"Why didn't you come see me sooner? If you hadn't gotten to medical sooner, you might have had a bad infection from these cuts on your bruises," The medical droid said as soon as Bliss was released from the bacta tank. She was putting her clothes back on and she rubbed her sore shoulder.

Bliss was in the bacta tank all night long and it was only a few hours from her final test. Her bruises were all healed up and her broken nose was healed. Bliss combed her fingers through her hair as she flexed her shoulders and smiled. Her body didn't hurt and it's a good thing because she can't afford to be in pain on her final test.

"Yeah, that's great," Bliss muttered, pulling her jumpsuit up and her pants, trying to pull on her shoes but she stumbled as she did, her face hitting the wall. "I'm okay!"

Bliss bolted down the halls and towards the barracks. When she arrived, Bliss saw her brothers getting in their armor already. She squeaked in fear.

"Oh gosh, I'm so late!" Bliss ran towards her locker and took off her pants, pulling on her body stocking, tripping over her feet in the process. She fell backwards over the bench and on her back. All of her squad started laughing.

"In a hurry, Bliss?" CT-782 said.

"Shut up!" She said, wrestling with her armor plating and finally getting on her wrist guards. After she got on all her armor, she combed her hair properly and rubbed her face a little bit. "How do I look?"

Fives couldn't help the snort come from his nose. "You look fine, Bliss. Who you trying to impress?"

"The trooper that will assess us, of course!" Bliss faked interest and flicked her hair back with her hand. "I wanna look hot for my superiors," Her voice got high and nasally and all of her brothers gave her a look and turned away, saying "ewwwwww".

"Gross, Bliss! He's your brother!" CT-4040 said, cringing at her remark.

"Oh yeah… Never mind," Bliss dusted off her armor and tightened the straps before grabbing her helmet and getting a running head start to the landing platform where everyone was meeting.

"Bliss," CT-782 yelled. "Wait up!" He ran after her, his own helmet in tow and the entire squad went racing after their sister who was now way too full of energy and too excited.

They had a complete disregard for safety regulations and were stopped several times by droids but finally made it to the landing platform. Bliss was staring out of the landing apron and frowned at the rain beating down on the oceans outside of the facility.

"This planet cries too much…" She muttered to herself. Very gradually, the rest of the cadets were joining them and getting into groups with their squad. The ship hit the landing platform and their superior waltzed off with his scuffed armor and shined helmet.

Bric approached the squads and Bliss held her helmet under her arm and against her hip. "Gentlemen!" She rolled her eyes.

"Who wants to be an ARC trooper?" Bric said.

"I do, sir!" Every cadet said in unison, stomping one foot on the ground.

"You have to pass your final test first!" No crap. Bliss thought, sarcastically. This speech is already starting as a big let-down.

"I want you to meet Commander Colt, of the Rancor Battalion!" Bric stepped aside and the Commander stepped up and Bliss couldn't help the smile. Maybe she'll be the one wearing that armor one day!

"I want you troopers to remember: We're shoulder to shoulder on those front lines; Brothers! And sometimes, we may quarrel, but no matter what, we are united!" Bliss was really feeling this speech. "Rule one: We fight together! So who's ready to step up first?"

Bliss bit her lip and tried hard to not make eye contact with Commander Colt. She didn't want to draw attention to herself any more than just standing here.

"Let's start with the unit who ran the practice test in record time; ARC Trooper time!" Yeah, he isn't talking about us.

"You think he means 'us' boys?" Echo said, being incredibly optimistic. Bliss wasn't having any of it.

"No, idiot." She said out loud, getting a glare from Bric but Commander Colt ignored her or didn't hear her.

"Bravo Unit, step up!" Commander Colt said to the team with the red armor plating. The squad stepped forward and stood at attention.

"Well, bravo for Bravo Squad!" CT-4040 said, rolling his eyes.

"Show an ARC Trooper how it's done." Commander Colt commanded. Bravo Squad slid on their helmets and walked out. Bliss frowned and knew that there was no way they could trump Bravo Squad. She's heard the General talk about them plenty of times and knew that they were much better than them.

"C'mon, boys. Maybe we can learn something," Echo remarked.

