Chapter Text
I sighed, squinting into the bright sun of Batuu, I felt naked without my armor, instead clad in one of the Senator of Batuu’s countless dresses. The previous night’s intercepted signal had warned of a plan to attack the ceremony in remembrance of her parents, leading to Wolffe and I coming up with the current plan. I was far from happy with the result.
“You two are nearly identical,” Wolffe had pleaded with me as we argued on the Bridge. “Throw you in a dress and hand you a baby and it would be impossible to tell the difference.”
“Wolffe,” I sighed, knowing he had a point. “Do you really think that would work?”
“Without a doubt, besides we need her alive-” Wolffe had trailed off, the unspoken threat of Order 132 hanging between us. In the six months since I had managed to weasel my way into a permanent position with the 104th, Wolffe and I had spoken in great detail about the plot we found ourselves to be the center of. The two of us had agreed early on that we needed to ensure that the two women who preceded me on the list of targets survived until such time I could disappear into the Outer Rim.
Unfortunately for us, the Senator of Batuu was almost constantly finding herself on the brink of death. Only a week before we had been present at her wedding when a clone had attempted to use his training under Wolffe to take her out. Wolffe and I had known immediately what the attack had meant.
The Chancellor had called for Order 132.
He had called for the elimination of all individuals romantically involved with a clone. The two of us had immediately worked to receive assignment to the woman, knowing that her protection was of the utmost importance as the first person on the Chancellor’s list.
We had told no one about our knowledge, knowing that such an accusation would see the both of us executed for treason. Instead, we worked quietly, gathering as much information about the vod and their partners as we could, while simultaneously attempting to stay off of the Chancellor’s radar ourselves. Though, I knew that I would never truly disappear, having shown my hand to the man in an attempt to maintain my role in the GAR- A.
In hindsight, the decision had been rather hasty and stupid on my part. Blackmailing the literal leader of the Galactic Republic was not my brightest moment. I had made an incredibly powerful enemy that day out of sheer desperation.
When Wolffe had been training the special task force of clones to perform Order 132, I had been the third person on the list. The first had been the Senator of Batuu with the second being Sigrun of Norma.
Wolffe did not know it at that point, but I was likely much higher on the list than he knew. My threat to the Chancellor had likely not gone without punishment, though six months had passed without issue.
The whole situation made me incredibly uneasy as I stood on the stage, completely exposed to the ever growing crowd of locals. A humid breeze caused me to shiver against the nearly sheer blue fabric clinging to the sweat slowly sliding down my back.
“Batuu is a lot hotter than I remembered,” I muttered into my ear piece. The other end chuckled, clearly amused by just how much the heat was irritating me.
“You’ve never been to Batuu before,” Sinker laughed at me. “Besides, Ryloth is warmer.”
“I was a bit-” I paused for a moment, remembering the events on Ryloth and how close I had come to death. “I was a bit preoccupied.” Sinker laughed again.
“Let’s not have a repeat performance,” Wolffe interrupted, his cold tone barely revealing how amused he actually was.
“Yes, sir,” Sinker responded with a small snort. “The Senator is in place.”
“Excellent, let the festivities begin,” Wolffe responded. From my place on the stage, I looked out over the assembled crowd. Our plan was highly flawed, I looked nothing like the Senator, no matter how often Wolffe attempted to convince me otherwise.
“People of Batuu,” I said, my voice echoing across the crowd. I took a moment to take a breath, public speaking was something I had never quite mastered, and I needed to nail this performance. “Today we celebrate the lives of all who lost their lives during the Battle of Batuu.”
The crowd murmured at my words, clearly remembering the horrific events which had occurred over a year before. I did not remember much about that particular battle other than the fact that it had lead directly into the Second Battle of Geonosis.
I could barely make out the 104th snipers around the perimeter of the square, all watching for the inevitable attack.
“It is my distinct honor to unveil the-” a loud shriek interrupted me, the people in the crowd throwing themselves away from the square in a panic. Immediately, I was on the ground, dragging myself off of the platform, huddling behind the small blaster shelter Wolffe had prepared.
As I hit the ground the first explosion sounded, causing my ears to pop. Groaning, I pulled myself up, shoving my way through the crowd towards the safe house, where the real Senator was already hiding. The second blast sent me flying.
“Civvie,” Wolffe shouted into my earpiece. “We lost sight of you.”
