Author's Notes: Inspired in part by the prompt "Friends don't let friends _." This piece references events that took place in Tales from the Eternal Alliance: Interventions.
"So. You actually wear this now?"
Kira Carsen regarded the black armor and tabard with gold trim as it lay spread out on Corellan's bed. The two young lovers were standing in his old quarters aboard the Defender, the ship that had taken them on so many adventures and had been their home for years. The ship was, of course, currently sitting on Odessen's surface, just outside the headquarters for the Eternal Alliance.
His Eternal Alliance.
She still had to say the words aloud in her head to make them real. But she did resist the urge to pinch herself.
Corellan Halcyon, Commander of the Eternal Alliance, nodded in response.
"After I took the Throne, there was a… party on Zakuul. Nominally, it was for the resistance movement that had supported the Alliance against Vaylin. To tell you the truth, it reminded me a lot of that ball we attended on Alderaan years ago." He paused, glancing down at his current garment, the white robes he had worn as a Jedi, back when people had called him the 'Hero of Tython'. "Arcann and Senya suggested I wear it to demonstrate that I took my responsibilities to the people of Zakuul seriously. That I wasn't there to subjugate them. I've been wearing it ever since."
"It was the same design Thexan wore. Arcann's brother." he finally added at the end, by way of explanation.
Kira reached out and touched the armor, her fingertips gently brushing against the dragon crest. "And remind me one more time who Senya is?" She was still trying to take it all in.
"Arcann's mother." Corellan replied quietly, regarding her.
"Lovely." Kira processed that for a second, then blinked, turning to look at him. "Wait. But that would make her the Emperor's…"
Corellan smiled, gently taking her hand in his.
"Yes. Senya and I had a number of enlightening conversations." He gave her hand a squeeze.
"… I'll bet." She looked at him with disbelief.
Corellan reached up and caressed her cheek. "Senya and Arcann were with me when I fought and killed Vaylin, Kira. When Valkorian made his move at the end, they entered my mind to help me beat him." He paused, taking a breath. "If they hadn't been there, it might've gone the other way."
"You trust them." Kira said conclusively.
"I do." Corellan nodded. "Both of them insisted they join the party to come get you."
"Because they felt they owed it to you?" she asked, trying to understand.
The Alliance Commander tilted his head. "Its more than that, I think. For all of them. I don't think I totally appreciated it myself until… well, until today. When Tee played that holovid of us… I can't explain it. They had been concerned before, but afterwards, honestly, I don't think they would have let me leave with just Rusk and Tee. Especially considering it might have been a trap."
"I thought you were in charge."
"I am." Corellan shrugged, sheepishly. "I still don't get it, myself. I led them to victory and… they're all still here."
Kira smirked at the gesture. It was so very him; the guy no one else saw. The one she had missed so much. She chewed something over to herself.
"They're loyal to you." Kira smiled more sincerely now. "You were the same way with our crew, remember? You never quite understood why they stayed on after you beat him on Drommund Kaas."
Corellan chewed that over. "I remember saying that to you. But even then, that felt more… organic, I guess. Lana and Tee rescued me almost exactly a year ago. Since then, it feels like I've been constantly meeting and recruiting people whenever I wasn't fighting. Then two months ago, we finally took down the Eternal Throne, and I got the Emperor out of my head. And the people – most of them - they haven't left." He exhaled slowly.
Kira nodded and glanced at the black armor again. "So, why's it here? And why are you wearing your Jedi robes?"
"Ah." He looked embarrassed. "I changed out of it before Teeseven's revelation. I didn't want to go after you – and possibly do something stupid – while wearing my Alliance uniform. So, I changed into the robes once I had our ship prepped, then I went to see where Teeseven and Rusk had gotten off to. It turns out I had Rusk worried as well. That led to the confrontation with the others."
Kira smiled at the mention of their companions. After they had finally dressed and left the medical lab, Teeseven had immediately greeted the duo, rolling up to Kira with a serious of joyous beeps. Kira had happily embraced her old friend, the two promising to exchange stories. Watching them, Corellan was reminded of a time when these two were his only companions, and how lucky he had felt, back then.
Fideltin Rusk was present nearby as well, waiting a respectful distance away. The stone-faced Chagrian, late of the Republic military, had surprisingly broken out into a small smile when Kira had thrown her arms around him, laughing.
Rusk never smiled. Not even after the Drommund Kaas operation years ago. But he had today.
After paying respects to both of their companions with a promise to meet later for a meal, the two had headed to their old ship. Kira, for one thing, needed clothes, and most of her possessions were still intact. Corellan had ordered Seetoo Enntoo to regularly clean and launder everything remaining in the ship in the hopes that their owners would eventually return.
"You always have to do the noble thing." She chuckled at Corellan's answer. Her expression soured a bit as she seemed to read his thoughts.
"No leads on Doc or Scourge?" Kira asked.
"None." He shook his head sadly. "Its been two months since we took the throne. I know Lana and Theron have people looking. But nothing has popped up yet."
Kira nodded dejectedly. "I tried to keep us together, you know." Her voice was quiet. "But the war changed everything, and I…."
"Shhhhh." Corellan reached out and caressed her cheek softly. "We'll find them." He promised, smiling with confidence.
She leaned into his touch, then pressed a kiss into the palm of his hand. "Ever the optimist, huh?"
