Dear Reader, First let me again thank my reviewers, LLTC, Queen Nagaina, and CT-782. Thank you so much! It really does help keep me motivated to continue posting. A couple notes about this chapter. There are some metaphysical discussions, but I do not want anyone to think I'm pushing any religious motif. I, myself, am deeply religious, but I am also quite open to other spiritualities; because as I pointed out earlier, I am fascinated by religion and mysticism. My main point in much of their discussion is to lay the groundwork for something that is to come later in the story. Also, just for kicks, my vision of the main dining hall is modeled after the Festhalle in Munich, if anyone has ever been there. One big party! Peace, CS

Chapter 14 Novelty

"Novelty has charms that our minds can hardly withstand."

-William Thackery

The room in which Cody and his team took the evening meal was located adjacent to the main dining hall. The commander judged that it could comfortably sit up to a hundred and fifty people. At present, there were about seventy brothers and sisters. Add the clones and the number went up towards eight-five.

Cody had seen the main room upon entering, and while it could not compare with the mess halls on Kamino, it was sizeable and almost completely full. It made him feel a flash of nostalgia, even though the Monastica dining hall had more of a festival house feel to it, whereas Kamino's eating areas were purely functional.

Cody had been somewhat taken aback by the jubilee atmosphere of the main hall. He'd imagined that meals in a religious community would be solemn, orderly and . . . pious? Was that the word? Holy? Reverential? At least, a serious business.

But as he'd passed by the hall, he'd seen a spirit of celebration, fellowship, and laughter. He'd also noted that the hall's occupants were not only brothers and sisters but apparently layman as well, young boys and girls who looked to be teenagers, and even small children.

Only just before the meal was served was there a moment of quiet recollection followed by a prayer of thanksgiving. Cody and his brothers were respectful of the custom and stood along with everyone else during its recitation. When the prayer was over, the food was served immediately.

Cody glanced at the tables where his brothers were intermingled with their hosts. He noticed that Jesse, Hardcase and Pitch were not present; but he hadn't expected them to be. Much to his surprise, however, Fives was there, sitting with Sempe and DB, being personable and even chatty. Cody mused that Rex would be happy to know that his latest recruit was finally expanding his circle of interest and making an effort to engage with others beyond Echo.

The commander himself was seated at a table with the Doma; Fels Au-Mikiel—the head of the Austeniens; his secretary general, Fels Au-Gehen; the Doma's personal assistant, Nova Merika, Nova being a rank among the sisters; and another sister, Nova So'nodor, whom Cody would learn was in charge of the school for the Resident children. Cody hadn't even known there was a school. And filling out the circular table was Three Point, whom Cody was sure would make a good impression: he always did, when he wasn't asking question after question.

Right away, the commander was struck with the presence of Au-Mikiel.

He had imagined the head of the Austeniens would be an older man, placid and mild. In fact, Au-Mikiel looked quite young, perhaps in his forties, extraordinarily attractive, almost to the point where he could be called beautiful. He had a demeanor that was jovial and engaging. No sooner had the opening prayer concluded and everyone taken their seats than the First Servant turned warmly to the commander.

"You must be Commander Cody. I'm glad to finally meet you," he said with a broad smile. "I usually would have come to you sooner, but I had a group of brothers from one of the remote houses here for specialty learning, and that needed the whole of my attention." He, too, had the informal speech of a man for whom Basic was a familiar language. "And I knew the Doma would see to your needs. She takes care of all of us." With this last utterance, he turned his gaze towards the Doma, and Cody could not miss the fondness in his gaze or the affection in his voice.

"She's been very gracious and helpful," Cody replied, "As have all the brothers and sisters. We were lucky you found us."

From beside Au-Mikiel, Fels Au-Gehen spoke. "Luck is a myth. We found you because the Creator intended it. Only the reason has yet to be made manifest." His manner, while somewhat stiff, displayed enough easiness that Cody imagined the man was extremely well-educated and knowledgeable but was making a concerted effort to not lapse into the comfortable speech of contractions and lingo. He wanted to maintain his formality.

