Quantum Entanglement: Howzer and Aurelia

29. Deception

Aurelia's work in the medical clinic had been growing in complexity. She was proud of her increasing confidence in a variety of areas. One afternoon in particular had her feeling on top of the world, as well as incredibly apprehensive, due to some shocking news she'd received that day. As the workday progressed, she felt her excitement to get home to Howzer growing, and was absently cleaning some instruments when the receptionist passed on a transmission that had been sent to her from the capitol tower. 

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ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION//1600 HRS

LATE WORK NIGHT -- EMERGENCY PRISONER TRANSPORT FOR RAMPART
MUST POSTPONE RENDEZVOUS. 

CC-2420//END
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Heart sinking, Aurelia bristled at the mention of this "Rampart". She'd heard only bits and pieces about him from Howzer, but he seemed to be a silky-smooth talker with a kind face that starkly contrasted his ruthless heart. Howzer had been under his domain since his recent arrival on Ryloth, and Rampart had been increasing the security and troop presence in both the capitol and the doonium refinery. She sighed, looking down and placing a single hand on her belly. The news would have to wait. 

* * *

It was almost dawn when the door of her apartment opened, startling Aurelia from her snooze on the couch. She had refused to go to bed and had tried to wait up for him as long as she could. He dropped his helmet on the counter and headed straight for the bedroom, unaware of her sleepy head peeking over the back of the couch. She heard him flop onto the bed, armor and all, with an exhausted and frustrated sigh.

Unable to decide between concern and humor, she remained silent as she gently sat on the bed next to him, placing a hand just above the white cylinder on the small of his back. He rolled his head to face her, arms splayed out, and the half of his face that she could see was covered with a myriad of expressions from confusion to indignation to defeat. She leaned down, placing a tender kiss on his salty, sweaty forehead, and sat up again, wiping her mouth on her sleeve with a small, patient smile. 

"They're at it again," Howzer finally said, his voice thin with fatigue. 

"I know you're tired, but would you care to elaborate?" she asked gently. 

"The Imperials. Rampart. His elite squad. Orn Free Taa. All of them. It's a mess."

"What happened?"

Howzer sighed, rolling over and pushing himself up to a seated position, leaning back on one elbow and rubbing his forehead with his other hand before speaking, "Cham's daughter got in trouble for 'spying', just for being somewhere she shouldn't have. But she's a kid, you know? Then, later, they find her on a ship coming in with illegal weapons, with Gobi..."

"Oh..." Aurelia said softly, knowing how Gobi Glie's involvement would paint the whole situation.

"Just like that, Orn Free Taa has her labeled an insurgent," he said, hating that word more every time he heard it, "And wanted her transported to a high security prison with Gobi and his accomplice. Cham found out about it and attacked our transport last night. Rampart seemed way too comfortable with the whole thing and immediately told us to surrender. Cham got Hera out and had Orn Free Taa at blaster point but didn't go through with it. We talked him down, and he lowered the blaster. But then someone shot Taa from up high. I couldn't see. And Rampart suddenly has Cham, Eleni, and their whole crew arrested for an attempt on the senator's life! His entire team was right there in front of us; Rampart should know it couldn't have come from them... None of it makes sense..." Howzer drifted off, slipping his elbow out from underneath him to lie flat on his back, both hands rubbing his face now. He looked so tired, so distressed... Aurelia longed to snap her fingers and make everything okay for him.