As promised and since you loved the Jedi version of this, here are headcanons, Clones reacting to you giving them friendship bracelets!!! I'll have the mando reacs soon-ish (also a Bad Batch batch (badum tssss))!!
✨Note: This is just for fun, pure chaos, and maximum love for all our Clones faves! These headcanons are soft, silly, and based on vibes, not strict canon—consider this an intergalactic arts-and-crafts hour where feelings are allowed and glitter is the sixth form of lightsaber combat. 💫 Please imagine these with love and an alarming number of beads!
🌈REX
He looks at you like you just handed him a thermal detonator. “...For me?”
You nod. It’s blue, white and gold, and it has tiny beads spelling “CAP” with a little heart.
He’s silent for a long time. Then he takes it, puts it on with deliberate care, and says gruffly,
“I’ll wear it under the gauntlet. No one needs to know.”
Everyone immediately finds out because he rolls up his sleeve constantly now like “oh, this? Battle damage. Weird.”
Secretly touches it for luck before every mission.
🌈FIVES
Loses his mind. Makes it his entire personality.
Immediately yells, “ARE WE BEST FRIENDS NOW? IS THIS LEGALLY BINDING??”
Insists on making you a matching one, except his is completely chaotic with mismatched beads and one that just says “SEXY.”
Wears it proudly. Flashes it at everyone. Takes it off once—to punch a guy—and then apologizes to the bracelet.
🌈ECHO
Tries to play it cool but his ears go pink.
You give him one that says “ECHO” in simple white and black, with a tiny red bead in the middle.
He says, “Thanks… it’s symmetrical.”
He stares at it in his bunk for like an hour before finally putting it on and quietly adjusting it 34 times so it sits perfectly centered.
Pretends to hate how Fives keeps cooing about it. Secretly loves it.
🌈JESSE
“Oh HELL yeah.”
You give him one with Republic colors and a bead shaped like a star.
Immediately stacks it with the rest of his accessories.
Starts calling it “my combat drip.”
Takes it off once, sets it on the table, and FIVES STEALS IT. Jesse starts a manhunt. There is war.
🌈KIX
“You MADE this? For ME??”
Tears up. Literally.
“I’ll treasure this until the end of my days. If I ever flatline, this is what you bury me in.”
Somehow starts using it as a triage ID system: “Red bead means critical. Green bead means just dramatic.”
Definitely adds a little vial of glitter to his medkit labeled “Friendship Power.”
🌈HARDCASE
“You—YOU MADE THIS????? YOU ARE THE MOST TALENTED BEING IN THE GALAXY.”
Hugs you so hard you hear your spine realign.
Immediately loses it.
Finds it two days later in the barrel of a Z-6 rotary blaster. Claims the gun “wanted to feel included.”
Begins making you bracelets in return, except they’re made of spent casings and wires. You wear them all.
🌈TUP
Soft boy. Cries immediately.
You give him one with calming colors and a little moon charm.
He wears it like it’s the most sacred object in the universe.
Sits beside you silently later and makes one for Dogma. Doesn’t say anything. Just gives it to him and walks away.
🌈DOGMA
You give him a black-and-red one that says “LAWFUL GRUMP.”
He tries to refuse. “That’s not regulation.”
You just say “I know,” and pat his arm.
He sulks for three days—then shows up wearing it like nothing happened. Never takes it off again.
If anyone comments on it, he just mutters “shut up” and turns red.
🌈WAXER & BOIL
You give Waxer one that says “Nerra’s Dad 💖” with little pink and orange beads.
He MELTS. Makes one for Numa the next day and sends it to her.
Boil acts like he doesn’t care. “Ugh, bracelets? Seriously?”
...But he’s wearing his (“Grumpy 4 Life”) on his ankle, under his armor.
You catch him adjusting it and he growls “It’s for circulation.”
🌈CODY
Takes it like you handed him a mission report. “Thank you, soldier.”
It’s warm golden tones and says “CODY BEAR.”
