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Chapter Text

Delta Squad has a reputation, one that they have gained in equal parts earned and were unfairly given. Sev is a bit on edge, and Scorch's love for things that go boom is worrying, but every demo expert is like that.

Yes, Fixer can be logical to the point of emotionlessness- but it's a coping mechanism. Boss- meanwhile, has a presence to him, among the commando c-ommand he's known for being nearly unflappable and having some of the best strategies and ability to keep him and his team safe, alive, and get the mission objectives done in record time.

Not every squad has a success rate as high as theirs- the only one that has a higher completion rate is Clone Force 99, and that is because they are sent on more missions. Also- Clone Force 99 for better, or worse is a flash squad of vode.

Vod'e with as many visible and invisible mutations as they do tend to stand out in the crowd that is the nearly identical masses of the vod'e.

Commando-made and trained vod'e have more tinkering in their genetics and body structure than the average vod'e. To make them stronger, faster, harder, smarter, and trained harder, and having higher difficulty setting than the normal vod'e tend to have. Having better, more expensive, and more impressive equipment to match their higher costs of being made, raised, and trained.

Not even Commandos are exempt from death, at every stage of training, there is the possibility of being injured, and the longer they last, the higher likelihood of a fatality. This has happened to other squads of Commandos, and the rank-and-file troopers as well.

The very first time Boss learned of his... mutation, he does not believe it's a defect because it's kept him alive- and able to keep his squad alive. They had been training on Kamino- and it was during one of the live fire drills, and Boss was already designated, even though they were all quite young and small, Leader.

But- as he and they were still learning things, and this was a very scary and alarming situation, Boss had made a mistake- a costly one that had hurt the three of his squad mates badly enough- that despite his first aid training.

Sev had already bled out Fixer and Scorch were rapidly joining him, not that they had names then. In his grief- young Boss had made a dumb decision to try and fight the live fire droid drills on his own- running out from cover, tears streaming down his face as he yells at the Enemies- he makes a go of it before being shot through with many blaster bolts, more a bloody pile than anything recognizable as human.

The cadet, who would become Boss blinks and sways a little as he rubs his face clear of tears as he finishes using the bacta tank dispenser to finish healing up. They did not get to see medics or medic cadets much as Command Trainees, because they have the bacta receptors and mini dispensers dispersed throughout their bodies that they are to learn and use the bacta dispensers to help heal themselves.

They are headed to training and Boss snaps out sharp commands when the live fire bolts start firing at the squad as well as him, all scrambles behind the cover and pull out their weapons. Their weapons' highest levels are only to stun or disarm. While the Enemy is using Live Fire Rounds that could... no… did kill them the first time.

There were other incidents while the cadet commando unit that would become known as Delta would go through that, had Boss not have this...this weird ability, they would be marked off as dead, one or all of them. Not many squads got through all of the training intact- and Delta is one of them gave them a certain... edge? At least a reputation of being one of the best.

Some of the missions that they go on are more difficult than others. Some decisions, that had seemed strategic and sound at first, had become deadly, but Boss had the time, and ability to change how the flow of things go. He only went back a certain, set amount of time.

But it was always enough time so he could make better decisions that could keep himself and his teammates alive, and complete the mission objective. One of the hardest missions... not that any of his squad mates knew it, they had died, at least for Boss, five times, before they were able to complete all the mission objectives and keep everyone alive.

The Kashyyyk mission was not the worst- and they had not-died only two or three times, what had almost done them in was those wretched Assassin droids going after the Wookie leader- the last time the irate words of Their Handler.

The threats of reconditioning- Boss had jumped- judging the distance from the ship to the ground high enough that it would kill him immediately upon impact so that they could do the mission better. To be reconditioned would split them apart- and Boss did not want that to happen.

He had heard his squad mates alarmed cries- which did tug at his heart a little- but they never remembered the time loops? Alternate timelines?

Whatever it was, that allowed him To Go Back. They were able to complete the mission and keep the Wookie Leader alive. Boss has lost count of the number of times he has died and come back. All that matters is the tactical knowledge of those failures drives him to do better and be better. All to keep his squad mates alive, for their sake he would die a thousand times more, just to see them alive and healthy.

Delta squad is one of very few Commando squads to remain wholly intact and without a replacement for the entirety of the war, and to be one of the Generation One Command Squads.

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Every time Boss returned, there was always something at least a little bit different. When he had been younger he hadn't noticed the slight differences. But as he got older he did notice some seemingly oddball things that sometimes seemed bigger or smaller. Searching his memories, the changes didn't seem too odd or noticeable.

Perhaps some of the words he had said to other Command Squad leaders had been... more than unkind- but it had clenched in his mind that he was, or seemed to be the only one with the Return Ability.

Sev not coming with them- and getting attacked by Trandoshans while they were lifting off of Kashyyyk had been upsetting- and Scorch's screams and Fixer's yelling were upsetting- as well as Sev Not Being With them.

Boss had tried to Return- so that he could do something to change the outcome, but things had faded to inky blackness when he heard Lord Sidious croon out, "Execute Order 66."

Being trapped in his own body- watching as his body slaughtered the Jedi- and whoever else the Empire decided deserved to die, destruction and misery.. it was... not great. He fought and raged and tried so hard- but no matter what he did, nothing seemed to stop his body from Obeying Orders and Being a Good Soldier.

Scorch had gone missing- during one of the missions- it was just him and Fixer for the longest time- their rapid aging slowing their bodies and minds. And like the wretched, horrible Empire that it is, those vod'e that did not die in battle, but were too old to be useful, were thrown out like discarded, outdated technology.

It had taken years, the numb, shocking horror of it all, his own body turning against his mind, of trying his best to Not Obey- what he learned was A Chip in his Kriffing Head- but being unable to stop. Not until he had been stunned by a bolt to the back.

Seeing Sev- his throat constricted Boss coaks out, meaning every word, "Ni ceta vod- I..."

"The Mission and Orders forced you to leave," Sev said.

Shaking his head Boss says, "I was found by the Rebels- and since my Chip didn't activate, they were able to remove it without much issue..."

"I... don't know what happened to Scorch or Fixer," Boss. He looks down and away. There is a quiet, mournful silence that envelops them for a few moments.

Boss admits looking down and away, feeling ashamed, when under the chip all he had felt was a mild ambivalence.

"... At least we are together again. Vod." Sev says awkwardly. "... Captain Rex is running around with a crew of rebels he got together to fight for the Empire."

"... Hm..." Boss said in a non-committal.

"... The Emperor is The Sith Master- that the Jedi were trying to find."

He is trying to figure out how long it had been since he had been to a bacta tank dispenser. Boss is looking through his memories- the longer it's been, the farther back he can go. If- kriff. He doesn't know how long it's been. Certainly, the last time he remembers using a Bacta dispenser was just before the end of the battle on Kashyyyk.

Boss has an idea, one that could be quite stupid and dangerous, but if he can pull it off... hmm... he isn't sure but, if he could... he could try to do something different. Sev is watching him carefully and with eyes filled with worry.

"... What?" Boss asks him, his voice and face as calm and blank as he can manage to be.

"... You... your reaction to... being awake is..." Sev cuts off. Concerning, to say the least. Some of the vod'e once they were de-chipped, or the effects of the chips wore off... could be... they ran the gamut of the emotional spectrum.

Especially the vod'e that had a direct hand in killing their own Jedi Generals are... angry and bitter, at themselves, at the world. They're upset enough to eat their blasters- or become reckless enough to attack the empire and die at the Empire's hands.

Sev... Sev has finally found one of his squad mates- finally reunited with one of them and he is not going to let Boss... March On Ahead of him, because he did not have a choice in what the chip made him do.

"Boss... we can try to find Scorch and Fixer," Sev said carefully grabbing one of Boss's hands.

He's not the most tactile of vod'e- but he ... Sev is so glad to have found one of them- having rescued him from the Empire and getting him de-chipped. Sev grew up with Boss, Scorch, and Fixer- knows their tells as intimately as he knows himself.

Boss is thinking of doing something... particularly dangerous or reckless, it often pays off- but can give him and the others... heart attacks. Boss is one of the best of the Commandos in tactics, military combat, completing mission objectives and how to do all the administrative kark as well.

"... Sure," Boss says with a shrug, looking at Sev and then looking away.

He is calculating how likely it is he will be able to find a weapon to help him Return to a previous part in the timeline or find a different way. Without Sev trying to stop him, Sev has that worried-intense look- that particular frown that his squad mates occasionally got when they watched Boss.

Which Boss found more than a little unfair and rude- he is the Sergeant in charge of them- he worries for them. Well… Boss was in charge of them, before they went missing and likely died, except for Sev. He keeps them safe and protected- he is not the one in need of protection. He is fine, so long as they are fine. So long as they are alive and with him- or at least near him, then...  then he is content. For now, at least. He needs to gather more information.

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"Thanks for coming back for me," Boss tells Sev, "...Ni Ceta that I was not... that we were not able to go back for you."

"There is nothing to forgive, and I forgive you if you need it," Sev grunts, squeezing his hand at that. Sev isn't good with talking- that is more Scorch and Boss's area of expertise. "Until the medics clear you... no training until you've recovered."

But he can tell Boss is hurting, vod'e that have been recently de-chipped tended to be... volatile. Boss will be watched, for changes in mannerisms and... risk-seeking behaviors. Boss's face sours at that, "I'm fine."

"Brain surgery is no little thing," A medic who has been watching them the whole time says with a frown looking at him, "even though we have amazing technology to make it easier and safer than in the ages past... it is still a delicate procedure that can have tricky complications."

"When can I leave the medbay?" Boss says in response with a frown.

He is itching to move and he needs to find a way to return- so that he can try to... make decisions that will be better- and get his whole squad back, he needs to get back, hopefully far enough back to do something useful or meaningful, at least for his team being whole and together... if he can.

Every time Boss has gone Back- things have been slightly different, not just a little bit different, not enough to be truly worrisome, or noticeable. Still- having more information before he goes back is a good idea. Especially as Sev tries to, awkwardly, and earnestly, distract him with information, about how certain scientists are close to discovering a cure for their rapid aging.

He... pauses and listens, asking questions and slowly following after Sev. Quiet and determined- and interested in that cure- and offering his help, in what little can, what with knowing only enough medical stuff to patch himself and his vode 'e up mid- and post-battle.

Still- Sev encouraged his interesting Other Things- rather than eyeing his blaster with the desperate gaze that he's seen in other vod'e- he's still on Being Watched- for... Suicidal Ideation. Just in case. Boss listens and learns much as the geneticists allow him to of the testing and what they are doing- them finding the Cure- and then later a shelf-stable version of it.

One that he very studiously learns how to make- his joints, oh, how they ache and crack, even though getting the rapid aging cure helps, he is still suffering the after-effects of the rapid aging, before it had been shifted to normal nat-born aging rates for a near-human species.

Still- during one of the times that they are helping the Rebels out with administrative tasks, teaching tactics, and whatnot, which helps them, most of these nat-borns are very painfully civilian.

It's interesting, teaching other skills to fight and defend and tactics to kill and harm. Then the alarm klaxons ring, and as the Empire descends on them, Boss makes sure to help others evacuate and fight.

He sees Sev get dragged on a transport- who turns to look- eyes widening in alarm as he sees Boss not on the ship as the last transport takes flight while he is still on the ground- Sev is trying to move there is noise and light and heat and pain... light, darkness, and a howling silence.

Boss's eyes snap open and his eyes flicker around swiftly as he tries to assess where he is, when it is, and what's going on. He mentally frowns as he looks around, everything seems... bigger- and he notices the harsh white walls and blinding- not blinding lights.

Kamino. Why the kark is he all the way on Kamino? That doesn't make sense- he should be somewhere in Kashyyyk not on Kamino. Perhaps it was because it had been so long since he had done a Return?

Hm... Finishing using the bacta tank dispenser on Kamino he walks- almost wobbling, Sweet karking force how young is he? He finds a mirror and sees a cadet just barely out of decanting peer at him in the mirror.

Well, kriff. He's back years in the past- before the start of the War, and well before the Rise of the Empire- and the fall of the Republic. Which had been more decaying into the Empire- but alas, such quibbles are for those that care about politics and mega-conglomerations.

One of the first things that the tubie-cadet Commandos are taught is how to use the bacta tank dispensers. The only times they are sent to the medics are for is when they get shots and their annual medical checks that all vod'e have to take.

