~~13 years later~~
Kai came out of hyperspace and was greeted by the sight of Coruscant, a planet made of over 5,000 levels and one of the most heavily populated places in the galaxy. It also happened to be the location of her new job, and where she was to meet her employers.
It had been mysterious, how it all had happened. She had gotten a call on her comm, but the signal had been scrambled, not allowing her to see where they were calling from, or their physical features. A kind and polite voice had greeted her, and laid out the contract quite clearly.
She might have had more questions, but they had given her credits up front just for accepting the job, which meant this organization had deep pockets, and she needed the money for her ship and weapons.
She set the coordinates on her control module and let her ship fly on its own for the most part, once it had entered the atmosphere. As she flew into the city, she was shocked, as always, by the vast amounts of speeders and transports that greeted her.
She neared the place of her employment, and her heart stuttered, and she stood up slightly in her seat. "No." she whispered, not daring to believe her eyes.
In front of her, undoubtly where she was supposed to land, as indicated by the blinking light on the panel in front of her, was the base of the Grand Army of the Republic. The clean grey stone used to construct the base shone in the evening light and she shook her head in amazement. There had to be hundreds of buildings down there, not to mention the soldiers to fill them.
The Republic had hired her. That fact swept through her and she barked out a laugh as she sat back down. A government had asked her to work for them. A grin came over her face. Deep pockets indeed.
She could already see new weapon systems for her ship, not to mention a makeover for the engine, one she had been planning to get for a long time. But as she got closer to the base, a nervous feeling filled her stomach, making her leg bounce.
Why am I so nervous? She asked herself, as she observed tanks lined up, and others walking towards in the direction of a transport.
Probably because it's so big. she thought. She had taken many jobs over the past few years, but never for the government of the galaxy, and certainly not during the middle of a war.
"This is the Grand Army of the Republic, communications. You have entered unauthorized territory. Identify yourself immediately or you will be shot down." A firm, clipped voice came through her speaker, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Right." She pressed the button and spoke loudly and clearly. "This is Silent Hawk. I'll transmit the code I was given to you right now. Do not fire. I repeat, do not fire."
A few button presses later, she got a response. "These are a Jedi's codes. How did you get them?" Whoever was on the other end was starting to sound extremely suspicious, and Kai rolled her eyes before leaning forward.
"Alright, listen up hothead. I got those codes from my employer, that called me two weeks ago. Didn't see a face, only heard a voice, that told me they were in need of my talents. He said when I got to my location, I was to transmit those codes. If you don't like it, at least give me somewhere to land, and you can interrogate me in person. Deal?" A moment of silence greeted her, and she tapped her console lighting with her fingernails.
"Negative. That wont be necessary. Land on platform 6A, and the generals will meet with you shortly. Your escort will show you where to go. Welcome to the base." He cut off of their communication before she could come back with something, disappointing her greatly.
"They better be more friendly than you.." she joked to him even though he couldn't hear her. She looked out her viewport and was greeted with the sight of two V-19 Torrent fighters fly close, and stable with her wings.
"Just follow us down, and we'll show you were to go." Kai's eyebrows rose as the same voice came through her speaker, though this one seemed to have more of a gruff overtone, than the crisp voice at the beginning.
"Alright boys. Thanks a lot. You guys sound the same. Has anyone ever told you that?" She asked, and got both to laugh in return, their voices almost exactly like the first.
"Oh yeah, all the time. Perks of being a clone ma'am." The pilot to her left joked, and she saw him wave a hand in greeting, and then point down, signaling their descent.
Her landing gear was activated as she neared the ground and she settled with a small thud. She left her control panel, to head to the cargo bay and door. She grabbed her jacket on the way by, and slung it on. She zipped it up, which the blaster she had placed on her side. She grabbed her backpack which contained her few belongings and sets of clothes, and settled it comfortably on her shoulders. Making sure her knife was secure in her thigh holster, she took a deep breath, and pressed the button to open the doors, and was greeted by the sounds of an army.
Shouted voices, the sounds of individual running feet, not to mention the sight of platoons of soldiers running back and forth. Fighters flew overhead, their engines creating a familiar whine, which blended with the deeper roar of transports.
She turned her gaze to her left and was greeted by a small group of people that approached.
The one at the front was the very famous Obi-Wan Kenobi, the negotiator. Oh yes, she had seen his pictures all over the holonet. Next to him was the equally famous Anakin Skywalker, as attractive in person as he was in the holonet, which made her smirk.
Then her gaze turned to the two men walking side by side, and she had to keep her eyebrows from climbing into her hairline.
These men, they were clones, of that there was no question. And they both peered down at her with some of the most beautiful amber eyes she had ever seen in her life.
