Unexpected

chapter four: duty

The day had begun like any other: troops filing in for breakfast before heading off to training, which takes up most of the day and is only interrupted by lunch. In Fives's and Echo's case, lunch is the last normal part of their day.

"You two. ARC troopers." Rex calls as he approaches their table in the mess hall. "Grab your things and meet me in the hangar bay."

Echo and Fives exchange a glance before running to the barracks to grab their weapons and other munitions. They meet Captain Rex and General Skywalker in the hangar bay as they wait beside a speeder.

"Sir." The two soldiers stand at attention once they reach their superiors.

"Good, right on time." The General speaks. "We're escorting Senator Amidala to Scipio for some.. Negotiations, with the banking clan." He explains vaguely as they board the speeder. "You two will keep watch on the ship and act as backup while Rex and I act as the Senator's personal security."

The small speeder lands outside of the Senate building and they unload before boarding the shiny Naboo skiff. As Echo and Fives situate themselves aboard the ship, they hear a pairs of footsteps coming up the ramp.

"Senator Amidala." Anakin greets Padmé formally to keep up appearances, even though everyone already suspects something between them. "I trust your handmaiden knows her part in all this?"

"I have no doubt in her abilities." Padmé assures Anakin, who nods. The two of them continue to talk as they head to the front of the ship.

Another pair of soft, barely audible footsteps comes up the ramp and Rex smiles. Echo and Fives exchange a glance. Rex smiles?

"There you are. For a second I thought you'd backed out." Rex speaks to the person, who still isn't visible to the other two.

"Please, Captain. You know I'd never pass up an opportunity like this." The voice laughs and Echo's eyes widen. He knows that laugh. He knows that voice.

"It's good to have you on the team, El." Rex puts his arm around the girl once she's aboard. The ramp closes and the ship quickly begins its journey.

Luckily for her, none of the troopers had their helmets on yet, so it's easy for her to identify those on board. Elara's smile quickly fades when she steps forward to meet those familiar, silky brown eyes. "Echo?" She asks, almost in disbelief.

"Elara.." Echo stands. He takes in her slightly-regal clothing compared to her casual clothes that he's used to and her braided updo in contrast to her loose, wavy hair.

"You two know eachother?" Rex furrows his eyebrows.

"We're friends." Elara says, causing Rex to raise his eyebrows. Her eyes meet the pair still seated behind Echo and she turns back to the Captain. "I wasn't aware that more men would be coming."

"It was a last minute decision by the General, in case we need backup." Rex explains.

"We?" Echo asks. "Hold on, what exactly is going on here?"

Elara sighs as she turns back to Echo and Fives.

"Elara is Senator Amidala's handmaiden." Rex explains. "How you two know her, especially well enough to be friends, I have no idea."

"Oh, no." Elara chuckles. "Fives isn't my friend." She corrects Rex.

Fives raises an eyebrow in her direction. "Right. But we could be so much more than friends." He smirks.

Elara's face reddens as she glares at him and Echo furrows his eyebrows. Rex glances between the group at the obvious tension in the room.

"In your dreams." She mutters before turning to Rex and whispering something to him. Rex nods in approval and she walks further into the ship, away from the troops.