AN: The side story "A Reception at the White House" takes place between this chapter and the last one, it's accessible on AO3.
SunTzu woke up in his suite in the famous Watergate Hotel in Washington DC.
It had been ten days since Hotaru's birthday and these days had been filled with battles. This time he had stayed around the Core and the Eastern Mid Rim, recognizing that the enemy had made progress on both these fronts and when he hadn't fighting or with a fleet it had been the usual drinking and looking for nightly female company.
It was the morning after the reception in the White House he had attended.
Ami had persuaded him to deliver some top secret data to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Forces.
To his surprise and not the most joyful one, he had seen Rei and Setsuna there as well. He hadn't spoken to either of them but his broken heart and his guilty conscience had made him uneasy enough to leave early.
He hadn't left alone though, as he woke up sharing his bed with two attractive women, one of them an actress and the other a pop singer, both of them famous.
The two women had started flirting with him almost immediately after laying there eyes on him at yesterday's party.
The women were beautiful and the trio sure had shared a passionate night in the sheets but in the end they had been lemonade compared to the champagne that Rei was.
Sun had just risen and SunTzu carefully, to not wake the two women, got up and headed for the bathroom.
He needed to get out of there before they would wake up.
Two hours later SunTzu already was on his way to Coruscant for a scheduled meeting with Ada Wong.
On the way he thought a lot about yesterday evening.
Rei was still this incomparable piece of art and beauty he remembered her to be, but although she had been without Yuichiro yesterday he just hadn't brought himself to a point to say hi. It still was hard to look at her. Yesterday night, especially seeing her live, had been no exception.
SunTzu also was thinking about Setsuna a lot, the older Senshi had been looking breathtaking as well and something in him had screamed to at least say hello to her, or even ask her for a dance, taking the chance to explain his reasons to stay away from the Taskforce to her in more detail.
But in the end he couldn't bring up the courage to talk to her, not that it still bothered him that the doctor was so disappointed in him leaving Crystal Tokyo behind.
He only stopped thinking about last evening, or rather Rei and Setsuna and his stance to Crystal Tokyo as whole, when AICA announced she would drop out of Hyperspace in thirty seconds.
I really shouldn't let that get to me that much. Rei moved on almost two months ago. And Hotaru takes it easy, so no reason for Setsuna to be that angry. Why does her anger at me bothers me so much anyways?
After dropping out of Hyperspace SunTzu steered AICA towards the Imperial Palace and landed at the closest landing dock to Ada's office.
A few minutes later he was in front of her office and knocked on the door. Her voice let him know to enter.
"Morning Boss, you wanted to see me?"
"Good Morning." Ada motioned to the seat in front of her and SunTzu sat down.
"I expected you way later, if I might be honest."
"I'll take it as compliment that I still manage to surprise even you." SunTzu replied and the two friends smiled at each other.
"How are you? Did you get some sleep? A bird told me, you were at a reception yesterday."
"I slept enough. Thanks. Anyways, what's the matter? Why did you want me to get to Coruscant?"
"Straight to the point as always." She handed him a data disc.
"We have information that lead us to suspect that there will be an enemy attack planned on an economical summit on Thyferra. Planetary leaders from all over the Inner Rim are coming together for it and I don't have to tell you how much the inhabitants of the Galaxy would be shook when leaders of planets that close to the Core would get hurt or worse."
"So, a bodyguard, or an spy job then?"
"Bit of both. But no need to be undercover, GAIS and Armed Forces are also sending tactical teams to strengthen the Summit's security. Stellar Security will be big enough that you don't have to worry about it. There will be multiple cruisers patrolling the system."
"When am I leaving?"
"What about after lunch? If you give me an hour, we could grab a bite together. I'll ask Leon as well."
After approximately thirty hours and several jumps SunTzu and AICA arrived at Thyferra. A sizable fleet of Capital Ships was protecting the planet, famous for being the Galaxy's main supplier of Bacta. The terrestrial planet with lots of green was a pretty sight from space but traffic was heavy as all kinds and sizes of commercial and military freighters headed for the planet to get loaded with Bacta, and then get back to ports all over the Galaxy.
SunTzu was glad that he had been given clearance to use an own line of approach and didn't had to use the full commercial traffic lanes, it would have taken hours longer.
He was allowed to land AICA at a space port in direct proximity to the large castle like hotel the summit was held at.
When approaching his landing spot SunTzu could already notice the aerial patrols around the whole area.
The space port was pretty packed with a huge amount of space yachts of all kinds.
Galactic Alliance Troopers and local Forces, including some being of the native species of the insectoid Vratix.
SunTzu landed AICA and as soon as he opened the canopy the hot and humid clime of the tropics hit him like a brick.
A NCO of the Armed Forces was waiting for him and after grabbing a backpack with his stuff SunTzu followed the Sergeant towards the hotel and five minutes later he was at the hotel lobby and checked in.
While he was waiting for the concierge to hand him out his room key, SunTzu took a look around the lobby. The hotel was very luxurious but the castle theme as well as the surrounding jungle were reflected in it's furnishing and decoration.
