Clone Force 99, sitting around a holo table in Cid's Parlour in the early morning. It's a mild day, and they're awaiting Omega, who wasn't with them despite two attempts to wake her. The light source was the holo table they were sitting at, the alcohol bar and a few gambling machines. Echo looked at Tech as he examined something on the holo table while Wrecker looked over at Cid.
The only sounds were Cid ordering a few patrons around and the hum of the holo table.
Hunter could smell and taste the caff everyone was drinking and the remains of their breakfast. The holo table was solid on his hands, though the seat he was sitting in was surprisingly soft.
"What's holding Omega up?" Wrecker enquired.
Tech stated, not looking up, "Omega should be awake and dressed by now. Hunter, can you go and check on her?"
"On it," Hunter stated as he got up and headed for the rooms.
When he arrived, he gently tapped the wooden door, Hunter thanking the soft carpet underfoot. He had come very close to walking in on Omega in her birthday suit, only part-way through changing, and didn't want to risk that again.
"Are you alright in there, ad'ika?" Hunter asked.
After a few moments, Omega yawned, "I'm alright. Just tired"
"Are you decent?" Hunter asked.
Omega replied, "Yes, I'm decently dressed," and Hunter entered the room.
Omega's room was mild for the early morning. The walls were light blue with a white ceiling and dark blue carpets. The bed had a black-and-white chequered pillow and a white weighted blanket. The wood that made up both the bed and the bedside table was brown and had been varnished. The only light source came from a bedside lamp and a light below the fan near the ceiling.
Hunter could hear his brothers talking in the distance and other beings in the other rooms. He wrinkled his nose as the smell and taste of Omega on the sheets hit his senses.
He saw that Omega was sitting on her bed. She had her clothes on, her sock and shoe on one foot and the other only partly on. It seemed like she'd fallen asleep trying to get her shoes and socks on.
"Let me help you," Hunter suggested as he finished getting her sock and shoe on. Omega didn't protest. She was too tired to do much.
Hunter, seeing how tired she looked, sighed and stated, "We've got to do something to get you going in the morning," as he led her back to the main parlour.
"There you are, Omega," Tech stated, while Echo asked, "What's up?"
"Tired," Omega sighed as she got into one of the seats and started eating. Tech then asked, "How's the ASMR going?"
"It's not helping as much as I hoped it would," Omega admitted.
Once she finished, she stretched, "So what's on the cards today?"
"Well, how about I get you some Mantell Mix?" Wrecker suggested.
Omega perked up, "Lead the way, Wrecker".
"Alright," Wrecker replied, and the duo departed, making Hunter chuckle.
"We've got to do something about Omega's sleep patterns," Echo sighed.
Hunter suggested, "We've tried pretty much everything. I think it's time we got drastic".
"Are you suggesting what Cid suggested?" Tech enquired.
Hunter replied, "I hate to say it, but I think we're going to have to introduce Omega to caff".
"No," Tech stated. Echo rolled his eyes and sighed, "Here we go again".
"Why not?" Hunter demanded.
Tech stated, "Because it would cause more harm to Omega than it would help".
"How would it affect her specifically?" Echo asked, turning to Tech.
Tech looked up the side effects of caff on his datapad, "The potential loss of calcium in her bones. Worsening sleep pattern and mental health, leading to an even more stunted development than she already has due to the Kaminoans,"
"We didn't have those problems when we grew up even though we were exposed to caff at a younger age than her," Hunter pointed out.
Tech stated, "We were also genetically engineered to be resistant to the negative effects of caff, something not done with Omega".
"Considering how bad her sleep pattern already is, I don't think it could be made much worse," Echo pointed out, while Hunter added, "And the loss of Calcium shouldn't be too much of an issue if she keeps up with the supplement she has to take?"
"That is due to her body trying to play catch up after spending years having to repair itself after rounds of medical abuse," Tech stated.
Echo retorted, "You've made your point".
"Look, I'm not saying we introduce her to straight caff. I thought we could introduce her to something with a small amount of caffeine and see if it'll perk her enough to get her through the day," Hunter said.
Tech stated, "I still think it's a bad move".
"Look, Tech. We've got to do something to help get her through the day. If she can go a whole day without an afternoon nap, then maybe her sleep pattern will improve," Echo suggested.
Tech sighed, "I understand. But I'm sure there's something else we can do,"
"Tech. We've exhausted every other avenue for it. Even with the Mantell Mix, she has the sugar crash early afternoon and is out like a light for the next hour. I know, she's only 13, but surely there's a safe, even a small, dosage that will pep her up but not cause problems that outweigh the benefits," Hunter stated.
Tech checked the various studies and websites, then stated,
"Eighty milligrams is the maximum for a girl her age".
"One cup of that tea we got the other day. How much caff does that have?" Hunter asked.
Tech stated, looking up from his datapad for once to grab the packaging for the tea and examine it, "About sixty milligrams".
"So, if we give her one cup of the tea when she has breakfast, that's sixty milligrams, that'll stay under the maximum limit," Hunter stated.
Tech sighed, "I've lost this, haven't I?"
"How about we do this as a trial? We give her three months with this tea and see how her body adjusts. If she reacts well to it, we keep it going and introduce her to proper caff when she's a bit older?" Hunter suggested.
Tech thought about this for a few moments, sighed, and then stated, "Alright. But she will not transfer to any proper caff until she is at least 16, alright?"
"Alright. I think we can accept that concession," Hunter replied, and Echo nodded.
Tech said, "It's not ideal, but if it works, then I can't disagree".
"Good," Hunter replied. Wrecker and Omega then returned, with Omega looking a bit awkward.
"What were you three arguing about?" Wrecker asked.
Hunter stated, "Echo agreed with Cid that we should introduce Omega to caffeinated beverages".
"And I didn't agree," Tech started.
Hunter enquired, "How much of that argument did you hear?"
"A fair bit of it," Omega admitted. Tech sighed and stated, "When did you start hearing it?"
"When you said you were sure there was something you could do to help me have energy first thing in the morning," Omega replied.
Hunter added, "Sorry we got a bit heated. We were just arguing over what was best for you, Omega,"
"Yeah. We're going to try you on one of the teas we bought recently to see how you cope with it," Echo said.
Omega asked, "What is it called?"
"Khaso's black tea. It has a small amount of caff. Hopefully, it won't affect your sleep and other things," Tech started, "By the way, have you taken your supplement this morning?"
"No, I haven't. Thanks for reminding me, Tech," Omega replied, and she grabbed it from her bag and took it with some water.
"So, when do we try this out?" Hunter asked.
Echo suggested, "Today or Tomorrow?"
"I recommend tomorrow. Caffeine can stay in your body for quite a few hours, so first thing in the morning is probably the best time," Tech stated.
And so, the new regime began the following day. Although the caff meant Omega temporarily lost the ability to tell how tired she was, which had caused her to collapse into the nearest bed/couch/seat a couple of times, her body was able to adapt.
Her body adapting meant she wasn't having afternoon naps as regularly, which improved her sleep pattern and even reduced the frequency and severity of her nightmares.
Overall, it was a success, and soon the tea became a regular part of Omega's morning routine.