Chapter Text
Why was there a clone here? There wasn’t supposed to be a clone here!
Luz stood frozen amidst crates upon crates of illicit relief supplies in the hold of her own ship, the Tempest, as a hot red blush crept up her neck. Shit. She was definitely about to be caught red handed by the Republic Clone Trooper who was not supposed to be there and yet, somehow, stood right in front of her face. There was probably no explaining this, but she made a lame attempt to sidle in front of a few crates anyways, as if to somehow hide them from sight.
“Heyyy,” Luz squeaked out. “How’s your day going… pal?”
Go to Phindar, Riyo had said, There’s no officials there, she had said. No inspections, no smuggling required, just a simple in and out job! Drop off the critical aid that the Pantoran Senator had provided and jet back out. Hadn’t Phindar been left to fend for itself after the Separatist attack? Wasn’t the official aid package all wrapped up in red tape? The Republic had been unable to spare a single soldier to defend the place against the ambush, at least from what she had been told.
Clearly, at least one of these things wasn’t true.
“Oh. Hello there,” The clone muttered with hardly a glance her way, stopping by a pile of crates. “Fine.”
“Hey uh, I think we’re good here actually, they probably need you more at dock 8!” She lied, badly, not even sure if there was a dock 8 on the remote jungle world, but she had to try something! She couldn’t just let the trooper inspect the cargo that obviously wasn’t meant for trade. The supplies were unsanctioned, and if it was reported and traced back to her old friend they’d both be in deep shit. Even charitable works could spell trouble for a politician like Riyo when they were done under the table like this, out of sight of the Senate at large.
“Overseer assigned me here,” He grunted, stepping right past her towards the crates.
“Wait!” Luz called, racking her brain for anything she could say to stop him. She’d messed up enough already and she couldn’t ruin this too, not when it was something that finally actually mattered, but before she could think of an excuse, the trooper glanced back at her with an almost pitying expression and sighed.
“I’m not going to report you,” He muttered. “I know what this is, but I have no one to report to anyways… And we’re all struggling.” The trooper picked up the topmost box like it weighed nothing, turned from her, and walked off.
Luz stared after him, her heart hammering wildly as he joined the other shipyard workers.
Oh.
So he wasn’t on duty… He just worked here.
Relief slowly washed over Luz at the realization and she let out a breath. That felt a little too close, though honestly, the lack of armor should have been her first clue. Now that she wasn’t on the verge of panicking it actually seemed pretty obvious. Her eyes followed him, the only Human among several Phindians, as he trudged back up the ramp to claim another crate, and she pursed her lips.
Maybe it was obvious, but it didn’t really make much sense. Seriously, what was a Republic Clone Trooper doing here? That didn’t seem right.
“Look, I uh, promise my face isn’t all that unique,” he said dryly as he approached again.
Luz realized she had been staring and her pink cheeks blushed red all over again. “Oh! I’m sorry, I just-”
“It’s alright. I know I stand out a little around here,” he smirked.
Luz gave him an awkward shrug in return and refrained from staring more as she turned over the question in her mind. This was weird, wasn’t it? How did he get out here? Was he a defector? Assigned here but cut off from his officers? The trooper looked all depressy and miserable as he heaved down the next crate, and something about it just seemed off, somehow.
Unsurprisingly, her curiosity got the best of her.
“I was just wondering what you’re doing here,” she stammered out. “There’s not supposed to be any Republic forces on Phindar right now.”
He eyed her from behind the crate in his arms. “Yeah? Well. I’m hoping that’ll change soon, been waiting forty-six rotations for them to get me off of this rock.”
“Well kark that off,” Luz swore loudly.
The trooper nearly dropped his crate as he burst into unexpected laughter.
“What?” She said indignantly. “It’s banthashit. Forty six?”
“Yeah, those are words for it,” He wheezed, adjusting his grip. “Just didn’t expect them coming from you.”
Oh please. She was little and pink, so what? Luz rolled her eyes. “How does that even happen?” She asked. “Have you been able to hail them? Do you want to use my long range comms?”
