Worth: A Star Wars Story (ON TEMP HIATUS)

28. A Message from a Familiar Face

-21 BBY, Two Months Following the Siege of Sarkhai-

-Seven Months Months Before the Battle of Umbara-

"Cap?" Hex turned to me when we had down time between patrols, all of us heading for the mess to catch lunch before we had to go back out for our afternoon stroll around the lower levels. "Why do the 54th always just... accepts our citations and why does the 82nd has to do the opposite? Like, Copper just took a four month pay deduction and just looked sad. That Cube guy tried to hit me upside the head with a serving droid! Who does that?"

"The airborne guys are nuts," I proffered with a shrug. "One time, Cobalt vaulted over a Rodian just to smash a drink tray into my bucket.

Hex looked mortified as he looked away, "Who even does that?"

"Alpha ARCs," Red replied as easily nonplussed at I was. Hex was still getting used to the rowdier groups we dealt with. The 501st and 82nd were some of the worst offenders in terms of how often we had t deal with them, but they were alright once you figure d out how they worked. "We don't deal with them often, but when you do, you know. They're made different."

"Literally," Tor agreed with an easy nod.

"Just wait to you inevitably meet Alpha-17," Ryder snickered furiously. "Or Fordo."

"Not Fordo," I sighed as we entered into the mess and grabbed our trays. "I feel like I can't even do anything to him. I just try to cite him and he gives me that look."

Hex was listening with mortified eyes to everything we were saying as we got our meals from the serving droids. It was another day of questionable meat products and a side of vegetables I didn't recognize, but it was better than the pellets that they were insisting on feeding us there for a while. Guess they figured that actual food was better for morale. "Don't let it bother you, Hexy," Ryder chuckled. "You get used to it after a bit."

We picked a spot at our usual table and sat down together to watch the other members of the Guard come and go. We had gotten an influx of new members off of Kamino as the cloners ramped up production, and I wondered how Iru Bre felt about everything that was happening to us out there. Was he pleased at how we were performing?

"The Senate is having debates about us again," Red frowned as he read one of the newspads that someone left behind from earlier. I looked over at it and caught that one of the things on the agenda for today's hearing was us again and what would be done with us following the war effort. I was happy to at eats see that was only one art of what we were getting talked through. Apparently a pay increase was on the table and the discussion of benefits which was all included in a joint bill submitted by Senator Chuchi and Senator Amidala. "Can't wait to hear how we'll all need disposing of after the war. That's always a mood booster."

"Did you hear that the Duchess of Mandalore is coming?" Ryder hopped in to ask, probably trying to keep t subject somewhat lighter. "I hear she's going to try and keep her system neutral."

"Ah, great," Grek sighed, "meaning that we're gonna need to be on call twenty-four-seven here soon."

"Better busy than bored for you, Grek," Red elbowed him playfully as he picked up one of the vegetables with his fork and wrinkled his nose at it. "This smells awful."

"Doesn't taste much better," Hex wrinkled his nose and set down his fork. "Wish we had time to go to Seku's. She always has great grub."

"Does Fox have us covering evening too?" Tor asked. "If not, i want to head to the library after we do dinner."