A/N: Again, I'm going basing a lot of the GBSL (Galatic Basic Sign Language) on American Sign Language, however I'm also spinning off it just a little so it's not the exact same. I'm trying to incorporate as much Deaf Culture and deaf culture as I can so if you have any ideas or notice that I'm doing something completely wrong, please tell me!

Chapter Six

"What if for flank we use the Forn hand signal and then signal where to go?" Ana asked Cody, making the movement with her hand. Obi-Wan watched Cody copy it and smiled.

"That seems easy enough to follow," Cody agreed as the other clones watched the interaction intently.

The flight to Makeb was shorter than Ana expected. She had never been anywhere except Coruscant, so she didn't know how time passed when going to other planets. She spent most of the time in the Bridge, making plans with Obi-Wan and Cody. Our ship was much smaller than the Negotiator, but it was so we could land discreetly in a mountain-like place, or at least a place hidden on higher ground and in trees.

Ana looked out the window. She could appreciate the new look. All she had seen was a large metropolis, but the trees and clear water was a completely new and lovely sight. Ana found herself smiling and Obi-Wan looked over at her. In the past couple of days since she had looked over the speeders and ships they had trained daily after setting up their plan with Cody for Makeb after the Council affirmed their mission. Ana had also set up things around their quarters, some type of sensory matt before the main door and the door to her room specifically that would then turn on lights, that she also set up, so that they would flash when on someone stepped on them. That way she would know someone was coming into the room. He also helped her set up alarms that were twice as loud as normal and had flashing lights so that she would be alerted if an alarm went off for any reason. With the added volume she would most likely hear it, but it was more for the vibrations and lights. He also watched her set up an alarm that would flash lights and would vibrate on the bed if she set it there. They had talked a bit more, but most time was spent for practicing her lightsaber techniques. He planned that they would save some time in the mission for some training as well. Obi-Wan was not planning on having to call for reinforcements, as the sightings were mostly widely spread rumours with no droids to back it up, but the Hutts could bring in certain company and sometimes Separatists did come to scout out before invasion. If they could stop it ahead of time they would. Obi-Wan only hoped that it wouldn't come to that because they only brought a small amount of clones. Ten was enough for cover, but certainly not enough if there was going to be a group, which was why Master Mundi was ready with his own battalion if it was needed.

He was rather looking forward to the scouting mission. It would be Ana's new mission and unlike Ahsoka's it would be much calmer, which was what Ana needed. They needed some time to talk and plan with Cody and to discuss things like hand signals, which they were doing now. Ana had tried to hold in her excitement when she asked if they would be sleeping outside instead of on the ship and although it would give them better shelter, there were not enough beds for everyone since a room would go to Ana alone. But Obi-Wan agreed that it would be nice to sleep under the stars and he could sense her excitement. He realized that this was probably the first time that she has seen first hand nature and trees like this. Most of her life, if not all of it besides getting her saver crystal, would have been spent on Coruscant. Seeing wildlife and nature like this would have only been through holoimages.

So they agreed to make camp outside for the night. It was almost dark on Makeb so he, Ana, and Cody agreed to go talk to the city leaders tomorrow. Now, the party of twelve were sitting on their bedrolls on the dirt, a fire around them. Cody had introduced the clones after they left ship, signing to Ana their names as well. This is Crys, Peg, Disc, Cinders, Longshot, Waxer, Coin, Boil, and our medic Nova. Ana could tell that the other clones were mesmerized by the finger movements and how she and Cody communicated with the movements as they talked, but so far they were not saying anything, just watching and coming into the conversation to suggest certain hand signals.

Obi-Wan mostly stayed out of it, letting Ana discuss this with Cody themselves since they were the ones to create the signals together and Cody would be the one to use them for her and teach the other clones. They agreed that the other clones with them now would learn them, and then Cody would instruct the others and would also be involved in explaining the signals to other battalions if the 212th went into battle with other clones.

"What is your normal signal for 'stop' or 'attention'?" Ana asked.

"We are used to the closed fist for that. Will it make a difference if we use that instead of the sign for 'stop'?" Cody asked, signing slowly as well to try and get used to it.

Ana made the correct gesture, "this is 'difference', and no if that is what you are used to I can go along with that. It's not a big change."

