Chapter 39 - Recovery

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: Thank you, loldelegate! :)

~ Amina Gila

Anakin awakens with a soft groan. He knew it would be... unpleasant, but he's exhausted, and... yeah. He should have been able to stop all of this, and he doesn't want to face Obi-Wan knowing that he failed. He tried his best. Why...?

"You're awake!" the girl he saw from before chirps, appearing at his side.

"Yeah," he groans, "How long was I out? And what are you doing here?" Who is she, anyway?

"Just overnight," she replies, "The Separatists retreated."

"Who are you?" he inquires, propping himself up with one arm.

"My name is Omega," she answers. "I used to work as Nala Se's assistant, before she... died. Since then, I've stayed with my brothers."

He blinks. "I've never met a girl clone before." He almost facepalms at the tactlessness of the question.

"You're the first Jedi I've met, too," she replies cheerfully. Her presence feels so soft and bright at once. Soft, like all of them, and bright like a child, except this is one of the first non-Jedi children he's interacted with who's also fought as part of the military. It's weird.

"I suppose I am," Anakin agrees, "That must not look impressive. I failed our mission."

"We saved Kamino," she points out, "Isn't that most important? It's home to us."

"We should have prevented their entrance."

"I think you did well," she objects, "That was so cool." She has that enthusiasm in her eyes that many of the clones did at first when they saw the Jedi. The same childish innocence.

"How old are you?" he can't help asking.

"Eleven."

"With aging, or...?"

"No, they didn't alter me," she replies, shaking her head, "Nala Se wanted me as her assistant."

Anakin almost winces. Eleven is older than many of the clones he fights with, because they die so fast and new, younger ones are brought in constantly. Many are as young as eight. He doesn't understand how no one finds that a concern, but it's a part of life. No one will give them a pass on life because they're young. That's not how the galaxy works. "I'm fifteen," he says, pushing himself up.

He's still a bit shaken up with how he nearly drowned. That was not fun.

"You saved us," Omega says, smiling, "And that was amazing!"

"Yeah," Anakin mumbles half-heartedly, "I should have been able to stop him."

"I think you'll be cleared to leave soon," she tells him – she's so much more cheerful than a droid, and he can really understand why Nala Se wanted a human medical assistant for her work with the clones. A human face is far more inviting than a droid's in these situations.

"Thank you," Anakin says.

"No problem," she replies brightly. "You saved us, too. We're even."

Anakin smiles. "Yeah, we did."

**w**

Anakin isn't surprised when Obi-Wan and Ahsoka show up in the medbay immediately after hearing he awoke. He was not looking forward to this discussion.

"How are you?" Ahsoka asks, sprinting inside. Their master is following her, a little more civilized.

"I'm fine," Anakin shrugs, "I always am."

"You are not," Obi-Wan denies vehemently, "You could have died."

"We all could have. Always. It's a part of battle, Master."

"How did you end up all the way outside?" his master demands, "You were supposed to be watching the cameras."

"I was! Then Savage came into the DNA room, and I went to stop him. No one else could. I followed him outside."

"And you thought engaging Grievous was an apt solution," Obi-Wan repeats dubiously. "I cannot believe you."

Ahsoka rolls her eyes. Actually rolls them. Anakin will never understand how she has the audacity to react in such a manner. "Really, Master. He was just doing his duty."

"There is nothing heroic or duty-bound about being killed in battle for no reason!"

"I'm not dead," Anakin snaps, standing. It angers him how Obi-Wan always acts like this. "Why don't you trust me? How are we supposed to fight together if we can't trust each other?" It hurts so much to say aloud. He's known it, and that it seems to be getting worse, but... saying it aloud makes it more real. It makes the pain in his heart feel like a raw wound.

Obi-Wan looks momentarily taken aback. "I do trust you. I just expect you to..."

"I think that's enough," Ahsoka says flatly, glaring at him. She's always stood up to him, far past a point that makes Anakin comfortable, because Obi-Wan isn't wrong. He never is, but she understands this, and she... never backs down from an argument like Anakin always does. He loathes them, at least with his master. With random people, he doesn't mind but not... with Obi-Wan. Never with Obi-Wan. It makes his master angry, and Obi-Wan is scary when he's angry.

"I should have been able to stop him," Anakin says, deflating a little. "He wasn't that skilled."

"He's fought Jedi Masters, young one. That you survived says a lot," Obi-Wan replies.

"I should have... seen it coming."

"We all should," Ahsoka replies. "At least we won the battle. Kamino is safe. That's what matters most, isn't it?"

Anakin nods numbly, keeping his objections to himself.

