"Is this really necessary?" Ambassador Asara asked First Officer Haken. They stood at the security exit for the Esseles, and waited while the passenger bridge to Coruscant Space Dock maneuvered into place.
"I doubt it, Ambassador," Haken said. "But, you'll have to take that up with General Garza. Or her escort detail."
"An escort detail?" Asara asked.
"The Republic's best, ma'am."
The bridge locked into place, and a crewman opened the door for the Ambassador. Two Republic troopers waited at the far end of the bridge, a tall, dark blue Twi'lek man with scars covering half his face and a stern looking Cathar. Once Asara exited the bridge, the Twi'lek trooper stepped forward and saluted.
"Ambassador Asara?" the trooper said. "Lieutenant Cyr'rnin Onoka, Sergeant Aric Jorgan, Havok Squad. We are here to escort you to the Senate."
Oh, that's a woman, Asara thought. That is a sturdy looking woman.
"Did you say 'Onoka'?" the Ambassador asked.
"Yes, ma'am, that Onoka," the lieutenant replied.
"Then you'd know my rescuers," Asara said.
"Rescuers, ma'am?" the trooper asked.
"Hello, Cyr'rnin," Agenord said, exiting the security bridge behind the Ambassador.
The lieutenant gasped. "Master Agenord," she said in a voice like a star struck girl.
"'Master Agenord'," he said. "We grew up together."
"You're a Jedi," she said. "It wouldn't be proper."
Agenord rolled his eyes. "Who's your friend?"
"Sergeant Aric Jorgan, sir," Jorgan said.
"Good to meet you," Agenord said. "Keep my cousin safe."
"Will do, sir," Jorgan replied.
"You built your lightsaber," Cyr'rnin said to Agenord. "You're a full Jedi now. It looks just like your sketch." She stared at it a moment. "Did you use a variable frequency beam modulator?"
Agenord sighed. "It gave me a shorter ignition time."
"But it makes the blade less stable," Cyr'rnin complained.
"So, I added a second collimating ring to the emitter."
"But that'll add extra weight to the emitter!"
"So, I moved the control box to the pommel. It's perfectly balanced, see?" He balanced the saber on the edge of his hand.
"Yeah, I guess."
"I needed the shorter ignition time," Agenord said.
"I believe that," Cyr'rnin said. She looked at him hopefully. "Is it blue?"
"Orange," he replied.
"Orange! Blue is traditional."
"I like orange."
"Yeah, you do," Cyr'rnin sighed. "Oh, Ambassador, you said 'rescuers'?" She looked at Agenord. "Is it Master Kriranda?"
"No," Agenord said cautiously.
"Cyr'rnin!" a male Twi'lek yelled from the bridge. He ran to Cyr'rnin and hugged her.
"Hello, Xal," the lieutenant said with a sigh.
"Hello, little sister!"
She sighed again. "I'm two centimeters taller than you, Xal."
He stepped back with a smile. "Fine. Baby sister! How are you doing?"
She groaned at him. "I'm doing just fine, Xal."
"Do I really deserve that?"
"My drill instructor."
"Yeah," he said. "I'll give you that one."
"What are you doing on the Esseles anyway?" Cyr'rnin asked. "What happened to your ship?"
"Someone stole it and brought it to Coruscant."
"Why would someone bring a stolen ship to Coruscant?" she asked.
"I will ask him that right before I shoot him."
"And you actually helped rescue the Ambassador?"
He shrugged. "Mostly I stood next to Agenord while he did the rescuing."
"I believe that," Cyr'rnin said.
"No!" Asara said. "Your brother could have turned me over to the Imperials to save himself. He didn't. He was very heroic, and I'm very grateful to him."
Cyr'rnin looked at the Ambassador for a moment then said to her brother, "You slept with the Ambassador!"
"It was her idea," he said.
"Ambassador, on behalf of the family, I'd like to apologize for anything my brother may have said or done."
"No apology needed," Asara said.
Agenord stifled a laugh.
"Nevertheless," Cyr'rnin said. "I would like to make clear that Xaldiba is not representative of the rest of the family."
"She's got you there," Agenord said to Xal.
"Will you be accompanying us to the Senate, Captain?" Asara asked.
"I'm not really a Senate kind of person," Xaldiba said.
"Don't worry about it," Agenord said. "Teeseven has everything recorded."
The droid beeped enthusiastically, happy to be noticed.
"Very well," Asara said. "Captain, it was a considerable pleasure."
"Ambassador-" Xaldiba began.
Corso Riggs nudged the Captain in the ribs.
"Oh, right," Xaldiba said. "Cyr'rnin, my First Mate, Corso Riggs."
"Mister Riggs," Cyr'rnin said. "It's a pleasure."
"Yes, ma'am," Corso said, his eyes fixed on Cyr'rnin.