When she corrected him, Cody copied the gesture a couple of times before Ana nodded and smiled, "like that, yes."

"What about when you want us to go a certain direction?" Peg asked Cody. With Ana's back turned to him slightly, she missed the question and Cody pointed to Peg before signing the question to her.

Ana gave Peg a small smile and told the group as she made the gestures, "I can most likely point, or motion to the direction. Not to mention you will still hear me. This is so you can quickly communicate with me. You will most likely be making the gestures, or at least Cody will, to me. I can't see your faces through your helmets."

Crys nodded and asked, "will you have to…do our names like that when talking specifically to us, or Cody to tell us who he is talking about?"

Ana shrugged and answered, "we'll probably have to sign at first. Cody does it now just to make sure that I understand your names when we are talking but…well if you want I can make name signs for you as well."

That seemed to catch the clones attentions. All of them immediately straightened their backs in attention. She easily recognized their curious expressions.

"You mean, there are specific name signs for people?" Waxer asked curiously and slightly cautiously.

Ana nodded, giving them a smile and looking at all of them.

"So we make them?" Coin asked.

"No…which is why I feel I would need your permission, maybe collectively as a whole or individually because I know that names are important to you all. I explained this to Obi-Wan a couple of days ago. A deaf person can give a person a name sign, something that they feel goes with their personality, fits in the person…basically sign that identifies and fits its suitor." Ana explained, "so it would be me creating it based on your personality traits, if it makes sense with your name, things like that. So when you sign your name-sign to someone they can understand a part of you."

"Wouldn't it make sense for someone to make a name sign for themselves?" Coin asked.

Ana shrugged and explained, still signing to keep Obi-Wan and the clones exposed to it so they could recognize words in signs, "maybe, but you aren't really objective then, are you? And it's a part of the deaf culture, like how naming yourselves or each other, is a part of clone culture and having parents name their children is predominantly non-clone culture. Names have different purposes in each culture."

Ana didn't know how they would respond to that. She could sense their curiosity and slight confusion. She gave them a small smile. She still didn't really know any of them, so it was hard to gauge their reactions. And she wasn't completely sure how to talk with them because she was technically their superior, however she had seen Obi-Wan talk to them as though they were friends of some sort. Not very close friends, but friends. She hoped that talking to the clones would help her get to know them and how to work with them, but she knew that she couldn't speak to every clone since they came in large amount of batches, but she figured that this group was one she would see often. They were the ones Obi-Wan and Cody had thought of first to participate in an important scout-out, meaning that they had been in the Battalion for a long time and were highly trusted and dependable. They would be the ones that would be picked again for important jobs and titles if it was needed. So Ana hoped to at least get somewhat close with them.

"So…they are all different?" Boil asked, his tone more hard for a curious tone, but he was interested in the idea, "the signs I mean."

Ana nodded, nodding her hand as well, "Yes. Such as, for Obi-Wan this is his name sign."

Ana made the sign and Cody watched it carefully before repeating the sign as well. Ana turned her head to him again and told him as she stopped, "you could do that when referring to Obi-Wan. If you just signed 'General' and we were working with another General it can get confusing, so if you just did that sign referring to 'General Kenobi' it would be easier, and quicker."

Cody nodded, making the gesture again. Although Cody wasn't really sure about signing the General with his name and not GAR title, it would be a lot quicker to sign in battle and when talking. Ana gave him a smile of approval to show that he did it right before explaining to him, still signing, "until I give name signs, if choosing, when I see your lips you can just sign the first letter of the person's name…and move your wrist when you do it. But that can be hard if you have your helmet on because a lot of you have names that start with the same letter, so you can sign the first and last letter of the person's name."

Cody nodded and asked, "so I would be 'C' and 'Y'?"

Ana nodded, making the approving gesture as well.

"Exactly. When we start working with other Generals and Commanders I have name signs for I'll teach them to you." Ana answered.

Waxer spoke next, relaxing on his bedroll again.

"If, per-say, we did give you permission to give us names, what would mine be?" Waxer asked.

Cody motioned to Waxer again and Ana looked over at him.

"Can you repeat that?" Ana asked.

"If we did allow you to give us name signs, what would mind be?" Waxer asked.

