said calmly. “I am going to do everything I can to make sure that you and baby are safe and healthy. And we are all here for you.” 

“That’s right, Genna.” Aunt Shara overcame her momentary shock and smiled warmly.

“So let’s do that ultrasound and see if we can get a look at this little one.” The doctor stood and began to prepare the equipment. She had Genna lay back, uncovered her stomach and squirted some sort of blue goo onto her skin before setting the instrument in place and then she pointed to the viewing screen. 

None of the younger women really knew what they were looking at as they all gathered around for a better view but Aunt Shara cooed at the image, “Awwww!” 

“This dome shape here is the head,” Doctor Niamh explained. 

It was obvious once she pointed it out and Ellie, Dalla, and Genna all expressed their understanding with a unison, “Oh!” 

“There’s the spine,” Doctor Niamh continued. “And that flash, like a tiny strobe light? That’s the heart beating.” 

It was real! It was an actual living human! But there was something else. It might have been some sort of echo in the image but Dalla felt the need to point it out. “What’s that other flashing on the other side?” 

Doctor Niamh moved the instrument on Genna’s belly to focus on the other strobing object. It looked identical to the first. “And here we have another head and spine and beating heart. I’ll have to do some more measurements, but it looks to me Genna like you have two healthy babies.”

“Twins?” The tears spilled from her eyes again but she didn’t care, other than the fact that they blurred the sight of her two beautiful children. “That would explain why I’m bigger than I thought I would be,” she laughed, unable to look away from the miraculous sight. 

"I guess they do run in families."

And after a few more clicks of the device the doctor was able to confirm. “Both twin A and twin B seem to be growing right on schedule for the dates you gave me.” She tagged them in the image in different colors with the text “Twin A” and “Twin B” so that Tech would be able to see them in the recording. When they were able to get it to him that was. 

“You used purple and blue. Those were by brothers’ names in Mando’a. Saviin means purple and Kebiin means blue.” 

“Those sound like they would be lovely names for a boy or a girl,” Shara whispered, not wanting to spoil the moment. 

“Then shall we for now, till we know…” Doctor Niamh deleted the text on the blue tag for twin A and retyped in “Kebiin,” and then she did the same with the purple tag for twin B and typed “Saviin”.

Chapter Text

I started out

On the wrong foot

Now I'm not myself

I am Jekyll, I am Hyde

Found this place to hide

Come seek me

Oh, so up and down

So back and forth

So insecure

Can't get this taste out of my mouth

Swallow it down

Pretend

Hold it, hold it all in

Let it build up

Build a bomb

Blow it, blow it away

Clear it all out

Just end it

I'm just a normal person

Without those problems

When did it change?

A comforting lie can't last

Honestly he couldn’t fathom why he was here. The entire concept of leave from action was completely alien. Even the weeks he’d spent recuperating from being marooned on Kamino after the bombing had been filled with exercise and a strict training regimen. 

It couldn’t possibly be because he was missing the comradery of his squad. Rampart had not been wrong when he remarked that the clones around him kept disappearing but there were still plenty of regs among the ranks or there would be unless or until that defense bill got passed. 

So, why was it that Crosshair was sitting in a shadowy booth staring into the contents of a foaming mug of ne’tra gal at the galactic capital’s most infamous clone targeted night club? That was simple, because he was waiting for the orders to go on his next mission. That and the speech that the little blue-skinned senator was giving to the bar’s other patrons might prove interesting. 

“That’s why I’m here, to better understand your needs,” she implored.

“I need to stay a trooper. Can you make that happen?” 

Crosshair snorted and raised his drink in mock salute. 

“Well, no, but once a clone has completed the required rotations…”

“Yeah, the Empire declares us obsolete. We know. Talking won’t change that.”

“But it can change your futures. I can craft a pension plan…”

“Pension plan? I’d rather be out there fighting those insurgent groups that keep popping up.”

Crosshair tossed back the rest of his ale and mumbled, “You and me both.” 

He slipped out of the booth and left the establishment, signaling for transport back to the barracks. He didn’t want to hear about what the senate intended to do with them all once they were too old to fight. 

Maybe that was why they had all decided to get out before the empire forced them out: Cut, Cody, Hunter and the others. But what was it Tech had said all those months ago? “Understanding you does not mean that I agree with you.” 

And Cody had said that they could make their own decisions because they weren’t dumb clankers. 

Well, Crosshair hoped they were all happy with their choices. He was just bored with nothing to kill the time. 

Arriving, back in his room, he plopped down onto his bunk and reached for his datapad. If he was Tech he could while away the hours searching the holonet for pointless information. And why not? He had nothing better to do. Perhaps he’d see if someone of his average intelligence could locate the clone genius in a few taps of the keys. 

What he discovered in only a quick inquiry had him sitting back up on the edge of his bed. There in an image from a couple of months previously in a Safa Toma Speedway riot race was an entire stadium cheering the name of his dear brother. 

Tech waved to the crowd from the cockpit of a modified racing speeder and in the background Wrecker and the kid hurried out onto the track to meet him. 

Crosshair amended the search so that he could view the entire race. Tech could have been killed in this meaningless spectacle or at the very least invited the wrong kind of attention to their whereabouts! Even so, he had to admit, it was an exciting demonstration of speed and dexterity. 

He smiled in spite of himself and then immediately returned to his regular scowl as he refined the search again to try to ascertain if there was a way the present location of the members of the squad could be tracked from this event. It didn’t seem to be possible but he didn’t possess the same hacking abilities of his now holonet famous brother.

Hunter must have been furious when he learned of the carelessness. And that made Crosshair wonder if there had been any other occurrences of such disregard. 

There was a method that Tech sometimes used to search for facial recognition which was impossible when generally searching for a single clone out of millions but if the program focused on the hairline of an individual and the goggles that the individual always wore…

Another image came up in Crosshair’s search much too quickly for his liking. The time stamp was several months before the riot race, even before Crosshair had lured the rest of his squad to Kamino. Again there was Tech among the crowd of a sporting event, this time sitting in the stands to observe a limmie match with Wrecker and the child also in attendance.

In the recording Tech was holding the hand of a young woman and gazing at her intently. 

“ Our very own Genna Carid! ” The announcer’s voice boomed and the young woman waved diffidently at the cam with her free hand. This was followed by a series of images of the same young woman playing the sport they had come to spectate. 

She had evidently been a star player for University of Onderon before the end of the war and that planet seemed to be where Tech and the others had made her acquaintance. If an acquaintance was all she was. They were staring at each other like Cut and Suu. 

Well, Crosshair certainly had enough time to consider the possibility. It wasn't until a full standard day later when he found out along with the rest of the galaxy that Rampart had been arrested for ordering the attack on Kamino and it would be even longer until they figured out the shabbed up order of authority and a random nat born officer got around to assign him to a new mission.

A series of forgettable missions followed over the next few weeks and months but Crosshair was at least glad he had a job to do for the empire to which he had dedicated his service. And then the day came when another fresh faced imperial called CT-9904 into his office on seemingly more important matters.

The subject of the interview was the report Crosshair had filed after the mission on Desix and he worried that the reason for the overview of the event might be the disappearance of Clone Commander Cody. Instead the officer shuffling through flimzi docs and datapads asked, "What was it that former Governor Ames had to say about her Separatist colleagues?"

Crosshair relaxed slightly, if this was about routing out holdouts from the war he was all in. "She only mentioned one by name, a Senator Mina Bonteri."

"Yes." More files were sorted quickly until the proper document was produced. "Bonteri was the Senator for Onderon when that planet seceded from the Republic." 

Onderon. Crosshair had visited that planet more than once. "I was under the impression that the Senator was killed by Dooku himself."

"That is the story that circulated." The officer finally looked up at him. "But she also had a son who was instrumental in bringing that system back under the control of the Republic prior to the end of the war."

"So Onderon was naturally still under control at the formation of the Empire." Crosshair was sure he knew now where this was all leading but he played along with the dialogue.

"One would like to think so." The young man tapped his stylus on the desktop and smirked with the air of one who had successfully connected the dots. "You see, young Bonteri was not the only one to fight for the liberation of his planet. He had accomplices of his own of whom I know you are perfectly well aware."

"Saw Gerrera." He grated the name between his teeth.

"You have been sent on two missions after the malefactor? Is that correct?"

"I was ordered to stand down on the first attempt and although I was sent back the second time and succeeded in carrying out the mission, Gerrera was no longer on the planet with the rest of the insurgents."

"We don't believe he is there at this time either." 

The officer focused back on his flimziwork for a moment and Crosshair took a breath. 

“There’s been an uptick in smuggling around the Inner Rim as well. Someone is financing civil unrest, and Gerrera is a top suspect.”

Perhaps Gerrera was taking the heat for a band of rogue clones. Crosshair dismissed the thought.

The young officer was still talking. “Anything you can tell me about him would be useful. I’m taking a squad to Onderon to investigate.”

This boy expected to lead soldiers? Crosshair felt like he was babysitting just being in the room with him. “Anything I know is listed in my report. Like I said, I only saw him for a few moments.”

“All we can ask for is your best recollection.” An actual adult entered the room, a mustached man wearing a colonel’s rank badge. “Thank you, Commander … Crosshair, is it?”

“Yes sir.” He hedged. Most natborns didn’t bother with his name. 

“This should be most useful. Officer Kallus, shall we prepare a briefing?”

“Yes sir!” Young Kallus echoed and shook Crosshair’s hand at the colonel’s instruction before they dispersed. 

All in all, it wasn’t the worst visit to headquarters but he wasn’t inclined to hang around. Crosshair took a back stairwell in hopes of avoiding other people.    

It wasn’t to be. A few flights down another agent was berating a teenage girl wearing the same uniform as Officer Kallus. 

“I don’t understand how you managed to graduate, since you can’t do anything right,” he spat. 

“I’m sorry, sir.” The girl flinched and her hair swished just enough for Crosshair to spot finger marks on her neck. 

So that’s how this was. Crosshair felt a familiar, contemptuous sneer take form. He knew this type of officer, the men who looked down on anyone they deemed lesser than themselves. As terribly as they treated their subordinates, like this girl here, they treated clones worse. 

Would it be so bad to rid the galaxy of one such man? It would be so easy to get a bead on him, and the girl wouldn’t mind. It would be the work of a moment. 

He caught himself a heartbeat before he reached for his holster. This wasn’t his business. 

…

Genna paused a moment in her stride and placed a hand on her belly causing her companion to also come to an immediate halt. 

"Are you alright? Do you want to head back to the transport?" Shara asked her with an extra air of concern.

"No, I'm fine." Genna waved her off. "Just my little clones rearranging themselves. I think the walk will do us all some good after being cooped up in that med center all morning being poked and prodded."

The extra testing had been arranged by Doctor Niamh to take place in Iziz since she didn't have all of the same equipment up north. But so far all of the results had come back normal so there was every indication that the delivery would be able to go as scheduled on Blackhold Isle.

"Well, if you get tired out or feel any pain or discomfort…"

"I remember what the nurses said, Aunt Shara." Genna rolled her eyes and resumed her forward momentum. "Besides I thought you wanted to see the sights of your old hometown as much as I did."

"That is true, but not to the detriment of your health or the twins'." The older lady fell into step beside her.

"One thing I do not remember is the city of Iziz being so kri--," she stopped herself just in time before finishing the profanity. "so darned hot."

Shara laughed politely. "That comes of spending so much time up north and becoming used to the chill." Then she changed the subject. "What would you like to see while we have the afternoon?"

"I'd love to go out to the orchard." Genna knew Shara would as well. Not only because she and her father had been the owners of the land before Genna and her brothers purchased it but also because she had heard so much about the new owners, a togruta family, and in particular their young nieces, from her eldest son. 

They both knew however that they simply didn't have the time.

"How about Dalla's museum?" Shara suggested. "She's always going on about how hard she works to procure the finest pieces for display. And it would be climate controlled."

Genna was about to protest but thankfully didn't have to.

"Or that probably isn't a place that was particularly special to you when you lived here." Shara considered. "How about the university campus? You did attend there for a year, if I am correct?"

"I did but…" Genna looked up and down the road with a sigh. "I think I'd really just like to walk around Malgan Market."

"Of course." Shara laid a hand on her arm with a smile. "I haven't been to the marketplace in an absolute age."

"Genna," she asked after they had gone on a ways, "is that where you and Tech met?"

"It was." Genna was rubbing her belly again as she walked. "He and his brothers came to the fruit stand and…" 

They passed by a couple of patrolling Imperial soldiers in their identical white armor and Genna tensed. It was nothing like the armor the Batch had worn, in fact it gave her a feeling more like the legions of droids that had once marched through her beloved city, a faceless invading army.

Aunt Shara was still speaking to her. "I'm sure we'll be able to get word to him."

Could they? Did she want to? Part of her wanted to punish him for the months-long radio silence.

"I didn't want him to worry," Genna mumbled.

"Well, now that you're so close and you have a date set for the cesarean section. Maybe you could send a message by his brother who came to visit?"

"Echo's on a separate mission. He's not traveling with them now or at least he wasn't," she said distractedly. But even her last contact with Echo had been several months ago now. She had no idea if he had met up with the others and passed on the news she had asked him not to share.

"Genna, are you alright?"

"Yes, of course," she nodded. It was then that she noticed another soldier in dark armor with a sinister looking rifle slung across his back. He seemed to be paying her far more attention than the plain troopers.

"Maybe it would be a good idea to get back to the transport."

…

When Crosshair first saw the girl his initial thought was that she must have swallowed a planet. Her belly was huge and he was sure that was the reason she had attracted his notice, especially when she laid a hand on the round bulge and stopped in her tracks. 

The clone had a moment of panic that he was about to be called on to recall the lesson he had flashlearned back on Kamino about emergency field medicine and human labor and delivery. Then he remembered that there was a medical center within close proximity and that at the worst he might have to carry the girl to the professionals and let them do the dirty work. 

But she straightened again and seemed to be breathing normally and what was that she said? "Just my little clones rearranging themselves." 

Who referred to their natural born children as clones? 

Crosshair took a closer look at the girl. There was something vaguely familiar about her appearance although he hadn't the slightest idea why that should be so. 

Stealthily he followed the girl and her middle aged companion. It wasn't like he had anything better to do until the little ISB agents decided they were done with their investigation of the Onderonian criminal element. 

He lost the thread of the women's conversation for a stretch until he heard the elder blonde suggest, "How about Dalla's museum?"

Crosshair had been there almost a standard year before. He had been checking into the connection the woman, or girl really, Dalla Blackwell, had with the rebels Lux Bonteri and Saw Gerrera since she had known both of them during the war. She had obviously broken ties with them if a certain defaced flimsi holostill and the story of an incident at a funeral were to be believed. 

Perhaps he should have told Officer Kallus about the meeting but it was in his report. They would investigate as they saw fit.

And then his attention was caught again by the older woman's words. "How about the university campus? You did attend there for a year, if I am correct?"

"I did but…" the girl responded with a sigh and another memory was highlighted in Crosshair's mind.

That holovid he had viewed of the Onderonian university limmie match, his brother had been sitting with a girl, holding her hand. This couldn't be that same " Our very own Genna Carid! ”

Then against all odds the woman said, "Genna, is that where you and Tech met?"

"It was." The girl was rubbing her belly again as she walked. "He and his brothers came to the fruit stand and…"

Crosshair stood stupefied, listening. 

"I'm sure we'll be able to get word to him."

Were they no longer in contact? Some sort of plan double zero instituted for her safety? It’s what he would have done if he’d been irresponsible enough to knock up a civilian.

"I didn't want him to worry," Genna mumbled.

Did his brother even know he was going to be a father?

"Well, now that you're so close and you have a date set for the cesarean section. Maybe you could send a message by his brother who came to visit?"

"Echo's on a separate mission. He's not traveling with them now or at least he wasn't," she said distractedly. 

And Echo was no longer with the squad? She obviously had no idea of their whereabouts. She couldn’t be interrogated for the information but if Tech still had feelings for this girl and discovered news of her capture…

“Yes, of course.” The girl, Genna, looked directly at him and Crosshair saw the color drain from her face. "Maybe it would be a good idea to get back to the transport."

He let them go unaccosted and faded back into the crowded Iziz street but Crosshair could not unhear what he had just heard. His brothers had a reason to return to the planet Onderon and it had nothing to do with Saw Gerrera.

…

Crosshair heard the click and felt it under his boot.

“Pressure mine,” Mayday stated the obvious.

