10. “You’re late. I thought you weren’t going to make it.”
(pls bear with my interpretation, haven’t read RepCom in forevers .. in fact this might as well be crack)
The ARC trooper arrived in plainclothes, as instructed. Zey noted the beginnings of a scowl growing on Maze’s face and dismissed the simmering discomfort surrounding him in the Force. Armor was safer, sure, but it was best if they went unnoticed.
“You’re late,” Zey remarked. “I thought you weren’t going to make it.”
“I ran into some trouble acquiring the new uniform.”
Zey tilted his head. There was more to say about that, surely, but he simply smiled and beckoned Maze to sit across from him. The booth was in a secluded corner of the restaurant. “You must know by now that this conversation is not meant for any other ears.”
Maze let out a long breath, but the discomfort remained, buzzing around his head until the scowl finally crawled across his face. “Could you get on with it?”
“In time. I did promise.” Zey tapped Maze’s side of the table to bring up the menu.
“You call this a restaurant?” Maze muttered as he looked around at the decadence, the ambient lighting, and clean tablecloths. “This is a hotel.”
“Where did you think we were going? Dex’s Diner?”
It took Maze a second to realize what Zey meant, and Zey caught the trooper’s small grin before it disappeared when the server approached the table. Maze seemed lost trying to order, so Zey put in for a bottle of wine to split.
Maze folded his arms and finally all-out glared at the Jedi across the table. “You can’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“The wine, sir.”
Hearing sir gave Zey pause. He sighed. “I’m sorry for bringing you all the way here. I have something that has been on my mind that I cannot share with just anyone.”
Maze’s silence was its own half of the conversation. The discomfort from Maze’s arrival cleared, and the trooper actually leaned forward.
“I have reason to believe Skirata has committed an act of treason against the Republic.”
His companion’s reaction could not have been more of a surprise. Maze laughed. At that moment, the server returned with the wine and served it to each of them. Maze controlled his laughter into a very amused chortle as he pretended to taste the wine and give an approving nod.
Zey took a very long sip. “What?”
“Sir, with all due respect, are you really that surprised?”
“I expected Skirata to act selfishly, but not in direct conflict with orders.”
“I didn’t pin you as an optimist.” Maze eyed the glass of wine and decided it was worth taking another sip. “Mercenary scum like Skirata always have their own agendas.”
“Would you say the same about Fett?”
Maze nodded his head from side to side, considering. “He got Boba. I doubt he could have predicted he’d never see the start of the war. And Fett was different, sir.”
Maze swelled with pride. He didn’t often go out of his way to try and correct the General. Zey looked down at the surface of the table. “What am I to do with Skirata?”
“That depends. Is he a threat?”
Zey was quiet.
“He’s a threat to you.”
“I can’t say I disagree with the man one hundred percent.” Zey dragged a hand over his face. “I have not questioned the Order, or the Republic, as much as I have since Skirata showed up. But I must maintain some sense of order.”
“Then get rid of him.”
“What if I think he is still an asset? Someone who I can trust to lead my troops?”
“Then keep him.”
Zey scrunched up his face and looked at Maze. The Captain seemed rather flippant about the whole thing. “There must be consequences. If he committed treason…”
“Sir, how do Jedi go about punishment?”
“Now that we command an army, I couldn’t tell you.” Forcing himself to smile, Zey nodded to the menu that was still displayed in front of Maze. “Skirata is my problem now. Let’s enjoy the rest of the evening.”
