In Command (#1 Post-Order 66 Series)

In Command - Part 19

Senna allowed two droids to maneuver Rex onto a hover chair. He gave her hand a squeeze as they started to move him away from the group. "I'll see you in a bit," he said, giving her a wink. Turning back to the group, Senna noticed that Organa was watching her, but if he had any opinions on the slight intimacy he'd witnessed, he didn't share them. "Please follow me so that we can get you all settled."

As they approached the doors of the palace, Senna tipped her head back to get a better look at the sparkling towers looming overhead. The spires reached into the clouds, looking like crystals standing amongst the snowcapped mountains that surrounded them. Organa led them down a long hallway that looked out over gardens trees and greenery, and Senna found herself thinking about walking between the trees with Rex. Ugh, I'm one of those people now, she thought. Still, the idea brought a warm feeling to her stomach, and she unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself. They walked down several more hallways before Organa stopped in front of several rooms. "All of these quarters are available for you to use until we determine your next move. Please make yourselves at home and relax after your journey. I will send someone to collect you when dinner is ready. Now, please excuse me. I have some senatorial matters to attend to." With that, he tucked his hands into his sleeves, gave them a quick nod, and strode off.

Left alone with Clone Force 99, Senna turned to them. Wrecker was already poking his head in one of the rooms, and grinning. "These are huge! We get our own bunks and 'freshers!"

Echo smirked. "Good, at least I won't have to smell you for a few days."

Senna chuckled. "Alright, I'm going to get cleaned up. I haven't showered since...well, since Lothal. I'll see you guys at dinner." With that, she stepped into the room closest to her. A servant droid was waiting within, and, after introducing itself, whisked away to find Senna a suitable change of clothes. She stepped into the refresher, stripping her dust-caked clothing away. Her shoulder stung a little, and she realized she'd completely forgotten about the blaster graze from their escape on the speeder bike. Inspecting it in the mirror, she decided it wasn't serious enough to warrant a bacta patch. I got off easy compared to Rex. Moving down to her abdomen, she peeled away the patch and bandaging that covered her blaster wound from the capital city. The wound was almost completely healed, so she decided to leave the bandaging off of it as well.

After cleaning herself and toweling off, Senna slipped on the long robe that was hanging on the door and stepped back out into the quarters. The droid had apparently returned and left again, leaving a stack of clothes on the bed for her to change into. She slipped into them and then inspected her temporary living space. There was a large window that looked out over the mountain range and the crashing river below, and the sun had just sunk below the horizon, giving way to the wide night sky. The room was cozy with a small desk in one corner, a loveseat and coffee table just inside the door against the wall, and a large bed. Senna wiggled her toes in the plush carpeting that covered the floor, feeling the softness against the callouses that had formed on the balls of her feet. She stepped over to the bed and laid down, stretching out on top of the covers. The pillows were cool and soft, a pleasant relief after spending a few nights on the floor of the Marauder. Senna let her head sink into one pillow, hugging another to her chest, and quickly drifted off to sleep.

She wasn't sure how long she slept, but she was awakened by a weight shifting on the bed. Senna opened her eyes to see Rex sitting on the edge of the mattress smiling down at her, one of his hands resting on her shoulder. "You were snoring," he teased.

Wiping the line of drool off her cheek, she sat up, giving him a playful eye roll. "Yeah, well you were the one that got an actual bunk to sleep on the last few days, so I think I've earned it." Her eyes drifted down his chest, surveying the dark blue tunic he was now dressed in. She could see a slight wrinkle where the bandages on his chest pushed against the fabric. "Where'd the med droids take you?"

"They worked on me for a bit. It's amazing what a few hours in a bacta tank can do. I'll be good as new in a few days." He leaned down, planting a kiss on her forehead. "Also, it's time for dinner."

Senna felt her stomach rumble at the prospect of food. "Excellent timing."

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The other clones were already standing in the dining room when Senna and Rex strode in. Servant droids were bustling about laying out food and Wrecker was eyeing every dish that came out as if it were the last food in the system. Senna stood next to him and nudged his shoulder with hers. "Calm down there, Wrecker or the droids are going to think you want to eat them."

He looked at her with mock pain in his eyes. "All we've had are ration bars for weeks. Now, we get real food. Almost brings tears to my eyes. Almost."

She laughed, moving to stand behind a chair and wait for their hosts. Rex slid next to her. "Subtle," she whispered.

"Wasn't trying to be," he teased back quietly.

Suddenly, Rex felt something slam into the back of his legs, caving one of his knees as he let out a surprised grunt. He spun around to see a toddler with brunette curls clinging to his right calf and staring up at him with soft brown eyes. He chuckled, turning and squatting down to be on her level. "Well, hello there, little one. And who might you be?" The toddler reached out and wrapped her pudgy hand around one of his fingers, steadying herself between his outstretched hands. She was staring at him with a look of wonder, and something about her eyes was eerily familiar to Rex, as if he was meeting an old friend. The little girl babbled at him unintelligibly, and he laughed. "Is that so?" He looked up at Senna and saw adoration in her eyes as she watched him with the child.

Abruptly, a beautiful woman with sharp features and dark hair swept into the room. "Leia! There you are!" She rushed over and picked up the toddler who squealed in delight, reaching towards the woman's braids and taking one in her hand. "I'm terribly sorry. She's just learned to walk, and we can barely keep up with her anymore." Sighing, she turned to hand the child off to an awaiting nurse droid. "Please put her down for the night in our room. I'll tend to her after dinner." The droid turned and left the room with the babbling toddler, exiting down the hall the woman had entered from.

Turning back to face them, she smiled, brushing the disturbed braid back over her shoulder. "I apologize again, I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Breha Organa." She extended a hand to Rex, who took it, bowing his head slightly.

"Your highness."

She smiled back at him. "You must be Captain Rex, and you," she said, turning to Senna, "must be Senna Aven. It's a pleasure to welcome you both to our home."

Senna mimicked Rex, bowing her head slightly. "I'm terribly sorry for the risk we bring with us, my lady. We are forever indebted to you for allowing us to stay here."

Breha smirked and her eyes twinkled. "Nonsense. After the service you two have provided to our cause, it's the least we can do. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go introduce myself to the infamous Clone Force 99. Please, have a seat and we'll start dinner once my husband arrives, which should be any moment."

Senna and Rex both bobbed their heads again as she turned to place a hand on Hunter's shoulder and extend him a greeting. Rex pulled out Senna's chair for her, and she rolled her eyes at him before sitting down. As he slipped into the chair next to her, she leaned over and whispered, "I didn't think the queen was capable of bearing children due to her condition." While Senna had never visited Alderaan, she had heard of the legendary Queen Breha and her near death experience during her youth while she was completing her Challenge of the Body. She had noted the pulmonodes, which the queen famously kept visible as a token of her survival and reminder of her sacrifice for the people of Alderaan. She had always admired her and was still trying to calm her nerves from actually meeting the queen in person.

"She can't," Rex whispered back. "She and her husband adopted that young girl a while back. I'd just never met her until now. There's something about her that I can't quite put my finger on."

"She's adorable. And Leia is such a pretty name."

"Yeah, it is."