One thing Akira did not like was being the center of attention. Yes, he knew that didn't make him special, that most people didn't like being the center of attention. But he actively avoided being said center, diverting attention to others when he was asked a question in a room, by asking his own questions in private. That was what he had hated most about the trial after his master's death. All eyes were on him, judging, making their own assumptions about his character, the decisions he was forced to make. They couldn't know what his thoughts were, they couldn't understand the pain he'd gone through.

But now he was back to all of the hustle and bustle of the temple- and everyone wanted to see him. They hadn't known where he'd gone. They didn't know he'd given up his identity and his few possessions. They didn't know he never left the temple, just put on a white and gold mask and kept to the sidelines, listening, watching… healing.

He hooked his plasma pike on his belt, adjusting his collar. His ivory clothes were more or less his guard uniform, but he'd eliminated the golden emblems, donning a black robe over his shirt instead. He didn't own any other clothing at the moment, so the uniform would have to do. He left his flat and Rory fell in line behind him, his blaster raised. Akira had worked with Rory briefly before his time with the guard. They'd gotten along well and Akira had found Rory remarkably intelligent. But once the battle of Geonosis they were both different men. They'd both seen and done things they could never take back, and they both immediately went on leave. But when Rory had heard that Akira was returning, he agreed to return along with him.

They walked down to the meeting room, where Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, and their respective unit leaders were meeting. He would be joining them on a diplomatic meeting trying to keep the peace between two peoples. He pushed the glass door open, and Anakin looked over, smiling.

"Akira. Nice of you to join us."

Akira smirked, and the two clones at the table looked up at them. "Ahsoka, Cody, Rex, this is General Akira Kutae. He's rejoining us from the temple guard."

"This is Captain Rory," Akira said, gesturing to the clone beside him.

Cody and Rex nodded their heads at him, and they joined the group at the table.

Anakin smiled, squeezing Akira's shoulder. "Akira and I trained at the temple as children. I haven't seen him much since then, him being a guard and all, but he's back with us now. He's getting into the swing of being involved in the war, he's never fought in one, so he's going to be hanging around me and the 501st to get a feel for being in command." He explained to Rex and Cody.

"Understood, Sir." Cody said, smiling to Akira.

"Its a pleasure to see you again, Akira. Hopefully these days you won't be dragging Anakin into trouble anymore." Obi Wan smirked.

Akira feigned offense. "I was the one getting dragged."

"Me? Trouble? Master... never." Anakin laughed, and Obi Wan rolled his eyes.

"Anakin's been dragging me into trouble since I met him. I believe it." Rex added, and Anakin punched him in the arm.

Obi Wan laughed, "Alright, back to work," he said, jumping into the plans. He and Anakin would be attending the peace treaty while Cody and Akira worked to help their forces maintain the boundary and protected those coming in and out. There would be protests and riots, and the last thing they wanted was for a dignitary to get hurt and destroy the treaty.

"If we all understand our missions, let's get moving."

"Get the men ready to board. Ensure they have their riot gear." Anakin said to Rex.

"Yes, Sir."

They boarded their transport ships, flying to the planet Renhokt to take their stations. It was a warm, tropical planet with many many living beings on it. The ships landed within the compound of the royal family, and a man stepped out to greet them. They were humanoid on this planet, but their eyes were entirely black. Their barracks were within the castle compound where the men could be protected while they slept. Ahsoka was joining them to the treaty to discuss plans to utilize a few jedi for a month or so after.

The men took to finding their bunks while the generals discussed their rotations. Once it was mapped out, Akira approached Cody and Rex. They were sitting at a card table with graffiti written all over it, chatting over some caff.

"May I speak to you both?"

"Of course, sir," Cody said, and Akira pulled up a chair.

"About tomorrow's plan... No one knows what they're doing like the both of you do, so, I'd like to enter this as equals. Rory and I have been out for some time and need to catch up."

Cody smiled, "of course, sir. Thank you."

"Wonderful. So, we need a patrol manning the perimeter of the barracks, and the perimeter of the stronghold at all times. On the ground, I'd like to trust you to make the calls as far as the riot patrol goes. I believe my main role should be assisting you."

Cody and Rex both looked surprised. "Sir, I-"

"I trust your judgement more than my own. Your expertise in troop movement will be far more useful in such an ever changing situation as crowd control."

Cody looked to Rex. "I'd like to put a dozen men on the perimeter of the stronghold, a half dozen on the barracks. Phalanx formation on the ground, Rex?"

"I agree," Rex said. "If someone needs medical attention-"

"Call me. I'll come in and get them out and to Kix. Call on me to do whatever you need, Commander, I'm one of your troops."

"Perfect, sir. Thank you."

Akira stood in front of the Phalanx, the clones' riot visors blending them into their shields. They were to get down to the royal gate, and prevent anyone from entering it. That was all, but would prove difficult with the number of angry protesters they were estimating.

"I won't be down here with you. Without gear or a weapon I can set to stun, Your commander and I agree I would be more of a hindrance. I am, however, present. I will be here to step in. If you need me, signal me. My goal here is no injuries or casualties. No one is to be hurt unless its absolutely necessary. We have to be entirely neutral. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir!"

