"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 136 SK Location: Corell system, Corellia 1600 hours
Sinker walks ahead of me, carrying an armful of water bottles (It didn't take me long to find out following my tall brothers makes getting through crowds much easier), and I've got blankets for those that need them.
We just rescued innocent hostages from a band of pirates on a small forested moon. Now they have almost nothing, after an explosion the pirates set off in town destroyed nearly everything. Nearby, a young girl wails, holding the top half of a burnt doll. An elderly man keeps asking about his son, who must be in one of the medical tents. Ash drifts through the air around us, a morbid reminder of the lost town. It lies half a mile from here, still smoldering. But for the moment, we're doing the best we can to provide for them.
"Pup, come here," General Secura beckons. A Twi'lek with two long blue lekku's, she stands outside a tall green tent. It's one of only a few, reserved for the injured. "Bring water and blankets, hurry!" She ducks back inside.
"Take these with you," Sinker says, handing me some of the bottles. I take them and the rest of the blankets I've got, hesitating outside the door.
"In here!" She beckons again. I duck inside.
Inside, a woman lies on her back in the middle of the small space, with a blanket laid over her legs and stomach. Her stomach is rounded, and she breathes heavily.
"This woman is giving birth to a child," the General explains. "I need your help delivering the baby. Keep the mother calm, and have water and blankets ready."
I nod, setting the blankets down and uncapping some water. Since I come from a cloning tank like the rest of my brothers, I don't know much about childbirth. Den Kiri was oddly selective with what he taught me on Kamino. Now I wish he had taught me more about giving birth, which is a first. I'd never given it much thought before today. It's not exactly useful on the battlefield.
"Pup! Over here first!" General Secura reminds me. I hurry to the back of the tent and crouch beside the mother. How do I comfort her? She looks up at me, dark blue eyes contorted in pain. Does giving birth really hurt this much?
"Hold her hand," General Secura prompts.
"Yes ma'am," I reply, taking The Mother's hand in my own. It's got calluses on it, from being worked day after day nonstop. Underneath my gloves, my own are covered in small nicks and scars from training. Will my hands resemble hers one day, not from farming peacefully, but from holding blaster after blaster? She doesn't seem terribly old (although I've never been good at guessing ages), but her face is worn through, and tired.
"Don't worry ma'am, you'll be alright," I assure her. I'm not confident in that, but it felt right to say. I'm not even entirely sure what's going on, despite the General's brief explanations. Clones don't exactly get taught how to bring life into this world. We're taught to do the opposite, and do it well.
