CT-1552 – Coruscant
The headache was still building, a steady throb that continually threatened to explode into a full migraine. It had persisted ever since he'd set down on Coruscant, and despite a brief visit to the medics, there was no evidence that it would recede anytime soon. For the moment, it was manageable, but it had even managed to cut in on his painting. Nothing outside of deployment had ever stopped the clone from pursuing his preferred hobby.
It was a worry he couldn't get too invested in, however. Upon hearing that a small team of clones would be coming down to meet them and join General Durel's team, he'd clamped all his armor on, grabbed up his packed bags, and strode to the landing pad where they'd be setting down.
The afternoon sun lit the city in what most travelers recognized as the picturesque scenery of Coruscant. Instead of the serene orange of a busy city in the evening and mornings, the sun illuminated the white spires and towers of the city that was layered by multiple levels of traffic weaving through the city.
Home of the Republic, and it looked ever so grand for the title. A busy city hosting hundreds of different life forms just looking to get through the day, their freedom and comfort both threatened by the efforts of the Separatists.
Corporal Gebb-Ti was already awaiting when Dreamer got there.
The transport that landed contained a couple of Jedi and four clone troopers, one of which he recognized immediately.
"Dreamer!" There was a grin forming under Tank's mustache. "The droids haven't made filled you with holes yet? Color me surprised."
"Actually had a big battle on Bothawui, sir." Dreamer saluted, and he was immediately given the same in return. "It was pretty rough, our Jedi went down before the worst part. Only myself and this guy—" He gestured to the Bothan. "—made it out. How did things go for you on Geonosis?"
"Our Jedi went down, too. Thankfully, he had a padawan who actually knew what she was doing. We would've done just fine by ourselves, anyways, but I don't know if we would have the same casualty count without her. Might've had to face a Dark Jedi myself, too, and nobody survives that."
"I did, sir."
Amusementdanced across his face, perhaps thinking the sergeant trying to make some joke, but when Dreamer only raised an eyebrow, the captain paused. His dark eyes went wide with surprise and confusion.
"Wait, you did?"
"With a lot of difficulty, sir. That's the reason there are only two of us left, instead of nearly twenty. Battle almost took my hearing. Certainly jarred my brain a little bit."
"Did the medical droids take a look at it?"
"They did, sir, they said there was nothing unusual." He looked around at the clones. "I don't recognize the rest of them."
"They were with me on Geonosis," Tank said, thumb going over his shoulder to indicate them. "Don't worry, they know their stuff. We were told we'd be taking off immediately upon getting here, so we're all fed and ready to go. You know where we're headed?"
"I do, you'll be seeing an old face there." Dremer waved a hand, using his other to pick up his bag and sling it over his shoulder. "This way, sir."
"And who's this?" he asked as they fell in, gesturing to the corporal.
"Corporal Gebb-Ti," the Bothan answered as they approached yet another platform. "I've decided to accompany you on this task, the Jedi seemed pretty intent that I do so."
"We can always use a spook," one of the other clones said.
"I'm more of a soldier, but I know how to conduct the kind of unconventional operations that saw us placed under General Durel." His free hand stroked at his beard. "Perhaps that's why I'm here. Investigation isn't too foreign to me."
"Investigation?" Tank asked. "Something to do with the Dark Jedi?"
"Yes sir." Dreamer made sure nobody else was around to eavesdrop before continuing on. "They were after the Chiss, and the Hutts have information concerning kidnapping of Force-sensitives amongst the Togruta. It could easily be related."
"Hmm, Jedi business," Tank said, shaking his head. "It's never good, getting mixed up in their battles. It always seems to end with too many of our own brothers dead."
"You question a fight alongside them, sir?" Dreamer asked, surprised to hear such words from the captain.
"Not how I meant it, Sergeant. Yet when they meet with their foe on the field, we always seem to do little more than get in the way. We contribute nothing at best and are detrimental at worst. Better we keep to fighting droids."
Dreamer supposed he could understand, but then, the clones never really got a choice in the fights. Spotting the cargo ship in the distance, he realized he'd left out a detail.
"I...should mention that we'll be traveling with smugglers," he said. "Haven't met any of the team yet, but I'm to understand that our ferrymen are good people. Actually helped bring down a Dark Jedi that sneaked aboard."
"Seems like everybody's seeing them, these days."
"Just three, so far."
"Nobody likes it when people are so liter...Ah, Commander Halai."
Padawan Halai was a familiar enough face. Dreamer remembered the Twi'lek Jedi as rash, proud, and highly self-critical. She stood at an average size, her blue skin a common enough sight among her people. At his entrance, the teenager glanced up from her meditation with her master. The smile that came to her face was one of the warmer he'd seen among those at the temple. That expression only widened when she saw the clone behind him.
"Tank, you're here."
"I managed to make it for the party, Commander, I've been assigned to your mission. It's good to see you again."
"You too." Her eyes turned to the sergeant. "Dreamer, I'm glad that you're doing well. How are your paintings?"
