"Someday, these halls will be teaming with clones just like you, CC-2224," the Kaminoians scientist said excitedly as it led the young boy through the halls of Tipoca City. 2224 didn't bother to learn its name, know that in a matter of hours he would be handed off to another scientist for another round of tests and needles and endless hours of training. They all were the same to him, unimportant to him other than that they had created him and were giving him a purpose for his future.
The young boy looked to be around six years old, one of the oldest clones right now. Many of the earlier batches had been failures, only one or two clones surviving the initial stages of testing. There were too many defects, too much independence. 2224 had been too independent at first as well, but enough hours with a trainer and in simulations had cured him of that. Or so the scientists liked to believe. 2224 had just learned from Kal Skirata to hide the independence, bury it deep but not too deep so that one day he would be a better soldier than his brothers. Independence wasn't a bad thing, Skirata had taught him in the brief time they had had together. The cloners just thought it wasn't good for a good army. Independence meant the ability to adapt, which was good for a soldier like Jango wanted.
"And you'll have to be ready to lead them," the scientist was still talking, it seemed. Their footsteps echoed through the currently empty hall. He was right, though, someday there would be clones everywhere. For now, they were kept confined to the training halls till they were old enough. Even 2224, in training to be a commander, wasn't trusted to go from one training room to another even though it pulled a scientist from their duties. None of the other clones in the program to be commanders were advanced enough to be at the same level as 2224.
"You'll do all of us proud, CC-2224, I just know it," the scientist was pretty excited about all this. Must be a new one. 2224 always hated the new ones, so hopeful for this new army of theirs. At least the older scientists understood the true purpose of the clones was to destroy, not just to exist.
"I do as I'm ordered," 2224 stated simply, earning a glare from the scientist. These cloners could be so pretentious at times. All 2224 wanted to do was punch him right in the face, even if it was well out of his reach. Someday, he would be tall enough.
"Was I asking for your opinion, CC-2224?" the scientist scoffed and 2224 focused back on the dull grey walls around him, ignoring the creature with a look of disdain on his face. One of these days he'd get off this planet and show these cloners just what he could do and he wouldn't be thanking them. He'd be thanking Skirata and his nulls. Those boys were brutal but at the end of the day they were his brothers. Even though they weren't batchmates, those nulls would always be important to 2224. That would also piss of those cloners though, the months he spent under the tutelage of Skirata and his nulls.
It wasn't his fault he had been one of two to survive from his whole batch. The cloners had used the early batches to figure out what worked and what didn't. 2224 had worked, had worked very well and part of his genetic code was being used now in the more recent batches. 2224 could care less, though. Those boys were going to be nothing more than cannon fodder for whomever they ended up serving. He at least could hope to live at least six months before he ended up dead in a ditch somewhere. He had studied the history of the galaxy he would someday fight in, possibly protect. They sure loved to fight out there, but he had expected that. Recent history showed a better image for what he had been made for. 2224 figured, with the training he was getting in protecting civilians that they would be fighting for the Republic. Bunch of di'kuts who would rather sacrifice him and his brothers rather than their own people.
"In here, CC-2224," the scientist cut through his thoughts as the thing opened a door to his left. 2224 entered and came to stand at parade rest before his newest trainer, hiding his surprise easily to find Skirata waiting for him once again. The Mando was ruthless in his training, pushing them all hard to prepare them for what waited for them out there. The months he had spent with him and the nulls had hardened 2224 in ways that the Kaminoians could never replicate in their training. Skirata cared for them all like they were his own sons and he showed that by being absolutely honest. Skirata literally tortured them because he wanted them to be able to handle the pain when it came for them. He pushed them through simulations where they were awake for days severely injured because he needed to know they would come back to him.
"Sir," 2224 gave him a sharp nod, remembering how much the man had hated being saluted.
"Still don't have a name, kid?" Skirata raised an eyebrow at him as the scientist moved to enter the room as well. "I've got it from here. You can leave."
"I'm suppose to stay and take him back to his chamber once you're done with him," the scientist huffed and Skirata didn't bother hiding his eye roll.
"When I'm done with him, he'll be sent to a squad. I'll take it from here to get," Skirata jabbed a finger at the door, his other hand coming to rest on his blaster. 2224 could just imagine how pale the scientist possibly had gone and relaxed marginally when he heard the door close.