The clone shook his head and his face fell again, muttering something nearly indistinguishable under his breath that sounded vaguely like Krell. He turned to head back out with the crate, decidedly avoiding her gaze, but Luz narrowed her eyes and trotted after him. He glanced down at her as he waited his turn to load up the cargo and relented with a sigh.
“I don’t need to use your comms,” he said heavily. “I’ve sent the message out. There’s just been no response.”
Luz scowled. That sure wasn’t right. She didn’t know much about the GAR but at the least she would expect that they wouldn’t leave their own men stranded, that seemed… well, kind of basic. Then again, a couple of months ago, she had thought relief efforts like these were kind of basic, too, before the blockade of her own home. Luz was a Devaronian, not a native of Pantora, but she and her family had made their home there and had felt the effects all the same. If they hadn’t taken action when they did…
“It might be a while before they send actual aid,” She said solemnly. “These supplies are meant to get everyone through the next two weeks, at most. It’s all I could carry.”
He set the crate down and braced himself on it for a second, panting and shaking his head.
“So if you need a ride back…”
The clone kept his hands firmly on the crate but glanced sideways to meet her eyes again. “Can’t afford it,” he grumbled. “Besides, there’s two of us. I can’t leave my brother, he’s injured.”
“Injured?” Luz said indignantly. “You have someone injured and they still won’t come back?”
“Apparently not,” he replied. “It’s alright though. You shouldn’t worry about us, there’s a million of us. Literally. I make enough on the docks here to keep us both going for now, so when they eventually do come back…”
But Luz shook her head. The idea was ridiculous, it was bad enough to leave someone capable of fending for themselves behind, but someone who couldn’t? She had already had to lower her expectations of humanity as of late and unless this was a mistake it looked like she would have to lower them yet again. At this point they might as well be buried underground. “No,” she said firmly. “You’re coming back to Coruscant with me, you both are.”
“I told you, I can’t afford it,” He said, exasperated this time.
“Why the hell would I charge? I’m making the trip anyways, you really think you’ll eat so much spacelane mix it’ll be a problem?” Luz huffed, crossing her arms.
“I - We might?”
“I’ll get compensated if I need to, don’t worry.”
“How?”
“Same way I managed this relief effort.”
“I’m not sure how you managed this-”
“So?” She cut him off. “But I did. So once we’re unloaded here, go get your brother.” She fixed him with a hard stare.
The man looked at her dumbfounded at first, then, slowly, broke into a smile. “You’re serious?”
“I - Yes! Duh. Why would I joke about that?” She sputtered. For kriffs sake. It’s not like it took extra hyperfuel to throw some bonus friends on board.
“Alright then,” He said slowly. “If you’re insisting…”
Luz nodded.
“Then… I’m Triggs.” He stuck out a hand. “My brother Claggor and I… We appreciate the lift.”
“I’m Luz,” She shook it with a smile of her own. “And it’s not a problem.”
She could practically hear her parent’s disapproval at the offer, but she ignored it. Sure, the Trade Federation might get all flustered if they found out, but they were always flustered, that wouldn’t be new. Besides, she could be careful if she had to be, or else none of this would be possible. She faced worse months ago during that blockade and hadn’t stopped since. The whole Vakutrik family had faced it actually, risking everything from their sterling reputations to the family business to their own freedom, in order to slip three loaded ships past the Fed’s forces and deliver relief to Pantora’s people. Their efforts likely saved the lives of many sick and starving neighbors, but no sooner was it over than Ama and Ba declared they would never even speak of the topic again for the shame it could bring.
Of course that hadn’t sat well with Luz. And maybe she could have dealt with it, if it weren’t for the fight that followed, the accusations, the demands...
There were far worse things to be ashamed of.
But it didn’t matter. Luz set her jaw in defiance as she followed Triggs back up to the ship. There was work to do if she was going to have guests. She’d need to check her own food stores, probably plan a couple bigger meals than the snacks and Coaxium Energy drinks she would normally live off of, maybe even do something about the mess that was her current guest quarters. Did she even own a spare set of bedsheets for the bunks?
