Beginning a new arc… Pantora.
Orto Plutonia arc
Coruscant
The alert sounded in Chopper's helmet and he grabbed it even as he woke.
"Chopper," Captain Rex's voice rolled into the barracks room. "Grab Echo, Fives and Kev. Meet us at the Twilight in ten. Come prepared to travel. Full pack."
"Yes, sir." Chopper glanced at his roommates, each as awake, now, as he was. Kev didn't exactly turn his back fully as Chopper pushed off the light coverlet and pulled on his body glove; just enough so Chopper knew he was politely giving the privacy Chopper preferred. Kev looked out of the corner of his eye at Chopper, a small gasp of surprise gulped back at the extent of the scars on Chopper's chest stretching down to his knees.
Chopper stiffened, his face turning hard. There was still a portion off his mind where Slick ruled. Troopers just can't trust you, Chopper. You're slow. It's why you have scars. He sighed. Shut up, Slick he told himself. You're a traitor and a liar.
Chopper looked to Fives and Echo, pulling on their body gloves. Fives and Echo didn't bother turning their back. They didn't stare and they were his friends. Oddly, that made all the difference. Chopper relaxed a bit and turned his glance back to Kev as he automatically pulled his armor from the locks.
He suddenly recognized the look in Kev's eyes. It was fear; pure and plain and simple. Chopper laughed; a surprising sound in the tenseness of getting ready. A shocking sound from Chopper and he saw both Fives and Echo glanced at him in curiosity.
Fear was something he knew and knew intimately. Understanding fear, he understood Kev. "We're in a hurry now, Kev. But when we have some down time, I'll let you look at them all you want." He grinned and glanced back at Echo. "They're just scars."
"I wasn't.." stuttered Kev.
"Sure you were, Kev," retorted Fives. "You've done nothing but try to peek at Chopper's scars except when you're avoiding us."
"Let's move it," said Echo as he grabbed his duffel.
"But I need to get my gear." Kev looked at his duffel even as he pulled on the shirt. He suddenly realized the others were putting on the last stages of their armor.
"That's why we like to stay inspection ready," explained Echo with only a tinge of exasperation in his voice. "As if your first day wasn't sufficient."
Kev flushed. When Chopper brought him into the barracks in the early morning, he had simply tossed his duffel onto his choice of a bunk. Then he had turned back to the doorway, the mess would be the best place to stay out of their way. He hoped to, maybe, see Kru or Marker and have a talk with them.
Practice that morning was going to be early and there had been an inspection just recently, within the past ten-day. Surely there wouldn't be an inspection so soon again and right before practice.
There was. After practice, Kev was among those doing extra laps and assigned extra duty. Punishment was given to the squad who decided internally who would take the work and the laps. Most often, it was the man who had caused the failure.
Kev had begun the laps without bothering to discuss it. He knew they'd give it to him. The only tolerable thing about the extra laps was Chopper, Echo and Fives had alternated with him, taking as much of the blame as him. They had quartered the extra duty and shared it. In its own way, that also had been intolerable.
"You get ready," Chopper told Kev. "Echo, you're good to go, pack up Kev's gear."
Fives chuckled as he finished locking in his vambraces. "I told you there was a down side to being so perfectly efficient." Echo just looked at Fives sourly as he opened Kev's case locker and pulled out the required items.
Kriff, thought Kev. I've only been here five days and already I'm behind. "I'll owe you one, Echo." He pulled on his fore and aft first, locking them into place.
Echo shook his head. "First one's just learning to fit in, Kev."
"That would have been the laps," Kev growled reaching for the armor of his legs.
Fives shook his head as he clipped his own duffel shut. "Any one of us could have set your duffel to rights, Kev. Tucked it to one end of your rack and set the straps straight, making it inspection ready. None of us did." He turned to help Chopper lock his back plate in place.
"Ready?" Chopper asked of Kev and Kev nodded; he added a nod of thanks to Echo. "Later we'll show you…" Chopper's voice faded as he realized Kev wasn't listening to him. He shrugged and moved down the hall. Kev trailed behind Fives and Echo. Fives glanced back at Kev and shook his head sadly. Kev only scowled back at him.
