The members of XYZ were all chattering as they walked up the boarding ramp of LightPath. All had been sorted out with Plank, the 212th, and the 104th. All was well. M'liss was talking to Master Plo, then they both bowed and she joined them.

M'liss made for the cockpit as they sat down and strapped in. They entered into hyperspace and they all unstrapped, still chatting happily.

"So," Mliss said as she came into the room. "How did it go?"

They all started chatting at once – quite too excited to actually remember that they were talking to their general.

"Whoa, whoa," Mliss laughed. "One at a time please."

Camo's eyes were wide and he was beaming brightly. "I looooove Lava!"

His excitement was contagious and Mliss couldn't help a grin. "I assume you are satisfied with your lava proof armor then?"

"Heck, yeah!" Camo beamed," Thank you soooooo much!"

M'liss dipped her head in response, both amused and delighted at his response.

"Actually, general," Snipe said, taking his helmet off and balancing it on his hip. "I wanted to have a word with you about that."

Crusher and Plank nodded in agreement. Sly removed his helmet as well, since he hadn't already, and nodded.

Snipe raised on finger and started pacing rather comically. "Though I understand you have studied this sort of thing, general-"

The troopers had seen her training, in action, and even some of her fighting skills, though not a lot; but the troopers they didn't really believe that studying war was the same as the actual thing. Mliss gave a small smile at that – in all fairness, they were all soldiers. They didn't really understand the 'science of war' as she liked to call it.

"What is the purpose of fitting only two of our sets of armor with it?"

Mliss smiled and stood and in a very Jedi like fashion she gestured. "There is a very good reason that follows all logic."

The troopers looked expectantly at her. She smiled. "I ran out of the material."

There were a few sighs and eye rolls at that. Snipe sighed. "I guess that is logical Ma'am."

Out of all of them, Snipe was having the hardest time giving up the formalities. Camp accepted it easily, Crusher wasn't much of a talker anyways, Sly was informal and actually almost bordered on insubordination and Plank was trying to do his best. As Plank did.

"I will gather more equipment once we get to Coruscant. For now, how about some training?"

There was a cheer from the group.

…

Sly jumped down the last few feet to the floor of Mliss' ship- feeling energized after a good holographic exercise. Plank was having extra training upstairs, so it was just the four of them.

"I gotta say, this type of training is FAR more fun than the kind on Kamino," he said over his shoulder as he made his way to the kitchen, where Mliss had promised that food would be waiting.

The table was, in fact, the counter, though it was lowered to the correct height and had seats pulled up around it. The room still had the atomic smell of spices floating around it, all of their mouths watered as they came in. Having just practiced for a couple of hours, the only thing in the others' minds was the food on the plate in front of them.

Camo walked along behind them and sat down silently at the table, despite facing a delicious plate of food.

Crusher cocked his head at him. "What's wrong, Camo?"

Camo flushed slightly as he didn't realize the others could tell. "Uh – nothing, it's silly."

"I called it!" Snipe burst out and gave Sly a smug look. Sly rolled his eyes and started ravenously eating his food.

Camo looked between them eyes wide. "What did you call?"

Snipe gave him a soft smile. "That you would miss the lava."

Camo blushed again and started eating his meal.

Crusher looked at him for a second. "There might be a device that could replicate the effects of lava, as I assume the civvies might like the look of it as well."

Camo looked up hopefully. "Do you think so?"

Snipe thwacked Crusher on the shoulder," Now, don't get his hopes up! You don't know that!"

"I said might," Crusher pointed out.

Camo still looked hopeful. "Maybe we can ask Mliss?" He looked at his brother, who nodded.

"We can," Crusher said with a small smile as Camo's face lit up again. There was silence as they continued eating until Sly looked up, not having spoken for a while.

"I was wondering, why does Plank need extra training? He's much better than when he was a cadet."

The group chuckled to think of Zen and Eav's stories, which they had the kindness to share with them.

Snipe shrugged. "He's the commander, he needs to know more stuff."

That's when a wicked grin split Sly's face and Camo's eyes instantly widened.

"Yes – but have you thought that it mayyyy be another reason?"

The others blinked, and Snipe narrowed his eyes slightly. "No, and WHAT may you be referring to?"

Sly leaned back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head. "Oh, you know."

Everyone blinked again – until it hit them. There was an instant uproar.