"They're just scars, Mister Riggs," she said.
"Ma'am?"
"You're staring at my scars, Mister Riggs."
"Weren't the scars, ma'am," he replied. "That's not what I meant! I meant, I'm sorry if I was staring, ma'am. Is what I meant."
"They're just scars," she said.
"Weren't the scars, ma'am."
"Corso," Xaldiba said. "Are you having inappropriate thoughts about my sister?"
"They ain't inappropriate at all, Captain," Corso said. "That's not what I meant! I meant, if I was going to have thoughts about your sister, Captain, they'd be upstanding thoughts, is what I meant. They'd be right proper thoughts, is what I'm saying."
"Yeah," Xaldiba said. "Say, Agenord, could you maybe, possibly mind trick customs a teensy bit before you go?"
"I have every faith in your resourcefulness, Xal," Agenord said.
"You're an asshole, Agenord," Xal said.
"As long as you know it," he replied.
Xal watched them leave. "Plan besh, Corso."
"How do you pronounce your sister's name, Captain?"
"Customs, Corso."
"Captain?"
"We can't see her if we don't get through customs."
"Oh, right," Corso said. "Let's go do that."
At the landing pad, they watched as a Republic transport buzzed into place. The side hatch opened, and a Togruta trooper climbed out. The group moved swiftly to the transport with Cyr'rnin and Sergeant Jorgan flanking the Ambassador. After salutes and introductions, Jorgan and the trooper helped Asara aboard the transport.
The trooper turned back and said, "We didn't hear anything about a Jedi."
"He was on the Esseles with me," Asara said. "He's the one that rescued me, and his droid has everything recorded."
"Yes, ma'am," the trooper said. "Welcome aboard, Master Jedi."
Once they were in the air, Asara said, "Master Agenord, is Captain Xaldiba-" She looked at Cyr'rnin. "Really that bad?"
"He has good moments and bad," Agenord said.
Cyr'rnin looked at him but didn't say anything.
"It's best to get out while you still like him," Agenord continued. "He doesn't want children, and he will find a way to piss you off, especially if you're Twi'lek."
"That's too bad," Asara said. "He was more heroic than he gave himself credit for."
"I know," Agenord said. "But, he doesn't like people to know that."
"It's too bad," she said again and looked away with a faint smile.
"Lieutenant," Jorgan said. "What did you mean by 'that Onoka'?"
Asara said, "The Onoka are one of the strongest Force sensitive families on Ryloth."
"I like to think we are the strongest Force sensitive family on Ryloth," Cyr'rnin said. "Most races in the Republic have one or two families that are strong in the Force," she told the Sergeant. "For the Cathar, it is the Hnilo family."
"I've heard of them," Jorgan said.
"For the Twi'lek, it is the Onoka," Cyr'rnin continued. "Our family has produced at least one Jedi every generation for the last eight-hundred and twenty-three years."
"What about the Securas?" Asara asked.
Agenord hid a smile.
"Well," Cyr'rnin said. "The Securas are strong; that is true. However, the odds of an Onoka being Force sensitive is one in six. The odds of a Secura being Force sensitive is one in nine. Although, they do compensate for that with a larger family."
Agenord suppressed a laugh.
Cyr'rnin said, "They do like to say they have had more members on the Jedi Council, which is technically correct, however, they have also had more scholars and instructors. The Onoka have had more field Jedi. But, they are a very honorable and respectable family, and a very worthy second-place."
Agenord suppressed another laugh.
"You have my vote," Asara said. "After witnessing Master Agenord in action."
"I certainly believe that," Cyr'rnin said, looking at Agenord with pride. "Master Agenord is the strongest Onoka ever tested. By a considerable degree."
Agenord shrugged, a little uncomfortable with the declaration.
"Didn't you mention another one, ma'am?" Jorgan asked.
"Yes!" Cyr'rnin said. "Master Kriranda. How is she?"
"No idea," Agenord said. "The Council sent me to train with the Battlemasters for five years. When I got back, she was gone."
"Did the Council say where she went?" Cyr'rnin asked.
"They didn't, and they won't," Agenord said. "But, it's Kriranda. It must be something important."
Asara and Jorgan looked at him.
"I might be the strongest Onoka tested," Agenord said. "But Kriranda is the smartest. The Council would never waste that much potential."
Cyr'rnin said, "I must agree with my cousin on that."
"Senate Building," the pilot called out.
"Lieutenant, Sergeant," Asara said. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for the trouble."
"No trouble at all, Ambassador," Cyr'rnin said. "We had just arrived at the spaceport ourselves. Besides, I got to see my cousin Agenord."
"And Xal," Agenord said.
"Technically," Cyr'rnin replied.
"He does love you," Agenord told her.
Cyr'rnin nodded. "I will say that much about Xaldiba. He does care about family."