"Shuddup, Echo." CT-782 snapped as they all turned around to face Bravo Squad as they marched out. Soon, everyone marched out with them and Bliss was straggling behind a bit.

"Bliss, pick it up!" CT-00-2010 said to her. Bliss rolled her eyes and decided to speak up.

"Calm down, Droidbait. The training ground ain't going anywhere," She began to walk in front of him but he was still stunned.

"Did you just call me Droidbait?" He said. Bliss nodded. "I… kinda like that."

"Good! Cause it's gonna stick. Kay?" She said as they began to run to catch up with the rest of them and took the lift to the top of the training ground to watch the match from below. While her entire squad was assessing them and watching them, Bliss was completely zoned out. She was too busy staring at Commander Colt across the training ground.

His armor was something she wasn't expecting. Didn't everyone in the higher ranks have clean armor? Was it not mandatory to clean their armor? His seemed worn and torn and never mended. Maybe it's a reminder of all the battles he's seen. How he's above all this training bullcrap.

Bliss suddenly pursed her lips in annoyance for no reason and kicked the wall in her own protest. Why was she getting mad at Colt? He didn't do anything.

Suddenly, she was broken from her trance by one of her brothers screaming, "He's gonna make it!"

Bliss looked down below and saw a member of Bravo Squad removing the ascension cable from his belt and firing it at the wall before scaling it and removing the beacon. She watched the red light turn green; a sight she has not yet seen on her practice tests. Maybe she'll see it today…

The comm sounded and called down the Domino Squad to the practice course and Bliss put her helmet on, wiping off her weapon as they took the lift down to the bottom floor and entered the arena just as Bravo Squad was exiting. Number one decided to remark to them.

"Check it out guys; Time to watch the dominoes fall…"

"That's depressing," Bliss said, sighing as they left the training ground. As they left, CT-4040 stared at them as they walked out.

"They are so much better than us,"

"Knock it off!" Fives said, hitting him with his arm. Bliss bit her lip and tightened her grip on her rifle.

From above the training ground, Commander Colt stared down at the extra squad member. "Wait, who is that? There should only be five in the squad."

"CT-8993, or Bliss, as the cadets call her," El-Les pulled up her file and showed Commander Colt everything about her. "She's the very first female clone ever created. The General insisted on keeping her alive."

"Let's hope she's alive for a purpose. I would really not like to send her down to maintenance. Or worse," Commander Colt said, frowning under his helmet. El-Les cast a worried look at Bric who just ignored his partner completely.

Bliss readied herself down on the training ground and decided to take cover behind a barrier as soon as the droids opened fire on them. And of course, CT-782 went in guns blazing. But, for once, it wasn't for nothing. He was actually getting somewhere with it!

Bliss opened fire on some of the droids further away but wasn't watching her flank.

"Bliss, behind you!" She heard someone scream and she turned around just in time to shoot the droid down to the ground. That was a saving grace!

"Thanks, Fives!" She said, turning to her brother and smiling a little bit. Fives just smiled back and they continued the fight. It seemed that they were getting a little farther than normal, which made Bliss very happy.

Fives jumped down next to Echo. "I'll flank left. You flank right." Fives remarked, getting down on one knee and opening fire.

"Take it easy; I'm on your side. Get it? Your side? Huh?" Echo said, smiling. But shots fired at the barrier next to Fives' head and he broke left, Echo breaking right. Bliss rolled her eyes at the terrible joke Echo made and refused to smile. It was dumb as frak.

Bliss fired another shot and saw Droidbait leave the barrier. But he wasn't watching his flank either and there was a droid right on his tail. Bliss couldn't speak fast enough before she screamed out to him.

"Droidbait, behind you!" She yelled just as the droid shot him in the back on the shoulder blade. Bliss opened fire on the droid and watched it fall to the ground with an electronic pulse and she frowned. "Man down!" She screamed to everyone.

Bliss didn't think and dropped her weapon to her side and took off Droidbait's helmet to check his breathing. It was pretty labored but he was groaning in pain.

"Forget him!" Bliss looked up in utter shock at her team and frowned. "I'm breaking for the Citadel!" Of course it was CT-782. Who else would completely disregard a team mate?

