In Command (#1 Post-Order 66 Series)

In Command - Part 14

Senna nodded. "It'll be alright. Let's not let one person ruin this evening for you."

Having an ally seemed to lighten Zea's mood. "Of course, you're right. Now let's go on in. I want to hear all about your honeymoon."

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"...and that was the night the aurora was at its peak, so we were fortunate enough to find a spot out among the mountains to make camp and just stayed up all night watching it from our campsite."

Rex's hand was clasped in Senna's on the tabletop as she regaled the party goers about their recent "honeymoon". He'd allowed her to take the lead again in the conversation, content to add his tidbits in when she directed a comment at him. He never failed to be amazed at her storytelling abilities and how quickly she was able to weave details together into a believable tale. As he surveyed the rest of the table, he caught Commander Fisk staring at them out of the corner of his eye. Fisk had kept his distance for most of the night, merely shooting menacing looks at Senna when he thought no one was looking. He was sporting a black eye that was on the mend, and he walked with a bit of a limp, which Rex found incredibly satisfying. She really landed a few on him.He turned his gaze away, smirking into his whiskey as he sipped from his glass.

"It sounds like it was an incredible adventure," said one of the other women at the table, an Imperial officer that Rex and Senna had vetted before but ultimately decided wasn't worth pressing.

"It was," Senna smiled, leaning against Rex's shoulder. "The best we could have asked for, all things considered."

Rex heard a grunt from Fisk's direction and shot him a look that was intense enough to make the other man divert his eyes.

"And what of your week, Commander?" Brak asked, turning the conversation towards his superior. "How was the conference?"

Fisk straightened in his chair, attempting to exude some semblance of dignity. "Productive. We were able to discuss a great many topics and proposals that I believe will aid us in our future endeavors."

"And the large project?" Brak asked.

Fisk's eyes darted nervously around the table, settling on Rex and Senna. "I hardly think the company here is the appropriate audience for such discussions."

Brak laughed tensely. "Apologies, Commander. We'd brought up the project before, and Valla found it fascinating. I've heard it discussed openly before, so I didn't think it would be an issue. My mistake."

Fisk was staring at Senna now with something Rex couldn't pinpoint, but he most definitely didn't like. It was as if something had clicked in the man's brain, and a warning alarm was starting to quietly sound in the back of Rex's mind.

"I didn't know you were so interested in engineering, Valla," he stated.

"Oh Wen, you know I love talking technical things. I'm just not always good at it, remember? " Senna laughed lightly, but Fisk's eyes continued to bore into her.

"And what of the security incident that happened while you were there?" Zea asked, missing the tension between Senna and Fisk as she continued to steer the conversation.

"Oh, it was hardly as large as public rumors would lead you to believe. We managed to shoot one of the assailants and wound them significantly, but unfortunately, they are still at large for now."

"Should we be worried?" asked one of the women sat at the table. "It seems concerning that there would be an organized rebel cell here on Lothal."

"Not at all," Fisk said firmly. "We believe that there were only two of them and that they acted alone. We're confident that we'll apprehend them soon enough, and that will put an end to that."