Welcome to the first one-shot of the interlude! If you have an idea, please tell me!
*Fun fact: there's only one thing I like about Krell. And that's his voice actor, Dave Fennoy! :)
Shortcomings (Interlude)
Nobody's flawless, but that's a good thing…right…?
It's been a week since Dogma joined his new legion. And everyone has been so nice and welcoming. But truth be told, he still feels like a complete stranger.
Lucky for him, Compass noticed that.
"How about we play a quick game, everyone?" He suddenly brought up during their break time. "It's not like we'll be deployed anywhere soon."
"Just saying that will cause it to happen," Egad retorted. "Besides, why a game?"
Compass put an arm around Dogma, who was standing close to him. "Because it'll help him get to know everyone better."
And suddenly, everyone decided to play the game. Dogma was grateful that Compass was doing this. Especially since their first mission was coming up soon.
"What is the game?" He asked.
Compass took out a datapad and a cloth-wrapped baton. Now everyone was starting to have second thoughts.
Kal especially. "Oh no. Oh no, no, no."
"Oh yes." Compass grinned. "It's 'Guess my shortcoming'."
All the clones sat on one side of the table, while Dogma and Compass sat on the other side. The latter was explaining to the former, the rules.
"Basically, I write down one of my shortcomings, and those guys over there have to guess it. You'll determine who gets to guess by throwing this little ball," Compass presents a rubbery red ball to Dogma. "Whoever catches it gets to guess. And if they get it right, they'll come up to write their shortcoming, and I'll join the guessers. If they get it wrong, they get the baton."
Dogma nodded in understanding. "And I'll be sitting here because…?"
"Because you'll be able to see all of our shortcomings!" Compass explained. "Best way to get to know someone is to know their weaknesses. Starting with mine."
Guess my shortcoming: Compass
Compass types down his shortcoming on the datapad and nods to Dogma. Dogma prepares to throw the ball.
But right before he was about to do it, he stopped. "Wait, which direction should I throw it in? I mean everyone's sort of spread apart."
"Just throw it wherever they'll get to it one way or another." Compass waved his hand.
So Dogma threw the ball upward in a random direction. And just like Compass said, everyone from one side dashed to the other to get the ball.
It was a frenzy, but eventually, a victor emerged. And it was Vito. He held the ball and stared at Compass, formulating his answer.
"Uh, you think you're smart when actually, you have the lowest IQ among us."
Now Dogma is starting to understand why Kal was against this game. This was a chance for everyone to release some pent-up insults about each other.
Suddenly, Vito changed his answer. "Actually, no. Aurebesh! It's your below-standard Aurebesh grammar."
"Young cadet, your writing is horrendous!" The Kaminoan instructor scolded a young Compass.
"But wasn't it exactly what you wrote?" Young Compass asked in confusion.
…
"How dare that clone writes this about the Prime Minister!" The head Kaminoan instructor roared.
"No, no, you misunderstand," the Aurebesh instructor explained. "He's just really bad at writing. I'm sure it wasn't intentional."
Young Compass sat innocently on the high chair behind the two Kaminoans. It was a chair reserved for cadets on bad behaviour.
The clones surrounding Vito quickly pulled back after he said that answer. Compass stood up from his side of the table and walked over, baton in hand.
"Brace yourself, 'cause this is gonna hurt!"
He began pummeling Vito, who only had the small red ball as a defense tool. After a dozen hits, he finally backed off and returned to his side of the table.
"You see, Dogma?" Compass sat down. "Now you'll see each of our true colours."
The next round began as soon as Dogma threw the ball. This time, it went towards the left side. Everyone scurried after it. Fighting for it.
But Kal got it in the end. "Your shortcoming is being a poor sleeper and making all of us poor sleepers too!"
"Captain? Captain, are you awake?"
Kal stirred in his sleeping mat. "What is it?"
"I dunno, I just can't sleep." Compass shrugged.
"So why wake me up?" Kal turned his back to him. "We're still on a mission here! Let me rest!"
"But I'm bored. C'mon, captain. At least stay up with me until we both get tired. I won't bother you afterwards. Captain? Hello? I know you're still awake. Answer me. Please…"
Compass awkwardly coughed in response to Kal's answer. He made his way over to him with the baton.
"Please don't hate me for this," he apologized before striking Kal with the baton's cloth-wrapped end.
The rest of the clones watched in entertainment until Compass ceased the punishment. He went back to his chair.
"Guys, I've given you a really easy one. You're all overthinking!"
"So it's something we all know?" Egad double-checked.
"It's something really obvious!" Compass answered.
That gave Egad an idea. Before the next round even started, Egad looked at Dogma in the eye, telepathically saying, 'throw the ball to me.'
Dogma did a light nod before commencing the round. This time, throwing the ball directly in Egad's direction. Egad caught it with a single hand.
