[Chat: Disaster Batch] - Welcome [CC-2224], [CC-5052], [CC-3636], [CC-6454], [CC-1010]
[CC-3636] "Wolffe": well boys
"Wolffe": looks like our fox'ika is all grown up now
[CC-5052] "Bly": *gasp*
"Bly": fox'ika is this true?
[CC-6454] "Ponds": imma have to put this on mute bc droids
"Ponds": but fox'ika vod
"Ponds": welcome to the blue girlfriend club, population: you and Bly
"Bly": if the droids or Fox don't kill you
"Bly": i will
[CC-2224] "Cody": wait, where is Fox?
"Wolffe": oh, he's trying to find his comm unit under his bunk
"Wolffe": I'm reading this out loud to him until he does
"Cody": I wish I could be surprised but
"Cody": the two of you together somehow always end up like this
"Wolffe": we resent that
[CC-1010] "Fox": i resent you right now
"Wolffe": and yet i'm still your favorite
"Fox": at the moment i like the entire senate more than you
"Bly": but is it true
"Fox": of course it's not true
"Wolffe": that's not what you said last night
"Fox": you got me drunk last night di'kut
"Cody": it's not just wolffe that's been worried about you fox'ika
"Fox": what the kriff does that mean
"Fox": …one of the Guard told you something
"Bly": Thire
"Fox":
"Fox": the GAR is about to be down two commanders
"Cody": just once let me have plausible deniability
"Wolffe": fox, you've been wearing her jewelry under your blacks for months now
"Bly": woah woah whAT
"Wolffe": and you gave her your blaster
"Wolffe": did you know that exchanging gifts like that is a declaration of intention to court in some cultures?
"Fox": you're not serious
"Cody": no he actually is
"Cody": happened to Skywalker accidentally
"Cody": twice
"Fox": i
"Fox": don't
"Fox": have feelings
"Fox": for the Senator.
"Bly": you don't want to acknowledge them, at least
Wolffe: do you even hear yourself Bly
"Fox": chuchi is friendly to all the men, and it wouldn't be right if I didn't treat her in the same manner
"Cody": vod… you gave her your blaster.
"Cody": that alone means more than what you're saying to us now
"Fox": tell that to yourself next time you tell us about carrying kenobi's lightsaber, kote
"Fox": she is a senator and proved deserving of our respect
"Fox": there is nothing else going on
"Fox": so back. off.
[CC-1010 is offline.]
"Ponds": so… that went well?
[CC-3636 is offline]
Wolffe cursed under his breath as Fox shoved away from him and got up off the bunk they'd both been crammed on. "Fox'ika…"
"No!" Fox snapped, turning to growl at his twin, but the fight drained from him the moment he looked back at Wolffe. "No, you're right. I should've realized the potential implications of behaving so casually with her."
"And now that you know?" Wolffe asked warily.
Fox strategically hid his face so Wolffe wouldn't see his grimace as he ducked down to gather the scattered pieces of his armor and begin putting them on for his next shift. "I act like a proper Marshal Commander and remember my place."
When Fox saw Senator Chuchi several days later as he patrolled the Senate halls with Nite, all he could hear were his brother's words echoing in his ears. He still wore the bracelet she'd gifted him, out of sight under his armor, but where it previously had been a comfort it now felt like a shackle.
A shackle for him or for her, Fox wasn't sure yet. But he was no longer able to ignore the dangerous situation they'd found themselves in.
A senator couldn't be seen being friends with a clone, let alone the Marshal Commander on Coruscant. He had to be the perfect example for the public, not a flaw to be found. That way, all his men– his younger brothers– wouldn't suffer as much scrutiny.
He'd sacrifice himself in a heartbeat to give his brothers a chance at happiness.
And so when he saw Senator Chuchi exiting the lift flanked by two of her aides, he chose to ignore the smile and nod she sent his way.
He turned to Nite, doing his best to pretend he hadn't seen the confusion flash across her face. "I'm leaving you to finish the sweep of this wing."
The other trooper hadn't been appointed a sergeant for no reason, though. Fox knew Nite was forming a multitude of questions as his helmet tilted slightly in the senator's direction before centering back on Fox. "You wouldn't have any ulterior motive for that decision, would you, sir?"
"No," he bit out before sighing, trying to leak all the tension out of his form. "Just– use it to refresh your familiarity with solo rounds. I know you've mostly been assigned to training and lead shifts lately."
"That'd be because you sign off on our schedules, sir," Nite chuckled as he gave a sharp salute and began off down the hall in the direction Senator Chuchi had gone.
Fox allowed himself a solitary moment to stare after Nite's receding form before he pulled his shoulders back and headed off into the lifts.
And yet, despite the knowledge that his actions revealed more than he'd have liked about thoughts even he wouldn't admit to having, Fox found himself typing off a message to the sergeant.
Online: [CC-1010], [CT-2319]
[CC-1010] "Fox": make sure the senator doesn't remain too late
[CT-2319] "Nite": will do
While Fox managed to avoid Senator Chuchi for an entire week after that, he wasn't as successful at avoiding her in his thoughts. He knew that his fellow commanders were aware something was throwing him off his game, but Fox did his best at brushing aside their concern.
"I'm fine," he'd say with his trademark sigh before shifting their schedules so he was taking more of their workload onto himself. It was a double win: his brothers would have less stressors, and he'd have more work to lose himself in.
The downside to that meant that he took on the brunt of the investigation into the several recent attacks against senators, including both involving Senator Chuchi. So when time came for the Guard command to hold briefings with the involved senators and their aides, Fox was the one in charge.
