—•—

All named characters with the exception of Risè the pretty Twi'lek, Susie the cook, Knucklehead the Rodian, Gerrard, and the three captains are the property of Disney/LucasFilm.

For this chapter, imagine that the 'Brothers of the Broken Horn' and 'Legends of Lasat' episodes didn't happen.

—•—

"Go With Me."

"Stay With Me."

Chapter 3

—•—

From the previous chapter:

Risè didn't make a straight line for the bridge. It would only take a second and she could be back before anyone knew about it. As she was walking, her hatred for the Ghost crew, mixed with jealousy, built up. 'Those idiots brought her here. I know how to get rid of that Togruta, and maybe take a few of that crew with her. He doesn't need her.' With a quick move, she entered her quarters and more quickly closed the door. Then she pushed the button on a comm-device that set in motion events that almost cost her her life.

—•—

"So," one of the Plo Koon crew started as all seven of them were going towards the mess hall of that ship, "You guys are the ones from that sweet and clean VCX-100 docked outside? It must be a dream riding that ship."

"It has its moments," countered Zeb.

"Have you ever had food from the Plo Koon?" another asked.

"How could we?" responded Sabine, "This is our first time on this ship; even to this part of the Galaxy."

"Well then," the third crew member from the Plo Koon returned, "Get ready for a new experience. But, we have to sing a song to our cook. If we don't, she'll throw it at us."

"Even so, our cook is so good I would eat it afterwards and think myself happy," another said.

"What kind of song?" Ezra asked.

"Well, it goes something like this." ("The first line is the chorus," said another as an aside to Sabine, not that it mattered.) Then he belted out, as they opened the door to the mess hall:

"Oh, Force, how that woman can cook!
Her bread is like angel food's cake."

Another took over as they took a step into the place:

"She could take soup meat, and give it one look,
And right away it is porterhouse steak."

The third finished with a solo, going somewhat into the mess hall, with its many long tables:

"Her pfannkuchen, what a beautiful dream,
Her tripe is like peaches in cream,"

Laughing could be heard from the galley area and a, "Oh, you three again," with a sweet laugh. Ezra and Sabine were smiling—no; make that laughing like they haven't done in a very long time. Zeb, however, was concentrating on the voice from inside the kitchen. Then, suddenly, the three crew members huddled with each other around the shoulders to finish the repartee:

"And with the table between us,
She's just like a Twi'lek,
Oh, Force, how that woman can cook!"

The song ended in laughs and Sabine, Rex and Ezra enjoyed themselves, but perhaps not as much as the expectation of the cooking they could get here. Then, they could hear someone laughingly coming from the bowels of the galley.

"Oh, you guys, you get me everytime—," the voice ended suddenly. The woman came out of the galley and suddenly stopped. Sabine and Ezra were shocked.

Zeb, however, couldn't believe his eyes. Right here before him, he could see a woman from Lasan, holding what smelled like the dreamiest dish he could imagine. 'How? Why?' He thought there were no more Lasats.

The woman as well, was stunned. But she, at least, had the wherewithal to say something:

"Oh."

Well, at least it was something. Zeb was still a little stunned, but after a time, he got out a few words:

"Oh. Hi."

Well, at least two words anyways.

"Hi," she responded. Then, "Won't, won't you sit down?" after a silent space.

"Ah, sure. Let's all sit down," Sabine encouraged. So the seven crew members sat down.

The Lasat woman then put the dish on the table between everyone, but glancing at Zeb all the while. "Here you go," she said. "I'll be serving this tonight for a big party. Tell me what you think about it. It's just a small sample so I'll get the main for you guys right soon." The Lasan woman then went back into the galley while the others tasted the special little meal in small dishes. For the crew of the Ghost, always eating little ration bars, it was heaven. They hoped they had been invited to that big party the cook mentioned. They had been.

Just after they had finished the tasty sample and told the cook how wonderful it was, Commodore Bonteri suddenly entered the mess. He was holding a box sideways very carefully. As soon as he entered, the three members of the ship's crew, and Zeb and Rex out of habit, stood quickly at attention.