"What?! I can't believe you would even suggest that!" Snipe gasped.

Camo's mouth was open wide at such – such a breach of protocol. Even the very IDEA was horrifying, in the least.

Crusher was shocked. "Sly! You can't just go around accusing people of that!"

Then Sly burst out laughing. "You should SEE your faces! Oh my goodness!"

Snipe look disgruntled at his laughter. "What?!"

But Sly just wiped a tear of laughter out of his eye," Of COURSE they don't like each other! Plank, as much as I love 'im, would be much too afraid to do so! No – I was just thinking we could tease him about it!"

"Oh," Camp said, put at ease again. "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt."

Sly nodded eagerly at that. "Plank has gotten way too comfy! He needs to lighten up!"

"Well," Crusher said after a moment's thought. "I agree – it wouldn't hurt."

Sly threw a fist in the air," YES!"

...

"I can't!" Plank exclaimed, throwing up his hands, exasperated. They had already completed training with the others, and now she was beginning to train Plank in lightsaber combat.

Mliss had many training lightsabers aboard her ship, so it was easy to find one that would suit Plank. Now, Plank stormed over to the couch in a huff and sat down, discarding the lightsaber he was using on the opposite end.

Mliss patiently came over, extinguishing her blade and replacing them on her belt.

"Patience-" she began, but Plank interrupted her.

"Patience is important for a Jedi and that stuff. I KNOW! But I'm not a Jedi! I'm just a clone with a small difference!" he exclaimed, waving his arms.

"Actually," Mliss said, sitting down on the couch as well. "I was going to say that patience is the worst and I often am impatient. I don't expect you to be perfect."

Plank blinked. "Oh."

He flopped back on the couch with a sigh. "Let's talk about something else-" Then a mischievous smile lit up his face. "You said that you broke almost all of the Jedi rules."

Mliss raised an eyebrow with a small smile. Now, where are you going with this Plank?

"That is correct," she confirmed, waiting for him to continue.

Plank's grin widened. "That would include the rule about no attachments?"

Then Mliss realized where Plank was headed with this. She laughed, shaking her head in slight disbelief.

"Yes, Plank, that is correct."

It seemed her laugh was contagious as Plank laughed as well, before grinning ever wider. "So, who did you get attached to?"

M'liss' gaze subconsciously drifted away in memory. "A Jedi Master," she said with a small smile.

When she turned back to Plank, he had an expectant look on his face. "So did you…?"

Mliss stood up and went to put Planks lightsabers away. "I did."

Glancing over her shoulder, though it was actually needless to do so, she saw that, to her great amusement, Plank was gawking at her. She laughed. "Well you DID ask!"

Plank jumped up with a sputtering, "Well, I didn't expect you to ANSWER! And especially not that answer! You're a Jedi Master!"

His voice wasn't accusatory, just surprised.

Mliss nodded her head, enjoying this far more than she should have. "That is true, but that is also why I have no reserves about training you."

Plank seemed to consider this. "That's good then… But Mliss, did you further break it?"

He asked again with another look. M'liss just gave a wicked grin and started back downstairs towards where the others would be eating.

Plank's eyes boggled. "WHAT!? You- you had a KID!?"

Mliss didn't answer as she made her way down, but that was all the answer Plank needed. He ran to catch up and stood in her way.

"Well," he spluttered, eyes still wide, "Will I ever meet it?! Him!? HER!?"

Mliss smiled at him, "Her, and I have a feeling it will be sooner than you think."

Plank's eyes widened further as Mliss sidestepped him with a small amused laugh. She made her way downstairs and entered the kitchen. The others of XYZ were at the table eating some food she'd made before she started Planks training.

They all jumped when she came in and looked towards her, trying but utterly failing to not look guilty. She raised one of her eyebrows. "What are you guys up to?"

"NOTHING!" They all said in unison before Sly spoke up smoothly as usual. "This is a nice blend of spices."

Mliss further raised her brow when the others made noises of agreement. Then Plank came in, still talking at the speed of light. "I mean, what?! You – there – HER?!

Then he stopped when he saw the expectant gazes of his brothers. "Yes?"

Snipe stood up to put his plate away. "Oh, nooooooothing, Vod- nothing at all."

