#trandoshans

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Fives trips over a rock and manages to land in what he hoped was just mud. After a groan and whiff of the sludge he gags. Definitely not mud. A laugh pulls his attention to his brother.

“Should’ve named you clutz!” Hevy snorts with his laughs shaking the bundle of wheat above his shoulder. Fives climbs to his feat while trying to shake the manure off. Hevy grabs another bundle of wheat and starts walking back towards the barn. Fives carefully picks up two bundles for himself and follows after his brother, being more careful where he stepped this time. When he reaches the barn, his other brothers are already done with their chores.

“Oof!” Cutup winces while pinching his nose. “Someone go rolling around in shit again?”

“Shut up Cutup.” Fives throws his bundles on the pile they’ve created from working all day. Echo hands him a towel.

“I’d hose off before coming back inside if I were you.” Echo says after taking a few steps away from him. Fives starts for the hose before leaning over and rubbing his shoulder against Cutup making sure to spread the manure on his shirt. Fives dashes for the hose before Cutup can catch him. While Fives tries to wash to filth off, he notices a ship leaving the planets atmosphere. He stares after the ship even when it’s out of sight. Fives still remembers life on Kamino. He and his batchmates were young when the war ended but he still remembered what it was like to be trained as a soldier. You live and die for the Republic! Is what they told them. He remembers staying up late to clean the training blasters with his brothers.

“I’m going to be an ARC Trooper one day!” Hevy had said so eagerly.

“Oh yeah? After what I saw today, I don’t think you’ll be fit enough to mop the training rooms floor!” Cutup had laughed.

“I just want to see all the different planets out there.” Echo had added. “Worlds not just made of water and clean pristine buildings. Can you imagine?”

It may be odd, but they were excited for battle. Battle meant leaving Kamino. It meant doing something worth doing. Now look at them. They’ve been working on this farm ever since the war ended. Fives can’t complain though. They had it good compared to what some clones got stuck with. Not everyone was happy about military trained soldiers being let loose into civilization.

“Fives, dinner!” Droidbait calls from the kitchen window. Fives finishes up and heads inside. The smell of stew and the soft glow of candles made the small house feel warm. Cutup and Hevy set the table while Droidbait and Echo finished preparing dinner. Fives starts for the table when a frail hand lands on his shoulder.

“Go on and wash up. I’ll make them wait for ya.” 99 says with a soft smile. 99 is a clone just like them. Except he didn’t come out normal. His back is hunched, and he walks with a limp. Unfit for battle the Kaminoans put 99 to work in sanitation. But he always looked after the younger cadets. Their batch especially. When the war ended 99 was the only who had any real talents that could move on to civilian work. He decided to take their batch in and has raised them since they were boys.

“Thanks, 99.” Fives says before heading for the one bathroom. He showered quickly but scrubbed at his skin being sure to wash all the manure off. When he’s dried off and dressed, he walks back to the main room to find everyone waiting on him. He takes his seat beside Echo.

“Alright everyone, dig in!” 99 says. The house is filled with the sounds of slurping and chewing.

“I got word that the seeds for next harvest came in. Do you want us to pick it up tonight?” Hevy asks. Cutup reaches for the bread on Droidbait’s plate before Droidbait stabs his fork at Cutup’s hand.

“No, that can wait till tomorrow.” 99 says before eating a spoonful.

“We can’t pick it up tomorrow. The post office will be closed and won’t open again for another week.” Echo says while getting another bowl of stew. 99 leans back in his chair thinking.

“I suppose you should go tonight. One of you has to stay here and help do the dishes though.” 99 says while waving his spoon at them.

“Rancor, Jedi, blaster for it?” Hevy asks. Droidbait ends up losing to all four of them and gets stuck with the dishes.

“You have the worst luck, mate.” Cutup nudges him once everyone’s done eating. They pull on their coats and boots preparing for the long walk to town. 99 hands Hevy a pouch of credits.

“Now, don’t forget to tip the postman.” 99 says as they begin walking out the door. “And don’t go down into the canyon!”

“Don’t worry 99!” Fives calls back while they walk down their long drive. Hevy leads the group while Echo messes with his datapad and Cutup hums a song to himself. Fives can’t keep his eyes from looking up at the stars. The sun is setting and it’s easier to make out the starships. While watching one ship go lightspeed he walks right into Hevy’s back.

“Looks like we’re going the long way boys.” Hevy says while staring at the destroyed bridge. They start for the path leading down into the canyon.

“99 specifically said not…” Echo starts before Cutup gives him a shove.

“We know what 99 said. Don’t worry. I’ll hold your hand if you’re scared.” Cutup grins. Echo only walks ahead of him. “You think they did that just because of us?”

“We’re not the only ones living on this side of the bridge, Cutup.” Fives says as they walk deeper into the canyon.

