The doors to the medic bay parted. Feral went in first. He saw his things lying on the great counter that lined the east wall of the bay. His gear was completely new or repaired. He smiled to himself and walked over to it. Everything was there, even though the healer had told him it was too damaged to be repaired. His hands ran along it, remembering all he had been through with it before this. His missions, battles, scratches, and stains.
"Did she…do all of this herself?" Feral glanced over at Suil.
"I did. Bit by bit."
Feral's head was over to his left now. He stepped back. "Rache. I-I appreciate this. I…don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything, Feral," She said in a raspy voice.
Feral's smile faded. "You don't sound too well. Are you all right?"
The question adored the healer and her smile was great. She went to the clone and took his hands in her own. They became a fire with pleasant warmth. It crawled up his arms and into his upper body. Boshy cooed in delight and her body arched with good health. Feral glanced at the rugger as she climbed up his bare shoulder and balanced on the back of his shoulders. Rache patted the clone's hands. Feral's face became relaxed and he smiled softly.
"I'm fine now, Feral. I'm just…glad to see you are healthy and well. My hard work is asking if I'm okay. That is more rewarding than anybody here knows. I've um…repaired your items, yes. Your poncho is completely new and your breech cloth skirt. I have repaired most of the clothing on this cursed ship." Rache sighed and playfully rolled her eyes. "But it is something I enjoy. I have to. I have nothing else to do, but treat my boys."
Feral studied the healer. Despite her raspy voice, she was especially happy to see him well. That was satisfying enough for him. As long as she was happy. That didn't mean, though, that he wouldn't worry about her well-being even after he left. He assumed she was the exact same way about him.
"Thank you for healing Boshy. How did you…know?"
Rache reached and stroked the wooly animal. "I'm a healer, Feral. I can tell when a person or animal is not feeling well. You're very well. You clean up nicely. You've even built muscle. Let me apologize for what you had to go through with the slaver."
Feral looked away at the reminder. "What's done is done. There's not really anything that can be done about…that."
Rache patted Feral's hands once more to reassure him. "It's all right. Don't let anybody push you around on this ship. You have permission to defend yourself."
"Yeah, clone, nobody is as "large" as you are, now. You've well surpassed any previous records and establishments on this ship thanks to what Syth had the slaver do to you. It's actually what she's well known for. Hurry up, I don't have all day. I'd like to get a secluded place away from the women."
"That just makes me feel ill." Feral rubbed the back of his neck.
Rache took pity on him. "Oh! Shut up, Suil! It's all right Feral, it's not your fault. It's a good thing for you in case someone tries to attack you from that area. It's a useless attempt now. Anyways," Rache moved the clone back over to his things, "hurry, Suil gets impatient when it comes to these things. Help him get his stuff on and get the hell out of here!"
After farewell's were exchanged, Feral was walking beside the wolf man out of the docking bay of the great ship. He was in discomfort and ache in his groin area, still. It had been bothering him before the bastard pirate had struck him there.
The sky on this planet was dark. Blinking with billions of stars and a giant moon gave it some character. The night life was rich. Flashing lights, tall, chrome buildings, ethnic clothing and cultures. Feral had never seen anything like it.
"Is that one of the bounty hunters?!"
"It's a clone trooper!"
"Why is he with a pirate?"
"He's a handsome one, isn't he?" A pale-skinned, white-haired female shyly waved at the clone.
She was beautiful, Feral had to say, but he didn't feel anything like that for any woman. He felt a little awkward about it, but it was what it was. He was a soldier. He had never had any opportunity to become interested in any woman and neither had any of his brothers. Their duty was strictly to each other and their service to the jedi and the republic itself. He knew better than to think that they were immune to such emotions. No, he was a man, but his inborn programming was stronger than any other urges he would have as a man, naturally.
"They're getting closer and I don't like it." Feral shrugged his shoulders to loosen his deep, thick cowl that covered the shoulders on his poncho. Boshy had curled up in the hood itself, riding comfortably with her body supported by the fabric itself. She was out of sight, as well.
Suil chuckled. "You are really new to this, boy, aren't you? You're good at keeping track of them, I'll give you that."
"It's no different than keeping track of animals in a damn forest."
"They're not animals, clone. Far from it."
"No, they're people, I'm just saying, at this time, they're rather ferine." Feral glanced about to see the curious women that were sauntering after them. He figured the wolf man was a little upset with him for taking too long. It would have been better if they would have escaped with the mass of the crew. Now they were lagging behind in their own company and they were sitting targets for any interested individuals of the opposite sex. Feral never had any concept of how handsome or sexy he was to these women, but both him and the wolf-man were the stars of the show, it seemed. "Where's the rest of the crew?"
"You…don't want to know that, nor do you want to go there. They wouldn't let you in and you don't want to know what goes on there, anyways. I'll take you to a calm place. It's a lounge up here; a hole in the wall, really. These ladies shouldn't follow us too much further. It's not safe. Just keep in mind; you're probably one of the best looking men in the crew, besides Syth and maybe two other men."