You think he’s going to bin it.
Next week, you notice it peeking out from under his glove. It’s neatly tucked, positioned perfectly.
You say nothing. Neither does he.
But one day, he saves your life, looks at you, and just quietly says, “Still wearing it.”
🌈WOLFFE
“Absolutely not.”
You hand it to him anyway. It’s gray, black, with a little angry wolf bead.
He scoffs. “I don’t do jewelry.”
Next day? He’s wearing it on his boot.
Week later? It’s on his wrist.
Month later? He’s made a second one for his armor and acts like it appeared from divine intervention.
🌈 BLY
You give him one in yellow and deep gray, with a sun bead and the word “STEADFAST.”
He just says, “...That’s me.” Real quiet.
Wears it on his dominant wrist like it’s part of his armor now.
One time a Separatist shot at you and he nearly vaporized the whole platform. Later says, “They looked at the bracelet. That was their first mistake.”
🌈 FOX
You give him one with muted reds, armor-gray, and a tiny blaster charm. It says “TOO TIRED 4 THIS.”
He just stares.
Then sighs so deeply it echoes down a corridor.
“…Fine.”
Wears it like a badge of sarcasm. Won’t admit it makes him feel safe.
Still growls at anyone who gets too close to you.
You catch him staring at it once during a quiet moment. He notices, rolls his eyes, and says, “What? It’s regulation now.”
🌈 THORN
“Ohhh, sweetheart, this is art.”
It’s bright red and shiny gold with a heart bead. It says “BLASTER BABE.”
You expect him to laugh. He poses.
Wears it over the glove with full confidence. Points at it before every fight like it’s a battle chant.
Adds a second one you didn’t make that says “BLASTER BAE.”
He says it’s your matching pair. You are not safe from his wink arsenal.
🌈 BACARA
You give him one that says “TANKMODE” in chunky dark beads and reinforced cord.
He stares.
Deadpan: “I will break it.”
You just say, “You won’t.”
He tries to prove you wrong. He does not.
Wears it like a protective talisman now, like it’s the only thing between him and full obliteration mode.
No one is allowed to touch it. Ever.
🌈 GREGOR
You give him one made of like 4 materials because it felt right. It’s lopsided and wild and says “SPICY GREMLIN.”
He laughs so hard he hiccups.
“Aw, you do get me!”
Kisses your forehead. Immediately makes 12 more, all progressively worse in design.
Wears them stacked up to his elbow. Refers to them as his “war trophies of affection.”
🌈 THIRE
You give him a clean, elegant black-red-gold one with “LOYAL AF” in tiny letter beads.
He doesn’t smile—but his posture shifts. Just a little.
He salutes with his wrist turned outward, so people see it.
Keeps it pristine. Cleans it with his armor polish.
One day whispers, “You ever need anything, just say it.” Doesn’t explain. Doesn’t need to.
🌈 JET
You make him one in deep crimson, with one dramatic black bead. It says “COMMANDER DRAMA.”
He is so offended.
“How dare. I am not dramatic.”
Two hours later he kicks down a medbay door screaming “WHERE IS THE ONE WHO INSULTED ME WITH FRIENDSHIP.”
Still wears it. Poses in it. Refers to it as “my symbol of betrayal and love.”
🌈 NEYO
You give him a clean gray and maroon bracelet that just says “NEYO.”
He nods once. Says “Acceptable.”
You think that’s the end of it.
Three days later, he casually says, “The symmetry’s off. I remade it.”
It’s now perfectly coded in morse to say “I trust you.” He will not elaborate.
🌈 COMET (Wolfpack)
Bracelet is all navy and white with a bead shaped like a star. Says “COMET CRASH.”
He screams.
“OH THIS IS SICK—wait—is this foreshadowing??”
Wears it anyway. Makes jokes like “This is my armor. This is my blaster. And this is my bracelet of fate.”
100% uses it as an icebreaker with every new recruit.
🌈 SINKER
You give him one that says “SINK & SLAY” with fish beads.
