Hang in with me, this is going to be a long author's note, but you need to read this.

PLEASE READ!!!!!

Two changes have been made to the storyline!

A) Ahsoka does have a father. I will go back and change this. For one, I've realized that it is way too similar to Anakin's story. Additionally, I'm supposed to be emphasizing that Ahsoka is naturally the Chosen One, and not created by Sidious like Anakin was.

B) Her age might change. I'm trying to work out the logistics, so pay attention for future updates for when I do announce her age. I'm just trying to make everything work with the Clone Wars and upcoming events.

Thank you for reading! Sorry the update has taken so long lol, but I think the chapter length makes it worth it. (With the A/N we're over 6000 words lmao)

"Come at me, Skyguy," Ahsoka taunted, readjusting her grip on her training saber. Both Shaak and Obi-Wan stood attentively in the corner, genuinely intrigued on what the outcome of the spar was going to be.

"Anakin's obviously going to win," Obi-Wan commented with a shrug. "He's been practicing for much longer. She's only been with you for a few weeks."

The Togruta kept her lips pursed. Cockiness was a trait she chose not to emulate. If her padawan was ready to surpass Anakin in his combat, then so be it. If not, there was nothing to be upset about.

"You're on, Snips," he jeered, powering on his weapon and charging forward. His first slash was admittedly reckless; Ahsoka was easily able to sidestep and pivot to face her opponent. He steadied himself and took a shot again, this time much more calculated and precise. The Togruta was quick to deflect it, but he foresaw this and swiftly transitioned into the next move. The duel continued like this for several moments: Anakin mostly on the offensive while Ahsoka blocked his attacks.

"Her form is off," Obi-Wan noted, stroking his beard. "Would you like my assistance in teaching her lightsaber combat? I know it took Anakin a while to catch on to the proper techniques."

"Her form is plenty correct," Shaak shot down admonishingly. "Watch... her moves are all exact. She fights with a backwards grip. I'm not certain where she picked it up from, but she's extremely efficient with it. I wouldn't bother changing something that works so fluently with her fighting style."

The human Jedi Master observed the Togruta's movements more closely. Shaak had been right; Ahsoka's technique was entirely accurate, save for the grip.

Ahsoka grunted from exertion as their rally continued. She wasn't really sure what she had been expecting, given that Anakin had been practicing for much longer than her and was the so-called 'Chosen One'. After several minutes of sparring, Anakin was gaining the upper-hand and perspiration had begun to form on her forehead.

The Togruta noticed a weak spot in Anakin's defenses and smirked. Being caught up in the heat of the fight, he hadn't taken into consideration that the training saber wasn't the only weapon she had. Ahsoka took a firm stance, then harshly swung her foot up from the ground and kicked him in the ribs.

Anakin exhaled sharply from the impact and staggered back several steps. When his gaze rose up to meet Ahsoka's once more, it was now laced with both shock and anger. Who did she think she was? Just kicking him in the stomach like that...

He wasn't prepared in the slightest for Ahsoka to cartwheel forward, then bring the heels of her boots down onto his face and use the momentum to slam him onto the ground. The Togruta pushed off of his head and cleanly landed behind him, slightly surprised herself that her tactic actually worked.

"That's... impressive," Obi-Wan admitted with an intrigued smile.

"I don't even know where she got that from either," Shaak breathed in confusion, turning to face the other master. "I haven't worked with her on maneuvers like that. Acrobatics is extremely difficult for me to perform with my montrals and lekku."

In her excited state, the Togruta hadn't noticed Anakin's quick recovery and counterattack. The padawan lunged and tackled her from behind, which roughly tossed her to the ground. She wiggled around to face Anakin, who was pinning her down with a smirk. "Yield."

Ahsoka grinned as she remembered her most recent lesson with her master. Knowing very well that Shaak was expectantly waiting for her to display her new knowledge, Ahsoka twisted her legs around Anakin's and rolled over. He was thrown to the ground while she towered over the top of him. "No, I don't think I will."

The Togruta hadn't anticipated the boy to easily push her off and stand up. Given that she weighed half as much as he did, it hadn't even taken him that much strength from him. She jumped up and reengaged in the training saber combat.

Anakin broke out into a smile as he noticed Ahsoka's endurance faltering. Not only did his age and size grant him extra strength, but added durability as well. In one movement, he twisted her weapon out of her hand and shoved her to the ground.

