Jango and Cye return to Kamino. She finds an old friend and mentor who wants her to stay.
29 BBY - Kamino
"I don't like this Jango." The kaminoans inspected the small boys with cool dispassion. "They treat them like they're cattle, not people."
"I don't like it either," he agreed, "but we can't save them all."
Cye crossed her arms under her chest, swallowing the discomfort rising in her throat as she continued to observe. It was obvious that these weren't normal children. The clone boys were hyper-focused on the task presented. It was some kind of test, but she didn't know exactly what the geneticists were measuring. The boys had a hard edge to their expression, as if they'd already seen far more in their short lives than a battle hardened soldier. It felt wrong.
"I know that look, Cye'ika," Jango said, tearing her out of her thoughtful haze. He wore his signature frown but his eyes were soft, sympathetic. She caught the minute headshake and the slight nose flare. "Now isn't the time to play hero." He cast his gaze back to the young versions of himself. "That time's long gone for us."
"I know." Cye couldn't look at them anymore. She shut her eyes and turned away, hands still wrapped protectively around her injured ribs.
"I do what I can." He sounded resigned, perhaps even remorseful. "But the clones are bred to be soldiers. Not everyone makes the cut even in normal circumstances, you know that."
"Are you trying to convince me or you?" Cye asked.
"Do you want vengeance?" He asked back. There was no malice, not even frustration. It was an exchange of simple questions that didn't require a response. She breathed deep, puffing out her cheeks as she exhaled. He took her hand, offering a slight measure of comfort with a gentle squeeze. "Come on. There's someone else who wants to see you."
He put his arm around her shoulders, ever the protective Ori'vod and guided Cye away from the testing facility. They walked in silence for a while, giving her time to work through her thoughts about the situation. She understood why he said yes. If the opportunity to destroy the Jedi once and for all had been offered to her, she'd have done the same. It was the lack of control over what the cloners did with the boys that bothered her. She knew Jango felt the same. Cye trusted him when he said he'd done what he could to protect the young clones. This was the first time she'd chosen to see them for herself since she left disgusted at the thousands of babies growing in vats. It was also the first time she had nowhere else to go.
"Any thoughts yet on how long you might stay? We could use your expertise around here."
"I'm not sure." If he didn't know her so well I'd assume he read her mind. Cye shrugged noncommittally, but the ache on her right side flared as the stitches stretched along her ribs. Her nose wrinkled and her cheek tightened as she winced.
"You know the doctors here can get that patched up better," he said with a smirk. "Might not even leave a scar."
"You know how much I like collecting them," she replied with a stiff grin. "Besides, Zam did a good enough job." Cye ran her fingers over the gash she'd received during her desperate getaway from Corellia. The thought of her escape brought forth a wave of phantom nausea for having to pilot through hyperspace alone. She swallowed heavily to keep the rising bile in her stomach where it belonged. "I think maybe I'll be here for a little while." Jango turned towards her and raised an eyebrow.
"I'm glad to hear it." A broad smile transformed his gruff exterior. "And I know Boba will love having his ba'vodu around. He's missed you. We've both missed you."
"I missed you too," Cye said back and hooked her arm around his elbow. The weight of being alone lifted and she felt at ease for the first time in days. Here, even being uncomfortable with the cloning process, she found some measure of peace. They left the main thoroughfare and into a narrower residential passage.
A child's muffled squeal carried down the hallway. Cye raised an eyebrow but Jango just snorted. One squeal turned into shouts and bursts of giggles that grew louder as they approached last door on the left.
"Are those-"
Jango nodded. "Some of the ones we managed to save." His fist wavered by the door. "Just be careful around them, Ika'vod, they aren't like normal kids. Hell, these ones aren't even normal clones."
"They sound normal," she said quietly.
The look he gave her made Cye feel like they were about to walk into a minefield. "You'll see," he replied and then knocked on the door.
The sounds of rambunctious children ended in an instant. The silence was tense. Cye strained her ears and could make out some shuffling behind the door. A sense of foreboding crept into her chest and she took a step back.
"Udesii ade!" A man's voice shouted from behind the door. "Back it up, boys. Go sit." The closer the speaker got to the door the more their voice sounded familiar. "To the couch, son. I've got this." Several pairs of feet moved away from the door, replaced by heavy boots. After a moment the door slid open.
"Jango," the man greeted her brother. She had to step to the side in order to get a look at him. He tensed as she gasped, ready to slide the knife she knew was hidden up his sleeve into his hand. Instead he rocked back a fraction, his eyes widened in surprise. "Cye?"
