(Retribution)

The Venator-class Star Destroyer (Jedi cruiser) floated in space above the planet Fondor. The only ship in space at the moment was lazily drifting around, waiting for when it needed to be called somewhere for aid.

Taran was staring at the planet from the viewport on the hangar, lazily perched on top of his starfighter. Obi-Wan and him had been sent to other planets to help speed up the Republic's efforts in winning the war, without Anakin and Ahsoka being with them all the time. It had been one month since he had last seen his girlfriend, and it was making him very lonely not to be around her. Worse off, not being around Rex and Anakin was also driving him crazy. He was yearning to hear Anakin showboating or one of Rex's cracks about him. Even worse, he was missing spending time with his beautiful Togruta love and her sarcastic humor. It really sucked the will out of him. Not even R3 was able to cheer him up as much. At least Boil and Waxer brought a few smiles to his face, but they weren't the same as Rex, and let's face it, Cody's not really the funny kind most times.

Obi-Wan saw him at the other end of the hangar. He had seen Taran like this for about a week. He knew he missed Anakin and Rex, and also Ahsoka. Over time, he had accepted their relationship, and he also saw that they this was no random puppy love, this was the real deal.

As he watched Taran stare into space, Obi-Wan got a call back to the bridge. He headed up there to meet the ships captain Hicks. Hicks was a clone admiral with the standard clone trooper military cut, and he was probably one of the best commanders in the war. Whenever Obi-Wan wasn't with Anakin on the Resolutewith Admiral Yularen, he was right there with Hicks.

"Sir, we have news from General Skywalker," said Hicks.

"Patch him in," said Obi-Wan. The holoprojector opened up showing his best friend and ex-apprentice.

"Hey Obi-Wan, me and Ahsoka are back from searching for those bounty hunters," said Anakin.

"Really? So soon?" said Obi-Wan.

"Yes. We, or should I say Ahsoka and Master Koon, caught them. Where are you now?" said Anakin.

"Orbiting over Fondor. The scrape at Sullust made us pull in for repairs," said Obi-Wan.

"Okay then. We'll be there soon. Also, how's Taran?" said Anakin.

"He's fine, but he's kind of lonely without You-Know-Who," said Obi-Wan.

"I got it. She's feeling the same way too. Well we'll be there in an hour or two depending on how fast we can get the fleet assembled," said Anakin.

"What do you have in plan?" said Obi-Wan.

"I'm thinking of trying to find that bounty hunter Aurra Sing. I don't think she's dead, but we should check just in case," said Anakin.

"You seem a bit enthusiastic about this," said Obi-Wan.

"I usually am. Skywalker out," said Anakin. The holoprojector faded away. Obi-Wan headed back down to the hangar to see how Taran was doing. He was probably bored to death, as with the rest of the crew. When he got there, he went quietly so as not to alarm him.

"Master, I know you're there," said Taran. Obi-Wan sighed. His padawan was showing great promise in the Force, perhaps even faster than Anakin did.

"Taran, you okay?" said Obi-Wan.

"Yes Master. Just bored," said Taran. Obi-Wan sat down next to him on the fighter.

"You miss her?" said Obi-Wan.

"A lot," said Taran.

"It's weird. I first thought that being with a woman complicated things when you're a Jedi, but now I know that sometimes they can help depending on the way it's handled. You past that test by not killing Bane even when you had the best chance to," said Obi-Wan.

"Speaking of which, how's he doing in jail?" said Taran.

"He's under constant watch even when he's asleep," said Obi-Wan.

"That's what I like to hear," said Taran.

"Anyway, Anakin's rendezvouing with us in a few hours. We're going on another mission if we get the aprroval of the Council," said Obi-Wan.

"Which means that his padawan will be with him as well," said Obi-Wan. Taran's eyes lit up immediately and he smiled. Obi-Wan ruffled his hair and headed back up to the bridge.

"Teenagers,"he thought happily as he saw Taran talk to R3 and he and droid went back to modding the fighter.

(Two hours later)

The Resolute pulled up right next to the Retributionand boarded, sharing troops, personnel, equipment, and most importantly two Jedi, one a Master, the other a Padwan learner, and a clone commander. They were heading up to the Resolute's bridge, where they were needed for now.

"Good to see you again kid," said Rex.

"Really great to see you Rex. I thought I'd go insane without hearing your voice again," said Taran.

"Cody, still not trying to be the humorist?" said Rex.

"I tried, but I was bred to be the more serious clone officer," said Cody.

"Master, we're staying on this ship?" said Taran.

"Yes. Did you forget something?" said Obi-Wan.

"My fighter. Do you want R3 to get yours?" said Taran.

"Sure, that would be nice," said Obi-Wan. Taran walked back towards the Retributionand into the hangar to get his and Obi-Wans' starfighters.

"R3, hook up with Obi-Wan's starfighter and lead it into the Resolute'shangar," said Obi-Wan. R3 whistled back in reply. The droid got out of the socket on Taran's fighter and used the rocket boosters Taran installed on him to get into Obi-Wan's astromech droid socket. Obi-Wan's fighter rose up off the ground and headed towards the Resolute'shangar. Taran flew his right behind him.

They landed in the hangar at nearly the exact moment. Taran got out of the cockpit and R3 jettisoned himself out of the droid socket. A blue astromech droid bumped into Taran and whistled happily to him.

"Hey R2. Can you do me a favor and play with R3 a little?" said Taran. R2 chirped happily and went over to R3, where the two engaged in a binary conversation. Taran headed towards the bridge, where the others were probably waiting for him. He passed clones he had fought with ever since he was assigned to Obi-Wan, and they all served around him. However, he was looking for one person in particular.

He came down a hall that was directly under the bridge when he felt a presence he wanted to feel for quite awhile. Acting like there was nothing behind a corner, he casually walked towards it, letting his senses home on to his thoughts.

"3...2...1...," he thought. At the last second, a red-orange figure moved to pin him to the wall, but he had already anticipated the move and took a hold of her hands, pinning her to the wall and pinning her hands above her head.

"You think after one month I'd get lazy?" he said to her. She smiled at him.

"It was a thought, not a fact," she said. He let go of her hands and brought them down to her waist, his head leaning forward to kiss her. She returned it with as much passion as he was giving, her now released hands wrapping around his neck to bring him in closer to her. They could have stayed like this for an eternity. They let go, gazing into each others' eyes for what seemed like ages.

"I missed you," he said to her.

"I missed you more," she said.

"Any luck finding those bounty hunters?" said Taran.

"Yes. We got Boba Fett and another bounty hunter named Bossk, and we were able to save Admiral Kilian, but Aurra Sing is probably dead thanks to me, and Anakin and I almost got killed," said Ahsoka.

"Nice to know you're making friends," said Taran. She rolled her eyes, smiling. His sarcastic humor seemed to outclass even hers at times.

"But I'm glad to see you're alright," he continued. His green eyes looked at her with such intensity she found herself blushing. She looked back up and their lips met again, this time more passionately. This was the one best thing that she missed about him the most.

They ended the kiss and walked toward the bridge, happier now than they were before.