The door to one of the holo-lifts opened and a young, pretty blonde woman in her beginning-to-mid twenties left it. She was a bit above average height and had long blonde hair that fell down halfway to her back, brilliant blue eyes and aristocratic facial features.
Her dress looked innocent but expensive and just gave away enough of her body shape to tell that she had a slender body.
Behind her walked a slightly older, tall and athletic looking woman with medium length hair, the hair an even lighter shade of blonde than the younger woman. From the taller one's scanning of the room SunTzu concluded that she was the bodyguard of the younger woman.
SunTzu's gaze fell on the woman in the front again and when she passed him she briefly locked eyes with him and shot him a small, innocent smile, which made SunTzu follow her with his eyes until the concierge told him to sign a from for his stay.
After receiving his key SunTzu was lead to his room, it was in one of the top floors but was just a regular hotel room. Bed, closet, a small desk and a bathroom. It did have a balcony though and SunTzu couldn't help but to step out on it. From there he had a great view of the jungle and a nearby lake which was supplied with fresh water from a waterfall.
SunTzu enjoyed a cigarette with the view, it was afternoon and soon it would rain and the place would cool down for a few minutes before the sun would heat it up again, gave his friends and ex-lover a last thought about how they would enjoy the place and then set his mind into work mode.
He called up Ada, with AICA acting as transmitter, and told her he had arrived. The Intelligence Officer told him to keep his eyes open, the summit would officially begin tomorrow and he would be briefed by the officer in charge of security by tomorrow morning.
Next thing he did was to inspect the Hotel, it's exits and surroundings as well as the emplacements, the Forces had set up around the hotel. He also took a quick trip back to the space port to see how fast he could get there in case he needed to grab something larger than his pistol.
After that, and making sure AICA was alright and keeping her sensors open, SunTzu walked back to the Hotel. At least at first because halfway to the building it began to rain, or rather to pour like it was the monsoon.
SunTzu's hair and face were completely soaked as he got back to the hotel, thank god his flight suit was waterproof or he would have been soaked to the skin by now.
To his delight he saw the beautiful blonde from earlier back at the lobby and she smiled welcomingly at him as she noticed him again as well.
For a moment he was attempted to go over and introduce himself but just as he was about to do so, he realized he was so drenched that he was even dripping from his wet hair and beard.
Not the best appearance to properly introduce himself to a pretty lady.
SunTzu thought he saw the woman pouting, as he didn't went for her, sitting on a sofa in the lobby, but rather walked to the elevators.
The pilot went to his room, got out his flight suit and took a shower before he changed into a uniform of the Galactic Alliance Intelligence Service.
Unfortunately the blonde had already left the lobby when he came back after his shower.
Hoping that he would still see her again SunTzu left the lobby again and went for the closest one of the three restaurants that belonged to the hotel. Maybe a proper warm meal would smaller the feeling of defeat he somehow couldn't suppress.
SunTzu stopped at the open doors to the restaurant for a moment and took a look around, maybe she would be here.
"Looking for someone specific?"
A charming female voice came in from behind and SunTzu smiled.
"I think I just found that one person."
He turned around and looked into the beaming blue eyes of the blonde woman.
"Oh, I hope I didn't do something wrong when a man in uniform is looking for me."
She extended his hand towards him.
"I think I should introduce myself before you ask for my ID." She told him with a smile. "I'm Anniten Alesima."
SunTzu took her hand but not for a handshake, instead he gave her an implied hand kiss.
"Nice to meet you Miss Alesima, Captain SunTzu, Galactic Alliance Armed Forces."
The young woman had to smile sheepishly and turned around to her associate, the tall blonde valkyria from before. The taller blonde just rolled her eyes and stared angrily at SunTzu.
"This is my bodyguard, confidant and bestie, Dischna Semane. Don't worry, she's just doing her job." A small pause before Anniten turned to her friend again as SunTzu extended his hand to her. "Oh, c'mon Sem, don't be so uncordial."
For another moment the well trained woman looked at SunTzu and then took his hand.
The following handshake made SunTzu's hand hurt quite a bit afterwards.
"So, know that we know each other's names why we don't sit and get to know each other better?" Anniten proposed and SunTzu motioned her to go first.
The young woman nodded and began to walk, a second later Dischna walked past SunTzu pushing him to the side with her body to stay behind Anniten.
SunTzu stopped for a moment but then the view of Anniten's rear side in her dress made him forget any objections against her bodyguard.
They sat down for dinner and the young blonde took over the command when it came to ordering.
"You're allowed some wine Captain?"
"Please Miss Alesima, call me SunTzu. And no, since I'm here for a purpose, I shouldn't drink."
"How conscientious. Just like Sem. Too bad for you, but that means more wine for me." She giggled. "And call me Anniten, Miss Alesima sounds so formal."
Dischna's eyes widened and she cleared her throat but Alesima acted like she hadn't heard it. She ordered a small bottle of exclusive local wine and also overtook the duty of ordering food and ordered a nerf steak for SunTzu.