They are small enough and young enough that all of the Commando cadets are all alive- except for the ones that were decommissioned while in the tube for various reasons. Which... Boss feels a swelling of... emotion at that.

He ... hm... part of him wants to do something, but on Kamino, they are simple products to be molded into the client's demands. The Long Necks view them as nothing more than cattle to be used and raised as the Client wishes. Not caring, nor previewing them as fully sentient, something that some of the trainers think the same of.

Dred Priest and Isabet Reau were some of the worst of the trainers. Walon Vau... was a complete shabuir during training- incredibly hard on them. He... Boss will have to be careful- and try to take care of himself and his vod'e- at least... as much as he could as a powerless and weak cadet.

Going through the painful haran that is Kamino again, for the… how many times has he gone through this? More time than he had liked- as a cadet the first time there had been many mistakes that had ended the lives of his squad, and he had learned from them each time he Returned.

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But- with all of the knowledge that he has of the future, and of the future pitfalls and surprises that the training on Kamino has for them… He... Boss may be able to save, at least the rest of Delta some of the pain.

Perhaps, be able to stop Atin from spending a week in a bacta tank for challenging Trainer Vau- maybe. He hopes. His invisible mutation is something that causes him pain and sorrow but is incredibly useful for intel-gathering and ability to keep others alive.

So he follows like a good little commando cadet the orders and training that they go through. As his body is untrained, his fumbles are genuine. His mental skills, as his tubie brain sometimes can't handle all the information in his brain also help him sell the bit that he's just a normal clone commando.

But it is noted- his ability to stay calm- and help his brother calm down- and the peacemaker among various personalities. A little leader in the make- he had been flagged that early- by the long neck and certain trainers.

Clever, cautious, eager for knowledge and skill- neither boastful nor hiding his skills. Caring for his squad mates- and is a good listener. Incredibly patient for his age. Kamino- is boring and terrifying and just the same as in his memories. Haran in white, and light.

They grow- and some of the skills that he's tagged for and flagged as getting more training in, not just command, but medic tract, surprises him a little. Few commandos are given this training, more than battle first aid and regular first aid.

Makes him... worried. But more knowledge is more knowledge, and if he can learn more to help patch up his vod'e more, all the better. Besides, it would be a good knowledge base for him to work off of for if, and when he can create the cure for their rapid aging- as well as finding out about the chips' work.

Certain- there are certain behavioral differences, that Boss is starting to notice, to his confusion, that he does not remember his vod'e- and other vod'e having. More possessiveness and covetous of certain other vod'e. As they grow and learn and are shaped and shape themselves and others. Whispering, their names to each other. Boss accepts the name Boss from the rest of the squad, Sev, picks his name quietly, and Scorch cheerfully accepts the name from Trainer Vau after scorching his and Sev's eyebrows off in one of the training exercises for demolitions. Fixer's name came to him as he fixed up their equipment one day.

Boss notices certain traits that seem the same, but some different, and some similar- but strange at the same time. Differences in personalities that he doesn't remember being there before. A lazy voice comes to him, one that would search the holo net for hours for all sorts of yandere traits and attributes.

Huh... Concerning- and he tries to carefully offset those dangerous traits- give them something healthier to latch onto and use. It's difficult when on Kamino. Before Atin can wind up facing trainer Vau and end up in a bacta tank for a week, which is from his stubborn yelling and being a hot-headed moron (his usual trainer is Skirata, that's the same as before).

Boss wonders if — never mind.

Boss steps forward, having ensured that he and his squad were near enough that he could reach out and grab Atin, pulling him into a headlock and hissing in his ear- before Vau could get truly annoyed as he states, "Stand down vod'ika!"

He keeps Atin in a headlock and does a look of contrition and apologizes for Atin's actions- forcing the other to nod along with him. It is barely enough, but Vau just slides his icy gold gaze away from them and barks out orders for them to go do suicide drills.

Which they do, Boss shoving Atin into the middle of the group with the rest of Delta- they grumble a little, but at his looks subside and they all do the suicides together and Scorch chattering at Atin- distracting the hothead enough to keep him under the radar long enough for him to be passed back to Skirata again.

At this point in time, Skirata and Vau are at the height of their Dislike of each other- and Vau tends to go after Skirata's cadets as a method to heckle the other- all under the guise of training and teaching them.

During one of his lessons in the Med Bay- they are allowed some time to experiment with chemicals and whatnot. Learning that the medical cadets have to deal with and handle decommissioning and reconditioning was... a bit of a nasty shock, but learning to go through that ugly haran.

Meant he could know which vod'e were reconditioned, and how to help them. He 'accidentally' creates the shelf-stable version of the rapid aging cure- as well as a different healing item.

Mij Gilamar- one of the Good Trainers, and one of the Medical Mando'ade- realized what Boss had done, with a complicated expression on his face. Mij had been one of the rumored trainers that could help vod'e get out of the war effort entirely if they wished to leave the army.

Skirata is another one that did that as well, so Mij took the cure that Boss had made, ruffled his hair, and made him promise not to make it again- after having Boss teach him how he made it.

There is a gleam in the other's eyes. Perhaps, once the war starts, and vod'e will start going to him or Skirata to get out of the war effort- then they would also not have to deal with the rapid aging as well.

Which- would be a good thing, it rankled at him a little bit that people would like to attribute the cure to Trainer Gilamar, but he decided after a little bit- that it was a good thing really, means less attention on him.

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Attention was a mixed blessing and curse for a vod. Especially as a cadet on Kamino- pre-Jedi arrival. Kark, the Jedi had done their level best to make the lives of the vod'e better. Or at least most of them. He remembers hearing about what that shabuir demagolka Pong Krell did to the 501st and 212th on Umbara.

That makes him pause and blink on one of the empty data pads he has made sure to use all of the skills he's been taught both now and in the future how to make sure that no one can break into this data pad as well as using a multi-faceted and layered code that none of his vod'e knows least not now, and unlikely to learn.

He writes down everything he remembers of the future- all of the battles he's heard about and fought in. The outcomes, the consequences that the people and planets suffered, Republic and C.I.S. The names, dates, and all that important detailed information. About the behavioral chips, rapid aging, and the cure for both issues.

He knows he doesn't know everything that happened in the past-future. Battles that- if future knowledge, or understanding of what tactics were used and what would have gone better he had written down. Not like he can do much with this, he isn't going to say anything.

He'd be thought of as at best, mad and defective- and... with the certain strange behaviors that his vod'e are exhibiting that he doesn't remember them having before... he would rather not say something that could get him or them into trouble.

There are a few more times when certain vod'e- Commando, CC track, CT track, and everyone else dropped into Trainer Vau's class that he remembers suffered more because they did not know the rules- and when told were... less than adjusting swift enough for the incredibly strict trainers liking.

Boss making sure to be near such would-be trouble makers, and subsequent sufferers in bacta tanks for a week or more. Subsequently, the rest of Delta would form up around the person they noticed Boss had designated to keep shut up for kark sake, you idiot vod'ika, we which don't care if you are physically older, right now you are idiot vod'ika until you prove otherwise.

He wasn't able to keep all of them from suffering from their actions, some of them only spent a day or two instead of a week or more in a bacta tank. They would still have injuries and scars, both physical and mental ones from their experience with Trainer Vau- but, fortunately, they had noticed that Boss had /tried/ to help them, that Delta, however begrudgingly certain members were (Fixer and Sev) also tried to help them. Scorch was willing to follow Boss's lead- as he seemed to know what to do.

Boss keeps an ear to the gossip, but glosses over some of the things they say- mostly to make sure nothing particularly worrying or troublesome isn't being whispered throughout the vod'e gossip circles. The main gossip monger and dealer of intel was, unsurprisingly, the most affable and talkative of their squad- Scorch.

Ten years of learning and growing and training goes by both agonizingly slowly and incredibly quickly. As he has multiple datapads- all of them do really, he can make sure The datapad with information on future osik is not grabbed by anyone else.

Not that he is particularly protective of it- as clones don't have things-  not even themselves, but- the rest of Delta knows he taps away at that data pad saying, "notes, on various things, lessons and whatnot."

Which they took at face value and left alone. Thank the ka'ra. They had noticed that nothing seemed to phase Boss, not even surprise live round assessments with them having limited equipment and multiple objectives to complete and limited supplies of lesser quality.

 He always had a plan, and it always worked in their favor. They weren't the top marks squad- but they did well in everything, enough to not worry about decommissioning or reconditioning, and not the best and get more attention on them. That sweet- safe middle-top spot.

 Then, one day, things change and they are ordered to armor up in their Katarn armor. They are marched out and given their orders- to their first mission, and the start of the war, to Genosis- where so many vod'e die, due to lack of knowledge, incompetence and all of them being Karking Shinies.

Genosis is as much of an osik show now as it was then- and they manage to complete the mission without any of them dying, and him not needing to return to know the earlier points in the mission. They are applauded for surviving and finishing the mission with only a two-day shore leave and then being shunted to another mission.

The time off between missions was variable, as was the reception that they received from their fellow vod'e, be they Commandos, CTs, or other kinds of spec ops squads. He snarked and sassed back, returning their harsh words with ones of his own.

Repeating words as if it was all a script in a play. During one of the missions- Boss remembers the gossip he overheard about that one traitor, named Slick if he remembered correctly - who had been damned stupid in what he had tried to do and the way he had tried to escape. Sith would not have given him what he wanted, except for dead vod'e at his and her hands as well as his death.

So- Boss manages to send an anonymous message to Gilamar about one of the CTs in the 501st being Unhappy with being in the war. Slick becomes one of the Runners- one of the vod'e that helped others escape and leave the war. Good- instead of lashing out at the Jedi and killing others.

Ventress still manages to cause chaos and mayhem and the cannons are sabotaged, but not by vod'e hands. Which at least it is something- and perhaps Slick is happier as a free vod'e- and he helps others escape The War and set up a life free of fighting and such stresses.

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 He does quietly request a mission for Umbara- that would happen around the same time as osik shows with Jedi General Krell- so they just happen to be in the area when it starts- and Fixer manages to override the jams on the comms so the 501st  and 212th realize what's happening, preventing a tragic and pointless death of their vods due to the insane dar'jetti.

And- instead of the poor vod'ika that had been reconditioned for saving his vod'e and eliminating the threat, General Kenobi had come and fought the shabuir Krell and ended up killing the mad shabuir, who refused to surrender.

Which Boss and Delta squad heard about when the 212th talked about How Amazing Their Jedi is. Which is something that he had forgotten about and rolls his eyes about exasperatedly. He made sure that Delta's involvement with solving the comms issue was kept in the dark- and his brothers in Delta didn't say anything.

But occasionally he saw them giving him, odd looks, assessing ones- like they are trying to figure something out. He'd cock an eyebrow at them and tilt his head, in a silent question.

Occasionally, at least Scorch seemed to almost vibrate- as if he wanted to ask a question, but then Fixer or Sev would give him a look or distract Scorch with something and he wouldn't say something- neither would they.

That two-day situation would resolve itself in time. If they had a problem with him, sooner or later they would tell him, or rather yell at him about it. Possibly while partially drunk, alcohol is a wonderful loosener of emotional and mental control- and allowed people to let loose, without much in the way of consequences.

Not that he used alcohol much to get his vod'e talking about things, as he made sure that they could speak their mind to him, when they weren't on a mission, about personal issues. Between himself and them, or each other or with other vod'e.

He has noticed some darker tendencies in some of the vod'e around him- that he hadn't noticed before, or really thought that they had the first time around. Some of it concerning.

He stumbled across a strange GAR channel, that has posts from... pretty much every battalion and legion and spec ops squad and commando group in the GAR and Guards, although the Rancor Battalion has the least, as they are on Kamino a vast majority of the time.

It is called Channel Order 69, at it makes his stomach sink at the crude sexual joke reference. He closes his eyes and mentally swears if this is a channel about sex escapades be they real or boasts he's going to… Boss sighs shake his head and reads some of the comment sections of the holo vids, and frowns at just how crass some of the vod'e are.

Watching the vid- and... his heart drops in his stomach and it feels like... something shatters like he had some fraction of innocence or rose-tinted glasses that he didn't have- or something that was a blind spot that he did not know he had forcibly dropped.  It is about sexual conquests and escapades of various vod'e- and not all of them with everyone in the holo vid not willing participants in them.

Boss shuts down his comm and deletes his search history hard mode and closes his eyes and .. with an icy, sinking realization, that he had indeed Shifted into the past, back into his cadet days, but also into what is surely an alternate universe, because his brother's had not had... that sort of cruelty in them.