He sobs. “You remembered I like fish.”
He names each bead. One is “Little Swimmy.”
He won’t fight without it. He says it “balances his ocean soul.”
Absolutely starts a trend in the Wolfpack where everyone gets marine-themed accessories.
🌈 BOOST
You give him one that says “ZOOM ZOOM BABY” with yellow lightning beads.
He says, “That’s a weird way to say ‘I love you,’ but okay.”
Never takes it off. It’s fully faded by month two.
Tries to make you one in return. It says “HOT STUFF” and somehow has a built-in whistle.
He insists it’s “for emergencies.” (He is the emergency.)
🌈 WOLFPACK BONUS:
Wolffe sees all these bracelets appearing and grumbles, “We’re not starting a trend.”
Next week, he’s wearing three.
“They were gifts,” he growls.
No one questions it. They value their lives.
Anyway. The GAR is now the Friendship Bracelet Battalion and you are their beloved chaos commander. Congratulations. You have adopted +34324365464 emotionally stunted, genetically engineered war orphans!!!💕
So I get how clones can get names like Echo, Fives, Hevy or any of the Bad Batch names since they can explain their personalities (or ct number for Fives)
But how do they come up with real names like Gregor, Cody or Jesse
“do you think the moon is jealous of how pretty you are?”
“you make me smile … and also super horny, but that’s not the point.”
warnings: NSFW, 18+ only please. Female reader. Semi-public sex outside, brief mention of p in v sex, fingering, really bad flirting, mutual pining, friends to lovers, fluff.
Masterlist
Gregor knew what he liked as soon as he laid eyes on, the very second you freed him from that cell with Clone Force 99. He didn’t exactly believe in love at first sight initially and had thought that this fleeting feeling would fade away but every second with you was worth a million more.
“Do you think the moon is jealous of how pretty you are?”
The second his voice sings in your ears, an amused glow spreads on your features as you turn around to see him standing behind you. “Smooth, very smooth Gregor.” You tease although your heart raced at his sweet words.
His flirting was always terrible but something you never got tired of hearing. You’ll never forget your favorite one however: ‘do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by again?’
“I try.” He shrugs with a smile, walking to stand by your side as he gazes up at the moon. “What’re you doing out here anyway, gorgeous girl?”
Again, his flirting sends your heart a flutter but you okay it off causally so you don’t make a complete fool of yourself in front of him. Although, he made you feel so at ease that it would probably be impossible to do.
“Just taking in the fresh air. It can get rowdy on the ship sometimes, as you’ve seen.” You chuckle in amusement, making Gregor smile widely. Maker, he loved your laugh.
“True enough. Say, uh, I want to talk to you about something.”
His words are gentle and oddly enough, you had a hopeful feeling you knew what he was going to say. Well, you certainly hoped this flirting hadn’t been for nothing.
“Yeah?” You turn to him, eyes glimmering with a softness and hope that makes his heart melt.
Gregor’s hands begin to sweat a little bit, the nerve wracking thought of you rejecting him making him want to retreat but he has faced a lot of difficulty recently. But is the possibility of rejection somewhat worse?
He didn’t show it really, but he was always nervous around you, often trying not to stutter and trip over his words. But today, he had mustered up the courage to finally tell you how he felt.
“I think you’re beautiful, truly. In a- in a romantic sense.” He gulps, gauging your reaction. You’re grinning and nod for him to continue.
Gregor takes a step forward and doesn’t really process what he says next because as he nervously approaches you, he blurts out,
"You make me smile...and also super horny, but that's not the point.”
He panics for a mere second, seeing your eyes widen at his rather naughty confession. You had to bite back your laughter, sucking on the inside of your cheek as he quickly enabled on.
“The point is, I-I-I have feelings for you." He took a deep breath and looked at you with an intense longing in his eyes.
With your cheeks warming, you could see the nervousness and fear etched in his face, and in that moment, you realised how much this meant to him. Truly, meant to him.