Corellan grinned. "I try. But I think this is something else. Something… recent." His eyes met hers.
"Reeeeally." Kira chuckled, patting his chest. "Alright, tough guy. Let's get going before you get any ideas."
"You sure you have everything you need?"
She nodded in the direction of her newly packed bags. "I hope this base of yours has better showers than the one in our ship."
Corellan reached out and picked up her luggage for her. She gave him a smile at the gesture. "It does. Still… we did make some great memories here, didn't we?" he looked around the ship wistfully.
"Yes. We did." Kira smirked up at him. "Play your cards right, tough guy, and we might make some new ones tonight."
He laughed as he led her down the steps to the landing ramp. "I really did miss you."
She beamed. "I know."
Outside, the sun was setting behind the Alliance base. In the distance, they could see Alliance personnel going about their duties. Equipment moved around, various ships being loaded and unloaded. The Alliance had continued to grow to the point where it never really slept.
Kira took it all in. Not just the base, but Odessen as well. She exhaled slowly. "Its… different here."
"The Force is balanced here." Corellan answered appreciatively. "That's why Lana chose it."
"I thought I heard my name." a voice could be heard from the walkway leading back to the hangar.
Corellan and Kira both turned, observing Lana Beniko and Theron Shan making their way towards them. The Alliance Commander smiled broadly at his two most trusted advisors – and closest friends approached. Kira regarded both advisors curiously, as if appraising something.
"We were on our way to see you, you know." Corellan regarded the duo. "You didn't have to come out here just to see us."
"We were actually coming to talk to you about that." Shan give his friend a playful grin.
"But first… introductions?" Lana raised an eyebrow.
"Uh-huh." Kira folded her arms and gave her partner an incredulous smirk.
"Ah. Right. Sorry." The Alliance Commander managed to look sheepish, idly scratching himself behind his head. "Lana Beniko, may I present Jedi Knight Kira Carsen. Kira, may I present Lana Beniko, former Minister of Sith Intelligence, now a Senior Advisor with the Eternal Alliance."
The two women regarded each other for a moment before Lana finally extended a hand. "It's a pleasure to finally to meet you. I've heard so much from Tee-Seven about your adventures."
"Likewise." Kira managed a smile, accepting the offered hand. There was an unspoken tension in the air as they shook hands. "Too bad someone never got around to introducing us." She raised a withering eyebrow in the Commander's direction.
"Yeah, that would be my fault." Corellan sighed, looking embarrassed. He suddenly felt very self-conscious.
Kira chuckled at his reaction as she took her hand back from Lana, then turned to Theron. "Good to see you again, Theron." She grinned and reached out, giving him a hug.
"Oh, hey. Are we doing hugs now?" the former SIS agent seemed surprised as he smiled and returned the embrace.
"Yes, we are doing hugs. Jerk." Kira playfully punched him in the arm before smiling, then stepped back to Corellan's side.
The Commander looked amused. "So, what brings you two out here? We were just headed back to the base."
"About that." Theron said. "Lana and I were just coming to tell you that you guys can relax for the next day or so."
"What do you mean?" Corellan raised an eyebrow. Kira, for her part, looked pleased, her eyes lighting up.
"You gave us the authority to relieve you of command if both of us and two of the section heads concurred." Lana gave him a smile, with just a touch of smugness. "In point of fact, all four of them have signed off. So. We're ordering you to go off-duty until 1300 hours two days from now."
"We don't have any authority over Kira, of course." Shan was grinning now. "But we thought she might have some ideas. Friends don't let friends just go on leave with nothing to do."
The Alliance Commander looked incredulous. "But we're already almost a day behind already. We have the debriefing for the Nar Shaddaa operation. And then tomorrow morning we have meetings scheduled on the situation on Voss, and our counter-intelligence efforts with…. Ahhhh."
While Corellan had been speaking, Kira had simply turned and smiled up at him, reaching up with her hand and gently scratching the back of his neck.
Corellan's head tipped forward at the touch, almost involuntarily. His eyes closed, and he let out a long, pleasurable sigh. The Alliance Commander – who had prevailed against every foe the galaxy had sent against him – made no motion otherwise, appearing to have shut down.
Lana Beniko's eyes widened. Theron Shan blinked. Both appeared dumb-founded by the Commander's reaction.
Kira smiled over at the duo, fingers still scratching at the back of Corellan's neck. "Thanks, guys. I'll take it from here."
"Uhm, right." Theron managed.
"Of course." Lana said, attempting to at least appear to be in control of the situation.
"I'll buzz Tee-Seven when we need something." She reached down and took the Commander's hand, then led him up the ramp.
The ship had served them well enough for four years. It would serve them well enough for another 36 hours. The door to the ship closed behind them, leaving Lana and Theron below.
The entire time, the Commander hadn't said a word. But for the first time in what felt like ages, he seemed… relaxed. At peace.
Lana and Theron looked at each other.
"Well. That… wasn't at all disturbing." Theron gave Lana a look.
"Don't be fatuous, Theron." Lana glared at him, then turned on her heel and headed back towards the base.
TO BE CONTINUED
Author's Notes: So - I got sick of keeping the Commander totally anonymous. So now he's Corellan Halcyon from my "Kira Carsen and the Hero of Tython" series and the upcoming "The Heroes of Tython" series I'm planning. Meaning the Kira from those stories is also the same Kira that appears in this one. (With all that implies for everyone else.)