CT-5555 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
5ame_heart) wrote2020-06-21 09:06 am
5ame_heart) wrote2020-06-21 09:06 am
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"Hey. HEY, Zeke!"
Fives calls the name of the first man he sees walking towards the sleeping quarters as he emerges from the Bar. Zeke, who was probably about to go for his sleep shift, stops with a skeptical look.
"What is it, Fives..." and then when he sees what Fives' carrying, he pauses and gets even more skeptical. "...where did you get that?"
Fives ignores the question. "Who's the Deck Officer right now?"
"Echo."
It's not the best answer. Echo would be Fives' first choice to share this with. But it can't be helped. "Right. Well, get the others on to the command deck, including the sergeant."
"What?"
"It's not anything serious, Zeke. I just don't want anyone to miss out on this."
Zeke looks at Fives like he's crazy - a familiar look on that familiar face these days - but it's hard to argue with the big crate he's lugging with him, so he gives a gesture that's more wave than mocking salute, and heads off to O'Niner's quarters.
Fives just waves after him, and proceeds to the deck, where Hevy, Thinker and Droidbait are manning the scanners, looking, as they always do, bored.
"Hey, brothers," he says, "who wants a snack while on duty?"
"Is that from where I think it is?" Hevy, always the most bored, is already up from his station, jogging towards Fives and his crate.
Fives lets Hevy help him carry the crate to the central command dias, where they set it down on the floor, and Fives spreads his arms in a gesture of magnanimous generosity. "Dig in, boys."
This is when Zeke arrives with Cutup and Sergeant O'Niner.
"Food on the command deck, Trooper?"
..."Sergeant on deck," Zeke just manages to get out.
Fives' widespread arms turn to a gesture of pleading. "Sarge. I know it's against regulations, but I don't think this could wait." And indeed, Droidbait already has a mouthful of some sort of pastry covered in eggs, mushrooms and cheese, and his eyes are beginning to look like someone's injected him with a pleasure stimulant.
Thinker - still at his station, because their discipline is too good to break even for this - is alternating his stare between Droidbait and the crate. "But where did it come from?"
O'Niner considers Fives, and then the stuffed date that Hevy's now offering him. "CT-5555, have you been dealing in contraband?"
"...only technically?" Fives says, and he is about to explain before Cutup butts in:
"Fives is a fragging Jedi, is all."
Fives facepalms, because all three clones who aren't his batchers, and therefore don't know the story yet, are staring at him.
"I'm not a Jedi," he says. "It's magic." (Dammit, that doesn't sound better.) "It's not me doing it, I just keep getting captured by magic doors that lead me to this bar in a different Galaxy, but it's not me, I swear."
"It's true, Sarge," Hevy says loyally. "Fives wouldn't lie. He's tried to get us through the door but it only appears for him."
O'Niner sighs, as Fives reels off the best explanation he can, resigned to the knowledge that Fives, of all clones, wouldn't make up this stuff.
"So you brought food back from this magic bar for us?"
"Well, if I can't bring my brothers to the bar..."
But O'Niner is relaxing, and Droidbait has done a sabacc job of distributing the food to the others, including Thinker at his station, so they can eat and monitor the unremarkable screens at the same time. And even O'Niner, older and more experienced, with several off-duty periods on Coruscant under his belt, is astounded at the quality.
Hevy eventually heads off to replace Echo on Deck duty, and Echo comes down to the command deck with a skeptical expression, like he can't believe they'd need extra food.
"Regulation 52-97 says that all the prepared rations provided to clones provide the perfect nutritional balance for our bodies and..."
"Oh shut up, Echo." Cutup is already there, grabbing his brother's jaw to force his mouth open and shoving a piece of Rae's Bitter Chocolate Death onto his tongue.
He releases him, and Echo practically collapses against the wall.
------------
"Fives."
Sergeant O'Niner corners Fives later, as he's clearing up after their illicit feast by pouring all crumbs directly into the incinerator. Fives stops what he's doing and salutes, aware that he did technically bring contraband and therefore committed a chargeable offence. Though that doesn't explain Thinker trailing behind the sergeant with a serious expression on his face that really belongs with Echo.
"Sarge," Fives says, prepared for the dressing down. But it doesn't come.
"I'm not going to put any of that into my report."
"Thank you, Sarge."
"But you shouldn't make a habit of it," O'Niner continues. "And Fives - I don't think you should tell anyone else."
"Sarge?"
O'Niner sighs, scrubs his forehead with the heel of his hand.
"Thinker came to talk to me, after what Cutup said about you being a Jedi."
"I'm not!" Fives says quickly, with a glare at Thinker. "That was a stupid joke. Cutup doesn't think..."
"I know," O'Niner cuts him off. "I get it, Fives. I do. But think. If the Republic found out one of us had access to somewhere like this. Magic? Intergalactic travel? Interdimensional, even?"
"Sarge, I don't think the Jedi would..."
"This isn't an order, Fives. It's advice; brother to brother. I know you're loyal to the Republic. We all are. But this..."