They descended on the crowd outside the gate, lining the road for the first few hundred meters, holding them back from the entrance to the stronghold so the politicians could arrive safely. Akira kept to the wall, ready to take down anyone who might break the line. Once the caravans were in, they shut the gates, the people throwing rocks at the clones and the stronghold. Cody and Rex kept the position held, the best that they could, the crowd getting more determined once they realized the strength of the clone force. It wasn't long before the crowd tore a clone from the group, dragging him into the sea of protesters. Akira was down the hill in a moment, igniting his pike and making the rioters scream and flee, leaving the clone on the ground. He grabbed the clone's hand, pulling him to his feet and up over his shoulder. The clone was shaking violently, and grabbed Akira's robes to try to steady himself. Akira's arm was firmly clamped over the clone's knees, however, and he backed up toward the line, melting behind it. He dropped the clone on the ground, pulling his helmet off.

"Are you hurt?" He shouted over the chaos.

"Yes, I think so, sir. My ankle doesn't feel right."

Akira nodded and helped him up onto his feet. He walked him back through the gate to Kix's medical tent, sitting him down.

"We've plenty of men. Even if you're not hurt, take a break, if we need you desperately I'll come get you."

"Thank you, sir."

Akira returned to the field, and saw Rex at the front of the formation trying to wrench one of his men's arms from a protester's grasp. Akira ran over, Rex getting pulled off his feet and dragged into the crowd. Akira force pushed the crowd away, helping him up. Rex limped back to the line, and Akira held up his pike, allowing him time to get back. Once he was behind the line Akira helped him over to Kix, where he shoved Rex down into a chair. Rex was bleeding profusely from his shoulder, a small carved knife sticking out of it. Akira looked to Kix, who was already pulling the knife from the wound, patching it with bacta and gauze. Akira watched, Rex's jaig eyes on his helmet staring back. He sighed, wiping his forearm over his face. He was one man, if the clones were to be separated, he could't save them all. He hoped the formation would hold. He looked over, and saw Rory standing against the wall, Cody with his hand on his shoulder.

Rory was hyperventilating, his face paled.

"I've got this commander." Akira said, running over.

Cody saluted and ran back to the front.

"I'm so sorry." Rory breathed.

"Don't apologize to me." Akira murmured, taking his shoulders. "you've done nothing wrong."

"I'm too weak for this. It was a dream."

"You are not. In fact you're one of the bravest men I've ever known. You've done beautifully here."

"General-"

"Shh. Come."

He took Rory's shoulders and led him to Kix who looked immediately to Akira for an explanation.

"He's alright." Akira assured him. He sat him in a chair and bent to look at him. "When you're feeling better help Kix."

"Sir-"

"It's alright. Help Kix."

Rory nodded, and Akira returned to the line.

The day progressed with little more cuts and bruises, and they counted it a success. The first part of the treaty was able to commence with no interruptions from the protests outside. The clones returned to their bunks stacked two high in many rows throughout the warehouse. Some went right to bed, but others hung around the small designated mess area to play cards or simply to hang out. Akira sat against the back wall with a bowl of soup, watching a nearby group play a game, yelping and shouting accompanying every move. Cody approached, and sat beside him.

"Can I ask you about Rory, sir?"

Akira nodded, and gestured to the seat before him.

"What happened?" Akira asked, setting his bowl on the seat beside him.

"He just froze, started shaking. I pulled him aside to ask if he was ok and he was breathing so quickly. I just think, with all due respect, if he's under my command I need to know what's wrong with him. Sir."

"I agree." Akira said. "Rory- Rory was in a battle with me. The clones were held hostage from inside the base by Count Dooku, Assaj and their forces. When I got in to retrieve them they were all dead but Rory. All I know about it is that being the commander, they tortured him by killing his men, but he didn't give anything up."

Cody sat in silence. "I can't believe it."

"Nor can I. He struggles with being close to people, to be enclosed. The feel of their bodies and of bring trapped. It makes him panic. We're trying to find his niche."

"I understand that, sir."

"I'd ask you to keep this to yourself."

"Of course, Sir." Cody promised, his jaw set.

Rex approached, nearly tripping over a clone lying on the floor with his arms over his face. "Sorry to interrupt sir, but, could I have a word?"

"Absolutely." Akira stood. He was a few inches taller than Rex, his light blue eyes searching Rex's face. He excused himself and followed Rex out onto the grounds.

"I didn't get to properly thank you for saving me." Rex said, looking up at Akira.

"It was my pleasure."

"You went out of your way, sir, so, I'm in your debt."

"No debts, here, Captain. Just friends."

Rex smiled, and gestured to his pike at his side. "I couldn't help but notice you have a very different saber from the others."

"Yes. I was a temple guard for a time. I'm yet to retrieve my saber." He looked down at Rex's bloodied arm. "Let me fix that for you, its falling apart."

Akira untied the bandage wrapped around his arm with expert hands, holding his bicep firm. He pulled a fresh bandage from his field bag on his thigh and tied the bacta patch on tighter, Rex watching closely. Akira shoved a few extra bandages and bacta patches in Rex's own field pouch.

"Kix was worried we'd run out, so don't tll him you have them." Akira said with a smirk.

"I'll be sure to keep them safe." Rex returned, and Akira put his hand on his shoulder.

"You're remarkably intelligent, Captain Rex. You're planning today, I can see why Cody holds you in such high regard."

Rex reddened, "Th-thank you, Sir."

Akira squeezed his shoulder. "Thank you, Rex. For all you've done."

Thanks so much for reading! Please review if you'd like to see more. I've done my research but I'm no expert on star wars lore, so feel free to give constructive criticism or suggestions.