I wanted to apologize.

That's what she'd said. Though what exactly she was apologizing for Fox wasn't certain. She was the Chancellor, she could do what she wanted. It was up to him to ensure that he could do his duty, which was the only reason he'd pulled away that night after her date. He didn't have opinions about what the Chancellor did in her spare time. He wasn't allowed to have opinions about the Chancellor's actions. Chancellor Palpatine had never apologized to Fox for anything, even though in Fox's opinion, the man had had a lot to apologize for.

Then again, Chancellor Chuchi wasn't Chancellor Palpatine, which was why he was so determined to see her through her reign safely in the first place. Fox's traitorous thoughts strayed to the Chancellor—to her molten gold eyes and her pale pink lips, to her soothing voice and her sweet laugh, that always sounded like she was surprised. No, she was definitely not Chancellor Palpatine.

"You alright there, brother?" Rex said.

Fox started, his thoughts pulled back to the here and now—a dark booth in the back of 79s, to be precise. "I'm fine," he said. "So you have a friend you think can interpret the data disc?"

Rex gave Fox a strange look, and Fox stubbornly refused to flush. Rex had obviously already answered his question, but he wasn't about to admit it.

"Yeah," Rex said eventually. "Echo. He's a former ARC trooper in the 501st—now he's a tech expert in the 99."

"Special forces?"

"Yes. He should have more leeway to investigate something like this discreetly, and there's no one better with electronics."

"Great, great," Fox said, then he caught himself losing focus again. He cursed himself silently, annoyed at his own lack of discipline. He and Rex were working on something important, on something that might impact the futures of every single clone in the galaxy, and he was distracted by a pretty face

"When do you think Echo will be able to give us results?" Fox said.

Rex shrugged. "Hard to say. I've only talked to him about it vaguely so far. I don' t want to share too much over the holonet. But what other choice do we have? I can't make heads or tails of the disc as it is now. We need his help."

Fox nodded. "Give it to him, then. Update me again on my next day off."

Fox caught a twitch to Rex's mouth.

"Please," he added for good measure, and the tension in Rex's expression eased. It had been weeks since Rex had looked at Fox with the open hostility of a man looking at his friend's murderer, but that didn't mean Fox could afford to be careless with his words.

"Will do, Commander," Rex said. Then he hesitated, swallowing a few words before finally speaking. "Are you sure you're alright, sir? If there's anything I can do-"

"I'm perfectly fit to serve-"

"I never said you weren't." Rex said flatly. "Look, sir, I've never met anyone more devoted to their service than you. But sometimes talking through something with a friend can help—can give you greater capacity to do your job right."

"Are we friends, then?" Fox said.

Rex raised an eyebrow at him. "I'd like to think we're getting there. And even if we aren't, we're still brothers. That counts even more, I think."

Fox huffed a reluctant laugh. What would he even say? I'm sorry I'm out of sorts, the Chancellor tried to kiss me. Who would even believe something like that? Or, even worse, I'm trying to convince myself I don't want to kiss the Chancellor back. No, neither of these things were admissions he wanted to make to Rex.

He clapped Rex on the shoulder. "Thank you, brother. I… I don't have anything to say right now, but I'll keep your offer in mind."

"Got it."

They finished their drinks and parted ways—Rex to meet with Senator Organa about a speech he was giving the next day and Fox to catch some extra sleep. Chancellor Chuchi would also be speaking at the event the next day, and Fox needed to get as much rest as possible to cover the address.

Fox waved goodbye to Rex and weaved his way through the crowd of soldiers, some of whom had already transitioned to wearing civilian clothing even though most were still enlisted. Little signs of change like that were cropping up everywhere, and Fox knew that life was going to be different in the coming years. He intended to do everything he could to ensure that that difference was a positive one.


Distraction equals death. Sheshes, the leathery old Trandoshan who'd been Fox's sniper instructor back on Kamino, had drilled that motto into his head from infancy. As much as Fox hated the foul-tempered bastard, he supposed he had to thank him now. Without that mantra running around in his head over and over again, he'd never be able to continue guarding Chancellor Chuchi.