“Mm-hmm.” 

“What were you saying about deadweight?”

“Do you know how to disarm it?”

“I’m not an explosives expert, but since I don’t feel like carrying your body back to the outpost,” He removed his helmet. “I guess I’ll give it a shot.” 

Crosshair had always thought this was the sort of moment he was supposed to see his short life flash before his eyes. The funny thing was the memory that came to his mind just then was of the civilian girl on Onderon carrying a new life or perhaps more than one since she and the other woman had been speaking of the babies as plural.

Mayday blew some of the snow away to get a better look. “Hmm. This mine’s a little different than the ones I’ve seen before, but I'm pretty sure they’re all the same. Guess we’ll find out soon enough, huh?”

He wasn’t really listening, in fact it might be a good thing for Crosshair to just die right here. The knowledge of his brothers’ contacts, their weaknesses, would die here with him. 

Mayday began to work, keeping up his steady monologue. “I wish I had the proper equipment for this, but the Empire’s ignored all my requests. I’ve learned to improvise though. I guess all clones have had to since the war. Can’t say I ever thought much about the war ending…” he sighed, “until it did.”

Yes, Crosshair thought, his own death would ensure the safety of the others. It was almost like that plan they had discussed as a last resort.

“What unit were you with?” Mayday looked up scratching his beard. 

The question demanded an answer. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Humor me. I could use the distraction.”

If they were both about to die, it was of little consequence. “Clone Force 99.” 

“What happened to them?”

“They’re… gone.”

“And here we are, the survivors. Hmm. Combat troopers stuck babysitting cargo shipments.”

Babysitting . Crosshair almost smiled beneath his helmet.  “Mission’s a mission.”

“Yeah, I used to say the same thing.” The clone double checked his work. “There. That should do it.”

Crosshair began to move. Either it would all be over or…

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Don’t pick up your foot yet. Wait until I tell you, then lift it, but real slow like. I’ll wait around the bend. If I don’t hear a boom, then I’ll know it worked.”

“Glad you’re confident in your work.”

“Oh I’m confident. I’m just not stupid. Remember, nice and slow. On the count of three. One. Two. Three.” 

Slowly, he lifted his foot and… it seemed that CT-9904 would live to fight another day. 

The mine may have been successfully disarmed, but Crosshair still had the feeling that there was another bomb inside of him, just waiting to go off.

Chapter Text

You're always tellin' me to go out more

Go ahead, get out and see the world

But then I think, why should I?

I'd rather stay home and cry

Would you say they find me unstable?

'Cause they see me act a little bit different

But I know my way to greener pastures and

Think about it, won't you think it over?

Please?

Without you, I can move

I can stretch my arms out, I can feel it

And when I'm in my room alone, I feel good

Because I don't have to deal with you or the outside world

“You should have that lesson completed before we reach the planet,” Tech admonished, pointing at the datapad in Omega’s hand as he stormed through the cabin of the Havoc Marauder back up to his regular place at the controls. 

Wrecker plopped down next to her. “What’s got him in such a bad mood? Thought he’d be happy that we had another job lined up and we're gonna work with Phee again.” 

“I don’t know.” She twirled her stylus between her fingers like Hunter twirled his knives. “I think he’s missing someone else.” 

“You mean Genna?” He attempted to drop his voice to a whisper. “But I thought he told Echo to tell her she could find somebody else?” 

Omega glanced up at the pilot’s seat and then down at the lesson she was supposed to be studying and whispered back, “He did, but he never found out if the message got delivered.” 

“Surely it did. Echo wouldn't shirk on a mission and Genna probably found somebody else easy.” 

His sister wasn’t so sure. “I didn’t think it would be possible for either of them to just find someone else. They loved each other.” 

“Yeah.” Wrecker scratched his head. “But it’s been months and months and if she’s moved on maybe it’s time for him to move on too.” 

“Maybe.” 

“Hey, maybe he needs our help again.” He gave her a little shove with his elbow. “We are gonna see Phee again and she seemed interested in him before.” 

Omega considered. She did like Phee. They all did. 

“Is that lesson finished?” The call came from the cockpit. 

“Nearly,” Omega called back. They really had to do something to help their brother. 

…

He was alone in the Marauder. This was not a common occurrence especially since they had broken ties with Cid and could no longer spend their down time lounging in her parlor. 

Tech had promised himself he would not go to his storage locker and retrieve the picture of his wife while the others were in the establishment offering backup for Phee's negotiations. Neither would he open the vid that was recorded on his datapad of Genna playing her final limmie match. 

It had been eight standard months since he had last seen her and five since he had sent the message for Echo to deliver that she should consider herself free to move on. Surely she had done so by now. 

Genna Carid was a beautiful woman. She was also talented and independent. And now that she was back on her feet with a business to run she would be making her own way and starting fresh. 

After all, what did Tech have to offer her? The nomadic life of an outlaw running from the empire in a tiny ship without even a cabin for them to share away from the rest of his squad?

No. She was much better off where she was. And Tech would make the most of his time alone. He would…. 

Well, Gonky provided an adequate surface for a diversion.

"Gonk," the droid honked.

"Yes, I am playing against myself. It is the only time this game is a challenge."

Hunter's voice crackled over the comm, " Tech, we need a pickup ."

"On my way." 

It sounded as if Phee's scheme had landed them in the usual predicament. 

"Now that was a fun mission," Omega beamed, once they were all back on board and had made the jump into hyperspace.

"You got that right," Wrecker agreed heartily.

“You know, Omega was pretty impressive back there,” Phee said.

Hunter had to agree. “Her training's paying off.”

“Oh, I know she's got the whole soldier thing down but don't you think she should learn some other skills?”

“What other skills?” Tech asked, seemingly befuddled by the idea of other skills.

Phee laid it out for them: “Omega spends all her time with you three. She needs friends. Ones her own age who don't share her genetic profile.”

“We never had such a thing. I do not see the issue.”

“No kidding,” Phee scoffed.  

"We are receiving a transmission." Tech informed them. "It is from Cid."

Hunter indicated for him to activate the message. "Let's hear it."

" So it's been twenty rotations and no word. You'd better be dead because your absence has cost me a few scores. Remember our mutually beneficial arrangements, and how well we know one another. " The sound of her voice glitched ominously from the speaker. " You'd do well to not assume I am just threatening you boys ."

Phee was incredulous. "You didn't mention you cut ties with Cid."

"Our mutually beneficial arrangement wasn't so beneficial, mutually." Hunter sighed.

"Figured that out, did you? I've known Cid a long time. She's a useful ally but not someone you want to cross. Do you have a plan?"

Hunter gestured around the cabin. "You're looking at it."

"In that case you all are coming with me." Phee leaned across Tech and entered something into the navigation computer. "Head to these coordinates, Brown Eyes."

…

When they stepped off the transport onto the Blackhold spaceport, Genna had only one object in mind and that was to have a conversation with Mollymauk as soon as possible. Fortunately, speaking of the Bogan, Dalla was right there, as if she had been waiting for them.

"How was Iziz?" The fence asked, feigning nonchalance.

"As hot as ever." Her Aunt Shara laughed. "Time did not permit us from seeing all the sights as we had wished. All of Genna's scans came back normal, however, and that's the important thing."

"The Empire's kriffing up the traffic in the city more than they were before." Genna cursed, causing the matriarch to flinch, but she was more interested in Dalla's reaction. "I hope they're not keeping visitors from the museum." She couldn't say what she really wanted to say in present company.

"Well it's a good thing we're heading there now to check on operations." Dalla spun away from them and jogged up the gangplank of her own transport, the Bad Decisions.

"And we should get you back to your apartment so you can put your feet up…" Aunt Shara attempted to steer the pregnant woman towards her rest.

Genna shrugged her off and noticed Sloan also preparing to depart. "I'll head over there in a minute."

Sloan smirked at her ungainly approach. "Heard her say you passed all your tests. That's great."

"Didn't get to see Ellie while we were in town. I can't name the two of you godparents if you're not here."

“Well, you’ve got the date already scheduled so at least I know when I need to get her back.” He frowned, knowing Ellie wasn't the only thing on her mind. "What is it?"

"I wanted to talk to Dalla, ask her if she could get word to the pirate."

"Ah. I don't think she's made contact for a while."

That wasn't reassuring. "But she does know how to contact her and the pirate has been in contact with the Batch?"

"Are you still worried Goggles has run off with the liberator of ancient wonders?" He said it as if the idea were preposterous.

"Well even if he has, he should at least know that he's going to be a kriffing father!" Tears stung in the corners of her eyes but she refused to give in to them.

Sloan put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll ask Dalla about placing a comm, but you've still got the ID for the old comm channel."

"I don't know if they even check that anymore. It's like they don't want to be found." She laughed mirthlessly.

"Sloan!" The voice called imperiously from inside the Bad Decisions and he rolled his one good eye.

"Look, we've got time." He dropped his hand from her shoulder to her belly with a reassuring grin before he skipped up the gangplank. 

"Not much."

…

It was quite frankly “a perfect tropical island, with no giant man eating crabs, on a planet the Empire has never heard of”. Wasn’t that exactly how he had described the fantastical place that he might be able to settle with Genna?

“Welcome to Pabu, my home away from home,” Phee was saying. “It's a hidden sanctuary of sorts. That's the Archium. It's where the artifact will be stored. It holds treasures from all over the galaxy.”

Tech wasn’t so sure. “My analysis indicates that this so-called artifact you recovered is of little to no monetary value.”

“Treasure can mean many things,” Phee countered. “Most of the villagers on Pabu are refugees. Many of the items I recover are remnants of their cultures and that's worth preserving. After all I am…”

“A liberator of ancient wonders.” The speaker was a newcomer, a large man with a bald head and a warm smile. “About time you showed your face around here.”

Tech wasn’t really paying attention; he was thinking about what she had said about the refugees. These settlers were like the people Saw Gerrera had been hiding in the jungles of Onderon. Genna’s brother might have ended up in a place like this if it wasn’t for…

Wrecker elbowed him, interrupting his thoughts. “You’ve got some competition.” 

Competition? Tech watched as a young girl ran into Phee’s waiting arms and inquired about the artifact and then introductions were made. 

“There’s no saying no to one of Shep’s famous feasts. Lots of food, drink, and general marrymaking. You’ll probably hate it.” Phee singled him out in particular.  

Why would he?  

“It’ll be great. Lead the way, Shep. I’ll catch up.”  

Tech hesitated before he followed the others. He wanted to say something. 

“Gonna put this someplace safe.” 

He couldn’t help but smile. Tech knew what this was. He hadn’t heard from Genna in months. Surely she had moved on and perhaps it was time for him to move on as well or investigate further and see if this was the sort of place he could bring her to, if she was still interested. 

…

Genna clutched the edge of the sink and took a deep breath. She had been cleared to keep working even though her huge belly was a hindrance. And she was glad, because she couldn't just sit around and wait, she'd go mad. 

So as long as she was feeling up to it, she was going to work. That had just been a slight twinge in her lower back. Probably one of the twins pinching her psychotic nerve or whatever it was called. She'd been having those more often but had been assured it was perfectly normal.

Her reaction however must have been enough to worry her client.

"Are you alright, Ms Genna?" 

The lady was one of Aunt Shara's society friends. Genna would have almost preferred if it were one of the other sort of her clientele but it was too early in the morning for any of them to be up after a night's work. 

"Me? I'm fine. Still got another couple of weeks till I go in." She focused on the head of hair in front of her that she was supposed to be shampooing.

"Plenty of time then for the father to get back to witness the blessed event?"

"Not kri--," she curbed her tongue. 

Yes, Genna definitely wished this were one of Sloan's old friends. It wasn't that she actually felt more comfortable around them but just that they didn't ask di'kutla questions. And they knew that Sloan was now and always would be utterly devoted to Elinor Harkon-Murphy. 

That was what this was all about, no doubt, the old gossip trying to get the foreign girl to admit that she got knocked up by the one-eyed sailor. 

Genna resisted the urge to spray the woman in the face with the nozzle in her hand. "I'm sure my husband would like nothing better than to…"

She stopped short and let out a shriek as another pain seized her lower back. 

She didn't really mean for the sprayer to swivel in her grip but she wasn't exactly sorry for the dowsing that the woman received either. 

"Are you quite certain you are entirely well?" The client jumped up from the chair and reached for her purse.

Genna meant to reply in the affirmative but all that came out of her mouth was another cry as the gush of fluid that had nothing to do with the shampooing sink suddenly pooled around her shoes.

"I'm comming the med center!" 

"No, it's not time yet!" Genna gasped, grabbing for her own comm unit off the counter before she dropped into the seat her client had just vacated. 

She didn't even think about the ID she activated. It’s not like she thought anyone would actually pick up but she had to try.

“Tech, it’s happening,” she panted. “I’m having the babies now. Your… I’m having your babies, right now.” 

Another contraction tightened in her belly and she grimaced. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you and please don’t be angry with Echo; I swore him to silence. I … I just …” She breathed through the contraction. “I need you to know. I love you. And… Please come back to me.” 

She cut off the connection, not having anything else to say and unable to bear the pain of an empty comm line. Instead she keyed in another ID, one she knew would be answered.  

 And answered it was. “Hey Genna,” Ellie said brightly. “How are those babies treating you?”

“Let’s just say there’s no need to give them an eviction notice.” Genna grunted.  

“ They’re coming now? But you still have two weeks! I’m supposed to be there! ” 

Just then Aunt Shara breezed into the salon, although how she managed to arrive before the paramedics Genna would never know. Perhaps gossip spread faster than a Blackhold ambulance speeder. 

“I’m here now and everything is going to be just fine,” the matriarch crooned. 

Genna ignored her in favor of the comm unit in her hand. “Ellie, I need Dalla to get a hold of the Batch. She can contact the pirate and she can tell them, can’t she?” 

“ Aye, of course ,” Ellie looked over her shoulder. “ I’m sorry, things are happening here, too. But Dalla’s right here. You can ask her yourself .” 

Genna didn’t particularly want to talk to Dalla but Ellie didn’t give her the option. The comm was handed over and Genna could only watch from Dalla’s hands while Ellie walked away. 

“What’s happening?” She asked.

“I don’t know,” Dalla said. “She just handed the unit over and walked away.” Her eyes narrowed and she looked at something in the middle distance. “Oh, osik.”

Genna was about to ask what it was, but the telltale stomp of stormtrooper boots spoke a thousand words. 

“Attention citizens.” The stormtrooper captain announced on the other end of the comm. “Last night a unit of troops dedicated to protecting peace and order in your city were brutally murdered by terrorists.” 

“What?”

“Ambush,” Dalla whispered. “It was the Partisans.”

The captain kept talking. “We come to inform you that thanks to the help of loyal citizens, those responsible for this crime have been located.” 

Genna had no love for the Empire, but she wasn’t a friend of the Partisans either and if they’d done something this heinous, then they deserved what was coming to them. But Dalla didn’t look pleased. She looked like she was staring the Bogan in the face. 

“Terrorism will not be tolerated, and those choosing to engage in such heinous acts will be brought to justice.” He looked somewhere else. “Immediately.” 

“Dalla, what’s going on?”

Dalla just muted the comm, staring horrified at whatever was playing outside the holofield, but Genna got her answer when the captain spoke. “Elinor Harkon. You’re under arrest.” 

Ellie? She would never do such a thing, that Genna knew as surely as the sun rose each morning. This was a setup. Somehow, the partisans who had stolen her brother away had framed the Mollymauks for their misdeeds.

 “On what charges?” Ellie asked. 

“Treason, terrorism, and murder in the first degree.” 

“Well, that wasn’t me,” Ellie said almost nonchalantly. “But I won’t hesitate to return the favor to you.” 

“Ellie, no!” Genna burst out even though she was muted. 

Even if she wasn’t, her cry would have been drowned out by the din of blaster fire on Ellie’s end of the comm, the flashes lighting up Dalla’s horrified face. 

Something hit the ground with a dull thud and far, far away, Sloan screamed.

Dalla snapped out of her shock and hung up the comm, leaving Genna with the empty line she’d dreaded in the first place. 

“She’s over here.” Shara reappeared with a crew of paramedics hovering a stretcher. “The contractions are close and her water’s broken.”

“We’ve got it from here, Lady Blackwell.” One of the medics stepped forward to help Genna onto the stretcher. “Miss Carid, the doctor is waiting. How close are the contractions?”

