After dropping off Havoc at Medical, Four took the squad to the mess where Ninety-nine was waiting with two cups of kaf in front of him, one for Four. For a moment the ARC-trainees stiffened as they saw they were sitting the table with the maintenance clone. Four waited, watching his squad of ARCs. Ninety-nine glanced over the three ARCs. He raised an eyebrow in question at Four.

Then 59 gave a slight nod at the maintenance clone and sat across the table from him. "Name's Colt." Then he gestured to the two others. "Blitz and Iron. Havoc is in medical for another day." He jerked a thumb at the sergeant. "The sergeant hit him a little hard."

Ninety-nine pushed the extra mug in front of Colt and glanced up to Four with a grin. "You'll have to get yourself your own kaf."

Four didn't object, his ARC-trainees were learning.

It was a good conversation. Though Blitz and Iron were arrogantly aloof, mostly ignoring Ninety-nine until he mentioned that he'd been down in the infant creche telling stories to the vatlings and younger cadets.

"But then aren't you neglecting your cleaning duties?"

Ninety-nine shrugged an uneven shoulder. "I assign the cleaning droids then pick my own assignments. Pushing a broom around doesn't require any muscle or thought. And cleaning up after the smaller vatlings…" He paused. "I get to hold them. Rock them in my arms. Sing a little. Let them know that I care." He gazed around the mess to various groups of clones. "Most of them don't remember, but I do."

Colt's eyes narrowed in thought as he pushed aside the now-empty mug. "Maybe they remember someone cares."

Iron, eyes squinted as if trying to remember something, nodded agreement. "I think that would be very important, Ninety-nine.

Blitz glanced at Iron and Colt then down at the table. "Tomorrow, maybe…" He looked at Sergeant Four and Four, realizing what he wanted to ask, nodded with surprised pleasure.

"Would you like to come to Medical and meet Havoc? Wait for him like a squad would wait?"

"I'd be delighted. Then, afterward, if you like, I can escort you to visit some younglings." He chuckled. "There's nothing they worship so much as ARCs and you'll be innundated with questions. Though they'll be disappointed to learn you aren't really ten feet tall."

—

General Shaak Ti breathed in deeply as she sent the last of the day's records on their way. She closed the office and turned off the light then strode down the grey corridor.

A cup of tea would be nice, so she turned left at the corridor. It would take her to the general mess, not a place she usually frequented but it was late and they did have tea always available Unlike the private mess where most of the trainers and all the Kaminoans ate.

"Officer on the deck," shouted several voices as she entered. There was a fight going on. It should have ceased at her entry, both participants pushing apart and coming to attention. They didn't. She touched the ambiance of the room with the Force.

Ah, one of the fighters was Sergeant 8644. As always, his presence in The Force was notable. Sorrow and containment garbed him, parts ripped off like petals from a flower then patched as if grabbed and shoved back into the man in desperation. Sheer non-colors overlaid by more indescribable perceptions until his aura was a deeply complex maze. There was always a low grade anger in him, more than most clones who were intelligent enough to realize that they were sentients and due more than battle gear.

She'd sent another strongly worded letter to the Jedi Council about a slave army but at the moment the war was deemed more urgent. Windu has told her to be aware of 8644, to notice if there were any more urges of treason or even vague issues of non-compliance. Troublingly, he said the council had been unable to determine whatever changes Ventress had done.

She reported that she didn't perceive any changes. Not to Four's integral self and not to any motivations. More than almost any other clone she'd glimpsed, he wanted the GAR to work in perfection and precision. It seemed as though everything he did was for the betterment of his brothers, for the squads they'd given him. His heart ached when they left. He wanted to go with them, he wanted to fight for the Republic.

Though Windu was adamant that CT-8644 would never leave Kamino, he was not in charge of assignments.

In spite of his ever-present irritation and grappling with the other clone - ah, that whirlwind presence was ARC-trainee 58 - there was no anger at his opponent. Merely solid patience.

"Sergeant, the general..." ARC-trainee 58 said before a hard fist stopped his… Warning? Complaint? ARC-trainee 58 was worried and there was a growing anger in him… but at Four for ignoring protocol. He tamped it down and concentrated on tactics.

She caught the words 'demerit' and Four's reply of 'Mine.'

"General Ti, should we separate them?" It was one of the older clones, within several weeks of being assigned.

"Why are they fighting?"

"Don't know, ma'am. The sergeant was getting ready to bus his tray when 58 attacked him."

"A training exercise then. I would assume." Wise of 58 to wait until the sergeant was off-balance, between sitting and standing, with something in his hands. Proficient of 8644 to ensure the tray remained on the table rather than spattering remnants around.

The young clone looked around, probably for a higher-ranked trooper, in confusion then fell into a second's position at her side. "We normally consider mess neutral territory. Otherwise, it would be a real mess."

Her lips twitched at his pun he intended. He caught it and grinned. She knew later he'd be telling his squad with pride that he'd made the general smile.

"Sergeant Four and his trainees obviously don't adhere to generalities. Thank you." That later was to Ninety-nine who'd handed her a cup of tea. "Sergeant Four," she called out.

"Sir," he bellowed to be heard, his breath coming in hard bursts as 58 pounded his ribs.

"Is this sanctioned training?"

"I sanction it, sir. Any demerits are mine."

"No demerits, sergeant, but you and 58 clean up after yourselves."

"They always do, General," said Ninety-nine. "It's one of the sergeant's rules. After an encounter, no one should be able to tell it happened."

The clone next to him, ARC-trainee 59, gave a small nod though most of his attention was on the two fighters.

She took a sip of the tea and watched the two clones. Now that their concerns about her disapproval had been satisfied, they concentrated on each other. Four with his ragged, intricately patched Force aura settled into some sort of teaching mode. Not a single hit or defense was repeated. None at full speed or strength, though 58 didn't realize that. There was no vocal explanation but 58's aura reacted to each move of the sergeant's with a starburst of discovery. Understanding without verbal learning.

"What are the odds," she murmured.

ARC-trainee 59 smiled with a little huff of air but didn't take his eyes off the pair. "Getting worse for 58 with every second though he may not think so." He paused for a moment, biting into his lip, then he glanced into her face. "Why isn't Sergeant an ARC, General Ti? He's as good - no, better - than us."

"He lacks certain specialized ARC training. Data coding, upper level demolitions, political behavior. More importantly, he doesn't want to be an ARC. He prefers being part of a squad on a permanent basis and this is what he is very good at doing."

"We're not permanent."

"Yes. A problem for him, isn't that."

A side glance showed 59 too was learning simply by watching. Little starbursts flared though his aura, echoing those of Four and 58. She glanced around the mess. Those tiny brightenings of new knowledge flickered everywhere, every clone in attendance watching intently. A few even moved, consciously or unconsciously, immitating a move or a possible deflection.

"How long do they go on like this?"

"Until they're done." 59 shrugged.

"It depends on who and what Sergeant Four is trying to teach." Ninety-nine gestured to the watchers then up to her. "You can see it, can't you? How this..." He paused a moment attempting to choose the most accurate description. "This demonstration is teaching everyone."

"Yes, Ninety-nine. I see it very well. Beautifully, in fact. I think I did very well to assign Sergeant Four to training. Though I believe he is far too attached to his students."

Ninety-nine glanced away from the fight to gaze in her face. "For a clone, there's no such thing as too attached."

She looked over the group, most still concentrating on the fight. Then she gazed down to Ninety-nine who gave her a wan smile and spoke.

"Because our brothers is all we have."