Meetings

CT-9901 looked around at his fellow cadets and tried to eat his lunch. He never fit in with the rest of them so he sat off by himself. He saw a few others like him, but he was afraid to talk to them for fear that they too would reject him. The sound of all the cadets and the bright lights bothered CT-9901's head and he wished that he could go off and hide, but knew he couldn't.

CT-9904 grabbed his lunch and sat off in a corner where he could see everyone in the room. He too was different from the others. He could see everyone including the three cadets that were like him. They were different. CT-9904 had grown used to being alone, so he didn't bother talking with them.

CT-9902 pushed through a couple of cadets. He was already much bigger and no one messed with him unless they were in a pact. This did make CT- 9902 lonely, but he was learning to live with it. He tried to sit with some cadets, but they moved away. CT- 9902 sighed and looked around. He saw three cadets who were like him, but he feared that he would scare them away.

CT-9903 snuck into the cafeteria line hoping that he would not be seen. He was different and everyone made sure he knew it. From insults to broken bones, they made sure CT-9903 knew how different he was. CT-9903 grabbed his tray and was trying to sneak away, but was stopped by a couple of cadets.

"Look, it's Goggles." One cadet said. The others laughed and knocked the tray of food out of Ct-9903's hands. Everyone looked up and watched. CT-9903 looked down and sighed.

"Oh look. I think he's gonna cry." Another cadet mocked.

"I'll give him something to cry about."

"Leave him alone!" CT-9901 exclaimed as he blocked CT-9903.

"And what are you gonna do, tiny? It doesn't take much to knock you down." The first cadet insulted. The cadets started to beat up on CT- 9901 and CT- 9903. Then both cadets felt a tray hit them in the head and they watched as CT- 9904 walked over and stood beside CT- 9901 and CT-9903.

"We can take all three of you." The second cadet huffed.

"Perhaps. Want to put it to the test?" CT-9904 sneered.

"Yeah, want to try and beat all four of us?" CT-9902 questioned as he walked over.

The cadets looked at the four and knew that they could not win this fight, so they backed away. The four looked at each other and looked around.

"Why don't we sit down together? We're different from them." CT-9901 suggested.

The four grabbed their food and sat down together and talked. Each of them feeling better than they had ever felt in their lives. They felt stronger together and it made them better.

Over the next couple of weeks, the four spent all their time together and learned more about each other. Sadly, that all changed when they received special orders.

"The four of you will be taken to special training facilities on other worlds. CT-9901, you will leave in 3 hours. CT-9902, you will leave in 5 hours. CT-9903, you will leave in 8 hours. CT-9904, you will leave in the morning." A Kaminoan stated.

"For how long?" CT-9901 wondered.

"As long as it takes."

The Kaminoan left before the four could ask any more questions. CT-9901 looked down and sighed.

"I guess I should go get packed." He sighed.

"We all should." CT-9904 huffed.

They packed their things and then sat with CT-9901 in a hall as they waited for his transport.

"Do you think we'll see each other again?" CT-9902 wondered.

"I don't know. I hope so." CT-9901 replied. They looked at CT-9903 who sat his datapad down.

"I'm afraid, I cannot give a statistic." CT-9903 admitted. "But I hope we meet each other again."

"They want to use my abilities. They'll run a lot of tests and they'll keep me alone and cold. I know they'll hurt me." CT-9901 whispered. "They always do."

"Do you think it'll stop when we're soldiers?"

"No, I don't, but I think we'll get used to it and it won't be so bad."

CT-9904 moved closer to CT-9901 and put his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"How about we keep an eye out for each other when we come back? When we come back, we might get put in the same unit. We might even be able to have our own room." CT- 9904 suggested.

"I hope so." CT-9901 sighed.

The transport arrived and the boys stood up and said goodbye. CT-9901 walked onto his transport and watched as the ship moved farther and farther away from his friends. The boys sat together till only CT-9904 remained. He sat in the same place the whole night thinking about his friends and what they would endure.

6 months had gone by and CT-9901 laid in his bunk thinking about his friends. It was the only thing keeping him going. The training was extreme and the abuse CT-9901 was receiving was horrendous. They spent all day and sometimes all night training and testing CT-9901. His nerves and his senses were always overloaded especially after being in a tube and tested. When he was allowed to rest, he wasn't able to get much sleep. Every time he moved, it made him want to cry. He just wanted to go back to Kamino and sit with his friends and talk.

CT-9902 sat down in his bunk and checked off another tally. 6 months and 12 days without his friends. His training was intense, but it was enjoyable at times. It made the tests bearable. He had mostly regular hours and it allowed him to recover. His body was much stronger and his knowledge of weapons and explosives grew with each day. He still couldn't wait till the day when he got to see his friends again.

CT- 9903 looked up from his workplace and saw that his instructor wasn't looking. 7 months of grueling training and abuse. His schedule was regular, but he didn't have a lot of free time. He enjoyed his training, and he excelled at everything he was taught, but even with his mind on a million things, he still thought about his friends. CT-9903 hacked into the systems and he succeeded. He learned where his friends were and saw that all but one of them had a scheduled date to return home.

It had been 8 months since CT-9904 last saw his friends. His training was intense and he suffered much abuse, but he quickly learned to accept it and try harder than his best. Eventually, it all paid off and he was able to go back to Kamino. When he arrived, an old man walked up to him.

"CT-9904, welcome home. I'm 99. Let me show you to your new room." 99 introduced.

"99, have you seen 9901, 9902, and 9903?" CT-9904 wondered.

"Not yet, but they will be home soon. I will keep an eye open for them. In the meantime, you will get used to things around here again. And if you ever get lonely, you can always come find me. I'm not hard to find."

"Thanks."

