Beginning Again arc IV

A Little Trooper Fluff

Chopper decided he was getting use to that warm feeling of knowing he had friends.

He got it when Captain Rex gave him that nod and spoke approving words. "Good work, Chopper," he'd say in that no-nonsense tone of voice. He got it when Coric invited him to play sabacc with some of the others – he didn't often say yes, but Coric did ask and he'd gone a couple of times. He got that feeling when Caber had used a throw he'd learned from Chopper to defeat an opponent, when Kev dragged Marker over to his table, when Fives and Echo had researched the Jedi Council for his benefit. He got that feeling when he heard the commander's voice.

Like now.

"Aaaaaarrrrrgghhhhhhhhh."

Chopper sighed. The captain had been right; it was like planning a major ground assault. Both Captain Rex and General Skywalker had, strategically, found other places to be. Jesse and his squad were ranged around the room; Jesse in the wide window like he'd been last night. Perhaps he hadn't moved. He looked thoroughly relaxed, his head back against some small cushion he'd found in the apartments, and a bemused expression on his face.

The commander came out of her room like she was looking for some tinnies to destroy. This time she was wearing a long, dark blue vest decorated with copper and gold threading over a dress of dark red lace.

"It's hopeless." She dropped her arms to her sides and looked down towards the tips of her toes barely sticking out from the red material.

"What's hopeless about it commander?" That was Slack, sitting cross-legged on one of the benches nibbling from the remains of last night's tray.

"I think you look great," grinned Hardcase, his lean body stretched out on the floor, lining up the seven pair of shoes Senator Amidala had sent over with the clothing. He had first sorted the shoes by color, then by height, then again by color and was now sorting them according to some specification Chopper couldn't readily identify, amount of frivolous decoration on each small shoe, perhaps.

The commander raised her hands in supplication. "It's just so… so…" Chopper's brother leaned forward; prepared to do their best to correct whatever needed correction. "So wrong." The men leaned back with disappointed sighs. 'Wrong' was not something they could correct, not without more definition. She glared at Hardcase. "And you've said that for everything I've tried on."

He glanced down with a little frown, obviously remembering his past comments from the last four dresses then looked up with a smile. "You're right, commander. It's true though; every time."

She growled and turned back to her room but caught Chopper's eye and stood, elbows akimbo, hands belligerently on her tiny waist, expectantly waiting a comment from him. He hadn't realized how small and dainty the commander was, but these clothes seemed to emphasize it.

"What about you, Chopper? What do you think?"

He shrugged, glanced down chewing his inner lip. Then he looked up and met her eyes with a smile at the corner of his lips. "I'm with Hardcase. Every time you've come out of that door wearing a different outfit, I've been shocked."

It was the wrong thing to say and her lips tightened. He raised his hands in instinctive self-preservation and surrender, rapidly re-considering what he'd just said. He found his error. "Wonderfully shocked. It's not that you…" He paused, her arms were crossed and so was her temper. "Clean up well. It's that you…" Again Chopper paused, looking for the right words.

"Clean up spectacular," submitted Jesse in an attempt to be helpful.

Slack added his words. "You're our commander and we follow where you lead; no matter how tough, no matter how dangerous."

"And then to find out you're a girl," Conjure said from his seat at the table, sorting jewelry of various sorts. The commander drew herself up to her full height, her eyes narrowed angrily. Conjure didn't seem to notice. "It's just mindboggling."

The commander put her hand up to her face. She sniffled. As one, every trooper's face snapped towards her. Their commander was crying?

"I'll just wear my padawan robes; they're always appropriate for Jedi." Her voice was muffled, coming between lips tightly compressed against further tears. "I just…"

She moved back into her room, closing the door behind her.

Their mouths were open, even Chopper's, in puzzlement. Hardcase was the first to speak. "Did she say she just wanted to be pretty?" There was a world of questioned amazement in those words.

Nodding in answer to Hardcase's question, Chopper moved to the door and knocked softly, "Commander?" There was a muffled response which he took for 'come in' and he entered, hoping she hadn't actually said 'stay out'.

The blue overvest was draped on the bed, but she was sitting on the end of the enormous bed with her head down, her feet not even touching the floor.

"Commander," he asked softly.

She sighed, turning her head to see him.

"You know every man in the 501st thinks you are the best commander they ever had. Pretty seems a step down from that."

