A/N:

SQUEAMISH WARNING AGAIN?

Discussing menstrual hygiene products sooo... Yeah, our favorite batch of deviant and extremely sheltered clone troopers are getting schooled ig - if you are squeamish about periods, or anything beyond the usual cramps, comical mood swings and weird chocolate cravings media often only portrays, then you don't have to read :) I don't get 'graphic' tho, I promise

Well, this whole period thing was going to be like, a one-shot deal... then I got carried away XD now it adds to the plot in many different ways! And opens opportunities for one-shots!


Chapter 27: First Period Around the Boys - Part 2

(Talla, Wrecker, Tech, and Blair POV)

Of course, Talla was questioned on why she didn't feel so inclined as to at least research stuff like, say, The Menstrual Cycle, or Pregnancy, all that jizz.

These little life things that were absolutely no big deal at all.

"The HoloNet is free, you know." Blair felt the need to inform the Clone Agent still smooshed into a Wrecker side-hug.

The HoloNet is how Tech obviously compiled his file for her condition.

Influenced by another mood swing and as established the unrelenting, kriffing awful period symptoms, Talla's snippy and muffled answer was: "I know, I just didn't want or need more negativity in my already cruddy life."

Wrecker patted her back sympathetically.

It was a valid point of view, to be sure, but if Talla was going to really take control of her own life and declare independence from the Chief Medical Scientist, she needed to know how her body worked so she could better take care of herself by herself. Self-care wasn't just getting fancy smancy hairstyles, wearing fancy smancy clothes, doing exfoliating face masks, painting your nails, etc. It involves some medical knowledge as well, beyond patching up blaster wounds.

Blazing with curiosity and concern, the mirialan asked point blank, "How did you get through this before?"

Shifting uncomfortably, the only answer Talla could procure after a grimace was: "I dunno... I just did."

Well, either way, if Talla or any of the guys were going to survive the next seven days, give or take, they ALL needed to know what to expect and how to support Talla, and Wrecker needed a refresher on that score, it seemed.

To curious for his own good Tech began tapping away on his datapad through his favorite information superhighway, having no need for a refresher on a subject he was well-informed about, and thought up many solutions for this predicament

Wrecker and Talla got a very graphic yet at the same time dumbed down lesson on what exactly was happening, why this was happening, where it was happening, and about seven seconds in Talla had to shove and crawl away from Wrecker, curling up in a fetal position in the corner of the couch, which hid her red face and blocked out the lights that were beginning to send figurative vibros through her skull.

And despite his previous though admittedly limited knowledge on the subject beforehand, Wrecker found himself unable to look neither Blair nor anyone in the eyes, sporting a light pink tint as well.

But Miss Amlie the Health Instructor felt very strongly that there was no need to tip toe around the 'issue.'

Alright, she perhaps came on a little strongly, and should have been a little more considerate about Talla's unfortunate feelings of self-loathing and disgust, but in her defense, Blair honestly forgot Talla was a clone who was conditioned to be this way and occasionally needed gentle nudges as opposed to a shove to the enlightened pattern of thinking.

Oops? ️But at the very least, no one had any questions by the end of her health lesson.

Once finished with her detailed and passionate tangent, Miss Amlie adopted the same tone as when Talla didn't want to accept the free clothes given to her months earlier. "Talla, here's life lesson number 273 -" She even did the philosophical hand wave, "When you're given a free pass to just vedge for the entire week of your period - take it!"

Talla made a weak noise of affirmation that she got the point.

Blair misunderstood it though for her being stubborn, and gestured to herself next to drive the point home, "Personally, I'm one of those who doesn't suffer that much on her period, so it doesn't matter for me whether or not I can afford time off, but you -" Instead to firmly clutching Talla's shoulder Blair laid a soft hand on one of her arms wrapped around her legs, but quickly retracted the comfort when the Clone Agent flinched but didn't lose any of her determination, "Tall, you're gonna have all the time in the world to do everything you can to ease this enhanced curse, so to speak, which you'll try by doing the following -"

Blair listed the potential comforts off with her fingers while Talla was well on her way to unconsciousness and only halfway listening at this point.

"1) Chuggin' down your fair share of painkillers and lots of water, not soda and alcohol, at least not all of the time, you've got to stay hydrated.

"2) Mixing in some healthy foods while minimizing the crappy take out, sweets, and weird snacks you're gonna crave because they can actually make you feel worse.

"3) NAP! Take lots of naps, Talla, if you can. And if you're having trouble sleeping, there's remedies you can try.

"4) And I know you don't like the suppressant shots but you've gotta up with them - Tech?"

From the curt tone the brainiac startled, head jerking upwards from looking down at his datapad.

The mirialans brow snapped upwards knowingly and partial annoyance. "I hope you're writing this down?"

Her curt tone didn't faze him this time around - he actually simpered, "No, because I've already done research and compiled a list of various theoretical remedies for her excruciating symptoms -"

"Research is good." Blair interrupted with mild regret when his face twitched in sadness, but now was not the time for a long rant with lots of big words, "I applaud your dedication to help Talla out, but life experience is also good, and I have years of experience helping out Sky."

While Wrecker felt that familiar sensation of wariness at seeing his brother seemingly being picked on, frowning Tech held up his datapad glowing with rows upon rows of typed notes he had pulled up, "But I already have a thorough list -"

Fingers were snapped to interrupt him this time, then she pointed to his datapad with a no-nonsense look. "Write this down, Tech, and in the Basic terms I'm using so everyone can understand."

With that scary glint in her eyes, so he 'snapped' into a ready, note taking position, thumbs ready to tap away. "Yes, ma'am!" Albeit with the painful twinge of a wounded heart.

That aside, it was funny, usually it was him teaching inexperienced Talla things, but there was one thing Tech had learned from her since meeting her - when women got that look in their eyes... you did what you were requested to do with nary a complaint.

And there was a theory Tech was not willing to test: It would be deadly to deny those requests when it was that time of month especially.

To his happiness though and Wrecker's, after suggesting for Talla to take a warm shower and she left to go do so, Blair did look at that original remedy list Tech had compiled himself, apologizing for her rudeness earlier.

Comfortable leaving his brother with a non-member of their team now, Wrecker ventured to the kitchen to get a snack while Blair explained, "You know I absolutely adore your lively chatter, but this time around I knew it would overwhelm our friend, and talking over you was just the first thing I could think of to stop you - with me and Nik and Sky, we have to do it all the time 'cause we're all big loud mouths." She finished with a roll of her eyes in fake exasperation.

It has been established that Tech rarely got such kind treatment for something labeled as an annoying trait he couldn't control in the slightest, so he was taken aback by the apology but brightened to his usual lively self once more. "I understand, but thank you for apologizing all the same."

"No prob." She scootched over to his side and indicated the datapad in his hand. "Now, let's look at that list!"

It was a very good list, as it turned out, and he had definitely done his research, unlike Crosshair who thought this was just a little tummy ache.

With a thoughtful squint, Blair pointed down at a particular line of aurebesh. "You have it noted here that Talla lent you 'a heavenly soft blanket' after your mentor and caretaker died?"

The ache for the loss reemerged, though it was not crippling as it had been those first few weeks, "Yes, and I never returned it, I believe it is still in my room somewhere." A momentary bout of unsureness manifested in a bashful sideways look to his friend, "I was thinking of having it laundered so she would have its comfort during her difficult time, as it provided for me during my difficult time."

And Tech was not shamed for his vulnerability. "I think that's a GREAT idea, Tech!" Blair exclaimed with a bright smile, uplifting him instantly.


(Hunter and Skylar's POV)

Skylar's field trip was very interactive for Hunter, his brother's girlfriend taking him a hop, skip, and an airspeeder ride away to a nearby convenience store. It would have most if not ALL the menstrual hygiene products Talla would need at ridiculously high prices, but Hunter's self-appointed teacher would help the man decipher and pick out stuff according to his teammates needs, and get them back to the Marauder ASAP.

AND he'd also have all this useful knowledge stored away just in case there was a time his teammate ran out of supplies but couldn't get to the store herself.

Just as Skylar found a parking spot for her speeder, the twi-lek got a beep from her mirialan bestie that gave a list of things Blair figured Talla would need, after a mild interrogation to learn of their friends' specific symptoms and the severity of her pain levels.

She wasn't gonna lie though - the first two or three days at least were going to be hell for the Special Agent Clone.