The captain was waiting as they strode into the hangar area, gear duffels on their shoulders, only moments before General Skywalker and Commander Tano did. The commander was yawning wide, her hand barely covering her mouth.
Kev noticed Chopper stood slightly taller and gave a small smile at her entrance.
"Why does everything come," she covered another yawn with her hand, "during the night cycle?"
"You can sleep on the Twilight, Snips" said the general, sounding all too happy with himself.
Snips? Kev glanced at the general. He seemed eager to be on the way. Perhaps that is a name between them. Then why doesn't Chopper call her 'Snips'?
"Then who'd make sure you didn't crash into anything?" She gave a nod to Kev, smiled at Fives and Echo, but positively glowed at Chopper and Captain Rex.
It was true, thought Kev. The rumor was true; I thought so when they were holding hands in the mess. He scowled at Chopper who didn't notice; his attention all on the commander. She's just a youngling, Chopper. You showed me that, now pay attention to it.
The little droid tweeted.
"Thanks, Artooie." The commander yawned her way up the ramp. "Maybe I will sleep until we get there." She and the droid were on the ship when the general turned around on the rank and glared at the men.
"What's true?" he asked and Kev blushed. The general's face got stony. "Don't think so loud, trooper. Especially drivel." He looked at the captain, contemplating but turned to Chopper. "Chopper, is that trooper battle ready?"
Kev turned pleading eyes to Chopper. Kriff, how was he to know this trooper was treated special because of his relation with the commander, with the general's padawan.
Chopper shrugged then nodded without looking at Kev. "My responsibility, General. He's battle ready." He turned slightly and caught Kev's eye but it was less a warning and more an acknowledgement. "He won't let us down."
General Skywalker gave a brusque nod at the assurance and stalked into the ship, his good humor suddenly gone.
The troopers put on their helmets and moved into the Twilight. They'd take them off later, but the helmet baffles muffled the noise and vibration of small craft takeoff.
"You are such a mirosik." Echo's voice came sharp over closed channel. It was followed by Fives' laughter.
"Kev, you have no clue how far off the mark you're targeting. You're not even on the right battlefield." Fives voice was kinder though his laughter rankled more.
"Don't mess up, troopers." That was from the captain and Kev was pretty sure that harsh tone wasn't directed at anyone but him.
Only Chopper said nothing, simply watching him through the helmet's T-visor, his head tilted slightly as though questioning, as though trying to get a better look.
Kev was leaning back as though trying not to impinge upon anyone's privacy, leaning back against the wall as though trying not to be noticed. Chopper went open channel and Rex followed Chopper's lead.
"What's the misson, sir?" asked Chopper.
"Coruscant; but I heard the general mention something about Orto Plutonia," answered the captain. "You did pack cold-weather gear?"
"Warmsuits?" Kev's voice was shaky.
"It's packed," murmured Echo, closed channel to Kev even as Rex was asking in a hard voice if he had it.
"Yes, sir," replied Kev in relief.
"You should have told me. I'm her second," growled Chopper at Captain Rex and Kev was shocked at the anger in his voice and his body language, agressively leaning forward to his superior. "Did the commander …?"
"I made sure, Chopper. She has it." Captain Rex nodded and leaned toward Chopper.
Chopper, reassured, eased back at Captain Rex's words. The captain made no notice or reprimand for the anger in his subordinate's voice.
Even the captain is afraid, thought Kev, frowning inside his helmet. I don't have a chance.
"Coruscant Guards will provide the arctic gear if we end up going there."
"Are you going to make a comment, Kev?" Fives voice was closed channel to him. "Maybe something about how we can all share her? Keep her warm?" Fives' voice was sharp and Kev cringed at the scorn in it.
"No, Fives." Kev tried to make his voice sound stronger than it was. "No comment at all. Just listening."
"And learning," grumbled Echo, sharing his brother's link. "I hope."
Kev gave a small tilt of his helmet. He wanted to learn; he wanted to find out how much influence Chopper had. And why?
Kev sat on the bench leaning against the wall of the Twilight. He noticed that Chopper kept an open channel whenever he had on his helmet, which was nearly all the time, but barely said anything. Fives and Echo mostly stayed in open channel, including both Chopper and the captain in their conversations. Captain Rex laughed with them and entered their conversation freely; almost as though he were a trooper and not their captain.