**w**

They came far too close to comfort at losing this battle, Rex decides. Kamino is safe, at least, and that is all they can ask for in the end. This is their home. But, of course, the battle wasn't without cost. 99 was lost, which... was a hard blow for all of them. Domino squad were some of the boys who knew him really well, and it's hit everyone hard that he's gone now – but he died as a hero, a soldier, despite his disabilities, and that means a lot to all of them, too.

The survivors of Domino squad are being promoted to ARC troopers for the part they played in the battle.

Rex wasn't surprised to hear that Anakin nearly died in the battle, too. Cody was there, and he's a bit shaken up over it. Rex is grateful they get the chance to talk to the Commander before heading separate ways again – they haven't worked together frequently as of late, likely because of the disagreements their generals have. Their methods don't work together in the least.

"How many lost?" Anakin asks quietly.

"The Malevolence was damaged," Rex tells him, "And some of the main facilities on Kamino suffered damage, but none are beyond repair. But we lost the DNA, which..."

"Ahsoka doesn't think it's that important," Anakin replies, "Not if the war doesn't draw out. We have... I mean, it's ten years out. We have nothing to worry about right now. The galaxy will never endure a war which is so drawn out."

"If you say so, sir," Cody concedes reluctantly.

"I do wish we could've gotten Grievous, though. He's the most dangerous general the Seppies have."

"At least we're all alive to keep hunting," Rex replies.

"Yeah, we are," Anakin agrees, "It'll be enough."

No one really knows that, but they have to pretend. Anakin is optimistic like that. He always has been, and it's one of the things the boys love about him. The 501st always misses it when he's not around. The 212th is truly blessed with a leader so soft and caring even for being so young – he brings light into everything. He gives purpose and life when all the clones have ever been are soldiers. Fighters. And somehow, Anakin can change that, make it feel like their lives have meaning.

Because they matter to him, even if to no one else.

Rex has heard before from Cody, how Anakin will only stay stubborn about things when it comes to leaving. General Kenobi is by-the-book – he knows when risks must be taken. He won't think twice about leaving his men behind if it means accomplishing the mission. It's what they were all trained for, and even... General Tano is much the same, only Rex has seen over and over how much she hates it. He doesn't have the Force as they do, but that doesn't stop him from noticing when she's upset. The momentary quiet, the tightness in her face and the anger in her eyes, the way her fists clench before she gives a difficult order, one they all know will bring many deaths. Rex loathes seeing her like that, so angry.

It's in their blood and it's their purpose, all they've been made and trained and bred for, combat and death. War and blood. Ahsoka knows that, but she still cares, and that means a lot. It does for all of them, and he still doesn't understand it himself – to be seen as something beyond a simple soldier. To be seen as... human, Anakin calls it. People. Individuals. Everything that was strongly discouraged on Kamino.

Rex sees it himself, and Cody has told him about it – that the rare arguments with Anakin and his master are over mission, over life. Over the lives of others, because Anakin is... he can be stubborn when he wants to be, but it's so rare, and Rex finds it touching how the Commander will only show it for him and his vode. It's as though he's one of them.

**w**

The Bad Batch comes to talk to Anakin one more time before he leaves.

Omega can't help how blown-away she feels from watching Anakin fight. It was... the first time she saw a Jedi in action, and he was so... graceful. And unlike most of the other clones, he didn't seem the least bit egotistical or jealous of them for their skills. It's so rare to talk to someone who's not one of her brothers that's... fair to them.

"Thank you. All of you," Anakin tells them.

"Think nothing of it," Hunter replies, waving him off. "It's our first actual battle." She has to admit it's still more than a little scary that the Separatists were able to get to Kamino in the first place. It's their home, and it means it's not safe here either. She's wanted to know what a real battle would be like, though, for so long. Wrecker has always been the most excited about it. Well, they're all itchy to be done with training and on to some actual fighting, but she never expected it to be quite like this.

So much... death. It doesn't bother her brothers as much as it does her, though – they hardly get along with any of the others anyway, and they don't really see any of them as that different from the others. That's not quite as true for her, even if she knows that... death is expected. It's what they were made for, created to exist for. The thought of something happening to Hunter, Crosshair, Wrecker, or Tech still scares her, though. She's been watching over them as much as she could since they were first created – it's one of her first memories. She can't imagine something happening to them.

The thought of battle is disconcerting for her in the first place, though, because she was never trained for it. Omega was a medical assistant, which means she's well acquainted with all sorts of problems, but she's not accustomed to... killing. Not to death and violence, even if the fighting is thrilling and cool.

The Jedi blinks a few times, then smiles. "Impressive. I could have died there. You saved my life."

