Good luck with that, Elzar thought as Stellan turned his attention back to him.

“I will see you soon, Elzar.”

Elzar couldn’t help but smile at the thought. It had been too long since the three of them were together, probably not since the dedication ceremony on Starlight. Not since … Elzar’s mood darkened as he remembered the vision that had swept over him after Avar had dropped her bombshell about staying aboard the Beacon.

“Elzar?”

His smile became forced, but Elzar pushed on through. Besides, his first reaction had been the most honest. He was looking forward to them all being here. Mann, Kriss, and Gios. The three firebrands. That’s what Quarry had called them before they were Knighted. His old Master hadn’t been far from the truth.

“I’m looking forward to it, Stellan. Valo out.”

He killed the transmission and the buzz of the holotransmission disappeared, along with Stellan’s face.

Samera blew out. “I’ve met a lot of Jedi, but boy, is he intense.”

Elzar dismissed the projector droid. “He just likes things done in a certain way. I know Stellan can appear …”

“Haughty?” Samera suggested.

“Standoffish,” he suggested. “But he really isn’t, when you get to know him. He just wants everything to be perfect. Everything is black or white for Stellan.”

Samera raised an impish eyebrow. “I thought that was the case for Jedi the universe over?”

He chuckled. “You know what I mean.”

“Maybe I do.” Their eyes locked just a moment longer than was probably decent, before she broke the gaze and looked across at a map of the fair on the wall opposite them.

“Still,” Samera continued, “you can see why he’s all over the holonet. Whatever his faults, he’s definitely easy on the eye.”

She looked back down at her ’pad, trying to hide her smirk.

Elzar placed his hands on his hips, feeling the leather of his belt beneath his fingers. “Should I be jealous?”

She turned away, not looking up from the notes she was scrolling through. “Of course not. Doesn’t envy lead to the dark side?”

She was teasing him, and he couldn’t help but like it. “Among other things. What was the situation?”

“Hmm?”

“When you came in. You said there was a situation.”

“Oh. More of the same, I’m afraid. Ambassador Tiss is—”

“Getting his head-tails in a twist?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. He’s asked for a three-fold security sweep of the regasa’s suite—manual, droid, and Jedi.”

“Jedi?”

“The presence of the Order is the only reason they’ve agreed to let Queen Yovet visit the fair.” Again, she flashed him a lopsided grin. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

Elzar put on his best Stellan voice: “That, my dear coordinator, is not the Jedi way.”