Chopper mostly answered with some body motion – a nod or a shrug or rubbing his lower lip with the back of his thumb as he thought.
"What do you think, Kev? I know you're not asleep" It was Fives' voice and Kev's head jerked.
He shrugged. "I haven't been listening to your private conversation."
"It's been open channel and helmets off, Kev." Echo said softly with a sad look. "Hardly private."
Echo's words disturbed him less than Chopper's narrow-eyed gaze and contemplative expression or Captain Rex's twisted frown.
They continued speaking, open channel or helmets off, but no one made a remark to Kev after that.
Chopper shivered as Rex removed his helmet, stepping behind the general and the commander into the senator's office. Then he glanced around the office, wide with windows running the full length of the room. Security risk, his mind catalogued. There were three women watching the holovid and Chopper's throat went dry. He turned to Fives. "Door," he commanded softly through the link and Fives nodded then took his position.
Chopper wished he could take the door; wished he could guard with his helmet on, but Chopper was acting second to the captain. He gestured Echo and Kev to the window, silently asking Echo with a tilt of his head to show Kev what to look for. Echo nodded and Chopper stepped in his place behind Rex.
He recognized her; he recognized two of them with a start and relaxed slightly. They were from Naboo and the Naboo didn't mind scars. Scars didn't matter as much as other things, he remembered.
Still, he was slow about removing his helmet, glancing at them and the third woman for a reaction, as he tucked it into his arm.
The senator gave him a tiny nod and smile of recognition even as she had done the captain, and Chopper snapped to his best attention for that courtesy. Absently she smiled again but kept most of her attention on the speaker.
"You must see to this." The man in the holo was tall, dignified and had a stately mien in his expression. His voice was harsh and demanding. "It appears the station has been compromised and Pantora must not be left defenseless."
"Greetings, Chopper," whispered Ash with a smile as she slid beside him. Her dark hair was longer but still curly. She hadn't cut it since he'd last seen her several months ago. She looked … softer. She had gained weight, he could tell, but she didn't look fat, merely rounder and softer; in almost all the right places.
Chopper dipped his head. "Pilot Ashwaeen Athualla," he murmured. She had touched him before, on Naboo, her hand on his shoulder and her knee touching his. It had been permission to flirt, permission to touch back. His brows drew down. Was that still relevant? What about Knaps? Had Knaps returned to Kaliida or was he now living on Naboo? Now wasn't the time to ask, but he wouldn't leave Coruscant without knowing. That left him two things to do while on Coruscant: Knaps and Sketch.
"It is good to see you again, Chopper." Her voice was soft and low and he glanced at her, his eyes flicking to her face. Her attention, also, was mostly on the speaker in the holovid.
Chopper read his body language; inflexible, powerful, used to getting his own way and, despite his words, hardly defenseless. His clothing was dark, trimmed with braid, and Chopper recognized both military and rank in his clothes and his stance.
"Other side," he murmured to Ash, his head bent to her ear. "If you're going to stand next to a trooper on duty, never stand on his blaster side. Never stand between him and a window or door."
Other side also happened to be the unmarred side of his face but he was proud to know that didn't matter with Ash.
"Pardons." She touched him lightly on his spaulder, letting her fingers linger as they stole through the spacing of his armor at the back of his arm, then she moved back to Senator Amidala's side for a moment then picked up a canvas bag and moved toward the door.
Chopper stood a little straighter, a little prouder, and suspected that Fives and Echo had gone to private channel. As Ash left the room, Fives held the door for her and she smiled at him.
The third woman was younger than Ash, perhaps the age of the senator, and Chopper was a little worried about her reaction to his scars, but all her attention was on the holovid and when it stopped she didn't spare a glance at the troopers, nor even the general, only to Senator Amidala.
Chopper thought she was beautiful; tiny and delicate but, unlike the commander, a woman. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She was blue, the blue of a cold autumn sky with fine lips made for kissing. A lock of hair the color of near dusk of an old sun escaped the front of her headdress and she pushed it back with an elegant finger. She was beautiful and Chopper suddenly understood the Jedi stricture against attachment. He'd give this woman the galaxy if she asked.