The Togruta hissed in discomfort and immediately attempted to stand back up, but he pressed his boot into her chest and shoved her back down. "One wrong move and your lungs are crushed, youngling."

Ahsoka discretely outstretched her hands and called not only hers, but Anakin's saber to her. With both ignited, she pointed them at her opponent. "One wrong move and that leg is no longer yours, brainless grandpa."

A heated stare-off pursued between the two as neither budged. Seeing that this was going nowhere, Obi-Wan stepped out of the corner and cleared his throat.

"That's enough for today, padawans. Both of you should be proud of yourself."

"You're saying that was a tie?" Anakin exclaimed in bewilderment.

"Indeed. Is there an issue with that?" Shaak asked, tilting her head in amusement. Anakin's temperament hadn't changed from the first time Ahsoka met him– confident, bold, and occasionally rash.

"But I'm more skilled than Ahsoka!" He argued. The Togruta stood up, throwing her hands on her hips and shooting Anakin a nasty glare that said 'oh really?'.

"If that was so, you wouldn't get two lightsabers pointed at you. Stay humble, my padawan," Obi-Wan reminded Anakin. "Now come, we've got some matters to attend to. I'll see you later, Master Ti."

"And you, Master Kenobi," Shaak returned. She silently watched the pair leave the room, then turned to Ahsoka. The younger Togruta sighed in shame, the edges of her lips curling down in indignification. She knew that Shaak was disappointed in her. Whose master wouldn't be? Tying simply wasn't good enough! She needed to win for her master to be proud of–

"Ahsoka, I can't begin to describe how proud I am," Shaak congratulated, a large beam shining across her face.

Ahsoka's train of thoughts abruptly screeched to a halt and she looked up at her master in confusion. "But... I didn't win?"

"You don't need to," the older Togruta attested. "There are times in life where winning will be close to impossible. It's the valiant effort that you put into everything you do that matters. And you, my padawan, have exhibited this drive."

The padawan stayed silent for an elongated moment as she contemplated Shaak's words. It was a little difficult for her to completely comprehend the entire meaning, but she forced herself to remember this message. She had a... feeling she would need it when she grew older.

"Can we train, Master? So I can beat the next padawan I spar?" Ahsoka asked eagerly, taking her master's previous words into little account. Even though the older Togruta had insisted that her tying was plenty enough, she still felt it was necessary to prove that she could win.

Shaak chuckled at Ahsoka's ambition, but slowly shook her head. "I'm pleased to see that you're so invested in your combat skills, but we have other matters to attend to today. I'm sure you'll find it most intriguing."

Without further explanation, Shaak strode off. Ahsoka's young, curious mind was brimming with questions, although she knew better than to pester her master about them so obediently trailed behind her.

"So, Padawan... ever been to Kamino?"

«–«–«–«–«

"Couldn't we have come on a sunnier day?" Ahsoka frowned as they stepped out into the rain. After growing up on the bright planet of Shili, she had grown to dislike dreary weather. The sticky, damp feeling that smothered her skin was incredibly discomforting.

"There's hardly a sunny day on Kamino," Shaak laughed, sparing a small grin at Ahsoka's gruntled persona. "You'll get used to it. I know I felt the same way about rain when I was your age."

"So what exactly are we doing here?" The young Togruta asked, looking away from Shaak just long enough so she could safely enter the building. As soon as they had gone through the doors, she proceeded to stare back up at the Togruta in admiration.

"You'll see. But first, I'd like to introduce you to the beings I have been working with. Padawan, meet the Kaminoans. They are the masterminds behind all of the fine work that has been put into this base."

"You are too kind, Master Jedi," a voice spoke up. The feminine tone to the voice trickled like honey, the pace slow and steady.

Ahsoka turned around, only for her vision to be met with tall, white creatures. Their necks were the thing that piqued her attention the most: long, pale, and disproportionately sized to the rest of their body. The clothes they wore made them look incredibly regal and sophisticated.

"Hello there! I'm Padawan Tano," Ahsoka greeted with a large grin, extending her hand out to them. The Kaminoans watched her hand intently, as though unsure what the Togruta was asking them to do.

"Different social customs," Shaak explained to both parties, gently pushing Ahsoka's hand back down. "So, shall we go see the progress being made?"

"Certainly, Master Ti." The alien led Shaak and Ahsoka down the corridors of the pristine building.

