Chap. 53 - The Pain of Memory

After the long journey through the lesser-known sectors of the galaxy, the Kestrel Nova and the Trident finally arrived in Gwori's orbit. Little more than two weeks had passed since their departure, and a large entourage came to meet them at the landing platforms. Hundreds of thousands of happy faces watched the "saviors" descend, but they were short-lived as they watched the hundred gossan refugees emerge from the interior. They knew that something bad had happened, and they were all curious to know the answer, but they knew that sooner or later they would be informed in detail of the events on Felucia.

The first to receive them was no one else and no one less than Miraj, who received her beloved lurmen with a big hug. The mayoress could see the sadness on the faces of her companions, but instead of asking questions, she began to fulfill her role as regent of the Oasis.

Almost immediately, he ordered several of his supervisors to prepare the conditions to receive the new arrivals. With a quick census, it was possible to determine that there were at least forty independent families, not including the orphans of the war, those who were welcomed by the local orphanage and cared for in the best possible way, since Miraj paid special attention to the resources allocated to that institution. And after a few hours of preparations, the top commanders of the Gwori resistance met in the town hall of the underground shelter.

Around the huge round table were Miraj and Mirana, Wag Too, Boil, and Li Mu and Cranel as representatives of the refugees.

Miraj: - At the moment we prepare enough camps for your people. Our engineers calculate that in four days we will have the necessary housing for everyone. -

Cranel: - That's excellent! We cannot thank you enough. -

Icarus: - They will join society like any other individual. -

Li Mu: - How can we help? What can ours do to support? -

Miraj: - At the moment we need extra hands in the mines. And the shipyards will appreciate any training you have. We also have work available on farms and stockyards. They are free to open any business they have in mind, but we need everyone who can work to do so. Their young people will also be able to attend schools. There aren't many, but the teachers do their best. -

Cranel: - Fair enough. -

Boil: - We also need all the troops we can get our hands on. As you know, we don't have many troops, although we do have quite a few droid units. -

Li Mu: - Unfortunately, only five soldiers were left. They all command. But no more. -

Miraj: - Gossam commandos, they could be useful to you, commander. -

Eyes turned to Icarus, who didn't say a word about it. The failure during the ambush on Felucia was still on her mind, and she was not willing to repeat it.

Li Mu: - Commander, is there a problem? -

Icarus: - Yes. They will be enough. They will pass under the direct command of Commander Boil and will answer only to him. -

Boil: - From me? -

Icarus: - Correct. I understood on Felucia that I am not qualified to lead organic troops. Therefore, from this moment Boil is in command of all the organic units of the army. In fact, we may need to create two independent legions. One of droids under my charge, and one of organics under yours, Commander. -

Everyone was shocked, as they did not expect such a drastic decision. A division in the army could be fatal with a greatly reduced force. While there were enough droids to form a small army, calling a group of less than two hundred soldiers, all gathered from all the species of the Oasis, a legion, was almost a joke.

Still his decision was respected. He was the greatest military genius among all of them, and if he proposed it, it was because he had solid reasons to do so. Of course, the droid decided to blame himself for the losses, but the truth was, it was the organics that compromised the rescue mission. But he also understood that he could not affect the spirits of the combatants. He knew how powerful morality was, and he knew very well how easy it is to destroy it.

The meeting ended without further ado. The gossam withdrew with Boil and Mirana to meet their strength and begin preparations for the new "legion." Whose mission Icarus designated as defense and support. In other words: he told them not to intervene unless he required it. A risky strategy, but one that everyone took to the best of their ability. Wag Too retired with Miraj, there were many things he needed to catch up on, and the lurmen had a "special errand" to take care of. For his part, Ícaro went with Tova, who was patiently waiting for the end of the meeting accompanied by Stela.

Accompanied by the two girls, the droid took a quick tour of the refugee camp, where dozens of Oasis citizens were supporting the new arrivals. They did NOT have much, but in times of need they were able to support those in need. And it was there that Icarus had a peculiar idea, because he had a very special mission for the little ones.

Before the looks of emotion, Icarus ordered Stela and Tova a single mission. He had to help orphaned children to feel good during their stay at the Oasis, and he had to be their friends. Stela had no problem with that. In fact, the dark-skinned young woman was quite social and never missed an opportunity to make new friends, something Tova still had a hard time doing.

Icarus could see the doubt on the little Nelvaana's face, but with a few sweet words he was able to give her something of value.

Icarus:-"Live life as if no one is watching and express yourself as if everyone is listening." -

Tova: - What does that mean? - She asked somewhat confused.

