Unexpected

chapter forty-one: breaking

Fives takes a deep breath as he approaches his brothers in the mess hall. The smiles on their faces widen as the ARC Trooper joins them at the table.

"Mornin' vod." Jesse smiles.

Kix notices the glow emanating from Fives as well as the suppressed grin on face and raises an eyebrow. "What's gotten into you?"

"We'll talk about it later." Fives says, causing the other three to exchange glances.

"I bet it has something to do with Ellie." Tup says to Jesse, who nods in agreement.

"You think he got some action?" Jesse asks.

"You do know that I'm sitting right here, right?" Fives stifles a laugh.

Jesse's eyes widen. "So something did happen with you two?!"

Fives bites his tongue, turning his attention to the sorry excuse for food in front of him. "Just wait til after training, alright?"

"Yeah, alright. Whatever you say Fives." Jesse backs off.

"That wasn't exactly a no." Tup whispers, causing Jesse to smirk.

After breakfast they meet the rest of the battalion at the training grounds where they'll be running practice simulations all day. Despite his elusive behavior at breakfast, Fives is on his A-game in training today. Nobody can keep up with him, no matter what formation the men are in.

"He's sure got a spring in his step." Jesse says to the other two.

"Do you think he made it to second base?" Tup asks.

Kix shakes his head. "Will you two cut it out?" He scolds the pair as he shoots the remaining targets.

Jesse and Tup quickly shut their mouths and turn back to the drill around them.

*

"Elara, I'm glad you could join us." Senator Amidala nods to the girl as she enters the room.

"Senator, General." Elara greets Padmé as well as Anakin. "I assume the encryption module has been effective in cracking Grievous's transmission?"

"Indeed it has." General Skywalker informs her.

"And the mission on Kadavo was successful?" Elara assumes, seeing as he's back already—which means that Rex must also be back.

Anakin nods in response and clears his throat as he glances at his wife.

Padmé sighs as she looks at the girl. "Elara, this isn't easy for me to say.." She begins, sending a shock of sorry through the handmaiden. "Anakin and I spoke with the Chancellor.. He believes that your.. Escapades are putting the lives of Senators at risk and requested that you step down immediately." She explains.

Elara furrows her eyebrows. "Step down? I just saved hundreds of lives by retrieving that module!" She stresses. "Chancellor Palpatine said this himself?"

"He requested that you resume your duties as strictly a handmaiden or you'll be relieved of duty." The Senator concludes. "I'm so sorry Elara, I know that you—"

"No, it's fine." Elara quickly swallows her emotions due to the severity of the matter at hand. "I came here to handle things diplomatically, involving myself in the heroics was a bad idea to begin with."

Padmé gives the girl a sympathetic look as Anakin sighs.

"If it's worth anything, I think you'd make a fine trooper." Anakin offers his support.

Elara smiles softly. "Thank you, General." She nods politely. "M'lady, if you'll not be needing me.."

"Yes of course, I'll call for you before the hearing this afternoon." Senator Amidala dismisses the girl, who heads straight outside for some air.