Fox stood behind the dais in the large amphitheatre in front of the Galactic Senate building. Chancellor Chuchi spoke at the ornate lectern to a large audience of civilians, all of them eager to hear what the Chancellor would choose to speak on during her most important address of the year. Fox was curious, too. Chancellor Chuchi had kept the details of her annual address very close to the chest, and even he had only the vaguest idea as to the contents of her speech. Not that her speech was any of Fox's business, anyway. He just needed to make sure nothing put the Chancellor at risk during her largest public appearance of the year.

"This has been a trying time for our Republic, but with the signing of the peace treaty, we have hope," the Chancellor said, the golden ornaments hanging from her heavy headpiece tinkling as she nodded her head for emphasis. "Today I come before you with a message of service, and an urge to invest in the future. We have all suffered from the violence of war, but those who have suffered the most are our children."

A murmur of agreement rose up from the crowd, though Fox seriously doubted that any of the wealthy and influential attendants had actually lost family to the war. It was a savvy subject for the Chancellor to choose, though. She was bound to receive criticism for her speech, no matter the subject, but who could rail too violently against children?

Then Fox remembered the time Senator Roohd had spit in Senator Orn Free Taa's food behind his back, knowing that the Twi'lek senator was allergic to Human saliva. Maybe he shouldn't underestimate the Senate's capacity for vile behavior.

"Our Child Services Agency is unmatched in its dedication and capacity to care for orphaned children, but still so many children would benefit from growing up in a loving home with capable parents," Chancellor Chuchi continued. At this time I ask every citizen of the Republic to seriously consider their situation and to ask themselves if there is room in their homes and their hearts for a child orphaned by this terrible war.

"And the children orphaned by war include our GAR clones who have not yet reached maturity. These children were prepared to give up everything to protect the Republic, but now thankfully that sacrifice is unnecessary. Now these precious children are in need of parents, are in need of a place to call home."

A… home? For clones? Parents for clones? It was almost too difficult to imagine. Clones didn't have mothers or fathers. They only had each other.

The audience seemed to agree, and a murmur swelled among them. Fox knew that some of the general public believed that the clones were only killing machines, a step up from battle droids. Hell, some clones believed that. Giving the clones citizenship was one thing, but what Chancellor Chuchi was suggesting was revolutionary. What greater mark of sentience was there than a need for nurturing, for love?

"I know that bringing a child into your home is a big decision—a drastic change to life as you know it," Chancellor Chuchi continued. "I'm not going to pretend that what I am asking is a small thing. But I believe we owe it to each other to take care of each other, especially in the wake of such devastating tragedy. I've asked Senator Organa here today to tell you his experience."

Chancellor Chuchi left the podium and Senator Organa approached, the lectern rising to match his taller frame as he went. He gestured behind him, and two identical boys walked onto the dais, each dressed in expensive but tasteful Alderaanian tunics, with capes thrown stylishly over their shoulders. If Fox had to guess, he'd have found Queen Organa in the wings a few minutes ago, fussing over their cloaks and righting their starched tunics.

"I'd like to introduce you to my two sons: Bugs and Spinout Organa," Senator Organa said, holding a hand out towards the two young boys.

Fox's eyes grew wide as saucers. He remembered Bugs and Spinout from their trip to Kamino. He narrowed his eyes and enhanced the vision on his scope, and he caught sight of the Coruscant Guard sticker Fox had given Spinout on the clasp of his cloak. Karking hell. They were princes. Clone princes.

The murmuring among the crowd grew louder, and Senator Organa's voice picked up, his firm, certain baritone filling the amphitheatre. "During the Republic's hour of need, the clone army stepped up and came to our protection. Now it is these young, innocent boys' hour of need, and it is our time to stand up and offer them the nurture and protection that every child deserves.

"I will not lie to you, this is not how Queen Organa and I imagined ourselves having children. We always hoped for a little girl, and we thought that maybe one day we'd be able to have her the way most people do. But the moment Chancellor Chuchi introduced us to Bugs and Spinout we knew they were meant for our home. And I cannot tell you the joy and pride they have brought me even from our short time together."

Fox's gaze shifted to Chancellor Chuchi to judge her reaction, and she was fairly beaming with pride. Could she possibly have considered adopting them herself?

A memory Fox hadn't realized he'd tucked away in the back of his mind returned to him, a vision of Riyo holding a baby clone tightly in her arms, a look of pure love on her expressive face.