Plank turned a bewildered look towards Mliss, who was just as baffled, and she shrugged. With one more look towards the obviously guilty troopers, Mliss left to fix up Light, who had burned out his photoreceptors.

…

Plank looked at his brothers in clear suspicion. WHAT were these guys up to?

"Okay, spill. I KNOW those looks."

"Oh, do you?" Sly challenged, eyes sparkling like mad.

Now, this was sort of weirding Plank out. "Yes?" he said, shifting a little now.

Even little Camo looked suspicious.

"So," Snipe said casually, gesturing to the seat next to him that had a plate set out. "How was training?"

Plank sat down awkwardly and glanced at the faces staring at him," Fine, fine – you know."

His brothers exchanged a grin. "Oh, really?" Crushed pitched in.

This was weirding Plank out big time. "What are you talking about?" he asked slowly, using his fork to pick at his food.

Sly leaned back on his chair. "Oh, you know."

"Should… I know?"

"Yes," Sly simply replied.

Plank blinked at him, really not having a clue what was going on. From across the table, Camo had to bury his head against Crusher to stop laughing, and even then little giggles were heard every few seconds.

Plank stared around the table, not knowing for the life of him what they were referring to. For a second, a spark of fear leaped in his heart that they knew. Unfortunately, what they were thinking of was much worse.

"You suuuuuuuure have been spending a LOT of time with Mliss," Sly hinted, giving him a knowing look.

Even Plank wasn't that thick and he very quickly coughed out the water he was drinking.

Aghast, Plank turned to them, bright red, "WHAT?!"

It was especially humiliating because he'd just found out that Mliss was married and had a kid. No. Way.

"That – that is SO wrong on SO many levels!" Plank exclaimed, waving his arms in a mini freak out.

That's when Camo couldn't help it but burst into laughter, promptly falling off his chair.

Blinking, Plank looked around at his brothers grinning faces, then realized they were joking.

"Don't worry, Vod," Sly laughed from behind him.

Turning around, Plank narrowed his eyes. "Sly."

Sly was grinning, evilness glinting in his eyes. "It was a joke Plank, don't take it too seriously! Even if-"

Then Plank swiftly stood up and threw his plate of food at Sly who ducked, just as Mliss came through the doorway.

Plank froze. "Hehe," he said sheepishly. There was a loud clanging and clattering as the plate rolled for a while before coming to a stop.

"I," Mliss started, and Plank shifted nervously, "am not cleaning that up."

Plank relaxed at her still calmness.

This Jedi is weird- good weird. But weird.

"Anyways," Mliss continued, datapad in hand, "I found out our next mission."

M'liss pulled up a spare chair and sat with them, laying her datapad out. Camo stood up from the floor where he had just finished laughing and sat back in his seat.

"We are returning to work with the 212th – this time directly with them."

Snipe cocked his head. "You said we?"

Mliss smiled, "Yes, though possibly indirectly."

The group nodded. It would be nice to see their general inaction.

"We will be traveling to a jungle planet in the Mid Rim known as Folium – there have been several battles already there, but intel suggests that there could be a surviving Jedi Master near the large crash sights."

"So this will be a rescue mission?" Plank queried, tilting his head to look at the datapad.

"Not quite. You see, the planet is now Separatist controlled and once news gets out, the wreckage sites will be swarmed with droids."

Crusher nodded slowly. "So they want us for our unique talents?"

M'liss nodded an affirmative.

"And while the others will be searching the wreckage, I will be helping hold the droids off?" Crusher continued.

"Yes, you will be working along with Obi-Wan, the 212th, and I to protect the wreckage."

Camo leaned back in his chair, brows now slightly furrowed in consideration. Plank looked over at him and smiled a little, he looked cute so contemplative.

"What," Camo spoke for the first time. "is so important about this Jedi master that the whole 212th is being deployed along with us?"

M'liss nodded her with a smile. "I'm glad you asked. This Jedi master happens to be Adi Gallia, a member of the Jedi council."

Those were the magic words. XYZ straightened up. This was a major mission then, and they would do their best.

"The reason that the 212th is going," Mliss continued, "is because the 91st is busy elsewhere. Any questions?"

"Nope."

"Nah."

"I'm good."

"No, sir."

Then Plank laughed. "I never thought I'd have a briefing at the dinner table."

