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the-baddest-of-batches · 10 months

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Chapter Twenty-Three: The Children's War (Part 2)

Clones, soldiers, we keep to ourselves. Our version of a party is probably best described as seeing who gets drunk first, and shenanigans that should never make it into anyone's report, ever. The Imperial Gala is the exact opposite.

Opulence drips from the ceiling down the walls to the very marbled floors, likely imported from off planet. Naboo is something of a humbler planet by means of wealth, but that does not imply their humble decadence cannot rival a wealthier nation.

I glance past faces I've seen before to the ones I haven't. Senators of all species mill about the domed room. Many have brought their own security. Stormtroopers in dark armor lurk behind their appointed charge and threaten violence to try and impose on the tittering conversations and fake smiles.

We're set in a ball room. Imperial flags hang on the walls. I know the people of Naboo are peace lovers. They care not for the heavy hand of the Empire, but they clearly thrive under it.

Many people do not understand the peace the Empire represents. Few understood it during the Republic's years. Seems an age-old issue. And as the years have worn on, it's only gotten worse. The Moff was right, I've seen the HNE reports. I know the rumors. People are never satisfied with their honest or peaceful lives. It's not just the Jedi, it's all of humanity that craves war.

The Moff strides across the circular floor toward a gaggle of other Moffs, Admirals, and Senators who are each decked in long brown, silver, and blue robes. Many wear the colors of their homeland. It's a display of pure power.

I follow closely. I've been given something of a cleaner kit for the occasion. It's not my white and reds, but it'll do. It's still phase II clone armor and it's familiar. I asked for something familiar. The Moff delivers on his promises. I promised to keep him safe, so I'll deliver on mine.

My initial scan of the room's layout tells me there's a balcony overlooking a garden. Two Admirals stand near it. One of them has a blue skin tone and when he turns, I note his red eyes. They remind me of something I saw in a book somewhere.

Around the room I can spot nothing particularly suspicious. I remain close to the Moff regardless.

"It's a pleasure to see you here, Senator Organa," The Moff exclaims, reaching toward an older man with black hair and sharp, yet smiling features. The senator has no Imperial bodyguards with him, only two men in traditional Alderinnian attire. They're clearly carrying weapons, though.

"Moff Sharn," Organa's voice is a cold courteous one. It does not mirror the warmth on his face.

"And how are things in the Senate?"

"Ah, you know. The usual gambit of much arguing and little policy. Half our matters have been put on hold."

"A shame, truly."

I turn and look behind me. Conversation drifts in and out in snippets.

"Yes, I heard they are moving to reform the petition. I imagine it will greatly benefit your people once it's passed."

"It will benefit all people."

"This is the third month they've placed this bill on hold! I am growing tired of the endless arguments. We must pick a side."

"They will not, and you know it. The councils are set against us."

"Then they should consider more wisely what drawing this out will do."

I glance to the right.

"Yes, Admiral. I am aware of your plans. They have been passed along. Personally, I think the Emperor will take great notice of them."

"Indeed."

The voice is from the blue skinned man on the balcony. He's migrated past me. I never noticed him move. That unnerves me, so I keep a half eye on Moff Sharn, who has taken up conversing his favorite subject: Mon Calamari Opera. We're going to be here a while.

A voice breaks through the crowd, directly addressing me. It sounds familiar, the interference from a helmet mike masking the real tone beneath.

"You look out of place."

I try not to laugh as I side-eye the trooper, likely on a similar job to me. Out of place, interesting choice of words. I outdate every soldier here, if not by age, then at least experience. I note the deep black armor the other trooper wears, though and it clicks.

My armor, with its phase II clone wars look, white plastoid, and the pale shoulder bell I've had since Umbara, must look out of place. I turn my head an inch to ensure the Moff is still immersed in his discourse with the others present. Once that's affirmed, I can spare some attention and loop my thumbs in my belt.

"It's an original design," I tell the other trooper who lingers behind their own charge. "Holds up better than the plastic they ship out nowadays."

The trooper nods. "Hard to argue with that opinion. I used to wear it."

I cock an eyebrow under my helmet. This isn't some civilian. And he has my interest piqued.

"How long ago?"

"Feels like forever ago now."

It has been fourteen years. I lean back on my heels, realizing that the time has passed me by and I haven't been paying attention. It's just one day after another. I don the armor. But even I haven't worn it in what feels like an eternity.

"It feels good to be back." I scan the room, checking the perimeters.

There's a laugh from the other trooper. "You never left, Kian."

I blink. For the first time I look at the ID tag that popped up when the other trooper initiated conversation. A long time ago I would've seen his whole HUD as soon as we were linked, me being a Lieutenant, but these new kits and mine don't play as well.

But I know that ID.

"Headshot?"