"Carry on, men," he replied to the salute. "I wouldn't want to interrupt any of you in partaking of the hospitality of the Plo Koon." The crew then returned to their seats, waiting for the main dish to come out. The commodore went to the Lasan woman, who came out of the kitchen. "Susie, can I give this to you for safe-keeping until tonight?"

"Certainly, Admiral." (She always called him 'Admiral,' which brought a smile to his face. She even called Saw that.) "What time will you need it?"

"Probably, at the beginning. When we start to open the wines."

"Understood. It will be there for you—and your girl," she ended very quietly, so none of the others could hear. Lux smiled at that.

"I'll signal you when." Then, "Thank you," said 'Admiral' Bonteri. He then left. As he was leaving, he said farewell to the crew gathered there, "Enjoy yourselves, men and Mandos, (responded to with a hearty, 'Yes, sir!'). Zeb, you'll be needed soon. I just got word they were successful with the extraction. (There was a look of relief on Zeb's, Ezra's, Rex's and Sabine's faces.) They'll be here presently." Then the commodore left them at a half run back to the bridge, leaving them to the delicious makings of Susie, from Lasan, who could make the best food this side of the Correlian Way; which was quite a bit of space.

Susie, just minutes after Commodore Bonteri left, brought out the main dish for the special little group gathered there. Zeb didn't know what to pay attention to more, a Lasan woman in front of him or the delicious-smelling food she had just put on the table.

Suddenly, one of the crew from the Plo Koon asked the Lasan woman, "Susie, what was the thing with the box about?"

"You just pay you no mind about the doings a' Cap'n Terry. You just fix yosef on dem vittles," she responded. The three from the ship knew that when she talked in this dialect, she was worried or upset about something. Zeb was liking this woman more, second by second, however. "I'se in charge 'ere." The crewman who asked this knew when a good thing was in front of him, so he proceeded to dig in at once, ladling some food into a plate in front of him. Susie, however, looked worried, yet hopeful, for her Captain.

When they were a little into the delicious meal, they heard a loud beeping. "What's that for?" asked Rex.

"That means we're going into hyperspace real soon," one of the ship's crew informed them.

Susie, the cook, then put a worried look yet again and ran for the kitchen saying, "Oh no, the aspic! Hey Knucklehead!" she yelled as she got close to the galley entrance, "Hold on to things in there! I'll get the aspic!" as she ran inside the kitchen.

"We'd better hold on too. These old ships shake a bit when we go into hyperspace," another of the crew let on. Those eating the meal held onto their plates so as to not drop a single thing from the meal; they wanted to eat every bit of it it was so good.


Up on the bridge, it was a different matter.

Commodore Bonteri, who seemed to have a premonition, had ordered the fleet to direct their bows to Shili and Kiros, at the far end of their quadrant.

"Sir!" one of the bridge crew shouted to Commodore Bonteri and General Gerrera, "We have hyperspace flux!"

"Where?! How many?!"

"Three bogeys coming out possibly at four o'clock, starboard aft. They should exit about twenty clicks away." Fortunately, the bogeys were in the opposite direction from the way to Shili so there were no impediments to going that way.

"Keep turning the fleet! Where's the Caleb Dume?"

"Five minutes out, sir!"

"Comm officer. Raise me the Caleb Dume. Right now!" Lux was really worried for someone in that little ship.

"Done, sir."

"Caleb Dume!" Commodore Bonteri started, "Bonteri here. We have three bogeys coming out of hyperspace! Get on board pronto!"

"Yes sir!"

He could hear some commotion on the other side of the comm-link. "The moment you touch down, we are going blue! Ghost, these old Seppie ships are shaky front and back of hyperspace. Hold onto your backsides until the all clear!" he informed the Ghost crew.

"Roger, Commodore," Hera replied. "Will do. Thanks to your fleet, we have mission success."

"Not yet!" was the quick reply. "Sound hyperspace warning to all ships."

"Yes, sir!" This officer did so, causing the aforementioned commotion in the cafeteria.