"West entrance, all clear," the voice of one of his troopers crackled through the comm, and Fox started.

Dammit. He refocused himself, his eyes flitting to potential sniper perches and passing by each public entrance as well as the private ones. Distraction equals death. Don't forget.

Senator Organa was gesturing his two boys—his sons, Fox reminded himself—up to the lectern, and they each introduced themselves in a clipped, military voice.

"I'm Bugs. I was CT-122254, but f-father has helped me understand that I'm not just a number, that I'm not just a weapon. Even if I'm not a soldier, I want to serve the Republic and help my family," Bugs said.

He moved to the side and Spinout took his place, clearing his throat and eyeing the crowd nervously before speaking. "I am Spinout. One day, I think I might like to be a chef. I was willing to be a soldier, but now that the war is over I'm excited for the possibilities."

Senator Organa nodded to them and they stepped back from the podium. Senator Organa addressed the crowd again, certainty and pride writ clear on his face. "These are my sons. I am honored to call them Organas. If you are able, it is a privilege to adopt one of these remarkable young boys into your family."

He stepped back from the podium and Chancellor Chuchi returned. She gave a few closing remarks, but Fox tuned them out. Senator Organa had been the heavy hitter in this speech, showing the way by his actions. The Senator's family was royalty, and bringing two clones into their lineage was no small matter. It would be difficult for other well-off families to find excuses in the face of what the Organas had done.

"...We are each a part of the Republic Cog, and recovery from this painful time will require unity of purpose. I believe in our fortitude. I believe in our compassion. I believe in the Republic," Chancellor Chuchi finished.

The audience cheered and clapped, loud whoops filling the air, and she nodded politely and stepped back from the podium. The audience began to shift and flow as the attendees exited the amphitheatre. Chancellor Chuchi herself didn't leave the dais straightaway, instead walking over to SEnator Organa and his two sons and shaking their hands. She was radiant, always most in her element when advocating for something she believed in.

She believes in us, Fox thought to himself. She believes in the clones. How could someone so good, so gorgeous, so beautiful want anything to do with the clones? How could she want anything to do with me?

A light shifted subtly out of the corner of Fox's eye, and his eyes darted to follow the movement. An instant later what that flash of light meant finally registered in his inattentive brain.

"Riyo! Get down!" he shouted, exploding to his feet and sprinting towards the dais.

She looked up in alarm—then shots rang out and she was on the ground. Screams and tumult exploded around him, but the noise of the outside world gradually faded into nothingness as Fox raced towards Riyo. His vision tunnelled on her and he ignored everything else. People running for cover, his comm erupting in chatter, the acrid smell of smoke bombs going off throughout the amphitheatre—none of it mattered. Nothing mattered but Riyo.

The few feet between them seemed to stretch on for eternity, but after one or two seconds Fox finally reached her. He leapt on top of her prone form and a second blaster shot rang out. Something heavy and hot slammed against his back, the pain almost a relief since it confirmed that he'd taken the shot instead of Riyo.

His hearing and vision rapidly expanded, once again letting the outside world in. The comms told him that smoke bombs had been set off by the guard to block the vision of the sniper. The sound of blaring police sirens told Coruscant security forces had already arrived and were setting up a perimeter around the area. And the faint, warm beat of Riyo's heart against his chest told him the Chancellor was still alive.

Careful to keep his body over the Chancellor's, Fox rolled them over and off the edge of the dais. They landed on the ground with a thump, but the fall wasn't too great and it was better than getting shot at again.

"Chancellor, are you alright?" Fox asked, his hand jostling her shoulder gently.

"...Fox?" she said.

"Yes, it's me. Riyo, are you injured?"

"Was there… Is there shooting?" she asked. She sounded woozy. Sithspit. His hands checked her over gingerly but he couldn't get a good look without exposing her to more fire.

"Just sit tight, Chancellor, we'll get you out of here," he said.

Her tiny fingers clutched tightly to his chest piece and she nuzzled closer to him in a move that was entirely at odds with their situation. This was bad. She was out of it, and he had no idea how serious her injuries were.

"Dredge, Valkyrie, I need an armored speeder at maintenance entrance number seven," he said into his comm.

