Quantum Entanglement: Howzer and Aurelia

30. The Stand

"The refinery is under attack!" Howzer announced, charging into Rampart's office only to be met by the Admiral on his way out.

"I'll handle it," he replied, surprisingly calm despite the fury in his eyes. "Stay here and guard the capitol," he spat, shoving Howzer to the side as he continued into the hallway. Another notification began beeping on Rampart's desk screen, and Howzer sidled over to check it. The doors of the holding cells were being deactivated, though the patrols had all been sent to the shipyard to be dispatched to the refinery. He smirked; he'd had the same thought himself, but someone else had beaten him to it. 

He started to head for the holding cells, but he hesitated. There shouldn't be any obstacles, considering the rush on the refinery, but it was always wise to ensure the way was clear before charging in. He sprinted for the north tower, taking the lift to the very top.

Howzer strolled onto a balcony with a covered roof, watching ship after ship lift off, clearing the ground below except for one last shuttle, outside which the squad commander paused, looking back. He stood for a moment, considering the situation and talking to his squad, before turning back toward the south tower. Cursing inwardly, Howzer watched as his troops followed him back out of the shuttle. They were on to something.

* * * 

Aurelia hadn't been able to contain her curiosity and apprehension, hearing a distant rumble of explosions. Without thinking, she beelined for the capitol towers, fueled by a singular desire to see that Howzer was alright. There was no reason behind the decision, just a panicked reaction to an uncertain situation, but she didn't care about that as the doors slid open in front of her. She had been inside a few times, but without a basic orientation, she could be lost in the endless hallways and towers. Barreling around a corner, she ran smack into a plastic wall and staggered back with a gasp. 

"What are you doing here?!" Howzer asked sharpy, coming across a bit more sternly than he intended through his helmet. He whipped it off his head, staring at Aurelia in shock. 

"I wanted to find you!" she panted, hand on her chest, then lower to her stomach, "I have to tell you something..." She breathlessly waved a hand as though it would help her be able to speak. 

"I have to catch these people before they reach the exit," he replied, softer now but with an undeniable urgency. "Please, I'll be right back, okay?"

"What if they capture you?" Aurelia asked, fighting to hold back tears. "They'll label you an insurgent like the rest of them. Can't you use your position somehow? To stay safe?" Her voice quavered, and her knees felt wobbly. 

"It's not about power..." Howzer said slowly, heart aching as he remembered hearing them from Sprint so many years ago, "It's about doing the right thing..." 

"Okay..." she breathed in resignation, one hand still on her stomach. She grabbed his hand with one last lunge, pulling him back toward her for a split second, gazing into those beloved eyes with a whole new level of meaning and connection. She caressed his scarred cheek, feeling her heart swell even as it raced in her chest, and placed a quick, gentle, but firm kiss on his lips before releasing him. "I love you," she said quietly as he pulled his helmet on.

"Always," Howzer answered, nodding to her before racing down the hallway again, calling out over his shoulder, "Can't wait to hear the news!"

Aurelia sighed, having a bad feeling deep in her gut as she watched his teal streaked armor disappear around a corner, alarms blaring inside and out.

* * * 

"Cham, wait! You're walking into a trap," Howzer said, stepping forward from the back of the chamber as the group rushed toward the door. He was immediately looking down the barrels of two mercenaries in grey and red armor, standing protectively in front of the Twi'leks, but he continued, "There's a whole squad out there, waiting."

Gobi was suspicious, and rightfully so, but once Howzer convinced them of his allegiance, apologizing to Cham for not stopping it all sooner, Eleni came up with an alternate plan. They determined to head for Orn Free Taa's private shuttle, to make an aerial escape where the Imperials wouldn't expect it. 

"You can't stay here," Eleni continued, stepping forward to address her loyal clone captain. "They'll know you helped us."

Howzer's heart sank as he realized she was right. He had half a mind to run back the way he came, swoop up Aurelia and disappear forever, but he also knew that right outside the door stood Demo, Steady, Loner, and so many brothers who he had spent his life serving with. They had been brought to Ryloth for a singular purpose, and they were out there doing precisely the opposite. He couldn't leave them to the Empire's deception, to be used as pawns for selfish, cruel motives. He had to get through to them. 

"Go. While there's still time," he confirmed, listening to the footsteps fade as they shuffled back down the hallway. He walked toward the doors slowly, heart pounding, and pulled his helmet on in one determined movement. He paused for a moment, thinking of Aurelia, wondering what was so urgent that had brought her running in the middle of chaos. But now was not the time. Pushing the thoughts aside, he took a deep breath, feeling settled and resolute as he conjured up the image of Sprint in his head one last time. Then the doors whooshed open. 

"Brothers!" Howzer said, striding forward with a newfound confidence as he looked at the helmets of his squad. "What are we doing? We came here to free Ryloth from Separatist control, and we succeeded. But look around you. We're now being ordered to target the very people we swore to protect! And I will not be a part of it any longer." He threw down his weapon with vehemence, finishing with one last invitation, "Who will stand with me?"

After a tense pause, Steady threw his shield down to the side and tossed his blaster on the ground. Demo did the same, followed by four others, and Howzer felt his hopes rising that he may have gotten through to all of them, but the rest stopped, turning to face their brothers, shields up, guns leveled at them. He heard the back door slide open, and an Imperial trooper and two backups came out, holding him in their sights as did the two troopers that came toward his front. He put his hands behind his head, feeling the hands of his fellow clones move them down to the small of his back where they were cuffed together. 

The shuttle flew out of its hangar, and a sniper fired some shots at it but it was too late. Howzer lifted his head, watching it disappear into the stars with a glimmer of hope, feeling a deep sense of calm within. Whatever may happen from here on out, he had done his part to prevent injustice and had maintained his loyalty to the family and people he had been brought there to serve. As much as his purpose had shifted beneath his feet over the last number of years, he felt singularly fulfilled. 

The troops turned him around, and they began marching together back into the chamber. Howzer tilted his head down. Now it was time to figure out the next move.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Author's Note: We're still going! Got some adventure for Aurelia in the meantime, some twists and turns, then we'll see Howzer again when he's rescued by Gregor and Fireball (!!) and the others! :D And then I'll have to wait for TBB Season 3 to see what happens.