"You look like someone who eats meat. You eat meat right?" She asked SunTzu.
While they were waiting for the dinner to be served, Anniten asked him if he was here for the safety of the Summit.
"I am. Although I'm not part of the official security force here."
"Ohhh, sounds mysterious. I like mysterious."
She and SunTzu shared another smile.
"And why are you here? You're not from Thyferra, aren't you?"
"No, we're from a planet called Linta. It's near Jandur, Grid J14. Beautiful place. Me and Sem are here because the summit, we're part of one of the delegations."
"I hope your delegation's goals here will be achieved."
The woman smiled and thanked him friendly and soon after dinner was served.
Her open ways and juvenile airiness were contagious and over the course of the dinner SunTzu had forgotten that a few hours ago he had been brooding over Rei, Setsuna and Crystal Tokyo.
They had just finished dinner when Dischna took a look at her chronometer and then turned to Anniten.
"We have to go."
"Oh Sem, really?" The younger woman made a pleading face.
"Yes, really."
Anniten pouted again.
"Fine. It was my pleasure SunTzu."
While her bodyguard was already standing, she got up and then followed the taller blonde, but not before turning around to SunTzu again and hitting him with a beaming smile. SunTzu's gaze followed her, and he admired how light her steps seemed to be. He emptied the glass of water in front of him and then left as well.
He headed straight to his room and as soon as he was alone he contacted AICA and let her search Anniten Alesima.
And he got completely flabbergasted when the AI soon after told what she found about the young Woman.
Anniten Alesima wasn't just a part of the delegation of Linta, she was the main member of the delegation. Anniten Alesima was the Princess of Linta and the next heir in line to the throne of the small planet. The beautiful, airy woman was Royalty.
SunTzu needed a cigarette to process the news and went to the balcony.
Night had already fallen over this part of Thyferra but outside it sounded like the Jungle just had awoken.
He finished his cigarette while sensing out with the Force, the jungle and all it's creatures felt so varied and everything was so full of life. The impressions made him feel more alive as well.
The cigarette and the small Force-exercise had calmed him down, but he still was thinking about the blond princess and how she had behaved.
Suddenly it knocked on his door and SunTzu who had been sitting at the edge of his door, his uniform jacket hanging over the chair of the desk, was startled and got up.
His pistol was in it's hip holster and with a hand on it he sneaked to the door.
He took a look through the spy hole and immediately began to smile.
Chewing chewstim and making a bubble with it, the princess of Linta was standing in front of his door, impatiently waiting for him to open the door. And she was dressed in what looked like comfy looking high waist shorts, in pink, and a sleeveless, white top now.
Not being able to suppress a grin SunTzu opened the door and the young woman immediately stormed in, not caring that it wasn't her room at all.
She dropped down on his bed, laying down on her back and made another chewstim bubble.
With an raised eyebrow SunTzu, still at the open door, looked at her.
"Hm, nice room. A bit small. You should see mine, it's so huge." She immediately began to babble to a shorttaken SunTzu, who needed a moment to process her behavior and close the door.
"Hello. Princess Anniten Alesima of Linta."
Surprised the blonde sat up straight and looked at him.
"Oh, you found out? Well I guess it wasn't that difficult for an officer like you."
"It didn't took me long, but you should have told me."
The blonde sat up and looked at him.
"And then you would have treated me different and with more distance. No thanks."
SunTzu had to admit that she probably was right about that.
"What brings you here, your Majesty?"
"I was bored and Sem didn't want to do something so I sneaked out and went for the hotel lobby. You know that they'll tell you everything if you're a princess? Even the room number of certain soldiers. And please keep calling me by first name, it's weird if you would reflect back to protocol."
"Fine. But shouldn't you get some rest for tomorrow?"
"I can rest when I'm old. It's way cooler to enjoy this trip before I have to get back to the royal court. You're probably not up for a drink at the hotel bar?"
"I'm sorry, I have to stay sober. Safety reasons."
"So dutiful. Mind if I hang out here a bit then? Before I die of boredom? We could watch a holo movie or so."
Is she here for holo and go low?
"Uhm, sure. But I have to admit I didn't even check which channels there are."
"Don't worry, I'll find something."
She got up, and grabbed the remote, the shorts highlighting her long, well-formed legs.
As she was about to sit down again she noticed the balcony.
"Whoah, you have a balcony. That's kriffin' cool. I don't have one. Safety and stuff. Mind if I have a look?" She already was opening the door.
SunTzu should have objected but her backside in those pink shorts momentarily diverted him.
"Sure. Just go on."
She stepped outside, walked up to the balcony's railing and looked around in the dark.
"It's pretty loud outside."
"A lot of the animals are nocturnal creatures." SunTzu said as he followed her on the balcony. "Especially the predators."
She turned around to him, her lower back pressed at the railing, almost sitting on it and her hands were grabbing around the railing.
"I'm a nocturnal creature too." She replied with a half grin, looking mischievously at him.
