FERN'S POV
"Oh, look what the Lothal cat dragged in." Cid 'greeted' me as I hobbled through the entrance. "I heard you had quite a blast on Raxus."
"Are you done?" I rolled my eyes and hopped myself on top of the bar counter. "I could use a drink, though." The Trandoshan scoffed incredulously, but nodded, spewing an alcoholic beverage into a glass and sliding it down the counter into my waiting hand. Taking a sip, I dramatically groaned, causing her scaly brow to raise.
"Alright, alright," she nagged. "I'll bite. What's eating you?"
"You've met clones in the past."
"Other than you, Tiny, and your boys? Sure, a handful. Why?"
"Do you think we are capable of..." I briefly struggled to word my query accurately. "growing a...strong attachment to someone else?"
"You got to be kidding me." Cid threw her arms up and started trudging back to her office.
"Hey, it's a legitimate question. Wait, don't walk away!" I raced after her and locked the panel door behind me, crossing my arms as the reptilian boss plopped down behind her desk. "I'm being serious here."
"And I'm telling you, I don't care about your lovesick crush on Bandana!" she snapped.
"Crush? That's just it, Cid!" I groaned, growing annoyed with her unhelpful attitude. "We're clones! I shouldn't even have that mindset!"
"Looks like you were wrong." she shrugged. "I've seen the way you two make googly eyes at each other. It's sickening!" She let out a dramatic gag. "So you almost get blown up, and he's all worried about you. He and the rest of the boys minus Goggles then walk up in here with sad faces, when Tiny was making bank for you lot. Dampened the mood, let me tell you."
My own mood dropped as she described what happened after we returned from Raxus. I had been unconscious at the time, and Hunter had to break the news to Omega... Suddenly, guilt shuddered through my soul. Cid immediately noticed, sighing in defeat. "Look, Princess, Omega and those boys, they care an awful lot about you, so of course, they are going to be worried when you are hurt, especially with an injury like that." She thrusted a finger towards my chest. She couldn't see it, so I assumed Tech must've informed her. "Furthermore, Bandana and you have a history together, and when separated and reunited, of course those feelings are going to return! It's just nature! You are a living thing, aren't you?"
"Um, yeah?" I replied, though I probably shouldn't had slurred it into a question.
Cid jumped from her chair and circled around her desk. "Then, it's only natural you'd be attracted to your partner! No need to hide it! I still remember what you told me all those years ago. Second meeting, right? Over spotchka? It'd only had been a couple months since you and Bandana split. You said, and I quote, 'What can I do now that he's no longer my partner. Without him, I am nothing.' Makes me sick that I actually remember that..."
My past's words echoed in my ears... Without him, I am nothing... I did recall feeling that way, but I had eventually found my purpose in the Army of the Republic, serving impeccably alongside Jedi generals and other clone squads from a distance. Literally. I had mostly forgotten Hunter, after that. Right up until he came to extract me and Omega from Kamino. Ever since then, especially after we realized the Kaminoans that separated us on purpose, we've grown closer than ever before when we were partners....
"So," I stammered uncharacteristically. "I...l-love Hunter?"
"Ding! Ding! Ding! The princess has finally awakened from her beauty sleep!" Cid sarcastically cheered, twirling her index finger in the air with a roll of her eyes.
"Wait, wait, wait." I blinked. "Is that why you call me 'Princess'? Because of a fairy tale reference?!" The Trandoshan didn't confirm nor deny, which meant yes. I groaned again. How is it I've not shot her yet? I contemplated to myself as I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "Unbelievable..."
"The question is, what are you going to do now?" Cid raised a brow.
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean?! Have you not been listening at anything I've said?! I swear, it's like I'm talking to a wall. I thought we were making progress!"
"Are you saying...I tell him? Are you crazy?" I stomped my foot and waved my hand at nothing in particular. "I just realized clones were capable of affection and now you're saying I should just go and, a-and confess?!"