“I…” Genna gasped but it had nothing to do with contractions. Ellie was dead. Murdered, if not by the Empire than by the partisans who framed her. How far would they take it? Was Sloan next? Dalla and her blissfully ignorant family? “There’s no need for this. I have to go somewhere, I –.”

“Ma’am, this is happening right now.” The other medic said. “I’ll give you something to help you calm down.” And he did.

She closed her eyes while the medics took her away. Maybe it was a good thing Tech wasn’t physically present. Onderon was becoming more dangerous with every day. 

…

Genna had survived the expatriation from her home world as a child and the death of her brothers during the war. She had lost her hopes and dreams of a future as a professional athlete and had been rendered lame for over a year. Tech was glad therefore that she had not been forced to endure the sea surge of the island of Pabu. 

Besides all that, he knew that he would have been primarily worried about her safety had she been present and he would not have been able to spend his energies on the rescue of the island's other occupants.

"We got everyone out in time. That’s what’s important," Shep observed as they walked among the survivors, offering what comfort could be delivered in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

“Based on my estimations, it will take several rotations to rebuild the damage sustained in Lower Pabu.”

“Yes. Property was destroyed, but my people are resilient. We’ll band together and rebuild."

“I was thinking.” Hunter said. “We could stay and help out with things.”

Tech indicated his approval with a pointed gesture. “I had the same idea.”

“Did you now?” Phee smiled.

“That is, if you don’t mind us sticking around for a while,” Hunter said to Shep.

Shep patted him on the back. "You would be most welcome."

“So we're staying?” Omega chirped.

They hadn't realized she had awoken and was following along with their conversation.

"Well," Tech turned to answer her while the others continued on. "I shall be making a short trip off planet with Phee to acquire supplies for the rebuilding efforts."

"Just you and Phee?"

"She asked if I would be the one to pilot…"

Omega gave him a curious look. "Are you going to tell her about Genna?"

"I…" he hesitated. "I must admit that I thought a private conference would be the ideal opportunity to do so."

She nodded, seemingly satisfied. "She should know, whether Genna wanted to come here and join us or if you were free to move on."

"Hmmm," he agreed, returning to the relative comfort of his datapad screen.

"And when you get back…" she wheedled. 

"What is it?"

"Well, if we're not too busy helping out the people of Pabu… do you think that maybe we could have that piloting lesson you promised?"

Tech smiled at his sister. "I think that could possibly be arranged."

…

Genna had the twins, the text from Aunt Shara read. Beautiful girls, both strong and healthy, but Genna is distracted. She keeps saying “tell Dalla to comm the pirate.” Do you know what she’s talking about? Can you send a message? 

Oh she was going to send a message alright. She was going to light Phee Genoa’s ass up until she told Dalla who had sold them out.  

Dalla felt like the walls of her office were closing in and the electric lights were buzzing in her ears. It didn’t make any sense; the room was spacious and she’d never had a problem with claustrophobia before. Why was this happening to her now?

Who was she kidding, she knew kriffing well why. Ellie was gone, her house of cards was tumbling down, and it was only a matter of time before the Empire came after the rest of them.

She was an idiot. Dalla buried her head in her hands. It was one thing to go big or go home by herself, but she shouldn’t have dragged Sloan and Bernard into this. Now her brother and her best friend, husband of convenience, were going to die for her arrogance. 

And what could she do to prevent it? Nothing. Aunt Shara used to say that when the gods closed a door, they opened a window. 

“I’m ready for the window, gods,” she whispered.  

Just to show how much the gods cared, her desk comm rang. 

“Ms Blackwell, you have a visitor,” the museum’s completely innocent receptionist said. “He says he’s a colonel.”

Well, well, if it wasn’t her old friend, the dawning realization that she’d kriffed up real bad. 

“Send him in,” She took a breath to steel herself and tucked the dagger from her desk drawer into her waistband. Even in shambles, she was the Mollymauk and she wasn’t going down without a fight. 

But to her shock, the man who entered didn’t look like he was expecting a fight. He looked to be her father’s age, with hair that was mostly gray and a well-groomed mustache, and he wore a snow-white uniform and shiny boots.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Blackwell,” he said and extended his hand to shake. “Colonel Wullf Yularen, ISB. I’d like to speak with you.”

“Of course sir. Please, sit down.” At the desk where she negotiated the sale of stolen Imperial goods. Genius, as always. 

“I hope this isn’t an inconvenience.” Yularen sat. “It shouldn’t take very long.”

“It’s not a problem. I’m just a little confused what ISB would want with an art museum.”

“I’m not here to discuss the museum. I wish to speak to you, personally.”

“Oh. Okay, I’m not sure what I can help you with either; I just run the museum and I barely have time for anything else –.”

“You knew Elinor Harkon, though. She worked for this museum.”

Dalla managed to keep from crying, but she couldn’t hide the pinch of her eyes. Yularen saw it. Of course he saw it. 

“You’re aware what happened yesterday, then,” he said and pushed a box of tissues closer to her.  

“Yes.” She wiped at her eyes. “I’m sorry, it was so shocking.” 

“I can only imagine. I’ve been looking into the ambush in the jungle that Ms Harkon has been blamed for, and it doesn’t add up.”

“What do you mean?”

“In the med center, Officer Kallus and I created a psychological profile for the responsible party, and Elinor Harkon doesn’t fit it.”

It was a trick. No way was an ISB colonel coming to tell her that the friend that stormtroopers executed yesterday was innocent. “You don’t think she did it?”

“I think there are far more likely candidates, and you can help me narrow them down.” And there it was. “During the Clone War, you were involved with the rebel cell which overthrew the separatists. So you knew Saw Gerrera, Lux Bonteri, Hutch St. James…”

“I severed all ties after the war. I barely spoke to Gerrera to begin with, and Lux Bonteri dumped me a funeral!” Dalla gestured to the defaced holo she lovingly referred to as her voodoo poster. “I married someone else and I haven’t thought about either of them since.”

“No, but you know their faces. You know their playbook, and how they think, and you have a high enough perch to see everything. Now, as a young lady who is active in her community and is familiar with spotting partisan activity, what have you noticed?”

She should play dumb, but here was the opportunity to screw those who had dared to screw with her. Time to practice what she preached, and go big. 

“I haven’t seen any of the old crew,” she said. “But I have seen some people hanging around the market, acting very much like they did back in the day. They’re buying large amounts of food, building supplies, and incendiaries.”

“What do you mean, incendiaries?” Yularen asked, very studiously not asking how she knew what the Partisans were buying.

“If you buy a case of liquor, then you’re having a party. If you buy a tankard of undrinkable alcohol along with a bunch of fertilizer, then you’re up to something. I’d look into them if I were you.”

“Could you describe these individuals?”

“Not really. But one of them was a Lasat.”

Sabaac. She could actually see Yularen’s fury. Die screaming, Skimanos. Now she just had to get herself out of the situation. 

“I see,” Yularen said. “Which merchants were they buying from?”

“A lot. But I bet one of them has a security cam.”

“Yes, I believe they would. Thank you, Ms. Blackwell. This has been an …” He looked at her desk. “Enlightening conversation.”

“You’re welcome, Colonel. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.”

“I will.” His eyes went from datapad, to pile of flimsi, to not-technically-stolen antique. “Believe me, I will.”

Dalla watched him go, the pit in her stomach growing deeper with every second. 

She was so, so dead.

…

Phee had no sooner entered comm reception when her unit practically exploded with notifications. What was going on? She knew her ship was fine, and they had just left Pabu, so it had to be something offworld. Maybe one of her contacts had a hot lead? She checked the caller’s ID. It was a recorded transmission from Mollymauk.

“The Paritsans are all show, my ass!” Mollymauk roared. 

Phee pulled the comlink away from her. She didn’t even need to be on the same planet as Dalla to feel her rage. Sure, she’d seen the teenage fence angry before but this was the fury of someone twice Dalla’s size and good gods, she was going to deliver on it. Now Phee understood why people were afraid of Dalla Blackwell.  

“How many times have you funded them, Phee? Round down, because I’m deciding how many pounds of flesh to excise!” 

What had happened that Dalla was demanding pounds of flesh? She had always been reasonable.

Whatever it was, she was still on a roll. “You have to the count of zero to get over here and explain yourself. Ghost me, and you’d better start sleeping with one eye open.” And she cut off the transmission with what sounded suspiciously like a slam. 

“Was that a comm?” Brown Eyes asked from the cockpit. This mission to grab relief supplies for Lower Pabu was going to be cut short. 

Phee swallowed hard. “Just a business contact. Looks like I’ll need to meet with them sooner rather than later. Mind dropping me off somewhere I can catch a transport?”

There was no need to tell him who the contact was, or where she was going. She could come clean when she got back — as long as she had all her limbs attached. 

Chapter Text

In the quickness of our haste

It seems we forget how to live

The old blueprint

No longer manifests itself

As the correct way to exist

So wipe the grime off the view hole

And please take a closer look

Environmental bandits

Up to their shenanigans

Crooks disguised as you and I

We've got to find another way

To make the world go 'round

The Kaminoans never create without a purpose. And Emerie Karr knew her purpose. She had always known it since she was decanted on that Republic Medical Station near Balmora. 

She had been designed to mature at triple the rate of the regular military clones and had begun flash learning the entire curricula of a medical degree almost as soon as she could walk. She had worked alongside Nala Se as her personal assistant for as long as she could remember. And she had learned practical skills on the job as the wounded were brought into the station straight from the battlefield. Her small hands made her more agile than most of the other sentient doctors who were available to work on the never ending stream of patients. 

And she remembered the day Nala Se first put her trust in her young creation…

Emerie was in her small room just off the main lab in the Medical Station staring out the window at open space when she started to see the transports arrive. She was supposed to be studying for an exam but she knew all this already. She had seen the procedure she was being tested on a week ago in the operating room. She had even been able to assist the doctors as they worked. It seemed almost silly to learn things from holos when she could just go down a level or two and be a part of the action. 

Another transport approached the station and then another and then the door to her quarters swished open. 

“Mistress Se!” Emerie jumped up from her seat. “Was there a battle? Are they bringing in the wounded? Do we need to prep the OR?”

The Kaminoan glided toward her as imperturbable as ever but the young clone knew better. She had learned the intricacies of the Kaminoan’s expressions and emotions. Something was wrong.

“Emerie, the transports are not here to drop off new patients but to remove the patients who are here to another location and I would like for you to gather your things so that you can go with them.” 

“You’re sending me away? But, Mistress Se, don’t you need me here?”

“Right now, I need you to obey and gather your things.” 

Emerie picked up her data pad that she had been using to study her lesson. She didn’t have much else. She turned her thoughts to the patients. “Are we moving all of them? Is that even possible? What about the men in bacta?” 

“We are moving as many as possible as quickly as possible. And I need you to be on board the transport to monitor the patients during transfer.” 

Of course, that she could do, but she still didn’t understand. She was capable but she was still very young even by clone standards and the medical station was her home. 

She wondered where they would be sent, to Kamino? Emerie had never been there before and she had never been away from her creator. 

As they rushed down the hallway to the docking bay Emerie’s chin began to wobble and she burst out. “But, Mistress Se, I want to stay with you!”

The Kaminoan turned to face her. “Child, this station is under the threat of imminent attack. I am trying to save as many lives as possible and if something should happen to me, you have been taught all of the operations necessary for running this station. I would need you to step up and fill my place until adequate assistance could be found.” 

Emerie swallowed back her tears. “Yes, Ma’am.” 

“Now I must go back up to the bridge to oversee the exodus. That is your transport.” She pointed. “I trust that you will do your duties to the best of your ability until that time when I see you again?”

“Yes, Mistress Se.” Emerie stood a little straighter with the confidence of knowing she was following orders. 

…

 Emerie walked onto the transport with a new confidence. Mistress Se was counting on her. 

There were clones and medical personnel running around everywhere making ready for their departure. It all seemed very disorganized. So Emerie found a seat out of the way. Her feet didn't reach the floor. 

"Better strap in," a clone soldier sat beside her and gave her a smile.

She nodded and secured her restraint. Then she studied the man. He had a bandage wrapped around his head and more wrapped tightly around his chest. Broken ribs, she deduced, and possibly a fractured skull. She looked at his eyes for signs of concussion. 

He couldn't help but notice her perusal. He smiled again, this time more wearily. "Somethin' wrong, Kid?" 

"I was just wondering why you are not in bacta."

He answered her conspiratorially as if trying to make light of the situation. "I was in line when the comm came about the Seppies popping up out of hyperspace. Guess they thought I could wait a bit until the show is over."

Again she nodded. That would be standard triage protocol. 

Suddenly she felt the vibration beneath her seat as the transport released from the station and began to move out into space. Her eyes widened and her small hands clutched at the arm rests. 

"Never been in space before?"

Was it that obvious? She shook her head.

"Seriously?" He gaped at her. "I was just jokin' but you've really never been off that med station?"

Emerie tried to sit up a little straighter in her restraints but her hands still held tightly to her seat. "I am an important member of the medical team aboard the Republic Outer Rim station."

He grinned, humoring her. He must have thought she was the daughter of one of the civilian physicians. "So you wanna be a doctor when you grow up?"

Actually in her current learning track she could expect to earn her certificate in a score of standard rotations which would be, even with her accelerated aging, well before she ‘grew up’. 

She was about to tell him so when the transport rocked violently and then all of the lights flickered and died and the other electrical systems also wound down to a halt.

"We must have been hit by that ion weapon," one of the clones cried out.

And another swore, "Osik! We're dead in space!"

The military clones we trained not to panic but they were still aware of their chances sealed in a tin can with no power and no way to fight back. 

Another explosion rocked the vessel and then another and cries of pain carried down the corridor from the direction of the impact.

Emerie began to unfasten her harness.

"Kid," the soldier beside her reached out a hand to stop her. "it's no use to run, the Jedi will come and…"

"I'm not running away. I have a job to do." She hopped down from her seat and ran towards the fire and smoke. 

Emerie knew that this was truly going to be her test more than any holoexam.

…

The Jedi had come eventually, the power restored, and the disabled transport brought back to the station so that the patients could resume proper treatment. There were losses of course but not as many as there might have been without the quick thinking and decisive action of the doctors and nurses and one very small medical assistant. 

Emerie earned the respect of the other staff that day and indeed when the war reached a point at which Nala Se was called back to Kamino, the scientist assigned her protege to take over as director of the Outer Rim Station. She had reached her full physical height by then and could reach the operating table without having to stand on a crate. And the patients didn’t worry that their care was being left in the hands of a child. 

Those who had not been witness to her rapid maturation did not even suspect that she was a clone like they were. She was Doctor Emerie Karr, respected for her knowledge and her record of saving lives so that soldiers could return to the battlefield as quickly as medically possible. 

The war ended and she was transferred to the medical center on Balmora. There was no word from her old teacher about coming to join her on Kamino so Emerie continued to strive for excellence where she was. 

When the news came about the destruction of the cloners’ homeworld her thoughts went to Nala Se but she had just kept working. What did that have to do with her? Other than the fact that perhaps she was now one of the few living beings who possessed the knowledge that the head scientist had passed on to her. 

She was most honored to be hand picked for a position in the Advanced Science Division, feeling that all her hard work was finally being recognized. The chief scientist, Royce Hemlock, certainly seemed to appreciate her potential and took her on as his personal assistant. He was most welcoming and even called her by her first name. He preferred to be called Doctor. 

His own checkered past did not matter. Now Doctor Hemlock was directing all of his efforts into the improvement of the new Empire and Emerie was his right hand. 

The pinnacle of all this seemed to be the investiture of the operations on Tantiss. Emerie marched down the ramp ahead of the doctor proudly giving orders to underlings who had been tasked with preparing everything for their arrival. She had nothing to worry about other than the transfer of the assets. 

Oh Stars! That was worrisome! She had to tell the doctor right away! She hurried down to the detention level where she was told he had gone to see one of the prisoners. 

“Don’t you wish to be a part of such a scientific achievement.” He was saying to the being in the cell, when Emerie came silently down the hall and she halted in her tracks.

She knew the voice of the prisoner very well. “I know what Emperor Palpatine seeks to accomplish, and he will not have my cooperation.”

Nala Se was alive? No one had told Emerie. And now it seemed that she was behaving as an enemy of the Empire? They had locked her in a cell for it. 

“Perhaps you require the right incentive.” Hemlock threatened mildly. “Know that I’ll be taking over operations here on Tantiss, and I can do far worse than confine you to a cell.” He sniffed. “And I’ll let you think on that.”