"They're going...well...they're going, Commander," he told the teenager. "I've been told that you were quite the terror on the battlefield. Rather incredible, for your first time. Most of yours spend their first battles hidden behind their masters' robes."
"I don't know that I'd call it incredible." The Jedi shook her head, cerulean eyes darkening. "My master was still killed. I still needed help securing the outpost."
"I'm not sure I've ever seen a battle where support hasn't been required. You Jedi aren't invincible, you just think you are."
"I don't think I'm invulnerable, and I should be able to handle a battle on my own. Without someone else's help. Master Kullenan did for many years. He'd gone down to planets with only his unit and a few ships for cover."
"Kullenan also had decades of experience, had people around him that were incredible soldiers, and fought solo in the opening days of the Clone Wars," Master Durel pointed out. "The days you speak of were before the droid armies had become truly organized and had learned how to work around the Jedi and the clones. And don't forget that you survived where he didn't."
"And led us to victory," Tank reminded her. "Strive for better, but don't expect perfection when you're so young, Commander. Especially not for your first real battle. Nobody expected you to lead us past their ambush and to the edge of their outpost."
"Fine, fine." Her hand noticeably reached for the small string of colorful beads wrapped around one of her lekku, stopped, then brought it down with a guilty lowering of the brow. "I just...just..."
"You worry, Padawan," Durel told her. "You're on your last chance, and you wanted nothing short of perfection to show the Jedi Council that they weren't wasting their time by giving you another opportunity." Neria's eyes, now wide, turned to the Jedi Knight. "Now that I'm here, Padawan, you don't have to worry. We'll crack the case of how to find the Force without the dark side. After all, I've been told that I'm an unorthodox master."
"For an unorthodox student," she said, brow returning to normal and something much more placid settling into her expression. "Sorry, Master, I shouldn't complain so. It's...Well, it's gotten me in trouble before. I'm ready to go when everyone else is."
General Durel nodded, then the clone trooper found himself the uncomfortable subject of the Zabrak's scrutinizing gaze.
"I owe you some thanks, Dreamer," the Jedi Knight said. "You performed quite a feat out there, and you carried me on your shoulder for a solid half of it. Thank you for saving my life, and thank you for completing our mission."
"It's my duty, sir."
"True, but you soldiers speak too casually of your deeds." As always, General Durel preferred not to refer to the collective Republic Army as 'clones'. He'd once said he found it demeaning to refer to them as something apart from human. "You continue to surpass my expectations at every turn. I sometimes worry that I'll grow too dependent on your heroics."
"Perhaps, sir, but—"
"Is everyone going to get on board before the war is over?!"
The shout came from a ruffian standing at the entrance to the vessel, the boarding ramp extended below him. The Devaronian looked as if he'd spent his life flitting in and out of moments of life or death. Red skin smoother than to be expected of one his age, but wrinkles in the corners of his eyes to underline the hard years that had come with his lifestyle.
A teenager seemed to practically hide behind him, dressed in similar scruffy clothing and with a pistol at his side. Dreamer wasn't sure what the pistol was for, considering that the teenager looked to be blind. Despite his visible deficiency, the boy seemed equally at ease aboard the ship as the Devaronian.
Their ferrymen weren't the first picks that Dream would've made to ferry the team about on a sensitive mission, but beggars couldn't be choosers, and he doubted that he'd ever find smugglers than didn't worry him with their mere appearance.
They hefted their bags and started toward the cargo vessel when a voice stopped Durel and Dreamer in the back.
"Master Durel, a moment." The voice was raspy, familiar, and filled with mischievous intent. "Speak to you, I must."
They turned to find Grandmaster Yoda behind them, the small green alien making quite the stealthy entrance. The wrinkled alien, his long ears momentarily twitching, leaned heavily on his staff as he spoke.
"Is this about my padawan, Master Yoda?"
"Become quite proud, she has." His large green eyes slowly roved over the transport as he spoke. "Reaches for the dark side, she does. Struggled with this before, you have. If capable of reaching to the Force with the light side she is, trials for knighthood, she will take."
"I'll find a way, Master Yoda. She's making quite an effort already."
"Never in question, her commitment was. Only her skills. Remember, Durel, a punishment, the farms are not. To avoid facing the perils of battle, it is."
"I understand, Master. I've yet to fail a student."
"Know this, I do." He paused, then added, "Teach her how to get by in this galaxy, you will. Uniquely qualified to teach these lessons, you are."
"You want her to become an agent? Only a few Jedi ever excel in such arts, certainly none as young as her."
"Not my intention, it is. Trouble for the Jedi, I see. Want our youngest and brightest to be given a better chance to survive, I do."
"What do you mean, Master?"
Yoda stared at the waiting vessel, where Neria was poking her head from the opening at the end of the ramp and gazing at them curiously. For as small as the Jedi Grandmaster was, he seemed to wilt even further, sagging from some unseen burden.
"Know, I do not. Stay safe, you will."
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