The Knight and The Duchess (Star Wars AU) (On Hold)

20.Songbirds

*Aayla's P.O.V.*
The orange glow of streetlights filtered into Clove's deserted apartment as I slid the door open. In the darkness, I switched on the lights and the florescent bulbs flickered above my head. My boots kicked up a thin layer of dust that covered all surfaces in the cramped room. I ducked my head under the doorway and began my investigation. Anakin followed right behind me and ran straight to the the paper-covered desk. Looking around, all I could see was a few chairs, a table, and the desk Anakin was so fascinated by. There didn't seem to any place where one could hide a full suit of armor.

Tugging me out of my confusion, Anakin called me over to the desk, now covered by holographic screen. "Master! I think I found something!" A pale blue square filled up the screen and when the hands holding it pulled back, a Mandalorian helmet became visible. As the hands turned the helmet, I examined it closer and spotted the Deathwatch insignia painted on the right side. The hands placed the helmet onto the floor and tilted the camera up. Clove, dressed in her matching blue armor, appeared in the frame.

The audio crackled to life and Clove said, "Look what I got!" She picked up her twin pistols and continued, "Isn't this crazy? I mean, I got my hands on Deathwatch armor and without a-"

I crossed my arms and commanded, "Anakin, stop the clip!" The image of Clove froze, midway through a pistol twirl. "She 'got her hands on Deathwatch armor', it wasn't given to her by a superior."

The audio crackled back to life, "-scratch! I thought stealin' it would be harder than buyin' it. I guess that part's done." Clove glanced back and forth and set her eyes forward again, "I should delete this when I'm through." Her hands covered the image and the clip shorted out.

"Are we absolutely sure she was part of the Deathwatch as a whole?"

Anakin mumbled, in defeat, "Not really..."

"How did you find this?"

"I don't really know. Instinct, maybe?"

I shook my head, "That was a mostly rhetorical question. It was the Force, my young Padawan." Anakin did a sort 'victory dance' and I rolled my eyes.

Anakin stopped mid-dance and said, "Wait... I think there's another clip." He hopped back over the holo-screen and waved his hand across it, changing the image to one of Clove sitting cross-legged with a sort of musical instrument in her lap (Note: It's a guitar, but I don't think those exist in the Star Wars galaxy, so bear with me here.) Clove plucked the strings and started to sing:

"Songs of the river, floating through the air... Another bites the dust and all we do is stare. Telling my stories long after anyone cares... Into the rabbit-hole, if you dare. No longer wanted, no longer fair... Even if it becomes too much to bear-"

I stopped the clip, "I think we're missing something. There's another message..."

"Satine," Anakin replied.

"What?"

"She's spelling out a name, Satine. Do you know who that is?"

That development put me on edge and I said, "Start the clip again."

"-Gone are the days of the sun and the moon... Another dead, and it's before noon. It seems so silly like the call of the loon... Another one dead, such a long time soon. No air today, no air in the balloon... Another one gone and out swings the boon...

As the sound fades, some take what was mine... An alien way to those in the line. Young ones corrupted by those thought benign... Laughing in those waiting for a sign. An accordion stolen and now that makes nine-"

This time it was Anakin who stopped the singing, "What's an accordion?"

I sighed and scolded, "I don't think that's important right now. What is somewhat important is the fact that she spelled out my name. We never met. She knows Satine, but it's impossible to know me."

"-Only one more day and they will stand aside... Behind someone else, someone else with pride. Into the water to drown under the tide... Waning of the moon come along for the ride. Another day passes, not a word from their side... No more days, it is time to decide...

Can you hear from so far away?... Long ago, I grew tired of waiting for another day. Onward tomorrow and onward today... Veils of lies lifted from the voices of the fray. Even my heart had turned to clay...

Songs of the river, floating through the air... Another one bites the dust and all we do is stare. Telling my stories long after anyone cares... Into the rabbit-hole, if you dare. No longer wanted, no longer fair... Even if it becomes too much to bear...

Is there no one you can spare?"