As such, the lesson Hunter received was very... in depth. Skylar did her best to be diplomatic, but that didn't make this any easier to discuss for the conditioned to be extremely ignorant clone.

At the very least, Hunter definitely didn't have any questions by the end of the lesson.

Except for this particular one: "Why me?" The red-faced Sarge asked while they approached the entrance, referring to reasons why Skylar singled him out as the one to receive such a thorough, hands-on, THOROUGH lesson. "Tech's the other medic on the team, why can't he deal with her -" He suddenly found the sale signs on the windows he passed by very interesting, "Her um, 'issues?'"

The entrance double doors whooshing open, Sky kindly gestured for Hunter to step inside first, which laid the perfect trap for her to flick his ear from behind.

"Ow!" Hand snapping up to the abused ear, he demanded of his spiteful companion strutting around him, "What was that for?!"

Tsk-ing disappointedly, Sky retorted when facing him, "It's not an 'issue,' it's just a natural, very uncomfortable part of her life - have you learned nothing?"

He huffed while massaging his irritated ear, "Yes I have but still, why do I have to go shopping for her? Tech is the one who loves shopping, and like I said the other medic, so shouldn't he be getting all the medical supplies?"

In complete innocence, Skylar started to say, "We are doing this because Blair did this with Wrecker after him and I got together -"

The hand dropped while Hunter bristled at the imaginary insinuation. "What are you suggesting?"

...Nothing, obviously. ;)

Sky mentally had to smirk at Hunter's desperate attempts to keep a poker face amidst his rising panic, evident stiff tone of warning and fisted hands rigidly against his side. On the outside, she tilted her head curiously, as if she didn't have an inkling already, what all this agitation meant. "I was gonna say that since you were freaking out so much -"

"I wasn't freaking out." Hunter interrupted gruffly.

Someone rudely bumped by Sky with some choice words at the duos path blocking.

So she reached out to lightly push Hunter backwards into nearest aisle, calmly elaborating, "- I figured I should show you first-hand how this is actually not a scary thing -"

He plucked her hand off indignantly, "I wasn't 'scared -'"

She was seriously fighting back laughter now. "I'm gonna show you all that's needed or required to help her out, so you don't feel so helpless or anxious -"

He crossed his arms defensively. "I'm not anxious."

With heaps of exaggeration Sky threw her hands up, "Ugh, fine!" And he played off his flinch as stepping aside for someone else to maneuver around their blocked path while she gave him a judgy-eyed, all-knowing once-over, "Geez, are you sure you're not on your period, because you've been way moodier lately." Sky didn't give him a chance to overly protest that, sassily putting her hands on her hips, "How about this, macho man - when it comes down to it, you're usually the most level-headed on the team and, besides Wrecker, the most compassionate, which is what Talla needs right now. I mean -" Recalling a cute memory of her special fella, she snickered, "Wrecker still kind of freaks out when I get a really bad cramp or something, but I'm sure once I bestow all my knowledge onto you, my very young Padawan -"

Hunter rolled his eyes at this tease but she continued holding back on the smirk, "If I show you how to help her out, you'll be able to comfort her, and that's what you wanna do, right?"

There was a suspicious squint at her in defiance, Hunter not liking being called out on his biggest weakness like that, knowingly or not, nor how his emotions were so openly all over the place instead of his own secret mental hamster wheel of anxious thoughts that went a million light-years a second just staying that way - A SECRET.

But when she met his gaze with equal ferocity his shoulders slumped, and Hunter finally sighed in defeat, "Yeah."

Now the smirk was freely given. "Then let's get down to it." Sky mockingly clapped two times to beckon him along. "Chop chop, Sarge!"

His lip curled slightly, but he said nothing.

Sky eased Hunter into things gently when he asked instead if there actually was a way to ease Talla's enhanced symptoms.

So to the Menstrual Hygiene aisle they went.

"First and foremost -" She picked up a small bottle of capsules from the shelf that rattled within when gestured at him, "Painkillers - make sure to always have some of this particular kind handy, and have Tech keep track of Talla's doses since she's so out of it."

The bottle was taken with a nod.

Skylar grimaced, as a matter of fact not finished with this part of the lesson. "But if it turns out Talla can't swallow these because she feels too nauseous -" Hunter's heart sank when she picked out a trustworthy brand of a stimpak catered to this particular discomfort, "I guess try getting her to use one of these."

Already predicting the potential fight or flight response, he scoffed, "Unlikely." Bitter at the thought Talla could be so nauseous the only pain relief she was comfortable taking might not be an option for her, resulting in a situation that would triple the unbearable difficulty of her agonizing week.

With features soft with empathy Skylar handed the packaged torture device to him anyways, "I know, but I think you'll be surprised what someone will suck up and do when faced with this level of pain."

Hunter really hoped so. It killed him to see Talla this way.

Sky next directed his attention to a small selection of soothing sleep-aiding teas packed into small tin containers, "Since ya'll have the week off, make sure Talla gets plenty of sleep and slips in a few naps too, if she wants -"

"'Nap?' Talla?" Confused and slightly offended for Talla's sake, she pivoted in his direction when Hunter gave a breathy laugh. "Those are two words that don't go together."

Okay, he's not mocking me or Talla.

"What do you mean?" Sky distractedly wondered, halfway turning her attention to inspecting the tea options.

Having joined her, Hunter pointed her to one that he believed wouldn't have a jarring effect on Talla's sensitive taste buds. "Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but Talla's a kriffing bundle of energy, and doesn't believe in wasting precious time -" He paused as the tin of tea was tucked into the crook of his arm and without warning he was dragged over to another section of the aisle, "I - I couldn't get her to relax and recuperate in her room when she was recovering from her first near-death experience -"

The twi'lek stopped abruptly.

The clone jammed into her back, and looked foolish having to awkwardly duck and catch the tin that was flung on impact.

Turning slowly while he rose from his crouch, Sky met scrunch-nosed Hunter with a deadpanned look. "THOSE are actually words that should never ever be used together, my friend." She dryly remarked with a baffled once-over of the crazy man, and would have found his nonchalant shrug an extremely concerning gesture if Sky didn't know him and his squadron better.

But she did, so the melodramatics were brushed aside. "Look, you'll have to find a way to get her to rest though, which I don't think will be an issue considering how crappy she feels, but you should know that sleep deprivation doesn't help those mood swings at all."

With the harsh lighting of this establishment, it was easy to see some of the color drain from Hunter's slackening face. "... They can get worse than this?"

Her tight smile was not very reassuring, and neither was the double pat on his arm. "I don't think either of us wants to find out, yeah?"

Nope. And as such, Hunter picked out another lightly flavored tea. It was not worth the risk.

They always had a large supply of painkillers, but from personal experience, there were times when the maximum dose of medication didn't even touch the pain for people like him and Talla, so Hunter asked what else would help with this uncomfortable time of month while retreating a few steps back and nabbing one more bottle and stimpak of the specially formulated painkillers.

Next on the field trip supply list: the opposite of a chill pac. An electrical or battery powered device wrapped in a tiny, soft pillowcase that Skylar labeled as: "A heating pad."

Hunter tilted his head at the strange-looking piece of technology then fixed her with a blank expression, asking for some more explanatory words.

"This magic device really helps with the cramps."

The poor sheltered clone furrowed his eyebrows. "Not ice?" That's how aches and pains were usually treated, right?

"Nope." Mind already going to the next big thing, the object of potential comfort was perched on top of the growing pile in his arms when Sky passed him by.

On a mission, her sharp blue eyes scanned the aisle shelves for something else while the dumbfounded Sarge merely blinked, mind swimming. "Oh." This whole treatment process is so kriffing complicated, definitely not like the typical blaster or knife wound recovery.

Snapping out of his daze Hunter sprinted a few steps to catch up, dropped a few things in the chase, dropped even more things trying to scoop them back up while slipping on a package of another-

By the time Skylar noticed the lack of clueless clone at her side, Hunter had utilized a nearby crate display of candies as a makeshift SUPPLY crate that unfortunately lacked a cover but oh well.

It earned him a look of disapproval when he caught up to her.

"What?" He moodily asked while readjusting it in against his hip, "There were only a few chocolates left in there, and I'm sure Talla will eat them, right?"

For a brief moment, Skylar got a glimpse into parenthood and tiredly face-palmed. "You can't just steal the displays, Hunter." She should not have had to say. "You have to buy bags or crates at checkout or here's a wacky idea - go find a cart!"

"I'll just buy a real crate at the check-out stand, how about that?" He bargained with a dismissive wave of his hand.

