Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“General?” Rex asked as they traipsed into the hangar bay, ready for their orders. Skywalker was pacing in front of the gun ships, muttering to himself, which was not a great sign. 

“There you are,” he replied, his head snapping up to them. He looked about ready to sprint five laps of the hangar. 

“What’s going on?” Fives dared to ask. They weren’t on an active campaign or battle at the moment so he didn't understand the urgency behind his Generals eyes. In fact, they had been oddly stagnant the last few days, waiting for new orders to come in. Unfortunately for everyone else - namely Rex - it had given him, Jesse, Echo and Hardcase the opportunity to cause absolute chaos in their boredom. 

“We need to get going,” he jerked his head to the gunship. “I’ll explain on the way.”

At this point they were all used to this insane behaviour from their beloved General so no one questioned it, Torrent following him onto the gunship without a word of query. He frowned a little under his helmet at the sudden urgency. Skywalker was tapping his foot impatiently the entire time it took for them to get in the air, before he finally turned to them.

“You’re getting a new General,” he said bluntly and they all jerked in shock.

“What?” Rex asked, jaw hinged open as they stared. This was not what they had been expecting. A new General? Why? Were they still part of the 501? Had they done something wrong? No. Skywalker wouldn’t just cast them off like that. There had to be some sort of reason. 

“It’s temporary,” Skywalker sighed and there were obvious nods of relief, from himself included. He liked his General, and he loved his brothers in the 501st. Being cast out would’ve been devastating. “But I need to use Delta squad for some missions for the Council so I’m swapping you guys for them for a little while.”

“All due respect General but why can we not do those missions?” Tup huffed, crossing his arms and earning a sly smirk from Skywalker. Honestly, he agreed. What was so special about these missions that Torrent couldn’t do it?

“I need their… skill set,” he replied slowly. “It’ll be a couple of months tops.”

“Right, so who’s the new General?” Jesse grinned and he elbowed his brother playfully. Hopefully this new General wasn’t crazy like Skywalker. Or maybe he hoped they were. He always did enjoy Skywalker's antics - it made things entertaining.

“General Alora Shan - Jedi Master and Delta lead,” Skywalker smirked. Fives had never heard of her, him? He couldn’t tell from that name alone. 

“Who’s that?” Echo asked through a mouthful of ration that he hadn’t finished when they had been called to the hangar.

“One of the greatest Generals out there, other than me of course,” Skywalker winked. “I wouldn’t be trading you men to any old General. She’s a friend.”

Right. She . He was cautiously optimistic. After all, the Delta squad were known throughout the GAR for their feats. When he’d been a cadet he’d practically idolised them, something he was sure Echo was going to bring up sometime soon. 

“I would trust no one else with you all,” Skywalker nodded. “Trust me, she’s good. Doesn’t mind telling the Council to go shove it either,” he chuckled. 

Well, that was a good sign at least. 

He was so very wrong - at least in his opinion. When they landed on the planet, Delta was in the midst of finishing off a battle, battle droids scattered everywhere like a graveyard. He caught a brief glance of the General in question as she conducted a death defying flip over a crashing tank, landing gracefully and cutting off its gunning mount, her light purple lightsaber a clear beacon on the field.  

“SKYWALKER!” She yelled with a grin over her shoulder as Delta surged ahead. They were a force to be reckoned with, dismantling every droid they came across. “Get your damn shinies off my battlefield!”

He immediately recoiled in annoyance. There was no way, given their armour, that this Jedi seriously thought they were fucking shinies. It rubbed him the wrong way and he spent the rest of the clean up seething to himself at the comment. 

It wasn’t until Delta and their General had cleared the entire field did he actually get a proper look at the woman who’d immediately pissed him off. He begrudgingly admitted she was stunning with long dark chocolate brown hair that contrasted nicely with her bright green eyes and tanned skin. Her cheekbones were high and pronounced and her figure lithe with muscle, wrapped in a flowy sage tunic and brown pants. That only fucked him off further, frankly. She just had to be pretty. Why couldn’t she be some hideous Hutt? 

His eyes narrowed on her, taking in the odd facial markings she had as she moved closer. They were a shimmery gold. At the centre of her forehead was an upside down crescent moon with two short lines either side, pointing vertically. Another line ran over her bottom lip and halfway down her chin. It was a striking look when paired with the rest of her but he couldn’t bring himself to care - a true testament to how annoyed he was.

He gritted his teeth as she sauntered over to their group casually, calling something in code over her shoulder to Delta with a sharp flick of her hand. 

“What did I say about getting your shinies off my battlefield?” She smirked at Skywalker who clapped her on the shoulder firmly with a grin of his own. Seriously? General Skywalker wasn’t even going to comment on that? That was the second time now she’d said that.

“You get the Comms from Master Yoda?” He asked instead.

“Sadly,” she groaned, glancing at her squad with a depressed frown.

“I’ll take good care of them,” Skywalker winked and she pinned him with an unimpressed glare as if she didn't believe him one bit. He bristled again, the need to defend his General and his brothers growing by the minute. 

“How come you get my squad and I get your shinies?” She complained with a small smile. He bit his tongue again, barely holding back his sharp comment that they weren’t fucking shinies. He was a damn ARC Trooper and he’d worked to get there. Alpha had kicked his ass every day for months.

“This is torrent squad,” Skywalker grinned and she cast her gaze over them appraisingly with a small smile. 

“Ah huh…” she chuckled.

“Ah… all due respect General but we’re not shinies,” Rex spoke up and he smirked under his helmet at the subtle telling off his Captain was giving her.

She simply quirked a brow. “You are to me, Captain. Delta and I have been at this since the first Battle of Geonosis. You weren’t even born until 5 months after.” Fives frowned at this. Sure the logic was solid but it was rude and they weren’t shinies no matter what she might think. His fists clenched and he forced himself to relax at the indignity of her comment. If anyone but a General deigned to talk to their Captain like that, a fight would’ve broken out. It might still. 

To his surprise, Rex let out a low chuckle but he was not letting it go so easily. First impressions were everything and he’d decided he did not like her.

“Alora and Delta here are a bit of a veteran squad,” Anakin laughed and she rolled her eyes at him, shoving him playfully.

“I’m only a few years older than you, ugly,” she said.  

“Lore stop being fucking lazy!” Scorch called out, throwing a droid arm at her head. She caught it easily and tossed it back, putting some force behind it to the point where the commando stumbled when it hit him. He couldn’t believe she let her men speak to her like that either. It completely undermined the command chain, though now he could tell he was just nit picking.

“I’m giving you away!” She yelled back.

“We know ,” Boss grunted back, resting his arm on her head. She scowled at him, shaking him off, though it was clearly fond. “Looks like you’re getting a bunch of shinies,” Boss laughed.

“Didn’t you hear, they’re not shinies,” she smirked, a teasing tone to her voice and he bristled at the obvious jab. “Don’t worry Anakin, I’ve never lost a man. Your squad will be perfectly safe with me until you’re done licking the Council's boot.”

“Fuck, like I have a choice,” Skywalker groaned.

“Well…” she trailed off, jerking her head at her men.

“You get away with it because you’re Master Yoda's favourite,” Skywalker replied, shoving her in the head, messing up her hair which was tied back in a low bun.

“Perhaps endear yourself to him a bit more?” She suggested before they both burst out laughing, doubling over with tears in their eyes. Apparently none of them got the joke since they all stood around awkwardly. Delta, on the other hand, were chuckling to themselves as they regrouped. He found himself a little jealous that she had clearly shared the joke with them at some point but Skywalker hadn’t.

“I want my men back in one piece,” Skywalker threatened.

“I want my men back in one piece,” she replied, poking him in the chest. “They have my personal Comms and I will hear about you doing dumb shit.”

Her personal Comms? Surely that was unprofessional, he thought as he glanced between them all, glad for his helmet. He couldn’t help but find fault with everything. This woman was aggravating. 

No one else appeared to agree since they were all snickering at the interaction.

“All right, Torrent with me. Delta, please for the love of everything sacred, behave ,” she grinned.

“No promises lore,” Scorch laughed as they astutely swapped sides.

“May the force be with you,” she said to Skywalker sarcastically. “We will clear out the remaining Separatists here and then we’ll be off on our next mission.”

“Same goes for you,” Skywalker laughed. “Captain Rex is the most loyal man I’ve known.”

“I’m sure he is,” she smiled, waving him off and leaving them alone with her. He wondered just how much dissidence she’d allow from them because he was fighting the urge to ignore her every word. “Well, you got stuck with the boring job for this one,” she sighed to them. “There shouldn’t be too many left. We just have to clear that tower there and we can get the hell off this planet.” 

“No problem for us,” Tup said, practically attaching himself to her side as she strode forward through the discarded battle droids left behind. He frowned at his brother but then simply sighed and traipsed after them. Tup seemed eager to impress the Delta leader. 

“What’s up with you?” Jesse chuckled, falling into step alongside him.

“She thinks we’re shinies,” he grunted.

“Well her logic is kind of sound,” Jesse laughed. “Besides, who cares. She’s literally the leader of one of the most badass squads in the entire GAR!” 

He rolled his eyes under his helmet. It didn’t make him feel better about it. Perhaps he was being irrational but she just rubbed him the wrong way, no matter how badass the squad she led was.

“Fives sulking?” Echo asked casually and he shoved his brother. General Shan took notice and gave them a sharp look, quirking her brow.

“I hope that was a friendly shove, Fives,” she commented and he jerked a little. How the hell did she even know his name? “I read your files,” she added at the surprised snorts that filtered through helmets around her before she astutely listed off their names and designation numbers. 

“Sure,” he grunted, earning him pursed lips and a shake of her head. She didn’t comment further, apparently he wasn’t worth her attention. 

“Hey what’s up with you?” Rex asked critically, dropping back to talk to him.

“Nothing,” he replied sharply.

“If General Skywalker trusts her, so should we,” he continued but his tone was laced with a warning he rarely heard from his Captain. He didn’t appreciate the reprimand and it was General Shan’s fucking fault. 

“Trust is earned,” he muttered back before striding ahead of Rex to avoid more of his lecture. He didn't really want to hear it right then. 

They cleared the tower quickly enough, though he found himself questioning her strategies and tactics. Particularly when she had instructed a head on rush at the droids in the hallway. His mood was already sour though so he couldn’t tell if he was just generally pissed or not.

His brothers seemed to like her. Tup was practically attached to her hip and when he’d removed his helmet he’d had moon eyes aimed at the General, excitedly telling her about his theories and strategies. He frowned at the scene as General Shan quietly complimented his hair, a sentence that sent Tup blushing all the way back to Rex and leaving him to roll his eyes.

“General shouldn’t we be moving on instead of commenting on hairstyles?” He asked loudly and her head snapped up to him, as did his brothers.

“Quite right, Fives,” she said slowly, the mood dissolving from what had been friendly to something quietly uncomfortable as she directed them to clear the control centre and move out. 

“Vod, what the hell?” Echo asked him as they trudged on.

“She’s wasting time,” he muttered.

“You never seem to care when General Skywalker is wasting time,” Echo pointed out.

“Look, she's just infuriating, okay?” He grunted. “There was no need for the whole shinies comment.”

“It was a joke ,” Echo sighed. “Clearly her and Skywalker have some kind of banter going on.” 

“Jokes are funny ,” he replied sharply and his twin shook his head, apparently dropping his lecture and walking in silence as they approached the Omicron class ship that was set down on the edge of the forest. 

The others talked quietly amongst themselves as they boarded and took in the rather large space. When they finally removed their helmets, he caught Alora examining them curiously for a brief moment before she busied herself at the controls, tapping in something long range. 

“This is Foxglove,” she said, and a few heads perked up. “Got it. Wilco.”

“What was that?” Jesse asked and she gave him a coy little smile.

“Nothing of importance to our mission set, Jesse,” she chuckled. “Foxglove is one of my callsigns. I use it for intelligence purposes too,” she nodded, unbraiding her long hair and massaging her scalp as it fell in waves over her shoulders. He caught a few of his brothers watching and snorted, rolling his eyes. Apparently a pretty face completely eclipsed her arrogant attitude. Though he couldn’t very well say that aloud. Stars knew the amount of times he’d ignored a woman’s personality at 79s just to get her out back with him.

“One of?” Hardcase asked. 

“I go by Delta 1 when I’m flying with my squad,” she replied with a hum. 

“Sooo… What’s it like being in charge of Delta squad?” Jesse asked, taking the co-pilot's seat as she got them up, her sharp brows furrowed as she avoided the tree line.

“Chaos,” she replied. “But they’re good men and they know when to follow orders and when to tell me I’m a fucking idiot.”

“So all the time then,” he muttered and her head shot up, her fingers pausing on the controls. He immediately snapped his mouth shut, realising he’d said his thoughts aloud. 

“Something to say, Fives?” She asked.

“You know what I think?” He replied slowly.

“I didn’t realise you could do that,” she answered, equally as sharp and matching his attitude bar for bar. Some of his brothers laughed and he huffed in annoyance.

“Just so we’re clear, none of us are shinies.”

“ That’s what’s got you worked up?” She asked before doubling over in peels of laughter. “My apologies, oh great one, master of all. It’s an ongoing joke.” 

“Ah sorry General… He’s not usually this uptight,” Rex sighed and he bristled in annoyance. He was not being uptight. Something was off about her. 

“Actually he’s usually the opposite,” Tup grinned and she smiled back fondly. 

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” she chuckled, ignoring him and his outburst as she went back to keying in coordinates before telling them they were headed to Andabar to put down a growing Separatist outpost there. 

Her casual confidence did not improve his mood one bit, nor did the secretive call she had taken.

//

She found it hard to believe the joke about shinies was seriously what set Fives off, but perhaps he was just sensitive. It had been an ongoing joke between her and Delta that every other clone, except maybe Alpha, were shinies compared to them. 

It wasn’t even something she thought about these days, and the rest of Torrent squad had seemed to find it funny so she had no idea why this particular man took such an issue with it.

Still, it would do none of them any good to be at odds going forward so once they were in hyperspace and the men were settled down, she got to her feet. She’d apologise to him properly, and hope that they could reset everything. After all, she held a high respect for clones, and these were Anakins men. From his stories, she knew they were good. In fact she was a little surprised. Anakin had always described Fives as a bit of a trouble maker, causing chaos with his brothers and generally being light hearted yet committed and smart. This was anything but.

Traipsing to the back of the ship, she sat down next to Fives who glanced at her with a curt nod before going back to his data pad. She used a gentle hand to lower it, drawing his attention back to her.

“Yes sir ?” He asked.

“I wanted to apologise, Fives. After being with Delta for so long, I’m not particularly accustomed to other squads. I’m sorry about the shinies comment,” she said, keeping her voice sincere and quiet. She could tell the others were listening in but she didn’t intend to make it look like she was trying to out him or force his hand so she astutely ignored it, giving the trooper her full attention. 

He stared at her for a moment before shrugging and going back to the dossier he was reading. She stared at him in surprise, waiting patiently for him to say something but he didn’t even acknowledge her and annoyance burned through her veins. She was being sincere and it had been a joke that she didn’t realise would upset him so much. Why was he being such a dick? Was it because she was a woman in charge or something? None of the clones she’d met had been even close to sexist like that. 

She pursed her lips angrily. She’d had Rancors treat her with more respect. “Fine…” she said slowly, standing up again and stalking to the front of the ship. As long as he did his job then she supposed he could hate her as much as he wanted. 

Behind her, the men began to murmur and she caught bits and pieces of their conversation as she fumed over the control panel. 

“Vod what the hell?” Kix muttered.

“Fives, she's our general, you can’t just ignore her when she speaks to you.” Tup chastised 

“They’re right, Fives, drop the attitude,” Rex snapped and she sighed, deciding to step in. They didn’t need discourse between them either.

“As long as he follows orders and completes the missions to a high standard, including watching out for his brothers, then he can have whatever attitude he wants. I don’t care,” she said firmly. It was partially a lie. She did care a little that he seemed to dislike her so vehemently. She’d done nothing to him and frankly, she’d had high hopes when Anakin had told her about the squad swap. 

She liked the rest of them at least, and if she was picking favourites it would have to be Tup. He was thoughtful and energised, eager to share his strategies and theories with her. She appreciated it when her men did that. It kept her on her toes and helped her see battlefields in different lights.

“Ah.. General all due respect,” Rex sighed. “But as his Captain I cannot condone his behaviour.”

“First of all, I’d really prefer you call me Alora, or Lore,,” she smiled. “And second, they’re your men Captain so do as you please but I’d also prefer you performed as a unit and that there was no animosity between you due to me.” 

“It’s not you,” Echo said quietly and she chuckled. Apparently it was her if this wasn’t usual behaviour for Fives. 

“Of course… ah, Alora,” Rex smiled awkwardly and she grinned back as he felt out her name. She despised being called General or Sir. She was not a fan of the distinction between clones, Jedi and the civilians serving in the GAR and endeavoured to have no part of it. Even if it did piss off a few Admirals… and Jedi… and Senators.  

She left them to it at this, trying her best not to overhear or eavesdrop as she put them into hyperspace and turned to her datapad, reading the reports coming in through the main admin channel. It was a goal of hers to keep on top of it the best she could, given her and Delta were so often out of the loop on clandestine suicide missions. She hoped they would be okay with Skywalker, though she was well aware she was fretting unnecessarily. She had never met a more capable group of men and if Anakin was doing dumb shit, they would not hesitate to say so. 

At some point, she dozed off in the pilot's seat. She hadn’t realised just how exhausted she was but she hadn’t slept in two days and the battle had been a little rougher than she’d expected. Perhaps if she hadn’t been so tired she might’ve thought before making the shiny joke. 

She only woke when she felt a presence sit in the chair beside her. She briefly hoped it was Fives coming to accept her peace offering but when she opened her eyes it was Tup sitting there peacefully staring out the viewport.

“Oh shit sorry,” he said when he noticed her shift. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s fine,” she waved a hand lightly. “Probably shouldn’t have been napping anyway.”

“I dunno, you looked pretty tired,” he joked and she grinned at his cheeky attitude.

“Ouch, Tup,” she winked.

“Hey, I uh… wanted to apologise for Fives,” he muttered quietly and she glanced over her shoulder to find most of the men napping themselves - other than Captain Rex and the medic, Kix.

“You don’t need to apologise for his behaviour, Tup,” she murmured back. He was sweet, she liked him, but she wouldn’t have him taking responsibility for his brother acting like a complete piece of bantha shit.

“It’s just… he’s not usually like this. Honestly no idea what’s gotten into him,” Tup sighed loudly, shaking his head. “I promise he’s not usually this…”

“Sulky?” She chuckled and Tup nodded with a sly smile.

“I’m sure it’s an off day,” she shrugged, not really believing those words herself. It had seemed more than that but hell, what did she know? “It’s a sudden change for you all.”

“Yeah but none of us are being rude,” Tup muttered and Kix snorted from behind them, making it clear he’d been listening. She swung her chair around to face them, tucking a leg up under her with a wry grin. 

“Can’t be helped,” she shrugged again, glancing at the sleeping body of Fives. “We’re a couple of hours out, let them sleep a bit longer and then I’ll give everyone a quick mission brief.”

If only she knew her problems with Fives were just beginning.

Chapter Text

She was trying to get them all killed. He was certain of it. Her plan had been fucking ridiculous but she’d insisted on it. Sure it had worked but how would she know? She’d had them split into two teams to flank each side of the cyber centre they’d be infiltrating, forcing them to go Comms dark. 

He was still fuming afterwards, not appreciating being cut off from one half of his brothers. She, on the other hand, had gone straight down the middle. Sure, she drew fire to herself but she’d had no idea that they wouldn’t have faced bigger obstacles and more droids - alone. It had been a hairs breadth from a suicide mission.

He clenched his fists, glaring at her under his helmet as she began fiddling with the computer in the main room of the building. Tup had bounded over to help her and she was instructing him quietly as they went, her brow furrowed as she pulled the data onto a card. 

“Fives, what was that today?” Rex asked him with crossed arms. He knew what his Captain was referring to - he had briefly abandoned the plan, only being pulled back in line by Echo. Had his twin not done so, he had been prepared to simply regroup with the others and do things their way. Echo had probably saved him from a severe reprimand from the General, but he couldn’t find himself to be overly appreciative. 

“She’s trying to get us killed!” He hissed quietly, drawing Rex away from the group to air out his grievances.

“No she isn’t,” Rex growled.

“I don’t know why you suddenly love her but this plan was foolhardy. She had no idea what terrain or obstacles we would face and she left us without that information!”

“She made a tactical decision based on the information available. General Skywalker has done far more reckless things,” Rex snapped.

“ General Skywalker is usually with us,” he replied sharply. “She’s got no respect for us!”

“General Shan…. Alora , was busy drawing fire, Fives. Fall in line. That’s an order,” Rex grunted 

“Sir yes sir,” he replied sarcastically. It probably hadn’t helped he’d been snapping at Alora over their Comms when they had come back online and everyone had heard it. He couldn’t help it. Something about her just rubbed him the wrong way. She was foolhardy, arrogant and fucking naive. Clearly Delta had been doing all the heavy lifting for her and that coded call she had taken still irked him.

It didn’t take them long to get out of there and he was sitting outside in the grass with his brothers when they kicked off.

“Ya know Fives I’d have thought you’d appreciate a pretty face, not scorn the gift horse in the mouth,” Jesse said while Kix chuckled at his side.

“I only care if she’s competent,” he replied, laying back and playing with a strand of weed he’d pulled out. 

“You don’t care that she’s gorgeous?” Jesse asked sceptically. 

“Nope,” he replied. “And she’s not that pretty.”

That earned him several scoffs. From who, he couldn’t tell because he was too busy staring at the sky. He was technically lying but trying his best to convince himself otherwise. She was gorgeous and he was ignoring it on purpose when in any other situation he’d probably be flirting his ass off and pushing his luck.

He’d blown any chance at reconciling when he’d stubbornly ignored her apology - no matter how sincere. And now he was digging his heels in as opposed to facing the embarrassment of having to admit to her he had been petty ignoring her. Regardless, he still didn’t trust her. Her plan today had been reckless at best, intentionally malicious at worst and he was seething about it still. Not to mention that odd coded call she had gotten.

How could no one else see it?

“Whatever you say, Fives,” Hardcase sighed. 

“Yeah maybe Kix should check your eyes, vod,” Jesse laughed. “I certainly do not have a problem with having a smoking hot General around.”

“Oi. She’s our General, not one of your scores at 79s,” Rex warned them lowly, glancing behind him to no doubt check if Alora had appeared off the ship where she was meeting with the Jedi over holo. It had surprised him a little when she had invited them to join but Rex had waved her down, offering to give her privacy instead.

“Ass kissers,” he snorted in amusement, earning him a whack around the head from Echo who was frowning down at him.

“Seriously Fives, what has gotten into you?” He breathed.

“I’ve already told you. Mark my words, vod, she’s going to get us killed or worse,” he muttered, closing his eyes and ignoring his twins searing glare. Echo had been on his ass all day about his dislike for their new General but frankly he didn’t see a problem. He was looking out for them . They weren't just some numbers, some cannon fodder and todays plan from Alora proved she didn’t give a fuck in his eyes. Had something happened, they would’ve been comms dark and left alone to deal with it or die trying. 

He grinned up at his twin who rolled his eyes in response and threw himself into the grass. 

“Can you at least keep it to yourself?” Kix asked, throwing grass in his face and causing him to splutter on the bits going in his mouth. 

“Ugh I think I just ate grass!” He complained, debating tackling Kix. He knew better though. One did not fuck with the medic, no matter what. He might be able to lay Kix out but it would bite him on the ass later if he needed medical attention. He’d learned that lesson the hard way.

His brothers roared with laughter and he grinned back, tossing the grass and weeds back in Kixs direction. It was the better option than throwing hands with him, at least. Kix simply brushed the weeds and grass off his armour with an eye roll and a scowl.

“You’re gonna eat a fist if you keep provoking Lore,” Hardcase pointed out with a smirk and he raised his middle finger in response. She wasn’t going to deck him in the face, she was a Jedi for force sake. Beyond a few sharp comments in return, she’d barely looked angry at his own steps out of line - even when he had outright challenged her over the comms earlier in the mission.

A few fat raindrops fell on his cheek and he wiped them off, flicking the water from his hand as he sat up. There was a storm rolling in, which was ironically how he felt about Alora Shan. His gaze flicked back to the open gangplank of the ship and he heard a loud growl of frustration directed at whoever she was speaking to, a testament to the fact that she could get pissed off. 

“That does not sound good,” Echo commented with a raised brow as a few more raindrops plopped down on them. 

“She doesn’t really get along with lots of the Jedi council so…” Tup shrugged and he narrowed his eyes at his younger brother. 

“And just how do you know that?” He asked slowly, though he was well aware of Tup’s proclivity toward Alora. 

“She told me,” Tup replied with a small grin. It was clear that he had endeared himself to the General and she had indulged his every whim and question. He shouldn’t be surprised. Tup idolised her the moment he saw her. His chest burned a little at that but he shoved the feeling down. Soon enough, Tup would see she was not all she was cracked up to be. 

“Oooh come on, tell us more,” Hardcase laughed, elbowing Tup hard. He had to admit, he was a little curious too. He might not like her, but he wasn’t stupid. They were all curious about the Jedi’s command structure, and they didn't often talk about it to or around the clones. 

“I asked her about what she said to General Skywalker about General Yoda and she said that she and the Council disagree a lot on Jedi stuff. Apparently she got in a big fight with General Mundi when she was younger that resulted in her walking out of the main Order for a little while. She travelled all over the place! It’s really cool!” Tup exclaimed excitedly. 

“Younger?” Rex queried with a frown. He echoed that. How old was she anyway?

“Yeah she was uh… like… Nat born teenager basically,” Tup nodded. “She’s 25 now.” 

“Huh, bold,” Rex hummed and he rolled his eyes. So what? It didn't change where she was now, or that they were in the middle of a war. 

“Wanna know something even cooler?” Tup grinned, more than happy to share all the information he’d collected on Alora in just over a day. Even Fives was a little impressed he’d managed to do that, given she seemed to be rather stoic when it came to privileged information. At least in his opinion. 

“Uh, obviously,” Jesse grinned. 

“She trained Alpha-17,” Tup laughed and every head jerked to attention, even his own. The Alpha-17?! The ARC of all ARC Troopers? The man who had basically designed the whole ARC programme and trained every current Commander and every other Captain in the GAR? 

“You’re joking,” Kix said slowly, but Tup shook his head, looking giddy. 

“Nope. Apparently she was assigned to Kamino in the early days to train Alpha and a few others so they could set up the training programmes! She showed me the scar on her arm from where Alpha bit her in a fight,” he grinned. 

“Well now I know where Wolffe got it from,” Rex grumbled in amusement, tapping something into his comms which was no doubt a long range message to Commander Wolffe informing him of his new knowledge. He was begrudgingly impressed. If she had trained Alpha-17 then it spoke to at least some kind of prowess in a hand to hand spar. Not that he was considering fighting her, but he definitely filed it away so as not to provoke an actual fight with her. It would be embarrassing to be beaten up by a five foot six woman who looked so pretty she could be a holo model. 

She could definitely lay him out.

And maybe she would because she looked infuriated as she stomped off the ship, staring at the sky with a tipped back head before sighing loudly, something that was obviously in place of a frustrated scream. 

“Everything alright?” Rex asked slowly as they watched her. 

“Just perfect ,” she muttered back. “I am thrilled , once more, by the Council’s premier decision making skills.” For a moment, it was like she had forgotten who she was speaking with and he rolled his eyes at her, something that earned him a sharp glare. “We’ve got a mission set in the outer rim. There is some sort of… Separatist uprising the Republic wants put down.” 

“On it,” Tup grinned. 

“Ah huh,” she murmured. “Take five, we’ll leave soon but not right now.”

“Why not?” He argued stringently, crossing his arms. 

“ Because I need to go for a walk,” she sighed, shaking her head as a few pieces of dark hair fell out of her braid. “And think about this.”

“Why?” He queried stubbornly and he caught just the briefest flash of frustration on her face before she schooled her features into something blank. 

“Because I said so. I’ll be back in a moment. If you truly feel like you need something to do, then check the ship and our supplies,” she said quietly, her voice tense, before turning and striding in the other direction. Her figure quickly disappeared into the forest and he simply stared after her with pursed lips for a long moment, feeling a little satisfied he’d managed to annoy her. 

Of course, that had to be dashed by her number one fan. 

“You shouldn’t bait the General,” Tup said quietly. 

“I wasn’t,” he smirked. “Besides, I thought Jedi were meant to be all about regulating emotions and what not.”

“Fives,” Echo sighed. “Is this really how you want our assignment with her to go? Because I sure don’t.”

He shrugged, content to leave that unanswered. Frankly, he found it extremely amusing he had riled her up and now he knew where at least one of her trigger points lay - the Jedi Council. While he certainly didn't claim to understand their politics, nor their structure, it was clear they annoyed Alora Shan on a whole other level and he had every plan to take advantage of that. Even if it meant agreeing with their decisions where he otherwise didn't care or didn't understand them. 

He was going to figure out what she was up to, even if it killed him.  

// 

She was furious . It took her a good five minutes of deep breathing and walking at a fast pace through the forest to temper her expectations back to normal and calm herself down. Yet again she had argued with the Council and yet again she had simply been told she was defiant and bold. 

She disagreed. 

This mission set was ridiculous . It was almost insulting, as if it was just to help her distract the Torrent squad for the meantime. They could do more, s he could do more than simply put down a few outposts on some abandoned planets. 

The Council had ordered her to take the men to dispel some growing Separatist bases and outposts in the outer rim, something she believed they shouldn’t be focussed on. The Council, on the other hand, wished for these to be dispelled before they became a political issue. Of course she had argued against it. Of course she had said that as Jedi, the political implications of their actions should not hold any weight - only the intention and outcome. And, of course , she had been told she was being naive, that she didn't understand the gravitas of the current situation between the Separatists and the Republic. 

She would argue she understood it better than most of them. 

But no matter how much she pushed back, they never quite believed her when she implored that they were taking the political aspect of the war into too much consideration. That was not what Jedi were meant to be. That was not what her great grandmother, the grandmaster, had reformed the Jedi to be. They were to be peacekeepers, they were to be guiding lights, always available to help and to intervene and, if the times demanded it, to deliver justice. What the Council was insisting was an insult to what the Jedi once were, to what they were supposed to be.

They should be focussing on the heart of the Separatists - the Sith leading them, and the core players. They should be focusing on the world's suffering under their control. They should be focussing on influencing the galaxy for better instead of tempering politician’s expectations. After all, what would the Jedi become once this war was over if all they cared about was the political implications of their actions? 

And yet, no matter how much she pushed and argued, no matter how much she disobeyed orders and raged in the face of them, no matter when she tried to be reasonable and have intellectual discussions, they would not listen. What else could she do? She may be a master, but she was not on the Council. Even if she was, she doubted her opinion alone would sway the guiding minds of leadership against the current approach. 

Once upon a time she had respected Master Yoda for his wisdom - his long life had granted him many lessons and insights not available to others. But now… now she spat in the face of his advice. After living so long, seeing so much, how could he be so blind to these stupid decisions? To the dogma and hubris? How could he back them? It was insulting. 

And then came Master Plo - her former Master. She wanted to respect him, and oftentimes she did. He was closer to what she thought the Jedi should be than many others sitting on the Council, but she still found he was blind to their growing hubris, to the culture they were forming - one where they were guided by the Senate and not the force. Sometimes, she wished for the times when she had simply been his Padawan and he had been her stoic, yet kind Master, lecturing her on overusing the force or forcing her to meditate for hours on end. Those were simpler times. Those were times when she had followed him with awe in her eyes and listened to his every word like he had hung the stars. 

After all, the Jedi had high hopes for her ever since she was a child. Being the great grandchild of Satele Shan brought extra expectations, not to mention the rest of her lineage beyond that. She had done her best to deliver, excelling as a Padawan, passing her trials years early, becoming a knight before anyone else ever had and a Master not long after that. For a time, she had been the golden child of the order, a shining light of talent and power. Now, she was the bane of their existence and many of them, such as Master Windu or Master Mundi, had no problem making that glaringly clear. 

Falling out of the Council’s favour had never been in the plan. When she was younger, she had strived to please them - done everything they had said, completed every test and trial, guided and learned, duelled and taught, read and meditated. But as she got older, and more disillusioned, they had tossed her out of that favour rather easily. Instead, she became a pariah to them. She became someone who was too radical about the code to be listened to with any weight. 

And she disagreed vehemently. 

Anger wasn’t exactly in her vocabulary, not after all her training, but frustration certainly was and for a brief moment she simply wanted to sit down on a nearby log and cry for a while. This war was exhausting on her senses and her body, even more so at the patronisation of the Council, and now her men… 

Hell, she missed her squad already. Delta kept her grounded, kept her firm in her convictions and directions. Like her, they were not afraid to disobey orders if it meant serving a better cause and she supported them in those decisions and they, her. Delta was her family, they were brothers she would protect and serve with her life. Her new squad though… Well, she would not judge them for being so rigid in comparison. After all, she was well aware of what they were taught by those asshole Kaminoans on Kamino, but they lacked the flexibility her own squad did. For a great part, they also lacked the comfort Delta squad brought to her life. She loved those men like her own family. 

And Fives… Hells he’d nearly made her snap in frustration before. It hadn’t even really been his fault, he had simply caught her at the wrong time as she had exited that meeting but the look on his face said he took great joy in doing it on purpose. In truth, she had been intending on them leaving right there and then until he had attempted to antagonise her. The moment he did, she knew she needed to go cool off, and perhaps that was for the best. 

She didn't hate anyone, but she found herself disliking Fives more and more by the moment. Yes, they had gotten off to a bad start but she had done her damndest to be sincere and attempt to reconcile their budding relationship and he had flat out rejected that. Not only that, but he had queried her orders at every turn, spitefully calling her out, and if earlier was anything to show, he seemed to take enjoyment in getting under her skin. She still didn't understand why he took such an issue with her, but she was beginning to take an issue with him too. She took a deep breath. It was only for a few months. 

Without Fives, this entire squad swap would’ve been a hell of a lot smoother. After all, she liked the rest of them. Rex was a good man - smart and adjusted. Tup was sweet and earnest. Jesse was loyal and brave. She could go on and on. And she was sure Fives had good qualities too. She was certain he was fiercely loyal to his brothers, and very independent for a clone - something she often had to draw out of other clones slowly - but all she could focus on was his infuriating smirk as he had caught the frustration on her face. 

Sighing, she hit her knees on the edge of a stream and splashed her face, relishing the cool water as it dribbled down her face and neck. This was a disaster, yet one she would weather. She had to. She would find a way to deal with this, like she had found a way to deal with falling out of the Council’s favour, and drifting away from Plo, and facing down the will of the force every day of this war. It was the responsibility of a Jedi to find a way, and to wade their way through conflict and strife. She simply had to find that way, even if it felt impossible. 

The force trilled in response and she smiled softly at the familiar feeling. Ever since she was a young girl, she had felt the force around her as if it was an old friend. She remembered Plo telling her that was not normal, that the force did not manifest that way for most people, but she was glad it did for her. There was something comforting about it, like it was reminding her she was never alone no matter what she felt or where she was. The force was always there, in every living thing and moving part, she simply had to look for it. 

For a brief moment, she simply stared into the trickling water, watching the way it folded around the pebbles and foliage easily. Alora imagined herself as the water, like she always did, flowing and bending to every new barrier to progress. She would prevail, and she would do so in her own way. 

“Lore?” A familiar voice called out and she looked up over her shoulder to find Tup treading closer tentatively. 

“Tup, is everything okay?” She asked, slipping back into the General role as easily as breathing.

“Yeah, just wanted to check you didn't need us to do anything?” He questioned. It was a weak lie, one she saw right through immediately, but she indulged it anyway. 

“No, I think the ship is fine and we can pick up further supplies in the outer rim,” she sighed, standing up and brushing the dirt off her knees. Her beskar vambraces clicked at the movement and she shook them out a little, adjusting them on her wrists carefully.

“Oh, okay. Cool,” Tup nodded. “Rough meeting?” He asked boldly and she smiled a little. He was clearly pushing himself outside his comfort zone with whom he perceived to be a superior and she admired that. She felt it was only fair to reward him. 

“Yes, the Council and I… We do not agree in our approach to this war,” she murmured. 

“Yeah, you told me you don't agree with them but what do you mean?” He asked, growing a little bolder with her concession. 

“Tup,” she sighed. “That is a long story. The short version of it is that I am… related to someone who once led the Jedi Order as Grandmaster. She was powerful and respected, and I was expected to live up to her legacy but… times change, and what the Jedi perceive as her legacy these days is not the same as what I believe it to have been. I rallied against their expectations and fell out of favour,” she shook her head slightly, some of her hair falling loose from its braid. “Now, the Council does not listen to my opinion on the matter of this war, or anything else.”

“What’s the difference?” Tup asked. “In your opinion I mean. Sorry, I don't know a lot about the Jedi.” 

She smiled fondly at him. She liked his questions and curiosity. He seemed insistent to learn, reminding her of her former Padawan in some ways. “The Council believes, through their actions at least, that they should be pleasing the Senate and their politics. I disagree, to put it simply. That is not what the Jedi are for, in my opinion. When my great grandmother led the Jedi, the Order was about peacekeeping. It was about delivering Justice where it was needed but more importantly it was about keeping balance, evaluating every angle and option. This war….” she trailed off with a sigh. 

“What about it?” Tup asked in earnest. 

“I don't believe we - the Jedi - are taking the best approach to it. We waste our time on fruitless endeavours instead of targeting the root of the rot, all to please the politicians. And… well, I have reservations about the clones too.” 

“About us ? Why?” Tup responded, his voice slightly offended and sharp. 

She only smiled for a moment, understanding that he had misinterpreted her words. “Not like you think, Tup,” she soothed. “I respect the clones. You are good men, with good hearts and sharp minds. You’re good soldiers but… you’re more than that too. You are not droids. You’re thinking, feeling beings and… I hold reservations about how the Jedi have handled that. The Council and I… well we don’t disagree per say, but they do not believe my opinion of the matter is of high importance during this war.”

“Is it? All due respect but we’re soldiers,” Tup said and she sighed at that response. She had heard it one too many times from the clones. Even Delta had just stopped arguing with her about it. 

“ Yes , but you’re also men. You serve this Republic, more specifically you serve the Jedi and yet what have we done for you? I don't think the Council disagrees with me that more should be done for you all. In fact, I think many - if not most - agree with me, but… it is not high up on their list of priorities and that frustrates me.” She finished with a heavy breath, shaking her head at the ground. It was a discussion she had many times with Delta Squad, listening to their thoughts earnestly. She would normally never broach such a topic with other clones, aware of their sensitive feelings about their being and the war, but Tup held an earnest and sincere air to him that made her want to share it with him. 

“You think a lot,” Tup observed thoughtfully, making her smile again. She almost grinned at his words, amused by them entirely. 

“Yes well… I get a lot of time to do so,” she chuckled. “I… shouldn’t have pushed that burden on you though,” she admitted with a little bit of guilt. “You’re very observant, Tup.” 

He blushed a little at that, glancing away and shifting his helmet under his arm. “I just… um… yeah,” he trailed off, rallying his confidence once more. “You didn't seem okay leaving the ship and I’ve seen that in my brothers. I didn't want to leave you alone.”

“I appreciate that,” she replied softly, smiling at him. “Truly. You’re a good man, Tup.” 

“Look,” he said seriously. “I know you told me not to but I still want to apologise for Fives. I don't know what's gotten into him but I swear he’s not usually like this. He’s my brother and he’s saved my life more than once. He can just be… Well, he has his convictions.” 

“Tup,” she sighed, trying to push aside her frustrations with Fives for his benefit. “I don't blame your brother. I admire that he has his own convictions and his own way of processing things, no matter how much he might be getting on my nerves. If I may offer some advice?” She asked and he nodded in response. “Let him work through it. If he chooses to continue antagonising me, then let him. As the General, it is my responsibility to deal with that, not yours or any of your brothers. Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he murmured. “I just don’t like it.”

“Have faith in your brother,” she smiled gently. “Now, shall we get back before Rex sends a search party and chews me out for wandering?”

“You’ve figured Captain Rex out quickly,” Tup grinned and she laughed as they began walking. 

“Ah, not that hard. He’s a good man, but something tells me if he wasn’t blonde, Anakin would’ve sent him grey by now,” she teased, though she did believe that statement. She got along with Anakin, largely because he, too, often spurned the Council, but even she thought many of his methods were absolute insanity at times. She could only imagine the poor Captain had been through it in the past couple of years. 

“Don’t tell him that,” Tup laughed loudly, shifting his helmet under his arm as they walked. 

“I’d never dream of it.”

Chapter Text

Princess . 

That was his new nickname for her. Ever since she had come back with Tup and set about directing their next mission, he had latched onto it. Tup had shared what he had learned, no doubt in an attempt to endear him to the General, but all he had focussed on was that minute detail. She was basically Jedi royalty from what Tup had said, and apparently that was a sore point for her because the moment the new nickname left his lips, she had bristled and turned on him with tense shoulders. 

It had been after they had put down a growing Separatist outpost, and it had slipped out from beneath his helmet, a quiet “ whatever you say, princess, ” escaping him, but the results had been immediate. 

“What did you say?” She asked slowly as they reconvened near the ship. 

“I said whatever you say, princess ,” he repeated with a smirk she couldn’t see but he somehow felt she could feel it, given the roll of her jaw. Fuck sake, it did not help that she was absolutely striking to look at. 

“Princess?” She queried. To his side, Rex sighed, waiting for whatever angle he was taking. To his own credit, he had followed her every order this time around, not straying from her plan for even a second so it wasn’t like he could get lectured for that. 

“Yeah,” he said, watching the way her face changed briefly. She almost looked hurt, and while he wanted to take pleasure in that, a little part of him felt a bit bad. 

“Why?” She sighed, rubbing a bruise on her jaw from where a B2 had caught her with a wild swing after it had been shot and its programming had gone haywire. If he could give her any credit, it was that she was an incredible fighter. She used the force in ways he’d never seen a Jedi do, wiping out lines of battle droids with swipes of it like it didn't bother her at all. He’d only seen her pull her lightsaber once during the battle, right at the very end.

He shrugged, briefly considering not bothering to explain it at all just to infuriate her. But then he thought about getting another reaction out of her, and relented to a slight explanation. “Heard you're Jedi royalty, princess . It seemed fitting.” 

“You -” she stopped short, her features twisting into frustration before quickly dispelling. To his side, Tup sighed and when he glanced at his brother he had his helmet off and his face was a picture of desperation as he stared at Alora pleadingly. Clearly, Tup hadn’t expected him to share that information and he didn't feel good about inadvertently betraying his brother's trust, but the look on her face was kind of worth it. For a very small moment she looked furious . 

“Do not call me that,” she snapped, striding off to check on some of the villagers who had huddled off to the side, watching them all with a mixture of fear and awe. 

“ Fives ,” Tup murmured. “I… told you all that in confidence !”

“Worried you’re gonna lose her favour?” He grinned boyishly, but the smile faltered a little when he saw his brother’s devastation. He knew Tup idolised her, but he also seemed to genuinely get on with her - a fact he felt a little jealous about for a reason he could not identify. “C’mon Tup, it’s fine .”

“It didn't look fine,” Tup muttered, turning on his heel and walking off after Alora who was now knelt in front of some of the local children, talking to them gently. 

“Fives, I’m seriously getting sick of this attitude. What is your problem?” Rex growled, sounding a hell of a lot more serious than he was used to from his Captain. Even when he was reprimanding him, Rex usually just sounded exasperated. In this case, he sounded genuinely pissed off. 