“True but we are the only ones who can’t afford a speeder. Most people can just fly over the canyon.” Echo says not bothering to look up from his datapad.

“Hey, cut the chatter! I thought I heard something.” Hevy says stopping again. They look out at the dark canyon. The sound of air whooshing echoes around them.

“What is that?” Fives asks.

“Don’t forget about those giant eels.” Hevy warns. Fives rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, I’ve never seen one…” Fives starts but stops when a loud growl turns his blood cold. Cutup screams as a giant blur knocks him off the ledge.

“Cutup!” Fives yells. Cutup lands on what he hopes is soft dirt.

“What the hell was that?” Hevy yells.

“Uh, that was an eel.” Echo says plainly. “Now that’s why 99 has the rule not to go down in the canyon.”

“We have to get Cutup!” Fives says before they start running down the path. When they reach Cutup, Fives lowers his ear to his chest. “He’s alive!”

“Good, we have to get him back home.” Hevy starts while helping Fives pull the unconscious Cutup off the canyon floor.

“Great,” Fives grumbles. “Can’t wait to explain this to 99.”

Fives carries Cutup on his back with Hevy in the front and Echo keeping watch at the rear. Cutup gives a groan.

“Hevy, I think Cutup needs a doctor.” Fives says. Hevy stops and stares at him worriedly.

“I think you’re right.” He says after a pause. Hevy starts walking towards the path leading out of the canyon towards town. While walking Fives begins to get an uneasy feeling. He glances over at Echo who seems to feel the same. He starts to say something to Hevy when movement ahead stops them. A group of trandoshans walk out from behind the large boulders scattered about the canyon floor. A short yellow trandoshan walks out appearing to be the leader.

“You thought you could get away from us huh?” he asks as his goons surround them.

“What are you talking about?” Hevy asks. They stand closer together.

“You can’t think I’m that stupid?” The trandoshan snorts. “You think you can take your helmets and armor off and think I’ll fall for this act?”

“Again, what are you talking about?” Fives yells. He stares at the blasters pointed at them. His heart rings in his ears. He struggles to remember what little training he had from Kamino.

“You’ve got the wrong clones!” Hevy yells with his arms outstretched to try and shield Fives and Echo as much as possible.

“Oh, I think we do.” The trandoshan laughs to himself. Fives feels his legs go limp when they raise their blasters. They were going to die.

“Ready, aim, fi—” the trandoshan starts before a canister falls on his head. He winces making his men hesitate. They watch the leader bend down to examine the silver cylinder. “Huh?”

Electricity bursts from one end stunning the leader just as a Mandalorian swings from a wire taking out one of the goons pointing a blaster at Fives and his brothers. Three more Mandalorians drop from the sky firing at the trandoshans. One lands in front of Fives and his brothers shooting with two blaster pistols.

“Take cover!” he yells over his shoulder. Hevy shoves Fives and the Echo towards a boulder. Fives carefully puts Cutup down before popping his head out from the side along with Hevy and Echo to watch the Mandalorians kick the trandoshan asses.

Blaster fire lights up the dark canyon. The first Mando is a solid hitter. His shots hit their mark and when two trandoshans charge at him he’s able to subdue them with ease. The second is quick on his feet and is hard to keep up with. He moves so fast that one trandoshan didn’t even notice the Mando tying a wire around his wrist before it was to late. The Mando shoots into the air with his jetpack stringing the trandoshan with him. He knocks him into the side of the canyon before cutting him loose when he is above the canyon mouth. The third Mando is loud and liked a fight. He throws grenades and fires relentlessly before ultimately getting bored and charging right into a trandoshan and throwing him at one of his buddies. They were all impressive, but nothing compared to the last one. The last one stood calm and confident in front of a group of five trandoshans. He drew his two blasters and hit each of their weapons but leaving the trandoshans unscathed. He moved his left foot back before motioning for them to come at him.

Fives leaned forward completely entranced by the Mando’s fighting skills. The trandoshans let out loud roars before charging. The Mando dodged each of their attacks with small simple movements. He was making taking down five trandoshans at once look easy. When he did start to hit back, he hit back hard. Hevy, Fives, and Echo all winced and went “Ooo!” in sync while watching the Mando break limbs and give punches so hard teeth flew. While he was occupied with his five, Fives notices a stray trandoshan creeping up behind him from the dark. Fives feels his body freeze. A blaster that one of the trandoshans dropped wasn’t to far from him. He stares from the blaster to the sneaking trandoshan.

Move Fives!

He swallows, mustering his courage before starting to step towards the dropped blaster, but not before Hevy runs past him making him freeze again. Hevy grabs the blaster and fires at the trandoshan. The Mando looks back at him before delivering the final blow to the last trandoshan left.

“Report.” He says. The three other Mandalorians walk up to him.

“Hardcase may have lost a few of his last remaining braincells but other then that we’re unscathed.” One says making another Mando start walking towards him before the last one grabs his collar keeping him still.