"Whatever the reason, we're grateful nonetheless," Cody replied.

"Gratitude well-founded, for the Sandheim is very unforgiving to inexperienced travelers," Nova Merika put forth. She added with a grin, "Although I'm sure none of you could be called inexperienced. But given the circumstances of your presence on our planet, it is a miracle any of you survived at all."

Au-Mikiel concurred. "Au-Ogusta said none of your men was killed in the crash or in your wanderings. That's a reflection of your leadership, Commander."

"And Three Point's ability to pilot a falling rock," Cody replied, nodding towards his pilot.

"I can't imagine what kind of nerves it takes to know you have so many lives depending on you and still manage to land safely," Au-Mikiel said in admiring wonder.

"I don't know if I'd call it a safe landing," Three Point said with a funny sort of humility which the pilot rarely displayed. "It was a crash landing, and we did have some serious injuries. The ship was torn in half. Things could have easily been much worse."

"Indeed," the Doma agreed. "They were shot down by Separatists. Their ship could have been blown to pieces and all of them killed outright."

Cody was mortified. He hadn't imagined the Doma would tell the others about the truth of the clones' presence and the associated danger of harboring them. He watched to see the reactions.

Au-Gehen's response was perhaps a bit troublesome. "Well! It's a good thing you weren't all killed. But do the Separatists know where you are?"

"We don't know," Cody answered truthfully.

"But he believes the Separatists are looking for him and his men," Doma Maree explained. "It is our duty to protect them."

"Absolutely," Au-Mikiel agreed.

"I mean no disrespect, First Servants, but is that not putting the Monastica in danger?" This from Sister So'Nodor.

"Certainly, it is an added risk," the Doma replied. "But one that our code demands we follow. We cannot decide only to undertake those aspects of our religion that we find comfortable and without the possibility of adversity. These men need our help, and if we are to be true Verviens and true Austeniens, then we will not consider the risk to ourselves as a reason to deny help." She spoke in a gentle, purely expositionary manner with no hint of accusation or lecture.

"Of course, we would not deny them help. But we should have plans in place in the event the Separatists track them to this location," Au-Gehen said thoughtfully.

"I agree," Doma Maree concurred. "And we shall discuss it after night prayer. Meals are meant for thanksgiving and fellowship."

"Exactly so," Au-Mikiel said with enthusiasm. "Besides, I have so many questions I would like to ask you, Commander. I hope you understand that you and your fellow clones are quite the novelty here."

Cody gave an amused harrumph. "I don't think I've ever heard us referred to as a novelty. Three million identical men doesn't strike most people as unique."

"You're hardly identical," Maree differed. "You may be genetically the same, but you have very different personalities."

Three Point spoke up. "That's what the Jedi say. I have a good friend in another unit who was stranded on a planet with Master Yoda and two other troopers. It was just the four of them against an entire battalion of battle droids. They were hiding out in a cave, taking a rest, and Master Yoda told them that even though they were clones, in the Force, they were all different. I admit, I don't understand the Force at all, but I was . . . it meant something to me to hear that he'd said that."

"I've heard of Master Yoda," the Nova replied. "I would love to meet him someday. He must be very wise. The reason you are all different in the Force is because the soul is not genetic, it's not material."

"Oh no, here we go. I didn't want to get into this kind of discussion. Anybody but Three Point. I should never have had him sit at this table," Cody groaned internally.

"I like that idea," Three Point said. "I don't really know what it means, but I like the idea that I have something different from all my other brothers and they have something different from me. If that's a soul, then I like it."

"That's not the only thing you have that's different from the others, though," Au-Mikiel pointed out. "Your experiences are different. No one shares the same experience from the same viewpoint."

Three Point appeared pleased with this answer. "Are you sure you're not Jedi?" he grinned.

Doma Maree laughed. "Quite sure. None of us has the ability to manipulate the Force in way the Jedi do. Theirs is a separate and special calling."

"I think what you do is a special calling, too," Three Point said. "Saving lives is important. Maybe most important."

