https://youtu.be/ubNfkpbxXUs

-(Play this through out the whole read)-

Thunder rolled in the sky. The grey clouds over Coruscant darkened Reetha's mood even more. Just an hour ago, news reached the senate about the fall of Rush Clovis. General Skywalker had been sent to the scene to get Senator Amidala from Scipio, along with a group of clones, led by Commander Thorn. 

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Before Thorn left, Reetha told him that she had a bad feeling about this particular mission. Thorn dismissed the idea and tried to convince his best friend that it was going to a quick mission and that he'd be back before she knew it. 

"I hope you right, Thorn. I just don't trust Clovis, or anything that is deemed safe when he's there." Reetha paced around her room, feet furiously tapping on the floor. Thorn sat by the window sill, amused by his little friend's worried attitude. He hopped of the sill and gently grabbed Reetha by her shoulders, stopping her constant pacing. "Reetha, I'm grateful for you to think of my safety, but I have a job to do. No matter how risky." 

Reetha pouted and shurgged his hands of her shoulders. "Yeah, I know. But I'm telling you, this extraction nonsense, whatever, is just way to risky. I can sense it." She said, pointing two fingers to her forehead. 

As usuall, Thorn had to leave for Scipio with his men. Her brothers were sent to Scipio, and no matter how much she disagreed to it, they told her not to worry. 

'Don't worry orikih jetiise. We will be back before you know it.'

'We promise to be back in one piece.'

'I will come back Reetha. Don't worry.' Thorn's words echoed in Reeth's head repetitively. The boys hugged her tightly before leaving. Thorn could see her hesitance in letting them go, so he did one thing to calm her. 

"Reetha" he called out to her, then removed his helmet. Ever since Reetha showed a liking to his hair, Thorn grew his hair long enough so that she could play with it when ever he dropped by. He grew his hair for his sister. Thorn leaned down to her level and cupped her face with his hands. "I will be back, alright." Reetha nodded, small tears forming at the side of her eyes. "Because, I need someone to help me tame my hair, and only my sister can do that." He offered Reetha his sweetest smile. 

She chuckled and ran her hand in Thorn's curls. "You better be back ori vod. Or I'll hunt you in the after life." She threatened, trying to speak without allowing her voice to break, but it did and tears fell freely down her cheek. 

Thorn's chest tightened as he tried to hold back his tears but failed. He rubbed Reetha's head soothingly and brought her in for a hug. "Stay safe, Reetha." He cried silently. Not either one daring to disturb the silence that enveloped them. He rested his chin on her head and wrapped his hand around her to sooth her sadness. Reetha wrapped her hands around his torso, whimpering quietly. Both eventually had to part, and her brother's were on their way to Scipio. 

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https://youtu.be/mHUVvHqDAaQ

-(Play only for this part)

Thorn met Reetha when she was a graduating youngling. Reetha was a wanderer. When she was not learning, she'd often wander the temple gardens and its long halls, taking in the peace and calmness it had to offer. 

While young Reetha had her head in the clouds, she bumped into a sturdy figure, and that figure was non other than Commander Thorn himself. Reetha had stumbled backwards and landed on her bottom. "Oh, sorry there kid." He extended his hand to the girl and she accepted. Upon pulling her up, Thorn noticed the girls padawan braid. He ran into a commanding officer. In an instant after Reetha stood up, Thorn straightened his back and saluted the young padawan. "I meant, sorry Commander. I didn't see where I was going." 

Thorn's sudden change in demeanor only led the girl to a fit of giggles. Thorn was confused, but soon, he himself could not contain his laughter, as small light chuckles fell of his lips. "It's alright. I'm not yet an official padawan to any Jedi Master yet." Thorn relaxed his posture as the two exchanged a casual conversation.

"Well, the padawan braid said otherwise, commander." Thorn replied in a soft voice. Reetha chuckled and told him to loose the formalities. She was not a big fan of it anyways. "I'm Reetha. Reetha Khan." She extended a hand to the clone and he shook it. "You are?" 

"Thorn. Commander Thorn, but you can call me Thorn." He let go of the her hand and removed his helmet, revealing his light brown hair. "Wow.." Reetha awed at Thorn. The commander chuckled. "Something catch your eye?" 

"Your hair looks so cool." the young girl bounced on her heels and her eyes seemed to sparkle. Thorn knew the girl was awed by his hair, since it was a lighter shade than most of his brother's hair. He kneeled down to her level. "Can-can I touch your hair?" She asked. 

Thorn simply smiled at her antics and let her. Quiet wow's escaped her mouth as her then tiny fingers played with the mess of curls on Thorns head. "Your hair is so soft." she cooed. Thorn was about to reply when his comm went off. After answering he turned to look at the young girl before him. "Guess you gotta go now, huh." She said in a quiet voice. He could tell that she was upset that he had to leave so soon. Then an idea popped into his mind. 