“Doctor,” Emerie spoke up. Her news, she felt, was more important than the eventual participation, or not, of an Imperial prisoner. “We lost communication with transport nine zero four.”

“Have the recovery teams begin a search. We need that asset contained. And Emerie, we’re there any other Kaminoans taken off-world prior to the destruction of Tipoca city?”

This she did know. “Their prime minister. He remains in Imperial custody on Coruscant.” 

“Have him brought here.” Hemlock trusted her to make sure this was done. “I wish to speak to him personally.”

Emerie stood back to let him pass and when she did she looked into the cell where her former mentor sat in disgrace. There was nothing to be said. 

She tried to forget the look on the Kaminoan’s placid face and throw herself into her work. It was a relief when she was able to inform the doctor of the retrieval of the asset and the arrival of the prime minister as he had requested. 

Her own loyalty to the Empire was only strengthened by the experience so that when another high priority clone prisoner was brought to Tantiss at Hemlock’s request she didn’t even ask why his arrest was of such great import to the doctor’s plans. She trusted that it was all in the service of a greater purpose, that of the Empire. 

“Hello, CT-nine nine zero four, or do you prefer Crosshair?”

“Where am I?” the newest acquisition inquired.

“I’m holding you for observation. Once you’ve healed, the doctor will come for you.” She prepared a syringe of sedative. 

“Who- who are you?” 

“Remain calm. Cooperate and you might survive.” She watched him as he succumbed to the drug. 

She knew who she was. She was Doctor Emerie Karr and she had a purpose. 

Chapter Text

And all I wanted was the simple things

A simple kind of life

If we met tomorrow for the very first time

Would it start all over again? Would I try to make you mine?

I always thought, I'd be a mom

Sometimes I wish for a mistake

The longer that I wait, the more selfish that I get

You seem like you'd be a good dad

Now all those simple things are simply too complicated for my life

"She's a clone and therefore, imperial property."

The words rang in Emerie's skull like a death knell. 

She had been loyal to the Empire since its inception and before that to the Republic. She had used her considerable healing skills for the greater good of the galaxy but now for the first time she began to see clearly. 

Of course Hemlock would view her as nothing more than another instrument in his tool chest.

"Surely you have something useful to share." The doctor shook his head as he motioned for the troopers to strap the subject to the interrogation table.

"Wrong," Crosshair asserted.

"Let's see if we can jog your memory." 

Hemlock hardly glanced in her direction. “Begin.” And Emerie pressed the button on her data pad that caused the interrogator droid to advance. 

“Doctor.” A med assistant entered and diverted his attention. “One of our transport ships was attacked departing Balmora. The prisoners aboard escaped.”

More clones , thought Emerie, like Crosshair… and me.

“Inform me when he’s ready to talk.” Hemlock tossed the order over his shoulder at her, not even looking back to see her nod of acceptance. 

What else could she do? She was a clone. Clones follow orders. 

…

A millennia of ingrained survival instincts and what remained of Dalla’s common sense screamed at her to bail as she knocked on the apartment door. She could do it, too. Run away now and pretend she was a stupid kid playing ding-dong-ditch. 

Instead she kept her feet firmly planted on the welcome mat and waited for someone to answer the door. 

The lock clicked back and Colonel Yularen opened the door. 

“Ms. Blackwell,” he said. “This is unexpected.”

“Colonel. I’m sorry to bother you at home, but I need to discuss something with you. May I come in?”

…

Several levels below the posh Coruscant neighborhood where the colonel and his family made their home, Riyo Chuchi paced the floor of the speeder garage that had become the unofficial headquarters of the clone defection network. She had been introduced to the owners of the garage in passing but Trace and Rafa Martez had been off on another mission almost as soon as they could fuel up their freighter and get back into space. 

To be quite honest Riyo would have been more in her own element in the upper levels. The apartment she generally inhabited during the Senate session was actually not far from the aforementioned colonel's domicile. However, as the current circumstances involved the imminent arrival of several other of the network's operatives, there was no place in the galaxy that the senator from Pantora would rather be. 

One particular operative had been on her mind since he had kissed her goodbye before rushing off to be the hero and rescue another of his brothers from the hands of the Empire. Never mind that it was the same Empire that she served in the Senate. 

No, strike that, she didn't serve the Empire itself but rather the people within it. And among those people were the clone soldiers who had protected and continued to protect the galaxy. 

With a smile, Riyo remembered what Omega had said when she and the other members of clone force ninety-nine had been in the capital. It was something about how they would be sisters if the senator married one of her brothers. 

Well, it wasn't as if she and Echo could actually publicly say their vows but their… relationship did orchestrate a rather familial feeling within her towards the other clones.

And that was why Riyo worried and prayed to the Pantoran goddess for the safe return of not only Echo but also Gregor and Fireball and Nemec and the others. And then there were those they were hoping to rescue: a Captain Howzer was on the prison manifest. The Batch had been acquainted with him before on Ryloth. But even if they hadn't, he and the other prisoners were still brothers. 

Riyo resumed her pacing which prompted one of her guards to ask, "is everything alright, Senator?"

"Yes, of course." She was far better than the clones were on their perilous rescue attempt. 

She tried to settle her mind on what she was able to accomplish. "We have all the relief supplies prepared?"

"Yes, Senator."

"The blankets…" she ticked the items off on her fingers. "And food. Surely they'll want a hot meal when they…"

The sound of a familiar ship's engine hummed over the other speeder traffic as it approached. 

Riyo was ushered out of the way as one of the clones cleared the landing pad and then the ship was here and the gangplank lowered and she was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet as the rescued and rescuers began to disembark.

She wanted to run to Echo as soon as she saw his familiar helmet clear the hatch but she held herself still. They hadn't exactly made their association public knowledge other than to Rex who had found them together after that first time. She blushed at the memory. 

Then she saw him remove his helmet and look around as if searching for something. He found it in her gaze and he smiled. 

After that there wasn't a spare moment for them to speak alone or do anything else. She assisted the former prisoners in acquiring food and drink, while Echo discussed the information that had been gathered as a secondary benefit of the mission. 

"I recovered a portion of the data logs. It's heavily encrypted but I know someone who can crack it."

"Go." She encouraged him. "I'll take care of things here and see what else I can find out"

"Thank you, Senator."

She placed her hand on his shoulder, as much affection as she could show before an audience. "Be careful, Echo."

It took an effort to let him go again so soon after he had just returned and not being able to have an actual conversation. She knew who he meant by someone who could crack encrypted code however, and the someone in question had been of a mind to remain off the Empire's radar, so she could guess at least that he wouldn't be flying straight into another dangerous situation. 

Tech had been the one who had uncovered the evidence from Rampart's venator and he had located the sad truth of Nova's final mission and Echo had also told her of a myriad of other occasions when his brother's unique skills had saved their lives or brought them closer to a vital solution. 

Maybe she wished a little bit that she could go along with Echo on this not so life threatening adventure. She would like to see Omega again but she also had questions. If Tech had truly married a civilian then she couldn't help but wonder, how did they make it work? Was such a thing possible? Could such a thing be possible for her and Echo?

…

The landing platform was surrounded by willing hands as soon as Tech set the Marauder down after the supply run. It had taken him longer than he had estimated to return to Pabu and the outcome of the journey was not at all what he had expected. At least he had the cargo that was desperately needed if not the passenger who had joined him at the outset.

"Where's Phee?" 

He had guessed it would be Omega who first posed this question as what seemed to be the rest of the population of the island came through the cabin to help with the unloading of the supplies. There must have been others who noticed the absence but only Omega had been waiting to hear the results of the discussion they were to engage in on the solo mission.

Tech did not particularly wish to divulge the subject of that anticipated conversation with the entire population of the island so he gave the shortest and most honest answer. "She was contacted by a business associate who required her presence and I ferried her to a location where she could then find transport to the meeting site."

"Why didn't you just take her to the meeting?"

The crowd of helpers was beginning to disperse but that only meant that the few who remained were better able to listen in on the siblings' discussion. 

"She was not certain how long it would take and knew that our cargo was needed here post haste."

Omega considered this and then also demonstrated an awareness of their potential audience. She glanced side to side and then lowered her voice. "Well, did you get the chance to ask her about…" She raised her eyebrows inquisitively.

"Suffice it to say that the opportunity never presented itself," he answered in the same hushed tone. 

"Aww," Omega desponded. "I'm sorry. I know you hoped to talk to her about things."

"It is of little consequence." He patted her shoulder in what he hoped was a conciliatory manner. "I'm sure when she returns from her convocation we will find the time to have our dialogue."

He didn't really wish to continue in this vein even though they now found themselves without observers so Tech took the initiative to bring up one of her other favorite subjects. "There was something else I promised before I left, if you care to remember."

"A piloting lesson!?!" She immediately brightened. 

He rose from his seat. "I suppose now would be…"

She slipped into the seat he vacated before he could change his mind. "Yes, please!"

"Alright." He couldn't help but smile and settled himself in the copilot's chair. "What are the primary operations we undertake before we begin any flight?"

…

The prisoner wasn’t really talking, just mumbling. So then why didn’t she inform Hemlock at once? 

“Don’t tell… can’t tell… the babies… going to… be a dad. Tech … can’t tell Tech.” 

Emerie sat up straighter in her chair where she was observing Crosshair. Then without another thought she dialed back the recording device that was supposed to be monitoring as a backup and scrambled the last several seconds of audio. 

She managed it just in time before a couple of troopers burst into the room. “Did he say something?” 

“No, just groaning, making unintelligible sounds.” She walked over to the table and ordered the droid, “that’s enough.”

She loosened that cranial restraint and laid a hand on his forehead proceeding to open one eye and check for pupil dilation. 

“Our orders were to not stop until he talks.” one of the troopers barked.

Emerie barked back, “he can’t talk if he’s dead.”

She administered a hypo spray in his wrist and walked to her desk. Trying to keep her own voice steady she told the troopers, “you may secure his restraints.”

And then she didn’t exactly see what happened next, only spinning around at the sound of the blaster fire. Both troopers and the droid hit the floor in quick succession and Emerie raised her hands when the blaster was leveled at her.

“Take a breath. Think this through.” 

“Release me,” Crosshair ordered, shakily, while holding the blaster on her steadily enough.

With hands raised Emerie stepped over to the table controls and pushed a couple of buttons. 

“You cannot make it out of this facility,” she implored him. “Not in your condition.”

He was barely able to stand. “Give me your access card.”

“It won’t get you outside. But even if you do manage that, the hounds will find you within minutes.” 

He gained a firmer hand on the blaster.

“Don’t make this worse, Crosshair! There’s no escape.” For either of us , she thought. “Lower the blaster.”

The last thing she remembered was his conscious act to switch the weapon to stun.

…

Genna was not about to let a little thing like a cesarean section keep her down for long. She had already missed the funeral service for her dear friend. But as the ceremony had taken place on a sailing ship in the light of the salt gods she doubted if she would have been able to participate without having to run for the rail and that would hardly have been appropriate for the serious nature of the occasion.

She had paid her respects more privately to Sloan and that was what mattered. Told him that she has named one of the girls Saviin Elinor in Ellie's honor. 

Again she had attempted to have a conversation with Dalla but the little fence had made herself scarce as soon as the ship returned from the burial at sea. For the brief moment Genna had seen her, Dalla’s husband Bernard was begging her not to do something stupid .

Dalla left anyway and Genna didn't ask where she was headed. She understood the need to get back on the dalgo so to speak. 

And so with one twin strapped to her front and the other snoozing in the swing that Shara had lent to her, Genna began the process of getting back to work herself. 

There wasn't much that needed to be done on the salon floor for her to start taking clients again. Someone had come in and cleaned up the mess where her water had broken back by the shampooing station. But the whole place still felt just a little awkward.

Aunt Shara might have felt the same way if someone else had been cooking in her kitchen. So Genna set to work rearranging bottles and clippers and combs to her own preference and convenience to reach when she needed them.

After a while she called out, "Mycroft?" And was rewarded with the telltale chirp of the handsfree application she had installed on her datapad. 

"Wouldn't Daddy be proud that I've gotten so tech savvy?" She nuzzled the downy little head in the front carrier and then spoke up to the device again. "Mycroft, play song list number two."

Immediately a stream of music began to play and the twin in the swing startled awake showing off her wide golden brown eyes. She didn't cry, just blinked a few times and gave an adorable baby yawn. 

Genna laughed. "I guess you should both be used to your mamma's eclectic musical tastes after enduring them all that time in utero."

She added a little sway to her step as she continued to straighten up the salon. "Your Daddy and I danced to this one at our wedding," she informed the twins wistfully. "Well sort of. Really we had already said our vows a couple of days earlier. And I wasn't quite dancing because I had just had surgery and couldn't walk on my own yet. But we were together and that's what matters."

She was so caught up in the moment and the music and the memory that she had no idea that someone had entered. Genna spun to a halt in front of a woman she had never seen before. 

“Osik, I’m sorry I wasn’t expecting anyone today. I didn’t think I’d lit up the open sign yet.” 

“Aw, it’s alright. You seemed to be enjoying the music. I think that’s a friend of mine’s favorite song too. He’s always humming it when he thinks no one is paying attention.” The woman’s dark complexion glowed with marryment. 

Her hair was dark also and Genna thought of a conditioner she knew of that was used by a friend of hers from Iziz to treat a similar texture. “I um… I’m not really ready to take clients yet.” 

A new song came up on the stream with a startling blast of a horn and the baby in the swing woke with a cry. 

“There’s two of them? I didn’t realize.” 

“Yeah, my little clones.” Genna swore under her breath again, then raised her voice to activate the music player to shut off. “Mycroft, stop music!” She shuffled over to the swing and tried to lift out her crying daughter while trying not to squish the other one in the front carrier. 

“Here let me try.” The woman stepped in to help and in a moment the crying stopped while she bounced the baby in her arms like a professional. “Who is this little treasure?” 

“That’s Saviin Elinor,” Genna said with a sigh. “And this,” she returned her attention to the little one who was beginning to resist against her bindings. “...is Kebiin Omega.”

“Omega? Now there’s a name you don’t come across often.” 

Genna laughed. “I probably just named her that to remind myself that she will be my last! I’m not going through that again in a hurry. I can’t say I don’t appreciate the help, but…”

“Oh!” The woman seemed to know what she was asking. “I didn't come for a makeover if that’s what you’re getting at. I was told to meet somebody here.” 

“Ah. Well, I can guess at the identity of our mutual friend but you haven’t told me who you are yet.”

“Phee Genoa.” She adjusted Saviin to her shoulder so that she could extend a hand for Genna to shake. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Phee. I’m Genna and don’t worry I won’t ask you about your business. I try to stay as far out of all that as I’m able.” 

“You seem to have your hands full just with these two.” Again she rearranged the baby in her arms to get a better look at her face and something she saw there caused her countenance to grow more serious. 

“You’re good with her. Do you have any of your own?” 

Phee schooled her features back into a smile. “I have another friend, not the same one who regularly hums your favorite song, who’s raising his daughter on his own. I look in on them when I can.” 

“I’m sure he appreciates the help. I know that I…” Genna didn’t want to think that far into the future. Shara had offered to help whenever she needed a hand and if she could ever get a chance to talk to Dalla, surely they could find a way to include the person she really wanted to be involved in her daughters’ lives.

“Their father is away then?” Phee asked curiously. 

“My husband.” Genna felt compelled to amend. She felt for the cord around her neck and pulled out the ring that it held close to her heart. “He gave me this before… he had to go.” 

The woman studied the purple stone in the setting with the eye of a certified gemologist. 

Just then Dalla breezed into the salon with a, “Good you’re already here.” and no mention of her own tardiness. 

Genna took her second daughter from Phee with a huff, holding them both awkwardly and made her way to the stairs. “I’ll just leave the two of you to your meeting then.” 

“Aye, we shouldn’t be too long.” 

The two of them watched the young mother go. Then Phee inquired, “Is she the reason you brought me here?” 

“Genna? No.” Dalla waved away the very idea. “Although she has been asking me if I could contact you for months now.” 

“Why would… Who is she?” 

“Not important now.” She glared, hard. “Care to explain why my intelligence agent is dead?”

“Dead?” Phee sputtered. No wonder Dalla was out for blood.

“Oh, not just dead. Murdered by the Partisans you insisted were too busy with the Empire to screw with me. Whose pockets you line?”

