Alternate Start (ARCHIVE)

Chapter Nine: Return

Kaar felt exhausted. The campaign had ended with the 327th swapping out for the 104th. The droids had been driven from Kalee, and a Republic outpost was being set up. The 201st was headed back to Coruscant, bringing with them three force sensitive orphans, an admiral candidate, and the new Senator of Kalee.

Being on The Mumuu again felt like heaven, however much Kaar loved his homeworld, two months was just too much with all the chaos. He couldn't help a yawn, noticing a couple of flinches from troopers who had never seen his teeth before. Fives chuckled a little. "I feel you there sir."

"Mhm." Kaar mumbled, "Can you boys wait to paint until we all get back up? I think we all need a sleep cycle after Bones checks us."

The clones in the hangar who heard him nodded. Most were either trudging towards the showers or the bunks. Kaar shared the sentiment. He could write his report later, the council can wait.

He haphazardly stripped off his tunics and leggings once he was in his quarters, flopping face first onto his bed, which felt ridiculously comfortable after sleeping in dirt, sand, and trees for the past two months.

He didn't resist at all at the warm embrace of sleep.

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Desnuri slipped out of bed, the three year old youngling made her way across the hall. It was well into the sleep cycle, but she had a nightmare and wanted to be near Fives. Some clones rolled over to look and see who walked in, but rolled back over when they saw who it was.

She pulled herself up onto Fives' bunk, putting her little hands on his chest and lightly shaking him. "Fives."

He grumbled a bit, so she shook him again. He opened his eyes and sat up, "Des'ika, it's late. Go back to sleep." Desnuri shook her head, looking like she might cry. "Nightmare..."

He sighs, scooting over and patting the space next to him. Desnuri snuggled up next to him, closing her eyes sleepily, comforted by the buzz of his energy in the Force.

She yawned, relaxing into his hold.

Slowly, the youngling fell asleep.

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Droidbait was kind of aware of the general watching him and his brothers paint their armor. It unsettled him less when Cloak told him that the general usually hangs around since he gets bored in the gym by himself. It made sense he supposed.

He looked at the reference picture on his datapad. Droidbait was being slow and meticulous about how he painted the mumuu markings onto his armor. He also had his mask and the red paint the general had unceremoniously handed him while saying something about Droidbait earning the color red for his bravery in killing the thing.

He glanced over at Fives as he heard a giggle. Droidbait watched his brother put a streak of blue paint across the youngling's cheek, and it appeared that she had done the same to Fives. Cutup peered over and chuckled when he noticed. "You're doing her markings?"

Fives nodded confidently, "It's been a formative experience for me. I think I've gotten attached to the little biter." Echo scoffed, "I would certainly hope so. She's bitten everyone who isn't you or me."