Magnet for Trouble

by Virodeil

Instead of vanishing into oblivion, Jango's clones find themselves on the fields belonging to the Fett family after death, fresh as new. Now, what is a pair of farmers to do with the homeless, clueless millions of individuals bearing unnervingly close similarities to their children popping up all over their property? And what if the number increases even more with other people?

48. From a Certain Point of View

Magnet for Trouble
By Rey

Chapter summary: From a certain point of view, child labour has its merits. Some merits. Especially when the children would do soldierly things as if in wartime, otherwise.

48. From a Certain Point of View

Many hands make for better job, the old proverb says, oft repeated: Birov gaan'a, bora jate'shya. It is a good motivator, a good way to live by, a good summary of Mando'ad life if incomplete.

But Kote feels that it is a different thing entirely to use child labour for anything but something light and fun or educative or both, even if the end result will be for the children themselves. Their spouse feels likewise, so do their relatives in the know on both sides. But, as it is, they can do nothing but to make the job as safe and as light as possible within the present constraints.

The many dorm buildings do need erecting and suring up before the upcoming storm season, after all. Set for indefinite duration of habitation, at that, and definitely with comfort and homeyness in mind. And the adults can't do that alone; not if they don't want nosy busybodies nosing into what has been going on in the farm. So the children have to build most of their own living space by themselves, and it is yet more salt to the invisible injuries their nominal parents have taken thus far.

The only upside to this macabre project is that little Ordo – `They need a better-fitting name! So do so many others!` – has the chance to shine as a landscaper and engineer, as well as "Alpha-3" and "Alpha-22", while "Alpha-44" bafflingly but so charmingly relishes in organising everything. Also, admittedly, it is a good way for the "natborn" children, most of whom are not – yet – Mando'ad'e although familiar with at least one, to be folded into the throng. And the family's "original" children are even easily included! While both poor "ordinary" little ones used to be so leery and unwelcoming of the intruders, and the others hold so many mixed reactions towards them.

Also, there are no longer talks among the children of setting live shaped charges to soften untilled lands. At least not where Kote and Ruusaan and Jaster and other adults can hear. And nobody tries to sneak out to do just that, too. Again, at least to the collective knowledge of the adults.

And, the unexpected but quite welcome bonus is: When each group is resting from the heavy physical work, the children in it are easily drawn into and entertained with less wartime-worthy passtimes and skills such as playing cu'bikad, weaving containers and parts of furniture out of dried grain stalks, fingerpainting, handling the babies properly and comfortably, and knitting. In fact, it gives the children bright ideas, and soon the buildings are livened up with bits of arts and touches of home, even the parts that have already been dug out or erected.

Well, the last thing that Kote should have been grateful for is realised only when it is too late. Namely the fact that no more children have appeared during the beginning of the project. Because KK-40, who has been tasked with monitoring the shield generators and the visual parameter of the farm, has just reported that children who claim that they belong to the "Support Corps" have just "materialised" on the barren earth where the "Coruscant Guard" did some time ago.

And they number just as many. If not more. With ages and looks that are just as eclectic.