Thanks again for all the support! It really means a lot. After this is an episode chapter.
I'm introducing Ahsoka into this, and I hope I get her character down right. I haven't written her in a while, not since my Jedi Through Time and Space series (which I really need to get back to writing). Also please check that story out please, it's a Doctor Who/Star Wars crossover.
eecobeo: There won't be anything else on that, it was just a joke I thought of. Sure her brothers might tease her, but nothing else will happen. I also saw the DeviantArt picture, it looked pretty cool.
rmarcano321: It just popped into my head. I think Palpatine won't really think anything of it. As long as Tessa or any other female clones carry out Order 66 along with their brothers, then he won't have any issues with them.
I own none of the content, except for Tessa.
Where you Belong
After scaring Echo and Fives, they were all soon cleared to leave. They had went to the Quartermaster to get their assigned bunks, and the Unit they would be fighting with. Tessa and the others didn't have anything, besides their armor and weapons, considering the stuff they had was blown to smithereens.
When they got to the Barracks, Tessa dropped her Rifle near her bunk. She took off her chest armor; she always felt odd and a little uncomfortable sleeping in it. She kept the rest of her armor on and she was out like a light when her head hit the pillow.
Tessa had never experienced nightmares, but the one she had felt real. She was back on Rishi Moon, and she was with everyone, minus the Captain and the Commander.
They were defending the base, but all Tessa could see was shadows, and one-by-one, everyone was taken, and she was the only one left. She tried to shoot the shadows, but nothing would happen.
She woke up with a yelp when she was about to be taken, and looked around. She sighed in relief when she realizes she was still on the Resolute. She saw a nearby chrono-clock and she realized she had slept for 10 hours.
She looked around, and she didn't see anyone else, Echo and Fives must've woken up before her, probably to check on Cutup.
She yawned, got up, took the armor she took off and went to the refresher. She sighed in relief when the hot water hit her, and all the sweat and grime rolled off of her. After 10 minutes, she was done, got back into her protective suit, and then her armor.
She needed to get something to eat, but she had to report to Captain Rex first. She and the rest of her batch were assigned to Torrent Company, which unfortunately needed more men. She had read about how Torrent was almost wiped out back during the Battle of Teth. She hadn't met anyone who was a part of the Unit yet, she was sure she would meet them soon.
She walked and waited for the doors to open. Once it did, she was surprised to see someone at the other end.
A young Togruta female, who looked to be 14, was on the other side, she looked surprised as well, but she composed herself and grinned.
"Hi, you must be, Huntress. Jedi Padawan, and Commander, Ahsoka Tano." She greeted.
Tessa saluted her and said," Ma'am."
Ahsoka looked at her, as she was sizing her up, which made Tessa feel uncomfortable a little. Maybe she was doing a Jedi thing?
"Huh, so this is what a female clone looks like. I also like the hair." Ahsoka praised.
Tessa blushed a little and said," Thank you sir. I take it you're General Skywalker's Padawan?"
"Yeah, Skyguy's my Master. He told me to get you, you're needed in the Medical Bay. We can walk and talk. Also, you can keep the helmet off. And no need for the formalities, and you can relax. We're not on duty right now."
Tessa nodded, wondering what Skyguy meant, and relaxed. Only slightly, considering she was with someone of higher rank. They would pass Troopers, who would stop and stare at her, the ones without helmets, nodded at them or gave Tessa a smile, and she gave one back.
"So, when you said medbay, did something bad happen?" She asked, fearing about Cutup.
"No, your squadmate, Cutup is out. He has to wear cast for a couple days. Master Skywalker went to meet him, and he asked for you."
Tessa breathed a sigh of relief, glad that another brother didn't die.
"That's good. So, Commander, you're a Togruta, right?"
"Yeah, and I know what your going to say. I'm not related to Master Shaak Ti."
Tessa eyes widened and said," Did you read my mind… with your Jedi powers?"
Ahsoka laughed and said," Force no. Mind reading isn't something we can do. Also, you wouldn't believe how many times new Troopers had asked me that. I've only been Master Skywalker's Padawan for 2 months, and it's getting really annoying."
"Well, to be fair. On Kamino, we've only met handful of different species." Tessa said.
"You got me there."