Across the table, Cody breathed his relief. Three Point was being conversational without being controversial – which was more than the commander had expected from his inquisitive pilot. Looking around at the other tables, he saw the rest of his men engaged and enjoying themselves. Their hosts appeared to hang on their every word in much the same way as what Cody had observed in Echo's room. There was an attentiveness that Cody knew very few of his brothers had ever experienced.

It was pleasant.

And it gave Cody greater confidence that he could be assured all would go well between his men and the religious orders once he had left on his mission to Heembab. For go, he must. He only hoped one of the speeders could be brought to use.

In fact, as soon as the meal was over, he announced that he was taking Tip, Zinger, and Three Point back to the stables to work on the speeders again. The Doma offered the assistance of several of the more mechanically inclined brothers, as well.

Opening the door to the outside, Cody was surprised to see that the sandstorm had passed while they were eating, and he'd not had the slightest idea. Already, dozens of men and women were out sweeping and shoveling the sand to clear the pathways. It amazed Cody at how ingeniously designed the Monastica was, in that the trees and the buildings were so aligned as to prevent the blowing sand from overrunning and damaging many of the crops.

But then, perhaps he shouldn't have been amazed. Hundreds—perhaps, thousands—of years of desert dwelling had certainly given the Verviens and the Austeniens plenty of knowledge in combatting the elements.

Cody knew he was going to need that expertise if he were ever to get to Heembab.

"Eh, this is blown, Commander," Zinger grumped in exasperation, tossing a grease rag over the open hood of the speeder he'd been working on. "There's no way. The parts of so corroded, and they have no replacement parts here. There's nothing that can be used as a substitute."

"I'm afraid he's right." This from one of the brothers, Au-Rafel, whose specialty was the construction of sophisticated medical devices, but who had a bit of the engineer in him; and thus, he'd spent the past two hours hunched over the speeder, working with Zinger to try and coax life into something that was deader than dead.

Cody hid his disappointment well. "What about the other one?"

Tip, standing beside a frustrated Three Point, looked up, shaking his head. "No go, Commander."

As much as he hated to admit defeat, Cody knew that the time had come to make a decision.

"It looks like we're going to have to go by Shempa. Au-Rafel, can you get word to Au-Ogusta? I'd like to leave as soon as possible," he announced.

"Of course—" Au-Rafel began to reply, but then Au-Ogusta's voice came from the stable entrance.

"I am here." He strode to stand beside Cody. "I am sorry we could not make the speeders work. But I will arrange for the Shempa and a guide. How many of you will go?"

"Just me, Three Point and Moog," Cody replied.

Au-Ogusta inclined his head in acknowledgment. "I will prepare everything, but I think you will have to wait until tomorrow evening. It is at least seven days journeying through a very hostile part of the Sandheim. The Swaig Flats are treacherous, and you must be prepared. And it will take some time to load the Shempa."

"Tomorrow evening is fine," Cody agreed.

"What are the Swaig Flats?" Three Point asked.

"They are a part of the Sandheim that is closer to the desert's edge. They have sinking sand and swarming flies. Giant desert serpicos make their nests beneath the surface. You must have a knowledgeable guide to get through safely," Au-Ogusta explained.

"Oh, well, now that sounds like as much fun as listening to Echo recite regulations," Three Point quipped.

"Moog will be thrilled," Tip deadpanned.

"It has to be done, and I want to be ready for it," Cody stated, then to Au-Ogusta. "So, if we need some time to make sure we have everything, that's fine. Tomorrow evening, then." To his men, "Let's head back to the quarters."

As they left the stables and began walking back along the tree-lined main way, Tip leaned over to Zinger and Three Point and said in a low voice. "Captain Rex is going to be fit to be tied when he hears what he's missing."

Zinger grinned knowingly. "Quicksand, flies, whatever the hell a serpico is . . . yeah, he's not going to be happy to be cut out of that kind of action."

From up ahead of them, Cody spoke. "And he doesn't need to know about any of it."

The three junior officers were struck with their own carelessness. How could they forget that their commander seemed to have an ear for everything spoken in hushed tones. It was as if Cody had some kind of innate listening device in his head, and it focused like a laser on the very things meant to evade it.

