“So this is what a dead city looks like. Feels like we're standing on an open grave.”

Her voice was saddened and, even though they stood on the ramp leading to the spaceport, wary. Ves'tolin paused and took a moment to really look around. He had had it in his mind to go straight to Governor Saresh's office, start questioning her on what exactly she thought she could do with the planet. Kira's words stopped him though and now that he could see some of what the Governor's office had to rebuild with, he was twice as curious.

“What was this place called again?' he asked.

“Taris Reclamation Base.” He could feel Kira staring at the back of his head and if he turned he knew he'd find her regarding him with amusement and frustration. “Weren't you listening?”

“Probably,” he said offhandedly. “No.”

“T7 = scanning area / / area = safe for travel!”

Ves looked down at the blue T unit then back up. “For another 20 meters anyway, but thanks.”

“T7 = happy to help!”

“Did you get a load of that holostatue in the spaceport?” he asked as the locals started to take notice of them. Some openly appraised them, others averted their eyes and made themselves scarce. Ves wondered if it was weariness or wariness that made them flee.

“A load of it? I nearly put my lightsaber through her head, for all the good that would have done,” Kira sighed. “What does it say about the leadership of a world when they have to put themselves on motion sensor and remind you what they're doing here every time you walk by?”

“I don't know what it says about leadership, but I know what it says about the leader. Keep your eyes open when we meet her. I want your opinion.”

“If I had something to say, I wouldn't hold back. You know me,” Kira answered, shrugging one shoulder carelessly.

“True. This would be why we get along.” Ves lead them away from the spaceport with a confident stride.

“Is that the only reason?” Kira asked, daring a little flirtation to come to her voice.

Ves glanced over his shoulder at her, his face partially hidden by his hood. Kira felt the breath drain out of her slowly. The dark green skin, the deep blue eyes, all that black hair. She could get in line for that. And the smile he gave her as answer told her he didn't think being a Jedi meant foregoing all the fun and games either. She felt a tiny shiver and slight flush on her cheeks.

“Now, if I were the Governor of a decrepit and smelly swamp planet, where would I put my offices?” Ves mused, casting his eyes over the soldiers and civs.

“Hm, probably both as close and as far from the front of the compound as I could get. Appearing to be close to the front makes it look like I'm capable and in charge, that I'm getting business done. But if something comes stampeding through those gates, I'm going to make sure I have plenty of people and things between it and me,” Kira said, recovering quickly.

“Astute,” Ves said. “And by that logic, over there.”

There were no guards around the Governor's building so Ves just let them in and walked straight into her office. She was in the middle of a discussion and Ves didn't think anything of interrupting.

“Alright, I'm here. And from what it looks like out there, we don't have all day.”

“Greetings, Jedi,” Saresh said and stood from behind her desk. “Thank you for coming to meet me. I will be brief and to the point. We're working on rebuilding Taris, to show the Empire can't hold us back. But resources are few. The terrain, weather and... wildlife are problematic.”

The man beside her crossed his arms. “Rakghouls,” he said, warning in the word. “One bad bite will turn you into a vicious monster like them. They're everywhere on planet, and getting rid of them has proved near impossible.”

“The rakghouls live in a tunnel system underground. All the work units we send out get decimated,” Saresh said.

“So, a few crews get taken out and you just send more?” Kira asked in disbelief.

Saresh turned violet eyes on the padawan and paused, obviously waiting for Ves'tolin to apologize or explain away her outburst.

“That's a good question actually,” Ves said.

Saresh faltered. “Reconstruction still needs to happen. Everyone hired to come here is appraised of the difficulties and are being paid well.”

“Until they end up dead, or eating the faces off their colleagues,” Ves answered.

“Chief Trig has come up with a plan to help us,” Saresh continued over him.

“A suicidal plan,” Trig admitted.

“A bold plan. One that will allow reconstruction to continue. Trig thinks that taking frag bombs and blowing up the entrances to the rakghouls lairs will thin their numbers enough to allow for the regular security forces to handle what remains. And looking at you, you seem to be just what we need to get this done.”

Ves regarded Saresh coolly and wondered if that was a compliment, or a dig.

“Help us rebuild Taris. It's in your hands.”

“Wow, no pressure or anything,” Kira muttered.

Ves nodded. “Alright, we'll handle your rakghoul issue, Governor.”

“Thank you. Be careful.”

“Care has little to do with it,” Ves said and took his people back outside.

“So that's how she leads?” Kira asked, putting her hands on her hips and shaking her head. “'This is historic, immense, you're rebuilding history. Ignore the creature gnawing on your leg.'”

Ves chuckled. “She has her work cut out for her. She just might choke on it though.”

“T7 = not liking choking // choking = worse on rakghouls.”

“Should probably get moving. Galaxy in peril and all that...” Kira said, patting T7 on the top of his chassis.

“One planet at a time. Stick with me and we'll own this place by next week.”

“I don't think it works that way,” Kira said with a laugh. “But it's going to be fun to try.”

Can you tell I don't like Saresh? I guess you'd have to play Trooper to figure out why. I want to tie her lekku in knots. Ves is kind of a jerk, but he's a funny jerk and I like him.