Time to put the brakes on this. “I don’t work for the Partisans. Heck, I haven’t seen Gerrera or anyone since the Empire sent clones after him right after the war ended. That’s just bad for business.” Dalla’s expression didn’t budge and Phee took out her comlink. “My fuel logs. See for yourself.”

Dalla scrolled through the logs while Phee spoke. “Gerrera contacted me about refugees, just like you. I got the kids to safety, but when I came back for the others I found out the Empire beat me to the punch. That’s when I met you.”

It tracked. And so did her fuel logs, which carefully accounted for her every movement over the past few weeks. Phee was doing a lot, but not selling out Dalla’s lieutenant to the Partisans. 

Slowly, it seemed Dalla was realizing the same.  

“You should know that’s why I was interested in checking up on the Batch for you in the first place,” she rambled. 

Dalla closed out of the fuel logs. “Thank you,” she said, sounding like her normal self and not the screaming banshee demanding a pound of flesh. “My apologies for the recording, but you know how things are in this business.”

She handed the comlink back and as she drew close, Phee caught a whiff of something familiar. “Were you in the Core?” 

“Why would you say that?”

Because she smelled like a combination of delicious cooking, aged brandy, and the candles Phee’s wealthier clients liked to use in their homes, and the only intersection of all three could be found in the Core. Still, Phee let it go. 

Dalla changed the subject. “Do you know where the Batch is now?”

“They’re not with Cid. And when I saw her last, she’s not happy about it.”

There was a gasp from behind them and both women realized Genna had returned.

“You’re her. You’re the pirate,” she said.  

“Actually I prefer liberator of…”

“But you know where they are. I tried to comm him when I had the twins. I used their old channel but I don’t think they even check it anymore.” 

“Which?” Phee began but she was pretty sure she already knew. 

“Goggles.” Dalla answered. 

“They have his…” 

“Brown eyes,” Phee completed with a sigh. She had known there was something familiar about those eyes when she looked into that sweet baby’s face. 

“You said they’re not working with Cid anymore?” Genna asked. “Well I mean I knew Echo had decided to go and work with their brother Rex.” 

“You knew about Echo?”

Again Dalla jumped in. “He came here to ask for my help moving more precious cargo than anything you ever brought me.” 

“I told Echo not to tell Tech about the baby because I didn’t want it to be a distraction. The last thing I wanted was to put them in more danger than they already were. But now you say they’ve broken ties with Cid and… She knows about me! At least she knew that the boys and Meg wanted me to have my back surgery and she knew that Tech wanted to be there when I woke up.” 

Phee listened open mouthed to the girl while she rambled. 

“If my contacting them now could bring Cid’s attention to them again or or the Empire’s, maybe it’s better that I just…” 

That forced Phee to speak. “Don’t you think he deserves to know about his kids?” 

“Well kriff, yes, of course,” Genna threw up her hands. “Just, when the time is right.” The fight seemed to go out of her after that.

“You really went and married Brown Eyes?” Phee asked. She shook her head when Genna nodded. “I thought that stone in your ring looked familiar. I’ve seen the rest of the set in Cid’s parlor.” 

“She still has them?” Dalla burst back into the conversation. “I might have another job you can do for me.” 

…

Tech wasn’t going to be the first to complain about the lack of real action since they had settled temporarily on Pabu. He did have his hands full with Omega’s continued training and he did still need to have that conversation with Phee when she got back from wherever she had gone. He checked the comm channels regularly to see if she needed a pickup and then maybe they could pick up where they left off and he could level with her about… things. 

He did have to admit however the thrill he received when Echo put the datalog from the Imperial shuttle into his hand and he had the chance once again to do what he did best. Most of the information he decrypted was concerning but not much of a surprise until he came across the details about the Advanced Science Division and it’s head scientist Doctor Royce Hemlock.

A quick search brought up Hemlock’s record of being expelled from the Republic Science Corp for unauthorized experiments. And then Tech turned his attention to the lists of clone prisoners who had been transferred into the doctor’s custody. 

One operating number stood out from all the rest: CT - nine nine zero four. 

Tech’s brilliant mind raced. His brother was listed as a prisoner. His brother had turned on the Empire. Would he have reached out for help? Would he have wanted to somehow get word to them to let them know that they were now on the same side? 

Crosshair wouldn’t have any other way to contact his old squad than the old comm channels that Tech hadn’t bothered to check in months. He did so now and there were not one but two messages that pinged for his attention. 

He should be focused on the one sent from Crosshair’s old code. It could be important. It could help lead them to the location of this Advanced Science Division and where the clone prisoners were being taken but first… Tech followed his heart. 

The message was not a long one but it completely altered the trajectory of his future. 

He would… Tech had no idea what he would do about this development. He activated Crosshair’s message but the first time through he didn’t even seem to hear it. 

He ripped off his goggles and rubbed his eyes. The image of Genna with her hand pressed on her large round belly and the pain in her expression was seared into his retinas. Of course he would go back to her. 

But this message from Crosshair and the other information he had discovered from the datalog could be time sensitive. 

He listened to Crosshair’s message again, what there was of it before it had been cut off: plan eighty-eight. 

Tech replaced his goggles and took a deep breath then he commed the sergeant. “Hunter, I decrypted the data. You need to get back to the ship.” 

…

Emerie took a pain stym for the headache she acquired when she woke from her stunning but she wasn't going to be given the chance to rest and recuperate. Doctor Hemlock demanded an immediate account of the event as she remembered it and then he was determined to get Crosshair back on the interrogation table as soon as possible. 

For this he would have to wait a bit. The toxin with which he had filled the room where the subject had run to attempt to send his message had been of a stronger dose than he realized. Emerie could have told him that but she didn't think an 'I told you so' would go over well considering the doctor's present mood. 

She kept her thoughts to herself other than when he asked a direct question and pored over her datapad trying, what she should have done earlier, to learn everything possible about the squad Crosshair had mentioned and presumably attempted to contact, clone force ninety-nine.

None too soon, for her own nerves being in the same room with a furious Hemlock, the news came that the subject was awake and being prepared in the interrogation chamber. She had to double her pace to keep up with the doctor as he made his way down the corridor.

And then when they arrived he wasted no time. "If your escape attempt didn’t clue you in, the only chance you have of leaving this facility is if I allow it. Perhaps now you’d like to reconsider my offer."

Crosshair didn’t bother to answer but Emerie was sure it hadn't been an escape attempt. She only wondered if the message he had tried to send was received on the other end.

"Why suffer more? All I need is the young clone." 

Emerie observed the doctor with greater interest than the patient, her recent convictions becoming more firmly entrenched.

"She means nothing to you." Hemlock leaned menacingly over Crosshair. "Help me and you’ll have your freedom."

Still Crosshair remained silent.

Hemlock sighed deeply. "Increase his injection level this time."

Emerie nodded even though Hemlock wasn’t looking at her. It would not do either of them any good for her to disobey orders at this juncture. But she really didn't like the tone that had pervaded the doctor's voice.

"Let’s see how long until you break."

He stepped out of the way to allow the interrogator droid to move in, and gave Emerie a pointed look. Then he turned back to watch Crosshair suffer.

She could only hope that the doctor would lose interest in the spectacle after a while. There wasn't much she could do if he started babbling now.

…

“I suppose I should be getting along,” Phee said. The network meeting had turned into social hour, to Dalla’s supreme irritation. “There are friends waiting for me back –.”

“Friends like the Batch?” Genna asked and didn’t wait for an answer. “Please don’t tell Tech about the girls! I know he needs to be informed, but –.”

“But you need to do the informing.” Phee mimed locking her lips. “My lips are sealed.” 

“Well you don’t want to be late,” Dalla said.

“Speaking of late. What was up with you, Dalla?”

“I had a meeting.”

“What kind of meeting?”

“Not important.” That might have been the biggest lie she’d ever told. “Just determining how some allies and I might play ball.”

If anything, that increased Phee’s suspicions. “Last I checked, you didn’t play much with others.”

“I’m exploring new avenues.” Dalla quipped, her tone sharp and biting. What was she supposed to tell them, the truth? Somehow she didn’t think I met with Wullf Yularen, yes that Wullf Yularen would go over well. 

She couldn’t stop mentally dissecting her conversation with the colonel, pulling it apart for any hint of his intentions. 

“You help me with my network, and I help you with your bad apples. Do we have a deal?”

Yularen shook her hand. “We have a deal. Shall we drink to it?”

 They clinked glasses, and Dalla swallowed a lump in her throat along with the brandy. She felt like shooting the whole thing, and who could blame her? She’d either saved her network or doomed the rebellion, and it was even odds which one. 

“Is everything alright Ms. Blackwell?”

She couldn’t show weakness in front of him. “I’m not a brandy drinker.”

“It’s an acquired taste.” Yularen sipped his drink again. “As I suspect this partnership will be.”

“Me too. Good thing you like brandy.”

Chapter Text

Step by step I come closer to reaching the top

Every step must be placed so that I don't fall off

Looking down to see about how much higher I am

Another cool wind comes through, brushes my skin

Oh, the harder I push the tension does grow

I gather my thoughts the further and further I go

With some luck I just might keep on climbing

So better to climb than to face a fall

Phee picked up the string of jewels from the seat beside her, tossed them into the air and then caught them again. Just another artifact that was worth more or less to different people depending upon who you asked. Technically they would have been worth more if one of the stones had not been separated from the set, but that stone was worth plenty where it had ended up so Phee really didn't see the point in reuniting them, at least not yet. For now the incomplete set of gems was going to remain safe and sound with the rest of her finds in the Archium.

After she stashed that away she was going to find a certain clone she knew… well, thought she knew. It seemed there was more hiding behind those goggles than she had ever expected. She and Brown Eyes needed to have a little chat. 

She had told Genna that her lips were sealed concerning the two little treasures who were waiting to meet their daddy but a lot could be communicated without lips or without technically mentioning Kebiin and Saviin Shek’eta-she’cu.

Phee glanced down at the jewels in her hand once again and skipped down the ramp of her transport. The lights seemed to be on in the Marauder and there was another ship she didn't recognize on the landing pad. She did however recognize the man who was walking from one ship to the other.

“Echo!”

He stopped short of boarding the Marauder and looked back at her. “Hello, Phee. Where’ve you been? I thought the boys said you're the one who brought them here.”

“That I was. Had a little business off world but I always come back into harbor when the work is done.”

“It's a beautiful place.” Echo allowed.

“But not the sort of place you'd like to settle down.” She patted his shoulder. “What's wrong? You got a girlfriend hidden away on Coruscant?”

It had been a joke but the way he stiffened (more than usual) and stared at her gave away the truth.

“No kidding?” Phee grinned at him.

“Actually, I'm hardly ever on Coruscant.” A weak excuse. 

“Is that right? I heard that you made a little trip to Onderon to visit a mutual friend of ours.”

He decided to call her bluff. “I went to inquire if our purposes aligned with those of the Mollymauk.”

Phee nodded. She knew that part already. “Run into anyone else while you were there? Someone who might have grown rather attached to your squad, married to it one might even say.”

Echo tight lipped, looked away from her towards the Marauder.

She followed his gaze. “He's never even mentioned her, not once.”

“He did it,” Echo defended his brother, “to protect her and…”

“And the babies?” Phee finished for him. 

“He doesn't know about... Wait, did you say babies?”

Phee sighed. “There's two of them, girls, with her blonde hair and his eyes. Well all of your eyes I guess with that clone phenotype or whatever. She'd have a hard time with a paternity test unless they end up nearsighted geniuses.”

Echo finally found the words to reply. “Twins? And they're…”

“Perfect healthy, no sign of growth acceleration if that's what you were wondering. I guess twins run on her side of the family as well. She named them after her brothers.”

Echo nodded again and was about to speak before she went on. “He deserves to know about them.”

“She said not to tell him so he wouldn't be distracted on his missions.”

“Would you want someone to keep something like this from you?”

She could tell he was thinking of someone in particular.

“No.”

Phee made her decision right then. “Well if you're not going to tell him I will.”

“Not yet!” Echo raised a hand to stop her. “After we get… after this next mission. Hunter's already decided to settle here on Pabu. We'll be able to get Genna and the twins and bring them back here.”

Phee didn't exactly promise not to tell before she walked away towards the Archium. “Yeah, great plan.”

…

Echo had wanted to have a chat with Phee about the possibility of her helping out with the Clone Defection network. She had worked with refugees before he knew and she had been in contact with Mollymauk who they were already working with, sort of. But it was her bringing up the topic of Genna that completely wiped-out the subject from his mind.

Twins! He was an uncle! Again, he supposed, because there were Shaeeah and Jek who had called him uncle back on Saleucami. And he and the squad had helped them get safely away from the Empire. 

Tech had thought that the frozen north of Onderon would be a safe place for Genna to stay and then he had thought to let her go to be with someone else but now that there were the twins… Phee was right, he did deserve to know. 

But at the moment they were all planning a more time sensitive rescue and Echo needed to add what he had learned to their intel. 

“There is even less on Dr. Hemlock, and I was very thorough.” Tech stated. “He is a ghost.”

“Not quite.” Echo spoke up. “According to a contact of mine, Hemlock’s set to attend a high-level imperial summit in two rotations.” He didn’t know how Mollymauk got her information but he wasn’t about to look a gift dalgo in the mouth.

“Where?” Hunter asked.

Echo leaned in to enter the information into the computer. “Tarkin’s compound on Eriadu. If we do a covert infiltration we can plant a homing beacon on Hemlock’s ship and track him to his base.”

“And too Crosshair.” The hope in Omega’s voice made him smile. 

“It won’t be that simple.” Hunter attempted to be the voice of reason. “We’d be at a tactical disadvantage, and I'm not sure it’s worth the risk.”

“I understand your hesitation. We have not always agreed with Crosshair but he is our brother.” 

Echo could not remember if Tech had ever referred to the others as family. He wondered what he would say when he found out that he was a father. 

“We do not leave our own behind.”

But perhaps it was best for him not to be distracted just now. 

“If there’s a chance to get him back, we have to take it.” Omega piped up.

And Wrecker agreed, “Definitely!”

“What about reinforcements?” Count on Hunter to bring them back to reality. 

Echo acceded to the point. “Well, Rex is on a separate mission, so it’s just us. A small enough team to get in and out without alerting them but we’ll need to move quickly.” 

“Well,” Hunter gave in. “Then let’s get started.”

…

Echo couldn’t help it. When he saw Riyo in that holo image he couldn’t help but remember what Phee had said, “would you want someone to keep something like this from you?” 

While they had done what was required of that particular outcome, RIyo had assured him that she was doing what was necessary to prevent it from happening. It would be disastrous at this stage in their relationship. She was a senator and people needed to take her seriously. And if they ever found out that it was a clone who… did that to her… well, it wouldn’t be good news for either of them. Even if… a baby? 

He could imagine it. A little person not grown in a vat in a lab but in Riyo’s own body, one who might have her azure coloring and golden brown eyes. No one could take away his daydreams. And maybe someday… but that day was not today. 

“ So you’ll be away a little longer? ” she asked sweetly. 

“That’s right,” Echo told her. “We got some intel that we might not be able to act on if we wait.” 

Riyo nodded. She looked disappointed. He couldn’t help but think it was because she missed him and maybe because she was worried about him? But then she took a deep breath and composed herself as if she were going to speak in front of the senate. “ Well, you will be happy to know that I’m going to be doing more for the cause than just sitting behind a desk while you’re gone .” 

“You are?” he frowned. 

“ Rex got some important intel too. And he thinks that I might be able to help him act on it since the senate is not in session at the moment .” 

“Is it safe?” Echo asked, now worried for her. He had known that Rex had a lead and wouldn’t be able to provide backup for them but he had no idea that he was planning on asking Riyo to come along.

“ I’m sure Rex wouldn’t have asked if it was anything like the missions you and your brothers go on. Although I can’t say anything about it right now .” 

“Of course.” He was terribly curious. 

“ And then when we both get back from our missions we’ll be able to tell each other all about our successes .” 

“Yeah,” Echo tried to smile. He really couldn't wait for that. He knew talking wasn’t all they would be doing when they saw each other again and that really made him smile. 

But for now he would focus and he would get the job done. 

…

Echo had said they had a mission but Phee didn’t expect them to be leaving quite so soon. He had also seemed pretty keen on keeping the nature of that mission quiet. So if she was going to find out anything it was going to have to be from Omega. 

