One strange adventure. Chapter 9 – Hidden past.

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…More then half of a year has passed since Rika and her digimon were "adopted" by the Jedi Order. Many things happened since. Under her teacher's watchful eye she studied the ways of the Force. Her training schedule was far more intense then one of a youngling, she spent on training more than 6 – 8 hours per day. The reason was simple – Rika was accepted as a padawan from a very start, and Shaak Ti expected her to catch on the youngling level as fast as it was possible.

Although magister Yoda said not to hurry with training, master Ti was doing her best to speed up the process. It was because of a strange movement in the Force, that she sensed. Shaak Ti sensed that something grave is approaching, something that will bring death and destruction to the Republic. She said about what she sensed to the council, but it was declined, for no one else sensed a thread, not even magister Yoda. No one listened to Shaak Ti, but she was sure of her senses, and was trying to do everything to prepare her young padawan for the upcoming thread.

Shaak Ti had reasons to do so. Her previous padawans perished when they barely achieved knighthood, and Ti was determined not to let this story happen again. And Rika was showing progress. In half of a year she already learned to use the Force to levitate several objects at a time, even quite heavy objects. This was proven when she levitated Fixer from the ground and swirled him in the air. It was quite funny, except that after that Fixer was a bit dizzy and angry as hell.

Speaking of those 4 commandos, the lack of missions for them was getting them restless. All this time they were training in the Jedi temple, but for what? There were absolutely no missions, or at least, that was told to them. By the order of chancellor Palpatine even one of the best legions – the fighting 501st clone legion was transferred to Coruscant. No one knows why, the war was about to be won, and there was no need to reinforce the defense of the capital planet…

…Rika was training in her room. Her teacher was out, and Rika was tasked to train with a training droid. It was a floating ball with mini – blasters, designed to train young students deflect blaster bolts. She already received a training sword – a little lightsaber which was produced for training purposes, was shorter than an average one and was not able to produce any lethal damage.

The floating sphere was shooting yellow little blaster bolts with a rate of 1 shot per 5 seconds, so that a student would have some time to prepare. Not a highest level of training, but everyone had to start from lower levels.

Rika concentrated on the sphere, as she tried to deflect blaster bolts. She managed to deflect two or three shots when her attention was distracted by a cheerful squeal coming from the entrance:

"Hi!!!" This voice shocked Rika very much. It resembled too much a voice from her past. A voice, which belonged to Calumon. Rika turned her head slowly, but it was not Calumon. It was an 8 year – old girl, in youngling robes, and with cheer and happiness on her face. This appearance distracted Rika, and training droid managed to shot her in the leg. The blaster bolts were not able to produce any burns, but a hit was still quite painful and unpleasant.

"Don't you know to knock first before entering?" Rika almost screamed at the child, and suddenly stopped, because her anger scared the little girl.

"You … you are angry, aren't you? But … Jedi are not supposed to be angry, only Sith are angry, so said our teacher. You're no Sith, are you?" she said with fright. Rika only sighed heavily when she heard the question.

"Of course I am not a Sith. Look, I just was sore a bit because of your appearance the droid had shot me in the leg. But you came here for a reason, right?" Rika asked with a much milder tone, and turned the training droid off.

"Well … um, it's just that … you're a padawan of master Ti, yet I have never seen you amongst the younglings. I wanted to ask … how come it is so?" the girl asked shyly. Rika understood the reason of such a question – the little girl thought that there is a way to become a padawan without being a youngling first.

"Well, I suppose I have something special…" she started to reply, when her training droid accidently turned on again and shot her in the leg … again.

"Why you dirty good for nothing floating pile of scrap!" Rika hissed in anger and was going to smash the droid against the wall with the Force. But then … something happened. Rika did something a bit different, and instead of flying away, the droid got crushed, squashed, by the Force in a second.

"Oops, I think I have overreacted a bit…" Rika mumbled to herself when she suddenly saw what effect her little "performance" had on the girl. She was shaking like a leaf, hiding behind the door. She was scared.