“I already told you,” he insisted. “I don't trust her.” And he didn't. She had taken another one of those secretive, coded calls on their way to this planet and had once again refused to elaborate on it. She’d been taking more of them too, when she thought they were asleep or distracted. While this mission hadn’t been nearly as insane as the last one, he still hadn’t gotten over that split up rush she had ordered and he did not trust her leadership nor her protection of his brothers - no matter what Tup had relayed about his conversation with her. His only concern was his brothers, and to him the evidence said she didn't give them a lot of weight, not when it came to their lives. 

There was something off about her. He didn't know what, but he would find out, and those secretive calls were at the centre of it. He just knew it. There was absolutely no reason for her to be making them, or for her to be using a code he didn't recognise in order to do it. If she was in contact with other battalions, he would’ve recognised the code. If she was in contact with the Jedi, it would’ve been obvious, and if she was talking to Admirals then he would’ve recognised military code being used. This was none of those things, and he couldn’t figure out what she was doing but he didn't like it. Alora Shan was up to something, and if it put his brothers at risk then he would out her for it one way or another. 

By the time they departed the planet, she was quiet again in the pilot’s seat. Tup sat beside her in the co-pilot's chair, looking like he wanted to speak but thought better of it as she stared out the viewport blankly. Apparently his little nickname had affected her more than he thought it would, but he refused to back down. If he had to infuriate her into slipping up, then he would. It was better than the alternative of losing his brothers due to her poor leadership or secretive comms calls. 

“So, princess , where to next?” He smirked, earning him a few wary glances. Even Jesse and Hardcase who were usually always onboard for a little bit of troublemaking looked uncomfortable at his probing. 

To her credit, she barely took the bait. In fact, he only caught the briefest flicker of emotion on her face and to his surprise, it was not fury or frustration… It was devastation. It almost had him falter entirely and apologise but she schooled her features too quickly for him to process it fully. He almost questioned what he saw but when he caught a few of his brother’s expressions, he knew he had been right. 

“Captain Pellaeon has requested assistance and given we are closest, I agreed to rendezvous with his ship, the Leveller,” she said plainly. “I am not clear on the nature of this but I am sure we will soon find out.” Her voice was quiet and calm, an echo of command in it. 

“I know Captain Pellaeon, good man,” Rex nodded and she smiled a little. Clearly she knew this fleet Captain too. 

“Indeed,” she chuckled. “We will rendezvous with his ship and see what he needs but no doubt it will be interesting.” He found it hard to believe she didn't know but her earlier expression tugged at his mind and he kept his mouth shut. His main goal was to find out what she had been up to, and infuriating her for no reason, while amusing, wouldn’t be helpful. He’d play his cards carefully.

“How far out is he?” Jesse called out. 

“Not far at all. He’s the next system over, we should be there in under an hour,” she answered astutely. “If you wanna take the time to rest, I recommend you do so now.”

“Don't gotta tell me twice,” Hardcase grinned, settling down as Jesse wandered into the cockpit and started up a friendly conversation with the Jedi. She seemed… open in her responses. Earnest, even, but something still tugged at him insistently. Something was going on in the background no matter how much she wished to hide it. 

Honestly, he suspected the others didn't see it just because she was beautiful . He wasn’t so much of a dumbass to not realise that. She was positively stunning with her dark hair and bright green eyes, and the golden markings on her face practically shimmered against her tanned olive skin. She was devastatingly distracting, but he had had his fair share of beautiful women on shore leave and he would dig his heels in against her beauty if it meant putting her in her place. 

Though none of them looked quite like her. 

Jedi or no, if she was a traitor she’d be getting no sympathy from him. 

// 

Princess . 

The nickname was a slap in the face to everything she stood for. It was a slap in the face from every step away from the Council she had made - the Council that had held her in such high esteem for that very lineage. She didn't spur her lineage, she honoured it, but the implications of this new nickname hurt. 

It reduced her down to nothing more than she was as a Padawan - a symbol, a mold casting to be shaped and hammered into whatever the Council desired. It pushed her back into who she had been when her awe and naivety of her youth had outweighed her instincts, and she had been happy to plod along to the orders of the Council, and be held in high esteem just because of who she was descended from. Because of the power of the force in her veins and the symbol she held up. 

Stars, it hurt so bad to hear that nickname that she had to shut it down, bury it deep inside her and breathe over it instead. It was just a nickname. It was just a nickname. He didn't know. He couldn’t know her intimate feelings on the matter, so she attempted to give Fives some grace instead even though her blood boiled and her mind frantically pounded. 

Instead, she turned to the mysterious mission ahead. When she had received the comms from Captain Pelleaon, she had been intrigued. He was a competent man, never one to ask for assistance unless he absolutely needed it, so this was interesting to say the least. Plus, it would be an opportunity to catch up with the Captain who often spurned the Order’s leadership and Senate intervention in much the same way she did. They had bonded over that early in the war, and she never passed up the opportunity for some banter and teasing over shitty liquor with him. 

Hell, right now she felt like she needed it. 

She had a bit of time before they docked, and smiled fondly when she checked her datapad to find a message from Scorch in their squad comm chat. 

“You alive? Or should we be planning an elaborate and exclusive funeral for you adi’ka?” It read. 

“Sorry, your party planning will have to be put on hold. I still live,” she replied. 

“Skywalker has been oddly calm,” Boss added and she grinned to herself. 

“Cause I warned him - you’re welcome.” 

“And how are your new squad? You’re not thinking of replacing us, right?” Fixer chimed in. 

“ They’re fine ,” she replied, and apparently her bluntness was noted immediately. 

“What’s happened?” Sev shot back. 

“ Nothing exciting, just… competing attitudes ,” she responded cryptically. 

“Which one?” Boss asked. 

“I’m not snitching,” she shot back. It was not their problem to deal with this. It was hers . 

“I’ll find out,” Sev replied. 

“He will,” Scorch added. “And then I will deal with them.”

“Focus on your missions, not me.” 

“Not happy,” Boss replied. 

“I'm sure Scorch will be more than happy to paint a smile on your helmet, ” she responded. 

“Do not encourage him,” she could practically hear Fixer’s groan with that message and chuckled to herself. No doubt that would cause Anakin a few issues going forward. Scorch would absolutely try and do it too. 

“ They found out about my history, ” she added to the chat, her fingers pausing slightly before hitting send. Delta squad knew, of course. They knew every intricate detail, so she didn’t need to expand on that for them to understand the weight of it.

“I’ll beat them into the med bay ,” Boss responded immediately. 

“Boss, force sake… ” she replied. “ I’m fine, just not pleased.”  

“ Of course you aren’t ,” Sev added. She let out a slightly too loud laugh and then shut the datapad back off, needing to focus on docking their ship to Pelleaon’s ship. Apparently even the action of laughing at her data pad earned her scowls from Fives and she allowed herself to glare back, however briefly, just to let him know she’d seen his expression. Stars, what was his problem ?

At least docking went smoothly, and she grinned when she saw Pelleaon, schooling her features quickly in the face of his men. “Captain,” she nodded respectfully.

“Really, Lore?” He sighed, shaking his head at her. 

“Ha, sorry Gil, I’m told it’s good manners to greet one by their title,” she teased, earning her an eye roll and a friendly pat on the shoulder. 

“Now… these are not your men,” he said slowly, examining Torrent Squad and giving Rex a quick nod in recognition. 

“No, you can thank Anakin for this one. He’s split with my squad for a few months, so I’ve taken his. Now, let’s talk about this distress call you received,” she murmured, turning to business as they began to walk toward the bridge. 

“Yes, it was… unusual. I didn't recognise the code name but it appears its one of our spies and they’ve been caught on assignment. Our fleet was closest but I don't exactly have the men to go charging in on a rescue mission,” Gil said to her and she hummed in agreement. His ships were… for experimental purposes - testing weapons and new features. They were not usually used for this sort of thing and he couldn’t afford to lose precious men on a rescue mission. 

“Well, let's not go rushing into anything,” she replied. “We’ll need a plan, and I’ll need you and your men to be ready to perform an extraction if it all goes sideways.”

“With you? It most definitely will,” he smirked. 

“Ha-ha,” she muttered. “It was one time!”

“One time too many, Miss Shan,” he murmured, causing her to whack him around the back of the head, and receiving some snorts from his men. No doubt they were not used to seeing a General and a Captain with such a loose relationship. 

The moment she sat down in the helm, he already had the liquor out and she chuckled, knocking the half finger back in one clean swipe. She’d needed that. It burned all the way down her throat but she was more than used to shitty alcohol by now and didn’t even clear her throat as she shook her head against the tingle. 

“Force… this is worse than usual,” she sighed, setting the glass down with a click.

“Hard to get anything good in the outer rim,” Gil commented and she nodded slightly with a small smile. Didn’t she know it.

“So, you didn’t manage to save a recording onto the ship's computer?” She asked idly as he poured her another glass. She swirled it thoughtfully as he shook his head.

“No. It came in too quick, but we got the location and code and…” Gil leaned closer, his voice dropping low and urgent. “Lore, it’s Zale.”

Her head shot up in surprise. Zale was a Republic spy serving the GAR but more importantly he and Gil were involved. She’d often teased Gil about just manning up and declaring his affections but they’d both danced around it instead. 

“I see…” she murmured.

“Yes, so you understand why I cannot involve myself directly in this,” Gil nodded.

“I understand,” she muttered. They were both civilians so fraternisation wouldn’t be a huge issue but it might bring questions of who was involved and why into the rescue mission. Spies knew what they were getting into and Gil being involved might make it look like Zale was getting some sort of favouritism. “I’ll get him out safe, Gil.”

“I know you will,” Gil sighed. “I know.”

“You worry, however,” she smiled fondly. Oh how they both were such fools, not seeing how deep their devotion to one another went.

“Evidently - you better not be doing Jedi tricks on me,” he pointed in teasing warning.

“I wouldn’t dare, Captain .” 

“You say that and yet ever since I watched you do it that one time…” he trailed off and she hummed in agreement. He’d been witness to her using a mind trick on a smuggler to force him to exit a conflict. Ever since then Gil had been cautious and jumpy about the force in general. If only he knew the true extent of her abilities. He’d lose his mind. He’d never seen her using it to fight. If he had, he might not let her on his ship. 

“Hm,” she chuckled. “Well, looks like me and the men will jet down to JanFathal and check this out. If Zale has been captured… we will soon find out.”

“Stay in communications with the Leveller,” Gil sighed, rubbing his beard. “I’d prefer not to tell an Admiral that I lost a Jedi Master on an unsanctioned mission.” 

“Do have some faith Gil,” she smiled. “We will be fine. I’ll brief the squad and we’ll get going. Just stay nearby and alert us if more Separatists enter this system.”

He nodded, grumbling about something as she walked off to find her men who had stayed with the ship for whatever reason. She hadn’t told them not to come with her. Alora was just used to Delta following her when she went somewhere so it never even crossed her mind to have to tell Torrent to come along. She felt a little bad, actually, and hoped they didn't think she was excluding them from important discussions on purpose. 

Sighing, she found Rex and tapped his shoulder gently. “We’re heading down to the surface. It looks like the CIS have captured a republic spy. We investigate first then move in,” she murmured, making sure her voice was only loud enough to be heard by her men alone. The last thing she needed was Gil’s men freaking out or spreading rumours.

“Got it,” Rex nodded. “Any other information?”

“No,” she shook her head. “We're going in blind so we’re gonna need to do some reconnaissance.” 

“All due respect, but why are we going after a spy?” Fives asked and she seriously doubted he held any “due respect” for her. Perhaps that was what he meant when he said “due” respect - none.

“Because Captain Pelleaon has asked for assistance,” she said shortly.

“I just figured a General outranks a Captain,” Fives shrugged, his tone derisive. He was challenging her again .

“Correct. A General also outranks an ARC trooper,” her response was sharp enough to convey her frustration with him and a few brows raised. “So either get to it or go clean tubes on Kamino.”

She caught the briefest flash of shocked annoyance in his eyes and smiled sweetly at him. If he wanted to be an ass, she would treat him like an undisciplined shiny. Hell, she’d had shinies work with her that had better attitudes than him. And she wasn’t having it at the moment. Not when she needed to focus on going into the unknown when it came to the mission. 

He could keep the attitude to himself and dislike her silently for all she cared. 

She fumed the entire flight down, but her annoyance at Fives quickly diminished when they landed outside the capital of Anthar and her eyes caught the utter destruction the Separatists had wrecked. It was a mess of destroyed buildings and rubble, the outer bits of the city were deserted and the gloomy cloud cover made even the stone of the standing buildings look dull. 

“My… this is an unhappy world,” she murmured as she exited the ship that she had landed behind the cover of a large, empty warehouse. The men filed out behind her and she listened to their feet shuffle uncomfortably. 

“What happened here?” Hardcase asked. 

“Separatists,” she replied quietly. “It looks like this rescue mission will be a little more complicated than we thought. As far as I am aware, the Republic wasn’t even aware they had attacked this planet which means it must be recent.” 

“Hm..” Rex hummed. “I don’t hear anything.”

“Exactly. Odd, no?” She murmured. “No birds, no animals, no people, no droids.” 

“You think they’re hiding somewhere?” Echo asked. 

“Perhaps. If they are, it’ll be closer to the centre of the city where more buildings are standing. But they’ll see us coming from a mile away if that is the case. I want you all to check these outer bits for any survivors who can tell us what happened. I’m going to sneak toward the centre and see what I can find,” she nodded, still staring at the destruction. It would be far less likely that she would be caught or seen, as opposed to bringing an entire contingency of men with her and starting a fight they couldn’t win. 

She said she’d get Anakin’s men back to him safely, and she was a woman of her word. 

“You’re not going alone,” Fives snapped, and for a moment she thought he was concerned for her until she caught the distrust in his tone. 

“Then come with me,” she sighed. “The rest of you… If you see droids, do not engage. I don't want to start a fight when we don’t know what’s going on. You’re purely doing reconnaissance.”

“Got it,” Rex nodded. “You uh… sure you don't want to take another one of us with you?” He asked, looking at Fives. 

“No,” she sighed. Yes , she meant. She wasn’t really looking forward to it but if it would help quell Fives’ distrust of her then she’d do it. “We can’t afford to be seen. Any more, I’d be risking identification.”

With that, her and Fives ventured into the city. They kept to the walls, sneaking through half destroyed buildings where they could. The cloud cover was depressing, the grey glaring against her eyes and making the silence even more ominous. She had a bad feeling about this. 

Thankfully, Fives kept his mouth shut as they slinked through the shadows of a formerly great city. At least he knew they couldn’t afford to be speaking right then. It was not until they reached what would’ve been the inner city that he opened his mouth and pissed her off. 

“Do you even have a plan?” He asked as they peered out the window from the second story of a half bombed building. 

“No, because we do not yet know the reality of what is going on here,” she replied quietly, her eyes scanning the wreckage. Lore pushed out with the force, trying to feel for anything living but she couldn’t identify any organic beings. Strangely, she also couldn’t feel any droids. It was like an entire city just disappeared . They hadn’t found many bodies either, certainly not enough for this to be a massacre which means the people who lived here had to have gone somewhere . 

“So you don’t have a plan,” he said bluntly. 

“That is what I said,” she snapped. “It would be foolish to make one without understanding this.”

“It’s foolish to just leave everyone doing pointless sweeps of the outer city while we go for a jaunt,” he muttered. 

“It is not pointless if they are able to save civilian lives, and learn information from them,” she hissed under her breath. “What is your problem, Fives?” 

He was silent for a long moment as they jumped down the half destroyed stairs and continued further into the central city. “I know you’re up to something, General. I’m not going to blindly trust you when you’re not on our side.”

She froze, turning to stare at him, but she only pursed her lips and kept walking. 

If only he knew.

Chapter Text

He fucking knew it . Her lack of response had basically been confirmation. Alora Shan was a traitor. How could Delta not have figured this out by now? Were they blinded by long term loyalty? Was this a recent thing? She was not an ally. She was the enemy. His enemy. It had taken him under a fortnight to see it, and yet they had worked with her for years and not clued in on this? 

All he needed now was the evidence. Something to present to his brothers, to prove to them that she did not have their best interests at heart. Until then, he’d be on her case until she fucking broke. He’d find out what she was up to, and then he’d turn her over to the Jedi to deal with. In his mind, he knew those secretive calls had to be involved in it somehow. 

But he kept his mouth shut as they walked further into the city, reaching the main government buildings only to find them empty too. There were no people, no droids, no nothing. If he didn't know better, he would’ve thought the clankers had just come in and massacred everyone but they had only found a few bodies so far. 

There was no sign of this spy either. 

In front of him, Alora crouched down and pressed her hand to the cobblestoned street, her brow furrowing. It made her look innocent, something he hated to see on her expression because she fucking wasn’t . She wasn’t innocent at all. Instead of voicing that, he simply stood and waited. From here on out, he would have to play his hand carefully. He couldn’t risk accusing her of anything too early. Hell, she could easily get rid of him and then he’d be leaving his brothers at her mercy. That was all he really cared about - his brothers. They were brave men, loyal soldiers, brothers , and there was no way he would be having that repaid by her getting them killed or otherwise. 

She stayed like that for a long moment, her expression pensive, until she finally stood and looked around like she thought they may be being watched. “Let's head back.”

“What? But we haven’t found anything,” he said sharply. 

“ You haven’t found anything. I have. Now let's go,” she ordered, her tone slightly threatening as she marched back the direction they came, apparently no longer concerned about being seen by anyone. She didn't elaborate and it pissed him off. It would have taken her three seconds to explain what she had found but instead she left him in the dust, striding through the empty streets like she owned the place, her long dark hair trailing behind her in the breeze. 

Fives grunted and then followed her. It would do him no good to be defiant for no reason and he had no real reason to stay where they were. Besides, perhaps Rex had found something more useful than whatever the hell Alora had been doing just before. 

Their walk back was silent, even though it was clear they had no need to be now. Whenever Alora caught sight of another body, either crushed by rubble or shot, she would sigh and subtly shake her head like it pained her to not do something about it. Those that had their eyes open, she would stop and close. He respected her for that, even if he did think there was something seriously wrong with this woman. 

Rex and the others were waiting for them by the ship, and Rex shook his head at her when they approached. 

“Nothing. No signs of life, or droids,” he said and she nodded, her gaze turning back to the decimated city. 

“Nothing for us either, even in the central district where the main buildings are,” she murmured. 

“You said you’d found something,” he bit out, sick of her silent deceptions. 

“I did,” she replied, her nose twitching as she turned to glare at him. “I had a thought, and that thought was correct. The people, and the droids are still here - underground.”

“ Underground ?” Echo asked. 

“Yes. This city is old, but when it was first built there were a system of tunnels installed under the ground to serve as a number of things - some are sewers, some transport water, and some were for hiding. They are below us, which…. Complicates things.” Her face dropped, and she looked troubled as she worked her lip with her teeth. 

“That’s not a lot of room for us to move in,” Jesse pointed out and she nodded back. 

“Mhm. That is my concern. I can guide us toward the people in the systems below but we’d be essentially walking straight down the middle, in a narrow space, in the dark. It’s less than ideal.” 

Well, at least she wasn’t a moron, he thought dryly. 

“So… what do we do?” Tup piped up, and hell did Fives hate the way his brother looked at her like she’d hung the stars herself. Soon enough, Tup would find out that she wasn’t what she seemed and he felt a little sad that he’d be dashing his brother’s faith in her. It had to be done though. Rather that then see him die because of her. 

“They’ll have a tactical droid for an operation of this size,” she mused aloud. “And they’re always higher focussed. I have a suggestion, but it involves us splitting up.”

Of course it did. 

“Well, at this point i’ll take anything,” Kix muttered and she shot him a smile that made him want to cuff her and put her back on the ship. Could she stop attempting to endear Torrent to her? 

“I’m going to draw them out - as many as I can. If they see the opportunity to capture or kill a Jedi, I doubt the Tactical droid will not take that chance, especially if it thinks I came alone. In the meantime, you sneak in through the south tunnels and evacuate the people, see if you can find Zale.”

“You don’t know how many droids are down there. You could be facing an army, Lore,” Hardcase frowned and he bristled at how easily they had all slipped into using her nickname. 

“Yes,” she conceded. “I sensed many droids, but if we do not do this then we risk a straightforward assault, underground and in the dark with no cover. They could also execute this spy or any number of civilians. Given they took the city entirely, I doubt they knew Zale was here so he’s safe for now but I can’t imagine that will last should we attempt to storm those tunnels.” 

“Hm,” Rex hummed, nodding. 

“And, that leads me to my next point. Why hide all the civilians underground? Why not kill them or imprison them or whatever?” He had to admit, he’d been thinking that too. There was really no point to it. 

“I take it you’ve got an answer, Lore,” Echo smirked and she laughed softly, brushing her hair out of her face with one hand. 

“Yes, I think they wanted to draw a Jedi out. This is a Republic controlled planet. When they would’ve heard about this, they would send a Jedi. Perhaps there is a particular one in mind, perhaps not, but I do believe we’ve stumbled into a trap not necessarily meant for us which is a good thing because now we’re going to use it to our advantage.” 

“I can’t, in good conscience, leave you out to fight by yourself sir,” Rex said slowly, his eyes flicking to the deserted ruins ahead of them. 

“Our mission was to rescue Zale. Now it is also to rescue those civilians, Captain Rex. This is the plan that makes the most sense, and takes advantage of the trap they’ve laid. I will be fine, trust me,” she smiled, and those last two words… he could not hide his glare, luckily concealed under his helmet. Trusting her was the last thing any of them should be doing, no matter how sound her plan was.

Quite frankly, he didn't really care if she was left to fight alone. She would either be fine, or she wouldn’t be a problem any more. 

“If you say so,” Rex sighed. “We’ll need to know a general direction for those tunnels - where to get in and out though.”

“Yes, I agree,” she nodded. “Lucky for you, I was tracking them,” she winked and he frowned. Just how unobservant was he? Obviously she had used the force to do so, but he hadn’t even noticed a change of expression on her face, nor had he bothered to think about the fact that she had taken a different path back to their ship. “Tup, pull up a map of the city for me would you?” 

Tup did as asked, and she leant over the hand held holo projector with pursed lips and sharp eyes. “Here,” she pointed to a random spot on a random street. “These maps do not show the tunnels, but there is a manhole here you can enter through. This will get you in behind the civilians, in case some droids hang around.” 

He followed her finger as she dragged it across the holo. “And here is where you will exit.”

“That’s basically where we are now,” Jesse pointed out with a frown, looking around them. 

“Mhm,” she hummed, abandoning the holo to walk over to the edge of the city, rounding a building before appearing back in view on the street. With a flick of her hand, she used the force to clear the dust, revealing a manhole cover. She grinned at them as she wandered back over, a brow raised. “Seriously, you think I was just randomly wandering around for the past hour?” 

He was ashamed to admit he had. Not because of his misjudgement, but because he hadn’t bloody noticed she’d been tracking the entire time. 

“So, we get them out over here…” Rex nodded thoughtfully. 

“Yes, this should bring them far enough out of the city to keep them out of harm's way. If you can identify Zale, then do so, if not then come join me.” The men nodded, and she scrubbed a hand down her face. “This is where we split up. Go around the outside of the city, I’ll go right through it and hopefully draw some attention.”

“How will we know when you’ve drawn them out?” Tup asked, crossing his arms as he observed the map. 

“Your comms will light up,” she murmured, tapping the underside of her wrist. “Then you’ll move in. We all clear?”

“Sir yes sir,” echoed around him, but he did not say it. He’d do his duty, but he would not respect her. 

Alora Shan was the enemy, and the sooner everyone saw that, the better. 

//

She left them behind, feeling confident that Rex at the very least would keep them in line and on track with the plan - even if she had felt the distrust rolling off Fives in waves. Stars, that man was insufferable. 

His comment… He needed to mind his own business, and this was none of his. He had no idea what she was doing, the time and effort she was sacrificing. Hopefully he would forget about it. It was dangerous to involve them. Only Delta knew, and they had the sparsest of details. 

For now, she needed to focus on the fight ahead. If there were as many droids as she thought, then she would need to use the environment to her advantage. Not even she was invincible, even though in her youth she liked to pretend that was the case - something Master Plo attempted to meditate out of her, rather successfully. Though it was more her fight with Master Mundi that had earned her that wisdom.

Taking the main path down the centre of the city, she pretended to look around, pretended to try and lift rubble, called out cautiously. When she came across bodies, she knelt and closed her eyes in sadness. That was not fake, but it was for show. She needed to look like she’d been sent out to check on the city and had found the devastation, without backup. 

A creak that didn't belong in the destroyed stone and crumbling buildings echoed from her right, she narrowed her gaze toward it. It was coming from the central government buildings, and just as she expected, the droids emerged on all sides, surging up from the tunnels until she was firmly surrounded. 

Alora didn't even pretend to look shocked when the tactical droid appeared on the steps of the building down the street from her. Subtly, she tapped her comms on the underside of her wrist using a feint of reaching for her saber to distract the movement. Truth was, she didn't need her saber. All she needed was the force, and a bit of steely determination and she would decimate these rust buckets into a scrap pile. 

But there were a lot of them, and she had to ensure any left over in the tunnels would be drawn or ordered out. At least so there wasn't an overwhelming amount for Torrent to deal with. Her focus was Zale and those innocent people down there.

“Jedi. You will surrender or be terminated,” the Tactical droid said in its robotic monologue. The force trembled through its circuits and she grinned, a cold smile that was its only warning before she used the force to crush those circuits, rendering it useless.

She would collect its head for scanning later.  

Step one, complete. 

Step two: fight like hell was raining down on her. 

Without leadership, the droids opened fire on her immediately but she still did not draw her weapon. Her training in the force, especially in the years she took away from the Order, made her desire to rely on a weapon diminish over time. Instead, she batted the shots away with the force, smacking the blaster bolts back into the offending droids. 

Leaping into the air, she fainted right and then pulled down a crumbled building on top of a couple of dozen droids, flipping over it to force push the next line of them back into a heap. Her head was on a swivel, her senses alight. This was where she was in her element. This was what she needed after dealing with Fives, an outlet. One that Master Plo would’ve no doubt chastised her for, but an outlet nonetheless.

She chuckled as she took out a whole line of B2’s before launching into some B1s with just her fists, strengthening her resolve with the force as she spun and kicked and punched and dodged. It was a dance, one that she needed not train for. But there was still an entire battalion and the city wouldn’t be half safe if they were hanging around so with a sigh she drew her lightsaber - it was quicker at deflecting anyway. Twisting, she split the single blade into two separate ones and stayed firm and still, simply spinning and twisting her arms to deflect the blaster fire back at the droids. 

It was almost boring . Unlike the clones, the droids did not employ creativity. They had numbers, but they could not make plans. Right now, they were simply trying to overwhelm her and it was simply annoying. In fact, she was getting sick of just standing and deflecting so she summoned a shock wave that blew at least 5 lines of droids on each side into nothing more than a scrap graveyard. 

There, that would give her more movement. 

Darting forward, she sliced through some B2s before they could become a problem and slid on her knees into the shields of a couple of rollies, puncturing them and moving on. Sweat coated her tunic as she backflipped over a few droids and cut them from behind. 

Another slice, another fallen droid. 

Another push with the force, another wave down. 

Another throw of one of her split sabers and more droid heads went flying. 

It was cathartic, in a way, but she missed the unity of her squad. They moved as one, and she was used to having Sev watching her back and Scorch up front setting off explosives. The silence, despite all the blaster fire, was unsettling. 

Torrent squad finally appeared when she only had a few lines of droids left. They took them out rather efficiently, and she let them do it, returning her lightsaber to a single blade and hooking it back to her waist as she watched on pensively. 

They worked as a unit, and the way Fives and Echo bounced off each other in combat made it clear to her that they had been in the same batch before joining the 501st. Alpha had taught her to recognise that extra level of camaraderie. Fives might be getting on her nerves, but she could not fault his combat prowess. There was a reason he was an ARC Trooper after all, and Alpha would’ve failed him had he not been up to standards. 

If only his combat prowess and good looks cancelled out his bad attitude. 

When the thought hit her, she cringed at herself. Since when did she think he was good looking? Shaking her head, she kicked a droid on the ground and wandered over to them silently. Once again, her mood had soured and she felt a little stuck in the pensive dream state that came with exerting herself so hard and then being faced with an icy dose of reality. 

“General!” Rex called out. “We cleared the tunnels. Zale is waiting with the ship, along with the citizens.”

“Good work, Rex,” she said, surveying the destruction they had left. Well, she had mostly left. 

“That was incredible! You could’ve finished them by yourself!” Tup grinned, yanking his helmet off. 

“Ah, had to ensure you got some action,” she nodded, and by the way he cocked his head she could tell her statement had come out a little flat. Fantastic. She didn't feel like explaining that she was just tired and the thought of Fives had annoyed her back to the present in a rather rough way. She had no intentions of turning the brothers against each other. Not only was it not Tup’s problem, it would also affect them on the field and she couldn’t have that. 

“Everything okay?” Echo asked, and she jerked her head slightly. 

“Just fine, thank you Echo. I need to collect that tactical droid's head, it might have Separatist plans on it,” she replied, slipping past them and jogging up the steps to the government building. She could’ve just used the force to bring it to her, but she wanted to avoid their questions, and Fives’ ire. While she was tired, she would get snappy and that would do none of them any good.

Pretending to check around for anything of notice, she took five minutes before turning back to them and indicating their retreat to deal with the citizens. 

“The tunnels?” She asked Rex. 

“Only a few droids down there, nothing we couldn’t handle,” he nodded and she hummed in acknowledgement. The plan had worked just how she had hoped. Passing the tactical droid head off to Jesse, she jogged the rest of the way to the edge of the city where hundreds of citizens were milling about on the edge of the destroyed buildings. 

Poor people. Rebuilding this would take forever. At least the inner city was mostly standing, and could act as a hub for now. She sighed, rubbing a hand down her face. Fuck sake, she’d have to call in Republic relief aid for this and that would alert the Council to the fact that her mission here technically wasn’t sanctioned, and that she had strayed from their instructions again . 

Well, they could go fuck themselves. 

“I need to make a call,” she muttered, mostly to herself but the men heard her. 

“ Really ?” Fives asked, his eyes narrowing on her. 

“ Yes . These people will need relief aide, and we alone cannot do that. Please keep everyone here for now, I’ll be ten minutes tops,” she replied sharply, darting into the ship and leaving them to manage the mass of people. 

It took her fifteen minutes because the Council berated her for ten of them. She was too tired to start an argument back so she simply didn't answer them and waited for them to finish before requesting aid, which was thankfully granted. 

Fives was watching her suspiciously when she exited again and she just scrubbed a hand down her face instead of glaring back. Fucking asshole . That thought caught her and she sighed. Stars she was a grumpy bitch when she was tired. 

After announcing the aid coming, and sending the people back to sort through what they could and organise their homes or lack thereof, she finally found Zale. He was a tall man, taller than Gil, with a shock of ginger hair and an equally scruffy orange beard. Honestly, it was a little hilarious because he stood out so starkly, something she expected spies not to do. 

“Zale?” She chuckled, clasping his forearm in greeting. 

“Am I glad to see you all,” he sighed. “Was here trying to figure out how the Separatists were infiltrating the city, got more than I bargained for.”

“I can see that,” she murmured, glancing around. “We’ll take you back to Gil’s ship.”

“Wait, Gil ?” Zale asked. 

“He’s the one who received your coded comm and sent us here,” she replied, letting her tone speak to the undercurrent of that relationship. They could avoid it all they wanted to but she wasn’t going to lie to Zale and hide the fact that Gil had sanctioned an unauthorised mission to rescue him. Not to mention she had taken the fall for it. After all, Gil could be punished by the Republic Military. She could not. Not unless she was stripped of her title as Jedi Master which would be an exceedingly difficult thing for them to do without her doing something literally insane.

“I see…” Zale trailed off thoughtfully and she smiled. 

“Cmon, let’s reunite you two before I get my ass kicked by Gil,” she replied, throwing herself into the pilot’s seat with a grunt. Her muscles were sore. Perhaps she had overexerted herself just a little during that fight. She’d give them an apology massage later and hope they didn't rebel on her tomorrow. 

The men were quiet, talking amongst themselves and she was grateful for that because she did not have the mental energy to be discussing plans for the next mission yet. One thing could be said about them though, they liked to move fast and she could appreciate that. Right now, she’d cherish the silence. 

Even Zale was quiet beside her but she could feel him watching her. They’d never met but she was well aware of his presence. He was less aware of hers, she imagined and she did her best not to take his staring as a slight.

Instead of commenting, she docked them with the Leveller and let them all disembark, still wrapped in their own conversations. Zale stayed by her side and she wondered if he was attempting to avoid Gil. 

Fat chance of that. 

He was already waiting for them in the hangar bay, no doubt under the guise of professionalism, but the twitch of his smile and the softening of his eyes showed his utter relief as they swung to Zale. 

“I’ll let you two get… reacquainted,” she murmured to Zale who flushed nearly as red as his hair before he trotted off with Gil, leaving her staring after them with crossed arms.

What she wouldn’t give… Jedi were not celibate by any means. Hell the Order was incestuous enough as it was, but long term relationships were thought to breed attachments. Her great grandmother had refuted that, and so did she, but the lifestyle she led didn’t exactly allow for settling down. 

The only thing it did allow for were casual flings, which honestly… she could do with one of those right then. 

Sighing, she turned to find the men watching her, waiting no doubt for orders and she waved them down gently. “Let’s take a half day on the Leveller, we can refuel and continue with our missions.”

Nods greeted her; a few mischievous smiles too and she raised a brow. “No destroying Gil’s ship.” 

Surprisingly, none of them left as she collapsed onto a crate and tentatively peeled back the sleeve of her tunic. Damn, she must’ve taken a blaster bolt at some point and a frown stretched her face downward as she prodded it. 

It was a mistake, because it drew Kix’s attention and he was on her in seconds, his hand on her shoulder firmly to hold her arm still.

“You’ve been shot,” he grumbled. 

“Nothing major,” she replied but he shot her the warning glare of a medic and stormed back over to the ship, disappearing briefly before emerging with his med kit and a frown. “It just needs a bacta patch. There are plenty of them on the ship, no need to get your supplies.”

“ Please do not tell me you solve all your medical issues by slapping a bacta patch on it.” Kix groaned, his voice hoarse as the sound rumbled from his throat. 

“I don’t solve all my medical issues by slapping a bacta patch on them,” she repeated with a smirk that earned her a withering warning glare and a poke to her wound that left her hissing. 

“Tup, she listens to you . Keep her distracted?” Kix asked and she snorted, shaking her head but leaning back anyway; if only to mollify him. 

“Actually I do have a question,” Tup bounded over like an excited Tooka. “I thought you only have one lightsaber?”

“I do,” she nodded with a coy smile.

“But… you were using two before.”

“I was,” she smirked.

“Just answer the bloody question,” Fives snapped and she rolled her eyes at him. Asshole. Detaching her saber from her waist with her free hand,she offered it to Tup.

He simply stared between her and her hand with wide eyes. 

“C'mon take it,” she said with raised brows, her arm extended patiently.

“I’m not sure… General Skywalker says that a lightsaber is a Jedi's life…” he trailed off, his voice wavering.

“Oh for the love of… yes yes I know, just take it,” she shook her hand and he gently took it off her, turning it in his hand curiously.

“It’s… heavier than I thought it would be,” he said, examining the switch mechanism on the side.

“Mhm,” she hummed, glancing at Kix who was astutely cleaning her wound. She didn’t miss his glances at Tup though, the medic's eyes examining the lightsaber. 

“So, how did you have two?” Tup asked cautiously.

“Twist it in the middle,” she grinned. When he did, the saber snapped into two separate hilts and Tup looked momentarily panicked before he caught her expression. 

“I’ve never seen one like that,” Rex commented.

“It’s my own design,” Alora smiled proudly. It had taken her ages to work it out but she had and now she had a lightsaber that was multipurpose for all styles of use. “Twist it back together.”

Tup did as asked and she nodded. “Now push the switch up slightly.”

His eyes blew wide and he shook his head, trying to shove it back into her hand. “No no no I can’t,” he muttered. 

“I’ll do it,” Fives smirked and she shot him a glare.

“I asked Tup, not you,” she snapped. “Now do it, Tup. As long as each end is pointing away from you you’ll be fine.” 

His fingers trembled but he did it, igniting one end in a glowing light purple. “Fuck! It got heavier!” He exclaimed.

“Mhm that would be due to your lack of force sensitivity. Now push the switch up further, will you?” She grinned, excited to show the trooper just how multifunctional she had made it. He hesitated but did so, igniting the other end to create a dual blade.

“Woah!” Tup grinned, balancing the hilt in between him as he examined the glow.

“Triple use,” she chuckled. “I can use it as a single blade, a double blade or a dual wield. Cool, huh?”

“So cool!” Tup replied, testing the hilts balance as he tilted it back and forth. “Damn… I cant imagine trying to fight with this.”

“You get used to it,” she smiled softly. “Took me ages to perfect that design. Destroyed three kyber crystals in the process and got yelled at every time.”

“By the Council?” Tup asked. 

“Some of them,” she grinned, her tone that of a conspirator as Tup carefully manoeuvred the lightsaber in his grip like he might cut his own arm off. To be fair, she was watching just as carefully to ensure he didn't. 

“Can I?” Fives asked. For the first time since she met him, there was no animosity in his voice. Still, she didn't want him touching her shit, especially not her weapon but she also didn't want to deny him and further their little feud. With that in mind, she slowly dipped her head in agreement. 

“Yes. Tup, pull the switch down to a single blade. It’ll be safer to pass to Fives that way,” she instructed, rolling her shoulder as Kix applied the bacta and finally released her arm from his firm grip. Sev usually served as the team medic, so she hadn’t been properly looked after by a fully trained one in a while and the difference was rather astounding. Not that she’d ever tell Sev that. He would grumble for weeks about it.

Her eyes narrowed as Tup carefully passed off her saber to Fives and she sighed in relief when he took it without either of them cutting off anyones limbs. She wasn’t surprised Anakin hadn’t allowed them to handle his saber. Most Jedi didn't. She simply didn't have that kind of protective attachment to her weapon. 

Fives’ entire arm dropped a little with the weight of it and she snickered into her palm, something that earned her a glare as he tried to raise it again. 

“It’s heavy,” he muttered. “How do you even fight with this?”

“It’s not heavy for me,” she replied calmly as he spun it around slowly, taking a swipe in the air that made her cringe. Thank the stars there was no one else standing in the hangar bay or else there would be mass panic and Gil would kill her. “I take it Skywalker doesn’t hand you his lightsaber?” She joked. 

“Not a chance,” Rex smiled and she returned the gesture, inclining her head to him in understanding. 

She watched on as they passed the saber around, testing out its features. When Jesse got a bit too excited with it and swung too hard, she used the force to stop him toppling over and slashing through the durasteel floor. That was her time to call it, and she pulled it back to her hand easily, attaching it to her waist. 

“Alright, you’ve had your fun,” she chuckled, patting the hilt gently as she got to her feet.

“I’ve heard Delta knows how to use it,” Echo commented, though his statement was more of a question and she shot him a curious look. 

“They do… Hm,” she hummed. “I prefer them to know how to use it for combat if it comes to it. I’ve certainly tossed Boss one half of my weapon to use here and there when things were getting a little tough.” 

“Awesome,” Jesse grinned and she smiled back. 

Maybe this wasn’t so bad. 

Chapter Text

It had been just under two months since she had allowed the Torrent squad to play around with her lightsaber. They had cleared at least 12 missions in that time - some big, some small - but one thing never changed; Fives hated her. His odd suspicion and obvious animosity grew and despite all her training, she found herself biting back. He drove her insane, and today he had pushed her to the fucking edge of her patience. 

“Must you be so contrite!?” She snarled at him as they stood in the cramped space of the ship, the others watching on tentatively. They were practically nose to nose now as she leaned up on her tiptoes to glare at him. 

“I told you I didn't agree with the plan,” Fives replied coolly, crossing his arms over his broad, armoured chest. She couldn't stand his attitude. She couldn't stand his handsome face. She couldn't stand his hatred. She wanted Delta back. She wanted her family back. They never argued like this. The trust was implicit, well founded. 

“So you went off script?” She snapped. “Even you must see that it was foolish! Had Echo not prevented you from moving forward, you would’ve gotten yourself and several members of your squad killed.”

“You almost sound like you care,” Fives said, his face all hard lines as his jaw set. 

“Why would you think I wouldn’t fucking care!?” She yelled, her voice strained to stop herself screaming at him. “I made a promise to Anakin that you would all return to him in one piece and safe! Fucking stars !” She wanted to sob in privacy. He had been wearing her down for weeks now, arguing with every plan, making any snarky comment he could think of, always over her shoulder when she was doing something. She had tried again to talk to him, only for him to shut down on her. He didn't trust her, that much was clear, and he refused to just outright tell her. If he had a legitimate grievance she would prefer he just air it with her, but he had kept his cards close to his chest after rescuing Zale. 

Something had changed on that mission.

“You lie almost as well as you plan missions,” he smirked and she fought the urge to slap the smug look off his pretty face at that moment. His insult had been clear enough, and a few of the men had reeled back at it. They had long stopped intervening, mostly at her request, but things were getting tense. She had done her best to mitigate it, to hold on. After all, they only had a few weeks left putting up with one another, but today Fives had really shattered her patience.

Her fists clenched hard, nails digging into the skin so hard she would no doubt leave marks. If she didn't walk out of there right now, she might punch him, so she grit her jaw and strode off the ship into the snow around them. 

This mission had been particularly miserable. They’d all been cold, damp and generally unhappy. At least with Delta, they would’ve been sitting around a fire cracking jokes, but that was no longer the case and she was furious. Standing in the snow, she screamed loudly at the sky before trudging off between the tall, thin trees that scattered the landscape. 

Fucking asshole . 

Why couldn't anything be simple? She supposed she had tried her luck over the past few years - being comfortable, happy even, with Delta. Apparently karma just had to come around and bite her on the ass with this squad swap. Somehow, 3 months had felt like years in hell itself and a part of her felt bleak. She liked the other members of Torrent and even though Fives drove her insane, she felt that had he not decided she was evil incarnate they might have gotten along quite well. From the small snippets of his normal self, she had learned he was usually easy going and quick to humour with a sharp wit. 

She liked that version of him - a lot. It was just a shame she never got it.

That only added to her frustration, and her sorrow. She had already felt outcast from the Order after her fight with General Mundi all those years ago but then she had found Delta and had felt at home with them. Now…. Now it was like she was being outcast all over again for some perceived slight she had never committed. Up until recently, she had been as calm as possible about it. She had employed every single technique that Plo had ever taught her. She had meditated more than usual. She had tried to temper expectations and reactions. She had tried to lead . But nothing she had done was ever good enough for that ARC Trooper, no matter what angle she attempted. 

So she had taken his heat, taken his disgust, taken his anger, because it was what the squad needed. Because it was bigger than her. Because she needed Torrent to trust each other and work together. But all it had done was wear her down until all those old doubts came back. 

And yet, still , she was doing her best to attempt to be understanding, to attempt to appear unruffled. 

But no doubt they had heard her scream into the snow after she had stormed off. It was surely not her best moment. 

She had not attempted to be subtle. They were simply lucky she hadn’t decided that she really needed to destroy some trees in the process, though her scream had certainly ruffled the natural environment. Silently, she apologised to the wildlife and stalked on, ignoring the cold. 

Once upon a time, when she was simply a Padawan, Plo had taken her to a planet very much like this and asked her to meditate in the snow for hours. When she had questioned him, he had told her that a Jedi should be able to seek peace anywhere, that pain should be something one allows to ebb and flow but not control. It was the one lesson from him that had always remained in the forefront of her mind: We are what we overcome. 