Every inch of the structure shone with radiance and brilliance. The decor and color scheme perfectly aligned with their character– ghost white, untarnished, and modern.

The hall opened up into one large room, yielding huge systems of machinery Ahsoka had never seen before. Some of which were even dealing with what appeared to be human fetuses. There were also hundreds of tan-skinned men and boys with black hair milling around. It was almost unnerving how similar their physiques looked.

Ahsoka was able to mostly shrug off the concern that was rising about their appearance, but then several of them turned to face her. In a panic, she squeaked and stumbled backward into Shaak. The color was draining from her face rapidly and her heartbeat was frantic.

"It's alright, Padawan. You may relax."

Relax?! How was she supposed to calm down when identical people were staring at her? Even their facial features were indistinguishable from one another. There had to be something wrong with her eyesight...perhaps she hadn't slept enough the night before...

"They're clones. They all originate from the same DNA."

"Clones?" Ahsoka echoed. She vaguely remembered learning something about the word from when she was younger. "How is that possible?"

"Through the world of advanced, mesmerizing technology," Nala Se answered, a fond smile spreading across her face. These clones were her creation, and she was more than proud of them.

"Can I meet them?" Ahsoka asked excitedly, abruptly abandoning her state of horror and fright. Would they all have the same voice? The same personality?

"Certainly. Master Ti, which age range shall we attend to first?"

"I'd like to see the newest foundlings. I've heard they appear to be much more developed than the last tier," Shaak responded, shifting her glance away from the older clones and to the Kaminoan. The alien nodded subtly before turning and leading them to the foundling sector.

"Do you name all of them?" Ahsoka questioned, her innocent, child-like curiosity shining through. "How would you even be able to name all of them? Or tell them apart?"

"They receive numbers," Nala Se coolly replied. "Their comrades can come up with nicknames for each other if they choose, but higher-ranking individuals are to announce them by number."

"Huh," Ahsoka mumbled inquisitively. While the idea of clones simply being referred to as numbers didn't sit easy on her morality, she forced herself to shrug it off and peer back up to Shaak. "Master, what if I got a nickname from the clones?"

"I'm not sure, Padawan. That would be quite an honor," Shaak casually replied to entertain her.

"I hope it'll be something cool. Not a lame name like Snips."

"Or Skyguy," Shaak chuckled. "Your reactions with young Skywalker can prove to be quite amusing."

"And annoying," Ahsoka groaned. "He's so stubborn."

"And you're not?"

The younger Togruta remained silent, her lips pressed together in contemplation. Her master was right: both of them shared some attributes. Whether she liked it or not, she and Anakin were similar in many ways.

"We've arrived," the Kaminoan announced, acting slightly repulsed by their relaxed conversation.

Shaak and Ahsoka carefully stepped into the room. Cradles upon cradles were lined up in neat rows, all occupied by identical baby clones exhibiting the same clothing. Ahsoka had to admit it; they were absolutely adorable. "Wait a minute," Ahsoka paused, narrowing her focus in on one particular child that stood out. "What about this one?"

"C-7567?" The Kaminoan clarified.

"Um..." Ahsoka trailed off, reading the tag attached to the crib of the peculiar child, "...7567. Yep, that's him." She affirmed, popping the 'p' in yep.

The Kaminoan grunted in distaste as she walked over to the crib as well. "He's... a malfunction of sorts. His blonde hair is a defect... or mutation. We have him under close surveillance in the case that something else was to be off about him."

Ahsoka's lips formed into a scowl at the coldness of the Kaminoan's voice. She treated CT-7567 as if he was damaged merchandise that she should be ashamed of. If anything, they should be marveling at his uniqueness! Surely his pale hair would be useful for distinguishing him from all the others.

The Togruta inched closer to the cradle, locking eye contact with the baby. Electric blue and honey brown intertwined in curiosity, almost communicating without words. Even though neither knew each other, it's almost as though there was an inevitable connection that they shared amongst them. Whether it was in a different lifetime, past, or future, Ahsoka had or will meet the clone. The feeling was simply perplexing.

"Hey there," Ahsoka cooed, holding her hand out to the child. Ever so slowly, he raised his tiny fingers up towards hers. Then, in a scene almost majestic, he curled his index finger and thumb around one of her fingers.

