Author's Note: Monday was a day filled with delight, which utterly took up my time. So as an apology, here are two chapters for the price of one post.

Love

"...and then the nifty fly-thingy went all whoosh-kaping and the commandos were all stellar-wow and Cookie went into a whole dictionary load of blank verse and it was just so much mono bombad stellar fun!"

Even through a holo, Ro was almost exhausting in her enthusiasm.

Smiling wryly, Garett ran a hand through his platinum blond hair while listening to his little sister expound on her latest adventures. Judging by what he'd been able to discern from her excited, half-Basic chatter, it was a miracle the Outer Rim Territories were still standing. Felucia certainly appeared to be sans a few trees. And a Sep base.

"...but Delta Squad figured there'd only be little bittiest pieces left over and they were no cleaning droids, so no reasoning to go scrounging through the messy leftovers..."

Add a Sep leader to the list as well.

Great. Now I'm keeping a list. Next thing you know, the Seps will be charging the Order for damages incurred.

"'Course, Zey was no big-happy about the news."

No, no he wouldn't be. Garett had only met General Arligan Zey twice before, but he could well imagine the older Knight's reaction to Ro's little stunt. Well, at least she hadn't bruised the commando squad assigned to her.

"...so Cookie decides it's time-way-past to go a few rounds of extreme prejudice with Delta..."

Garett groaned and buried his face in his hands. There went his last thread of hope. And no doubt there was already an angry message from the Council heading his way as fast as transmissions could fly, reminding him to pound some sense into the walking catastrophe he was related to. Good thing they were currently in hyperspace. Whose bright idea had it been again to set Ro and her partner loose on the galaxy? Whoever it was deserved to pay off the insurance.

A very Human growl interrupted Ro mid-telling. "Cheeka, get your fekking ass back here before the kriffing Wookiee has another slagdown."

Ro turned her head, quick enough so that the holo briefly lost its definition around the edges. "Uhm, Garett, gotta skedooch. Mono fur-mania happening in my cargo hold." To underline her words, crashing sounds could be heard in the background, along with a series of rather vicious Huttese curses.

Alarmed, Garett sat up straighter. Ro winced as something went flying past her - it looked suspiciously like a clone trooper. "Uhh, bombad un-stellar ouchies. Gotta go, Garett. Love ya lots."

The holorecording cut off abruptly, leaving his cabin aboard the Stalwart in darkness.

Garett sighed and let himself fall back onto his bunk. A Wookiee rampaging on her ship not two days after nearly demolishing Felucia. He chuckled. It sounded like his little sister was having the time of her life in her new role as commander of the Grand Army.

The chuckle died almost as quickly as it had come and his teal eyes moved restlessly about his cabin. If only he could say the same, but though the war had been going on for well over a year, the sleek bulkheads and gleaming durasteel surrounding him still felt strange and alien. What he wouldn't give to be back at the Temple, solving disputes with words rather than his lightsaber and a fleet of clone troopers.

Garett grimaced. Force, he was beginning to feel sorry for himself. He really needed to stop using these late hours for contemplation rather than sleep.

The young Knight turned onto his stomach, thoughtfully fingering the holorecorder.

He wondered how Ro did it. His little sister periodically uprooted herself; leaving the Temple, starting in with the Altisians, going to stay with that rogue pair, taking classes at every university in the known galaxy, planet-hopping to solve crimes and now joining the Grand Army and yet, Ro always managed to land on her feet, seeming nothing but content with everything she did. Why couldn't he manage that?

Because I actually weigh the consequences of my actions, he thought dourly. I think ahead and I commit. Which didn't leave a whole lot of space for the happy-go-lucky attitude his sister cultivated with a vengeance. Her holomessage to him was the perfect example. It figured Ro would turn her back on a prisoner in order to record a holo, then have to cut things short to clean up the resulting mess. And what about her final words to him?

Garett brushed the bangs out of his eyes and buried his face in his pillow.

Love. Ro used that word so casually and even after four years, her easy fall to the Altisian teachings at times left him feeling uneasy. Perhaps his sister was not meant for the life of selfless service to the Force, but she was still a Jedi and it was so easy for a Jedi to fall, especially in the name of love. And his little sister was so full of love. Guileless and - let's face it - a bit of a flake, Garett could only imagine too well how his sister could end up being corrupted, trying to win some cause no one but she cared about and falling to the dark side as a result.

"Oh, for kripes sake." Garett rolled off of his bunk, planting his feet firmly on the deck plates. "This is what happens when you stay up past your bedtime." Annoyed, he finger-combed his shoulder-length hair back, tying it into his customary Zabraki topknot.

Ro falling to the dark side because she'd said she loved him. Good thing Ro was the only investigator in the family, because his deductive leaps were ridiculous.

Garett scowled at his bunk and tried to pound the pillow into a more comfortable position. Speaking of ridiculous, it was utterly foolish of him not to get some rest. Who knew when he'd be able to snatch the next few moments of peace and quiet.

But a second holorecorder on his nightstand was a guilty reminder that his sister had asked a favor of him and he'd already put it off for most of the ship's cycle. And the Force alone knew what Ro would do if she found out he hadn't done as she'd asked. Personally, Garett would rather swallow an entire can of brain worms. It would be less painful.

Just the thought of his little sister in a proper fit brought a smile to his face. Ro was a hellion and endless trouble, but he did...care for her. A Jedi could care, so long as he didn't let attachment interfere.

With a sigh, Garett swiped the second holorecorder and stood. It really was only a little favor, after all. Delivering the holorecorder wouldn't take more than a few minutes and then he could sleep. It was simple good sense on his part to do it now, rather than take the time out of his busy schedule tomorrow.