You felt a rush of emotions and without hesitation, you silenced him with a feverish kiss full of lust and passion.
The kiss was electrifying, full of pent-up desires and unspoken words from your part.
So many nights and early mornings you lay awake thinking about this moment and your first kiss with him. You just hadn’t imagined it to be outside with you being pushed up against a tree just by the ship where anyone could see.
Your arms wrapped around him as he pulled you close, deepening the kiss with. Gregor was taken aback at first, but quickly responded with equal fervor and moans against your mouth in pure delight.
The two of you were lost in the moment, caught up in a whirlwind of emotions and sensations. But when you finally pull away, you’re both breathless and smiling from ear to ear.
"I had no idea you felt that way," you whisper against his lips, still caught up in the heat of the moment.
“Really?” He asks, somewhat surprised.
“No, of course I did.” You laugh lightly, a wave of relief washing over Gregor at your teasing.
"I've been too afraid to tell you, well, properly tell you." Gregor replied, his voice filled with repose. "But I couldn't keep it inside anymore. I had to tell you."
“And is it true?” You whispered, voice hinted with subtle desire, “That I make you horny?”
He gulps but nods quickly, especially when he sees the lust become blown in your eyes as you chew on your lower lip.
“Well,” you place a soft kiss to his jaw, moving down towards his neck, “don’t let me stop you from acting upon it.”
A guttural groan spurts out of the Clone and in a matter of moments he has you pinned round the back of the tree, out of vision from others, and has stripped you down to the nude. His lips, tongue and teeth graze every inch of your nude body.
“You’re fucking incredible to look at,” he sighs, biting so hard on his lower lip it almost drew blood. Brown eyes roam your soft breasts, his hand coming up and tweaking over your nipples that made you whine in pleasure as a heat pools in your stomach.
You’re muttering a whole load of nonsense but how can one focus when a handsome man has his hand between your legs, caressing your pussy like an expert that already had you grinding against his fingers. “G-Gregor..”
“That’s it cyare, grind your pussy against my fingers.” He chuckles cockily, kissing your cheek sweetly, however.
You’re submitting to him and it isn’t long until he has you bent over, hands splayed against the tree with your legs spread. His tip pushes inside you, both of you groaning at the pleasure of him filling you up as your juices soak his aching length.
“Beautiful. So beautiful.” He swoons, head tilting back as he adjusts to you, a hand splaying on your waist to offer comfort once he hears you groan in pleasurable pain.
“More, please Gregor.” You sigh in ecstasy and he obeys, beginning to rock his hips. Every inch of him slides in and out of you, both of you heavy panting but keeping your explosive moans at bay in case the others may hear.
Having sex under the moonlight was somehow so poetically beautiful in this moment. He is so gentle with you and as the moon rises, its silver light bathes the planet in a peaceful glow. Under its illumination, the two of you whisper exchange of words, sacred to you and with nobody else to hear.
With the air around you both filled with the sweet fragrance of the night, you will certainly not forget the beauty of this moment.
Masterlist
Prompt List - available until the 10th of February
Summary: Have you ever wondered what transpired at the Battle of Sarrish and what Gregor was thinking while he found out who he really was in the "Missing In Action" episode? Me too. Keep reading to find out!
Pairing: Gregor/OC!Cassia Nu
Warnings: 18+ MINORS DNI; Depression, Violence, Angst
WC: 3.1K
A/N: I know this is two months late and I appreciate your patience. I also appreciate you all loving Cassia like I love her. <3
Gregor isn’t sure how this mission has gone so wrong. Sarrish was supposed to be easy. A quick in and out. Something the Foxtrot group had done hundreds of times before.
“FALL BACK!” Gregor shouts to his men. “FALL BACK!”
Gregor shoots at the Sarrishians that are starting to gain in numbers, looking around for his brothers but only sees Dyer as he’s retreating. Gregor tries shouting to him, but Dyer doesn’t hear him as he gets shot and drops. Gregor wants to shut his eyes, to block out the awful loss he’s suffered today. It’s only him left. There’s no one else.