Ana shrugged, "like I said, I have to get to know you first. There are name signs that basically fit in with the actual name, like the name 'Gunner' or 'Hunter' being an actual gun sign, or 'Ava' the bird sign or something very close with an Aurek and I could do that…in which case your name would be the sign for 'wax', but so far you are 'WAXER'." Ana signed the letters a little more quickly than Cody, used to the signing.

Waxer watched her make the letters before he tried to make the motion himself. Ana saw him struggle and she modelled each letter for him again.

"W-A-X-E-R." Ana commented the letter as she signed it, watching Waxer copy her. He smiled afterwards and Ana signed the letters quickly.

"I think you have a long way till signing as fast as that, Captain." Peg joked.

Cody rolled his eyes and Peg turned to look directly at the Commander.

"What's my name in sign?" The heavily scarred clone asked.

"P-E-G." Ana answered, modelling each sign letter so Peg could follow, moving his fingers make the letters as well. Ana smiled. She was glad that the clones had taken an interest in her language. It may not be to forming sentences yet, but it was a start that they showed interest in learning. Even Obi-Wan was smiling. He was a touch bit worried about how the clones would react to Ana. He knew they wouldn't make their views verbally known, but this was the first time they would be working closely with a female and with someone who was deaf. He was slightly grateful that they at least worked with Ahsoka so the idea wasn't completely new and they had been through the procedures of camping with a female. There were new challenges and they would have to change some things, such as how to communicate with her in a language that most of them, if not all, would have never seen before. They wouldn't be able to just talk to her unless she could see their lips. Unfortunately they would most likely have to talk through Cody when their helmets were on and make sure they speak clearly and slowly when their helmets were off, as well as making sure to go in turns since she couldn't focus on three people at once. But he hoped that using sign language around them would peak an interest and that maybe Cody would teach them more of her language and other ques to make with her.

Cody waved his hand to get her attention again and Ana looked towards him. Cody asked her, "is there a difference between signing a 'Captain', 'Commander', 'General', 'Admiral' or other titles like that?"

"Not particularly…but if the difference needs to be made you can just sign 'Captain' and then for Commander do the sign for…higher, I guess? I would understand what you meant and so would others if they sign. So Commander could be 'high' 'Captain', as in higher than the Captain, and then for General make the motion of high Captain/Commander with a Grek so I understand it as 'General'. For Admiral you could do Captain or higher Captain with an Aurek. Lieutenant could be 'Captain' with a Leth." Ana answered, modelling the signs as well.

"So technically you would be 'high' 'Captain' 'S-T-A-P-H-O-S'?" Cody asked.

Ana nodded, a smile on her face, "technically yes. But you don't have to sign all that. You could just say 'high' 'Captain' and Senth."

Cody nodded, repeating the signs to get used to making them. Ana gave him a smile. She was glad to be talking with Cody. She was getting used to how his lips moved, but she already noticed from talking with the other clones that their lips formed words differently from each other. She would have to make sure she double checked what they said when she wasn't sure what they said to avoid too much confusion. Obi-Wan moved to wave his hand to catch her attention again. Both Ana and Cody turned and Obi-Wan both signed and spoke to them, "we better get some rest. We will be out at dawn to meet the mayor."

"Mayor? No one higher up?" Ana asked.

"Highest person in the district, and this is where the reports came from." Obi-Wan answered.

Ana nodded and moved down more in the bedroll. She looked over at Obi-Wan and caught him talking with Cody about Peg and Cinders taking first watch. The other clones began talking to each other and Ana shrugged it off as everyone went to get some rest besides the two clones. Obi-Wan looked at her and she gave him a small smile and signed a goodnight. He did the same, though the sign was slightly off. She rested down and looked up at the sky. She wished that the ambient light from the city wasn't there so she could see the stars, but the new wilderness was a nice change from the city she had known all her life. Although she was slightly confused as to why they came a night early, but she wouldn't question Obi-Wan.

Closing her eyes she soon found rest.

~.~

A shiver going up her spine fast made Ana wake up. Her eyes flickered open and she sat up quickly. It was still dark out, the fire was now also dimmed a bit. Ana looked to her left and out past the trees and to the mountains. She stared for a while before she felt a tap on her shoulder. She jumped out of her skin and whirled around, her training coming into play and she had almost elbowed the clone, whom she soon realized was Coin, in the nose. She would have had she not looked back. She saw his surprise and he immediately took a bit of a step back.