"He demands, always demands," she was saying in a soft, musical voice. "He's gotten hidebound in age." She turned to Senator Amidala. "Yet his concern has always been for Pantora." She glanced around the room, seeking each person with her eyes. Chopper wanted to run, but he stood his ground at the captain's side. Her eyes marked him then continued on to Echo, Kev and Fives. Chopper slowly released the breath he'd been holding. She hadn't flinched.
"I am sorry for any rudeness, Padme." The blue woman turned back to Senator Amidala and General Skywalker. "But the Chairman is correct in this instance and I must insist on an investigation of what happened to the GAR station."
"That's why we're here," grinned General Skywalker reassuringly. "General Kenobi is already on the way and we'll meet up with him on Pantora."
"Will it be enough? Chairman Cho…" She sighed, spread her fingers and looked at them. Senator Amidala clasped the blue fingers with her own slender hand.
"General Kenobi is the best Jedi general in the fleet," she began.
"Hey," objected Skywalker with a grin and the senator smiled at him.
"And General Skywalker is almost as good." Senator Amidala smiled at him, tilting her head toward him.
Chopper saw it again, that serious flirtation between the general and the senator that had been evident on Naboo.
The blue woman laughed softly, her hands relaxing in Senator Amidala's. "Of course, Padme." She turned to Skywalker. "Please, General Skyswalker, since I will be traveling with you; will you introduce me to your command?"
"Of course, Senator Chuchi. You know my padawan, Commander Ahsoka Tano." The commander smiled brightly as she waved her fingers sleepily at Senator Chuchi. Apparently, she was friends with the young senator; just as apparent she hadn't slept on the Twilight. The general graciously set his arm under Senator Chuchi's and turned her toward Rex. "Captain Rex of the 501st."
"I have heard of you, Captain. Your praises are often spoken in knowledgeable circles of the senate."
"I do my best ma'am." Rex inclined his head slightly.
"This is Chopper. He is the commander's second and one of the best troopers in Torrent."
She turned to Chopper and smiled. "You must be a brave and able trooper for such accolades."
Chopper gave a jerky nod, not nearly as graceful as Captain Rex's. "Yes, ma'am."
"Fives is at the door, he and Echo are scheduled for ARC training." Both men gave Senator Chuchi a nod but maintained their positions.
"ARC training? I understand fewer than one trooper in a thousand is even nominated for ARC training. I see the exacting standards of the 501st are well deserved."
"The last man is Kev." Kev visibly cringed at the general singling him out. "He is currently in training with Chopper."
"They must have high hopes for you, Kev." Senator Chuchi waited and Kev, slowly tipped his head to her.
"Gentleman, Senator Riyo Chuchi of Pantora."
The Coruscant Guards put them in a Senate Building room on the same floor as Senator Amidala's apartments. Their makeshift barracks was an odd juxtaposition of ostentatious wealth and trooper utility. Chopper took a moment to ask about Sketch from the sergeant escort then turned back to his men.
"Who is she, Chopper? The woman who touched you? She's very beautiful." That was Fives. He had tossed his bucket on one of the bunks, sitting himself on one of the well-cushioned chairs against the wall. "A beautiful, confident woman."
"They were all three beautiful," commented Echo under his breath.
Kev snorted as he started stripping his armor. He'd chosen the bunk furthers from the rest of them – not surprising. "What are you asking him for? It's not as if any woman would be interested in him."
Echo whirled on Kev, his fists clenched. "You have no idea what any woman…"
Fives pushed himself up from the chair, his face icy in anger.
"You're right, Echo." Chopper's voice was calm and Echo turned back to him, a question on his face. "Kev has no idea about women. Or about scars. Or about fighting. Or about the battlefield."
Kev saw they spoke something with their eyes and Fives, laughing, pushed himself back into the chair.
Echo's mouth was an O that gradually morphed into a grin. "You're right. That's the key, Chopper." Echo sat on his rack, pulling off his armor with a laughing glance at Kev.
"I didn't pick up on that." Fives admitted as he pushed cushions around the chair.