Except Cassia. He has to keep going. For her.
Cassia’s smile fills Gregor’s mind as he starts running for a ship. It seems empty. Maybe he can escape and fly back to base and alert General Kenobi of what’s happened. Would he be considered a deserter? Surely not.
Gregor gets to the Sarrishian ship as fast as he can, glancing around him to make sure he’s not being followed. As soon as he shuts the door, he makes his way to the cockpit and puts his gun down, starting up the ship as quickly and discreetly as he can. Once he takes off, he starts flying back toward where base is set up. He’d have to tell General Kenobi about how badly the mission went, but maybe he’d be granted leave and he could see Cassia, if even only for a few days at most. It would be better than dying here on the battlefield.
All of a sudden there’s a cold metal pressed up against Gregor’s throat and he quickly realizes it’s a knife. Someone must have been onboard and he missed them.
Kriff, Gregor thinks as he struggles against the Sarrishian.
The Sarrishian says something in his native tongue but Gregor doesn’t understand Sarrishian. He tries to lurch the ship forward and up as he heads toward space. The Sarrishian falls back to the back of the cockpit, struggling against the wall. Gregor clicks his seatbelt into place and grabs his gun and shoots the Sarrishian.
As luck would have it, the ship starts getting shot at. Gregor rolls his eyes, cursing to himself. He starts flying toward the next planet, which he thinks is Abafar, if he remembers quickly.
All of sudden, when he reaches Abafar’s atmosphere, a huge explosion takes out the hull of the ship, causing the ship’s alarm to go wild.
“How the hell do they have the technology for that?” Gregor starts pushing buttons, and prepares for impact. “Good thing I can handle a rough landing I guess.”
When Gregor hits the ground, he’s proven wrong as his head gets slammed against the dash and everything goes black.
When Gregor wakes up, he isn’t sure where he’s at and why he is where he is.
Cassia wakes up with a start, finding her cheeks wet as she cups her own cheeks. It’s been eight months and she still can’t sleep well. Nightmares of Gregor being taken from her haunt her every single night.
She tried therapy for a while, but felt that she was getting nowhere. She tried the tricks that the therapist offered but nothing worked.
Cassia looks at the alert tooka next to her, staring at her with wide, concerned eyes.
“I’m okay, Wedge.” She pets his head and he makes himself comfy in her lap as she wipes her eyes and cheeks, breathing deeply, trying to calm herself.
There’s a rattle on the doorknob to her room and momentarily, Cassia’s heart clenches, hoping for him, even though she knows it’s Mara on the other side. She doesn’t think she’ll ever stop hoping for Gregor.
Mara walks in, sitting on the bed, next to her.
Since Mara lives there now, she doesn’t bother knocking. Mara moved in after a couple weeks of not knowing if Cassia was okay. She wouldn’t answer the phone, open the shop, or leave the apartment. The only thing she’d been able to do is take care of Wedge.
Things are relatively back to normal now. Except Mara doesn’t bring Dyer around, which Cassia feels terrible about. Mara shouldn’t have to hide any part of herself from Cassia. This is Mara’s first real relationship in so long.
“Do you want breakfast?” Mara asks.
Cassia shakes her head.
“Then, let’s go for a walk, hm?” Mara gives a sympathetic smile.
Cassia knows this trick. If she won’t eat, then she has to leave the apartment and get some sunlight.
“Okay.” Cassia sighs.
“I’ll put Wedge in his harness.” Mara squeezes her hand before picking up the Tooka and walking out of the room.
Cassia lies back down for a second before Mara’s voice fills the room from the doorway. “No laying back down.”
Cassia rolls her eyes, amused, and sits back up. She could do it today. Possibly. Getting out of bed, she throws on a sweater and pants. Looking in the mirror, she sees just how tired she looks. Puffy eyed, constantly. She’s aware she needs to get it together. But for now, puffy eyes and a sweater is all she can manage.
