~Tales of Kamino Chapter 4~
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He was out of time. There as never enough time. The end signal blared out above him, the sim ending and 28 remained kneeling on the floor staring where the brother he had just failed had been lying.
The room flashed then faded back to the simple empty chamber, grey alloy walls and tiled floor. The battlefield it had been moments ago disappearing along with the blasts and shaking earth, shouted orders and screams of the pleading and dying. His brothers. He'd lost every one of them. Each one he'd attempted to save fading beneath his hands, their lives slipping through his cursed fingers.
28 lifted his hands to stare at them, gloved and shaking. The blood had been phantom, illusion, but he could still feel it and see it slick dark shine on his palms.
He gathered the contents of his med-pack from the floor slowly, rerunning the scenarios over and over in his head. There had to be some way, some thing he could have done differently. Something he had forgotten and could remember next time to his brothers' benefit. He shook his head as he snapped his pack closed and made his way back to the barracks with a quick salute to Rardyrth on his way out. He knew he had the time to stop at the mess before it was time to sleep, but he didn't feel much like eating. His stomach roiled on the walk and he wondered how he'd be able to keep anything down when they really were out in the field. When the deaths and blood at his hands were real.
When he reached his bunk the space was largely empty, most of his brothers still at the mess. A few lingered at the far side of the barracks, polishing boots amid gossip. They spared 28 a glance, the normal quick check of identity and injury. Even though he was one of the avoided ones on general occasion due to fear of provoking disfavor with Rardyrth, they weren't inherently dismissive or unkind and very few would ignore if he openly needed aid.
28 gave them a quick tilt of his head and an empty smile, but it was enough to restore their attention to their own doings. He tucked his gear away and flopped face down, forehead resting on crossed arms, face in the pillow, closing his eyes and pleading sleep to come quickly.
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Zan watched the cadet leave the room and turned to Rardyrth, who was bent over, had hands on the control console, seemingly staring right through it.
"You don't think that was a little much?"
Rardyrth's head snapped up.
"A little...much?"
Zan untucked an arm to raise it palm up at the viewport. "There was no way he could've saved any of them with the criteria you put in. He was set up fro failure from the start."
"That was the point. The purpose was not to succeed, only to persevere."
Zan looked at the other trainer in silence for a few minutes before returning his attention to the sim room.
"You don't agree with my tactics," Rardyrth mused.
"As much as you agree with mine, I imagine." Zan gave a small smile, but it soon faded. "That cadet has spark as a medic. One of the best I've seen." He looked at Rardyrth out of the corner of his eye. "I can't make out why you're so determined to quash it."
"As usual, you see things in your coddling way. I am strengthening, not breaking. We're preparing them for war, Zan." The name was spat from his lips like a foul taste. " Not some dinner party. They're going to watch their comrades fall, and die, violently and commonly. The bonds they form now are useless and dangerous. It gives the enemy an advantage to have a breaking point. If the loss of someone affects you in battle, you are lost yourself. Best to overcome it now, before it's faced for real. No matter the circumstances, failure is not an option." He turned to look down at Zan. "You disagree?"
Rav Bralor looked on from a corner of the room, regarding the two with something of amusement.
The human trainer tapped a thumb to his chin.
"Not entirely. Your reasoning isn't illogical, it's your methoods I find fault with."
"That's obvious. You seem to have no problem with your batch's failure when it occurs. You're either that cocky or woefully mindless."
Zan snorted. "Not really. I simply believe that failure happens. To everyone, at some point. My preference is that mine learn to handle those failures with grace when they do occur, rather than pretending they wont."
"If you allow for failure, it will follow."
"And so it will, even if you dismiss it."
"Perhaps. But it is an error which can be reduced greatly through proper training."
"Proper? That's subjective. According to the training records, we're both doing something right."
"Don't kid yourself, pirate. It's easy to get high scores when you have no standards."
And with that the Trandoshan stormed out, the Mandalorian trainer chuckling in his wake. She paused to give Zan a rap of knuckles to the chest on her way out.