At least not as widespread as that. Sure- some equipment maintenance was necessary to keep sharp- but a vod's imagination and hands were good enough for that. Boss realizes dimly- that he is having a panic attack and is grateful that he is alone.

As he tries to calm down by doing a breathing technique as he slowly comes down. He blinks as he realizes the room is a complete and utter mess- as if someone or something had lifted everything in the room and moved it around.

Like a Force User having a fit and tossing things about in the room. Osik. Well- no time like the present to clean the mess up and hope that they don't notice if anything is off. Unfortunately- one of the things that ping the others- is when the pulse rate of their squad mates goes up drastically.

And while Sev is out showing off with other Snipers, Fixer is having fun doing a Combat Engineer competition on building stabby mouse droids (ka'ra only knows why) and Scorch is off talking shop with other Demo experts - they get a warning ping on their comms that Boss has dangerous levels of certain hormones and that his pulse rate has skyrocketed.

Each of them had made their excuses and ran like the hounds of hell were after them as they tracked where Boss was to see what the Kriff was wrong. Boss tended to be a level-headed sort- so this worried them immensely. Boss had been having a nap- and had known they were heading out.

All three of them know that Boss has... nightmares- he's always had nightmares since practically he was decanted he's had nightmares. He's always tried to hide them from the rest of his squad, but his near silent sobs and shaking... they heard-and would insist on doing vod'e piles- as that tended to keep the nightmares at bay.

Seeing Boss- unknowingly lift things in the room- and then toss them about without touching them. The trio paused and gave each other looks. They had long suspected that Boss had... a touch of the ka'ra about him, or as it was known by nat-borns Force Sensitive.

Boss always seemed to Know Things, but luckily their Sargent managed to calm down quickly and snap out of the fit and swear to himself softly as he gets up.

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Boss shakes his head and blinks, there are black spots in his vision and oh, he is so kriffing tired as he tries to get up everything starts to spin and tilt and he hears swearing and hands grabbing at him.

 "Osik Boss- it's us- we'll deal with our bunk room." Scorch is babbling, "Fixer and Sev too- don't worry- just go back to takin' a nap, we gotcha Boss. Easy there. Just keep breathing we've got you. You're safe with us. Nightmares are the Worst."

 When did Scorch it here- he blinks through the spots in his visions and sees Fixer and Sev who are also hovering nearby- in his sight line but not crowding in his face. Boss relaxes at that- even if some of the other vod'e are doing- horrible, wretched things, surely- he would know if his squad was inclined that way.

He just closes his eyes- kriff, for having had a nap and waking up and seeing- bad News- distressing news which is going to be buried in a box in his mind and hidden and buried deep, deep down until he can think rationally...

 Boss is passed out. Scorch and the other two heave sigh and look at each other.  "Well.. that thing we suspect about Boss is true," Scorch says quietly.

 "Boss is Not defective," Sev snaps defensively. "... just... has a Mutation."

 "No- he's just got something extra that the Long Necks didn't realize they could make, or it was a quirk that he's kept hidden from everyone. Even us." Fixer says, "And he would- to keep the flak away from us if it was found out our reactions, of being unknowing would likely save us from... Long Neck's retribution."

 "It's one haran of a mutation, and you know it, Sev," Scorch points out. He is still half curled around Boss because the other makes unhappy noises if he tries to let go.

The other two fix up their temporary barracks and Fixer makes sure that any security cam footage is carefully altered to make it so that Nothing Strange is Happening Here- or Was Happening. No Sirs. Boss is Force Sensitive, is the thing they are very carefully not saying. They have proof that he is Force Sensitive.

They wonder what had set him off - to have him throw things around like that- what had happened to cause him to have such high-stress levels and elevated heart rate for a moment. Asking him would... not work out, he'd just stare at them as if they were insane, or worse, give them vague partial truths, which were worse than lies.

They understood, even if it hurt, that Boss did not trust them with this sort of information. They wouldn't turn him in to the Long Necks for having an ability that gives them an Edge in battle.

Vod'e tended to be Yandere, or at least most of them are, some of them are a C'yare temperament. None of the Commandos are certain which way Boss of Delta falls on the Yandere-C'yare spectrum, the rest of Delta falls squarely on the Yandere spectrum, with their traits, ticks, and habits being similar, different, and complimentary.

They had wanted to ask, what his inclinations are, to blatantly ask if he is Force Sensitive or not- but had decided against it. They wanted Boss to come to them, or at least one of them about such things, or someone else- hell.

He could even confide in one of those Nulls or a different Ranking Commando or one of those shabuir Alphas. But he never has, he's always been very self contained and self possessed. Self determined and knowing of Who and What he is.

It's as aggravating as it is soothing and admirable. He's got more than a few vod'ika- who watch him with Bright Eyes- and some of the c'yare almost approach him. Almost- because the Rest of Delta squad are usually with him and watch them with sharp, watchful eyes.

Boss is known for being protective and caring, the rest of Delta... are known for being scary, ruthlessly efficient shabuir. Scorch- cheerful, talkative, and able to squeeze far more intel out of a person, nat-born or Vod'e that they realize, until far, far too late.

Sev is just plain and simple scary as all haran, exuding menace and a frightening aura in the way that All snipers have, but far more terrifying with the whispered rumors that people are betting he is the most likely to loose his shavit and go on a murder spree.

Fixer tends to come across as very composed, sharp and logical- and with bitingly cold and sharp wit that can reduce a person to tears if he is in a mood to. Or icily silent and staring down his nose at a person impatiently while he tries to get some tech thing fixed, or upgraded to his liking.

But then again, a fully trained Commando that is both an Officer and a full trained medic one or the other is getting rare these days with vod'e dying for the War that the nat-borns wage, with them and clankers paying for in bodies.

Medics are a preciously rare commodity among the Spec ops and Commando units. It is understandable, if frustrating why they are protective of him. He does not let them be overprotective of him, he is their Sargent after all.

Some vod'e fall in the middle of the spectrum of yandere to darling and can be... pushed in one direction or another. They were planning to go out and Have Fun- with some of their fellow commandos with the same inclinations, but Boss might need them and that was a higher priority.

A few of the more neutral Sergeants were going to send a comm request to Boss to see if he wanted to go drinking at 79's and have and watch light mischief and nothing too dangerous- at least, try not to and to keep the shinies from getting Into Trouble and Danger as they are wont to do. Danger magnets the lot of them, Shinies.

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Boss wakes up not even an hour later- still feeling tired- but not having spots in his vision and vaguely confused on what the kark is going on and why his team is peering down at him with concerned faces, before he remembers what he read and frowned mentally, but doesn't react emotionally as he's brought up his Mission Mask.

"What?" He asks slowly sitting up, looking at each of them with an assessing look, "Sit rep, Delta."

"Your stress levels and heart rate went crazy for a bit, Boss- and the automatic ping went out 'cause we aren't in battle." Scorch says. "you okay, Boss?"

"... Just a nightmare," Boss says, "Sorry to worry. Go back to whatever you were doing."

"You sure, Boss?" Fixer asks.

"I'm fine- go on, have fun on Shore leave, limited as it is." Boss says with a firm tone and a wave of his hand, "I'm going to finish up some flimsi-work."

They leave- slowly, but they do, Sev off to be intimidating with a few Snipers that he tolerates, Fixer off to show off his engineering skills with a few tolerable techie types. Scorch heads to where a few of his Demolition buddies are and gets back into the swing of cheerful Chaos.

Boss takes in a couple of deep breaths and does finish up the last of the flimsi-work he has to do. Part of him is glad that he doesn't have as much paperwork as some poor vod'e due. Finishing up requestion forms, and all the other boring administrative tasks that are a necessary evil for their ship and crew to function effectively.

Boss does receive the request from Niner for a meet up at 79's, which he agrees to go to, mostly because it would seem of if he denied the request to drink and eat nat-born food and watching vod'e make fools of themselves and complain and bitch about osik- while keeping to op sec.

Boss greets the other Sergeants- most of them being other Commandos- while a couple of them are spec ops Sergeants, none at their table are CTs or CCs- they tend to be in packs of vod’ika that scatter around in groups by batch mates or by squad and division.

But, there is blending of the various battalions and legions- what with some batchmates being split up across the various battalions, at least among the younger generations of vod'ika as replacements are needed for dead, or too badly wounded vod'e to continue in the former capacity.

Boss speaks and listens- he's always been one of the quieter types- voicing his opinions when he felt the need to, but mostly watching vod'e and nat-borns alike interact and watchful with soulful brown eyes.

Boss wonders, with as many times as he's Returned to various times in his life, how old he is, mentally speaking at least. That... is a thought that is going in the Trauma Box and being locked away and not looked at again. Ever.

He had looked- carefully what it meant- the Return ability that he had- making sure no one could track his search history, not using his coms or data pads, using public servers- to research such things. Their  own search histories are monitored and tracked carefully to ensure their diligent obedience and not Looking Up The Wrong Things.

As vod'e- they are allowed to go into the Jedi temple and research various things in the Archive- if they  make sure to respect the rules of the Archive and are polite to others. Boss had, at least in this run, decided to go into the Archives during his time off to see if he could see what it was that was happening to him.

He had gone down several different rabbit research holes- fascinating stuff- a whole lot of interesting and clever information that had made him think and pause. Learning that what was happening to him was a Force Ability... He paused in reading that closing his eyes and counting to ten a few times.

Osi'kyr. Force Sensitivity. Something that supposedly, no vod'e had- as they are artificially created beings, and it is very unlikely to be able to create stable force sensitive clones, many a group and tried, and failed to do so.

There is testing that can be done to see if one had high enough midichlorians to be able to be Force Sensitive. But such testing automatically registered the sentient into the system of the Republic and if it's high enough, it's flagged for the Jedi to review.

Those under a certain age, a Finder is sent out to request the child join the order, and depending on the living situation of the child, take them into custody if the child is in a dangerous situation.

Those over a certain age are given resources and can seek lessons with the Agricorp, Medicorp, ExlporaCorp, and the Teaching-corps for training, not become a Jedi- but enough training to not potentially harm themselves and others.

Should Boss risk the test? If he happens to have a high enough midichlorian count it could cause all sort of osik. After all, vod'e aren't considered sentient people, and thus have no rights. But- having a high enough midichlorian count would shake that view a little.

Which... might cause him and his vod'e more pain and agony. Then- there is the Sith Master who is in the Heart of the Senate. The puppet master behind the war. His training is telling him two different things, the Chancellor of the Republic Must Be Protected, and another part of his training is telling him to End The Threat.

But the thing with that is- he's a Karking Sith Master- and from what he'd been told by Older-Sev the jedi had tried to confront him, and the Jedi had been slain for it. Boss had been- in the limited free time that he had on this planet, which he knows is growing short the longer it goes on.

Chapter Text

Evidence- having bullied a med droid into taking out his Chip- and finding away to ensure his squad mates don't know that he's had some minor brain surgery. Hacking the chip was a truely an elusive thing that was frustrating- even when he knows that some of the Rebellion had managed that to do that.

He had also- gotten, with some liberating of supplies, of some of the things that weren't on hand on a couple of venerators, the shelf-stable Cure to the Rapid aging and had injected himself with it. The effects had hit him, and he can tell it had worked.

Now- to stab his vod'e with the cure as well- and try to convince them to get their Behavioral Chip pulled- which well.. that might be a harder sell. Wasn't there something about - Ringo Vinda- he had heard about that mission- and something about a couple of vod'ika- Fiv- or Tupple or something like that.

Then that vodi'ka... Fives he thinks- were either framed or tried to kill the Chancellor- which had caused no end of panic and paranoia and had made the lives of the vod'e more heavily scrutinized and much more annoying.

He'd only ever heard of what had happened in whispered hearsay. That had happened towards the end of the war- and at this point, they were only at the mid way part of the war. Boss frowns as he taps the data pad that he's reading.

The Jedi Temple has such a soothing, peaceful feeling to it. Something warm and light, and it- The Jedi could be ... frustrating and Arrogant, and high-handed at times, but they didn't deserve to be slaughtered.

Nor did the Galaxy, despite being filled with more shabuir and assholes that he'd care for, deserve to be blown to bits by the greed and wrath of a couple of dar'jetti. He had never known the identity of Darth Vader- but that cyborg had risen after- during the Fall of the Jedi.