He stood up confidently and said, "Brainless."
Everyone shook their heads and groaned. Vito pointed at himself, "Didn't I already say that?"
But Egad stuck by his answer. "Being an incredibly dense, ignorant, obtuse, dull-witted, unintelligible fool. Who thinks with his blaster instead of his mind. Sorry, friend."
Compass felt tears sting his eyes due to laughter…or was it pain? He opened his mouth to say something but stopped abruptly.
"Wait, I forgot what I wrote." He turned around to Dogma.
Egad pointed at him. "See? That just proves it!"
Dogma nodded. "Yeah, you're right. You got it."
"Congratulations, Egad." Compass said as he turned the datapad around, revealing his answer: 'Kinda stupid'.
Guess my shortcoming: Egad
Egad shows Dogma his shortcoming. "So this is mine, ok?"
"Ok." Dogma responded without giving away any hint as to what it may be.
That disappointed the clones on the other side of the table. But they quickly put that behind them when Dogma threw the ball.
Another brawl ensued. This time, Link emerged victoriously. "Never trusting women!" He guessed.
Everyone save for Egad and Dogma guffawed. Dogma did crack a tiny smile at the answer though.
"Ma'am, please let go of my arm," Egad said coldly.
"But I'm innocent!" The Pantoran woman insisted. "I would never conspire with the Separatists! Please, I've been framed."
"We'll see once interrogation begins."
"But I really am! Please! Hey! Listen to me, you jerk!" The women kept shouting after him as he left the area.
…
Egad stopped a Twi'lek woman from crossing the safe-zone. "Sorry, miss. We're gonna have to ID you."
"Oh, uh. I left my ID back home. Can you let this slide?"
"No."
"Ok, how about I treat you to something? What kind of food do you—"
"ID. Now." Egad cut off.
The woman scoffed. "Fine, fine. I'll go get my ID. Ugh, what's with you clones."
"Not 'clones' miss." Compass, who was standing next to him, corrected. "Just him. He doesn't trust women."
Egad stood up. Tapping the baton against the palm of his hand. "I don't just distrust women you know. I also can't stand men like you!"
He proceeds to unleash a relentless attack on Link. Poor Link couldn't escape from a single one of those baton hits.
Egad returned to his chair once he saw Link finally submitting. "Next!" He shouted.
Dogma threw the ball in a random direction. Both Vito and Coal touched the ball. However, Egad saw that Coal touched it a millisecond earlier.
"It's Coal's guess," Egad determined.
Vito reluctantly gave Coal the ball. Coal hesitantly answered, "Um…you enjoy snacking."
Compass did a slow sarcastic clap. "Yes! Finally, someone says it!"
But Egad shut him up with a hard stare. "Be grateful Coal was the one who said it, not you!"
Coal braced himself for the baton. But to his surprise, Egad went rather gentle on him. Only giving him two mild hits.
What could the answer be? The guessers started deliberating what the shortcoming may be.
"It's probably reverse thinking," Compass suggested. "Like he thinks he's flawless, but he really isn't."
"You wanna guess that? We can give you the guess," Kal offered.
"No, I don't wanna risk getting hit. The baton may be clothed but from your reactions, it still looks pretty painful!"
"I'll go," clone trooper, Mercury, offered. "What do I say? That he's flawless?"
"That he's not flawless," Compass corrected.
"Ok."
The next round begins. Dogma throws the ball. And nobody except for Mercury went after it.
He picked up the ball and said, "Not flawless."
Egad raised a brow. "Are you sure?"
"You're not flawless, but you're close to it," Mercury complimented.
Dogma looked at Mercury and nodded. Egad turned the datapad around. On it was the word: 'Imperfect'.
Everyone applauded.
Guess my shortcoming: Mercury
Dogma watched as Mercury wrote his shortcoming down. He made his usual poker face to not give away any hints. Though this shortcoming was rather interesting.
"This is gonna be hard. Mercury's good at hiding his true personality from us." Compass confessed.
However, that didn't deter Egad. "You guys just don't know how to approach him. Watch, I'm gonna get this right on the first try."
"Be our guest," Vito shrugged.
Dogma throws the ball. And Egad was the only one who went to catch it. He gracefully caught the ball.
"Addicted to the Holonet!" Egad announced loud and clear.
"Amazing! Simply phenomenal!" Mercury clapped at his screen.
"And that's the 17th time you watched the replay of Senator Amidala's speech," Egad pointed out.
Mercury shrugged. "What can I say? Some politicians are truly inspirational. And you say that the Holonet is filled with nothing but trash."
"Well, I don't use it long enough to find hidden treasures." Egad defended. "And you should probably get off right now."
"Just 5 more minutes. Promise."
"'Just 5 more minutes. Promise'," Egad mimicked Mercury's vocal fluctuation.