"Kal'ba?" Cye was stunned. Jango pushed her towards the door and she stumbled forward until the older man had to look up to maintain eye contact.
Kal Skirata struck faster than a viper as he lifted her off her feet and spun Cye around like when she was a child. She found herself wrapping her arms around his neck in response, ignoring the fire along her side and his face pressed against her chest. He set Cye down inside his doorway and pressed his hands against her cheeks with a wide grin plastered on his face.
"Cye'ika!" He embraced her again, and she looked over his shoulder to Jango. He managed to keep the laughter to just his eyes and a knowing smirk. "Look at you! All grown up."
"You got shorter," Cye joked. "Look at you. All those lines," she said as she traced a wrinkle on his forehead. "And all that gray."
"Ne'johaa, ad'ika," he said as he batted her hand away. "I can't believe it. K'olar, k'olarade." He took her hand. "Please come in Jango, you're welcome too."
"I'll have to pass," he said with a chuckle. "I don't want to get in the way of your reunion. Besides," he said as he raised his chin looking over her shoulder, "they get a little antsy when I'm around."
Cye looked behind her into Kal's quarters. Six identical boys clustered together on a couch. Their bodies were young but their eyes were keen as they watched with unreadable expressions. They seemed to be taking in every minute detail of their interaction, assessing the situation for danger.
Kal nodded, "Then I'll make sure she finds her way back to you when we're done catching up."
"Gar jate, Cye?" Jango asked, pulling her attention away from the boys. A simple question that carried more weight than anyone else could imagine. A big brother looking out for his little sister.
"Ni jate'lek Ori'vod," she replied with a smile. "I'll see you later."
Jango nodded and looked back to Kal with a smile. "Don't overdo it, Kal. She just got here. I don't need you chasing her off anytime soon."
Kal laughed and waved Jango away. Her brother shook his head and locked eyes with her. Cye nodded to him to let him know again that she'd be fine. He seemed satisfied and walked back the way they came. Kal hit the door panel and it slid shut. He let go of her hand, pulled out a jammer, and plugged it into the panel.
"Can't be too safe," he said. He smiled, his eyes glittered as he found her hand again and walked her into the main room. "At ease boys. I have someone I'd like you to meet."
Cye hadn't realized how tense their posture was until they shifted on the couch. Two of them leaned back and tucked their legs under them. One leaned forward, swinging his legs, his feet not reaching the floor. One slid off the couch and sat on the floor while another stood up. The last stretched out to fill the abandoned space. The standing boy walked over to them.
"Hello." The voice was a child's but the tone belied someone mature.
"This is Ordo. My son." Kal beamed. It reminded Cye of her buir and she felt the old ache in the top of her chest. He was the picture of a proud father. The boy's expression challenged her to disagree.
Instead she knelt before him to get to his eye level. "You are very lucky to have a father like Kal. I'm Cye."
The boy held out his hand and she took it. "It's nice to meet you, Cye," he said politely. The boy smiled and his terse expression reverted to that of a curious child. He looked behind him at his brothers and they all grinned at Cye in the genuine way that only children can, all hope and innocence.
Kal began to introduce the rest of his sons. He gestured to each boy. "This is Kom'rk and Prudii," he gestured to the boys that sat with their legs under them. "This is Jaing, A'den, and," he paused briefly on the last boy stretched out on the couch. "This is Mereel."
Cye looked up at Kal. Her brows tightened and her mouth turned down in a jumble of emotions. Ordo's grip immediately tightened around her fingers. She looked back to the boys, who were all staring at her with confusion.
"What's wrong with my name, Kal'buir?" Mereel asked.
"Nothing, son," he said with calm reassurance. "This is Cye Mereel. You're named after her father." There was a sharp intake of breath from the boys followed by a collective ooh. "I think this calls for uj'alayi, what do you say, boys?" The six boys nodded excitedly in unison and Kal smiled. "Good. Have a seat Cye. I'll be right back."
Mereel sat up and shifted to make room for Cye on the couch. She sat down and the boys settled in around her. They stared at her, curious but quiet. They seemed to be appraising her. Cye caught their glances at the scars on her exposed midriff and legs. She regretted having no clothes of her own here. She'd have to fix that and stop wearing the clothes Zam let her take with her. It was strange being stared at as hard as they were without the leering that often came along with men who looked too long. Even so, Cye wished that she was covered a little more.
"Are you a Mandalorian?" the one on the floor, A'den, asked.
"Of course I am," she replied.
