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None of this was ever in Tech’s plan.
Granted, he’s never been foolish enough to set his life according to rigid plans. But as a clone, there are certain things that aren’t promised in this life. It would be foolish to hope for something that just can’t happen.
Though for Tech, those beliefs continue to be proven wrong even against all predicted odds.
First, it was having a family. Before the Clone Force 99 was truly a family, he grew up thinking soldiers only had squads and nothing more. There was no promise of a meaningful future with these men. But then Wrecker, Crosshair, Echo, and Hunter became part of his life. Yes, he could have a family.
Second, it was having a child in one’s life. Sure, he could have brothers by his side, and he has formed meaningful relationships with all of them. They think alike and move alike like it’s instinctual. But they are soldiers, and there is no room to even consider introducing a child or adolescent into the mix. But then Omega became part of his life, and she has adapted wonderfully to their ever-changing life. Yes, a child could be in his life.
But a partner … that has always been fully off-limits.
Not to say that Tech hasn’t sought out intimacy. He has been … intimate … with various life forms and of different genders.
A clone still has urges, and it would be silly to deny it.
But there is a difference between tending to those urges and having a partner. To him, that means some level of permanence and attachment. As a clone, there is not much time he can promise to a partner. Tech estimates he has lived out roughly half his life. He assumes that with his enhanced DNA and skills, he may be promised an extra few years, but nothing too drastic.
It is not fair to be with someone romantically if he will die far before them.
It is not fair to Phee.
He has picked up on her flirting and has discovered that it is not unwanted. He has never met anyone quite like her. She is a pirate who cares very little for monetary value, but rather an item’s cultural significance – and she doesn’t scavenge these items for herself or for any selfish reason, but rather for communities who have lost everything.
There are very few like her in the galaxy. Her kind heart is truly unique and one of a kind.
She is daring and straightforward, something that Tech truly appreciates. Her words do not contain any hidden meanings. She is easy to understand. Some may consider her a pirate, but Tech has met hundreds of smugglers and pirates and all have hidden intentions, many of them selfish. Cid, for example.
But Phee has true intentions. Kind ones. Ones that do not have any strings attached or any looming threat that hangs over the squad.
The longer he stays on Pabu, the more he wonders why she took a chance and introduced them to what is quite literally a safe haven. He is grateful for it all the same. Rather, he is mystified that she offered this to them because it defies any reason or logic. It was sheer kindness. Every laugh he hears from Omega, every time Wrecker is able to seek thrills without it being related to a mission, every moment he sees Hunter actually relaxed … he knows they have Phee to thank.
He would quite like to stay by her side if she would have him.
And yet.
Tech stands at Pabu’s sole landing zone as he watches the Marauder land.
Phee, Hunter, and Omega took a quick ‘pirating’ trip, as they called it. Phee said she was on the lookout for something unique for one of Pabu’s inhabitants. Omega jumped at the opportunity to go and look for some pirate’s loot , and Hunter tagged along … just in case.
“Tech! Did you see me land?” Omega says, running out of the Marauder as Hunter and Phee follow behind.
They’ve been allowing her to pilot the ship more frequently. Granted, someone must always keep a watchful eye on her, and he trusts Phee has the piloting experience.
“Excellent landing, Omega,” he agrees. “Perhaps your best yet.”
“Yes!” she says, doing a fist bump in the air as the two other adults come forward.
“Almost gave him a heart attack,” Phee says with a smile to Tech as she gestures to Hunter.
“I was fine,” he replies.
“Your demeanor and tone say otherwise,” Tech says, earning a bark of laughter from Phee.
Hunter rolls his eyes.
“Omega, why don’t we go get the Yonaras’? They’ll be glad to see what we got for ‘em,” he says, changing the subject away from his paternal feelings over the young girl.
“Okay!” she replies with enthusiasm, a big grin brightening her face.
It makes the ends of Tech’s lips curl upwards. She seems to be happy here , he thinks. Her smiles and bubbly energy have become more common. The squad has wanted so badly to protect her childhood and preserve what they could despite them living the life of soldiers. But here there is nothing to preserve . Rather, it is being nurtured and healed. She is free to play, run, and laugh with friends.
It suits her.
It suits Hunter, who follows after the young girl down to the lower edges of Pabu.
It suits Wrecker, who is able to be his true, boisterous self and not be contained to a tiny ship.
Tech turns to Phee, and his gaze softens slightly as he wonders ... Does it suit him?
It shouldn’t, according to his calculations. He is a soldier. Soldiers are not meant to stay in one place. They are not meant to have a permanent family, a child, a partner.
She holds something small in her hands.
“I see you were successful on your mission,” Tech says, gesturing to the item.
“We were,” she answers, beginning to walk over to the edge of the landing dock that oversees all of Pabu and the surrounding water.
“I’ve got myself a fair share of ancient things, but this one is priceless .”
Her clutch on it loosens as she presents it to him. He blinks, eyebrows raising.
“A … Kalikori,” he states in shock.
With the hundreds of missions they have run, he has performed thousands of hours of research. They have worked with Twi’leks before and is aware of their customs.