Icarus: - Words of a great man from the past. But by facing your doubts you will be able to overcome fear. -

Little Tova smiled, still not fully understanding the droid's confusing words, but she had an idea of ​​what he meant. Leaning on Stela's hand, they sped towards the orphanage, where they hoped to fulfill "the mission that was imposed on them."

Completely alone, Icarus was able to return to the functions that required his attention. He checked the different areas of the Oasis, as he used to do on occasion to see for himself the progress made. He used to do it alone, on foot and late at night so as not to attract anyone's attention, but he had so many things to think about that he decided to do it in broad daylight. Through the streets of the Oasis, residents came to thank him for all he did to keep them safe. Hundreds of unfamiliar faces that the droid did the impossible to encourage and raise spirits. His words were precise and very calculated. There was not a single misused letter, and his bearing could be compared to the greatest leaders the galaxy had ever seen. All of this, enclosed in the metallic body of its bearer. Something ironic if you think coldly.

Fortunately, a sudden call from the hospital caught his attention and required his immediate presence. He used his telecom to contact Wag Too and ask him to come with him, as Bly had been successfully operated on, and was waking up.

On the way to the hospital, he ran into the lurmen, who, as usual, was covered in grease up to his head, because it seemed that the "special project" was more complex than expected. Unsurprisingly, he was denied entry to the sterilized rooms by hospital staff, requiring him to undergo a quick wipe and static dry. When making contact with the positive charges, the lurmen's fur stretched to the limit, making it look like a fluffy stuffed animal. Everyone present laughed, even Icarus found his appearance funny. But no one laughed more than Bly, who spat out the broth he was drinking when he saw his former friend looking like that.

Wag Too: - Ja ja. Let's go. Rianse all of the spongy lurmen. -

Bly: - I... I... I'm sorry... It's just... It's just that you look very funny... - The clone's words were interrupted by an intense laugh, which was overshadowed by a sudden headache.

It was not understandable, because although the operation was not very complicated, he still had an incision in the skull. But mere physical pain wasn't much of a deal compared to the painful memories that came back to his mind once the chip was removed.

Suddenly, a sad smile appeared on the clone's face, and it looked at Lurmen with a happy mouth, but eyes about to burst into tears. The clone was happy and sad, excited and depressed, energized and down... Half alive... and half dead. All in one instant. The lurmen came over without saying a word and sat next to her, resting his hand on her shoulder, understanding all her pain.

Icarus didn't have to be an organic to figure out what was going to happen. Knowing that the time was not right, he withdrew from the room, leaving the two individuals completely alone. And in the presence of the only familiar face she had seen in more than five years, she couldn't contain the pain and tears welled up in her eyes.

Now, without that faulty chip frying his brain, Bly was able to regain all of his memories. Each and every one of them. But the one that hurt the most was that fateful day. He clearly remembers the report that Coruscante was under siege, but his mission on Felucia was more important. He remembers the discussion with his general, Aayla Secura, one that after so much time and battles together he considered his closest friend. He remembered every word, every damn word. But what tormented him the most was the image of himself and his men shooting the lifeless body of their general.

When he received Order 66, something changed in his mind, something just wasn't working right. He looked at all his peers around him, and for some reason, they all knew what they had to do. Not a single word was necessary, each and every one of them knew what to do. As the first blaster took his general's life, his mind went into complete madness. Her best friend had died, and it was by her own hands. Completely out of his mind, he was the first to fire a second time and the last to stop firing.

The pain in his head had subsided, because the order had been fulfilled and the chip did its job, but his heart had broken into a thousand pieces. The Clone Commander Marshal, the position he held at the time, went into a frenzied fit of rage that clouded his judgment and fractured his mind. Faced with such stimuli, his inhibitor chip began to short-circuit, bombarding his head with constant electrical discharges, further affecting what little sanity he had left. Heartbroken and mind clouded, the clone turned into a beast, and hid in the dense jungles of Felucia. And today, for the first time after five long and stormy years in which his memory was partially erased, perhaps as a method of self-protection, he was able to mourn the death of his general. The death of her best friend. Today for the first time, his mind stopped experiencing physical pain, only to be occupied by even more bitter psychological pain.

End of the 2nd part.

Do not panic. This is just a partial cut to help me organize the story. There will be no discontinuity in the story or delays for the next chapter. If you have come this far, I thank you for everything you have read and ask you to help me with that little star so that the Wattpad engines do their mischief and others can enjoy this reading.