"I've never seen a female Mandalorian before," the boy said excitedly. "What's the difference?"
"She's a female," Prudii said, "Duh."
"Do all female Mandalorians dress like that?" Kom'rk asked, his chubby cheeks turning pink. "It's not very protective."
"Maybe that's why we've never seen one before," A'den offered.
"I think you have more scars than Kal'buir," Ordo said as he put his hand over the scar on Cye's thigh. She acted without thinking, swiftly knocking his hand away. He reacted just as quick, taking her hand by the thumb and twisting her wrist around. Instinct overcame her shock at the speed and intensity of his response and Cye countered with her left arm to keep him from dislocating her elbow. While he was distracted she swept his feet out from under him and pinned him with her knees. His small fist hit her side and she hissed as pain flared around her stitches.
"Check!" Kal's stern voice made them both freeze.
Ordo immediately stopped struggling and Cye released him. He stood up, small chest heaving, his face flushed with embarrassment and anger. Kal'ba stood in the doorway from the kitchen with an uj cake in one hand, his knife in the other.
"Me'vaar ti gar?" he said as he walked in. The boys seemed to defer to him completely.
"Ordo just touched the scar on her leg," Jaing spoke up. "And then she attacked him."
"Did you ask permission to touch her, Ord'ika?"
"No, sir." The boy shook his head, eyes cast down.
"It's my fault, Kal'ba," Cye said as she checked her side. Thankfully the stitching didn't pop. "I responded too hastily and-"
"Hush, Cye'ika," Kal chided her as he sat in his chair and put the uj cake on the table. "This is an important lesson for my boys." He waved his hand at Ordo and the boy immediately went to his side. Kal picked him up and put him on his lap. "You should never touch a female without permission outside of a combat situation."
"But she-" Jaing started.
"Reacted appropriately," Kal interrupted. "She became combative because you posed a threat to her autonomy, son. Cye doesn't know you yet, and has no reason to trust your intentions."
"Like how we are with all the fish heads?" Mereel asked.
"Yes." Cye held in a laugh as Kal held onto his serious expression. "But you're fortunate. Any other male who tried that stunt would be out a hand. Cye is the best melee brawler and grappler I know. You'll learn a lot from her in time. Now apologize so we can celebrate."
Ordo hopped off Kal's lap and bounded over to stand in front of Cye. Kal got up and went back to the kitchen. The boy glanced towards Kal's back then looked her in the eyes. The defiance was absent, and he looked genuinely upset with himself. The boy desperately wanted Kal's approval.
"I'm sorry, Cye," he said, his voice wavering. "I didn't know. I didn't think. It won't happen again."
"I forgive you, Ord'ika. I'll also be more understanding in the future." The poor kid looked like he was about to burst into tears. The shock of his fighting skills was long gone and he was just a little boy. "Would you like a hug?"
Ordo nodded and Cye leaned in. He laid his head on her shoulder and she held him the same Jango did for her when she was his age. She felt another set of little arms around them, then another, and the rest of them followed as she was swarmed with hugs.
"Ow! Careful, adike," Cye said with a laughing hiss. "I don't want the cut to open up."
"Alright, alright, settle down boys, let the woman breathe." Kal had a mug in each hand and stretched one out to her as the boys picked up slices of uj. "I hope I still remember how you like your caf."
Cye took a sip and smiled. It was syrupy sweet with spice and cream. "Perfect, Kal'ba. Where did you manage to get your hands on uj'ayl out here?"
"I have my ways," he said with a wink.
"Fine. Keep your secrets, old man," she said as she grinned. "Just as long as I can come bother you for a spiced caf whenever the mood takes me."
"I'll make sure to have enough for you every morning then." Kal picked up the plate of cake and held it out for her. "Get a piece before they eat it all."
The uj'alayi cake was dense, but it practically melted in her mouth. It brought back good memories and a sense of serenity that Cye hadn't realized she was missing. The boys were distracted by sweets, but she noticed the way they looked at each other and their subtle movements as they communicated with their body language.
"It really is good to see you, Cye'ika." Kal's smile made her feel like she was twenty years younger.
"I thought you retired."
"So did I," he replied. His eyes darted to the boys and his jaw clenched. Whatever happened to make him come here he didn't want to discuss in front of the boys. "What kind of trouble have you been getting up to?" He gestured to her side.
"Had some issues with a job on Corellia," Cye replied casually as her eyes darted to the young clones.