"Technically, you might have saved ours," Omega pipes up.

Crosshair makes a grumpy sound of disagreement.

"Hey, that Sith would have killed us if he wasn't there," Omega objects.

"We were winning," Crosshair argues, and she thinks it's only to be stubborn. It's just how he is.

"You were doing well," Anakin replies, "You are... very skilled. I've never met a group of clones like you before."

"We're Clone Force 99," Hunter replies.

"We all have modifications to each of us that make us different, and better skilled than other clones," Tech interjects.

"That's why you look different," Anakin realizes.

Omega nods. "Hunter can hunt things. He can feel electromagnetic frequencies. Wrecker wrecks things." She ignores his laughter. "Crosshair is best at sharp shooting, and Tech is obsessed with technology and research. I'm good at strategy."

"Impressive. I would like to work with you in the future, if we have the chance."

"Me too," Omega chirps, "I never saw a Jedi fighting before." She knows she already said that, but she can't get over how amazing it was.

Anakin blushes slightly. "It was not... that special. I'm only a padawan."

"What's it like? The Force?" she asks curiously, moving a little closer. "How does it work?"

"It is an energy field, created by all living things. You can learn to open your mind to it, and you... sense things."

"Like what Hunter does?" she wonders.

"It's... a little different," Anakin answers, "We can do much more than sense the electrical imprints left behind. We can sense danger, too. It helps us constantly."

"That's so cool," Omega breathes.

He smiles, in slight amusement. "It helps in flying, too."

She perks up instantly. "You fly?"

"All Jedi do, but yes. I... specialize in that."

"I want to learn," Omega admits, "But Tech says I need to memorize pages of rules first!"

"Those rules are important," Anakin points out, sounding mildly amused.

"I know but it's going to take forever."

"It's easier when you get into it. It's... about a feeling."

"A feeling?" she echoes.

"Yes. Even the non-Jedi pilots often say they can feel things when they're flying. It's also like opening your mind to the Force. You don't have to be Force-sensitive to do it."

"That's amazing." She trots closer, looking down at his lightsabers, somehow her curiosity pushing past her shyness. It helps that he's a child, too. "Do all Jedi have two?"

"We're all trained in it, but no. It's not common."

It would be so fun to be out there fighting alongside Jedi all the time. Although she doesn't know she can say the same about constantly being around the regular clones. "What's it like fighting with the regs?" Omega asks.

"Regs?" Anakin echoes.

"That's what my brothers call them – the regular clones," she explains, "They're... they don't like them."

"Why?" He seems confused.

"They're always bullying them," Omega replies, familiar frustration rising again. She doesn't look down on the other clones, but she doesn't know that she likes them herself anymore. "They're jealous that we're... different."

"I'm sorry they're like that," Anakin murmurs, "I imagine you'll find that all of them aren't like that eventually, but I know dealing with that constantly is... hard."

"Do the other padawans mind that you're different?" she wonders, looking up at him. Something about the way he says it sounds like it comes from too much personal experience, unless she's reading his tone wrong.

Anakin is quiet for a pause, as though considering his answer. "I have always been different. I was never really friends with many Initiates, but it's different now as a padawan."

She frowns. "Oh. Why would the Jedi be like that?"

"They are little different than other people, Omega."

It's still mind-blowing and appalling to wrap her head around. Of course, she knew that they were just people, but with all the whispers that go around Kamino, it's often hard to actually remember that. "They bullied you, too?"

"Sometimes. Do not concern yourself with it. It doesn't matter. Now, when I'm always on the battlefield, I don't interact with many Jedi. Usually, it's the clones."

"Maybe we'll get to meet some of the ones you know," Omega says hopefully. That doesn't mean they'll be nice to them, though. But still, she can't imagine Anakin would tolerate such an attitude from his friends. Though she can't say why when she hardly even knows him, she just doesn't think so.

"Maybe," Anakin replies, "When will you be leaving Kamino?"

"It should be soon," she says hopefully, "They say we're going to be in our own unit, so we'll be doing extra challenging jobs."

"Then you may be paired with Master Obi-Wan or Ahsoka a lot," Anakin muses. "Our division is one of the biggest, and Ahsoka does difficult missions a lot."

"I want to be out there," Omega says firmly. Whatever it is, she wants to help. She spent so many years thinking she would never leave Kamino at all, and now she can't wait to be away. Even if she can't truly imagine it in practice. This has been her home for as long as she remembers.

"It is not as exciting as it may seem."

"They tell us here the only thing they can promise us is that we'll have 'our moment' as a soldier. And I want to actually do something." She doesn't know what she thinks of fighting, though, but shooting droids can't be that bad.

