The clones from the 201st and the 501st had just been assigned their new armor on Kamino, this time with every member. However, one particular clone captain wasn't buying it.
"For the last time kid, I'm not putting it on," said Captain Rex.
"Come on Rex, it's more comfortable, more reliable, and it can take more fire than the Phase I armor, and it's painted to 501st standards," said a tan-skinned Jedi with dreadlocks, Earth Kingdom tattoos on his hands, and clone armor on his shins and forearms.
"No rookie, I want to keep my own armor," said Rex.
"Rex, Gunny did it, Ripcord did it, Cody's been done it, what are you trying to prove?" said Taran.
"That I don't need new armor to live and fight," said Rex.
"Remember what happened the last time your armor failed you?" said Taran.
"It was sniper, anyone could have been shot like that," said Rex.
"Are you sure you don't want it?" said Taran.
"Positive," said Rex.
"Well okay then Alpha-17," said Taran. Rex chuckled, a rare thing with him.
"Okay then kid, whatever you say," said Rex. He put back on his standard helmet and walked with Taran down the hall to inspect the other troops. When they entered the room, they saw Torrent Squadron in there new Phase II armor. (For all you who don't know what the Phase II armor is, it's what all the clones wear in Episode III and in Star Wars Battlefront II. The 501st armor for regular clone soldiers is the regular blue-etched clone armor in Battlefront II).
They looked truly fierce in their new, shiny armor, ready to be battle-tested again in combat. The new armor made them look impressive, and scary. Taran wondered that with this fearsome, soulless look they would scare the droids back into their programming. Their blue etched-markings denoted their legion's colors instead of just the normal, all-white armor. Only Rex was the in the same armor as always.
"They look really awesome Rex, and scary," said Taran.
"Thanks kid," said Rex.
"Where's Cody unit at?" said Taran.
"At the southwest corridor," said Rex. Taran saluted him and went out of the room into the hall. Along the way he spotted the native Kaminoans, tall, graceful grey and white aliens who at a first glance looked like they would never harm so much as a fly, yet their notoriety for producing the infamous saber darts made many people think twice when they saw them. One Kaminoan came right up to him.
"Hello Jedi padawan, I'm Taun We. Your master sent for me to tell you that the army is to leave in twenty-four hour time," she said.
"Thank you Taun We. Anything else?" said Taran.
"No, that is all. I must be going back to my duties," said Taun We. She walked down the hall at the same time Taran was going in the opposite direction.
"Fine people Kaminoans. Graceful and serene, yet lacking any real emotion. Strange,"thought Taran. He had heard what the clones always said about the Kaminoans being devoid of emotions, especially when they were being brought up. They treated the majority of them like a collection rather than an individual, which was why it was kind of hard to tell which clone was which at the beginning of the war.
As he walked past a dark corridor of a hallway, hands grabbed around his waist and pulled him into the shadows. Startled, Taran went for his lightsaber, but saw who it was just in time.
"You know you could tell me before you do that," he said, seeing his girlfriend.
"Where would be the fun in that?" said Ahsoka. She pulled him in and kissed him, reveling in the touch of his lips meeting hers. Her arms wrapped around his neck while his wrapped around her waist. They could have stayed like this forever, but they knew they couldn't.
"What's Skyguy doing?" said Taran when they had ended.
"Either walking around, fixing his starfighter, checking the boys, or doing something," said Ahsoka.
"Where were you going?" said Taran.
"I was going off to see Rex, but then I felt you coming so I waited," she said.
"You're pretty good when it comes to sneaking up on me," said Taran.
"It's not that hard," she said slyly.
"When do you think it's a good time to tell Obi-Wan?" said Taran. He had asked her this before at times to see when she was ready, but she always said "Not yet." If the time was right, and Obi-Wan was in a good mood, then everything would be fine. Besides, how mad could he get?
"I don't know. With Anakin it's different, but Obi-Wan is another story," said Ahsoka.
"True, but still it would be nice to try," said Taran. A sign of contempt washed over Ahsoka's face.
"We'll tell him together when the time comes," she said. Taran smiled and kissed her again. They heard approaching footsteps and ended their kiss, not wanting to leave, but knowing they had to.
"I'll see you later then," said Taran.
"Sure, I'll just find a very dark hallway," said Ahsoka.
Taran walked into the room where the 212th Attack Battalion was resting and putting on their new armor. Cody looked especially fierce in his. His armor was painted orange in some new areas, with two grey ones down the sides of his helmet. A small tool kit was on his upper arm piece, his oval jetpack was smaller than the last, only one antennae was on his shoulder, and a few markings on his left breastplate that Taran had never seen before, but looked like an advanced version of the Republic symbols.
"Woh Cody, looking like a trained killer," said Taran.