"Hey, you don't have to talk about me behind my back." Kev voiced angrily as he unbuckled his fore and aft; the back plate sliding to the soft covering on the bunk.
"I don't think we are," smiled Fives. He turned to Chopper. "It explains why he picks fights."
They couldn't know, they were just saying words. But a chill ran down Kev's spine. He'd made enemies and they were his barrack mates. They were the ones he'd be fighting side by side; they were the ones who'd cover his back. Except they neither liked nor respected him. He'd gone one-on-one with Chopper, had caused them all an extra duty, and Echo had to pack his gear when it wasn't ready. He had a frightening feeling they knew he was terrified. He had the worse feeling they were laughing at him; not for cowardice but for thinking he could hide it from them.
"She's a pilot, Fives. She volunteered for the Kaliida Station evacuation." Chopper returned back to the original question but his eyes caught Kev's and he gave a nod. From any other man Kev would have known it was reassurance. From Chopper, it terrified him.
"But how does she know you?" insisted Echo.
"I was there. I'd taken a blaster hit to the ribs after Zygerria and had been released for duty by the time the Malevolence showed up. The captain was still in a bacta tank. Coric, Jester borrowed from Kenobi's 212th and I were waiting for him when they started the evacuation."
"As I understand it, there were 30,000 troopers evacuated to Naboo. Were there 30,000 women?" Echo smirked at the idea of that many women anywhere then his eyes glazed momentarily in some private fantasy.
"Not that many; but some." Chopper chewed his lips as he pulled off his armor. "There were some Gungans, the Senator Padme Amidala, some of her councilors and security, several other pilots and Pilot Athualla."
"You're being reticent, Chopper." Fives leaned back in the ornate, cushioned chair he'd chosen for himself. There was a small cushioned stool beside it and Fives put it in position for his feet.
"That's new?" Chopper retorted, stripping down to his body glove.
"Ho!" laughed Echo as he set the last of his armor on an empty bunk. "A joke! A joke from Chopper!" He slapped Chopper lightly on the shoulder then smiled gently. "A good joke, Chopper."
Chopper smiled back then quickly dropped his face looking at the floor. "She was a pilot of one of the ships that got caught in the ion ring. The ship I was on rescued her and the men on her ship. We landed on Naboo and she stayed in our tent for the night then left the next day. She returned to..." Chopper slowed and shrugged. "She came back," he said softly. "You know how that affected us. Me, Gus from the 41st Elite, Jester. Another wounded man from Kaliida. She played sabacc with us and she flirted kindly. She touched us."
They all understood. Echo glanced at Fives then looked at Chopper. "Did she more than flirt, Chopper?"
Chopper shook his head and glanced at Kev. "I wasn't ready for flirting then. Maybe now I'll flirt." If Kev was to learn from him he had to show the trooper that fear disappeared when confronted. To do that, he had to confront his own fear that women found him disgusting.
"Did she more than flirt with another trooper?" Echo's voice held a note of insistence and Chopper stopped and turned to the trooper in curiosity.
"What are you getting at, Echo? She may have; certainly that isn't your concern. Or mine."
"She's pregnant." Echo said gently as he gestured to his helmet. "IR shows a classical heat pattern in her lower belly. A couple months; maybe from then."
Chopper raised an eyebrow.
"OK," Echo held up both hands in mock surrender and laughed. "Ok, I've been getting into Coric's auxillary medical manuals." He paused, serious again, and looked at Chopper. "But she is pregnant."
Fives nodded. He'd also had on his helmet in the senator's office and seen the heat pattern. If Echo said it was pregnancy then it would prove to be pregnancy though he did wonder when Echo'd had time to get into Coric's manuals.
Kev frowned, he hadn't seen anything worth observing. Just an odd heat pattern that could be anything. So Echo said the woman was pregnant. She was a civilian and of no concern to any trooper in the GAR. Except she had approached Chopper and talked with him.
"I guess I won't get to flirt." Chopper stood, frowning and chewing the inside of his cheek. He saw Fives leaning forward, waiting. "Or perhaps, I'll ask her if I may flirt with her." Chopper said slowly and thoughtfully. "She did touch my shoulder."