Feral blinked. "What? How? There are countless others like me!"
"These women don't know that! They don't know anything about where you come from. It's free game here. You are responsible for putting up your rules. If you don't want them near you, let them know. If you're friendly, they'll take advantage of that. If you're disinterested, they'll leave you alone, but be careful, some find that appealing on a whole 'nother level. I've never figured it out, myself, but don't let them bother you. You…don't need that."
"Got that damn right." Feral glanced over his shoulder one last time before he followed the wolf man into the lounge he was talking about. It was practically pitch black inside. Once his eyes adjusted, he could see. He followed the shistavanen to a booth. It was secluded, just like he had said it would be. Feral sat down in the corner seat. He folded one leg over the other and observed his surroundings. "I still cannot believe I'm here. I feel anxious. How do I know he's done with me?"
Suil spread out his arms on the booth. "He's not done with you. He is done conditioning you for what you couldn't do yourself. Now, you are responsible for conditioning yourself. He should give you his new plan soon. He'll send you on errands. They will be very dirty errands that nobody else cares to do." Suil accepted a drink from an alien waiter.
Feral refused the drink, but Suil asked for another and shoved it in Feral's direction. The clone growled in displeasure. "What do you mean, "dirty"? And I did not want a drink. I don't even know what it is."
Suil hissed at the clone. "It's water! Damn! Scum work. You track people. Relay information. You're his right hand man. Nobody on the ship has this privilege. They can't handle it. You can. It's what he has you for."
"Is death involved? My general philosophy involves as little as possible."
"Don't know. Maybe you will," Suil stretched a hand open, "maybe you won't, clone. Just as long as you get what he wants. That should take the strain off of your morality conflict."
"I just…wasn't designed to kill in cold blood. It's reasonable cause or I run like hell. This is…I sound like a fool. I'm not new to this. I've taken down droids bare handed. I've killed deadly predators three times my size with my bare hands alone. It's just, we're talking about people and I'm here against my will." Feral ran a hand down his face. Once more he spotted some female humanoids that were eye-balling him and the shistavanen. "This is going to be a long two damn days." He averted his eyes, feeling ashamed. The damned slaver was to blame. He had nothing to be ashamed about, but she had caused him to be.
"Easy, Feral. I know your name is Feral for a reason. Act like it. I do, anyways."
"You're not a human being. You have canines and fur."
"You ARE a human being. You've killed wild animals and you have a pet rat. You also have some pretty damn solid confidence between your legs right now. Stop whining!"
Feral rubbed the bridge of his nose. People were going to have to stop mention the horrible thing that was now him and would always be him. He would never forgive the slaver or Syth for handing him over like he did. Just so the pirate could pass through. If it meant he was alpha because of it, well then…fine…so be it, if it granted him control over his own well-being.
"Stop talking about it!" he spat at the shistavanen.
"Take pride in it."
"You're pissing me off!" Feral growled in annoyance.
"That's my boy." Suil chuckled and took a lengthy swig of his water.
"You're not going to quit are you?"
"I can't. You won't be able to get into the right attitude if I do. I'm your damn mother, now, boy. Whether you ever had one is not the point. You're in need of a mentor out here."
"Whatever. Do you know why Syth is doing all of this? Why me and not one of you that he already trusted for years and years?"
"See, nobody goes around asking shit like that, clone. What the man does is nobody else's business."
"Dammit, I have a right to know. I do shit and breathe like you do. I'm not a damn droid!"
"I don't know. I really don't. This thing is…it's completely new. I've been with the crazy fool the longest beside the healer. Syth has always had his bets and investments, gambling, women, whatever. I don't know what the hell you are, but you've been worth the effort. He was always good at choosing things to put his time into, even if we tried to talk him out of it. Stubborn, damn jackass!" Suil snarled to himself.
Boshy slid out onto the table and balanced on her hind legs. She inspected the glass and lapped at the water in it. Feral rubbed her wooly shoulders with his thumb and forefingers on his left hand. "I just don't understand. None of this makes any damn sense to me. I don't know if it ever will. The general just left me to die. I could have lived. I've always come out every time. This time…was the first I've been left behind. After all the times I have gone back and nearly died to save my generals and my brothers. My love for which I served was always faithful to me until now. I want answers."
"I don't know if you'll ever find them."
"I'm beginning to think I won't. I'm dead now. That's it. Nothing more can be said."
"You're very alive, the last time I checked. Dead to your previous life. Alive and well in your freedom now. That doesn't mean you can't find answers about your previous life."
"I might be a good hunter, a tracker, and soldier, but getting information about something as foreign as why I was left to die, strictly because I'm a "clone"," Feral said crassly, "I was not designed to cope with."
"You're bitter."
Feral sat back and lifted his chin. "I am now. I've never hated what I am so much until after this happened. I didn't know how to hate it. I'm confused now. Being locked in a cell makes more sense than even being here right now or handed to some-some…carnivorous monster that feeds off of pain from her prisoners. I just…never questioned my purpose until now. Is that even supposed to be a thought for me?"
