Of Love and War Book 4: When Darkness Falls

Chapter 9: Tipping Point

Despite the turn for the worse that recent events had taken, Zelina still tried to stick with her original plan and do some work for the Republic in her minimal free time. The goal turned into a legitimate challenge when she noticed that there were glares and hateful looks sent her way by some citizens, and when she started sensing legitimate malice and ill will...

She didn't particularly like the thought of being shot at or stabbed in public, so her travels became careful and as secretive as possible whenever she wasn't going to be in the Temple or visiting Padme and Satine. The fact that she suddenly had to worry about her personal safety to such a degree unsettled her, and in the back of her mind, she found herself making back-up plans that shook her with the realization of the point she'd reached.

She was even cautious going to the military base. Her men might have been loyal, and she was sure that a large segment of the 501st could be on her side as well, but the other soldiers didn't know her, and she didn't know if any of them were suspicious of her as well. She took some comfort in the thought that a soldier wasn't about to murder a Jedi in cold blood because there were rumors saying she might be a traitor, but she still aired on the side of caution.

Better safe than dead.

Of course, now she was headed to the base yet again, as the rest of the 105th was supposed to be arriving on Coruscant at long last today, and Zelina felt she needed the extra support system. Plus she wanted to have a long, in person conversation with her men to make sure none of them pulled a similar stunt as Gambit trying to defend her. She didn't need any more of her men imprisoned for loyalty.

Zelina adjusted the sleeve of her overtunic absentmindedly as she approached the shipyard where the men were currently disembarking from the flagship Vitality in random clusters, some with helmets on, some tucked under their arms, and a few already in casual clothes.

Several soldiers broke away from the main mass of white, purple, and grey to start making their way towards her. Zelina was able to easily recognize them, partially because of the easily distinguishable personalized markings on their armor. Nex was almost front and center, Cruiser being the one with that honor, Keen-eye close behind, Bruiser and Hardball flanking him, Aalto and Var...

Zelina stopped taking a head count once Cruiser reached her, skipping the pleasantries and getting right to business, as he knew Zelina preferred.

"General, Commy told us about Gambit—is there going to be a trial?" Cruiser asked, his concern for both his brother and his general clear on his face.

"There should be, as far as I'm aware there will be. Senator Amidala, Duchess Satine, General Kenobi, and I have been working on a solid defense to try and minimize the severity of the charges."

Nex easily noticed that there was a key person missing from Zelina's list of regular allies. "What about General Skywalker, Ma'am?"

"General Skywalker was given a new position when we arrived on Coruscant. He's the personal representative of the Chancellor in the Jedi Council, and the Chancellor has been seizing the majority of his time. He's already expressed his support, but he won't be of much help with his current preoccupations."

In other words, Palpatine was a greedy Anakin hog and was giving her yet another reason to despise the man. Anakin had already made it clear he wanted to be with her during all this madness, but Palpatine continued to demand his presence to most of the daily workings of the Senate. For once, both Anakin and Zelina were on the same page regarding Palpatine, as they both hated just how little time Palpatine's demands were leaving Anakin to be there for the people he cared about.

The men exchanged a brief glance at the news, but it was Bruiser who spoke up.

"All due respect, General, but what the hell has been going on since you came back to Coruscant?"