Fives nodded. "On Zeltros I was told that women enjoy gentle flirting under almost all conditions, including pregnancy and marriage." He glanced at Kev who scowled and muttered something too low to understand.
"I'll ask her about that also. It was gentle flirting on Naboo." He shrugged. "We were wounded and it was all new." Chopper glanced at Fives, then to Echo but he strode to stand in front of Kev. "If I don't ask her questions, you have no right to ask. I will go one-on-one for her and her peace of mind. And Kev, if you think I was hard about your rumors of me and the commander, you have no idea how hard I can be."
Chopper turned his back before Kev could say anything. If Kev was afraid, he'd bluff and bluster. He'd feel that he had to call one-on-one simply to prove he wasn't afraid. Chopper didn't need a confrontation; it was simply a warning to the trooper.
With his back to Kev, Chopper stood in front of Fives and ran his hand over his chin, frowning thoughtfully. If Knaps was on Naboo, he would have told Ash that it wouldn't be a good idea for anyone to know he was there. If Knaps wasn't on Naboo... then it didn't matter. Chopper suddenly realized how badly he wanted to know that Knaps had escaped to a new life. He looked down into Fives who had leaned forward in the chair, his elbows on his knees. Then he glanced back at Echo, already reaching for the ever-present data pad.
"If she touches you, and I think she will, then you can flirt also." Both Fives and Echo nodded solemnly. Chopper glanced at Kev, sullenly removing his last pieces of armor. "That goes for you too, Kev."
"Like some citizen woman, someone important enough to know senators, is going to visit clone troopers. No need to worry, Chopper. I can't ask questions of a woman who isn't here."
Chopper's knowing smile bothered him as much as everything else.
There was a knock on the door and Chopper opened it. Ash held up a deck of cards with a grin.
"I just love playing with planets and I've learned about five thousand more." She pulled a pack from her shoulder. "Captain Rex said you missed the Coruscant Guard mess and hadn't eaten so I brought some snacks; muja fruit and chapiz. I even brought fabled chocolate, though that is a gift from the Senators Amidala and Chuchi."
Chopper nodded and opened the door fully, allowing her into the room. Five glanced up at the sound of her voice then stood at parade rest, Echo rolled out of his bunk also coming to parade rest. Kev looked up slowly. She was a civilian; he didn't need to come to attention for a civilian. Echo scowled and rolled his eyes so Kev stood. Slowly.
Only Fives, on call, was in armor. Chopper wasn't wearing his gloves, practicing, and she had never seen his scarred hands. He started to panic, but he took several breathes to lower his anxiety. Coric had taught him that and it helped immensely.
"Set up a table, Echo." Chopper said after a moment as he almost smiled at Ash. "We'll play for just for a few hours. Ashwaeen, this is Fives and Echo. Both good men." He saw the pride his words gave them and he wasn't a sergeant. They even outranked him; they'd be going on to ARC training soon. "This is Kev." He could see Kev's expression, his belief that Chopper would say something derogatory. "He's newly assigned to us. He has a bit to learn, but the captain expects he'll be one of the best in time." He ignored Kev's dumbfounded expression.
"Like you, Chopper, one of the best in Torrent." Ash smiled, her hand on Chopper's arm and her face turned toward the scarred trooper. Then she turned to the other men. "Friends of Chopper can call me Ash." Fives gave a pleased grin and Echo laughed with a glance at Kev.
Kev turned from them with a frown and took a step toward his bunk and Ash glanced at Chopper in curiosity. He ducked his head with a shrug and gave her a nod indicating Kev.
"Please play sabaac with us, Kev." Ash pleaded, but they all heard the soft flirtation in her words. "It's more fun with more players."
Kev paused and slowly turned back to the group. "I guess," he said with hesitation. He had never played sabacc with a woman before; had never really met one this close. He wasn't even sure he could say 'no' to a woman. "But what do I call you."
"Ahh," she said with understanding and a glance at Chopper. "Until Chopper or I say otherwise, you may call me Ashwaeen or Pilot Athualla. Is that satisfactory?"
Kev nodded as he moved to help Echo with the heavy table, a piece of the original richness of the room. Fives was pulling luxurious chairs toward them.
