“In which case we’ll stop recording immediately,” Rhil assured her. “Or at least kill the sound, choosing an angle where what is being said won’t be picked up. GoNet has been given full access while we’re aboard the Coruscant Dawn. The chancellor herself—”

“The chancellor has said that she wants the coverage of the Republic Fair to be as transparent as possible,” Stellan agreed. She was right, of course; Dairo’s presence on the Coruscant Dawn had been Lina Soh’s idea. Stellan applauded such a resolve, although he had made the suggestion that the reporter largely stay with the Jedi contingent while aboard the chancellor’s ship. Good intentions or not, Soh still needed to work!

Rhil bit her tongue when Stellan Gios talked over her. She didn’t like having other people fight her battles for her, but sometimes an argument wasn’t worth having. Instead she let the Jedi guide her out of the training chamber, T-9 bobbing after them.

She still had to pinch herself that she was here; Rhil Dairo, walking through the corridors of the chancellor’s personal flagship. She had certainly come a long way from reporting on micro-g basket weaving as a cub reporter on Cordota, or whatever non-story her producer had picked for her that day. Now she was walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Jedi. And not just any Jedi. A member of the High Council, no less.

Rhil liked Stellan. He was a bit stiff, sure … a bit earnest and, on days when she wasn’t feeling generous, a little too keen on the sound of his own voice, but she could tell that his heart was definitely in the right place. Of course, it didn’t hurt that he was a handsome son-of-a-blaster. Oh no, not at all. That chiseled jaw beneath the dashing beard, those blue eyes. And the smile. That smile! That was the real killer, right there. No wonder the Council had decided to make him their poster boy.

Nib Assek couldn’t have been any more different. Whereas Stellan was all easy charm and manners, the silver-haired Jedi Knight kept herself at a distance. Stellan explained everything, but try as she might, Rhil couldn’t get Assek to open up. Not that she didn’t like the older woman. When she did speak, Assek had a wicked sense of humor, which was largely aimed at Stellan. Rhil got the impression that the two Jedi hadn’t known each other long but had already formed a natural working relationship. Even the lightsaber duel had been interesting. Rhil couldn’t shake the feeling that Nib had been holding back, not exactly making mistakes on purpose but deferring to the Council member. It was probably just for the cam, but it was certainly interesting.