"You're a good man, Zan. But Rardyrth isn't wrong."
"We're both wrong, for different reasons. I'm not ashamed of mine."
Rav tilted her head up to give him an even look. "Remember what you're training them for. I don't agree with Vau often enough, but can see why he does what he does."
"His boys are rough, I'll give him that. Beyond that... he's lucky, we don't share a desk."
Rav snorted. "Wouldn't go there if I were you. You might stand a chance against Vau alone...I'll give YOU that. But you're not one of us, Zan. You're aruetii, and every Mandalorian, fans of Vau or not, would have his back."
"I figured. Band of brambling scourge, you lot." He grinned at her.
"Says the pirate-turned-bounty hunter with a questionable stake and leverage in all this. A lot of discussion about you in our ranks, and not much of it good."
"I've never been so popular before. I feel like I should have fliers to pass out or something."
"Mir'osik. Watch yourself."
"Will do, Ma'am." He gave her a playful salute. As she stepped through the doorway he called after her. "Still up for the drinks later? We're having a run with Mr. Smiles tomorrow and I could use it. I promise not to bring Baro."
She laughed. "You can bring him if you like. I just can't guarantee he won't get a good thump or two from someone again."
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The next morning they were woken early, drilled out of bed by Rardryths growl over the ceiling comms, rushing through morning hygiene and the mess, drowsy but spurred with anticipation. Today they were doing another timed live exercise paired with the batches of other trainers. A new program in one of the larger sim rooms.
Before entering they had to suit up in specialized gear, triggered by the interactive environment of the program. It was another course of droids and activated landmines , although made somewhat safer, the environment less damaging than the experimental ones of the past. Casualties, while not generally considered from the perspective of the well-being of the cadets who ran them, had been altered for the sake of preserving numbers. Like their gear, they were valuable for the purpose of their making, and excessive fatalities were a waste in that regard.
28 lingered to one side of the room with 37 and 62, having no preference one way or another of who they were paired with other than each other. Over the last couple years, 62 had become less resistant to the outcast fellowship which 28 and 37 offered, and he generally took up tasks with them if they offered, although he spoke little and avoided physical contact or jostling whenever possible. He still ate and slept alone.
"Hey! It's been a while, you guys." The all looked up to see a group of three cadets approaching, the front one recognizable by the wild gestures of his hands. 28 Heard 62 take a long in-breath, though out of frustration or pleasantry was anyone's guess. "Wanna pair up with us?" Hatch asked. He swung a hand out to indicate the two cadets at his side. "Rush and Nix."
62 shrugged and 37 and 28 gave curt nods. The cadet named Rush tilted his head to the side, eyes on 37. He smiled. "I was hoping we'd meet some place ther than the lab. Good to see you, Ravi."
28 and 62 looked to 37. He had spoken of this cadet and the trainers to them, which admittedly they only half-believed at the time. It had seemed too far-fetched. But they had still honored his request not to let the name he had shared pass their lips, lest Rardyrth hear and take it away. It was strange to hear the name spoken aloud now, and without fear by the speaker. 28 considered how that must feel, to have a name, and have it used. He felt pride and warmth for his friend and gave 37 a clasp on the shoulder as they made their way to their position on the course, the layers falling into place around them.
First the sky later, dull and grey, hazy with smoke and clouds, the sun a dim glow of rings behind. Then the surrounding layer of the base background. Cracked buildings and rubble, shattered windows and speeders licked with flames on the burnt and cratered ground fizzling into focus beneath their feet.
Nix tapped the hologrid projection from his gauntlet to life. "Alright, we've got to make it across the courtyard and down the street to a building where some civvies are holed up. They need supplies and we're delivering."
Rush was going over schematics on his HUD. "Ground's riddled with mines triggered to blow. Not enough to do damage, but still enough to hurt. Tap one and you'll have a tumble. Treatment is monitored and timed, as usual." He looked to the others. "Any of you guys a medic? I'm cross training, but pretty pitiful."
"I am," 28 admitted "Though I'm not the pick of the litter."