Suil growled. "I don't know how the republic gives birth to your kind. Most likely not, by the sound of it, but here you are, Feral. You're asking questions when you did not have the ability to question…supposedly." Suil chuckled to himself.
Feral took a deep breath. "It's a very cruel life. Crude, sad, but we've accepted it. We know nothing else. I didn't until now. I have heard stories of some clones going rogue. They escaped. They weren't left to die and then scavenged," Feral said with distain. He leaned forward with his arms folded on the table.
"Enjoy yourself, clone, then. It'll be all right." Suil took another swig of his water.
Feral finally mustered the courage to take a sip of his glass of water. He had watched Boshy for a bit to make sure she didn't show any signs of displeasure to its taste. She pawed at the glass as Feral lifted it to his lips. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and lowered the glass. "That's fantastic."
"Best there is this side of the galaxy. None of the rest of the damn crew cares to come here. I've been telling them for years how good it is. Everybody is too concerned with getting some alone time with the exotic women at the other bars."
Feral rotated the glass, studying the water. It was like the bacta tank he had been in. If there were injuries on the battlefield and bodies needed repair, It wasn't too long of a recovery time before a clone was to return to duty or he never did depending on his injuries. He was only out of it for a few days at the most. The healer was almost like a god of sorts, healing his body after he had been crushed. It was almost unreal. He still didn't understand, but being here now, it was easy to just accept how things were in a general sense. He'd have to stay sane and not piss off anyone around him who didn't care either way.
"You're awfully quiet, clone."
"I don't know what to do."
"About what?"
"Anything. I'm useless as far as I'm concerned. I can't even just be happy, now with being out and free."
"You're far from "useless". Syth has much in store for you. Look, just don't think about it, you're irritating me. Put it aside and focus on what's going on now. Rest your mind. It's been through enough hell. Get rid of your self-pity. Your rat is across the room."
"What?" Feral looked about on the floor. It was rather hard to tell until he heard the cry of pain. Feral was up in an instant, knocking over waiters and stepping on some alien creature's tail to get to the companion that was calling out for him. She shrieked again and Feral rounded a highly crowded corner to see a very attractive female humanoid accepting the rugger from a pandoran waitress. "Hey! Stop!" Feral shoved passed one more person only to balk in fear as the woman made eye-contact with him.
"Who are you?" She stood and frowned at him, holding the rugger securely against her side. She sighed in annoyance as the creature bit her hand. Otherwise it didn't seem to cause her extreme pain.
Feral was fascinated. Boshy had a nasty bite and this woman was unaffected by it. "She belongs to me." Feral composed himself and stood erect in a poised manner.
"There are no animals allowed in this bar." Her strides were regal and she was upon him, looking him over. "I could report you. You cannot have your animal back unless you leave."
"Look, I-she's no trouble, I'll keep her in a bag. Please, I don't want any trouble, miss." Feral made sure to keep space between him and her. Women were bad news as far as he was concerned.
"You're worried. It's rather cute. What is this creature to you?" The woman smirked at him.
Feral sensed the woman's interest. He wasn't interested in anything she had to offer. "She's all I've got. Please, give her back to me."
"Oh? Are you a bounty hunter? A traveler, perhaps?"
"Ma'am, I'm not any of those, just give my pet back. I don't want any trouble." Feral's chest heaved in aggravation.
The woman drew back from him. "So serious and mysterious. I've seen men like you before. If I see her loose again, I'm serving her in the buffet for tomorrow."
Feral caught the frightened rugger in one arm, turning away from the woman. He held onto Boshy with an upset grip, more out of anxiety than at her disobedience. He sat down beside Suil, smacking the cat-sized creature on her rump. Boshy cooed in shame. "That's right, missy. If I catch you gone again I'll give you more than just a smack. Lay down." Feral released the animal. She scurried up his left arm and buried herself in amongst his cowl, once more. "Why can't I just be left alone?" Feral fell back. "They're everywhere."
"You're tired all ready? You've got a lot to learn. You're a very-very attractive guy around these parts. No, you're not going to be left alone. They'll be all over you. You should be ugly, like me. They'll leave you alone."
"You're lying." Feral looked at Suil, placing a hand on the table.
"Am not."
"There are women that like you. I wouldn't doubt it. You are a pirate."
"Some females like the galactic scumbag lifestyle. It's vulgar and dangerous. I don't know why, but they like it. It's not the wisest decision. The humanoids like me better than my own race. I don't get it. Nobody goes for their own race anymore."
Feral scratched his head and looked away. Well, that thought was rather mystifying. Boshy shifted about against his neck, trilling to herself. The clone scratched her side a bit before he sat back, warmed by the animal's wooly fur. It was something familiar in an unfamiliar place. Because of it his usual mood was more defensive and irritable about the well-being of the beast.