"Commodore, we have three Star Destroyers, Imperator-class! Just exited hyperspace four o'clock, starboard aft. Twenty clicks away."

'Good. The commander gave us time to get away. Wouldn't want to be him when he gets back to base,' thought Lux.

"Sir, we have bandits from the middle boomer!"

"How many?!"

"We have a nickel with a centurion in the lead."

"Gunners, to your stations!" ordered Saw through the ship's communication. "On the double!"

"We have touchdown with the Caleb Dume!"

Just then, a transmission on the large screen behind the command center in the bridge lit up with the large image of the enemy commander. "Rebel scum. You will surrender now and turn over all crew members for incarceration!"

"Yeah, right," countered Commodore Bonteri. "Eat this, Thrawn. Punch it!" Commodore Bonteri ordered the fleet to go into hyperspace; using the time-honored phrase for doing so. 'That was close, too close,' he thought. Risè, standing close by, was fascinated by him.


Still in hyperspace, just as they finished with the main course, Zeb got word that he was needed for guard duty. Rex offered to come along, which was accepted. "I suppose we'll need all the guns we can get," said Zeb.

An hour later, Zeb, Rex, a Zabrack who was a Marine Lance Corporal from the fleet, and the sergeant from Colonel Gerrad's Zouaves were standing guard outside the room where the spy was finishing being debriefed.

'Dang,' thought Rex looking at the Zouave jealously, 'If we could've had uniforms like these, we'd've won the war in the first five minutes.'

All the while, inside, the spy was being debriefed by Hera, Ahsoka, Saw, and Lux in person, and Bail Organa and Commander Sato via holograph communication. When it was finished, the spy felt very relieved. She wasn't afraid to die now that the rebellion had this information. She wanted to get back to the Princess as well, if possible, as soon as she could. She wasn't afraid to show her face now and she was looking forward to the dinner. Even she had heard the tales of the food on the Plo Koon.

Afterwards, as they left the briefing room and the holograms of Senator Organa and Commander Sato had disappeared, Hera asked Lux a question. "Sir—."

"Please Hera, you can call me 'Terry.'"

"Terry," Hera smiled, "Why did you call Commander Sato, Commandant?"

"Because, when I was in Admiral Ackbar's academy, he was my Commandant. A commandant is a lead professor at a military academy."

"Oh," responded Hera, "I didn't know that."

"He was one, but not the main," he said glancing in Ahsoka's direction, "Reason I wanted to help with this mission. If Commandant Jun Sato is involved, it is worth something."

"Well, thank you for your help," said Hera.

"Yes, thank you," repeated Ahsoka.

Saw Gerrera had a good comment on the moment, "I think Admiral Ackbar must have had a Force vision with so many from his academy in the rebellion."

"That's a good point. But we're not in it yet. Perhaps if we were to have a discussion with the ships in the fleet," Lux responded, leaving open the possibility that the Bonteri Fleet could become part of the rebellion.


That night, out of hyperspace while above Shili, there was to be a large dinner party in the small banquet hall on the flagship, the Plo Koon. There was a large, long, rectangular table in the center. First, a white cloth was spread all over the table. Then, little-by-little, various decorations were placed in the center. Then, elegant, round and solid plates and dishes for different types of food were set up accordingly, on either side of which utensils of the brightest shine and of various shapes for various uses were placed, as if this was the classiest restaurant on Alderaan when the times were rich and good. Finally, the nicely dressed waiters and waitresses folded some soft, cloth napkins in an interesting fashion and then placed them on top of each of the place settings. All that would be left was the placement of the food as large ladles and spoons and salad forks were put in strategic areas in the center area of the many tables.

And what food it was to be. Susie had been working all day and most of the previous one as well, getting the food ready. It was all right with her that there would be the extra guests from the Ghost and representatives from Shili and Kiros present. It was going to be a large party anyway. She always planned for such contingencies. Wines, liqueurs, sprits, beers and ales were also readied; each one, Susie knew, to match the palate and the fancies of the myriad people and species that would be present. She also, secretly, hid a small bottle of something from Lasan. She hoped Zeb would notice it. She also hid the Commodore's little surprise.