37 gave him a flick to the helmet. "He's lying. He's tops." 28 looked back to him with a defeated expression, disbelief sagging his shoulders.
Hatch gave him a grin. "We're good to go, then. Can't speak for your lads, but we'll try not to make your life hard, vod. No guarantees, though."
"Who's on point? No preference here." Nix looked to the others, eager to get started.
"I'll take it," 62 volunteered. 28 noticed he usually did. Not from preference of leadership role, but due to the belief that he'd inevitably trigger something and through doing so, warn those behind. Like 37, he had little fear of anything happening to himself, but much of not being able to prevent it from occurring to others. 28 preferred bringing up the rear, being able to see and keep tabs of all of his brothers before him. His HUD provided location blips and statuses, but he really preferred the confirmation of it with his own eyes.
They positioned themselves in a manner preemptive to beginning, a v-formation with half coverage behind wreckage of an old taxi. 62 gave a back look, asking readiness and they all nodded in unison. He raised his decee and gave his gauntlet a tap, activating the course in real time.
The sound of the burning city hit him fierce and loud, the crackles of fires and far off blaster shots screaming smoke. Shattered glass cracked splintering grit beneath their boots as they advanced, stepping carefully amid the ruined street. A shot rang out from one of the windows above them, aimed at 37, but he managed to duck it and Hatch took out the shooter with a shot of his own. 62 leapt over an overturned cafe table and they followed, close but spaced to prevent bunching which would make them easier targets to an enemy. They found another marginal cover in a downed vending cart and fanned out against it, backs to the painted surface.
62 raised a hand and made gestures for them to split, three to each side, to cross the street.
"Step carefully. Can't tell what's street and what's not in this mess. If it looks weird, have a hop."
"Copy that."
They began picking their way across, helmets bobbing from the dipping of eyes between street and the surrounding buildings. They were halfway there when a scream came from behind, shrill and high, spilling from the doorway of one of the buildings. They all spun in unison, blasters raised and trained on the figure coming at them.
But it was a civilian, dress singed and torn and ragged in the wind, hair dark and matted. She sprinted to Nix, who lowered his weapon to reach out to her. "Ma'am, are you injured?" Once he had placed a hand on her arm, she fought his grip, wild with fright, but he held on to her, following protocol. "Ma'am. Do you have any injuries? Is there anyone with you?" He motioned to 28 with the arm holding the blaster, the other wrapped around her shoulders trying to maintain a one-handed grip. 28 was already picking his way over as the others formed a defensive circle around them.
He was almost there when the woman started screaming "They're coming, they're coming!" She pointed a thin arm at the building she had run from and tried to wrench herself free of Nix's grasp again as a shot rang out. It took up a chunk of the permacrete at their feet. A volley of fire was unleashed from the others as droids spilled out onto the street. Two, then three, four.
"Nix! Get her to cover. Get to the building with the others if you can." 62 called out between shots. The others took up positions of cover fire, not giving the droids an inch. Nix backed away, firing as he pulled the woman with him.
More droids broke the glass of upper windows in the building and began firing from above. 37 took one out with a lucky shot, but the other dodged Rush's blast and returned a shot which activated a mine by him. He was flipped heels over head by the blast and landed with a loud clack on his back. He lay there winded for a minute while 28 fought his way over.
"Ow." Rush finally coughed out as 28 knelt beside him. 28 pulled off his helmet to check for head trauma before pulling out his scanner. Rush gave him an embarrassed and apologetic smile "Sorry, Doc. Really didn't mean to be the one to put you to work.''
28 was scrambling through his med-pack, stripping the contents in a flurry.
"I...won't...I won't let you die." 28 promised, voice cracking. He maintained pressure on the base of Rush's skull where the scanner said blood-flow needed to be stopped.
Rush looked up at the medic in surprise at the tremor in his brother's words, eyes making a pass. He took in the pale face and dangerous focus of the cadet's gaze, seeing too much, or not nearly enough , the too-tight grip on the scanner. The fear on the face as the readings were processed.