M'liss laughed as well. "Odd, I know. But where's a better place? Oh, and we leave in a week. We won't have all the details until then. So this time you'll get a little bit of a rest."

They all gave a sigh of relief, then Plank sat up again. "Where will we be staying? I mean – we can't live on your ship."

And none of them wanted to. They wanted to be with their brothers, though they knew that they would always be different, or even rejected for being so.

M'liss clearly had anticipated what they were thinking because she smiled. "I agree – and apparently some people in the 212th begged Cody to let all of XYZ stay in their barracks."

"All?!" Sly blurted out, an uncharacteristically wide smile on his face. "As in the other half of XYZ?"

Plank, Crusher, Snipe, and Camo looked to Sly, surprised at his reaction; then it dawned on Plank.

"Sly, is one of your batch mates in our counterpart?"

Sly sat back in his seat and nodded, still smiling widely," Yup, Calmer is my batchmate."

"Why didn't you say so?" Snipe exclaimed. "You can't keep secrets from us!"

Camp clapped his hands. "You can introduce us!"

With a small smile, Mliss retrieved her datapad from the center of the table and stood up. "They should be here any minute now."

"They will!" Sly said, grin widening.

It was nice to see Sly so excited, Plank thought happily as he looked at his vod. Sly was sort of the secretive, serious one and Plank hadn't seen him like this until now.

Standing up, Plank went to pick up his plate while the others were chatting. Luckily it wasn't broken, though Plank didn't know if he could gauge Mliss' reaction. He'd never seen her angry, and even wondered if there ever was a time.

He grabbed it and brought it to the sink, placing it in the dishwasher then grabbing a towel to clean up the mess.

"I CAN'T believe you didn't tell me!" Plank whined as he passed Sly again.

Sly shrugged, mostly back to his usual self. "You never asked."

Plank rolled his eyes and knelt down to wipe up the mess just as there was a sound of the door opening.

"Wha-? Our commander can't be on the floor cleaning when he's in charge of the esteemed XYZ!" came a joking voice.

Plank looked up and grinned. Calmer was standing there with Ram, Camera, Spec, and Datas behind him.

There was immediately the screeching of chairs from the other room and Sly rushed into the hall.

"Calmer!" Sly exclaimed joyfully.

"Sly!" Calmer called at the same time. They ran to each other and embraced.

"Long time no see!" Sly said, laughter in his voice.

Calmer squeezed him tighter for a second then released him, grinning. Calmer's armor had black stripes from one side of his helmet to the other and was duplicated on both sides. Calmer had hair that was cropped low and was re-dyed black and cut in lines both ways.

Camo, Snipe, and Crusher came into the room grinning.

In reality, they had only met once, and briefly at that. But, they had one thing in common – well, two now.

First, they were members of XYZ and shared the same experiences; and now they also had a common friend in Sly.

They all embraced with cheerfully chattering brothers. Smiling, Plank extended his feeling and reached into the Force. He gave a small, happy laugh. It was home, they were all misfits and this was home.

Then Plank felt Mliss' Force signature enter the room. She had a small, peaceful smile on her face, no doubt feeling what was in the room.

"Gentlemen," she said softly.

The room turned toward her and she smiled. "So I still have some of Plank's mess upstairs to clean up-"

One half of XYZ sighed fondly and the other half raised eyebrows at him. Plank crossed his arms and shot Mliss a betrayed look.

Mliss gave a small amused smile that pretty much said Do-Not-Deny-The-Truth, then she continued.

"And you don't want to be late for the meeting at the 212th. So, in short, shoo, shoo." Mliss waved her hands in the direction of the door, grinning.

Then Calmer gave a loud, booming laugh. "That was both the politest and rudest way I've ever been asked to leave!"

Mliss put her hands on her hip with a grin. "I wasn't joking, either."

She shooed them out and closed the door.

Plank laughed. "I guess we should go to the bunker now," he said, grinning.

Calmer gave a mock bow with a grin. "Indeed we should!"

Laughing and chatting, they made their way over.

A/N OK OK- THIS WAS A LONG ONE SO I HOPE YOU DIDN'T MIND THE WAIT.

*Sing-song* Question time!

So who do you think Mliss' Lovely husband is? You might know him!

Reviews fuel a writer so pleeeeeeeeeease review! I know *Looks around at the room/ my dad pointedly* you read this.