The second their skin came in contact, Ahsoka was sent into a partially-painful trance. Visions of blaster fire, lightsabers, white and blue armor, and smoke crashed into her senses. It felt as though she was there herself... she could hear, smell, and see everything for herself. Even the vibrations of explosions that were echoing through the air harshly crashed against montrals. However, what most captivated her attention, were the two figures that were centered in all of the attention. One of them was easily identified as an older version of herself, while the other wore the face of a clone.

Both moved in perfect sync, well-versed in each of their combat techniques and using them to complement the other. Blasts were fired and deflected with unmatchable precision and efficiency, almost in a dance-like method. When she caught sight of the clone's short-cut blonde hair, a smile cracked across her face. It was the one and only C-7567, mutations and all.

That expression was wiped from her face the moment she realized something. There was a flaw in the dyad's defenses. Even though they both had each others' backs, there was still a small area that neither could see, and that was precisely where a droid was standing, blaster raised. Ahsoka screamed in terror as the trigger was pulled, releasing the deadly blast of ammunition that neither saw coming.

"Watch out!" She cried out, racing forward. A lump formed in the back of her throat when she was harshly reminded that this was just a vision. She couldn't move. It was impossible to save them.

The blast was projected to tear straight through the clone's chest, yet both were still oblivious. She could only observe in dismay as the bolt sailed closer, undeniably on the path to killing the blond.

So we grow up together, only to be torn apart by death? Ahsoka thought to herself bitterly. That was a wonderful view to start their friendship with.

Right before the shot tore through C-7657's armor, a hooded figure presumably fell from the sky and landed protectively in front of the two, igniting its soft blue lightsaber and deflecting the blast.

Ahsoka didn't even care who the figure was; the only thing that mattered to her was that the clone was safe. A shaky breath of relief tumbled out of her mouth that she didn't even realize she was holding. However, her comfort was short-lived, as she was abruptly torn from the vision and thrown back into reality. This resulted in the young Togruta accidentally staggering into the cradle, trying to regain the rest of her air.

"-Padawan? Is everything alright?" Shaak questioned in concern, rushing to the girl's side. The Kaminoan stood silently a few feet away, almost looking on in intrigued interest. Anything that could potentially be gathered to study clone behavior, improvements, or even simply the ways of the Jedi were necessary for evolving the clones into the perfect soldiers.

"I'm okay, Master," Ahsoka assured her, despite the fact that she wasn't so determined herself. What had she and the clone been doing? Why were there droids attacking them? Who was their cloaked savior?

Shaak frowned, sensing Ahsoka's uneasiness that was rippling off of her Force signature. With a strong tone, she insisted, "We'll discuss this later."

Ahsoka nodded slowly, but she was far from remaining silent. The Togruta pivoted curtly to the Kaminoan and pressed, "What are the clones for?"

The alien's pale, rigid face looked to Shaak for permission. When the Jedi Master gave a slight dip of her head in approval, the Kaminoan began speaking.

"Tensions have been... uneasy in recent years between the Republic and the activists. While it may seem unlikely to the public eye, war appears to be coming in the near future. The Republic must be ready to extinguish any attempts of terrorism and rebellious activity before it can evolve into full-fledged assaults."

The young girl was apprehensive about this information. What activists were they speaking of? Besides, raising an entire army just to scare people into submission simply didn't rest easy with her.

"We should move on to the older cadets," Shaak suggested, interrupting Ahsoka's fleeting thoughts. "Their training is detrimental at this phase. Any generation could be the generation to be drafted to war."

"Then we shall continue our progress check," the Kaminoan agreed, proceeding to retrace her path back to the corridor. Shaak followed, overly-zealous to check in on the clones that she often considered to be her own at times, although Ahsoka hesitated by C-7567's crib.

"Can I stay a bit longer with him, Master?" Ahsoka pleaded, gently tugging on Shaak's robes and batting her eyelashes. While the matured Togruta couldn't help but crack a smile at Ahsoka's antics, she shook her head.

"I'm sure you'll be equally captivated by the older clones," Shaak insisted, turning to face the exit once more.

"But you don't understand," she argued with a small whimper, mostly to herself. With great reluctance, she stepped back to the crib to bid her goodbyes, but an idea struck her. A playful smirk danced across her lips and a mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes.

If I can't stay with the clone, then perhaps the clone can stay with me.