She smiled. "I know. And I'm being…" She waved her hand in front of her knees, gesturing from her feet up. "…I don't know. Selfish? But it's so rare that I get to do anything like this, wear beautiful clothes or the jewelry, go to a party, be normal." She glanced into his eyes with a shy smile. "Flirt."

Be normal? Flirt? Chopper frowned and looked around. He'd seen the droid push in a large box on wheels but now the box was open - overflowing with so many colors and materials that Chopper was overwhelmed. There was another smallish pile of clothing draped on the bed - things she'd already tried on. There appeared to be more clothing than could actually fit into the human-sized box.

"You're frozen with indecision?" he asked, eyeing the clothing still in the box. It pushed outward, as if trying to escape.

Thoughtfully, she nodded. "Maybe that's it. And I want to look as special as I'm going to feel." She closed her eyes and leaned back on the bed. "I want…" A smile played over her lips. "I want dreams to come true. Just for tonight, I want to be the princess."

Chopper just grunted and Ahsoka turned her head to see him grimly standing there, one arm across his body, his other hand caressing his lower lip with his thumb. She laughed to see him in Master Kenobi's habitual pose. As she watched him, his hand came down to gesture at the clothing. "Senator Amidala would send you nothing that not's appropriate and right. So any dress you chose from these will work for the party?"

Ahsoka nodded softly.

"Same with the shoes and the jewelry; correct?"

"Correct," she nodded again, sitting up. "What are you getting at, Chopper?"

"It will be special, commander. No matter what you wear, you will be pretty. More than pretty." He looked at her normal clothing, softly folded and set on a chair. "The whole night will still be special and …" he paused. "And I will pummel anyone who spoils your dreams."

"Thank you, Chopper." She smiled, the petty sadness of a moment ago gone.

Chopper nodded; glad that threatening to pummel something helped. He didn't have any other alternatives at the moment. "Do you need any assistance?"

She shook her head. "I think I'll try this next." She reached for something and Chopper moved back out of her room.

He shut the door behind him and faced his brother troopers. They looked at him expectantly but he could only shrug. He returned to his place, leaning against the wall, his jaw moving in decision. He glanced at Sergeant Jesse who gave him a semi-panicked nod.

"We aren't to tell her that she looks good," he began slowly. "I think we need to be more specific and tell her why she looks good." He glanced down at Hardcase, who'd made a barricade line of shoes between himself and the direction of the commander's room. "I think she's looking for what we might like best."

"But we're not going," interjected Slack.

Conjure continued. "So why listen to our opinion."

Chopper nodded slowly, staring at the floor with a harsh frown. "She respects our opinions." As one the shoulders of every trooper straighten in pride. "I think it's supposed to be like one of those holovids; not true but perfect. For tonight, she's not Commander Ahsoka Tano, she's a …" He looked up into their rapt faces and didn't feel quite as silly as he thought he'd feel, "princess."

His brothers thought about that for a moment. Then Hardcase looked up with a sigh.

"What?" asked Chopper looking at him.

"I think the creamy gold thing made her look fantastic," he offered as he smoothly sat into a cross-legged position, his hands moving in a curving gesture that, in reference to their commander, shocked them. "Because it showed she's female." He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and sighed. "The robes make her look like every other Jedi; easily identifiable but otherwise nothing special. What she wears on the battlefield – that's our commander. But the cream dress made her look sort of," he shrugged his shoulders, "special."

"I think you're on to something, Hardcase." Jesse glanced up at Chopper. "She said 'pretty', right? Women are pretty so…" He spread his hands in question. "If she looks more like a woman than usual…?"

"...and less like a commander in the GAR?" submitted Slack.

Again his brothers looked to him, their commander's second, for a decision in this matter. Slowly he nodded his head. "A young woman. Pretty. Special."

Chopper regarded Jesse speculatively. "I'll be back in a moment, Sergeant, will you second the commander?"

Jesse nodded and slipped from the the window to stand at parade rest, waiting for the commander.

Chopper moved out the room at his trooper's pace and was at Senator Amidala's apartment in mere moments. The door was open, a droid delivering trays of covered containers, and he heard her voice.

"No, that goes there but the others go into the kitchen."

Good, she was in. Since the door was opened the announcement tone would be off. He knocked and looked into the doorway.