"Guys, we can't just leave him! He's hurt!" Bliss demanded, checking Droidbait's shoulder and seeing him flinch in utter pain.

"Leave him! Come on, Bliss!" Fives shouted. Bliss knew this was completely wrong and horrible. She won't leave him.

"Oh, forget her! If she wants to get shot, let her! Come on!" CT-782 shouted at his brothers. They left both of them on the ground and Bliss threw off her helmet to avoid their voices in her ear and opened fire on the droids that were surrounding her and Droidbait.

Suddenly, a single droid approached them and began shooting at Bliss near her head, which was unprotected. She ducked out of the way and opened fire. But then, the droid powered down. She frowned and turned around, her hair swinging in front of her eyes and obstructing her view just slightly. She saw Commander Colt and El-Les on the training ground. This couldn't be good.

"Broke formation, disobeyed orders, and you left two troops behind! You broke rule number one." Bliss heard Colt's disapproving voice from across the ground and she winced as she helped Droidbait sit up.

"I'm sorry, Domino Squad… This is an automatic failure…" El-Les cared about their success. That is why it was so painful for him to say those words.

Commander Colt approached Bliss and she could feel his stare, even though his helmet remained on.

"I admire your kindness, trooper… But that was careless and reckless; disregarding your own gear like that. You could have gotten seriously hurt." Colt said to her. Bliss sighed and looked up at the commander.

"CT-782 was saying awful things, sir. I didn't want to hear him," Was all she said, standing up.

"Be that as it may, you must learn how to tune it out. You'll hear a lot of things you wish you didn't over a comm. But don't abandon your gear. Understood?" Colt said, placing a hand on her shoulder. Bliss sighed and looked down at her feet.

"Yes, Commander Colt. I understand." The Commander left the training ground. Bliss helped Droidbait to his feet and he groaned in pain.

"Bliss?" She turned around to see CT-782 approaching her. "Um… About what I said—"

"Listen, you snarky son of a-," Bliss stopped herself from swearing but didn't wait for him to catch himself in. "I don't care what problems you have with me! It is because of you that we failed! If you hadn't have been so damn impatient, we would have made it!" She fumed and threw her gun to the ground.

"This is all your fault!"

"Bliss!" Fives shouted at her. "That's awful!"

"I don't care anymore!" Bliss yelled. "I love everyone on this team! Everyone except for you!" Bliss shoved CT-782's chest and grabbed Droidbait by the arm, slinging his arm over her shoulder and walking away.

"I'm taking him to the medic." Was all she said as they both headed for the medic down the halls. She left him there to get his shoulder looked at and went back to the barracks, ripping off her armor and throwing it to the ground in anger, her entire face twisted in anger. She threw her gun in her locker in the most violent way possible and ripped off her body stocking, pulling on her night clothes and slamming her locker shut and pacing in the room.

Bliss continued to pace until she overheard the chiefs… Bliss stopped in her tracks and listened in onto what El-Les was saying.

"It's in the demand that Bliss be reassigned to Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi's care. She will serve him better than the other Jedi that they had paired her up with."

Bric responded in a short manner. "If you ask me, she shouldn't be assigned to any Jedi. They'll only see how soft she is and send her right back here."

"Sometimes I wonder if you even have a heart, Bric." El-Les said, glaring daggers at his partner. "If these cadets can't pass, we will have no choice but to reassign Bliss. She's the only female clone ever created and it is demanded that she be put in the field. The General has decided that even if her team does not pass, she will not remain here." Both of the bounty hunters left the room and Bliss felt her heartbeat in her ears.

"I'm being reassigned…" She thought it was just something that the Kaminoans thought of… Like, a suggestion… This can't be permanent!

Bliss sat down on the benches and began to breathe heavily. She can't lose her squad… Her brothers…

"Cadet Bliss, please report to landing platform B-3." The intercom signed through the whole facility. Bliss scowled. Now what?

Bliss marched all the way down to the landing platform and saw Bric down near the platform. He was just in the barracks, what the heck? Very slowly, she approached Bric and stood behind him.

"Yes, sir? What do you want?"

"Near as I can tell, you're the reason your squad's a failure." That hit her right in the heart.