In return she scoffed, "Fine, but I'm not saving your ass when the owner finds their display missing."

Upon further surveillance, it was brought to her attention the unhealthy amount of cookie and soda packs she had not told him to buy, which was taking up most the room inside the crate, and prompted Skylar to raise a brow and point at them questionably, "Is that really necessary?"

A grave look and nod were her only wordless answer, yet the hint of fear-ridden eyes told the rest of the story - this was just in case someone else wrote their death sentence by finishing Talla's snacks again.

That established, she pointed to the odd display of water bottles nearby for the next section of her lesson plan. "Make sure she stays hydrated and not just drinking soda or alcohol -

*nod* "Okay -"

"A nice cup of that tea though, or the hot chocolate I hear you have handy on the Marauder will be very soothing."

The confidence faltered. "... Okay -"

The familiar pangs of a stress migraine were forming as her finger raised in a very Tech-like fashion while Sky careened along the next stretch of the aisle in the general direction of the main event, "Also, she can't take warm baths because you don't have actual bathtubs, but warm showers are just as soothing." In the middle of the path, she suddenly turned to him with dead seriousness herself, and pressed that authoritative finger over his heart thumping at an alarming rate, "And warm, soft, and cozy clothing to wear and blankets to cuddle up with are an absolute necessity."

Peeking despondently down at the heavy and overflowing crate perched on his side, Hunter couldn't understand how they had not gotten all they needed yet. "Um, I think she has blankets but doesn't have any 'comfy clothes.'" Hunter managed to get out, and Sky lowered her brusk nature and finger, "The only 'comfy clothes' she has are the sleepwear she never got rid of from Kamino."

Sky inclined her head, furrowing her eyebrows. "Really?"

"Mhm." Hunter confirmed, "Even with the new clothes she's bought, Talla looks for comfort but also practicality, so things like comfy sweats she finds rather useless."

"Huh." Sky breathed, then shrugged and chuckled in amusement, "You think you know a girl."

"Hey I warned you before that she thinks naps are a waste of time," He reminded her, temporarily focusing on his little crush and was able to shake his head slightly chuckle too, "So it's a given that lounging around doing nothing is a waste of time too."

Skylar lifted a hand in acknowledgment, "I guess so, but she's a regular in our little thrift store now, hunting for a gem each time to add to her growing closet stock," She shrugged again in surprise, "So I figured she'd have discovered the absolute joy of our selection of comfy sweats by now."

When she turned and careened further down the aisle, he secretly let a small grin grace his stoic face, knowing the habits of the girl he pined after for a while now. "That's true, but having to wear bulky armor and the claustrophobic body glove all the time, she prefers dressing up every chance she gets." Not that he was complaining.

And Sky he wasn't, but it wasn't really her place to pry. Not giving herself away, she continued overly scrutinizing of the limited availability of fluffy socks she found, randomly but smartly hanging in this aisle. "Well, we can swing by the parlor if you like, to get some for her because I guarantee she doesn't wanna dress up today."

Drawing his lower lip between his teeth, Hunter pondered her offer, so lost in his own whirling mind that its noise completely drowned out Skylar's murmurs to herself as she criticized or praised the bad or good quality of the variety of cozy socks before her, the outdated store music playing in the background, and chatter of nearby patrons.

His friend had spoken the truth - the norm for Hunter now was to be extremely agitated when new, strange situations were thrown at him, and this sort of thing... He was agitated because this was definitely not something he would have ever expected to happen when getting a new member of their squadron, but Hunter was also INFURIATED due to the fact this was a normal part of life no one, not even the so-called Doctors had bothered to tell him about. And he probably made Talla feel more agitated by his rather unnecessarily dramatic reaction.

But now he knew what was going on, and the more Hunter heard about these various remedies for the various symptoms that might not even touch the pain or discomfort, just take the edge off maybe, the more that familiar compassion started to take over, an emotion Talla has inadvertently helping him to perfect on how to healthily express.

They're family had a rule: one never had to feel sorry for not feeling well.

Talla was not feeling well, so thus she needed his undying support in whatever way it was needed. Though, Hunter felt the playful teasing, or dry remarks about her being a big baby and such wouldn't be appropriate in this setting, something he and his brothers tended to do in these situations to lighten the mood... In fact, it might've end with having to live through of one of those near-death experiences Sky felt were a bit extra on their part.

Sergeant Mode was activated, which meant his training kicked in, where he had to think on his toes for quick and effective solutions to situations. "I have a soft sweater she can use for now - would that be fine?"

Skylar paused and he mistook it for a silent 'HELL NO!'

"It's clean, we just did laundry at the base." He added quickly, hoping that would minimize the potential weirdness complex. "A-and I want to get all this to her ASAP."

Damn the stuttering! He mentally smacked himself in the face, Could you be more obvious, di'kut!

"... Talla can buy sweats she chooses when the worst of this is over?" He finished with a weak shrug.

Hunter was so wrong on thinking this was weird in Skylar's eyes. A mischievously giddy smile snuck onto Skylar's face that was hidden from the clone who was beginning to sweat bullets out of pre-verbal-smackdown embarrassment. "That would be very nice of you, Sarge." The twi'lek simply praised.

Oh thank the Force. His entire frame slackened from its rigid stance as Hunter silently sighed in pure relief.

After picking out a pair of socks with Hunter's help - two pairs, one with tiny tooka's printed on it and another with tiny purple jogan fruits - next came the most squeamish part of periods for Hunter.

The blood soaking products themselves.

At least, he was squeamish for about thirty seconds after the initial introductions. And vastly annoyed, thinking all this time had passed and Talla still didn't have all of what she needed.

Son of a mudscuffer, how much did one person need for one week?

Then, the outrageous prices emblazoned on the packages were noticed, and while he was still exceedingly annoyed, it was for a different reason. Picking up a box of absorption pads himself with sharpened eyes and face scrunching up in disbelief, he unintentionally cut off Skylar's tangent by asking, "Isn't this a little expensive?"

But this was an interruption she did not mind. "Why do you say that?" Sky asked dryly, casually leaning an arm against the shelf and feigning ignorance.

Ignorance Hunter didn't pick up on, the Sarge getting all serious again. "Because -" He used the box to gesture to the tower of cookie packages, "I can buy five packs of these macarons for the price of twenty measly pads, which is fine, I suppose, if she only has to use one everyday but still -"

"Ha!"

He stiffened, sending Skylar a raised eyebrow, asking why she laughed at a man who was conditioned to be clueless and to his knowledge, hadn't done anything to deserve scorn yet. Hunter thought he was handling this pretty maturely now.

Contrary to his assumption, she wasn't laughing at him. "Actually, she'll probably be using more along the lines of three to five a day, Hunter."

It took him a while to process all that math. "Three to five a day?"

He'd have to buy TWO PACKS of these grossly overpriced items that literally just soaked up blood?!

"For the first three or four of days at least, then she might use these for the last couple of days." She continued, holding up a thinner version of the pads he held.

Just when he thought he got a handle on this, his mind was starting to swim again. "You're kidding - we have to buy two kinds?"

"No."

Lots of tension left his shoulders.

Then to his dismay she plucked yet another box of a different version of this product off the rack, "Because there's also others specially made for the night Talla might find she prefers, so she doesn't bleed through her pajamas by accident." And then another box was taken that held depicted a product that didn't look like the others at all, "And then, there's these in case she has to, say, venture outside to run some errands and doesn't want the bulk of regular pads."

Skylar called these tampons and when she explained where these went... Oh God, Hunter swore he'd never complain about his migraines or his brothers or ANYTHING ever again, especially when she plucked out ANOTHER BOX of a different version of these tampons it kinda looked like, which could also be used but didn't look as 'comfortable'.

"And last but not least, these can be used if she doesn't have easy access to public restrooms and can't use all these disposable products." Skylar concluded, and with a taut smile all of these boxes were unceremoniously dumped into the overflowing supply crate.

When Hunter was unable to pick up his jaw from the floor, gawking at this humongous stash needed for one kriffing week, Skylar took pity on him and clarified a few things, "The last two kinds, specifically, aren't that uncomfortable if you know how to use them correctly, but with all of these in general, trial-and-error will help Talla find her system that works." His arm was brushed soothingly, yet he couldn't look up from the expensive stash yet. "It won't be this much every time, but I don't know what Talla will prefer, and she probably doesn't either, and I want her to see all of what's available, give or take."