"EGAD!" Mercury repeatedly hits the table with the baton.
All the guessers were incredulous. Compass's jaw dropped. "What? He actually got it?"
Even Dogma was shocked. "Yeah, he did. Wow, you two know each other well."
"Yes, we do," Mercury agreed as he flipped the datapad around.
'Slight Holonet addiction' was written on it. He and Egad shared a high-five.
Guess my shortcoming: Kal
Since Egad already wrote his shortcoming, Kal volunteered to go next. He made Dogma sit close to him while he wrote on the datapad.
"Captain, if we get it right, will we be promoted?" Compass asked.
Kal shot a demeaning look. Which caused Compass to quickly add, "Or at least, not be demoted? If we get it wrong?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. But Kal didn't say anything. He finished writing and puts the datapad down.
"Let's begin."
Dogma throws the ball and everyone fights for it. Link managed to win the fight. "Overthinking."
Kal walked up to Link. Then he proceeds to pound him on the neck, elbow, and knee-back. Each hit struck the nerves. Causing unbearable pain to Link.
"Next!" Kal gestured for Link to regroup with the guessers.
"See? You really do overthink! You specifically hit me where it hurts most!"
The next round starts. Vito catches the ball this time. "Too strict!" He answers.
That answer caused everyone to crack up. Even Kal found it ridiculous. "Now, you're just insulting me."
He smashes Vito on the back. This time, landing each hit randomly.
More guesses came in round after round. And each round, Kal punished the guessers with varying levels of tenacity.
…
"Being a member of Senator Organa's Fanclub," Coal answered.
"Actually, that's a pretty decent answer. But it's not what I wrote." Kal spared Coal with a single hit.
…
"Hates to study!" Compass confidently shouted.
That answer caused him to receive two extremely hard welts on his shoulder blades. Kal didn't even say anything in response to him.
…
"You really don't like anything that has to do with academics," Mercury elaborated on Compass's previous answer.
"I enjoy reading a good novel from time to time," Kal countered as he hit Mercury. "Next!"
…
"Your hair," Egad said while trying to keep a straight face.
"What?" Kal looked at Dogma who was trying his best to keep his laughter at bay.
Everyone else, however, let their laughter all out. Egad added on to his answer, "It's way too blue."
The laughter grew louder.
…
Kal patiently waited until it was over to continue the game. "Next."
"Wait, here's a little tip." Dogma stood up. "His shortcoming is kinda related to Compass's shortcoming."
My own shortcoming? Compass thought. His face suddenly brightened.
"I know now!"
In the next round, Compass fought viciously for the ball again. And won once again.
He steadied his breathing before saying his answer. "Poor Aurebesh writing."
Kal and everyone else couldn't comprehend what Compass was thinking.
"You never saw me write in Aurebesh, how can you even make that assumption?" Kal demanded.
…
"Alright, next!" Kal announced.
But Dogma protested. "Actually, sir. I think we should move on. There've been enough guesses."
Kal took a look at the time. "Hmm. You're right. Anyways, Mercury, Compass. You two were closest to being right. Thing is, you guessed that I don't like studying or academics. But that's not particularly true. I do like to learn, from experience and from theory. However, my problem is that I'm a bit…idealistic."
He turned the datapad around, revealing the word 'Idealistic' on it.
"Ohhh. So you believe things to happen a certain way." Vito realized.
"Yes, I have a tendency to stick by the book. Even though I know battles rarely play out as planned. But I still carry some hope that they do."
Guess my shortcoming: Vito
"What do you think?" Vito asked Dogma after finishing writing his shortcoming.
"Mmhmm." Dogma gave him a thumbs up.
Vito smiled as he put the datapad down. "Come and guess my shortcoming!"
The red rubber ball was thrown. And one of the guessers, Hail, caught it successfully. His excitement became nervousness when he saw how eager Vito was gripping the baton.
Still, Hail answered. "Like to brag about yourself."
That put a disapproving smile on Vito's face. He went up to Hail. "When have I ever bragged about myself? At least make your guess more believable."
He spoke in between whacks. But Kal refused to believe Hail's answer was wrong.
"He's right though!" Kal shot back.
"When have I ever bragged about myself?" Vito challenged.
"See? What'd I tell you? The enemy was going to attack our south flank because of the landslide over there." Vito crossed his arms in front of Hail and Kal. "Am I a fortune-teller or what?"
…
"Man, I'm such a genius!" Vito praised himself after figuring out the final word in a crossword puzzle.
The clone troopers nearby gave each other weird glances. They had no comment about Vito's behaviour.
…
Pop!
Vito successfully threw the dart into the last balloon. Everyone applauded him while he performed his weird victory dance.
Steele, who just entered the area to round them up for locker clean-out, slowly turned the other away.
