ES-02 stood over Alanja with her helmet under her arm. Together, they settled into the shuttle to make their way down to the surface of Ryloth with the rest of Crosshair's Elite Squad. Being back on the star-destroyer with the ES Unit had been a bit of a relief from the cold, white treachery of Tipoca City. Just like Alanja, they relaxed. However, now that they were boarding the shuttle, Alanja wondered how long that reprieve would last. Crosshair had gone ahead with Rov to Ryloth, leaving the ES Unit to guard Alanja, and she was unsure if it was Crosshair's absence that put the soldiers at ease or their leaving Kamino.
ES-02 had bristled when Alanja asked Rov, "Why can't I just go now?" Alanja had insisted.
The Elite Soldier's eyes flickered between Crosshair and Rov, giving away that it was Crosshair's idea that Alanja be left behind. Rov gave his little patronizing smirk, one feigned sympathy and just wanted compliance from Alanja. That expression was nothing new to her, and it infuriated Alanja. Furrowing his thick brows, Rov said, "I know you seek some respite, sister. This will be your chance. However, there have been some troubling reports of insurgency." Rov patted Crosshair on the back with one of his proud grins that was a stark contrast to the empathetic one he gave Alanja. "The commander and I will get things in order before you arrive. Better safe than sorry."
Crosshair puffed with pride that her brother was bringing him along. He even winked at her as they boarded their shuttle, leaving her in the capable hands of his ES Unit. It was bittersweet. Ever since she freed him of his chip, he had been kinder to her, always stealing glances when he thought she was not looking. It was kind of endearing, and it was at his insistence that his unit remained behind with Alanja, knowing the risk she took on his behalf to force Nala Se to help him. Ambassador Rampart would forever face the danger of assassination for doing that.
The journey to Ryloth had garnished a loose friendship between Alanja and the three Elite Soldiers. While on Kamino, the three soldiers were as unnerved by the clones as was Alanja. Before they departed from Kamino, the ES Unit eagerly stayed at Alanja's side, hoping to please her and gain more of Rov's attention, much to the chagrin of Corsair and his men.
"Safe travels, ma'am," Corsair bid Alanja. "We eagerly await your return."
ES-02 glared at Corsair and his men. She hated the clones, often bucking up to them when they didn't move out of Alanja's way quick enough. The ES Unit was as elated as Alanja when they finally received their reprieve from Kamino and rejoined Rov and Crosshair on Ryloth.
ES-02 had even smiled at Alanja, saying, "I hope there will not be too much longer of that," remarking on the endlessness of white armored clones.
Coming up the ramp, a squad of clones joined them on the shuttle to be ferried down to Ryloth. They were a batch straight off the line, young and still too identical. Perfectly synced, they marched towards Alanja and the ES Unit in two columns.
Alanja breathed out the word "indeed" through a pleasant smile as she strapped herself into her seat.
Low and a bit disgusted, ES-02 added, referring to the sea of identical cloned faces, "You never know which one's talking to you unless it is the commander." A coldness in her gray eyes, the black-haired woman remained distanced from fully embracing Alanja; the gulf between a vice admiral's little sister and a soldier was unfortunately just too vast for real comradery beyond professional politeness.
Alanja chuckled. "I look forward to seeing him when we reach Ryloth." Maintaining her disarming grin, Alanja leaned forward to get a better look at the clones reaching for their handgrips, but ES-02 just shook her head.
"Why are you so nice to him? He's a mean…." ES-02 stopped mid-sentence when Alanja raised a quizzical brow. "I don't think he likes anyone but you, Miss Rampart."
Alanja felt her cheeks flush. "Commander Crosshair likes Vice Admiral Rampart," Alanja corrected. "And he respects the three of you." Alanja waved a delicate hand towards the three black-clad soldiers.
ES-02 shrugged. "Hard to say. He may respect the vice admiral and maybe us. But he 'likes' you. I see how he straightens when you enter a room, ma'am."
Alanja reached out and placed her gloved hand on ES-02's armored wrist. "Is there something I should know about?"
