Senator Rade Brallar had to ask himself how he kept ending up in these situations. He knew the answer of course – sheer, dumb happenstance, the same as it was for most Aibians who found themselves in mortal peril here on Coruscant. But, looking up at two familiar figures, Rade knew a solid helping of poor judgement on his part definitely didn’t help.

He stood on the floor of the clone barracks, waving his arms about and screaming his little heart out, but… the idle chatter from the boisterous off-duty soldiers didn’t merely drown out his prayers to be noticed, it overwhelmed the soundscape around him to the point he couldn’t hear his own voice.

*THOOM*

The impact of the boot beside him was the first noise he could actually connect to a tangible event beside him, as CT-Saga – the clone who had saved the tiny senator’s life – very nearly claimed that debt. Rade found himself tumbling back, battered and bruised but too hardened, too stubborn to give up.

Overhead, the booming voices of clone troopers continued quaking the entire world as Rade took a running start. Eyes wide open, he leapt forward with a fierce growl, just barely managing to grip the upper edge of the boot’s sole and pull himself up. Years of military training and Saga’s mercifully still foot afforded the little Aibian a chance to climb up on top. Pulling himself forward, one groan at a time, he risked a look over his shoulder at the three-story drop behind him, before directing his gaze back up with a nervous gulp.

“Saga… please.”

---

“A skull, Dirge? Really?”

“Well, duh, they should know it’s a hazard.”

“I’m not sure that’s the best way to win our Aibian guests over.”

“I just thought I’d do something fun, since I’m getting a new paintjob and all…”

“Well…” Saga snorted and shook his head. “It’s very you, Dirge.” With a sigh, his gaze settled on his own boot, as he idly raised it up. Perhaps he could get something a little more ‘him’ as well? He blinked, eyes focusing on a small moving dot clinging to the top of his foot. “Huh?”

---

“Huh?”

Rade froze, as the titan’s gaze focused on him, quickly shifting from mild interest to a frown. As without pause, a hand soared down towards him, a fingertip outstretched and coming straight for-

“Of, fuck… Wait!” He pleaded, squeezing his eyes shut and bracing himself for the end but…

…

“Huh?” His eye opened to sight of Saga’s gloved fingertip, patiently waiting some two-three meters ahead. He looked up – that distant blurred face still squinting at him but… the finger hadn’t moved to annihilate him yet so… With a gulp Rade, picked himself up and with another running start, leapt through the air, landing flat atop the clone’s finger.

Immediately he found himself smooshed into its rough, leathery surface, as they soared back up to the heavens. Air rushed around him, the world of blurred silhouettes began to fade to black as blood ebbed away from his head. Yet just as he was on the verge of passing out, the mighty finger stopped in its tracks.

Panting, Rade stood up, gazing ahead and seeing… himself – or rather, his reflection in the inky black pool of CT-Saga’s ginormous pupil,

“Oh… hah…” Rade exhaled in relief, both hands waving, knowing perfectly well the clone wouldn’t hear him without his radio. “Hey there, Saga.”

“Fancy seeing you down here, Senator~”

“Ughhhh…” A frustrated groan came from the side, as Dirge frowned under his helmet. “And you seriously expect me to believe he’s not doing this on purpose?”

Rade shuddered, gulping as he caught the other clone’s obscured, yet unmistakably judgmental gaze.

“Honestly, if he is, I’d kind of admire the audacity.” Saga smirked side-eyeing his friend. “Wouldn’t you?”

“No.”

“Well nevermind him then, Senator~” Saga smiled, standing up and cupping a protective hand around the tiny speck – like shielding a candle from the wind. “Let’s get you somewhere a bit quieter, yeah?”

===

This was a birthday gift rendered by the amazing  Sons00 as a birthday gift for  JordilianVector and it’s nine panels of gorgeousness – please check out his profile and his own submission of it here!

Huge thank you to Sonny as well for giving us our first depiction of Senator Rade Brallar’s appearance in visual form, he looks fantastic here! Also shout-out as usual to  JordilianVector for writing out this wonderful short description featuring Saga and Dirge – I am very fond of each of those dorks and their dynamic…