So this was where the general had retreated to. Skywalker was lounging against a wall, laughing as he reached for some delicacy and she swatted his fingers. Both were turning their heads in his direction at the noise and General Skywalker straightened guiltily as if he'd been caught…

Flirting, thought Chopper, but only nodded to the Senator. "Senator Amidala, may I have some information?"

"Certainly, Chopper," she walked over to the doorway. "Is there any problem with the clothing for Ahsoka?"

Other than overabundance, no, thought Chopper, but he kept that thought to himself, it was a wonderful kindness the senator was doing for their commander. "No ma'am. I'm here to ask if there will be dancing?"

The senator blinked in surprise. For that matter, so did the general.

"Yes, but Ahsoka knows the major steps."

"Sergeant Jesse doesn't." Chopper replied. "And I promised I'd pummel anyone who spoilt her pleasure this evening." He glared up at the general. "Does Captain Rex?"

A slow grin spread over Skywalker's visage. "I don't believe he does, Chopper." The grin reached his eyes. "But he will."

"Oh, dear." The senator's hand went to her lips in consternation then tapping them thoughtfully, her eyes were calculating. "Senator Organa isn't escorting anyone tonight," she mumbled to herself. "He dances divinely," she glanced at both men, nibbling her lower lip. "All that royal training. I can change the seating arrangements."

Chopper nodded tersely. "Where can I find an instructer?"

"If I had the time," she murmured softly and Chopper was glad to know she was his friend; she was friends with every trooper of the 501st though not all of them knew it. She shook her head. "Ask the trooper at the desk," she replied, heading towards another room, absently waving an arm in his direction. "Tell them on my account."

"Yes, sir," he called after her. General Skywalker was standing there, bemused. Chopper looked into his face.

"Do you dance with her, sir? At these types of functions?" Chopper asked with only a hint of his normal belligerence and soft eyes, as Fives had taught him; soft eyes - recognition, not challenge.

"She's my padawan, Chopper," replied the general and Chopper didn't know if that was yes or no.

The senator knew. She halted right in the door, her head whipping around and her back went stiff in the same posture the captain took when he was about to reprimand a trooper.

"You've never danced with Ahsoka?" There was astonishment and anger in her voice.

"Padme," The general retreated a step then raised his hands chest-high in surrender. "Not yet, Padme. But I will tonight." The general grinned at her, a message for her in his eyes.

"You'd better," she smiled at him then turned back to her errand.

Chopper grunted deep in his throat and turned back to their apartments.

Back in their assigned apartment, the commander was in her room again and Chopper moved to speak with Jesse quietly. "Go downstairs and ask the day officer about dancing."

"What?" Jesse jerked upright from his relaxed position.

"The commander wants this to be special. That means it's not the battlefield, not normal conditions. She doesn't want to be the unnoticed padawan of a famous Jedi general. She wants to be a princess; she wants flirting and dancing." Chopper glared at Jesse. "That means she needs a prince. Go learn. The Senator said to mark it to her account."

"What about the general? The captain?"

The general? Who flirted seriously with the senator? The general who called her 'Snips'. The general who was her master and teacher and saw her every fault? The captain who... who what? Had too much honor? Who saw what she could be and worked for her to reach her potential? That was a princely thing, a thing of real love but too grounded in daily duty for a make-believe princess.

Chopper sighed. "I don't think the general ever saw her as more than a padawan before, but he'll be dancing with her tonight. He said he'd make sure Rex did as well. That leaves you. Do you want to disappoint the commander?"

Jesse's eyes widened and he turned on his heel toward the door. Chopper could see the thought on his face. She might cry.

Hardcase had divided the shoes into two groups and was going through one group. He looked up at Chopper. "We decided not to go with any of those shoes unless they're a direct color match to the dress," he gestured toward the larger group. "I think we've got her almost convinced that the cream dress would be best."

"Without the vest," cited Slack. "It was too much for her; like a cadet picking up a chaingun the first time."

Conjure nodded. "She said she wants to try on a few more things." He gestured down at the jewelry.

They heard her door open and, as one, looked up, their eyes waiting for her.

She came out in a material resembling the finest animal pelt and the color of a dark sky not quite black. "What do you think?" She spun on her toe, the folds of the dress gracefully swirling around her legs.

