"Sergeant," Stat's voice was whisper-soft in the night of the barracks. "I've heard that a few of the new troopers going to Mimban were on Kamino during the attack. I know it's been bothering you so I asked one of them to wait in the mess for you."

"Thank you, Stat."

Red strode down the corridor purposely quick enough that no one would stop him. He had somewhere to be, someone to speak with - though he didn't know the name of the trooper.

The Redoubtable had picked up a company of clones from Kamino they were transporting to Mimbam and Red wanted to talk to them. News of the CIS attack on Kamino had left him with an anxiety he couldn't relieve, an itchy feeling that seemed to originate from the inside of his skin. He'd heard the training center had been badly damaged and several of the creches destroyed. But it had all been second- or third-hand at best. Reports had the 501st battling CIS forces but their losses would be on the rolls and Redemption didn't care as much about their dead. They were lost brothers but he didn't know any of them except Rex and Chopper. Even before checking, he had no doubt both of them had survived. His main concern was to find out about the clones on Kamino. Colt and Havoc and Blitz and Iron.

He wanted to find out about Ninety-nine. Redemption was fairly sure than Ninety-nine was fine. He was maintenance, after all, and wouldn't be anywhere near the front lines. Redemption pushed aside the thought that Ninety-nine spent a lot of time in the creches simply holding the youngest and telling stories. Red was worried he'd been caught in a crossfire.

There were several groups of clones in the mess and Red paused, looking around for the right one. One stood and walked up to him, his armor not as shiny as the rest. A trooper then, someone with at least some experience though he'd been told they were all direct from Kamino.

The clone inspected him closely. "You don't remember me, do you."

Redemption stilled, wondering if this was someone else that had been part of the 212th or the 501st. Someone who wanted to kill him. "No. I've been reconditioned."

The clone chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, stupid question. I'm the guard that escorted you there." He paused. "In training I was low-scored but not enough for termination so they made me security on Kamino. When the fighting happened, I did good. Shifted some cadets into a safer area then joined up with a few more guards to battle droids at a junction. We were successful in keeping our area secure." His lips twisted. "Probably because it wasn't important to the Seps, but it was a back way to the cloning labs. That fight was enough to up our scores to battle-acceptable. When they offered to let me join a company rather than continue guard duty, I took it." He paused and gazed around, taking in the curved metal and the slit windows."You were right. It's only been a week and I can already tell that you were right. I took my name from you. Memory. Mem for short."

"I'm glad, Mem." Redemption paused. He glanced down and watched his thumb rub against his bucket. He didn't know what else he might say or could ask.

"It's ok," Mem reached out to touch Redemption's elbow. "Really."

Redemption took a deep breath and raised his face to see the other clone, to acknowledge him as equal and vode. "After my reconditioning, I had some good brothers on Kamino and I know it's a mess but if you can tell me anything, I'd really appreciate it."

"You want to know who died defending Kamino." Mem's look was sad.

"Yes. Just vode on Kamino. I've already heard about the casualties among the 501st and that information is readily available. But the clones on Kamino aren't part of the GAR. Most are unassigned or in training." He paused for a moment, pressing his lips together but Mem nodded sadly.

"Or trainers. Or low-rankers, like me."

Red sucked in his breath. "Yes. Trainers like Colt and…"

"ARC Commanders Colt and Havoc led the newest troopers, just graduated and recently assigned, in attacking the Trident drills and droids. They beat back Grievous in section 17 of the second deck but then Ventress entered on one of the lower decks heading to the creche halls. I've heard that Ventress killed Commander Colt personally. Commander Havoc died fighting off the Trident class ships."

Redemption hissed, his heart aching, and bowed his head. Mem continued speaking.

"Commander Blitz took three ARFs and, along with Commander Iron, they forced back some trident drills. They survived and have taken over training duties. Though it's still in the cleaning-up phases for most of Tipoca."

"What about the maintenance clone, Ninety-nine? I can't imagine him being on the front line but I do know he spent time with the smallest cadets and I heard two..."

Mem shook his head. "The CIS was targeting the creches and gene lab. Ninety-nine was front line. He assisted Commander Cody and Captain Rex as well as two 501sters in defending the cadet barracks in Section 16. They all said he died a hero."

Red clenched his eyes tight against the tears.

"That's really all I know but if you have any questions or…"

"No. Thank you, Mem."

"You told me something before you were… when I took you to the…" Mem paused, not wanting to say the words. "Kriff," he muttered. "You told me something and I will never forget it. You need to know it again." He spoke, giving Red his own words as if they were a gift. "For everything I've experienced, reconditioning is a small price."

—

Redemption said remembrance nightly. He spoke it for Ninety-nine and Colt and Blitz and the nameless shinies who had died with them. He spoke the words for Havoc and Iron who had survived. He chanted the words as he remembered the squads he had trained on Kamino even though most were, as far as he knew, still alive. With a soft laugh and tears in his eyes, he murmured soft benedictions for Chopper and Jester and Gus who hated him as well as for Punch and Sketch who probably hated him just as much. As time passed, he slowly added Stat and the rest of his squad to the litany. Each night he wept for the dead - those he had known and those he would never know.

When he heard that Gus died during Order 66 - protecting one of the Jedi - he knew that everything was far more complicated than it was presented by newsfeeds and command. Nightly he wept for the pain that was war. Years passed before he realized the sorrow was woven into his life and would never leave him.