An adventure to Alderaan! Senator Bail Organa and several representatives from the Alderaan system have been threatened following the introduction of a controversial bill in the Senate. A newly recovered Commander Ace and his Jedi General Taska Rokanh have been assigned to lead several squads as bodyguards for the vulnerable group.
"Good to see you again, commander," Lark greeted in Hangar A of Kamino.
"You too," Ace responded with a smile. "Finally getting off this rock is gonna feel great. Is the general already on the ship?"
Lark glanced at him apologetically. "Actually, the general was called away on assignment a week ago. The Jedi were going to give you both a break until you were recovered, but General Secura needed reinforcement."
"So it's just us on this mission?"
"Actually, the mission should be close to over by now, and the system she's in is much closer to Alderaan than we are," Lark explained, subconsciously gesturing to the star systems on his armor as he spoke. "So she'll probably meet us there."
They stepped off their small transport ship full of veterans and shinies alike at the same time General Rokanh did.
"Commander!" She called with a wide smile. She looked... different. She seemed older, and much too clean and rested to have just come from a battle besides. "It's been a while."
"Sir," he saluted. "Yes it has."
"I'm glad to have you back," she nodded, waving a hand to dismiss his posture. "Senator Organa is being a very gracious host, and I would like for you to get settled in as soon as possible," she glanced at Lark, who rolled on his feet a bit. "Lark, could you please show him to his temporary quarters?"
"With pleasure, sir," Lark smiled, and Ace had begun to suspect something was up.
"Is there anything that you need me to do?" He asked surreptitiously.
"You'll find out soon enough," Lark answered for her, and guided him toward a guest house that was nearly as big as the mansion it nestled against.
They found themselves in a house bigger and more lavishly decorated than either of them had ever seen, and even Ace had to marvel at it. "So this is how senators live," he thought out loud.
"And we do too, for a little while. The officers helping on this mission even get their own turns in these rooms, when we're not on shift. It's gonna be great," Lark smiled widely. He pushed open a door on their right, and of all the things in the bedroom, Ace's eyes immediately landed on one.
"I take it the Army uniform is mine?" He said, though the question couldn't hide the confusion in his voice.
"Yes, sir," Lark nodded enthusiastically. "I'll leave you to get changed, but, uh, we'll need you back in the main courtyard at 1700."
Ace had partially decoded what all the suspense could mean by the time he was ready to open the front door again. Half of him dreaded the spectacle.
The other half? Well, that half was just starstruck.
The feeling only got worse as he opened the door—the groups that had gathered in small circles quickly snapped to attention, helmets on and all visors on him. His men formed a neat row to General Rokanh, Lark perhaps the most visible at the very front.
"If you haven't guessed by now, this is a medal ceremony," Taska said with a smile that befitted the formal occasion. "We poorly kept the secret so we would be sure you wouldn't decline."
Ace set his face into his stoic commander mode.
"Step forward, please," she asked. He walked as she continued to speak. "Commander Ace is being awarded this medal for his outstanding display of bravery and selflessness just a few weeks ago at the hands of the Separatists. I understand that it is not only the Jedi way, but the Fett way as well to be modest about your achievements, but I am immeasurably grateful to him for saving my life without a second thought. He deserves recognition."
Ace stopped one pace in front of her. Her eyes meeting his only made him more nervous.
"Thank you, Commander," she said, more quietly than the rest of her speech. She gave a salute before stepping forward to affix the medal's ribbon to his jacket.
"Thank you, sir," he managed to say.
"I'll meet you on the main balcony later, that's where you and I will be guarding," she told him. "For now, enjoy your brothers' congratulations."
Ace had calmed down by the time he reached the balcony, and he had a chance to truly absorb what the medal that he had left securely in his temporary quarters meant. He was sure to take very good care of it.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Taska greeted him as they both gazed at the waterfall they were astonishingly close to, the spray turned golden by the setting sun.