"I understand that," Anakin admits.

Omega's mind wanders back to what he was saying earlier again. "I don't really understand how things work outside Kamino," she begins, a little shyly, "I don't... understand. How are you different from the other Jedi?"

"I came later," he responds. She doesn't know how comfortable he is talking about it, but he doesn't seem bothered either, really. "We aren't born into it. We come once we are identified as Force-sensitive. I was late, and... It took me time to fit in."

She frowns. "Oh."

They don't have longer before Anakin's comm beeps. It's his master, calling him to leave. "I must go."

"Bye," Omega calls, "See you later – I hope."

"I hope so too," he promises, and they share a smile before he hurries off. Maybe she's only met one Jedi, but she already knows that he's her favorite. Hopefully their training here will be over soon.

**w**

"We have recovered some of Skywalker's DNA," the hologram of the Kaminoan reports.

Sidious smiles darkly under the hood pulled over his head. "Good. Very good."

At least something of use came from the attack on Kamino. Dooku's foolish assassin was never supposed to destroy the clone's DNA, but its loss isn't of a major concern. If all the clones can be controlled, they can also be theoretically controlled to be used against the Empire, and Sidious won't take that risk. Once the Clone Wars are over, he will have no need for the clones anymore.

That doesn't mean he's impressed with Dooku's assassin's actions. He will have to speak with the Count on dealing with that. The assassin's power is growing anyway, and especially with Komari out there, he will not allow Dooku to have so many assets who may be loyal only to him.

It's not a major concern, though, in the face of the other DNA he finally recovered. He's been waiting for a long time, and he didn't expect the opportunity to present itself so soon.

The fact remains that Skywalker is powerful, and his skills are only growing every day. Sidious needs a guaranteed way of controlling – something he doesn't have yet – or a way to replace him if needed.

Being the Chosen One and partly born of the Force, his genes are likely unusual, but... this will work one way or another.

**w**

Obi-Wan hasn't had much time to train his padawan at the Temple in a long time, and he's grateful that they finally have time now, even if it's brief. But what he's seeing is... worrisome. It does not surprise him that Anakin is better, because he's a fast learner in many things, but what does surprise him is his aggression. "Be mindful," Obi-Wan chides as their lightsabers clash together, "You're too aggressive. Jedi are to defend life, not take it."

Anakin slashes at him again, using both his lightsabers. It reminds him too much of Ahsoka, of how she was at this age. She steadily grew increasingly aggressive as she grew older, and Obi-Wan was never able to reign it in. "Mercy doesn't bring victory, Master."

"Compassion is central to a Jedi's life; you know that!" It frightens him how Anakin seems to be losing touch with that, and first, Obi-Wan had thought it was a simple teenage phase, but this isn't going away.

"It won't help win a war!"

"That's Ahsoka talking!" Obi-Wan snaps back. "There is more to a Jedi than winning the war." It's reminding him disturbingly of Ahsoka, and he doesn't like it. He can't have Anakin ending up like her. Not again. He doesn't understand why this is happening.

"If we don't do what it takes to win, we'll lose everything we're trying to protect."

Obi-Wan calls an end to the sparring match a few minutes afterwards once it's... fairly obvious neither of them will be winning anytime soon, because he really, really needs to talk to Anakin about this. Anakin is... growing far more skilled with lightsaber combat for his age – he's only fifteen, but he can already fight Obi-Wan to a standstill if he's trying.

"You know different than this," he says, frowning, "What's changed? I want to know."

"How am I supposed to destroy the Sith if I can't fight? I fought Savage and he still escaped me."

"I already told you that you would not be alone in this."

"But it only spoke of me. And..."

"Are you afraid you can't do it?" Obi-Wan asks.

"I... couldn't fight him. I need to."

Obi-Wan studies him in silence for a moment – he's not entirely sure what to tell him. He doesn't understand this mentality at all. "You're only a padawan. You have a lifetime ahead of you. You don't have to do it now. Be patient. You will find what you need eventually."

"How do I know it won't be too late?" Anakin asks uncertainly, turning his lightsabers over in his hands.

"I don't believe the Force would have made you the Chosen One, if you didn't have the ability to do something when the time is right," Obi-Wan points out.

Anakin doesn't seem very convinced.

"Perhaps... you need to spend more time at the Temple to remember who we are meant to be," he decides finally. It's the only thing he can think of, and it only seemed to make Ahsoka more itchy to be back in the fighting, but he has to take the chance that it might help Anakin. Something has to, because he cannot lose Anakin the same way he has Ahsoka.

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