When the girl ran to her she just came out and asked, “So, where are you all headed?”

“It's a covert mission,” Omega whispered. 

“Oh, I see. Well, I expect details when you get back.” And then she could pass those details on to someone who had been waiting even longer than she had for any news at all. 

“Bye, Phee.” Omega ran up the steps into the marauder and right past her brother Tech.

She knew he saw her but as usual he was focused on that damn datapad.

“So, you were just going to leave without saying goodbye.” 

“That is correct.” He wasn’t even going to look up at her?

Phee crossed her arms and stared at him.

“Did you require a briefing?”

“You know, when two friends are talking, it’s called a conversation.” Friends. That’s all they were. All they ever would be and she could accept that. If she at least knew that he was going to be honest with her about where his loyalties lay.  “Well, don’t go running off with any pirates or smugglers while you’re gone.”

“Yes. This mission should not involve either.” He was clearly avoiding her. 

Phee knocked his datapad out of the way. “That’s not exactly what I was getting at.”

Tech straightened his goggles.

Phee chuckled, this was useless. Maybe Echo could get through to him. “See you around, Brown Eyes.” 

He watched her go but he didn’t stop her to add anything more it the conversation and then boarded the Marauder. 

She stayed to watch them take off. 

…

Emerie had the run of the place. She had kept her head down and now that Hemlock had left for his all important meeting she could do as she liked. Well, up to a certain point. It wasn’t like she could leave. Or free her brothers. 

When was it that she had begun to think of them as such? She had always thought of herself as above the regular troopers. She had been flash trained for a far superior purpose in half the time that it took to grow common run of the mill cannon fodder. But to hear the doctor talk about them, the way he lumped all clones into the same category as possessions of the Empire and good for nothing other than subjects in his experiments, it made her rather ill. 

Well, if that was all she was, if that was all he thought of her, then Emerie Karr was going to have to take a closer look at these brothers of hers who all came from the same parent. Perhaps Crosshair and even the other regular troopers deserved more of her respect. They were living beings, individuals, not wet droids. 

And if they all had a ‘father’ in common they also possessed a ‘mother’ of a sort. Their ‘father’ may have died in the opening salvo of the war but their ‘mother’ was here on Tantiss and now in a similar circumstance. She was as much a prisoner as any of her children. 

Emerie made her way down to the prison level. She felt like she was sneaking but she tried to look like she had a purpose to the nat born troopers who still had to answer to her for the time being. Once she was past the point where they usually patrolled she breathed a bit easier. 

Except for the fact that just then she remembered again who it was she was going to visit and the old trepidation crept into her psyche. For years she had done everything in her power to live up to this female’s expectations. It was hard not to still see Nala Se as the mentor she was attempting to impress. 

She stood in front of the cell, still and silent for a full standard minute.

Nala Se looked up at her with those huge seemingly emotionless eyes but Emerie knew better. 

“So you’ve finally come to see me. Did your new master give you leave?”

“He’s not my…” Emerie began and then took a breath. “I don’t need to ask his permission.” 

“Of course you don’t. You have risen quite high. I always knew you would. You had the potential for great things.” 

“But you didn’t stick around to find out. You left me all alone.” Emerie didn’t realize until that moment how much it had hurt. And then finding out about the other one. “You went back to Kamino, to Omega .” 

Nala Se gave her a nod of admittance. “She was the prototype and she was still young whereas you were fully mature. I considered your growth and training to be a complete success of my efforts.” 

“I was younger than her.” 

“In chronological age, yes, but no one who came to the medical station would have been any the wiser. To them you appeared to be what you are, in fact, a highly capable physician and scientist who has stepped up to every challenge you have been given and excelled. I could not be more proud of the things you have accomplished.” 

Emerie dropped her gaze abjectly. “Even the work I have done with Doctor Hemlock?” 

Nala Se took a deep breath. “I believe given the fact that you are asking that question that your own conscience has begun to become aggrieved at some of his practices?” 

She hadn’t at first. She had believed that she was as far removed from the regs as from a non-sentient beast. “He says that all clones are property of the Empire. He believes we only serve as subjects in his experiments.” 

“We all serve at the beck and call of the Empire from a certain point of view,” Nala Se said with an edge to her smooth voice. “But you make the decision if you will go along willingly. I have chosen not to participate but that choice comes with the condition of finding myself in a cell. Perhaps I could only appear to be going along with their agenda and gain a greater amount of freedom but would I really, in fact, be free?”

Emerie took a step closer to the energy barrier that separated her from her former mentor. “Then what should I do?” 

“For the moment.” Nala Se tilted her head on her long neck in what Emerie knew was an almost motherly expression. “You are on the outside of the cell and I am not. So you tell me, who has the greater power to change your situation?”

She had much to think about as she left the prison level, but Emerie knew one thing for sure, Nala Se was right, she still had the power to act. 

…

In the critical standard minutes before they emerged from hyperspace, Echo dialed in to Dalla. They were going to need clearance codes to pull this off, and Dalla was recently flush with them. How, Echo didn’t know, and he didn’t really care. Everything was on the line and it was time for Dalla to put her money where her mouth was. 

When her image materialized though, she looked worse than the Batch after a bad mission. Her face was stained with mascara tears, and her lips pressed together so tightly it looked like her jaw was wired shut. 

She proved it wasn’t with a few clipped words. “The codes. I’m transmitting them now.”

Echo really didn’t want to ask, but ask he did. “Are you … okay?”

The corner of Dalla’s mouth twitched. No, she wasn’t. 

“I made a mistake,” she admitted. “A personal mistake, and now it’s affecting my professional life. But it’s my mistake, and I’m taking care of it. It’ll be over soon.” She swallowed. “It’ll all be over soon.”

Echo didn’t ask her what she meant by “all.” He couldn’t spare the focus from the mission, especially not when Riyo had been talking about joining Dalla in her work with Imperial defectors. 

“I’ve got the codes,” he said, putting on his game face with no concession for Dalla’s mental state. 

“You’re welcome. And may the force be with you.” 

…

Phee found herself back in the Archium. It was a quiet place where she could think but every artifact she had collected and brought to this place was a reminder of when she had gone to liberate it. The most recent additions reminded her of Omega and the boys but the jewels she had just liberated yesterday reminded her of someone else. She picked them up and wrapped the strand around one finger so that a single stone looked like a ring adorning her finger. 

“You’re worried about them aren’t you?” Lyanna asked, coming quietly up behind her, but it wasn’t really a question. 

“Worried? About the Batch? Nah, they can take care of themselves.” She ruffled the little girl’s hair and placed the jewels back on the shelf. 

Usually Lyanna was curious about Phee’s treasures but this time she didn’t ask about that. “They are coming back, aren’t they?”

“Yeah, I think they might actually be thinking about settling down. You’ve enjoyed having Omega around, haven’t you?” 

“Well, yeah her and the kids you brought from Onderon, but I also thought you and…” 

“Nah.” Phee stopped her before she could go on. “Turns out we didn’t know each other as well as I thought.” 

“But you could get to know each other, if they’re going to come back and stay.” 

“I do have a thing or two I need to say to one of them in particular.”

“Then, Auntie Phee, you should comm him!” Lyanna jumped up and down on her toes. 

Phee couldn’t help but smile at the child’s exuberance. “I can’t. I promised someone else I wouldn’t say what needs to be said.” 

Lyanna frowned, confused. “Then maybe you need to comm that other person and get permission.” 

“You know, kid, I think maybe you’re right.” 

…

“ Hair Affair, this is Genna, back in business and making appointments. How can I help you today? ”

“I am definitely gonna have to make an appointment for the next time I'm on Onderon.”

“ Phee! ” There was a sound of something hitting the ground as she dropped whatever it was she was holding when she answered the comm. The visual activated and the stylist was bending to pick up bottles from a display of hair products that she had been arranging but she was smiling as she stole glances up at the holo cam. “ I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon. Have you heard from… I mean have you spoken to …” 

“I have seen the boys and Omega and they are doing well.”

Genna seemed to relax the tension in her shoulders and she closed her eyes as if offering up a prayer of thanks. “ But you didn’t tell him? ”

“I spoke to Echo since he already knew and we agreed not to share your happy news until after they get back from this mission.” 

“ They’re on a mission right now then? ” 

“Yep. Omega said it was ‘covert’. And they were in a hurry so I couldn't get any more info out of the boys either.” 

Genna nodded and let out a breath. 

“I do think that they are planning on settling down after this one.” 

“ What… does that mean? ” 

Phee deliberated. Actually she had been deliberating about sharing this particular information since she left Onderon. “The Batch have found a place where they can lay low and the Empire can’t find them. Actually I brought them here.” 

“ You said they weren’t with Cid anymore. I guess she doesn’t know about this place either? ” 

“No, she doesn’t.” Phee hesitated again and then barreled on. “I told them about it because I thought it would be good for Omega. It’s a great place for a kid to grow up.” 

Genna nodded slowly. She obviously knew what Phee was getting at. It might be a nice place for a couple more kids to grow up. 

… 

This mission was going swiftly downhill in Tech’s eyes. “This quadrant of the surveillance systems has been completely deactivated. I do not like this. We should leave.”

Hunter picked something up. “Tech.”

“A thermal explosive.”

“Someone is targeting this base.”

If they were, they weren’t doing a very good job. “One charge will not cause much damage.”

“Good thing we have more.”

Two stormtroopers stood at the corridor’s junction, and Clone Force 99 snapped to a ready position. But instead of firing the trooper in the lead motioned for his comrade to lower her blaster and then removed his helmet. 

“Didn’t expect to find you two here,” he said.

Tech set his teeth. “Saw Gerrera.”

…

“I know you’re settled there on Onderon. Sounds like you’re getting the business back up and running.” 

Genna changed the subject. “ You’re from Onderon too, aren’t you? ” 

“That’s right.” Phee said honestly. “My dad was from one of the beast rider clans and my mom was from the city. Still not sure how they got together. I only ever remember them fighting with each other.” 

“ Dalla said you worked with Saw Gerrera. ” 

“Yeah, well,” she cleared her throat. “We never really worked together, just sort of alongside.”

Genna waited for her to continue.

“Long story short. I heard that he was trying to help some refugees move offworld. I fenced some of the artifacts that I had liberated to help fund the project.” 

“ You just helped fund the one project? ” 

“Well, no, I guess I did a little more than funding.” This would be the part she was specifically interested in of course. “I heard that the empire sent some clones to clear out the camp and I went myself to help get the kids out of the jungle before the Empire could send someone else to finish the job.” 

Genna’s next question caught Phee off guard. “ Did you happen to see my brother? ” 

“Who is your brother?” 

“ His name was Ret Carid. He was a couple years older than me, tall, hair dyed dark so he would look more Onderonian but his features were still Mando like mine. He had wanted to join up with Saw since the war. He was out there with them in the jungle, said he was helping take care of the kids because they were refugees like we were when we left Mandalore. ” 

Phee caught the past tense in the discourse. “I don’t remember meeting him. It was a woman I spoke to. Her name was Hero. I think she was Onderonian too, part of the old crew from the rebellion during the war.” 

Genna actually cracked a smile. “ Osik. She was still with them? She was the reason Ret started tagging along with Gerrera in the first place. He had a crush on her for ages. I think she ended up with somebody else and Ret… ”

“I was planning on going back and getting the rest of them once we got the kids settled but the Empire beat me to it.” 

…

“I told you on Onderon you had a choice to make. Looks like you’ve chosen.” Saw turned to his comrade. “Keep an eye out.” 

She nodded while Saw approached the clones.

“What exactly is your plan here?” Hunter asked.

Saw smiled. “I’m leveling this compound, along with all the Imperials inside it.”

“Can’t let you do that. We’re tracking one of the officers. We need to find his base where clones are being imprisoned, including one of our own.”

“You expect me to call this off to save a few prisoners?” Saw scoffed. “We are trying to fight an Empire.”

“Have you considered that by destroying this facility you are wiping out any chance to gather intel that could help your cause?”

“Taking out several of their top commanders is a good start.”

“Well, that victory will be short lived as their ranks will quickly be replenished,” Tech quipped.

“Maybe so. But sacrifices have to be made for the greater good.”

“We have to go now.” Saw’s compatriot returned to the group. “A security team has been alerted.” 

…

“ It was Crosshair. ” 

“What?” Phee asked.

“ Tech and Hunter and Wrecker, their brother, Crosshair. He was with them on the original mission and he was the one the Empire sent back to complete it. ” 

“Their brother killed your brother.” Phee gathered.

Genna got defensive. “ It was when he still had that chip in his head. So he had to follow orders, I guess .” The end of the statement wasn’t as confident as the beginning. “ They tried to get him back, to leave the Empire and rejoin the squad. I- ” she breathed heavily. “ I could understand. He was family. Besides, I didn't really blame him. It was Saw Gerrera who my brother followed out into the jungle. It was Gerrera who left him there to be finished off when the Empire came back .” 

“And that would be why it was so important for you to know if I worked with Saw or not?” 

“ Kriff yeah ,” Genna swore. “ Dalla said something when Ellie died about the Partisans being up to something big. They don’t care who gets in their way .” 

…

No sooner had she spoken then stormtroopers appeared in Tech’s peripheral vision and blasterfire broke out. He heard Saw’s compatriot yelp as a bolt caught her on the right side of the chest.

“Hero!”

“I'm fine. We take out one of theirs for everyone we've lost, right?”

“For Steela,” Saw affirmed.

“And Dono,” Hero groaned even with his support.

“And one for that Carid kid who was always panting after you like an akk hound?”

“His name was Ret.”

But the Partisans weren’t Tech's problem. He and Hunter fought their way down another hallway.

“We've been compromised. Get back to the rail line,” Hunter ordered through his comlink.  

It wasn’t an easy trip. Without stolen armor, they had to shoot their way out until they finally met up with Echo, Wrecker, and Omega at the rail line. 

Tech examined the nearest car. “We need an access code.” 

If only they had the ones Mollymauk seemed to be rife with. Echo stepped in. “I’ll override it.” 

They zipped down the rail line, only barely noticing the shuttle which flew past a moment before a tremor seemed to shake the entire mountain. 

Gerrera. Leave it to him to leave a mess in his wake.

…

“Well, this place where the Batch are thinking about settling down, it’s way out of the way of Saw and his gang,” Phee assured her.

“ A great place to raise kids, you said? ” 

“Mmm-hmm.” 

“ Used to be able to say that about Onderon. ” Genna fiddled with a few of the bottles on the display. “ I suppose there are people in need of a good shampoo and trim in other places around the galaxy ?” 

Phee patted her own coiffure. “I know I could use some help from time to time.” 

“ When they get done with this mission.. .”  She left it at that. There seemed to be endless possibilities after that particular event concluded. “ You really think they would settle down? ” 

“Well, maybe not Echo. Is it true that he’s got a girlfriend on Coruscant?” 

Genna grinned conspiratorially, “He didn’t say anything to me specifically but I think he does!” 

“Yeah, well,” Phee laughed. “He might be otherwise occupied but Hunter is starting to see that a little stability would be best for Omega.”

…

“We’ve got three ships inbound.” Hunter could sense them coming. 

Omega searched the clouds for a place to aim her weapon. “Where? I can’t see them.”

Hunter bellowed into the comm, “Tech, we need power!”

The ships firing on the couplings that connected the cars to the rail were not making the status bar move any faster. As soon as the process reached completion Tech shouted, “Echo! Now!”

“We’re online,” Echo acknowledged. 

Tech disconnected from the control box, put the data pad back into its pouch on his belt and then used the ascension gun to get back onto the top of the rail. 

There was nothing that could have prevented what happened next as another ship came out of the smoke and fired at the car further damaging the coupling. Tech only just managed to place a grappling hook into the side of the car before tumbling back and coming to a stop at the end of his ascension cable. 

“Come on, Tech! Hurry!” Wrecker called urgently.

“I am climbing as fast as I can.”

The troopers shooting from the other car were making his ascent nearly impossible.

“Tech!” Omega screamed as he fell back again. 

“Why aren’t we moving?” Hunter growled. 

Echo located the problem. “The car’s being ripped from the track.”

Hunter ordered, “Wrecker, get him on board!”

Wrecker tried to take a step as the car shuddered. “Whoa!”

“Don’t!” Tech warned. “Any shift in weight could send both of these cars over.”

Another jolt put more stress on the coupling and thwarted any upward progress.  

“You must sever the connection hinge. Now!” 

“Not until you’re up here!”