And overcome this she would. 

There were only three weeks left with this squad, and she would find a way. She always had. Even at her lowest she had pushed through, rejected the fall, found her own path forward. So why was it that a single clone had managed to ruffle her so badly? Perhaps she had gotten lazy in her years being so comfortable with Delta. After all, she thought of them as brothers of her own. There had been very little contention between them, and when there was it was always resolved knowing everything would be okay between them all. 

With Fives, that was not the case. She imagined he might hate her to the end of his days, and his feelings were so unbelievably strong that she could actually feel them rippling off him in ways she had never felt before. If he was force sensitive, she’d be worrying about him falling to the darkside with that level of anger. Alora could not work out where it came from though. After observing him for months, she had found he was loyal to his brothers to almost a fault. He put them above everything and everyone else, something she could admire. If she had done something to one of his brothers, she could understand his blind anger but she hadn't . She had never harmed a clone. She had never even been snappy with one if she ignored her snarky arguments with Sev every now and again. But it was the only reason she could think he would dislike her so vehemently - that she had or might harm his brothers. 

Frowning at the snow, she swallowed and shifted to kneel in the dampness. 

Yet again, she needed to meditate this away. 

// 

“Fives!” Tup yelled. His younger brother never yelled but right now Tup looked furious in a way he had never seen him. He knew he had not approved of he and Alora’s spats and arguments over the past few months, but now he looked positively venomous. “Are you serious? Too far vod!”

“Too far?” He asked, leaning against the wall. He felt a lot calmer than Alora had looked when she had stormed off the ship. They had all heard her frustrated scream and the shifting of snow as she had walked away. 

He had stopped even bothering to try and hide his animosity over the past few months but he had kept his reasons close to his chest. Better to throw her off with seemingly unwarranted anger than to outright tell her why he didn't trust her. But it was more than that, he didn't just not trust her. She was a fucking traitor and he needed the evidence to prove it. 

He had shared his concern with the squad who had all looked at him like he was insane, even after he had explained his reasoning. And he got it, he did. The Jedi were not supposed to betray them. They served the Republic, they were their Generals. They fought and died alongside them every single day of this war, but Alora… Alora was shady as all fuck. He would not let them, or any other clone, suffer under her hand. Whatever plan she was working at, he would dismantle it. 

“Yes!” Tup threw his arms out. “Obviously. We’ve only got three weeks left with her! Can’t you just shut up until then?” 

No, for exactly that reason. They only had three weeks left and he needed to find out her plans in that time. Unfortunately, he hadn’t had the time or opportunity to snoop on her given the confined space and gruelling nature of their missions. He had to pick up the pace, and prove his theory, before his brothers truly thought he was going off the deep end.

“You already know why,” he said with a small smile that did nothing to calm Tup down. 

“Yes yes you think she’s a traitor,” Jesse waved a hand. None of them believed him. They thought it was just a clash of personalities and that he would get over it. They were wrong and infatuated, at least that was his suspicion. He hadn’t missed Jesse staring at her when she wasn’t looking, or Tup blushing, or Kix’s eyes wandering from time to time. He hadn’t missed Rex’s determined admiration for her or Hardcases’ glee whenever she indulged him. 

“Not this again,” Echo sighed, shaking his head. His twin had largely stayed out of their public debates about it, but in private he had listened to him carefully and quietly, considering his information. Like him, Echo was dedicated to their brothers above all else and yet even still he had failed to convince him of Alora’s betrayal. Last time they had a moment to discuss it, Echo had informed him that he had no real evidence, and that he was concerned that Fives was taking a personal feud too far. At the very least, Echo seemed to have no interest in her when it came to physical attributes so he didn't have to worry about that blinding his opinion. However… his twin did like the Jedi. 

“I won’t let us go down for something we didn't do just because she’s scheming!” Fives groaned, shaking his head at his brothers. How could they still not get this?

“Fives, do I need to remind you that you have no evidence that she is a traitor?” Rex said firmly. He and his Captain had been at odds over this since the beginning. Rex wanted to trust her implicitly, he disagreed. 

“She’s taking private comms calls every other day and none of us know the code she’s using!” He insisted. It had been central to his theory, after all. None of the language she used had been familiar and she had not elaborated to any of them what they had been about. Not to mention that sometimes when they came in she would intentionally take the comms call elsewhere - out of earshot. Whatever language she was using, it was not recognised by the Republic to his knowledge, which meant it was something else. 

“That isn’t proof!” Rex growled. “She’s jedi. She could be doing things that aren’t even related to the war.”

“Or she could be doing things that damn us all,” he replied. “If it was Jedi business, why wouldn’t she just take it with us around? She’s invited us to Council meetings after all, so why hide these calls if they are Jedi business?” 

They all fell silent for a moment, and he knew he had made them think. He knew he was right. After all, she had invited them to Council meetings. She had been surprisingly open about the Order and their business - more so than even Skywalker. If this truly was something to do with the Jedi, then why hide this piece? All her other behaviour had indicated she’d talk about it freely, but not this. Never this. 

“We don’t understand how the Jedi work, not properly,” Kix said quietly. “Perhaps this is an arm of the Order we’re not supposed to know about?” 

A few nods echoed back, but he could see the uncertainty in them. 

“Kix is right,” Tup declared. “Lore has done nothing to indicate she’s a traitor, or that she would harm us! You’re going to get court-martialled if you continue this Fives.”

Honestly, he was surprised she hadn’t just gotten rid of him already. He had gotten bolder and bolder, to the point that there was no way any other commanding officer would have let him get away with what he had managed to get away with saying to her. 

“She won’t do it because then there would be an investigation revolving around her,” he said confidently. It only added to his theory, and the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. She was simply biding her time to get rid of him. 

“Whatever,” Tup murmured. “I’m gonna go look for her. There’s a storm rolling in.”

The others nodded with him, filing out in his direction despite the terrible weather. Only Rex paused at the door to the ship and glanced back at him with hardened eyes and a sigh. 

“You need to cool off, we’ll be back soon,” he said before disappearing into the snow and sliding the door shut behind him. 

Fives collapsed into the copilot chair and tugged a hand through his hair. How in the hell had everything gone to such shit over the past few months? This was a disaster, and he was losing the trust of his closest brothers. But he wasn't insane. He knew it deep in his gut that she was up to something, and he would prove himself. 

After sitting for a minute, he suddenly realised this was the first time he had been left on the ship all alone. Usually at least a few of his brothers were with him, or Alora was parked in the pilot’s chair reading her datapad or napping. One thing he couldn’t deny about her was that she had an admirable amount of endurance. He was pretty sure she had gone four days and two missions without sleeping during their time together. More important things tugged at him though: he was alone . 

And Alora had stormed off the ship without any of her things, including her comms device and datapad. 

Glancing around, he checked the door was closed and then leaned over the viewport to see the fading bodies of his squad as they wandered out after Alora. Good, he thought grimly. This would give him time. Assured that they were far enough away and that he was alone, he picked up her datapad. 

In her haste to leave, she had left it unlocked after throwing it down in their argument and now…. He had full access to everything on there. He scrolled through a bunch of pointless things -  bookmarked holo pages for random research purposes, intelligence and battle reports, medical reports. He found her private comms with Delta and clicked on it tentatively, curious as to what she had been sharing. 

Boss: You’ve been quiet, adi’ka

Lore: Just busy, lots of missions. 

Sev: Lie. What's going on? 

Lore: Nothing of importance to you all. Is Skywalker behaving?

Fixer: Nothing of importance to you. Now tell us. You’ve been off for weeks now. 

Scorch: Sorry adi’ka but you’ve been behaving like a cowed tooka.

Lore: This new squad has competing attitudes is all. I’m managing them. 

Boss: Competing attitudes towards you, I take it. 

Lore: Yes. Not my biggest fan. 

Sev: Who?

Lore: As we’ve already discussed, I am not sharing that. 

Boss: If it upsets you, it’s our business adi’ka. 

Lore: You worry too much Boss. 

Scorch: We worry just enough fire queen, now cmon.  

Lore: I will manage it. You just focus on your mission.

Interesting. She had not told Delta of his behaviour. As he scrolled up there were more examples of her denying them the information they continued to insist after. He really did not want to make an enemy of his brother’s in Delta. When he had been a cadet he’d practically idolised them and he had zero desire to be on their bad side. Once he exposed her, they would surely understand. 

He found nothing else of use on her datapad. It was fairly standard stuff, though he was interested to find that a lot of her holo searches were to do with art - paintings and designs and music. 

Setting the device down carefully where she had left it, he moved to her comms device next and began flicking through her recent contacts. She’d talked to Skywalker, the Council a few times, Kenobi… Surprisingly there was a call to Commander Fox with some comms messages on a bounty hunter she thought was heading to Coruscant. She appeared to have her elegant fingers dipped everywhere. 

He wasn’t one to give up though, and he was rewarded when he managed to splice into a hidden folder of comms messages she kept separate from all her other communication. There wasn’t much there. Most of the messages consisted of simple ‘understoods’ or ‘wilcos’ or ‘hold off’ but it wasn’t the messages himself he was concerned with. 

It was the comms codes themselves, and these were unmistakable. It took him only a moment, thanks to Anakin’s insistence that his men learn all about comms codes and enemy signals, to recognise that these contacts…. These comms codes… They were separatists. 

Bingo. 

He had her. 

Alora Shan was now a confirmed traitor.

He smiled to himself as he sat in the pilot's chair, finally vindicated. He wasn’t insane, Alora was a traitor and now he had the proof.

It didn’t take more than half an hour for his brothers to return to him, without Alora. He raised a brow in question but Tup only sighed, shaking his head.

“She’s meditating.”

“Good, because now i have evidence,” he grinned, tossing her commlink in his palm casually. 

“Fives… do not tell me you went through her Comms device…” Rex trailed off with hardened eyes.

“I had to. And you’ll see why, look,” he growled, opening it up and shoving the small screen on his Captains face.

“So what? These look like intel responses,” Rex said slowly, examining the messages.

“Look at the code ,” he insisted and he knew the moment Rex recognised it because he went silent, worrying his lip between his teeth. “I told you. She’s in contact with the Seppies!”

“It could be a misunderstanding,” Tup said but his voice wavered as they all stared down at her Comms device warily. There was no denying this.

“Cmon vod,” he sighed. “She’s sending messages to Separatists, making calls with Separatists in a code we don’t understand? I know you like her but even you have to see this for what it is.” Silence permeated the small space of the ship cabin. “Alora is a traitor.”

“We don’t know that!” Jesse muttered. 

“Really? Her sending coded messages to the Seppies isn't enough?” He growled, waving the comm device. “Just… listen. I’m telling you, she’s not got our best interests in mind at the very least.”

“What do you suggest?” Rex asked thoughtfully, his face hard and blank.

“We don’t follow her next mission plan. We know it’s going to be contentious. We know there’s going to be other men there. See what she does, if we can catch her out. I’ve already transferred those messages and comm links to my own device so I have the evidence I just…. We need to push her,” he said firmly, the plans forming up in his mind with each word spoken.

Rex frowned and Fives couldn’t help but bristle. He was right . He literally had the evidence right there.

“Fine. Let’s see what happens,” Rex nodded. “Run us through your plan.”

Chapter Text

Something was… off about her men. It wasn’t obvious nor was it overt but the fact Tup had refused to meet her eye when she’d turned around on the pilot seat had told her enough. She just didn’t know what.

Even Fives had gone quiet. Were they that worried about this next mission? Surely not. For the first time since she had taken them on they’d actually have clone backup. They were assisting with a campaign after all, given they were close and could help out with some of the more intricate parts. So why was everything so weird?

She’d briefed them appropriately on the plan to help out the battalion on the ground and had received no comment. Captain Rex hadn’t even made suggestions. He’d barely met her eyes. Alora had briefly considered just outright asking them what was going on but dismissed it. They had a mission to worry about, and she could ask them after.

Either way, there was definitely something up with them and it unnerved her. Going into a mission like this wasn’t good, and she only managed to push it aside because they’d have so much back up. Hopefully they would be focussed on their mission, and then she could ask properly. Until then, she simply let it be. Force knew that sometimes it was better to be patient and wait then it was to rush in without information - whether it be battles, emotions or relationships. 

Landing on Cardoc was already a nightmare with the incoming fire, and all her concentration went into ensuring they didn't get shot out of the sky before they could get to ground and help. For once, she appreciated the silence from the men. 

“Alright,” she said, setting the ship down as fast as possible and throwing herself from the pilot’s seat. “You’ve all been briefed on the plan. I’m going to run interference through the middle and get to the 177th. You’re all going around through the forest to flank the droids around the East side and hopefully we can cut their numbers down before doing a push. We all clear?” 

“Yessir,” nods came back through helmets and yet she still felt like something wasn’t quite right. She cocked her head, staring at them for a moment before shaking it. It could wait. They needed to give aid to the 177th before they were overrun. Giving them a slight nod, she began to run off in the direction of her mission, ensuring her comms were set to receive the signal from Torrent when they were in position. They may be acting weird, but she had no doubt they would do their part of the mission. Rex would keep them in line, and then she could sit them down and ask just what the hell was going on with them.

Ducking under a blaster bolt, she threw herself into the fray, charging through droids to get to the 177th overrun position. It took her less than five minutes but she was sweating by the time she skidded to halt beside their blue-bronze armour. “Commander Vie?” She panted, deflecting bolts with her hands as she sent a force push out to decimate several rows of advancing droids. 

“Sir! Good to see you!” Vie replied, shooting over the barrier they had created. 

“And you! I hear this has gone a bit sideways,” she shot him a grin, pushing another unit of droids back, and then force pulling one of his men behind the barrier before he could take a blaster to the neck. 

“Thanks General!” The clone called out. 

“Yeah sideways is one way to put it, didn't expect these reinforcements from the Seppies…” Vie shook his head, and she could feel concern pouring off him in waves as they worked together to push as many droids back as they could. 

“What do you mean?” She asked over the racket. 

“This should’ve been simple… and then less than 2 hours ago we got hit with reinforcements for no reason. This place isn’t even that important to the Seps,” Vie grunted. “And, some of the men reckon they saw a Sith.”

“What?” She hissed, drawing her saber to deflect instinctively while half her attention remained on Vie and the word he had just uttered. “Explain.”

“Big bastard, horns, red saber, charged through a few of our men and then disappeared into the West side of the forest,” he replied, his dual blasters firing rapidly over the barrier. Fuck… there was no reason for a Sith to be here of all places. The planet was not important to trading routes or weapon development. Why the fuck would they send a Sith out to butt fuck nowhere?

“Ok we’ll deal with him later,” she growled, tapping into her comms. “Boys, you in position?” 

Silence greeted her but she wasn’t particularly worried. If they were still moving through the East side of the forest then she didn't want them giving away their position prematurely anyway. When a few minutes passed and she got no response, she commsed them again. “Boys? Are you in position in the East?” 

Crackling came back, and for a moment she thought they’d had their communications jammed but then she heard Rex’s voice. “Change of plans. We’re on the West side, coming around the back.” 

Her eyes widened and she nearly took a blaster to the shoulder when she heard those words. What the fuck were they thinking? She’d planned it around the East side to avoid all the divots and rough terrain on the west side. Not to mention the fact that going around the back was a moot point. There was no back . They would just hit the ships and nothing else, it wouldn't be helpful at all because they would be overrun immediately without backup. 

And now… 

“REX!” She snarled. “Are you insane? There is a Sith out there, last spotted in the west forest! FUCK!” 

“What?” Rex’s voice came back. 

“You disobeyed my orders? There’s no back for you to get to! And now we have a rogue element near your location,” she cut the comms off before she could scream at him for whatever their squad had decided to do. Sure, Delta had often decided to go with a different plan but they had always discussed it with her first, or at least informed her. It was a paramount part of everyone’s safety, and yet here Torrent was, completely disregarding her plan and not even telling her . 

“Fuck,” she swore, smashing back as many rows of droids as she could manage. “Commander Vie, will you be alright here?”

“Yes sir! You’ve wiped out more than we did in the past hour,” he chuckled, and she nodded. She wasn’t in the smiling mood right now. 

“I’ll be back. I’ve got to get to my squad before that Sith does,” she gritted out, jumping the barrier and taking off running toward the west side of the forest. It was a bloody mess to navigate, and she found herself jumping and vaulting fallen trees, large divots in the ground, and rocks four times her size. This was exactly why she didn't want them going this way. Sure, there was plenty of cover but there was also plenty of room for them to be ambushed. 

She could sense the Sith. He was somewhere nearby, and so were her men. She might be unbelievably angry with them at that moment but she would not allow them to be butchered by a Sith Lord. Not if it was who she thought it was based on Vie’s description. They would get slaughtered. 

Jumping a rock, she sighted them in the distance among the trees, still moving forward with their stupid fucking plan. Not risking calling out to them and attracting attention, she dove over more fallen trees, trying to keep her feet light on the ground. It wasn’t until she got closer did she call Rex’s name. 

He swung around, as did the others, and their eyes widened. She didn't know why they would be so fucking surprised to see her given they had disobeyed her orders and now she had to come and get them. She was going to rip them to shreds over this. 

She opened her mouth to say as much when something sharp hit her in the neck and everything went black. 

//

He felt groggy as he woke up on the cool metal floor of a cell. His brothers beside him were also coming around and it took them all approximately zero point zero five seconds to shoot up and look around. They were in a ray shielded cell, still in their armour but without weapons.

“Where the hell…” Jesse trailed off, glancing around with a frown. Apparently none of them remembered how they got there. The last thing he remembered was that Sith shooting Alora in the neck with something… He didn't remember passing out after that but he must have. 

“Where's Alora?” Rex asked. She wasn’t in there with them, and the cell next door to them was empty. Had she… had she done this? 

“Fuck! She must’ve caught on,” he grumbled, pushing a hand against the ray shield in front of him even though he was well aware it was pointless. Perhaps it had all been an elaborate ploy to convince them she was at risk too?

“You think Alora put us in a cell?” Tup scoffed, shaking his head. “No way. She was coming to us when your plan went to shit. Remember? There was that Sith Lord there.”

“Which means we’re seppie prisoners now,” Hardcase groaned, rubbing his head. For whatever reason, their helmets were tossed to the side of the cell but upon picking them up, it was clear the HUDs had been disabled. “Bloody cowards.”

“Yeah, then where is she ?” Fives pointed out, tapping his thigh plate thoughtfully. The most logical explanation was that she had figured out what they knew and this was her attempt to eliminate them before they revealed her true intentions to the Republic and the other Jedi. After all, she would be able to simply claim that they had gone off script, not followed the plan and gotten themselves killed and she would have plausible deniability. Not to mention the sympathy after being captured by Seppies. 

“Look, we don’t have all the information right now so let's not jump to conclusions,” Rex sighed, shaking his head though his expression was thoughtful. The evidence against Alora was compelling after all. 

He opened his mouth to say as much when a blue holo flickered and appeared just outside the front of their cell. They jumped, before scowls took over their faces as recognition kicked in. There was no denying who that was: Count Dooku. He was unmistakable in his dark robes and his stupid, over confident, superior demeanour that Fives hated so much. He could throttle that man. 

“Curious… Clones betraying their own leader. I would’ve left you on that battlefield had it not intrigued me.” He said, his voice smooth and thoughtful like they weren’t locked in a cell on a Separatist ship and now being accused of betrayal of the Republic. 

“We’d never betray the General!” Rex snapped and he had to agree. If she was working with the Separatists then it wasn’t betrayal. What the fuck was this guy on about?

“Yeah! Separatist scum!” Jesse hissed, crossing his arms. 

“Ah I see….” Dooku said, a glint in his eyes that Fives did not like one bit. It was the kind of look of superiority that one had when they had far more information than everyone else. No doubt he was about to exposition about something ridiculous and long winded. 

“Spit it out old man,” Hardcase growled as a horrible feeling began to brew inside him. 

“You did not trust Ms Shan, that much is clear. But… hm it would appear you didn’t intentionally disable her security measures.” He looked pleased with that, like he had finally gotten one over Alora. Did they know each other? 

“Wait, her…. Security measures?” Fives asked. Hells… if this was what he thought it was he was going to vomit. He had been the one to get into her comms. He had been the one who transferred all the information to his own comm device. He had to take down the security on those comms to do it otherwise it would’ve just kicked him out. He’d assumed the security measures had been to keep others finding out about her little traitorous actions, not to protect them . 

“Do try to keep up. Ms Shan has a network of spies within my government. Until you disabled her Comms security, we were unable to figure out who was consistently infiltrating us. Now we have her, she will break eventually and I can execute the traitors in our ranks.”

Fives stomach dropped out. No. No .

“You mean… she’s not helping you?” Fives asked slowly, desperately hoping he was wrong as reality began to settle in. Holy hell… had he just betrayed his own General?

“Why would she be helping me?” Dooku said, nearly scoffing as if the question was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. “She already refused my offer once. I should’ve known that Alora was behind these infiltrations. Always too smart for her own good… Although she clearly was not smart enough to expect your betrayal.”

“Where is she? What have you done?” Rex asked, his fists clenching by his side as fury took over his Captain’s face. Fives could only stare at the Sith Lord in abject horror. Alora was here too somewhere and she was at far more risk than any of them. 

“My apprentice is giving her an introduction into what she can expect if she does not give up every name of every spy she has in our armies and government,” Dooku snapped, flicking dust off his cloak as if it mattered. As if… as if Fives’ entire world hadn’t just been flipped on its head. 

No. The subtext was clear enough. She was being tortured. She was going to be tortured until she broke and gave up the names of the spies. 

He’d been wrong.

Alora wasn’t a traitor.

Technically…. Technically he was now a traitor.

“Oh hell,” he said under his breath as the holo of Dooku flickered off, leaving them all in stunned silence. He was staring at the floor when a fist hit him in the cheek so hard his head swung to the side and he stumbled into the wall. 

“You bastard!” Tup yelled. “Look what you’ve done!”

“Tup!” Kix said, pulling him back even though Fives would’ve taken as many hits as Tup felt was necessary. Thanks to him they were now captured on a Separatist ship, their Jedi was being tortured, and the lives of republic spies deep undercover were at serious risk. 

He’d not just fucked up, he’d set off a nuclear bomb.

“Fighting each other isn’t going to help,” Rex sighed, rubbing a hand down his face but guilt was there. Rex had disobeyed Alora too. If they hadn’t, she never would’ve had to have come after them in the forest. They never would’ve been captured. “We need a plan.”

“We’re on a Seppie ship behind ray shields, Rex,” Kix pointed out. “We are also missing Alora. We can’t do anything until we can speak with her.”

“Wouldn’t be surprised if she leaves us behind at this point,” Tup muttered, and he agreed. If she decided to escape and leave them to their fates he honestly wouldn’t blame her. Fuck . What had he done?  

“Enough. Let’s just see what happens,” Rex replied. “We need more information. And, no doubt, our brothers in the 177th will have noticed us missing by now.”

They spent the next two hours in abject silence while they stewed on everything that had happened. 

The guilt was overpowering. He felt like he might throw up at any moment. He really had betrayed the General. Alora really had been innocent. All he’d done was allow a stupid joke to fuel all his suspicions - even if some of them were logical. But perhaps if he hadn’t immediately been annoyed by her he might have looked at it more critically or at least just asked .

After all she was taking those calls in front of them all. Surely if she wanted to hide it she wouldn’t have done that, even if she didn’t tell them what they were about. He supposed it didn’t really matter now. The damage was done. They needed to get out of here before the consequences could become even more dire than Alora simply being pissed off with him. 

If any of the other Generals found out and had to come to rescue them, they’d all been in great shit. What was worse was that he’d dragged the others into it when they hadn’t wanted to be. After all his waxing poetic about protecting his brothers and standing together, he had been the one to put them in harm's way - whether from the Seppies or from the Republic if they were rescued. 

He went round in circles for hours, puzzling out his own behaviour. It didn’t get any easier to think about and if they all made it out he had no doubt he would need to grovel for forgiveness, something he wasn’t entirely opposed to at this point. He’d get on his knees to apologise for this. 

His head snapped up when the hiss of a ray shield dropping echoed through the dimness. In the cell next door to them, Alora was thrown unceremoniously to the ground by a Zabrak so large that it looked like he could snap her in two. It took him a moment, but he recognised the creature as the crazed Sith who’d killed that Jedi and his Padawan a month or so back: Savage Oppress. 

His gaze flicked to Alora as he and his brothers pressed against the ray shield separating them. She was covered in her own blood, bleeding from a cut to her temple and at least a few of her fingers were very clearly broken. Her wrists were cuffed tightly, blood seeping from under them and he had to grit his teeth when he realised they’d cut her off from the force so violently. She looked like she had been through hell while they had been sitting in their cell. 

He may have been an ass to her but he never would’ve harmed her. Though… he supposed all of this was his doing to begin with so really, he had harmed her. 

Rolling to her knees, she stared up at the Sith with hard eyes. The usual calm playfulness was gone and replaced with a different kind of calm - the kind that promised retribution and resilience. It was the look of someone prepared to fight despite the odds not being in their favour. 

“Are you finished?” She rasped with a small smirk. It earned her a backhand that sent her flying into the wall and crumpling to the durasteel and he cringed at the sight. She didn’t get a moment to breathe because the Sith had picked her up by the throat and held her several inches off the ground as if she weighed nothing.

“Stop!” Tup yelled, though it was clear their protests were futile. They were nothing more than entertainment now that it was clear they hadn’t intentionally betrayed Alora. Perhaps they should’ve pretended they had done it on purpose, maybe then they would’ve been afforded more freedom. But then again… he didn't even want to pretend to align with the Separatists.

Alora didn’t even look at them as Savage continued to choke her, sneering in her face until she was dropped. To add insult to injury, the Sith kicked her hard and he winced as he heard the resounding crack of broken ribs when the boot connected. He clenched his teeth to try and distract himself from the desire to throw up.

“You will break,” was all the Sith said as he left the cell. 

“Alora,” Rex said but she didn’t open her eyes. Her cuffed hands were curled over her ribs and her body was trembling lightly. “Damnit, Lore,” Rex tried again but they got no response. She was out cold. “Kix, thoughts?”

“I think we… we all heard those ribs break,” Kix winced as he crouched as close to the ray shield as possible. “Head wound to the temple is bleeding a lot, same with her wrists - those binders are on too tight… but I can’t speak to any other methods of torture being used. Maybe electrocution or X33?”

“Not like we can do anything right?” Jesse groaned, sitting cross legged on the ground in front of the shield and staring at Lore intently with a frown. Fives however… he felt frozen. He’d done this. What the fuck had he been thinking? Well, he knew what he’d been thinking but still… he’d let this get out of control. He would’ve never behaved that way with any other General but the moment he thought she might be a traitor he’d fully ignored all other reasoning. Hells… He should’ve at least tried to think beyond his own annoyance with her. 

Then again… how was he meant to guess that she was a spy handler? He supposed he should’ve trusted her, not gone snooping through her things. After all, if Skywalker had been making coded comms calls he probably wouldn’t have thought twice about it. In fact, he couldn’t have cared less if Skywalker or Ahsoka were doing it. He’d taken this too far.

Fuck. If they made it out of this alive she was going to murder him - if Tup didn’t get there first. Or Rex since his Captain was glancing at him with a level of fury that almost had him flinching. 

“Well done Fives,” Hardcase sighed, leaning against the wall and shaking his head. 

“Let’s just focus on getting out of here,” Echo interjected firmly, testing the front ray shield for any weaknesses. Unfortunately they were stuck unless Lore could get them out and right now she didn’t look like she could sit up let alone try and get those cuffs off and use the force. They needed some kind of plan and fast. 

“No. Let’s focus on Fives’ stupid plan!” Tup said, his voice breaking as he paced back and forth. “I told you all she wasn’t a traitor!” The longer he spoke, the more his tone slipped into an anxious whine that almost sounded as if he was on the verge of tears. He cringed a little at that, refusing to meet his brother’s eyes. Tup had been right all along. 

“You have to admit it was pretty suspicious,” he defended weakly, though even he could hear that his heart wasn’t in it. His plan had been stupid in the end and he had been wrong . Unless this was all some elaborate plot by Alora to convince them she was innocent, he had fucked up monumentally. 

“Well we’re all dragged into this now,” Rex said firmly. “Echo is right, we do need to focus on getting out of here. If… I hate to say this but if Lore does break then we have just played a part in getting Republic spies killed. Not only that, but the Republic would lose vital intelligence on Separatist movements.” 

They’d be decommissioned at worst, Fives thought glumly. At best… what even was best in this situation? A month in the brig? Sent back to Kamino?

“Ok so what do we do?” Hardcase asked. “I could always goad big and ugly into coming in here and we could all jump him?” He grinned, ever positive and ready to fight. 

“That plan is dumber than Fives’ was,” Echo snorted, gesturing to the front end ray shield. “Did you see that guy? He’d murder us in 3 seconds flat.” 

“Our only option is to wait, right?” Tup said, his eyes still fixed on Alora’s prone body. “And hope someone comes for us.”

“Either that or somehow Lore gets us out,” Jesse sighed but Kix was already shaking his head at his brother.

“That isn’t going to happen,” he replied. “Look at her, and this is just the first session. If they keep going at this intensity that ugly bastard is going to kill her within the week. Even a Jedi can only hold out to so much injury, and those cuffs… I think they’re cutting off her connection with the force or she would’ve used it. We all saw how powerful she was on the battlefield with it.” 

Fuck . That hadn’t even crossed his mind. Sure, she might not break and give up the spies but she could die . And if she died, that would be far far worse than the loss of those spies. They would’ve gotten a fucking Jedi killed. He would’ve gotten a Jedi killed. They’d be court martialed and executed for sure no matter how hard he tried to explain the mistake. And if he was honest… he’d deserve it because he couldn’t fathom the thought that he might have signed Aloras death warrant. 

It seemed like their only hope was that someone rescued them before any of that came to be.

Chapter Text

Her head was killing her and yet that was the least of her problems as Savage dragged her from her cell by her neck. Her entire fucking body ached and burned after three of these sessions alone and she couldn’t fathom the thought of more of it. 

Say what one will about the Separatists but they were experts at torture. After all, they had plenty of practice and with Dooku overseeing his apprentice there was little chance Savage would just outright kill her - even though he clearly wanted to. 

Whenever he got too heavy handed Dooku would reel him back in. It was frustrating. She wasn’t going to give them the information they were after so they may as well kill her. Dooku wanted to see her break, though. After she had turned down his offer to join him all those years ago, he’d had it out for her, and now he had confirmation she was the one fucking around inside his government there was no doubt in her mind that he was quietly fuming at not figuring it out sooner. 

But what hurt more than the torture was the betrayal . Dooku had taken great joy in explaining just how he knew where to find her and of her involvement. Her own men had disabled the security protecting communications on her Comms device. However, she’d put together the pieces Dooku wasn’t telling her. He clearly intended to make it appear like they had intentionally betrayed her but she knew them better than that. Fives might not like her, but he was loyal to the Republic. There was no way in hell that he or any of them would’ve intentionally put the Republic or their brothers at risk.  

Clearly it had been an accident, even if they had been snooping. And by they she meant Fives. She knew he didn’t trust her, and now the odd quiet demeanour of the squad before the mission made a whole lot of sense. Fives had broken into her Comms, found that she was communicating with Separatists and decided she was a traitor.

Despite how hurt, betrayed and angry she was at him, she understood it. It was a reasonable assumption after all and yet it didn’t burn any less.

He could’ve just fucking shared his concern. If he had told her that he thought she was a traitor, she would’ve just told him that she handled some of the deep cover spies for the Republic. She wouldn’t have liked telling him, but she would have done it if it meant it settled their little feud. She would’ve told him if it meant keeping them all safe. 

She still couldn’t believe it. Her own men had thought she was a traitor. This never would have happened with Delta Squad. Never. Her squad trusted her implicitly and vice versa. They never would’ve branded her a traitor no matter how weird she acted or what she was doing. 

One thing was certain, she couldn’t let Dooku know she was aware of his lies. If she pretended to be angry with her men, then he lost any leverage with trying to use them to get her to break. If he thought she couldn’t care less about them due to the betrayal, then they would be safe - for now.

Lore was still processing it but it was a good enough distraction for when Savage cuffed her into the torture chair and lit her up like a firework. Not to even begin on his attempts to use the force to mind break her. That part was almost comical, as was his frustration when it didn’t work but stars did it hurt like hell.

He was giving it another go and she stared straight at him, knowing it pissed him off when she didn’t react. Blood ran into her eyes and mouth from where he had punched her in the face a few minutes earlier but she still refused to show her discomfort. He could try all he liked but she was stronger in the force than he was, and more practised at protecting her mind. 

At a certain point, the pain all melded into one anyway. Even with the cuffs limiting her connection to the force she could still feel it enough to calm her, to ignore the darkness attempting to infiltrate her mind. Her lips quirked into a small smirk, even though moving her face in general hurt like hell. 

It was enough to send Savage over the edge and he punched the wall, crunching the durasteel into a crater. Despite herself, she chuckled at the sight, the movement agonising her aching, broken ribs. It was worth it. He was behaving like an unhinged toddler. Besides, he was pretty much the only interaction she got most days given she was more or less unconscious by the time she was returned to her cell. Even if she wasn’t, she didn’t particularly feel like talking to her men right now and Dooku was not a better option with all his goading. 

It was for the best. They were safer that way. And she had no idea how well monitored their cells were. It was a risk she was not willing to take. Though they were between a rock and a hard place here. She didn’t think Savage would just let them go if she died. Most likely he’d take out his anger on them so she had to stay lucid and at least a little bit defiant for as long as possible. 

“Speak,” Savage snarled.

“Would you like me to wax poetic on Alderaan's flora?” She rasped sarcastically. It earned her another shock from the strange purple paddles that sat on the edges of the chair. She yelped, agony tearing through her as her body jerked of its own accord. 

Bastards.

“Is that a no?” She croaked, grinning in a way that she imagined could only look absolutely feral given she was covered in blood and her teeth were now stained red with it.

Savage punched the wall again and she bit her tongue against telling him that was a teenage boy move when his holoball team lost, not a scary Sith move. 

It didn’t really matter because she blacked out soon after. 

When she woke, she was back on the freezing cold durasteel floor of her cell. The men were trying to talk to her but she kept her eyes closed anyway. She couldn’t take the risk and besides, she needed the rest if she was going to stand up to torture again tomorrow or whenever Savage decided he needed to let out some frustrations. Holding out as long as possible was her main goal now. No doubt someone would’ve noticed them gone by now. She had told Commander Vie she was coming back, and when she didn't he would’ve contacted another General. 

Someone would be looking for them. It was just a matter of how quickly they would find them. Her mind ticked over who else was in the same system they had been in. She was pretty sure Plo, Kenobi and Anakin had all been on a mission a few planets over, so there was hope yet that they had been contacted immediately and sent out a search party. 

“Lore,” Fives tried, almost as if he thought his attempt might annoy her into responding. He clearly underestimated her resilience and her stubbornness. She wasn’t feeling very charitable towards him of all people in the first place. She didn't even think she could speak to him without hissing and snarling like a wild animal. Despite all her training, she could feel her residual anger that bubbled whenever she thought of what he had done, no matter how logical she attempted to be about it. 

“Alora please,” Tup said and the way his voice cracked a little almost made her break. He sounded heartbroken, poor kid. He had been the only one she had noticed outright defending her, and she liked him. He was like a little brother and it pained her not to comfort him in that moment, to let her know she didn't blame him one bit. They’d all been pulled under false implications. 

“Fuck this is bad,” Kix murmured, and she heard his feet shuffle as if he was moving closer to the barrier dividing them - not that it would help her in any way. He couldn’t reach through ray shields.  “This is really bad. If those broken ribs have punctured a lung…”

They hadn’t yet but she wasn’t going to risk telling them that and looking like she cared about their concerns. Not when Dooku could be watching. Her hearing faded a little as she ebbed in and out of consciousness but she caught bits and pieces. 

“…need to get out…”

“Fatal injuries…”

“… and look what happened Fives!”

“… didn’t mean to…”

“… can’t hold out forever!”

They were clearly arguing and the dry, sarcastic part of her brain thought that at least it would keep them busy. No doubt they had plenty to talk about after the disaster of the last mission and hopefully they’d hash it out without her intervention. She was in no place to be mitigating their debates regardless of the outcome. Besides, it was up to them to settle their animosity.  

Little did she know, the worst was yet to come. 

//

He was going stir crazy. He was a fucking ARC trooper and all he’d been able to do was pace their cell and watch as Alora was thrown back into her own every day, looking worse every single time. 

Her skin wasn’t even visible under all the blood anymore. It coated every visible area, some dried and brown and some fresher and bright red. It was clear she was growing weaker by the day but as far as they could tell, she hadn’t broken yet. Otherwise he was sure that monster would’ve gotten rid of her, and them in one fell sweep. Still, it made his gut twist uncomfortably every time she reappeared. They had no idea just exactly what was happening outside the cell but it was extremely clear that this was no silly plot to convince them she was innocent. She was being tortured, brutally. 

Kix in particular was so anxious he looked like he could run a marathon. It didn’t surprise any of them. He was a medic after all, and now he was being forced to watch someone injured and maybe dying, separated by only a few metres, and able to do absolutely nothing about it except stare and try to talk to her. She never replied to them, even when she was semi-conscious and he couldn’t tell if it was because she couldn't or because she was so angry with them that she didn't want to. Perhaps it was a combination of both. It wasn’t like he could blame her. 

Kix had even screamed at Savage the last time he’d thrown her in, yelling and hissing about getting her medical attention. It had, obviously, been ignored and had sent Kix into a near meltdown. When he’d tried to comfort his medic brother, he had yelled at him too and he’d backed off silently. No one wanted to be in the way of a pissed off medic, and right then Kix looked like he could single handedly beat the entire separatist army with his bare hands. 

Today she’d been taken again. This was the… 8th or maybe 9th day and she’d been taking stars knew what torture every single rotation. He admired the resilience. He knew worse men that would’ve crumbled after the first time, or the second or third and yet she was holding her own. He already knew he’d misjudged her, and this was just another reminder of it. 

Hells he was such an asshole. 

Each time she seemed to be gone longer and it only made him antsy, treading a path back and forth in the durasteel as he tried his hardest to think of some kind of plan that would get them out. He came up short every time. After all it was just them versus a Sith Lord built like a brick shit house and who knew how many droids in the middle of space. They’d be slaughtered, even if they did manage to get out of their cell which seemed unlikely at this rate. 

They didn't even know the lay of the ship they were on and even if they could get out, they would waste precious time trying to find escape pods or another ship to escape on. They  had no weapons, no back up, no nothing. 

A loud crack made his head jerk up and he tensed his fists at Alora being tossed back into her cell. She looked awful . He couldn’t even see her golden markings under all the blood, and once again she was barely conscious as she coughed and curled onto her side in agony that was etched all over her face. 

But this time… she must’ve done something to piss that psycho off because he didn’t leave like usual. He didn’t walk out with stomping boots and snarling words. This time he slammed the ray shield shut behind him and flipped her onto her back, straddling her hips, his hand firmly around her throat. This was no warning. The fucker was squeezing her neck like he wanted to snap it. 

Fives’ eyes widened and he jolted forward. “Don’t touch her!” He yelled. That fucking animal wasn’t seriously going to rape her? He’d kill everyone on this ship and then himself if he had to witness that. “Stop!” He tried, smacking the ray shield which sent him staggering backwards into Tup. 

His brother's yells were a cacophony around him as they slammed on the durasteel, trying to get that motherfucker's attention. It didn’t do anything helpful though. Savage ignored them as he drew a virbo blade from his belt and held it up. For a moment, Fives thought he was trying to cut the rest of her clothing off, horror etching through him but somehow what he did instead was just as bad. 

He began cutting into the bare skin of her shoulder and arm, digging the tip of the blade in deep enough to disappear into the well of blood and flesh. Alora flinched, her eyes flying open as she began to struggle instinctively. 

“STOP!” Kix screamed, and was ignored again. 

It started as small grunts and groans from their Jedi, but the deeper the knife dragged through the supple smoothness of her skin, the more she began to scream and fight. To his side, Tup's hands flew to his ears as her rasping screams rang out against the ray shield, her body thrashing under Savage as he continued to cut into her whilst cutting off her airflow with his free hand. 

“Stop,” she gasped between screams, sweat dragging through the blood on her face as she panted and groaned. 

“TELL ME.” Savage roared in her face, their noses nearly touching as he continued to slice into her. 

For a small moment he thought she might break, a flicker of fear on her face, but then she only shook her head, a quiet “no” leaving her lips. It enraged Savage even further, which he didn’t think was possible and he flinched back when he saw what was about to happen.

He brought the blade down and drove it into her shoulder. Even from a distance, he could see her eyes widen in pain, a small whine leaving her lips as the Sith drew the blade back out, not content to leave her with a weapon. Blood spilled from the wound immediately, a deep red that began to seep out onto the floor. 

“You cannot hold out forever, zalarian ,” Savage grunted, getting to his feet. Fives had no idea what that monster had called her but he imagined it wasn’t a compliment. His robes were coated in her blood now, but then again so was the floor and parts of the walls were splattered with it. Savage wore her blood like it pleased him, and it made Fives sick to his stomach. Fucking monster . 

“She’s going to b-bleed out before you get answers!” Kix tried desperately but Savage didn’t even look in their direction. He just… he left. He left Alora lying on her back, hands bound, covered in deep cuts that looked like symbols, and with a knife wound to the shoulder that looked like it had punctured right through the skin and muscle. 

“Lore you gotta put pressure on that!” Kix called to her but she didn’t move. “Fuck. Please Lore, you need to put pressure on it!” Fives wasn’t even sure that with her bound wrists that she could but maybe… maybe she could reach. 

There was no movement, other than her shallow breathing and the odd whimpers of pain as her blood sluggishly pooled around her. Her eyes were already closed and he slapped the durasteel again, hoping to shock her awake. 

This wasn’t torture, this was attempted murder at this point. If something didn’t change… hells she was going to bleed out on the ground. She’d be dead by the time Savage came back tomorrow.  That brute was an idiot. If he wanted information, he was going to lose it and quickly. And then they would all be dead. 

“Alora,” he said quietly, only just now realising how he’d never said her name before being locked in this cell. It sounded nice on his lips, a rolling hum almost. “Listen to Kix.”

“She’s out completely,” Kix mumbled, resting his forehead against the durasteel wall. “She’s going to die and all I can do is watch.” His brother looked like he was on the verge of tears, his eyes glassy as he glanced back to Alora’s still form. 

“Kix…” Rex murmured.

“Don’t you dare say it’s okay, Rex,” he whispered. “Don’t you dare! I’m a fucking medic I should be able to…” he shook his head, fists clenched as he looked up at the Captain with harrowed eyes. “I should be able to help her.” 

“All we can do is hold out,” Rex sighed. “I’ve checked for every possible weakness but this cell can’t be taken down from the inside. I don’t think we can get that monster to unlock it.”

“What if…” Fives began, thinking frantically. “What if we pretended one of us had the information on the spies. He’d have to unlock our cell then to question us. We could overpower him, lock him inside?”

“That’s risky… Besides Hardcase already tried that one,” Jesse muttered.

“That's all we’ve got!” He replied, exasperated. They had to do something, and quickly. Alora was bleeding out right in front of them, and her body was no doubt giving in to all the torture. Even if she survived the night, she would die from the next torture session without a doubt. He just knew it. 

“If Lore dies, we’re all gonna be slaughtered anyway. Might as well give it a go,” Tup said quietly. “I’d rather go out fighting.” 

“Fine.” Rex added. “But we have to wait for him to come back… it might be too late by then.”

“It’s the best we can do,” Echo nodded. “Why don’t we plan out positions? Technically only one of us needs to slip past him at worst.” 

