(Present Day)
Kai let out a slow breath, but she couldn't quite figure out what was waking her up until she opened her eyes with a blink, and gave a start as she saw a figure handing upside down on the ladder. His head was bald tattooed with a blue line that ran down across his eye, and he stared at her with wide brown eyes, and she glared back at him from the safety of her blankets.
"Can I kriffing help you?" She growled as she slowly woke up more, and his face split into a wide grin at her words.
"She's alive, brothers! I told you she wasn't dead. Even if she did look it." He shouted across the room and she groaned and rolled to cover her head so she didn't have to listen to him. It was too early in the morning for the large personality this clone carried around.
"We knew she wasn't dead, Hardcase." She heard another identical voice call back. "You didn't need to stare at her for ten minutes to figure that out. We all could literally see her breathing."
"Well how was I supposed to tell? You know I have a hard time noticing little things sometimes She hasn't moved a muscle for hours." He shot back, and she heard him hit the ground and she looked up enough to see him stretch, the tattoos on his shoulders and back bunching and shifting as he did so. "I wake up, and there's a bounty hunter in the bed underneath mine, and I didn't want Rex to get mad if she didn't wake up. You know he'd blame me."
She let out a deep sigh, and sat up, running her hand through her hair. "Well, not to worry because he's going to end up blaming me, because if you keep talking this early in the morning when I'm far away from my caff, there's going to be an extra bunk come nighttime." She threatened, and all the clones near her burst into various levels of laughter, and this Hardcase joined them, his smile wide at her threat.
"You know what? You're not so bad. You're going to fit in really well here, I think." He said, and she offered a grunt as she stood as well, and made her way to the 'fresher, ignoring everyone else as she leaned down and washed her face.
She brought up a couple handfuls of water, washing the sleep away from her eyes, and she looked up at the mirror with a neutral gaze, and caught the eye of the clone next to her, who was trying to shave, but kept looking over at her. She gave him a small smile, and nearly chuckled at the pink tint that brushed his cheeks. She had to admit, that was one of her favorite things to do, given some of the clones blushed very easily.
"You're going to cut yourself if you don't watch what you're doing." She chided, and he looked back at the mirror and continued with a small smile, as she walked out. She got under her bunk and pulled out her bag, and grabbed out some different clothes to wear for the day, and stood up, forgetting that there was another bunk in her trajectory. The back of her head cracked against the metal and she dropped back down to her knees with a curse, her hand flying up to cradle the spot as it throbbed.
She rubbed at the back of her head, with her eyes squeezed shut and she felt a hand grab her wrist and she tensed and went to turn when the owner of the hand spoke.
"It's Kix. Let me take a look. You're ok, I promise I'm not going to hurt you. Move your hand." He said, his voice somehow, amazingly putting her at ease and her hand moved, and he pressed lightly and hummed.
"Well, you didn't bleed like a lot of boys do, which means you didn't hit it as hard, so I guess you're ok. It's happened to everyone." He said, trying to make her feel better, and she turned as she stood, and there was at least another dozen troopers staring at her with varying degrees of concern and clear sympathy.
She rubbed her head one more time, and looked up. "Well, I'll be sure to avoid doing that ever again, because that hurt." She muttered, and slowly bend down to get her clothes before standing back up, keeping a smile off of her own face as she hears chuckles echo through the room.
She went into the stall and changed her clothes quickly, slipping on a loose pair of red shorts that hit the middle of her thigh, and a short sleeved black shirt that hugged her frame. She shook her hair out, and brought it up in a bun, albiet a messy one. Feeling refreshed, and thanks to the bed frame, awake, she folded her clothes and brought them back into the room, packing them away, before grabbing her tablet, and slipping on some shoes.
She walked down the hall, determined to do at least one check on her ship before anything happened. That was the thing, she had almost no idea what this next mission entailed, and she wanted to know more.
Most of the day had passed with her in her ship, and with no word to join from the generals, she saw a platoon of men flew out to try and capture Cad Bane, and the whine of the engine alerted her to their returning presence. She set down her wrench and stepped out and watched the gunship land with a smile.
Troopers piled out, including one who held his arm close to his body, which meant he was hurt, and she felt a frown on her face. She didn't know why, but watching them when they were injured, saddened her. Ozan said it was because she had a soft heart, and she tried to deny it to no avail.