"It looks like something out of a holomovie," he agreed. "Not so bad to be stationed out here."
She grinned at him again and they took posts spread out across the balcony, settling into the roar of the falls.
"You know..." Taska trailed off.
"What?"
"No, I probably shouldn't say anything," she thought aloud, tapping a finger on the stone railing of the balcony.
"What is it?" Ace insisted. "You can't leave me hanging like this!"
She sighed and looked out into the waterfall, squinting against the reflection of the sun. "General Secura is a very fine Knight. I really look up to her."
"Of course."
"She's talented, and patient, really everything a Jedi should be. I wouldn't be surprised if I hear of her appointment to the Council within the next ten years. But..."
"What? It sounds like you only have good things to say about her."
"I know," she said, looking mildly frustrated. "I don't really want to get involved in what I'm about to tell you, and I really shouldn't be telling anyone, but," she gave a small smile. "I think there's something strange about General Secura and Commander Bly."
"What do you mean, strange?" She couldn't possibly mean they were traitors, could she?
She gave him a look that said he was too naive for this conversation. "I mean I think that there's something... going on between them. I don't know how much, but there's something there."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"What, uh, what makes you say that?" Ace asked carefully.
Taska shrugged. "Little things, like how Bly is always looking at her. Even with his helmet on, I could tell he was just watching her. And every opportunity they get, they're always standing so close together. I mean, they're practically stepping on each other's toes."
Ace glanced down at the less-than-a-foot distance between them and cleared his throat. "Well, he could just want to do his job and watch out for her. Can't do that when you're a squad away."
She gave him a pointed look. "You didn't see what I saw," she argued. "Maybe you still wouldn't have noticed it, but I'm confident in my observations."
"Alright, General, I believe you," he relented. "So, what would happen if this got back to the Council? Would General Secura get kicked out?"
"Most likely," Taska replied soberly. "It hasn't created an issue yet, and she still is a great Jedi, so can you please make sure to keep this between us?"
"Sure thing, General."
"This balcony, I have found, is an ideal place for sharing secrets," a deep voice said behind them, and they turned to see Senator Organa striding towards them with a smile. "Don't worry, I won't pry. I was just coming to see if you would join me for dinner, as a display of my gratitude for your efforts."
"As much as I would like that, I'm afraid we need to be on guard for now," Taska said diplomatically.
"Of course," Senator Organa politely inclined his head. "In that case, I'll make sure someone brings you some food out here. I won't let you go hungry."
"Thank you, Senator."
"Yes, thank you, sir," Ace said, feeling a bit awkward in the politician's presence.
Taska sighed as she looked back outside, carefully glancing in the crevices around them before settling against the balustrade. The pair spent a long moment in silence, Ace retreating to the other side of the balcony to get a better view of possible entry points.
"So, does that mean you... think the Council is wrong?" Ace asked.
"What?" Taska said, and Ace startled at the sound of alarm in her voice.
"I'm—uh, I'm sorry, don't worry about it," he amended quickly. "Just... thinking about how you didn't want to tell anyone about another Jedi... technically going against the code."
"I—I don't know!" she said, lowering her voice as two servants came to the balcony with plates of hot food. "Thank you," she mumbled.
"I mean," she huffed. "I don't—I... maybe attachment isn't wrong, necessarily," she admitted quietly. "I don't really want to talk about it."
"I thought the whole no attachments thing was what made Jedi, Jedi," Ace suggested quietly.
"I don't know," she said, and he shuffled closer again to hear her. "I think it's more... our selflessness that makes us real Jedi. I think it takes a really good one to put everyone else ahead of any attachments they might have when they need to. But I don't think the Council is completely wrong. How can you tell who will be able to handle that? I don't know, and I don't care to find that out about myself."
"I understand," the commander assented, looking away from her. "Boy, I wasn't hungry until they brought that food out," he commented, hoping to break the silence that ensued.
"Well, eat up," she said, managing a small grin. "We've got a long night ahead of us."