Tech took a single precious second to survey the situation. By his calculations, any fall from this height would be fatal even if buffered by a rail car. Either they cut the connection, or they would all die.

And he would not allow that.

“There is no time, Wrecker.” Tech grabbed his blaster and aimed. “Plan ninety-nine.” 

“Don’t you do it, Tech!”

…

“ Who would have thought that these clones would turn out to be such great dads? ” Genna sighed wistfully. 

“When they are given the opportunity,” Phee amended. 

“ Fatherhood and following orders. Maybe I should have just ordered him to come back to me .”

… 

Tech heaved a sigh. “When have we ever followed orders?”

He looked up and made the shot severing the connection between the two cars. 

“No!”

“Tech!” 

It was the last thing he heard but would not be the last thing he saw, the thought, as he called up an image in his heads up display.

Chapter Text

I can't begin to tell you

How bad I feel about it

So now that it is all out

How do you feel? Did you profit?

Why can't you keep a secret?

Why'd you squeal?

I thought that I could trust you

Why'd you squeal?

I thought we had agreed

That we were in this together

But now that you have betrayed me

I got no other option

Parsecs away in a parking lot on Coruscant, Yularen grabbed hold of Dalla’s hand.

“You are not alone,” he promised. “And you are not without love, because you have mine.”

Dalla’s mouth slackened. “You…?”

“I always wanted a daughter. Somehow, gods help me, you’ve become that.”

“How?”

“That’s the funny thing about love. It rarely makes sense.”

Her eyes swam with tears and Dalla threw herself into his arms.  

…

Emerie drew her chair up closer to Crosshair’s bed in the recovery ward. She spoke softly to his still unconscious form. “They haven’t found her yet. I was sure you would be glad to know.” 

She was actually fairly sure that he couldn’t hear her in his present state but she went on anyway. It was perhaps that very fact that made it easier for her to be quite so frank with him. When he awoke he would probably hate her again for taking part in this travesty of a scientific endeavor.

“Doctor Hemlock is still away. He had some big important meeting.” She leaned closer and spoke even softer. “I have to say that I'm probably just as glad as you are that he’s gone. Or maybe not quite. He hasn’t decided to actually use me as a test subject, yet.” 

She straightened the blanket that was covering him. “Nala Se says she will continue to refuse to participate as long as she is able. And-- and I plan to resist in my own way as well when the doctor returns. I feel like it's the least I can do for you and our brothers to make up for… everything else.” 

He stirred in his sleep and Emerie checked the monitors but they were still registering that he was in a deep unconscious state. That was good. His body needed to rest to recover. He certainly didn’t need…

“Wake him up!” Doctor Royce Hemlock burst into the room. 

She hadn’t even had any warning that he was on his way back from the meeting. Not that he would see the need to inform her of such a thing. “Excuse me, Sir?”

“I said, wake him up. I need him to take a look at this.” 

The doctor tossed something onto the bed where Crosshair lay. The clone didn’t even flinch. 

“I-- I don’t know if I can. Even if I gave him a stim I don’t think he’d be in any state to…” She looked at the item on the bed and saw that it was a pair of broken goggles. “To retrieve information from this unit?” she guessed. 

“They belonged to one of his squad mates who attempted to blow up Governor Tarkin’s summit.” 

Emerie’s eyes widened. She couldn’t help but ask, “What happened to him?” 

“Took a nasty fall. This is all we could recover but if I can get the data off of this recorder I might be able to find the others.” 

“Omega,” Emerie whispered under her breath. 

He looked up at her. “Well, you do see the urgency in this undertaking?”

“Ye-yes, sir. I don’t believe I can wake Crosshair but perhaps I could take a look at the goggles? They appear to be a similar unit to mine and perhaps I could… retrieve the information you are looking for?” Or bury it before he could get his monstrous hands on it. 

Doctor Hemlock appeared to be studying her even more closely. Maybe he had only just noticed that she wore vision correcting lenses at all. “Yes. I think perhaps you could do just that, Emerie. I will need you to work quickly.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “After their attack on Eriadu, clone force ninety-nine is likely to go even further into hiding. I need to know where they have been to predict where they will be off to next.” 

“Yes, Doctor.” She picked up the goggles but didn’t make another move.

He looked around and his gaze fell again on Crosshair. Emerie could almost see the gears turning in Hemlock’s twisted mind. Perhaps she couldn’t wake the clone but he might give it a try.

“Do you need any equipment to do the job, Emerie?” He asked.

“No, not really.” As calmly as possible she regained her seat next to her brother. “I can just work on it here. It’s nice and quiet so I won’t be disturbed.”

Hemlock nodded vaguely, rubbing his gloved hand as he always did while hatching evil plans. “Then I will see to it that you are not disturbed.” 

He turned on his heel and left the recovery ward. 

Emerie didn’t breathe until the door had closed behind him.

“That was a bit close,” She murmured to Crosshair. Then she turned her attention to the goggles. 

They would have belonged to CT- nine nine zero two, she remembered from her research on the squad. He was the one they called Tech, the one whom Crosshair had said in his mindless ravings was going to become a father. That was a little piece of information she definitely wanted to keep away from Hemlock. But Crosshair had said Tech didn’t even know. Perhaps there wasn’t anything recorded in the memory of the goggles that would lead to the child or its mother. But it had also been sometime since Crosshair had been in contact with his brothers. He could have found out in the meantime.

Emerie looked around once more just to be sure that she wasn’t being observed and then she activated the playback of the goggles’ recording device. A series of images streamed past. A dark haired young woman engaging in some sort of athletic spectacle. The same young woman but blonde this time, sitting behind the counter of what seemed to be a fruit seller’s stall in a marketplace. There was another image of her sitting in some sort of mobility chair and one of her standing with the assistance of a pair of walking canes. Lastly there was an image of the same woman with her hands on her stomach that was far larger than it had been previously and the look on her face was one of agony. 

These were the images that Tech had called up to be the last thing he saw as he, how did Hemlock put it, took a nasty fall?

…

Guilt was a hard pill to swallow on an empty stomach or even after one of Shep’s famous feasts. Phee strolled around the terrace watching the lights of Pabu begin to glow. It wasn’t quite what it once was before the surge but it was far better than what it would have been if the Batch hadn’t been here to get everyone to safety and then help with the cleanup. And what had she done to show her thanks? Not a thing.

The sad fact was that if she truly cared for Brown Eyes then she should be happy for him to be with the person he loved. And now that she had met Genna and seen the twins how could she not want them to be together? 

What she had told Genna was also true. Pabu would be the perfect place for her and Tech to bring up their girls. Onderon wasn’t what it used to be, even the once insular Northern Sea region. That and Cid knew there was an Onderonian girl for whom Tech carried a torch. 

If Cid put together her missing jewels with the fact that the boys had an unpaid debt to Mollymauk after they had broken ties with her, she might very well seek to get her scaly claws on something that was of value to them. 

That was enough reason to get Genna and the twins to someplace safe before they were discovered by someone else. But also it was just the right thing to do, to bring together a family who had been kept apart long enough. 

Alright! That was that! Phee’s next mission was to acquire the most precious treasures she had ever liberated. 

As she raced for the space dock she looked over her shoulder at the Archium. She could drop off the jewels with Mollymauk while she was on Onderon but it would probably be better just to get in and get out and not wait around to see if she could get a meeting with her high and mighty majesty. 

So straight to the transport it was and as soon as she had laid in a course she opened a comm channel to the Hair Affair. She smiled at the name of the salon. Genna could open up another place just like it on Pabu and she’d be an instant success. 

“ Hair Affair. This is Gen …”

“Gen,” Phee cut her off. “I don’t have much time. Dropping into hyperspace in a few minutes.”

“ Hey, Phee. What’s going on? ” 

“Pack your bags. I’m bringing you and the twins to someplace you’ll never have to worry about Cid or the Empire or Saw Gerrera or anything else ever again.” 

“ Kriff! Are you serious? ” Genna looked around her at the little business she had built. She had started over once. She could do it again. 

Phee grinned. “We’re going to bring those girls home to meet their Daddy.” 

She ended the comm and engaged the hyperdrive. Tech was going to have the surprise of his life and so were the rest of the Batch. And wouldn’t Omega get a kick out of having a niece for a namesake. 

Phee supposed that the twins could call her Auntie as well, Lyanna did after all. She wondered if she would be able to get Genna packed up and back to Pabu before the Batch got done with whatever this covert mission was. It would be great if she was there to meet them and then maybe they could bring out the girls as a bonus after the initial surprise of seeing his wife again. 

Or maybe Phee could have all three of them waiting in the Archium and she could tell Tech that she had liberated something really special. Something that he would assess as truly valuable. 

Yeah, that’s how they would do it! 

…

Emerie had been working for some time removing everything from the memory of the goggles that might offer Hemlock a hint of where to find clone force ninety-nine, and in particular Omega, and as a consequence the mother of Tech’s child, who would no doubt be another interesting subject for the doctor to bring into the lab for further study. 

There was a lot of data stored including images of a beautiful tropical island that had suffered a tragic natural disaster but was now being rebuilt even more fantastically than before. CT- nine nine zero two, Tech that is, must have recorded everything! 

Emerie wished she didn’t have to delete all of these memories. She really wished that she might have been there to share in making some of them and not stuck in a lab for her entire life. But delete them she did for the safety of those whom Tech had left behind. 

“How’s it coming?” Hemlock burst into the room once again and she quickly deleted the last bit of data she had just been perusing. 

“I’m sorry.” She answered wearily. “I’ve tried everything I know to try but I believe the unit was too damaged in the fall.” 

“That’s alright. Give them to me.” He held out his gloved hand towards her. 

She hesitated. “You don’t need the data from the recording unit?”

“And it would seem that I can allow Crosshair to continue to have his rest.” He had that manic look in his eyes once again. “The Empire received a tip from a Trandoshan on Ord Mantell. Clone Force ninety-nine, or what’s left of it, has chosen that little nest to haul up and lick their wounds.”

Emerie held onto the goggles tightly. She had seen images of the being he was speaking of and was glad that she had removed the evidence of the connection even if it seemed that he now had the information from another source. 

“So, come now, hand them over.” He held out a hand for the goggles once again. “I may have a use for them even if they are beyond repair.” 

So Emerie handed them over, but as she did she engaged the record function. There was plenty of empty space in the memory now. And perhaps the next person who chanced to look at them might be able to figure out where they had traveled in the meantime. 

…

Trace Martez pulled back on the lever on Silver Angel’s steering column and glanced at the occupant of the copilot’s seat beside her as the stars condensed once again into points of light. “We’re entering Onderon’s system now. You sure you trust this contact?” 

“Echo trusts her, so I do too.” Riyo smiled. 

“Oh, well if Echo had something to say about it.” Trace teased and noticed the lavender blush rise in the pantoran’s regularly azure complexion. 

It would have been impossible to assume that she and Echo might have gone completely unnoticed, especially by the sisters in whose home almost the entire relationship had been conducted so far. Riyo however regained her composure and continued. “Senator Organa believes Mollymauk is capable of heading up the natborn division of defections. I’m sure she’ll be much more accepting of this method of transfer than the last.”

“Which was?” 

“Echo said her first defector was delivered drugged in a packing crate.” 

“Seriously?” Trace choked. “But still, do you really think it’s a good idea just to march down the main street of Iziz with this one? He’s kind of recognizable.” 

Riyo looked back toward the cabin where the defector was waiting. “Hmm… you’re right. I’ll have to do something about that.” 

“And then when we’re done with this we’ll be heading back to Coruscant?” 

“Actually while Chi Eekway is covering for me in the senate, there’s someone else I thought I might try to meet up with on Onderon.” It was a long shot but if there was the smallest possibility that she might have the opportunity to be introduced to her almost sister-in-law…

“Uh-huh, I just thought you’d want to debrief with Echo as soon as he gets back from his mission.” 

…

Phee had been correct. They should have told Tech sooner about the babies. He had deserved to know and they had stolen that knowledge from him. Not that it would have changed anything. 

Echo would have wanted to be told if it were Riyo. He remembered being the one to deliver the news to her that Nova had not returned from his last mission and now someone would need to go to Onderon to inform Genna. This wasn’t the kind of thing that should be conveyed over a holocomm. 

They would go after Omega had had a chance to recover.  Echo didn’t think he was brave enough to go alone. 

He looked from his place in the copilot’s seat over to the empty pilot’s seat and sighed. 

Gonky waddled toward him.

“What is it?”

The droid led him to the hatch to look out at the ship that had come to hover above the docking bay, expelling a number of landing craft. 

“Hunter,” Echo hollered into the comm unit, “the Empire is here.” All he got was static. “Hunter, do you copy? Wrecker?”

He rushed back inside and pressed a button on the console. “They’re jamming our comms.”

Gonky honked a wish to be of assistance.

“No, stay here. I’ll find them.”

…

“That’s not very strategic, Hunter. You don’t need to use your enhanced senses to know you’re outnumbered.”

Hemlock took out a case of credits and passed it to Cid. “The Empire thanks you for your assistance.”

Hunter scowled at her and Cid cringed

“Our business is done.” Hemlock dismissed her from her own parlor without a second glance. “Leave.”

Leave? Where was she supposed to go? She had burned the last of her bridges. She had credits now, nice shiny new Imperial credits but she couldn’t remain on Ord Mantell. 

That’s alright. She had other contacts. Sofa Toma perhaps? Or maybe she could switch gears and see how the games were run on Canto Bight. It had to be someplace away from Black Sun and the Pyke syndicate but she could make her way in the galaxy. She always had before.

“Please, consider your next move very carefully. I would hate for this to end poorly for both of you,” the doctor continued and Cid lingered to listen, morbidly curious as to how all this would play out.

“Here is how this is going to go. You will lower your blaster and hand over Omega. And I will allow you to keep breathing.”

“Omega’s not going anywhere with you,” Bandana answered back defiantly. 

She couldn't fault him for guts and loyalty.

“Oh. Well, who knew clones were so paternal? Fascinating.”

Cid had noticed that, too.

“I was saddened to learn of your friend’s demise. What was his name? Oh, yes. Tech.”

The Trandoshan leaned a little further out of her hiding place to see their reactions.

Hemlock was taking something from one of the commandos. “I’m afraid this was all I could salvage. Consider it a gift.”

He tossed a battered set of goggles at Hunter’s feet but the clone didn't lower his blaster. 

“To lose one of your own, it must weigh heavily on you as their leader.” Hemlock nodded at the commandos to point their blasters at Muscles. 

It was ignominious to see the big guy brought so low. 

“And if you don’t lower your blaster now, you will lose yet another.”

Muscles shook his head but Bandana slowly lowered his blaster and set it on the floor, picking up the goggles instead. 

Hemlock smirked. “Wise decision.”

…

“There’s a defector on the way,” Dalla told her husband. They were at their breakfast table catching up before work that morning, an experience which was unfamiliar, but pleasant. They would have to make it routine. 

“Should I expect another shipping crate rant?” Bernard asked. 

“Hopefully not, because that rant would be legendary. Especially now.”

“I can hear the shouting through time and space.” He smiled a lopsided grin and Dalla’s heart melted. 

“Well there aren’t supposed to be any crates this time. One of Rex’s operatives will escort them in.”

Thinking about Rex brought the other group of clones she knew to mind. If everything went as planned, then maybe she could get Rex’s operatives in contact with Genna. They would be able to reach the Bad Batch, and more importantly Tech. Security could loosen enough for the man to know he was a father. 

“Something’s on your mind.” Bernard broke her reverie. 

“Genna. I can’t stop thinking about her and the twins, all alone up there and Tech not even knowing about them.”    

“You think if this venture takes off, you might be able to remedy that.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking. A father should know about his kids.”

“Now you’re sounding like Yularen.”

“Hey, I could sound like a lot worse.”

He took her hand and they smiled. 

…

She didn’t know for sure if Omega and the others had been captured from the tip that Hemlock had received from the informant but Emerie could guess that was the case since Nala Se had been let out of her cell for the arrival of the shuttle. 

She wondered if perhaps Crosshair should be given a little warning of the current situation. He was just starting to give the indication of emerging from the medically induced coma. A shock at this phase of his treatment could be detrimental or perhaps Emerie was just too cowardly to be the one to tell him. She made the decision to extend the dosage of his sedative for a little longer. 

And then… well she hadn’t been invited to the platform for the doctor’s triumphant return but she could look in on the proceedings. 

