Blossoming

The group entered the Hangar to find Eric, Inoma, Chewbacca, Stones, Gilgaro, Mia, Alazea, Ancor and P7 in there. After which introductions followed as Ashlyn introduced Kayli to the rest of the group which still surprised the Jedi Knight.
"I will admit I have never seen a Jedi Order task force group to be so large and with so many different types of members in it," Kayli admitted to everyone.
"What else would you expect sweetheart?" Gilgaro asked flirtatiously.
Inoma groaned and rolled her eyes, "Are you really going to do this with every single woman you come across?"
"Well of course, you should know me well enough by now darling," Gilgaro responded as he sent a wink in Inoma's direction.
Inoma frowned heavily and death glared at him, "What have I told you about calling me that?" she growled angrily.
Gilgaro shrugged lightly and looked thoughtful for a moment as he pretended to count on his fingers, "About seven hundred and thirty-one times now," he responded with a now amused expression on his face.
Inoma looked at him with a gaped expression of shock and slight frown, then she shook her head in annoyance and proceeded to stalk off over to stand next to Jania.
"Gilgaro, leave Inoma alone please?" Alazea begged as she rubbed her forehead, "I don't think I can take hearing another argument between the two of you over something so minuscule."
Gilgaro shrugged with a smug look on his face as he then quietly went back to cleaning his blaster pistol. At that moment Serin entered the Hangar with Obi-Paulo close behind him on his heel and upon seeing Mayken standing next to Jania, the Youngling went to stand next to her.
"Hello, how are you this fine day milady?" Obi-Paulo asked the Padawan, waggling his eyebrows with a cheesy grin.
Mayken reacted to this greeting by tucking her chin into her neck, leaning slightly away from her friend with wide eyes, a single raised eyebrow and her little nose was scrunched up slightly.
"Alright I suppose," she answered awkwardly.
"So what sort of adventure are we going on today?" Obi-Paulo inquired curiously.
Next minute, Mayken slapped the boy on the arm, "You are not sneaking onto the ship this time," she scolded.
"Ouch," Obi-Paulo mumbled as he rubbed his arm, "I won't need to do any sneaking."
"What are you going on about?"
"Serin took me on his Padawan Learner an hour ago," Obi-Paulo revealed.
Mayken gaped in surprise and then slung her arms around Obi-Paulo in a tight hug as she was overwhelmed with excitement.
"Well aren't you blossoming?" Obi-Paulo muttered under his breath and then he hoped that Mayken had not heard him say that as that sort of comment would have normally earned him another slap from his friend.
Then Mayken and Obi-Paulo heard soft laughter around them, only then did the two remember they were surrounded by their friends. This caused the two youngest members of the group to leap a metre away from each other and act as if nothing had happened. Mayken was blushing heavily in the cheeks while Obi-Paulo became heavily interested in straightening his robes. The others had been watching the exchange in amusement as they all started to see a spark that was starting to grow between Mayken and Obi-Paulo.
"Right, back to business," Jania stated, moving the attention from the two young Padawans and to Ashlyn, "What have you got for us, Ash?" she asked.
Ashlyn nodded as she pulled out a holoprojector and pressed the button to reveal a holo of the planet of Lothal.
"This is Lothal, as Serin mentioned in the Council meeting there is a Jedi Temple on its surface," Ashlyn said as she pointed to a spot on the image, "We will be returning with Senator Kallus to ensure that the planet has no evidence of an Imperial base on it," she explained.
"Won't the large number of Jedi and Smugglers cause a problem?" Mia asked in concern.
"Yes, which is why we will be going in separate groups and arriving at different times so that we don't draw any unwanted attention," Ashlyn answered, "Daly, Raven, Kayli and I will be escorting the Senator back to Lothal. Eric, you and Stones will be joining us posing as a pilot and Clone Trooper. Mia, you will also be joining us under the guise of a Senate appointed bodyguard for the Senator," she paused.
"What about the rest of us?" Gav asked.
"Serin will be going on the White Star with Stret, Kai, Mayken, Obi-Paulo, Jania and you. Alazea, you will be under the guise of a Republic pilot with P7 as your droid," Ashlyn continued, "Gilgaro and Ancor, you will both have to arrive separately as Traders as will Inoma and Chewbacca."
"Umm, Ash. This is starting to sound like the Jedi Council believes there is something wrong with Lothal?" Mayken inquired quietly.
"Well yes and no. When the Chancellor and Senator Amidala gave me the details of the situation they told me how the previous Senator died and the Jedi Council is concerned that the Empire has something to do with it," Ashlyn said, "Senator Cyrinity Kallus is the daughter of the previous Senator and she has already had two attempts on her life which is incredibly suspicious for a diplomatic leader who has only held the role for a little over a month," Ashlyn explained, "So keep your wits about you while on Lothal but don't act like you are expecting something to go wrong."
Ashlyn exchanged a serious look with each member of the group all of whom nodded in response to her checking for their understanding.
"What is our cover?" Serin asked curiously.
"Taking Padawans to the Jedi Temple on Lothal, you will be leaving Coruscant first," Ashlyn said, "Go straight there and don't leave the location. If anything is happening on the planet we will need you there to ensure the Temple is secure so that no Sith can enter it."
Serin nodded in understanding.
"May the Force be with us all," Ashlyn farewelled as they all went their separate ways. Until only Ashlyn, Daly, Raven, Mia, Eric and Stones were the only ones standing in the same area.
"I should get back to the Agency, when do I need to be back?" Mia asked.
"Be back by 14:00 hours three days from now, we will be meeting the Senator on the landing platform of her ship an hour later," Ashlyn said.
Mia nodded and farewelled everyone as she left the hangar.


A/N: I am curious who everyone thinks is responsible for the death of Senator of Lothal.

Ashlyn Dubreas.