Commander Tano Meets Commanders

Neyo 2

Co-written with the_lonely_moon (AO3)

Warning: strong language

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Commander Neyo, after 'Brain Invaders'

A Gray Area

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Senate meetings are, in Neyo's opinion, a waste of time.

Sure, he's not dodging blaster bolts on a battlefield or stuck training the new shinies, but it's still a chore, even if he can spend the first half of the meeting examining the lace bordering Senator Amidala's new dress.

When Ponds died and Neyo took on the Commander rank, he did not think he would be spending his leave in a conference room full of snobby politicians- not including the Nabooian woman, of course.

Neyo's not a man of high maintenance, but all clones need some sort of mental stimulation, and listening to the bickering politicians is simply not entertaining enough (as well as leaving room for other, more . . . painful thoughts).

The only other clone in the room is Commander Fox, who actually seems to be participating in the meeting. Unfortunately, he and Fox haven't been on the best of terms lately, so making conversation with him is hopeless.

It's not like they have their helmets on to chat anyways.

Neyo lets out an internal sigh, then begins to try and pay attention to the Senators he's supposed to be guarding.

"Why can you not see it?" Senator Chuchi is practically spitting at Burtoni. "We need to stop letting large corporations monopolize necessary products like seeds and fertilizers, and take this topic in front of the full Senate! This behaviour is highly illegal, and yet the practice has practically thrived under Chancellor Palpatine's administra-"

"Senator Chuchi, are you proposing the notion that Chancellor Palpatine is somehow to blame for the decline of farmer income and the rise of genetically modified seeds?" Senator Aang interrupts, and Neyo tries ridiculously hard not to fidget. Fox is practically fuming from across the room, as if he's half ready to commit homicide over a debate.

The Pantoran glares, preparing to fire a retort back, but Senator Amidala motions for her to sit and rises from her chair. "Senator Aang, no one is implying that the Chancellor is somehow involved in these grand schemes, but what Riyo says is true. Farmers located in the Outer Rim, and even on planets like Naboo or Alderaan-"

"Forget about the farmers; everyone with sense knows Pantora's main trade is crop! Let the corporations have the money; what we really need to focus on is the blatant accusing of Republic leaders-"

The shouting grows louder and louder until Neyo's blood begins running cold and his fingers twitch as if to pull a non-existent trigger-

Everyone abruptly quietens and turns as the doors slide open with a sharp hiss, and Neyo nearly grabs his blaster until he sees who is so rudely interrupting.

Force, kill me now, he thinks as the self-absorbed Togruta Padawan flounders into the room. Out of everyone who could've attended this meeting, Skywalker's annoying student has to turn up.

He watches with disdain as her face lights up, eyes focused on the Nabooian Senator. "Pad- I mean, Senator Amidala!"

"Ahsoka," the Senator responds, a soft smile gracing her features, though there is an underlying tone of confusion. If it were Neyo, he wouldn't have humoured her like this in a room full of politicians, but he's just a clone, so what does he know? "What do you need?"