"You brought chocolate for us?" Echo's voice was astounded as they set the table in place. As usual, Chopper took the chair with the back to the wall and guided Ash to sit next to him.
Echo broke into a wide grin at her nod of acquiescence. "I've never had chocolate before. I hope I like it." He reached out his hand to take the pack from her while Fives gestured his arm to set her in the chair he had pulled forward for her. She handed the pack to Echo, making sure to touch his hand, before placing her own on Fives' arm for his politeness to the chair a mere step away.
Both men smiled at the invitation to flirt. She was still for a moment then handed the deck of cards to Kev, making sure to brush his fingertips with hers. Kev stood still, uncertain of the other's reaction to her touching him then he sat and began shuffling the cards.
Chopper, next to her picked up his cards then set them down in front of him. Ash leaned forward and touched his hands, softly stroking them and he relaxed. She was from Naboo and scars didn't scare her.
"I also brought some Corellian whiskey, but your Captain confiscated that saying you'd be too busy here on Coruscant. He said he'd return it when you returned to the Resolute but it would need to be kept in the general's quarters." Ash chuckled turning to Echo, resting her fingers on the bare skin of his hand. "I'm sure you will enjoy the chocolate. There's an assortment: creams and caramels and nuts and, my favorite, melted chocolate wrapped in crunchy chocolate."
Corellean whiskey? Kev's mind whirled. What had Chopper done that a pregnant civilian brought him Corellean whiskey? He's the father of her child. Kev decided it was a reasonable assumption.
It was another reason to hate the scarred trooper; he'd broken regulations and hadn't been reprimanded. Relations between trooper and civilians were strongly discouraged. Normally he'd report it to the captain; but not after what he'd seen. With Chopper's closeness to the commander, he couldn't report it to General Skywalker either. Kev frowned, then relaxed. General Kenobi. He'd report it to General Kenobi when they reached Pantora.
Ash smiled at Chopper and spoke to him again, turning to hold his hand in both of hers. "It's a gift from both me and my husband. It's too bad he isn't here. You know he loves playing sabacc with planetary systems also."
Chopper blinked at the word 'husband' then stiffened. "Your husband?" He wondered if that were Knaps? It couldn't be. Clones couldn't get married. She had used the word form indicating marriage between equals, between citizens. He decided it wasn't Knaps, maybe some citizen she'd known long before, maybe the senator's security detail. Only citizens could get married. Maybe she'd been pregnant and marriage to some citizen - any citizen - was expected of her. You never really understood a civilian's ways. He'd ask about Knaps later.
Kev smiled at Chopper's confusion; it was an ugly, twisted smile. She went off and got married, Chopper. You were nothing to her; just an ugly, scarred, slow clone. Kev lost his smile and gave Pilot Athualla an angry glare. I'm a clone. You would have gotten rid of me, too.
"Chopper, if he knew you were here," she continued, oblivious to everyone but the man she faced, "he would want me to tell you he appreciates your advice every day. He's told me he wouldn't have recognized his choices without talking with you."
Chopper was floored and a small smile came over his face. It was Knaps and somehow he'd become a citizen. "I'm glad, Ash. Tell him I'm glad."
"I appreciate it, Chopper. He is a treasure among men and I will appreciate what you and Jester did and said every day of my life." She leaned forward and Chopper froze then leaned back until his head pressed against the wall, stopping his retreat. Kriff, she was going to kiss him!
She did; a soft gentle kiss on his unmarred cheek then she touched her forehead to his chin. "Thank you." It was a whisper that barely reached his ears.
There was sadness also, Chopper could tell, perhaps the loss of Knaps' legs - though he couldn't have stayed on Naboo otherwise.
Chopper put his arm around Ash's shoulder and let his lips drop to her forehead. It was a small kiss, a benediction like he'd given Ahsoka in the cave. Her jaw trembled and he understood. It was compassion for him as well. Knaps must have told her how long he could live, at best, how long all the clones would live. He ran his finger over her head, tangling his scarred fingers in those dark, soft curls. She had given Knaps richness beyond any clone's dreams. She had taken his brother from Kaliida Medical and given him life.
