Last Standing

Prologue, Kamino

   Through the distant cries of other children, the 1-year-old baby slowly awoken to see two kaminoans staring at him, pressing buttons on a device. A robotic claw took hold of the tube he was in and gently lifted the bacta tank out from its slot on one of the many cloning devices and lowered into a drain which poured out the bacta and held it in place for one of the kaminoans to pick him up in a towel and gently dry him off. In confusion, the baby cried softly to which the kaminoan holding him slowly shushing him as the other typed into a keypad.

"It's alright." said the kaminoan holding him as she put her finger on the baby's lips.

"Welcome to the world little one. This is your first day outside of the bacta tank."

The two kaminoans walked to a small elevator and went down into a medical deck. They entered a room with babies the same age as the baby they were carrying. They set him down in a bed like pod that came out from the wall and wrapped him in a blanket while the other kaminoan finished writing the report on the second wave of clones made to now initiate the learning and training.

"We expect great things from you and your many brothers, CT-93077."

4 years passed and CT-93077 is now 10 years old. He found out of the genetically engineered DNA that has him and all of his thousands of brothers age twice as much as a normal human does. Since he learned English when he was 3, he has been through countless classes on learning how to become a good soldier, the best soldier that he can be. How to destroy a droid swiftly and quickly, what to do if overwhelmed in battle, how to help a citizen or family in need. Now it was finally time for his first target practice. C-93077 climbed out of his bed as it shot out of the wall, and along with him his 4 pod brothers who grew up and were extracted besides him.

"Ready guys?" CT-93074 asked as they all got down.

"Are we ready? We are far from ready, 76 keeps failing most of his tests." CT-93072 said giving CT-93076 an angry look.

"Hey look I'm trying my best, it's just hard to memorize and these tests keep popping up with them never telling us most of the time." CT-93076 said putting his hand on the back of his head, looking down in shame.

"That's supposed to better prepare us for the unexpected whenever that time comes and we aren't ready. We need more time and practice so let off 72." CT-93075 said putting his arm around 76's right shoulder.

"Hey hey calm down guys!" CT-93073 said as he walked between the three, stretching out his arms to block them.

"Yes we may be a little unprepared, but that doesn't mean we should fight and tear each other apart before we even serve the republic. We are brothers, we stick together and we persevere to our goals and achieve them if we are to survive this war." The young clones all stood there as in the distance, they saw their instructor approaching.

"You're a pretty stereotypical soldier, you know that 73." CT-93072 said as the instructor stopped next to the 5 young clones.

"He may be a stereotype, but he is still a soldier in the works and is willing to serve the republic. Attention! Get in single file, hustle." The instructor said as the 5 clones got in line, stood up straight, and saluted the instructor.

"Sir, yes sir!" The instructor smiled and signalled with his hand for them to follow him.

"So how do you young ones feel about your first shooting range? One step closer to serving the republic and doing your duty and being proud of it." The instructor said as they walked along the bridge to the next building.

"Lacking confidence sir, but we'll try our best anyways." said CT-93073 speaking up for the group.

"You know what I heard, I heard from CT-87098 at the mess hall that we could be serving beside the Jedi, and a powerful group from what I hear. They can use their minds to do anything along with their powerful lightsaber which can cut through anything, or so I heard. Serving the republic might be pretty easy." CT-93077 said smiling as they approached the target practice room.