Hm... likely, if he can get rid of Darth Sidious, hm... If the crafty shabuir is so clever and has hidden himself for so long, he likely has contingency plans. With that, while he wants to make sure to assassinate the shabuir- despite the probably chaos and power vacuum that would make, particularly with the War going on... it might be a poor choice for now.

If he does the midichlorian test and it comes back with him having a high enough count to be able to use the force- and things go sideways- he can always use Return to go back to Before The Test, knowing the answer, but not having to deal with others knowing and the potential fall out of it.

Thank the ka'ra that commandos are raised and trained to be more independent and free thinking... well, they have their squad, they rely on. Another part of him had been murmuring, ever louder, that he should talk to his squad about this- some of it at least.

He shakes his head a little no- especially with some of his more... potentially seditious and treacherous things... No- he doesn't want to put that on them, for them... to potentially get dragged into something so dangerous, and mind-twistingly cruel. Especially with a target so highly placed, so dangerous, and with the ability to Trigger The Chips.

 He decides to take the risk and finds one of the free testing kits for midichlorian tests. He had gone in a nat-born civilian disguise, making sure to wear sunglasses and a face mask that obscured his features.

He had done that after he had finished reading the data pads at the Archive and carefully put them in a neat stack to be put away. There were very firm rules, if you didn't know the numbering system to put them away properly, then put them in these hover charts so that they could be put away by the Archivists properly.

Boss had managed to give Fixer and a group of tech specialists a challenge- an information gathering computer bug that had the ability to find, gather, process, retain, and find all the nasty, dirty little secrets that the powerful elite nat-borns have and hid- or paid others to ensure were kept secret.

After all- the C.I.S. had plenty of those- and causing scandals and political upheaval in the C.I.S. is part and parcel of their jobs. If they managed to get said bug- as well as making it stealthy enough not to notify other beings monitoring the security of their servers, and that had been months ago.

At least he got progress updates from Fixer- who had a group of like minded Tech types also working on it. Not just because it's a Challenge, but also could have a Lot of Uses For the Republic. And finding and seeking out traitors in the Republic as well.

He had been told they are in the beta testing of the thing, and so far, the results were promising. Boss shakes his head from his musings and read the instructions for the test. Finding away to get it to read DNA and not automatically send the information off to the Jedi.

Waiting with more anxiety than he thought he would have as he ignored the test as it churned and processed, thirty seconds had never felt like an eternity until now. It pings softly at he looks at the test results.

Which inform him he has a Midichlorian count that is well within the range that could have him be considered for the Jedi Order. He uses his blaster- because he's in a side alleyway to destroy the test. Then he makes sure to move swiftly, he had used false information and credentials when inputting the species, age, name, planet of origin, and planet of Currently On.

Good to know that he's actually Force Sensitive, and this is not just him being a mutation. Still the test had been registered and the name of the person's information was sent to the Jedi- had been before Boss had sent the results, and the planet tagged as Coruscant.

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As one of many, many tests that were done, and during war, such things slipped the net, with the Jedi being stretched so thin and spread out across the Galaxy... such things can slip through the cracks. Intentionally made so by a certain Sith Master- who had a bug that informed him of such things.

Having more pawns to do his bidding is a good thing, especially as this Force Sensitive has little to no training and is in their mid-twenties, and, is of near human descent, hybrid cross with Pantoran. He sends out a few of his secret employees out to try to find that needle in the haystack.

Boss is glad that he has very little contact with Jedi- Commandos tend not to have much contact with Jedi- even across comms at a distance. Most of the time their handlers are fellow Vod'e- ARC troopers and what not.

Delta squad was flagged because they are thought of as deadly, skilled, efficient, and karking insane, and thus not a good squad to be near nat-borns, unless they are Targets, to capture, protect, or kill. And kept as far away from Nat-born Command as possible. Sev is... very blunt and terrifying on a good day, as is Fixer. Scorch can be diplomatic, but tends to be either Charmingly Annoying or Utter Bastard. Boss can be .. likely trusted around nat-borns, but the rest of his squad is a hard no for contact with Jedi if possible. And where one of Delta is- the rest will surely follow. But that is the same for all Commando units.

But- Boss doesn't know why- just suspects that they keep his team away from Nat-born Command because of their Reputation. Which is a good thing, in Boss's opinion, the less they interact with Nat-borns, in particular, the Jedi, the better.

But that was for ... selfish reasons that Boss is keeping locked in a box and pretending isn't an... inconvenient truth that he should technically report to Advisor. But he won't- as the... potential… complications that could arise from it are ones that are many folded, and ends with him strapped to a gurney on Kamino with long necks carving into him, whether he is alive or dead is up to them... He'd rather not die like that, honestly.

A few weeks later Boss is told by Fixer that they have gotten the tech bug finished and ready for a trial run. Delta is going on one of their missions and he implements the tech bug- secretly into C.I.S. and in Republic systems- making sure that the intel goes to two different data pads- the C.I.S. to one data pad, and the Republic one to a different one.

Boss makes sure to send the Intel to the Republic Intelligence about the things on the C.I.S., and waits until all of the nasty, dark, dirty deeds of the Chancellor- and those closest to him are on the data pad- which he has triple locked, pass coded in four different ways and encoded in a rotating, difficult as haran cypher.

He makes sure to have several different copies of the Damning Evidence of the Chancellor's wrongdoings. One copy to be sent to Republic Intelligence- Nat-born and vod'e. One copy sent to the Alpha Batch on Kamino, and one copy to be sent to Advisor.

He also has another message that he's going to be sending priority to all of the Corrie guards as well, with the intel on The Chancellor and his closest group of Senators, all of their dirty laundry, and an actionable list that they can use to arrest them.

Another- with all of the information to the Jedi- including the information about the Behavioral Chips. Which- from the Jedi Survivors, no they had not known about them, otherwise they would have tried to do something about it.

Boss makes sure to carefully suit up and has a pre-recorded message that will send to Delta squad... just in case things go to haran. He makes sure to have slug throwers- and when asked where he is going, armed to the teeth.

Boss tells them, he will go there, then head to see if he can kill a Sith Master, "Practice range."

They nod- the rest of Delta is going to be doing their own things on shore leave- Fixer has a not-date with Fi of Omega, Sev is going to show off to, er train with Shiny Snipers, and Scorch is going to go on a not-date with some nat-born that he had flirted with at 79's last night.

"Have fun Boss!" Scorch chirps with a grin.

He nods in response, "You lot as well."

They nod and head off to the various things and tasks they were doing on Coruscant for the day. This is not going to be a goodbye, if he dies- he will just Return to just before, and can plan a different approach.

If this works, and the fall out is not ideal, and he gets executed for Treason, despite uncovering and likely having to kill a traitor, then he will just Return- and find a different method.

He is a stealthy, competent Commando- and hacking into the comms chatter of the Corries- he learns the Chancellor's routine and finds a time to set up a nest- as well as trap the shabuir's office and tries his best to kill a Sith Master.

It doesn't work- and he dies- Boss wakes, up and is at the start of the day again, speaks the lines he said before, acted the same way before, and tried to kill the Sith master- this time in a different way, it doesn't work, he dies again.

He does several different methods of assassination, and a few of them, almost work, but some how it doesn't work and Boss dies, again, and again, and again. Perhaps... he needs to seek out others to help him with this.

But who? The nat-borns- no, he doesn't trust them, the Jedi would squabble and argue- and then go to confront The Sith Master and die- again, that had happened a couple of times he had tried to tell them. 

Chapter Text

Part of him whispered- vod'e don't do things alone, not even Commandos are alone. Boss paused, clenched his jaw a little and shook his head.

No- no he wasn't going to tell Delta- he didn't want... if he told them- showed them the evidence of Chancellor Palpatine being a Traitor- then they'd want to try and help him arrest the Chancellor- go to the Corries about it.

Then... then likely so many more vod'e would die- and he would die again- but this time with more memories of his ner'vod dying- of vod'ika, of unknown names and numbers dying, due to him. No- no, there must be a way for him to kill the shabuir.

A few more times he tries to kill the Sith Master- one-time getting face to face and announcing his arrest- and criminal charges. At first, the shabuir tried to protest- but his masked dropped the more information Boss gave about his many, many crimes- including the records of Count Dooku calling Chancellor Palpatine "my lord Sidious."

Death by Sith Lightening... did not come- he's in complete agony- and he hears something chime in his helmet- and hears the frantic voices of his vod'e in his ear. He gurgles out something- unable to form words.

He tries hard not to scream- as the Sith Shabuir's mask fully dropped and the wrinkly, ugly old bastard snarled at him. Boss had just enough brain power and ability to move- he had his comm doing a live recording as he gurgled out, gasping with his breath as his vitals inform him that he was kriffed to haran.

Boss manages to say, "B-by the la-laws of the Republic, you a-are und-der ar-arest for Colluding with the C.I.S. and being a Sith Master."

"Wretched clone- you will tell me how a tool like you found out about me," The Sith Master seethes angrily- he looks unrecognizable.

He stands away- after looming over Boss and stand back- lightening crackling and Boss tries- he tries not to but he screams- the pain- is to slick-voiced much, even with all of his training- a wordless, screaming agony as he hears someone howl in pain, only dimly aware it is himself.

He hears his Delta squad swearing and yelling and asking for information, Boss tries to tell them... something, but all that comes out is wet, pained bloody whimpering. As the Sith Master sneers at him from on high, "I am going to enjoy finding out how you found out and then making sure that you die."

The panic and anger he hears in his brother's voices- they are speaking with- others his live recording- being seen by more than one vod'ika- he hears swearing and bellowing and the unpleasant voice of karking Ordo and slick voiced Mereel. All of them demanded answers. Which was something Biss did not want to give them, not at this point.

As soon as he almost flat lines- the chirps of their comms will go out with the information that Boss has about the Sith Master. Just in case, if he dies a final time and doesn't get returned to the start of this day again.

He doesn't know if he can when near a Sith Master, but if he doesn't- then at least he won't die in vain- and they will know, and hopefully manage to off the demagolka puppet master who makes the galaxy bleed for his greed, amusement and power.

Boss hears voices- of vod'e and nat-borns and The Sith Master- the spots in his vision as he passes out. Boss blinks, and holding onto the bacta dispenser and trying not to sway. Karking dar'jetti haran, his chest still felt like it was on fire, well zapped by Sith llightning and he looks down.

And then around at himself trying to determine- ah, he's just recharging at the bacta dispenser on Coruscant, and it's back to the start of the day. For some reason- his chest still feels like it's been zapped by lightning.

 That's. concerning. He should be. better, he's not carried injuries from one Return to another before- then again, he's not been attacked by a Trained Force User as the cause of his death before, either. Perhaps the rules are different.

He ... well, he's as healed as he's going to get- despite feeling like he got beaten to near death. The bacta has helped- and so far, Boss does not have many dark spots in his vision. And no- his legs do not feel like jelly.

Boss is quiet as he follows his vod'e- who are bickering with one another, but that doesn't bother them, he tends to be quiet until he has something he wants or needs to say.

He moves carefully, making sure to act as if he is uninjured- not wanting to worry them. He will have to wait until he's better, more fully recovered, go to one of the bacta dispensers again to see if another session will help him.

Boss has turned off his vital monitors- because he doesn't want them to potentially chime and alert his squad mates to Something Being Off. They go about the day, like they had the near countless times before.

Once they are parted Boss finds a spot to lean against and allows himself to wheeze and clutch his chest- taking off his armor, and still in his body glove. Sweet Ka'ra his .. ow. His comm chimes at him a- while later. When had it gotten to three hours later?

He had just blinked... Boss frowns, concerned, that he had… passed out and was on the floor. He must have taken a Surprise nap. Grateful that no one noticed or spotted a passed out Commando curled and in agony on the floor of some random part of Coruscant.

He looks at his comm. Kriff he has a meeting with Advisor, going over the mission reports and check-in with how his team was doing. Routine stuff, but- he has half an hour to get to that building that is ... a fair distance away from where he is currently.

Chapter Text

Which is. a problem. Because Boss is almost Never Late- unless one of his di'kuts is injured and he's dragged them to a medic or Bacta Dispenser. So- he manages, just barely to get to the meeting with Advisor with half a minute to spare.

He makes sure to go over the reports- having spoken this over a dozen of times before the words and phrases feel rote, like a script. Something seems a little... off for some reason. Advisor keeps giving him this long, considering look, something almost expectant.

Which Boss responds with, by giving him a long, slow blink and ever so slightly tilting his head, and waiting for the other to say or do something. Over the times he has Returned- there have been subtle, minor differences.