Much to the babbling baby's delight, Ahsoka hoisted him out of the crib and entangled his tiny body in her arms. In delicate motions, she wrapped his blankets around him, albeit her work was a little sloppy and wrinkled. He was admittedly heavy for her frail arms, and the extra weight on her wounds caused excruciating pain for her. So, remembering back to the Togrutan mothers that used to walk around the village center with their newborns, she replicated their stances and shifted the clone to her side. The majority of him was supported by her hip bone and her left arm snaked around his waist, holding him close to her. With a soft grunt of exertion, she was able to correctly prop him up, perfectly emulating the mothers.

C-7567 giggled uncontrollably as Ahsoka jogged back to her master, causing him to bounce up and down in rhythm with her steps.

"Ahsoka–" Shaak light-heartedly scolded, pressing her fist to her lips in amusement. "Fine. Although I'm warning you– he's going to get heavy."

The Togruta shrugged, perfectly content with holding her little friend close. His presence was soothing to her, somewhat mimicking the same serenity that being with Embala provided.

While her master was perfectly at ease with their interactions, Nala Se was more apprehensive.

"Master Jedi, are you certain that this," she paused, gesturing to the pair of children who were currently observing the cloning technology, "isn't an infringement on your Code?"

"Don't be rash," Shaak replied, brushing off the Kaminoan's concern. "They've only just met. She's simply fascinated with the clones. I remember acting so whenever I encountered my first clones. Her interest will phase out eventually."

The pale, lanky alien didn't look convinced, but Shaak was already moving on from the conversation. Her long, graceful stride was difficult for Ahsoka to keep up with, so she was left to shuffle behind the Master Jedi hastily, C-7567's head bouncing up and down.

"The mess hall," the blanched creature gestured to the room on their left. Large, pristine panes of glass were the only thing separating them from the hundreds, if not thousands, of clones milling about. The men came in all ages: some younger than Ahsoka and some that even had flecks of silver in their hair. Most of which were consuming... questionable food and beverages, but there were the occasional few that were just conversing amongst each other. One even made a decent joke, causing laughter to spread amongst the clones in a rippling effect.

Their booming chuckles didn't stir fright in the girl at all– no, it was rather the opposite. The loud, partly obnoxious laughter brought comfort to her and eased nerves she didn't even realize were bothering her. Much like the small child that was cradled in her tanned arms, their presence was almost tranquilizing. Perhaps their personalities reminded her of her warm, sunny home planet... or maybe it was just the Force foretelling her of the future she would share with clones.

"Would you look at that. They've noticed the young Jedi," the Kaminoan noted aloud, her voice lacking emotion entirely. Ahsoka certainly wouldn't be surprised if the aliens were just droids designed to look like animate beings.

By now, rows of clones had looked up from their conversations and meal rations, entirely intrigued. The only outsiders they had seen beside the Kaminoans were Shaak, who visited on a regular basis, and Obi-Wan Kenobi when he had first encountered the base. Ahsoka, on the other hand, was dressed entirely foreign and was much smaller than Shaak and Obi-Wan. Also, if they were being quite honest, she was absolutely adorable.

Once they were able to get past the sight of the young Togruta, they were even more perplexed about the swindle of clothing that was propped up against her hip. Upon closer inspection, they were able to identify it as their younger kin.

"Meg's laam ti ibac?" One of the clones with gray-flecked hair questioned. After receiving the confused silence from the younger brothers that surrounded him, he laughed and translated to Basic. "What's up with that?"

"Beats me."

Ahsoka could've felt their probing stares from a parsec away, though she chose to not let it bother her. Let them stare all they want; the Togruta was simply happy to be in the presence of C-7567.

By now they had rounded a turn and were walking through a hall similar to that of a breezeway. The corridor then opened into a viewing room that gave the four complete visibility of the area below them.

"The evaluation hardware and procedures have been upgraded since your last visit," the Kaminoan explained, motioning to a pair of turrets that were mounted to a wall to their left. "The results have been rather impressive."

"I'd like to see the program in action," Shaak requested, facing the one-sided glass and peering down curiously.

"Very well then," the Kaminoan responded and exited the room, stature full of poise and dignity.

It wasn't long before a quartet of clones entered the area below them, outfitted in white plastoid armor and helmets. One of which had three long, black streaks that trailed down the left side of his helmet, which Ahsoka assumed identified him as the group leader. The markings weren't close to being neat; they looked rather sloppy, as though they were crudely drawn on with oil or black paint. Another was stationed on the right of the pack was in minimal armor, revealing the majority of his blacks. Ahsoka wasn't sure why, since he would be more prone to harsh impacts and explosions, although she remained quiet.

