Hey guys it's able, I said I'd make this a one shot but was inspired by an artist on Instagram that does art of the clones in a way I never thought I'd see. Real disabilities that you'd see with veterans, real mental disorders/disabilities the whole nine. I've spoken to her broadly on this subject from my perspective as a soldier and it's been an absolute treat. I'll have the link to her page at the end of the chapter.
It's refreshing to say the least to see the real blended with the fictional.
On with the show.
Haven-Class medical station.
"Hope."
Location: Asher system.
One week after the Battle of Geonosis.
Sterile, white and clean.
That's where he found himself.
The Haven class medical space station was expansive, full to the brim with casualties from Geonosis.
He'd floated in a Bacta tank on heavy painkillers for the first day and a half, and was confined to bed rest for the remainder of his stay.
However long that was.
As he hobbled down the hall on a shaky leg, he moved to what was left of Bravo Company.
He greeted all his brothers, Nero, Kidd, Sixes, Kincaid, Dice, Cutter and Gee.
Jace was the last one, and honestly the one he was closest to right now. All these troopers were from different platoons, his batch brothers were all gone.
"How're you feeling vod?" CT-14105 asked.
"Worse now that I see your ugly mug." Jace chuckled.
"Sweet Force I should've left you to die on that rock." The medic spat back playfully.
The two clasped forearms, the slap of skin foreign to the clack of plasteel they'd of both preferred.
"How's the gut?" The medic asked, eying the bacta patch on his vod's abdomen.
"Hungry, tired of IV drips and paste, but I've got sexier scars than you do."
The medic shook his head ruefully.
"This?" He pointed to the still healing scar, "This'll be a hit with the Twi'lek honeys brother. Besides, I've got more personality than you do."
"Maybe you should've let me die on that rock." Jace said with a roll of his eyes.
"Not in a million years." He affirmed.
Jace nodded and sighed.
"What'll you think will happen to us?" He asked, "Bravo is gone."
That final statement felt like ice in his veins but he was right. Out of the 144 clones of Bravo Company, only nine had survived Geonosis.
The medic would've shrugged if his wounded shoulder didn't make the simple gesture agony.
"I don't know, new troopers and a reconstitution most likely. Maybe even a dissolution, your guess is as good as mine."
"Wherever that is, I hope it's with you vod." Jace said truthfully.
They locked hands, giving each a firm squeeze.
"CT-14105." A monotone but soothing voice interjected.
The clones looked toward the Kaminoan doctor, Nala Se and both let go of one another.
"Ma'am." The Clone greeted.
"You were told to stay in bed, it was an order as well. Please don't make me have security escort you back." She reminded gently.
The Kaminoan doctors had confined him to his own room, the clone wasn't used to such isolation, a civilian luxury.
He missed his brothers, he'd rather be down here with them. Why had they kept him confined? He felt fine! Walking just took a little out of him was all.
"Yes ma'am, I'll head back now."
He gave Jace one last look before hobbling to his feet.
"Let us not have this discussion again." The Kaminoan intoned with a dreamy voice.
With that he hobbled to his room, taking the lift up toward the isolation ward of the hospital station. Walking shouldn't have felt this difficult, but without the adrenaline that had numbed the stimuli of pain, he'd worked up a sweat before he plopped into bed.
He sighed ruefully, the earlier joy of seeing his remaining brothers replaced by emptiness.
The Clone medic's eyes flicked to the window of his room, the black expanse of stars was soothing. It at least it took his mind off the disgusting loneliness he felt.
Those first nights of sleep without the drugs to ebb him into blissful oblivion were filled with nightmares, chattering sounds and blood on the former slick white of his gauntlets. The sting of sweat and the taste of blood and the helpless feeling as his brothers died horribly.
He was afraid to shut his eyes, afraid of where his mind would take him.
The door swished open and he turned alarmed.
It was the Jedi from the landing zone, Master Windu.
He'd heard the Jedi were now their commanders, Jedi Generals, how odd considering he'd learned they were peacekeepers.
