"Clone trooper S-462, report to your post!" shouted Commander Bly.
"Yes sir!" Steve held up his hand in salute.
It had been 30 years since the kaminoans had found the small boy, now a grown man, on their doorstep. They had named
him Steve. All his life, Steve questioned why he looked so different from everyone else, but no one knew or wanted to tell
him.
Steve's best friend, Perry, was already in line. Steve quickly went to his post at the end of the line next to Perry.
"All right, you wimps! Drop and give me 50!" barked Commander Bly. All of the clones instantly dropped to the ground and
started doing push ups.
"Hey Perry!" whispered Steve.
"Why were you late?" asked Perry.
"Oh, I was at a party." said Steve. "They had a lot of hot Twi'leks there. Want me to spring you next time?"
"Not really," said Perry. He was the only clone who would put up with Steve and his reckless behavior.
"Hey, you two!" called out Bly. "Do an extra 50! And no talking!"
Steve sighed. Commander Bly was frowning at them both.
After everyone finished their push ups, they were clear to go eat breakfast. However, before Steve could go, Commander
Bly stopped him.
"Trooper S-462, you are being deployed for your first mission later today. Meet me at that republic gunship after breakfast."
Bly pointed to a gunship.
Steve hurried on to tell Perry the news.
"Perry, I'm being deployed! It's my first mission!"
For some reason, Perry winced and did not sound happy.
"Steve, I'm probably never going to see you again," he said sadly.
"Oh..." Perry had been his best friend for 25 years.
The two suddenly burst into tears and hugged each other.
"Ahem."
They broke apart. Commander Bly was standing there looking awkward.
"Steve, we're ready to go," he said.
"Okay," said Steve. He didn't know that going on his first mission would mean leaving his best friend.
Steve climbed aboard the republic gunship. Perry waved at his friend from the ground. Steve waved back.
He watched his friend get smaller...
And smaller...
Until he was gone.