When Cassia finally emerges from her room, Mara greets her with a cup of caf, holding her hairbrush.
“You sit and drink, I brush.” Mara gives her a reassuring smile, guiding her to the couch.
The sun starts peeking through the living room curtains and Cassia watches the silhouette of the Coruscant skyline as Mara brushes her hair while she drinks her caf.
“You should invite Dyer to go with us.” Cassia murmurs, looking at Mara in the mirror in front of her.
Mara’s hands falter slightly and then continue brushing. “We broke up.”
“What?” Cassia pulls away to look back at Mara.
“It wasn’t working out.” Mara lies.
Cassia knows when Mara lies and Mara knows that Cassia knows. That’s when Cassia realizes it's because of her.
“Mara…”
“Cash, don’t worry. It was a friendly breakup. I can comm him anytime I want.” She squeezes Cassia’s shoulder. “Now, finish your caf so we can go.”
Cassia turns around and looks at Mara’s reflection in the mirror. She’d been so absorbed by her own grief, she didn’t even notice her best friend’s breakup.
“Mar… I’m so sorry.” She murmurs.
“Don’t be. Now, drink.” She kisses Cassia on the top of the head and starts braiding Cassia’s hair.
You have to be better, Cassia tells herself, you can’t shut down again.
The park that they go to isn’t the one that he took her to. It’s a different one. A closer one to the apartment. It’s surprisingly busy for an early morning and Cassia allows herself to take in the morning sun, realizing how good it feels on her skin. She didn’t realize how badly she needed this.
“Feels good, right?” Mara teases her.
“Yes.” Cassia rolls her eyes, smiling.
It was the first time in a long time that she actually smiled. She missed the feeling. Maybe things can start going back to a relative normal.
“Here. Eat this.” Mara pulls a sandwich out of her bag and hands it to Cassia.
The action may seem so small to someone else, but to her, it was everything. Mara was the only person she had left and she never stopped looking out for her, even when Cassia became difficult to be around.
“I love you.” Cassia rests her head on Mara’s shoulder.
“I love you too. No matter what.” Mara pats her leg.
Cassia sits up and starts eating the sandwich. It was delicious as always. Mara was the better cook of the two, for sure.
“Mm.” Cassia hums.
“I knew you were hungry.” Mara smirks.
“Glad you did, because I didn’t.” Cassia looks down at Wedge sitting patiently at their feet, watching all the people going by.
Mara was more than just her best friend or business partner. She was her sister. Her family.
Abafar, Outer Rim
“Gregor, take the garbage out, it’s getting smelly! Do you not smell that?” Gregor’s boss, Borkus shouts at him.
“Oh, sorry, Borkus. I was finishing up the last of the dishes.” Gregor apologizes, quickly going to grab the garbage pail underneath Borkus’ grill station.
“Be quick about it. Table three is almost done.” Borkus barks.
“Sure thing, boss.” Gregor nods, heading toward the back door of the diner.
He’d been working since early that morning for the breakfast rush and he was already exhausted. Borkus had been running him like a droid.
Hm. Not a bad idea, a service droid, he thinks to himself as he dumps the pail over the other garbage.
“UGH!” Gregor hears below him.
Gregor steps back, concerned, finding an angry looking Zilkan glaring up at him as he wipes the trash off of himself.
“Oh, uh, I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there.” Gregor apologizes, feeling terrible. “Look, I could get you some food, but uh, normally people come in the front door. But there's no problem.”
The Zilkan stares up at him, squinting tightly, trying to get a look at him. Gregor’s still confused.
“You do know that you’re eating garbage, right?” Gregor asks, gesturing toward the piled up trash behind the Zilkan.
The Zilkan tosses the stale bread aside and points up at him. “You’re a clone.”
“Excuse me?” Gregor asks. “Uh… I- I wouldn’t know about that. My- my name’s Gregor. Uh, wait. What’s a clone?”