The gaping continued for an uncomfortable amount of time, but Skylar patiently waited for Hunter to process the final part of her lesson. "...Okay." Blindly, he dropped his own box into the crate, and Skylar thought that was that and they could pay and get back to Talla, which he was anxious to do five minutes ago.

Then Hunter swiped a hand through his hair, his hand settling against his hammering pulse, and his gleaming eyes peeked at her in disbelief once more. "Okay, but you can't be serious, all -" He stiffly gestured down at the stash with his non-occupied hand, "All this... for one lousy period?"

At his insistence, Skylar regarded it with a less mocking eye. "Actually, all this could last halfway through another if the sizes and stuff work for her, but more or less, depending on how much a woman of her enhancements might require, I'd say it's plausible, " She pursed her lips, annoyingly hummed in thought while bobbing her head back and forth, then offered a completely UN-reassuring and chipper, "Yupperooney!" By the end of it.

That stress migraine was threatening to come back full force and knock him down, and he messaged his painfully stiffening neck. "Skylar, this is already over a hundred creds OR MORE, and these are used to just soak up blood - they're practically bandages!"

Seeing him get all fired up like the Glam Squad earlier, Skylar actually found this kind of adorable, but she needed him to calm the kriff down so they could get out of here ASAP, which is what he originally wanted. "Sort of, but at the same time, not really hun -" Reaching out, his twi'lek friend squeezed his shoulders. "Listen, we can talk about our protest march later, okay -?"

Uh-uh, he wasn't finished yet. "No, you listen, Skylar."

So apparently the padawan had become the master, and Skylar had to shut her mouth, cross her arms and patiently hear Hunter come to a realization she's known since before puberty.

It was still pretty adorable though. And for a moment Skylar could see similarities between him and his uniquely built brothers with their distinct personalities, Tech specifically as Hunter hung onto this and went on an extremely uncharacteristic, Tech-Talk like tangent.

He just couldn't wrap his mind around it, you know?

"You or Blair or TALLA don't get to choose to have your period, you have to have them, you have to have this cycle with every single awful symptom that comes along with it, including bleeding for seven days straight, but the products needed to alleviate the awful symptoms you didn't ask for are so damn expensive -" He furiously frowned down at the crate between them, "Why are the products used to alleviate the awful symptoms you didn't ask for so damn expensive?"

"Welcome to the wonderful world of menstruation, Hunter." Skylar could only say with a wry frown herself.

And here came the main reason Hunter was so fired up about this. "But we're clones, we won't always be up to our eyeballs in money!"

In a rare moment of self-consciousness, Skylar hushed him as nearby patrons and probably the dang Senate Building across the city heard his outburst and turned in their direction with quirked brows and judgy looks.

But Hunter was ready to join on the blood-spilling expedition her and Blair and Nik were eager for earlier, but this time he wanted to go after the store owner or the corporation who made these products. "What happened at the bar was a freak accident, and eventually that reward money will run out, so Talla won't always be able to afford these 'luxuries,' and will be miserable with no hope for relief and that - is - just - bloody unfair!" He snapped a finger upwards to silence her, seeing that teasing glint and hint of a smirk, "Do not tease me for that unintentional pun, I am not in the mood for it."

So she swallowed her playful banter, and reluctantly got as serious as he did. "It's probably not meant to be this unfair for her, in fact I'm sure that 'caregiver' of yours would supply Talla with all she needed if she just went back to 'home -'"

"Not gonna happen."

Skylar tried grasping his shoulder again, "Yes, I know."

Hunter shoved her hand away and like a wounded animal he lashed out. "No you don't, actually."

Didn't mean she was gonna let it slide.

"Hunter." Her uncharacteristic low and stern tone that was a complete opposite to her usual form of communication, prompted him to shut up and listen. "I know I am not aware of the specifics that went on back on your homeworld, but from what I gather from what Wrecker won't tell me and the little snip bits Talla lets slide because she doesn't know it's actually a traumatic experience, I know going back there is really... difficult for you."

That's the understatement of the millennium, she could hear him recite in his mind.

Averting her piercing gaze with a scornful frown, she assumed correctly.

"I wasn't saying I know all about your past, or even understand it, but I know you don't want to go back unless there's absolutely no other choice, am I right?"

Jaw clenched while he crossed his arms and shrunk in on himself a little, Hunter nodded again.

"Hey." She gently prodded, and this made him look up, but by now he had that same rehearsed guarded expression that had been a beast to keep up these days. "Just focus on the fact you can afford it now, and maybe you can find a creative way to keep up with the demand in the future. And me, Nik, and Blair are more than happy to help in any way we can -"

Bristling, pride made Hunter spat in a very Crosshair-like manner, "We already take enough hand-outs from you."

"There's no such thing as hand-outs between friends, Hunter," Skylar negated that small-minded pattern of thinking, "It's actually called support, and support means so much more than loaning you a few creds here and there - even though we don't mind it." She quickly added. "We can help you find a way to be more self-sufficient, if you'd like."

The idea of getting used to more changes, having three people on his ship that weren't his family parade around like they owned the place, it did not sound appealing.

But he was genuinely curious at the offer, and asked in a smaller, less confrontational voice, "How can a batch of clones like us with no control over their schedules be self-sufficient? We can't get regular jobs, so forget about owning private businesses like you."

There was that vibrant and confident smile he knew good and well and heard Wrecker fangirl multiple times a day, "Hey, my family are experts in being resourceful, and in a way, you're in the same state of poverty we grew up in, and here's what we learned: It's amazing what one can accomplish with a little bit of imagination."


(Crosshair and Nik's POV)

Crosshair's field trip was gonna be short, not so sweet, and right to the point, which is what a guy like him preferred anyways, so he really had no reason to complain.

But he did anyways.

"Why are we here?" Crosshair grumbled after the long journey with several pit stops to one of the tallest buildings on Coruscant.

'GRAND REPUBLIC MEDICAL FACILITY'

- lit up the main entrance they approached, the bright lights a stark contrast to the ominously dark building, which was not giving Crosshair a very promising feeling about this whole field trip thing. His fine-tuned, military lifestyle and trauma caused instincts were telling him one thing - DANGER!

Nik's unnatural perkiness as he swaggered past him didn't bode well for Crosshair either, and was just plain annoying in general, especially when Nik turned and dramatically raised his arms and announced to everyone anything within a two-mile radius, "Because we're hitting a major milestone in our friendship, Crosshair - I want to introduce you to my mother!"

Never showing his insecurities, Crosshair only allowed a mistrustful brow to raise slightly at the unnaturally sunshiny guy who claimed to be his 'friend.' A friend who's usual unnatural sunshine didn't usually have a menacing glint behind it.

"She's taking courses at the Medical Academy within the University of Coruscant, and interns here a couple times a week, like today!" Nik elaborated proudly, thankfully lowering his exuberance a tad by crossing his arms, "And I think she's the perfect person to get you to see this whole experience from Talla's eyes."

A medical facility, doctors and unexplained medical procedures? "Tch -" He scoffed, noping out as suavely as he could, "Pass."

And Nik knew exactly what buttons to push with a guy like him to get Crosshair to rise to the challenge. "Oh what? Are you all bark and no bite, just like I figured, Sniper Stringbean?"

Stopping in his tracks, Nik could see Crosshair's back become rigid at the nickname.

What was it with him and stupid nicknames? Crosshair mentally huffed.

Other than they worked every time, you mean?

Unbeknownst to Nik, this reluctance wasn't because he was being stubborn - Crosshair was being stubborn because these types of places were especially scary for him, not that'd he'd ever admit it. As such, he goaded, "C'mon, I'll buy ya a drink after - you're gonna need it and it'll be five o'clock somewhere."

Even at the mention of free drinks didn't sound tempting enough for Crosshair to give any indication he'd go along with this mystery scheme.

Then, when Nik was about to give up, Crosshair lazily turned back to him and drawled, "For a businessman, your sales pitching it what bites."

"Yeah yeah, blow it out your exhaust vent." Nik retorted, then led the way.

Mrs. Tiima was just as Crosshair expected she would be but also not.

A native of Ryloth, her clothes were still brightly colored but more traditionally styled, greens and blues her personal color preference for the long half-sleeved, patterned tunic. She wore a long white vest with it, and brown flats, with nothing having impractical tears for stylish purposes, and she lacked a lot of flashy accessories and piercings her children flaunted. She wore some geometric hoop earring things that Crosshair saw twi'leks without actual ears frequently wear, a long pendant necklace, and a simple but tasteful red leather headpiece with bands decorating her lekku. But unlike her children she had copper toned skin, and her tattoos were exclusively reserved for her lekku, a charming geometric sun pattern of her own design in a beautiful, paled turquoise.