"Then the question is, if you are the predator or the prey?" SunTzu took a step closer towards her, almost in range to put his hands around the railing left and right beside her.
"Maybe a bit of both. You know that there's always a bigger predator." Making another bubble with her chewstim she walked back in again, past SunTzu, her hip grazing his gently.
She more or less jumped back into the bed and grabbed the remote she had left on the bed again, turning the holo on.
"Did you know they have Earth movies here?" She asked SunTzu who was still on the balcony, trying to comprehend what this young, gorgeous looking woman really wanted with him. She definitely had been flirting when she had been talking to him on the balcony, he had seen it in her gesture and eyes, yet she had immediately rushed past him when he had come closer.
Maybe their culture was different. Or she was just playing hard to get.
"Awesome! They have this stuff from Earth called Animation here. Hey, you don't wanna join me?"
SunTzu who had been thinking about to have a cigarette, discarded the idea to have a smoke and got back inside.
"Do you like Earth stuff? It's like so hot right now everywhere." She said as he got back in and closed the balcony's door.
"I guess. I am from Earth." He stated after taking a look at the Holo showing different options of cartoons, anime and animated movies to play.
With a big grin she looked at him but then her expression changed and she pointed a finger at him with squinty eyes.
"Now I know where I know you from! You and that Senator from Earth, who was all over the news a few months ago, were a thing."
For a moment SunTzu just stared at Anniten, this would probably catch up to him until eternity.
"Too bad. I totally shipped you guys." The blonde continued after a moment. And then she looked back at the menu that the holo projector showed and searched further for a movie to watch.
After a few seconds she briefly glanced at SunTzu, who was still standing at the door and then motioned to the place next to her, while she focused on the projector again.
"You don't wanna sit down?"
SunTzu sat down next to her as she settled for a movie, an old cartoon classic.
And while SunTzu stretched himself out and leaned against a pillow, she sat there cross legged and was totally absorbed in the movie. She laughed and giggled when the scenes were funny and almost cried at the sad part of the movie. From time to time she asked SunTzu questions about Earth, which were depicted in the movie. About half way in the movie, she paused it. SunTzu had almost fallen asleep in the very comfortable bed a few times, it had been a long day for him.
"You want to sleep?" She asked and looked over to him. SunTzu was tired but it made him feel happy how much she enjoyed the movie and he couldn't bring himself to take that away from her.
"I'm okay, just a long day."
She leaned over to him, until her face was only a few centimeters from his.
"Than at least make yourself comfortable." She said and her fingers suddenly were on the tie of his uniform he still was wearing.
With a few swift moves she had opened the tie and then strapped it off of his collar and opened the first button on his shirt. For a moment she was holding the tie in her hand like a trophy, smiling at him.
"There. That's better, isn't it?"
SunTzu was slowly nodding, expecting her to do another move but she just switched her focus back to the projector and went on with her movie.
A few seconds after resuming she paused again.
"I want Sorbet. And a glass of something bubbly. Can I use the room service? I let it go to my room. Please?"
SunTzu nodded and gave her the headset for the room service.
Although he was sleepy and exhausted, watching her lightness and joy in everything she was doing made him enjoying just having her around.
After she had put through her order to the room service she resumed the movie and it was cute to see how much she got lost into it.
A few minutes later it knocked on the door and before he could even react she already was at the door and took her fruit sorbet and small bottle of local sparkling wine.
Apparently, concluding the happy noises she made while consuming it, she seemed to enjoy both while she was focused on the movie again.
She offered SunTzu something but he declined with a motion of his hand and she just shrugged and got back to the movie.
Shortly before the climax of the movie, SunTzu noticed that she was obviously feeling cold and so he got up and pulled a sweater out of his luggage and handed it to her.
"Thank you." She said with the sweetest of voices and immediately slipped it over her head. Of course it was too large for her but at least she wouldn't be cold anymore.
SunTzu laid down again and as she continued the movie she laid her head down on his upper stomach.
She turned around and looked into his face to see if it was okay and he just nodded.
She smiled and took his arm and pulled it around her.
SunTzu didn't want to push it anymore and it was a rather innocent gesture so he just let it happen without doing more. Her closeness calmed him down and a few minutes later he fell asleep.
SunTzu woke up in the early morning, he had slept very well and without interferences or nightmares. But Anniten was gone. He jumped out of bed and opened the curtains to let the sun in and when he turned around he saw a handwritten note lying on the room's desk. He grabbed it and read it.
Hello Sleepyhead,
I couldn't get over it to wake you up so I will go back to my room now. Maybe we can have breakfast tomorrow, let's say 8? Or do people in your age need even more sleep?
XOXO Anniten
PS: I'll keep your sweater, it's comfy :)
What does she mean with people my age? I'm probably not even ten years older… Okay, for her that's old.
SunTzu checked his chrono, it was 07:30. Opening his shirt in a hurry he headed for the bathroom.
He arrived at the restaurant he had dinner with the two women yesterday evening and just had stepped inside the room when a happy young blonde was already waving at him with a smile.