They made it to the Medbay, and Ahsoka said," Well, I would go in there, but I'm needed on the bridge. And Tessa, welcome to the 501st, hope to see you again soon." She said with friendly smile.
Tessa grinned and said," Thank you Commander. Also I'm pretty sure your mom is proud of you."
Ahsoka looked confused but then gave her an unimpressed look and said," Seriously?"
Tessa giggled and said," Sorry ma'am, won't happen again." She said with a mock salute.
Ahsoka smirked and said," Something tells me we're going to become good friends. And I was talking to your squadmates earlier. I'm pretty sure General Skywalker isn't interested."
Tessa gaped while Ahsoka cackled as she walked off. Tessa smirked, she was starting to like Commander Tano.
She then walked inside the Medbay, and gave Cutup a bone crushing hug.
"Glad to see your ok, Cut."
Cutup chuckled with a small grimace and said," Yeah, but ease up, your sorta hurting my arm."
"Oh, sorry." She said and let go.
"So, why didn't you guys wake me up?" She continued.
"You looked sorta peaceful, and we didn't want to wake you. Which is funny, considering you're always the first one up." Fives said.
Tessa shrugged and said," Well, we all had a long day. So, any word on the medals?"
Echo nodded and said," Yeah, they said we'll receive them tomorrow. The Generals, Captain and Commander want us to get acquainted with everyone we'll be fighting with."
"One of them would be me." A medic said and patted Tessa on the shoulder. "The names Coric. Glad to meet you, sister."
"You too, how come I didn't see you when we were first in here?" Tessa asked.
"I was on break. Y'know, you've all been everyone has been talking about since yesterday."
Cutup chuckled and said," Yeah, she has that effect. When she's not on the range, she can be sarcastic, make jokes and cares for everyone. Also, she can be scary."
"But we love her, even if she's the youngest and our baby sister." Fives said and ruffled Tessa's hair.
She glared at him while the others laughed, but she rolled her eyes in good humor.
"And just so you know, I and everyone else won't think of you differently. Your one of us, no matter what gender." Coric said.
Tessa felt truly touched by that, for her slightly, she was worried they would all treat her differently, but she was glad to know that they wouldn't.
They knew she was one of them.
The next day, Tessa, Fives, Echo and Cutup walked up to the Generals, with the members of their new Unit on both sides. Tessa could feel a great sense of accomplishment, and personal pride. She glanced at her brothers on both sides, and they gave her encouraging looks. She had managed to talk to all of them since yesterday. And like Coric, they welcomed her with open arms, she was their only sister, but she was one of them. Although, the rest of her squad basically protected her, just in case anything happened, but nothing did. But they still did, just in case.
General Kenobi was the one to place the medal on her chest. She wasn't a Jedi, but she felt that he had an air of calmness, which he was nicknamed 'The Negotiator'. He also had an edge that come out at any second. While for General Skywalker, he had confidence, and she had seen him on the Holonet, and he was nicknamed 'The Hero With No Fear'. Which told her a lot about him as well.
"On behalf of the Republic, we thank you for your valiant service." General Kenobi said. Tessa knew that was sorta scripted for awards and Medals given to clones, but when General Kenobi said it, she could hear the sincerity in it. "And, we honor your comrade's sacrifice."
Tessa felt a pain of guilt, O'Niner, Nub, Droidbait and Hevy didn't deserve to die, they should've lived.
Both Generals bowed, while she and her brothers saluted them, and they walked off.
"Congratulations, your not shinies anymore." Rex praised.
Tessa grinned at that, but she face faltered a little and she knew what the others were thinking as well.
"Sir, with all due respect, we feel like we don't deserve this. The Outpost was destroyed, and too many of our brothers were killed." Tessa said.
Cody disagreed and said," That's where your wrong, if it weren't for you, the Republic wouldn't have been alerted to the Separatist invasion until it was too late."
"He's right, you all showed me that you all got what it takes to be in the 501st. Your comrades would've wanted you to survive. And like the General said, it's going to be an honor to fight alongside you all."
"Sir, yes sir." All four of them said and walked away, knowing they were being dismissed.
Tessa felt her Medal bounce every time she took a step. She realized something after thinking about the events of the past couple of days since arriving on the Resolute.
'This is where I belong.' She thought with a grin on her face.