When none of his men responded, Cody stopped and faced them. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Commander," all three replied in unison.

"All he needs to know is that me, Moog, and you—" referring to Three Point, "—are heading out tomorrow to Heembab and that we're going by Shempa. Anything else, I'll tell him. If he thinks any of us are in danger, he'll be—riding one of those Losla things out there by himself, trying to find us. And he's in no condition for it. So, keep the details to yourselves."

"Yes, Commander."

As they resumed walking, Cody's mind was already working. "How am I going to do this? How am I going to convince him that he needs to stay behind?"

These were the sorts of moment that made Cody wonder how he'd ever become such good friends with someone so diametrically opposed to him.

The fleeting thought crossed his mind that, of all the things he had gained from ARC school, his friendship with Rex was what he most valued the most.

That was what made meetings like the one he was about to undertake so difficult.

So, when he split off from the others to go to the healing rooms, it was with the fervent hope that Rex was asleep. It would be much easier to tell him in the morning after both of them had had a good night's rest.

But Cody's conscience would not allow it. If Rex were awake, he needed to know now. As second-in-command, soon to be first-in-command, of the team, he had to know the decisions that were being made; and he deserved to have a say in them – as far as could be reasonably expected, given Rex's temperament. He seemed to grow more like General Skywalker every day.

As he approached the room, he was encouraged to see the doorway was dark; but coming to the threshold, he saw Rex sitting up in bed, going over something on his data pad, the green light of the screen giving a sickly illumination to his face.

"I can't believe you're still awake," Cody rebuked him, stepping inside. "Don't you think you should be trying to get some sleep?"

"I could say the same to you," Rex replied game. He didn't appear even remotely tired.

"You could, but I'm not the one recovering from some pretty serious injuries," Cody pointed out. He moved over to stand beside the bed. "What are you looking at?"

"Pieces of the information we downloaded from the consoles," Rex replied. "It's all . . . it's like Moog said: part of it is encrypted with a code we've already cracked. Part of it is in a new code. But why would it be stored on a console on a planet like Pylotta? The Separatists hadn't even finished building their base there, so why would these consoles be full of data?"

"Pitch and Fives said there were people in the command post," Cody replied. "It may have already been an active listening post, even if the space port was incomplete."

"That's true," Rex agreed. "It just seems so out of the way. It makes me wonder if the Seppies have something else going on in another part of that system that we don't know about."

"Well, there's not much there," Cody said. "UP-12, the moons of Deleron, Abafar . . . I'm not sure what else."

"Take a look at this. There are images in these files. If we can decrypt them, maybe that'll give us an idea what this all about."

This was just the opening Cody was looking for. "That sounds a good thing for you to do over the next few days while you're here recovering."

Unfortunately for Cody, it went right over Rex's head.

"It would be good if we'd managed to figure out at least some of it by the time the fleet picks us up," Rex noted.

Another opening. This time the commander would be more direct.

"Speaking of which, I'm heading out tomorrow to Heembab with Three Point and Moog."

Rex regarded him with a remarkably neutral expression. "And you want me to stay here," he supposed.

"Yes, I do. I need someone to be in charge of the rest of them," Cody replied.

"Jesse can do that," Rex countered evenly.

"Jesse's a little preoccupied; you know that. Look, Rex, we weren't able to fix any speeders, so we have to go by Shempa. While I'm sure you could manage, I think it would be better for everyone if you stay here, give yourself some time to heal, and keep an eye on our lads. You can put them to work on decrypting those files." Cody threw out one final sway. "It's seven days of more sand and heat. Believe me, you won't be missing anything."

"Do I have a choice?"

"Actually, no."

After a brief, thoughtful silence, Rex conceded. "Okay. I'll stay here."

"Wait a minute. That was too easy," Cody thought. He narrowed his eyes. "That, uh, was a quick agreement. What have you got up your sleeve?"

Rex raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to argue with you? I can do that, too."

Cody held up his hands. "No, no. I just don't want any surprises."

"No surprises," Rex assured him. "I'll stay here. But—"

Cody braced himself. Here came the condition.