Emerie brought up the visuals and audio from the entrance cams on the heads up display of her goggles. 

The little girl was able to walk off the shuttle under her own power but she was surrounded by commandos. So much ado was being made over such a small clone and yet Emerie was also intrigued at the prospect of making her acquaintance.

There was no sign of the other squad members but then Omega was the only one whom Hemlock would have deemed necessary. 

Nala Se, also surrounded by commandos, was brought forward to meet her. 

And it seemed that eventuality would be sooner rather than later as she heard Hemlock say to the medical assistant. “ Have Emerie see to her injuries .”

“ Yes, doctor .”

Emerie should have jumped at the order but she couldn’t tear herself away from the drama that was playing out on her visual display. 

“ Why did they bring me here? ” the child asked the Kaminoan but she was shoved forward before her question could be answered. 

Hemlock stalked menacingly up to Nala Se “ Your prime minister mentioned that you had an attachment to the young clone, so I’ve returned her to you. Perhaps now you will reconsider working on the Emperor’s project .”

Nala Se’s response was barely audible. “ What he seeks is not possible? ”

“ Make it possible .” He ordered. “ If you refuse or fail, Omega will suffer the consequences .”

Not if Emerie had anything to say about it. She switched off the feed and stepped out into the hallway where another medical assistant informed her that she was to report to the recovery ward to see to the newcomer’s injuries. 

Why would they bring her there? But that was obvious. They were bringing the little girl to her brother.

“Crosshair? Crosshair?” Omega was by his side calling his name when Emerie entered the ward and hesitated slightly as she passed the armed commandos who were guarding the room.

She approached the little girl slowly. “You must be Omega.”

“What did you do to Crosshair?”

“He’s recovering,” Emerie answered honestly. “I tried to warn him what would happen if he did not cooperate with the doctor.”

“I want to talk to Nala Se,” she demanded.

“Ironic. You trust the Kaminoan, but not me.”

“I don’t know you.”

“No?” Emerie lowered herself to the child’s level and took off her goggles. “You might know me better than you think. We’re sisters, Omega.”

…

“Fancy meeting you here,” Dalla heard from behind her.

She knew who it was before she saw Cid’s face. She didn't have time for this and she really couldn't have Cid around when her next appointment showed up. Dalla was going to have to get rid of her and fast no matter what her reason for showing up unannounced on Onderon.

“You stole my line,” Mollymauk crowed. “Fancy meeting you here. Don’t you have a parlor to run?”

“The parlor’s dead,” Cid shrugged. “I figured it was time for a change of pace.”

“Got tired of chasing after the clones?” She knew the Batch had severed ties with Cid, but neither of them were the type to let someone ghost them. 

“The clones are no longer on the table.”

Now that was concerning. “What happened?”

Cid averted her eyes. “Goggles didn’t make it back from the last mission.” 

“Oh, gods.” Poor Genna; Dalla couldn’t imagine. “And the others?”

Silence. 

“Cid.”

“I didn’t have a choice! No one was pulling jobs, I wasn’t getting any income, and any minute the Hutts were going to come knocking. I needed the credits to get back on my feet, and they were deadweight.” 

“So you snitched?”

“You would have done the same,” Cid snapped. “We’re cut from the same cloth, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

Three days ago, she would have. But Dalla Blackwell had left for Coruscant and Dalla Blackwell-Yularen came back, and she was determined to be the person that the Colonel believed she could be. It was the least she could do for a man who’d given her his name and his heart despite having every reason not to.

“So what are you doing here? Looking for another piece of the cake?”

“Maybe if I still had the Bonteri jewels to hock…” she began with a last attempt at bravado. “Wouldn’t be worth it even if I had the contacts. I lost the parlor; there’s nowhere for me to go.”

“You came here after you sold out our mutual allies and expect me to take you in? I thought I was supposed to be the crazy one.”

“It’s times like these that people like us need to stick together. It’s a small industry we work in, Mollymauk. Not a place to make enemies.”

“Not a place to be a rat either,” Dalla fired back. “Where’s the rest of the Batch?”

Cid must have known she couldn’t slither out of that one. “The Empire took the kid. Haven’t seen the others.”

Which meant they were licking their wounds in hyperspace and coming up with a plan to get Omega back. If they didn’t come to pick up their sister-in-law Dalla would have to put her plans on hold and get Genna and the babies somewhere safe. But not before she sorted out her personal life. Yularen had made it clear that her personal life was the most important thing. 

Maybe following his example would help here. “You want my help, then you should know I will never trust you with my network or my secrets, so kiss the thought of that goodbye. With that being said, here’s my offer: I need more ears in the outer rim. You take your blood money, add a little more from my coffers, set up a new parlor, and report back to me.”

“Work for you? What do I get out of it?”

“You manage not to be branded as a rat within our very tight-knit industry. You think you have connections, think again.” Dalla crossed her arms. “It’s a good deal. You should take it.”

Cid stood there considering and after a long pause, said “I always liked Niamos.”

Dalla nodded. “Enjoy the beach. I’ll contact you in a few days.”

She watched as the Trandoshan turned to leave. There was no need to make threats, or rather promises of what would happen should Cid think to turn on her. Things like that, people like them just knew. 

That left Dalla to deal with her current mess. She took a deep breath and summoned all the courage she required.

…

A Pantoran couple was waiting at her office door when she arrived.

“I’m looking for Dalla,” Senator Riyo Chuchi said. 

“Do you have a donation?” Dalla asked.  

“A delivery, yes.”

With the code completed, Dalla stepped aside and let them in. 

“I wasn’t aware you were bringing a friend.” She raised an eyebrow at the Pantoran man standing beside Riyo. She was supposed to show up with Rex and the clone they were rescuing and here she was, no Rex, no rescued clone, and some random guy in tow. The meeting had barely started and Dalla was already over it.

“Actually, you were.” Riyo licked her thumb, and with a quick “excuse me” to her friend, swiped it along his cheek. The blue pigment lifted from his skin. 

“What the –.” Dalla looked closer, taking in the man’s bone structure, the shape of his eyes. The only Pantoran thing about him was the blue skin.   

“It was safer like this,” he said in the voice all clones shared. 

“We had a change of plans. Rex had to stay behind and send us to Onderon with friends, so I made him up with my foundation and some box dye,” Riyo explained. “I’m no professional, but it threw off the search parties.”

“You did great.” She turned to the clone. “There’s a refresher down the hall. Wash that off and someone will be waiting to take you to your next stop.”

“It was like being invisible,” Riyo said when he was gone. “We need to make a disguise standard practice for all defectors.”

“I know someone who could do it. I haven’t talked to her, but she’s always been willing to help people.”

“You mean Genna?” Riyo asked eagerly.

“How do you know about Genna?”

“Echo told me.”

“You mean you’re Echo’s secret girlfriend on Coruscant? A senator?” She grinned. “Talk about go big or go home!”

“I was hoping to meet her today,” Riyo was prepared to protest but it was easier just to go with it.  “Do you think she would work with us?”

“She’s a fully licensed cosmetologist and —.” And she’d just lost her husband and the father of her children, and was none the wiser. Dalla stopped in her tracks. 

Riyo caught it. “What?”

“The squad ran into trouble on their last mission. Tech … Tech died, and their contact gave them up to the Empire. She says they got away, but I don’t know where they are or what condition they’re in.”

The senator turned a shade of white Dalla had only seen on polar ice, and she reached for the pocket where she kept her comlink. 

“Don’t!” Dalla jumped to stop her. “What if they’re being tracked? You’ll lead the Empire right to the defectors!” 

“If they’re being tracked, I’m already compromised.” Riyo flipped open her comm anyway and speed-dialed a frequency. “The comm channels are down.”

Dalla tried the number for the Hair Affair. She didn’t know how she was going to tell Genna about Tech over the comm, but sensitivity could wait until after the mother and children were safe. The call went straight to voicemail. 

“Is she there?” Riyo asked. 

“I’m going to try someone else.” She keyed in another frequency. “Aunt Shara, I need you to check on Genna. There’s been an emergency, I’ll explain later, but tell her to pack a bag and get the girls ready to go.”

“She’s not here,” her aunt replied. “I went for a visit and the salon was locked up with all the lights off. No one’s home.”

Kriff. “Is she anywhere on the island?”

“Maris saw her walking toward the landing platform with the girls and a woman with dark, curly hair. Dalla, what is going on?”

“Nothing! I mean, it’s just a family thing and nothing to worry about. I’ll talk to you later.” She hung up before Aunt Shara could ask more questions. 

“That didn’t sound good,” Riyo fretted. 

No kidding. Dalla took a deep breath to calm her nerves and asked herself for the umpteenth time what Yularen would do.

“Senator,” she asked, “Ready to go on a treasure hunt?”

Chapter Text

Compulsion has stained me

I'm nervously cradling our young love

Without known limits love

Like a butterfly cupped in my hands

I peek in to see beauty trapped

Confined it flutters

Then it leaves behind colorful dust

To remind me of the special times we've spent

But of course it has to leave my clutch

But enough is never enough to make a dent

It's too late now

I don't think it can fade

It's too real now

Fulfillment just adds fuel to the blaze

And in time it will end

And there really isn't hope for the two of us

But right now I give in

“That’s gotta be them!” Phee grinned. 

Genna looked up as the shadow of the vessel passed over them and the twins startled at the sound of the engine from their cozy spot in the double stroller. 

Genna had dressed them in purple and blue in reference to the meaning of their names in Mando’a, the easier for the imminently introduced family members to tell them apart.

The girls seemed to be enjoying being out in the sunshine. 

Phee figured they probably didn't get much chance for that back in the frigid north of Onderon. She almost hated sending them inside to await the arrival of their papa.

“Maybe we should have commed them ahead of time to warn them that we were coming.” Genna anxiously kicked at the lever that kept the stroller locked in place.

“It’s gonna be great,” Phee assured her with a squeeze of the shoulder and pointed her in the direction of the Archium. 

They both looked up again at the craft that was now circling for a landing. They might have already been seen.

“Go!” Phee prodded cheerfully. 

“Alright.” Genna gave her a last hopeful attempt at a smile and then mumbled to herself, “Kriff, we’re actually doing this.”

It was a smooth landing after Phee’s surprise had disappeared safely into the building and she thought that meant Omega probably was not at the controls. She laughed. Unless they’d had time for a few more lessons while they were off on this covert mission. 

She expected that it would be Omega who came barreling down the steps first thing as soon as the hatch opened. She had requested a full briefing after all and surely the child wouldn’t be able to resist telling the story of all their adventures as soon as the opportunity presented itself. 

The hatch opened however and Omega didn’t emerge. In fact it was a few more standard minutes before Wrecker lumbered down the steps not quite looking her in the eye. 

“Hey, Phee,” he rumbled. He was wearing some kind of brace around his neck and shoulders and there were other signs of injury. 

“Hey, Big Guy.” She started toward him carefully. “You alright? Did something…” 

She heard other voices coming from inside the ship.

“... thought we agreed.” That was Hunter.

And Echo answered him, “She knows about Genna. We just need to show her before…” 

Hunter turned his head first, sensing that their conversation was being observed and then Echo looked at her as well. The two of them walked sedately down the gangway before either of them spoke again.

“Where’s Omega?” Phee inquired.

“The Empire got her,” Wrecker burst out in a wail of grief. 

Phee looked back and forth between him and the other two.

“She’s alive,” Echo rushed to reassure her. “We just don’t know where they’ve taken her. We assume it’s wherever they’ve been holding Crosshair.”

Phee glanced towards the ship and then she asked the other obvious question, “Where’s Tech?” 

Hunter began to unwrap something that he had been holding from his own red bandana. She hadn’t even noticed that he hadn’t been wearing the thing but now she saw what was revealed from the carefully wound layers of cloth and she reeled back with a gasp. 

“We agreed that Genna should have them so that the twins could have something that belonged to their father but we wanted you to see first before…” 

“She’s here.” Phee choked back a sob. “I brought her and the girls here where they would be safe and…” and happy? Oh yes, they should definitely have commed ahead. 

“You went to Onderon?” Echo asked, sharing a pointed look with Hunter and then took out his comm unit. 

“What’s wrong?” or what could be even more wrong? Phee thought. 

“Cid was aware of our contacts on Onderon.” Hunter explained but that didn’t completely explain it.

“Cid was the one who told the Empire where to find Omega,” Wrecker growled, grinding one fist into the opposite hand. 

“And she knows about Mollymauk.” It was a good thing Phee hadn’t stopped to have a chat.

“And Mollymauk knows about the work Rex and I have been doing.” Echo held up his comm unit to show the display. There were a dozen missed messages from the same ID. “I need to take care of this.” 

The others faced the Archium.

…

Genna pushed the stroller to a stop and reengaged the lock. Not like it was going anywhere, it was just a reflex to protect her daughters. They were safe here. 

After another glance at the contented infants she began to survey their surroundings and her gaze almost instantly zeroed in on the string of purple jewels. She drew the cord from beneath the neckline of her shirt and compared the stones to the one on the ring Tech had given her, a gift from Cid and Mollymauk. 

She snorted a laugh. “Liberator of ancient wonders my shebs.” 

But Phee was certainly more than that. She was a friend, as improbable as that might have seemed before they met, and she had made this reunion possible. 

Genna was going to see him again, introduce him to his daughters. She wondered for the millionth time if he had gotten her message when she was in labor. Surely not. Surely if he had known that he had a family to come home to he would have tried to contact her somehow. 

Maybe Echo had told him while they were on their mission and they just hadn’t had a chance to contact anyone. But no, she had asked Echo not to say anything that would distract her husband and surely Echo wouldn’t have gone against her wishes. 

A tiny sneeze drew her out of her thoughts and she bent to unlatch the straps that were securely holding Kebiin Omega in her seat so she could lift the little girl into her arms. “Are you ready for this, Ad’ika? They’re going to be so surprised to see you and your sister. With those big brown eyes and my blonde hair, I never really thought about how much you must look like your aunt when she was taken out of her canister or whatever they’re called. You’re named after her, you know. And now you’re going to meet her.” 

She heard a sound and looked up. She didn’t know if Phee was planning on sending just Tech in alone or if all of them would be coming in together. 

Phee seemed to be leading them or some of them. There was Hunter and Wrecker but where were the others? And then Genna saw what Phee had in her hands. 

Genna had imagined how she would run and jump into Tech’s arms when she had recovered after her surgery. Now all the strength she had gained in her legs seemed to leave her at once. 

A moment before she hit the ground Hunter took the baby from her arms and Wrecker scooped up the mother in his own. 

…

“I thought Rex was going to be with you for the entire mission.” Echo attempted to remain calm as he addressed the holo image before him. “If I had known that you were making the trip to Onderon alone, I never would have let you…”

“ Let me? ” The Pantoran senator shot back at him. “ I do not believe you are in any position to let me do anything .”

“That's not what I meant.” He raised his hand and his cybernetic appendage in submission.

Echo really did not want an audience to this conversation but it was the moment that he saw Hunter holding a small bundle, Wrecker carrying an insensible Genna, and Phee pushing a baby stroller out of the Archium’s doors. Thankfully he was fairly certain that Riyo had not seen them yet. He just needed to end the comm and make plans to talk to her again later. 

“I just worry about you,” he said softly, placatingly. 

“ And how do you think I feel every time you leave on a mission? ” She of course did not bother to lower her voice. “ Is it true that you lost Tech and Omega? ”

Hunter was at his side joining him in the holo frame in a moment. “How did you know about that?”

“ It's true then? ” Riyo's horrified gaze dropped to the bundle that squirmed in Hunter's arms and she covered her mouth with her hand. 

Hunter gently rearranged the baby on his shoulder as if he had been holding babies all his life but his tone remained firm. “How did you know about Tech and Omega?” 

He got his answer almost immediately when the Mollymauk pushed her way into the holofield. Unlike Riyo, she let out of sigh of relief when she saw the baby. “Thank goodness. Where are you guys?”

“Why would we tell you?” Hunter snapped. “Did the Empire offer you a bounty too?”

To her credit, Dalla didn’t snap back. “I know Phee got Genna and the girls off Onderon, but if they’re going to stay hidden you need to tell me where they are so we can forge new documents.”

“We’ll manage.” 

“Hunter, please. I’m trying to help. She can’t operate a business without a chain code and what’s more, this is my job. You can ask Rex.”

“Rex isn’t here. All I know is that you’re a fence in the same circles as the person who betrayed us, and I won’t –.”