SunTzu couldn't help himself but to smile as well as he walked up to the table.
He noticed that both princess and confidant were dressed way more formal, which in Anniten's case meant still a dress, a very elegant one, and lots of jewelry. Dischna was dressed in a richly decorated uniform and SunTzu was sure she was armed underneath it, just like he was underneath his uniform.
"Good Morning, did you had a nice evening?" Anniten asked him, as he sat down and SunTzu turned to her with a questioning look.
With her index finger at her lips and a wink, Anniten mentioned him to stay quiet about the fact that she had been in his room yesterday night.
She really stole herself away yesterday…
"I had. I relaxed a bit and soon fell asleep." SunTzu told, not necessarily lying.
"Oh I bet you had a long day and were tired. I was awake a bit longer and watched a movie. It was great."
Both shared a enigmatic smile while Dischna furrowed her brow.
At breakfast Anniten told SunTzu about the movie she watched in an animated way and as SunTzu was midway through his breakfast Dischna looked at her chrono and told Anniten that it was time. The buff female bodyguard got up and already stepped away from the table, not saying a word to SunTzu.
"Too bad, I couldn't tell you the end of the movie." Anniten said as she got up. "It will be a long day at the summit today but maybe we see each other later at dinner? I sure wouldn't mind." The last sentence was accompanied by a coy smile and a brush through her blonde hair.
"Sure, I see that I'll be available." SunTzu
"If not I know you're taking good care of our safety."
Anniten left the table and walked to the now waiting Dischna and as he watched them leave SunTzu could see that the joyful woman changed her gesture and movement into the gracefulness which was expected of a princess.
I should stop with having a thing for princesses…
SunTzu smiled at himself while he put his cup of caf to his mouth and then took a sip.
His next way lead SunTzu to the command post of the security forces. The local forces and the GA had moved into a whole wing of the castle like building and SunTzu met with the commanding officer, a Major of the GA.
The Major and his staff, which was also reinforced with GAIS and local forces, briefed him on the situation and any Intel they had.
But so far there was nothing concrete about an attack.
After the briefing SunTzu went to his room to get changed and do some sport in the hotel's gym. He was temporarily tempted to head to the summit and see if he might get a look at Anniten there but then he remembered that this just would distract him from his duty.
After all duty still came first.
After sports and freshing up, it was time for lunch.
To his displeasure there was no sign of Anniten, not that he was expecting her. He had learned at the security meeting that the attendants of the summit would all take their lunch together near the meeting room, the summit was held in.
SunTzu hurried with lunch and then directly went to AICA, to contact Ada and see if the AI and her supercomputer had maybe found any intel.
SunTzu sat down in AICA for it.
"Good day Boss, I see you finally remember about remembered me."
"Sorry, i was busy."
"Oh, black haired Asian?
"It's not that."
"What was it then?"
"I was keeping my eyes open."
"And?"
"Nothing."
"You think I believe you?"
"Fine, it was partly because of a woman. But we didn't do anything, just... hung out."
"You? A woman? Just hanging out? Want me to take your vitals? Are you feeling sick?"
"No, I'm good. I just. It was cool you know. We're vibing. At least I think so."
The AI fell silent for a moment. Or rather she didn't wanted to back something that would bring down his obviously better mood.
"Anyways, I'm here on duty purposes, AICA. Any new Intel, anything you found while snooping around?"
"Nothing so far." The artificial female voice stopped suddenly.
"There's something that just came in. One of the hotel's purveyors had just sent a completely new delivery crew. They were stopped at the delivery gate to check on it, two vehicles, multiple personnel."
"And let me guess, nobody ever saw one of them before."
"Exactly."
"That's too fishy. Let the guards know to immediately check for explosives."
"I'm on it."
The Galaxy sure had a very ironic sense of timing, because as soon as AICA called in the guards, the first of the two repulsor vans accelerated and crashed right into the guard post.
SunTzu was on his way to the gate when the driver of the crashed repulsor van ignited the bomb in his vehicle and blew the van, which had been loaded with explosives, and the guard post up in a large explosion.
As soon as the dust settled halfway, a dozen heavily armed attackers, having been transported secretly in the back of the second van, began their attack.
As soon as he had seen the explosion SunTzu had begun to run towards the gate, contacting AICA again.
"AICA, report an VBIED and subsequent attack on the delivery gate to Command. And then get up in the sky and see what you can do to help. I'm engaging."
From the hotel the sound of blaster fire and further explosions could be heard as SunTzu ran towards where the hotel's delivery gate had been.
AICA came in over his chrono.
"I'm doing preflight checks right now. Reports coming in from inside the hotel, someone sabotaged the electric systems of the building, and we apparently have a second group of attackers inside the hotel's basement. The group from the gate is engaging own forces near the hotel's kitchen area. I suppose they try to get to the dinning room the summit's attendees were eating right now."
"Copy. Check if the VIPs are getting exfiled."
Half a minute later AICA came back on the communicator again.
