Title: Choice Fandom: Star Wars: The Old Republic Characters: Lana Beniko, Female Consular/Outlander, HK-55, Theron Shan, Koth Vortena, Senya Tirall (cameo) Ships: Lana Beniko/Female Consular Description: On a rare day where nothing bad happens, Lana Beniko decides to get some work done. Prompt: I chose you
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Today, there were no expeditions. No important missions. No one raining hellfire onto the Odessen base, and no scrambling to respond to a surprise attack. All in all, it was a calm day - something that Lana Beniko intended to take advantage of.
She woke up early, starting her day with meditations. Then, she scrolled through the Alliance’s stocks as she ate her morning meal, making a note of every area that wasn’t reaching expectations so that she could feed back to the relevant parties.
When she was finished, she cleaned her space in the still-empty Cantina, and headed out to walk through the landing pad, where she took a moment to watch Havoc Squad run through their morning drills. A few Republic and Imperial soldiers had decided to take part, though by this point, one would have to look closely to tell them apart.
Satisfied with the military, Lana left, heading to the Force Enclave. There, she spoke briefly with Sana-Rae about the state of the handful of new Zakuul Knights they had recruited, heading outside when she was informed that Senya was running a training regimen with them.
Briefly, she observed, but unlike Havoc’s Commander, Senya wasn’t afraid to point out her presence and call upon her. Wanting to provide an example of the differences in fighting styles of other Force-sensitives, Senya requested a spar. Seeing the benefits of teaching the Knights something of the Sith way - and never being the type to turn down a challenge - Lana agreed, and the pair fell into battle stances.
The Knights watched closely as they fought, taking note of the similarities and differences. When they were finished, Senya suggested Lana come back again tomorrow, providing she had the time, to give a proper lesson into Sith philosophy and use of the Force. Lana agreed easily before excusing herself, satisfied that the new recruits were being brought into the fold under Senya’s guidance.
By this point, the sun was beginning to rise over the horizon, and the less-early risers were waking. With that in mind, Lana set off to have a word with Hylo about their supplies of rations.
As she strode through the base, Lana paused when she saw a familiar droid standing awkwardly beside the war table, alone. She frowned.
“HK,” she spoke, deciding to delay her meeting with Hylo, “what are you doing here?”
The droid came to life. “Response: Your meatbag associates requested I review the strategic planning. Personal opinion: I must say that I think a full-frontal assault would-”
“My orders should override anyone else in the Alliance.”
“Correction: There is one exception.”
A raised eyebrow. “The Commander wanted your input on our carefully crafted strategic plans?”
“Response: She did not directly request this, however, she was very clear that I was to follow the instructions set out by the other meatbags.”
Lana sighed. The Commander liked HK-55 well enough, but had never entirely understood the necessity of having a bodyguard on Odessen. ‘Odessen is our home, and besides, the biggest threat to me lives in my own head,’ she had said when Lana had first suggested assigning HK to her quarters. Eventually, she had allowed the assignment, but Lana was aware that it was more to keep HK out of the way so he wouldn’t offend someone unused to him, than an actual desire to be protected.
Every now and then, Lana would find the droid performing some ridiculous task, and when she found the Commander, she would always be met with a sheepish smile.
“...Thank you, HK. Instead of wasting your time here, go to the lab and see if anyone is available to check your diagnostics.”
“Complaint: But, Master, that is where Z0-”
“Go, HK.”
“Petulant grumbling: I am so disrespected here.”
Lana watched HK leave, before heading down the corridor. Outside the Commander’s room, she paused. She could hear voices coming from inside.
“Okay, but you have to admit that everything’s gone really well.” That was Koth.
“Yeah, yeah.” Theron. “Except for the part where she was impaled.”
“That’s just what I’m saying!” Koth again. “I saw those injuries. They would have killed anyone else.”
“I think that has more to do with the stubborn man in my head.” The Commander.
A scoff from Theron. “Stubborn isn’t the first word I’d use.”
“But what are the odds?” Koth continued, “Think about it. You even getting him in the first place was unlikely, but here we are. It’s fate.”
“Or bad luck.” Theron again.
“It’s not fate, and it’s not bad luck.” This time, the Commander sounded mildly amused. “It’s choice. Repeated choices.”
“Some of it, sure. But you can’t deny that some of the things we’ve encountered go beyond that. The Gravestone, for one.” Koth insisted.
“Judging from that expression, you’re denying.” It was Theron’s turn to sound mildly amused.
“I just - I don’t think that the Gravestone being there was fate. Even if we don’t know exactly why it was there, it was still the result of the action of others, and us finding it there - well, that was down to your crash landing skills. Not fate.”
“Ugh, you really can’t see it, can you?”
“Sorry, Koth. You’re right that things have been going well. I’m sure that the Force has been helping us - that it wants us to succeed - but I don’t… I don’t think things can ever be so simple as fate. I don’t think that we’re here because of fate. I think we’re here because we chose to be. I chose this Alliance - I chose all of you. And you chose the Alliance, in return.”
It was a philosophical debate, Lana concluded. Nothing more. She would talk to the Commander about sending HK away later, but given the context, it wasn’t a major issue. In the case of an emergency, Lana had every confidence that Theron and Koth would defend the Commander - as well as having confidence in the Commander’s skills, themselves. There was no need to eavesdrop further.
Lana stepped back, intending to continue on to speak with Hylo, when Theron’s voice reached her.
“Eh. Maybe some of them chose this, but the three of us were dragged here by Lana.”
There was no bite to his words, and Lana resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She had spoken to Theron, at length, about why she had recruited him, but he remained hesitant to accept it.
A laugh from Koth. “Yeah, yeah.”
Koth, perhaps, had some more grounds for the agreement.
“Hm.” For some reason, Lana found herself paying closer attention to what the Commander would say. “I don’t think I would say that.”
“Really?” Koth sounded incredulous. “You had the least choice out of all of us.”
“I’m with him on this, Commander.”
The Commander laughed lightly. “There is no version of reality where I wouldn’t want to save the galaxy.” A considered pause. “...or where I wouldn’t choose Lana.”
There was a good-natured groan from Theron, but Lana didn’t stay to hear what would happen next. They were entitled to their private conversations, and she was sure that the Commander hadn’t intended for her to hear that.
An affectionate pulse through the Force told her otherwise.
Reaching the end of the corridor, Lana took a breath and wiped the fond smile from her face. She had work to do.