He nodded and sipped his caf. She leaned over the boys and snatched one of the last pieces of uj cake. Mereel looked over his shoulder with a frown. She smirked at him and he wrinkled his little nose. Cye broke the piece in half and held one out to him. The boy grinned and swiped it from her fingers.
"So this is what Jango looked like when he was a boy," she mused as she looked back to Kal who was smiling at his sons. "He's always looked so grown up to me. He was a cute kid."
"You knew Jango when he was younger?" Ordo asked through a mouthful of cake.
"Not quite as young as you," she said. "He's my older brother. My father adopted him when I was close to your-when I was young. I'll let you know when you look like how I remember him."
"Does that mean you'll be sticking around for a while?" Kal asked.
"At least until I can arrange a couple new IDs," Cye replied. The uj was gone, and the boys were listening quietly. "Wow, you really did devour that cake."
"Why don't you go play," Kal suggested.
"But we want to stay and listen Kal'buir," Jaing whined.
"It's alright Kal'ba," Cye said. "They can stay if they want."
"Maybe next time, boys," he said. "Go play in your room." He said it with a gentle finality that allowed for no argument. They stood up immediately in unison as if they were carrying out an order from an officer, but then scampered off like the children they were.
"Ba'vodu, you didn't have to send them away."
"Don't worry, Cye'ika. I'm sure they'll manage to listen in anyway." Kal sighed and sank into the armchair. "Those boys are too damn smart for their own good."
"Val'suvar Mando'a?" Cye asked.
"Just a few phrases," he said back in Mando'a.
"Then we can speak plainly for now," she said. "Why did you want them to leave?"
"I want you to stay." He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "I can't stand being here without someone I can trust."
"You trust Jango."
"Your brother allowed this," he replied. He nodded towards the boys' room. They seemed to be involved in some game that only kids could think up. "He's the one getting paid so those monsters can play god with these boys."
"Careful, ba'vodu."
Kal sighed in exasperation. "I'm not going to pretend I know the whole story, but regardless of why he agreed, they are innocent children."
"You're right," Cye admitted. "I saw how the Kaminoans treat the clones. It's disturbing."
"I can't leave. These boys need me. Those fishy bastards were going to kill them just because they didn't meet expectations. They were going to murder children." Kal paled as his anger rose. "I won't let that happen if I can help it."
Cye was stunned into silence for several seconds. His ferocity mirrored the horror she felt. She understood why he chose to stay completely in that moment. "Well," she said at last, "you're off to a good start."
"I have a hundred and four other boys that I have to take care of and train to survive in a war they're not even old enough to fight yet," he growled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take out my frustration on you."
"It's alright Kal'ba. I felt the same way looking at the testing facility."
"You have to stay."
The conviction in Kal's voice made her pause. "Why?"
"There's no one else here that I'd trust more than you. Between you and your brother, you were always the voice of compassion."
"Not as often as you think."
"These boys are slaves, Cye'ika." Kal leaned forward and lowered his voice to a whisper. "No one else knows how that will shape their lives better than you."
His words hit her like a sucker punch. Cye blinked so fast she thought the lights were strobing. She barely registered as Kal moved from his armchair to the couch. She felt his arms around her and his hand pressing her head to his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Cye'ika," Kal whispered softly. "I'm sorry, I know it's not the same. They'll never have to go through what you did. But you can help them. You can help them learn how to survive this horror show they've been born into." Cye let out a long, shaking breath and pulled away to meet Kal's eyes. They were glistening with unshed tears. "Please, Cye'ika. I can't do this alone anymore."
A lack of movement from the corner of her eye caught her attention. Ordo hid as Cye glanced towards the boys' room. The others were doing a good job of playing distraction, but he'd stayed listening too long. Kal noticed as well, but simply shook his head.
"I'm not sure how much help I'd be Kal'ba," she admitted. "But I'll think on it. I promise."
"Thank you," he said with a sigh. "Are you alright?"
"I'm not in a good headspace right now. I was betrayed on Corellia by someone I cared for." She couldn't stop the tears from welling in her eyes. "I had to steal a ship and fly through hyperspace alone and I hurt myself pretty bad because of it." The memories of shattered expectations hurt more than the gash in her side. "But it's good to have family here to fall back on."
"I'll always be here for you, Cye'ika," he said, patting her cheek with his calloused hand. "Ratiin."
"Thanks." Cye leaned back and put her feet up on the table. "Ugh, I've been crying too much lately. I thought I'd be able to take a break from it here." She smiled flatly and shook her head.
"You and me both," Kal said. "These boys have already been through hell, and it's only going to get worse. It's damn depressing."
