The Clones & Their Vod'ika

No One is at Fault

I'm back! I didn't think I could write this much today, but here we are! I got some inspiration from the great writer SilverWinter08 (fic title: all of me [only on AO3]). Check out their stories!

Ahsoka looked up from her dinner as she felt confusion and awe from two shinies. She watched them as they looked around the mess hall for a place to sit. While they were searching, they made eye contact with Ahsoka and they stared at her with their eyes widened, terrified to be spotted by their commander. She motioned for them to sit at her table, with Rex and the other boys, who were still chatting over their food, not giving her a second glance. They hesitantly walked over with their trays and sat down, finally relaxing after being accepted.

~

Months ago, Flicker heard the stories about a teenage togrutan commander who led her whole squadron to death on a mission in Ryloth. The gossip wheel of the clones would take information and spread it through the troops, resulting in every single person knowing almost everything in a matter of days. He was very sure that the Jedi that watched him at dinner was her. She was probably the only one who fit the description because the only other togruta he had ever seen was Shaak Ti, who was like a parent figure to them all and in no way fitting the age description.

He was curious to know if she was actually the same person who basically killed the clones, his comrades, his friends. He got up from his bed, seeing that he was never going to sleep any time soon, and headed towards the lighted cafeteria. When he stepped inside, he saw that some people were still up, including his batchmate Click. At one of the tables by the door, the renowned clones such as Captain Rex and Arc-Trooper Echo were sitting there, along with other higher-ranking officers. Since he also saw some of his friends there, he joined the table.

"Hey kid, you wanna play?" Fives asked as he started to take more cards from the pile. 

Flicker nodded, and he was handed a deck of cards. In the passing hours, he lost some cards and he won some. He was about to go to bed when the door opened, revealing the commander. All of the shinies, including him, immediately stood at attention. As they saw the higher ranking clones just wave at her, they sat down awkwardly. She smiled at every single trooper, and it was filled with so much warmth and amusement he didn't really believe that this was the same person who led clones to their graves.

"Can I join?"

Rex was already getting a selection of cards before she finished her sentence.

"Of course commander," Jesse answered.

She flashed him a grin and looked around their circle.

"Get ready to lose."

The ARC-Troopers, captain, medic, and soon to be ARC chuckled. The shinies watched quietly, not sure what to do.

The game went on, some laughs and some chuckles heard from the togruta. Some troopers went to bed until Flicker was the only shiny among the others.

"By the way, I never caught your name from dinner."

He looked up from his deck and saw that the question was directed at him.

My commander is asking me a question. Don't mess up.

"Oh, uh, my name's Flicker."

She nodded as if filing away information in her head. 

"My name is Ahsoka."

Before Flicker could even stop himself, he blurted out one word.

"Ryloth?"

It was like time froze.