CHAPTER 2:

"How'd you like to be called Ordo? He was a Mandalorian warrior."

"Are we Mandalorian warriors?"

"You bet. In every sense of the name."

"I like that name."

-Kal Skirata and Null-11

Chapter Text:

Kal Skirata watched the six clones sleeping silently in every corner of his apartment. They were all so young and innocent looking, yet carried the air of Mandalorian warriors. The warrior blood flowed through their veins.

The Mandalorian was lying in his bed, looking at them each in turn. Null-7 was quick and humorous, Null-11 was intelligent, ( ) They were two in human years, but four in clone, due to the accelerated aging.

I'm sure they'll make the best soldiers this army will ever see. The gold-armoured Mandalorian thought silently to himself. They weren't even afraid to pull a gun on someone that could have easily ordered their termination.

"Sir?" A soft voice whispered.

Lifting his head up from the pillow, Skirata looked around the room, then down at a small face trying to see over the peer over the edge of the bed, looking up at him with those eyes that so reminded him of Jango Fett... well, they were Jango's.

"What is it?" Skirata asked, rolling up onto one elbow to look down at the boy.

Null-11's lip quivered as he looked up at him. "I'm scared." He whispered, voice trembling slightly.

Skirata lifted the boy up into the bed with him, laying him down beside him. "Why are you scared?" He asked gently.

Null-11 looked up at him. "I'm scared Orun Wa will come get my brothers and, and-"

"Kill them?" Skirata asked, feeling his heart soften slightly.

Null-11's eyes teared up and he nodded, sniffling.

Skirata looked down at the boy. "I don't want you to ever worry about that again." He whispered, aware of the other sleeping boys. "I want you to know that I'll always be there for you. I will not let those long-necked freaks touch you or the others ever again." He stared down at the large brown eyes staring up at him. "OK?"

Null-11 nodded slowly. "Yes, sir."

Skirata chuckled slightly. "But I want you to make a deal with me."

Null-11 looked up at him curiously. "What sir?"

"Do not call me 'sir' anymore." Skirata ordered, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.

The young boy's eyebrows knotted together in confusion. "Then what?" He asked, curiously.

Skirata chuckled again. "Whatever you want. Skirata, Kal. Doesn't matter."

Null-11 thought this through for several moments before turning his eyes onto the man that saved him again. "How do you say father in your language?" He asked.

Skirata smiled slightly. "Buir." He responded.

Null-11's eyes filled with fear as he looked up at the silver-haired man. "Do you mind... If I called you Buir?" He asked, his voice filled with what could be identified as shame.

"I would love it if you would call me buir, young one." Skirata looked at Null-11 and the other clone boys that still lay sleeping. "But I want to ask you something now."

Skirata felt movement as the black-haired head craned itself to look up at him. "What, buir?" He asked, hesitating slightly before using the word.

"How would you like to be called Ordo? He was a Mandalorian warrior." Skirata smiled at the null.

Looking up at him, the boy's eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. "Are we Mandalorian warriors?" He asked curiously.

"You bet, in every sense of the word." Skirata ruffled the black hair playfully.

"I like that name." Null-11, now dubbed Ordo smiled as his eyelids drooped sleepily.

Skirata smiled and pulled the covers up over the small form. "I knew you would."