"Senator, while we are quite thankful for the offer, the troopers can receive medical treatment on the cruiser, it does have state of the art medical facilities." Obi-wan explained.
The young woman, a teenager really, shook her head, gold flashing against blue skin. "Master Jedi, I am afraid I must insist. It was you who reminded me that this incident was an internal Pantoran matter. Many of your troopers died for a cause beyond their duty and these men were injured while acting on behalf of Pantora. I find Pantora owes them and debt and Pantora will provide the care for them."
Anakin leaned against the door of the Gunship as they headed back towards the Republic Cruiser in the upper atmosphere. Obi-wan, stroking his beard, looked over at the other Jedi who shrugged. Master Obi-wan Kenobi, on the Council Members of the Jedi Order and one of the most respected General's in the Clone Wars, bowed his head.
Finally, he spoke, "Very well. We will delay our departure until they have been released from your care, Senator."
"Thank you, Master Jedi, but that is not necessary, we can bring them back to Coruscant when they are healed."
Obi-wan shrugged, "Senator, we are under no current orders, it is no problem for us to stay. We may be ordered to our next mission before they are released and we can discuss the issue at that time. No use borrowing trouble."
"I understand, Master Jedi. Believe me, compared to the cost these men have already paid in blood for the actions of the Chairman, Pantora will do what is right."
Obi-wan sighed, shaking his head slightly, "The men will appreciate your care."
As the Gunship touched down on the deck of the Cruiser, Anakin spoke up for the first time leaning forward to stand up and away from the door. "I will let the bridge know."
As the doors opened, Riyo Chuchi, the Senator from Pantora followed behind the gurneys as the injured troopers, the last of the squad sent to Orto Plutonia, were carried to their temporary lodgings in the Cruiser's medical bay. As soon as she was out of earshot, Anakin muttered to his former Master to try and keep it from the troopers milling about on deck.
"Why fight her on this? Very few Senators are willing to give the time of day to the troops, much less try to pay them back. It seems like the sort of thing that should be expected, not a special honor."
Obi-wan tucked his hands into the opposite sleeve and started leading his friend, his brother, towards the turbolift for the bridge. "I was trying to do my duty as politely as I could. You know as well as I that our job at the moment is to fight the war as efficiently as possible. That includes tending the wounded on the move to the next fight. I know the Senator is correct, her actions are astounding. However, our duty is to the Republic and that means being as mobile as possible."
"Do you think the Council will let us stay here until they are fully healed?" Anakin asked, remembering the trooper with a broken spear forced through the armor and into the man's stomach.
"I don't know. We will report in when we reach the bridge. We may have immediate orders. War, like many things, waits for no one."
As the two finally reached the turbolift, the door closing behind them, Anakin smirked. "She really grew up in these past few days. Unable to do anything to putting a Jedi Master in his place."
"Yes, and I eagerly await the day when she takes what she has learned here and her efforts are felt through the entire Senate. We need more leaders with her outlook and compassion."
/\/\/\/\/\
"Remain you may," Master Yoda said, the GrandMaster of the Order tapping a clawed finger on his chair. "For rest, your men were scheduled. A week you have, a mission you will be given at that time."
Obi-wan spoke, "Understood. We will give the men the notice when we officially reach Plutonia. We will be in touch as necessary."
Before the hologram could shut down, Anakin broke in. "A request, Master."
"Another, hmmm?"
"Ahsoka remained at the Temple to catch up on the last of her bookwork and other assignments. Would you please notify her that I am delayed? I don't want her to be worried."
"A reasonable request, help you I will. Wise of you to consider her thoughts." Yoda agreed, a toothy smile crossing his wizened face.
"Thank you, Master." Anakin said, with a short bow.
With that, the hologram flickered and ended. Anakin sighed, straightening up. "Master, why did you and Master Yoda decide I needed a Padawan? Especially one that needs to pass her last classes before being approved for field work?"
Obi-wan almost rolled his eyes, Anakin had asked this question several times already. Teaching, it seemed, was not his brother's strong suit.
"Anakin, I told you already. Every Jedi is different. We learn things at different times and in different ways. From each trial we face, we learn and grow. Remember, when I first became your Master, I had been a Jedi Knight for less than a day. I was young and hotheaded."
"I don't remember that." Anakin muttered.
The bearded Jedi snorted, "I had a lot to learn to be your Master, you teach me every day. Sometimes I can't believe I almost never became a Padawan."
"What?" Anakin asked, clipping the word short.
"I never told you that story?"
"I would remember that."
"Well, remind me later, we have people to tell they get a week off. I am sure you will enjoy the story. Anyway, to get back on topic, in becoming your Master, I had many lessons I needed to relearn to be able to teach appropriately. It helped me focus and become a better Jedi. My thought was that through Ahsoka, you might follow a similar path. One all your own."
Anakin nodded slowly, "Almost not a Padawan, sounds a bit like me."