"Our finest cadets," the Kaminoan explained as she reentered the viewing room, the slightest hint of a smile gracing her face. "They've passed the examination with stellar results several times."

"Then perhaps the course isn't rigorous enough," Shaak replied, slightly condescendingly. Doubt and coldness laced her voice, but it was only due to her underlying concern. Everything had to be more than perfect, or else the Republic was at risk of failing and she would be the one at fault.

"Watch, Master Jedi. Your lack of faith will be relinquished, I'm certain. They are called the X-Squadron for a reason."

At the sound of an alarm, the four presumed a battle stance and withdrew their weapons. The clone with the black streak was furnished with twin training DC-15S carbines, the one that wore ordinary armor held a training DC-15A rifle, the other equipped with the rifle and a tri-edged dagger, and finally, the one that stood on the right unsheathed a... spear?

Ahsoka looked up at Shaak, only to find that the older Togruta was wearing a puzzled expression as well. Shaak hadn't encountered these clones before, despite the fact that they were the 'finest' of the cadets.

Blasts were tearing through the air from both directions. The onslaught of enemy fire seemed impossible to Ahsoka. How could four, still-developing cadets compete against the droids and turrets?

"Parry this you brainless scrap pile," the clone with minimal armor challenged, deflecting several blasts with his spear before charging a droid. With swift, fluid movements, he delivered a hard kick to the machine's core, brought the side of the spear down onto its head, then steadied his arms and drove the sharp end into the droid's heart.

Shaak's lips parted in shock at the behavior of the clone. Even if he was just eliminating training droids, the sheer violence and insensitivity of the cadet were disturbing.

"They have... personality," the Kaminoan acknowledged, though the tone of her voice reflected Shaak's reaction perfectly. "But they are efficient."

Ahsoka observed in interest as the clones lived up to Nala Se's statement. Their actions were all in perfect harmony and complimented the others' fighting technique brilliantly. The spear-equipped clone and cadet with the three streaks on his helmet both took the lead, the former charging droids head-on while the latter fired rapidly from a distance. The cadet with a dagger and blaster didn't stray far behind the others and served as a rear shield, fending off any droids that got behind the lead two.

The final clone had marksmanship comparable to that of a sniper, despite the fact that his weapon of choice was merely a DC-15A rifle. He remained a substantial distance behind the others, picking off the droids with ease and handling threats that most of the other clones didn't even notice. With the lengthened distance between him and the warfare, he was enabled to interpret the situation much deeper than others. His attacks were calculated, strategic, and overall successful.

Within a couple of minutes, all of the droids had been plowed over, and the only remaining enemy fire was the mounted turrets. Only an affirmative nod was passed amongst the cadets before they jumped into action. While the clone that wore minimal armor snuck behind a crate, the other three remained in the open to create a diversion. Once the turrets had completely narrowed in on the three, the fourth clone bolted from his cover and threw a grapnel at the top of the wall. The second that it was securely embedded into a groove, his legs pushed him off the ground like a rocket.

Nothing could describe the sheer velocity and height of his jump, especially for the fact that he wasn't even Force-sensitive. One could only marvel as he soared through the air, then ensnared a barrel of one turret with one hand, then used the other to plunge his spear into the main operating system of the weapon. After demolishing the first, he swung back and forth on the turret to gain momentum, then launched himself to the next one and repeated the process.

"C-2108 was born with multiple twitch muscles," Nala Se explained.

"Twitch muscles?" Ahsoka echoed, tilting her head in confusion.

"Extra muscles that one can either be born with or develop," she explained. "They allow the being to jump higher, run faster, and be overall more athletic than the average person. C-2108 is a prime example of how beneficial these can be."

When all of the turrets were disabled, the other three clones created a human ladder to reach the 'flag'. The cadet with three stripes painted onto his helmet was the one that reached the top first, letting out an obnoxious whoop as he picked up the target.

"As I said previously, this squadron is highly successful," Nala Se remarked. "They have a reputation of eliminating everything that could be considered a hostile, hence the name X-Squad."

"They cross the enemies off?"

"Precisely. We're considering deploying them as a secluded mercenary-type squadron instead of an army legion."

"-with the permission of the Council and Senate, correct?" Shaak inquired, a condemning tone hidden underneath her tranquil facade.

Only a curt nod was given in response to Shaak's words, acting as though they were annoying and were to only be written off dismissively. "Shall we congratulate the cadets?"

