Stargaze into the Abyss

Chapter 3 - New Friends of Shadows?

Fives entered first, Ajax following behind him. He saw some heads look up at the noise. Troopers from all battalions were around the mess hall. They chatted and caught up like old friends. Ajax was handed a tray, he held out to the chefs for the food. It was actual food instead of ration bars which surprised Ajax.

"Come on, I'll introduce more of my brothers," Fives urged, grabbing Ajax's elbow. Who in return had no choice but to follow. The table they sat at had both the 501st and the 212th troopers. Ajax began to eat as Fives listed off the troopers
"This is Waxer, beside him is Boil," Fives introduced, a trooper with a bald head and a goatee which was Waxer. Heh, that's a funny name because he has no hair! Ajax huffed. Beside Waxer was a trooper with reg-styled hair and a funny-looking mustache that wrapped around his mouth. Why Boil of all names? Ajax wondered.

"Beside Boil is Tup, then Dogma." Beside Boil, Ajax noticed that both the troopers had tattoos. Tup who was beside Boil as stated, has neck-length hair that was braided and a teardrop underneath his eye. Dogma had a weird short haircut, with a V-like tattoo that didn't look familiar to Ajax.
"Across from us is Kix the 501st medic, Hardcase and my twin brother Eco." Ajax looked up at the mention of a twin brother, Echo was the same as Boil with the hair but there was no facial hair on him. He must be a rule follower then? Ajax thought. Hardcase had a weird-looking tattoo that went over his eye and forehead. Kix was the same as Echo which didn't surprise Ajax.

Fives slapped his forehead in exasperation. "I'm completely stupid, I forgot to introduce you! Guys this is Ajax."
Everyone perked up at him, Ajax shrunk in his seat. He kept eating so he wouldn't be the center of attention. The rest of the troopers realized this and stopped putting attention on him which Ajax loved.

He finished his food ten minutes later, he spotted Crim enter the mess hall looking lost. Crim noticed Ajax quickly his eyes went from hard and cold to soft. Crim's here? Ajax thought. Why is he looking at me funny? I barely know him aside from switching shifts with him.
Crim grabbed a tray of food and padded over to their table. "Is it okay if I sit?" The other troopers nodded and Fives scooted over so he could sit right next to Ajax.

Crim turned his head to look at Ajax, who was subtly not trying to catch his eye. "You good shiny?"
Ajax startled looking at him suspiciously. "I t-think I'm good," he replied. "Why a-are are you talking to me?"
"Good question because I saw you go into an army of droids without caring whether you live or die," Crim stated. I thought no one would notice. Ajax thought. Well of course he would notice! He's a bloody Sergeant! Crim went back to eating as if he didn't drop a big nuclear bomb.

Ajax looked at the rest of the troopers at the table, they weren't even there anymore. He flinched in surprise, he was so lost in thought and them talking that he didn't notice them leave. I must be more exhausted than usual, I normally notice people shift to leave. Ajax nodded. He looked at Crim who was still eating. Should I wait for him? Or should I go? This is so hard. He decided to stay in case he missed a social cue or something.

The mess hall was clearing out as everyone was deciding to head for the end of the day. Some clones who slept in the barracks when Ajax was there, were changing shifts to watch the camp or do some workaround. Ajax looked up at the mess-hall door open, and the Jedi generals and commander entered the room. Crim looked up as well and he saluted while Ajax didn't. He was confused. Why would they come in here to eat? Don't they think of clones as droids? Ajax watched as the commander bounced up and down by the 501st general.

"The commander is Ahsoka Tano, and the guy next to her is General Skywalker or Anakin Skywalker. The man beside Skywalker is High General Kenobi or Obi-Wan Kenobi of the 212th," Crim murmured, understanding his confusion.  Wait, is that the General, Helix looks after? Ajax questioned, General Kenobi Ajax noted was handsome though not his type. He had ginger orangish hair that reached his ears. It was fairly long but not as long as General Skywalker. He had a well-groomed beard, he could be a model. General Skywalker had a clean-shaven face with a few grease stains on his face, his hair reaching mid-neck length. Commander Tano, Ajax noticed had a few cuts on her face. What is she wearing? She is showing lots of skin and her shirt is barely held up. She could get killed. Ajax thought. Before breaking out his staring, he caught the eye of General Kenobi. His eyes widened and turned away quickly to not bring attention to himself

——————————
Obi-Wan Kenobi felt eyes watching him, he turned his head to stare at a clone from Pong Krell's Battalion who hadn't saluted when they walked in. He was completely fine with it but it was odd. The trooper next to him saluted, and Obi-Wan noticed. The stranger clone blinked out of the thought he seemed to be in, his eyes widened before turning away from his eyes quickly. Why does this clone seem so frightened of us? Obi-Wan wondered. He smiled at the chef who nodded that they had gotten out of the habit of saluting. When the generals kept on saying you don't have to salute if they were off duty or shift. They could nod or wave instead they were comrades. Obi-Wan sighed. Well, time to eat.
———————

Ajax sighed his body sagging in his seat, Crim looked over who had finished his meal. "Time to rest." Crim hauled up Ajax whose leg seemed to be asleep.
"I don't wanna go to sleep," Ajax complained. He did badly, his body and mind were exhausted from meeting new people. Crim dragged Ajax out of the mess hall and to the barracks. When they entered the lights were dimmed. He hauled Ajax over to his bunk, Ajax noticed that they had changed the sheets and they were soft. Ooooh! Lovely! He collapsed on the bed, he snuggled into the pillow. Crim smiled. "I have top bunk then," he murmured while climbing up the ladder to bed.

He is my bunkmate? Why doesn't he join his friends? Ajax questioned. Was he assigned to be my bunkmate? His thoughts kept going down a deep rabbit hole until they began to fade. He fell into deep oblivion.

*Crash*

Ajax fell to the ground hard, he was stunned at the sudden movement. He gasped for air. Crim looked over the side of the bunk. He climbed down and checked on him.
"Woah! You took a nasty bang kid." Crim helped him sit up, most of the clones in the barracks were still clonked out. Ajax was still gasping for air. I can't breathe... oh god I can't breathe!  He tried to breathe but it slid out of his lungs.
Crim's eyes widened as Ajax tried to breathe. He pressed his palm against his chest. He pulled Ajax's arm to his chest.
"Ok kid, take a deep breath." Ajax felt Crim take a deep breath. I just gotta follow his breathing then it'll be fine. He tried to follow his breathing to the best of his abilities. "Good, now relax your shoulders." He relaxed his shoulders slowly to not tense them up again.

Crim sighed in relief at Ajax finally breathing again properly. "Are you breathing ok?" He asks, his voice was a little bit wobbly. The person in question nodded but was still in a hazy moment. I felt like I was dying...  I don't wanna die. Ajax thought he brushed his hair through his fingertips. What is my life like? He wondered, knowing it was one massive and one smallest answer there was no in-between. Crim sat down on the floor and crossed his legs across from him. Ajax cocked his head like a loth-cat. I wonder what he wants?