"There are similarities, but Anakin, you need to understand what the Force wants for you so you can see your path to whatever end."
Anakin sighed, "But why not ask if I would take a Padawan? Why not explain the reasoning?"
Obi-wan put a hand on Anakin's shoulder, "Anakin, we have been side by side for so many years. I like to think I understand you to some degree. Would you really accept a Padawan before you saw them out in the field? Christophsis was as good off a time as any."
"Fine, but I am holding you to telling me that story sometime."
/\/\/\/\/\
Riyo Chuchi knew she was young. She knew she was at best a pawn in the Senate. On her best days, so far, she was a vote for the movers and shakers such as Padme Amidala, Bail Organa, and Mon Mothma. Some Senators thought they would take the place of those luminaries some day. Riyo knew deep in the darkest recesses of her mind that she would never reach those heights. So she had never tried.
When Master Kenobi forced her to act on behalf of her people, she had been surprised. When she had called the Pantoran Assembly to explain the situation and to argue for her preferred outcome, the Assembly had listened. There were some changes, the Assembly decided to strip Chi Cho of his rank. But on the whole, the plan to withdraw and respect the sovereignty of Talz had been hers.
The Pantoran Assembly had weighed her against the Chairman. They found her mind and service of greater worth.
That was something she didn't know what to do with.
It made her think that perhaps she was wrong, that perhaps her name might be considered on par with the best of the Senators.
She could not just be a single girl, stuck on the frozen tundra, terrified that her doom was endlessly only steps away.
She was a Senator. The representative of her people. They had chosen her to be their voice. If she lost her voice, so did they. It was time for her to act like a Senator.
She watched the three injured Clone Troopers, including the one known as Captain Rex, being brought into the best medical facility on Pantora. A moment later, she waived over the lead doctor.
"Doctor."
"Senator, the initial prognosis on all three is good. They were mostly just scratched up. Even the one with the spear in his stomach, it wasn't that deep a wound apparently. A bit of bacta and they should be back on their feet, ready for release."
"I understand. However, they have sacrificed so much in the name of Pantora. I have a request. Give them a complete physical, one that double checks everything. Make sure there is nothing outside the realm of standard or normal for a human male. As much as possible given they are growth accelerated to my understanding. If there is something odd or out of place, notify me immediately."
"That could take several days, Senator. Especially if we do it for all three of them."
Riyo nodded, doing her best to ignore the sterile, cold hallway around them. "Then it takes several days. When those men walk out of this building, I want to know we did everything we could to make sure they were in the best shape possible before heading back into the war."
The Doctor nodded, recognizing the dismissal in her voice. He called for his assistants.
Riyo turned her head slightly, watching as the three men were set up in an observation unit. She looked through the window and took in the room. It was standard medical fair. Sterile, stark. Each of the Clones had their armor removed and she could see the differences in them, in the way they marked themselves.
It was amazing. Genetic templates perfectly replicated time and again, hundreds of millions of times. Yet each Clone was an individual. Individuals had died for Pantora, individuals had bled for Pantora and they were not Pantoran. She smiled softly, laying her hand on the transparasteel.
She left them to the hard process of healing.
Walking through the maze of halls, until she reached the office of the Chief of Medicine. With a smile at the secretary, the Senator entered the office and took a seat. The office was quite different from the rest of the hospital, a plush rug covering the floors and warm decorations making the office feel somewhat welcoming.
The two exchanged pleasantries for a moment. The Chief was an old friend of a friend, so there was something to talk about.
"If I remember correctly, you have one of the best research departments in the Galaxy. Is that right?" Riyo asked.
"Yes, we are consistently ranked in the top one percent of all research institutes. Why do you ask?" The Chief replied.
"The Clones, if I understand correctly, have been given a growth factor, making them age artificially quickly."
"Yes, it is has been postulated in many a lunch break conversation that they will have a full lifespan of about thirty years, from conception to death."
Riyo leaned forward slightly, "Is it possible to stop the acceleration? Allow them to age at a normal, for humans, pace?"
The Chief shrugged hands spreading wide. "The work is entirely theoretical. Perhaps, perhaps not. There really would be no way to tell unless we used were given nearly constant availability of the Clones for testing. There is no guarantee of success, much less progress."
"I understand, I will pay for the study, of course. If you get their approvals, get started. I will see what I can do about getting you longer access than just their recovery." Riyo agreed.
"It will be expensive."
Riyo stood up, knowing the conversation was over. "I can afford it. No, I am not Force Sensitive, but my next set of discussions are unlikely to go as smoothly. I need to request some troops tor remain here longer than expected for cuts and bruises."
/\/\/\/\/\
Riyo stood in front of the hospital, watching as the Jedi walked towards her. She smiled and gave slight bows to both, her gesture returned by the two older men. Before either could speak, she gestured for them to follow her.