"...the universe has given you a gift, Fives," Thinker interrupts. "Just you. You get some downtime, maybe you need it." There's a touch of teasing sarcasm in his tone. For a clone to need something his brothers don't implies that clone is somehow defective. "But if the higher ups find out, they're going to want to use it. They're going to want to know why you?"
"You really think the Jedi..." Fives has no experience with Jedi, beyond General Shaak Ti, who never seemed the type. But he remembers the Bounty Hunters who trained them, and his tone takes a hesitant turn. "And even if they can use it, is that a bad thing...?"
"...there's more to the Grand Army than the Jedi, Fives."
Again - the Bounty Hunters. But Thinker's more experienced that Fives - is he referring to something else?
O'Niner puts a hand on Fives' shoulder. "This is a clone thing, brother. Let's keep it between clones."
After a tense moment, Fives quirks a grin at him. "As if I would share it with anyone else."
"Just don't," - O'Niner is firm - "don't let it get in the way of you doing your duty."
"Sir, no sir."
--------------
Later still, Fives is on duty as Deck Officer, and Echo comes to find him.
"Fives?"
"Echo?" The exterior of Rishi Moon is so dull and cold, there is really no sense in anyone voluntarily coming out here, so this means Echo wanted to talk to Fives uninterrupted. "Please tell me you're not going to cite contraband regs at me."
Echo actually smiles - from any of his other brothers it's mocking, from Fives it's just like poking him in the side.
"So that place is real, huh?"
"We're not designed to lie, Echo."
Echo's smile stays in place. "We're not designed to have things to ourselves, either."
Fives flinches. The last thing, the very last thing he would ever want would be to keep things from his brothers, from Echo. That's what this whole thing has been about.
"Echo, I..."
Echo holds up his hands quickly. "That's not what I'm saying. What I mean is - I know it's hard for you. I've been thinking."
He has to: "thinking for yourself?"
Without missing a beat, "shut up - I know that if it was me I'd be driving myself crazy trying to share it with the rest of you, too. The thing is - Thinker..."
Fondly: "screw that guy."
"...Thinker figures it's something the universe has chosen just for you."
"Did we know Thinker was a religious nut?"
Echo grins and throws an arm around Fives' shoulders, joining him on looking out at the desolate moon. "I think he's mad he's not the one with Jedi powers. But he's got a point, Fives. If it was meant for the rest of us, we'd find it. I just want you to know you don't have tear yourself up trying to share it with all of us all the time."
Five's tense smile relaxes slightly. "But if I can bring you back more of that chocolate?"
"If you don't, I'm throwing you to the clankers."
Fives calls the name of the first man he sees walking towards the sleeping quarters as he emerges from the Bar. Zeke, who was probably about to go for his sleep shift, stops with a skeptical look.
"What is it, Fives..." and then when he sees what Fives' carrying, he pauses and gets even more skeptical. "...where did you get that?"
Fives ignores the question. "Who's the Deck Officer right now?"
"Echo."
It's not the best answer. Echo would be Fives' first choice to share this with. But it can't be helped. "Right. Well, get the others on to the command deck, including the sergeant."
"What?"
"It's not anything serious, Zeke. I just don't want anyone to miss out on this."
Zeke looks at Fives like he's crazy - a familiar look on that familiar face these days - but it's hard to argue with the big crate he's lugging with him, so he gives a gesture that's more wave than mocking salute, and heads off to O'Niner's quarters.
Fives just waves after him, and proceeds to the deck, where Hevy, Thinker and Droidbait are manning the scanners, looking, as they always do, bored.
"Hey, brothers," he says, "who wants a snack while on duty?"
"Is that from where I think it is?" Hevy, always the most bored, is already up from his station, jogging towards Fives and his crate.
Fives lets Hevy help him carry the crate to the central command dias, where they set it down on the floor, and Fives spreads his arms in a gesture of magnanimous generosity. "Dig in, boys."
This is when Zeke arrives with Cutup and Sergeant O'Niner.
"Food on the command deck, Trooper?"
..."Sergeant on deck," Zeke just manages to get out.
Fives' widespread arms turn to a gesture of pleading. "Sarge. I know it's against regulations, but I don't think this could wait." And indeed, Droidbait already has a mouthful of some sort of pastry covered in eggs, mushrooms and cheese, and his eyes are beginning to look like someone's injected him with a pleasure stimulant.
Thinker - still at his station, because their discipline is too good to break even for this - is alternating his stare between Droidbait and the crate. "But where did it come from?"
O'Niner considers Fives, and then the stuffed date that Hevy's now offering him. "CT-5555, have you been dealing in contraband?"
"...only technically?" Fives says, and he is about to explain before Cutup butts in:
"Fives is a fragging Jedi, is all."
Fives facepalms, because all three clones who aren't his batchers, and therefore don't know the story yet, are staring at him.
"I'm not a Jedi," he says. "It's magic." (Dammit, that doesn't sound better.) "It's not me doing it, I just keep getting captured by magic doors that lead me to this bar in a different Galaxy, but it's not me, I swear."