"Copy that," came the response. Thank the stars for competent troopers.

More shots rang out, but they sounded further away. The echoes of the blaster shots and reports from his comm gave Fox an educated guess as to the location of the sniper perch, so he risked getting to his feet, still putting himself between where he thought the sniper was and the Chancellor. He picked her up as gently as he could, always keeping her in front of him and his back to the firefight. It was awkward holding her like this, but she couldn't seem to stand on her own and this was better than dragging her while crawling across the ground. He made his way as fast as he could with a limp Chancellor in his arms towards the exit he'd mentioned to Dredge and Valkyrie, and with his all-access security scomp he opened the heavy blast doors.

The armored speeder waited just on the other side and two troopers hopped out and took Riyo from his arms, moving her quickly into the speeder. Fox hopped in after them and slammed the door shut.

"To Warag Faralina Memorial, step on it!" he shouted to the driver, and the speeder took off.

A medic—Ether, Fox thought—sat in the back seat on the other side of Riyo, and he started on first aid. Everything looked fine minus a few bumps and bruises from their escape except-

"Damn it to karking hell," he hissed. He reached a hand out to the gauzy fabric of her dress covering her ribs. The dark indigo fabric had hidden the secret before, but in the light of the speeder the dark red seeping through was clear. Blood. Why would she be bleeding this much from a blaster bolt?

"Fox?" she said, looking up at him through hazy eyes. "I don't feel very good. My chest… my chest hurts."

"You're going to be alright, Chancellor," he said, glancing nervously up at Ether and daring him to contradict him.

"Sir, put pressure on the wound until I'm ready with the seal," the medic said, his hands busy with his med kit.

Fox pressed his hands into Riyo's side and she didn't even flinch in pain. His fingers grew wet with blood.

"Madame Chancellor," Ether said, "we're taking you to the hospital and everything is going to be just fine."

Her eyes went wide with fear. "Have I been shot? It's… it's getting hard to breathe."

Ether moved Fox's hands out of the way and tore the delicate fabric of the Chancellor's dress, revealing a small dark hole between two of her ribs. He wiped away some of the blood and fixed a small plastoid seal over the wound. "You have a puncture wound but you're in good hands. I've treated thousands of battle injuries before, ma'am, try to remain calm."

"I'm calm," the Chancellor said, though her increasingly labored breathing seemed like plenty reason for concern. Her eyes drifted over to Fox and softened, her lids drooping lazily. "Fox is here."

Fox choked, but Ether just kept working.

"Fox…" the Chancellor said, her words slurring even as her chest rose and fell in ever more tortured breaths. "You're a kind man. Don't be afraid of that kindness."

Fox blinked furiously and pulled his mouth to a line before nodding stoically in her direction. "Of course, Chancellor." He didn't really know what she meant by that, but he'd agree to anything she said right now.

Her eyes fell shut and the hand she'd rested on Fox's arm went limp. "Chancellor Chuchi?" Fox said, panicking but too afraid to touch her to try and rouse her. "Riyo? Are you alright?"

"She's lost consciousness," Ether said, pulling out several instruments to check her vitals. "I think she has a collapsed lung. It's dangerous but treatable. We'll be to the hospital soon."

The speeder came screaming into the hospital intake area and Ether helped load the Chancellor onto a med unit and sprint her through a hoard of Coruscant Guard troopers and into the building. Fox limped after them, understanding that he might be separated from her at some point but determined to stay as close as possible. They took her to the VIP suite and doctors got to work right away, cleaning and sealing her wound while inserting a small siphon between her ribs to relieve the pressure of the escaped air.

It was horrifying, to see the tubes and injections going into a creature as small and delicate as Riyo, but it worked. Her condition stabilized rabidly, and eventually Fox's heartbeat calmed to a manageable rate. Still, he cursed himself. If he'd been more focused earlier, this never would have happened. He wouldn't ever be the reason Chancellor Chuchi got hurt—never again.


Riyo fought her way to consciousness through a thick, sickly-sweet warmth. It felt so good to relax and rest, but she knew something was wrong. She couldn't remember much, but she'd been giving a speech—an important one. And something had gone wrong. She couldn't afford to sleep right now.