"Thanks sir, I try my best," said Cody. Taran picked out Boil and Waxer and saw their armor looked just like the other troopers, if not just like Cody's paint design, with the designs of from their old armor still on there. They also sported kamas, which are like skirts that open at the inner leg area. It struck Taran as odd because the kama signified high rank, but then remembered they had been promoted to lieutenant and were head of their own squads now.
"Can't believe they were promoted at the same time," said Taran.
"Well, they deserved it after that mess on Jabiim," said Cody. Taran nodded.
"Do you know where Obi-Wan is?" said Taran.
"No, sorry sir. He might be down by the cloning vats though," said Cody.
"Thanks, I'll try there," said Taran. He left the room and went down the hall looking for his master. Passing Kaminoans and clones he searched throughout the cloning vats. The vats each contained an embryo of a growing clone that would one day fight in the Republic army. Taran knew that each clone had accelerated aging, meaning they could reach the age of twenty in ten years. As he looked on he saw ten year olds reading battle plans on their mini-computers. It was weird how they all looked exactly the same, but Taran knew they wouldn't be acting the same.
Moving on through he saw a batch of clones doing target practice. They looked about eighteen, which meant that they would be entering the war in one year. He saw them take out all kinds of holographic droids, from battle droids and SBD's to the crab droids. He saw one of them run up to it while the others took it's attention. The clone jumped on it and fired into it's brain, making it sputter and kill the droid.
"Just bred to kill,"thought Taran. Walking, but still looking at the clones, he nearly ran into the person he was looking for.
"Taran, watch it," said Obi-Wan having to stop Taran before he hit him.
"Sorry master, just needed to know where you were," said Taran.
"Well I hope you don't find people by running into them," said Obi-Wan.
"Master, so far the troops have put on their new armor and we have resupplied the ranks," said Taran.
"Good, after Jabiim we needed more soldiers. Do you know where Anakin is?" said Obi-Wan.
"No, but my guess is he's in the hangar," said Taran.
"Okay then, carry on with your duties," said Obi-Wan. Taran bowed and went back down the hall he came.
Bane was slinking around the dark hallways on Kamino, looking for an unmolested way to the cloning vats. It had been one day since he arrived, and he had already signaled the Count. He said they would be there in twenty hours. But first he needed a way to chart where the main cloning vats were and to create a distraction in time for the elite droid force to get there.
As he was walking he heard footsteps coming. He laid low in a corner that completely concealed him from view. A squad of clones came by, not even noticing him there.
"Clones, too easy," he said to himself. He resumed back to his slinking ways, always making sure that no one saw or heard him. However, in a city full of Kaminoans, clones, and four Jedi, he needed a way to blend in without no one noticing. Then, a brilliant plan came into his sick, twisted mind. He took off a panel from the wall and went into the opening, pooping the lid back on. Now all he needed to do was wait.
Meanwhile, Taran had made his way to the hangar. Sure enough, there was Anakin with his Eta-2, painted with a nice yellow design. Taran had asked him why he had painted it that color and he said it was to honor the Podracer that helped him get off his planet into the Jedi Order. Taran thought it was a nice thing to do.
Not wanting to bother him he went back into the city, wanting to see how R3 was. It didn't take him long to see the little green astromech droid rolling down the hallway towards him, carrying a blue letter in his robotic arm appendage.
"Weird, wonder what this is for?" said Taran. He patted the droid on the head, who whistled happily, and opened it.
"Come back to your quarters," it said. Taran automatically knew that it was Ahsoka's handwriting. "What was she up to?" he thought. She was always a mystery to him, a surprise in store for him happening nearly all the time. Whatever it was it was probably good. Smiling he burned the letter and threw the ashes outside and started walking back to his quarters. As he walked down a hallway he felt something strange. It seemed like the walls resonated with a familiar, and malicious presence. He looked to the wall, but there was no one there.
"Weird," he thought. Not wasting any time he waled down the hallway towards his quarters.
I didn't know who it was that walked and looked at the part of the wall i was in, but I could have sworn it was Cyneran. That meddlesome little boy will one day fall before my onslaught. but never mind that, I hear someone else come.
Sure enough, it's a lone clone soldier walking by, not even noticing where I am. Time to spring the trap.
I kick open the panel, making him drop the gun. Once out of ihis hands and he is on the ground I take his head and twist it to the side, relishing the sound of hearing his neck break. Knowing that he's dead I began to strip off his armor. Once it was off I place it all back on me. This new armor seemed a lot better than the one I wore to get past Skywalker and his padawan after I had taken the holocron. It was more roomy and felt better than that body bucket.
Putting his blaster onto my belt I take his body and find the nearest outside platform. The rain poured on me, sending the sound of dropping rain all over my armor. I heaved the dead clone over the side to the sea, the sea being so far down I couldn't even hear the splash that followed when the body dropped to the surface.
I turned back to the doors from which I came from, ready to do what needed to be done. This time, no one will stop me.