By nightfall the Tempest was emptied of all its life saving cargo. Luz bowed respectfully to Vuusi, the Phindian overseer, and waited for Triggs return, staring up at the patch of sky visible above the shipyard through the jungle foliage. The wildlife sounds around her helped to drown out her own thoughts, somehow both eerie and peaceful at the same time, so she didn’t need her music player. She traced her fingers over her blaster every so often, as a new noise sounded particularly close or a shadow twitched in an alarming way, but nothing more came of them. At long last, a light bobbed ahead at the edge of the yard, revealing two figures in white.
“You made it!” Luz cried, and one of them waved. As they neared the ship she could tell the clone from earlier, Triggs, was practically dragging his brother Claggor along, one of his legs bandaged up in some kind of makeshift brace over half a set of armor.
“So you weren’t kidding,” The injured trooper said to his brother with no small amount of shock. “We really are getting out of here today.”
Triggs practically beamed at him. “Ah come on Clags, have a little faith!”
Claggor snorted at that as they started up the ramp.
Luz smiled at them nervously. “I hope everything will be okay. I’m not really set up for guests right now. There was only one set of sheets so I had to split them between the bunks, but I left a lot of blankets out for you, and we should have enough food if you both like soup. Can always break out rations too but I don’t like to.”
Both troopers paused to blink at her, then stared at each other for a second, and Claggor chuckled to himself.
“I ah. Don’t think any of that is going to be an issue,” he said, clearly trying to stay polite.
Luz wasn’t sure what was so funny.
“We’ve been hunkered down in a shack this whole time, Luz. Didn’t always get to eat. The fact that your ship has walls and a roof is a massive improvement already,” Triggs explained.
“Well, all the more reason I hope it’ll be comfortable, then,” She huffed, closing up the doorway behind them. If that was supposed to make her feel better, it didn’t. So they wouldn’t be picky, great, but how had their story just gotten worse? Luz avoided squirming against the uneasy feeling the idea gave her as she led them through the cargo hold and into the living space. When Riyo found out about this…
“That’s a lot of pillows,” Triggs said as they entered the main hold.
“And colors,” Claggor added, glancing around at the walls.
Luz glanced sheepishly around the main hold, with its purple upholstery and walls covered in paint. “I get bored on long trips,” She shrugged, blushing a little bit.
“I kinda like it,” Triggs nodded, depositing his friend on one of the soft cushy purple couches.
“Good… I think,” She said, feeling just a little bit awkward about it all. “Well. Fresher’s down this hall, bunk room just past it. Help yourself to anything in the galley, I’ll come back and find us some real food once we’re in hyperspace.”
Luz slipped down the hall and into the cockpit, taking the moment to think. Hosting a pair of soldiers on her ship for a couple of days in hyperspace really hadn’t been a part of her plan for this mission, but, here she was, so why not? She started up her sublight engines and began the usual system checks. All seemed to be in order. She engaged the thrusters and the Tempest rose above the jungle canopy into the sky.
This still fell in line with the kind of work she did for Riyo, right? Humanitarian missions under the table, the kind of things the Senator’s hands were legally tied on? This was, in all relevant ways, relief for the troopers on board. Riyo would understand it, she was sure. Luz took steady hold of her controls as the ship breached Phindar’s atmosphere, squinting into the blinding light for just a few seconds before the greater galaxy flooded into view.
The sight took her breath away, as it always did. How was it always so beautiful up here? So peaceful, so free? She could fly away and find a place anywhere she wanted to among the sparkling stars, and, in fact, she had.
Her nav computer beeped as it completed calculations for the jump to hyperspace. She reluctantly tore her eyes away from the expanse of space and double checked the figures. Everything looked good. With one final pause to stare at the stars, she punched the hyperdrive, and the ship was engulfed in streaks of blue.
“Wait! You painted in the fresher too?” She heard one of the men laugh from down the hall the moment she left the pilot’s chair.
“Well, kind of?” She said with a half smile as she headed back. “It wasn’t just me, I found those paint sticks and thought it would be an easy way to decorate! A few people have written in there now.”
“That’s rich,” Triggs replied. “Mind if I add something?”
“Why not?”
His face seemed to absolutely light up as he selected a mossy green stick that matched the paint on his own armor and began to scribble something across the wall.
What do you call 100,000 dead clankers?