They spent the next hour testing different positions in the cell, figuring out how they could slip by Savage. In the end, they decided the best thing they could do was throw all their weight into him when he stepped inside and shove him as far back into the cell as possible before racing for freedom. Then they could lock him in, get Alora and make for a shuttle or escape pod. Whichever was closest. 

As they sat there quietly, a loud bang echoed through the ship. Something else sounded, and then the hiss of a door opened somewhere nearby. They were all on their feet in seconds, taking their positions as Rex prepared to lie through his teeth about having all the information on the spies Alora had placed in the Separatists government. He just needed to sound like he had enough information to be useful. They could do this. 

There was more banging, something that sounded like droid poppers, oddly enough and then it went eerily quiet. He exchanged a glance with Echo whose jaw was clenched tight as they waited. 

“Ready?” Rex murmured. 

“Ready,” they all nodded back. 

It was pointless, because when the figures came into view, it was not Savage or droids that greeted them. 

“Cody!?” Rex said. Fives swung his gaze around to find Kenobi and Plo, the wolf pack and half a dozen of Cody’s men all charging down the hallway outside their cell. “Am i glad to see you!” Rex continued as Cody disabled the ray shield on their door, but he didn't reply. Cody didn't even say it was good to see them safe. He was stringently silent, and that silence was only broken by General Kenobi. 

“Oh no ,” he murmured, peering into Alora’s cell where she was lying curled in a pool of her own blood, her face no longer a tanned olive but now deathly pale, almost white. Wolffe was working on her ray shield, and the moment it was down, General Plo rushed in and gently turned her over. 

She didn't stir as they hovered outside her cell and watched General Plo cradle her in his arms. “My padawan…” he murmured, pressing his forehead against hers. She remained limp, bound and bloody and if it wasn’t for the mask he wondered if the General would be crying. 

“Is she…” Wolffe trailed off, crouching down and pressing tentative fingers to her bloodied neck. Fives held his breath quietly. “I’ve got a pulse. It’s weak but there.” 

Plo didn't say a word, only nodded to his Commander and picked Alora up as gently as possible, cradling her in his arms. She looked so small like that, dangling limply, nothing like the smart, humorous woman he had come to know. 

“You might need to use your weapon if Savage is still around, sir,” Wolffe pointed out, keeping a respectful distance from his General. 

“I’ll take her,” he blurted out quickly, and even under all the helmets he could feel the withering glares from Wolffe and Cody. 

“Not a chance. You’re in bigger trouble than you realise, troopers,” Wolffe growled, taking Alora gently from Plo and settling her in his arms. Her blood immediately began to stain the white and grey of his armour in a macabre display but all Wolffe did was shift her protectively against his chest and adjust a blaster in his hand. 

Torrent simply looked around uncomfortably. They were in the hound house, that much was certain. Instead of arguing with that, they simply followed the others out the way they had come in. It was silent, other than orders given from the Commander’s and Generals, until Cody finally spoke up to Rex. 

“What were you thinking ?” He asked, shaking his head. 

“It’s a long story,” Rex replied quietly. “We made a mistake.”

“Do you have any idea how much shit you’re all in?” Cody sighed. “You sent half the GAR into a meltdown with this disappearing act.”

“Do you know…. What happened?” Jesse tried tentatively, earning a helmeted glare from the Commander. 

“We know you betrayed your own General,” he snapped. “For whatever reason… I don't know. But this isn’t like any of you so I assume there is a good explanation.”

“Don't count on it,” he wanted to say. Because there wasn’t a good reason. The reason was that he had taken a feud too far, hadn’t stopped to think, framed her as a traitor and then encouraged them all to disobey orders and gotten them all kidnapped. 

Cody didn't speak any more on the flight back to the nearest Venator. Neither did Wolffe who had gently handed Alora back to Plo and set to work snapping those stars' forsaken cuffs off her wrists. They hit the ground with a loud clang that had several of them flinching. Not even Kenobi offered any words, not even to ask if they were okay. He had never seen General Kenobi angry but right now the lines tensing on his face suggested he was furious . 

The moment they reached the Venator and disembarked, he wanted to sigh in relief but it was short lived when he realised Delta Squad was waiting for them, helmets off and pacing impatiently. The moment they saw Plo exiting and striding toward the medbay with a near dead Alora in their arms, they skidded to a stop in front of them, their faces horrified. 

“What have you done?” Sev asked, his voice lethally quiet. 

“We -” Jesse began but Skywalker appeared like a phantom, his face like fucking thunder as Plo disappeared through the far doors. 

“Boys, go with her,” he nodded to Delta who took the opportunity to glare at them all one more time before racing off after Alora. “The rest of you, with me. Now .” 

“Sir, I -” Rex began but Skywalker interjected. 

“I don't want to hear it right now, Captain,” he replied sharply, and they all cringed a little. Skywalker never called Rex ‘captain’ unless it was in a formal situation like a diplomatic introduction and even then he called him “captain rex’. They walked behind him, heads hung as he stomped down a hallway, his fists clenching and unclenching even as he shouldered open the door to an empty briefing room, waiting for them to enter before slamming the door shut behind them. 

For a moment, there was just a long pause of silence before he exploded. 

“I have always been proud to work with you men. But never before have I been so ashamed to have the 501 associated with me!” It was brutal from the get go and nothing less than they deserved. 

“Sir…” he began, intending to explain his mistakes. 

“I am not done. When I asked Lore to take you all, I trusted you. I trusted you'd be the good men, and excellent soldiers I know you are. I told her explicitly you were the best. You’ve done nothing but prove me wrong because when you all disappeared, it was left to the men left behind to explain what had happened and I am disgusted. Disregarding orders is one thing, and I’m not even upset about that. Stars know I do it enough. But I’m furious you undermined General Shan by not only encouraging others to disobey her orders but changing the plan and intentionally not informing her. I know you all know that’s a fucking safety issue from the get go! Then I hear you were actively planning this, that you’d been complaining about and undermining Lore the entire time?!”

“We were… I was wrong…” Fives mumbled at the ground.

“You’re damn right!” Skywalker yelled. “I told you I trusted her. Was that not enough for you? Was she so awful at her job that you had to go and nearly get ALL OF YOU KILLED to prove a point?!”

“Sir,” Rex spoke up. “We were wrong. And I speak for all of us when I say we regret it. It was never our intention to get General Shan or our brothers hurt. We will take whatever punishment you have.” 

Anakin shook his head sharply. “There will be no punishment coming from me.” That caused his head to shoot up. No punishment? What the hell did he mean? Surely….

“Sorry… sir?” Tup asked meekly, and he cringed a little at how sad Tup sounded. 

“The punishment belongs to Alora. Should she survive, your punishment will be in her hands. And should she not…” his eyes darkened as he trailed off. “Should she not, then I’ll be left to do so.” They all flinched at the implication. Lore may have been alive but it was clear she was hanging on by a thread. 

“Yes sir,” Rex nodded.

“Get out of my sight.” Skywalker said, his voice cracking a little. “I need to go check in with the medics.” Hearing their General sound so disappointed, so angry, so sad… It made him feel more ashamed than he ever had in his entire life. He filed out of the room after the others, his head hung and his jaw grinding. There was no way he could make this right. The dye had been cast. 

Chapter Text

They had been ostracised. Cody would only speak to Rex, but Wolffe intended to ignore them all it seemed. Apparently General Plo was beside himself about what had happened to Alora, and Wolffe was nothing if not fiercely loyal to his General. He was pretty sure the Commander had been holding back from punching him the other day. 

It had been four days, and apparently they had only just pulled Alora from the bacta tank. It was a good sign that she would recover, but not even Kix had been allowed in the med bay. He’d tried. He’d argued that as a CMO he had the skills and knowledge to help, but Coric and Snap had kicked him right back out with mutters about orders and not letting them near her. 

He didn't think there were actual orders in place, but he found out exactly how they were being kept out of the med bay when he approached the room he knew Alora was in, with Tup who had also wanted to come check on her. Posted outside were Sev and Fixer, sitting stoically on stools against the wall.

He attempted to skirt around them, but they were on their feet in seconds, shoving him back into Tup roughly. Their faces twisted into angry snarls, fury lighting up their eyes that actually frightened him briefly. 

“Woah! I just wanted to check on General… on Alora,” he said slowly, raising his hands in supplication. 

“Get out of here before you're put in the med bay for a different reason,” Sev snarled, shoving him again. 

“We’re just visiting!” He tried, backing up slightly to avoid another shove from Sev as Tup gave him desperate puppy eyes. 

“Last I checked, it was you driving the dissent against the General. You did this. Now fucking go before I put you in the ground,” Fixer hissed. There was no teasing in that threat. Fixer meant what he said. He’d put Fives and Tup into early graves and take his punishment proudly. They weren’t getting into that med bay, not with them outside it. He’d seen the messages between them and Alora. They were fiercely loyal to her. If she died, they might actually come after him and Torrent. 

Forced to leave, he traipsed back to their barracks beside a silent Tup. It was dim in the quarters as they slid open the door and quietly slipped inside. Ever since they had been rescued the mood had been less than pleasant. They seemed to switch between arguing over what had happened, baleful silence and brooding. Not even Skywalker had come to speak to them again, and Ahsoka was apparently off on some diplomatic mission. 

“How is she?” Jesse asked, perking up from where he had been lying on a bottom bunk. 

“Delta is guarding the door,” he muttered as he sat down, his leg bouncing anxiously. “They wouldn’t let us in.” It had been days. He just wanted to see her with his own eyes, make his own assessment of whether she would pull through. Being kept in the dark was agonising. 

“You’re lucky they didn’t kill you, from what Cody has told me,” Rex murmured. The guilt had hit them all hard, and even other 501 members were avoiding them like the plague lately. They’d been entirely ostracised. Not that he could blame any of them. The chopping block was practically hanging over their head until Alora woke, or…. Or until she died and their fate was left to General Skywalker. Cody was their only source of information, communicating what he knew to Rex after Rex had explained what had happened. 

“I just wanted to check…” He sighed.

“Was it worth it?” Rex grunted. “Convincing us all she was a traitor?”

“I didn’t…” he trailed off. He’d taken their little feud way too far. He knew that. He’d disliked her immediately and it had grown into something ugly. So ugly that it might kill her. “Look, I know I messed up. I just took the information at face value. I… can't do anything about that, okay? It was a mistake and I just…” he shook his head, staring at the ground as he tore his hands through his head. Was this something he could even fix? Were the Generals just waiting to see what happened before they executed them? Would Alora’s punishment be worse than Skywalkers? He had to assume so. If she woke from her coma, she would no doubt have them decommissioned for this. 

“Yeah, we know Fives,” Jesse sighed, leaning back again. At least they were getting somewhere now, even if it still felt like shit. 

He spent the next two weeks trying to find increasingly dangerous ways to get into the medbay, failing every time. He’d stopped getting news on her condition, even Cody was tight lipped, and it worried him even in his sleeping hours. Was something happening? He suspected Tup actually did know. Much to his annoyance, Tup had managed to endear himself to Scorch in Delta and had been allowed inside, on the condition of his silence. He kept his mouth shut . Even when Fives did his best to badger, bribe and generally bother Tup into telling him anything, even scraps of information. 

He got nothing. 

It had been two weeks since she had disappeared into the med bay and they were finally being sent back out onto the field. Skywalker hadn’t spoken to them the entire time, up until that morning when he had informed them they needed the numbers for the mission and that they would be rejoining him and the rest of the 501st in a siege. 

He’d only nodded, knowing better than to open his mouth in front of his General when he was clearly still angry with them. 

Now they stood in the briefing room of the Venator, huddled around a holotable as they discussed infiltration angles and troop placements. It didn't look like it would be a particularly hard siege if the numbers had anything to say about it. His gaze was fixed firmly on the blue holo, his mind running through scenarios when a soft, firm voice called out. 

“Left flank, not right, Anakin.”

His head shot up and he grinned. Alora stood there, leant against the wall with crossed arms. She was wearing black pants and a sage green tunic that showed off her toned biceps and forearms. Her toned arms that were now completely free of the marks that Savage had carved into them. He didn't know how that had happened, and frankly he didn't care. Her skin was soft and olive toned again, and she looked healthy. 

Skywalker’s head had jerked up at the same time as the rest of the room, and her gaze settled briefly on the holo before flicking to them. 

“You’re up!” Skywalker grinned, bounding over to her. 

“Can’t get rid of me that easily,” she chuckled quietly, cracking her neck and groaning as she stretched it out. He imagined she’d escaped the med bay as soon as she possibly could. She didn't strike him as the type to enjoy those fluorescent rooms. 

“You scare the hell out of us,” Skywalker said. “I’ve never seen Plo so upset.”

She inclined her head thoughtfully. “I’d like to defend myself by saying that was Dooku’s fault,” her gaze glanced over at him and the rest of Torrent, but her face gave away no real emotion at the sight of them. Skywalker’s gaze followed, and he frowned immediately. 

“I ah… I haven’t given punishment yet,” he said slowly. “I figured that honour was yours to decide since we cannot continue with a formal investigation until we knew what would happen to you.” Around the room, Cody and their brothers shifted uncomfortably. Even if some of them were still pissed with them, he knew his brothers wouldn’t want to see them decommissioned or sent back to Kamino. 

“Why would I be punishing them?” Alora asked simply. 

“Do you not remember?” Skywalker asked, his voice tinged with concern. 

“Do I not remember that they undermined my battle plan, went behind my back, and intentionally didn’t inform me of what they were doing? Yeah I remember pretty clearly,” she replied and a few of them flinched at her simple explanation. Remembering was obviously not the issue here.

“Then,” Anakin gestured to them and he did his best not to stare at the ground instead of the two generals examining them. 

“I see no need for punishment,” she shrugged as if the whole conversation was completely ridiculous. He nearly gaped at her, snapping his mouth shut instead.

“Ah all due respect sir… but we deserve to be punished…” Rex said quietly, his ever stoic Captain sounding slightly nervous in that moment. 

“You’re asking to be punished?” She asked with a raised brow, shaking her head. “They’re your men, Anakin.”

“And they disobeyed you and nearly got YOU killed, Alora.”

“Believe me I know,” she frowned a little. “I won’t be punishing them for making what they thought was the right decision at the time.”

“The RIGHT decision?!” Anakin exploded, not caring about the audience even as Kenobi sighed and shook his head. “My men nearly had you killed because they didn’t like you!”

“I concede that point,” she nodded and his gut twisted uncomfortably. “ But , even misguided, they clearly thought my plan was going to get them killed given they thought me a traitor, and decided to make a different choice. I wish they had just said as much, but I’m not punishing them for that,” she shrugged. “Besides, I wasn’t the only one imprisoned for nearly two weeks. I’d say that’s punishment enough. Let’s not even mention your attitude has probably been less than hospitable the past few weeks,” she smiled just the tiniest bit, raising a brow at Skywalker as if she was challenging him to tell her differently. 

She really was just going to let him nearly getting her murdered slide like this? After all their animosity he’d have thought she’d relish the opportunity to boot his ass back to Kamino. He wouldn’t have even argued, even with all his pride that came with being an ARC Trooper. Why was she being so chilled out about this?

Silence stretched throughout the room until Anakin groaned. “Fine.”

“So, looks like we’ve got places to be,” she nodded to the holo, apparently content to move on. 

“Alora Shan, you’re not coming,” Kenobi sighed. 

“Like hell I’m not,” she shot back. “I’m medically cleared and I’ve been in a coma for two weeks. Frankly, if I sit around any longer I’m going to go insane.”

“You nearly died!” 

“But I didn’t,” she hummed. “Now, let us not waste time, hm?” She must know she had one over Kenobi because all he did was sigh and go back to the briefing. When she took a seat on the edge of the room, watching the holo thoughtfully, he took the opportunity to sneak glances at her. She didn't seem to notice, which he was grateful for because it gave him the time to truly look at her, even if Delta formed around her like a shield. 

Her hair was down in loose waves over her shoulders, her eyes calm and thoughtful in their deep green. Even her light golden markings seemed to shimmer on her face. There was no trace of the violence she had faced, no trace of the marks carved into her skin or the horrors she must’ve undergone. He wondered how they had disappeared - whether it was the force or medical intervention? He wanted to ask, but he doubted she’d be so welcoming to his questions in the way she had been to Tup. Hell, he wasn’t even sure if she would put up with Tup after everything that had happened, which was saying a lot. 

When the briefing ended, and Kenobi asked to speak with Delta, the Commander and a few other men, she slipped out of the room promptly. He found himself striding after her as fast as he could without running and looking like a fool. 

Outside the briefing room, he tracked her like a bloodhound. She had moved quickly but he had guessed she was heading back to the Command quarters to get her things and get ready and managed to intercept her. 

“Alora - sir!” He called out, skidding to a stop behind her. 

“Fives,” she nodded bluntly and his stomach did a little nervous flip. Okay… he definitely didn't appear to be forgiven if that attitude was anything to go by. 

“Look I -” he began but she held up a hand, cutting him off. 

“I am not interested in your apologies. What is done is done, and everything turned out as it should. You are back under Anakin’s leadership now, so let us leave it at that.” 

“But -“ He tried. 

“Enough. Good luck,” she said before turning and leaving him staring after her blankly, an unfamiliar ache in his chest. She’d dismissed him without even a snarky comment, without even the slightest bit of humour. In fact, even when she had argued back with him during their deployment together she had at least seemed fiery and determined. This interaction just made it seem like she had stopped feeling or thinking anything about him, and maybe even the whole of Torrent. 

And there was nothing he could do. She was right, he was back under Skywalker’s command now and she’d disappear off elsewhere. 

It left him distracted throughout the whole siege, even when he tried his damndest to perform at his best his mind still went to her. How could he get back that fire she had aimed at him? It was like she didn't even care and he hated it. He hadn’t truly realised how much he had enjoyed her attention until it was ripped from him, and by her own volition too. 

Like he was just another number. 

By the time they were finished, an entire two days later, he was sweaty, tired and grumpy. Things finally felt like they were getting back to normal with the squad and the 501st more generally but his thoughts still lingered on Alora. 

They had only just managed to have a shower and get changed when they got a comm from Skywalker to meet them in the briefing room. After checking with a few other brothers, it seemed the message had only gone to Torrent which did not spell good news. Perhaps Skywalker had decided that her decision not to punish them was not good enough, frankly he couldn’t blame him if he did. He was still reeling over the fact she hadn’t even put them on fresher duty, let alone stripped them of their titles and sent them packing back to Kamino. 

Apparently all of them were nervous as they walked towards the briefing room. Even Rex, straight backed and head forward, was chewing his lip as they walked, his helmet secured under his arm like the rest of them.

None of them said a damned word, and as they approached he could hear two voices inside the room. Two unmistakable voices: Alora and Skywalker. Perhaps she just hadn’t wanted to punish them in front of the other battalion. 

He caught the backend of their conversation as he walked in beside his brothers. 

“You’re joking.” Her voice was deadpan as they filed into the room where she and the General were speaking, arms crossed. 

“I know it’s not ideal, especially after everything… But the council…”

“Fuck sake,” she groaned. “Isn’t it always?”

“Sir,” Rex nodded politely, glancing between the two Generals. 

“I’ll get straight to the point,” Anakin sighed. “The council has asked me back to Coruscant on something urgent. Lore is being left in charge of you lot while the rest of the 501 go with Kenobi.” He blinked once, then twice. What ?

“And she’s not happy about it,” Alora added with a frown.

“As you’ve said repeatedly,” Anakin smirked a little but his face turned dead serious. “If I hear one single word of any of you stepping a toe out of line I swear to the force I will be back here so fast you won’t have time to process what’s happening.”

“Yes sir,” they echoed and Alora sighed. 

“Wonderful, threaten them Anakin that’s sure to improve this.”

“I’m still pissed,” Skywalker muttered. Yeah, Fives could see that much was clear. Why the Council had decided this was beyond him, but from what he had learned of them, they enjoyed meddling to ‘teach lessons’ and what not. 

“As you’ve said, repeatedly,” she parroted him.

He rolled his eyes. “I’ll… leave you to brief them.” 

She watched him leave silently and then turned away from them, facing the window and staring out at the stars. None of them moved a muscle or said a word. Each of them stood stiff as a board as she contemplated whatever it was she was about to say to them. 

“Right,” she sighed. “I understand that this is less than ideal for you all so let’s just be blunt about this. If at any point you have a problem with the approach we are taking to a mission or battle, please tell me immediately. I don’t particularly feel like the galaxy's worst second date with Savage.”

They all flinched and she turned around, perhaps missing their violent reactions to her candid words. “Now we’re heading to Brendoc. We leave at 0700 sharp tomorrow morning. Dismissed.”

None of them left. He was pretty sure none of them even shifted on their feet as she dismissed them. 

“Am I interrupting something?” She asked carefully. 

“We’re sorry,” Tup blurted out. “We tried to visit you but um… Delta wouldn’t let them and -“

“It’s fine, Tup,” she interrupted, her hand drifting to rub the scars on her wrist. “You didn’t know what would happen. I’m certain had you known the outcome you wouldn’t have done it. The matter is finished.”

“It’s not to us,” Rex said boldly, stepping forward. 

She sighed, but didn't speak. 

“We… we never should have done what we did. Regardless of the outcome… we should have trusted you. You put your life on the line for us and we repaid it by getting you tortured.” 

“I’d really rather not rehash this Captain Rex,” she says slowly. “I’m not punishing you and I’m not holding a grudge. You do not have to be concerned that I am somehow going to retaliate by forcing you into dangerous situations.”

“We- we didn’t think…” Jesse muttered. 

“Should be the tagline for Torrent, huh?” She smiled a little. “Now, go. Eat, sleep, check your weapons. I have intel dossiers to review.”

“You… ah… you sure?” Rex asked, scratching his buzzed hair awkwardly. 

“Yes I am a big girl, Captain,” she chuckled, sitting back in one of the chairs and kicking her feet up onto the edge of the holotable as she pulled her datapad to her and began reading quietly, content to ignore their presence as they remained standing there.  

Even as the others trailed out of the room, he remained. He got a few warning glares from some of his brothers but none of them said a word. Neither did Alora as she continued to read her reports like he wasn’t even there. Feeling emboldened, he edged forward until he was practically standing over her, one hand on the edge of the table near her booted ankle. 

“Alora,” he said, cocking his head as he watched her. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

She didn't say anything for a long moment, and he shifted as he waited, his fingers flexing on the holo table. “I recall once saying that to you and you ignored me,” she replied simply, not looking up from her reading. 

“I was being an asshole,” he said confidently. 

“Hm,” she hummed, finally setting those green eyes on him. “You need to get past this otherwise completing the next missions, at least until Anakin returns from bootlicking, is going to be very, very hard.” 

“What are you saying?” He challenged, fighting the urge to grab her ankle and squeeze playfully. 

“I mean , forget about it. We’re not friends. I’m your General. As I said earlier, I have no desire to enact revenge upon any of you. I also have no desire to put my spies in the Separatists at such risk again. Now, I am going to read these in peace,” she said, kicking her boots off the table and getting to her feet. He’d forgotten how much shorter she was than him and when he instinctively put a hand to her shoulder to steady her, she shrugged him off, the briefest glimmer of annoyance in her eyes. 

With that, she stalked out and left him staring after her. 

It was only with those words did he realise how much he envied how much Tup had gotten to know her, how much he envied how easy she was around him, how she would probably pretend he was nothing more than another soldier until they were separated again. 

Unfortunately for her, he was nothing if not stubborn and committed. He would get her to like him, one way or another. He just needed time. 

// 

The Council were surely messing with her with this play. There was no need to leave her in charge of Torrent squad. They could’ve gone with Kenobi like the rest of the 501st but no. No. Of course they thought there was some lesson to be learned here. They always did, and now she was stuck with a squad she couldn’t trust. 

Delta had rioted when she had informed them she wouldn’t be accompanying them on their next mission. They were more than capable of operating without her, but their concerns certainly fell into the ‘we don't trust them’ and not the ‘we need you’ lot. 

“Absolutely not! I’m going to have a word with fucking Skywalker,” Fixer snapped. 

“He’s already left,” she pointed out, chewing on her ration bar as they sat in their quarters. 

“Then Kenobi!” Fixer ranted, throwing his hand out wide and nearly clipping Scorch in the head. 

“He’s right. Not a fucking chance,” Boss grunted. “We thought you were dead when that Jedi carried you in, ad’ika. I’m not letting you leave with the same fucking squad who betrayed you.”

“Their intentions were not wrong,” she sighed for what felt like the thousandth time since she had woken up in that too bright medical wing. “They had good reason to think I was a traitor. Now they know better.”

“They should’ve trusted you,” Sev said, his deep growly voice echoing through the room. He didn't need to say much to get his point across. If it were left up to him, he would’ve gutted the entirety of Torrent. 

“Perhaps, but trust is not implicit. Besides, I’m fine, aren’t I?” She smirked, earning her tired sighs from each of them. 

“Only because you managed to force heal some of those external wounds when those cuffs came off,” Scorch huffed. “You’re basically our sister, you dumb bantha. We’re not letting you near them ever again.”

That made her laugh, nearly bending over in amusement. “They’re not trying to date me! You don't have to act like my older brothers! And besides, I am older than you!” 

“Yeah we’re all weellllll aware of your…. Private life,” Scorch grinned and she knocked him on the shoulder. Yeah, sometimes when they were on longer missions in more populated areas she didn't have problems finding some… stress relief, should she want it. There was even that one Lord she’d met in Canto Bight that had been a particularly good time. In fact, she was pretty sure she still had his comm somewhere. 

“Stop prying,” she grinned. “And stop worrying. I can handle myself just fine.”

“Clearly not,” Boss grumbled. 

“Hey, I survived. I lived. I gave that Bastard hell,” she shrugged. “And this is war, after all. If it hadn’t happened now ....” She allowed the implication to sit in the air, earning stifled groans. 

“I don't trust them,” Sev snarled. 

“Sevy, please . Hopefully this won't be for long and I will rejoin you when I can. Don’t make me make this an order,” she said softly, but the command in her tone was not missed. They may be her brothers, but she was still their commanding officer at the end of the day and it was something they were careful not to forget. 

“Fine,” Boss grunted. “But if anything happens I will let Sev shoot them and then I am going to skin them.”

“Noted, I’ll ensure that is passed along,” she said dryly, though she had no intention of doing so. “Now can I please go get some sleep? I’ve got to do a ship check at 5am since you guys are taking ours.”

“Night Adi’ka,” Scorch grinned, ruffling her hair and breaking it out of the low bun it had been in. She pushed him back in the head before slipping out to her own quarters.

She didn't sleep overly well that night, still haunted by the torture Savage had inflicted on her. She liked to think herself resilient, but that had been hard . She had faced death and she thought she had done so rather fearlessly but these were not the sort of things someone could just shrug off, no matter how hard she tried. 

Committing to meditating on it later, she went about checking the large omicron class ship Skywalker had got her. She had to admit, it was magnificent, even equipped with bunks in the back and a small medical station which would no doubt please Kix. 

It was only 6:30 when the others arrived and she raised a silent brow at them. They weren’t due for another half an hour, but she decided not to comment. Besides, if they set off now they’d have an extra half hour shaved off their trip to Brendoc. 

They didn't say anything as they boarded with their gear, and neither did she. They still didn't speak when she started the ship up, though Tup did come and sit in the co-pilot’s chair just like he used to. When she put them into hyperspace, Tup shifted beside her but she didn't comment. It was best if they figured things out on their own. After all, her interventions before had only ended in screaming matches with Fives and ultimately their distrust in her. 

“So…” Tup trailed off. “Um… Delta not coming?” 

That made her snort in amusement. “Well, I should hope not, otherwise I’d be concerned about where they are.” 

“Oh,” he nodded. 

“They have their own mission. They’ve operated excellently without me before and they will do so now. I hear you got to talking with Scorch?” She threw him a bone, and his eyes lit up when she glanced at him. 

“Ah huh! He’s an expert in explosives. Never seen anything like it - showed me how to rig a DC-17 into a miniature bomb,” Tup nodded, patting his holster fondly. 

She cringed good naturedly. “Of course he did. Try not to use that one unless it’s dire, yeah? Scorch almost blew me up the first time he did it.”

“ Really ?” Tip grinned. 

“Mhm, dodged at the last second. All he achieved was blowing up his blaster,” she chuckled. “I made him use a DC-15 for a whole month just as punishment.”

“He’s very particular,” Tup edged cautiously. 

“No, he’s a little shit,” she smiled, leaning back in her seat and rubbing her shoulder absently. Even though the marks were gone, she could still feel where Savage had cut into her like she had been a piece of fruit. It didn't hurt, it just… it was like the echo of a memory. 

“You okay?” Tup asked, his voice earnest and soft. As much as she wanted to stay separate from them from now on, Tup just tugged at all the right strings. She couldn’t stay stringent with him if she tried. 

“I’m fine, Tup. No lasting pain. I can just feel where that knife went in,” she sighed and he flinched, his gaze going from her shoulder, to her face and then to the control panel like he didn't quite know where to look. 

“I’m… It was awful to watch,” he mumbled. She actually appreciated that he hadn’t apologised. Despite the fact that their misgivings of her had gotten them in that situation, it hadn’t been them torturing her. 

“I’m sure,” she murmured. “Don’t blame yourself, Tup. You weren’t holding the blade.”

“Yeah I know, but… I’ll kill him,” he muttered darkly, his hand going absently to his blaster and she nodded thoughtfully. 

“We’ll see,” she said, patting his shoulder pauldron. “Frankly I’d prefer it if you didn't come into contact with a deranged Sith Lord.” 

Sometime after that, she fell asleep. She’d only gotten four or so hours the night before thanks to her tossing and turning, so the nap was welcome. The ship was nice and warm too, and it kept her in a comfortable dream state until she heard the groaning of armour beside her. With no idea how long it had been, she had to assume they were coming out of hyperspace but when she opened her eyes the control panel still said they had an hour or two to go. 

Fives, however, had come to take Tup’s place and she cocked her head at him silently in question. 

“You were sleeping, figured I’d take over watching the controls,” he said, nodding to the viewport. 

“Thank you,” she replied politely, settling back into her seat. 

“You can go back to sleep, you know,” he said, leaning back in the co-pilot’s chair himself, though his eyes never left her face. 

“No, I think I am well awake now,” she murmured, only glancing at him briefly before returning her gaze to the swirling blue glow of hyperspace. 

“I tend to have that effect on people,” he smirked and she blinked at him in surprise, unsure what to say. He was being… oddly playful. It was the side of him she knew was there when they had been on deployment together. The side she had wished to see but had been denied. Now… Now she wasn’t sure she even cared to know it.

“I’m sure,” she said dismissively, waving her hand a little. 

“Are you?” He asked, his tone light and quiet. 

“Where is Tup?” She asked instead and his face fell a little. She might’ve felt bad if it was anyone else but she still hadn’t gotten over his unfounded hatred for her, nor the one eighty he had done in the last 3 days since she had woken up from her medical coma. She was still steadfast in the thought that she would work with him, but she would no longer entertain his goading or prodding. There would be no more arguments between them because she would not engage with him. He could push and prod and goad and argue all he wanted but she was not falling back into that trap. 

“He went to talk to Kix,” he muttered, sounding a bit dejected. She glanced back over her shoulder to find the men thrown over the ground and seats running along the wall by the comms panel and nodded at them in acknowledgement. Tup waved, and she gave him a brief smile before spinning her chair a little to face the viewport again. 

Stars, she hoped Anakin would be back soon. 

Chapter Text

She was driving him insane. She practically refused to have anything to do with him. Even when he tried to speak to her, her responses were clipped and measured - entirely professional. There wasn’t even a hint of anything she had given when they had argued on the previous deployment - no fire, no challenge, nothing. She wouldn’t even give him a smidge of what she gave Tup; the small smiles, the quiet conversations, the warm looks. 

He found he fucking wanted it though. 

He wanted something from her that wasn’t just measured responses and calm eyes. 

Apparently his efforts were obvious enough because Rex had told him to cut it out and he’d had to bite his tongue to stop himself arguing. He had no legs to stand on in this situation, after all, and arguing with Rex last time had gotten them all locked in a Separatist cell. It would serve him no good to come across like a stubborn child on this. He’d just have to work out his own way to get her to open up to him… Somehow. 

As Alora settled some of the civilian’s questions from their mission, he sat on the grass with his brothers, panting from all the heavy lifting they had been doing - literally, given all the rubble they had helped move. He’d attempted to needle Tup with questions. After leaving Brendoc for their current mission, he had noticed them in quiet conversation as if they were old friends and was desperate to know what she had said. 

“I’m not gonna tell you anything she’s said to me,” Tup sighed, shaking his head. There was something to be said about his unyielding loyalty but it wasn’t helping Fives right then. 

“Look I’m trying to make things right,” he mumbles, running a hand through his hair. “I promise. But I always… it’s like she’s avoiding me!”

“Would it be so shocking if she was?” Echo mused quietly.

“No. I guess not,” he muttered. In fact, it seemed that was exactly what she was doing. At least as much as she could in the confined space of the ship they were on. She was more open with Tup, but she was generally friendly with the rest of his squad. He, however, still only got clipped responses and polite nods. She never outright dismissed him, never shot down his plans or suggestions, but she didn't give him the time of day. That much was damn clear. He wasn’t used to being ignored.

“Besides, me betraying her wouldn’t exactly help would it?” Tup muttered, and he caught the inflection on that dirty word. Tup still had not forgiven him fully for what had happened. They were brothers, and Tup was his friend, but he had not so easily let it go. He’d earn his trust back, just like he would get Alora’s too. 

“No,” he sighed. “Sorry, I just don’t know what to do.”

“I’m not sure there is much you can do,” Echo said, his voice low and thoughtful, ever the voice of reason. “After all, would you expect her to give you such… interaction when you put her and all those spies at risk? She’s probably concerned about that happening again.” 

He nodded, leaning back and watching as Alora crouched to speak to a young child, listening with rapt attention and nodding along. “Ok yeah,” he said. “I get that, but I am trying.” 

“Uh huh, maybe but you can’t just expect her to think that,” Echo reminded him and he groaned, throwing himself on his back. Stars fucking damnit. He wished he could wipe it all clean and go back to the start. He had a feeling that she would’ve quite liked him had they not got off on the wrong foot, had he not turned a small feud into a nuclear weapon. 

“Hey!” Alora called out and his head snapped up. “We’re leaving in ten!”

“Got it,” Rex called back and she nodded, turning back to the civilians. 

By the time they had got on the ship for their next destination, everyone was exhausted and every single one of his brothers passed out either on the bunks or on the floor along the mid section of the ship. He’d love to sleep himself but he wasn’t giving up so easily. Instead, he waited until everyone had fallen asleep and then made his way to the cockpit where Alora was still awake and checking their comms and destination coordinates. 

“Lore,” he said, her nickname rolling off his tongue pleasantly. She jerked at that, blinking at him silently like he had just slapped her. “You should get some sleep, I can watch this.”

“I’m fine, thank you,” she nodded, recovering slightly. “Join your brothers.” There was a sliver of command in her tone and he cocked his head.

“ No ,” he said, crossing his arms and standing over her. Her chin tilted, just ever so slightly and that little bit of fire came back into her eye. She was so beautiful, the way those green eyes practically simmered with challenge. He couldn’t believe his previous ability to ignore it. Stars he had to have had the strength of gods in him at the time - then again, why would he have ever been attracted to a perceived traitor? His breathing went a little shallow, his teeth gnawing the inside of his cheek. Hopefully it would look like a gesture of annoyance to her, as opposed to an exercise in restraint.

He wanted to kiss her.

Fuck . 

He needed to kiss her. 

Instead he just raised a brow and waited, tensing his fingers around his forearms. 

“No?” She asked, reigning herself back in. 

“No. You need rest too,” he said simply, annoyed that the simmer in her eyes had calmed back down. “Don’t make me make you.”

“You’re not in charge here, Fives,” she said, her voice wavering as if she was trying her damndest not to let her annoyance come through. 

“Maybe not, but you either tell me exactly why you’re avoiding me or you get some sleep, your choice,” he shrugged, his eyes never leaving her face. Because of that, he caught the flicker of emotion across her features, the confirmation that she was avoiding him. He also caught the flash of annoyance there before she stamped it down. 

“I am not avoiding you, Fives. I am simply focussed on our missions, so your bargain is useless here,” she said carefully. 

“I wouldn’t say that,” he grunted. “After all I could just pick you up and put you on one of those bunks that you’re yet to use even though it’s been four days.” He’d seen her nap here and there but she hadn’t actually slept properly the entire time they had been redeployed. 

Her eyes widened imperceptibly and she broke eye contact, her gaze turning to the controls instead. 

Gotcha , he thought as his grin spread into something wolfish. 

“Would you like that?” He murmured, his eyes flicking across her face as she astutely avoided his gaze. “You know if you wanted to come to bed with -”

Her face snapped up and twisted into a snarl. “I would rather be flayed alive,” she hissed. It was more reaction than he had gotten out of her in a week, and even if it was a little negative, it still lit a fire in him.

“I suppose everyone has their kinks,” he shrugged. 

She said a string of things in mando’a that he didn't quite catch, but he understood enough of it that it was obvious she was insulting him and everyone in the galaxy. Finally, she spoke again. “ Enough . This is not some game.” 

“I agree,” he tilted his head. “Rest assured, I will find out what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours.” 

“I very much doubt that,” she muttered, turning back to the controls. It was a dismissal, but he refused to take it as such, settling himself into the seat next to her and watching her with eagle eyes. He so loved a challenge. 

// 

Whatever had changed with Fives was unnerving, to say the least. She couldn't quite tell if it was good or bad but it didn't mean she liked him any more. She almost found it funny how they had switched positions. Before he had been the one to hate her and she had been the one trying to make amends. Now she was… well she didn't hate him but she was the one who didn't want anything to do with him and he was the one insisting on claiming her time. 

It didn’t fucking help that this side of him was attractive. Even the thought of that made her stamp down on it with a firm boot. Absolutely fucking not. There were plenty of pretty assholes out there and he was another one of them. Just because his confidence was attractive did not mean she had to like him. 

Fuck she needed to get laid or something. She’d basically had no break in nearly 6 months and it was clearly getting to her if she was even considering someone like Fives as attractive. 

Fuck. No. 

And clearly he was just using his charms to annoy her into responding. There was no fucking way she was falling for whatever new plot he had going. She was not some innocent maiden easily won over by a little bit of teasing.

Shifting her shoulders to try and belay the ache, a small groan slipped from her lips. Could anything go right for her? Just once. It was all she was asking for and yet the galaxy did not want to respond to her pleas. Ignoring the man beside her, she turned to her datapad as it began to beep, a sure fire sign that Skywalker was probably contacting her. Hope brewed inside her chest as the glow from the screen lit up her face. Perhaps this would be over faster than she thought. 

Instead, she was greeted by a comm message from Kenobi and her growing smile faltered as she read it. 

You need to see this. Read, then the Council is waiting for you . 

She frowned as she tapped over the attachment. At first glance it seemed to be something pulled from a bounty puck, until her vision cleared and she realised just what she’d been dumbly staring at. 

Oh no. There was a bounty on her head, and not just any Jedi bounty… This was 5 million credits - alive. Thanks to Fives exposing her, every bounty hunter in the galaxy would be trying to neutralise her and drag her back to Dooku. The man was already pissed she hadn’t joined him, already furious that she still stood by the Jedi after they had shunned her. He was well aware that with her on his side he could have a leg up in this war. Now that he knew she’d been meddling, using her skills and power to influence within the Separatists, there was no doubt in her mind that he would do anything to get to her. 

She was more powerful with the force than he was, after all, and he was extremely aware of that. The last time they had spoken he had lamented the Jedi wasting her talents but she didn’t need his opinion. 

“What’s that?” Fives asks from over her shoulder, shuffling, scraping the floor behind her, and she turned around to find all the men watching her. She briefly considered telling them it was not their business but.. well look how well that worked out for her last time.

“A bounty,” she sighed. “On me, specifically. Dooku is out for blood,” she passed the data pad to Tup who’s eyes widened.

“Five MILLION credits?! Alive?” He gasped. 

She nodded, her head starting to hurt. This was a nightmare. It would make slipping behind Separatist lines with Delta that much harder in the future. They couldn’t waltz into Anaxes like they had in the past, that was certain. Even contacting her spies from a distance would be risky now. 

“Is this because….?” Hardcase asked.

“Yes,” she murmured. “But not entirely. There’s history there but now Dooku knows I’ve been in and out of his government, he’s like a hound on a scent. The Council wants to speak to me.” Not entertaining any more discussion, and eager to get this over with, she made her way to the middle of the ship where the comms sat and tapped in her codes. It only took a few seconds for the Council to pop up, those on Coruscant seated in the chambers and those like Kenobi out on campaign stood around their holotables. 

“Council,” she nodded, her jaw already grinding. 

“Master Shan, I take it you have received the concerning news?” Mace asked her, and she wanted to switch the thing back off after hearing his tone. He knew she had received it. This was a waste of time. 

“Yes. What do you want me to do about that?” She said, her tone curt. It wasn’t like a 5 million credit bounty was just going to go away. Sure she could alter some memories here and there but this was too big for her abilities. It was too big even if every Jedi with her specific ability to memory alter came together to try it. 

“At risk, you are,” Yoda murmured. 

“All due respect, Grandmaster, but this is war. We are all at risk,” she pointed out, tapping her fingers on her wrist behind her back. She took a chance to glance to the side and found her men looking back and forth between her and the other Jedi like this was a holoball match. 

“Even you must see what a problem this is,” Mundi continued, and she so desperately wished she could tell him to be quiet. Yes, she knew it was a problem but it was not a problem that they could address. Which begged the question, what did the Council want?

“And even you must understand that this is not a problem we can fix. So, I digress, what is this call about?” She asked, crossing her arms. She had a mission to see to, after all. 

“We’re calling you back to Coruscant, Alora,” Kenobi sighed and she bristled. Absolutely not. They could not just order her around like she was a hound on a leash. She did more good out in the galaxy than sitting around on Coruscant anyway. No doubt they’d lock her up in the temple teaching younglings and helping the archivists. She had already done her fair share of that before the war began. 

“No.” 

“No?” Plo asked gently. 

“No. I was given this mission set and I intend to complete it,” she said as calmly as possible. “There is nothing to gain by recalling me to the Capital other than to draw danger towards the Senate and the Order.” 

“True,” Plo acknowledged. “However we are concerned, Lore. Dooku now has an added interest in you and we cannot risk you falling into his hands.”

“I understand that, but quite frankly I am hurt by your lack of faith in me. I survived by myself when I left the order as a teenager. I have survived with just a squad of four men this entire war. I am not some Padawan you’ve sent on a diplomatic mission that you wish to return. I am a Jedi Master, one of the most powerful force users you have, and I use that as my Great Grandmother intended - to serve Justice.” 

“This is not about lack of faith,” Mace interrupted. “This is about safety. We are concerned about a potential fall.” 

She went silent, glaring at Windu with all the ire that she could muster. They couldn’t seriously be worried she was going to fall to the darkside? Now of all times? She knew herself. She knew her connection to the force like the back of her very own hand. Yes she had a connection to the darkside, but so did Windu. They both balanced it perfectly fine. 

“That is an insult ,” she hissed. 

“After all that has happened… We are still unclear of the nature of torture that Savage enacted on you and how that has affected you,” Mundi added. 

“Curious, considering you meddled and put me back with the same squad who helped cause that when they could’ve been sent with Kenobi and are now immediately recalling me. Personally, I think you need to make your minds up and stop pandering to the Senate.” She had this argument so many times with them she didn't even know what possessed her to bring this up. 

“This is not about the Senate,” Kenobi sighed. 

“No? Isn’t it always these days? “ She asked, flicking her eyes across the glowing blue of their holos. 