"Negative, the enemy In the basement is blocking a safe way out for the VIPs."
Anniten… FUCK!
SunTzu arrived at the chaos and destruction that once was a side entrance to the hotel.
He ran into the nearest entrance, avoiding taking to close looks at the death and carnage around the gate and entered.
The sound of combat immediately swelled up upon entering and carefully, his pistol drawn he moved forward towards the sound of blaster fire.
Meanwhile AICA had lifted off and was no hovering around the destroyed gate, looking for more enemy attackers.
SunTzu entered the kitchen area of the hotel, frightened and panicking staff members of the hotel screaming, running away and trying to hide.
After a few rooms he was greeted by a salvo of green blaster fire, the attackers guarded their rear as well. He didn't sense it coming until it almost had been too late.
Guess I should really get back on track with my Force-training!
SunTzu yelled to the nearby staff members to get away before he took a deep breather and, took cover against a wall next to a door in what seemed to be a baker's shop. The door lead into a huge kitchen and in there were at least two of the attackers still as well as a few members of the kitchen staff, with at least one lying face down on the ground.
Okay, no wild shooting around here! There's civies inside!
Releasing sharply drawn-in air SunTzu leaned out of his cover and, with quick motion, took aim and released a pistol shot at the nearest attacker.
He missed curtly as the attacker dove into cover.
Immediately SunTzu was raked with blaster fire from the second enemy again.
These guys sure are no amateurs!
He needed to hurry if he wanted to get there in time but these two guys in the kitchen were blocking the path and him and the enemy began a gunfight.
AICA came in as he had just reloaded his Glock.
"You got friendlies incoming. The SOF teams are engaging, one is coming your way. More reinforcements are on their way as well."
A minute later a six man team in full body armor entered the room SunTzu was in and took cover.
"Sitrep?" One of the Operators asked.
"Two Tangos in the next room, we also got civilians in the room. I'm pinned here."
"Copy." The teamleader turned around to his team "Two, Flashbangs."
Another one of the soldiers draw a round grenade, activated it and rolled it into the kitchen, while the other Operators and SunTzu covered him with blaster and gunfire.
Three seconds later a loud bang and glaring light shot through the kitchen and the Spec Forces Team entered the kitchen perfectly synchronized in a line, soldier after soldier, everyone over watching a certain direction, weapons up, like they had trained it hundreds of times. SunTzu followed behind the last man.
The two enemies had taken cover and tried to lessen the impact of the flashbang on them.
So while they were still affected they recovered pretty fast and began to shoot again.
One of the Spec Forces members was hit before both attackers were neutralized and while three man of the team secured the rest of the kitchen up to the next door, immediately drawing fire from the adjacent room, in where the food was arranged and distributed to the waiters, one secured the civilians and another one helped his comrade. Thankfully no members of the hotel staff had been injured but the Operators and SunTzu just made it one room further before they were stopped by at least three attackers in the next room, who threatened to shoot staff members they held hostage if the GA would further advance.
SunTzu was getting restless, he needed to get to the dining room and safe the VIPs. First and foremost Anniten.
He looked around, while he ducked down behind an oven. And then he noticed an air duct next to the kitchen's aeration. The duct seemed to be big enough for him to get through.
"AICA, we're stalled here in the kitchen. There's an air duct in here though, check out if I can use it to get further."
A few moments passed before the AI came in.
"I took a look at the plans. Although you've been in better shape, you still should fit. It goes both to the next room and the dinning room."
"Great. And thanks for letting me know about my shape." He replied sarcastically to her ironic comment.
"YOU were in better shape when you were training with the Senshi everyday."
"Whatever. I'll get going."
SunTzu took off his uniform's jacket and shirt and stripped down to his tank top.
This is some real John McClane Shit I'm doing here…
After that SunTzu, while still ducking down, ran over to the Spec Force's Team Leader and told him about his plan.
The officer nodded and replied that the team would stay put until SunTzu made it safe for the hostages.
One of the soldiers gave him a leg up and SunTzu removed the lid of the air duct and then entered it.
It was tight but he could move forward and after a few minutes he arrived at the crossing to the air duct of the next room.
He took a small glance, two of the attackers were guarding to the rear and keeping the Operators at bay and one was guarding a group of five hostages.
Slowly and carefully he moved up to the air duct and got his pistol ready, his first target would be the enemy guarding the hostage.
SunTzu took a deep breather, focused, only to find out the Force had really been stronger with him before, put his pistol up and then pushed open the duct's vent.
He aimed and let off two shots into the enemy close to the hostages, making sure he wouldn't hit them.
As the enemy fell down bleeding the other two attackers immediately opened fire onto him and he had to move back inside.
But the Operators in the kitchen acted instantly as well and three of them stormed into the room, using the surprise and took out the other two attackers.
SunTzu saw that the room was cleared and moved on, back to the crossing of the air duct.
He had some trouble doing so but eventually managed to get back there and then moved on towards the dinning hall.
Soon he could hear the sounds of a firefight coming in from the spacious room.
