the Cause. the Creed. the Code.

2 Circumspect

Hera found Kallus, and his new protege, Sabine's old friend Ketsu Onyo, sorting through datafiles in his office in the Fulcrum's staging wing aboard the Independence. Blue holocreens were projected and scattered about the room, turning the space into something like a maze only the two Rebel intelligence agents could understand. Hera called for Captain Kallus but the two agents were discussing something in quiet but harsh tones; too engrossed in their discussion over datapads Hera let herself in. Caern Adan, and Cal Kestis' faces in cold white and blue shone among other profiles of various doctors and therapists from different rebel branches. Hera cleared her throat to announce her presence.

"Oh, General, hello there," the young bounty hunter met her eyes and gave a quick salute in greeting. Kallus, likewise, greeted the general with a nod and a salute. Hera returned the salute, gave the two agents a gesture to continue their work and glanced around the room.

Kestis was given three months probation, and he wouldn't be allowed the same privileges of movement as other intelligence agents. In the meantime, Kallus was stuck trying to find a suitable therapist for the somewhat rogue agent. Hera's eyes hovered over some of the names and portraits of the doctors Kallus and Onyo were proposing. No one in particular stood out to Hera.

"Surely there are some rehabilitation droids we could use," Onyo suggested, turning back to their work. Some rehab droids were used at POW camps, or worked with Imperial defectors during training.

"Kestis doesn't seem very perceptive to droids this way," Kallus shrugged, "and I'd want him to let me know any more droid-related triggers he has before I suggest another droid therapist."

"Isn't there a whole medical wing of doctors a few decks below us? The ones who work with the Pathfinders, with Flight Command. Can't one of them do it? They're familiar with dealing with stress from combat," Onyo asked.

"Kestis had already done a few sessions with some of them," Kallus admitted, "he said he didn't feel comfortable."

Hera rolled her eyes as she strolled up to Kallus' desk and decided to try and make it easier for both of them.

"Why not pair him up with Tech?" She passed Kallus the datapad with the genius clone's profile highlighted.

A spark lit up in Onyo's eyes when the datapad changed hands and Kallus' eyes started scanning the words, "Cal gets along with Clone Force 99," she said confidently.

"We're supposed to find someone to help treat Agent Kestis' PTSD," Kallus argued, studying the profile and picking out important words and phrases in the text, "Tech, surprisingly, is not qualified for that task," he passed the datapad back to Hera.

"He has medical training," Hera countered.

"In physiology, not psychology," Kallus clarified.

"Huh?" Onyo sighed at Kallus.

"He knows combat medicine but not how to deal with mental health issues," Kallus explained.

"Then AZI, Clone Force 99's medical droid," Hera suggested again.

"Again, physical health versus mental health, that's the specific problem that we have to address here," Kallus rolled his eyes, "you're the one who fought hardest for this, are you even taking this seriously?"

"If there were another physical altercation, Clone Force 99 would be able to pacify Kestis," Hera contemplated.

Onyo chewed on her lip, hiding sceptical eyes behind a holoscreen.

Kallus' expression was hard and flat. "Agent Kestis wants to get better, I doubt he'd want it to come to that, either."

"Why did it happen at all?"