One had a distinct scar on the left side of his eye, and he stood tall and straight with thick black hair cut to what she assumed was the standard cut, if the other matching haircuts that passed by were anything to go by. His armor was striped with orange, and he had a visor on his helmet that the other next to him did not.
The other soldier standing next to him looked the same, but his hair was short and blonde, drawing most of the attention his armor and face.
He stared at Kai with an expression that could only be described as intense curiosity, and she kept her blue eyes steady on his. Her gaze broke as Anakin stepped closer to her.
He put his hand forward and she grasped it, surprised at the extremely strong grip he had. He gestured to his left, to the man in the blue armor with a smile. "This is my first in command, Captain Rex." Rex nodded to her respectfully, and she copied him, her head dipped with a small amount of respect.
"501st, ma'am, we're glad to have you here." He said simply, his voice much deeper than the clones she had heard in the Torrents.
"And I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, and this is Commander Cody, of the 212th." Obi-wan offered, and the soldier standing next to him, offered a small smile in her direction.
They all walked inside, and after winding around in what seemed like an identical white wall maze, they entered a room, a command center by the looks of it.
They gathered around the table, and Kai took a deep breath, before leaning her hands on the table and cracking her neck. "I have to be honest. I have no idea why I'm here, and I'm really not comfortable with not knowing. So if you could just, you know, fill me in on that part, that would be absolutely wonderful." She raised an eyebrow at the four men, waiting for an answer.
The door hissed open behind her, and a voice, old yet strong answered her. "You to train our soldiers, we wanted. Mighty warrior, are you." She turned, expecting to meet eye level with the person who had just spoken, when her gaze turned downward.
This Jedi couldn't have been more than two and a half feet tall, and he walked with a cane. He stared up at her, with deep brown eyes filled with knowledge and wisdom. He walked over to a portion of the floor and it raised into a seat, so that he could properly look at her face to face.
"This is Master Yoda, ma'am." Cody stated as he saluted respectfully to the Jedi master. She noticed Rex had done the same. He acknowledged them with a kind nod and smile, and turned his attention back to Kai.
"You want me to…train your men?" she cocked her head, confused. "I thought you wanted to make use of my skills. I thought that would be hunting, and fighting."
"Oh we will have certain need for all of those things." Obi-Wan interjected, as he gestured with his hand. "But we also hear that you are quite the proficient fighter as well."
Kai scrunched her nose, and blew out a harsh breath. "Yeah, but there are others that are just as good, or better than I am. I'm good, but I'm nowhere near the best. If you wanted the best, you should have contacted Cad Bane, or Embo. They'd get the job done."
"Sense you in the force, we did." Yoda explained, and she tilted her head, brushing the hair away from the left side of her face.
"I'm not sure I follow, Jedi." She said, her stomach churning with nervousness. She didn't have much experience with Jedi, but she'd heard stories, and she wasn't sure she wanted to find out how this force worked.
"What Master Yoda is trying to say, is that every person is unique and different in the force. When we were mediating, we knew there was someone, who was supposed to be here, with us, training our troopers, and fighting with us. Someone who was needed at this time, at this place. And that someone was you. When we saw your face on the list of candidates, we knew it was you. The force has plans for us all, you included." Obi Wan finished and looked at her steadily.
"You need the repairs. I've seen your ship. And this is a safe place where you can be. And if there are other jobs nearby where we are, you have the freedom to pursue those." Anakin argued convincingly, and Kai narrowed her eyes, her mind flitting through all the options. They both presented an extremely compelling argument. Her ship was in desperate need of repair, and her ammunition was extremely low for all of her weapons. There would be fuel, food, and housing that she wouldn't have to pay for.
"How do I know that you won't throw me into one of your prisons, the moment you wanted me gone?" She asked, and Anakin had the nerve to chuckle as he started to answer.
"We're allowing you to be completely armed, at all times. I think we'd have a hard time, given your record, putting you anywhere you don't want to be." His eyes cheerfully met hers, and despite her better judgment, she felt herself relax.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." She turned her gaze to the captain and commander that were standing slightly off to the side, conversing with each other.
"What are your men like? You sure they'll take orders and suggestions from someone like me?" She asked, and Rex nodded, his mouth lifting up in a slight smile. It was clear he held his fellow soldiers in high regard.
"They're the best soldiers in the galaxy, ma'am. I'd trust any of them with my life." He informed her and Cody offered another handsome smile, before stepping closer.
"The veterans may take some convincing but the shinies, I mean the newer troopers, will listen to you. There's no need to worry." He said, and she took a deep breath, to relax.
"Alright. Good to hear. Now, where exactly will I be staying? May I go now?" She asked, and everyone nodded. The Jedi grouped together, and Anakin offered a friendly farewell before they exited the room, already deep in conversation. She grimaced. She was more than happy to let them deal with their complicated mess, without her getting involved. The less she had to deal with the Jedi, the better for her.