"You… Your specialty is in … anger. You are a Sith. You … scare me!" little girl said and ran away, crying. Rika haven't even made an attempt to stop her, it was too late already. Then she heard someone tripping and a familiar manly voice:

"Hey, watch where you going!" The next moment one of her "acquaintances" entered the room. It was Boss, Rika recognized him by the orange stripes on his shirt. Without their armor on this was the only way to tell the difference between them. He was carrying some boxes.

"What's going on?" he inquired.

"Nothing, just some kid went psycho. Anyways, what's in the box?" Rika asked suspiciously.

"Master Ti ordered me to deliver some more training droids to you." Boss replied unwaveringly, as it seemed. However, Rika already grew strong in the Force. If she was unable yet to read minds, she was able to sense if someone was not saying something entirely.

"I see, this is good. I have just scrapped my only training droid, so these are just in time. Is there something else you want to tell me?" she asked directly. Clone was surprised by that question.

"Well, yeah, how did you know?" he asked in amazement.

"The Force thing. So, what did you want to ask me about? Maybe I can help you." Rika proposed. She was taught by her teacher that all Jedi are helpers, and that they should help whenever they have a chance, even with an advice.

"It's Scorch. I think he is up to something again." Boss said heavily and sat on a chair.

"You mean like the last time, when he tried to steal some explosives from the storage?" Rika inquired with a bit of laugh. She remembered that Scorch was almost kicked out from the squad because of that. Since that time Scorch never tried to perform such acts again.

"No, it's the other thing. I have noticed that Scorch started to walk around our teacher recently…" he started to say.

"Your teacher? You mean Renamon, right?" Rika interrupted.

"Right. When I asked him what the purpose of such behavior was, he was extremely evasive with the answer, and, in the end, managed to change the subject. I wonder why." Boss said thoughtfully. Rika understood his concern. As the leader of the squad, Boss is tasked to take care of all of his brothers. And Boss had a feeling that Scorch might distrust him.

"Hm, this is strange indeed. I have one hunch though. Knowing Scorch, I may presume he is trying to … well, you know, befriend her or something. And is approaching her carefully." Rika said. Boss spent a few second analyzing this guess, after that he said:

"Perhaps you are right. I know Scorch, if he would have a chance, he would befriend a whole planet. He is extremely connectable."

"You know, you and Scorch remind me of someone." Rika said unexpectedly.

"Really? I thought we remind anyone only of Jango Fett. He was our "father"." Boss replied with curiosity.

"No, you remind me of someone from my past… My friends…" Rika said sadly. She tried to forget her own world, memories were bringing her too much pain, but it was futile. So Rika stopped struggling. Her teacher managed to ease this pain, but only for a bit. Boss noticed Rika's sadness.

"I'm sorry. We didn't mean to upset you. We'll change." he said. Clone was certain it was his fault.

"No, please, don't bother. It's not your fault. It's actually a good thing. In time my home world would become a sweet memory for me. Time heals…" Rika assured him of the opposite and tried to shake off her sadness. Failed.

"May I ask?" clone inquired gently.

"Sure." Rika replied.

"Of whom exactly do we remind you of?" he asked.

"My friends… My best friends. Gogglehe… a mean Takato, and Henry. I remember when I first met them… Back then I was a cold and cruel girl, despite my young age. I had many problems, but was taught to be self – reliant. All my classmates were either scared of me or paid to me no attention. And they … they were the first people who actually lend a hand to me. Back then I rejected their help and tried to cast them off countless times… Yet they always came back, no matter how vile my insults were… Too bad I didn't understand their real value." Rika said dimly. A long line of flashbacks winded before her eyes. When it was over, she drawn a photo out of the inner pocket of her robe.

"These are your friends, right?" soldier asked while looking at the picture. Rika didn't know how exactly that photo got to her, she accidently found it in a pocket of her jeans just when she arrived at the temple. Rika remembered little about that day. She hated photo – shoots, even for the memory of the days past. That is why she didn't even try to smile when that picture was made. Renamon stood behind her, and her face expression was as impenetrable as always.

"Let me guess, Scorch reminds you of that guy…" Boss proposed and pointed at a guy, who was wearing strange goggles, and stood near a big red lizard with "digital hazard" sign on his chest. That was Takato.