Her chest heaving a deep breath, ES-02 grimaced.
"You're safe with me, Reddisa." When Alanja said ES-02's real name, the woman's head fell, and her feet shifted. This moment was far more important than Alanja realized when ES-02 had begun her light interrogation of her. Reddisa's opening remark was meant to probe Alanja's feelings about the clones and Crosshair. Keeping her hand on ES-02, Alanja gently shifted her tactics to compel ES-02 to confide in her. If the Elite Squad given to Crosshair turned on him, they might attempt to do away with him just as Crosshair had warned after he was forced to execute Marjin.
Sensing the shift in Alanja's concern, ES-02 said, "Forgive me, ma'am. I have spoken out of turn."
The others' eyes danced between them, glancing at the cloned troopers. It was now or never. Alanja needed to hear what ES-02 had to say. "Speak your mind. Your burdens are mine."
Her voice was low as ES-02 leaned in to keep the clones from hearing her; she said, "I sometimes wonder if you are the real reason the commander executed Marjin."
ES-03 cleared his throat, and ES-04 shot ES-02 a glare as they shouldered up to keep the clones from getting too close to Alanja and overhearing the dangerous conversation.
Alanja dipped her head, allowing her hand to slip away from ES-02. "Marjin's mistake was heartbreaking, to be sure. An unfortunate event." ES-02's nostrils flared as Alanja continued to console her. "Loyalty to the empire is paramount, my friends. Remember it. All of our lives depend on it. Our victory was clear; however, we must remain focused. Is that not why all of us have come to Kamino? We are ensuring that everything stays at peace." Alanja cocked her head and glanced up at the two rows of white-armored clones as they gripped on for the ride, just like the three soldiers escorting her.
"Yes, ma'am," ES-02 conceded.
Alanja let her voice raise to where the clones could hear her. "Commander Crosshair is a good example of personal sacrifice and fidelity to the ideals of the Galactic Empire." When she said the name Crosshair, the three soldiers stiffened while the clones turned their frowning, white helms her way with interest. Alanja put on her kind smile to hide behind, feeling the tension tighten once again. "It is why he has a place of honor as my personal guard and stands now at the side of Vice Admiral Rampart. I trust him with my life. It is why he was chosen to lead you."
ES-02's oval face hardened, and her brow furrowed as she donned her black helm. "Yes, ma'am. Your life is in good hands with him. He would kill anyone that laid a hand on you." The way she said that concerned Alanja, but she pretended to miss the woman's vitriol.
ES-03 and ES-04 shot ES-02 a glare at the veiled rebuke and slipped on their helmets. However, the hard words settled on the clones very differently. Though their white helms scowled at Alanja, she could feel their warmth and respect towards her. She gave them a shy smile and looked down at her hands, trying to appear humbled to disguise her disgust. They were men grown of little boys just out of the tube; children bred and raised to kill with no other ambitions. Her heart ached to have their plight ended, to make the horrors of Kamino's child soldiers brought to a stop.
The shuttle lurched out of the star-destroyer's hangar bay, and the unsettling descent through the atmosphere of Ryloth pitched the vessel nose up, jamming her shoulder into the cold metal of the bucket seat until the pilot leveled them out. Alanja could feel the clones watching her as she squeezed her eyes closed tight, but this time they were not amused by her fear of space flight; instead, they were concerned as though they would rush to her side if she needed them. They wanted her approval.
Over her, Crosshair's Elite Squad kept a tight triangle around her, ES-02 even putting a hand on Alanja to hold her stable as the shuttle quaked through the turbulence. The care she gave Alanja was duty, striking Alanja with caution. Though Alanja wanted to take the opportunity to encourage the clones with another smile, she kept her gaze downcast until the shuttle touched down. The Elite Squad's morale was on a razor's edge, and she needed them to stay surefooted for her brother.