The Commodore would often have these dinners; although not usually with so many attending. He liked having them. That way, not only did he get to know his captains, but also, the officers got to know him. They met so often—Susie couldn't count the times since she has been in his service, but it was frequent. Some of the captains would sometimes rather have stayed with their ships, but they knew Commodore Bonteri got results, so they went willingly. They went so often that they soon became to know the mind and the tactical ways of the Commodore, so much so that when they went into battle, they went into it knowing what Commodore Bonteri would do, without him having to tell them every step of the way. This is why they considered themselves a 'Band of Brothers.'


Soon, the guests were to make their way to the banquet hall. After releasing the spy a few hours previously, who was also attending the banquet, the Ghost crew, without Ahsoka, went to take care of their home and ship. The crew of the Plo Koon was ordered to bar nothing from them—at all. So in time, the Ghost was not only resupplied so heavily that Hera smilingly worried that she couldn't lift off; with the help of about a dozen the of the crew from the Plo Koon, they also scrubbed down the ship—inside and out—so much that even though the ship might not get off the deck, what with all the supplies and the fuel tanks being topped off, Hera was certain it would look real pretty and be so slick going through hyperspace. Chopper as well, got a cleaning and was given a replacement leg the exact same color of his original. The little droid was beepingly happy.

Kanan was practicing with Ezra, finally able to do so in a room even bigger than the whole of the Ghost. Kanan was worried, however, because Ezra seemed off his game. But, in any case, the off-duty crew, which also included the Commodore and Risè, watching the sparring bout were fascinated. Except for Lux, they had never seen anything like it. Ahsoka, doing something less active however, was meditating in her stateroom.

She had a lot to meditate about—mostly about her decisions of the past—particularly one night. Was it really right to have left Lux like that? She has seen that he can quite take care of himself, and could have back then as well, she realized. Maybe they should have faced what came after that night together, instead of apart. How much did she miss by that decision? What does Lux think of her? What has happened to him in the time she was away? Also, more deeply, she thought about Risè, who was such a pretty Twi'lek. She and Lux seemed to be close and in synchronization, although there was somewhat of an age difference. Seeing such a relationship, perhaps she should just leave and let bygones be bygones. Maybe in the next life she can be more happy—because she certainly wasn't in this one now.

Poor Ahsoka. If only she had been privy to the conversation between Lux and Saw before they went to the bridge, she would have been more confident—and fulfilled.


After a time, the party guests, many delivered to the venue via shuttles from other ships and the planet below, ambled into the room. They were to be strategically seated, rather than randomly. As each came in, there were cards for the seating on the plates in front of the prettily folded napkins written in a elegant script. Lux, Saw, the majordomo, as well as Susie had a say in the seating of the party.

At the head of the table were Lux, to the left, and Saw, to his right. On the corner from Saw was to be his little girl, of Onderon human and Mirialan stock. To the girl's right was Colonel Gerrard, from the Zouaves, in his colorful uniform, and then the Master Gunner from Rodia. Next to him, down that side of the table were the Ghost crew: Hera, then Kanan, Ezra, Sabine, Zeb, and then the spy with Rex on her other side to protect her on that side. Always the soldier, was Rex. Past her and Rex were others from General Gerrera's units. Chopper was rolling around a bit in the large room as well.

Directly opposite Hera and Kanan were three captains from ships (that side of the table held the guests from the naval arm of the fleet); a human man and woman, and between them was a young Twi'lek man, a little older than Hera, with nice manners. Risè was seated to their left, with other, lesser officers filling the remainder of the table. To the right of these three officers, but to the left of Hera and Kanan, were the representatives from the two planets in the Ehosiq Sector, Shili and Kiros, both of the Togruta race. However, Ahsoka was to be seated next to them, kitty-corner from Lux. He wanted to be close to her to finish something and, if the gods were with him, to restart something from a long time ago. At least she can know how he felt. If things got rough, some talking with the representatives may cool things off.