"I tell you what, I was just going to the mess to have lunch with my brothers. You could join me." He suggested. Reetha's eyes widened at the offer and he could tell that she was happy once again. In the brief time of meeting the young padawan, Thorn had taken well to her friendly self. 

"Really? You wouldn't mind?" She said bouncing on her heels again. The smile on her face only brought one to the commander's face. "I'm sure. Plus, the guys would be happy to meet you." 

Reetha was so gleeful at the moment, she only managed some giggles. "Let's go let's go!" She said, jumping up and down. Thorn shook his head and smiled to himself at the girl's enthusiasm and led the way to the mess. 

Since then, Thorn and Reetha had been inseparable. She became his best friend, and she became his. His brothers more than accepting towards Reetha and began to see her as one of the guys. Whenever Reetha had a break from all the learning as apprenticeship, she'd run down the temple to meet her favorite Coruscant Guards. Thorn and his men would spend hours just hanging out with Reetha doing nothing but just being in the comfort of each other. Otherwise, they'd teach Reetha how to shoot a blaster or how to do repairs on a LAAT gunship. They also taught her Mando'a, when she first showed interest in the language. 

Thorn and the guys always made time for their little sister, and watching her grow into a confident and powerful Jedi was their only dream. However, Reetha always had a special place in her heart for Thorn. Their relationship was a sweet one. He'd call her 'orikih jetiise'- tiny jedi, and she'd call him 'ori vod'- big brother.  Thorn was protective over Reetha just as she was of him, and if it was one thing she could confirm, is that she'd make sure that Thorn and her other brothers made it out alive through this war. Especially, Thorn.

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When Anakin returned to Coruscant, Reetha awaited patiently for the men in red to show up, but they never came. Now, many clones from the other battalions knew how close she was to Thorn and his brothers. One of them, from the 501st approached her. "Reetha." He called her cautiously. Her eyes only held one question and he knew it. He removed his helmet with a defeated and sad look. "I-We're so sorry, Reetha." 

Thunder rolled in the sky. The grey clouds over Coruscant darkened Reetha's mood even more. Just an hour ago, news reached the senate about the fall of Rush Clovis. General Skywalker had been sent to the scene to get Senator Amidala from Scipio, along with a group of clones, led by Commander Thorn.

Reetha stood in the cold with her hood drawn over her head. Rain drenched her from head to toe, but she wasn't bothered. It did keep her tears from being seen. News came back that the clones sent to Scipio were killed in an ambush. It was not just any group of clones. It was her dear brothers. 

She now stood silently in the temple gardens, underneath the rain. Her brother's, the ones that she loved so dearly, the ones that she swore to protect, we now gone. Though her breaths were even, her heart broke into pieces. The pain she felt was so real, she thought that her heart was made of glass. 

https://youtu.be/O7QhMZfgHwc

She kneeled down on the wet ground, a ground where once she and her brother's would lay down and enjoy the Coruscanti sunset. In the quiet and the still, she sang a song her brother's sang to her. 

"We'll, meet again. Don't know where, don't know when.... But I know, we'll meet again some sunny day." 

'Ni kar'taylir gar darasuum, ner vods.' Spoke in her heart.

Her breath caught at her throat. She was devastated at her lost. Mourning all alone. But her heart broke more, when she realized that she'd never again meet the one trooper who held the special place in her heart. Thorn. She brought up a hollow image of her and Thorn sitting under the shade of a tree. One of her more fond memories. She smiled to herself, painfully. "You were always a Thorn at my side, and you always will be. Ni kar'taylir gar darasuum, ner ori vod."

Thunder cracked again. She turned on her heels slowly from the garden and finally walked of into the night to the comforts of her room to mourn her loss. 

But as she walked back, she could hear the faint whispers of a song floating in the air behind her. 

"Keep smiling through, just like you always do... " she halted her steps and turned around slowly. 

"Till the blue skies, till the blue skies drive the dark clouds, far away ..." and in front of her were the wispy images of her brothers. Standing together with proud smiles on their faces. Each of their eyes held adoration for their little sister. Finally, a grateful and happy smile made it to her face. They slowly disappeared into the mist, each leaving with a smile for their sister. 

"We'll meet again. Don't know where..." Reetha's eyes widened. Thorn appeared before her, curly hair and all. 

"Don't know when.." He continued to sing. His melodic voice soothing his sister. His soundless footsteps carried him to Reetha and he leaned his forehead on hers. Reetha closed her eyes to cherish the final moments she had with her brother. 

"But I know, we'll meet again, some sunny day..." They sang in sync, voice blending the most harmonious tune. 

Deep down, she knew, that her brother's would never leave her side, no matter what happened to them. She also knew Thorn, would never leave her side, no matter how far he was.

"You truly are a Thorn in my side."

...

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