"Yes, how did you know it was him?" Rika asked in amazement.

"Simple, Scorch has the same insane fires in his eyes." clone replied without hesitation.

"You are right. His name is Takato. He, even if his behavior was sometimes silly and childish, was able to fight for his friends no matter what were the odds. He always wanted to help other people, even such unworthy of his assistance as myself." Rika commented the first boy.

"And the other guy?" Boss inquired.

"The other guy's name is Henry. He is much calmer and reasonable then Takato, and often it is Henry who prevents him from doing harsh and uncalculated movements. They both are very good people, but if Takato is more emotional, Henry is the voice of reason. They both complete each other, Henry brings reason and logic to Takato's actions, and Takato helps Henry whenever he is unsure what to do. And they both helped me… You remind me of Henry though…" Rika said sadly and sighed.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked… I will be going now, so that I will bother you no longer." soldier apologized and left silently. After a couple of minutes, Rika also stood up. "I think I might as well find out what Scorch is up to… Since I have nothing better to do…" she thought as she went out of her room…

…Meanwhile, Renamon was in the training chamber. No, she was not training, she was more of a spectator right now. Master Ti and master Jusik were training, practicing lightsaber fighting, and Renamon was watching it. She got obsessed with lightsaber combat, because it had the beauty, elegance and charm only she seemed to understand. Those moves hypnotized her, and weapons were considered by yellow kitsune a work of art.

However, not only she was a spectator around here, Scorch was there as well. But he was not that much interested in watching the fight. There was a reason he was stalking Renamon for the last month. He noticed that every time she was watching Jedi fight, she stared at the fight with a hungry, greedy glare. And, usually, after the fight was over, Renamon was spending time with an upset look on her face. And this got Scorch worried. Commandos were very attached to their new "teacher", as they called her. She taught them to fight better, thus, improving their chances of surviving in battle, and that was considered a very high and noble deed by the soldiers.

"Good day, teacher." Scorch greeted Renamon politely as he approached her. Renamon paid no attention to that, not on purpose, she just was too attracted by the fight.

"Err, hello? You there? Hello! Coruscant to Renamon!" Scorch said and snapped his fingers a couple of times to get Renamon out of that state. It worked.

"Uh, what? Oh, it's you. Sorry, I guess I was carried away … a bit." Rena said in a bit of confusion. She knew it was not polite to ignore anyone that way.

"I just wanted to ask if you are alright. Every time you watch these Jedi training you look like you are not on this planet, but somewhere else." Scorch asked with concern in his voice.

"Thanks for the concern, but it's nothing serious. I guess I enjoy watching these fights too much. No need to worry, I will deal with this sooner or later…" Renamon replied and redirected her attention to the fight again.

"Well, if you say so…" Scorch replied and left. He understood that it would be unwise to disturb Renamon again. However, Scorch was not stupid, after his rather long observations, he noticed something, and started to find a way to solve it…

…Scorch found Fixer in their room. He was trying to fix a broken survey droid, using a hidrospanner. It was like Fixer – he always tried to do something productive in his free time.

"Hey there, technogeek! What are you doing?" Scorch greeted and teased Fixer at the same time.

"One more time you call me a technogeek and I will hit you with my hidrospanner." Fixer replied harshly. He didn't like to be distracted from his work.

"Hey, c'mon! You know I was just joking!" Scorch tried to apologize.

"Your jokes are not always funny or well – placed, Scorch. Now, is there something you needed?" Fixer asked with a much milder tone.

"Well, kinda. I wanted to ask you something, since you're a technical expert. Err… do you know how to make a lightsaber?" Scorch asked with an innocent look on his face. This question made Fixer's eyes wide in amazement.

"You want to construct a lightsaber or something?" he asked directly.

"NO! Of course not! I'm just curious." Scorch replied, but it was obvious even for Fixer that he was not telling the truth.

"Look, if you don't want to tell me the truth for some reason, then I will not help you with anything. Now go, and don't disturb me from my work." Fixer replied harshly.