Kev frowned and looked at Fives as if for an explanation. It was obvious from his retreat that Chopper had never been kissed. That made Kev's understanding of him and the commander simply wrong. It meant he had never had relations with this civilian woman. It meant the whiskey was for the advice he'd given. Was advice so valuable to civilians? It meant Kev owed more apologies. It meant…. What the kriff did it mean? He looked at Fives again hoping for a hint of explanation but Fives was staring at Echo with an expression of triumph.
Echo was staring at Chopper, stroking the woman's dark hair. Echo's expression was shock.
"Close your mouth, trooper." Chopper ordered.
Echo did, turning his amazed expression to the flat surface of the table, sat quietly and chose a chocolate.
When Ash left the room, she hugged Chopper and gave him another kiss on the cheek. Again, he flinched but only barely. She gave Echo a hug and delighted laugh as he whispered something in her ear. Fives also got a hug and was standing with pride at the door. Since he was on-duty, he had offered to escort her.
Kev had glanced at the floor, wishing she'd give him a hug. He had never hugged a woman before; might never have another chance before he died in battle. When he glanced up, she was within arm's reach and looking into his eyes with a gentle smile. He glanced at the troopers. Fives, in helmet, was waiting at the door. Echo and Chopper were both standing at the table; the cards neatly piled where Kev had left them, small glittery empty wrappers – mostly at Echo and Ashwaeen's places - scattered about.
"Are you ready to call me Ash?" she asked as she tilted her head in query.
From the corner of his eye Kev saw Chopper gave a small nod. A tiny, hair's-breadth, fraction of a fractional millimeter nod.
"If I may," Kev said softly. "Ash."
It wasn't the closeness of the hug and kiss she'd given Chopper. It wasn't even the friendly hug Fives and Echo had received. He knew it was a sort of introduction hug, something more of potential than actuality.
But she was warm where she was pressed against him, her hair smelled like sunshine in the wind and the pulse beneath her ear drummed pleasantly against Kev's cheek. Kev held back tears. How does Chopper know a woman like this? What did Chopper do to make this a friendship?
After she and Fives left, Kev silently helped clean up the table and set the remaining snacks aside. She'd been generous. They moved the table and chairs back against the wall in their original places. Echo made comments about the card-playing, about the chocolate and the snacks. Chopper said nothing until Echo grabbed for the remaining chocolates.
"Save two for me, Echo. One for the commander and I want to give one to another brother."
Kev started to speak but Echo interrupted.
"Certainly," Echo set the box next to Chopper's bunk. "They're all yours as long as you share." He grinned.
"So long as there's two remaining for tomorrow." Chopper glanced at Kev. "You were saying…?"
Kev frowned. He'd been about to comment that Chopper didn't really have 'brothers', didn't have anyone who liked him. He had thought Echo and Fives stayed in the barracks due to the captain's orders. That was patently false, they liked Chopper. He shook his head. "Nothing to say, Chopper."
It was dark before Kev spoke, darker than the barracks with the console and door lights. It was almost like being with Marker and Kru, listening to the quiet breathing. It had been a good end to an unusual day. "I've never been hugged by a woman."
"Me neither." Echo continued. "I really enjoyed it. The hug, the snacks, the game. All of it. Will we see more of her, Chopper?"
There was silence. Kev sighed. It was too much to expect Chopper to talk with them.
"No shrugging; it's too dark," complained Echo and was rewarded with a sound, a sort of grunt from back in the throat, from Chopper.
"Sorry." There was a longer pause. "If you do see her then let her lead; I don't know civilian rules or appropriateness." He paused. "It's different when we play sabaac."
Again the small makeshift barracks was quiet. Surprising even himself, Kev was the next to speak.
"I would have thought I'd want to tell all my brothers, stand on a table in the mess and announce to everyone that I've been hugged by a woman." Kev swallowed, hoping they wouldn't make fun of his words. I really am a coward to be afraid of speaking. "But I don't want to tell everyone, I want to keep it mostly to myself."
"I understand," agreed Echo. "So do I."
"That's 'cause it was a gift." Chopper spoke softly. "And gifts like that are jewels to be treasured by the heart."
Kev thought that poetic and wise; something he had never before associated with any clone, much less Chopper.
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Next chapter - possibly the day after tomorrow.