"Before you say something, I'm just here for hire. I don't do this on the daily anymore. You, though." Headshot chuckles. "I'm impressed you're still alive."

"I'm not a field operative if that's what you're getting at."

"I can't believe they let you out."

"I train cadets."

Headshot snickers. "What goes around comes around, isn't that the saying? I hope they give you a hard time."

"I'm going to clock you."

"Better not do it here."

I'll do it later. My eyes narrow. I should've recognized that sarcastic tone the moment I heard it. I am getting soft.

And now that I know who I'm talking to, I almost want to tune back into the Moff, but I think I'd rather be dragged for being tight-lipped and anti-social than listen to another critique of last month's opera.

"How have you actually been, Kian?" Headshot edges a little closer. I can see now he's attached to the Admmiral the Moff has been entertaining for the past few moments. Headshot must agree that this is going to be a quiet night, though, as he edges up to stand closer. He pulls off his helmet and I blink.

Same face, but have we really gotten that old? The kid who laughed at gallows humor is there in Headshot's eyes, but his face, it looks weathered beyond both our years.

I reach up and remove my own helmet slowly. When I look up, I too am being stared at. Headshot says nothing, though.

"I'm fine," is all I can conjure up. I turn my gaze to the room and fix it there, following an invisible threat with my eyes.

I train rookies, that's it. Nothing special about the last few years of my life.

"What about you?" I manage after several quiet moments.

Headshot shrugs, clips his helmet to his belt, and moves up into my periphery. "Retiring got me enough to buy some land. Tried to get married." He laughs. "You can see how well that went. Got two kids, a lot of bills, and she got herself a lot better man."

"Sorry about that."

"It's nothing really. The kids are great. There's um...four now."

I turn with incredulity written all across my face. "Four?" Even my voice sounds weak.

Headshot smiles. "Yep. Ones adopted. His parents um...I was hired to protect them." Headshot looks down. Somber never did look good on him. "I had to do something, so I took him in. He's a great kid." A smile returns to Headshot's face and he's himself again.

I guess us clones never lose that sentiment of ignoring the elephant in the room. Grief, it can trample you.

I rock back on my heels again. "Fours a lot, but you always did have more energy than me."

Headshot nods and his smile broadens. "Anyone special out there for you, yet?"

"Yeah, she's called Corellian Red Ale and she's the most intense gal you'll ever meet."

Headshot laughs. "You never change, Kian."

"Thanks." My voice is hollow to my own ears. I know he means it well, but it stings. Should I have changed? I don't want to think about it. The universe is always changing and I'm stuck with that, so to hell with Headshot's comments. What's so wrong with sticking to what you know?

"Hey," Headshot's voice changes tone. He's pulling his helmet back on. "Twelve o'clock."

I look up. A familiar face moves through the crowd, accompanied by another I've only seen in HNE Reports. A young girl in her teens. Bail Organna's daughter, the princess Organna. The Moff spoke with the senator earlier, and if luck would have it, it looks like they're heading back out way.

"Better get back to standing around looking scary," Headshot says.

I nod and turn my head to prompt the Moff as he's involved in conversation. He looks up, catches my eye, and looks past me.

"The Senator is back," Moff Sharn notes to the other guests standing around him. He gestures to me. I'm already on his heels as he breaks from his personal crowd and crosses the floor toward the Senator. As we pass, I catch the eyes of the blue-skinned officer lingering at the edge of the crowd growing around Bail and his daughter. The stranger also wanders toward the Senator, but his gaze and steps are calculated. Something about him unnerves me.

I throw my helmet on quickly and take up a stance behind the Moff. He's exchanging more pleasantries. It seems the Senator is here to introduce his daughter.

"I hear you will be entering the political stage like your father," the Moff bows to the Princess. Leia, I think her name is.

"Yes," she says firmly. She carries herself like a soldier, as if she were raised by a drill sergeant, not a senator. I catch her looking over the Moff's shoulder at me and as soon as her father has entered another conversation with the Moff, she breaks away from them. She's dressed up, just like everyone here, but it's plainer.

Oddly, she looks nothing like her father. Maybe she gets her looks from her mother. Leia shoulders past a few other officers crowding to meet her. She commands the room.

So why is she coming my way?

"Excuse me," Leia holds her head high. She's shorter than me, but her presence stands head and shoulders taller than anyone else here. She'd give Tarkin a run for his money on intimidation.

"Young miss, can I help you?" I'm a bodyguard here, nothing more.

"Is that armor authentic clone wars era?" she asks, her brow furrowing in curiosity.

"Yes ma'am."

"I've only read about the clone wars," she's in awe. I shift a bit uncomfortably from the attention.

"Leia," her father snaps from amidst the crowd. "Where are you? You're supposed to stay close."

I realize Senator Organa has been whisked some feet away and Leia and I have ended up on the outside. I probably am not needed in the midst of the crowd. And she has people to meet.