But she had those striking and expressive sky-blue eyes both her children inherited, and the same nose and eye shape. And her children were obviously taught by example how to present themselves confidently, with pushed back shoulders and high chin, with a full voice and not shrinking back on the eye contact from Crosshair's resting bitch face.

Mrs. Tiima interned at one of the check in counters in the lobby, and her entire demeanor brightened even more if that was possible when Nik arrived in all his glory with takeout from a good diner several streets over. And was more than willing to take her lunchbreak a few minutes early.

And to Crosshair's extreme bafflement Nik's speech pattern completely changed. He went from loud and lively to shockingly almost prim and proper, with a thick twi'leki accent just like his 'momma'.

Once in the small and empty break room, Crosshair had to fight a gag when the mother/son duo embraced and Mr. Tiima happily said against his shoulder, "I will never protest to surprise visits" Then pulled away to lovingly hold his smiling face, "But what brings you all the way here on a workday, my love?" She feared the worse. "Is business bad? Or was there an accident?"

He laughed off her concern to ease her nerves, grasping one of her wrists to give it a reassuring squeeze, "No, momma, you don't need to worry we're all doing well, but we had a friend call us in to help with a family emergency he could not handle on his own."

From his position sulking in the corner, Crosshair's squinted shrewdly. Friend?

Yes, the Glam Squad was friends with the Bad Batch, but it just struck Crosshair as odd Nik did not specify it was her daughter's boyfriend who called in to help with his quote unquote 'family emergency.'

"Oh?" Mrs. Tiima's eyes shifted to the man brooding in the corner. "Is this the friend? I do not believe I've had the pleasure of meeting this particular friend of yours." Her motherly instincts kicked in and she cautiously took a step in his direction, "Are you quite well, young man? Do you need me to fetch a nurse to check you into a room?"

It was in this moment that Nik realized he screwed up big time.

Eyes bugging out, and he gaped between his mother warmly smiling in concern for the suspicious silver-haired stranger he had to find a way to introduce without giving his sister away.

"Oh, ummmm -" He stupidly stuttered few times before snapping his fingers at Crosshair, "Actually this is one of my clients, momma!"

Clients?

Then Crosshair had an epiphany - Skylar's parents must have had no idea she was in a new relationship.

By the squint of suspicion, his momma wasn't buying it either. "I thought you said there was no accident at the shop?"

The fragile confidence started to break at this other mistake. "... There wasn't."

Oh, Crosshair was going to have fun with this.

"Then why else would you bring a 'client' to the hospital?" Mrs. Tiima questioned, "What's going on, son?"

Of course, Crosshair was nothing if not 'helpful.' "Oh, so I'm just a client now?" He asked with an exaggerated air of a wounded soul and a touch of malicious intentions that Nik picked up loud and clear. "What happened to the whole 'buddy' thing?"

His momma raised a brow at the 'client' with a growing smirk as he watched Nik get defensive, sending him a sideways glower and warned through gritted teeth,
"Nows not the time, Crosshair."

"What about the 'Major Milestone in Our Friendship?'" Crosshair continued shamelessly, pushing away from his corner.

Next came desperation, and Nik went so far as to clasp his hands and plea, "Crosshair, for all that is good and pure in this forsaken universe -"

Crosshair pushed past him and vastly enjoyed Nik's pitiful whimper as he happily told his momma, "I'm not just his client."

Nik went to grovel, "I'm begging you -"

Crosshair didn't know what would be proper in a dramatic situation like this - reach out a hand for Mrs. Tiima to shake or be tense and ready to flee if she went to haul him out by the scruff of his neck.

So the Sniper settled on crossing his arms smugly, envisioning the light leave Nik's eyes as he boldly proclaimed, "I'm the brother of your daughter's new boyfriend."

The stunned silence on her part allowed Crosshair to hear Nik's groan of despair to himself, "Sky's gonna kill me."

Then Mrs. Tiima's silvery toned voice dropped to a low and disappointed mothering tone, "Nikali Tiima -"

"Ooo, the full name!" Crosshair taunted while Nik scrambled to his feet, then 'whispered' to him, "See, I don't have to have a mother or even a father to know that's a red flag."

Nik face-palmed, "Oh kriff -" Just when I didn't think things could get any worse.

Good thing for Crosshair, Mrs. Tiima didn't care about that aspect of things, but did inflect that same motherly tone on him while saying, "Young man, I do not care about your checkered past as long as you don't let it define you -"

Young man? Crosshair chuckled menacingly at the twi'lek son struggling to keep his hands from wringing Sniper Stringbeans neck, "Oh, she has no idea, does she?"

Nik didn't restrain himself from going to slug Crosshair's arm, but the highly trained soldier easily dodged it.

While Nik and Crosshair glared each other down, Mrs. Tiima took a moment to process this new information.

She was not a helicopter parent by any means, and when her children left the nest she accepted that she wouldn't be in on every detail of their lives anymore. But it did hurt that her children felt they had to hide such a big thing from her or their father when they had no reason to fear backlash.

They were not in an ideal setting to have a heavy conversation like this though, and she let her son off the hook for now. "We'll talk about this later." She addressed the proud patient in question, "Will you so kind as to provide me with some identification that can be scanned into the system, so the nurses will be able to read your chart before treating you?"

Crosshair was not and would never be so merciful. "You want to take this one, buddy?" He smirked to the ashamed man.

With no other choice, Nik drawed out a long intake of breath and heavy sigh before putting the final nail in his and his sisters coffin with a head hung in shame. "He doesn't have an ID momma..." He silently winced, "He's a clone trooper."

It was now that Mrs. Tiima flashed concern for her daughters' choices. "I see."

It would come as a surprise to you that Crosshair didn't immediately snark, "Got a problem with clones, ma'am?" That would make him a hypocrite though, a label he didn't want to add to his first impression with his brother's girlfriend's mother.

There was a reputation among clones and soldiers of the Republic in general - with their hectic lifestyle, most if not every member did not have what you would call 'serious relationships,' which is something Skylar's family always knew she had as a requirement for hers.

So, in a way he could partially understand why this was one of those times it was really, really difficult to not judge a book by its cover, 'specially after his display of arrogance and lack of compassion for his friend, not knowing it was a defense mechanism.

And things would not improve when Nik explained why they were actually here in the first place, which he did now in his usual speech pattern Crosshair was familiar with.

"There was a woman added to his squadron, and she just got her first period around them. They were all a hot mess except this guy -" He sheepishly smiled when admitting, "He has the same attitude I did before you started interning here last year, and did that exercise to get me to see life through Skylar's eyes."

Mrs. Tiima nodded slowly. "I see." She repeated with a hard to read expression, and Nik held his breath as she folded her arms and pondered his request.

He would be relieved to be informed later on that, considering it was the clone brother brought in and not the alleged clone boyfriend, his mother was smart enough to know that must have meant the clone boyfriend handled it maturely.

Good on him!

Nik finally relaxed when that easy-going smile returned to his mother's face. "Well, the ID will not be an issue, we get batches of troopers in here from time to time, when the clone bases and designated hospitals become overwhelmed with the injured and recovering."

Next thing Crosshair knew, he was checked into a tiny white room, and an actual nurse that came in wanted him to relax so she could easily hook him up to a strange device that would effectively stimulate similar pain to menstrual cramps, apparently.

The period simulator sent electrical currents through the abdominal muscles of the people it was hooked up too, causing their muscles to contract and flex in a similar way to the cramping of the uterus during menstruation - a tried and true exercise that several workers performed here as a side hustle, with the aim of educating unsympathetic partners of menstruating individuals on why they needed to be loving instead of telling them, 'It can't be that bad.'

Nikali Tiima had a dark past it seemed, and used to be someone who had this sort of attitude specifically about his own twin sister's time of month. And growing up with Blair, who didn't cruelly suffer like her bestie, it only intensified that small-mindedness and it sadly remained that way well into his adult years.

Until Mrs. Tiima started her internship and discovered this little enlightening exercise. Then Nik's girlfriend, sister, mother, AND FATHER all requested he do it.