Peaking through the vent he saw that the remaining attackers were fiercely engaged with the Spec Forces from the back and some of the bodyguards of the attending rulers and politicians. Several bodyguards and other people were already laying on the ground.
He looked around and first found Dischna Semane behind a turned table, trading shots from a blaster pistol with the attackers.
And a few meters apart, almost right under the air duct, also behind a turned table, cowered Anniten, with her hands over her head and even from up there SunTzu could see she was shaking.
As if in auto pilot SunTzu opened the vent, and slid out, landing on his feet after a fall of two meters.
Under blaster fire which impacted behind and besides him, SunTzu sprinted over to the turned table were Anniten was, jumping the last bit to the table and then pressing his back against the tabletop.
"Are you okay, Princess?" SunTzu asked to the bundle of fear next to him.
Anniten jolted up and immediately dove into his arms, a look of relieve in her face, as if she had found her savior. She buried her head on his chest and was shaking for a moment before she looked into his eyes.
"Why does it have to be this bad?" She asked and then clinged onto him again, with him pulling an arm around her.
She seemed to be shocked but feeling her so near to him made SunTzu's pulse beat even faster than the adrenaline already had made it.
Around them the firefight presumed and from the corridors outside even more sounds of combat came in.
SunTzu glanced over to Dischna, she just had reloaded her blaster and froze when she saw SunTzu. Holding her blaster slightly up SunTzu was worried for a second that she would take aim at him but then she focused back on the attackers.
With clenched teeth she leaned out of her cover and began to shoot, taking one of the attackers down. She immediately aimed for the next and drove him into cover.
She's good!
SunTzu looked down at Anniten and leaned in.
"Stay down and don't move." He calmly told her and then gently removed her from him and leaned out, taking a glance for targets.
The attacker that Dischna had drove into cover popped up, taking aim at Dischna's position, not noticing SunTzu raising his pistol.
The first shot missed but the second hit the man in the right side of his temple and made parts of his head explode.
SunTzu leaned back into cover as green blaster fire flew past where he had been at a second before.
His and Dischna's eyes met and both nodded at each other.
In that moment a large explosion could be heard, and felt, from somewhere nearby and for a moment SunTzu was worried that parts of the building could collapse but the castle withstood the forces of destruction.
The exchange of shooting with SunTzu, Dischna and a hand full of other surviving bodyguards went on, rulers from planets all over the Inner Rim crammed behind tables, pillars or whatever else looked halfway like it could give cover, without anyone gaining the upper hand, although another bodyguard fell.
Anniten cramped on SunTzu like a maniac, effectively disabling him to take much action. She had her eyes closed stoically and clung onto him like her life depended on it.
Suddenly a whole platoon of Galactic Alliance Soldiers, along with the SpecForces SunTzu had accompanied earlier, stormed in from the kitchen area and although some of them were mowed down the numerical advantage was on their side.
As soon as all attackers had been shot down, apparently it was more important to kill them as quickly as possible than to arrest them, the soldiers swarmed around the planetary rulers and lead or carried them outside.
SunTzu grabbed his arms around Anniten and carried her out of the room, Dischna a step behind him, covering their retreat like they were still in battle.
Hastily medics took care of the injured while more and more troops poured in from every direction now.
SunTzu carried a pale looking Anniten, who had her head leaned against his shoulders and her eyes still closed, over to one of the triage stations.
As he stopped and looked for a medic, Anniten opened her eyes and looked up to him.
"You can put me down." She said and SunTzu gently put her down.
"Are you unharmed?" SunTzu asked and she nodded.
"I'll bring you to your room to recover, Princess." Dischna chimed in.
"Shall I bring you up?" SunTzu asked the young Blonde and stepped forward. Only to be stopped by a hand on his chest.
"I'll take it from here." Dischna said with a firm voice and then put Anniten under her arm, moving away with her.
SunTzu followed them with his gaze while around him military, security and intelligence personnel tried to get the horrible situation under control again.
A medic tapped his shoulder.
"Sir, could you help us bring in the wounded?"
SunTzu, still only dressed in his tank top took his gaze off the two women and looked at the medic.
"Of course."
SunTzu helped the medics and the Forces for a few more hours before he retrieved the rest of his uniform and went to the busy command post, to gain news what happened. A captain of the GA Forces just told him that it was a complete shit show and they still didn't know exactly how many people were dead.
Knowing that he couldn't change anything anymore he ordered AICA back to the spaceport, but told her to still keep her sensors open.
More troops had been flown in from around, as well as from the ships in space, and the Forces had drawn a defensive ring around the hotel, a kilometer in diameter.
SunTzu had some food, the restaurants in the hotel were catering for the troops now and gave out stew and things there like, and then headed back to his room.
The adrenaline had finally flowed away and he was exhausted and tired.
SunTzu laid back on his bed after entering and with the thought, that he had been here for too long that's why they got attacked, he napped away, almost instantly.
He had slept for a few hours and outside it was dark already when he woke up from banging on his door.
Sleep drunken he got up and stumbled to the door, his body aching from moving through the air duct.