"I'm fine," Leia calls out. "Trooper–" she pauses. "What's your name?"

"Kian," I say.

"Trooper Kian made sure I was safe."

"Come over here," Bail summons her. "You are not here for idle talk."

Leia sighs. I hook my thumb in my belt, and wave. She waves back, then vanishes back into the crowd.

You don't meet many kids this day and age who have a vested interest in old military history. Guess that makes me history. Kriff I shouldn't have thought about that.

"Kian," the Moff appears, having disengaged. "What was that about?"

"She was asking about the armor, sir."

Moff Sharn glances at me. "I knew I should've had you wear the regulation stuff."

"Why? It's a conversation point, sir."

Sharn shakes his head. "I'm going to wander the room. If you'd like, take a break and get yourself refreshments. I think I will be capable of handling myself."

"Yessir." I nod and let him wander off on his own. I slink to the edge of the room, find some water, and keep an eye on the party from where I stand. Leia has taken charge of the room. She's hard not to watch with the way she grabs one's attention. If she does follow in her father's footsteps, I think she might really make a change in this twisted world.

I've watched a few of her speaking events on Alderran on HNE. I don't know much about politics, but I know words have power. They're weapons in the right hands, and if a word is a weapon, Leia Organna is a war general.

And we are still at war. I can't forget that, despite the glittering distraction of wealth. I skim the room, flicking through a few channels of chatter that I've turned my HUD into. Nothing out of the ordinary. The moff said he expected nothing, but a man who doesn't prepare for the worst is a dead man.

I edge away from the crowd, keeping tabs on the Moff, but taking stock of my surroundings.

Leia is still talking in the center of the room, trying to migrate away from the crowds. She has a natural charisma, though. Impressive for a fifteen year old. Taking her would certainly be a large and strategic hit.

I put my hand to my blaster and move along the edge of the party just to get a better view. I reach the doors. A light flickers. The room goes dark.

My HUD flashes into night vision without a moment to buffer. I too immediately turn toward the murmur of panic rippling through the room.

"Kian, you bump a light switch?" Headshot's familiar voice comes in.

"No," I answer. "Do you have eyes on the senator?"

"Yeah. I can see her. Fill me in, what's happening."

I move toward the crowd, breaking into a jog. "I know as much as you."

"Great." Headshot curses. I'm surprised he got to it before me.

I run for the gaggle of officers, several raising questions about the outage, others trying to calm their wives and families. I have to get my priorities straight here. I might be attending for the Moff, but Leia is priority one. As I run, I patch into the general line for all troopers as the guests in the room begin to raise the levels of panic.

"Listen up, all unitsi n this room, I need two men covering all exits!" I shove into the crowd. "And identify anyone who isn't a guest!"

"What is going on?" Someone tries to grab me. I pull away.

"Find your security detail, all of you!" I snap at the officers. The Moffs, many of whom have seen similar situations, keep a stoic nervous silence as troopers and security flood the room.

A window shatters.

I lunge for Leia, caught in the middle of the throng of bodies, and grab her wrist. Her father's security have turned to the sound of the glass.

It's a distraction, I hiss mentally. "Princess!" I tug at her and lift my head to call out. "Moff Sharn!"

His face appears amidst the crowd as it breaks up, and subsequently surges back together as shots are fired across the room. Someone screams. That's all that's needed to break the wave of tension.

"Dear goodness!" a woman's voice raises to a screech.

"They're here to kill us!"

I tug Leia to me and she stumbles. Even with night vision this crowd is making any kind of movement difficult.

"What is happening?" she demands. Moff Sharn pushes his way toward us.

I lift my blaster, waiting to hear about the situation outside. The comms are all useless chatter, though. "Sir, Ma'am, we have a situation and I need to secure you both, understood?"

"Take her, I will be fine, Kian." Moff Sharn draws his own weapon. "Secure the princess."

I know she's putting on a brave face, but Leia's wrist is trembling in my hand. I nod, quietly, and let the Moff go as he shouts and waves people toward the exits. The room begins to clear and more blaster fire echoes in the darkness.

There's a snap overhead.

"Kian!" Headshot's voice echoes in my comm. "Overhead, get down!"

I grab Leia and shove her, both of us lunging as the chandelier in the middle of the room crashes down, scattering diamond and glass in dangerous shards across the floor. I scramble to my knees.

"Headshot, what's going on out there?"

"Still not sure, but I think we've got two bogies."

I don't know which of the black armored troopers he is, mostly because it's dark and even with night vision all I can make out is armor. There's two people cornered by the balcony. That can't be all of them.

"Get with the other units and flush them out, Headshot. I'm securing the princess." I help Leia to her feet and look for the nearest exit. Blaster fire echoes outside the door, though.

