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Bonne Lecture

Life has a funny way to play with people. Sometimes it helps by giving everything the person wanted. Sometimes it takes everything away. Sometimes, it decides to give nothing, or everything. In the end, to know what it gave to who and how is a matter of point a view. The poorest child in the Galaxy can still be happier than the richest man that ever existed. Values and the ways of seeing life are what makes life "good" or "bad".

She was shunned by her people because she wanted to do something else with her life; rather than following traditions. She travelled a lot, begged for credits and food. Then she learnt her knowledge could help. This precious knowledge given by people she hated saved her life. She became a respected doctor. Then survived a civil war, which ended by the Grand Army of the Republic's intervention. She enrolled and saved many lives. She soon became the most efficient field medic the Army ever knew. a journalist even made an article about this odd woman ruling the clones around her with an iron fist, but with a golden heart too. The news of her retiring from the front raised some question. People understood she had her fill of violence. This was the official respond on which Rima had no power over. Her definitive retirement was difficult. The Leaders explained the facility in which she was working on was sabotaged by Separatists. The Dr Rima made it barely alive, but alive still. Due to her terrible injuries, she had been convinced by the Army to go back to a civilian life, to recover and help the people of the Republic.

But soon, most people forgot her name and her face.

She liked it better that way.

Two years after Kamino

The mirror was showing a broken face. It has been two years; yet some scars were slow to fade. Despite the cuts and old bruises, fragile tentacles and difficulties to move as easily as before ; Rima liked what she was seeing. Her grey skin was healthy, the dots forming lines on her bodies were visible in the dark again. Her eyes were black once more, not injected with blood. She also felt strong. Her injuries… What happened to her was violent. Yet, death decided to skip their date. Coming back from such thing… Rima could not stop feeling stronger or at least more confident about herself. Not that she lacked self confidence before; but she had now a sense of certainty about her own life. Her future was a mystery, but it was not as scary as it used to be.

The nautolan woman felt especially pretty today. She put on nice clothes: new and clean. It was simple pants and shirts, with boots and a jacket. But they were not third-hands articles and never knew the smell of burnt flesh or canon powder. Rima also put some jewelries: rings for her tentacles, a simple necklace, a bracelet… She looked very modest, but it was how she liked it.

Today was a special day.

She left her empty apartment and headed for the shuttle. It took her to the Justice district of Coruscant, about half an hour from her apartment. Rima was told to take the back door. She understood why when she saw journalists of all colors and shapes pressed against a chain of guards trying to keep them from the doors. Everybody wanted to see him; the alien among aliens… Rima smiled as she presented herself at the door. The guard urged her to come in. He brought her through a long corridor before letting her in a elevator with the 53rd floor button pressed. Once it stopped, Rima followed another guard who brought to a room. Their were a lot of people here: she recognised the Jedi Master Kenobi who greeted her with as much gentleness as usual. General Skywalker and Jedi Master Shaak-Ti were there too. Rima remembered the togruta from Kamino. They never properly stalked before the attack, but the Jedi provided great help in the first steps of the nautolan's recovery.

"Master Shaak-Ti. It's good to see you again."

"Likewise, Dr Rima." The togruta calmly said. "I see your wounds do not bother you anymore."

"I'm feeling better, thank you. How are the boys?"

Master Shaak-Ti gave grave news about 99. an attack on the Kamino resulted with his sacrifice. He saved his brother at the cost of his life. Rima took it hard. She liked him very much; such a brave soul! What a waste… as for Grey, after a year of "re-schooling", he was allowed to go back with the others. However, eyes were on him. Because he was so young and under the influence of a twisted man, he was pardoned for stabbing Rima. She was not completely alright with this; but putting a child in prison was not ideal neither. Over than that, the clones were sent to battle younger and younger. While the First Generations had ten to eleven years to grow and train; the Shinies did not have such luxury.

"The judges should be done in a moment now." Master Kenobi said.

They waited a little more. In the meanwhile, Rima was presented to the others she did not know. Senator Amidala was supporting the prisoner's freedom. Her friends at the Senate seemed interested too, as well as the tiniest green jedi Rima ever saw. The main argument was that people like the man should find a place in the world in time of peace before the end of the war. Others believed that he did what was necessary, and paid enough for his crimes. Others still thought it was self-defence. Either ways, there were plenty of arguments in favor of the man.