Sometimes those differences were a slightly different hair cut styles on some vod'e- names that are said with a different accentuation on the words. The Jedi Books had told him that he is not just hopping back through time- but blending into his alternate self's body which means.

With each Return he does, he goes into an alternate timeline, most of them are nearly identical to his own one, so he is able to adapt and blend in easily, with only the occasional odd hiccup- but nothing that claiming a bash to the head doesn't smooth over with some worried-teasing.

They were sitting in silence, and had been for the last couple of minutes, Boss waiting for Advisor to dismiss him, asking to be let go would only have other talk at him more long-windedly about ungrateful commando command that don't appreciate a good conversation.

Boss notices, for some reason, in this Return, his sense of smell is a lot strong for a normal near-human. Which is. An interesting difference. At least he's away from that weird Yandere Time line- his Delta could be a little... too intense and clingy at times.

Boss's control over his emotions and self, and this body's instinctive control and as he's blende with this version of himself- but his memories, as the older, and stronger version of Boss override his other self's memories and subtle, but differences in personality.

Eventually Advisor seems... put out and almost pouting at him for some reason, and he's let go. Boss nods and says his goodbyes before heading off. Perhaps his relationship with Advisor is ... different in this alternate, than he remembers it being?

Learning of the more complicated gender and how dynamics of Alpha, Beta, Omega (at least those are the terms in Basic are) is a ... trip and a half. From the reports he reads, most of the vod'e are alpha, but they do have enough Betas and Omegas mixed in to make sure that the Alphas don't go all Aggro on each other.

Most species, at least those that are human, near-human, and compatible with the human species for viable offspring have some form of the Alpha, Beta, and Omega dynamics. With each species having different cultural and societal norms and expectations depending on the dynamic and gender expression.

Thank Ka'ra that the Mando'ade still use gender neutral terms and pronouns, and lack there of, for pronouns, which is great. He will continue to use the pronouns that he thinks of himself of and just... ignore the extra bits of himself that... he will deal with later.

Hm... he goes over the reports and scans for the dynamics- not that those should matter much, of his Delta squad, Fixer and Scorch are Alphas, Sev is a Beta, and Boss is an Omega... So he has extra body parts, and will need to find a medical unit to make sure that he has birth control.

Something he found out in one of the earliest timelines is that the Long Necks Lied about them being infertile, they are and he does not want to deal with potentially incubating, or causing others to incubate a tubie.

Not that he will be doing anything to cause such an occurrence, but it is good, as insurance. Also- he needs to find a med droid and bully them into getting the chip out of his head, and get the ingredients to cure the rapid aging in this version of his body.

He finds a good med droid and bullies them into giving him the minor brain surgery, he knows the recovery time that he will need to recover fully. Waiting a few hours and then dizzily staggering to the nearest bacta dispenser and having the healing light and goo vroom and he sighs in relief as the last of his headache goes away and heals under bacta.

Unfortunately, the my-chest-karking-hurts, because of Sith Lightning that happened his last time around, in an alternate galaxy feeling is still there. And it's slowing him down, not enough to be noticeable, for now.

Grimacing a little he goes to find a medkit with bacta and painkillers and goes to the Commando Barracks on Coruscant, carefully avoiding any vod'e notice as he goes to a smaller stall and after locking the stall he carefully pulls off his upper body glove, which sweet karking force- the Sith Lightening damage did come with him, kark.

That was something the book said, if injuries due to Force Osik happened, then the person would carry them with them to the next Shift. And from what he remembered, it would take a while to recover, going to a Healer, a Force Sensitive one would help the process...

But then they'd ask him How The Kriff He Got Those Injuries- and that would be a mess, and he.. Boss does not want to answer those questions- not with... the potential disaster that could happen- and the stress and worry that would happen, and he does not want to worry his brother's like that.

He is the one that worries for them, takes care of them, it's something that he was told and lived by since he was a small cadet and was chosen to be one of the Leaders of the Commandos- oh, he only leads Delta- but it still matters.

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Boss must remain a strong, sturdy presence, a rock, their pillar of calm and strength. The one to weather the storm and protect them from the rain and wind. From ... well... as much as one clone can protect another three from the harsh cruelties of the galaxy.

As well as letting them stand on their own two feet, be sure and steady of their owns elf and whatnot. Boss heads about his day like normal, speaking with others, the same sentences repeating, but a few of them- seem to be... expecting something.

To which he just blinks at them for, waiting for them to say or do something, before they head off. Again, with strange almost pouty, expectant, and hurt expressions. Boss is wondering what it is he is missing.

If they don't tell them what it is he's not doing or missing, then he's not going to do what they expect of him. Whatever that is. He watches the nat-borns and vod'e around him- so much more tactile and touch, haran, even other vod'e are that way.

He seems some other Omega vod'e- all sweetly purring, huh, he didn't know vod'e in this galaxy could purr, good to know. Boss wonders if he can purr- and will try to figure that out later, and they are all cuddle-snuggle-tactile with other Omegas, and with Alpha and Beta vod'e and nat-borns.

And- as he heads from one vod'e only space to another- he occasionally spots vod'e be even more intimate with each other. Which is fine, people finding and holding on to pleasure and bits of happiness is fine, and so long as everyone is amenable to such things, and consenting it's fine.

Boss... just doesn't have the time, or frankly inclination, at the moment, to think about, much less desire to be so close to anyone, nat-born of any kind or vod'e. The spots in his vision are coming back, dark blinking spots.

There is a strange sour-pain-wounded scent that is coming from… somewhere, he's glad that he knows what that means. He... Boss realizes he's sagging against a wall one hand pressed to his chest as he is wheezing again.

He closes his eyes and takes in slow, deep breaths and stands up and carefully marches forward- eyes looking around trying to find whoever the Omega in pain-hurt-wounded. He doesn't see anyone- but he knows they are clo...se.. Oh osik. He can smell himself. Karking wonderful, which means other's can smell him.

Kriff, kark, Osik. He needs to find a shower and rid himself of this- find a karking bacta dispenser and see if that will help with the Sith inflicted wounds. And avoid- the vod'e who- are fellow commandos. Who are calling out softly- worry in their voices as they smell the scent-sour-pain of someone who's wounded.

Nope. Not dealing with that. Especially since that is karking Mereel and kriffing Ordo- no he does not want to deal with them. Or their fucking questions. And he also hears Niner of Omega. Nope, not today. He skitters out of the way and finds a place to hide and finds scent blockers in his tool kit and liberally uses them so he smells almost blank- just bland sweetness of a Normal Omega.

No distress, pain or injury here. Nope. Just a normal Commando hiding in a closet. But he is able to sneak away and back to Delta squad designated barracks and use the bacta tank dispenser, it at least makes him feel better.

Kark does he feel bone tired and like he's been on campaign with minimal rest for months. Part of him ignoring a tiny voice in his head that he probably has with the Returning that he's been doing. Boss closes his eyes. He has his chip out - and has a datapad full of evidence that he's written down and gotten sources of evidence for.

The Orders on the Chips- all horrifyingly 150 of them. The wrongdoings of Chancellor Sith Master Sheev Palpatine. He sags against his bunk. He's jabbed himself with the shelf stable version of the rapid aging cure. Which also doesn't help, it takes a while to work and leaves the body painful and sore.

Perhaps that and having the chip out, while also recovering from Sith Lightening is not the best idea he has had in a while. But he wants that kriffing Chip Out of his head, and he want's to potentially have a life as long as a nat-borns, if he can survive this karking war, and end the Sith Demagolka puppet master.

Part of him wondered, a part that is lonely, and hurt and tired of it all. What if he contacted Trainer Gilamar, not Skirata, never Skirata, to ask for an Out of the war. Part of him wants to see if he can convince Delta to go with him, but a larger part of him knows that they won't go, and will be Very Upset With Him if he suggests that they... leave the war.

As tempting as that thought was he shook his head, no The War, The Fall of the Republic and the Rise of the Empire would be happening, and the escape to somewhere safer would only last for a little while before the Empire goes hunting to make everyone as miserable as possible.

One of the only ways to likely stop more horrifying misery and pain is to Kill The Sith Master- and defang his most staunch allies, on the sides of C.I.S. and in the Republic, all those movers and shakers with all the credits that keep this poison flowing.

He feels better, not as in much pain, so he walks away from the bacta dispenser and on to his next task, even while on Shore Leave, as a Sargent of the Commandos, he is in one of the lower levels of Command and heads to his next meeting.

Which goes the same, the same words said by what feels like rote, he gives the responses when he knows he's to speak, and listen when he's supposed to. A good not quite third of the Commandos in the room are like him, Omegas and they seem to flirt and titter with some of the Alpha and Beta vod'e.

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Boss really hopes he was not a flirty person with anyone, as Boss... he passed that training, but with the ease they have for touching and flirting and nuzzling into other vod'e... er... He would not be able to fake well enough to not have other Commandos noticed.

He's watched, with some expectant gazes, but no one seems to push him, for now at least. Boss hears one of them murmur low- but still loud enough for Boss to hear, " '38 is being shy or playing hard to get, again."

"Aw, you have me with you though," Another one of the Commandos say with a flirty wink, which has the Alpha commando purr in response and nuzzle them. Boss is. Feeling. Awkward. And like his chest is on fire.

They seem to be done with the meeting... but no one seems to be getting up to leave, rather find someone or a pair of some ones to be soo… touchy-feely with. It makes Boss's skin crawl and he wants to cross his arms over his chest.

But that would signal that he is feeling uncomfortable and that is a show of weakness he will not show to these shabuir. Vod'e they are- but as much as knows and does not know them, there is a lot he both trusts and does not trust them with.

A few couples and trios leave, and after the fifth group of them leave, Boss stands up and heads out, with only a glance back when he hears a noise. He looks back, rolls his eyes and continues out Niner, and a couple other RC Sergeants are making out. And being deliberately noisy about it for some reason, he leaves.

Whatever, he has evidence to gather, scent nullifiers to reapply and a bacta tank dispenser to use to ease the Sith Lightning pain in his body. He leans against the bacta tank dispenser and sighs softly as the pain eases mostly.

Now that he knows what to look for, and how to get it, he finds the ugly little secrets of the Chancellor and his minions, ensuring that he has records of their crimes. Also, more easily, finds evidence of Him Being A Sith, and Colluding With The C.I.S.

He does not get caught, because he is a fully trained Commando, but even that is just because he uses every bit of skill to evade and avoid. And his karking chest feels like it's on fire, and his hands are shaking. Damned Sith Lightening, Bacta- he needs to get to a Bacta Dispenser.

Boss blinks, there are spots in his vision again and his hands are shaking, he can barely hold on to the datapad- which he will need to encode and encrypt more deeply than just standard Commando protocol has for such things.

It contains all of the sins and criminal activities of the highest ranking people in the Republic, information on the Chips- what they did. The Contingency Orders, and Sith Plans for Galactic Dominion- he'd managed to find the Death Star Mark 1 plans- which was already starting to be built, something that big needed years, decades to make, even with the impressive amount of technology that they have, such larger constructions take time, credits, and workers.

Boss is wheezing again- and he hears something beep and chime on his comm he frowns and looks at it through spotty, blurry vision. He has- a meeting- He doesn't remember there being another meeting, a damn, it's with … who is it with again? His comm is chiming at him more insistently and he swats at it with trembling hands irritably.

He staggers and leans against a building wall. He is leaning against a building- he's near Republic Intelligence- Near some of the best and deadliest minds of the Vod'e and nat-borns for such things. If only his protesting, numb body would let him move.

Boss feels... so heavy, so tired. The dark spots in his vision getting worse. He closes his eyes and tries to breath, breathing is a task he can do. He's a Republic Commando Sargent of the GAR he can do this.

He will... just give his eyes a rest and then he will get up. He hears the soft clatter of something. Kriff- it's the... it's the Data pad. With as much as he can he tries- really hard to grab the data pad and just, his body protesting, slowly leans and moves and he's now, flopped on the ground and. moving . is. Rest. Close his eyes and once he opens them he will get up. He will grab the data pad. He will... he smells blood, and pain, and sour-pain-misery of an Omega vod- kriff, his scent markers wore off again.

Boss was almost never late to meetings, whether they are for Important Things, or Mission Things, or for Private Matters. Advisor had been a little hurt when Boss had been a bit cold after their Debriefing after missions meeting was done. But ... Boss tended to be one of the shyer Omegas, but… something about their meeting and seemed slightly... of now that Advisor thinks over it.