"Sorry Commander." Ana saw him say. She realized that he had tried to get her attention before. She would have to remind herself to tell them how to get her attention without scaring her, "something wrong?"

"Has there been anything by tonight? Ana asked him.

Coin shook his head.

"No. It's been quiet all night," he answered her.

She looked over at the mountains before looking back at the clone.

"Do you have specs?" Ana asked him.

The clone replied by quickly getting them out. Ana took them and looked towards the mountains. She adjusted them to look in the distance darkness. She saw the more clear pictures of the mountains and trees. Everything was clear, in fact there was literally nothing moving. There were no animals around.

And no people and droids.

Ana squinted and looked over the perimeter one more time. She still had the feeling of something prickling up her spine. Something wasn't right. She had no idea what it was though. She had no idea why the Force was sending a warning. It had surely woke her for something, but she couldn't see a threat, or sense one close enough to them.

Realizing that she wouldn't be seeing anything, Ana set the specs down and she gave them back to the clone, still facing the mountains one last time before she turned back to Coin.

"Everything okay, Sir?" he asked.

Ana frowned, not quite sure how to answer.

"I don't know. I didn't see anything, but keep an eye out," the redhead answered.

"Yes, Sir." Coin answered, giving her a last nod and look towards the mountains before leaving. Ana watched him go back to Cinders and the two talked. The Padawan only guessed that they were talking about what she said. Ana sighed and laid back down, this time moving to her side to look at the mountains.

~.~

Ana walked beside Obi-Wan as they walked around the streets to what the locals called 'The Politic House'. Ana didn't know whether it was more correct in their language or if these people were just too uneducated to know grammatical Basic, but walking around in the town, going past pan-handlers and small stores on the base of ruins she got her answer. Her next was to wonder if it was political corruption, but she was sure she could figure that out when she met the town's mayor.

Cody was on the other side of her with Coin, Peg, Boil, and Waxer behind them. They brought in the smaller group of clones with them while the rest were back for backup and to protect the ship. Obi-Wan and Cody also agreed that going around the town in a larger group may raise more worries for the residents and paranoia for those who have broken the law. As Ana looked around at the shady characters, she was sure that a couple wasn't the case. From what she heard from the Hutt family, their entire Empire was made on smuggling and law breaking, and those who stayed around them were definitely not saints.

Although Ana had never really experienced sand, she found that she didn't like it. She could already feel it in her boots even though they were almost up to her knees and it was harder to walk in. Her feet sunk a bit and she noticed Obi-Wan's did too, but the clones were on top of it. She wondered if it had to do with the material of their boots.

She walked mostly silently, noticing that Obi-Wan and Cody were making small talk every once in a while, but she was looking around at the surroundings, getting the layout in case something happened.

They stopped at a one story building that was more sturdy than the others and the house was actually standing up and was large, but it definitely needed a tune up even compared to the poorest home from a person on the senate. She saw Obi-Wan turn to her and she moved her head to look at him so she could catch what he was saying.

"This is it," he signed to her.

She raised one eyebrow. Seriously? No wonder they made business with the Hutt family…or maybe this was because they made business with them. Ana just nodded and then felt a prickle at her neck from the Force. She looked around once. They were being watched. Not just stares, but watched.

She turned to Obi-Wan again and signed as they walked, maybe we should com the others to be on alert.

Obi-Wan nodded.

You…felt it too?

He struggled to find the word at the top of his head, but he had finished the sentence before a human male came forward. He had very tanned skin, sand and wind scorched from the elements outside despite having his title and from having very clean and crisp dark clothes that were almost silk-like. He was a little older, late forties maybe. His eyes and hair matched the colour of the sand outside. He went closer to them and Ana saw him greet her Master with a hello.

While smiling to the male who she assumed was the political leader before she saw Obi-Wan greet him back with a bright smile and both sign and talk as he answered, "Nice to meet you. This is my Padawan, Ana and Captain Cody."

