When the World Stopped Turning- Crosspost

Chapter 1- Last Day of Peace

Chapter 1- Last Day of Peace

(September 10, 2001)

General Dennis Rommel smirks as he spins his lightsaber to block a strike from Ahsoka. He then forces her back and whirls around, slashing at her waist, which she easily blocks.

"You definitely deserve your position as the head of the ASAT team," Ahsoka says as she swings her other lightsaber at Rommel. Rommel ducks under the blow before jumping up and kicking her back. Ahsoka does a backflip before moving to re-engage him. She swings both her lightsabers back at him, and he easily blocks it.

"Well, years of training pays off," Rommel says with a smirk.

Ahsoka smiles back before pulling back one of her sabers and swinging it at his legs. Rommel forces her other saber back, freeing up his saber which he then brings down to block the strike.

The two continue to exchange several high speed slashes before Rommel finally takes a step back and deactivates his saber. He chuckles a bit as he says, "Well, you never disappoint, Ahsoka. I always enjoy sparing with you."

"You as well, Dennis," Ahsoka says as she returns her lightsabers to her belt.

Rommel then hears a beeping. Looking down at his watch, he sees it's the alarm he set going off. "Ah. There's our alarm. We should get going. It's a long drive," he says.

Ahsoka nods. The two of them were currently in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where they had given a guest lecture for Barriss Offee's History of the Republic and Jedi course at Harvard. They were then supposed to head down to Newark, New Jersey, where Rommel was supposed to catch a flight tomorrow to San Francisco. Ahsoka was then supposed to head down to New York to meet her husband Dakota and brother in law Tyler Hall for a day of fun and relaxation in New York. However, they had taken some time to have a little fun training, much to the delight of some Harvard students who had been watching them in awe.

"Yeah, you're right. Definitely don't want you to be late for your hotel check in," Ahsoka says.

The two hurry to make sure they have everything that they need, then head out to the parking lot, where Ahsoka's car is parked. The two load their things they brought with them onto campus into the backseat, then climb into the front seat. Ahsoka starts up the car and pulls out of the parking lot, and the two settle in for the long 3 and half hour drive to Newark.

As they get onto the highway to start heading for Newark, Ahsoka asks, "So, remind me, why are you heading out to San Francisco again?"

"Sam's gonna be meeting me there. Him and Daniel. We're gonna be discussing a possible mission by me and some other members of the team into the Middle East. The United States is getting worried about that terrorist group al-Qaeda, and they want to send some of us to get some intel and see if we can maybe bring in some of their leaders," Rommel says.

"Wish I could be going with you on that mission. Al-Qaeda has been a thorn in the side of America for too long," Ahsoka says. She still remembers the terrorist attacks that have been committed by the group in the last decade. She herself was involved in the hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist Ramzi Youssef.

"I know. But you've got other duties," Rommel says.

The rest of the trip is occupied by mainly minor chit chat. Rommel asks Ahsoka a number of questions about how married life has been treating her. She and her husband Dakota had celebrated their first anniversary just a month and a half prior. Ahsoka is very happily answering most of his questions, though awkwardly dodging the questions that have to do with her and Dakota having children. Rommel begins a habit of asking her repeatedly, trying to embarrass her. The two share a number of laughs over these questions.

Finally, at about 7 PM, Ahsoka pulls into the parking lot of a Holiday Inn not far from Newark International Airport. Rommel hops out of the passenger seat and pulls his suit case and carry on out of the trunk, then retrieves his bag with all of his notes for the presentation at Harvard out of the backseat.

He then leans down into the window of the passenger side and smiles at Ahsoka. "Have a good time in New York tomorrow. I'll see you when I get back next week," he says.

"Have a good flight," Ahsoka says. Rommel just smiles and nods before he turns and heads into the hotel lobby.

Once Rommel gets into the lobby, he heads for the front desk. When he identifies himself as Dennis Rommel, the hotel crew are quickly falling all over themselves to help him. Rommel quickly tries to shut that down. He's never been very comfortable with the fame that has been heaped upon him ever since the Battle of Germany.

Rommel is quickly escorted to his room. Once he gets into his room, he starts going over the notes that he was sent by Adams that he needed to go over before his meeting with Adams and Mofaz in San Francisco. Then, he takes the time to have a brief chat with his wife and two children over video call for a little while before he finally heads off to bed.

As he settles down to sleep, he could never begin to imagine what is about to happen tomorrow.