Before everyone sat down, while standing behind the chairs, the crew of the Ghost introduced themselves. Ahsoka simply said her name, and everybody nodded to her. Then, with clapping, the introductions were completed and everyone sat in their chair, deftly helped by a waiter or waitress. Lux, however, helped Ahsoka with her chair. She didn't mind, though. It's what guys were supposed to do.

The dinner started with the grand entrance of the food rushing in on several trolleys, each pushed by a waiter, under the direction of a smiling Susie. As trays were placed on the struts in the center of the table and lids were opened, the look and aroma of the myriad dishes filling the large room foretold of a wonderful evening ahead.

Interestingly, although the Ghost crew were ready to dig in, they could see that no one was about to. Instead, Commodore Bonteri called on Saw's little girl.

"Tricia, can you say the prayers for us?"

"Certainly, Uncle Terry," the girl responded, earning a soft smile from Ahsoka and Lux clearing his throat. Then the ten-year old said a prayer. The words were simple but the thoughts were big; that there would be peace throughout the Galaxy, that the Emperor would come to realize his mistakes, and that love and friendship could prevail.

During this time, all around the table held their hands and most closed their eyes. Men would hold the hand of another man without embarrassment. Hera and Kanan now had a good excuse to hold hands. The representatives from the planets below seemed to know what was going on, perhaps they had been here before, so they held hands. Risè was holding the hand of a human male, but she so wished it could have been the Commodore. 'He should be holding hands with me, not with that no-account Togruta that showed up out of nowhere,' she thought.

Suddenly, Ahsoka and Lux were holding hands for the first time in fifteen years. When he made the seating arrangements, he didn't even think about this. But here they were, holding hands. Her hand was so warm, yet strong and firm, like he remembered it from long ago. While Tricia was saying the prayer, he wanted to let Ahsoka know his feelings silently, so he gently, but confidently, squeezed Ahsoka's hand.

Which almost made her cry, and she would have, if it hadn't been for the training she went through as a Jedi. Here was another confirmation that he hadn't forgotten her. A new path seemed to open itself for her. So, she returned the squeeze in like manner, gently and confidently. As soon as she did she accidentally let out an almost inaudible laugh from the throat because suddenly, his hand shivered a little, and got a little sweaty; just like his hands did that night fifteen years ago, holding hers, just as he was popping the question.

Finally, with a word led by Tricia and said by most of those present, they finished the prayer and started to dig in. Some released another's hand somewhat slowly. You may count Kanan and Hera amongst those. The crew of the Ghost, being the guests this night, were given the first helpings. Soon, everyone was talking and having a good time.

Susie, followed by a waiter, next rolled in the drinks trolleys. Not one bottle was similar and the array of them was like a rainbow; so many colors. She first rolled up to the Commodore, making sure to keep the tray behind Ahsoka. "Commodore, would you like to choose a wine?" She said while surreptitiously placing a large, purple finger on a certain bottle; one for which he quickly had gone to the surface of Onderon to fetch. It was a bottle of unfinished wine he kept lovingly and carefully since the last time he saw her that night on Coruscant, keeping it at a constant 15˚ Celsius and from any kind of shaking in a little refrigerator—never to be opened until this day.

So, he took the bottle and put it on the table, the label facing away from Ahsoka. Then he poured some wine into Ahsoka's crystal wine glass. The color and the aroma brought a recognition of a time long ago to her as she brought it to her nose, but she needed to make sure. So, as he was about to pour for himself, Ahsoka put down her own glass, stopped him and said, "Please, Lux, the Shili way." Then he put the bottle on the table, so Ahsoka could pour for him. As she finished, she looked at the label. There was nothing she had forgotten about that night, the bad had not overwhelmed the good in her memory. She remembered this bottle, not only the vineyard and the year, but the little nick on the label and how it was dog-eared on the upper right corner as well. This was the very wine from that night. If Lux had not squeezed her hand, she might have taken it differently, but he did. So she sipped the wine graciously, and was brought back to the night when the wine was so good, 'Just like it is now,' thought Ahsoka. She opened her eyes to see him looking at her, expectantly. She smiled at him, and reached under the table with her right hand to hold his left, which was on his leg, close to his knee. They squeezed each other's hands and smiled at each other. The first step had been taken. Soon, they each released the other's hand so they could get some food and talk with their neighbors, each confident that they would take some time later to deepen their feelings. Lux was looking at Ahsoka's right hand, now on the table. 'Had he just touched it?' he was asking himself.