"You're really not selling it well, Kal'ba," she said with a laugh. "I thought you wanted me to stay?"
He chuckled while frowning. "Well I'm not going to sugar coat it. The caf is the sweetest thing you'll find in this shithole."
The giggling boys were jumping across their beds. They spun and flipped in the air like veteran acrobats. At first Cye thought they'd given up trying to listen in, but hand signals and semi-covert glances indicated they were simply hiding it better. Jango could adapt, but those boys were uncanny. Whatever the Kaminoans messed around with had changed them into something more than human. The implications scared her more than their treatment of the clones.
"They remember every single thing," Kal said, switching back to Basic. "Ordo could repeat back every word of our conversation, even if he doesn't understand what he's saying."
"I imagine they'll figure it out eventually."
"Eventually?" Kal laughed heartily as if Cye had just told him a belter of a joke. "My guess is they'll crack it by noon tomorrow."
"Fierfek." She stared at the little boys that weren't really children. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it'd leave a bruise. If this was what vengeance looked like, Cye should have talked Jango out of it. "How the hell are we supposed to keep up with them? We're going to run out of things to teach them before they hit puberty."
"We adapt, Cye'ika. We learn to think fast and have answers for every question they throw our way. We do everything we can to make sure they survive." He drained his caf and smiled as he watched them. "And we love them."
"You're getting soft." He gave Cye a sideways glance before putting his arm around her shoulders. She rested her head against his and they watched the boys play. "I don't know why you decided to come here, but I'm glad you are."
"That's a discussion we should have outside of prying ears," he whispered in a low, breathy voice, lips barely moving.
"Of course."
"I'm going to need to take the boys to get some wet rats here soon," Kal said with a sigh.
"Wet rats?"
"Same as dry rats, just wet," he replied.
"That sounds horrible," she said, fake gagging. "You don't cook for them here?"
"I was never much of a cook," he said with a rumbling chuckle. "I guess you don't remember."
"Maybe I blocked it from my memory." She looked up and grinned. "We'll have to get those boys proper Mandalorian food. A real skraan'ikase."
"And just how do you plan on making that happen?" Kal asked as the boys stopped their games and ran out with their boots to put on, ready to go get food.
"You just leave that to me, Kal'ba." Cye stood up and held out her arm to help him up. "You might not be able to leave, but I have one clean ID I can use to go on a supply run. That or I'll just throw on Jango's armor and sneak out."
"Now that I'd like to see." He looked at his clone sons, as proud as any other Mando father. "You ready to go, boys?"
"Yes, sir." They replied in unison, the only trace of youth being their higher vocal range.
"First we'll find Jango," Kal said. "Then we eat. Then we train."
The boys clustered on either side of the door. They were arranged in a defensive pattern, as though they were expecting trouble on the other side. If her life was going to be thrown aside she'd feel the same way. A fresh wave of anger crested as Kal released the jammer and opened the door. Kal and Cye walked out and they followed. The boys moved like a team experienced in urban fighting.
They probably are.
"Kal'ba."
"Yes Cye'ika?"
"I think Jango set me up."
"How so?" Kal raised an eyebrow.
"I think he knew exactly what would happen when he brought me to see you." She smirked and rested her arm over his shoulders. "I think I'll stay."
Kal's eyes lit up. And teared up a little too. "Really?"
"Yes. Who knows, maybe I'll even join the Cuy'val Dar. Cye Mereel can be dead to the galaxy. For now."
Mando'a Translations:
Ba'vodu - Aunt/Uncle
Udesii ade - Calm down, children
Kal'ba - Uncle Kal
Ne'johaa, ad'ika - Shut up, little one
K'olar, k'olarade - Come here, come here both of you
Gar jate? - You good?
Ni jate'lek - Yes, I'm good
Kal'buir - Papa Kal
Uj'alayi - uj cake - dense, very sweet flat cake made of ground nuts, syrup, pureed dried fruit and spice
Me'vaar ti gar? - How are you? (Lit: what's new with you?) Can also be used to ask a soldier for a sitrep. If a Mando asks you this, they expect an answer; it's literal..
Adike - kids
Val'suvar Mando'a? - Do they understand Mando'a?
Skraan'ikase - assorted small snacks like meze or tapas - *small eats* - a celebratory meal for Mandos because it can take hours to eat, and the dishes are often fiddly, a contrast to the easy-to-eat, quick meals necessary in the field
Cuy'val Dar - "Those who no longer exist" (The Cuy'val Dar were the group of individuals summoned by Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett to train clone troopers for the Galactic Republic.)