And that is why he brought Crosshair here. While he was unaware of the Snipers history in establishments like these, what he did know was that a guy like himself and a guy like Crosshair wouldn't have a chance of being remotely considerate unless he experienced this through their eyes. It was how Nik became the understanding man he was today, and while he didn't expect Crosshair to ever be anything else but a Snarky Sniper Stringbean, at least he could be smart about his snark during this particular time of month and shut it off or take it elsewhere.

And he was right.

Didn't mean Crosshair was going to make it easy for Nik, for himself, for ANYONE.

"Sir, I need you to quit moving." The nurse tiredly requested for the thirteenth time, having to toss out yet another sticky tab that was wasted by not being attached to the desired location on Crosshair's partially exposed stomach, the sticky tabs needing to be attached to the sensitive surface of his lower abdominal muscles where the wires would hook up and send the electrical currents through.

"Then quit trying to hook me up to a torture device." Cross hissed, knuckles turning white as he gave in and gripped the armrests for dear life as the fight or flight response kicked in and he wanted so badly to fight.

Not knowing why, she sent him dirty look while peeling off the back of another sticky tab. "You gave a signed consent to this exercise."

"That was before I knew I was being subjected to electrical shock torture." Crosshair flinched then went rigid when her cold hands went to apply another tab to his sensitive stomach.

Not bothering to fight this time, the nurse sent his friend a dirty look next.

So while she went to take a breather, Nik sauntered over to the seething and secretly terrified clone troopers' side and partially but smugly concurred, "It's not electrical shock torture, but it will hurt like hell, I'll give you that -"

"Don't talk to me about pain." Crosshair snapped ferociously. I was subjected to various forms of torture by other caring doctors, di'kut.

Nik didn't know that though.

And yet, tilting his head Nik surveyed Crosshair's clenched hands, jaw, entire body actually, and his eyes, which weren't squinted in defiance and sharpened with that menacing glint from earlier but widened slightly and looking down at his lap in... fear?

"Is there something you're not telling me?" Nik openly questioned.

Way out of character, Crosshair startled at the changed tone of the conversation, and for a brief moment he openly displayed his fear-ridden amber orbs.

Which solidified Nik's suspicions his friends' protests went way deeper than just being defiant. "I wasn't freaking out until the pain started, but you're already freaking out -"

Focusing his gaze on his lap, Crosshair conceded forcefully, "Fine, I'll sit still." In the hopes it'd stop a potential interrogation, but a shaky exhale to steady himself couldn't be helped, and Nik was going to pull the plug on this whole thing.

Leaning down he placed a caring on the Sniper's quivering shoulder and softly told him, "Crosshair, we can just go if you really don't want to do this -"

Crosshair shoved him away with too much force, causing Nik to collide with a nearby monitor. "Let's just get this over with." He demanded of him and the peeved nurse, who walked in at just that moment and only caught the tail end of the supposed confrontation.

It took everything in Crosshair to freeze in place, which allowed the nurse to successfully finish her preparations with a less than kind hand and made him look like a droid being run through a diagnostics program. At the sidelines, Nik watched him closely, ready to intervene if things took a turn for the worse.

Heart pounding in anticipation like it hadn't in a very long time, Crosshair felt bile rise up in his throat when the simulator powered up, his sweaty palms slipping around the leather armrests he uselessly continued to grip to keep himself grounded.

Even though he was supposed to do the exact opposite, Crosshair held his breath as the nurse told him the machine was set to 4, which would stimulate the average pain level for the average cramp on an average menstrual period, and as she slowly counted down from three, he felt like passing out.

"Three... Two... One -" Click.

The cramps were simulated.

A strong grimace twisted his face at the painful contraction afflicting his lower abdominal muscles, so unexpectedly different from what he anticipated, and they did make him hunch over in his seat a good ways-

But after a sharp breath followed by some controlled ones like he'd been taught to do get through other forms of pain inflicted on him by his field of work, Crosshair actually... let out a breathless chuckle.

"What's so funny?" The nurse asked dangerously.

Crosshair was coherent enough to confidently smirk, "I've inhaled toxins that burned my lungs and made me unable to catch my breath without the help of a breathing apparatus-" A slow and steady breath was taken in and released without too much trouble, "I can still breathe."

It did hurt like a bitch though, geez.

The nurse was not amused by his arrogance, and was determined to school him so the poor creature he lived with wouldn't have to put up with it. "Well then, wanna try Level 5?"

If Crosshair was thinking clearly, he would have thought 'Wait, it can get worse than this? Women with zero endurance training like he had, had to endure pain levels like this OR MORE but continue with their daily activities, jobs, and family stuff as if it was nothing because they had no choice?'

Instead, barely perspiring Crosshair challenged the nurse, to prove he was made of sterner stuff than Talla and everyone else who menstruated. "What's the highest level?"

"Level 10."

"Bring it." He declared.

Sharing a hesitating look with Nik, who could only offer an indecisive shrug, the nurse had no choice but to go along with his consent.

Click.

Crosshair swore he saw the bright white light.

"Bloody motherkarking karabasts -!"

After that, the next thing he was coherent enough to remember was entering his safe domain - the Havoc Marauder II.


(Tech, Wrecker, and Blair POV)

Standing outside Tech's bedroom door, Blair gaped at the abyss inside that was known as his personal barracks. An abyss where he apparently knew where everything was, but still miraculously found a tiny vial which held a tiny sample of KRIFFING POISON that he'd misplaced a few days back.

On his personal desk, the vial had somehow ended up inside a half-eaten takeout container of glowblue noodles that somehow ended up squashed under a mountain of holobooks that had been shoved backwards against a wall to make room for a chunk of their security systems inner workings he was progressively tampering with.

"To increase its efficiency, of course." Tech absentmindedly informed Wrecker when asked 'WHY?!'

Goggled eyes trained on the vial Tech marched to his bunks with no other focus than speaking gibberish and making sure the glass vessel turned this way and that in his hand hadn't been compromised, "With the money we got from Hunter turning in the man who tried to rape Talla, I now have -"

He tripped on another hunk of random ship components.

The vial slipped from his hands.

To catch it, there was a brief panicked juggling sesh that only sent the vial flying in an unreachable arc towards the floor.

He dove after it, twisting midway so that when he landed on his back Tech happily caught the fragile vial against his chest with a relieved sigh, saving it from the terrible fate of shattering on the durasteel floor and only shattered his unimportant back instead.

And for another added measure of happiness, he had conveniently landed by the bottom bunk! Its base housed three drawers, one containing his poison samples case.

That totally normal substance people tended to collect.

Eyes darting from nonplussed Wrecker leaning against the doorframe to equally so Tech pulling out a sizeable case that apparently held the other vials of organic poisons he stored in his room and not a vault or something, Blair could only gape as the latter continued his explanation as if nothing happened. "With our newfound riches, I now have the funds to completely upgrade our security system so that it can record crisp audio with excellent visuals, complete with full coloration and minimal glitches, even using auxiliary power." He gently nestled the vial among the dozens of others, a ghost of a proud smile upturning the corners of his lips as he lightly tapped it with his index finger to make sure it was nice and snug, "I will even be able to freely stream the live feed and watch footage miles away from the Marauder, getting alerts sent straight to my datapad if none of us are on board."

It was incredibly important to him that under no circumstances, someone could sneak on board and steal his precious baby.

Wrecker had to admit that would be kinda cool while next to him Blair was still hung onto the whole LOSING A VIAL OF POISON IN HIS FOOD THING.

After several confused sputters, she demanded of the grinning brainiac, "How did you misplace a vial of kriffing Sarlacc Venom, Tech?!"

Giving a half-shrug, Wrecker was the one to answer her as ignorant Tech snapped his case shut and put it back in its less than secure location. "Eh, he must've gotten hungry when doing one of his projects, brought food back to his room, and he always tries readin' while scarfing down his snacks -" He rolled his eyes knowingly, "Even though every time he does, he ends up gettin' all excited over somethin' that'll help with his project and then -" He waved a hand in the direction of Tech, the put away poison case, and the squashed takeout box, "Stuff like this happens."

Since he wasn't being serious about this, Blair demanded directly at Tech again as he rose to his feet, "Do you realize what could have happened if you'd accidentally eaten that, Tech?!"

While brushing off some crumbs and dirt on the top of his blacks he flatly predicted, "Well, the poison itself would have rendered me unconscious within seconds due to its fast-acting sedative properties, but that would have been an all in all happy result considering my mouth would have been painfully lacerated from the broken glass I would have chewed on." :)

Blair was astonished into speechlessness again while merely Wrecker grunted in disinterest, a bit disappointed that it didn't happen because Tech accidentally ingesting non-lethal, random science crap made for some pretty comical memories over the years.