“Claggor will get it,” He smirked. “You know. Clone humor.”
Luz chuckled, she didn’t know the punchline but it was nice to see Triggs already starting to relax. They had a long trip ahead of them after all, they might as well get comfortable.
“Are you hungry at all? I know it’s been a long day but I could-”
“YES,” Came Claggor’s voice from the other room. Both she and Triggs bursted out laughing.
“Alright! I’ll bring something out!”
Luz wasn’t really sure what they might be in the mood for, so within a few minutes, about half the contents of the galley were strewn across the table in the main hold. The three of them sat huddled in a circle, helping themselves to the caranut biscuits, cookie butter bites, meiloorun fruit and moon fruit, putok bread, sliced cheese, and spacelane mix.
“Hope this is alright,” Luz yawned. “I can make up something better after I get some rest.”
“Really, you don’t need to apologize,” Triggs said with a mouth full of fruit. “You’re giving us a ride. This is great, after what we’ve been through.”
Luz swallowed a bite from her bread roll. “How did you even get stuck there to begin with?” She asked.
Claggor scowled at her side. “Got shot down. It’s a wonder we survived at all.”
“Our company was put under the temporary command of a different General. He sent us on a suicide mission-”
“He knew what he was doing, Triggs,” Claggor snapped.
Triggs rolled his eyes. “I’m telling you, I don’t think so. I don’t care what his success rate is, that was a stupid move that lost us over thirty good men for no good reason!”
“No reason we could see, you mean.”
“So Luz, as I’m sure you can tell, we’ve been over this a few times,” Triggs said, exasperated. “Point is, General Krell sent us into this mess and left us to rot, but maybe he had some lofty Jedi reason for it beyond our understanding.” He turned to Claggor. “Happy?”
“No.”
“Fair,” Triggs leaned back and gulped down some water.
Luz wondered if calling some esteemed Jedi General a karking bastard in front of at least one loyal soldier would be a bad move. She wouldn’t just have to bury her expectations of humanity, she would have to chuck them into one of the pits running thousands of layers deep into Coruscant’s very core.
“At least you’re safe now,” She muttered, disturbed.
“And tired,” Triggs added. “It’ll be nice to sleep in a real bed again.”
Claggor nodded in agreement at that, and his face softened.
Luz exhaled. “Well. I’ve left you plenty of extra blankets. If you need anything else tonight, help yourself, alright?”
They nodded in agreement, and the argument seemed to be resolved. Good. Luz cleared off a handful of things from the table, leaving most of the mess behind for the next day, and made her way towards bed. The troopers ducked into their own quarters and she thought she heard a chuckle as they closed the door behind them. That was probably a good sign.
She shut her own door and glanced around her own room. “What a day,” She muttered to the Moon Goddess statue crammed on a shelf beside Powpow, the little broken toy droid from her childhood. “Bet you never thought I’d end up here, huh?”
There was no answer of course, nothing audible and no spooky mysterious voice in her head.
“Why do I even still bother?” She sighed. “You’re not listening anymore.”
Before the memories could get a foothold in her mind she jammed a headset on and cranked up the volume on her go-to Mon Calamar Romance album. She was too tired for all that after today anyways. Luz nestled into the nest of soft blankets on her bed with lyrics blasting in her ears.
Well if you wanted honesty, that’s all you had to say,
I never want to let you drown or have you go, it’s better off this way!
She had just finished another successful relief mission and for once she had guests to keep her company on the return trip. It was a long day, but a good day. There was no need to think about the fact that she hadn’t talked to her family in months, no need to worry about what the Temple community would say about her activities, no need to let images and feelings of some creep slip into her head....
Forget about the dirty looks, the holopics your boyfriend took…
Luz squirmed violently beneath the covers and gritted her teeth against the intrusive reminder. He can kark off, She told herself, grimacing in frustration. She left him along with everyone else way across the galaxy, and besides, it was all in the past.
I’m noooot ooookay…
You know, that song might be a banger, but it probably wasn’t doing her any favors trying to fall asleep. She squeezed her eyes shut hard, hit next on the playlist, and let a different song chase away her thoughts as she drifted off instead.