Bliss laughed and stared him down. "Excuse me? I do my part! I do other people's parts too! Don't go blaming others mistakes on me, sir. I don't need that crap," Bliss said, getting very defensive.

"I'll tell you what you need," Bric whipped around and grabbed Bliss by the collar. "A little thing called 'tough love'!" He threw her down to the ground and Bliss bashed her head against the durasteel floor. The echo of her skull on the ground sounded through the whole platform. Bliss blinked several times.

"Everyone's always been soft on ya, just because you're a woman. Well, the droids won't see a damn difference! Get a backbone, clone!" Bric stomped on Bliss' hand and she squeaked in pain but tried to rise to her feet.

"Is there a problem here?" Bliss blinked several times and saw CT-4040 standing next to them. Bliss crawled away just as CT-4040 approached Bric. "Let me guess. Bliss started a fight and now your breaking her hand in revenge. Is that it?" He was smirking as he said it.

Bric stared CT-4040 down and scowled hard at him. "You're no better than her! You can't take anything seriously!" Bric shoved him against the wall.

"You're a real Cutup!" Bric slammed his fist right into CT-4040's side. Bliss flinched as her brother fell to his knees and coughed.

"Th-Thank you, sir…" CT-4040 said. Even Bliss was confused now.

"For what?!" Bric shouted, his acid yellow eyes seemed to almost catch fire and Bliss rose to her feet in fear.

"For my name… Cutup!" Bliss couldn't help the smile that graced her lips. He was always so optimistic and that was something she really needed once in a while.

"Out of my sight, cadets!" Bric stared down 'Cutup' and Bliss all at once. "One way or another, she will be out of this army! Count on it!" He pointed at Bliss and she directed her eyes to the floor as she hobbled her way away from the fight and towards the barracks once again, away from the horrible man.

This was too much all in one night. Bliss hobbled to her bed and began to climb the ladder, missing a bar or two every few times. She basically punched the terminal next to her bed and crawled into it.

"Are you alright, Bliss?" Cutup said. Bliss made a small noise of agreement before rolling over onto her side and closing her eyes in sadness… Is she really the reason her squad failed? Did she do wrong trying to protect her brother…? What is wrong with her?

It was almost time to turn in, anyways. Bliss tried her best to go to sleep but she seemed to be the only one rejecting sleep tonight. Everyone had gone to bed early, due to exhaustion. But Fives had returned with great news for his squad.

"Guys! The General will let us retake the final test! We get another chance!" He was so happy about it. Cutup started to cheer and Droidbait was grinning ear to ear. Echo was bouncing in place. But CT-782 was less than enthusiastic. Once the excitement died down, everyone turned in.

Bliss tossed and turned in her bunk but she could hear talking outside of her pod. Bliss sat up in bed once she pulled her bed out and listened to the talk.

"You can't do this to your squad… To Bliss," It was 99. It had to be.

"Bliss? Bliss doesn't care about me! She said it herself: It's all my fault they failed! The team would be better off without me!" CT-782? Oh no… Bliss was so regretting her words now.

It only just now hit her that she hadn't meant a single word of what she said… Bliss knew that the excitement was overwhelming his senses and he couldn't see reason in fight. His heart was always too heavy for his own good.

Bliss thought that was the final say about her, but it wasn't. 99 had more to say about her.

"Bliss can't lose you and your brothers… If your squad doesn't pass tomorrow, she gets reassigned… You'll lose your sister, Hevy… You don't want that." Bliss bit her lip and hugged her knees, tears falling on her pantlegs. Bliss didn't want to lose anybody.

"I… I can't protect her, 99! Bliss is a big girl; she can handle herself," So that was it? He didn't care?

Bliss curled back up into bed and let the pod slide closed and cried. Cried like a little girl… She's lost a brother…


The next day had come much too fast and everyone was all geared up in their armor and Bliss was tending to Droidbait's shoulder blade, rubbing a salve on his skin before helping him with the body stocking and putting his armored plating back on his back and chest. Bliss stayed silent. She knew that if she said anything, everything would just collapse in front of her. She had to keep herself quiet somehow.