Perhaps Boss hadn't had time to fully use a Bacta tank dispenser to heal up. Commando missions are hard, even for veteran squads like Delta. Boss had seemed... visibly tired, perhaps the mission had worn on him more than usual.

Besides- Boss's scheduled Heat was coming up soon- and there were more than a few vod'e curious to see just who he'd pick. One of of his squad or someone else. And he heard from the other Clones- that there is a wounded Omega Commando that's Hiding From People, which is worrying. Also- that Boss had not participated, even a little in the tactile time, Boss normally only did light touches with a few vod'e, but he hadn't approached anyone.

Which. For Boss. Hm.. Perhaps something is bothering him. So Advisor tries to Comm Boss. no response. So the Alpha ARC trooper frowns and tries to comm him a couple more times. Boss doesn't usually ignore his comms like this, if he was asleep one of his squad would answer his comm and tell him that.

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So- he uses various and sundry technologies that he has and tracks Boss down, and finds him- vitals going haywire and unconscious on the streets of Coruscant with a data pad curled protectively in his grasp.

"Os'kyr Boss!" Advisor swears and sends a comm message to get medics to his location as soon as possible. Commando down, unknown condition. "Someone get him eyes on the rest of Delta squadron. Kark. Kriff. Osik."

The rest of Delta are off with various other commandos doing Shenanigans and have no idea what's going on with Boss, or whatever it was that he was up to.

"What do you mean Boss is in the med bay?! He was fine this morning- had even stopped at a Bacta dispenser before heading off to meet with Advisor Face-to-Face," Scorch says loudly as he asks which Med Bay Boss was in.

The rest of Delta squad is, would be piled next to their Sargent and worried as haran- but they have been chased out of the medbay and made to sit in the uncomfortable chairs and told to stay there and be out of the way.

Then- they grow more alarmed when Jedi Healer medics are called in- which makes them worry more, very few vod'e get looked at by Jedi raised Medics, unless they are directly under their command... unless something is really karked up with them.

Advisor is clutching a data pad in his hands and reading it, at first just curious and then has a visible reaction, which is rare for Advisor- who is one who has worked since Geonosis with multiple Commando Squads.

"Kark! I need to get this intel to Mereel and the Jedi High Command. Delta! Form up- and come with me to debrief." Advisor snaps out.

They snap to attention and follow after him utterly confused and looking at each other briefly as they follow after him. Wondering what was on that data pad and what it had to do with them. Advisor takes a couple of deep breaths and look at him.

"Sit rep Delta," Advisor commands. They all blink at him confused- Fixer giving a stumbling report of what had happened on their last mission. Each one of them chiming in and confused.

 "... Boss was doing this on his own. Kriff. Karking great." Advisor swears.

There is a lull, ".. D-oing what on his own, sir?" Scorch dares to ask.

"Gathering information about traitors in the high circles in the karking senate. If Mereel set him this task and did not inform me of it- fucking Nulls- I will give him a piece of my mind. I get op sec. But you Deltas are under my purview before his." Advisor says.

They have not seen Advisor this strongly emotional. Like ever. And blink at him like startled owlets. He sighs, "Go back to watching over your batcher. He was zapped with Sith lightening."

 "How?!" Scorch asks loudly, "We haven't been anywhere near Sith- at least. I don't think so."

Fixer and Sev nod in agreement and confusion and worry.

"That.. is something that we will need to see if Boss can talk to us about," Advisor says grimly.

He looks at his comms and his face twitches, "From the report I just got- the Strength of the multiple bolts of Sith Lightening that RC 1138 has suffered from, it's not Count Dooku's or Assajj Ventress's Sith Lightening. No its stronger, and darker, he might have the Sith Master. And from what the Jedi healers say from the wounds... the Kriffer is On Coruscant. The Guard have been informed and various units are being mobilized to try to find the Shabuir- and all commando units shore leave is suspended and you lot will are going to help us hunt for the shabuir that has put Boss into the med bay."

"Yes sir!" They say snapping to attention.

Scorch looks like he's about to argue, but Sev and Fixer grab him and haul him out of the room as they head to their barracks to get their full armor and then head to Corrie HQ to mobilize and get their orders. They want to stay with Boss- but they would better serve the Republic hunting down the shabuir that put him there.

Boss... what the kark did he find out and what intel is on the data pad to rattle Advisor so much? He had only been away from them for a few hours. Which, okay, a Commando could get into a lot of trouble in a few hours, but they were on shore leave and supposed to relax and have fun. Not nearly die.

Advisor is going through the datapad- as he races to Corrie HQ- and subsequently near where Republic Intelligence is located and sees the static helmet cam footage of The Chancellor of the Republic speaking with Count Dooku. As well as hearing and seeing the Count, who is one of the Leaders of the C.I.S. call him, "Lord Sidious."

Lord Sidious. Master Sith Lord. The one who is the Shadow master behind the C.I.S. Who is also apparently. Karking Chancellor Palpatine. Then the footage, that is likely from Boss's own helmet- crackles and pops as he gets jolted with Sith lightening.

 He sends this message comms wide to every karking vod'e on Coruscant. As well as issues a comm black out so that no comms can be sent off of 000, or received from other places to 000. Then he sends a copy of all of this message in High Priority to The Jedi High Council who are on Coruscant with Pertinent details.

 Advisor also sees the information about the Behavioral Chips- and the Orders on them, as well as the Can Take Over A Vod'e and turn them into meat droids in actuality. A little footage- with the sound off, but the lips reading Marshall Commander CC 1010 Execute Order 52.

 And the almost eerie and unnatural way the vod'ika snapped to attention and blankly obeyed the orders. 

Chapter Text

A couple of over holo-vid evidence of the Traitor using the Chip on Other Corries. Right- Advisor is taking this straight to those of highest rank in the Jedi and the Vod'e have them institute a planetary comms black out and send a message to ensure no one answers comms coming from 000.

All of this information gets sent to the Jedi High Council who are in temple at the moment- and the Jedi's reactions to the Chips... The Jedi hadn't known about the Chips, and had reacted with Horror upon knowing about them.

As well as making plans with the highest ranking vod'e on Coruscanta, which included, at first a very tense Marshall Commander Fox and Commander Stone, who, after learning and listening to all of it... had the Corries give information, like rain fall on Kamino about the black outs, the memory lapses during said black out missions.

Mereel knows who gathered the information- he'd demanded to know of who from Advisor- and since Boss is unconscious in a Jedi Healer's wing due to Force Osik karking him over and they are unsure of when he will wake up, but they had assured his squad mates that once he's stabilized, it's more than likely that he will wake up. Vod'e are strong, and stubborn, and strong willed, Commandos doubly so.

When the Jedi High Council politely requested to speak with the vod'e who was responsible for finding this information, they are informed that said vod'e is in the Jedi Healer's wing unconscious and being cared for due to the being hit with multiple bouts of Sith Lightening.

The council have a moment of silence before they go back to planning with the vod'e- and they pull in a few of the Very Trusted Senators for this. Amidala, Organa, Chuchi, Mothma and a couple of others as well. As they are told and showing the damning evidence for the Chancellor not just being a Sith Master, but colluding with the C.I.S. and the one who was puppeteering both sides of the War.

They don't say or show anything of the Chips, per the request of the vod'e. The Jedi had agreed easily, not wanting that sort of information to get out and as a safety thing for them, the Senate... and the general population and large would likely react very poorly to learning of such things.

The Jedi would find ways to disable and get the Chips dealt with safely and as swiftly as possible as well. Advisor had, haltingly told them about the possible cure for the rapid aging that was also found to be among the information on the data pad that had a whole lot of information.

Which would be something that would also be dealt with at a later time, they had not spoken of such things when the Senators arrived, that was, after all, an internal matter for the GAR and Guard, and not something to bother the Senate with. They send out high priority alert to all the vod'e off of Coruscant, that until a certain code phrase is sent, that they are not to reply to any messages from 000. For the sake of the Republic, op sec meant that they could not give them any more information than that.

After that was handled, the slicers went about carefully slices and ensuring that no messages would be able to leave Coruscant. The vod'e had their helmets on and input in a setting so that they could not hear what was going on externally and they relied on hand signs from each other and the Jedi.

The Senators and the Jedi insisted that they try to arrest the Chancellor, at least to make the attempt, even though all of them know that, no Sith, particularly one who has hidden themself so well and for so long will likely allow himself to be arrested. Not when he is likely close to Victory.

They also have live holo cams going to start rolling, to record everything that happens, just in case this goes KUBAR. All of those that are going to Confront the Chancellor are headed to the Senate Rotunda.

They have snipers and others waiting in the wings, for when the Sith Revealed himself and tried to attack, either the Jedi or the Senators.They had warned the Senators of the likely Going to Die that they are in if they also confront the Sith Master- Treacherous Chancellor.

Mon Motha decided to not go with them, after all, if they are all dead, at least someone who Knows will still be alive, and with a copy of all the pertinent information, just in case. The Jedi Temple is on lock down, same

with the various Vod'e places. The Corries were going about as normal, as well as making so that they won't get potentially Chip Triggered, they are not to accept coms from anyone until the agreed upon Signal is launched. Due to op sec and the dangerous nature of the person they are going to try to, at first, arrest, and, if it's not possible, detain using any means necessary.

Marshall Commander Fox, among other vod'e volunteered to go with the Jedi- loading up on blasters and slug throwers and sonic grenades. They have prepared as much as they can and they are allowed into meet with the Chancellor.

The vod'e who is working as his secretary guard, knows what is going on and ensures that the sound dampeners are on in their helmet, as well as at the door so that no one can hear what is going on in the room.

The Corrie whispers a quiet, "Oya, Ori'vod." As Marshall Commander Fox passes by, who pauses and gently squeezes the younger Corries shoulder before heading into the room. At first the Chancellor is affable and pleasant, if a tad confused, once they reveal what they know and try to arrest him, at first he protests and pleads ignorance.

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Before some of the information that gets out is particularly damning and his face twists and he reveals his true dark side and Sithly nature and attacks the blend of Jedi, Vod'e and Senators. The Senators are shoved out of the door as swiftly and safely as possible while the Jedi and vod'e fight for their lives and the one to manage the killing blows- well it's confusing. Marshall Commander Fox manages to get a killing blow on him, same with Jedi Knight General Skywalker and Jedi Master General Windu.

They had to, unfortunately, kill the shabuir, but alas, he had given them no choice in the manner- medics of vod'e and Jedi alike swarm, assess, triage and do initial stabilization of the vod'e and jedi who are wounded as best they can and the wounded are all taken to the Temple to heal,

Jedi and Vod'e alike.

Sith inflicted force wounds are no joke, and over the next few hours and days there are times when it is touch and go whether or not certain people will live or not. But the Jedi and Vod'e manage to pull through.

The Senators involved in the plot to dethrone the Chancellor, along with the non-injured Jedi High Council who are not in battle at the moment are doing damage control and are helping the Senate expunge itself of corruption and cruelty.

There was a somber pall that had come over the whole lot of them as they realized just how close they had come, the Republic had come to falling. Finding ways to approach a more diplomatic solutions with the C.I.S- after they'd gotten confirmation that General Grievous and most of the C.I.S. highest leadership has either been detained or killed has helped. 

But- all the politics, and prisoner exchanges and what-not are all for those on high, not for a lowly grunt like Scorch to know much, or really care all that much about. What he wanted was for Boss to open his kriffing eyes.

To hug him, and then yell at him for being so stupid and for not taking them along with him on his information gathering. Vod'e aren't created, trained and taught to be alone, and Boss nearly got himself killed Doing Osik Alone.

Scorch is not the only one that wants to have a debrief with Boss- more than half the Council of Vod'e want to as well, same to does the Jedi Council. Once his medic and the Jedi healer clear him for it, they are uncertain as to what Boss's mental state is going to be like.

Kriff, was this how Boss and the other's felt when he did dangerous stunts- being on the other end of this feeling karking sucks and he hates it. Sev is leaning against Boss's med bay cot, his eyes are closed, while Fixer is tapping away at his data pad, only occasionally scanning the room, before his hands fly over the data pad some more.

Boss wakes up, opening his eyes, as he slowly looks around, to those that know how to read him very well, like his squad can. Boss... is confused, which makes sense, the karking shabuir has been in a coma for a little over two weeks from being blasted with Sith Lightening.