“I’m just behind the-” my response was cut off as a clone appeared from the dust, his blaster leveling with my chest. I quickly held my hands up, showing him I was unarmed.
“By order of Order 132, Senator, you will be executed,’ the clone began. I rolled my eyes at this.
“So formal,” I mocked, knowing I would need to stall until Wolffe arrived. The clone paused at this.
“Your friend, Capt-”
“I am not the Senator,” I snapped, seeing familiar grey and white armor approaching me. I smiled, a small laugh bubbling to the surface when I saw that Wolffe had his shoulders squared as though he was angry. "I am the Auxiliary Marshal Commander of the 104th Attack Battalion and you, trooper, are in direct violation of Order 132 in attacking me."
“What’s so funny-”
“You really should have paid more attention in your training,”Wolffe snarled, killing the clone in a single shot. “I trained you better than that.” I laughed, lowering my arms as Wolffe put his balster away.
“Did you-”
“I got both of them,” he nodded once, his helmet catching in the sun as the dust around us settled.
“Good,” I smiled. Wolffe shook his head, offering me his arm as we walked to rejoin Sinker and Boost near the platform, which now looked as though it had been leveled by a rampaging Wampa. Sinker grinned at Wolffe and I as we approached, clearly pleased to see the physical affection between us.
Sinker had become a bit of a softie as of late, often making comments about Wolffe and I. He was the best brother I could possibly ask for.
“Report,” Wolffe asked, pulling his arm from me.
“The Senator managed to transmit her actual speech without issue and the dedication is well underway,” the clone smiled widely. “She has met with the 501st as discussed.”
“Excellent,” I said swiftly “Now where did we put my armor?” Wolffe pulled off his helmet, mirroring Sinker. The two paused for a moment, clearly scared to tell me something.
“Civ-” Sinker began. Wolffe swiftly elbowed him. I crossed my arms.
“You two have exactly thirty seconds-”
“The Senator used it,” Wolffe said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck. “We needed the-" Wolffe never got to finish his sentence as a blaster fired over his shoulder, catching me in the arm.
"Commander," Sinker shouted as I fell with a shout. Wolffe was already off, running in the direction of the blast. Things began to move quickly following the attack. Sinker dragged me into the safe house, the waiting medic immediately administering Bacta and treating the injury.
By the time Wolffe returned, dragging behind him a new blaster, I was beginning to feel better, the blast barely scratching the skin of my arm.
"We will need to apologize to the Senator about her gown," I laughed, as Wolffe came to stand at the foot of the small bed I was seated in. "The blue really is lovely-"
"Civvie, I am only going to ask you this once," Wolffe's tone was harsh. I paused at this, surprised at the seriousness he was displaying. I had been hurt countless times over the nearly two years I had been working with Wollfe and he had never been upset with me about it.
"What is it," I asked, dread settling in my stomach.
"How did you convince the Chancellor to give you your current assignment," he asked, his cybernetic eye glinting in the setting sunlight streaming in from the window. I tilted my head at him, knowing that I would need to convince him of a lie.
"What brings that up," I asked, hoping my panic was concealed by the slight tinge of pain that filtered through my words. Wolffe crossed his arms, a scowl spreading across his features.
"Answer the question," he snapped.
"General Koon-"
"No, he didn't," Wolffe snarled tossing a data pad in my lap. "The clone that shot you had this on him." Looking down at my lap I noticed the file open was the same as the list I had overheard Wolffe sharing six months before. There was one drastic change though, it was no longer in the same order
"I-"
"What did you do to the Chancellor that you are now in a three way tie with the Senator of Batuu and Sigrun," Wolffe snarled.
"Wolffe-"
"Ge'sol," he snapped. "The truth, now." I sighed.
"I may have blackmailed the Chancellor-" I trailed off as Wolffe slowly began to turn red, his mouth opening and closing rapidly as he processed my words. As he mouthed the air, the door opened again to reveal Sinker, holding my armor.
"Captain Rex sent this back to you-" he paused noticing Wolffe's state. "I'll come back later."
"Probably a good idea," I smiled at the man. Wolffe snarled low in his throat. His signature growl filling the small room. Sinker scrambled away, clearly wishing to be as far from what was about to happen as possible.
"You, Blackmailed. Chancellor. Palpatine?" Wolffe shouted, the entire room shaking from his sheer volume.
"That's one way to put it."