CT-9904 was taken to his room and saw that there were 4 bunks. He sat down in one of the bunks and sighed. He didn't like being alone and now, he had nothing to distract him.

CT-9903 arrived on Kamino 3 days later. 99 was waiting for him.

"CT-9903, I am 99. You have a friend waiting to see you." 99 said.

Ct-9903 followed 99 to the squad room. He walked in and saw CT-9904. The two smiled and hugged each other briefly. 99 watched as the two sat down at the table and talked about the past several months. He chuckled and listened to the two. When it was late, he watched as the boys moved to Ct-9903's new bunk and they sat and continued to talk.

The next morning, he wasn't surprised to find the two in the bunk sleeping in each other's arms. When the boys woke up, they looked at the two empty bunks.

"When do you think the others will be back?" CT-9904 wondered.

"One of them will be back today. I don't know about the other. I hacked into the systems a while ago." CT-9903 admitted.

CT-9902 walked out of the transport and saw his friends waiting. They hugged and laughed. They ran back to their room before 99 could tell them to stop.

"Brothers." 99 chuckled. He looked at the sky and sighed as he thought about the missing link to the boys.

The boys sat in their squad room and talked about everything they had been through. When they were done, they looked at the empty bunk.

"When do you think CT-9901 will be back?" CT-9902 wondered.

"I hope it's soon." CT-9904 sighed.

"Me too." CT-9903 agreed.

CT-9901 woke to being kicked in the chest.

"Get up. You're going home." The instructor stated. "You'll still be tested when you get back."

"Yes, sir," CT-9901 mumbled. He quickly packed his things and smiled at the thought of seeing his friends again.

When he arrived on Kamino, he was sent to a laboratory and his things were left in his squad room.

The boys arrived in their squad room and saw CT-9901's things.

"He's home!" They exclaimed as they ran back out of the room. They searched for their brother but could not find him. They ran into 99 and looked up at him.

"Now, where are you three running off to?" 99 wondered.

"CT-9901 is home, but we can't find him," CT-9902 answered.

"Go back to your room. I will find him and bring him to you."

The boys waited two days for their friend and 99 but saw neither.

99 pulled many strings and was able to get CT-9901 removed from all the tubes and machines he was in. He looked down at 9901's small and frail body and he picked him up. 9901 cried out in pain but didn't fight. 99 carried 9901 to his room and laid him down in his new bunk. He stayed and took care of 9901 till his friends returned.

The boys walked into their squad room and saw 99 and 9901.

"Shh, he's asleep." 99 whispered.

"What's wrong with him?" CT-9904 wondered.

"I fear he's had a very painful several months. His body is weak and he is thin, but I think he will get better knowing that his brothers are here for him."

"Brothers?" CT-9903 questioned.

"Yes, you are brothers. You are all unique but very close. I have seen you boys fight, but you always make up for it. You are brothers. I have arranged for the 4 of you to have time off until your brother is well again. Use it wisely." 99 replied as he left the room.

CT-9902 looked at CT-9901's sleeping form and sat down on the bunk beside him. Ct-9903 crawled over CT-9901 and held his hand. CT-9904 sat at the head of CT-9901's bunk and moved his brother's head to lie on his lap.

CT-9901 whimpered painfully but did not wake.

The next day, CT-9902 and CT-9903 went to get lunch while CT-9904 stayed with his brother. CT-9901 had stirred several times, but never actually woke.

All of a sudden, CT-9901 started screaming and thrashing in pain. Ct-9904 hugged his brother close and hushed him. Eventually, Ct-9901 calmed down and looked at CT-9904.

"Home?" CT-9901 wondered.

"Yeah, you're home." CT-9904 answered. "We all are."

CT-9902 and CT-9903 walked in fighting but stopped when they saw their brothers.

"You're awake!" CT-9902 exclaimed. The 2 ran over and the four hugged. CT-9901 smiled sadly and enjoyed the warmth of his brothers.

A couple of days went by and CT-9901 was able to stay awake for a long while, but he was very weak and afraid. He spent his waking moments looking around sadly. His brothers tried to make him feel better, but it was no use.

99 walked in that evening and saw the boys sitting on the couch looking out the window.

"Would you boys like some company?" 99 asked. The boys nodded and made room for 99. 99 sat down and looked at CT-9901 who was staring sadly out the window. "Have you smiled at all today, CT-9901?"

CT-9901 shook his head and continued to stare.

"You know, most of the cadets have names now. I think it's time for you boys to have your own names." 99 suggested. The boys looked at 99 who sat at the table and faced them. 99 looked at CT-9904 who was cleaning his rifle. "Your name will be Crosshair."

Crosshair smiled and nodded.

"What about me?" CT-9902 question as he smashed a box. 99 chuckled and looked at CT-9902.

"Your name will be Wrecker." 99 chuckled. He looked at 9903 who was on his datapad. "You will be Tech."

"Tech? I like it." Tech answered.

"What about 9901?" Wrecker wondered. They all looked at 9901 who turned to stare out the window again.

"Before all of this, what was something he did best?" 99 asked.

"He was good at finding us." Wrecker answered.

"He was quiet and sneaky," Tech replied.

"Like a hunter chasing its victim." Crosshair stated.

"Then that will be his name. Hunter." 99 said. Hunter looked at his brothers who were all smiling at him.

99 stayed with the boys and told them stories till it was very late. Then he carried Hunter to his bunk and the others followed. The four boys curled up together and it wasn't long before they were all asleep. The boys had found their family and now their names. They all hoped that they would never be separated from each other. Instead, they spent all their time enjoying the presence of the others and growing closer together as brothers.

THE END

I couldn't find out Wrecker or Tech's numbers. If someone else knows what they are and I was wrong, please let me know and I will edit this story again.