It was the usual talk of food and rest that permeated the conversation and she watched as Commander Tano, Ashoka tried to engage the injured trooper. He walked silently, liquid dripping down his arm, not answering her. She could tell that it was beginning to worry Ashoka, and she was worried herself. Then she saw General Skywalker kneel down, and touch something on the ground before shouting out, and pointing at the clone. Ashoka looked up from where she was cradeling the clones arm in her hands, and when Anakin ran closer to her, telling her to get away, she watched as the clone kneed Ashoka in the stomach, and ran for the B-19 starfighters they had in the hanger. It hit her then, just as she heard the words, that the man she had thought was a clone, was in fact their target, and she ran after him.
Part of her screamed at her to stop, that Bane was far too good for her, and that he would kill her with no effort, but the other part, the part that wanted to protect others, and also prove herself, made her keep running.
She looked down to see Ashoka running to Bane as well and she felt a small bit of relief, knowing she was ok. As she neared Bane, she saw him swing his bag around, hitting one clone and then another, and as she approached him, she threw a hard punch. He turned on his heel, and grabbed her hand tightly, and she felt bones grind as he squeezed. She yelped as white hot pain shot up her arm, and she threw a kick his way, catching him in the ribs and he caught her leg, and threw her to the side, making her hit the ground with a thud. He ran and jumped into the starfighter, and closed the hatch as he lifted off.
Aided by the force, Anakin jumped onto the ship and as the starfighter flew down the length of the ship, she watched him get tossed back and forth before finally falling off, and running as he slowed. The ship disappeared and the hanger seemed to resume its normal motions, soldiers checking on the two clones that had been hit. She sat up and winced as she placed weight on her hand, and she looked up curiously as two pairs of armored boots walked into her vision.
Rex crouched, and gently grabbed her hand in his, his hands warm even through the gloves.
"I watched the whole thing. He had quite the grip didn't he? Are you alright?" He asked quietly and he shifted her hand and fingers with practiced movements.
Kai didn't say anything but winced as he moved her hand, and he looked up with a raised brow and she responded with a slight nod.
"I've had worse. I'll be alright." She climbed to her feet, and he helped her, a hand on her arm.
She waved him away but smiled as she did so. "Honestly Rex, I'm ok. Why don't you check on your men? I promise I'm just fine."
Rex gave her one last long look before nodding and turning on his heel to make sure everyone was alright. Kai got an update from Ashoka of the happenings, and there was nothing they could do now except return to Coruscant to inform the Jedi Council of the situation.
With the ship underway, there was nothing for Kai to do, but go to the med bay and have one of the boys give her something for her wrist, which was now aching something fierce.
She wandered into the med bay and went and sat on a cot, a nurse droid of sorts rolling up to her.
"What is the matter, young lady?" the droid asked in a masculine voice, his glowing white eyes fixed on hers, and his head tilted.
She smiled and held up her arm. "I really messed up my arm fighting in the hanger, and now it hurts to move my fingers." She placed it back on her lap and the droid picked it up and seemed to analyze it, a buzzing sound audible as he examined it.
"You should avoid fighting with others in the medical bay. It could lead to a serious injury. May I recommend the training center for any needs or wants to practice your skills." The droid lectured, and she hid a smile. Of course he wouldn't know about Bane's attack, not this soon at least, and his advice amused her.
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind." She responded and watched as he moved her fingers around, stopping when she'd wince. He then grabbed a small splint and closed it around her wrist, and kept her from moving it too far, and it was slightly padded on the inside to avoid the brace pressing on any swelling that would develop.
Once he fastened it, his head tilted as he regarded her. "Is your pain less now?" She wiggled her fingers a little and nodded.
"Yeah, it does feel better." She slid off the bed and smiled. "Thanks. You're not too bad you know that?" She teased and she could hear the processors whirl and his eyes flickered.
"I cannot be bad at my job, or people will die." He explained and she hid a smile as she gave him a salute with her good hand.
"That's true. Well thank you, good sir." She quipped and walked out into the hall and her stomach grumbled, making her change course from her room to the mess hall. The door slid open when she approached and she walked into the hall and down to where there was food.
She smiled as she got her tray of food, and then she grumbled as she tried to pick up her tray, by sliding it onto her braced hand, the other hand holding the opposite side, but it kept sliding and she huffed out in frustration.
Suddenly another hand grabbed her tray and lifted it. "Here, let me help you with that." She heard a voice speak, and looked up and saw Jesse and she smiled wide.
"Ah, hey thanks. I thought I could do it, but it seems I'm more of a cripple right now that I thought." She said with a deep sigh as she sat and picked up her fork.