The Zilkan climbs up on the dumpster to jump over onto Borkus’ trash pail to get a good look at Gregor. As soon as he meets him at eye level, he grabs Gregor’s face and pulls it toward him. It’s incredibly uncomfortable and very confusing. This man is acting like he knows Gregor. And what the hell is a clone?
The Zilkan exampines Gregor’s face, looking in each eye before pulling away.
“You are a clone.” The Zilkan laughs. “Are you working undercover?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Gregor insists.
“Listen to me, soldier.” The little guy continues. “Whatever your assignment is, it can’t be more important than mine.”
“It is his first real mission.” The WAC-47 droid speaks up, obviously irritating his counterpart. “He is just a map reader.”
Gregor looks between the two of them. Where the hell did these guys come from?
“Don’t listen to that ignoramus!” The Zilkan shouts. “You are a clone and a soldier in the Republic Army, and I order you to take me to your ship. We need to get back to Coruscant immediately.”
Now, it’s just getting too weird. This man must be off his rocker. What Army? What ship? And he still doesn’t know what the hell a clone is.
“Uh, look friend, I was just trying to help. I’m sorry if you took it the wrong way.” Gregor lowers the pail gently to let the Zilkan down.
“I do not think that soldier believes you are a colonel, uh, colonel.” The droid salutes at the Zilkan.
All of a sudden, Borkus’ loud angry voice fills the back area, “Gregor! Get back to work!”
“Uh, excuse me, I gotta go.” Gregor stands back, giving the two little guys an apologetic look. “I don’t wanna lose my job.”
Gregor walks back into the diner, closing the door behind him, still confused.
At the end of the shift, Borkus and Gregor lock up the diner. It was a long day and Gregor was still thinking about what the Zilkan had said to him.
“So, uh, Boss… you know, I was just wondering…” Gregor scratches the back of his head.
“No, you can’t have a raise, Gregor.” Borkus shakes his head, locking the door to the diner, before waving him off.
Gregor follows him toward their apartments. “Oh… no, no, no… I- I don’t want a raise, sir. I- I just wanted to know, what’s a clone? Someone told me I was a clone today. They insisted.”
“Ha. A clone?” Borkus laughs. “Clones fight battles across the galaxy. They are brave soldiers. Does that sound like you?”
Borkus really wasn’t a nice guy, but he had given Gregor a job and helped pay his rent. He’s not in a position to challenge the man.
“You’re a dishwasher, Gregor. Forget about clones or anything like that.” Borkus grabs Gregor by the shoulder. “You have good life here, a simple life. More than you had when Borkus found you.”
Borkus folds his arms as if he’s disappointed in Gregor.
“I- I know, sir. And I appreciate everything that you’ve done, believe me. But I- I thought maybe you could tell me… how… How did I get here? Where did you find me?”
Gregor has tried and tried and tried again to remember just exactly how he got here, but he can’t. He figured something must have happened to make his memory this bad, right? Did he hit his head or something?
“Enough questions.” Borkus turns away. “Go home. Sleep. Come back tomorrow. Do your job.”
Gregor hangs his head in slight shame. He didn’t mean to upset his boss. Honestly, he just needed answers. Anything.
“I don’t want to hear that word “clone” again, Understand?” Borkus asks before walking off toward his home.
It’s just become more obvious that Borkus isn’t telling Gregor something. What it is, he doesn’t know yet. But, he knows he’s going to try to find out.
When Gregor gets home, he goes straight to the fridge to take a swig of wine that Milane, the woman next door, had gifted him a week ago for being a good neighbor and getting her tooka off the roof. He had told her it wasn’t a big deal but she insisted on repaying him somehow and while he appreciated the gesture, he was pretty sure if he didn’t take the wine, she was going to offer something else, something he wasn’t interested in.
He grabs his book out of his bag and looks at it, running his fingers down the cover before opening it like he always does, finding a heart next to the name Cassia and a wilted flowery weed braid that was clearly a bracelet at some point. Who Cassia was, he has no idea but he liked the heart and the way she signed her name. It was swirly and feminine and somehow with the flowery bracelet, it all felt so… personal?