"Nevermind," I clench my teeth. "Ma'am–"

"I can handle myself," Leia says, but she's breathing hard, and she looks pale. I know she's just a kid. She's a strong kid, but a kid.

"I know that, ma'am, I'm just here to watch your back."

Leia nods. She grabs her skirt up. "Which way?"

I point to the other exit. "That way. Keep close, understood?"

She nods rapidly. I hear the blaster fire and it's getting closer. Kriff, this is bad. There may be more outside. I have to get Leia out of the building. We need to get everyone out of the building. A massacre would be bad for PR. And my job.

The chatter is filling me in though. "Bogies outside the main room, at least four!"

"It's a small group, try to apprehend them."

"We've got two more inside the main hall. Flush them out, go go!"

I tune in, holding Leia at my side as I search for an exit. The throne room doors are open wide and empty. There's troopers near them ushering people through. Blasterfire echoes behind me and I whirl around. "Time to go," I mutter to Leia. I pull her toward the throne room and she follows.

I help her through the exit, pushing past the senators and officers already inside. Leia tugs away, looking for her father. I keep a close eye on her.

I can hear from the comms that the resistance outside is putting up a fight. There aren't many of them, but it looks like they've got enough troops occupied that we can't pin them all down.

I open my comm channel. "All units, focus on the bogies in the room. Keep out any others. Understood?"

"Yessir."

"Copy that."

A rally of voices answer me and I can hear them adjusting their position. I feel oddly responsible. This isn't the time to bask in glory, though.

I turn and catch up to Leia. "Princess, we're going out the back." I look back to see the troopers at the entrance are hauling the doors shut as blaster fire echoes outside the room. Best to keep it contained.

I turn around, and Leia is gone. My stomach drops. I had one job.

Someone screams as the ornate glass window shatters in. Kriff, kriff, kriff. I run for the window. Our enemy must've gotten caught in here with us. They have Leia and they're trying to get out.

Not on my watch. I haven't changed in near fifteen years for nothing. I run for the broken window, shoving senators aside and yelling for them to get out of my way. The crowds part, stumbling. I reach the window, vault over the sill and land, rolling, in the royal gardens. Dirt coats my formerly clean armor. Suits me. I always hated being a shiny.

Figures run through the dark up ahead, clinging to a girl in a white dress. She's fighting. It has to be Leia. I plunge into the dark garden after her, snapping up my blaster and setting it to stun. My HUD adjusts for the new visual setting. I can make out the armor on the guys holding Leia. They don't look like the insurrectionists I've seen.

These guys are skilled, military, and they're armed to the teeth.

Something singes the side of my helmet. I duck behind a couple of plants for cover and fire stun shots after them. "I don't think these are our typical rebels," I say. "These guys aren't insurgents. They look military."

Another hail of blaster bolts. I can hear a muffled scream. Leia. I'll never be forgiven if I let these guys get away with the Princess. I promised to protect her. This is my job.

I lunge out and fire off another hail of shots. Nothing hits, that's to be expected, but I sprint across the grounds. Chatter pours in.

"These guys are organized, who the hell are they?" A long pause. I cover the ground between me and the two kidnappers as Leia bogs them down with her struggling.

I slam my shoulder into one man. It's not enough to put him down, but it surprises him. I turn, snap my hand up, and shoot the other man in the face. He goes down and lets go of Leia, who hits her knees.

Two hands grab me by the neck. I jerk, but I can't get a lock on the man behind me. I can't throw him off either, he's heavy, and cutting off my air supply like a trained soldier. I have to commed Headshot, someone-

Blasterfire echoes. The grip on my throat releases and I gasp, staggering forward. Leia drops a small holdout to the ground and moves back. She's terrified, and still trying not to show it.

My comm is static and voices. Troopers questioning the real enemy we're fighting. I myself have questions.

I turn and check that the man behind me is dead. I also take a good look at him, removing his armored mask. That confirms some suspicions. "Zann," I breathe. I tap my comm. "I've got Leia secured."

"We've got the ground situation handled," Headshot comes in. "Three captured two dead. Two unaccounted for."

"Got them right here," I say.

"Well then, guess that wraps this up."

I let the link die amd look up as Leia stands, dusting herself off. Her dress is torn, she looks a bit roughed up, but mostly uninjured. I move over to her and put out a hand. "Are you-"

She turns and throws both arms around me without warning. I start, and finally hug her loosely. "You're safe now," I remind her. "We'll get you to your father."

It sounds like she's crying, though. I don't quite know how to handle that. Leia has a lot of responsibility, charisma, and expectations on her shoulders.She's fifteen and already part of the world stage. She's a kid, and already fighting a war. My chest knots up and I hug her tighter.

It isn't fair, but I know how she feels. And there's nothing I can do but offer a sliver of comfort for the truth we both have to face.

We were only children. Asked to bear the fate of the universe.