The Judges came in the room, everybody went quiet. They were three. The Miraluka was the President of the Court, while the Pantorian was the Master of Laws and the Chalactan was the Court Master. the later master leads the debates while the Master of Laws checks in the Book of All Laws that all arguments and facts were correctly interpreted and/or how should the acts of the prisoner should be judge. In the end, the innocence or guilt of the prisoner was decided by the President of the Court, who also made the consequences (if needed) official.

The President reminded why they were all here.

"Following the murder of the Trainer Salaven Saltar Saliv in the hospital of Kamino, former Commander of the 501st Legion named "Rost was decided guilty for his crime. He was to spend the rest of his life in the High Security Prison, here on Coruscant. Despite this, the Jedi Order wished the case to be reopen on the main argument that Rost gave enough to the Republic while not having an official social situation in the Republic, like his brothers. the Court have listen to all the arguments brought to the case."

She marked the moment with a silence. It was not for being dramatic. It was meant to make her decision loud and clear.

"On the condition that "Rost" spend the rest of his life under the supervision of the Dr Rima away from the Republic's main colonies; "Rost" will receive the Pardon. He will be released to the Doctor later this afternoon. Don't be late."

Rima contains a violent need to shout her joy. She also forced herself to stay her two feet on the ground; and not let herself jumped all around the room. A strong feeling of relief forced her to sit down.

She remembered the day he was sent in prison.

First Rost was courtmartialed, then had to be judge by a civilian court. But his situation was so unusual that the Senate had to take the matter in hand.

When he was sent away, rima paid him a visit. He told her he regretted nothing: by killing Salaven, he fulfill his duties to her, because he felt responsible. It made her laugh: she was the one who should be feeling responsible for him, not the other way around. But his explanation gave her a goal; she knew what to do.

After a year of taking care of herself, she went to the Jedi Council and asked for they help. Before meeting Kenobi, she would have never imagined herself doing such a thing. But when she managed to convince them to free Rost… words are not sufficient. It was a good day. A first step in a long journey ahead. It took one year to work on the case, make a deal with the Court, making sure she had the means to keep her word.

Rima could barely wait. She hasn't seen Rost for two years. How did he do? Was he okay? As the Court left the room with all the people involved, Rima looked nervously at her wristwatch. Nine hours of waiting to do. Plenty of time to make sure everything goes according to plan. She thanked the small assembly for its help. Skywalker did not do it for her: Rost was a good soldier despite his bad habit of making justice himself. But the rest of the group was more than satisfied with how things all had duties, so they left soon after exiting the building. As for Rima she went to the Court's office to make sure the order of releasing the clone to her was official and on-going. Once she had proof, she called the agent in charge of the trip to the planet Rima chose for the "forced retirement". The selection was based on two criterias: the planet's distance with the "main colonies of the Republic", and the climat. Rima could leave underwater, but no Rost. Rost could deal with scorching heat, she was not that resistant. The air had to be breathable for the both of them and the people living there had to be a little friendly at the very least. But as long as their had a place to go, Rima was not too picky.

The agent in question made sure she had enough to start anew. The money she earned while working for the GAR all went into the purchase of a small place; in which she could build a clinic if she felt like it. They both made sure Rost would have something to do. Between the regular hunting, the bounty hunting and the need of protection; the small town they spotted was almost perfect. Maybe the place was a little too shady for the clone commander. But Rima wanted to believe he was not without reason. He will make it work… it's not like he had a choice.

"All set. You belongings should arrive a bit before you do. My people will make sure they arrive in your new home." The agent said. "Because you gave up most of your savings to help Justice getting rid of a prisoner/rogue clone; the government sent a bit of money. they seem to have remembered that clone don't have anything but the skin on their back. you'll need to put clothes on him and feed this monster."