“That’s not fair,” Mundi said. 

“I’m not trying to be,” she growled. 

“Off topic, we are getting. Concerned, we are,” Yoda interrupted. “Eyes on you, until this is resolved, we wish for.” 

“This wont be resolved until Dooku is in custody or in the ground and this mysterious Sith Lord is unmasked. It does me no good to be sat on my ass,” she pointed out, gesturing with her head. 

“It’s just for a little while,” Kenobi said, his tone ever patient and diplomatic. She often thought that despite his dislike of politics that he would actually make quite a good Senator. “Perhaps, you could complete these missions with Anakin’s men and then return to Coruscant?” 

She inclined her chin slightly in acknowledgement but didn't say anything, waiting to see how this would play out with them all. 

“Hm, there is a Gala at next months end, return by then to attend,” Windu nodded and she bristled again . 

“A gala ?” She sighed. “Seriously?”

“It is good for the Jedi to be seen interacting with -” Mundi began. 

“No. It’s good for the senate , not for us! That is not our job. If anything, it ostracises us further!” She protested. How could they even think that? Why would they think that the galaxy would want to see them dancing and drinking champagne and laughing while the galaxy was at war? When their jobs were to help stop the suffering, no less. This was the senate speaking, again . 

“We are not having this discussion again,” Windu growled and she resisted the urge to give him the middle finger. 

“ Fine . I will return by then. Are we done here?” She gritted out. Alora had long learned to pick her battles when it came to the Council and this was one she could already see would just go round and round in circles until they got what they wanted. 

“Yes however -” Mundi began but she’d already slapped the button and turned them off, letting their holos flicker into nothingness as she took a few deep breaths, well aware of Torrent watching her carefully. 

“Not a word,” she muttered to them, turning and stalking back to the cockpit to check on their hyperspace journey. Unfortunately they had hours to go. Usually she would just get off the ship and go for a walk or something but she was now trapped in a metal tube for several more hours and stars knew meditating was off the table. 

“You ah… okay?” Rex called out and she spun the pilot's chair to face them. 

“Yes. I have more than enough experience dealing with the Council’s ever changing whims,” she replied, her lips twitching somewhere between a smile and a frown. With a slow hand, she brushed her hair out of its braid, winding her fingers through the knots from the plait. The small tugs of pain were a nice distraction. 

“You wanna talk about it?” Tup asked, smiling at her. He was probably the only one out of all of them that had any real understanding of her history with the Order, but even he didn't know the full story of her fall out with Mundi and the Council. 

“No,” she murmured. While she kind of did actually want to talk about that disaster, she did not trust them. Maybe before she would’ve, but now she could not risk it. The less they knew, the better: The safer she would be, the safer they would be and the safer her assets in the confederacy would be. Besides, she was used to keeping her business to herself. She’d chat with Delta about it when they met up - hopefully she could swindle them some shore leave of Coruscant at the same time she was there. 

As if they saw those thoughts on her face, a few of them frowned at her but she wasn’t about to comfort them on this matter. It simply was what it was. 

“Soooo any good at Sabaac?” Jesse broke the awkward silence and she inclined her head with a grin. 

“I consider myself reasonable,” she smiled. 

“Oh no that means she is going to wipe the floor with you,” Echo groaned. “Just don't bet anything and you’ll be fine Jesse.”

“What! I am deeply offended that you would not believe in my skills!” Jesse gasped dramatically, pulling a Sabaac deck from the bag next to him. “I beat Skywalker!”

“Skywalker is terrible at it,” she snorted, settling herself cross legged on the floor as he dealt the cards. 

“She’s right. Even Hardcase has beaten Skywalker at Sabaac,” Echo pointed out, sitting down with a huff in a nearby chair meant for overseeing comms. 

“Teams?” Jesse asked and she rolled her eyes. 

“Sabaac doesn't need teams,” she said. 

“I’m making it interesting. I claim Echo!” 

She laughed at that, having no doubt in her mind that Echo was the only one out of all of them except perhaps Kix that was actually good at the game. No wonder he wanted to have teams. 

“Fine then I want Kix,” she laughed, flicking her head at the medic who sat by her side stoically. Though the small grin on his face said he was prepared to absolutely destroy Jesse and his team no matter what it took. 

“I’m on her side,” Fives announced, taking her other side and she shot him a short glare of annoyance. She’d been rather hoping Jesse would claim him and get him off her back for a little while. Instead his shoulder brushed hers as he bumped into her conspiratorially and she rolled her eyes, saying nothing of his announcement. 

Eventually they were split into two teams: 

Jesse had Echo, Hardcase and Rex. 

She had Fives, Kix and Tup. 

And she was committed to wiping the floor with Jesse now that he had challenged her. There was no going easy on him after that and she made it clear with her first lay of cards. 

To her surprise, Fives was actually better than Kix and Tup at the game. He’d even pointed out a few different strategies with quiet murmurs in her ear that had her shivering a little when his warm breath tickled her skin. One of those strategies she employed to give her a winning hand, though she refused to give him the satisfaction of thanking him for it. Instead, she kept her face schooled. 

Clones were bad liars. 

It only took her one careful taunt for Jesse’s entire face to reveal he didn't have the cards he seemed to make her think he did. Not to mention his stuttered reply. Unfortunately that also meant Kix, Tup and Fives were equally bad liars and were grinning their ears off as she fanned herself with her hand. 

“They’ve clearly won,” Rex sighed as Echo furiously shuffled through the cards in Jesse’s hand. She was pretty sure the only reason they were doing as well as they had was because of Echo. 

“Not yet,” Jesse grinned, throwing his cards down. 

She raised a silent brow, gently placing her winning hand down to the groans of Jesse’s team and the cheers of her own. 

“We should’ve bet on this!” Fives grinned from her right, raising his fist in victory. “Suck on that, vode.”

Smiling politely, she shuffled the cards back to Jesse and stood with a groan. Her body was still a little sore after all that time in bacta and the medical wing and her spine cracked as she twisted her back. It was just another thing to add to her list of shit going wrong recently. Her head pounded dully and she let out a quiet sigh as she went about checking their supplies. 

If she had learned one thing with Delta, it was that one ran out of supplies far more quickly than one would think when travelling with a group of soldiers. They ate like they were pregnant when they could. She smirked to herself at the thought as she packed things back into the cabinet on the far wall, aware of the eyes on her back. 

“Yes?” She sighed, not turning around as she continued on to the next shelf. 

“We were wondering if you were okay?” Echo asked tentatively. 

“You’ve asked that already once in the past few hours,” she pointed out, her shoulders dropping. She knew what they were getting at but was silently praying that they would drop it. It was none of their business - unlike the comms calls, or the bounty or the Council. 

“Yes but…” Tup murmured. “We don't know what really happened when Savage took you away.” 

“You’re starting to sound like the Council,” she grunted as she lifted a box of medical supplies back up onto a high shelf. “Torture happened.” 

“But -” Hardcase began. 

“No buts ,” she interrupted. “It is not relevant, nor helpful for you to know. All you need to know is that he didn't succeed.” He might not have succeeded at getting inside her head, but he certainly succeeded at hurting her. But Savage didn't know, and neither did these men, was that resilience was in her blood. It was something passed down from her ancestors through blood, and through the force. 

She didn't have enemies because she beat them all - one way or another. 

If Dooku wanted to make an enemy out of her, he would find himself six feet under or so deep in the bowels of a prison that he never saw the light of day again. 

Chapter Text

“Where are you?” Rex’s voice came crackling through her comms as she sprinted through the forest, using the tree cover to stop the speeder droids from getting too close. 

“On my way to you! Got those commandos in pursuit!” She called back, ducking under a speeder shot before vaulting over a fallen tree, her feet barely touching the ground before she was moving forward again. It had been her idea to draw out the more competent droids to give the others a chance to infiltrate, after all. It might have worked a little too well though. 

“We’re in position,” Rex replied and she nodded before remembering he couldn’t see her. 

“If you’re confident, move in. I’ll meet back up with you once I’ve dealt with these guys,” she panted back before switching her comm off. This mission probably could’ve gone better but they hadn’t expected the contingency of Commando droids with speeder bikes and a vengeance. All they had been trying to do was shut down a cyber centre that was transmitting intelligence back to the confederacy. Apparently the droids weren’t fans of that, and were better prepared than their own intelligence had suggested. 

Spinning, she ducked backwards to the forest floor just in time for one of the bikes to run over top of her. It gave her a two second window to twist and use the force to divert its course right into a tree where it burst into flames that singed the air with the smell of fuel. That still left three more that were now far too close with her. 

The rushing of water pounded over the sound of her footsteps as she ran. It was the quickest way to her men, and the easiest way to send a couple of Commandos to their doom. With that in mind, she veered left through the trees toward the sound, deflecting blaster shots over her shoulder. One connected, sending a speeder crunching across the ground and into a large boulder. She grinned over her shoulder, picking up the pace as the edge of the cliff came into view.

Beyond that sat the cyber centre, and a quick glance told her that the squad were making fast work of the droids there. With a pleased smirk on her face, she threw herself off the edge, pulling those commandos with her using the force. While she cleared the rocks, those droids were not so lucky and she heard the smashing of their pieces as she hit the bottom of the waterfall hard, the water sucking her downward. It only took a moment to be reoriented but even then she was coughing up water when she came up to breathe, pushing away from the pummelling force of the falls. One must always respect nature, and she was not fucking with the sheer pressure of a waterfall for any longer than she had to. 

Ducking under, she pushed herself away from the rocks and swam toward the edge of the river, finally finding some footing in the shallows even if her boots slipped on the loose pebbles. She hadn’t even noticed Fives there until she looked up and found him extending a hand to her patiently. 

She ignored it, slogging through the shallows past him and onto the dry land which she could kiss, quite frankly. 

“Well, there were easier ways to get wet for me,” Fives said, and she turned on him sharply, staring. Did he just say what she thought he said? Cocky bastard. 

“I - are you -” she spluttered, still catching her breath. “The galaxy would have to be fucking ending. Why are you here and not with the others?”

She could practically feel his pleased grin under his helmet and shot him a dirty look. She didn't know what he thought flirting would do for him, but he continued to make these comments which threw her off every time. The worst bit? They were starting to get to her a little. She was pretty sure she had almost blushed before. And she wasn’t a liar, he was her type to a T. She just wasn’t going to give that the time of fucking day, not after everything.  

“We saw you throw yourself off a cliff, I volunteered to circle back and make sure you didn't drown ,” he snarked. 

“How very kind of you,” she muttered, squeezing her ponytail out. “Update?”

“Secured the main control centre,” he nodded. 

“Good,” she replied sharply. “Let’s pull that data and clear this place. It can’t be left standing.” Her voice was just short of an order but he understood it nonetheless, moving silently at her side with his blasters out as they picked off rogue droids. She didn't even bother pulling her weapon - either letting Fives shoot them or pulling them into one another with the force. Simple. 

The only hitch to the plan had been those Commandos but she had dealt with that herself. They were nothing more than smears on the rocks now.

“You gonna sleep after this mission?” He asked idly as they entered the centre and she fiddled with the elevator to take them up. 

“Excuse me?” She hummed absently, smacking the panel to get it working. Honestly, sometimes smacking things really did work. She wondered if smacking Fives would get him to factory reset and shut the hell up. 

“Are you going to sleep after this mission?” He repeated, punctuating each word with a tap to his bracer. 

“None of your business,” she muttered. 

“It is when you being sleep deprived puts us all at risk,” he shot back and she resisted the urge to sigh as loud as possible at the ceiling. 

“I am aware of my own limits , Fives. And right now you are pushing mine.” She tried to stay as calm as possible but stars did he know just how to get under her skin. 

“Then maybe you’ll listen?” He said smartly. Alora chose to ignore him instead, staring astutely at the doors of the elevator as it slowly clicked up higher and higher. Was this the slowest elevator ever? 

When his hand came around the back of her neck, turning her back to him firmly, she couldn’t help the surprised yelp that left her mouth. Her eyes widened as she stared up at his helmet, struggling like a kitten being scruffed. 

“I am serious. You’re no use to any of us if you collapse mid-mission,” he said simply, like he wasn’t holding her in his hand. 

“F-fine, just let go,” she rasped, desperate to get out of his grip. 

He let out a low, amused chuckle, a sound that reverberated right through her, before he removed his hand. For a brief moment, she stayed frozen staring at him before reality kicked in and she spun back around just as the doors opened and she was greeted with the rest of the squad. 

“Nice swim?” Jesse asked her, laughing under his bucket. 

“Pleasant enough,” she breathed out, still shocked from her interaction with Fives. She could still feel the tingle of his fingers around the back of her neck. “Where are we at with the data transfer?”

“75%,” Echo called out from one of the panels. 

“Good. Let me know when we’re 100 and then we can blow this place to the sky,” she nodded, brushing more water off her. It didn't matter, she was soaked and dripping all over the floor anyway but at least it gave her some semblance of control and a reason not to look - or scowl rather - at Fives. 

“Try not to avoid me too hard now,” Fives murmured as he brushed past her toward Echo. Petty as it may be, she used the force to trip him over his own feet, smirking to herself when he swore and nearly lost his balance. She busied herself helping Echo instead of shooting him a look that would’ve told him she knew exactly what she had done. 

“Fives get you out okay?” Echo asked absently as he fiddled with the controls. 

“ I got myself out,” she scoffed quietly, taking the datapad and flicking through the different intelligence that had been sent from the centre. 

“Sorry. We tried to send Tup but Fives insisted,” Echo sighed. “He can be…”

“Stubborn? Annoying?” She sighed, handing him back the device and glancing to where Fives, Hardcase and Rex were preparing the explosives. 

“Yeah,” Echo said. “Look, I know what he did was wrong. We all do, but he is trying to make it right.” 

She watched Echo quietly. This man was his pod brother after all, so she wasn’t surprised he was intervening on Fives’ behalf, but she wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted from her. “Perhaps. But as I said, It is forgiven Echo. It’s just not forgotten.” 

“Hm, I get that,” he nodded, waving the datapad at her as it hit 100%. 

“Alright, we’re clear. Is everything set?” She asked the others, content to drop this conversation for now. Besides, she didn't think flirting was an actual attempt to make things right. Not only that, but there wasn’t anything to make right. Everything had worked out, her spies were still secure, and she was alive. Fives could not erase the fact that she now held a kernel of distrust towards him and his brothers, no matter how hard she tried to stamp it down for their benefit. 

“We’re clear,” Hardcase grinned, waving his helmet at her and causing her to smile a little. She would have to remember to keep him as far away from Scorch as humanly possible in the future. They’d blow things to kingdom come for the fun of it, and she didn't need anymore Admiral’s screaming because their hangar bay was on fire. 

“C’mon then,” she gestured, blowing out the windows from the main control centre and jumping from the gap she had created. Despite their previous… misgivings… It appeared they still trusted her to see them safely to the ground because they jumped with no hesitation, allowing her to use the force to float them gently onto the grass. Without another word, she strode over toward the edge of the river, far enough away to not get caught in the explosion as Hardcase hit the detonator and sent the cyber centre up in a chaotic array of flames and pops. 

As they walked back through the forest, she listened to their chatter, not deigning to join in. The fresh air was nice, now that she wasn’t running from Commandos and when they passed one of the burnt out speeders Hardcase whooped loudly, making her chuckle a little. He was nothing if not enthusiastic about things exploding. She could appreciate a man with simple goals. 

Content to enjoy the walk before whatever chaos ensued, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting the force guide her steps as she moved forward. So lost in the peace of it she barely noticed that Fives had jogged to catch up with her until it was too late for her to try and take another path and avoid him. 

He had his helmet off now, tucked under his arm, and when she glanced up at him silently he gave her an easy smile and a shrug. “You looked like you could use the company,” he said. 

“Then you should get your vision checked,” She muttered, her shoulders dropping in defeat. Running away now would just be childish, not to mention make it obvious she didn't want to be around him - for more reasons than just one. 

“Hey I wasn't the one walking with their eyes closed!” He snorted, bumping her shoulder gently. 

“I could see just fine,” she retorted, shrugging him off. 

“Riiiiight force stuff. I’d still prefer you didn't trip and damage that pretty face,” he grinned, his eyes molten gold under the dappled light of the forest as he watched her carefully. 

“What business of it is yours?” She asked cooly, but his grin didn't fade one bit at her cold tone. 

“None, yet ,” he said, his voice low and warm. 

“ Ever ,” she replied. 

“We’ll see about that, cyar’ika,” he smiled pleasantly. Unfortunately his use of the mando’a endearment distracted her just enough for her boot to catch on a log. Fives hand shot out, catching her under her bicep and steadying her. “Falling for me so soon?”

“You are insufferable,” she muttered. 

“And you’re trying your hardest to pretend you don’t like it,” he chuckled. Her gaze narrowed as it shot to him, shaking her head in derision. 

“And you’re trying your hardest to convince yourself of that, trooper,” she bit back, letting her eyes drop from his face… from the sharp lines of his jaw and his honeyed eyes that were gleaming with triumph. Handsome bastard. 

“It’s Fives,” he replied, smirking as she rolled her eyes. 

“I know your name,” she muttered, trying to outpace him. Unfortunately he was 6 foot with much longer legs and had no problem keeping stride with her.
 

“I prefer when you use it, Lore ,” he murmured, suddenly too close to her ear. She jerked slightly in surprise. That was the second time now he had used her nickname like that and it sent a shiver through her each time. 

“Fine, Fives ,” she replied, slamming her teeth together. 

“Good girl,” he chuckled, sending a full shock of lightning down her spine in surprise. Not that he had said it, but at how hot it had made her go all over. 

“Fuck off,” she muttered, deciding to drop back to the others instead. If she couldn’t outrun him, she could surround herself with the squad as a barrier. His quiet chuckle followed her the entire way, earning her a raised brow from Rex. “Just one of your men being a menace,” she supplicated quietly. 

“Fives,” he sighed, shaking his head. 

“Isn’t it always?” She asked and he laughed softly. 

“Shockingly, not always,” he said to her and she offered him a smile. The poor man put up with far too much shit between the 501st and Anakin. Maybe she would get him a nice little something when they were back on Coruscant - like a massage, or the world’s biggest bottle of Correlian whiskey and a hip flask.  

“I can always wipe his memories,” she joked, and he choked on his next breath. 

“You can do that?”

“I can do many things, Rex,” she winked, feeling a little bad when he went pink and she realised just how close that came to an innuendo. Even worse was that the rest of them had heard it, breaking out into raucous laughter. “That is not what I meant!” She protested.

“I’m not complaining,” Fives grinned. 

“Yeah well you will be when I use the force to suck all the air from your chest,” she growled. 

“I can't tell if you’re serious or not,” Kix mused, his face pulled down in concern. 

“I am,” she smiled, tapping her nose conspiratorially. “There are lots of ways to use the force.”

“Ugh, just don't send anyone to my med bay and I’ll consider it fair,” Kix sighed, shaking his head. 

“Deal,” she nodded. “Besides, that one is kind of a last resort. Not really applicable to 99% of situations.”

“Not even in a fight?” Tup asked. 

“No. It takes too much concentration to use during a fight,” she shrugged. “Better to put that effort into enhancing speed and agility.” 

“You know I don't think I’ve ever seen you fight hand to hand - well, maybe only with droids but that doesn’t count,” Jesse mused. “Care for a spar?” 

That made a small smirk wind its way up her face. She’d sparred with Delta many times, and she never lost. After all, she had taught Alpha everything she knew and Alpha had taught them . There were no moves they had that she didn't already know. “I’ll consider it, Jesse.” 

“You can’t use the force though,” Jesse pointed out. “That’s just plain unfair.”

“Jesse, I am offended you think I would be such a sore loser that I would resort to such measures!” She gasped in mock offence, clutching her chest dramatically. 

“She’s going to kick your ass, Jesse,” Fives sighed, shaking his head. “She trained Alpha, remember?” 

That made her glance at Fives and then at Tup. He was the only one out of all of them that she had explicitly told about that. Raising a brow at him, he did everything but look at her, suddenly finding the dirt frantically exciting. 

“Gossips,” she snorted, her eyes instead finding their ship as they entered the clearing they had left it in. 

“I didn't -” Tup began but she cut him off with a wave of her hand. 

“Tup I’m not mad. I'm actually surprised you didn't already know that,” she shrugged, patting him on the shoulder in a friendly gesture that she hoped calmed his budding anxiety. “Now, cmhere Jesse,” she grinned. 

“Wait, now ?” Jesse gaped. 

“Mhm… Unless you have somewhere else to be?” She stepped back in the grass, taking a loose fighting pose with one foot pressed back to balance herself. Alora waited patiently as Jesse stripped the top half of his armour, bringing his fists out in front of him. He took one step toward her, throwing a punch, and it was all over. 

She simply moved into him, pressing her weight into his chest, and flipped him over her shoulder onto the ground. Laughter erupted around them as Jesse groaned, the wind knocked clean out of him from landing so hard on the ground. 

“I’m going to have to speak with Alpha about the ARC training regimen if that is the best you can do,” she chuckled, crouching down to check him. He was fine , just being dramatic, she decided with a nod. 

“Let’s test that,” Fives grinned, already yanking off his chest plate and shoulder pauldrons. Hm, she wouldn’t mind an excuse to actually hit him without it seeming violent and unprovoked. 

“As you wish,” she murmured, stepping back gently. What she wasn’t expecting was for him to strip the top of his blacks off along with his armour, leaving him bare chested, his tanned skin an inviting brown in the sunlight, and a long scar drawing her eyes toward the V of his abs. She swallowed, gritting her teeth and forcing herself not to look away. Fucking hell . He was definitely using the Kenobi route of ‘distracting’ his opponents. She hated that it was working. Hated that she had to force herself from examining the muscle to his forearms and biceps. 

“Can’t have you grabbing my clothes like you just did to Jesse,” he grinned cockily, stepping forward. She didn't bother to tell him that was not what she had done, lest she give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his lack of clothing. 

He was faster than Jesse, his punches calculated and sharp, and she found herself toying with him, batting his hands away when they came too close. This was more what she had expected from a recruit trained by Alpha, but she was just playing with him. If she wanted to, she could end this in seconds but instead she found herself in some kind of dance, allowing him to throw his hits. When he tried to swipe her legs out from under her, she stepped back quickly, cocking her head in his direction. 

“That move only works when you have someone on the back step,” she commented, twirling under his next punch and grabbing his wrist, twisting it behind him so she could kick him in the back and send him stumbling forward. 

He didn't reply, spinning quickly to begin his assault again. His face was a mask of determination as he attempted to break her defence. Of course, he failed and she was about to end the entire thing when he clipped her in the jaw, surprising her just enough for him to get a second hit in. Unfortunately for him, it would take more than two small punches to send her down, and she moved onto the offence, slamming her hands past his defences in quick, sharp movements. 

“Ow,” he muttered when she punched him in the solar plexus, not hard enough to seriously damage but enough to let him know she could’ve put him down with it. His guard had dropped just a little, and she used the opportunity to hook his ankle and send him sprawling. He flailed, his hands reaching out and she was a millisecond away from escaping the grasp when he yanked her down with him. 

They rolled, and she knew she had mere seconds to regain her advantage, throwing her weight into him and straddling his hips, one forearm resting solidly against his throat, the other pushing down on the middle of his chest with her elbow, impeding his breathing slightly. “If I had any kind of weapon in my hand right now, you’d be dead,” she murmured as he stared up at her with bright eyes. “In fact, I could’ve just snapped your neck.”

“Not very Jedi of you,” he smirked.

“Then be lucky I am one,” she breathed, suddenly extremely aware of their position. Even more so when he wrapped a hand around the back of her knee, just shy of caressing her thigh. 

“Hmmm,” he rumbled, the sound reverberating through his chest and right into… She jolted, jumping off him as he chuckled to himself, dusting the grass off his blacks and sitting up casually. 

“I am definitely t alking to Alpha ,” she muttered. 

“I didn't do too badly,” Fives grinned, but it was Echo who interrupted. 

“She was toying with you, vod.”

“I don't mind being played with,” Fives winked and the entire clearing groaned, herself included. 

“Fives for the love of…” Rex muttered, shaking his head as Alora picked grass off her tunic and pants, trying to ignore the memory of his hum reverberating right through his body and in between her thighs. Son of a bitch . 

//

He was making progress. He knew he was. She could ignore him all she liked but he had seen the part of her lips and the widening of her eyes when he had hummed below her. The delicate points of her ears had flushed pink, and it had been absolutely fucking adorable . He grinned giddly to himself as he laid in one of the bunks on their ship after his nap, replaying their sparring match. 

He had managed to get her to go from ignoring him, to begrudgingly acknowledging him, to biting back at him, to…. Whatever that had been, in under a fortnight. Try as she might but she wasn’t unaffected . Stubborn little thing, she was. No matter, he did enjoy a challenge. 

Kicking his feet off the bunk, he made his way toward the cockpit, his vigour renewed and his spirit ready to see if he could get any more out of her. When he reached her usual spot in the pilot’s seat, he found her curled up asleep instead and froze. 

Oh. 

Not again. 

She needed to stop taking two hour naps and actually get some rest, he thought sourly. But stars… she looked sweet like this - her hair tumbling over her shoulders, those full lips relaxed, her eyelashes fanning her cheeks as she dozed. He stared for a long moment, his hand trembling a little as he reached out and brushed some of the hair from her face, taking the time to just slightly caress the markings on her forehead with the tip of his fingers. 

It took all his control to turn away, even if only for a moment, and head to the back of the ship, pulling the blanket off one of the spare bunks. When he returned to her, he gently tucked it around her shoulders, watching as she shifted slightly at the sudden warmth. Quietly, he sat down in the co-pilot’s chair and watched her with curious eyes. 

He might have fucked up monumentally but he liked to think he was repairing that as they went. She was trying her hardest to stay away from him, but it just wasn’t working and he hadn’t missed the miniscule glances across his face whenever they spoke, or the way she stammered in shock when he overtly flirted. 

He couldn’t believe what a dumbass he’d been. How had he missed out on all this? No matter, he’d fix it. And then… well he supposed he would see but if it went the way he wanted it to, he’d have far more than just her smiles and warm looks. 

Sighing, he settled back in the seat and did a quick check of all their controls, attempting to be as quiet as possible. He barely even noticed when Echo came up behind him, until his hand came down on the back of his chair. 

“Vod?” He asked quietly at his appearance, spinning the seat around to face him.

Echo glanced at Alora and sighed, shaking his head. “She out?”

“Cold,” he nodded. “If she actually slept properly she wouldn’t pass out in the pilot’s seat.” 

“Kix has an idea about that,” Echo said. “He thinks she runs cold, and if we heat her up she’ll fall asleep.”

“Curious,” he smiled. “Doesn’t explain how we’d get her in one of those bunks though.”

“Yeah it’s either that or tranq her,” Echo smirked, adjusting his comm unit on his wrist. “But something tells me that might be one of Skywalker’s ‘i’ll come back so fast you won't know what hit you’ things.” 

“We’re definitely not drugging her,” he chuckled, stretching his arms out loosely. “Even if Skywalker didn't come back, she’d kill us herself.”

“Mhm, well only one more mission then we’re back on Coruscant,” Echo mused. “Maybe she just needs to be spared from your terrible flirting.”

“Hey!” He protested. “It’s not terrible! And… And I’m not flirting!” He knew it sounded stupid, even to him. He certainly was flirting but Echo and his brothers knew him well enough, he flirted with lots of people. It didn't mean anything. 

“You are, and it is,” Echo snorted. “Didn't think I’d see you go from pure hatred to a pathetic crush in under a month, it’s impressive, even for you.”

He gaped at his twin, mouth hanging open stupidly. “I do… I do not have a crush!” He gasped, glancing at Alora frantically to find she was still asleep. 

“Lie all you want. I know you Fives,” Echo said with a raised brow. “You’ve got a crush and now you’re in a rock and a hard place because she doesn't like you.” 

“You don't know that,” he muttered. 

“We all know that, Fives. Besides, are you really surprised?” He asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. Damn his twin and his pragmatism. 

“Well it doesn’t matter because I don't have a crush,” he replied. “I’m just trying to make things right.” 

“Is your right her in your bed?” Echo asked dryly and he choked on his swallow, coughing a little. 

“Fuck Echo, cmon!” He protested. “ No !”

“So, that’s a yes. Well, I for one can’t wait to see how this blows up in your face,” he grinned, his eyes briefly glancing at Alora and Fives found himself feeling oddly protective of the woman in her sleeping state. He shifted a little, trying to block his twin's view silently, but all it earned him was a raised brow. 

“Shut up,” he muttered, staring at Echo’s boots instead. His brother chuckled quietly. 

“Oh hell, this is going to go brilliantly.”

“I said shut up,” he grumbled. 

“You’re so used to people at 79s falling at your feet you cant possibly fathom she doesn't want anything to do with you,” he grinned, prodding him to bare his teeth at his twin in a snarl. 

“We’ll see,” he growled. 

“Aaaanddd there it is,” Echo smirked, and he realised his brother had been goading him, backing him into a corner. He threw his head back against the seat and grumbled quietly at the ceiling. Echo knew him too well. At least the others hadn’t heard. Rex would have his fucking head for this. 

Now he just had to find a way to make sure he saw her on Coruscant. 

Chapter Text

Coruscant. 

What should’ve been a reprieve was a fucking nightmare . Try as he might, he had not seen Alora in days and it was driving him nuts. No one knew where she was, not even Tup though he suspected his brother was intentionally not telling him where she was or what she was doing.

He assumed she was at the temple, given she was a Jedi, but surely she didn't spend all her time there. He also didn't have her personal comms like Delta did so it wasn’t as if he could just send her a message. Even if he did, he suspected it would be ignored given her stubbornness. He couldn't allow that to grow. He’d made real headway over the past several weeks and he was quickly losing that ground the longer she was away from him. It gave her too much opportunity to separate herself from them and stars knew when one of them might be deployed, never to see eachother again. 

After all, they had never met before their unfortunate encounter a few months back. 

He couldn’t risk it. 

But his determination did nothing in the face of the sheer size of Coruscant - not to mention the fact that he had no access to her. Fives had taken their confinement on that damn omicron class ship for granted, something he was sorely missing right now. Stars damn it all, he hated that she was ignoring him. 

The music of 79s thumped over his thoughts. Usually he would be thrilled by it, probably on the dance floor or at the bar, but right now he was sitting in the booth with a few of his brothers, watching the crowd with glazed eyes as he sipped his drink. A few of the women had winked at him, or approached him when he had slid over to the bar to order another round but he paid them no mind. He wasn’t in the mood, even if the thought had crossed his mind. He probably could use a distraction - he was tense, pent up. Getting laid would fix that, no doubt, but he had no interest in anyone in the bar tonight. 

They weren’t her.

Even his brothers had taken notice of his moody stares. 

“Okay what’s going on Fives?” Jesse laughed, shaking his head at him from across the booth. 

“Huh?” He asked. 

“By now you’ve usually disappeared into the back with some girl. Not to mention at least four of them have flirted with you and you’ve ignored them, what's going on vod?” He wasn’t wrong. He’d never had any trouble finding trouble at 79s - usually something quick out the back near the freshers and occasionally disappearing off with some woman who he’d taken a liking to. None of them had lasted. 

The one woman he had taken serious interest in had decided his job was too much and had insisted she wanted to fuck around while he was on deployment. That was a no go for him, and it had taken him weeks to get over the devastation at being tossed away so easily. Though, looking back, he supposed it was a bout of karma considering that was how he generally treated his one night stands. At least he let them know that in advance though, instead of stringing him along for months like that woman. That one had hurt more than he had expected. 

“Just not feeling it tonight,” he replied over the music, raising his glass slightly before taking a drink. 

Kix snorted, choking on his liquor. “That’s not it, but whatever you say.”

“Don’t be nosy,” he jabbed the medic lightly in the side. They usually only wore the bottom half of their armour to 79s which made poking him in the ribs all the easier. 

“I hear that a bunch of the 212th are out on shore leave right now too,” Echo said idly and he rolled his eyes playfully. 

“What gave that away? All of them here tonight or the orange armour?” He chuckled, feeling the desperate need to take 6 more shots to just put up with the rest of the evening alone. 

“Nope,” Echo smiled contentedly. “Actually that wasn’t it.”

“Oh…do tell?” He grinned, happy to play into his twins' shenanigans. 

“Mhm, it was Fangs dancing with Alora, actually,” Echo smirked, but Fives’ head was already whipping up to scan the dance floor. At first, he didn't see anything and almost turned back to his twin to give him the finger for fucking with him when his gaze caught on a flash of red. 

Echo hadn’t been lying. Alora was here, and she was dancing with Fangs - one of Cody’s infantry troopers. She looked incredible; dressed in a shimmering red two piece. The top half sat snuggly as a crop top with shimmering tassels that moved when she danced, the bottom half was a daringly short skirt in the same deep red with the same glittery tassels that seemed to accentuate each movement of her hips as she twirled. His gaze dropped to her bare thighs, tanned and shining under the neon lights, then dragged back up to her bare midriff, slightly sheened with sweat. 

Holy fucking hells she was divine.

She was laughing at something Fangs said, allowing him to spin her with one hand before pulling her back in firmly by the waist. It wasn’t unusual to see a Jedi or two down here with their men, but… never one that looked like her. Even her golden facial markings shone brightly under the lights and she seemed entirely unaware that many of the men were watching her with eyes that moved between admiration, hunger and straight lust. 

Even the natborns were shooting glances - women and men alike.

Fuck . 

“Son of a bitch,” he snarled, moving to shuffle out of the booth. 

Around him, his squad laughed but it was background noise to the buzzing in his head as he watched her allow Fang to pull her a little closer as she danced. All this time he’d been worried about not seeing her again and here she was, dancing with another squad. He knew she knew Cody well enough, so it made sense she knew his men too but to come out with them instead of the 501? Instead of Torrent? Diabolical. 

Shoving his way through the dance floor, he brushed off a woman who tried to grab him for a dance. His sole focus was now on the little vixen dancing with Fangs. 

In his head, only one word echoed over and over again: Mine . 

As he reached the pair, he ripped Fangs’ hands free of her and shouldered him off. “Go,” he growled, thankful that the man had listened to him. After all, he had a reputation and he wasn’t an Arc trooper for nothing. Fangs new better than to fuck with a pissed off ARC trooper.

“What the hell?!” She yelled over the music as he took Fangs place, grabbing her firmly around the waist. 

“I’m sorry, did you enjoy his hands all over you?” He muttered, his thumb drawing circles on her bare waist, skin to skin. Kix had been right, she did run cold but her skin was so soft. He could explore it till the day he died.

“Whether I did or not is none of your business!” She threw her hands up in exasperation. “Besides, it was just a dance!”

“Just a dance,” he murmured, trying not to absolutely seethe at the thought, and yanking her forward instead. “Then this is just a dance?” She wiggled but he tightened his grip, pushing them together amongst the throw of people. 

“Get off me,” she snarled, gripping his biceps until her nails were nearly digging through his blacks. The feeling was oddly pleasant, and his mind ran away with it, thinking of what those fingers would feel like digging into his back as he ruined her. Or raking through his hair… or pinned above her head as she writhed. 

“Why? Something wrong with my hands all over you, cyar’ika? I thought it was just a dance,” he smirked, well aware that he was being unfair but the sight of her with Fangs had lit a fire under his ass. There was not a fucking chance in hell that any of his brothers were getting their hands on her. He just wouldn’t let that happen, and if he had to tell one of them to fuck off, he would. Time and time and time again. 

With bared teeth, she shoved him hard in the chest, turned on her heel and walked away, pushing through the throngs of people and heading toward the exit. 

If she thought she was getting away so easily, she had another thing coming. 

//

Fucking asshole . Interrupting her nice evening out. She hadn’t even planned to come out but had dropped some paperwork off to Cody in the barracks as a favour to Obi-Wan when some of his men had cornered her. Figuring she’d needed a distraction from the Council’s bullshit, she had readily agreed. If she knew she was going to get cornered, she wouldn’t have come. 

Stupid handsome asshole with his damn blacks rolled up to his elbows showing off his forearms and his stupid pretty face and eyes. She threw herself into the cool air outside the bar, taking a sharp right and heading toward the alleyway that would take her in the general direction of her apartment. She needed a cold shower and five glasses of wine at this rate. 

Unfortunately, she heard Fives footsteps before she saw him, spinning around with fire in her eyes. He just didn't know when to quit. 

“Stop ignoring me!” He growled, stalking down the alleyway after her. 

She stopped, facing him fully now and glowering up at him even though he towered over her. “What is your problem, Fives! You hated it when I talked to you, you hated it when I don't. Make up your fucking mind!” Her voice came out as a raspy snarl, fed up and frustrated. This asshole couldn’t make up his fucking mind about anything, let alone her. He didn't get a free pass just because she had forgiven his prior transgressions about her. It was whiplash in it’s finest form. 

“I…” he trailed off, almost uncertainly and she scoffed, shaking her head and turning. He could go back to 79s and do whatever he liked for all she cared. She hoped his night fucking sucked after ruining hers. She hoped he spilled all his drinks and every woman in there ignored him for the entire evening. Alora managed one step away from him before his hand closed around her wrist, and he yanked her back roughly, spinning her to face him. 

She didn't even get a chance to protest before both his hands were on her cheeks and his mouth was pressed firmly against hers, kissing her demandingly. A small, surprised yelp escaped her lips but it was swallowed by his mouth as he pressed her back against the cold brick wall of the alleyway. His lips were warm, the kiss absolutely devouring and he didn't stop. She found she didn't particularly want him to, grasping at his hair too roughly to be kind as he pushed himself closer to her, his hands firming on her face and his thumb caressing her jaw possessively. It lit a blaze in her, burning rushing up her spine and chest as she kissed him back. 

He didn't stop until she was breathless and dizzy, leaving her head swimming so badly that she didn't even notice he had dipped his mouth down to her neck and bit down, causing her to cry out in shock. The sharp pain quickly faded into pleasure and her lips parted silently at the pleasure. 

“Sorry, did that hurt?” He murmured, though she could hear the smirk in his voice. He wasn’t fucking sorry at all. 

“Yes,” she growled. 

“Good,” he muttered. 

“There is something wrong with you!” She gasped back, digging her fingers into his scalp as one of his hands dipped to her hip, gripping it bruisingly. There was no escape, and she wasn’t looking for one. This felt good , and stars knew she wanted release. Needed it. And Fives was a fucking good kisser, even if she hated to admit that, hated to admit the instant burn he had ignited in her. A burn that many previous lovers had failed to light.

“No. You just drive me insane,” he groaned. “Fuck.” In a swift movement, he pressed his armoured thigh between her legs, pinning her fully and she jolted at the contact, the further he pushed the more her skirt rode up exposing more and more of her legs. She was pinned, vulnerable and inexplicably turned on. 

“Fuck. You!” She snarled, yanking at his hair to no avail. He didn't even flinch. In fact, his eyes practically glowed with satisfaction. 

“Quite the mouth on you for someone trapped,” he muttered, nipping below her ear and shifting his thigh up to press right against her core. It sent a throbbing heat right between her legs and she grit her teeth to stop herself whining needily. Fuck that felt good. 

He only smirked like he knew exactly what had happened, exactly what had run through her addled mind. “What’s wrong, meshla?” He asked, his voice low and tantalising. 

“You,” she snapped. 

“Ah huh,” he chuckled, one hand moving to snap her wrists together above her head before she even had a moment to register it. “Maybe if you beg…” he hummed. 

“I don't beg,” she hissed back. Not a fucking chance. She had never begged in her life. Not on the battlefield. Not during torture. And certainly not in the fucking bedroom. 

“Yeah we’ll see about that,” he growled, shifting his leg to rub against her underwear. For a brief moment, her vision blacked out from the pleasure. Heat pooled between her legs and her breathing dropped into something embarrassingly shallow. Every piece of her clenched, her pussy had a mind of its own, practically screaming for her to just tear the rest of his armour off. 

“Shit!” She gasped. 

“That fucking mouth,” he groaned, littering hot open mouthed kisses up her neck, leaving every piece of skin he touched blazing. 

“It will -” she began, fully intending to threaten him but his thigh shifted again and she couldn't help the low whimper that left her mouth instead. She was practically sitting on his thigh now, her tiptoes barely touching the ground, and she couldn’t deny the pure electricity coursing through her in that moment. 

“Will what?” He smirked triumphantly, rolling his hips forward into her. She couldn’t even reply when all her focus was going into not grinding herself on his thigh plate. She was not about to embarrass herself any further. “Wonder if you’re dripping on me yet.”

“Go to hell,” she panted, tugging her wrists in his grip pathetically. It was too firm and she was already breathless and dizzy from that kiss. Fives trailed his lips down to her collarbone and nipped playfully, only just gentle enough to not leave a mark. 

“You won't be free of me there,” he chuckled, licking the would be mark with the hot pad of his tongue. Her entire body was on fire now and she let out a low, breathless groan when he shifted his thigh again. If this went any further she would be dripping on him. Fuck she could practically feel how wet her underwear was and it was infuriating . 

His head jerked back up and he met her eyes with a confident smirk. His gaze had changed from a light honey to dark, swirling whiskey as he stared at her intently, desire burning through his eyes. Slowly, he brushed his lips over hers but she refused to open her mouth for him, desperately trying to regain the dominance she had so shamefully lost. 

“Open your fucking mouth, Alora,” he demanded, squeezing her jaw a little as she snarled at him, attempting to grasp onto some dominance and ultimately failing when he managed to pry her mouth open ferociously, slamming his lips back against hers. His tongue slipped inside her mouth, flicking against her own and tracing her bottom lip with a devious hum. 

“You are the bane of my existence,” she whined against his lips, which only gave him the opportunity to kiss her deeper, his hand dropping her wrists and curling around the front of her throat possessively. 

“At least I’m something to you, then,” he rumbled, nipping at her bottom lip before using his hand to turn her head so he could press kisses along her jaw and upper neck. She made the mistake of moving, of shifting just a little, before finding out just why that was a bad idea. It rubbed her right against his thigh plate and she couldn’t help the moan that left her mouth. Fives’ eyes snapped up to her and he smirked, cocking his head. 

“I’d like to see you ride my thigh, meshla,” he purred, causing her already flushed face to blush further. Fucking hell … he had a way with brazen words. 

“Keep… Keep dreaming,” she gasped. 

“Oh, I will , but there’s nothing quite like the real thing, is there?” He smirked, shifting his thigh intentionally now. Her entire body jolted like she had been shocked, her pussy clenching with desire and stars above… If he didn't look hot as all hell like this; in control, confident, lips damp from their kiss and his head cocked like he knew exactly what she wanted, what she needed. 

She almost gave in, almost reached down and yanked at the belt holding his codpiece in place, when a voice called out from somewhere near 79s’ entrance. 

“Fives?! Where are you? Rex is looking for ya!” Jesse called out and Fives went still, a low growl leaving his lips. For a moment, it looked like he debated continuing but then he slowly let go, stepping back with a clenched jaw. 

“Fuck sake!” He hissed, running a hand through his mussed hair that was now hanging in messy pieces over his forehead. 

“Better get that,” she muttered, straightening her skirt that had nearly ridden all the way up around her waist and fixing her messed up hair from his hands. 

“This isn’t over,” he said, his gaze pinning her to the spot. “Far from it.”

“Agree to disagree,” she snapped, turning on her heel and leaving him to deal with Jesse and Rex. 

Even so, she couldn’t ignore the dampness of her underwear or the way it rubbed into her thighs like a sinful reminder of what had almost happened. She could only hope it hadn’t transferred to his armour. 

Despite her own words, she believed him. It wasn’t over. 

Chapter Text

Stars above. He was so fucked and he was giddy about it. He could still feel her hands tugging his hair, her nails scratching his scalp as she fought for dominance - and lost. He could still hear her little gasps and moans as she did her damndest to silence herself. He could still feel the way she had jerked when he’d moved his leg between her delicious thighs and the tense coil of her waist as she tried to deny herself from grinding on him.