"I agree with the captain!" Compass raised his hand. "That's the answer. Whatever you wrote should be invalidated. Dogma, erase it!"
"Uh…leave me out of this," Dogma chuckled.
"Fine. But can we get another hint at least?" Compass asked.
Vito made a face. "Why? It's something easy. You should all know this."
Something they all know? An idea formed inside Compass's head.
The second Dogma threw the ball into the air, Compass knocked over three of his brothers while running towards it. The ball landed right in his palm.
"Great hair colour!" Compass shouted.
"What the?" That flustered Vito. "Not a flaw, but thanks—"
"No, no, no, I got it!" Compass changed his answer. "Always trusting women."
The room erupted in laughter. This time, even Dogma joined in.
"Fine, go get the rest. I'll stay right here," the suspected woman said.
Vito pointed at her. "Don't go anywhere."
Less than a minute later, when Vito returned with the rest of his team, she was gone.
"You didn't bother tying her up?!" They berated him.
"She said she'll stay right here!"
Everyone took turns in smacking Vito on the back of his head.
…
"Hey, where'd the lady go?" Vito asked Egad after coming back from the restroom.
"Dunno. Took off maybe?"
Suddenly the waiter arrived with the bill. "Your lady friend said that you'll pay for the whole bill."
Vito fell to his knees while Egad watched with pity. "Shouldn't have trusted her, brother."
…
"Is there anything I need to know about Vito?" Aliyah asked Steele.
"Yes. Under NO circumstances should you ever let him interrogate female prisoners. That guy's absolutely hopeless around women. He's been swindled by them too many times to count. Old, young, Twi'lek, Gungan. Doesn't matter. Always trusts them."
Aliyah laughed lightly. "Oh no."
"'Oh no' is right. One of these days the Separatists are gonna send a female spy and Vito will end up revealing all our secrets to her. He'll be the destruction of us. Just you watch." Steele wagged his finger. "Just you watch."
Before Vito could get up to punish Compass. The door suddenly opened. Steele entered the room.
"What's all this laughing about?" He demanded.
"We're just playing a game to pass the time," Compass explained.
"I see. What kind of game?"
"The one where you guess each other's shortcomings." Vito turned his datapad around, revealing his answer: 'Not a morning person'.
Steele nodded in approval. "Yeah, that seems about right. Though I would've guessed 'too gullible around women'."
Everyone except for Vito laughed. Steele walked over to the table. "What about you, Dogma? Did you guess? Or write?"
"No, I threw the ball." Dogma threw the red rubber ball in the air for emphasis. "But I was able to see everyone's shortcomings and compare them to everyone's guesses."
"Do you think you know us better now?" Compass asked.
Dogma nodded. "More or less."
"Good, because the general just called," Steele revealed. "We're needed somewhere."
"We're getting dispatched?" Compass's face went blank.
"Yep. Get your equipment and hurry to the hangar, you'll be briefed on what's happening later."
Egad laughed in amusement. "I told you that'll happen!"
Shortcomings: End
Review responses~
Constanza: And I love that you loved it!
Starpottergeek: Poor Compass indeed. I leave Steele's armour to the reader's interpretation (all I can tell you is that it's crimson coloured).
Radicalewe3: Thank you thank you! I look forward to writing future chapters!
Rodger Rodger: Maybe! :) We'll see more of it later!
TobiasTheClone: I'll consider it! Thanks for the idea! It gives birth to more ideas! :)
Akira-Hayama: Well they definitely bonded some more in this chapter. When there's no drinks, there's games. Albeit interesting games. :)
FansChoice: Aww! Your review made me smile! I'm glad I gave you something to do during these uncertain times! Keep going forward and believe things will improve!
Guest: ...Wait, are you serious? 'Cause if you are, I can definitely consider it. *thumbs up. But if this was just a joke, then it was hilarious! XD
Femke-the-lotus: That's the 304th's slogan: "I survived Krell." And yeah, since Dogma's starting over again, he's gets a chance to do things differently. And learn from his past mistakes. And everyone supports him in that!
Vort: Thank you so so much for the constructive criticism! I definitely agree with you on some parts and will plan to revise my story in the future (perhaps once I finish it). But next, time, can you email instead?. I have a gmail with username fanficwriteronthelake so if you have feedback, just send me an email. It'd be A LOT easier to reply and converse with you this way. Again, thank you so much for your reviews! :)
A/N. This was based on a clip of an Asian variety show that my friend showed me recently. I forgot the name but I just want to put it out there, in case you noticed similarities.
I'm still accepting ideas, but I should let you know right now: I won't be able to use all of them. Sorry. :(
This little interlude of one-shots and short-arcs only serve to pass time and bring some light-heartedness.
And this is the only way I can consistently write for now (why does everyone get summer vacation but me?), so yeah.
See you all next time! :)
- MiraLake