" Master do I have to do this?"
" I'm sorry Linali...I don't want to have you do this either but the elders command me to do this."
The echoing foot steps of a girl could be heard ringing throughout the vast jedi temple. A girl with long brown hair tied into two braids walked silently. She had almond chocolate brown eyes and pale skin. Her thin frail looking body was covered with a long black dress that reached to her ankles to reveal black combat boots. She reached over to two big doors and took a breath before knocking.
" Is this Linali Hong?"
" Yes I am here to see the Council."
The doors creaked open with a mighty bang and revealed the esteemed jedi council. They all stared at her with straight eyes and none moved a muscle. The only friendly looking face belonged to an orange skinned girl with dark blue eyes. Based on her lekku, she was hmmmm Togrutan? Anyway, she walked to the middle and waited for someone to speak.
A green ancient looking creature answered her wish," What brings you here? Please state your business."
This was it...if she screwed up...she would be in trouble with the elder's council. She hesitated before answering," I am Linali Hong and I am a Captain of the Ken Order from Northern Dathomir. You're warfare has traveled to our land and the Separatists have joined alliances with our enemy the Choshu. A while ago, we have struck a deal that we would help each other with this situation. The Ken order has sent me to assist you. I am here to honor that deal and I hope we can work together and make good progress."
Now a bald dark skinned man replied," Yes now I remember. We have preparations already ready for you. I also hope that we can all get along. Now please wait here and someone will get you introduced."
Linali nodded. She wasn't very trusting of the Jedi but she would do anything her Master told her to. She looked around and saw that there were few women. She had been the only woman in her council back home.
She continued looking around and saw Master Kenobi. He had been good friends with Master Jushiro and she had met him only once when she was a little girl still clinging to to her master's robes. A feeling of longing hit her and she wished she was back at her Master's estate drinking tea and talking.
" Come this way please Ms. Hong."
Her thoughts were cut short when a green skinned girl with black freckle like diamonds scattered across her nose, walked next to her. She wore a long black dress and had her hair covered with a heavy piece of fabric. There was another council member that appeared to be in the same species group as her. She had a warm smile and gentle eyes as she said," Hello, my name's Barriss Offee. I am to show you around. May I ask of your name?"
Linali hesitantly replied," I'm Linali. It's nice to meet you."
She accompanied her greeting with a low bow.
" Linali, when you meet any of the jedi, bow as low as you can. You must respect them like you resect you team members and and me. "
" But, Master Ukitake, the lowest bow is the deepest sign of respect. It seems more appropriate to use them for the elders."
" Trust me Linali. Make a good impression on them and your mission will be easier for you. It was also make me worry less of you. Do you want me to worry?"
" No Master. I understand. I shall not fail you"
" I know you won't. You never have failed me ever Lin. Make sure to come back to me alive."
She remembered the last words they had exchanged together. It had been only three days but she missed her master gravely. They started off walking out of the long corridors and out of the temple.
" You shall be staying with the Clones in the Clones Barracks. They're all men but don't worry; they don't bite."
Linali nodded as she continued walking behind her. They passed several building; each massive in height. They were all either white or a slate grey and seemed identical. There were clones with their shining white armor walking all over the place. Jedi conversed to one another and the whole place was alive with activity. The humming of engines and machines joined in to create a symphony of productivity with the sounds of speeders. The ground was insanely clean and if Lin had dropped some dumplings on the ground, she could probably pick it right up and eat it without a second thought. They continued walking without a word until they went into a large building with a sign that said ,barracks". This was probably where she would be staying. They walked into its huge doors and if she thought there were a lot of clones outside….she was definitely wrong. There were thousands of clones all over the place. All of them had the same faces though. Her master had taught her about how they genetically engineered them to have the same faces. Her eyes wandered all over the place.
Barris stopped occasionally while telling her where everything was," This is the Mess Hall, the bathrooms, rec room, laundry room, waste room…."
The list went on. They walked on for what seemed like an eternity until they reached a pair of automatic sliding doors. For the first time she turned around and said," This is where you will be sleeping. Are you ready?"
Linaly gave a single nod and Barris pushed a button causing the doors to slide open. Men sat in bunks and were doing all sorts of things from arm wrestling to playing cars. When everyone saw her, they all stopped what they were doing and stood up straight saluting her. Linali felt slightly nervous with all those eyes on her. She must have looked so different from what they were used to seeing. She...was average looking...and human. Most of the people they must have interacted with were of different species.
She said," At ease men. I have an announcement to make.", she gestured to Lin," This is Linali Hong and she will be working with us. Please treat her with respect and friendship. She will be staying in the same barracks as you so also respect that she is a female and that harassment is not acceptable. She is your equal and is neither above or below you. Understood?"
" Yes Sir!" All clones shouted in unison.
Barriss turned back to Linali and said," I shall be going now but if you have any questions or problems, please come to me. Good luck and it was nice to meet you."
She smiled one last time before leaving the room. Suddenly a wave of awkwardness washed over her. She had no idea where she was, who was surrounding her, and what she was supposed to do. She was an outsider who was never meant to be here. She longed to be in her old room surrounded by the scent of tatami wood in her Master's estate. To see her squad and her friends. Someone put a hand on her shoulder which caused her to whip her head around.
" Hey what's your name again? Sorry I forgot. The name's Tup."
Behind her was a clone with black hair pulled into a bun. He had a tattoo of a tear drop underneath his eyes. She regained her composure and replied," I-I'm Linali Hong."
He smiled and said," Ah Linali thats gotta nice ring to it. You go by anything else?"
She nodded," My friends call me Lin. You can too if you'd like."
" Alright then Lin. I think I like Linny better. You k' with that?"
She nodded flustered. Her eyes wandered around hoping that someone would rescue her from this ummmm interesting situation. Her wish came true.
" Tup you ugly bastard, stop teasing her. If ya continue you're gonna have one ugly face shaped bruise for all the ladies to see."
The voice came from a clone walking towards them. He had a tatoo on his head with the Republic logo on it.
Tup released his hand on her and said defensively," I'm just trying to make her feel welcome Jesse! I don't think you could do a better job."
Tattoo face retorted," Well actually, I think you're scaring the poor sense out of her."
The two argued on for a while until someone grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the mess.
" What's going on?" she cried out
" Let's go to the Mess."