The dress skimmed her body, slender in the waist and picking up the barest hint of curve in her hips. It caressed – there could be no other word for it – caressed the gentle swells of her developing breasts. The darkest blue brought out the coral-red tones of her skin, made her eyes bright and her montrals seem shinier in contrast to the matte fabric.

Hardcase, Slack and Conjure stared; Hardcase's jaw moving up and down as he tried to say something; Slack breathed out a long 'uuuuuhhhh'. Conjure had the look of a trooper who'd taken a head injury and was unable to respond to simple stimuli. Chopper noticed his own jaw was hanging open and he shut it.

The commander looked at Chopper, a smile at the bare corners of her lips. "That is a good reaction."

Chopper nodded slowly. "That, commander," he declared, "is a very special dress." He walked over to her, slowly around her. She twisted, her face following him, her neck a graceful curve paralleled by her lekku. He reached out and ran the back of his finger against the material on her back. It was soft, like … like… like the skin of a woman's cheek and it flowed like it was some kind of liquid.

"Hardcase," he ordered, reaching. "Shoes."

"Yes, sir." Hardcase didn't even glance away from the commander as he handed a pair of dark sandals to Chopper. Chopper glanced down at the small shoes in his hand. They were flat, criss-crossed ribbon laces, soft-soled. He grunted to himself; she wasn't going to be running over rough ground, they'd be ok. He turned the shoe in his hand with the thought that she had small feet, not even the length his fingers could span.

"No jewelry." Slack's voice was almost a whisper and, while Chopper agreed that glitters would be superfluous, he saw a spark of disappointment in the commander's eyes.

"Maybe just a little," he allowed, eying the akul teeth framing her face. "But different."

"Different?" Ahsoka's furrowed brow was mirrored by Conjure and Slack's.

Chopper nodded. "Everyone will have rings, bracelets, necklaces."

"On the sandal laces?" Conjure suggested, showing two sparkling blue gems in his palm. Hardcase reached up for them and inspected their back.

"Easy enough sir. They'll slip right on the ribbon. I can adjust them so they don't slide around." Hardcase reached for the shoes from Chopper.

Absently Chopper handed the shoes back then moved over to where Conjure had sorted out jewelry. He picked out a bracelet interspersed with blue-black crystals, rubbing it thoughtfully between his calloused fingers.

"I thought you said 'no bracelets', Chopper." Ahsoka's voice was curious.

"I'm thinking of these crystals between the akul teeth."

Her hand reached up to touch the triangular predator's teeth as her mouth made a circle of wonder.

"We'll take care of everything, Commander." Chopper's words were echoed by Slack's nod, Conjure's grin and Hardcase's 'yes sir'. "You will be the most beautiful princess at the event."

Chopper was waiting at parade rest by the desk where Rex had left his dress uniform, gloves and boots; everything crisply perfect, the creases knife-edged exact and the boots polished to perfection. Rex tightened the towel around his waist and gave the trooper a nod as his fingers came up and tighted on the towel over his shoulders. "Chopper; shouldn't you be seconding the commander?"

"Yes, sir. I just came to ask if you'll be dancing with the commander."

"I thought that might be your doing, when Skywalker came after me this afternoon." Rex sighed. "If I must."

"No, sir." Chopper's voice was firm.

"What?" Rex turned to see soft worry on Chopper's face.

"If you must, then don't." Chopper looked up. "She's a Jedi and she'll know that you're only dancing with her because the general ordered it." He shook his head. "That would spoil everything for her."

"Then what am I to do?" Rex's voice was bemused. "Disobey a direct order?"

"Enjoy it, sir."

Rex shook his head as he pulled the towel up to dry some water in his ear. "I can't, Chopper. It's hard enough just seeing her…"

"You see her, Captain," interrupted Chopper. "Every day. You have a part of her no one else will ever have. What do the rest of your troopers have, Captain?"

The two men were statues then Rex sighed. "It's easy to convince a trooper to do what he really wants to do." Rex nodded as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Is that what you're here for?"

Chopper blushed. "No sir. I simply came to warn you."

Rex raised an eyebrow. "Warm me about what?"

"She's beautiful, sir." Chopper almost whispered. "She is beautiful."

Rex gave a soft laugh. "She's always beautiful, Chopper. Joking in the mess or defying gravity; asleep in her cloak or leading into battle."

"No, sir. She's never been as beautiful as tonight."

Enjoy... read, review, enjoy.

Have a happy holiday season and there will be more tomorrow.