She forced her heavy eyelids open and harsh fluorescent light burned down on her face. She quickly shut her eyes again and tried to roll over, her groan attracting the attention of a stranger at the far end of the room.

"Oh, Chancellor Chuchi, you're awake!" the stranger said, the red sigil on her arm identifying her as a nurse.

"Where am I?"

"Warag Faralina Memorial Hospital," the Mirialan nurse said, taking Riyo by the arms and helping her sit up. "Take it easy there, Chancellor. Your head took quite a knock."

"What happened?" Riyo asked, the words feeling strange on her heavy tongue.

"There was a shooting of some kind and you were hit on the head," the nurse said. "Your head of security probably knows more of the details than I do."

She nodded to a chair on the other side of the room where Commander Fox sat, his arms crossed over his chest and a dark scowl across his face.

"Thank you," Riyo said.

The nurse nodded in response. "I'm Nurse Neda, if you need anything. I'll be right back with the doctor."

She left the room, noting several times the large jug of ice water on the table next to Riyo's bed, and then Riyo was alone with her bodyguard.

"Fox?" she said, raising her voice to be heard across the room. Her throat croaked like she'd been out sick for days.

Fox got to his feet and walked over to her bedside. He stood straight and tall, like he was about to be inspected by a drill sergeant. "Yes, Chancellor?"

Riyo's mouth pulled to one side at his stiffness. He got this way sometimes, but she supposed she could understand given the events of the day. "What happened, Fox? Everything is a fog."

"The address had just finished. As everyone was clearing the dais, a sniper opened fire. I had energy shields surrounding the entire amphitheatre, it shouldn't have been possible-"

"Fox," Riyo said, raising a hand to forestall the spiral she could see incoming, "I don't blame you at all. I just want to know what happened."

He stopped himself and took a centering breath. "The sniper used bullets instead of blaster bolts to get past the energy shield. Luckily your sudden movement saved you from a direct hit, and the bullet got you in the side of the ribs. We rushed you to the hospital where you've been treated for a collapsed lung. Your situation is currently stable."

Shot… Shot by a bullet, of all things… The heavy, sickly-sweet warmth returned, and Riyo sagged back in her pillows, her vision going fuzzy. That was… disturbing.

Fox was by her side in an instant, his hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright, Chancellor? Let me call for the nurse-"

"No, I'll.. I'll be fine," she said. "It's just a lot to take in."

He stepped back and nodded. "I understand."

"Was anyone else harmed?" she asked after taking a moment to collect herself. At the thought, her alarm sparked. "Bugs and Spinout? Senator Organa?"

"All unharmed," Fox said. "There were a few injuries among the crowd from the stampede to get out of the amphitheatre, but no other wounded—by either blaster or bullet."

"Well, that's a relief."

A knock sounded at the door and a short Ithorian doctor walked in without waiting for a response. "Chancellor Chuchi! Good to see you up! And may I say, it's an honor to treat you," he said.

"Thank you," Riyo said faintly.

The Ithorian doctor stepped up to her and Fox melted into the background. The doctor looked at a datapad at the bottom of her bed and nodded his hammer-shaped head a few times. "I'm Doctor Uwe. You had a collapsed lung, but it's already on the mend. You may experience continuing chest pain, but with the bacta infusions we're using you should feel right as rain in no time."

"I understand. That's good to hear," Riyo said.

"Let me know if you have any questions, and a nurse or doctor will be available to you at any time should you need assistance-"

"Wait!" Riyo said, and the Ithorian man started in surprise. "Fox, you said there were no other wounded."

Fox turned around, hiding the singed dent in the back of his armor. "Yes, ma'am."

"You were hit! Look at your armor!"

"Ma'am, I'm fine-"

"No, you're not! Dr. Uwe, has anyone seen to him?" she asked.

Dr. Uwe's large, protruding eyeballs both raised. "No, ma'am, myself and my staff are solely dedicated to your care per hospital protocol."

"Please treat him. Right now."

"Ma'am, that's really not necessary-"

"I can have him transferred to the GAR-"

"No!" The force of her words shocked even her, foggy and confused as she was. "Commander Fox will receive treatment right now. Am I not the Chancellor?"