"I'm being reassigned, Sir?" 2224 glanced up at Skirata, hoping that he wasn't showing any of the excitement he was feeling.
"All in good time, kid," Skirata unholstered his blaster and held it, handle out, to 2224. "Take it."
2224 did as told, holding it more expertly than any six year old ever should. He held it in two hands, pointed at the ground, waiting expectantly. Skirata nodded before he snapped his fingers and a light came on further in the room, revealing a chair at the far end. 99 sat there, looking confused around the blindfold that covered his eyes. He remained silent, though, possibly as he had been ordered too. 2224 felt his grip tighten on the blaster but remained silent. Why his brother was here, he had no clue, but if his batchmate was in trouble then the cloners were doomed. 99 may not be fit for active duty but that didn't stop the clone from trying to prove his worth.
"Kill him," Skirata said simply, as though he was just commenting on the weather. 2224 looked up at him, surprised as 99 jerked at the voice, turning his head towards them.
"Sir? Have I done something wrong?" 99 asked quietly, voice shaking but he remained seated, hands clasped in his lap.
"No, son, you haven't. Just stay quite while 2224 goes through his test," Skirata sounded like he was calming a wounded animal.
"I won't do it, sir," 2224 bit out, keeping the gun pointed at the ground, glaring at Skirata with all the hatred he could muster.
"If you want to move on in your training, you will," Skirata snapped, crossing his arms. "Kill him and we can move on."
"If he hasn't done anything wrong, then there is no point to this test," 2224 let out a deep breath, glancing at 99. "I won't do it."
Skirata shook his head before pulling out his backup piece and holding it to 2224's head, the cold barrel brushing his hairline, "I wasn't asking, kid, I was ordering. Kill him, now."
"No," 2224 stayed still, but kept his eyes locked on Skirata's, defiant as ever.
Skirata searched his face before nodding to himself and leveling his pistol on 99, "Then I will."
"No you won't," 2224 snarled before lunging forward, pressing his pistol against Skirata's head, harder than necessary. "There is no point to killing him. It's a waste of time and of ammo. He is a competent maintenance clone with a lot of room and willingness to improve. His life is worth something, so might as well put it to use. You, however, might have just overstayed your welcome in this world."
Skirata tensed for a second before relaxing and holstering his back up, turning to face 2224, "Good. Remember this feeling right here, right now. Every time one of your brothers is threatened in any way, you remember this moment and you use this anger you feel. Every time you see a brother hurt, you think of 99. You do that and you will be the finest commander this army ever has."
2224 blinked up at Skirata in amazement before lowering his pistol slowly, still warily, "That's it?"
"Give me the gun," Skirata held out his hand expectantly. "Tomorrow you'll report to Aliit Squad, run by a kid named Alpha. They're short a man, so you'll fit in nicely. From here on out, till official orders come in, you will be part of Aliit. You will adapt and you will pretend to be a batcher, not a null, got it?"
"Yes, sir," 2224 nodded, handing over his pistol. Skirata nodded before gesturing to 99.
"Get him back to his quarters. One last thing, get a name before tomorrow. All the batchers have them," Skirata patted him on the back, hard. "Do me proud, kid, and keep me posted. I'll keep an eye on 99 for you."
"I won't hide him," 2224 lifted his chin a little, eyes darting to where 99 was shifting uncomfortably. "He's my brother, my batchmate. I won't deny it."
"I'm not asking you to," Skirata smiled sadly. "Just remember you're on a squad now. Those trainers push you hard and don't give you a lot of free time. You won't be living with him anymore."
"I don't want to be alone," 99 piped up, looking even tenser.
"You won't be," Skirata glanced at 2224. "2224 isn't going far and you'll be moved to different housing, into the barracks as well. You two will have to get used to having more bunkmates."
"We will, sir," 2224 crossed to 99, removing the blindfold and resting a hand on his brother's shoulder, gripping it tightly. "We can do this."
"You aren't leaving me?" 99 looked up at him, the right side of his face looking even more twisted than usual.
"Never," 2224 smiled a little as he heard the door open behind them. "Always brothers, no matter where we are."