"—I'm not staying one more day in this bed. I feel good enough to get up and move around."

"Take that up with the healers," Cody backed off. "I'm not about to get in the middle of that."

"That's right, because you won't be here."

"Too smart for his own damned good," Cody thought ruefully, but he let it slide. "I'll be back tomorrow before we go. We aren't leaving until the evening." A pause. "Doma Maree is giving us a tour in the morning."

"A tour?" Rex's voice was only slightly mocking. "We're not on vacation, you know."

"You need a vacation," Cody swatted back. "I'll see you tomorrow."

The morning was still fairly cool when Doma Maree arrived at the Seiba Tops to take the clones on her promised tour.

Even though he knew he would not be there to enjoy whatever she was going to show them, Cody still went with them out of courtesy and curiosity. And he made sure Moog and Three Point also went.

As it turned out, Cody was glad of his decision, for it was hardly a dull thing.

Beyond the ellipse where the Seiba Tops were located and separated by at least a half kilometer of cultivated desert trees, were the two main residences, one for the Verviens, the other for the Austeniens. They stood on opposite sides of a broad, tree-lined walkway with sparsely planted gardens between the lines of trees and the structures. They were single story but built as squares within squares, each with a cloister walk bounded by elegant archways.

Heading north past these residences, they came to a series of four buildings, each resembling the structure of the healing houses. Doma Maree explained that there were the wayward homes.

"There are men and women who, for whatever reason, need a . . . respite, a sanctuary away from society. Abused or abandoned women and children. Men who simply need a quiet place to regain their equanimity. Others who have been shunned by the rest of the world. We have places for them in our remote houses in every location where we operate. But for many, the tranquility and healing they seek can only be found here. These are where they stay." A pause. "And that large building just beyond: that's our school. We have a great number of children here. They need education."

"Do, uh, do the brothers and sisters marry and have children?" Three Point asked.

"No," the Doma replied. "We are celibate."

"So, you don't form attachments, just like the Jedi." This from Sempe.

"Ah, that is where we differ very much from the Jedi," she replied. "We are called to love and care for others with a great deal of attachment. We must only be cautious not to become more attached to any person or thing than to the Creator. Celibacy is our discipline, but it does not prevent us from loving and forming attachments."

As they drew near the school, a group of ten or twelve girls, perhaps six or seven years old, who had been getting some kind of lesson in a small plot of garden, under the tutelage of a young, plump, and pretty-faced sister, all stopped what they were doing and came scurrying over to the frail fence around the plot.

"Doma! Doma!" they called out excitedly.

The Doma approached them and held her hands out over the fence. The girls all reached out to touch her. They jabbered in a language the clones could not understand.

After a few seconds, Doma Maree quieted them with a motion. In Basic, she said, "Children, can you say hello to our guests?"

The cacophony of greeting that followed was much louder than seemed possible for such small bodies to make. But it was sweet and charming, and the girls were clearly fascinated into wide-eyed wonderment.

"These are soldiers of the Grand Army of the Republic, our protectors," the Doma told the children. "They are visiting for a short time before returning to the war."

As she spoke, more children, boys and girls, began to gravitate to the area.

Sixer looked at Bounce with mirth. "Looks like word's out that off-worlders are here."

Bounce whispered back. "Are we about to get mobbed by little kids? Battle droids I can handle, but kids?"

Cody noticed one little girl who hung back from the group. She wore the same plain school frock of peach color with a bow just slightly darker around the waist. At first, Cody thought she must be shy, intimidated by the sight of so many grown men of similar appearance, some of them perhaps a bit threatening with their tattoos and bizarre haircuts. But then, as the girl turned to reveal more of her face, Cody saw right away what must be holding her back.

One side of her face was disfigured. It looked fallen or like melted wax from a candle. There was no smile on that face, no laughter, no excitement.

Cody wasn't a man who dwelled in sadness. He wasn't even sure he'd ever really experienced the emotion. But he felt something, looking at this girl, that just might be sadness.

"Yusani! Come to me!"