The man looked at her and smiled as well. The title seemed really strange to her. Mayor was so out-used now. It seemed that he was in power with this title only because he could afford a house that stood up with thick walls. If he was corrupt, he wasn't taking too much for himself. Although the Hutt family was known to drain people dry. And he may not be the only one, or he had people work for him and then he took it back to the Hutt family. However, as far as Ana could see, there was no Separatist threat in the city. No Sith Lords around, but she doubted she would be able to sense Separatist droid Generals or Commanders.

But Ana played it nice and sweet, unsuspicious as well. She smiled back and told him, "nice to meet you."

While Cody was turned slightly towards her, Ana signed to him while Obi-Wan talked, hoping to not attract too much attention to draw suspicion.

Contact ship. Tell them to be alert.

The Captain made a small nod. Cody took a glance at the other man Obi-Wan was talking to but he didn't seem to take notice. Perhaps this silent language had some really good perks. They oculd alert each other, talk, and send signals without saying anything so that a person they didn't want to overhear wouldn't. He looked to see if any suspicion was raised, but he saw nothing. Inside his helmet Cody sent the other clones a message, watching the new Commander as she looked around, though not at all making it obvious. He had seen the look in her eye and knew it from working with Obi-Wan over the year. She sensed something and Cody knew to trust a Jedi when they had that look because they knew something was coming. Cody just hoped that it was a bad agent and not an assault. They weren't prepared for a large attack, yet.

Ana was walking, letting Obi-Wan talk. She could barely keep up the details anyway. She looked at the mayor. By his smile and how he walked he had a lot of…showmanship. It made sense if he was the mayor in a town like this, or if he was working for or with the Hutts. One must have a certain…personality she was sure.

Ana watched the mayor, sitting down in his office with Obi-Wan with Cody standing beside her, a couple of clones behind her, as though personal cover for an assault. It was like a wall around them.

It was a twitching by the window that caught Ana's eye. She didn't move her head, but she focused on the spot, noticing some type of droid watching them in the window, like it was hovering, watching. That tipped Ana off. Something was here. However, Ana didn't know who. But she stayed silent, smiling and watching the mayor, her eye still in view of the window as she caught the one sided conversation. The mayor was going on and on about something. Probably bragging about himself. He seemed like the kind of person to do that. But she pretended to be interested. After a while the droid would leave, but then it would come back again, then going. It was in and out as though it was checking up on them. It was obviously eavesdropping without wanting to be caught. Ana turned her head only slightly to see if any of the other clones are noticing it, but she couldn't be sure with the helmets.

Soon enough, her attention was caught when Obi-Wan and the mayor were moving again, walking into another office. Ana couldn't pay attention with the mayor constantly turning so she left it to Obi-Wan to give her a summary. She watched Obi-Wan smile with the mayor, talking with a kind of charisma and friendly, charming way. It almost went back and forth.

Soon enough, she recognized the goodbyes they were making. Ana offered another smile and recognized the mayor saying Nice to meet you.

"It was nice to meet you too. You have a lovely home here," Ana told him with a smile, not letting any of her suspicions show.

The mayor smiled and the three made a bow to each other. The lasting smiles were on their faces as they turned to leave the house. Ana turned to Obi-Wan and asked, "what did he say?"

Obi-Wan turned to face her before telling her, "he says that he was glad we came, that he was worried about the rumours himself and to take a look around. He would appreciate it if we found anything that we contact him."

Hmm, so he could figure out when they knew the Republic would attack the Seperatists. Not too sneaky.

Ana could tell Obi-Wan was thinking the same thing. When they were outside, Ana looked around and noticed people watching them again. She turned to Obi-Wan and signed to him and Cody so that if anyone was watching them wouldn't overhear, did you see the droid?

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows.

There was a droid?

Ana recognized Cody turning to the other clones and realized he was asking them something through their helmets so it was less likely someone would overhear them. Cody turned back to her and signed.

Waxer and Coin saw it too.

Ana nodded and looked back at Obi-Wan.

We were being watched. Whoever is interested, I doubt it's random civilians. Someone knows we are here.

She noticed a bit of his confusion and tried again, going a bit slower.

We were watched. Someone knows we are here.

Understanding the second time, or at least getting enough words to piece the sentences together, Obi-Wan nodded and answered.

Now to find out if it is the Separatists or the Hutts looking in to see what we want.

Ana nodded and suddenly remembered last night. The Force was trying to tell her something.

I think I know a place to start.