He made sure Chuchi's briefing was last, knowing he'd wouldn't be able to focus on anything after seeing her. He'd be making a beeline straight for the shooting range afterwards to try and ignore the whirlwind of emotions within him.
In hindsight, Fox should've known the meeting would be doomed before it even started.
Senator Chuchi arrived five minutes early, distracted by a light discussion with one of her aides while three others followed behind them. He gave each a quick once-over to ensure they fit the personnel files on record– Myra Requin, Alida Tuteru, Iri Masin, and Farai Tran, who he knew was involved in some manner with Gunner. Fox gave them a stiff nod, trying to keep his attention on them as long as possible so he doesn't have to meet Riyo's molten gaze that he can feel boring into him.
"Senator, ma'am's," he greeted formally, drawing incredulous glances from Thire and Stone and an eye roll from Thorn. "If you'll take a seat so we can get started?"
He could see a frown slip onto Chuchi's face at his abrupt and professional tone, but she didn't outwardly say anything as the five women all followed his request and sat at the long table. Fox did his best to ignore the glare Farai sent his way as he typed on the datapad inlaid in the table so a series of holograms appeared in the middle.
It takes little active thought for him to give his presentation, thanks to the number of times he'd done so just that day. He would've been able to get through it flawlessly as long as he hadn't glanced in Chuchi's direction. That was the only time he stumbled in his speech: when he'd looked over to see her gaze trained intently on him.
He had to remind himself that it was typically normal for an audience to pay attention to a presenter. He wasn't necessarily used to it, being a clone, but Fox still silently berated himself for being affected by it. Thus, he made sure to take a moment to collect himself once he'd finished before turning towards the group of Pantorans.
"That covers all pertinent information the Guard has compiled," Fox announced formally. "Does your delegation have any questions?"
"My... delegation." Riyo's eyebrows furrowed slightly before her expression smoothed out, like a lake returning to its calm and untouched state despite a shipwreck hidden beneath its surface. "Ladies?"
"Do you believe Senator Chuchi's well-being is at risk for the foreseeable future?" Ms. Requin took the initiative and plowed forward.
"Or the lives of any of us who attend events in her place," Ms. Tuteru added. "For instance, I just returned from representing the senator's position on Pantora in regards to our homeworld's emergency elections." Her eyes flickered over to Chuchi before returning back to Fox as she folded her hands together on the table. "If the Guard believes there is an ongoing threat, then we will reconfigure our security for these matters."
Fox nodded in recognition of their concerns. "In regards to this hostage situation and the preceding attack, we do not believe the involved parties to be targeting Senator Chuchi at this time." He glanced at Thorn and Thire, both of whom were the Guard's point men for senatorial escorts off-world.
"You can submit a request for additional security officers to accompany you on any diplomatic excursion on Senator Chuchi's behalf," Thire informed them. "But currently, we would not consider one to be a high-need request."
"Thank you for your input, Commander Thire," Chuchi said. "But now I want to ask you a question just as yourself. As Thire." She paused for a moment in thought. "Actually, for any of you. Stone, Thorn, Fox." She only tipped her head curiously, but it felt to Fox as if the room temperature had dropped 20 degrees. "Do you think we should increase our security measures, or is my delegation fine to continue at the levels we've currently set?"
They'd been trained to withstand cracking under any forms of torture while on Kamino. They hadn't been trained how to react when pinned under the bright golden stare of a senator who asked for their personal opinions.
Surprisingly, Stone was the first to reply. "Permission to speak freely, ma'am?"
"Always with me, Stone."
Stone shifted his weight from one foot to the other before huffing a large sigh. "You're not in constant danger like some other senators who lead their factions, but you shouldn't expect to be completely safe either. You've made your position known."
"The Guard technically is meant to remain impartial in regards to matters of the Senate," Thire hesitantly added. "That said… we do have some freedom when it comes to fulfilling less urgent requests."
"What he means is there are more than a few willing men who would jump at the chance to be assigned to a security detail for your delegation," Thorn interjected with a far too innocent smile on his face. "Your personal safety is most important, senator."
It was then that all eyes in the room turned to Fox, and he went completely rigid under the heavy weight of them all. He did his best to look anywhere but directly at Chuchi. Fox could do it as long as he didn't focus on her. And yet… even his brothers seemed to be expecting something from him.
"I don't see why this is necessary," he managed to say stiffly.
It was as if a magnet drew Fox's gaze to Chuchi's the moment the final word fell past his lips. As a dangerous glint flashed through her aurelian irises, Fox realized with a jolt that for the first time, he was truly facing Senator Chuchi, and not the woman who'd offered him her hand in friendship.
"Why don't you feel this is necessary, Commander?" She asked, pulling her shoulders back and straightening in her seat. "I am welcome to all opinions of those that work alongside me, especially when it comes to not just my safety, but that of these four ladies and anyone else who helps me to best represent Pantoran interests."
"The Coruscant Guard is expected to remain impartial, as Commander Thire said," Fox said, emphasizing Thire's position through his clenched jaw. "And as its Marshall Commander, I am expected to uphold any and all regulations to the letter."
"And as senator, I am within my rights to ask your personal assessment in regards to my individual security whether I am on Coruscant or off-world on diplomatic missions!"
Fox snarled. "Fine. My personal assessment is that you are carelessly painting a target on your back – and all of our backs– by continuing to act as you do towards me and my men!"
It was only as his explosive statement echoed in his ears that Fox realized Chuchi had risen from her seat and that they were both glaring at each other, chests heaving as if they'd been in a shouting match.
Chuchi's tone brokered no room for argument as she lifted her chin defiantly at him. "Everyone– leave us. The Marshal Commander and I need to have a private discussion."