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Chapter Thirty Three: Duties

"Thank you again for turning them into my custody, Commander."

Sparkler spoke as though he and Fox weren't brothers, as if they had no history at all. Wearing this beskar, the fur cloak, the darksaber at his belt, it was all slightly intoxicating. No one looked at him in disgust, but every trooper knew who was under this helmet. Word had spread through the GAR like wildfire, even to shinies and cadets on Kamino word had spread.

Word had spread that one of their own was Mand'alor.

It brought hope, to troopers who had none left, to troopers who had even been considering drastic actions.

He stepped into the room, where both of the two sat scowling. Fox sighed, crossing his arms. "I had to pull a lot of strings for that one," he gestured at the older one, then sighed, "Not so much for Boba."

Word, as far as he knew, hadn't reached those in prison.

Sparkler nodded to Fox. "Thank you Commander." He was thankful that Kaar had taught him to shift his accent. Fox let in the two mandalorians that followed Sparkler, then closed the door.

Sparkler removed his helmet as the cameras were turned off, giving a smirk at the man in front of him.

"How's it going Slick?"

"You... You're a clone." Slick said, like it wasn't the most obvious thing in the galaxy.

"What else is new?" Sparkler chuckled, waving a hand for Ouranos to unlock Boba and Slick's cuffs. "I'm Commander Sparkler, but I have a different name so I don't get decommissioned. As far as anyone who isn't a clone or a Jedi is concerned, I'm Dral Sunna."

He turned to face Boba, "And I've heard all about you, Ve'vut Ad'ika. Now, you have two options. You cooperate and I don't manhandle you, or you fight me and I have to carry you out of here by your ankles. Either way vod'ika, you're in my custody."

Boba stared quietly, glared for a moment, then let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. If only to get off this Gods forsaken dustball."

"Wise choice."

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Droidbait furrowed his eyebrows as he looked into the 'fresher mirror. He trailed his fingers along the angry red scar, it's marbled edges cut a trail through his dark skin. The report he'd read informed him that by getting himself injured, he'd saved Commander Cahlay's life by giving Kaar enough time to save her.

And yet.

And yet...

He still couldn't get around the fact that he had still technically failed. He was meant to keep the young commander safe. A blaster bolt to the stomach and almost being dropped to her death? That wasn't safe.

That wasn't safe by a long shot.

The last thing he really remembered was being awake for a moment in the biobed in the medbay, with the General holding his hand completely out cold. He had smiled, before he passed out again.

Droidbait placed a hand over his heart, his face had grown darker and his heart started to race at the faint image of General Sunna holding his hand. His mind looked back at one of their sparring matches, the sheer power and weight he felt as the general pinned him to the mat in only a pair of shorts, panting heavily after the long spar.