Dr. Uwe sputtered and Fox silently acquiesced, carefully removing his chest and back plate and slowly peeling his black undersuit down. Dr. Uwe turned him around to get a better look, revealing a massive bruise covering the upper half of his back. In the middle a small, circular dent oozed blood.

"Ah," Dr. Uwe said. "Well the good news is the projectile didn't pierce your armor. But you are bleeding and have been bleeding for some time, and the bruise must be quite painful. The main concerns are infection and simple wound pain, but some disinfectants and a good bacta treatment should fix you right up."

"Thank you, doctor," Fox said, his low voice quiet and unnerving.

"My pl- Of course," the doctor stuttered. "I'll get a nurse to bring what you'll need right up."

The doctor practically ran from the room, leaving Fox and Riyo the sole occupants. Riyo leaned back into her pillows and let out a heavy breath, the anger that had powered her earlier leaving her. There was so much to do. She needed to contact Bail and hear if he was alright. Uninjured didn't mean unharmed, after all. She needed to talk to Maja and find out how the speech was polling, though it had probably been completely overshadowed by the assassination attempt. And then there was still the budget meeting tomorrow…

Even just thinking about it was wearing her out. Riyo convinced herself that resting now would be for the best. She closed her eyes and tried to fall back into blissful oblivion, but soft footfalls across the floor brought her back.

"Madam Chancellor? I'd like to tender my resignation."

That got Riyo's attention. She sat up, her chest aching at the sudden motion, and stared at Fox. "What? Why?"

"My performance has been insufficient. This assassination attempt is proof of that."

"Fox, no one can possibly foresee every security risk. How many times do I have to tell you I don't blame you?"

Fox shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "You don't understand. I'm not focused. I'm distracted. You need somebody else."

Panic rose within Riyo as she realized how serious he was about this. She'd never been Chancellor without Fox at her side. How could function to the best of her abilities? How could she feel safe without him?

"Please… Please don't do this," she said. Tears started to form in her eyes, but she did her best to hold them back. She didn't want him to think she was trying to manipulate him.

"A few months ago you asked me to resign!" Fox practically exploded. "What's the problem?"

"That was before-!" Riyo bit off her words. Before what? Before she'd realized how much she relied on him? Before she'd fallen in love?

He narrowed his eyes and stepped up to her bedside, and despite the distressing circumstances Riyo couldn't help the lump that formed in her throat. She'd never seen him in anything but his full armor before, and he was… impressive was the best word for it. He didn't have the kind of chiselled abdomen that men who spent their lives in the gym had, but he was strong and lean and Riyo wanted more than anything to touch him.

He leaned in close to her, the fire that he usually kept deep inside burning brightly in his eyes. "Before what?"

Riyo's throat went dry. He was so close. She could tell him that she needed him. She could tell him that she didn't want to go another day without him, not just as her bodyguard, but as a man. But hadn't she just promised she wouldn't do that? Hadn't she just acknowledged that it wouldn't be fair to him?

"Before… Before I got to know you…" she said.

His hand moved tentatively forward, and he rested it ever so gently on hers. His thumb swept back and forth across her knuckle, and he looked down at the thick bandage on her side before looking back up at her through his long lashes. Maybe… maybe he would make a move, like she'd so gracelessly suggested before. If he kissed her right now, she'd kiss him back, she decided. It wasn't even a difficult decision. She was certain it would lead to all kinds of complications and possible scandal, but she didn't care. She would do it.

He held her gaze for a long, tense moment, his molten eyes burning into hers, then he closed his eyes and shook his head. He stepped back from her, the fire in his eyes snuffed out and his cool demeanor back on. "It will take some time to find a suitable replacement, but I'll start looking immediately."

Riyo's heart sank and heat rose in her cheeks. Humiliated, that's what this feeling was. Rejected for the second time by a man she was realizing more and more she couldn't do without.

"I understand," she forced out. "Thank you for your hard work all this time."

He nodded his thanks and retreated to his chair in the corner. A knock at the door sounded and Nurse Neda reentered the room, her arms full of bacta patches and bandages for Fox.

Riyo rolled over in bed as the nurse took care of Fox, wanting to hide her face from the world. Her initial humiliation passed only to be quickly replaced by a deep sense of loss and dread. It looked like she'd have to figure out how to be Chancellor without him.