So Bliss sat on the bench, messing with her fingers and just hoping for the best. Hoping that CT-782 would get over his search for victory and see how he had a team and not just follow it all by himself. That CT-782, he really needed to—wait… where is he?

"Hey, where's CT-782?" Fives looked around the lockers for their missing squad mate.

"Yeah, where is CT-782?" Echo looked down at Bliss who rose to her feet and looked around the corners and put her head against the locker, scowling.

"If he is not here, we will fail!" She said, kicking the locker door.

"Not today, sister," Bliss looked up at CT-782 and she smiled wide, knowing he didn't actually leave! He stayed! He's gonna help them pass… Bliss crossed her fingers at the hope she won't be reassigned after all. "Today we pass."

He was carrying his submachine gun on his shoulder and had his helmet in his other hand and passed the team, taking the lead with his giant 1 painted on his scuffed and dented armor.

"And one more thing—the name's Hevy!" Whoa… Bliss gawked at her brother like he was a changed man. 99 really made him see reason, didn't he? Bliss shared a look in Fives' direction and he just shrugged. Echo had a smile on his lips and couldn't help but follow close behind his brother. Bliss hung back, her rifle hanging loosely in her left hand. Please let this happen… She thought to herself.

They made their way to the training ground for their final-final test and stood on the lift. Bliss had an itchy trigger finger but was pretty excited.

"Orders came in clear, mates." Echo said. He wasn't going to repeat them?

"Nothing to repeat, Echo?" Cutup asked him.

"Not today." The whole squad was functioning as one. Bliss smiled and flexed her shoulders.

"How's that shoulder treating you?" Hevy said to Droidbait.

"I'll live," Droidbait responded, barely blinking an eyelash away. Fives elbowed Bliss in the ribs and she squeaked, looking up at him.

"We all know what we have to do," He said to her. Bliss knew exactly what he meant as the floor opened up and they only had a few seconds to adjust to the lighting before they all saw the droids poised at them and ready to fire. They jumped into action, taking out the droids that stood in their way. Bliss fired at the droids near her and took cover behind a barricade.

Hevy stood next to her and the rest of the squad hid behind the same barricade. They're all staying together!

"That's it boys, stay together!" Hevy said. Bliss smiled wide.

"Fives, on your left!" Cutup yelled as Fives stood up and fired at the droid that almost took him out. The droid fell to the floor with a loud thud.

"Thanks, Cutup," Fives told Cutup, smiling.

"No problem, brother." Cutup responded and smiled at all of his brothers.

"Okay, when I give the signal, move up!" Hevy lifted up his hand and looked at the squad who all looked at him and waited for the signal. Bliss felt her finger twitch a little as she watched him throw his hand down and they all moved forward, taking down a barrage of droids in their way.

Bliss saw blaster fire near her feet from above and rolled to the left, lining up the droids with the crosshairs and fired, taking them down instantly. She saw her brothers heading for another barrier and ran crouched down towards it and ducked down as three of her brothers above and opening fire on the droids. Bliss rubbed her neck and sighed deeply.

"Keep it up, we're doing great!" Droidbait yelled, keeping his gun close to his forearm and protecting his squad.

"We might actually pass," Cutup said with a hopeful expression.

"Yeah," Bliss said, snorting. "Don't jinx us—we've still got the Citadel."

She checked her gun once before she jumped up and opened fire on the droids that were near the Citadel at the top of the watch tower. But she jumped down in fear as the guns on the wall tried to take her head out.

"Let's move! Let's move!" Hevy shouted as he jumped out from the barrier and revved up his submachine gun and taking down the droids near the tower. Bliss rolled out of the way near the guns on the walls and ran near the Citadel.

Droidbait was near her and kept a close eye on their flank as Bliss watched their frontal.

They all made it to the wall and hid from the fire of the guns on the walls.

"All right, prep the ascension cables," Droidbait said. "Let's scale this thing!"

Bliss' hand went to her belt for the cables but felt nothing on her belt. Fear rose in her heart that she might have forgotten her cable and freaked out. But she looked at her brothers and realized that no one had their cables!

"Wait, where are the cables?!" Hevy shouted, turning around to face the rest of the squad.

"They're not on our belts!" Echo double checked his belt but realized that it was a fruitless effort. There were no cables!

