Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars The Clone Wars. I write this piece of fiction for entertainment
purpose only. I do not make any money with it.
In a small apartment on triple zero Chris and Elizabeth huddled together on Chris' plushy sofa, cradling hot tea in their hands.
Although it had been a hot day on Coruscant they were both rather chilly.
On the holo screen the life-broadcast showed a picture of a bright, lush landscape with running tracks, a shooting range and a warm voice told of physical exercise, medical care and psychic counseling. The scene changed to show the physical rehab.
The tanned men were coached by smiling medical personnel. On first glance they all looked identical, but Chris and Elisabeth had spent so much time with them, that they easily saw the tiny differences that made each of them individuals. They looked resistant, but concentrated, and were working constantly to regain their strength and return to their brothers.
"As senator Amidala, the courageous woman, who initiated the GAR help-fundation, has told us these men are grateful and delighted to belong to the first group of clones, who have been admitted to this rehabilitation center for extensive medical care."
The scene cut to a large hall, where the senators Amidala and Organa were holding the opening speech for the facility.
Padme stepped onto the podium. Her clear voice rang out and carried far through the hall. "As the representative of Naboo I thank the queen for her kind help. If not for her support the building of this facility would have taken much longer. I also thank the men and women who contributed immensely to the fund raising. They, although they prefer anonymity, have shown immense dedication to our goal of repaying the clone troopers for their dedication and courage. Before Senator Organa introduces the medical personnel, we would like to ask for a moment of silence for our fallen men. "
Elizabeth sighed and set down her tea. While the Senators lowered their heads in a moment of remembrance she pulled a soft, fuzzy blanket out under the couch and draped it over her and her friend's legs. "Remember Fives when he saw this one for the first time?"
Chris smiled sadly, tears hanging in her eye lashes. "I do Liz, I do." She murmured. "He said he had never felt something so soft. All of the guys loved it."
Amidala straightened her pose and gave the audience a gracious nod.
"Let us now watch the documentation about the price our men paid and will continue to pay for our war. Remember their efforts and dedication well."
The first video that was broadcasted showed happy young men.
It presented them during menial work, polishing armor, cleaning their weapons, smiling, joking, laughing.
The second holo message from the GAR barracks concentrated on the same clones again, names, not ID numbers, were shown in lower left corner, as if to be a reminder that the soldiers were more than the general population had believed them to be so far.
All videos had originally been broadcasted directly before the evening news, initiated by the senators Padme Amidala, Bail Organa and several others in an attempt to show to the citizens the life of their troops.
Every holo was followed by a call for donations for the rehabilitation for men who had been disabled by the war and for the expansion of the soldiers' rights.
In the fifth week of broadcast, the unit, which the video makers had been accompanying, had hard contact for the first time during filming.
The special was shorter than usual and showed troops marching off, clean, orderly, a beautiful reminder of the efficiency the republic prided itself on.
A hard cut, battle sounds filled every screen on Coruscant. Vids taken from the visors of the clones, men screaming, men dying.
A scene change and a female voice announced the "victorious return" of the troops.
There was no upbeat music like it sounded during the first holos. Only the sounds, that appeared muted, hollow after the deafening screams of the battlefield.
The person holding the camera turned around, slowly walking towards the med bay, where the camera held still, just capturing the way medics bent over their comrades, triaging their brothers, deciding who was to be saved and whose chances were judged to be too low.
Slowly, the voice started up again, counting who had died, who was wounded. Grief choked her voice. The hand holding the camera grew unsteady, while the scenes from the weeks before were replayed, giving many of the fallen vode* a face.
The recording faded out, only white names scrolling over the flat surface, then there were only numbers, for the brothers, for the men, which had not been alive for long enough to find a name.
It was a macabre imitation of the credits after a holo movie.
As the epilogue reached its end Senator Aang appeared, the picture was bright with vibrant colors.
He announced in a great and glorious speech, that he was sad about the losses that the GAR suffers, "but it is the price, we have to pay for victory."
The scene changed, the picture was blurry, the grayish blue of a cheap camera.
A clone sat at a blank durasteel table, lights dimmed, it was night on the GAR cruiser.
He seemed pale, gaunt, his sight fixed on the cup in his fingers.
"Yeah, this is the price we have to pay for war."
A.N.:
So, here is the prologue for the story revelations.
The one-shot One Night Out takes place during Chris' and Elisabeth's stay on Coruscant, but the two stories will, most likely, have no significant impact on each other.
One Night Out simply describes one aspect how life is in the barracks with civilians and clones.
A shout out to my beta reader, you are awesome, thanks a lot!
Next chapter will most likely come within the next few days. Read and review!