If Jesse hadn’t fucking interrupted them… fuck. He’d been fuming with his brother when he’d stormed back into 79s, and they had assumed Alora had chewed him out for interrupting her evening. Little did they know… and he had no plans on saying shit . It wouldn’t help if he went around bragging. She’d probably have his head for it. Or maybe never talk to him again and that just wouldn’t do. 

He’d almost had her. 

No matter, patience makes the heart grow fonder and all that. Or whatever the saying was. He didn’t really care. It wasn’t his focus.

But patience didn't help that he hadn’t seen her in a week now. In fact, he’d argue his patience was threadbare now. Not being able to contact her was just as torturous too. He was suspicious that Tup had her comms, but nothing he said or did seemed to get him to give up that information. He’d even offered to do all his weapon cleaning for 6 months and had been met with a simple shrug. 

He admired the loyalty, at least if it wasn’t getting in the way of his plans.

Which was how he’d ended up back at 79s, knocking back a few too many drinks. It was a particularly wild night in the bar, and it was packed full with pretty women and too many of his brothers. While his mind was mostly elsewhere, namely with a certain Jedi, he was doing his best to keep up appearances and to be fair he was enjoying flirting with the pretty twi’lek woman who had sat down next to him, batting her lashes and giggling at everything he said. 

It was more than he had gotten from Alora, he thought sourly. Other women liked him, why couldn’t she ? Though, that was the allure. She didn't care for his surface flirting like others did, it made him work harder. 

Banishing those thoughts, he turned back to the woman with a smile, realising he hadn’t caught her name. Maybe… After last week's disaster of an interruption, maybe some stress relief would be required. The thought went off in his head, souring like old milk immediately. He didn't want to ruin his chances but… Stars was he pent up and they would only be on shore leave for so long. So he laughed and flirted and nudged the woman next to him, his head on a swivel despite himself. 

It paid off, eventually, even though it wasn't what he intended. He spotted Alora enter 79s, dressed in a dark blue tunic and pants, nothing like her outfit last time. Clearly this was business related because she strode through the crowd that parted for her like she was a rock in a river. Making a beeline for Fox, who had come out with some of the Guard, he watched on curiously, nudging Jesse and nodding at a few of his brothers to join the show. 

She tapped Fox on the shoulder, and he watched as the Commander bent his head to talk to her as she leant up on her toes to speak in his ear with a serious expression on her face. They talked for a moment, and Fox seemed to signal for her to wait as he leant over to some of the Guard. 

Alora looked around pensively, her eyes coasting over him and the other 501 boys like they weren’t even there, and his hackles immediately rose. Seriously ? He’d had her against a fucking wall a week prior and now she was pretending he wasn’t even there? Unbelievable. Fueled by indignation, he pulled the Twi’lek woman onto his lap with a grin, whispering in her ear about her eyes, or something. Frankly he was just spilling bullshit that would make her giggle, and hopefully draw Alora’s attention. 

It didn't. 

She continued to speak with Fox, nodding along to something he said thoughtfully. He didn't like the way the Commander was speaking way too close to her ear. The music wasn't that loud. The moment the thought hit him, he realised he was probably being a bit of a hypocrite. She wasn't the one with someone in their lap right then. And she did appear to be here on business, especially when she pulled out a datapad and showed Fox something with a question on her lips. He, on the other hand, had a woman on his lap, practically straddling him. 

He didn't take his eyes off her the entire time, not even when the woman on his lap started whispering in his ear about leaving the bar. He was laser focussed on the Jedi as she turned to leave. For a moment, her eyes flicked over him and his brothers and the smallest smirk tweaked the corner of her mouth but all she did was walk out, back to whatever she was doing. He had no idea what had gone through her head, but she hadn’t seemed bothered in the slightest. 

His gambit had failed spectacularly, and the woman on his lap had clearly noticed his attention elsewhere, getting up in a huff and going back to her friends. Well, there would be no stress relief tonight, that was for sure. He was only barely holding back going after Alora, knowing that if she was here on business she would be long gone by now. He was even tempted to go ask Fox what that was about, but stars knew the Commander wouldn’t tell him shit. Not to mention he’d probably go and tell Alora that he had asked. 

“You should know that baiting a Jedi won’t work,” Echo sighed from beside him, and when he looked over he realised he had given his brothers quite the show with his obvious attempt to make her jealous. Or pay attention to him, at the very least.

“Dunno what you’re talking about,” he shrugged, stretching out his arms and taking a sip of his drink. 

“Uh huh,” Kix muttered, shaking his head at him. Kix was too perceptive sometimes, but at least he could count on him to keep his mouth closed. Medics habit, he supposed. 

He left alone, grumbling the entire way back to the Barracks in annoyance. Unfortunately, he was woken by Skywalker at fuck off o’clock in the morning with a reminder about the guard duty he and the boys had been assigned for tonights gala. Tossing his comm against the far wall, he groaned and rubbed his head. Definitely too much whiskey the night before, he thought sluggishly. 

And of course Skywalker had volunteered them to help the Guard out at the Senate Gala in the evening, given they had gotten a longer shore leave than normal. The thought wavered in his hazy brain, and he nearly moved on before realising that Alora had been ordered to be there. 

Fucking bingo . 

Finally, a chance to see her when she wasn’t working and able to just walk away. He was actually excited, even if he was going to be watching the place like a hawk for any intrusions. Then again, it was a fucking Senate Gala. Most likely they would just spend their evening standing around listening to gossip none of them cared about. 

Perhaps that was what Alora had come to Fox about? Discussing security measures or something? He hoped so, because he didn't like the idea of them being friends. It was a threat. Fox was a bloody Commander. Did Alora know him well? Did she like him? Did he have her private Comms channel?

He was stuck in his head for the rest of the day, pacing the barracks and wearing a tread into the durasteel as they waited for some of the Guard to come and get them. His brothers noticed, but not even Rex said a word which he was grateful for because he needed a game plan. She couldn’t outrun him there, but he would be on guard duty which meant he couldn’t just pull her away. He’d have a post to keep, though thankfully it looked like from the plans the Guard sent through he would be right in the midst of things. 

Perhaps he could catch her with Senators around, that way she couldn’t be cold toward him. Hopefully, anyway. 

By the time they arrived, Skywalker was already there and out of his Jedi robes for once. He cleaned up nicely, Fives thought silently as he took in his tunic over his suit pants and belt. What would Alora wear? A dress? He’d never seen her in a dress… Maybe she would shun all of that and show up dressed normally just to tell the Council to go fuck themselves. The thought made him grin stupidly and he quickly schooled his face as Skywalker gave them their assignments and reminded them of the decorum of the night.  

The Coruscant Guard would be taking all the outside posts, which meant him and the boys along with a few of Cody’s men would be on the floor of the gala, posted around the outside of the dance floor and bar. The room was one big security risk in his opinion, with everything open plan and that massive glass wall on the outside of the dance floor looking out over Coruscant’s glittering lights. If he had done the planning for this, he wouldn’t have put the gala in such a vulnerable room - anyone with a reasonable aim and the right equipment could shoot through that damn glass wall. Then again, there would be several Jedi here tonight and the Coruscant Guard, 212th and 501st. Someone would be stupid to try it.

It quickly became crowded, and he shifted next to Rex, Echo and Jesse, his helmet off under his arm and his eyes scanning the guests. Senators, business benefactors, no one suspicious as far as he could tell. A bit of royalty here and there, at least from what Skywalker had told them but he couldn’t point them out with a blaster to his head. It wasn’t something he kept up with. 

Only forty minutes in, and it was packed and he was fucking bored . They had drawn the short straw on this one, that was for sure. He’d actually prefer to be outside with the Guard patrolling than standing here watching Senators sip champagne, dance, and laugh airily at things he didn't care about. At least then he could get some fresh air and stop having to scrutinise every newcomer for a possible threat or hidden weapons.

Mulling over his thoughts, his eyes distant, he nearly jumped when Echo nudged him and glanced at his twin in annoyance. Echo’s eyes were elsewhere, and he inclined his head across the room. Fives’ eyes followed and his throat immediately went dry. Alora certainly had not shunned the dress code. 

She stood almost directly opposite where he was, dressed in a floor length olive green slip dress made of a silk that seemed to melt into every curve of her body. The straps were thin, showing off her tanned shoulders, back and chest. Down the right leg, a slit in the thigh ran almost all the way up to her hip and when she shifted her weight or took a step to grab a glass of champagne it revealed all the skin there.  He was aware he was staring, but he couldn’t help it when she looked like that. Her hair was down in dark styled waves over her shoulders, swaying with every movement, and the golden markings on her face were matched beautifully with a thin chain of the same colour that ran down her spine and around her throat. 

She looked like a fucking goddess in human form. 

The only problem: she was talking to some man, and his hands were frequently reaching out to touch her. Worse, she didn't seem to mind one bit and when he indicated to the dance floor with his chin, she nodded and set her glass down. To say he was fuming was an understatement and he clenched his jaw as she took his hand and let herself be guided into the midst of the dancers. 

The man looked regal, and he stared unabashed as he watched the pair. Where Alora was tanned and golden, he was tall - taller than him - with long white hair neatly pulled back over his shoulders and blue eyes so icy that he could see them even from the distance. They made quite the pair, even he had to admit it. Both of them moved elegantly, matching one anothers steps as if they knew what the other was going to do before they did it. 

She looked happy. Her smile seemed genuine, not forced, and he wondered if she even noticed the way the eyes of everyone in the room seemed to gravitate to her as the stranger spun her out in an elegant twirl. She was a damn vision. 

“Huh… last night backfired on you quicker than I thought it would,” Kix said, appearing on his shoulder with Tup after returning from their perimeter sweep. 

“Oh yeah, what exactly does that mean?” He asked, not taking his eyes off Alora as she chuckled at something the man said to her. He did not like it one bit. They were entirely too close to not know each other before tonight. 

“He means you’ve been seething at Alora and that man for the best part of five minutes,” Tup added dryly, crossing his eyes in his peripheral. He hoped Tup didn't like the guy either, at least then he would have an ally in his annoyance. 

He was still watching carefully when Skywalker appeared beside them to check in, and stopped, glancing over them all. “What’s up with you lot?”

“Nothing sir…” They all trailed off and he caught the Generals’ gaze following their own across the room to Alora.  

“Prince Soren?” Skywalker smirked, before laughing a little. “Oh yeah, this should be good.” It was enough for him to tear his gaze away from the pair and stare at his General. 

“What do you mean sir?” Rex asked leisurely. 

“Oh,” Skywalker laughed. “He’s been pining after Lore forever. I’ve got bets going on whether they’ve already slept together,” he grinned and Fives felt his face drop like rain from thunderclouds, heavy and frustrated. “Who knew you boys were such gossips! Just ask next time,” Skywalker laughed loudly as he wandered off toward Senator Amidala and Senator Organa. 

“Wow, this really backfired on you,” Jesse laughed. 

“Stow it,” he shot back, crossing his arms and turning back to Alora and Soren. Unlike 79s, this was not the kind of place he could just go shove someone off her, let alone a foreign prince. All he could do was glare as Prince Soren dipped her elegantly, his lips just barely brushing her neck in a dramatic and intimate move. 

His fists clenched, hands trembling with frustration that he knew he was undeserving of. He had alienated her. He had scorned her at every turn. He had ruined any chance of actually pursuing anything - Jedi or no.

But right then and there he vowed he was going to fucking change that.

She was looking at the Prince in a way she’d never looked at him ; with genuine interest and adoration. It was driving him insane. He supposed he’d bought this all on himself, when it came down to it, but it didn’t stop him absolutely fuming as the Prince whispered in her ear and she laughed loudly, grinning up at him with a mischievous little twinkle in her eyes. 

It was even worse that they looked striking together with their contrast of dark and light hair and the olive green versus light blue as they danced. He hated that they looked good together. He hated that Soren made her laugh, made her seem light as she spun and twisted, her dress moulding to every piece of her. 

“Oh this is too good,” Jesse laughed from beside him. 

“What?” He growled, forcing himself to unclench his fists. 

“You having a crush on the General you spent months hating,” Jesse grinned, and he rolled his eyes, pretending to scan the room for threats instead. 

“I do not have a crush,” he muttered, hoping the music was loud enough to cut this conversation short. 

“Even if you did, you can keep it to yourself,” Tip murmured quietly. He’d still not fully forgiven him for what had happened with Alora even with her intervention. Not that he blamed him, but it was another thread to address, one he wasn’t focussed on right now. 

When he glanced back, the pair were leaving the dance floor hand in hand and he almost growled aloud at the sight. It only took the flush of more dancers for him to lose sight of them. For a moment, he shifted on his feet anxiously, debating going after him, before he began to move of his own accord. 

“Where ya going, Fives?” Echo asked with a sly smirk. 

“Checking the perimeter,” he grumbled, not bothering to even try and sound convincing. 

“Just let him go,” Rex waved, sighing tiredly. “There’s no stopping him.”

Good. He was right. He was going to keep his eyes on Alora if it killed him. He just hoped they hadn’t left. Then he might end up doing something stupid like following them to the Prince’s accommodation or something. 

Pushing politely through the crowds, he circled the outside of the room. If it were up to him, he would’ve stormed right through the middle of the dance floor but they had appearances to keep up so he kept his pace light and his face neutral as he moved. His eyes narrowed, and his brain turned to strategy. 

What was the most likely exit they would’ve taken? He looked around in the direction they had headed and spotted a corridor between two pillars. He was pretty sure that led out to the coat room and the side entrance, if he was remembering the schematics correctly. Making a beeline for it, he pushed through the crowds until he could breathe properly again and slipped through the far door. 

It was eerily quiet in the corridor compared to the main room, and his footsteps seemed to echo on the marble floor as he walked, keeping an ear and an eye out for where they might have gone. He didn't like how quiet it was, and he slipped out the side door to where the massive pillars of the building stretched to the sky. 

It was then that he saw them, and his blood began to boil. Her back was to one of the pillars, eclipsing her figure, and in front of her was Soren, his head dipped to her neck in an action that couldn’t be missed. Not with her hand in his hair and his on her waist. Not when she let out a breathy giggle and a sigh that echoed over the empty space. 

He stared, unsure what to do now that he actually found her. Especially how he had found her. What the fuck did he do? Stood in the shadows, his eyes were glued to her. She reached up and tugged the Prince’s hair, pulling his head back and baring his throat as she leant up to kiss across his jaw with a pleased smirk. For all her jedi talents, she was too distracted to notice him as he watched her nip at his jaw and yank his head back down to her. 

Curious. If he learned anything from this, he learned she was naturally the dominant partner. The way she was controlling the Prince’s every movement… well he wouldn’t be surprised if the man got on his knees sometime soon. 

The prince groaned something, slightly too quiet for him to hear, and she chuckled in response, her eyes simmering and her hand in his hair tightening. 

“If you want a repeat of last time…” was all he caught of her voice, rasping with desire. It all but confirmed Skywalker’s theory. She had definitely slept with this man before. His fists clenched and he threw his head back. He needed a reason to separate them before he had to witness her getting fucked by a Prince. Hell, the man's hand was already slipping up the slit in her dress and had shifted under the fabric.  

Quickly, he sent Skywalker a comms, praying that his General would give him some grace and help him out. 

Tell me you need Alora, right now, please. 

Done . Can you send me Alora? He got the response immediately, two carefully separate messages,and grinned. Hastily, he backed up a few steps to the door and then threw it open like he hadn’t just been watching everything happen. 

“Alora are you out h-” He pretended to stop in shock, freezing at the ‘sight’ before him and glancing between the pair like he had no idea what he had just walked in on. 

“What do you need, Fives?” She asked, quickly dropping her leg from where it had been wrapped around the Prince’s waist, her bare skin shimmering under the floodlights that were casting shadows all over the steps. 

“General Skywalker is asking for you, sir,” he added the honorific just to make it sound like he truly was there on official business. After all, they didn't want to cause a galactic incident by pissing off a Prince. 

“Is that so?” She muttered, straightening her dress. The Prince looked put out, glancing between them both with a frown. 

“Yes, he asked me to find you,” he replied stoically, flashing his comm and showing her the last message as she approached. She tilted her head as she read it, and then took the bait, sighing in annoyance. 

“Damnit Skywalker,” she said, her full lips pinching in annoyance. “Okay, thank you Fives. I’ll be back in in just a moment.”

“Okay, I’ll let the General know you’ll be inside in just a second,” he nodded, turning and walking with a straight back through the doors and into the corridor. Only when he was sure she wasn’t right behind him did he let a grin split his face. He owed Anakin one after this but damn was it worth it. He’d totally ruined their moment, both through shock and through the call to duty. 

He was still grinning when he walked back into the main room, and immediately caught Skywalker’s eyes. His General gave him a raised brow, and he shrugged back, hoping that he had come up with some convincing reason for calling Alora back inside. Knowing how cunning his General could be on the spot, he didn't doubt he would cover it just fine. If he didn't, Alora would come after him no doubt. 

With firm strides, he moved back to his post, unable to wipe the stupid grin off his face as he settled back in line alongside his brothers. 

“ What did you do?” Rex groaned. 

“And why was General Skywalker grinning like an idiot when he picked up his comms a few minutes ago?” Echo asked. He hadn’t given the General any information but it had been clear enough. No doubt Skywalker was pleased he’d won his little bet.

“Oh, nothing,” he smirked, leaning back on his heels as Alora entered the room again with the Prince on her tail. To his pleasure, the man split off when a few people approached him and Alora made her way to Skywalker alone. 

“I change my mind, I don't want to know,” Rex said quietly as Alora spoke with Skywalker and then turned a fake smile on whichever senator he was talking to, shaking their hand and nodding. The tension returned to her shoulders and he would’ve felt bad had he torn her away from literally anything else. 

He almost empathised with the Prince. If some stranger had pulled him away from her like that he would’ve been fuming. 

“I think it’s pretty clear,” Jesse commented. “Fives here interrupted a rendezvous and somehow got the General to help him break it up.” 

“No comment, I plead my silence,” he grinned back proudly. He didn't need to explain himself. It was obvious what he had done, to everyone except Alora maybe. 

“Best hope she doesn’t find out,” Jesse chuckled. “She’ll come after you with a vengeance not befitting a Jedi.” 

“Not sure what you mean, vod,” he grinned. “I was simply doing my duty, ensuring the guests weren’t in any danger, you know.”

“Best soldier in the GAR, surely,” Echo laughed quietly. 

“Oh definitely. I take my duties very seriously,” he replied, elbowing his twin good-naturedly. 

Fives one, Alora zero, he thought happily. 

And despite what he had been forced to witness, he had learned something about her; she was used to being in charge and dominant and that gave him an advantage. The moment he got the opportunity, he was flipping that on her. The moment he got the chance, he was having her at his mercy. Not that he didn't like a woman who knew what she wanted, but for her… For her he wanted to watch her fall apart for him, he wanted to watch her lose all her control, he wanted her to submit . 

It would only be a matter of time. 

Chapter Text

She may have had a little too much to drink at that gala. It had taken her two days to shake off the hangover from all that dry champagne. Particularly after Fives and Skywalker had dragged her away from some stress relief with Soren, and she had turned to downing champagne to put up with the event instead. 

In the end, Skywalker had only wanted to introduce her to some Senator who had been asking after her and she couldn’t think of a worse reason to be pulled away from the potential of good sex and sneaking off early. 

And it just had to be Fives interrupting them. She’d barely kept her face neutral, unsure why she’d felt a pang of discomfort at it being him. It had almost been embarrassment, yet something a little more complicated than that. 

Flopping on her back, she stared out the window at the sunrise over Coruscant. Unlike other Jedi, she refused to stay at the Temple. When she had returned to the Order, she had brought her own apartment and told the Council to shove it if they thought she was staying there. After all, she knew they would use it as an opportunity to have her organising the archives or something. Anything to try and keep her inline instead of on missions or whatever else. 

Plus, her own space was nice. One didn't get a lot of it at the Temple. She might have her own room but it didn't stop everyone and their master knocking on the door. Plus it made her way too accessible to the Council, not to mention the weird eerie feeling she got in that building. Something about it just wasn’t right, not that anyone listened to her. 

Yawning, she took the time to dress slowly, pulling on padded pants, a sage tunic and her saber belt. She tugged her cloak off an armchair and threw that over the ensemble. She needed to traverse into lower Coruscant today and seek out one of her contacts. It was an absolute cesspool down there, but it made people wily and knowledgeable. This one man in particular was not trustworthy but he was full of helpful information about things within the Confederacy, probably due to his Spice dealings. 

Definitely due to his Spice dealings. 

The last thing she needed was for someone to notice her lightsaber down there, and the cloak was as good as anything to cover her identity. Still mulling over what she’d ask of him, she slipped from her apartment and followed a little known track into the underbelly of Coruscant: jumping. 

She loved it. It was one of the few times she truly felt free - when she was flying through the air, aiming for some transport to land on. The wind rushed through her hair and she laughed, knowing it would look crazy. Thankfully, most people were too concerned with getting where they needed to go to even notice her figure amongst the flight path as she rolled off a transport and landed with a thump on an empty landing pad she had spied. 

Dusting herself off, she strolled casually into the open marketplace, her hood hanging over her brow. With a quick little flick, she sent Tup a message. He was the only one so far that she had allowed to have her private comms out of the 501st. Mostly because she trusted him the most out of all of them, and a little bit because she thought it was funny. In this case though, it was a safety precaution. Someone should know where she was and she wasn’t about to face Fox’s ire if she mentioned where she was going without the Guard. 

“Tup - I’m in lower Coruscant, FYI.” 

His response came a minute later. “ Why ?” 

“Business. If you don’t hear from me in 1 hour, something is wrong.” 

Usually it would be Delta receiving that message given they took their shore leave at the same time but this time she had failed to swindle them leave alongside her and Tup was the next best option. Nothing ever happened during these meetings, but she would be stupid not to take the precaution. 

“Got it, be safe please?” 

“Wilco. My tracker is on.”

The black market of all black markets spread out in front of her. Honestly, it made her laugh that the Guard had failed to find it so far. It usually moved about, but even then she never had any trouble, and she never informed them either. She got far too much information out of the place to risk them shutting it down. 

The man she was meeting wasn’t dangerous, after all. He was just a piece of shit, willing to do anything for credits as long as it didn't risk his own neck. She wasn’t surprised, given his business endeavours, but she also wasn’t worried. She paid him well, and he kept his mouth shut. That was all she needed of him, and during a war like this one she would use every contact she had. 

Slipping past stalls and doors, she kept her eyes forward and her head down, ignoring the haggling from buyers, and the calls from sellers wanting her to buy fake kyber crystals, weapons that would no doubt explode of their own accord, or trinkets claiming to be ancient. No, she was going deeper into the depths. 

It didn't take her long to find him. He always stayed toward the back of the market, no matter where it was and his long scraggly blonde hair was unmissable. He even looked like the kind of guy who would try and sell you drugs, though that wasn’t what she was there for and very few knew that he also dealt in information . She’d discovered him a year into the war, eavesdropping on his conversation with a ‘customer’ that was buying spice. When she’d realised the value of what he knew from illicit trading routes, she had jumped right on it. 

“Kilinger,” he murmured, leaning against the wall beside his stall. 

“Myth,” he murmured back. He had taken to calling her that after he had found out she went by ‘Lore.’ He found it hilarious. She did not, but it served its purpose: anonymity. “Your usual?”

“Yessir,” she hummed, crouching as if she was inspecting the pots he had lined up. 

“Number is moving in secret with the techno union,” he replied quietly, pretending to show her the contents of one of the pots. She sighed. He insisted on using ‘Number’ to refer to Count Dooku and it was so unbelievably stupid. 

“Hm, anything interesting?” She asked. 

“Experiments, I think. Lots of secret science shit going through some of these back alley trade routes, right to the Technos.” 

“Helpful,” she murmured, slipping him some credits and standing up with a frown as if she was unhappy with the product. It was helpful to know that. The Techno Union was supposed to be neutral. It appeared they desired to keep that appearance whilst profiting off the Separatist need for more science backed experiments - probably enhancing droids if she had to guess. 

Without another word, she strode off, occasionally stopping to look at items like she was a legitimate buyer. It helped keep her lowkey more than just walking in and walking out of the market did.

She was right at the edge of the marketplace, considering whether or not to take a transport back up to the surface or just use the tunnel system, when something sharp pricked her neck. Her hand immediately raised to slap it and she flinched when she connected with something protruding there. With careful fingers, she pulled it out of her skin and stared at the small dart. 

What the fuck ? 

Feigning nonchalance, she tucked the dart into her pocket, shrugged and kept walking. Someone was targeting her, which meant they likely knew who she was and this wasn’t the place to start a fight. Besides, she wanted to see what they would do so she kept walking even as the poison began to set in and she felt the buzz of weakness coursing through her veins. 

It wasn’t enough to fully incapacitate her - not yet, but she faked a stumble anyway, leaning against a wall in one of the underground alleyways that were so often frequented by those wishing to snort their spice immediately upon buying. Thankfully it was empty - mostly. She felt the person behind her before she saw them, and so when they attempted to shoot her with a stun blast, she deflected with the force, turning slowly to face them. 

“Who are you ?” She asked quietly. 

“Someone who’s about to get a big pay day,” the male said, his voice crackled through his mask. Shit. This was Dooku’s bounty then, unless she had unwittingly become the target of a different bounty. In which case her luck truly was shitty. At that thought, her legs began to shake and she forced herself to stay upright as the male walked toward her, firing off stun rounds repeatedly. 

It was clear enough he couldn’t kill her if he wanted that bounty, and she had to use that to her advantage. With a subtle push to her transponder, she sent an emergency alert to Tup and squared her feet just in time to dodge the lunge the male had made for her. Dancing backwards, she shook her head. 

“This will not end well for you,” she murmured. 

“There’s enough poison running through you to kill you within an hour, I wouldn’t be so sure,” he snarled back, and she tilted her head at him. 

“Thought you wanted that bounty?” She smirked. 

“I’ll give ya the antidote back on my ship, princess,” he replied and she recoiled at that damned nickname. Perhaps this person had had some direct contact with Dooku then, or perhaps the nickname was a coincidence. Either way, it wasn’t very important at the moment when she could very well die. 

Jumping backwards, she punched the man right in the centre of his chest, spinning to kick him. Unfortunately, her legs were already weak and she merely grazed his chin. Though, it was enough to infuriate him into pulling a vibro blade and slashing it in her direction. 

Shit, her head was spinning now and when he shoved his knee up into her diaphragm she coughed brutally, doubling over. Ouch. She wasn’t in a very good position to fight, but that wouldn’t stop her trying. She moved with the male, dancing back and forth as much as her quickly failing body would allow. 

It wasn’t until he growled and slipped the blade right through her weak defence and into her hip did she realise just how bad this was. The knife punctured through the skin, deep into the soft space above her hip bone and she groaned, stumbling backwards as he yanked it back. 

“Give up Jedi,” he said, whisper soft when he wiped the blood off the blade onto his pants. She stared at him, realising she was losing this battle. She had not prepared to be poisoned, and she was already seeing double. No amount of concentration on the force could fix this and she was alone in lower coruscant. Not to mention she hadn’t bet on the fact he would use a lethal fucking drug against her. That was risky, so she surmised this bounty hunter must be good - good enough to know how to counteract that and use such a method so confidently. 

“No thank you,” she slurred back, raising her hands again. He hit her guard three more times, and she managed to punch him right in that stupid mask before her legs gave in and she crumpled to the ground, glaring up at his swimming figures. 

Come on , Tup, she thought silently. 

The male was leaning over her when his head shot up and some yelling echoed in her ears, she blinked wearily at the ceiling of the alley, her breathing ragged now. And then he disappeared from above her, and more footsteps echoed, boots pounding on the ground. Her vision swam, and she let her eyes fall closed if only to stop the spinning. 

“Lore!?” A voice urgently called her name. 

“Go after that damned bounty hunter!” Rex ordered. 

“He’s gone, jumped into the fucking transport stream,” someone else called back from far away. 

“Lore, cmon, can you hear me?” Fives murmured, his hands cupping her face. The warmth was absolutely delicious. “Rex I think she’s been drugged, she’s way too pale and cold.” 

“We need to get her back to Kix, now ,” Rex replied. 

She breathed slowly through the pain in her side, and then she was being lifted into strong arms. “I gotcha mesh’la. I gotcha.”

//

They hadn’t managed to catch that damned bounty hunter but Kix had had to sedate her to stitch the nasty wound to her side and flush the poison from her bloodstream. 

It seemed she had been right about the Council's orders for her to come back to Coruscant being absolutely pointless. Now the Guard just had more work to do, and another bounty hunter to add to their list to find.

He just thanked the stars she had told Tup where she was, even if he wished it was him she had trusted to message with her safety. Had she not sent that message, and activated her locator, they wouldn’t have known what had happened until she didn't turn up when they were set to depart the next week. By then, it would’ve been far too late. 

He sat on the two seater couch in the medical room, unwilling to leave her alone after that fiasco. Even Kix had said it was impressive as all hell she’d managed to fight while poisoned like that, but he wasn’t risking that bounty hunter coming back. Besides, Skywalker and Rex had ordered someone to stay as a guard and he was more than happy to volunteer while they sorted out the logistics like that Bounty Hunter’s identity. 

His head jerked up when she let out a small groan, blinking at the ceiling. He was on his feet in seconds, cautiously moving toward her. “Hey,” he murmured. She blinked back at him, her lashes fluttering and he caught the dazed look in her eyes. 

Still sedated then, he smiled silently.

“Kix patched you up,” he added, reaching out tentatively and brushing some hair off her face. He nearly flinched when she leaned her head into his hand with a pleased little hum. His fingers froze in her hair and he swallowed, staring at where she had now closed her eyes.

“Uh…” he trailed off, taking a chance and gently brushing his hand through her hair. 

She shuffled closer and his eyes widened. Stars, how much of that shit did Kix give her?! There was no way in hell she was sober right now, and when he pulled his hand back she frowned and sighed in annoyance. Immediately he returned his fingers to her hair and continued the movements, edging closer and closer until he was certain she really was so drugged that she wasn’t going to bite his fingers or something for this. 

“Huh,” he chuckled. “Who knew you were such a sucker for head scratches meshla.” He didn’t stop though, his other hand coming up to firmly hold her shoulder when she swayed a little. Her skin was cold to touch and he shook his head, trying to rub some heat into her absently. 

After a little while, he decided not to push his luck and dropped his hands carefully, tugging at the collar of his blacks. He was glad he’d removed the top of his armour at least. He felt like he’d be here a while with the state she was in.

Distracted by his thought, he only caught the slight flash of the mute grey medical pants and singlet she was in when she collided with him, leaning right off the edge of the bed. “Shit!” He swore, grabbing her hastily. Unfortunately, she was too off balance hanging off the edge like that and he had no choice but to lift her with him as he stood upright. 

Not that she seemed to mind. In fact she’d curled her face right into his chest, her fingers grabbing onto his blacks. Her eyes were already closed again and a stupid grin spread across his face. 

Fucking adorable. 

Glancing around, he used one hand to hold her against him and the other hand to grab the blanket off the medical bed before collapsing back onto the couch and pulling her between his legs as he laid horizontally. 

Oh she was going to kill him for this when she sobered up but he wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity. Besides, that sad little frown when he’d stopped stroking her hair was enough to spur him on alone. Shuffling a little, he settled her so her head was on his chest and pulled the blanket to her shoulders before returning to petting her hair. His other rubbed circles on waist and he rumbled happily. 

Now this was more like it. 

“You’re adorable Cyar'ika,” he hummed, unable to wipe the grin off his face. He liked her like this, curled up on his chest, one of her hands gently twisted into his blacks as she dozed. Maybe he should ask Kix if he could get the name of that drug, he chuckled to himself.

As if summoning the medic, he walked through the door staring at his data pad. “Fives has she - What the hell?!” Kix nearly dropped the device and Fives had to stop himself outright laughing and disturbing Alora. 

“What exactly did you give her?” He grinned at his brother. 

“Too much clearly!” Kix exclaimed with wide eyes.

“She’s not going to overdose right?” He asked, glancing down at the sleeping little Jedi in his arms with concern.

“No. No I don’t… Explain,” Kix demanded.

“Uh she woke up, looked super dazed, I pushed some of her hair out of her face and she just… I don’t know leaned into it? I stopped to go sit back down and she tried to grab me and nearly fell off the bed so I had to lift her and then….” He nodded down to her with a raised brow.

“Was she verbal?” Kix asked.

“Oh no way,” he chuckled. “Super dazed, made a few noises but nothing verbal.”

“Fuck,” Kix groaned. “I definitely gave her too much.”

“How did you give her too much? You’re the medic,” he pointed out dryly, letting his fingers run absently through her hair before returning to rub her scalp gently. 

“It’s new to the GAR,” Kix sighed. “I didn’t expect… She’s going to kill us both when she comes around properly.”

“Worth it,” Fives grinned. There wasn’t a single lie in his words either. It was so worth it. And she was so cute curled up on top of him. He could happily stay like this forever. 

“You say that now…” Kix muttered, edging closer and bringing two fingers to her neck. “Pulse is slow but that’s to be expected.”

“When do you think she’ll sober up?” He asked, curling one of his legs over her calf. If he only had a short time of her actually putting up with him, and desperate to be touching him, he’d get as close as possible.

Kix glanced at his data pad with a frown. “I’m making a guess based on her reaction and how much I gave her but um… oh stars… probably five or so hours.”

His grin grew, his arm around her waist squeezing her a little. “No shit?”

Kix simply sighed and nodded, though he didn’t miss his brother's small smirk. “Enjoy it while it lasts Fives because when she wakes it might be the galaxy's first case of a Jedi going on a murder spree.”

“You underestimate my charms,” he smirked.

“The charms that have had her avoiding you for weeks?” Kix asked with a snort. “Sure thing.”

Oh he didn’t know the half of it. He hadn’t forgotten about that kiss. And while it had certainly left him reeling, this was a memory he was going to cherish because damn did it feel fucking good to have her wrapped in his arms. She slotted into him perfectly. He was also rather satisfied with the idea of her smelling like him - the possessive thought slipping into his mind. 

“Just you wait,” he grinned.

“Ahhuhhh… Well… I don’t want to move her so I guess… I can’t believe I’m saying this but I guess just leave her there then.”

“You’re not gonna try force her back onto that bed?” He chuckled. Not that he would’ve let him even try. She was perfectly happy here, and so was he. In fact he didn’t think he’d ever been more comfortable in his life.

“No. She looks comfortable, her vitals are fine and all moving her would do is agitate her so I guess she stays for now,” Kix pinched the bridge of his nose, walking away muttering to himself about getting murdered by Alora later. 

He, on the other hand, was perfectly happy to have a nap, dozing with her on his chest and his arms around her. He guessed he’d been asleep for an hour or so when he heard familiar voices, and realised his head had slipped down in his sleep and his cheek was pressed into her silky hair. She smelled like Vanilla and Jasmine and he almost groaned in pleasure before the voices brought him out of it.

“Kix when you said she was high…” Rex’s voice trailed off.

“I wasn’t exaggerating,” Kix sighed. “She won’t let go of Fives.” 

“I’m taking a photo,” Jesse laughed to the rustling of him pulling his data pad out. 

“Do you want her to add you to her revenge list for this?” Echo sighed.

“Don’t be jealous she chose me over you lot,” he muttered sleepily, opening one eye to stare at them.

“More like you were the only option,” Echo replied dryly. He grinned at his twin with a small shrug. A win was a win. 

“Fives this was not what I meant when I told you to stay guard,” Rex sighed.

“You didn’t specify,” he smiled back, rubbing his hand against her back under the blanket. Thank the stars he was wearing his codpiece and lower armour because he had, unsurprisingly, woken up uncomfortably hard. The last thing he needed was to wake her up like that.

“I didn’t think I needed to,” Rex said slowly, his gaze dropping to Alora. She was still out. Even if she was awake he doubted she’d be in any position to respond. Not if Kix’s guess was right, anyway. 

“I’m not complaining,” he shrugged. 

“You might be when she wakes,” Echo snorted. “Kix I want it on record you’re not ever gonna give me whatever the hell you gave her.”

“Well it does work,” Tup smiled, crouching down next to the couch. “She’s adorable.”

“Uh huh,” he grinned back, stroking her hair. 

“But Echo is right, I don’t think she’ll be pleased,” Tup continued but he was still smiling fondly at the Jedi. His brother clearly loved her fiercely, though he suspected he saw her more as a sister than anything else.

“Which is why I’m enjoying it while it lasts,” he chuckled, waving them off. Rex didn't have any helpful updates and he was rather enjoying napping with her all wrapped up in his arms. With that, he dozed back off, his grip on her firm. 

He felt it when she shifted in his arms, and his lids flickered open just as she looked up at him. Her eyes were still glazed but not nearly as bad as before. “Fives?” She mumbled and he melted, biting the inside of his lower lip. She was so cute it was going to kill him. 

“Mhm?”

“W-what…” she trailed off, giving up on sitting up and collapsing back against his chest again. He held back his chuckle, drawing patterns against her lower back.

“Bounty hunter, remember?” He hummed, and felt her nod a little against him. “You've been out for four or so hours since waking up the first time.” 

“Mn,” she murmured, pressing her cheek against his chest. “Warm.”

This time he really did have to bite the inside of his cheek, and hard too. If he didn’t, he’d laugh and he didn’t want to risk annoying her into moving off him - or trying, at least. Instead he just pulled the blanket up around her shoulders again and planted a chaste kiss in her hair.

“Mhm, I’ve been told I’m good for this,” he grinned triumphantly. She hummed again when he circled his fingers against her lower back. “That nice?”

“Mhmmm,” she all but purred and he swore his eyes nearly rolled back in his head. Fuck that was cute… and the way the feeling of her hum rumbled into him.. Stars. 

“You’re gorgeous,” he said quietly, playing with her hair again. She let out a noncommittal hum that all but confirmed she wasn’t quite with it yet. But she did hear him, and he chuckled nonetheless. 

“Did we…” she trailed off and he froze at what she was implying.

“No! Fuck no! Alora… Kix drugged the hell out of you there’s no way I would ever…” he trailed off, suddenly horrified about what she thought of him.

“Kix drugged me?” She mumbled.

Oh. He sighed silently in relief. Her mind was so scrambled she couldn’t remember fully what had happened. For a moment there he really thought that she thought he was capable of doing something so heinous. There was no way in all the galaxy he would ever take advantage of a drugged woman. He’d rather eat his own blaster. 

“Yeah sweetheart, you got poisoned and stabbed, remember?” He murmured.

“Oh…” she nodded slightly and he relaxed again. 

“But feel free to bring that back up when you’re not high,” he chuckled and she let out something that sounded suspiciously like a grumble telling him to shut up. “Go back to sleep darling.”

“Yes sir,” she muttered and he bit back a groan, shifting slightly. This was quickly turning into torture of the highest degree.

“Careful,” he murmured.

“Don’t tell… tell me what to do,” she slurred slightly and he couldn’t help himself laughing this time. “Shuddup,” she continued as he laughed and laughed. He couldn’t help it. This was hilarious. She was in no position to be getting bossy or indignant, and it was even funnier that she was trying it. 

Her head popped up, and he was still laughing when she pressed her lips against his. He gasped at the feeling, his hand automatically fisting her hair and dragging her a little closer before he could fully process it. 

“That worked,” she mumbled, trying to pull back but he only pulled her to him and kissed her again. 

“Don’t start things you can’t finish,” he grinned against her mouth, holding her firm to his lips and nipping her lower one. She shuddered and his grin broadened. “That’s what I thought. Didn’t think that one through did you?” 

She shook her head a little, looking dazed and he chuckled breathlessly. “Didn’t think so. But then again I knew you couldn’t resist me.”

“It’s the drugs,” she muttered, her voice raspy and confused. 

“Sure it is,” he smirked, brushing her chin with his fingers lightly. She did her best to glare but her eyes were still glazed and she ultimately failed to be even the slightest bit intimidating. He did wish she wasn’t drugged though because right now all he wanted to do was drag her mouth back against his, flip her on her back and make her scream. Instead he groaned and shook his head, patting her hair and pushing her back down. 

She grumbled in annoyance but didn’t fight him, muttering something into his chest that he didn’t catch but guessed was an insult. Probably not a very good one if her current state was anything to say about it. It was a good thing too because Kix wandered back in at that moment. 

“Anything new?” He asked absently over his datapad.

“Ask her,” he nodded down to Alora who sighed and opened her eyes, blinking at Kix.

“She’s awake and she hasn’t tried to kill you yet?” Kix asked sceptically, lowering his device and raising a brow.

“Just wait,” she mumbled, the words slightly slurred.

“Ahh got it, still high.”

“Never letting you treat me again,” she muttered.

Kix only chuckled, taking her wrist and running a scanner over it. “Yep definitely still high but that poison is out of you now.”

“You drugged me,” she mumbled slowly, accusation dripping in her tone.

“Needed you sedated,” Kix replied, clearly doing his best not to laugh while she was so vulnerable. 

“Mm gonna sedate you after… this…” she threatened and Fives chuckled, tears squeezing at the corners of his eyes from the effort not to roar with laughter. “Don’t you… start… you’re first,” she growled softly. 

“It’ll be an honour,” he grinned, chuckling when she tried to get up and failed, collapsing back onto his chest with a frustrated grumble. 

“Don’t try to get up. You’re not going to make it anywhere in this state,” Kix warned her. 

“Medics,” she muttered, disgruntled. 

“I’ll give you more sedatives,” Kix threatened, waving a needle around.

“Medical malpractice,” she slurred back and he bit his lip, trying not to laugh again at their little standoff. 

“Don’t think you’re in any state to make comments right now given you’re cuddling Fives,” Kix said with a raised brow. He wanted to throw something at his brother. He didn't need her reminded of that, lest she try and actually move off him. 

Alora snorted lightly, shaking her head. “It’s a … temporary… requisition of warmth.”

“You’re a temporary idiot,” Kix muttered.

“Fuck you Kix,” she mumbled and he couldn’t help it, he roared with laughter, throwing his head back. These two… they were going to kill him.“Stop moving,” she said against his chest.

“My apologies,” he laughed. “I take my duties as your pillow very seriously.”

“Fuck you too,” she replied.

“Maybe later,” he grinned, and she pinched him hard right below the ribs, making him jerk. “Careful, I like it a bit rough.”

“Fucking… stupid… impossible man,” she grumbled and he chuckled at her, patting her head patronisingly. 

“So, wanna tell us why you were in lower coruscant, alone , to begin with, hm?” He asked, twirling a piece of her hair in his fingers. 

“Getting information - business trip,” she groaned. “Did not expect to be darted in the neck.”

“Ahhh business trip?” He smirked. “Not good enough, meshla. Start talking.” 

“Agh,” she sighed. “It’s none of your business.”

“It is when I had to patch you up,” Kix added from where he was checking her blood samples off to the side and nodding. Fives took that as a good sign. 

“That doesn’t usually happen,” she muttered dejectedly. “I have a… contact down there who knows about what’s going on in the Confederacy through some of the more… illicit trade routes. I was getting information from him.” 

That made him raise his brows. He had severely underestimated her resourcefulness earlier in their relationship. She had her fingers in everything. 

“Alone?” Kix asked, frowning at her. 

“I usually go alone. Besides, I let Tup know,” she shrugged softly.

“And lucky you did,” he huffed. “Give me your comms, meshla.”

“Firstly, no. Secondly, stop calling me that,” she muttered, her voice still slightly slurred from Kix’s drugs. 

“Why? It’s the truth. And we should be able to contact you,” he added, tightening his grip on her. He did not like how close that had come to them completely missing her, and her being dragged back to Dooku half dead. 

