Chapter One.

The room was silent and the tension engulfed the two occupants the moment the doors closed. The small circular office was filled with data pad collections some old and others news, small ancient artifacts from the old days of the Republic littered several tables. At the far end of the room was a single metallic desk, a large window at its back that overlooked an endless sea of buildings. Closer towards the entrance was a small collection of fine furniture that sat upon a soft crimson rug, a wooden coffee table sat between the two sets of sofas made of fine Kashyyyk wood. Sitting upon the area were two men, one a Zabrak dressed in a professional business suit and the other a clone dressed in a prisoner's orange jumpsuit. The Zabrak like many of his species had horns the size of a finger nail lining the sides of his head and a collection of traditional tattoos that covered his cheeks. The clone however at first glance looked like any other trooper, however upon closer examination besides the way he cut his hair he had an unusual look in his eye, a look of anger and pain.

"I'm sorry about the chains." The Zabrak apologized as he motioned towards the handcuffs that kept the clone's hands and feet bidden, "The most I could do was have the guards wait outside the door."

The clone shook his head as he hissed lowly, "I've been in chains my whole life."

The Zabrak nodded as he adjusted in his seat, "I'm Doctor Rahn Kolper a psychologist picked by the Republic to examine you and your fellow Clone Troopers."

"Probably the ideas of those long necks." The clone groaned as he sat back, "Finding new ways to tinker with the minds of my brothers."

"As far as I know the Kaminaoians didn't come up with this idea." Rahn explained, his dark eyes watching the clone's body movement as he examined a look of frustration on his face. Placing the data pad he used to read up on his patients he slowly crossed his legs, hoping the gesture would put the clone at ease. Clearing his throat he gestured towards the clone to drink some water he had on the table if he was thirsty.

The clone snickered as he took a sip, "Plastic cups I guess the guards are afraid I'd use glasses cups to attack you."

Rahn shook with his with a soft chuckle, "Zabrak skin is very tough."

"Zabrak are good warriors from what I heard." Slick shrugged casually, "Surprised to see one working as a psychologist."

"I've read your report." Rahn chuckled, gesturing towards the data pad as he decided with introductions out of the way it was time to get to business.

"What lies did the Jedi put in there." The clone shook his head, he was more so making a harsh comment about his former commanders than asking a questioning.

"Sergeant Slick of the 212th Attack Battalion." Rahn began to read off the clone's profile by memory, "Veteran of the Battle of Christophsis and former platoon leader."

The clone known as Slick sat back as if it hurt hearing his former rank and unit, "Platoon leader turned traitor."

"Yes, it does go into detail about that." Rahn admitted, "You sold information about Republic activity on Christophsis."

"It wasn't about credits." Slick growled, as Rahn knew the clone sold out the Republic for a chance at freedom. Leaving that part out he wanted to see how the former sergeant would react to an open statement, allowing the clone to defend himself. From the report he saw that the Republic Intelligence believed he desired to join the Separatists instead of doing it for freedom. Kaminaoains scientist stepped in claiming their clones were programmed to be loyal soldiers, that none desired freedom from the Republic they were born to serve only the Republic. This led to Republic High Command's decision to label him as a Separatists spy, as it was easier to tell the senate that instead of admitting that a clone wanted a free life from being a soldier. As a statement like that would bring up discussions about how ethical an army of bred soldiers was and place their military operations at risk during the war.

"Freedom?" Rahn baited the clone.

Slick nodded a look of pride in his eyes flickered for a second before being replaced by anger once again, "I'm a living being I deserve the right to pick how I live."

"You feel as if the Republic treat your brothers unfairly?" Rahn asked, the first step of this session was so he could determine Slick's true motives. The Jedi were unsure if the clones were capable of desiring true freedom from the Republic or if the clone turned traitor was lying to cover up his motives. Unfortunately the Jedi were restricted from using the force to tap into his mind by the Chancellor as he feared the force may mess with any vital information, thus Rahn who had been selected to evaluate all clones was given the mission of dissecting the trooper's secrets.

"They breed us to fight for a Republic we'll never see." Slick argued, his muscles tensing up as he leaned forward. Rahn eyeballed the panic button secretly placed on his armrest, but in the back of his mind he dismissed the idea. Slick's breathing that was now intense slowly calmed down as he struggled to get a hold of himself, "We're expected to die for the freedom of people who don't even see us as humans."

"You feel as the Republic treat you differently than a human born soldier?" Rahn asked, examining Slick's body movement as the clone calmed himself and took another sip of water. Slick's hand shook slightly as he placed the glass down, his days of being locked up only made him angrier and more frustrated than before.