"Just when things seemed easy," Cutup frowned in fear.

"We can't scale the face without them! We'll fail the test if we can't finish!" Droidbait shouted, slamming his fist against the wall.

Bliss stared at the walls around her and tried to figure something out. But it didn't seem like it was working out for her. "We can't fail! I can't be reassigned!" Bliss shouted, jumping up and staring at the face of the wall, frowning as she did so.

"You're not going anywhere, Bliss!" Cutup said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "We'll think of something."

"Will we?" Her eyes narrowed at Cutup as she stared at the wall and internally screamed in terror.

"So this is it." Echo gave up and looked down at Fives, sighing deeply.

"No, not exactly! Those guns up there—we can use them as a step to the next level," Hevy suggested. Bliss looked at the wall and smiled. She trusted Hevy's weaponry knowledge. This could work!

"Form a chain, and use each other to scale this face!"

"Use the guns?" Fives stared at Hevy's insane idea and stared at him like he was psychotic. "Are you crazy?!"

"Trust me!" Hevy said. "I know weapons!"

"I trust you!" Bliss said, jumping up with her gun and jumping back. "I'll draw their fire! You guys go!" She ran out into the gun fire and began to shoot at the guns. After she opened fire, they jumped up to the next level and shot out the guns, short circuiting them. Bliss kept the other guns busy as she watched Hevy shoot out the guns on the walls.

Bliss dived behind a barrier and ducked down behind the barrage of blaster fire and then heard silence. She looked up above the barrier and saw that the guns were all down and everyone was climbing up the wall while using the guns. Everybody was working together!

Echo was up the level first and grabbed the beacon. For the first time in her short life, Bliss watched as a member of her team held the beacon and it turned from red to green and the siren sounded. Echo called out in triumph and Bliss lowered her weapon, smiling up at her brothers.

"We did it…" Bliss said, smiling wide as she watched her brothers cheer from above the tower.


"Congratulations," Bliss stood at attention with the rest of her squad and felt the medal finally on her chest. It felt like the biggest honor she has ever received. "You've graduated. At ease," El-Les declared and Bliss relaxed. She took the medal off of her chest and stared at the shiny gold on the piece of striped fabric. A symbol to say that she made it… And will not be reassigned. Now the cards will fall where they may.

Bliss saw her brothers rushing off to get fitted for their first piece of professional trooper armor. She ran off after them and headed for the fitters and waited for her own armor to be made especially for her. The chest plating was curved in just slightly for her and the waist was wider than her brothers' armor.

Bliss looked in the reflective glass and smiled. She was finally a trooper. Bliss then saw one of her brothers standing behind her in the same armor and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Bliss," It was Hevy. "You deserve this armor." Bliss smiled up at her brother and hugged him.

"I'm sorry I was so cruel… It's because of you that I get to wear this armor with you. I didn't want to be alone when we ship out… I need my brothers I've come to love. Especially you, Hevy."

Hevy patted his sister's head and ruffled her hair. She smiled and punched him in the shoulder before picking up her helmet and her gun.

"Time to get shipped out," Hevy picked up his helmet. Bliss smiled and ran towards the huge hangar where all of her brothers stood. Bliss took her spot next to Cutup and Fives and Hevy stood at the end of the line. Droidbait took his spot next to Echo who stood at the other end of the line-up. General Ti made her way down the isle of troopers and stood at the front of the hangar where the giant airship was waiting to be loaded up.

"Today is your graduation," General Ti said, holding her hands behind her back. "Here, you ship out to fight against the Separatists and restore peace to the Republic. Congratulations! You are no longer cadets—you are troopers." Bliss felt a shiver go down her spine at that. She finally made it!

"May the Force be with you." As a Jedi, that is her final line. Always.

"Atten-TION!" The Commander shouted throughout the entire hangar. Every Trooper stood at attention and readied themselves. "Helmets: ON!"

Bliss put on her helmet and began marching with her brothers towards the airship ramp. She marched alongside her squad… Her brothers. May be my creation wasn't a mistake… This is my purpose. Bliss said in her head. I can feel it.

Her feet touched the durasteel ramp and she knew that this was the first step to the rest of her life.