The transport settled onto its landing pad.
After she exited the transport, Asara said, "He really did risk his life for me."
Cyr'rnin looked at Agenord and back to Asara. "I believe you, Ambassador. Xaldiba can be frustrating, but he does have the occasional good moment. Now, if you'll follow me."
Once inside the building, Senate security took over, and Cyr'rnin and Sergeant Jorgan left to report to General Garza.
"I like her," Asara said.
"She's a little severe when it comes to family," Agenord said. "But she's one of the best people I know."
"Can I ask where she got the scars?" Asara said.
"That's not something we talk about. Sorry."
"Quite all right," she said. "Thank you for saving me twice, by the way."
"Twice?"
She nodded toward Teeseven. "I hate these debriefings."
"Are you attacked often?" Agenord asked.
Asara said, "I've been attacked a few times, but never with such determination."
"Oh."
"'Oh' indeed," she said. "But, the Republic has the strongest Onoka ever protecting it. I'm sure we'll do fine."
Agenord sighed and said, "Let's hope."
"These missions are critical, Lieutenant," General Garza said, concluding her briefing. "Our future success or failure is contingent on how well-supplied Tavus and his followers are."
"You can count on Havok Squad, ma'am," Cyr'rnin replied.
"I tried that before," Garza said. "This time, I'm counting on the two of you."
"Yes, ma'am," Cyr'rnin said.
"Rest up for now, and meet with Corporal Garrum in the morning," the general told her. "How was the escort duty with the ambassador?"
"Milk run, ma'am, but I got to see my cousin."
Garza nodded. "Master Agenord. I've heard about him."
"A lot of people will hear about him, ma'am," Cyr'rnin said with a smile.
"I'm sure they will," the general said. "Lieutenant, Sergeant, dismissed."
Once out of the general's office, Cyr'rnin said, "Did you ever deal with these underworld types, Sergeant?"
Jorgan shook his head. "Needles or Gearbox would disappear for a few days and come back with new supplies. They said don't ask. We needed the supplies, so I didn't ask. Are you staying on the base while we're here?"
"That's the plan. I don't have time to house hunt."
"Our gear should be there by now," he told her.
"Sounds good, Sergeant. Request a vehicle, and meet me at oh-six-hundred."
The next morning, Jorgan arrived exactly on time. He'd be damned if a demotion would make him less of a soldier. He knocked, waited for a response, entered and saluted. His new lieutenant had her leg armor on, but only wore a tight bra above the waist.
"I'm having trouble with the chest armor," she told him. "It'll be a minute."
That was the first time he'd seen her without her armor. She was his height, maybe a little taller, with muscles gained from a lot of hard work. He'd already seen her toss around a full duffle and a gear bag like they were empty. As impressive as that was, the scars stood out more. Deep and intricate, more surgical than random, they covered the right half of her face past her ear, continued down her neck and shoulder, and disappeared under the tight bra. Each line was clean and careful, more like torture than combat. But, as bad as they were, she hadn't done anything about them. They showed no hint of skin grafts or regeneratives, nothing but natural healing.
She caught him staring and said, "Problem, Sergeant?"
"Sorry, ma'am. Just wondering where you got those scars."
She watched him for a long time before answering.
"A Sith Lord gave them to me."
"A Sith Lord, ma'am? Why didn't he kill you?"
"He didn't want to," she answered in a tone that said stop asking.
"Yes, ma'am."
She returned to her bedroom, and he thought, shit, rookie mistake.
He looked around the quarters. Tiny but comfortable. The kitchen was untouched, so they'd need to stop for food. A work mount stood on top of her table surrounded by tools and components. The mount was too small for a rifle, but a pistol would fit. However, the device clamped in place looked like a lightsaber. A section of the casing had been removed, and the crystal chamber was exposed. A device, too large for the hilt, sat in place of the lenses with wires running from it to a power supply. He was still trying to guess what it did when she came out, geared and ready to go.
"Ready, Sergeant?" she said.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied. "If I may ask, ma'am-"
She watched him.
"Why do you have a lightsaber?"
"It's a hobby," she replied with sudden enthusiasm. "I have been working on that lightsaber since I was ten."
"What's that thing on it?"
"Magnetic lenses," she said. "They're used for testing. I don't have proper lenses."
"You could ask your cousin."
She shook her head. "I would never deprive a Jedi of a crystal."
They left and headed for the speeder.
"Any good with it, ma'am?" Jorgan asked.
Her eyes lit up, and she almost smiled. "I was undefeated in vibrosword in Special Forces training. I even beat the instructors."
"You could give your cousin a run for his money."
"No," she said, that pride in her eyes again. "You'll understand if you see him fight. No one else is that good."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, and thought, she's an odd one, but I've seen worse. He turned the speeder toward the base entrance, feeling like the Republic was a little less against him.