THE RECRUIT

KRILL: Specialty

Classified Imperial Base
Messhall
Daro
LST: 18:00:59 // DAY: 13
RC-5570

Captain Mech nods thanks to the commando who drops a glob of something on his tray. He selects a pocket of dough that swishes as he sets it in a slot. He walks down the aisle of tables in the messhall. Unlike the clone troopers, every stormtrooper face is foreign and different. Their skin tones range in hues. Eye shapes are unique to each person. The males have buzzed hair all close to the scalp but it's unusual to see a few female faces in the mix with hair tied back into low knots.

Will we ever go back home, back to Kamino? Can we even call that place home? He thinks to himself as he sits down at the table with RYNO Squadron.

"Where's Tapcaf?" Mech asks situating his tray.

"Stuck in the med bay. Some di'kut got his finger jammed in the flight simulator," says Hardcopy. "I swear, that man doesn't sleep."

"How'd training go?" Sparkstick says spooning the mysterious goop into his mouth.

Mech sighs. "It went well."

"So, why the long face, ner vod?"

"Do you ever think about Kamino?" Mech says picking up his cup and downing half the water not wanting to talk about Taipan getting the osik knocked out of her and nearly killing a fourth recruit. She really does take bites out of people.

Sparkstick looks at him chewing. Then he scans the messhall. He frowns apparently not liking what he sees. "I miss 'em too."

Mech takes a spoonful of slop and just swallows it before his tongue registers the taste. Having grown up forcing this kind of food down he's come to find that getting it down as fast as possible is the best way to get it over with.

"I miss 79's," says Hardcopy making a crater in his pile of goop with his spoon.

"Oh, yeah," says Sparkstick longingly. "The drinks, the music...the entertainment." He winks at Hardcopy nudging him with his elbow.

Hardcopy just shakes his head sipping his water to cover a half smile.

"Speaking of, where's Tai?" Sparkstick says scanning through the mess.

"Admiral's office," says Mech. I hope she gets some bacta right after. "And watch what you say Sparkstick."

Sparkstick raises his eyebrows attempting to look innocent. "What? C'mon Mech, we all know behind her viper fangs and predatory 'I'll rip your arm off and beat you with the wet end' appearance is a likable kinda lady."

Mech shakes his head. "Not like any kind of lady I've ever met."

Twice in one week, blood has been spilled in the training room. What if she isn't what we need? Mech takes a bite out of the dough pocket slurping up its innards. "And I think you're trying to tango with the wrong kind of person."

"She's got a heart in there somewhere," says Sparkstick shoveling the rest of the goop on his tray into his mouth.

"Two, actually," says Hardcopy. "More care to go around?"

Mech sighs. "I hope you're both right. For all our sakes."

"Why? Are you afraid to care again, Captain?" Sparkstick says poking at the newly acquired rank. His eyes meet Mech's not bothering to hide his irritation. "Because ever since the war ended and we wound up here, you've been dragging yourself through the mud. You don't sleep. You hardly eat. And now that we've got something, you're reluctant to grab on."

"You can't count on her to do anything other than look out for herself," says Mech lowering his voice to a growl. You didn't see what she did to those TK-troopers. "She's a gladiator. The last thing they do is put their own life on the line to save someone else. It's not in their nature."