«–«–«–«–«

"The expertise you four have exhibited today is astonishing," Shaak commended, flashing a smile that boasted excitement and pride. "Madam Nala Se was certainly truthful about your success."

While they kept a straight posture in the presence of authority, it was apparent that doing so was unnatural to them. One's back partially slumped, while another's lip twitched downwards in discomfort. Their eyes frequently flickered from the Master Jedi to their surroundings. The matured Togruta couldn't stop herself from giggling at the clones' behavior. After all, they were only 13 years old (mental age of approximately six, mind you), and it was unreasonable to expect them to act so proper.

"At ease, troopers."

Ahsoka was expecting them to relax some at Shaak's words, but her prediction was far from what happened. It was as though they had an entire kriffing personality swap. Confident, playful smirks tugged at their lips and a spirited glint sparkled in their eyes. Without further prompting, they wrestled their helmets off of their heads and haphazardly tucked them underneath their arms.

"Name's Tripp," the one with dual training DC-15S carbines perched on his hips drawled, stepping forward and offering Ahsoka a wink. His short hair had three lines shaved into the side. "And that's with two p's."

"He thinks he's so special," the clone wearing minimal armor rolled his eyes. "But being real, homie just can't spell. I'm Twitch."

The padawan tilted her head in curiosity at the clones' slang. She had never encountered someone that spoke like them: relaxed, confident, and with some twang.

Another clone stepped up from the line, detaching his bladed weapon and twirling it midair without caution. "And I'm Dagger. Name's pretty explanatory." Without even glancing at his deadly knife, he flicked it back into the air above his head, then firmly caught it by the hilt with his other hand.

Forcing the uneasy feeling that grew inside her back down, she turned to the final unidentified clone. With an endearing smile, she questioned, "And what's your name?"

He averted his gaze from her prying stare, never coming close to looking up from the ground. His stance made him appear small and meek, completely contradicting the previous valor and fierceness he displayed in the trial.

"He don't talk to outsiders," Tripp dismissed her probing, discretely shaking his head in discouragement at the Togruta. "It's ain't personal."

"Lack of communication skills won't look good on his report," Shaak remarked with a sharp tsk. "Nonetheless, I'm impressed with your talent, cadets. Keep this up, and you're sure to be the finest clones the Republic has to offer. Shall we carry on, Madam Nala Se?"

"Certainly, Master Jedi," the Kaminoan nodded. "But your padawan does not have clearance to enter the next sector. I suggest she remains with the X-Squadron."

"Nonsense," Shaak said. "She's a Jedi as well."

"A Jedi without access granted from the High Council and Chancellor Palpatine. I can assure you that she will be safe with the cadets."

The Togrutan woman snuck an uncertain glance at the clones. While they were probably trustworthy and strong enough to protect her padawan, they were technically younger than Ahsoka. Besides, their personality was a touch questionable and she wasn't sure she wanted it to rub off on the innocent girl.

With a reluctant sigh, she relented. "Alright. Stay safe, Padawan."

Ahsoka acknowledged her master's words with a head bob and giggle. The clones were overall more wary of this decision, but Tripp took the lead and walked up to Ahsoka.

"Say, how 'bout we teach ya and that vod some X-Squad-culture?" He offered, a broad grin on his face as he rested his hands on his hips sassily as he eyed Ahsoka and C-7657.

"Sure!"

Shaak followed Nala Se out of the room, inwardly groaning about the bad influence these clones were going to be on Ahsoka.

NOTE: Vod is Mando'a for a couple of things for anyone who doesn't know: sister, brother, close comrade, etc.

Andddd you have been introduced to the X-Squad! You'll get more info on them soon >:D

Also, shoutout to VanillaChip101! She's been very helpful with the development of this story and other works of mine. Go check her out if you haven't- she's really nice and has some great works.

One last thing before y'all go:

I've been working a bit on a platonic Ahsoka and Rex/Clones one-shot (I can't really gauge how good it is, it might be awful because 80% of it was written reallyyyyy late at night when my mind suddenly thinks it's a world-class philosopher with knowledge of a lifetime that needs to be shared with everyone.  Newsflash: it sure as heck ain't.

So, if that would be something y'all are interested in (it's kinda sappy, no warfare or anything) then just let me know. I can brush it up and slap together a cover for it :D (consider it my late Valentines gift to y'all.)