After the first awkward moment Brook could concentrate on his meal again.
It did not take long until the rest of his brothers finished and started filing out. Brook took a moment to snatch the last pastry, Mereel sighed. "Somehow I preferred the young Spaarti we first met." He stood up.
Brook looked up, a bit uncertain, but relaxed as his older brother gave him a short grin. "Tomorrow the last one is mine." Mereel stopped before leaving the room.
"What are your plans today vod?" He asked Brook.
The younger clone shrugged his shoulders. "I got some reading material on woodworking. I thought I would go through it before the run with Fixer." It was still strange to answer without protocol, having jumps on conversation and following the twists and turns of 'normal' talk, but Brook felt like he was improving.
Mereel nodded thoughtfully. "Thanks."
Brook took his time, switched on a data-pad and started reading.
He had time as it was his turn to help Laseema in the kitchen and although he had been very apprehensive of the unknown gender at first the soft spoken, beautiful Twilek had found her way into his heart.
A slim blue hand reached into Brook's field of vision, lifted and piled plates up into one daunting tower.
"Hey there Brook, enjoy the reading?" Laseema asked.
Not only because of her excellent cooking. She smiled at him; Brook smiled back, stored his pad and reached for the dirty dishes, imitating the towers Laseema piled up.
"Hey there, careful, it took me years in a restaurant to balance these." She laughed at him, friendly teasing only made Brook put another jar of marmalade on top of his load.
"I learn fast." He answered, trying to put a bit more confidence unto his voice, puffing up his chest a bit for show.
"I know." She answered. paused a moment To nudged his shoulder, her hands were full.
"I think it real sweet that you want to give Kal something back.
The table was cleared soon, hot soapy water took care of the rest and soon Laseema waved Brook out of the kitchen.
"Go on, I can deal with the rest," she said. „I know how much you want to start working."
Brook didn't switch on the light as he entered the part of the barn that his brothers had converted into a working station.
He liked the twilight, the smell of fresh wood shavings. The screen of the data pad gave of enough light to read, so Brook settled down on a bale of hay, first reserves for the animals on Levet's farm.
He was absorbed in the material, absently chewing on his lower lip.
As Mereel settled down next to him. Brook flinched, shook his head, and didn't dare glare at the null. His brother just sat there for a moment, then leaned back, stretching out his legs in a show of relaxation.
"So, "Mereel started. "What gave you the idea with the credits?"
Brook scowled, his first instinct was to snap at Mereel, tell him to go away, but his brother's tone had been light and nice. He had no reason to be rude, so Brook only sighed, trying to figure out his answer.
Mereel seemingly decided to make it a bit easier on him.
„I ask because it took me a long time to realise what the concept of credits really meant. So, I wonder, what made you realize it?"
Brook relaxed slightly. It was not his brother lecturing his, pushing on mistakes, but merely a comparison of experiences, ways to find a solution.
He was more comfortable with conversations these days, but knowing the way they would take was still very important to him.
It took a deep breath, and then he was good to talk.
"The last time you went to the city I wandered off." Brook began.
Mereel nodded. "Indeed. We found you in a small wood workshop, Boss was not amused. "
Rubbing his shoulder, the deep' muscle ache was still there, Brook nodded.
"I did not just wander around there. He... "
The smell, it had been so similar in there.
The streets were busting with life, far too crowded and chaotic for Brook, who was so used to either a small group of people or military order.
It had only taken one moment, a person stepping in his way, and then the group had been gone from Brook's view.
It had been the smell of wood that had drawn him into the small workshop. It had not had the comfortably dim lights of their barn at home, the room was brightly lit, but the smell...
Brook had paused, closed his eyes and taken a deep breath, let one hand slide over smooth, freshly sanded wood.
The moment of peace after the onslaught of new things gave Brook a bit of peace.
Until a deep, smoky voice interrupted him.
„Something I can do adi'ka? "
Brook snapped around, there, under bright lights stood a grey haired man, studying the young clone with curious brown eyes.
"Well…" Brook fumbled, struggled for words with someone he didn't know, couldn't really put into words what had led him to duck into the small entrance of the shop, to take refugee from the many new things surrounding him.