The Rylothian sunset's glare flashed into the shuttle as the ramp lowered and a puff of hot, dry air crisped away the climate-controlled atmosphere inside the transport, swishing the petal-like skirts and sleeves of Alanja's gown. Awaiting her arrival with a smile was Rov. At his side, Crosshair stood at attention, his rifle in hand and his stern face hidden behind the black scowl of his helmet. With them was a large, bloated Twi'lek, his languid head tentacles wrapped around his fat neck in a way that seemed disturbingly like a Hutt.
On all sides, a battalion of cloned troopers stood rigid and at attention to honor her arrival. At their head was a captain that Rov had referred to as Howzer. She smiled at the clone captain when she noticed his helmet slightly turned her way.
Gliding down, Alanja flourished her fluttering dress as if gliding on the air itself, drawing all eyes in the landing to her.
"Dear sister, welcome to some respite," Rov greeted her with his aloof smile. At Rov's side, the fat Twi'lek grinned, his shady eyes drinking her in.
Alanja replied to Rov, "So kind of you to meet me upon my arrival, brother," and batted her lashes at Crosshair as she passed. Crosshair gave no reaction to her, not even a nod. Tilting her nose up at the slight, she said to Rov, "I am grateful to see you again, brother."
Rov gave that handsome, aloof smile of his and nodded as he held his hand out to her. Tucking her fingers around his elbow, Rov turned her towards the fat Twi'lek. The Twi'lek continued to grin like a fool as Rov introduced her. "Alanja, I would like you to meet Senator Orn Free Taa. He is our gracious host here on Ryloth and spared no expense for our comfort."
Broadening her smile, Alanja kept her head held high, allowing the Twi-lek to slightly bow his fat head to her as she held out her other hand to greet Senator Taa. It took everything within her not to shiver in revulsion as Taa's swollen fingers clasped hers and brought her knuckles to his moist lips.
"It is a pleasure, Miss Rampart," Taa said, his hot, humid breath sticking to the back of her hand in the dry heat.
She let her amusement at the stiff way Crosshair watched the interaction bubble up a small but pleasant chortle that she was sure Senator Taa would think was for him. And as expected, Taa drank in her ruse. Still, Crosshair gave no reaction to her schmoozing. She pinched Rov in the crook of his arm when he let the moment in the clasp of Taa drag on too long.
Catching her cue, Rov said, "Senator, I'm sure my dear sister is eager to refresh herself after her journey. Shall we?" Rov waved to Crosshair. "Debrief your squad," he ordered Crosshair.
Crosshair gave Rov a nod. "Yes, sir." His gaze lingered on Alanja when her brother began to lead her away. She batted her lashes at him again, acknowledging that she had noticed. His glare was palpable but not unhappy. She would have to poke fun at him later.
Being led away from him, Alanja wished Rov had not sent Crosshair away so soon, but she muttered, "thank you," under her breath at Rov for taking her hand back from Taa and placing it with her other one on his arm.
Taa came along close behind with Captain Howzer, going on and on about the beauty and wonder of Ryloth. As they made their way inside, Captain Howzer removed his helmet, revealing a brutal scar on his left cheek and neatly combed hair that was cropped tight on the sides. When she glanced back at him, his brown eyes were warm and almost kind. She swallowed hard at the thought of him being so different from the clones she had been drowning among on Kamino.
Ahead in the hall, a green, Twi'lek girl with goggles on her tendriled head stopped in mid-stride at their approach, her brilliant, green eyes filled with wonder when she gazed upon Alanja. But her stillness only lasted a second, and the girl was off again, tailed closely by a droid.
"Who was that?" Alanja laughed, glad to see a child.
Rov answered as he patted her hand on his arm, regarding her quaint affection for being around children. "The daughter of the Hammer of Ryloth, Cham Syndulla."
How delightful, thought Alanja. She would have to find the girl later for tea. What better way to enjoy her time on Ryloth than with someone as full of wonder as that little girl? Already, Alanja could tell that Senator Taa would be a bit demanding of her time. Perhaps showing interest in the daughter of the famous Cham Syndulla would be a pleasant way to endear her and Rov to the girl's influential parents while giving Alanja an excuse to put some distance between her and Taa.