"Before Christophsis, before I was a platoon leader I saw a few small skirmishes about three in total." Slick explained, his mind drifting back before he was promoted to sergeant back when he had just been assigned as a corporal. He smiled weakly for a second as he was reminded of the first month of the war when his brothers and him were eager to get into the fight, "My first unit and I had a run in with a droid regiment while on a garrison mission in the Outer Rim."

Rahn examined his data pad, "On the moons of Hissrich?"

"Correct." Slick nodded as he reached back into his memories.

"Go on." Rahn motioned towards the clone, as he could see a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"A task force of Jedi were on the planet surface investigating Separatists activity. At the time the 212th hadn't been formed so my squad like most of the army back then were just floating around until an official unit was formed." Slick explained, as during the early days of the war official units were still be constructed with commanders finishing training and Jedi awaiting assignments. Slick sat back his heart racing as he was reminded of that battle, "The Jedi had informed us they had scanned that specific moon and determined it was unoccupied. My company had set up base and my squad was assigned garrison duty, a base in that sector would provide us with the ability to supply nearby sectors. Once we settled on the planet my squad was given the order for the first patrol around the western region of the moon"

"The battle report says it was an oversight by the Jedi scouts." Rahn added on, reading up on the small skirmish as the clone told his story.

"Oversight." Slick laughed harshly, "There was a whole droid regiment stationed on that moon and the Jedi somehow missed it! Their mission was so important they didn't scout properly and my whole company paid the price!"

"Sir, is everything alright?" A voice hissed over the com link.

Rahn quickly responded to the Coruscant Guard trooper who stood outside the room, "Everything is alright don't worry."

"Sorry." Slick apologized, cold sweat running down his face as he hadn't realized how loud he had gotten.

"Don't worry, raw emotion is good for sessions like these." Rahn welcomed the reaction, he would never make a patient feel ashamed for their feelings even one in chains. Rahn offered the clone another glass of water, "Please continue."

Slick gulped the water down his breathing still heavy, "The base was destroyed and my squad was stuck behind enemy lines."

"It says your squad put out a distress signal." Rahn added on, motioning for the clone to push the topic forward.

"That's corrected." Slick's hand shook slightly, "I was a corporal so I was squad leader and I realized we needed extraction right away."

Rahn nodded, "That was a good call."

"Not good enough apparently." Slick growled, "Our escort ship had decided the Jedi extraction took top priority and sent all their gunships to support their mission."

"All of them?" Rahn was slightly shocked, from what the mission report said the escort ship had three gun ships and they only required two for the amount of Jedi on the planet's surface.

"Command said the third gunship was fire support for the Jedi's extraction." Slick laughed, back then it wasn't funny but now as he wore chains he found the whole operation was a joke. Shaking his head he calmed down as he relived the final hour of the mission, "My squad held out three hours and by the time extraction showed up I was the only survivor."

"You got a medal for that." Rahn studied the after battle report.

Slick snickered, "Medals were always so weird to me."

Rahn tilted his head, "How so?"

"Medals are given to brave soldiers who go beyond the call of duty." Slick explained, "Giving a medal to a clone who has no choice other than to fight, it seems so weird."

Rahn chuckled softly as Slick had a point, "Seems rather patronizing."

"Exactly!" Slick laughed, as for a moment he nearly forgot he was a prisoner talking to a psychologist.

Rahn smiled as he knew by making Slick laugh he broke the first wall. Sitting back he relaxed a bit so Slick would open up more, "You hold the Jedi responsible for the death of your brothers?"

"How couldn't I?" Slick sighed, "I talked with the bridge crew after my rescue and found out it was Jedi General Windu's order for the three gunships."

"Did he know of the trouble on the moon?" Rahn asked, he was unsure if the Jedi were fully aware of the clone's situation.

Slick nodded, "From what I heard."

"Rumors can sometimes be misconstrued over passing." Rahn admitted, as he could tell Slick was slightly annoyed by this comment. Realizing he might loose the ground he had seized with the clone he changed subjects, "After that you were promoted to sergeant."

Slick nodded, "I was given a platoon and assigned to the newly formed 212th Attack Battalion."

"Must of felt weird being in a new unit without your old brothers." Rahn admitted, as Slick nodded slowly as he remembered feeling so out of place.

Slick shook off the feeling and returned Rahn with his only question, "What's the point of this all?"

Rahn sighed as he knew this question would be asked, "The Republic wants to know why you did what you did."

"I've told them already." Slick snapped annoyingly, "For freedom."