"Why are you always such a sore – sack? Is there nothing else in your life besides serving the Republic, being a sturdy "by – the – book" trooper?" Scorch asked and was about to leave, when he got stopped by Fixer's question:

"You really want to know?" This stunned Scorch for a second. Fixer never revealed anything about himself to anyone.

"Well, yeah, I want to know." he replied. This was getting interesting.

"Very well, I will tell you. When I was sent to Kamino for enhanced slicing training, after some missions performed for the Republic, I have accidently hacked into holonet. And it just so happened that I read some comments on the forum about the war. I remember all the propaganda that said that we are performing a noble mission of protecting the Republic, saving people from Separatist's tyranny. Back then, I really believed all that, as all clones do. But, I have read all those comments on forum. It seemed that people don't care if we are dead or not, they know that for any fallen soldier Kaminoans will clone a new platoon. Of course, no one cared, battles were going on not very populated planets of the outer Rim, far away from the Core worlds. And we are considered not much better than droids we fight. I know that our more common brethren were not given a developed sense of personality, and some times I envy them for that. They don't care if their efforts are appreciated or not, but I, unfortunately care." Fixer stopped and took a breath. Scorch did not believe what he hears, he never suspected the most disciplined soldier in their squad to have such thoughts.

"I don't like that no one in the Republic appreciates what we, clones, are doing for them. I have to confess some things about myself: I don't want to die, I am more afraid of pain than you, Sev or any other. And I am not that loyal to the Republic, after all I have found out. I don't like battle, but I go without hesitation any time, because I cannot betray you guys. You're my brothers. But I'm a realist. Also I have found out that all clones, who suffered irreversible damage during battle, are sent on weapon factories as slave labor. That is why I hope I will die before this… But, if we are bred to die on the battlefield, I would prefer to die for something or someone that is important to me, for what I really care for, and not for the Republic, who forged us as a weapon. Since this "enlightenment", I kept this "by – the – book" attitude, for so long it became a part of my character. It was meant to mask all my doubts. You know what was done on Kamino to ineffective and disloyal clones don't you?" Fixer asked after his long speech.

"They were sent to the "place of no return". No one seen them again since." Scorch replied dimly.

"Exactly. That is why … I ask you, don't mention this talk to anyone. If this will get to our military authorities, well … let's just say our squad will need a new technician. Now, I told you all this, because I trust you. Now, can you tell me exactly why do you need a lightsaber?" Fixer said even dimmer.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. As for the lightsaber…" Scorch started to say, but was interrupted by Rika's appearance in the room. She overheard their whole discussion, and was shocked by the facts Fixer revealed. She was not able to believe that for all their sacrifice people gave them nothing than ingratitude. However, she came there for a different reason. She wanted to ask Scorch about what was he up to.

"Rika… You heard everything, didn't you?" Fixer asked in disappointment.

"Yes. But don't worry, I promise I won't tell anyone. Actually, I wanted to know why do you need information about lightsabers?" Rika asked and looked at Scorch directly.

"Well, I … um, err…" he started to think what to say, yet Rika already guessed what the matter was. She remembered her talk with Boss just before that, and asked directly:

"Has it something to do with Renamon?"

"Well, yes. I guess you got me here." he replied carelessly and laughed a bit, acting like nothing important happened.

"Why do you want to make a saber for Renamon?" Rika asked even more directly.

"Think about it. She has lightning speed and agility, an amulet of some sort that protects her from the Force, with a lightsaber she would be invincible." Scorch unexpectedly came out with an explanation. Rika almost believed it, but her sense of the Force told her that Scorch is not telling the whole truth.

"I feel that is not the only reason." Rika said and narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"Err, right. That was not the only reason. I will explain. You see, for the last month I was stalking our teacher. She liked, no, that's not the word, she was obsessed with lightsaber fighting. I noticed it, whenever Renamon was observing a fight, she was like in a trance. Like under hypnosis. And whenever she was not able to see a fight, she had a really sad look, and I do mean sad." Scorch started to say.

"Really, how come I didn't notice that?" Rika asked herself.