Behind her, Alanja heard Taa grumble at the mention of Syndulla. On second thought, taking too much interest in the girl might be picking sides and undermining Rov's work on Senator Taa. It was a shame. The Syndulla girl would make far better company.
Rov ignored Senator Taa's sneering as the girl disappeared and turned them down a final hall that entered the large office Rov had taken for himself. The office was darker than it needed to be. Concern rippled through Alanja. Rov must be stressed in this place.
"This way," Rov said, pushing open a side door to a sitting room that was joined to Rov and Alanja's bedroom suites, leaving Taa and Captain Howzer to wait in the office.
Alanja pulled Rov into a firm embrace when they were out of sight. "I'm so glad to see you, brother."
Snickering, Rov flipped on the lights and tapped her on the nose before getting free of her to go to the windows to throw open the heavy drapes, letting the orange of the setting sun warm the darkness of the opulent, hollowed-out stone room. "I thought Taa was going to faint at seeing you." His voice was unnecessarily snide. He glanced warily through the windows.
Shaking her head at his harshness, Alanja swirled her fancy sleeves. "This dress was a nice gift from him. You didn't warn me of just how… largely distinguished the senator was."
He gave an amused shrug. "It would have been awkward." He gave a an eye-roll towards where they had left Taa and Howser.
She cocked her head and put her hands on her hips. "Because I would have said no."
He crossed his arms over his chest with a playful expression. However, his voice had an edge as he quirked his brow. "Alanja."
"Your right," she huffed. "I would do anything to get off Kamino for a bit."
"It won't be so bad," he mocked. "You'll have a wonderful night of food, entertainment, and new company. Your time at the opera, presented before the elite of Ryloth, will be very beneficial to our work here." Though he was being a bit trite, Rov was deadly serious. He was more stressed here than on Kamino with Tarkin and Lama Su.
"Now I have to go to the opera with him? In a private box." Alanja crinkled her nose. "Yes, of course, it will be a private box. Will I even fit in there with him? Did you see how he was looking at me?"
"Senator Taa is well known for his indiscretion. I will admit." Rov didn't seem happy about that but was resolved to use it to his advantage anyway.
Alanja forced her voice to remain calm. "And you plan to feed me to him?" She wanted to berate him—ask, no demand, how he could think this was alight.
Rov's brows shot up, and his eyes widened. "Bold," he laughed, rebuking her for thinking so lowly of him. "Absolutely not, dear sister. I have a good chaperone planned for your evening. Commander Crosshair will be at your side, and his squad will be in tow." He paused to smirk when she put her hand over her heart in relief. "And it is not Taa that I am concerned with. There is an underlying insurgent problem that Captain Howzer and I are dealing with that has me more engaged than the waddling about of Taa."
"You're right." Alanja waved her gloved fingers at Rov as if his attempt to comfort and cajole her was an utter failure. "I should have said no."
He wagged a finger at her with a grin. "But you didn't say no."
She huffed. Rov had won, and he knew it. Pretending to ignore his gloating smirk, she sauntered away towards the lavatory with her nose in the air, saying over her shoulder before she disappeared from his sight, "But you will make this up to me." She glared at him. "You will owe me a favor when I as for it, Admiral Rampart. And it will not be small."
Rov said dismissively with a sliver of insult in his tone, "Of course. Have I ever withheld anything you've ever asked in return?" As he turned to go, he added, "Taa and I will be having drinks together in my office as we wait for you."
Pinching her ashen cheeks, Alanja gazed into her tired blue eyes in the mirror, her stomach twisting at the thought of being crammed in close with Senator Taa inside an opera box.
Her attention drifted to the bed in the other room, her eyelids suddenly feeling heavy. Feet dragging towards blankets draped neatly at the foot, she fantasized about a quick nap. Her palms drifted lazily over the soft, earthy velvets trimmed in satin as she reclined there for a moment.
This place was no respite.