"Sir." He greeted, swinging around the bed to stand at attention, the usual crisp movement made sluggish by his injuries.
"At ease trooper." The Jedi soothed, his hands neatly folded behind his back.
The Jedi's eyes were analytical, eying the clone with what he could surmise as approval.
"Are you healing well?" General Windu asked.
"Well as I can sir, wish it was faster." He grumbled.
"Nala Se has informed me you've been quite the nuisance to the staff here." Windu mused with a slight smirk, "Breaking out of your room to see your men."
"They're my casualties, and my brothers. They'll never convince me not to."
"Well said." The Jedi affirmed with a nod.
The Jedi General moved to the pitcher of water the nurses had left him, and poured two cups.
One of the cups began to gently float the clone's way and his eyes widened. He hadn't seen the Jedi use their powers in Geonosis, they'd only shown at the tail end of his battle after all.
The swordplay was impressive but this?
With one hand free the general grabbed a chair and slid it across from the clone.
"Take it." General Windu encouraged.
Gingerly, the clone did, his mind numb with awe.
Crisp and cool, so unlike the accursed planet that plagued his dreams.
"I imagine you want to get back to duty yes?" Windu asked.
"Sir yes sir." He said without hesitation.
The Jedi nodded, sipping his own cup.
"I have a proposition for you… apologies, I won't refer to you by your number."
The clone's brow raised, and winced at the slight pull at the scar tissue.
"What would you have of me sir?"
Master Windu placed the cup onto the nightstand and linked his fingers on his lap.
"Out of all the medics on the ground at Geonosis, you stand out. Wounded and outnumbered you never gave up on your charge. That's commendable, highly commendable."
"I don't want an award sir."
"Allow me to finish," The General chided with a chuckle, "You show promise, and myself and those of my order believe that properly applied, you'd be of a great help to this war effort."
"And what would that be sir?"
"A special kind of medical team, and I want you at the forefront."
The Clone's eyes widened and he couldn't feel the pain in his face when it did.
"M-me?… uh… I'm sorry sir surely there's more qualified personnel?"
"I wouldn't be sitting across from you if we didn't believe you were qualified."
The Clone chuckled slightly and thought if this task before him. He was raised to follow orders, how could he say no?
"What're the details sir?"
"A unit of medically trained clones that will specialize in the recovery and treatment of your brothers in the worst of combat environments."
"But we already have MEDEVAC LAAT's sir, and line medics on site." He reminded with a shake of his head.
"You will be a dedicated medical unit but not without your teeth. Well armed and well equipped, at about a company's strength."
The Clone looked at his hands, the bare skin alien to the bloodied gloves he came to know intimately.
"How much say do I have in the training and our composition?"
"Maximum authority, after you've been established, one of the Jedi Order will be assigned to you."
The Medic had never worked with Jedi closely, but it was a long war, if one of the force wielders could help keep his brothers safe then it was worth the odd feeling it gave him.
"Alright sir, I'm your man."
The Jedi General smiled and extended his hand which the clone firmly shook.
"Very good then… Captain. By accepting this role, your rank shall also be appropriate. Now we just have to settle on a name, a real name, not your serial number."
The Clone sighed and looked out toward the stars again, an idea edging at his mind.
"What system are we in sir?" He asked, turning toward the Jedi.
"The Asher system."
"Hmm… Asher…" He said, letting it roll of his tongue, "I like it."
"It is a good name." The Jedi placed a firm hand on the Clone's shoulder, "I look forward to working alongside you Captain Asher."
"Likewise sir."
"In line with your heritage, you're being honored with the Jaig eyes for your action on Geonosis. Wear it with pride, you get the final say on their design. Heal well, you'll be reporting to Kamino soon for ARC training."
"Sir yes sir." Asher affirmed with a nod.
The Jedi General gave the Clone one last once over and left with a pleased look on his face the door sliding shut behind him.
A promotion, command, Jaig eyes, his own unit.
Funny.
He'd give it all up if it meant having his brothers back.
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