"I know and honestly I believe you." Rahn explained, "However they want me to ensure there were no other motives and this free thinking wasn't a defection in your cloning."

"Defection." Slick hissed, "They always blame it on defections."

Rahn nodded, "I don't believe your defective."

Slick looked down for a moment at his chained feet, "What happens once this investigation is over?"

"I'm unsure." Rahn admitted, his job was to examine the clone and nothing more.

Slick forced a low laugh, "I'm sure I'll be sent back to Kamino and be pulled apart for examination."

"Don't think that way." Rahn reassured him, he knew that was a possibility as he heard the cloners wanted to look into the clone's brain. They wanted to make sure nothing went wrong physically during the cloning, this idea made Rahn uncomfortable. Rahn shifted in his seat uncomfortably while Slick looked downwards, "If my report goes well I doubt they'll do that."

"No offense you're only a psychologist." Slick sighed, he knew Rahn had no pull within the Republic that would ensure his survival.

"I'm also a Captain in the Republic Army's Mental Health Division." Rahn admitted with a weak smile, "I don't wear my uniform while having sessions in my personal office as I feel like casual wear is more appropriate."

Slick was surprised, "So this isn't a fair trial then."

"I may work for the Republic Military, but I answer directly to the Chancellor and the Senate." Rahn explained, " My position as an officer is simply ceremonial as I don't lead any troops and I simply work as a liaison officer between the military and the senate."

"If we're going to be doing this for a bit, I should know more about you." Slick stated sternly, a part of him was drawing out time as the more sessions they had the longer he could avoid the end. He was also surprised to hear that Rahn was a military officer and felt slightly betrayed, he wanted for Rahn to open up a bit so he could feel like they were equals.

"Fair enough." Rahn admitted, as for most patients he wouldn't do this but Slick wasn't most patients. Sitting back more casually he realized this introduction could help Slick open up more, "I was born on Taris in a lower class family actually."

Slick was surprised as the luxurious officer said other wise, "I've heard Taris is nice."

"Nice for the upper class, but my family and I lived nears the slums." Rahn admitted, he was never embarrassed by his past and usually embraced it. Many senators were surprised to hear of his upbringing whenever he attended fancy parties, most assumed by his military uniform and fine suits that he had been a noble of some sorts. Rahn looked back at his childhood days, "My mother was a secretary for a shipping company and my dad was a butler for an estate."

"Any brothers?" Slick asked, hoping that the psychologist could connect with him on that level at least.

"Two brothers and one sister." Rahn admitted, "All younger so when I was just ten years old I started working with my father at the estate."

"A slave?" Slick asked.

"At times it felt like it, but we were paid." Rahn corrected him, "The estate owner was kind enough but the other nobles were not as kind to us."

Slick sighed, "The powerful look down on us all."

"Some of the nobles disliked non-humans and I remember while working their children called my many racist names." Rahn admitted shamefully, "They'd forced me to play in games of war and I'd be the villainous Zabrak blade master and they were Jedi Knights."

"Sounds like they were playing the villains." Slick chuckled softly as Rahn smiled at the memory, as a kid he hated the other kids but now as an adult he couldn't help but feel sorry for them.

"Overtime the estate owner took a liking to my family and offered me a spot at the Taris Academy." Rahn motioned towards his graduation medal on his desk, "Supporting a non-human like that increased his popularity with the non-humans during the governor election. However, I truly do believe a part of him did it out of the kindness of his heart."

"There's always a motive." Slick commented.

"In the end, the teachers tried to hold me back, but I graduated." Rahn proudly stated, "Due to their interference though I was near the lower tier of the graduation class and thus my best option for work was taking a commission with the military."

"So like me you were forced into the military due to others looking down on you." Slick stated, as Rahn knew this would allow the two to better interact in future sessions.

"In some ways." Rahn admitted.

Slick remembered his platoon for a moment, "What happened to your family?"

"Once I got my commission within a year I got the attention from the senate due to some programs I started." Rahn explained, "They requested a transfer to Coruscant and my only demand was that my family be housed in the top levels of the city."

"You did what was best for your broth- your family." Slick corrected himself, slightly embarrassed for a moment.

"They live a better life now, my mother hates the traffic but it's a small price for a healthier life." Rahn chuckled, as he noticed a hint of calmness and compassion in the eyes of the clone. Suddenly a small clock went off and almost as if they were anticipating it the two guards entered the room. Rahn sighed as he spent more time talking about himself than he had planned, but he knew this would help him with future sessions. Standing up he smiled warmly at the clone, "Same time next week?"

Slick hesitated as he stood up and began to be escorted out, "Of course."