It was slowly that Brook rose from his unconsciousness.

It smelled, he wrinkled his nose, turned his head to get away from the stinging smell of antiseptics.

A chuckle sounded to his right.

"Nice to know that he have something in common vod'ika."

Someone nudged his shoulder. Brook shifted, groaned as various aches light up across his body.

The brother to his right didn't let up.

"Now, open your eyes, tell me you are there and I have a nice mild painkiller for you as well as breakfast."

On command Brook's stomach grumbled. He followed the light nudging on his shoulder and blinked against the lights.

It was "bright", but not as bright as he knew the med-bay to be. He blinked, looked around dazed.

It was a brother to his right, but he looked wrong somehow. Brook turned to his left, watching his surrounding, the room looked weird as well.

"Wrong, "he mumbled, struggling to sit up straighter.

His brother laughed lightly, cranking the bed higher and shone a light into Brook s eyes. "Not wrong, just different and now… follow this one."

Brook grumbled, but sat still and followed the orders. This one sounded and acted like a medic and that was comforting. While Brook blinked away the bright spots in his vision he realized something.

"No uniform."

"Mh?" His brother filled up a syringe and wiped a wet pad over Brook's arm. "What? Oh, also, I'm Scorch." He mumbled with the cap of the syringe between his teeth.

Brook bit his lip when the needle pierced his skin.

"You wear no uniform." he clarified. While looking around some things came back. Brook felt cold, gripped the blanket slightly.

"This is not the Imperial army. There was someone."

Scorch nodded, pressed down on the injection site lightly.

"That was Kal, Kal Skirata. He had this place built for us." A smile came to his face as he helped Brook sit up.

The Spaarti felt the blood rush away, swayed slightly and griped the edge of the bed as his vision turned dark. He felt Scorch grip his elbow.

"Alright, take it slow. You were out for a few days."

"A few?" Suddenly Brook felt like a cold weight had settled in his stomach.

He edged forward, slowly slipped of the bed and took a few slow steps. His left leg still hurt and Brook was glad for Scorch, who stayed at his side, carefully supporting him.

"Yep", his brother said. "You drifted in and out a few times, but I guess you don't remember much about that." Brook shook his head, concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, not caring where Scorch lead him.

"How does a meal sound?" The brother asked cheerfully.

Brook nodded mutely. He found himself liking Scorch. There was something off about him, different from the brothers Brook had grown up with. Like all clones Brook had learned to steer away from the ones who are different, careful to fit into the parameters that were expected, but Scorch was open and welcoming and friendly.

It was hard not to like him and it was good to have a brother by his side again. The last time in the barracks with the other survivors had been very lonely.

Their way meandered through wooden corridors, Brook sighed. He hunched forward a bit, feeling the strain of his injuries.

"Too fast?" Scorch slowed down immediately. "Too much for the first time?" He asked.

Brook shook his head. He considered his response for a moment, choosing his words carefully.

"No." He said. "I am just wondering how I will remember my way around here."

For a moment Scorch was silent, then he laughed a throaty laugh. Brook bristeled, not liking the almost malicious sound of it.

It reminded him too much of the Sergeant's voice, taunting on the shooting range.

"What, can't even hit that target Shiny? Where did you learn?"

Some brothers had laughed and Brook's hands, slick with nervous sweat already had started to shake under the weight of the stares of the other clones in his back.

But Scorch reached around Brook and thumped him on the back, making the younger clone wince.

"We have a lot to teach you Vod'ika." He laughed. He pressed Brook to the right into a room full of people. It was filled with smells unlike any Brook had ever encountered.

Scorch pulled out a chair and bumped Brook into it before settling into one of his own.

"Well, look who has finally woken from his slumber. We thought you planned on sleeping through the whole year vod!" The clone who had spoken up was taller, broader than most of the others.

Brook was silent, took one look at the crowd around the table, and then dropped his gaze.

Another clone spoke up, just left of the one who had spoken up.

"A good answer would be that you need some beauty sleep 'cause in his case everything is already lost. By the way, I'm Fi." He grinned and the taller one punched Fi in the arm. He rubbed the sore spot and pointed at his brother.

"That one is Mereel. He is alright once you get used to his bark."

Mereel only grumbled, but this time Brook spotted the hint of a smile around his eyes, the slightest twitching around his lips.

Brook nodded, not quite sure what to say. Instead he looked around the table. Most clones were eating, busy with chatter.

There was a huge number of bowls on the table, foods piled up in every one. Brook didn't know half of them, although some like nuna eggs and Nerf stripes seemed familiar.

Kal was on Brook's left hand side, giving him a small nod, friendly smile on his lips.

"So son, something for breakfast?" He asked, motioning at Brook's plate.

Kal watched how the spaarti froze. Meals so far in his life had been served on tablets.

He had been told when to eat, what to eat, he had been told how fast to eat.

Indecision, too many choices overloading his brain. The Mando gave him time, allowed the young clone to weigh each choice. His brothers gave Brook space.

Scorch busied himself with some nuna eggs, fried sunny side up. Kal felt himself smile as Brook peeked at Scorch's and Fi's plates, then carefully reached for the dishes the two had.

The young clone could get to the nuna eggs, but the nerf stripes were out of his reach. Kal noticed how his brow furrowed, once again out of his depth how to react.

The mando suppressed a sigh.

How different Brook was to his brothers.

The Nulls had hit the ground running, taking to life outside of the GAR as a fish took to water. They relished in being free of the rules and restriction although he could tell that his sons still felt the need to look to him as their guide and model-

Brook cleared his throat. "Scorch?" He motioned for the nerf stripes. "Could you?"

The half question was enough. The commando grabbed Brook's plate and piled a generous portion of the meat on Brook's plate.

"Want some of the tomeas as well? They are vegetables and orange, but they taste pretty good."

Brook nodded mutely. As Scorch handed him his plate back the spaarti hesitantly poured himself a mug of caf, eyes darting across the table, trying to find clues to rules and regulations.

Kal gulped down his own caf, glad that the young clone was settling in, albeit slowly.

'Well, clones are nothing if not adaptable.' He thought and smiled, confident that the newest addition to the clan would manage, given time, help and opportunities.

He would receive all that and more.

Brook tentatively speared a small portion of the nerf stripes on his fork.

Fi bumped Mereel, to whom he had taken nearly as well as to Ordo, and pointed at their youngest brother.

As Brook tried them a look of pure bliss entered his face. Shoulders relaxed, he leaned forward, almost protecting his plate, and dug in, oblivious to the world.

A.N.:

Hello everybody!

A huge thank you for all the lovely and constructive reviews. You guys are what keeps me working on this story.

(Brook is quite hesitant to enter his new life and you messages help to nudge him along.)

So, I am tentative to put out an update schedule, but I have finished my other stories, so all writing time I have will be dedicated to this project.

Hope you like this one, looking forward to hear from you!