Rima was fully aware of the clones ability to eat until no food is left in the entire building. Where do they put all this food was almost a mystery: she knew they metabolism was hyperactif when it came to energy; but cared little about knowing all the details. when setting up this "project" if we can call it as such, Rima knew it will not be easy. Despite his wishes, Rost had "naturally" expensive needs. She was simply hoping her efforts -and his- will be sufficient. Also, how will he react in a civilian environment? Unlike most living beings in the galaxy, he never had a "civilian life" or a "normal life". How will he feel when living so far away from his brothers? As she was checking the paperwork, Rima came to conclusion there was still plenty of things about Rost she didn't know. on the other hand, here was plenty he did not know about her. She also had in mind the possibility that he might want to go on his own path. Even if in theory he wasn't to leave her side until death; there was, in practice, no way she could stop him from doing so. Deep inside, she was hoping he'll stay. After so many months working closely together, the two made a fine pair. She felt safer with him around, and he was assure he won't die because of a wound or an infection.

How could time be so slow? She wondered. Because waiting was too difficult, Rima went outside, in a coffee. However, the poor-quality tea sat in front of her untouched: it had plenty of time to turn ice-cold. One could not decide which emotions she was feeling, just by looking at her. For all that the people knew, Rima looked like a nautolan waiting calmly for woman, fighting boredom in the same time. they could not start to imagine the rollercoaster of feelings happening inside her. At some point she ditch the café and walked back to the CourtHouse.

A few hours later, the moment she has been waiting arrived. The journalists did not witness the former prisoner meeting his new handler. they would have seen an oddly cold "good to see you" situation. Rima looked at him from the overside of a thick bullet-proof window while he went under the releasing procedure.

They had cut Rost's hair to a point he was almost bald. His beard faced the same fate. He looked… hungry. Thinner than expected too. He had a couple of bruises on his face, but his hands were the worst. Whoever tried to prove something to him did not make it in one piece. He only had his military uniform on when he got out of the restricted area. There were nothing that could link the man to the GAR, of course. It looked strange. He stood in front of Rima in silence, under the careful surveillance of the prison guards.

"Rost."

"Dr. Rima." He replied. "You did it."

"Of course."

"I thought you wouldn't."

"Why?"

"Why did you bother getting a disastrous clone like me?"

"you know why."

"Do I really?"

Rima did not reply to that; instead she slapped him. He took it as it was unexpected. However it was not like such weak punch from the tiniest woman he ever met could truly hurt him.

"That's for reminding you there won't be a next time." She said, before giving him a backpack.

"Yes, ma'am." He said quietly. "What's this?"

"Supplises. Now follow."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Don't "ma'am" me." she mumbled under her breath.

She did not see him smirking as she turned around. They exited the building and directly went for a shuttle. It took them to the spaceport. No words were spoken on the road. Rost asked no questions. He was looking at the window without emotions. Rima tried to ignore that for the time being. She could worry when they'll arrive in the new "home". She could not wait to be done with all this and go back to a relatively normal life.

"What are we doing?" Rost asked as they were in the cruiser, an hour after the departure.

It was the first time she heard him since the prison. He sounded tired. His hands were obviously hurting. Rima unfolded her needles and took a closer look to the man's fist. He let her do whatever she wanted, but seemed tense. This used to be normal for them; Rima take care of his injuries. It wasn't anymore. But it'll come back.

"Home." She said.

"Where's that?"

"Far away."

He remained silent for a moment before Rima rose her eyes to meet him. They looked at each other without particular emotions on their faces. After all they have been through, they were both tired. They were both looking forward to move on.

"Can you work with that?" She asked.

He rose his hand, let his finger touch one of the tentacle -the one that was almost amputated by Salaven. It looked healed, but the scar was troubling. Rima had painful-looking scar on her skin too, now. If only he could take them away. But she was alive and well. She was looking at him with her huge black eyes shimmering with intelligence; was she trying to read him? She did such exercice so often before, never with success. He slowly nodded, giving her a small smile. It seemed to put her at ease.

"I can." He said.

The End.

Good Lord! Did I just wrote these two words? The end? I suppose it is the end! It came rather quickly, don't you think? I like it like that.

But... The END? the "End-End" or the "End"?

I suppose I have nothing else to say about these two stuborns' souls, as the Alternate World's state is right now (if that makes sense anyway). Indeed, I believe what comes next should have its very own title.

How and when I'll write that is a steel-made mystery. Afterall, I do have a real life to attend to. However I'm pretty sure I'll miss my dear Rima after a while. If you guys are interested with more of this nautolan doctor, I shall write her after-GAR life... with Rost?

With the hope you enjoyed yourself,

Une belle journée à vous!