Cody turned at the sound of the Doma's voice and was stunned when he saw her hike up her frock and step over the little fence in an ungraceful and inelegant manner. She crouched down and held out her arms.

The little girl, Yusani, whose face had seemed incapable of smiling, now broke into a happy, ugly one-sided grin, and she came running to the Doma's embrace.

"Have you planted something today?" the Doma asked.

Yusani nodded, but her eyes darted bashfully between the Doma and the clones.

"What have you planted?"

The girl shoved one dirty little hand into her pocket and pulled out some seeds. She held them in her open palm.

"Drakefruis! Mmm! When they are grown, will you share them with me?"

Yusani nodded.

"Do you want to say hello to our friends?" the Doma asked, standing up and bringing the girl with her.

There was no greeting, only a curious, scrutinizing stare. Then Yusani looked back at the Doma, said something in her own language, chortled, and hid her face in the Doma's neck.

Maree smiled. "She says hello. She's a little bit shy."

She put the girl back down, kissed her fallen cheek, and climbed back over the fence. She continued walking, and the clones followed her.

Cody sidled up beside her. "That little girl. What happened to her?"

"Nothing happened to her. She was born that way," Maree replied.

Cody was taken aback. "Didn't her parents know she would be like that?"

"I have no idea. She was abandoned on the doorstep of one of our remote houses in Kratta-Isp. We brought her here where she could be away from mean stares and meaner words," the Doma explained. "When she's a bit older, if she desires, we can undertake surgery to correct her deformity. Though, to me, she is perfect as she is."

"I just—I can't believe she's—I mean, I can't—on Kamino, anyone with that kind of deformity would be terminated. There were a few that were . . . mishaps early on, and they were allowed to live. But now, they would terminate them before viability," Cody said.

"You will forgive me for saying so, but that is despicable, Commander," the Doma said. "A living being's value isn't determined by how useful it is or whether or not it is wanted by someone else. The value is intrinsic." She did not sound angry. Rather, there was a tenor in her voice that made Cody hold onto her words and consider them. She continued. "If one of your brothers was to be injured so badly that he could no longer contribute to the fight, would you decide that his usefulness had come to an end?"

"Well, that wouldn't be my decision."

"Would it be your belief?"

Cody hesitated. "I don't know," he finally answered honestly.

The Doma looked at him in such a way that he actually felt uncomfortable. "I think you do know. And I think you wouldn't so easily dismiss the value of life if it was someone you cared for." She paused. "It's learning to value the lives of those you don't care for that's the harder part."

"I guess I've never really thought about it," Cody replied.

"It's worth a thought, isn't it?" She looked ahead as they passed the school and entered the lush oasis of the run of the springs. "I believe your friend, the captain, thinks about it often."

"I think you're right. He's much more emotional than I am. He's just good at hiding it . . . well, sometimes."

"I wasn't talking about emotion," the Doma corrected. "I was talking about how much he values the lives of his men."

Cody wasn't sure what to say, so he remained silent; and the Doma let the conversation lay where it had fallen.

The path through the oasis was overgrown with palm-like Gifta trees, hung with vines and fruit. The stream up at this end, near the main spring source, was deep and flowing, warm where it sprang from the ground and cool running between the pools.

Doma Maree led them up a slight incline to a rocky ledge two meters above a wide, deep pool of water. On the opposite side, a bush-covered plateau overlooked the pool below.

"This is one of the bathing pools," the Doma announced. "Though it's not used for bathing. It's a nice, private place to come when you want to cool off. You are welcome to use it."

Cody felt all eyes on him instantly. Before he could say a word, Zinger was already petitioning.

"Commander? Would it be alright?"

The others joined in, begging, pleading, cajoling.

"Don't ask me," Cody deferred. "I'm leaving this evening. If you want to go for a swim, you'll have to ask Rex."

"No problem," Sixer said with surety, and Sempe seconded him.

Cody grinned. "You know best. He's your captain."

**Little shout-out to the "Ambush" episode. Believe it or not, I use the scene in the cave to teach my Confirmation class about the gifts of the Holy Spirit! Everyone loves Yoda!