Then, he decided the truth might be the best option.
"I was lost in the streets. Then I smelled wood."
The young clone let a hand run over the smooth wood under his palm, a faint smile appeared on his face.
the man echoed the exoression friendly. He leaned stepped closer, watched as Brook curiously studdied the craftsmanship in the store.
"So," the older mando began. "I take it you like woodworking?"
Brook nodded eagerly, eyes lighting up. That was really a topic he enjoyed.
Brook swallowed, trying to get himself back to reality.
Mereel nudged his shoulder, wordlessly asking him to go on.
"He offered me an apprenticeship."
Brook toyed with the pad in his hands.
"He offered me a contract to take home with me, said something about credits."
He looked over to his older brother, giving him a sheepish smile.
"At first I didn't understand, he seemed confused that I didn't seem to know the subject, only said: 'for food, living, clothing and things.'"
Brook swallowed hard, then lowered his head.
"I thought about it, long."
He made a short pause, and then motioned, including not only the barn, but their whole home.
"I read." He said simply. "The net offers information on many things. Food, clothing, medical care. It all costs and I realised that in the army I worked for my things, but here..."
Brook shrugged, a bit helpless.
Mereel was silent, for a very long time, long enough to make Brook shift, feeling the dry hay poke him through his trousers.
Had he said too much?
He wondered.
Then Mereel sat up straighter, leaned forward and laid a heavy hand on Brook's shoulder.
"Vod." He said, silent, almost subdued, very out of character for the normally cheerful and outgoing clone.
"You grasped that one sooner than most of us did." He gave Brook's shoulder a light squeeze, then dropped his hand in his lap, looked over to his younger brother and gave him a crooked grin.
"We have enough credits to last any of us a life-time, several in fact. Sergeant Vau emptied a bank and we Nulls, well, let's say invested the credits well."
The Null stood up, stretched, popping his spine and turned around, offering Brook a hand.
"You are family vod and never need to worry about those things. And now come, want to come fishing before Boss starts adding another round of bruises to you again?"
Brook took the help. "It is training." He said automatically, knowing the other clone was teasing but still didn't want anything negative said about his brothers.
Mereel grinned over his shoulder. "Sure it is vod'ika, but you are still loosing horribly."
A while later at the river, fishing rods with bait in the quickly running river, not far from the spot where Brook had been washed ashore, Mereel touched upon the subject again.
"And he really offered you a contract, just like that?" He asked.
Brook chuckled, gave his brother a grin.
"No, he didn't he quizzed me, thoroughly I might add, showed me tools, asked what they were for, made me tell him how I would build, make things. It was a bit of time before you found me."
Brook smiled, fond of the memories.
He had been very nervous at first, constantly wiping his hands on his trousers as they were slick with sweat.
the man had been kind, eyes surrounded by deep lines, hair grey and receeding, but his bind was keen and nimble. he had started simply, Brook remembered how he had praised him for the right answeres, firmly, but kindly corrected him on his mistakes.
It had been, he realised, just like learning from his brothers.
Not a test to be copleted, but a challenge to be enjoyed.
Mereel nodded. "Indeed, Boss Fixer and Scorch were this far away," he held up to fingers, "from storming the shop like we did in the sims on Kamino."
He watched Brook, and noticed that younger clone blushed, looking faintly ashamed for causing his brothers distress. "I didn't mean to cause you worry, I simply lost track of time."
Brook answered and Mereel patted his shoulder. "Don't worry."
The young one was shaping up to be a fairly good vod. If only he wouldn't keep things so close to himself.
Mereel nodded; hmhm-ed an answer and turned back to his rod, 'had that been a fish nibbling on the bait?'
Brook got the hint, and swung his fishing rod out into the water once more, understanding the change of topic.
His younger brother seemed to be turning out just fine indeed.
A.N.:
So, here we are, another round of exams cmplete and I finally have another chapter for you.
LongLiveTheClones pointed out last chapter that clones generally don't have experience with credits, so I though I should reveal this part of the story sooner rather than later.
I hope you like this chapter, as usual, I thrive upon reviews, and, exciting things are going to happen ;)
(hint, hint: it involves omega squad)