He sat back down at his own tray, and she realized he had gotten up specifically for her and it made her smile just a little bit. "Well, I'll do my very best to never let you forget it." He teased her and she scooped up her own food and rolled her eyes as the table was filled with chuckles and laughter. When the men around her straightened and saluted, she turned to see Rex, a tray in his own hand.
"Sorry, Kai I didn't mean to cut off the conversation. I just thought I'd come to the mess with the rest of the boys. It's been a while. Please," he sat down, and looked at her while taking a bite. "continue."
She swallowed and took a drink of water. "So where are we going?" She asked, and Rex took a bite. "Back to Corescant. The General and the commander have to speak to the council and consider our next move, and then we'll go from there. We may have an upcoming campaign on Geonosis as well, but that will still need to be solidified." He explained and she nodded with a shrug.
"Ok. Does that mean we do anything or are we just supposed to sit and wait for orders?" She asked, and Jesse tilted his head to look at her, his amber eyes strangely sharp and fixed on her. She felt like if it was on anyone else, it would be unnerving. "You're not used to doing that, are you?"
Kai moved to the food around her tray, very aware of the six sets of curious 501st eyes on her, and she nodded. "No, I guess I'm not. I mean, I'm glad I took this job. It's security, payment, good practice, and I get to be a part of something again." She sighed and looked up. "I think I've just been alone, calling my own shots for a long time, that it's hard to wait for someone to tell me what to do." She moved a piece of meat with her fork and when she felt a foot nudge hers, she looked up and saw Kix looking at with what she would call a tender expression.
"I take it from that expression, that you didn't chose to be alone, did you?" He asked, and she looked down and to the side and shook her head, a piece of her hair falling in her face as she saw her mom in her mind. She closed her eyes as she heard the familiar report of a blaster and she winced before looking back up.
"No, I didn't. My…village was attacked and my family was killed and I was nearly sold into slavery but saved by a man that is now currently imprisoned on this planet. That's the very short version." She said, Kai looked down at her hands and back up at the group and they were still watching her.
She could tell some of them were very curious and she bit her lip before looking at them all.
"Wait, your family was killed? How? By who?" One of newer troopers asked and cut off shyly with a sharp look from the captain. She decided to sit up on the table, since the rest of it behind her was empty and she faced them with a elbow on her knee, her chin cradled in her palm. Why in galaxy's name was she telling them this? And why did she feel so comfortable doing so?
"You don't have to do that, Rex. It's ok. I gave that explanation knowing there'd be more questions." She said quietly and softly dug her toe into the bench.
"My father left me and my mother when I was ten years old, and we did really on our own, until a group of pirates attacked our village. They were led by a woman named Viya, a cold and heartless woman and they…" she winced and cleared her throat. "they killed everyone but me and some of the other young kids and tried to sell us into slavery. I thought for sure I was going to be sold to someone horrible, be subjected to a life of fear and pain, but Ozan bought me. I was with him up until about six years ago, when he was arrested." She looked up and saw Rex looking at her, not eating as he stared at her, his eyes watching hers closely.
"I'm sorry. That must have been horrible to experience. No child should ever have to go through that." He told her quietly and she shrugged as she usually did when someone said that. She could have always had it worse, she told herself. That's what she always told herself. It was too painful to linger on it longer than that.
"Thank you. I appreciate it. I was one of the lucky ones. I know what people think of people like me, what they whisper to each other, what they say up here on topside." She said with a slight tone of bitterness. "They think we're nothing but thieves and murderers, the lot of us that are good for nothing except dying and leaving the universe in peace. But they don't understand that there are good people out there, people like my father now. Ozan's one of the best men I know. But they wouldn't listen if I tried to explain that." She cast a look up at the other men.
"I'm sure you clones kind of understand that. I hear a lot, and I know what they say about you, and I'm sorry, but it's not right. They don't understand what it's like for all of you, what it's like to not have a choice in your circumstance." She finished and Kix waved it off.
"Eh, we're alright. We have a lot thicker skin that most people think. A few comments like that aren't enough to hurt us." He reassured her, but she wasn't sure that she believed him. How do you completely brush off every opinion that people across the galaxy share of you? They didn't think clones were human, and she knew in their mind, that bounty hunters were nearly the same in their opinion.
She sat up and took a deep breath, and ran her head over her head, and down her ponytail, detangling it with her fingers and letting it fall back over her shoulder.
