Days passed by, Brook still rolling the possibilities around in his mind.

Of course Kal had been good on his word, who ever would have thought this man couldn't be?

Parja, Fi's most wonderful girlfriend, had taken away hours from her precious free time and now, the project was nearing completion.

The young clone knew how much a kit was worth, was missing the familiarity of his own with a fierceness that almost overwhelmed him time and again.

So, here he was, on the workshop after closing hours, lending a hand wherever he could.

It was a different smell in the air full of motor oil and the sharp tang of metal, a different atmosphere under the stark white lights.

Scorch had joined Parja and Brook, as many of his brothers had in the past days in order to help their vod get a kit as soon as possible.

Brook looked away for a moment, bit his lip as his heart throbbed at the thought of these brothers calling him, him! of all people their vod and sitting down whenever they could, lending their skills in order to give him, a young, inexperienced Spaarti, the best kit, the best chances at survival in battle.

"Hey!" an oily rag flicked against Brook's forehead, startled him. He fell back, crouched.

Fi just laughed and threw a second rag at him.

"Stop dreaming vod'ika and get your shebs over here. I want you to try this on."

The commando held out a helmet, still it's original Beskar grey, Brook swallowed hard, accepted it from his brother's hands with shaking fingers.

He held his breath as he slipped it on, then kept them closed a moment longer, just breathing, trying to find a difference to his old buy'ce.

He may not have had as much time as his brothers in their kit, but he had still trained, eaten and slept in his. It had been his.

This one, it smelled different, felt different, the pollsters hasn't adjusted to his head yet. It smelled new. Brook felt his nose twitch. It was plasec and metal and… he took a last big breath and opened his eyes.

It was his.

So he reached up, clasp Scorch on the right shoulder, clasping the shoulder tight for a moment.

Only then could he blink, activating the external speakers.

"It is great vod." With a tight voice he continued. "Did you keep the layout of the HUD similar to my old kit on purpose?"

Scorch grinned, teeth blinding white in his face, and ducking away under Brook's hand, punched him in the shoulder.

Brook yelped. It may have been playful for the commando, but it still hurt.

One look in his brother's eyes made Brook jump after him, trying get one in as well.

"Alright. Out!"

Parja, having had enough of their antics, reached out for the helmet, and pointed to the door with her free hand.

Brook froze, allowed her to pull the buy'ce from his head and push him towards the door.

"I will finish this up here. You two to get out and work that energy off somewhere where you won't break my equipment."

It was a warm summer night with clear skies.

Brook took a deep breath of the clean air; let it out with a deep sigh. He found himself smiling, than looked over to his older brother as they were strolling back to the main house.

"Thank you." He said quietly, almost expecting another playful punch but received a solemn nod instead.

"You are family." Scorch said. "A new kit is something vital for us clones, we just aren't complete without it."

He stopped for a moment, then elbowed Brook, almost gently for the clone. "Even if you decide to become a carpenter and never pick up a blaster again in your life, I know you would feel empty, incomplete with out it."

His younger brother swallowed, hard, saw the small distance to the front door left and was decidedly uncomfortable with both leaving the topic hanging and continuing the talk inside with their brothers.

So he did the only feasible thing that came to mind.

"Thanks vod."

He stepped closer to scorch, and elbowed him back, right under the ribs. Then he ran for the door.

Scorch sprinted after him and had him in a headlock as they stumbled through the door.

They stumbled, fell really, into a very solemn group.

Brook, under Scorch, one of his brother's knees digging into his lower back, looked up.

There was a new person stting at the table, armour stark black.

Scorch shot up.

He nearly stepped on Brook and saluted, ramrod straight.

"Sergeant Vau, Sir!"

Brook stood up a bit more slowly, his eyes darting across the room. Everyone in Kyrimorut was in the room, the nulls as usual rallied around Kal.

The stranger sat a the table, it was crowded, but everyone gave him space, it was as if there was a wall around the man.

Brook studied the face, it was hard, unreadable and held none of Skirata's silent affection for the clones in it.

He must be what Kal was for his nulls, their trainer on Kamino, "their father and their mother, the only parent they had ever known", as Fi had said it once in one of his few solemn moments.

Only Scorch's reaction puzzled Brook. Why the salute, why the stance? They weren't in the GAR at more, so why?

Vau gave scorch a nod.

"At ease. I have news."

Scorch paled, stepped forward, reached out and froze.

"Sarge…" He looked over the Vau.

Brook had never seen his brother like that. He was as white as a clone could be, eyes wide and mouth open in shock. The younger clone stepped forward, grabbed his brother's elbow, tried to steer him towards the rest of his squad and towards a chair.

Scorch looked as if he would pass out every moment.

On the table, there laid a helmet, scorched black, cracked, almost unrecognisable, except for a the last traces of a read handprint.

Scorch could not take his eyes off it.

Again he reached out for it, only trailing his fingertips over it. They came back stained black.

Vau nodded.

"I have a trace."

He held up a hand, stilling Delta squad's jump. "Only a trace, but I felt it was enough to get you."

A.N.:

SO, a small chapter, but it sets up the next arch.

For the ones not familiar with the Republic Commando game:

Delta squad, consisting out of Scorch, Boss, Fixer and Sev. They were trained by Walon Vau.

One mission went south and in the game Sev was left behind, propably killed, although rumours about him still being alive have been floating around for a while.

So, I hope this clears up any questions i couldn't answer in-chapter.

hope you like it, love your feeback and (since exams are over) see you hopefully soon.