"Yes! Get it over with!" Cid exclaimed. "And stop asking me all these mushy questions!"
"I need some air." I sighed. "And a second opinion."
"And from whom are you going to get a second opinion?" Cid scoffed dramatically. "Have at it!" With that, I exited her office and out of the parlor with a huff. While I strolled aimlessly down the narrow streets, only one name popped up in my mind on who I could inquire about this predicament, and to be honest, I wish I had another...
Tech.
I lightly pounded my temples with my fists. Really, Fern? Of all the clones, the one with the asinine amount of emotion is the one you go for?!
Nevertheless, he did seem the most logical to me. Despite his aloofness to sentiment or empathy, Tech had an exceptional mind of science. Additionally, I felt like ever since I joined Clone Force 99, Wired-Brain and I had developed a naturally unique relationship... The question is, when was I going to be able to get Tech and I alone?
As if on cue, my comm channel beeped. "Fern, come in." Speak of the devil...
"Roger, roger, Tick." I answered. "You guys on your way back?"
"Not quite." Tech replied. "It seems Omega had made an acquaintance while on the weapons' drop, and the young Twi'lek has now sent a distress call. We are en route of returning to Ryloth, though I am unsure of what is needed of us currently."
"Copy that." I shrugged, not calling a big deal. "Keep me updated."
"Will do." Tech promised. "By the way, I suggest you change your bandages."
"Aye aye, sir. And Tech—" I lost the connection between us. "Shoot. Oh well." Not detecting a reason to hang about in the streets, I traced my steps back to Cid's parlor and managed to track down some ointment, gauze, and bandage wrap in one of the back storage closets.
"Ow, ow, ow." I sucked air through my teeth as I 'gently' peeled off the old, fibered cloth. Some dead, slimy skin tore off the puncture wound and raw burns, daring me to scratch. My right collarbone was particularly irritable due to the former... Applying the ointment was a sensitive task, dabbing it as delicately as possible on the exposed tissue. The areas across the far left side of my chest and below my sternum were not that damaged, but I rubbed a thin layer anyway to save myself from more scarring. Once the hard part was complete, I covered my whole chest with fresh gauze and secured it with the canvas wrap. This definitely wasn't easy on my own, but I've dressed my own wounds before. Lastly, I zipped up my body suit, feeling much more comfortable.
It would be a few hours before I heard back from the boys. Until then, I had been lazying about the parlor, propping my feet up on a table and slouching down in the booth with very little thought to keep me occupied.
"Fern, are you there?" Hunter commed me.
"I'm here." I yawned. "I'm assuming by the long wait that you guys took the improv mission?"
"We performed a surveillance to see what we were up against, and to be honest, it didn't look promising. I called it off until..."
"Until?" I raised a brow.
"Omega and her friend Hera came up with a plan, and...we're going for it."
"Wow, go Omega." I smiled with an impressed tilt of my head. "So what's the mission?"
"To free Hera's parents. Her father is Cham Syndulla." There was some hesitance in his voice, and I asked him if everything was alright. He responded after a short sigh. "Crosshair's here."
"Oh... But, you trust in Omega's and this Hera's plan?"
"It's strategic, I'll give them that." Hunter scoffed lightly.
"She learned from the best." I shrugged, forcing to hide the wariness in my voice. "If you trust the plan, then you won't have to worry about Crosshair. But, just in case, stay alert. Crosshair knows you and the boys better than anyone."
"Thanks for reminding me." Hunter grumbled. There a moment of silence between us, a clear static sizzled on our comms.
"Good luck, Hunter." I said softly. "And, be safe. I'm not there to watch your backs, you know."
"We'll comm you as soon as we're finished. Hunter, out."
"Fern, out." I breathed, and then dropped my hand at my side after switching off the device. Just hearing his voice over a comm link made my heart thump... I couldn't say confidently if that was a good thing or bad thing. The way Cid stared at me from across the parlor, though, had me guessing I was going to find out soon.