She went silent, mulling his words over before sighing. “Fine, later.” 

“Fine,” he rolled his eyes. “Did you learn anything useful at least?” 

“Mhmmm looks like the Techno Union are secretly aligning with the Separatists,” she hummed. 

“Scumbags!” Kix hissed and she nodded in response. He only echoed their sentiments silently. That was certainly not good, and an added complication to this never ending war. He was broken out of his thoughts when she yawned, a small smile twitching on his lips as he watched her. 

“Go back to sleep,” he murmured, gently massaging through her hair. 

“I’m…fine,” she replied, sounding anything but. He shook his head at her. 

“No, you’re not. I’ll be right here, just go back to sleep,” he sighed. 

“That’s not comforting,” she muttered and he laughed, leaning down to speak in her ear so that Kix didn't hear him. 

“You seemed plenty comfortable the past several hours. Stubborn as you are, I think you like me.” 

Chapter Text

She got her ass kicked by the Council for her secret missions into lower Coruscant. Apparently she was ‘reckless’ in the face of this bounty, and had been ‘hiding’ things from the Council which simply wasn’t true. She’d warned the Council what would happen if she came back to Coruscant and she had never hidden anything important. If she received any information of importance she had Republic spies on it like hawks. 

That didn't make them any happier though. 

It might have actually pissed them off more, but she was comfortable with that sort of attitude from them by now. If it wasn’t for the war, she wondered if she would’ve walked out on them again - permanently this time. This was not the Order that her great grandmother had built up. But she also couldn’t turn her back on people in need, on the good she could do leading as part of them. It was the right thing to do, no matter how much it infuriated her sometimes. After the war, she would reevaluate where she stood with them but for now… the connections were helpful and the help she could lend to people in need outweighed her simple annoyance with the corruption and bureaucracy. 

Somehow, despite their arguments, she had managed to swindle her way into departing Coruscant in a week and meeting back up with Delta Squad. It would end her nightmare of a few months, finally. Though even the thought made her gut twist a little. She had grown rather fond of the 501st boys, even after everything. She would miss Tup especially. He was a sweet man, and she trusted him. And Fives…. Well she wasn’t sure, but a part of her definitely didn't want to leave him behind. 

“You okay?” Tup hummed as she faltered on the braid she was making on the side of his head. He was sitting on her living room rug as she tried to teach him braids before they separated - maybe forever. She’d already told him he should learn - it was good for it to be braided in his helmet, and she had informed him it would help him get girls on nights out. Now, she was finally taking the opportunity to put her words into action. 

“Mhm,” she replied. “Just thinking about the logistics of meeting up with my squad.” 

“Oh right - cant have two ships,” he laughed and she chuckled, twisting the braid at the end and starting on the other side. 

“Exactly,” she hummed. 

“So…” he trailed off and she was immediately suspicious of his innocent tone. “What’s going on with you and Fives?” 

“Nothing,” she attempted to sound casual but her voice caught a little when her memory flicked back to a few days before when she had woken up dazed, wrapped in his arms and warm. But what was most confusing was that she had woken up feeling safe. In truth, once she had come around a bit she could’ve moved back to the medical bed but she had chosen not to. He felt safe and warm and had smelled like amber, leather, and something spicy. What’s more… she had kissed him. She still blamed the drugs for making her think that would be a good way to shut him up, but she was more surprised he hadn’t mentioned it to anyone. 

She thought he would tease her, or brag. About that, or about their rendezvous outside 79s, but he hadn’t said a word as far as she could tell. He hadn’t even tried to tease her or refer to it subtly with his brothers around. It confused her a little, and made her feel a bit softer toward him. She was so used to people, mostly the Council, thrusting her into the limelight, taking advantage of her in some way or another, that it was rather… novel and sweet that he had left it between them. He surely could’ve used it to elevate his status amongst his brothers if he wanted to, or even blackmail her if he was a worse man, but he simply hadn’t. 

She almost wanted to thank him, but no doubt it would sound ridiculous coming out of her mouth. Besides, she hadn’t seen him today and she’d already invited Tup over for a night in. Honestly, she had just missed her squad and Tup was the closest thing to someone she trusted like them. Plus she had promised to braid his hair. 

“Nothing?” Tup asked. 

“Nope,” she shrugged and he laughed, messing up the pattern of the braid and forcing her to unwind a few pieces. 

“He’s a good man, you know. And I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother,” Tup murmured and she nodded. 

“I agree,” she replied softly. 

“Really? Cause you keep avoiding him,” Tup pointed out, munching on some crisps rather loudly. 

“I’m… not sure about him is all it is,” she sighed. “After everything that happened, even though I could see he was doing what he thought was right, I… It’s a long story but I couldn’t figure out his angle. Still can’t.” 

Tup shrugged. “Mhm.” He said through a mouthful, making her laugh. “He… actually does want to make things right with you, ya know? He’s never fucked up like that before. I don't think he knows what to do with it.”

“I think perhaps you’re right,” she smiled softly, but it quickly dropped when she heard a knock on her door. Tup looked at her and she stared back, shrugging at him. She hadn’t invited anyone else and she lived high enough up that random knocks did not happen. 

Maybe Fox had finally heard what she had been up to in Lower Coruscant and had come to personally berate her for not telling them where that illicit market was. 

Creeping toward the door, she noticed Tup pulling his blaster, the slightest nod letting her know he had her back if it all went to shit. She nodded back to him and reached for the door panel. This could be another bounty, and her hand slid to her side, forcing her saber into her hands. 

Smashing the control panel, she drew her saber on the first person in front of her, the blade right across their throat and Tup’s blaster levelled at them from behind her. It only took her a split second to recognise them but when she did, she froze. 

“Fives?” She breathed over the hum of her blade still pressed across his collarbone. His own hand had come up to grasp her wrist, but he wasn’t even attempting to stop her. Instead, his hand was simply holding her, his thumb caressing her wrist firmly. It distracted her momentarily, but only for a short time because she realised very quickly he wasn’t alone. 

“Rex!?” She exclaimed. 

“I’m sorry I… figured coming with them was better than leaving them to their own devices,” he smiled, and she glanced around at the other Torrent men. 

“How the fuck…”

“Tup has his transponder on all the time,” Jesse grinned. “When he disappeared tonight, we made an educated guess.” 

“You gonna put that thing down meshla? Not that it would be a bad way to go but I like my head on my shoulders.” Fives grinned and she slowly turned the saber off, pursing her lips. 

“Armour and boots off if you’re coming in,” she sighed. Alora had no patience to try and figure this out, and stars knew that arguing with all of them was a pointless endeavour. So, she stepped aside and jerked her head to her living room with a shrug. 

“You… uh… sure?” Rex asked sheepishly. 

“Yes,” she replied. “You’re already here, you may as well come in instead of concerning my neighbours.” 

“You live here?” Hardcase asked. 

“No I broke in,” she said, her voice deadpanned. When she got some uncertain looks, she sighed and shook her head. “Yes I live here.”

“Thought Jedi lived at the Temple?” Jesse asked, throwing himself on her couch without a care in the world. At least he’d stripped the top half of his armour off. That was more than she had expected of them, frankly. 

“Not all of them,” she murmured, setting her saber down on the kitchen counter and leaning back, crossing her arms. “So, is this a social visit or am I about to get told I have somewhere to be?”

“Social,” Fives gestured. “Although I’m deeply offended you only invited Tup here.”

“Oh, I’m sure you are,” she snorted. 

“Nice hair, Tup,” Rex snickered and she elbowed the Captain who had come to stand beside her like they were two parents making sure the kids didn't destroy something. 

“I wasn’t finished. You lot interrupted me,” she defended, beckoning to Tup and taking a seat behind him. With gentle fingers, she finished the other braid and tied both sides into a neat bun at the nape of his neck. “Better?” 

“Oooh I’m growing my hair,” Jesse hummed and she couldn't help the laugh that exploded from her lips. 

“You don’t have any hair to begin with, I can’t even imagine… Besides, wouldn't that make your tattoo look uh… wonky?” She managed through her laughter, patting Tup’s head softly to let him know she was done. 

“Oh… word,” Jesse nodded and she bit her lip, glancing at Rex who was simply smiling contentedly between them all. Had he not looked so relaxed, she might have tried to shepherd them out of her house but… Well, he deserved to have a moment of peace too so instead she leant back and picked up her datapad. 

“So, Pizza?” She asked idly. 

“Sorry?” Fives asked. 

“You’re forgiven. Pizza?” She repeated. 

“We know what Pizza is,” Echo pointed out and she sighed dramatically, shaking her head. 

“Yes I figured. I’m asking if you want some. Honestly, what is Alpha doing in that ARC programme?” She’d expect ARC Troopers to catch on faster. 

“You mean… wait, the Jedi get paid?” Hardcase asked. 

“No,” she smiled quietly. “No we do not, but that does not mean… Just don’t worry about it and throw me topping ideas would you?” She ignored their incredulous looks and waited patiently for them to respond. She should’ve expected the stupid things that came out of their mouths and she was beginning to wonder if they’d ever even had pizza when Echo suggested fucking Porg meat on top of one. 

Rex had settled into her favourite armchair, but she kept her mouth shut and sat on the floor instead, still scrolling through her datapad and editing their crazy toppings into something more palatable. She and Tup had already pulled a bunch of blankets out anyway so it wasn’t uncomfortable, and when Fives sat to her left side she merely glanced up at him and offered him a shrug, waving the datapad in his face. 

“I’m changing your orders slightly,” she explained. “Some of the things you lot suggested were… deeply concerning.” 

“You don't have to do this,” he said thoughtfully. 

“I’m aware, thank you,” she smirked, going back to her new project. It took her a good ten minutes to fix it and send in the order, and when she threw her datpad to the side the entire room was silent. “What?”

“This is just nice, that’s all,” Jesse shrugged and she smiled, genuinely, at him. 

“Glad to be of service,” she murmured. 

“Are we still going to watch The Untamed?” Tup asked, plopping on the floor to the otherside of her. 

“The what?” Rex snorted. 

“It’s a… romance drama. Terrible, actually,” she grinned.” But so entertaining. I told Tup we’d watch as much as we could before you’re redeployed.” 

“Wait, you’re not coming with us?” Fives asked sharply. 

“No, I’ll be meeting up with Delta. You’ll be returning to service with Skywalker. Now, are we doing this?” She swiftly changed the subject, not wishing to start any kind of debate about their upcoming departure. 

“Please,” Tup sighed and she nodded, forcing the remote into her hand. 

“Gratuitous,” Rex chuckled and she shot him a good natured glare. 

“You sound like Yoda!” The Grandmaster loved to berate padawans using the word ‘gratuitous’ when it came to using the force for anything that did not meet the Council’s pristine standards. 

“Ouch,” Rex winced and she winked at him, waving the remote and switching the holo on. 

It took the very short period of 15 minutes of a single episode for every single one of them to be hooked, Rex and Echo included. In fact, she was sure she heard Rex groan when the male love interest screwed up the introduction to the female love interest. She did her best to keep her deep amusement to herself, but found herself biting her lip to stop her laughter when Jesse yelled at the holo the next time something of dramatic quality happened. 

By the time their food got there, they could barely tear their eyes away from the drama and she caught half of them not even watching what they were picking up as they chewed with wide eyes, and muffled groans of disbelief at the characters, through their food. Beside her, Fives’ shoulder rubbed against hers and she caught another whiff of his deep scent, swallowing down the desire to lean a little closer to it. It was subtle, yet somehow overpowering and she stared as hard as she could at the show instead, determined to ignore it. 

Rex, being the absolute gentleman that he was, was on his feet the moment people finished, picking up boxes and neatly stacking them on the counter. She’d attempted to tell him to sit the hell back down but he had insisted that they would not be leaving a mess in her home and she almost grinned at him. Rex had grown on her significantly, and when he began to break down the boxes studiously, she used the force to push him back into her armchair, raising a brow in challenge. 

“Rex, relax,” she said, dropping her hand and daring him to try and get up again. He stared at her for a brief second and then chuckled, raising a hand in surrender. “Now c'mon, it’s getting to the really good bit,” she grinned, nodding back to the holo and settling back against the couch, Jesse’s crossed legs acting as her head rest.  

She didn't remember falling asleep. She didn't remember the warmth or Tup shuffling a blanket over her, Fives, him and Echo in an attempt to share heat. She didn't remember relenting and leaning her cheek against Fives’ shoulder. 

All she remembered was a distinct sense of comfort. 

//

He’d noticed her falling asleep, and had shifted subtly to make her more comfortable. He hadn’t been banking on falling asleep too - not until he woke up with her half on top of him, Tup curled into her back and Echo thrown across her lower legs in a tangle of blankets. Quietly, he snapped a photo on the nearest data pad before tossing it to the side and sighing contentedly.

He liked her house. It felt homely, as opposed to the barracks or the quarters on the flagships. Even the little touches of her personality made him smile softly; the knitted blanket on the armchair, the flimsi pad on the coffee table, the piece of artwork over the dining table that seemed to be some kind of abstract forest. She’d made herself a home, outside the temple no less.

He still didn’t know that story and he had to admit, he was curious. Something had clearly happened years ago but it sounded like she hadn’t even revealed the story to Tup. He’d ask, but he didn’t want to push his luck. Not yet. Not when she was tentatively relinquishing her coldness toward him. Especially not when she was sleeping on his shoulder, her breathing soft and quiet and her hand resting on his thigh unconsciously. 

He twitched a hand forward, stroking the back of hers with almost curious fingers. He didn’t often have his gloves off, being in armour and all, but her skin was so soft and he traced the little scars on her knuckles almost reverently. He wondered where they had come from. Which person had she punched or battle had she won to earn them? Turning her hand over, he traced the lines of her palm up to her wrist and across her arm gently. It was only then that she stirred lightly and he paused, drawing his hand back. 

“Mmn,” she hummed slightly, seemingly still mostly asleep as she pressed her cheek into his shoulder. He smiled at the adorable scene, stroking some of her hair back. “Fives?” She mumbled.

“Mhm,” he murmured back. “We’re two for two on you falling asleep on me.” 

“Semantics,” she mumbled, trying to sit up only to find Tup was pressed so firmly into her back that she couldn’t move if she tried. He grinned, chuckling lightly at her predicament and at his own triumph. She huffed slightly, but relaxed, clearly recognising there was no escape. 

“Think we should wake them?” She asked quietly and let out a low chuckle that warmed his chest right the way through. 

“Hm, depends. How numb are your legs?” He asked, nodding to Echo thrown across her. 

“I…. don't know,” she admitted sheepishly and he barked out a laugh that had Rex and a few others stirring. He refused to feel bad for it, patting her hair softly as Kix groaned and then swore aloud. 

“What the…” the medic muttered. 

“We fell asleep,” Lore supplied, shifting just enough for Echo’s eyes to fly open, and the go even wider when he realised just who he was asleep on. Fives grinned at his twin as he jerked backwards, stammering out apologies to Alora who was only watching him with faint amusement and a raised brow. 

It took them nearly half an hour to get out of there, mostly due to Tup and Echo profusely apologising for crushing her against him and Lore insisting on making Rex some caf. He watched the entire thing go down with mild amusement, plans forming in his mind. Pretending to play with his blaster, he waited for the others to shrug their armour back on before gently setting it down, just out of sight on her couch and getting up. 

Sunlight streamed through the windows as they bid her goodbye, their discussions light and friendly. He made it half way down the street outside before dramatically reaching for his holster and freezing. “Damnnit,” he grunted, earning him a few curious looks from his brothers. 

“What now?” Echo sighed. 

“Left my blaster. Go on without me, I’ll go grab it,” he nodded, turning on his heel before they could argue or see through his ploy. He knew he was a bad liar, and one look for too long would cement his ploy for what it was. Hot footing it back to her apartment, he ascended the building with a silly smirk on his face. He was done waiting for her to come around properly. She liked him. He knew it. He just had to break through that last bit of resolve and he knew how to do it. 

Fingering the binders he kept strapped to his waist, he knocked on her door firmly. It only took a few seconds, but she opened it looking surprised to see him back. She’d changed into loose shorts and a long cotton button down and he couldn’t help the slightest smile at how helpful that was for him. 

“Fives?” She asked, blinking at him. 

“Hey, left my blaster. Mind if I grab it?” He asked jovially, nodding to her apartment. 

“Ah… sure,” she jerked her head, opening the door wider and allowing him inside. The moment the door snapped shut behind him, he let out a small grin and made his way to the couch, picking up the blaster and pretending to check it over while her bare feet pattered in the direction of the kitchen. 

When he looked up from his farce, she had his back to him, leant over the kitchen counter as she made a cup of caf. It was truly a sight to behold and if he wasn’t a man on a mission he would’ve taken the opportunity to just watch how the sunlight glanced off her dark hair, leaving it shiny and tempting down her back. 

Instead, he holstered his blaster and quietly made his way forward. Determination fused through his bones, his hand reaching out and brushing her hair to one side. She jolted slightly and he grinned, pressing her to the counter from behind, one thumb tracing the nape of her neck as he leant down to speak in her ear. 

“Jumpy?” He murmured, his breath coasting over her ear. 

“What are you doing?” She asked critically, but made no attempt to move. He caught the way she tensed as if she was attempting to fend off a shiver and smiled against her ear. 

“Enjoying myself,” he hummed, pressing his lips just below her ear, caressing the sensitive spot with a gentle kiss. Her shoulders twitched, and her breathing hitched just enough to confirm to him that she wasn’t unaffected by him. With his free hand, he gripped her waist and pulled her back flush against his chest, nipping at the skin of her neck. For a moment, it appeared he had shocked her into stillness before she finally spoke again. 

“Piss off Fives,” she growled. 

“I don't think so,” he replied quietly. “I think that you’re holding out on me.” 

“You couldn’t handle me,” she replied demurely and he grinned. He’d anticipated such a response from her and had prepared accordingly. With a sharp movement, too quick for her to combat, he pulled her wrists back and cuffed them behind her. “What the -” she began, yelping sharply and tugging at her wrists pointlessly. With a grin, he spun her to face him and found those green eyes simmering somewhere between confusion and frustration. 

“Here’s what's going to happen,” he murmured, his thumb tugging at her bottom lip. “You’re going to admit you like me -”

“Or what?” She growled. 

“Or…. I’m going to make you scream my name until it’s the only thing you remember,” he smiled, his thumb trailing down to grip her chin. She looked outraged for just a second before her head cocked and a new gleam entered her eyes. 

“There is no chance of that happening, Fives,” she murmured. “If anything, it would be the other way around.”

“Oh I don't doubt given the opportunity you’d try, but given your current predicament…” he smirked, trailing off and hoisting her onto the counter. Her eyes flew wide but he didn't give her a second to recover, his hands firmly gripping her bare thighs and pushing them apart. 

“You wouldn’t dare,” she muttered, her lips parted in surprise and the shock flushing to her cheeks in an absolute delectable display. With her hands secured behind her back, she could do nothing but stare at him. 

“I would and I am,” he breathed. “Here’s how it’s going to go, if you want me to stop you’re going to have to beg me.”

“I. don't. Beg.” She bit back, challenge brewing in her eyes. It was exactly what he had been counting on and he smirked a little, one hand coasting up inside the leg of one of her shorts. She squirmed a little, before appearing to force herself to still, and it only made his smirk turn into a wicked grin. 

“We’ll see about that,” he chuckled, lowering himself down. Her eyes blew wide with realisation and she opened her mouth as if to speak before slamming her lips together, her jaw tense as she watched him. 

Fuck, she was perfect. The way she was staring down at him, those beautiful eyes curious and challenging, her hair tumbling over one shoulder. He couldn’t help himself but be a little firmer than he’d originally intended, tearing off the shorts and tossing them over his shoulder, already long forgotten by the time he had pressed his nose against her underwear. She jerked immediately, and he chuckled, kissing over the fabric. 

“Seems like you enjoy it,” he hummed against her, the pad of his tongue pressing to the dampness there. A small gasp left her lips, and it was music to his ears to hear. With firm fingers, he plucked at the band of her underwear before shrugging and tearing it off, leaving her bare to him, her legs spread and her hands bound. 

“Fuck,” he groaned, eyeing her through hooded eyes. 

“I…” she trailed off, stumbling over the syllable. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life,” he rasped, and then pressed his tongue right against her clit. She jerked immediately, her arms twisting in an attempt to get free and grab his hair, guide him. It was exactly why he had bound them. She wasn’t about to have any control over this. 

“Fuck!” She gasped and he groaned at the sound of her curse, the vibration adding another layer of pleasure as his tongue began to move - slowly, languidly as he lapped up the taste of her. 

“You taste incredible,” he moaned, his hand gripping her hip firmly as he continued his work. He wasn’t going to do anything more than use his tongue, but it would break her down. He’d have her begging and moaning with his tongue alone, and he would prove his point. 

“I-if you t-think…” she whined, shifting her hips.

“Shhhh,” he hummed against her clit, pushing her to lay down as he feasted on her like a man starved. Every small sound she made was encouragement, every shift of her hips was divine and it took him no less than four minutes to have her breathing shift into something shallow and her moving turn to something closer to writhing. 

“S-stars, fuck,” she gasped, choking on her own words as she twisted in her bonds. He could feel her approaching the edge of climax, her little sounds growing louder by the second. 

“That’s it, that’s it cyare, come for me,” he growled, possessiveness rocketing through him at the thought. “Say my name.” 

She didn't. His demand had hardened her resolve, and when she came she only cried out breathlessly. She thought she had won, but she had no fucking idea what she was in for because he kept licking, pushing her through the orgasm. Her body twitched a little, and a soft whimper left her lips as she realised what he was doing.

“You… b-bastard!” She groaned, rolling her hips in an attempt to evade the pleasure. He only smirked and kept going, finding a perverse amount of pleasure at having her at his mercy. 

So he made her come again. 

And again. 

She held out admirably well but by the time the fourth orgasm was building, she was shaking and her breathing had become shallow and panting. He didn't even care that his jaw was getting sore. In fact he rather relished in it, determined to snap that control she so loved to have - at least in her partners. He wanted her submission, her acceptance, and by the stars he was going to fucking get it. 

A low, gasping whimper came from her as she struggled against the binders, trying to reach to grasp at his hair. 

“Now sweet girl… I told you how this was gonna happen,” he smiled, pausing to glance up at her. “If you’ve had enough, just beg.” 

“I don't b…” she trailed off, her gaze dazed and her breaths coming out in soft pants. 

“Fine by me,” he smirked, lowering himself back down. He could do this all day, after all. When his tongue stroked at her clit again, her entire body tensed and she cried out, her voice breaking as she began to struggle, her hips moving like she was attempting to wriggle away. He only chuckled and moved a hand up to press down on her lower stomach, holding her still. 

“F-Fives!” she choked out. It sounded like a plea on her lips, but he had been very clear. She could either beg, or he was going to make her come until she forgot her own name. “Fives!” She whimpered breathlessly. Fuck if it didn't sound divine hearing her say his name like that. “Stars…” 

Fives was fully lost now, completely consumed by the need to claim her, to take her in a way that no one else ever had, to have her cede control to him entirely. 

“That’s it meshla, say my name. Say it like it’s the only word you know,” he growled, pinning her firmly and increasing the swirl of his tongue as she twitched and shivered. 

“Oh… fuck…” she whined. “Fuck! Fives!” She finally screamed his name as she came on his mouth, the sweet taste of her and the sound of her cry completely blinding his senses.

“Again,” he snarled against her pussy. “Come for me again.”


“Too much,” she whined desperately, her entire body trembling now as she attempted to fight the overstimulation. 

“Shhh you’re doing so well. C’mon give me one more, let me hear you say my name again, meshla,” he demanded, stopping only to speak the words to her before diving back between her thighs. She tasted divine, but it had nothing on the nascent thought that he’d succeeded. She was begging now. She’d lost control completely. 

“Fives! Fives please,” she whined, bucking her hips and thrashing in his grips. 

“Mmmn thats it,” he gasped, the sound of her saying ‘please’ combined with his name fucking ruined him and he almost blacked out from how hard he was throbbing in his blacks. 

“I can’t,” she moaned. 

“Yes you can. You will,” he demanded.

“Fives… Fives… please, I…” she whimpered, shaking her head and thrashing. 

“Good girl,” he purred. “Such a good girl. That’s it sweetheart. Give me another one. Let me feel you fall apart for me one more time.” 

Her back arched off the counter and he gripped her harder, his hands on her hips as he flicked his tongue, sucking a little on her clit. It did her in, and he let out a low moan as she came one final time. 

“FIVES!” She screamed, before her words devolved into helpless babbles of his name between gasps and choked whimpers. He finally slowed his pace, licking up her release leisurely, leaving her to twitch and shudder. 

“Sensitive?” He hummed, teasing her. 

Finally, finally, he let up, pulling away from her core with her release streaked across his face and facial hair. She was flat on her back, trembling with glazed over eyes and lips parted in shallow pants for air. He committed it to memory, just watching for a moment as she shook, her cheeks flushed a pretty pink and her hair splayed out behind her. 

A smile twitched his wet lips, and he leant over her, caging her onto the countertop with his body and planting a slow, hot kiss to her lips. “Taste that? That’s what you taste like coming for me.” 

She didn't respond, her eyes hooded and glazed and her entire expression dazed like she was only half there. He couldn’t help the grin at his success, the very thought of him doing this to her was like a shot of euphoria straight to the bloodstream.

“So good for me,” he murmured, pressing light kisses across her jaw and down her neck, listening to the hitch in her breath and the tiny sounds she made. With gentle hands, he reached behind her and unclipped the binders, but she barely moved, didn't try to do a single thing except lay there catching her breath. 

“W-what the…” she whimpered, staring up at him. 

“Hmmm?” He hummed, pulling back a little to look at her. 

“I… I…” she trailed off, her lips parted and her expression unguarded. 

“Still think I can’t handle you?” He smirked, swiping his thumb over her lips. She shook her head slightly. “Little bit dazed huh, meshla?”


“Why did you…” she couldn’t even finish her fucking sentences and hell if he didn't feel an immense sense of pride at that. 

“I told you why,” he murmured. 

“You… you’re infuriating,” she gasped breathlessly. 

“You like me,” he smiled, kissing her nose. 

“Maybe,” she muttered, but it was concession enough. A grin split his face and he leant back, pulling her with him. She was still trembling from overstimulation and he chuckled when she nearly collapsed into him, wrapping his arm around her waist. 

“C’mon, a shower will help,” he chuckled, more than content to look after her while she came back down to the ground. 

One thing was for certain; he wasn’t giving up on this. 

Chapter Text

Separating from Torrent felt like saying goodbye to a friend you didn't know if you’d see again. Except, she didn't say goodbye and neither did they. They disappeared from Coruscant two days before she was set to leave to meet Delta. Two days before they were actually meant to leave. Alora had only found out when she had received a string of apology comms from Tup saying they had been shipped off urgently to deal with an insurrection on Umbara with Skywalker and Kenobi. 

She had only told him that it was fine, and to focus on the campaign. It was her standard response to Delta whenever they were getting distracted when they weren’t together, and it worked just as well on Torrent. She’d forgotten she’d given the rest of them her comms at Fives’ insistence and unfortunately received a barrage of different messages, most of which she ignored. It would do them no good to dwell on her whilst they were in the heat of battle. 

Still, she found herself staring at the message from Fives. 

“I didn't want to leave so soon. We can line up shore leave, right?” 

She hadn’t replied. She didn't know how, or even what to say. The answer was a likely no, she couldn’t just line up her shore leave with the 501st. It didn't often work that way and she had no idea what kind of missions her and Delta would be on when that came around. Now that she had a bounty on her too she would have to be more careful, sporadic even about where she stopped and when. 

Yet she found she didn't like that idea. Fives had wiggled his way past the brick wall she had put up and she found her mind drifting to him, and Torrent, more often than it really should. After all, he had completely ruined her on her own kitchen countertop a mere week beforehand - an experience she had not forgotten one bit and had spent many nights replaying with her hand beneath the sheets. 

Sighing, she scrubbed a hand down her face and started up her ship. The plan was to meet with the flagship nearest to Delta, drop this ship off and then switch across to theirs. It was the only way she could meet with them without them coming all the way to Coruscant or them awkwardly having two ships and double the fueling time. At least it would be nice to have her squad back with her. She missed them and all their chaos. 

Attachments, and what not, she thought quietly as she brought the ship into hyperspace. It was a concept she often mulled over. Her great grandmother had disagreed that attachments bred the darkside, and frankly so did she. At least the way the Order presented it. Loving someone, caring for someone, did not necessarily mean someone was unhealthily attached and that caveat was often missed. She thought it caused more problems than it solved in the Order, forcing Jedi to hide their feelings and struggle with their duties. It would be much cleaner if everything was out in the open, but alas.

She had already raised that point before to the Council, and had been shot down. In fact, most of the opinions she shared were shrugged off these days. Unfortunately, the final nail in the coffin had been immediately siding with Qui-Gon upon her return to the Order, even if he was correct in the end. It had discredited her to no return. 

Shaking her head, she brushed a hand through her hair and leant against the control panel glumly. Something about this war just didn't feel right, and yet she couldn’t pinpoint it. Even if she could, without mountains of evidence, no one would listen to her. It was all she could do to be a leader, protect the clones, civilians and planets where she could and forge her own path. 

A twinge itched at her head, and she flinched, jerking her chin. Odd. It felt like a tug, something insistent waiting just behind her. Sharply, she spun her chair around to check her shoulder to find the interior of the ship was no longer there. Instead, she was in a darkened hangar bay. The figures were not clear, the sounds echoing but she could still sense the dread, the darkness. 

“Out of control….” 

“Doesn’t respect us…” 

“Not like the other Jedi…” 

The last jumble of words sounded distinctly like Fives and when she snapped out of the vision, she jumped back in horror. Something was terribly wrong. For a moment, she was still frozen in that hangar bay, listening to their words, before she leapt into action. With a sharp slam, she yanked herself out of hyperspace, leaving her ship floating in space. Frantic hands fumbled for her comms, telling Delta to delay their rendezvous, and then she changed her flight path. 

She was going to Umbara.

Jumping out of hyperspace over the planet, the Separatist weapons ship was in shattered pieces but the space battle raged on between flagships and starfighters. She evaded them all and made straight for the planet’s surface. Tuning into the comms channels, she listened to distorted reports of the 501st taking the airbase, and then something about Krell being in charge. 

It was enough information for her to figure out where to go. Her hands shook a little as she sent her ship careening through the atmosphere and down toward the former Umbaran airbase. The planet was shrouded in its perpetual darkness, and it almost felt like a forewarning despite the fact that she was well aware this was the planet’s natural state. It still set her on edge, and when she landed she was out of the pilot’s seat and down the gangplank in seconds. 

Eerie quiet greeted her, and she felt the discomfort and shakiness from the men on duty who greeted her with surprised salutes and sharp looks at one another under their helmets. Between all those conflicting emotions she could feel… hope at her arrival. In any other circumstance she would’ve been pleased, but it only made the sense of dread settle further. 

She had to focus. Something was happening. So she stopped walking and closed her eyes, searching for where the heart of the dread was located. When she did, she set off sprinting in that direction, skidding to a stop outside one of the abandoned hangar bays. Alora didn't bother with decorum, didn't bother looking like an esteemed General of the Republic. She blew the fucking door off it’s hinges and sent it spiralling across the room in a crash. 

What greeted her was worse than she thought. 

Fives, Echo, Jesse, and Hardcase were lined up against the wall in cuffs, and in front of them were their brothers, holding weapons to them. 

Disgust and horror pinched in her chest, and without a second thought she captured their weapons in her grip and used the force to crush them. “What the fuck is going on here!?” She roared over the sounds of their weapons groaning and creaking as they reassembled themselves into scrap. 

The men jumped back, and more disgust reeled through her when she realised Kix, a medic, was on the execution squad. What was worse, was Rex overseeing it. Everyone stared at her silently, and she didn't miss the relief in the prisoners eyes at her appearance. 

“Ah, sir!” One of the clones said, a man she didn't know with a patterned V tattooed down his face. “General Krell has ordered these men be executed for treason and insubordination.” 

Her feet carried her across the room in seconds, her strides long and purposeful and the man shrank as she got in his face despite their height difference. “I don't care what General Krell fucking said. You’d execute your own brothers? Explain, now!” Her voice came out as a snarl that made even the Captain shrink back in fear. A small part of her smiled. They should be afraid. They had never seen her angry before. She had a good grip on her emotions, even when angry, but she knew how to use it. 

“Ah um.. Um…” the trooper said. 

“Was I unclear!?” She roared. “EXPLAIN!” 

“Well they took the Umbaran starfighters and went up to destroy the weapons ship against General Krell’s orders,” the man stammered. “He ordered them executed as d-defective.” 

“We weren’t going to do it,” Kix murmured. “We were going to miss.” 

“What!?” the Trooper demanded and she glared at him, her eyes burning. 

“What’s your name?” She asked, her voice lethally quiet. 

“Ah, Dogma…. Sir,” he replied, standing to attention immediately as if she was going to reward him for this. She stared silently until he squirmed uncomfortably. Really, she was giving herself an opportunity to think this through, to calm herself. It was not this trooper's fault. Though he was blindly following a reckless and inappropriate order, he was trained to do so. She couldn’t blame him for that. But Krell… He was another matter. 

“Dogma,” she repeated slowly with a nod before turning away from him to the rest of the men. “Get them out of those binders and return their armour and weapons to them.” 

“But -” Dogma began. 

“That is an order,” she said quietly. “Apparently you have no problem blindly following those.” She didn't mean to sound so bitter. She’d talk to this man later about his thought process but right now she had other priorities. 

“You heard the General,” Rex interrupted the awkward silence, and the men in the firing line quickly got to work, uncuffing the four Torrent members with quick hands. She just watched, her face stony and her lips pursed. 

With Fives, Echo, Jesse and Hardcase freed, she let the silence settle over the group, let the thought of what they’d almost done set in and then turned on her heel to Rex. “Take me to Krell,” she demanded. “And the rest of you are coming with me.”

“Yes sir!” Rang back at her, and she felt their relief and hope through the force. Something was going on here and damnit she was going to find out. They were afraid of Krell. She didn't know him very well, he wasn’t often around the temple and neither was she, but she knew he could be a hard ass. 

The walk was silent as Rex took her shoulder and directed her through the halls. She was stewing on the emotions she could feel from the troopers and took a brief moment to block it out - for the time being. She needed to get a read on Krell, then she would talk to them privately. 

“Lore,” Tup said from behind her, reaching out to touch her shoulder that earned a shrill snort of disbelief from Dogma who whacked his hand away before it could touch her. 

“Not now,” she replied. 

“Are you insane?!” Dogma hissed at Tup. “That’s a General.” 

She tuned them out. Dogma was a problem she would address once this was sorted out. Her boots echoed loudly on the durasteel floors, and she pulled her shoulders back as Rex nodded and opened the doors into the control room where Krell was standing with his arms behind his back, staring at a holoscreen. 

“Captain I ordered those troopers to be disposed of,” he said, without turning around. 

“Change of plans,” she replied. The sound of her voice had him turning, and it was another thing that wasn’t right. He should’ve sensed her well before she entered the room. It was one of the earliest lessons one got as a youngling - sensing other Jedi. The only reason you wouldn't be able to would be if intense feelings were clouding your thoughts and judgements. 

“Master Shan, you are not cleared to be here,” he said, towering over her as she stepped forward to meet her in the middle of the room. At 7 feet, it was a clear intimidation tactic but he clearly didn't know her very well at all. He was about to learn. 

“I do not need clearance to be here, Master Krell,” she replied evenly. 

“I disagree. Skywalker left me in charge of this campaign, not you,” he grunted back. 

“I am not here to take over charge of the campaign. But I am here to find out why you’re executing your men,” she said, keeping her arms by her side and her back straight. 

“For insubordination, as I am sure you have learned,” he sneered. 

“With no court martial?” She asked sharply. 

“As you know, Generals retain the right to render whatever punishment they choose during active war.” 

“That is for extreme cases, Master Krell. From what I have heard, these men made a significant difference in your campaign. They should be rewarded, not executed.” 

“Perhaps. But they failed to follow orders and are thus useless to me,” he growled, and she could feel his temper flaring. There was something else there, something akin to… panic? But for what? Clearly he had not banked on her interfering and how could he? She had done this on a split decision and thank the stars she had. 

“Your callous disregard of life is concerning, Krell,” she said slowly, her voice dripping with derision. “These men will not be executed.” 

“You are not in charge here!” He roared in her face, bits of spittle landing on her skin. She cringed internally - disgusting. 

“We are of the same rank, Master. I retain the right to make the same decisions you do, and I. say. no. If you have a problem with that, we can discuss it later with the Council, though I am sure they will not be happy to learn of your disregard of life. These men are living beings, not pawns on your playing board to knock off as you see fit!” 

“They are soldiers!” He yelled in her face. 

“They are humans!” She snarled back. “My word is final.” 

“Well, I am sure the council would also be happy to learn of your attachment to these meat droids,” Krell growled, his nose nearly touching hers as they stood in a standoff that had every man in the room frozen. 

“Say that again,” she said softly, her voice so lethal it could cut through the air like a blade. 

Krell laughed in her face, and she held herself back from punching him, cocking her head instead. With a saccharine smile, she let the words flow from her lips, the ones she knew would piss him off more than fighting back. “It would appear, master, that you could use some aid on this campaign. I think I’ll stick around.” 

“You will do no such thing!” He snapped. The slightest hint of panic warred with his frustration and anger. Something was definitely not right here and she was not leaving these men to his unhinged behaviour. 

“Oh but I will,” she smiled, glaring at him through hard eyes. 

“The Council will not stand for this!” He yelled. 

“The Council is a problem for later,” she said simply. “I am staying. I will return in an hour for you to brief me on your progress and forward plans. Until then,” she gave a mocking bow and turned on her heel, gesturing for the group to follow her. She might only lead a small squad normally, but it didn't make her a stranger to the role of General no matter how much she despised it. She knew how to use it to her advantage, and right now there was nothing Krell could do with her claiming the role. She had just as much right to be here and give orders as he did. 

The walk was once again silent after she instructed Rex to take them to their barracks. Tup didn't speak this time. No one did and the tension in the air could be cut with a spoon as the door to the barracks slid closed behind them. For a moment, she simply surveyed the lines of bunks quietly before she turned to face them, her arms crossed. 

“Tell me what’s been going on,” she asked softly as they took seats. 

She listened, near silent throughout the explanation - of Krell using them as meat shields, of his ridiculous plans and his lack of leadership, of his orders to do things that made no sense, and finally everything that led up to the execution order. When they got to that bit, she shook her head, leaning against the pole of one of the double bunks. 

This was a shit show. But it wasn’t evidence of anything other than Krell being a terrible leader and a bad Jedi. She suspected more, however, and she would use their debriefing as an opportunity to snoop, to glean more information out of him. 

“I see,” was all she said as they finished their explanation. 

“We failed to follow orders!” Dogma protested. 

She stared at him silently again. “Not all orders are meant to be followed, Dogma.” 

“How can you say that, sir! Respectfully, you’re a General we should -”

“Enough,” she interrupted softly. “Jedi are not all knowing or all wise. And you are not mindless droids programmed to do whatever you are told. I think on that, we can agree, yes?” Dogma gave her a reluctant nod and she returned the gesture. “Part of what makes you good soldiers is that you are good men. That includes making decisions for yourselves, regardless of your direct command.” 

Silence greeted her as she glanced over the group, and her eyes landed on Rex. “I’m disappointed in you, Captain, that you would go so far as to entertain executing your brothers. Your direct reports, even. Some of the men you were about to execute have fought beside you from near the beginning of the war, no?” 

“I…” Rex looked down, and shame coloured his features. 

Gently, she placed a hand on his shoulder causing him to look back up at her with pained eyes. “I know. This situation is not an easy one. Even I can feel the turmoil this entire base is putting off. But Rex… You’re a leader. Unfortunately, part of being a leader is making the best decisions for everyone. You’re used to Skywalker, someone who protects his men. I fear this is a test for you, and you’re at a crux.”

“What do you mean?” He asked quietly. 

“I suspect we will soon find out,” she murmured. “I intend to speak with Krell and find out his side of the story, if you will, as well as what he intends for the future of this campaign. Something is not right here, and I intend to find out what before it claims more lives.” 

“We should come with y-” Jesse began but she cut him off. 

“No. He reacts a certain way with you all around. I wish to see what he will say just to me alone. I don't know what is going on, but something surely is and I worry Krell is a problem. I just do not know how,” she sighed. “I will let you know what he says to me, of course.” 

“Lore… how did you know?” Tup asked, his eyes wide and concerned. 

“I had a vision,” she admitted quietly. “I was in the middle of my hyperspace trip to meet up with Delta and I felt your emotions, saw bits and pieces of what was happening. I pulled myself out of hyperspace and changed course.” 

She let out an ‘oof’ as Tup threw himself at her, wrapping his arms around her tightly. It earned a yelp of surprise and terror from Dogma as he witnessed his brother hugging a General, but she only hugged him back gently before prying him off her. “Thank you,” he said hoarsely. 

“Of course,” she nodded, her eyes catching Fives who was watching her with what looked like… awe? “While I am gone, remain here please. I do not need to worry about any of you getting into mischief. That means no secret missions, no supply runs, nothing. This isn’t an order but it’s a strong suggestion.” 

“Got it,” Rex replied. 

“I’ll be back,” she said, straightening her shoulders and putting on a practised ‘general’ face, heading to the door. 

“Lore?” Fives called out. She turned her head slightly, cocking it at him. “Good luck.” A small smile twitched her lips and she gave him a curt nod before striding from the room. 

Krell was alone this time, sitting in one of the side rooms meditating. She knocked politely to alert him of her presence, even though she really wanted to storm in and ruin his moment of peace. She knew it would do her no good, though. She needed to look like she was more concerned with this campaign than with the men he had almost executed. 

“Enter,” he commanded, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes as she stepped inside and took a seat, cross legged on the ground opposite him. 

“Master Krell, I am only here to offer my help. So, tell me, what exactly has happened?” She asked evenly, her hands lightly on each of her knees. He opened his eyes, finally and stared at her with what almost appeared disgust. It was an odd reaction. 

“Your help is not required,” he snorted, and she sighed. He was going to make this difficult. 

“Well, I am here already. You may as well make use of me,” she shrugged, choosing her words carefully. She had to make it seem like he was in control here, not her. Like she was a pawn he could use. If she was guessing right, that was how he operated. 

“Hm, and what help would that be?” he asked. 

“What do you need? Surely two Jedi is better than one,” she hummed, leaving her shoulders relaxed and her posture lazy. 

It was enough to get him to explain the previous battles, though she could tell he wasn’t telling her the whole story - namely the casualties which he appeared incredibly dismissive of. He was mission focussed, driven to complete the campaign at any cost, even those of all his men. 

“And the next push?” She asked casually, stretching her neck like she wasn’t that concerned about the future of this battle. 

“I have gotten word that the Umbarans are using dead clone armour, disguising themselves as our own men. I intend to ensure that does not continue,” he ground out, almost sounding pissed. 

“That is concerning,” she murmured. 

“At least we agree on something, Master Shan,” he bit back and she sighed, shaking her head slightly at him. 

“Indeed. Do you have a plan?” She asked, instead of taking the bait. 

“I will send men to the location, and have them eliminate the threat before it can grow and prevent our push to the Capital,” he responded, and she nodded. It was sound enough, but she couldn’t ignore the tug that he was lying. It was just odd. Why lie about sending men to put down a threat? And what would he do instead. 

“Perhaps I should accompany them, to ensure this is properly dealt with,” she hummed. 

“The clones can handle some imposter Umbarans just fine. Since you are here already, I need you in the command centre dictating battle plans,” he growled, and she cocked her head. Interesting. 