"It's true, Sarge," Hevy says loyally. "Fives wouldn't lie. He's tried to get us through the door but it only appears for him."
O'Niner sighs, as Fives reels off the best explanation he can, resigned to the knowledge that Fives, of all clones, wouldn't make up this stuff.
"So you brought food back from this magic bar for us?"
"Well, if I can't bring my brothers to the bar..."
But O'Niner is relaxing, and Droidbait has done a sabacc job of distributing the food to the others, including Thinker at his station, so they can eat and monitor the unremarkable screens at the same time. And even O'Niner, older and more experienced, with several off-duty periods on Coruscant under his belt, is astounded at the quality.
Hevy eventually heads off to replace Echo on Deck duty, and Echo comes down to the command deck with a skeptical expression, like he can't believe they'd need extra food.
"Regulation 52-97 says that all the prepared rations provided to clones provide the perfect nutritional balance for our bodies and..."
"Oh shut up, Echo." Cutup is already there, grabbing his brother's jaw to force his mouth open and shoving a piece of Rae's Bitter Chocolate Death onto his tongue.
He releases him, and Echo practically collapses against the wall.
------------
"Fives."
Sergeant O'Niner corners Fives later, as he's clearing up after their illicit feast by pouring all crumbs directly into the incinerator. Fives stops what he's doing and salutes, aware that he did technically bring contraband and therefore committed a chargeable offence. Though that doesn't explain Thinker trailing behind the sergeant with a serious expression on his face that really belongs with Echo.
"Sarge," Fives says, prepared for the dressing down. But it doesn't come.
"I'm not going to put any of that into my report."
"Thank you, Sarge."
"But you shouldn't make a habit of it," O'Niner continues. "And Fives - I don't think you should tell anyone else."
"Sarge?"
O'Niner sighs, scrubs his forehead with the heel of his hand.
"Thinker came to talk to me, after what Cutup said about you being a Jedi."
"I'm not!" Fives says quickly, with a glare at Thinker. "That was a stupid joke. Cutup doesn't think..."
"I know," O'Niner cuts him off. "I get it, Fives. I do. But think. If the Republic found out one of us had access to somewhere like this. Magic? Intergalactic travel? Interdimensional, even?"
"Sarge, I don't think the Jedi would..."
"This isn't an order, Fives. It's advice; brother to brother. I know you're loyal to the Republic. We all are. But this..."
"...the universe has given you a gift, Fives," Thinker interrupts. "Just you. You get some downtime, maybe you need it." There's a touch of teasing sarcasm in his tone. For a clone to need something his brothers don't implies that clone is somehow defective. "But if the higher ups find out, they're going to want to use it. They're going to want to know why you?"
"You really think the Jedi..." Fives has no experience with Jedi, beyond General Shaak Ti, who never seemed the type. But he remembers the Bounty Hunters who trained them, and his tone takes a hesitant turn. "And even if they can use it, is that a bad thing...?"
"...there's more to the Grand Army than the Jedi, Fives."
Again - the Bounty Hunters. But Thinker's more experienced that Fives - is he referring to something else?
O'Niner puts a hand on Fives' shoulder. "This is a clone thing, brother. Let's keep it between clones."
After a tense moment, Fives quirks a grin at him. "As if I would share it with anyone else."
"Just don't," - O'Niner is firm - "don't let it get in the way of you doing your duty."
"Sir, no sir."
--------------
Later still, Fives is on duty as Deck Officer, and Echo comes to find him.
"Fives?"
"Echo?" The exterior of Rishi Moon is so dull and cold, there is really no sense in anyone voluntarily coming out here, so this means Echo wanted to talk to Fives uninterrupted. "Please tell me you're not going to cite contraband regs at me."
Echo actually smiles - from any of his other brothers it's mocking, from Fives it's just like poking him in the side.
"So that place is real, huh?"
"We're not designed to lie, Echo."
Echo's smile stays in place. "We're not designed to have things to ourselves, either."
Fives flinches. The last thing, the very last thing he would ever want would be to keep things from his brothers, from Echo. That's what this whole thing has been about.
"Echo, I..."
Echo holds up his hands quickly. "That's not what I'm saying. What I mean is - I know it's hard for you. I've been thinking."
He has to: "thinking for yourself?"
Without missing a beat, "shut up - I know that if it was me I'd be driving myself crazy trying to share it with the rest of you, too. The thing is - Thinker..."
Fondly: "screw that guy."
"...Thinker figures it's something the universe has chosen just for you."
"Did we know Thinker was a religious nut?"
Echo grins and throws an arm around Fives' shoulders, joining him on looking out at the desolate moon. "I think he's mad he's not the one with Jedi powers. But he's got a point, Fives. If it was meant for the rest of us, we'd find it. I just want you to know you don't have tear yourself up trying to share it with all of us all the time."
Five's tense smile relaxes slightly. "But if I can bring you back more of that chocolate?"
"If you don't, I'm throwing you to the clankers."