Darkness. It swelled around CT-7567, his eyes felt heavy but sleep eluded him. Where is Quark Squad? He wondered to himself. They had failed the last test and they have yet to come back from wherever Nala Se had taken them. There were stories of course—in a clone army they're a given—about what had happened to them. Some suggest that they were sent to another planet, others said they were going to be used as spare parts for other clones…and most say that they were…decommissioned. Deemed unfit for battle and…
Well, he didn't actually know—no one had ever told them. All anyone here knows: is that when a clone is decommissioned they disappear and never come back. And their empty bunks are filled with members from the next batch. That hasn't happened yet. He knew their bunks were still empty, showcasing their absence. Whenever CT-7567 thinks about it, he gets a tight feeling of apprehension in his stomach and his eyes burn with fear. "It's best to put this whole ordeal behind you." the Kaminoans said. Easier said than done. How can he just forget this, and how could his brothers sleep tonight?
You're never going to get any sleep until you know the truth. He told himself. So young cadet of three (biologically six), CT-7567 snuck out of the barracks to find the one man who should have the truth, whatever the truth might be.
The hallways were dark; everyone was already asleep at this point, which made him hesitate in his walk. Maybe Master Chief was asleep too, maybe he would be angry to be woken up, and maybe CT-7567 would be deemed defective and would disappear too. Looking up, he realized that in his musings he had ended up in front of his door. Before he had a chance to debate whether or not he should knock, the door slid open revealing Master Chief in his armor.
Jango Fett. The clone template, the original: standing in shining blue and silver armor with his helmet in his hands, revealing his scar on the left side. He looks down and stops in his tracks when he sees the cadet. There wasn't any anger in his gaze, just surprise: he obviously didn't expect to see a clone tonight. CT-7567's heart threatened to pound it's way out of his chest. Jango's gaze softened when he recovered from his initial shock.
"You're up awfully late cadet." His voice was low and gruff and yet…soft. Somehow this gave 7567 the strength to speak—hoping his voice didn't sound shaky.
"Yes sir. But is it true what they're saying…about Quark Squad?"
A look of sorrow passed over Jango's face as he nodded, "Yes lad…it's true."
The word decommissioned echoed in his mind and 7567 felt his eyes burn. He looked down so he wouldn't see Jango's face,
"But what's going to happen?" He forced himself to look Fett in the eye, "What about my brothers? What will become of them?" He finished softly, as fear grasped his throat.
Jango closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them again, CT-7567 saw a deep sorrow within the eyes that were so much like his own. Jango sighed and spoke softly, "Let me take you back son." He held his helmet under one arm and put his free hand on the cadet's shoulder. The grip wasn't harsh as he had expected, it was strong yet light. It almost felt…affectionate. It was the same gesture he's seen Jango use on Boba. To be gifted with the same gesture sent a feeling of warmth through 7567. When he walked to the door of the barracks he turned around to see Jango offer him a small sad smile. CT-7567 didn't know how to respond so he nodded back before the door softly closed.
