Hardcase had heard the saying 'bored to tears' many times in his day. He never thought that saying would apply to him. He had just been assigned to the 501st Legion, and he loved every day of it. He had always hoped to get assigned there; he'd heard they got the best missions. They did get the good missions, but seeing as his armor was as shiny as water on a sunny day, he got to stay behind and stand guard over the camp where his 501st and the 212th were staying the night while most of the other guys were off battling. So far, he had kicked around a pebble, which had been long lost into the darkness, multiplied by two as high as he could, and paced. A lot. Hardcase felt the tears welling up in his eyes, and found out, firsthand, where that old saying had come from. Bored to tears. One day, when he got to participate in a few more battles, he wouldn't be the one standing guard. He found himself walking to the beat of a popular song, and started humming along with it. That entertained him, so he kept doing it, and being louder as he progressed. Soon, he was attempting to snap his fingers, and kicking the ground for emphasis.

Waxer never thought anything interesting would happen on guard duty, not in a million years. But, as he patrolled, he heard a muffled melody. Interested, he went to go check it out. As he got closer, he found that it was the tune to a popular piece often played in the cantinas, so he started humming in spite of himself. He took the higher part; that's what normally stuck out to him, and he kept walking toward the original source of the noise. He found himself humming through a smile, and as he walked over, he saw armor that was bright white, identical to his own.

"Who are you?" he asked, not knowing any better question to introduce himself with.

"The name's Hardcase. Yours?"

"Waxer. I haven't heard your name around my guys? You from the five o' first?"

Hardcase nodded, "Yeah, and I assume you're from the two-twelfth?"

"Yeah. So, what brings you to singing when you're supposed to be protecting this campsite from harm?" Waxer asked cheekily.

"Boredom." Hardcase replied simply.

"Ah, I was getting pretty bored myself."Waxer laughed.

"Yeah. Apparently, I have some sort of hyperactivity that happened because of my growth jar springing a leak, which probably didn't help out a lot."

"Seriously? Well, they probably chose you because you can stay awake."

"Yeah, maybe."

Waxer sat down, and indicated that Hardcase should join him. Both of them, in between periodically scanning the terrain around the camp, looked up at the stars. Waxer took his helmet off.

"I always liked seeing the stars on the planets better than on the ships. There are so many of them that you can see, especially on primitive planets like this." Waxer said.

"I never really thought about it before, but you're right; the stars are nice." Hardcase said, also taking off his helmet. "I could make some silly analogy about stars being like clones in that they're made up of the same stuff and also unique, but that doesn't fit my image."

"That's poetic stuff."

"Yeah, sometimes I read the short stories in the news. You?"

"Funny you mention it; I do if I have time." Waxer looked at Hardcase. "You know, I like to sing. It's pretty fun, from time to time."

"I don't love it or anything, but I think it helps amuse me."

The two clones sat there for a few minutes in silence, appreciating the sky and each other's company.

Waxer nodded. "I guess we need to get back on guard duty, Hardcase."

Hardcase stood up and put his helmet on. "I guess. I hope we get to see each other again, Waxer." Hardcase stuck his hand out. Waxer shook it.

"Take care." Waxer melted into the darkness, and both clones walked in their respective directions, after a quick look back up at the stars.