"General, here are the progress reports on the laser
cannon training. I think you've got a great group of
gunners, and you should be proud, Sir."

"Thank you, Lieutenant Khirin, I'm quite pleased with
their progress . . . and, Zandru, don't 'sir' me when
we're alone, for Force's sake! We grew up together;
we used to play together in the creche. This rank . .
. it's just a word. Not like 'Jedi.'" Obi-Wan
smiled. "Now, sit down, Zandru. Would you like a
drink? I have Corellian brandy."

"Certainly," said Zandru, accepting the glass. The
taste of the brandy brought an image of a laughing
Ardith to his mind, and he smiled a little.

Obi-Wan caught Zandru's smile, as well as the reason
for it. "Ardith gave me this bottle. She said it was
a thank-you for not having her hauled before the
tribunal over the Alda-Seltzer. And before I say
anything more, please accept my apology for my
behavior with Ardith. I shouldn't assume so much."

"Just don't let it happen again, Kenobi." The twinkle
in Zandru's silver eyes belied the sternness in his
voice. "She took it in good humor, though, and even
took the opportunity to do you a favor, as I recall."

"And what a favor it was." Obi-Wan's eyes turned a
smouldering green and glazed over a bit as he thought
lustily of Kora. A wave of acute embarrassment came
to him through the Force, and he shook himself out of
his haze to see Zandru looking at the General's desk
and blushing.

"Obi-Wan, did no one ever teach you to shield? Now I
know more about that desk than I ever wanted to."

"It's been a while since I've *had* to shield; you're
the only other Jedi on this ship. But, I suppose, due
to the current relationship of the ship's Jedi
contingent with the ship's Office of Supply and
Ration, it would be much better for us both to
practice shielding techniques." Obi-Wan grinned
boyishly.

Zandru smirked. "That does seem to be in order. And
I shan't tell Ardith that I've now seen her boss
naked, thanks to you."

Obi-Wan reddened. "Just keep Ardith busy, Khirin.
Less time for her and the Chief Maintenance Officer to
get up to those pranks of theirs. I've heard Kora
call Ardith and Elsah the 'Corellian Chaos
Contingent.'"

"Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, Obi-Wan," teased Zandru.
"Even though she's Terran, Kora is at least an
honorary member. I'd watch out if I were you."

"I'm always watching out for those three. They're
trouble. Speaking of trouble, Kora tells me that
Elsah's smuggler boyfriend is going to meet us on
Draecia. That should be interesting."

"Ardith didn't say 'smuggler.' She called him a
'venture capitalist,'" remarked Zandru thoughtfully.

Obi-Wan got up from his chair. "See what I mean?"

"Trouble, Kenobi." Zandru rose as well.

"Best trouble I've ever been in, though." Obi-Wan
waggled his eyebrows.

Zandru looked at the desk again and shook his head.
*******
FIN

=====