What had been... more than a little terrifying was when Trainer Vau showed up on Coruscant in his justice Black armor and Loomed at the rest of Delta squad before giving a strange, blank look at Boss. Scorch had tried to distract the trainer by Talking at him.

Sev is shutting down around Trainer Vau- which he can, and does, even after they have had a couple of years away from the hard shebs'palon of a trainer. He was not the Worst trainer- no that was a title that Priest and Reau have. Fixer is pretending to be working on something on his data pad- but his hand holding the 'pad is too tightly clenched.

Atin Skirata- of Omega squad comes muscling in and snarls at Vau to, "leave Delta alone, you've done enough to the crazy shabuir as it is."

Vau's face had twisted at that and Skirata and one of the other mando'ade trainers came over and more or less carefully drag the other trainer out. Atin has his issues with Delta squad- but with their Sargent down for the count, and him having found out the Very Important Intel that has saved the karking Republic.

That had been a few days ago- and Vau would occasionally look in on them, before heading off- to do who-knows-what. Hearing that the Clone Rights Bill had passed, it hadn't been a land slide, but it had been approved.

"Boss!" Scorch says with a relieved grin and pretending there are no tears in his eyes, "Done with your beauty sleep?"

Boss tries to say something, and pauses, before shakily battle signing, and then frowning at his hands like they had betrayed him, [Sit rep].

So, Scorch tells him what is going on, what happened, and also yelled at him for the Dangerous Osik that he got up to, without them. Boss had, looked away from them at that, before looking towards them again.

There was glassy, almost something fragile about Boss, that had Scorch's voice fading as he wraps him up in a tight hug and sobbed. Boss carefully pats his head, before curling his arms around the other and making soothing noises.

They had nearly lost Boss several times, and it had been... not pleasant. Delta squad was one of the few squads to make the entirety of the war without losing a pod brother, something that few other squads, save for the youngest of them, could boast of.

Something that had other's both impressed, and jealous of in equal measure. Boss, who would have gone into a scheduled heat, hadn't due to his body healing and convalescing. Which will be an entire thing to deal with, likely the Heat won't be a carnal seeking one, what with how wounded he'd likely be.

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There are several kinds of Heat, Stress Heat (which, from Scorch has seen are Not Fun), Induced Heat (drugged, or Force Osik'd), Platonic Heat (younger Omegas, and older ones, or those who are badly wounded, tended to go into this one), and Carnal Heats (this one most of the time resulted in a pup or pups, depending on if one or all the partners are not on birth control or something like it.

Boss blinks and listens to him quietly as he tells him how Advisor found him- and the data pad of damning evidence against the Traitor Sheev Palpatine. As well as being able to find out about most of the other dark, ugly corruption that was in the Senate that they are dealing with.

The C.I.S. are also doing with their own People in Power with Nasty, Corruption, with both sides dealing with internal matters, and carefully exchanging and finding prisoners of war and what not, things have been mostly peaceful. Oh- and the vod'e have been given all of the same rights and freedoms as all sentients in and of the Republic.

They are in the process of getting the vod'e off of Kamino- including the tubies, as well as have the rights to their genome- and getting all of that from the Long Necks, which is happening under the gimlet eyes of at least a third of the Jedi High Council so that they won't pull Osik on them.

"Oh- and they also found that neat little Cure for Rapid aging in that data pad of his. Full of such impressive intel- just where, Boss-man did you find all of it?" Scorch asks.

Boss blinks at him tilting his head and taps at his throat before looking away. His throat felt like he’d been gargling sand or glass. It hurt- like he’d been screaming, or something.

"You can still hand sign, Boss." Scorch says.

Boss shakes his head and signs honestly, [tired]

"Fair enough, get more rest from restin' Boss." Scorch says with a hint of teasing worry.

[Will be fine.] Boss says, trying to help soothe the anxieties of his team.

The Jedi healer comes in and shoos the rest of Delta squad out of the room and do an assessment of him. Asking questions, which he hand signs responses to, when he feels like it. Kark, Boss is tired, and all he's done is sleep for two weeks.

Boss had time to think about things, perhaps if he had reached out earlier- maybe- hm.. Of course, the obvious answer of reaching out, carefully, to others would have been the solution that works.

He felt like a moron for not, well no, he had thought of that option a long time ago, but he did not want to have others dive into the quagmire with him. Boss sighs and rubs his face, the recovery is longer than he’d like, but he manages to regain most functionality, with Sith Lightening, one never fully and completely recovers.

He had been doing some physical therapy when a very seemingly forgettable nat-born approached Boss. They introduced themselves as Sly Moore, and he has no idea why the nat-born is approaching him of all.

They inform him that they were the previous Chancellor Palpatine’s Aide, which has him cautiously shifting into a more battle stance and tapping out a dadita message to the rest of his squad.

They seemed very upset that some meat-droid had managed to expose their beloved Palpatine and then as he dodged their attacks screeched and raged and ranted and then use dark force osik to kill him.

A/N: Sleepy_Fan Translated the song Gallowdance and vod’e-ified it. The English translation is at the bottom of the fic of this chapter.

Boss blinks, awake, with a stinging tingling feeling in his throat as he tries not to gasp and gage and choke and claw at his throat. Instead, he's holding on with careful firmness to the bacta tank dispenser that he's at.

Boss is looking around mentally scrambling around a little, trying to figure out, when, where, and what his current body is doing. Kark, he is, he was so close to a happy ending. It's good to know about a Threat he hadn't realized was one to have dealt with.

Likely by a Jedi or multiple jettise, as that aide of his Sly Moore is a dark force user, what with the abilities that he has heard of them having, as well as being a personal witness to some of their abilities done on a vod.

The bacta fixes up his throat and he takes stock of his surroundings. With more than a little dismay, he realizes that he is on Kamino. Again. As he finds a mirror to look into he gauges his age range for a vod.

He seems to be about half grown, for a vod'e- just about to enter puberty. Again. What really sucked about going back so young, is having to endure training, and Kamino's... Everything. Again. And Again, And again.

This meant that he was in a Different Alternate timeline than the one he had been in before. Boss wonders what some of the Differences are, because those are far more important than the similarities.

He heads into a 'fresher stall to take stock of his physical equipment- and he has more than one set of  lower equipment. He has both a fully functioning cock and vagina. Again. It was a weird feeling to have another hole for a lack of a more polite term.

Okay, okay, he can deal with this, his pronouns in Basic will be he/him, and they/them in Mando'a- like they always have been. He knows what medications to take in order to alter his scent so he doesn't smell Omega- which, from some of the 'verses he's hopped into and out of... could cause him some Problems. Not for himself, but for the ways that others could potentially view him, both Nat-born and vod'e alike.

He's able to sneak to one of the medical supply closets that contain the medications and the injection thing that will last him a good decade or so that will keep his Heats at bay and his scent to shift from Omega sweet-spice, to Beta neutral scent tones.

He heads back to his squad before too long, they'd been chosen as squad mates since just before decanting by the long necks. Boss follows along with the rest of Delta squad to training. Occasionally using his future knowledge to help a fellow Commando avoid a certain amount of pain, and suffering.

Trying to keep Atin- who's a stubborn hot headed shabuir of a blossoming Alpha from getting his osik kicked in and spend a week on a bacta tank is much harder in this galaxy for some reason. Some of the other's with more subtlety he was able to help- with only the occasional grumblings from his squad.

During some of the down time that they had, Boss was in a … bit of a strange, dark mood. He had several nightmares- and had sought out Sev- who in more than one iteration of things, had been lost to him, to their squad on Kashyyk.

Redalu ti ne redalu kyr’am

Bid munit bid mhi, bid munit bid nu kyrayc

Bid munit bid mhi lise, ner cyare

Mhi bintar kar’yali kad ration tsikala

Sev is still asleep, the rest of his squad is still asleep and a dark song comes to mind, and he doesn’t realize as he whisper sings it, gently petting Sev’s hair, trying to convince himself that Sev is alive, and well and safe, and right here.

Redalu ti ni redalu kyr’am

Par an araay bal haastal o’r ibic me’suum

Redalu ti ni redalu kyr’am

Bid ulyc munit bid gar lise

Sev is alive, Sev is here, Sev is safe. Not gone and killed by Trandoshan slaver scum. His squad mates are all around him, asleep and alive. Untouched and unharmed by war, for now.

He goes to each of them on silent sleep as the song rings in his mind as he gently watches and pets their heads a little bit to calm himself down as he heads back to his bunk to sleep. He has to sleep, they have a lot of training to get through tomorrow.

The years both flew by and went by agonizingly slowly. The traumas of living and surviving on Kamino both easier and more difficult the more times he went back to before the start of the war. He has been slowly counting down the days to when High General Jedi Master Obi wan Kenobi arrives.

Another one of the difference he notices in this galaxy, not only the more complicated gender dynamics and and biology and (there is presentation and feeling, but the vod'e are told to be One Thing Only, when the reality of that is far, far more complicated for one grunt of a Commando to muse on regularly).

He has noticed some darker tendencies- the colloquial term in Basic being called Yandere- with other vod'e being crooned and cooed over as C'yare- that term of affection, in this 'verse is something more... dangerous, and potentially damning for a vod.

For Jett'ise to get the eyes of certain vod'e to- and that is if this whole galaxy isn't all slightly karked in the head or not. That is something he'll probably be able to figure out once they are off of Kamino and explore the wider galaxy and see what the nat-borns are like in this 'verse.

Something else that he learned was a difference in this 'verse than in the previous ones that he's been in before is that there is talk of each and every being having an Ability, which sounded somewhere between a Force Thing and a touch of Magic.

So far- all of the Commandos have developed and trained their Ability, Boss knows what his Ability is- it's the Time Thing that he has going on. Not- that he tells anyone about that, merely informing them, honestly that he knows what is ability is and is Training it as a proper Commando should. Which appeases is squad mates and the others around him.

Learning and seeing with the Ability is that each of his squad mates have and what they can do, the benefits, disadvantages, pros and cons of using them and how much of a toll they take on his squad mates is incredibly invaluable information.

He has managed to make the information finding and gathering virus, just waiting to unleash it. On Kamino (so that they could find out about the Chips, The Crimes and Sins of Those In Power on Both Sides) and said information sent to various people who would use that information to the benefit of the Republic, and for themselves.

Republic Clone Intelligence, the Jedi Shadow Network and what not anonymously sent. They'd be suspicious of it at first, but digging into the intel and backing it up with their own people and resources... who knows how the galaxy might or might not change.

English version:

Dance with me [the] dance [of] death

As long as we, as long as we [are] not killed

As long as we still can, my love

We both know [the] sword [is] always ready

Dance with me [the] dance [of] death

For all the pain and emotional scars in this planet

Dance with me [the] dance [of] death

As slow and long as you can

Once they are deployed on Geonosis, which he has this mission down solid- he knows when, where, and how to deploy his vod'e best, where the dangers are, where the enemy is, how much force the enemy is going to be using at any given point and where the Traps and Ambushes are.

Chapter Text

He keeps his team solidly moving at an incredibly fast pace- the sooner they get this mission done, the fewer vod'e die when the objectives are reached for this mission. He is flawless in his dispatchment of his squad and informing them of what to do and when, they are doing their best to follow his orders and ensure that the objectives are achieved.

Boss ensures that they stop long enough to restock and fill up on bacta as needed. Sev needing the most- as he tended to not take care of himself. Boss has yet to get wounded at all due to knowing when and where to duck having done Geonosis so many times before, not that anyone but himself knows this.

He had sneakily deployed the intel gathering virus on the Seppie systems, and has also deployed it on GAR and Republic servers as well. Each of the information gathering things will be carefully collated into three separate data pads, one for the Republic, One for the GAR/Guard, and one for the Separatists.

If he can get enough information on certain very terrible Nat-born officers- enough evidence, they might, might be pulled from Command early. Not just because of the vod'e lives lost. Boss has a near unshakeable certainty that they, or rather most nat-borns don't care about them, not this early on in the war, sometimes, some of them never care, just fear and hate them.

Boss knows that very few nat-borns at this stage of the war give a flying kark for the vod'e- but for the osik that they do to and inflict on other nat-borns, and how they are a hindrance for the goals of the Republic with how many vod'e they go through like easily discardable tools... will garner the attention of those that care, from at least a financial stand point. Vod'e cost money to make, train, give armor and armaments to.

Sev, Scorch, and Fixer are all Alpha Commandos- and Boss is thought to be a Beta Commando. It's part of the reason why his squad is thought of a bit screw lose. Not there are many Omega Commandos- those that are Omegas, are highly coveted, not just by their squad, but by the other squads that get to regularly interact with them.

