The crew all stood in the hallway, waiting. Any minute now, he would arrive.
Kanan fidgeted with his collar, then nudged Ezra with his elbow. "How do I look?"
"Hmmm… Same as always," the boy answered simply. "Why?"
"No reason." A moment later, he elbowed Ezra again. "Straighten up a little bit! You're making me look bad."
"What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing. Just calm down."
Ezra snorted. "You calm down!"
Just then, the doors opposite slid open, and in walked General Syndulla, accompanied by two of his aides. As one might expect, the legendary leader was an imposing figure of a man, and in the awkward silence that followed, he scrutinized them one and all.
Kanan stood tall, anxious to make a good impression upon his prospective father-in-law.
Hera was the first to speak. "It's been a long time, father."
Syndulla frowned down at her for a moment, then addressed Kanan instead. "Ah… You must be the Jedi I have heard about."
"Jarrus," he supplied, stepping forward. "Kanan Jarrus. I've – " He stopped to clear his throat. "I've heard a lot about you, too, sir."
He bowed respectfully, but Syndulla's frown only deepened.
"Uh, this is the rest of our crew," Kanan continued. "Ezra, Sabine, and Zeb." He pointed to each of them in turn, and got all their names wrong.
"A fine group of fighters," observed the General politely, then he introduced himself. "Cham Syndulla at your service."
"The liberator of Ryloth?" asked Sabine. "I studied your Clone War tactics at the Academy!"
"Yes." Syndulla chuckled. "The Empire is still trying to figure out how to beat me." He motioned toward his companions. "These are two of my finest warriors: Numa and Gobi."
"Did he say Gumby?" whispered Ezra, only to get elbowed again.
"Well, we should get to the briefing," said Hera. "There's a lot to do." She spun on her heel and was about to head for the conference room when the General said loudly:
"IF you all would be so good, might I have a moment to speak to my daughter?"
"Oh- uh, of course! Right this way!" Kanan hastily pushed everyone else back out of the room.
The doors shut, Syndulla turned a critical eye toward his only child once more. "Didn't I say," he began finally, "'Tis a mistake to leave Ryloth? But nobody listen to me. And now we have a boy-friend, hmmm?"
Hera sighed. Her father's accent always got heavier when he was upset. She wondered why he would not speak to her in their native language.
The General paced the floor. "And who is zis boy-friend, who bow so nicely and try so hard to impress me? Is he a nice Twi'Lek boy, from a nice family? Oh-ho, no! No Twi'Leks! A human!" he hissed. "A human with de long hairs from de top of his head! ARGH!" Syndulla threw up his hands and left the room.
All alone now, Hera allowed herself a few frustrated tears. She had hoped that, after all these years, she might be able to reach some level of reconciliation with her father, but he seemed as determined as ever to find fault with her. His disapproval of Kanan wounded her even more. Still, she was never one to just sit down and be quiet where fairness was concerned.
And now it was time to talk shop.
Making her way to the briefing, she dried her eyes and smiled. Poor Kanan. He was awfully cute when he was nervous. She had already decided some time ago that she was going to accept him – if he would only ask her. Whether or not her family approved was secondary.