Saw had never seen his friend so happy, and so, knowing why, was extremely happy for him. He would have to tell his Mirialan wife, though, who was desperately match-making for Lux, always on the lookout for him and collecting a stack of pictures of various 'possibilities' from around the Galaxy to ply Lux with. In the meantime, Ahsoka took up Lux's plate and was ladling some of Susie's masterpieces onto it for him. Saw couldn't help but smile.

••

Everyone was putting food on their plates, meeting new people. Hera and Kanan, after their own surreptitious hand-holding during the wine, were eating. Susie also went to Zeb with the liquor trolley, and asked if he would like a certain beverage. Again, she pointed to the top of a bottle as a secret signal to Zeb to take that one, which he did. He opened it as Susie was walking away, but still looking back at him. When he did open it, the aroma brought him back to his days on Lasan, an honor guard to the King. He was so surprised, and so happy. He then put some in a small glass and brought it up to his nose, and breathed in deep the fragrance of the drink. He then opened his eyes and smiled. 'What a woman,' was his only thought at the moment.

Across from Hera and Kanan, the trio of captains were discussing something amongst themselves, all the while glancing at Hera now and then. Then, the Twi'lek captain began speaking to Hera.

"Captain Syndulla, this is Captain Hood of the Luminara Unduli," he said while gesturing to the human man, "and Captain Foley of the Quinlan Vos." Hera nodded at the woman. "I am Captain Acham of the Ayala Secura."

"It's nice to make your acquaintance, Captain Hood, Captain Foley, and Captain Acham." They nodded back in reply. They were also looking rather expectantly to Hera, acting like they wanted to ask her something but were hesitant to do so. Captain Acham then got up the courage to ask Hera what they were curious about. When the captain did, Hera was eternally glad that she was between bites and between drinks when he did ask the question.

"I hope you don't mind my asking," the captain started as the other two were looking on in anticipation, "But are you related to— to Grand Field Marshal Cham Syndulla?"

"Gag! Cough! Splat! Sputter! Gag! Where's that napkin? Cough! Cough! Cough!"

Kanan wasn't so lucky.

However, all this time, Hera only raised her right eyebrow slightly and the corner her mouth on the same side, making a perfect, 'You've got to be kidding me,' face. She waited until Kanan could calm down, before she answered. It took a while. "Sorry about that," signaled that he had finally.

"Yes. 'Grand Field Marshal' Syndulla is my father," she said crisply after Kanan had recovered. She was met with wide-eyed looks and exclamations of "Aah."

Kanan leaned in close to her and said to her very quietly, "So that's what he's calling himself these days?"

Hera, still looking at the captains said, "I wouldn't put it past him," through the side of her mouth on Kanan's side.

Susie the cook also saw this and, rather than be mad at Kanan, was worried that perhaps she had made something he didn't like. But, she let it pass because she was sure he could find something he liked.


A little later, sated, Lux and Ahsoka had returned to finishing off the wine after fifteen years, again, holding hands under the table. After all, you only needed one hand, not even the hand you write with, to hold a wine glass and drink from it.

The party started to go full swing. Talking, drinking, laughing, singing were all around as the guests became more and more full—yet leaving space for something they knew was on the way. Some got the band to play a tune so they could sing to it. The representative from Kiros was one those, very happy with her performance after she finished to a round of applause.

