Alternate Start (ARCHIVE)

Chapter Twelve: Shore Leave

"Theya!"

Hardcase shouts as he charges into the diner. The dark skinned woman hurtled herself over the counter and dropped to her feet, opening her arms to catch the incoming trooper. They shared a tight hug, breaking it off after a few moments. She lightly punched his arm with a huge grin on her face.

"Hardcase! Good to see you still in one piece!" She patted one of the stools, "Come on in, have a seat. Judging by the blond hair and the sparkles, you two must be Captain Rex and Commander Sparkler. Your reputations precede you."

Sparkler and Rex both took seats next to Hardcase, who drummed his fingers against the counter, "So Theya, any updates on your current situation?" He was clearly prodding for something. Theya sighs, "Didn't work this time 'Case."

Hardcase let out a groan and ran a hand across his clean shaven head. "Damn, guess all we can do is keep trying. The hell did the Kaminoans do to you anyway?"

Rex choked on the water Theya had given him. "Sorry what?"

Theya sighs, "My dad paid the Kaminoans to clone my mom, and ended up with me. He pretended for years that I was his kid and never bothered to tell me that my real mom was my decanting jar." She handed them their menus, "So I moved to Coruscant after I found out, opened this place up. When I met Hardcase and learned where you guys came from it wasn't hard to forge a bond."

Sparkler nodded, "Okay. But what are you guys trying to do exactly?" "Ooooh... I dunno if I can tell you that. Given that it's Hardcase it's kind of illegal anyway."

Rex and Sparkler's attention was squarely on Theya. She and Hardcase were having a silent conversation, before she finally sighed, "I guess I can tell you. I wanted a kid. Hardcase offered to uh... assist. That's about the long and short of it."

Rex slowly turned to face Hardcase. "You find another clone from Kamino. Who is far older than us. And your first instinct. Is to help her have a kid?" He says, putting a long stop between every few words. Hardcase stared for a moment, then slowly shrugged, "It was an impulse decision sir."

Rex sighs. "I'll be right back."

Rexster: HARDCASE FOUND A CLONE WHO ISN'T ONE OF THE VODE
Rexster: AND HE APPARENTLY HAS TAKEN IT UPON HIMSELF TO HELP HER HAVE A KID

Kote but a little to the left: HAHAHAAAA THATS NOT MY PROBLEM REX'IKA

"Gods damnit Cody." He grumbled, stepping back inside. He sighs, "Know what Hardcase? This is your circus and your monkey-lizards. If shit goes sideways, I'm not helping you fake your death." Hardcase gained a smile knowing he wouldn't be reprimanded, "Thanks Captain."

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Kaar threw back his head and laughed, long and deeply, as he read the message Sparkler had forwarded from Rex. He was on his way back from Kalee with Tolna, a new marking emblazoned over his heart. An intricate shield.

Sunna.

Protector.

Tolna had a new marking emblazoned on her chest as well.

Sellei.

Speaker.

He noticed the guards they had brought with them looking at him. He smiled a little, "Apologies, my commander sent me something." He wasn't unaware of the blush adorning the shiny's cheeks, or of the blush adorning Thire's whole face. Kaar still had no clue why troopers kept reacting like that.

He thought for a moment about that time Droidbait had suddenly needed to go to the medbay.

They never did get to spar.

"Oh that's an idea... Maybe I should ask Droidbait to spar when I get back."

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"So this is why you haven't been answering my comms."

Fives looked up as Echo took a seat at the table. He eyed one of the shots sitting in front of Fives, who narrowed his eyes and put his arm in front of the shots protectively. "Get your own shots Echo."

"You six are going to kill your livers y'know." Kix hummed, sipping some kind of fruity drink. "Eh, what'd be better? Dying of alcohol poisoning or a GAR retirement plan?" Hardcase shrugged, knocking back another shot.

"So is the Captain gonna narc you about Theya?" Kix asked, raising an eyebrow. Hardcase shook his head, "Nah, he said he didn't care. Oh yeah, on the status of that, operation donor is still in stage one." Kix set his drink down, tilting his head slightly, "Still? Is she sure the Kaminoans didn't make her infertile or something on accident?"

Hevy choked on his drink, lightly hitting his fist against his sternum as he recovered for a moment from the burn of alcohol going down the wrong pipe. "Hardcase is getting laid? You lucky son of a bitch." He lightly elbowed Hardcase in the ribs, who grinned, "Yeah. She's the best. Not one of us but she still came from one of Kamino's decanting vats. She owns a diner called 77's."

Cutup choked on his drink next when he heard the name of the diner, while his batchmates just started laughing at him. Echo finally knocked one back, and his somewhat drunk brothers cheered as he joined the chaos.

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Rex was sitting with Cody and Sparkler at the bar when Fox joined them. Sparkler was sharing a holo of his general's new marking. The group of commanders ignored the cheers from Domino, Hardcase, and Kix, instead focusing on Fox.

Fox pinches his nose, hopping up onto a stool next to Cody, "Alright what are you idiots talking about now?" Sparkler turned the image so Fox could see it.

((Kaar and Tolna's new marks))

Fox leaned closer, looking pleasantly surprised. "Wow, those are actually really nice." He nodded to the bartender who handed him his usual. He swirled the fruity drink before he took a sip. "Remind me that if I ever want another tattoo to consult your general Spar'ika."

He glanced between his brothers faces and the glasses, raising an eyebrow, "Vod'ike, how many drinks have you guys had?"

They all simultaneously turned their heads to look at him and say, "Not enough."

•—END OF CHAPTER—•