"So, enough about my sad story." She swung her foot a little and reached over to Rex's plate and snatched one of his rolls and bit into it, causing a laughing ruckus as the rest of the clones started laughing. Rex gaped at her for a moment, and then his face hardened into a glare as he stared at the stolen item.
"Ah, it may come as a surprise to you, but that was my plate, therefore my food you just…took." He explained and she leaned back onto her elbow and after a small moment of hesitation, she gave him a small wink as a distraction as she started to eat the roll.
That caused even more ruckus causing other troopers sitting at different tables to look over in curiosity and Kai was rewarded with the rare sight of Captain Rex blushing, his cheeks turning a light pink, his mouth dipped in a tiny frown.
She then waved her hand a little at the rest of the 501st. "Alright, alright, lets give him a break." She was about to say something else, when a small high pitched beeping sound reached her ears.
She looked down at her comm and smiled wide as it flashed with a familiar name, and she looked back up. "I'm sorry, I actually need to take this. It's one of my work associates from the Outer Rim. I may have a job coming up, either that or he just needs me for information. Excuse me." She said and when Rex nodded, and the rest of the clones gave their farewell, she slid off the table.
As she started walking down the hall, she pressed answer, and the image of a Rodian man popped up and he raised an eyebrow ridge at her.
"Hey, Bo. What's going on?" She asked, ignoring the look he was giving her, and smiled with the hope he'd move on and she wouldn't have to endure his prodding.
"Is there a reason I'm callin' you and it's routin' me from your normal comm unit to a Republic frequency?" He said, his voice raising it pitch the further down the sentence he got. She walked down the hall and into the bunk room and the door slid closed with a hiss. A few clones looked up at her as she walked by and either went back to sleep, or back to their card games or whatever else they were doing.
"Ah, yes. There's a very easy explanation, you see. I'm working with the Grand Army of the Republic and you know me, I'm bound to leave one of my comms in the wrong place. And it's true. I left my personal one in my ship, so it went right to the one they gave me. Now, what do you need?"
Bo scoffed and shook his head. "You're workin' with the Republic? Which means you're workin' topside on Corescant. Have you gone out of your mind insane, woman? You know they'll lock you up as soon as they get a klick within your criminal record right?"
Kai laughed and shook her head and shook her head at the nearest clone, who looked with a look of alarm. No doubt he thought she believed that, and she appreciated the concern. He was one of the newer soldiers that she had been working with, Tez, and he was very kind to her.
"Bo, you know I have amnesty right? They're not throwing me in prison until they're done with me, and before they've even decided that, I'll be gone. You don't have to worry about me. Now, instead of nagging me, did you actually need something?" She asked, and he shook his head with a grumble.
"Yeah, it's not a job, but I'll pay you five hundred credits to go through some files and information I have, and tell me where my target's base will be. I don't have the time to do it, and I need what's on them." He asked her and she raised a slow brow and laid on her stomach, one arm holding her chin up.
"You don't have time, or you were planning on going out tonight, so you don't want to?" she asked, and he looked away and cursed as she caught on and he looked at her with the most sheepish look she'd seen on him in a long time, and it was enough to answer her question.
"Alright, I'll do it for seven hundred credits, since I'm feeling kind." She shot back and his head snapped up and he glared at her.
"Seven hundred? For some file work? What, you think I'm made of money like that? Six twenty five, and no less." He argued back and she pretended to think for a moment and looked back at him.
"Six hundred and…forty." She offered, and she saw him think before rolling his eyes, and she grinned in triumph.
"Alright. You can go sit on six hundred and forty credits of mine, in your fancy ship full of soldiers and jail cells, since it makes you so happy." Her tablet dinged as a message came in, saying that she had received a payment. She waved a little and sat up.
"Thank you dearly, Bo. I appreciate it. Next drink's on me, I promise." She laughed as he waved at her and cursed in his native language before disconnecting.
It was always a refreshing conversation with him, and she smiled as he sent her the files and she scooted up to the head of her bed, before settling into her pillow. She started slowly going through them, gleaning the information she needed, and let the unseen stars streak by as she worked.
She could get used to this, she thought. What she was doing right now, really all of where her life was right now, wasn't too bad. She thought that maybe Bo was right, maybe this did make her happy.
Their ship hurtled through space, with her in it, surrounded by troopers and conversation and laughter and right then, Kai realized that she felt good where she was, and she closed her eyes. It'd been far too long.