Later, off to the side so everyone could see them, sitting on some chairs, Lux, on the twelve-string guitar, and Saw on the banjo, started a riff on a jumpy little tune, but stopped suddenly. "Wait a minute, Saw. We're missing something." Saw looked to Lux. "I know. We need some wind for this." Lux looked over to the side and noticed what he wanted. "Ah. Knucklehead. Can you bring me that big 'shine jug over there?" Knucklehead did so, the little Rodian almost stumbling under the weight of the big jug. "Thank you," said Lux. Then, "Kanan! You got yourself a prize set of lungs. Get yourself over here," Lux said as he patted a seat that a band member had put there next to him with the jug in front of it. Kanan did so, followed by cheers and applause; especially from the Ghost crew. "Now Kanan," Lux said after he sat down next to him, "Put this jug on your lap and blow into the neck." Kanan did so. "Is that all you can do, bro? You dang near woke up the whole ship with that coughing-gagging explosion just now. Try it again." Everyone laughed at Kanan, Hera and Ahsoka especially. Kanan did try it again. "There you go, Kanan. I knew you had it in you." After some more teaching, they played a neat, jumpy little tune with some funny lyrics. Everyone was made happy with this little interlude. It wasn't exactly a tune to dance to, but some tried. Everyone gave the trio, especially Kanan, a round of applause when it was finished. Kanan went back to his seat, greeted by a peck on the cheek from Hera.

After she made sure that enough food had been eaten by all, Susie then got ready for the entrance of the aspic. It was to be carried in on a large tray it was so big. First, the lights were dimmed and the doors shut. Then, suddenly, with a blaring of the string band (which had been playing since about halfway through the dinner) and a switching on of the lights; the aspic entered, carried by Susie in front and Knucklehead the Rodian bringing up the rear. He had to hold it shoulder high himself, the Lasan woman was so tall. "Ooohs" and "Aaahs" and "Wows" and other expressions of amazement, greeted the aspic. Then, Susie and Knucklehead carefully put the aspic in the very center of the large table. Waiters and waitresses then rushed to the cake and started parceling it out into the large cake dishes that had been made ready and then given to each of the guests. Again, the Ghost crew were served first. Everyone was happy—or so it seemed.

Ezra, unfortunately, was in a depressed mood. Kanan was a little worried about him since he hadn't eaten much of the food. He was wondering what was on the young man's mind.

The object of Kanan's concern was worried—deeply. 'What should I do?' he was thinking to himself. If anything, he wanted to disappear right then and there to the Unknown Regions he was so despondent. 'What should I do? What should I do?' and, 'Why me?' were his only thoughts most of the night.


Soon, all too soon for some, the banquet ended. Knucklehead was in charge of the clean up as Susie thanked the guests for coming. Knucklehead, usually the lowest on the totem pole there, really enjoyed ordering around these even lower than himself, usually crew members on KP duty for bad behavior. But, even though he might have been a knucklehead, he got things done.

The guests meandered out. The representatives had their own VIP suites if they wanted them, but they opted to leave for their homes. A battleship was a battleship, after all. Shuttles were seen to be leaving back to other ships as well. Officers on the ship were slowly going back to their quarters. Risè went back slowly to her own room. The crew of the Ghost went their way, and Hera and Kanan seemed to linger, and then to disappear somewhere, maybe the ship's canteen where various 'drinks' were available at all times of the day—except for during battle.

Lux escorted Ahsoka down to her own stateroom. Somehow, the crew and those from other ships knew to go the other way from that area. The passageways were darkened slightly, to better simulate life on a planet. They walked slowly. A few steps from the banquet hall, Ahsoka put her right hand through the crook of Lux's arm on that side, and then a few steps later, her left hand on his arm on that side. He put his right hand on hers that was in the crook of his arm. They walked very slowly, saying nothing, talking wordlessly between them. Then they came to Ahsoka's stateroom door. Just outside, they looked at each other, and then kissed each other. A light kiss, but one that meant a lot. It was the first one they had shared together in such a long, long time. From then, both knew that they would be a part of the other's life, and were happier for it.