"Well that's maybe because you were too busy to pay any attention to your friend lately, being occupied with that "Force" of yours. But, if at first I thought that it was only about fighting, I was wrong. Once I saw how Renamon looked at the lightsaber, it all went clear to me. I made a conclusion that your friend, our teacher, desires a lightsaber more than anything else in this universe." Scorch finally ended this.

"What glare she had?" Rika asked a question which had a pretty obvious answer.

"Imagine me stalking a really BIG pile of various explosives. What glare would I have?" Scorch replied with a question of his own. No one had anything to say against it, everyone knew that Scorch was married to his explosives.

"Alright, I see your point. Still, why do you want to do all this?" Rika asked.

"Ugh, is "do a good thing for a friend" a good reason for you? Besides, the anniversary of your and Renamon's first meeting is coming close." Scorch replied. He was beginning to get annoyed by this interrogation. However, this reply got Rika off guard.

"How did you know about our anniversary?" she demanded.

"You mentioned it once, and I was there to remember it. Think about it, a lightsaber might be a perfect gift."

"You won't manage to make a sword. It requires the ability to use the Force. My teacher said she would teach me to make one soon." Rika replied.

"Then, when you will build your own sword, you might snatch some parts for another… I don't care who makes the sword or gives it, I just … well, I just want to see teacher happy for once." Scorch proposed. Rika analyzed his words for one second, and then looked at Scorch with admiration.

"You are a very good friend, Scorch. I wonder where from you learned to act that way. I mean, you clones were not taught to act that way." she said calmly. She once again compared these clone commandos with other clones she knew. These were much more humane.

"I can tell you, if you're interested, of course." Scorch replied.

"Yes, tell, I wonder what your story is." Fixer replied, after he sat silent through the whole discussion.

"It was when we first started to serve under general Jusik's jurisdiction. I remember I was on a mission throughout the city. And I saw such a scene: a little boy was coming somewhere with his mother, and they came across several bodies of dead clones lying on the ground. This city was cleared from droid forces several days ago, with great casualties. And I have overheard such a discussion:

"Poor white soldiers…" the boy said.

"Don't pity them, they are not real humans, they are clones." his mother replied, and they left. When I told general Jusik about this and asked why not we are considered humans, he replied:

"Those, who say that you all are not humans, are in reality lesser humans than you. Remember, to be truly human is not something given with birth. Everyone must earn the right to be called humans in a true meaning of the word. If you always try to do the right thing, no matter what the repercussions could be, then, you are a real human." I have remembered these words, and I try to do the right thing." Scorch finished his story.

"So it was Bardan that influenced you so much." Rika concluded.

"Yes, he influenced all of us. He treated us all, from commandos to average ground troops as if we were his own children, and he said that he wishes for this war to be over soon, so that we, we all, would live the rest of our short lives in peace." Fixer added.

"Short lives? What do you mean?" Rika asked in amazement.

"I believe you already heard that we were genetically modified to grow faster, in order to ensure a steady flow of fresh clones for the army in shorter time. Unfortunately, this process is irreversible. If now we look 25 year old, after 25 more years we'll look like 75 year old men. And people usually die at this age." Scorch said with a really sad smile on his face.

"How ironic, the Republic is using an army of slaves to defend other people's freedom. Life has one nasty sense of humor." Fixer added dimly. Rika was shocked … again. She knew already that these misfortunate soldiers had little pleasant things in their lives, and was against such unjust thing but such short life – spans … this was just cruel. Now she understood why most of the Jedi felt guilty, they felt partially responsible for misfortunes of these people, who were bred to die effectively.

"I think you're right, Scorch. Renamon never asked me for anything, and I never gave her anything. I think she deserves a lightsaber. Thanks for the idea!" she thanked Scorch and wanted to exit the room.

"Don't mention it." Scorch tried to reply cheerfully. He almost managed to do so. It stopped Rika in her tracks for a second, she turned around and said:

"Oh, no I will mention it. I'll tell Renamon it was your idea when everything will be done. I can't take all the gratitude." and left.

Rika understood one thing, that, even though her best friends from Earth were now very far away, and Rika almost abandoned hope to ever see them again, she found new friends here, who are just as devoted, who always ready to help, despite the misery they live in now…

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