Cody walked to the door and opened it and Rex stepped up next to her. "We know where you are going to be put. May we show you where it is?" He asked, and she had to swallow and look away from the raw intense honesty that lay in those eyes.
"Y-yes. I would like that. All these halls," she laughed, walking to the door with him, "they all look the same. How did you ever get to telling them apart?"
The door closed behind them and they took off down the hall, taking the first right.
"To be honest, Kamino doesn't look much different. I just guess we got used to it. And I'm sure you will too. It just takes time." Rex explained, his hands clasped behind his back, his kama swinging as he walked.
Another left. "Kamino? Isn't that the planet that rains, like constantly?" Kai asked, and Cody chuckled beside her. "Yes it does. Never seemed to stop when I was there. But I don't mind it."
Right. Kai looked over at Rex, and thought for a moment before asking. "Shinies. What does that mean? You mentioned the name earlier, but I don't understand." She asked him, and he nodded, understandingly.
"Shiny is a term that we give our new troopers, that have just completed training and graduation. They haven't been in any real combat yet, so their armor is always perfectly white and shiny. So.." he gestured with his hands and Kai's face lit up in understanding.
"So you call them shinies. I get it now." She walked past a group of troopers and they all turned to look at her. Some of them smiled and waved, others stared in what seemed to be awe and surprise, but a firm word from Cody had them scurrying about their appointed tasks.
"Pardon the rudeness ma'am. It's just that many of them have never seen a woman outside of the Jedi order before. You're new to them."
Kai waved away his apology. "No, no it's totally fine. They seem like wonderful soldiers. And you don't have to call me ma'am." She looked at him, then Rex, and smirked. "Neither of you do. My name's Kai, and I'm a bounty hunter. There's no need for the title, I assure you."
"Understood, Kai." Rex repeated her name with a small grin, and she felt her heart jump a bit at the kind expression on her face.
She hadn't felt like this since…She closed her eyes for a moment, and pictured his face. He had been so good to her. But she couldn't afford to go over past mistakes. Not right now. Right now she had a job to do.
They had been so busy talking, that she hadn't noticed the many other corners they'd gone around to finally reach her room. Cody pressed a series of buttons into the keypad on the side, and the door slid open.
"This is your room. The soldier's barracks for the 501st are two doors down on your left, and the door next to yours is a supply closet. Follow the hall to the right and you reach the infirmary. Futher down the hall is my men, the 212th. I hope you don't mind that we've placed you in the middle of the action. This room has just been converted into a living space."
Kai set a hand on the doorframe, and stared into the small room. It seemed quite cozy and she immediately felt at ease, at the small size. It was perfect.
"Thank you both. I'm sure that we will see each other very soon. What time tomorrow morning should I be at the training facility?" She asked, and Rex checked a data pad he pulled off of his belt, his eyes reflecting the light from the screen.
"We start training at 0700. I'd suggest being there a few minutes prior to starting." His eyebrows dipped in confusion at her disappointed groan.
"I see you're all early risers here. I guess that's something else I'll have to get used to." She joked, and lifted her hand in gratitude. "Thank you again, both of you."
They both nodded, and walked off down the hall, their boots thudding against the ground, leaving her to turn around and close the door behind her. She took a deep breath, and looked at her new surroundings. It was a small room, with light grey walls. To her left ahead of her, a bed lay against one wall, and a small table with a drawer lay next to it, with a small lamp that faced the bed. She could see the open door straight across the room that led to a bathroom, and she poked her head in. A small shower, but it would be wonderful to have her own, and not have to worry about the water supply. She backed up and walked over to the, sitting on the edge, as she threw her backpack near the foot of the mattress. She laid back and looked at the ceiling, letting her thoughts drift.
Kai knew that because of her lifestyle, planning out what she wanted was not a possibility, but despite that she still could dream.
She imaged that one day, she would hit the best jobs, which would give her the credits she would finally need to settle down somewhere, with a small house, maybe some land for farming. There she would meet someone, and they would have a family, just like she had once had. And her children would know the love of a mother, just as she had known.
A tear slid down her cheek, as she thought about her mother. She thought 13 years would take the pain away, but it didn't. True, it didn't hurt nearly as bad as it had at the beginning, but there was still that empty hollow place in her chest. She sat back up and wiped her face, looking once again at the door. Maybe this job was somehow an answer to her plan. Maybe it would give the credits she needed, or maybe it would last just long enough for her to be able to survive out in the world again. Either way, this was her life, and as Ozan had taught her countless times, it was what one did with their situation that mattered. This was her life now, and she was determined to give it her best shot.