Then it processed what a couple of those big words meant. "Wait wait wait -" Wrecker raised his hands and had one of those rare, inquisitive looks brightening his features. "You're sayin' that poison would make someone... sleepy?"

Sassy Tech made a brief appearance. "Oh, you have added 'sedative' and 'unconscious' to your smallish, rather primitive vocabulary list - very good Wrecker!" Crosshair would have been so proud.

Wrecker on the other hand was not amused. 'Primitive' and 'Smallish' had been used before, and by now he knew what those words meant too - an insult at his lack of book smarts. He took a menacing step into the barracks while shoving a warning pointer finger at the unfazed brainiac. "Watch it, or that case is gonna go missing and you'll never be able to eat or drink anything on this ship without being scared it's poisoned!"

"Hmph!" With an air superiority Tech raised his chin and folded his hands behind his back. "Not an issue, I shall just eat take-out for the rest of my days -"

"What about during missions?" Tech's sassy mouth snapped closed, "YEAH," Wrecker laughed triumphantly, "I could always put in the rations too, and I know Cross would help me figure out how to do that!"

There was a mini stare down between the brothers, then Tech broke the eye contact, cleared his throat and decided to be the better man. "Alright then, continue your arduous thought process, brother dearest."

Arduous. A word which here means: involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

Thankfully, an insulting word was not in Wrecker's vocabulary, and he got all serious again. "Okay okay, well, if the poison just makes someone a little sleepy, why don't we just give some to Talla and then she won't have to deal with swallowin' pills or using a stimpak for her pain? She can just sleep the week away!"

Tech paused with an unreadable stare in Wrecker's direction, and Blair was certain it was just taking a few moments for him to process so much stupidity at once and he was about to be spout off thirty different reasons why that would be stupidly dangerous experiment.

She squeaked in disbelief when with a thoughtful hum Tech actually tapped his finger against his chin. "That is a surprisingly plausible medical theory, though I would have to do more research to make sure there would not be adverse side effects -"

Taking a page out of Talla's book, hearing the story of V'hiina Prime stepped in between them, pointing a warning finer at them both when saying their names, "Tech!" He snapped into a ready position, as did Wrecker when his name was sounded. "Listen to me very carefully, boys - under no circumstances will you give Talla Sarlacc Venom to try making her sleep, got it?

"Yes ma'am!" They declared wholeheartedly.

"If I find out you did..." Her seriousness faltered, Sky way better at this than her, "Well, I better not find out!" Shooting the guy's dirty looks when one gave a halfway smirk and the other snickered good-naturedly, she ordered, "Let's just find that soft blanket Tal lent ya a while back, and hope it's not wrapping a bantha skull Tech also 'misplaced.'"

Wrecker decided to be helpful by lifting up the cluttered desk in all its glory to look underneath it while Tech started shoving aside random junk on his bed, absentmindedly denying that insinuation. "I have no need for a bantha skull, but a skull from a rare animal perhaps would be very fascinating - Oh!" Hopping down from the mountain of junk he climbed, Tech merrily held up a gold trinket he had misplaced. "Wrecker, here's the hololocket you requested, which cost half the price to make myself then buy."

An audible gasp of excitement was followed by a loud THUD! and a bunch of other little ones that were drowned out by Tech's elevated tone because "My work I've labored hours over is now compromised because of your clumsiness, Wrecker -!"

"Woah, what happened to you?"

Blair's concerned question to whoever returned from their field trip stopped the attempted fisticuffs between Wrecker and Tech, who sobered at the vision of a haunted man with unruly silver hair, hunched frame and dead eyes walked by the open door with nary a peep and entered his room.

Nik was not too far behind, and after giving a quick peck to his girlfriend he slugged an arm around her shoulder and explained that Crosshair decided that for the next three days at least, he would be staying at him and Sky's apartment because he figured living with two disgustingly cheerful people was better than the duo here on the Marauder - viscous Talla and her even nastier and unwanted relative, Aunty Flo.

"I didn't have the heart to tell him that was not a very original name for it." Nik murmured to his girlfriend when Crosshair reemerged five minutes later, with a packed bag of minimal belongings, weapons, money, and... a pack of cookies?

That he left at Talla's door.


(Talla POV)

At Blair's insistence, Talla took a warm shower that would hopefully relax her muscles and also ease the developing nausea. And as it had been a few days since her last shower, Talla had the secret hope that it would help with the whole 'feeling disgusting' thing that unfortunately plagued her.

They probably didn't mean it, but Hunter and Crosshair's reactions to this unwanted yet natural part of life did make her feel this way. I

mean, she already did, but they made it worse.

Hunter caused her to feel mortified and Crosshair made her feel like a complete and total wuss.

And if that wasn't bad enough, her brain was so jumbled it had become so difficult, keeping her endurance training down there in Nala Se's private lab a secret, never to be told to outsiders otherwise -

'All our cloning scientists will be locked away in jail and we would not be able to produce more soldiers for the GAR, and the Republic would lose the war - do you want to shoulder that burdening responsibility?'

No, she didn't.

But, would it actually turn out that badly? Talla had started to treasonously wonder.

It couldn't as bad as talking lightheartedly about a certain memory or (lack) of past actions by Nala Se only to weird everyone out, to find it was actually a moment that added to the pile of garbage which caused her trauma symptoms in the first place.

The shower was soothing for the muscles but did nothing for the headache also crippling her, Talla found out. She fell over tugging on a pair of leggings, clanging against the wall thankfully instead of the floor, and had to use that for support thereafter. And with the tank top, oh Force the room spun and she got winded trying to slip it on over her damp skin, only having the strength and motivation to halfway dry off.

"Ugh." Gripping the edge of the slippery sink with her left hand for support, Talla dug the heel of her other palm over her forehead, her whole face scrunched up while letting out a long, drawn-out wince. As the agonizing seconds dragged on, eventually she threaded the hand through her damp bangs on her right side and clamping onto a wad of her longer hair, sending cold water droplets falling onto her exposed shoulder.

This headache was something else. It felt like a migraine, but instead of coming from deep within one side of her head, she felt it on the front of her head too. Yet at the same time her head felt like it was made of a cotton wad but it also had a brick wall in front of it that no thought could break through, and it felt like whatever was trying to break through was something she desperately needed, wanted to remember.

This headache had intensified right after Blair asked, "How did you get through this before?"

The only answer Talla could procure when this phase of her headache started was: "I dunno... I just did."

Trying as hard as she could, the sink fissured under the pressure of Talla's hands seizing as... nothing could come to mind. It only intensified her headache, dizziness and nausea tenfold.

Something wanted to fight through, Talla was certain that something should be remembered. Truth be told, the only reason the Special Agent Clone knew she had three other periods in her life was because of reading over her own, detailed file while journeying from Nala Se's Private Lab to Tipoca City.

Why did Talla do that? On the off chance she'd see the good Doctor say something positive about her.

Why didn't Talla say she didn't specifically remember what happened during those times of month? Because that sounded crazy.

During one of the many mental health rants Tech drilled her with, he did say the brain will sometimes hide particularly stressful, traumatic or fear-related memories. But it was hard to talk about this sort of thing, Talla learned fairly early on, even with someone who experienced a similar situation to yours. There were times she absolutely could not, just like them. And there were things she absolutely did not bring up, due to the fact that those things sounded plum crazy.

If Talla had not withheld information, the full truth would have been that the only thing she could remember clearly was that one and only endurance test forced onto her while menstruating.

It was nothing out of the ordinary, just a round of electrical shock torture, something the Separatists would use to force out of her information about the Republics secrets. This particular test had been used on her dozens of times before. From her charts, it was recorded that Talla could survive time increments and voltage strengths far higher than any average soldier.

But that time around, Talla was unconscious seconds after round two began, and the electrical currents were at a pitifully low setting from the start because of her condition.

By now, Talla had acknowledged that there were big gaps in her memory. By now, she'd acknowledged that was not normal. By now, she'd acknowledged there was nothing to do but wait it out, and hope that at the end of the war, she could get treatment for this. By now, Talla had also acknowledged she'd rather wait than face this head on just yet. And she did everything humanly possible to distract herself from it when not out there battling clankers.

Blair had promised to braid up Talla's hair, so it wouldn't be an unruly, irritating nuisance on top of everything else, so the sick woman toiled to her bedroom door, missing the access button once, twice, three times before hitting it.