He put a hand to the other cadet's face and tapped his forehead.
28 blinked, seeming to snap out of a daze. He looked down at Rush in confusion.
"Hey." Rush said. "I'm fine. It's just a sim, the readings you're getting are fake. They're from the suit, not me. I guarantee the only thing I've got wrong with me right now is a smarting backside."
He gave 28 a grin of reassurance, but it didn't seem to be quite enough to reach the other cadet for more than a passing moment. 28 shook his head, slipping back to that blank mask and distant eyes. He was applying a coagulant, and pressing and palpating and checking, fingers flitting from scanned injury to injury, assessing, patching, wrapping. As shaky as his words were, the cadets hands were stead and true and the fastest and lightest Rush had ever felt. And he'd had the benefit of many touches, cadet, trainer, and skilled kaminoan medical techs alike. He remained silent, but watched with amazement as 28 worked on him.
The minutes passed and the firefight was a humming metallic and smoke-pitched beat-song echoing in their helmets with their own breaths. 37 was tackling the droids head on, dipping in and out of cover and peppering them with blasts they couldn't counteract. 62 had reached the building where they exited and was catching a good many of them with crossfire as they stepped out. Hatch was taking out any that dared show a glint of themselves in the windows. Nix had made it to the building with the civilians and dropped off his pack of supplies and the woman and was heading back.
The last of the droids fell and the others gathered around the downed cadet and medic just as 28 finished his work.
He sat there, frozen, hands hovering inches above Rush's chest, eyes wide, knowing he'd done all that he could do. There was nothing else he could do. That the timer would sound any minute. That the sim was over, that he'd somehow messed up, that he'd failed.
But it didn't. He blinked.
Rush was looking at him weird. But he was alive.
"Let's get going." 62 said, peering at 28 for a moment before turning his eyes to the building they needed to get to. 37 grasped his friend's arm and pulled him to his feet and the medic blinked up into his helmet, confused.
He'd...actually saved someone? It had to be a trick. He hadn't succeeded in years. He'd lost track of the times he'd lost 62 or 37 and the rest of his training batch in sims over the years. So many times he'd lain awake and clung desperately to the true and breathing 37, needing to feel that he was real, and alive against him to sleep.
He looked at Rush like he was an apparition.
"Readings say you need carried, vod." Hatch grinned down at Rush, who had propped himself up on his elbows, and was staring back at 28. He glanced up at Hatch when he spoke, then looked around.
"Am I really the only one who triggered a mine?" Receiving confirmation with his eyes, he hung his head dramatically and sighed. He raised his arms for Hatch to grab and hoist him across his shoulders. Draped there, he let himself grow slack and lamented. "The dignity is gone, never to return."
They made their way to the building together. A few quick skirmishes with droids along the way, but they made it together, and within time. There were no other injuries besides Rush.
As they were stripping off the gear to pass onto the next round of cadets after the sim, Rush made a point of doing so beside 28. As they undressed he spoke, loud enough for 28 to hear and no one else.
"I didn't know it was you when we started."
"Me?" 28 asked, confused.
"Zan was talking about you. About...how your trainer always rigged your sims so you'd fail."
28 snorted. "There's no way he could've rigged every single one."
"He did. You have proof of it."
"What proof?"
"That when you treat a patient with the odds stacked against you, but in a FAIR sim, you succeed."
28 shook his head. "No. I just...got lucky."
Rush paused undressing to give him a long look before continuing. He gave a shrug and a grin.
"Think what you like, then. I'm telling you, you're something special and some day," he gave 28 a bop on the head with a boot as he walked away "You're going to help a lot of people."
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Cozzizzie and Captain Reb: Thanks you guys for your reviews! We do need to have an adopt a clone day!Or... maybe an adopt a clone story challenge- you get to kidnap one for a day, and the day is yours. Where do you go and what do you do? ;)
Hey! I threw in some Mando'a (And Rav, because she's awesome!)
Mir'osik- "dung for brains"
Aruetii- Outsider