CHAPTER 4

Ashara sat in the dimly lit Temple gardens, a quiet spot nestled among the trees where the gentle hum of Coruscant's never-ending traffic was just a faint backdrop. The midday sun filtered through the leaves, casting soft patterns of light and shadow on the ground. She was grateful for the respite, a moment away from the constant training, away from the battles that loomed on the horizon. Here, she could just breathe.

Her two friends, Nia and Zorin, sat with her, enjoying a rare break from their rigorous Padawan schedules. Nia was a tall, slender Togruta with red skin and white facial markings, her eyes always full of curiosity and mischief. Zorin, the Padawan of Master Windu, was more reserved, his dark eyes sharp, and his demeanor often serious, as if always carrying the weight of his Master's teachings.

The conversation had been light at first, just the sort of easy banter they often engaged in when they managed to steal a few moments together. Nia was recounting a tale of her latest training mishap, her montrals twitching with amusement as she spoke.

"And then, of course, the training droid swung low when I wasn't ready, and I ended up flat on my back! Master Tiin didn't even blink—just stood there with that look, you know the one—like he expected it all along!"

Ashara chuckled, shaking her head. "I don't know how you manage to survive your lessons with him. He's relentless."

"I think he takes joy in watching me struggle," Nia replied, her tone playful. "But I'll show him. Next time I'll block every strike, just wait."

Zorin smirked, crossing his arms. "I'd like to see that."

Nia waved him off, grinning. "Oh, shut up, Zorin. Not all of us are molded in Master Windu's image."

Zorin raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Well, maybe you'd survive a bit better if you tried."

Their laughter echoed briefly in the quiet garden, a moment of normalcy in their lives as Padawans, always under pressure, always learning. But then the conversation took a different turn, one that Ashara hadn't anticipated.

"So," Zorin began, leaning back against the trunk of a nearby tree. "Speaking of survival… have either of you noticed how… strange it is to fight alongside the clones?"

Ashara stiffened slightly, the ease she had felt moments ago slipping away. She glanced at Zorin, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean, 'strange'?"

Zorin shrugged, his tone calm, but with an edge that put Ashara on guard. "Just that… I'm not sure I trust them. The clones, I mean. They're effective, sure, but… they were bred for war, created in a lab like droids. They follow orders without question, like machines. You don't think that's… dangerous?"

Nia tilted her head, considering. "Well, they're not exactly like droids, are they? They have personalities, at least. More autonomy, like you said."

"But not that much," Zorin countered, his gaze sharpening. "Not where it matters. They're programmed to obey without hesitation. What happens if one day they're given an order that conflicts with what we, as Jedi, stand for? Would they question it?"

Ashara's jaw tightened. "They're not droids," she said quietly, but with a firmness that made both her friends glance her way.

"Of course not," Nia said quickly, sensing the tension in Ashara's voice. "But… Zorin has a point. I mean, they're made for combat, nothing else. They're not like us. They don't have the same freedom we do."

"Exactly," Zorin added, his voice calm but insistent. "It's like Master Windu says: we have to be cautious. Just because they're on our side now doesn't mean we can forget what they are. Tools of war. Weapons. They don't think about the consequences the way we do."

Ashara felt a flash of irritation rise in her chest. She clenched her hands in her lap, trying to keep her voice steady. "That's not true. They do think. They care. They're not just machines following orders—they're people. They have dreams, hopes…"

Zorin's eyebrows shot up, clearly taken aback by the passion in her voice. "Dreams? Ashara, they were bred in tubes on Kamino. They don't have families, or a life outside of this war. What kind of dreams could they possibly have?"

Ashara looked away, her heart beating a little faster than she liked. Cannon's face flickered in her mind—the quiet conversations they'd shared, the way his voice had softened when he spoke about his brothers, about what he wanted beyond the war. How his eyes had held a flicker of something more when he had told her, in the quiet of the med bay, that he wished for a life that didn't revolve around endless battles. A life with meaning, with love.

"Just because they were created for war doesn't mean they can't want more," Ashara said quietly, her voice tense. "They deserve more. They deserve a chance to live after this is all over."

Zorin scoffed, shaking his head. "Ashara, you're too idealistic. You're seeing something that isn't there. These clones—they're weapons, nothing more. They'll do what they're told, and when the war ends, they'll fade into obscurity like any other tool no longer needed."

Ashara's hands balled into fists. She opened her mouth to argue, but Nia cut in, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Alright, alright," Nia said, waving a hand between them. "No need to get all riled up. Zorin's just being his usual stubborn self." She shot him a playful glance, but her tone was serious. "Ashara's not wrong. The clones do have personalities. They joke around, they have camaraderie, they care about each other. They're not just… soulless soldiers. I've seen it."

Zorin frowned, but didn't respond immediately, letting Nia's words settle. "Fine," he muttered after a moment, though he still sounded unconvinced. "But they're not like us, Ashara. You have to see that. They follow orders because they're designed to. It's in their DNA. If you get too attached, you'll only end up hurt."

Ashara felt the sting of his words, but she held her ground. "I'm not attached. I just…" She trailed off, unsure how to explain the knot of feelings that had tangled inside her since she had met Cannon. The truth was, she was attached. She knew it, even if she didn't want to admit it. But it wasn't wrong to care, was it?

Zorin's dark eyes softened slightly as he regarded her, the sharpness fading from his expression. "I just don't want you getting hurt, Ashara," he said quietly. "You know as well as I do that Jedi can't afford attachments. It clouds our judgment."

Ashara looked away, biting the inside of her cheek. She knew the rules. She knew the Code. Attachments were forbidden for a reason. But the more time she spent with Cannon, the harder it was to see him as just another clone, just another soldier in the war. He was more than that. He was human—brave, loyal, and kind in ways she hadn't expected.

"I know," she said finally, her voice softer now. "But they deserve our respect. They're not just tools, Zorin. They're people."

Zorin studied her for a long moment before nodding, though she could tell he still didn't fully agree. "Just be careful, Ashara," he said, standing and adjusting his robes. "We have enough on our plates without adding complications."

Ashara watched him leave, her mind spinning with the weight of the conversation. Nia stayed behind, her eyes flickering between Ashara and Zorin's retreating figure.

"He doesn't mean to sound harsh," Nia said softly, offering a sympathetic smile. "It's just… we all have to stay focused. It's easy to get lost in these kinds of feelings, especially with the clones."

Ashara nodded, though her heart wasn't in it. "I know."

But as much as she tried to push it aside, the image of Cannon lingered in her mind. The connection they had felt real, more real than anything she had experienced with anyone else. Could she truly ignore that? Could she just walk away, pretend like there wasn't something deeper between them?

As Nia rose to leave, Ashara remained sitting in the garden, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. She knew the dangers of attachments, the risks they posed to a Jedi. But despite everything she had been taught, despite the warnings from Zorin, there was a truth she couldn't deny.

She cared about him.

And the thought terrified her.