Phee nods, a special grin forming on her face as she sees the wonder in his eyes.
Usually, when Phee says something is priceless, Tech wonders if such a statement holds any weight. She certainly is one to exaggerate claims. But this …
“It belongs to a family down on lower Pabu – the Yonaras. They were run out of their home by the Empire. They didn’t even have time to grab this. Pretty special, huh?”
“Indeed it is,” he answers.
Tech’s eyes travel from Phee to the island. All of it can be seen from where they are at the top, including Hunter and Omega slowly winding down to the bottom to find the Twi’lek family.
“Omega’s got the whole pirating thing down for sure,” Phee starts slowly. “She was a big help getting a hold of this, but she was pretty excited to come back and see you.”
“It is good to see her so happy again,” he admits.
“Might be a nice place to stick around for a while, huh? It’s a pretty place to live out the rest of your days,” she says as a gentle breeze hits them, the golden sun radiating on their faces.
That’s when he’s reminded of it all.
“Phee, are you aware of the average lifespan of a clone?”
She blinks, a bit taken aback by his change in conversation. But she’s not one to back away from a tough conversation.
“What’s this about?” Phee says, cutting to the chase.
“I … have been thinking,” he starts.
“You don’t say,” she teases, but Tech senses there’s an edge of annoyance in there.
Tech is not one to open up about what he would call these more sensitive parts of his life. He is getting better – talking with Omega about how he expresses his emotions helped mend some of the broken parts of their bond.
Still, Tech finds it difficult to explain these bigger emotions. They are things that are not always justified by data or reason.
“I am a clone, and therefore, have always assumed I would live and die the life of a soldier,” he begins. “I may have been given enhancements compared to a Reg, but a longer lifespan was not one of them. We were made specifically for battle. There are … certain things … that I did not expect to see in this life.”
His eyes momentarily go back to Phee’s. She’s listening, and he swallows as he struggles to find the right words. But she just nods, indicating that she will wait to hear what he has to say.
“Having a family was not one of them. We have our squad, but they are also my brothers. The same sentiment goes toward Omega. We do not typically have the lifestyle to support a growing child, but we have, against all odds, managed. Soldiers do not have families, and yet I have found myself to be part of one. Soldiers are not meant to settle down, and yet …”
He trails off, eyes going to the horizon. Phee’s expression softens.
“It really is something, isn’t it?” she asks aloud, and their eyes meet again as he silently agrees with her.
“Staying on Pabu permanently is something we are considering,” he admits. “It is a wonderful environment for Omega, especially at her age.”
“But what about you?” Phee presses.
“I am enjoying our time here. I am enjoying my time … with you.”
There is a feeling in his chest that he can’t describe or quantify.
“But a permanent residence not only goes against the lifestyle of a soldier, but it is quite unfair to anyone I may grow close to. There are many factors that support this, with the main one being my shortened lifespan.”
“I think there’s something you forgot to factor in , brown eyes,” Phee says.
“Impossible,” he replies. “I consider every variable.”
“Even me?” she asks, and he finds color flushing to his cheeks.
“I believed you would find my shorter lifespan unfavorable,” he answers, and she gives him a look .
“So you just decided it then, huh?”
He blinks, finding no immediate response. His data is seldom questioned by the people around him.
“Based on the statistics of humans, you have quite a few decades left in your life. I may experience two more if my life expectancy finds itself on the higher end of the spectrum,” Tech says, beginning to explain how he reached his conclusion. “This large difference, by my accounts, is unfavorable for you.”
Silence hangs between them and for a moment, Tech finds a sense of fear grip him. He’s afraid something came out dreadfully wrong, that she’ll walk away and his feelings weren’t expressed properly –
But Phee Genoa does not back down from anything difficult.
She opens her mouth but it seems the two got lost in their conversation as they hear Omega’s voice: “It’s over there!”
The duo turns to find Hunter and Omega coming up the steps to the landing pad while a family of four Twi’leks is rushing toward them.
“Phee! She said you found it!” says the mother of the Yonaras, and when their eyes fall on the Kalikori, Tech can see tears begin to run down their cheeks.
The mother cradles the Kalikori like it is a newborn child.
“Thank you,” is spoken multiple times by the family members from both parents and children.
They shuffle off to have a moment together as a family, gathered around the Kalikori as one group so they can be reunited with their family history once again.
“That was certainly a moving reunion,” Tech tells Phee, and he genuinely means it.
“You and me both know this galaxy’s one big bumpy ride,” she says, still looking at the family as they hold the Kalikori. “In one second, that calm life you got with your family can be taken away by the Empire when you least expect it. Nothing’s fair and nothing’s promised,” Her arms are crossed as she slightly shakes her head.
“So when I find a place like Pabu that has a certain brown-eyed clone … that sounds pretty favorable to me.”
Tech is suddenly aware of just how close they have physically drawn to each other.
“All clones have brown eyes,” he reminds her quietly, their gaze meeting, and a small grin forms on her face in response.
“Yours are just something special."