“Good.” The one that seems to be the leader says. He starts to turn towards Hevy when rumbling shakes the ground. A giant eel shoots out from one of their holes. Fives feels his body freeze up again. In a split second the Mando leader draws one of his blasters and fires a single shot taking the eel down.

“Nice shot.” Hevy says while watching the Mando kneel down to inspect the beast. Fives and Echo slowly walk out from their hiding place. The other Mandos lift their helmets up showing their faces for the first time.

“You’re all clones!” Echo says shocked. The Mando clones grin at each other while the leader stands rubbing the blue blood of the eel between his fingers.

“The names Rex,” The leader Mando says as he takes his helmet off. He has short blonde dyed hair. He was an older clone. Probably actually fought in the war. He walks over and places the hand covered in blue eel blood on Echo’s chest leaving a blue handprint. “Sorry to get you boys mixed up in all this.”

“Are you kidding? This was the most action we’ve ever seen!” Hevy says gesturing to the bodies of the trandoshans.

“That’s a good thing.” The clone with the Republic symbol tattooed on the side of his head says.

“Speak for yourself.” The one next to him chuckles making the last clone with detailed tattoos around his head roll his eyes.

“Are you boys alright?” Rex asks. Fives dashes to Cutup’s side remembering his wounded brother.

“Cutup!” He says checking to make sure he was still alive. One of the Mando clones walks over and sets a bag down next to him.

“Easy, kid. I was a medic in the war.” The clone says. Fives gets out of his way so he can treat Cutup.

“So, what are your names?” Rex asks while they wait.

“I’m Hevy. We call him Fives, and this is Echo.” Hevy says gesturing to each of them. Rex gives a small smile.

“I’m surprised to see a whole batch of you this far out in the system.” He says.

“We got lucky.” Echo shrugs. “We have another brother, Droidbait. But he’s back at the house.”

“Droidbait? You must really hate him.” The clone with the Republic tattoo snorts.

“This is Jesse and Hardcase. Our medic is Kix.” Rex says moving the subject right along. When Kix stands Fives, Echo, and Hevy hold their breath.

“He’ll be fine. No serious injuries. Just needs so rest but he’ll be sore for a couple of days.” Kix explains. Fives and his brothers share a sigh of relief.

“You boys need help getting home?” Rex asks while crossing his arms.

“We got it from here.” Hevy says. Fives starts to pull Cutup on his back again. Hardcase and Jesse walk towards the stunned trandoshan leader.

“Then we’ll be off.” Rex says before putting his helmet back on. This close Fives can make out jaig eyes drawn on the helmet. Once Hardcase and Jesse have a hold of the stunned trandoshan they shoot up out of the canyon on their jetpacks.

They stare after them for a long time before finally starting home. Adrenaline was running through their veins. They couldn’t believe what they just witnessed. When they get back to the farm, they burst through the door startling 99 and Droidbait.

“What’s going on? What happened to Cutup?” 99 asks as Fives sets his brother down on the couch. They tell them everything.

By the time their done talking about the clone Mandos they watch 99 stare at the floor in deep thought. Fives exchanges a look with Echo.

“Are you boys… happy here?” 99 asks throwing them off guard.

“Of course, 99!” Echo says but even as he says it, they all knew it was a lie. It wasn’t that they weren’t grateful for 99 taking them in, it was more of a longing to see more. Do more. 99 looks over at the unconscious Cutup and pats his leg.

“You were bred for war after all. I can’t expect you to be happy with a life of farming.” He sighs. Fives felt a weird pang of guilt. 99 stands and shuffles towards his room. They all exchange looks with each other before 99 returns with a large pouch.

“What’s this?” Hevy asks when 99 hands it to him.

“Credits.” 99 grunts when he takes his seat on the couch across from them.

“99, this is a lot of credits! How did you…?” Fives trails off.

“Call it a trust fund. I knew one day you would all want to leave the farm to start a life for yourself. Like all kids when they grow up. I can see it in each of your eyes. It’s time to go and find what type of life you want to live.” 99 starts. “Seeing those clones in action… it called to you. I know it did because it did to me too all those years ago. Except… well I wasn’t really cut out to be a fighter. You boys are lucky enough to have a choice. I want to make sure you have a chance to make that choice.”

“99…” Hevy starts but stops when 99 holds up a hand.

“Go to Coruscant. A lot of clones chose to stay there after the war. There you might be able to find a clan of your own.” He says giving them smiles. “And if you ever decide that that’s not the life for you then I’ll be here with open arms!”

“99, how can we repay you?” Hevy asks.

“You already have.” 99 says. All at once Fives, Hevy, Echo, and Droidbait leap forward to wrap their arms around 99. 99 lets out a laugh and pats their back. “Go on and get some sleep. You’ll have a lot to tell Cutup when he wakes up in the morning.”