"I was programmed to handle hard situations, Sir."
"Yes, but he was quite close to you, wasn't he? Did he say anything? Every piece of information he possessed could help us win the war. Isn't that what you want?" The Chancellor watches me closely...
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Day 55 SK Location: Coruscant Republic Base ???? Hours
These gunships will never be clean. Warthog said it would build character, and, well, that's one way to put it. I've got soap on my face, my sleeves rolled up, and the top half of my armor is discarded on the floor. It's starting to get late, too. The lights I positioned around the ship cast large shadows across the landing bay. I haven't had natural light since before dinner hours ago.
"Do you need any help with that?"
I turn to face the speaker. It's a girl who looks a little older than me. She's a Togruta, if I remember right, and a lightsaber sits on her waist. She must be a Jedi padawan.
"This is a clone's job, you don't have to worry about it," I reply, scrubbing harder at the scorch mark. Seriously, did the 501st take this ship or something? Who gets them this dirty on a recon mission?
She walks over, holding her hand out. "Let me try it."
I pass her the sponge, and she wipes the mark away in an instant. My mouth falls open. I've been working on that scratch forever.
"It's not how hard you scrub it, it's how you scrub it," she says with a smile. I take the sponge back, trading her for a fresh one. "I've never seen you before," she continues, working at a spot to my right. "Are you really a clone? You don't look like one."
"I'm kind of a test run," I shrug, trying not to think about it. Being one of a kind, I'm surprised they let me go into the field as early as they did. "I'm lucky to be alive at all. At least, that's what the Kaminoans would tell me."
She reaches for a high spot but can't quite make it. I cup my hands, bracing my knees for her weight. "I'll give you a boost." She hops up, balancing on one foot as she wipes it clean. She's not exactly light, but she's not too heavy either. Much better than helping Comet up in training the other day.
"I must be lucky to meet you, then." She smiles at me as I set her down. "My name is Ahsoka Tano. I'm Master Skywalker's Padawan."
"Pup, from the 104th. I've trained with the 501st too, if that rings a bell."
"I almost feel sorry for you," she smirks. "Here, I'll give you a boost to the next one."
We trade off positions until most of them are gone. But there are still a few spots left that we can't reach even working together. She holds her hands out toward the sponge in the bucket, closing her eyes. For a moment, I'm confused as to what she's trying to do. But then it rises through the air on its own and starts scrubbing at the high places.
"Whoa," I breathe quietly. She used the Force like it was nothing. I've barely even heard of it. Only from Commander Wolffe in passing, and General Plo Koon when I asked about it. Ahsoka sees my face and laughs, sponge dropping into her hand from the air. "Have you ever tried it?"
"Clones don't have the force."
"But have you ever tried it?"
She balances it on the rim of the bucket so it won't fall on its own, and steps back. I look at her helplessly, and she places her hand on her hip with a smile. "Be my guest."
I raise my hands like she did and take a deep breath, trying to focus on moving the sponge.
...
I peek one eye open. It's still there. I close it again.
"Shouldn't you be in bed by now?"
Startled, I lower my hands and look over my shoulder at General Skywalker, followed by Captain Rex.
"Master," Ahsoka says. "I was just helping Pup clean the ships. We didn't realize how late it was." I stand straight, tilting my chin up from years of having it drilled into me. He stops in front of us.
"Rex and I will clean up. Pup, you should get back to the barracks before Commander Wolffe catches you out of bed. And Ahsoka, we have training to do tomorrow, so you better get to bed yourself."
"Yes, Master," she replies.
"Yes, Sir," I echo. "Captain," I nod to Captain Rex and follow Ahsoka out of the hangar. We part ways as we get to the barracks wing, so she can go up to the Jedi Temple. "It was nice meeting you Ahsoka. I hope that we go on a mission together soon."