“You do not wish for me to be on the field with the men? Given there are two of us, it would make sense for one of us to be overseeing and the other to be giving an advantage during battle,” she hedged, curious to see his reaction. 

“No,” he snapped. “I need you here.” 

“Hm,” she nodded. “As you wish then. When do you intend for them to move out?”

“As soon as I have confirmation on the umbaran’s location from the scouts, likely tonight,” he replied, seeming more at ease that she had agreed not to go. It was another red flag. 

“I see. Well, I shall catch up on rest in the meantime,” she replied airily, getting to her feet and leaving him there. She had a bad feeling about this, but she slammed her mental shields up lest Krell feel her warring concerns. She doubted he would since he couldn’t even sense her coming into the room earlier, but the last thing she needed was for him to realise the true extent of her suspicions of him. 

Instead of heading back to the barracks, she veered into the comms room which was blessedly quiet despite the few clones overseeing some of the holos there. Driving authority through her tone, she announced she was adding her comms link to the main channel, and set about her snooping. 

She wanted to see exactly who and when Krell was communicating with people. At first, it was mostly benign - a few calls between him and Kenobi, some to the scouts and men on the perimeters, some during battles in the field. It was all above board, nothing unusual, until she came across a call just two hours earlier to a battalion of Kenobi’s men. 

She paused, glancing around but no one was looking at her. With a casual sigh, she examined the comm. Why was Krell communicating with Kenobi’s men and not Kenobi directly? If he had information, it should’ve been passed to Kenobi and as far as she knew the men he had contacted were not in active battle. 

Fortunately, her time away from the order had taught her to be savvy - especially when it came to breaking into things and leaving no trace. She suspected Krell did not know about the comms back up - after all they were only kept for 6 hours, and deleted forever after that - so she pulled the call in question onto her own unit and then wiped any trace of her being there. 

Her exit was swift and purposeful, intentionally made to look like she had better places to be in case any of the clones commented on her behaviour to Krell. Once again, she did not head back to the barracks. Instead, she slipped into a droid maintenance closet and inspected the odd call, bringing it up on her unit. 

Checking the door was closed, she took a deep breath and opened it. At first, she thought she had been wrong. It appeared to just be Krell telling a trooper named Waxer that he should be on the lookout for Umbarans in a certain location, but then her stomach dropped. 

“They appear to be wearing the armour of deceased clones.”

It took her mere seconds to recognise what was going on. Krell intended to have the men fight one another, each side believing the other was the enemy in their armour. Her entire body went ice cold like a chill from a mountain had swept through the small room. 

Whatever Krell’s reason, one thing was clear: he was a traitor. 

It was almost ironic, given Fives’ misgivings of her upon their earlier relationship, but that irony had to be pushed aside. She needed to speak with the men. Her mind was in shambles. Another traitorous Jedi? Could he be working for Dooku? Or was he doing this for some gain she couldn’t yet see. Either way, this entire plan would throw the campaign in favour of the Separatists. 

It was pure torture attempting to walk normally back to the barracks when all she wanted to do was sprint it - both to get the energy out of her system and to get back there faster. If she was honest, she felt a little shell shocked about the realisation. She would now have to lead a mutiny. 

Walking back into the room, she was sure her blank face had them all on edge given the concern on their own expressions, but she had no energy to soothe their concerns. Instead, she just collapsed onto one of the bottom bunks and put her head in her hands, staring at the blackness behind her palms emptily for a few moments. 

“What happened?” Fives asked, breaking the silence, and she looked up at where they had all crowded around, watching her have her silent breakdown. She didn't even notice Dogma was no longer there, and later on she would realise she should’ve gone looking for him.

She swallowed roughly, unprepared to tell them what she had to say. “Krell… Krell is a traitor.” 

“What!?” Voices rang out. 

“Lore?” Rex’s commanding tone broke through the din and she stared at him before explaining exactly what she had learned and how, showing them the comm she had stolen off the main holoprojector in the communications room. When she finished, shocked silence greeted her before chaos kicked off. 

For a moment, voices overwhelmed the room, suggestions and arguments were thrown around ebbing between shock, anger and fear, before she finally stepped in. 

“Enough!” She interrupted, causing the room to fall silent. 

“You’re in charge here,” Rex said carefully, turning to her. “What do you want to do?” 

She was silent for a long moment. She knew what she had to do, she just didn't like having to do it. The evidence she had would be shaky in the face of the Council, but she could not in good conscience wait to see if she was right. People would die. 

“General Krell is a traitor. It is time we arrest him.” 

Chapter Text

“Are you sure about this?” Echo asked her as they followed her up to the main room, armed and ready. 

“No,” she sighed. “No I am not, but I cannot allow this to come to fruition just to find out we were right all along.” It would destroy her to just allow the clones to march into their deaths like that, knowing she could’ve prevented it. She would sooner face the full wrath of the Council for making the wrong decision to arrest Krell here, than she would take the chance on the men’s lives. 

“Let’s do this,” Fives nodded, and she returned the gesture before kicking open the doors. 

“Master Krell!” She called out. “Surrender your weapons and submit yourself to arrest pending the Council’s judgement.” 

Around her, the men fanned into the room, enclosing the Jedi in a circle as he stood in the centre of the room, staring out at the darkness beyond. She’d expected anger, but instead, he simply sighed and turned on her. 

“And what is this?” He asked. 

“I know what you were going to do, Master Krell. I know about your battle plans with the umbarans wearing clone armour, I know about you setting them up to kill one another. Explain yourself,” she demanded, not allowing her hand to twitch to her saber and show any kind of weakness in his presence. 

“Oh that ,” he said. “They would never have figured it out had you not inserted yourself into my campaign!” 

“That is treason, General ,” she snarled. “Surrender yourself.”

“To you !?” He laughed loudly, throwing his head back. “To the runt of the Order? You know, I remember when they respected you. Oh yes, I remember. You were the darling of the Jedi, a paragon of power. Other padawans were jealous of you, Knights were jealous of you. You had everything one could want: power, respect, a guaranteed place on the Council, and you threw it all away.”

“I did not want for those things,” she replied through gritted teeth. “I followed my own path.”

“And look where that got you!” He laughed. “Ignored by the very Council who used you all those years! And they will ignore you now too!” 

“Surrender, General,” she said, her voice soft but in no means gentle as she stared him down. Some of the clones edged forward before she could stop them, and her eyes widened. 

“YOU DARE ATTACK A JEDI!?” He yelled, force pushing a row of men back into the wall with loud cracks. She drew her saber immediately, launching forward as clones grunted and groaned. He was going after them with reckless abandon and it was all she could do to force pull them out of the way before his sabers connected with them. “I WILL NOT BE UNDERMINED BY SOME CREATURES BRED IN A LABORATORY!” 

“Get him!” Another man yelled and she ducked under one half of Krell’s saber, bringing hers up to block him cutting a trooper in half. She couldn’t get him like this. There were too many variables, her focus too split between trying to get the men out of the way and attempting to disarm both of Krell’s bloody lightsabers. 

She saw his move before he made it, the way he leapt for the window. She almost went after him, following his maniacal laughter, but he took a swipe at a clone too close to him and she had to make a decision. Instead of launching after him, she pulled her focus onto the clone and yanked him back from what would be a lethal fall onto the tarmac below. 

Panting, she stared out the shattered window at the emptiness of the dark forest beyond, shaking her head. She had to find him, and she had to keep the clones out of the way or else she couldn’t focus on both things at once. They were no match for him in a fight. In fact, they were liabilities in a force user vs force user fight - one she clearly couldn’t afford given how this had just gone. 

“You okay?” She asked the trooper, pulling him to his feet. 

“Thank you, yes general,” he nodded. 

“We have to go after him!” Tup yelled. 

“I will. I cannot have you in line of fire,” she murmured, looking at the destruction in the room - glass was shattered everywhere, some men were still groaning against the walls and the holotable was completely destroyed - cutting out their long range communication capabilities. There would be no warning Kenobi. 

“What!?” Fives snapped. “No way. You’re not going out there after him alone!” 

“With all due respect, you are liabilities in a lightsaber fight,” she sighed. “I cannot be worried about you getting sliced into pieces while trying to combat a man with double the arms and lightsabers that I have.” 

“No way. Alora, at least take a limited squad. There are still umbarans out there and you’ll need men who can hold them off while you arrest the General,” Rex interjected and she paused, considering his words. 

“Very well,” she nodded. “Torrent with me. The rest of you, try and reestablish communications with General Kenobi and hold this base down.”

“Yes sir!” Rang back at her, but she was already one foot out of the room with the others hot on her tail, weapons clicking as they checked their blasters and grenades. 

“Got a plan?” Hardcase asked. 

“No,” she said honestly. “We try find him, I engage, and you keep anyone else off my back while I take him down.”

“Plan enough for me,” Hardcase laughed, and she found his positivity rather endearing given the situation. It was quickly halted however when they ran into Dogma on the tarmac, brandishing his weapon at them. 

“Lower your weapon, Dogma!” Rex commanded before she could get anything out of her mouth. They were running out of time to catch up with Krell now. 

“I can't do that sir!” Dogma replied. “You’re all traitors.”

“Even me?” She asked, cocking her head at him. If he was so loyal to the command structure, it would stand to reason that he would obey her. 

“You… you undermined the General, lied about his battles…” he trailed off, but she didn't need his words to feel the uncertainty in his tone. He was clearly battling with being faced with another authority figure, so deep in Krell’s web that he couldn’t work out which way was up. Even so, she could not leave him at this base in case he should attempt to do something dramatic. 

“Dogma don’t do it,” Tup pleaded, but the man did not lower his weapon. 

“Take him to the brig,” she gestured to some nearby troopers before turning back to Dogma as he had his weapon pulled off him. “You’re not being arrested, simply detained until this is worked out.” 

And then she left him to be escorted to a cell, racing out into the darkened forest thick with fog and vines that left a bad feeling in the depths of her stomach. Torrent stayed around throughout their jog as she used the force almost like echolocation, searching out Krell’s conflict and emotion to guide their direction. 

“That way,” she murmured, pointing through the forest. “I don't sense any Umbarans but there may still be traps about, and look out for those vines.”

Only nods greeted her. They were in battle mode now, and she appreciated it because she did not have the capacity for small talk as she focussed on their direction and keeping an eye out for any traps lying along the fog laden ground. They were close now, she could feel it, even as the strange landscape interfered with her senses. 

Raising a hand, she stopped the group and took a few steps out ahead of them. Almost like a hound with a scent, she lifted her chin in the air and cast her gaze around. She could feel him near, feel his anger, his frustration, his… glee at his plans. It was an ugly, slimy feeling like oozing sap sticking all over her body. 

Two seconds. 

It was all she got before Krell jumped on her from one of the trees shrouded in shadows. Alora pulled her saber out just in time to block him, despite the sheer force behind his jump, and rolled to the side, splitting her purple saber into two halves. It was the only way she would effectively combat what was essentially four sabers gunning for a kill on her. 

“You should’ve left things alone!” He laughed, swinging for her with such power behind his hits that she took to dancing and dodging instead of engaging. There was no point wasting energy deflecting hits with power like that behind them. He was almost certainly drawing on the darkside, and not in a manageable way. 

“Surrender and make this easier on both of us,” she called out as the men opened fire on him. She snarled at them, too busy to tell them to stop, and the damage was already done. She flung a hand out, stopping the blaster bolts being deflected into them and leaving only one saber to protect herself with, his own clashing against hers as she struggled to hold back his sheer strength. 

“You made a mistake bringing them here, Alora Shan,” he cackled, disengaging and leaping for Fives. Her eyes widened, and she made a split second decision that she knew would have a few consequences later on. 

She leapt in front of his saber, letting it puncture right through her chest. 

“NO!” Fives screamed as the small clearing seemed to go still. Krell dug his lightsaber deeper into her, laughing like a maniac the entire time. Fog crept further into the clearing, wrapping them in it as Torrent stared in horror. 

“LORE!” Tup yelled as Fives ran to join his brother, taking up his blaster that had been batted to the side by Krell. 

And then she dissipated the illusion and Krell stumbled forward, his saber slamming into the ground. All eyes fell on her as she stood behind him and raised her hand, summoning a blast with the force that sent him slamming into a nearby rockwall. He grunted and screamed against the pressure of it, rocks cracking and falling around him. Still, she gathered up more power in her other hand and added it to the stream that was melding him into the wall. 

“You underestimated me,” was all she said as the rock wall shattered around him. Still, she had no intention of killing him in that moment, but it was enough to knock him out, his body sprawled face forward on the ground, covered in dust and rock shared, his sabers thrown to the side from the sheer force of her force slam. 

“He’s down!” Hardcase called out, nudging his body with his boot. 

“W-what the hell was that?” Echo asked her, his helmet bouncing between her and Krell

“Force push,” she grunted, walking over to Krell and examining him. He was definitely unconscious, but she stunned him a few times for good measure and nodded to Rex to cuff his hands. 

“ Not that !” Fives said, his voice strained. “You died. I… I saw you die.” 

She was too exhausted for this, but did her best anyway as the men began to drag Krell with them. “I am skilled with the force,” she murmured, carding a hand down her face. “As such, I can create powerful illusions. It is an… underhanded way of beating your opponent but given the circumstance, it was warranted.” 

“Don't do that again,” he muttered. “Please… I thought… I thought you died for me.” 

“And I would,” was all she said as they returned to the airbase and she instructed Krell to be put in a cell while she thought over what to do. 

Comms were still out, and there was still a battle raging on, getting closer and closer to their base. They’d all die if she couldn’t make an executive decision, and soon. It was what left her sitting in the destroyed communications room doing her best to keep a ‘general’ facade on her face. 

She had Krell to deal with. 

Dogma to speak with. 

And a battle to win.

She had inherited a fucking mess. 

Around her, Torrent stood huddled in quiet discussion that she couldn’t be bothered eavesdropping into. She was too tired. The mental weight of what had happened, of the situation she had thrust herself into and her intense usage of the force had left her wanting to lie down and sleep for a week. But the men needed a leader, and she needed to pull herself together. 

So she led them down to the brig, silent the entire time other than when she instructed a surprised Rex to take the lead. She only wanted to see what he would reveal when he felt superior.

“Why General? Why kill your own men?” Rex asked, leaving nothing off the table as they stood in front of the ray shield. She stayed at the back of the group, leaning against the wall and watching the interaction carefully. In the cell next door, Dogma stared between the General and his Captain. He needed to see this, needed to hear it, so she would not intervene. 

“Because I can. Because you fell for it. Because you're inferior.” His laughter made her sick to her stomach. 

“But you're a Jedi! How could you?” Rex cried out. 

“A Jedi?” He laughed. “I'm no longer naive enough to be a Jedi. A new power is rising, I've foreseen it. The Jedi are going to lose this war, and the Republic will be ripped apart from the inside. In its place is going to rise a new order, and I will rule as part of it.” 

She stared. He had fallen to the dark side. Though in some ways, his words rang true enough. She had sensed it too. And, she too often felt that the Jedi were naive in their intentions. Yet… she would never devolve to this. There was always another way, and Krell had let the darkness and doubts consume him, turning him into nothing more than a power thirty monster. It made his earlier comments to her make all the more sense.

“You're a Separatist!” Jesse accused. 

“I serve no one's side, only my own. And soon, my new master.” Her head shot up, and she pursed her lips. 

“You're an agent of Dooku,” Rex said.

“Not yet, but when I get out of here, I will be.After I've succeeded in driving the Republic from Umbara, the Count will reward my actions and make me his new apprentice.” So he was delusional too, she thought sourly. Dooku would never make him his apprentice. The Count she knew rewarded cunning and focus. This plan had been messy, fueling by ignorance and thirst for power. 

“How could you do this? You had my trust!” Dogma yelled from his cell. “My loyalty! I followed all of your orders, and you almost made me kill my brothers.” Her heart broke for him a little, but he needed this. There was no other way to make him see that blindly following orders was never the best path. 

Krell let out a deep laugh that echoed around the room, drawing all the warmth from it - what little there was left. 

“That's because you were the biggest fool of them all, Dogma. I counted on blind loyalty like yours to make my plan succeed.” 

Dogma looked broken, his trust and faith shattered and she sympathised. She too had felt the same about the Jedi once upon a time. 

“That will never happen,” Rex growled. “You're a traitor, General, and you'll be dealt with as one.”

“You never learn, Captain. The Umbarans are going to retake this base. And when they do, I will be free.”

“We will see,” was all she contributed to the conversation before leaving. Her head was spinning. He would’ve given classified military intelligence to the Separatists and it was likely they truly could be overrun. They didn't have the men, nor the reinforcements to hold out against a full frontal assault indefinitely and it would only take a few umbarans slipping in and freeing him to turn the entire thing into carnage. 

Lives would be lost, as would the campaign. 

“We received a message from General Kenobi. Looks like our transmitter was sabotaged!” One of the men informed her as they stood staring out into the tree line. “His forces have captured the capital, but the remaining Umbarans are heading here!”

“Get everyone on the perimeter! We need to prepare for a full-scale attack,” she commanded, watching the clone runoff and the base descend into organised chaos. Her specialty was not full scale battles. She worked with a small squad, not entire battalions. 

“Krell sabotaged the transmitter. He's been against us from the beginning,” Tup swore. 

“If the Umbarans get to him, he'll turn over all our intel. The defense codes, everything. He'll strike a crippling blow to the Republic!” Fives said. 

“Something has to be done. We can't risk the possibility that he might escape,” Jesse added, nodding his head. She simply watched the conversation silently. She knew where this was going. 

“As long as Krell's alive, he's a threat to every one of us,” Tup said, and then all eyes turned on her. She stared back, working through the logic. They were right. There was a good possibility of Krell escaping. And she did have total impunity of decision when it came to punishment in battle, including execution as Krell had so kindly demonstrated with the clones. She could have him executed. The fall out would be critical, having to explain that to the Council. What's more, Jedi did not execute people. Ever. Especially not one of their own, no matter how far they had fallen. A jedi did not kill the unarmed. 

“Alora, we can do this… We’ll take full responsibility and tell Command you had no idea of our plans,” Rex said, clearly seeing her thought process as it played across her expression. 

“No. You’d be court martialed, potentially executed,” she replied quietly. “I will do it.” 

Conflicted as she was, she followed them down into the prison, nodding at Fives and Jesse to release Dogma. He had seen the truth, and she was confident he was no longer a risk. With him safely secured from the prison, she stood opposite where Krell sat, meditating as if there was nothing wrong. He was so confident in his eventual release that even his feelings felt calm in the force when she reached out. 

“Krell,” she said, dropping the ‘master’ from his title, a blatant sign of disrespect. 

“Are you here to kill me, Alora?” He asked, finally opening his eyes. She nodded to Rex who opened the ray shield for her, and then stepped forward. 

“Perhaps,” she said, watching him carefully. 

“Executing an unarmed man? Whatever will the council think,” he chuckled, and she stayed silent as she unhooked her saber from her belt and held it, unlit, in her hand. “You’re a fool, Master Shan. Dooku offered you a place by his side all those years ago and you turned him down! You turned down the power, the prestige! And for what? For the council to ignore you, undermine you? I remember your fight with Mundi, remember them pushing you out, forcing you into leaving.”

“I left of my own volition,” she replied. 

“But it was them who drove you out, no? And you still defend them! Fool!” He laughed. “And you will die with them too.” 

“Stand up,” she murmured, and he surprisingly did as he was told, towering over her. 

“They’ll never forgive you for this, and you know it,” he laughed. “Do you care for the clones so much you would see yourself cast out of the order for killing an unarmed man!?”

“Alora…” Fives said, his voice strained. Clearly they had not realised the consequences of this, but she ignored him. 

“I’m not killing an unarmed man,” she replied simply, reaching a hand out and crushing the durasteel between Krell’s cell and Dogma’s empty one, leading to a long open space blocked by the ray shields to Torrent. With that done, she unlatched his lightsabers from her belt and examined them. 

“Close the ray shields,” she instructed Rex. 

“What… but -” 

“Do it.” Thankfully there was no more argument, and she was now trapped inside the double cell with Krell who was watching her with a smug look. “Krell, former Master of the Jedi Order…”

“What’s this?” He chuckled. 

“The old ways. A trial by combat still stands as a reasonable solution to a situation such as this within the Jedi code - a fight to the death. I think the outcomes are rather obvious but in case you need them explained; If I win, you die. If you win, you’ve secured your apparent freedom at the hands of the umbarans.” 

“Alora, no!” Fives yelled. 

“Oh how sweet, they care,” he chuckled. “I accept.”

“As you wish,” she nodded, slicing through his cuffs and handing him his lightsabers. He leapt for her immediately, something she expected as she ducked to the side at the horrified gasps of the men outside the shields. 

“Once I’ve killed you I’ll deliver your body to Dooku myself!” He yelled, swinging both lightsabers for her - one at the head, the other at the waist. She blocked one with her saber, the other using the force, and held him there with gritted teeth. 

“He wants me alive, in case you didn't hear,” she replied, releasing her hold and darting to the side. They engaged in a brutal dance, the space so small that she had to concentrate on keeping his lightsabers from connecting with any part of her. He dwarfed the area too, but that had been intentional. She wanted him to think he was in control, that he could bring her down with sheer strength alone. And maybe he could, but she was rather confident that he would once again underestimate her. 

“Not going to use any more dirty tricks?” He cackled as he swung for her head over and over. 

“I intend to make this fair ,” she taunted with a small smile, dodging his infuriated swing. He was moving faster now, the spinning of his double blades hard to dodge in such a small space and it took all her concentration to meet them before they came in contact with her. 

She did intend to make this fair. It was the only way the Council would accept it. If she did anything underhanded, it would mean severe consequences. This had to be a duel , not some kind of tricky illusion filled battle. 

Purple met blue and green in the air, clashing together with a ringing moan that echoed throughout the prison. Even the imprisoned Umbarans watched with intrigue at their brutal dance, each footstep bringing the other closer to their demise. It didn't stop him being underhanded though. He had nothing to lose from it, and when he swung for her head aggressively and she moved, she missed the curve of the other end of his lightsaber arching for her leg as he switched it on and off again. A move so underhanded that she nearly threw the whole match and crushed him with the force alone. 

It caught her across the back of the thigh and she screamed in pain, stumbling back into the wall and barely managing to block his next hit with the cross of her dual blades. Her teeth grit against the pain, and she heard Tup scream along with her, horror lacing his tone. 

All part of the plan, she reminded herself, emptying any thoughts of pain from her mind and focussing solely on Krell. He was certain he would win now, confident that with her injury she would be no match for his strength or fortitude. After all, when it came to duels she did rely on speed over strength. However, he seemed to forget she had beaten Mundi in the duel that fateful day, and she was far more cunning than he gave her credit for. 

With a feral grin, she detracted her sabers, using only the force to hold his own back. Surprise flashed across his features, and she used the opportunity to headbutt him, sending him stumbling a little. Her feet moved instinctively, her now free hands coming around one of his lightsabers and spinning it. 

With her back to him, and his entire strategy now gone, she drove the saber through his chest. 

The lightsaber hissed as she detracted it, and turned to face the now dead Jedi who was crumpled on his side. She pulled his other saber into her hand, and attached them both to her waist before nodding to the men outside who were staring with slack expressions. 

“It is done. Now, we have a battle to tend to,” she said, limping out of the cell. 

“You’re injured,” Fives breathed, kneeling to her side to examine the nasty slash across her thigh. 

“Kix, wrap this as tight as you can,” she commanded. 

“No, no way you’re going out on the field like this!” Kix fretted, already shoving Fives out of the way. 

“You have spent too much of this campaign with your General cowering behind the lines of safety. Now wrap my fucking leg and lets get out there,” she growled, straightening her shoulders against the pain. They didn't need a friend right now. They needed a leader. Exhausted and sore as she was, she would be one. They’d win this. 

They fought hard, but they fought well, and in the end, they secured a victory. She’d pushed through the pain until she thought she might collapse, and then limped back to the airbase to the good news that Kenobi had secured the Capital and that they had taken Umbara. 

All that was left now, was the consequences of the Jedi’s actions - hers, and Krell’s. 

Sitting on the steps in the control room, she stared emptily at the floor. Thoughts warred in her head, the realisation of what would’ve happened had she not listened to her instincts and intervened, alongside the other realisation that she would now have to explain herself to the Council - again . No matter how good her reasons were, she would still be cross-examined like a criminal, no doubt. It was worth it, and she stood by it, but the whole ordeal had been exhausting and now her own thoughts were tiring her out more. 

Around her, the men lazed about the room, checking comms and checking in with patrols still picking off stragglers. She paid them no mind. They didn't need her to do their jobs, not now. So she continued to stare absently at the floor, her leg burning angrily. She had told Kix to focus on their injured instead, despite his protests, and was regretting it a little bit now. 

A lightsaber wound was no joke. 

So lost in exhausted thought, she barely noticed when Fives crouched down in front of her. “Hey,” he murmured. 

“Hm?” She hummed absently, completely out of energy. 

“You alright?” He asked, his voice soft and his expression brimming with concern. There was no playfulness there. 

“Yes of course,” she straightened her shoulders and nodded to the men in the room, determined to put on the General's face. They needed to feel secure right now, and she knew that. She was just… so tired. Krell had proven to her, once again, that the Jedi had lost their way. If this was how their members fell… well, there was no telling what other damage had been done. Still, the Council wouldn’t listen to her and now it was beginning to feel more scary than annoying. 

“Thank you,” he murmured, his thumb rubbing over the back of her hand. She caught a few surprised looks from the troopers in the room but paid them no mind. 

“Don’t thank me. A Jedi did this.”

“A Jedi fixed it… before we could… kill our brothers.”

“It was the right thing to do,” she sighed, standing and limping a little to the holotable to send a message to Kenobi. Fives stayed at her shoulder the entire time and she wished he hadn’t because she couldn’t help a few tears slip down her cheeks - tears of hopelessness, tears of grief, tears of frustration. Something was so very wrong and no one was listening. Why could only she see this? Why were they being so ignorant? She felt every death from the campaign as if it were her own and it was almost too much to bear. She felt every death that could’ve been if she had not followed her instincts and come to Umbara and it broke her heart. Krell was right about one thing - the Jedi were naive.  

Lost in that thought, she was yanked clean free of it when Fives swiped one of the tears off her cheek, motivating her to look up at him. He looked sadder than she had ever seen him, so used to his playfulness and openness. It was such a contrast that she didn't protest when he pulled her into a hug and stood there, his arms wrapped around her shoulders firmly and his face in her hair. 

// 

She looked exhausted. Sad. Conflicted. It broke his fucking heart to see. It broke his heart that she didn't realise just what she had done for them, how she had stood for them when no one else would. How she had chosen to possibly die for them. If she hadn’t thought to duel Krell she had been fully prepared to be kicked from the Jedi in order to prevent them being court martialed.

It wasn’t hard to see she was wearing too much weight on her shoulders in that moment. She was acting like a true general, which was such a distinct difference from her usual self that he knew she was suffering. 

Her face was drawn and carefully blank, shadows that could rival those outside the base marred the tanned skin under her eyes. Even her golden markings looked dimmer as she organised the patrols and prepared for Kenobi's arrival. She was limping too, having ordered Kix to focus on the wounded men instead of her. He’d never been hit by a lightsaber but there was no way she wasn’t in excruciating pain on top of exhaustion and worry. 

He wanted to do something, but really there was nothing to do until Kenobi came to pick them up and they got back to the flagship. But when he found her curled on one of the benches, her legs tucked up under her he couldn’t bear to wake her up. 

Instead he nestled a blanket over her shoulder and sat by her feet quietly. 

It took a good half hour but eventually the others found them and he held up a hand immediately, shaking his head. 

“Don’t. She needs it,” he murmured, glancing down at her still form. She was still covered in blood, dirt and dust from the battle and he’d been hoping Kix would come past so he could force the medic to look at her leg. There was no hope on that front, so he wasn’t waking her up until he had to.

The others settled down on the ground, quiet conversation about the events that had transpired flowed between them. The general consensus was that they fucking owed her big time. Maybe his brothers wouldn’t have executed him, maybe they would’ve. Maybe Krell would’ve done it himself. Either way she’d saved his life - all their lives given had Krells plan gone through they’d all be dead. 

The sound of gunships coming in to land had them looking up pensively. Finally their time on this hellscape was coming to an end, and it couldn’t have happened sooner. 

As some of the 212th began to file in, he gently patted her uninjured leg, stirring her awake. She blinked tiredly and then sighed, rubbing her eyes and pushing the blanket back. He watched her carefully, but made no comment as she sat up. 

His gaze flicked back across to the incoming troopers and he frowned when a small contingency split off toward them. He recognised one as a Sergeant under Cody, but surely Kenobi would just speak to Alora directly rather than communicate through the men. 

They approached purposefully, making it clear they intended to speak with her given the tilts to her helmets. 

“General Shan?” The Sergeant asked, and uncomfortable Waxer shifting beside him. 

“Yes,” Alora nodded, and there was something oddly resigned about the way she said it. His eyes shot to her in confusion. 

“You’re under arrest for treason and murder. Please surrender your weapons and come with us,” the Sergeant said and his eyes went wide. He was on his feet in seconds, standing between her and the troopers.

“What?!” He hissed. “Explain yourselves!”

“General Kenobi’s orders. She murdered another General,” the trooper replied stoically.

“There’s a misunderstanding!” Tup cried. “Krell was a traitor! He tried to kill us!”

“He’s right,” Dogma muttered quietly.

“All the same, General Kenobi’s orders stand,” the Sergeant continued. A throat cleared from behind him and he turned half way to find Alora standing with her weapons, and Krells, outstretched. One of the troopers took them from her and she was promptly cuffed as they all gaped at her. 

She’d been expecting this. 

And she’d done it anyway. 

Fire burned through his veins, ignited by fury as one of the troopers dragged her a bit too fast for her limp and he watched her clench her jaw to try and ignore the pain.

“She’s injured!” Jesse yelled at them.

“I will be fine,” is all she said before they loaded her on to the gunship and disappeared.

“We need to get up to the flagship and explain this to the General immediately,” Rex said, leaping into action. Fives slowly unclenched his fists and nodded with gritted teeth. “Someone find Kix and let’s get on the next ship up there.”

It was an anxious hour spent pacing, waiting for clearance to leave. He fumed the entire time, the sight of his own brothers fucking arresting her replaying through his mind. After everything she had done for them. She’d saved their lives in the 212th too by stopping Krell! 

Not to mention she was fucking injured! They’d been pushing her too hard, and in cuffs no less. A feral part of him wanted to get his hands on that squad and beat them into the dirt for it. 

By the time they got up to the flagship it took all his self control not to sprint to the bridge and scream the truth as fast as he could. Instead he was forced to walk all the way from the hangar with his team, his footsteps louder and louder with every inch forward they made.

“Where’s General Shan?” Hardcase asked one of the 212th troopers they passed.

“Brig,” he called back and Fives fists clenched. They’d thrown her in prison too. The last time she’d been in a cell…. Well, it had been because of him. He would not allow a second time, regardless of where it was. 

“General Kenobi!” Rex called out as they entered the bridge.

“Captain Rex, I hear you had quite the ordeal,” Kenobi murmured, an ever present Cody on his shoulder.

“Yes sir. We need to explain, Alora - General Shan… isn’t guilty of anything. Krell was the traitor and she didn’t execute him.”

“Please explain Captain,” Kenobi nodded and Fives just thanked his lucky stars it was a reasonable General who would listen to them.

Rex spoke clearly, carefully as he explained all the details of what had happened from before Alora had gotten there to the point where she had insisted on going back out onto the battlefield injured. They all piped up intermittently to add detail, even Dogma who had the good graces to look ashamed of the part he’d played. By the time they finished, half of them were breathless and the panic had come to a full frontal assault on their senses. They couldn’t let Alora take the fall for this. 

“An odd way to do it,” Kenobi murmured to himself upon Rex’s explanation of the trial by combat.

“She… Krell said that her executing him would get her removed from the order so she decided on that instead,” Echo added.

“I see. Cody, let your men know they can release Alora and have her brought here.” 

Fives sighed in relief, his entire body sagging. The anxiety and desperation of the past hour or so had been too much to bear, concern about her being imprisoned or kicked out of the Order overriding his senses.

Ten minutes later, Alora walked onto the bridge, still limping and covered in dirt and blood. She stopped silently in front of Kenobi and he caught Cody glancing between them quietly, his lips pursed. He was clearly thinking the same thing Fives was: those troopers hadn’t reported that she was so injured. It was an odd situation for sure, and when Kenobi handed her lightsaber back to her she still didn’t speak up. 

“Apologies Alora, we had to be sure,” Kenobi finally spoke.

“Yeah,” she muttered, hooking her saber to her side.

“Your men explained to me what happened. Of course, you’ll be required to debrief the Council but it would seem you made the right decision,” Kenobi continued.

“Of course,” she nodded tiredly. She said no more, and Kenobi’s expression flickered into concern as he examined her.

“Fives, would you please ensure a medic sees her leg?” He asked softly. 

“Yes sir,” he murmured.

“I’ll inform the Council of this development with Master Krell. You all rest now.”

With that, they were dismissed and he was veering off from the others and guiding Alora to the med bay. She didn’t even protest, her jaw tense as she walked with a pronounced limp that told him the pain was getting worse. They hadn’t even given her fucking medical attention in that cell, though it had seemed Kenobi hadn’t been aware of her injuries.

Still, those troopers should’ve reported her state to him. 

“I can carry you,” he offered quietly, his voice sincere. He’d truly rather carry her than see her in more pain.

“It’s ok. Probably good to stretch it,” she murmured.

“I really don’t think Kix would agree,” he smiled. 

“Hm…. Probably not,” she gave him a small smile back and he sighed a little in relief, walking behind her into the med bay.

“Kix!” He yelled, not surprised to see their medic already there and unpacking his field kit. It was a habit of his. He never waited to do it.

“Oh thank the stars,” he sighed when he looked up and saw them. 

“That wound on her leg… General Kenobi asked you look at it,” he said; twisting the truth a little. Technically he hadn’t said Kix had to look at it but he’d rather it was him than anyone else. Alora gave him a look that said she’d caught that little white lie but she didn’t comment, sighing as Kix crouched and examined the back of her thigh, pulling away the wrapping he’d applied before the final push.

He muttered to himself as he went, tossing the bandages aside and poking and prodding gently before slowly standing up.

“I need to get those pants off you, they’re melding with -“

Fives didn’t hear the rest of what he said because he was already in front of Alora, pushing up against Kix with a snarl. “ What ?” He did not like the idea of another man undressing her and it was all the primal part of his brain registered in that moment.

“Fives!” Kix snapped. “The fabric is melted into her wound. I need to get them off to properly treat this!”

He let out a strangled sound that was something akin to a threat, at least enough for Kix to cross his arms and glare back at him in annoyance. 

“Do you want that wound treated or not?” Kix growled at him, not breaking eye contact. He didn’t back down, staring at his brother with eyes brimming with rage. His vod would not be fucking undressing her not in a -

“Better?” Alora said from behind them and he spun around to find she’d used a pair of medical scissors to cut down the legs on each side and shred the tight combat pants off her body… Leaving her standing in her tunic and her underwear.

Another inhumane sound left the back of his throat and he immediately stepped into Kix’s line of sight, blocking him from seeing her. 

“Fives, I will have you removed from this med bay!” Kix snapped. “Move.”

“There is no way -“ he began but a soft hand on his forearm stopped him. 

“Fives, it’s fine,” she murmured. “I’m not going to lie, it hurts like hell and I think Kix is going to need to tweeze fabric out of the wound.”

“She’s right,” Kix huffed. “Now come here. I need you face down on that medical bed so I can get to the wound.”

He swallowed roughly at the phrasing, his eyes narrowing on his brother who only rolled his eyes and shook his head, muttering to himself about him being an asshole. He felt rather vindicated, by comparison. As she hopped up onto the bed, he caught a trooper walking past who stopped in the doorway.

“Move. Now ,” he snarled with so much venom the poor shiny went sheet white and scrambled away. He honestly thought he could’ve given Wolffe a run for his money with how lethal he sounded in that moment. 

“Thanks,” Alora huffed, turning her head on the pillow to face him as Kix leant over the back of her bruised and slashed to leg with a pair of tweezers and a needle. 

“Gonna give you some local anaesthetic and painkillers for this,” Kix muttered, not waiting for her reply before jabbing her and beginning to pull pieces of fabric from the wound.

“You can go,” Kix said to him without looking up from his work.

“Not a chance,” he grumbled, pulling up a seat and planting himself firmly by her head. 

“Fucking…” Kix began before shaking his head. “ Fine but do not intervene.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he muttered, earning him a critical look and another head shake. 

He sat there for two hours whilst Kix worked, only leaving to shower and change when Kix complained he smelled like dirt. He didn’t want to give him a reason to kick him out of the med bay permanently after all but he was back in there as soon as he’d done so.

“There,” Kix said as he finished bandaging her leg. “It’s… going to scar,” he continued, his voice tinged with apology.

“Lightsabers tend to do that,” she joked quietly, sitting up and testing out her leg.

“You should get some rest too, medics orders,” Kix smiled softly.

“For once I agree,” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes and attempting to suppress a yawn.

“Um…” Fives trailed off, nodding pointedly to her bare legs. “I’m begging you not to walk out into the corridor like that.”

“Problem?” She asked.

“ Yes ,” he growled.

“Here,” she sighed, waving her hand. She was suddenly fully clothed again and he cocked his head in surprise. Since when could Jedi just summon things? That would’ve been bloody helpful many many times in the past. “It’s not real. It’s an illusion.”

“Good enough,” he groaned. As long as his brothers weren’t able to ogle her bare legs and ass he couldn’t care less. Otherwise he’d end up throwing hands with his vod in the corridors.

She was still limping as they left and he sighed, throwing her arm around his shoulder and his own around her waist. She grumbled, but otherwise didn’t complain and he spent most of the walk glaring at any trooper who stared for too long at his Jedi. They could keep their eyes to their fucking selves. 

When they slipped into her new quarters and she disappeared for a shower, he didn’t leave. Honestly, a part of him was concerned she’d collapse in the refresher so he just paced the room, tossing his helmet up and down and checking his weapons. He was still concerned about the repercussions of what she had done - for them no less. She should’ve just let one of them execute Krell.

He had no idea what the Council's problem was with her but this could only make it worse and a deep discomfort settled in his chest that they had been the cause of more derision there. 

When she emerged, no longer bloody and dirty, he picked up his helmet and nodded silently, leaning against the door. 

“I should —“

“Do you -“

They spoke at the same time and he cocked his head, gesturing to her. “Go on.”

Her lips pursed together as if she was considering, warring with what she wanted to say. He waited patiently for her to speak, watching her eyes dart between him and the door.

“Do you want to stay?” She finally asked softly.

“Yes,” he said immediately, maybe even too fast but he’d never pass up the opportunity. He was already tugging at his armour and tossing pieces aside with hasty abandon. She just sat and watched, slowly collapsing back onto the bed. By the time he joined her, she was staring blankly at the ceiling and he frowned, wrapping his arms around her firmly. When she didn't protest, he pressed his lips to her hair and sighed. 

“Lore?” He asked softly. 

“Yeah?” She murmured. 

“What’s going through that pretty little head of yours?” 

There was a long pause, so long that he thought she had simply decided to ignore him but then she finally spoke, her voice tired and hoarse. “Krell was a traitor….” she began, trailing off slightly, but he didn't interrupt, sensing she had more to say. “But he made some good points, ones I have made to the Council many times before.”

“Like what?” He asked quietly. 

“That we are being naive, that we are not focussing on the true source of this war. The Council… know my opinions and I worry… I worry that they will cast me into the same category as him. That if he could betray us due to those ideas, at the root, then perhaps I will too.”

He went quiet, thinking that over before speaking in her ear. “I don't believe that. Krell seemed driven by more than just those ideas, and… you don’t treat us clones like that. Not all Jedi are like him.” 

“Sure, not all Jedi are like that. Most aren’t even, but all it takes is one to completely undermine everything we’ve stood for,” she sighed tiredly. “Dooku’s turn sewed division within the order, and I fear Krell’s will push it even further. I….” She trailed off. 

Any other time he might’ve made a joke, teased her a little, but she looked so small, so vulnerable and tired in his arms that he kept his smart mouth shut on that front. “Can I ask you something?” He hedged. 

“Yes,” she murmured. 

“What exactly happened between you and the Jedi to make you leave?” He let the question settle in the air as she went quiet, closing her eyes and letting out a long, slow breath. 

“I was 18, a newly made Master,” she began. “It was extremely young to be one, one of the youngest in history but I had passed all my trials, trained a padawan to knighthood, and done my duty. The Council liked to… parade me. I am the direct descendent of a former Grandmaster who sat in that seat during a time of great peace and prosperity, and she was powerful, so powerful.” She paused, shaking her head. “Some force abilities are passed genetically, some talent also and so I was always ahead of my peers. That was never the issue. The issue was that even as a young padawan I disagreed with the Council a lot . I didn't like the way they ran things, the hubris and dogma I saw, and the rules they implemented that my great grandmother had once abolished. It felt like a step backwards.”

“Rules like what?” Fives asked curiously. 

“You’re probably well aware that Jedi stay away from relationships?” She asked and he nodded. “Well, during my ancestors time she did away with the attachment rule. Said that a good Jedi should be able to regulate their emotions and maintain personal relationships to such a degree. She believed that in having a ‘no attachment’ rule so stringent that it only encouraged Jedi to bury their feelings and struggle with integrating with communities they were charged with protecting. I agree, but that was never the crux of the issue.”

“Hm,” he hummed, nodding along silently despite his thoughts going haywire at the possibilities her opinion presented. 

“The Council still appointed me Master, given I had met all the requirements, but they were getting sick of my interjections and debates. I… sensed something coming, so did Qui-gon, Obi-wan's former master. One day, I was sitting in on a Council meeting when Master Mundi really got on my nerves. He accused me of being blinded by my own hubris and genealogy, implied I was only there because of my lineage, and then accused me of leaning into the darkside too much, that it was clouding me and my opinions. Some of the Council agreed with him - vehemently.”

“What happened?” He asked quietly. 

“I challenged him to a duel, said I could control my emotions and the force just fine and I’d fucking prove it. He accepted, and I won, but the damage was done. I had proved them wrong, but the cost was high. If the Council thought so lowly of me, how could I possibly stay? If I didn't believe in the mission, how could I possibly continue to work within it? So I left. I walked out on the Order. Master Yoda tried to stop me, said he understood my points, that he too felt something strange in the force, but it was too late. After all, he never did anything about it.” 

“Why’d you come back then?” Fives asked, rubbing a comforting thumb across her hip. 

“Dooku fell… He sought me out, found me and asked me to join him. I refused, and then the war kicked off. I returned because I could do more to help with the resources of the Jedi. It was the right thing to do, but the Council remains wary of me. They placed me on Kamino to help train the first ARCs and Commandos, which backfired when I took on Delta.”

“So now they don’t trust you,” he murmured softly. 

“Indeed. I continue to criticise the way they are involved in this war, too worried about the politics of the senate and public impression than they are about ending this thing and protecting innocent people. I fear… I sense… that they are missing something right in front of their faces, and yet they refuse to allow me into their meetings anymore. It’s all I can do to keep myself from being stripped of my title.” 

He fell quiet, mulling over that. “The clones… we have… mixed feelings about this war. Without it, we wouldn’t exist but…. Well, one day it will all end and then what?”

“And there lies my other issue,” she sighed. “The clones. We send you to die for us, and for what? That remains unclear.”

He shook his head. The soldier in him wanted to disagree, but the man in him agreed vehemently. What were they fighting for if they couldn’t attain peace? If all that was waiting for his brothers was to be discarded the moment it was over?