Graveyard of Stars - Being Rewritten

Three

"This is why we don't go poking in other people's stuff," Aster told Omega after they'd been in a makeshift prison for an hour.  

Omega huffed, resting her chin in her hands, elbows on her knees.  Aster could see the worry etched on the younger clone's face, but she didn't know what to say.  She was worried herself, unsure what the Kaminoans would do with them-what the Empire would do.  

Her thoughts wandered to Clone Force 99, hoping they at least got out.  The Empire would be more dangerous if the squad's chips had activated.  A small part of her cared for them, though she hadn't met them before the other day.  She wanted them to be safe.  

"You're kidding me," she muttered, watching frozen on the bench as the door opened and five clones stripped down to their blacks filed into the cell.  

Aster closed her eyes, feeling the strong urge to punch something.  Maybe stab the wall.  Of course, because why not, Clone Force 99 had gotten captured too.  So much for hoping they were safe.  

"Smells weird," Wrecker said, sniffing the cell.  

"That's because it's clean," Echo told him, a hint of annoyance in the former ARC Trooper's voice.  

"Well, the mission wasn't a total failure," Tech said, and all five clones turned to where Omega was sitting normally on the bench, while Aster was upside down, her ginger brown hair touching the floor.  

"I told you not to come back here," Omega said as Hunter walked over to them.  

"Had to," Hunter told her, glancing with a slightly concerned expression at Aster.  "We came back for you."  

"For... us?"  Omega asked, hope filling her eyes.  

"What do you say, kids?"  Hunter asked, kneeling on one knee to be next to their height.  

"It's like I said before, I want to come with you," Omega said eagerly.  

"She drags me around everywhere anyway, sure," Aster said with a shrug when Hunter glanced at her.  

"How touching," Crosshair muttered sarcastically.  

Hunter stood again, turning to face him.  There was a small argument between them that Aster zoned out, not being one to listen to people talk.  Her foot twitched anxiously as she bit her lip, hoping they'd get off Kamino as soon as possible.  

There was something important to Nala Se's research that she may have... stolen.  The sooner they got off Kamino, the better.  But wouldn't she be putting the batch and Omega in danger by keeping it away?  Had she done the opposite of what she'd intended to?  

No.  In the end, it was the best decision.  She kept repeating that in her head as three clones entered the makeshift prison area, ordering for her to follow them.  Hunter stood, trying to defend her, but she gave him a small head shake and walked forward.  

Once they were out in the hall, Aster put up a fight.  She locked her arms around one of the trooper's necks, making one grab her from behind to pull her off.  She released her grip, jumping up and kicking one to the floor before managing to flip and send herself and the trooper holding her rolling to the floor.  

Out of instinct and practice she got into a crouched position, grabbing a blaster and stunning the other trooper.  Just as she was about to turn back into the makeshift prison hold, more troopers rounded the corner, with a familiar Kaminoan.  

"Aster," Nala Se said, her voice slow, echo-like, and calm as usual, but with slight anger.  "Do not make this harder than it needs to be."  

She didn't want to go willingly.  The information she'd stolen, the Kaminoans would do anything to get it back.  Tarkin would do anything to get it.  Including torture her.  But she was outnumbered, no where to run.  

With painful reluctance, Aster dropped the blaster.  Two clones rushed forward, one taking each arm and leading her down the halls.  To an interrogation room.  Her hands were locked in on the sides of the stand-up table she was force to stand in, to keep her in place for the probe droid.  

This was going to hurt.  

690 Words 

Written: 10/6/2024