The vast disappointment in herself for being unable to perform the simplest of tasks was all forgotten when she tripped on an object laid at her door, was caught by Blair who was just coming to check on her, and found that the object in question was a package of her favorite blue macarons that had a tiny inscription by black pen, written with a neat and precise hand she knew very well, which admiringly read-

If anyone dares to steal these from you again - BITE THEIR HAND OFF

- C


(Hunter and Skylar POV)

As Hunter watched the Pantoran checkout lady scan the exorbitantly priced items into the system, and place them into yet another highly priced item - a real storage crate - he suddenly felt like all this still wasn't enough considering it only had a small chance helping Talla out.

So even though he wanted to faint at the rising numbers of credits expected for all these medical products and junk foods, each and every single beep of the machine sending him closer and closer over the edge into cardiac arrest, Hunter's sharp eyes roamed his immediate surroundings to find something, ANYTHING else that might bring Talla comfort even if all of this failed. At the moment, he had enough credits to buy anything she needed - might as well use 'em.

Then he remembered to check with the expert first and asked lowly of the twi'lek female leaning against the counter, "Do you think she'd like a... a gift or something?"

Pursing her lips for a sec, Sky just shrugged, "Depends - what'd you have in mind, Sarge?"

Back to turning his head this way and that, a line appeared on his forehead as there were too many options and none of them looked appealing. "I - I don't know - what would you, the expert, suggest?"

"I'd suggest that you know her better than I do, you're the one who sees her day in and day out, so probe that brain of yours and ask yourself - what does Talla like?"

"... Well, we already got the cookies and soda and those purple socks, so other than that it's... messing with Crosshair, knives, clothes, action/adventure/romantic holos and novels, the planet Naboo, Loth-Wolves... Her music taste is a bit all over the place..." He scrunched his nose in frustration. "But none of that matters since none of that can be found here."

Alright, then just go back over the must-have necessities, Hunter said to himself, scanning around again but with a new light as he recited the basics lessons of his field trip this morning:

1) Painkillers - got plenty.

2) Sleep - can't do much more than knock her out with a stun blast.

3) Comfort food in moderation - well, got that in spades.

4) Warm, soothing beverages - that too.

5) Warmth in general, along with warm, soft, and cozy clothing to wear and blankets to cuddle up with-

Hunter laid eyes on the stuffie display at the end of an aisle all the way across the store, and a light bulb went off in his mind.

In a very Tech-like fashion again, this time Hunter wandered off without warning.

As a result, Sky felt her heart skip a beat in rare self-consciousness when the final item was scanned, the total was declared, and when she looked up from inspecting her nails the Sarge wasn't here to pay up for his hoard of period relief supplies.

"Hunter?" Sky looked under the counter, over the heads of the other patrons the best she could, no doubt looking like a total idiot. "Argh - Can't take clones anywhere." She groaned quietly to herself, and could only

There was three people in line behind their position, and Sky wasn't about to go on a wild bantha chase looking for a clueless clone. So pulling out her wallet, she was just about ready to fork over the... 231 CREDITS?! HOLY MOTHER OF -

"I'm back!"

Dodging a customer, ducking under the lane divider, hopping over a cart, a breathless Hunter appeared back at Sky's side, in his arm a large, squishy stuffie/pillow that was meant to mimic a fathier.

And just like that, Sky's ire was erased as with extreme self-consciousness and hope Hunter held the incredibly adorable comfort item out to her, and asked of his experienced teacher, "What about this, huh? You said soft and cozy and cuddly." He gave it an experimental squeeze and nodded to reassure himself more than her, "This is soft, 'n cozy, 'n cuddly, like Wrecker's Lula. She doesn't have something like this to hug when she's upset, her little wolf she salvaged from Kamino one is barely the size of a jogan."

With nothing else to say, he set it on the counter and dared to glance at Skylar.

Not giving her insight into the situation away, Skylar smiled sweetly at him, which was an encouraging 'Yes'-

Then the cash register lady cut in, and caused that newly developed blushing habit of his by blatantly asking the skull-faced tattooed man while scanning in the squishy pillow, "Are you single?"

There were no words, no words at all, that could explain how HER asking HIM this, in front of SKYLAR AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THE LINE, made Hunter feel.

Mortification.

It did not compute.

His brain shutdown.

Shootin' her shot, the checkout lady set down the toy and leaned on her forearms, cheekily but admiringly continuing, "This is a very small store, and I heard basically EVERYTHING you said, and may I just be blunt and say: You're one in a billion and I wouldn't mind having you for a boyfriend, 'Sarge.'"

The woman was attractive, he couldn't deny that, but she was not Talla. Hunter had put a lot of work into getting Talla to see the person he wanted to be, and she had done what none other had and seen through the walls and general anti-social tendencies he at first displayed. Immediate turn-offs for most everyone he met.

Frankly, Hunter was exhausted from the effort, and was just now able to confidently say, he could be himself around Talla.

Plus, Talla already knew his family and only thought about running away twice but never did - SHE WAS A KEEPER.

Just one he couldn't have.

:(

As to be expected, the usually dignified leader of the most daredevil squadron in the entire GAR had a stuttering fest with all these thoughts running rampant through his mind. "Uh... no?" Skylar's brow snapped upwards, and his eyes comically bugged out when he realized his grave mistake, "No, wait yes! I mean -"

"At ease." The Pantoran laughingly teased, letting him off the hook, in her own way, pushing herself off the counter and getting out a bag for him to carry the stuffie in, "But, if you are single, you know where to find me after dropping off these to the poor creature you're shopping for if your interested - I get off at 5." She winked, handing him the bag. "But no pressure, 'kay?"

Unable to look her in the eyes, knowing his decision already, Hunter snatched the bag, practically threw the stash of credits he fished out of his pocket, and ran.

Well, not ran, Hunter had to maintain some of his dignity while feeling the heat of five pairs of amused eyes burning holes into his scalding neck.

Nothing if not a wing-women, Skylar amusedly chuckled to the checkout lady in his defense, "He's just a little shy, and doesn't get out much."

This was enough for the baffled Pantoran to ease up on her own embarrassed tint of the face, and chuckle herself, "What do you think my chances are for him visiting again?"

A regretful sigh was followed by a sympathetic, "I cannot tell a lie - I think he's gonna avoid this place like the blue shadow virus."

The Pantoran this rejection really well, thank goodness, asking out of curiosity, "Is he sweet on someone already or -"

Was there something wrong with what I said or me? Skylar finished in her mind, "Oh it's not you, he's totally whipped and just won't admit it."

"By the girl he shopped for?" Lady assumed correctly.

Sky flashed a grin. "You betcha!"

The Rodian man behind her cleared his throat impatiently. This conversation was over.

Sky's heart skipped a beat again at the lack of clueless clone, who also had the muscles to carry the heavy crate of forgotten supplies at her feet. "Aw man - Hunter!"

Nope, he was long gone already.

Her eyes flitted from the crate to the exit to the busy Pantoran then the crate again. "Alright," Sky tried cracking her neck but failed miserably, "Ow!" Then let out a sharp breath to prepare herself instead. "Okay Skylar, just lift with your legs..." Her confidence faltered, "In heeled boots..." Shoulders slumped, "Wearing a leather skirt..."

(an embarrassingly long time later)

Hunter had found solitude perched on a in the tiny alley between this store and a grocery outlet, picking the shattered pieces of his dignity to build that stoic facade that had been easy as pie to keep up two months ago.

How was he, a true poet with his words, going to talk his way out of this one?

He startled to attention when a crate thudded on the ground and narrowly missed his toes.

A very breathless female twi'lek was slumped out on top, having fallen down with the crate in exhaustion after carrying it, dragging it, kicking it, then carrying it again here and there and everywhere trying to find the clueless clone who so rudely up and left a lady who clearly did not have his muscle mass to carry the heavy crate of HIS SUPPLIES.

Letting out another gasp she fumed, "Oh don't worry, I obviously don't need any help!"

Luckily for him, Sky was too peeved to pry about his amusing exit... for now. As a punishment, he'd have to suffer many more days or weeks being so whipped by a woman he thought would be a crime to have a relationship with, until such a time Sky decided to do more than flick his ear and would overtly tell him (and her) 'JUST KISS, ALREADY!'


Gotta admit, I fudged through that Crosshair field trip, because by the time I got to it today, I was so tired and wanted to be finished with this chapter XD hope it turned out okay

And i hope you liked this chapter 3

- Ella