All of a sudden, there’s a man in the room… “Captain Rex, reporting for duty.”
No, not a man… It’s Gregor? Without hair? He looks around, confused. “What-”
Gregor realizes it’s a hologram and steps toward it, cautiously, running his hand through it, still alert and confused. “I… I don’t understand… that’s me?”
“No, that’s Captain Rex.” Gregor hears the Zilkan’s voice behind him. “He’s a clone of the Republic Army. Just like you, Gregor.”
“I can’t believe it.” Gregor looks back at the clone captain, full of even more questions.
A little bit later, after Gascon, the Zilkan, and his droid friends try to explain to Gregor what he is and where he’s from. He’s reeling, trying to keep up.
“Okay… Slow down, slow down.” Gregor tries to keep up. “So, you’re telling me that there are more of these clones?”
“Millions. A whole army’s worth.” The spunky little WAC-47 droid chimes in.
“Uh-huh…” Gregor scratches his chin. “And they all look exactly like me?”
“No, those clones are warriors, professional soldiers created by the Republic, trained to fight, and die, if necessary, in our war against the Separatists. They’re not dishwashers living in some vermin-infested hovel.” Gascon tells him, firmly, clearly trying to get him to remember who he is.
“Look, I’m lucky to live in this place. Mr. Borkus says my salary doesn’t even begin to cover the rent, so he pays the difference for me.” Gregor turns around, looking at the book, flipping open the cover page to look at Cassia’s name again.
He can’t help but start to wonder… were you a part of his former life? Were you someone he knew? If so… did you miss him terribly or think that he was dead?
“Don’t you get it, Gregor?” Gascon asks him, “You’re his slave… We need to figure out who you really are, how you got here… Are you sure you really don’t remember anything?”
“All I remember is waking up on a transport.” Gregor replies. “Somehow, we crashed on Abafar. And, well… Mr. Borkus says I have amnesia.”
“Hmm…” Gascon nods. “Every clone has an identifying code on their wrist. Your military records will be in the database. Scan him, R2.”
The blue and white astromech rolls toward Gregor, and he sits down and holds out his wrist so R2 can scan him easier. This was all still so overwhelming to Gregor. He wasn’t just some dishwasher… He was a soldier.
R2 projects an ID and Gascon moves over for a better look.
“Impressive. Gregor, your designation is CC-5576-39. You were a captain and part of an elite squad. A clone commando.” Gascon tells him. R2 beeps and the projection goes away. “Your file says you were reported missing in action during the Battle of Sarrish.”
Gascon lowers his head, placing his hand over his heart and the droids all beep with sadness. The Battle of Sarrish…
“Sarrish… Sarrish…” that sounds so familiar… “Wait… What was the Battle of Sarrish?”
“It was one of the Republic’s most devastating losses…” Gascon tells him.
“Sarrish…” Gregor mumbles again, starting to feel a picture piece itself together in the back of his mind. It still seems so groggy… yet so familiar.
His men. His brothers… all dropping… the Sarrishians out numbering them… Gregor running toward a ship… Flying the ship… and then crashing… It all starts to make itself known… after all this time.
“Yes… now I remember…” Gregor sighs. “So many soldiers were dying…”
“Do you remember how you escaped Sarrish?” Gascon murmurs.
Gregor tells him about trying to get away from the Sarrishians so that he could warn the General. He was so close and then they chased him to Abafar. He mentions all the bodies… the bodies of his brothers… how they were everywhere. And then he looks at the book in his hands again.
Slowly… a picture of a young woman with beautiful brown eyes appears in his memory. Cassia. He remembers her. He remembers her smile. He remembers her eyes. He remembers her laugh. He remembers Wedge. He remembers laying in bed with her. Tears immediately spring to Gregor’s eyes as he starts to remember again.
He needs to get back to Cassia as soon as possible.