After finishing the kiss, while looking at Lux, Ahsoka opened her door and went in. He said, "Goodnight, Ahsoka," which was returned with a, "Goodnight, Lux." Lux looked after her for a time that was only as long as decency allowed. He then left so she could close the door without causing hard feelings. After listening to a few of his disappearing steps, she did so. Somehow, both knew that they would not be able to sleep very well that night. But, unknown to them, they were being watched by someone, who herself was being watched by another person.


Unfortunately, someone else was not able to sleep well that night, tossing and turning over an unwanted intrusion earlier. That person was Ezra. He was going over a conversation he had over his comm-link in his and Zeb's room just before he had his sparring match with Kanan and the reason he didn't enjoy the party as much as he could have:

"Hello Ezra Bridger."

"Vizago?"

"One and the same, Ezra. Remember your debt to me for saving Kanan?"

"Yes."

"I'm calling in that debt right now. I know you are with the Bonteri Fleet, even on the Plo Koon."

"How did you know?"

"Never mind. I want you to bring Bonteri to me."

"I can't do that! He's—"

"I don't care what you say. That was part of our deal. You promised to do whatever I asked. Remember? Now I'm telling you: Bring Bonteri to me. You don't know him that well, do you? What is he to you?"

"I can't—"

"You will! A promise is a promise, Ezra Bridger. I can make things real difficult for your little band of rebels if you don't. Besides, what have I heard of the people of Lothal?"

"That we keep our promises," he resigned.

"And you being a Jedi, there are now three reasons to keep your promise. Do you understand? Bring Bonteri to me."

Ezra became slumped and distraught. Then, after a few seconds, "How?"

"Any way you can. It shouldn't be too difficult. Make it easy on yourself. . . . Just bring me his head."

—•—

Thank you for reading this. I hoped you liked it. I hope I didn't bore you with this chapter. I may have added too many words. I even cut 1,000 before uploading. I didn't want to leave you with a cliffhanger, but I got the impression from a review that you guys like cliffhangers.

I wanted to try to get as much writing in as I could before the end of Season 2. Compared to Season 1, I am enjoying this season much more. I also wanted to get as far as Vizago and Ezra and there was so much before that. By the way, I think Ezra was let off way too easily in his promise to Vizago. He could have been made to do something more evil instead of getting Vizago out of his own brig.

I was planning for more ship-to-ship action in this chapter, but it turns out there is a good reason Commodore Bonteri did what he did when Thrawn showed up. Like I said, I hope you weren't bored. I know a lot of readers want action, more action, on top of more action. I find the shows to be the same way, missing out on a lot of characterization that could be accomplished. In any case, I will put in some ship-to-ship action in a later chapter.

The song is a Groucho Marx one. Here are the original lyrics:

I once knew a woman who couldn't spell cat.
Her face was as homely as chintz.
In winter she always wore last summers hat,
And her size eleven shoe was a pinch.
When she played piano, strong men would faint,
Und veek men would cry out in grief.
Und as for her singing, well, it made you feel,
That it wasn't so tough to be 'deef'.
But with all these things that the people would say,
Her voice and her looks couldn't drive them away,
'Cause, ach, how that woman could cook.
Her bread was like angel food's cake.
She could take soup meat, and give it one look,
And right away it was porterhouse steak.
Her pfannkuchen, what a beautiful dream,
Her tripe was like peaches in cream,
And with the table between us,
She looked exactly like Venus,
Oh, God, how that woman could cook.

I had a time finding a replacement for 'Venus' until I realized that that's just what Twi'lek girls are in the Star Wars universe. Just take a look at Numa (she will make an appearance).

Well, I hope you liked it. No matter what happens this Wednesday, US time, I will continue the story. Season 1 ended in a bang and it looks like this year will too. Since I needed to hurry to get this up, I know there is still some editing needed in the published version.

I would like to thank my wife for the information about keeping wines fresh over a long period.

Thank you,

johnt
PS. I have some out-takes from this chapter that if I get to be too long in updating, perhaps I will post them and you guys can tell me what you think.
PPS. There's another neat little new Luxsoka under the Rebels category called, "When Fates Collide." It might be a little racy but I hope you can take a look at it.