"The doctors are making progress in patching them up. However, they want to keep the a couple extra days because of the climate of Orto Plutonia. There is a concern that there might be damage from hypothermia or other complications from the snow and ice. If you would like, our doctors can take a look at both of you as well."
Obi-wan took the lead, as was his want, "It is very kind of you to offer. We are trained to deal with temperature extremes for moderate durations, our time there was not an issue."
"Could we look in on our men?" Anakin asked.
Riyo shrugged, "I am leading you to their ward. There are windows to see in, it will be up to the doctors to determine visitation rights. I am remaining on premise to ensure they are given the best treatment possible, even if I do not fully understand what options they should take."
"Thank you," Anakin said. "I appreciate your honesty."
A moment later, the group was at the ward and Riyo excused herself.
Obi-wan raised a hand to his beard, staring into the middle distance over the Senator's head.
Before he could say anything, Anakin, looking through the window muttered. "They are definitely being treated well. I have been in enough medbays to know that. However, the Senator is hiding something."
"I sense it too. Yet, I sense she is hiding it because it might upset you and I, not because it would harm the troopers. Her sense of indebtedness to the Clones is much stronger than many would have. I feel we should commend her for her actions, not condemn her for them."
Anakin nodded, eyes finally breaking off from his men. "I don't like when people are playing with the lives of my men."
"Not even when it might be in their best interest?" Obi- wan asked, "It is entirely possible that her secret is related to the treatment itself."
Anakin snorted before rolling his neck, "We will find out soon enough. For now, I will get a couple of troopers to stand guard."
/\/\/\/\/\
Late that night, Riyo found she could not sleep. She tossed and turned on the sofa in the lounge near where the troopers were being treated. Finally, instead of fighting for sleep, she rubbed her eyes and ignoring her hair fluttering free of any headdress or ornamentation sat up. With a small grunt, she pushed herself vertical and started walking down the hall.
As she came upon the room, she saw another Clone who was slouching against the wall. He was in full armor and as she neared, he pulled himself up and readied his weapon slightly.
Before he could speak, the Senator smiled, "Do not mind me, Trooper, it is late."
"No ma'am, I have a job to do. Could I see some id?"
She paused in her approach before smiling softly, "Sorry, I left my id at the office earlier. We met on the cruiser though right? What was your name again?"
"Coric, Ma'am, you are the Senator?"
She nodded and moved to stand next to the man, looking in over the three injured troopers. "A good name, and you are standing guard over your brothers?"
"Yes, ma'am, orders of the General's."
Riyo gave a small hum, noticing the three troopers were sleeping heavily, the only movement in the room were a few muscle twitches here and there.
"Coric, you can call me Riyo."
He didn't respond and so she continued, "Are you happy being a soldier in the Grand Army of the Republic?"
Coric shrugged, "It was what I was born for."
She blinked but didn't follow up, it wasn't the right time. At least not yet. Instead, she took a step forward, one of the sleeping troopers had started to move more. He was thrashing slightly, saying something.
"A nightmare, I wonder what he is saying."
"Good soldiers follow orders."
Riyo froze, a chill running up her spine. She turned to Coric. "Have you had nightmares?"
"No more or less than any of my brothers."
She pointed at the twitching trooper who seemed to be settling back out, "You recognized his nightmare though."
Coric nodded, he paused before continuing. "We are bred to follow orders, but we have significant freedom. There are some orders we know exist, but cannot repeat and good soldiers follow orders. No matter what that order is."
His shoulders seemed to twitch as he moved into parade rest. She put a hand on his chest. "Why don't you sit down? Be at ease, there are no more orders tonight."
He let her push him back into a siting position. She turned and started off with purpose in her steps.
"Where are you going Senator?" Coric asked.
She paused, "They should be under heavy sedation for optimum recovery, nobody should have nightmares much less dreams under these conditions. I want to talk with their doctors."
The Clone nodded as she disappeared into the medbay.
Soon, Riyo was shaking the doctor awake, his assistant wringing her hands behind Riyo's back.
"Senator?" The Doctor asked, blinking awake slowly.
"Doctor, your patients, I have a question about them."
He swung his legs around and sat up, "What about them?"
"I was just speaking with the guard and an injured clone started having a nightmare."
"That is impossible, we used our strongest sedatives." The doctor objected.
Riyo continued as if he hadn't spoken. "The trooper was muttering and I asked what the clone was saying. I did not expect a response, yet the Guard knew the answer immediately. He mentioned the possibility of orders that could not be disobeyed."
The assistant spoke up, "We scanned them for any computer implants, there is nothing non-organic in their bodies."
"There are studies suggesting the existence of organic behavioral control chips." The doctor muttered. "We would have to test for that in particular and the calibrations could be a challenge."
Riyo crossed her arms. "Make it a priority please. I can understand nightmares as the cost of war, understand but not accept. If this is something more sinister, I want it dealt with."
The doctor nodded and stood up, "We will do our best."
/\/\/\/\/\