Should have taken some painkillers before sleeping.
He opened the door with a yawn and found a petite figure, dressed in a hooded, comfortable looking white dress in front of him. The figure lowered the hood and revealed the face of Anniten Alesima. She had color in her face again, although her eyes still were a bit puffy.
"Anniten?"
The blonde put a finger on his lip and lead him back to the bed.
She made him lay down and then placed herself next to him and laid her head on his chest.
"Sorry for waking you. I couldn't sleep, I felt alone."
SunTzu just nodded and began to caress her head.
Within a minute both had fallen asleep.
SunTzu woke up next morning, he couldn't even tell when the last time had been that he had slept so well.
Had it been with Yumeko? Or with Rei?
No, it had been with Setsuna, at Christmas. Although It feels like it has been an eternity already…
On his chest, her arms still firmly around him, lay Anniten, still peacefully sleeping.
He stayed still and watched her in her sleep, seeing her like that made his heart leap.
Suddenly she moved and then her eyes slowly opened.
And then she leaned down until her face was just centimeters away from SunTzu's and cupped his left face side with her hand.
"Anyone ever told you that you're pretty comfortable to sleep on? And your heartbeat is pretty relaxing."
Yes, I did hear that before…
And then she sat up, yawned and stretched.
"I better get back to my room. Dischna was not amused I insisted on staying with you tonight."
She looked back at SunTzu.
"We will leave today, ain't no way this summit will continue." She seemed to zone out for a moment.
"Are you okay?"
Anniten focused back on SunTzu.
"Yeah. I guess I was just a bit under shock yesterday. Not everyone is functioning so well under blaster fire like you and Dischna."
She got up and stretched again before she turned to SunTzu once more.
"Care to give me your holo contact? You know, just in case, something comes up before we leave."
"Sure. Just gimme me a sec."
SunTzu gave her his contact of his mobile phone and she smiled after getting contact data. And then she leaned into SunTzu and kissed his cheek.
"I'll see you around. My savior." She said and then left the room, leaving SunTzu behind, a hand on his cheek where she had kissed him, asking himself if he would see her again. And with butterflies in his tummy, because she had kissed his cheek.
Ada Wong was frustrated, the summit on Thyferra, which should have consolidated the Inner Rim and it's stance to Coruscant, had become a catastrophic disaster, among others the Prime Minister of Denon, one of the most influential individuals in the Rim, a fiery supporter of the GFFA, had been killed. Denon, the only planet in the universe really rivaling Coruscant, now might even get a new prime minister which would oppose the GA's views.
And on top she just had heard that the sniper that killed Captain Gistess Colystel had been freed from the medical space station he had been treated. She couldn't tell that to SunTzu, it would just anger him more. And she just had a lengthy discussion she didn't want to repeat with Jedi Master Cilghal about SunTzu's anger. For the best of everyone involved it would be better if she called him back to Coruscant, the summit was over now anyways, some rulers even had left already.
SunTzu had just came out of the shower when AICA came in over chrono. She had news from Ada.
SunTzu arrived at his ship with a paper cup of caf in one hand and a piece of something resembling a sandwich in the other.
AICA had told him that he was ordered back to Coruscant immediately. The summit was over.
Thirty seven minutes later, wearing his black flight suit again, SunTzu boarded AICA.
He had looked around for Anniten but couldn't find her. And he didn't know where her room really was.
He definitely was disgruntled to not say his goodbyes to her but Ada wanted him on Coruscant asap and order still was order.
After all the mission here had been a failure. Or in his opinion it had become a failure because he had been around for too long. It was definetely better he would leave immediately.
Another five minutes later he had crossed into space, noticing that a trio of cruisers was closely orbiting the planet and their fighters patrolling nearby.
He was getting ready for the jump to hyperspace and looked out to Thyferra again.
I really hope to see her again…
The pilot was waiting for the countdown to Hyperspace when suddenly AICA announced an incoming call, from an unknown number. SunTzu immediately became nervous and started sweating.
"Patch it through." SunTzu immediately yelled out, his voice rich with excitement.
"Hi, SunTzu?"
"Anniten. Hi. I-I didn't thought you call so soon."
"I wanted to say goodbye but you were already gone."
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I got new orders, I'm on my way back to Coruscant."
"Oh. And then probably back to the front."
"Quite possibly. "
"Too bad, I could try to catch up with you on Coruscant. At least after reporting to my parents. They're worried of course and want to see me."
"Understandable."
"Yeah. But I wouldn't mind to get my head off after this mess. Let me know if and where we can meet up soon."
"Yeah, sure."
"Listen, Dischna tells me we have to get going and I didn't pack yet. I called from my personal number. Feel free to contact me about catching up."
"Will do, have a good trip home. And take your time to recover."
"I will. Thank you for… saving me. Bye."
"Goodbye."
They hung up and AICA immediately began the countdown to Hyperspace. With his heart in his mouth, SunTzu looked another time at Thyferra. Hopefully he would see the Princess of Linta soon again.