With a disappointed sigh he looks at the GAR intel gathering things, and finds Channel Order 69 has started up and is being used and holo vids and pictures are pouring in from all battalions, legions, and spec ops and commando squads.

He has shifted the algorithm so that there is a fourth data pad that just purely as the filth and depravity of the Chanel Order 69 on it. They do the missions they are assigned on, every one of them being the ones that he has done before in a previous run of the 'verse.

Boss makes sure that his squad is taken care of on and off the battlefield. The first time he gets a notification of Delta squad... indulging in Channel Order 69 shenanigans. He is very disappointed, but unsurprised, he has noticed that all three of them have the behavioral markers for three different, but similar kinds of darkness and yandere traits.

From the chatter that Boss hears, both from people saying it where they know he can hear it, and from times he has happened to overhear. The Commando Corps is of the opinion that they are an all Yandere squad (false, Boss is Not Yandere, he's Neutral-C'yare) and have No Omegas (false, Boss is one, but none of the vod'e know, not even his squad).

He watches the fall out of other Gen 1 clones being found out To Be Omegas (and regardless of them being Yandere and/or C'yare). Those holo vids show up on Channel Order 69 and Boss is even more determined to Not Be Found Out- not even by his squad mates.

Boss makes sure that his Heat and Scent Suppression Implant is active and won't expire. Boss is known for being particularly difficult to smell and figure out the emotions of. (It's due to his personality, and the implants).

Good- the less other's can a figure out about him, the less he can unintentionally give away, the better in his opinion. The safer he had his squad can be, he has noticed that certain number of vod'e have cast covetous gazes on the Jettise- and on certain other nat-borns as well.

Not that they can do much about the Jettise- for now, not while the war is going on and they have not rights and are considered Property, not people. He sends the anonymous intel to the Republic Clone Intelligence and the Jettise Shadows about the juiciest bits of intel on both sides of the war.

Making sure that it's untraceable, and cannot be tracked back to any of Delta. It's facinating how much, and how little the intel he has gathered has done for the war effort. At least from his standpoint.

Krell is brought back to the Jedi to face censure and talks much earlier, and those of his original battalion, far fewer than they should be, are at least, still alive and are snatched up and carefully taken care of and pulled into the protective auspices of the 501st and 212th respectively.

As a Marshall Commander, CC-2224, Cody, can have multiple sub-commanders under his command for the 7th Sky corp and that battered, clever Commander who had tried so hard to keep both his Jedi and vod'e safe is being fussed over by the CMO of the 7th Sky Corp and tucked into a safer posting for a while.

There are other very osik’la and ordini nat-born commanders who’s malicious incompetence gets noticed sooner and dealt with, due to the amount of evidence that Boss is able to obtain through his data mining bugs and send discretely.

Boss is also able to anonymously and untraceably to those who would Care and Be Able To Do something About it. Boss knows that there are people trying to find the person or persons responsible for finding this intel- as both a way to thank the person, and to ensure that there isn’t a data leak that they need to plug.

Chapter Text

Some of the other vod’e in Clone Inteligence, as well as high up in Corrie command have realized that this gift of information. Gifts, plural, might be a spec ops or a commando trying to Court someone, either a high ranking Corrie or Clone Inteligence officer.

Who ever it is- daring enough to find and compile and send this information, but too shy to approach them directly. Well- it’s kind of endearing and charming, as it is a bit frustrating, to try and hunt the commando, or more likely, squad of commandos down.

There is nothing about the report style that suggest one vod’e over another in particular, and while they are looking into the Very Good and Important Intel that whoever it is, supplies them with.

Being able to subtly blackmail and use the valuable intel to wreak havoc on the enemy, ensure compliance with their allies and pull the Neutrals into helping the Republic due to the Important Information that they had gotten, and still receive like delight bombs of actionable inteligence that they can corroborate on their own.

Whoever it is, Meerel and Ordo are very impressed, as is Marshall Commander Fox, and his sub commanders are as well. Thire and Thorn teasing him that perhaps he has a shy secret admirer trying to help the Corries out.

Getting the intel about The Chips- and how the Orders on it are tied to one person, and how it can cause Black Outs. Which- was sent directly to the Corries one day after half the High Command of the Corries had experienced such a thing, yet again.

Boss, once he has access to the medical resources expansive enough to get his chip out of his karking head, and have time to recover from the minor brain surgery, and not get noticed by his squad, or likely by any one else is when they are on leave on Coruscant and the other's are getting completely drunk.

Sev, Fixer and Scorch- having been challenged by Omega and Theta squads to do so. Boss had abstained from the drinking battle as he had pointed out that some one needed to make sure all of them got home safely, and thus one of them needed to remain sober.

The rest of them had thanked Boss for his sacrifice and had gotten on with drinking and doing other stupid osik while on leave. After ensure they rest of them were poured into a speeder bus and flew them home, he carefully carries those who are passed out into bed- carefully in a position so they won't accidentally drown themselves if they throw up, while helping others stagger their way into bunks.

After ensuring the last of them are blissfully drunk and passed out he heads out to that med center and gets his chip pulled out and carefully persevered and the specifically designed hacking bug that he'd created to figure out The Deal With The Chips and What All the Orders mean... As well as how widespread the Chips were in all of the vod'e.

That information is put onto a data pad that is carefully encoded and he pauses before slipping the data pad into the flimsiwork and countless data pads that High General Windu would be reading- likely would give the other a Shatter Point Migraine- but with some temporary pain... hopefully they will be able to Do Something. Especially as the Encoded Voice to Activate the orders is Chancellor Palpatine Alone.

There are something that Boss does not know, some conversations that he does not over hear, and nor does his intel gathering bugs. Atin turns to Scorch and says, "What's Boss's Ability?"

"Huh?" Scorch says with a confused blink.

"Never seen Boss use his Ability on or off the battle field, or in training, s'what is it?" Atin slurs, curious and more than half drunk, and thus daring enough to ask, not that he needs to be drunk to be daring.

"Dunno," Scorch says after a few moments pausing, looking at the rest of Delta, "He always seems to know. Like. Almost everything?"

"I hypothesize it's something like Processing," Fixer says. "or possibly some sort of Support Ability- as Delta has a mission success rating that is Highest of all Squads, and with the fewest casualties and injuries."

"Does it matter what Ability he has?" Sev says sharply eyes glittering and narrowing at the rest of them, his deep, raspy voice sounding almost threatening, Boss will use his Ability when it's needed, he likely has. We likely haven't noticed him using it. Boss can be a subtle one, likely his Ability is Subtle. Not all of us have an Explosive ability, or something equally flashy."

That has the other's quiet their hypothesis and gossiping. They had turned to look at Niner- who had given the lot of them the Officer Look of 'really? gossiping about an officer, in front of another one? Are you sure you want to do that?'

That has more than a few sour looks and grumbles. Delta squad knows that they are Lucky, at each and every mission that they have gone on, none of them have been too badly wounded, none of them have died.

Every mission that a Commando goes on is potentially Lethal, and is far more dangerous than any mission that a soft shell vod has ever gone on, and likely will ever go on. But- that is why they were created, tougher, stronger, smarter, and trained much harder than the Regular Troopers.

The various squads of Commandos and other vod'e get into all sorts of chaos and mischief while they are on shore leave. Making sure not to cause too much trouble or damage- lest they get the wrath of the Corries- and their superior officers.

Delta squad has kept a tight lid on the fact that Boss does not and has not indulged in any of the Channel Order 69 fun. And that is a lot of fun- some vod'e have Guarded Hearts, or are Uninterested in sex. 

Chapter Text

Boss could be either of those, or have other reasons that are his own for not indulging, and they, make sure to keep such shenanigans that they get up to, out of his notice. Boss has always had such a soothing presence, at least for those of Delta squad- but then again Betas are like that, able to help soothe and calm. Omegas can stir up a frenzy, or lull other's into compliance. Same with Alphas as well, the rest of Delta suspect that Boss is a C'yare Beta- but as they aren't sure, they haven't reported it to Commando Command.

Besides- they wouldn't try to take Boss from them, after all, all three of them are Yandere Alphas- but Commando Command will want Boss to... indulge them in certain things. Certain things that Boss has not shown any interest in. Oh Boss does skin ship- platonic and gentle. If his squad needs grounding touches, he also does cuddle vod'e piles with them. Nothing sexual, nothing sensual, unlike how most other Vod'e officers, all of them Indulge and put other vod'e in their place using sex in at least some form. Boss has not ever done that to them- or to other vod'e.

Besides, the rest of Delta squad knows that Boss is possibly-C’yare and Not-Alpha, whether he is actually a Beta or one of the rare surviving Omega Gen 1 Commando clones, is his business. And if he wanted to tell them about it, or anyone else for that matter, he would. Also- Boss does do C’yare specific duties- with Delta squad- which is the absolute minimum number of vod’e a c’yare Commando needs to attend to.

If he wanted to be affectionate with other vod’e he’d tell them, and those other vod’e and offer doing those tasks and duties with and for them. As Boss, who can be very stubborn, in the way that Commandos are, if other’s tried to for the issue he would refuse, and give them a black eye of they insisted. That is also something that Delta has kept quiet on. Boss has his own way of disciplining them, if he thinks they need it, and it's not overly harsh or indulgent. Besides- Boss Cuddles are amazing and nice, and when he gently pets their hair and murmur softly about how wonderful they did on the latest mission and how much he cares for them.

Well... it's not without reason why they want such a gentle, soft side of their Sargent to be known by the wider vod'e population. Even if such things are just known within the Commando Corp- after all, the shabuir'e will want to have Boss do things with them. Boss is many things, but he can be quite ... shy in regards to vod'e that are Not Delta- but it comes off as Beta Aloofness to vod'e that don't know Boss like they do, which is Every One Else. Which suits Delta just fine, soaking up all of Boss's affection and softer sides.

Not even Advisor knows about this side of Boss, he keeps a careful, professional distance with his squad and other vod'e when in public. He's not cold, per say, but he's a Professional Vod'e Sargent that cares this much, but is Not Codependent on his Commando Squad, No Sirs, not this vod. Advisor and some of the other higher ranked members of the Commando Corp- have noticed that there is something missing in Boss's file- the name and description of Boss's Ability- they send a request to Boss and his squad mates to update that minor detail.

What Advisor gets back is a confused ?? I thought it was in Boss's/My File response from the whole of Delta squad. Which has Advisor huff in laughter, of course that is Delta's response, so the alpha ARC trooper handler for Delta. Among other squads of Commandos requests Boss to come to his physical location, since Advisor is in the bowels of Republic Clone Intelligence in Coruscant, and Delta squad is taking their shore leave on Coruscant at the moment.

Boss responds with an agreement, not like he can tell Advisor no, not without consequences, and Boss, with the rest of Delta squad trailing after him like akk hound pups greets his superior officer with a salute- they all do clicking their heels together. Advisor salutes them back- then has the rest of Delta go back to enjoying their shore leave, they obey the order to leave them alone and head back out to go pester their fellow Commandos and get Up To Fun Trouble.

"You wanted to speak with me, sir?" Boss says after he follows Advisor back to the other's office.

Boss, is one of the least problematic of his Commando Sergeants or Captains he has to deal with, and that's ironic because of Delta's... Everything and their reputation among the wider GAR. The rest of the Commando squad leaders he's had to... put them in their place- show that he's Just as strong- and can get them to heel for him. It's not an onerous task- and is quite fun and carnally pleasurable, for Advisor, and as the squad leads given in as they should, and given in to the pleasure as well. Boss is watching him carefully, he's only in half armor- his bucket and upper armor is off.

Advisor hasn't gone after Boss's squad mates either for Discipline Issues either- as Boss keeps that osik down tightly- and firmly, and has an excellent handle on such matters, which have not had to escalate further than Boss, yet at least. Advisor asks Boss what his Ability is. To which Boss blinks at him calmly in response, and tilts his head a little in thought, allowing the tell to be shown just enough for Advisor to catch it as he says, "Hm... Survival, I can help keep myself and my squad alive."

"Excellent, I will update your file," Advisor says with a brusque nod.

"Is there anything else that you needed sir?" Boss asks, still standing at parade rest.

Chapter Text

Boss is technically not lying- but he has, through research and listening through the vod'e grape vine that vod'e with the ability for Time Osik, like he does are, incredibly rare and are monitored quite closely. Boss has far more osik to do, and a team to lead, and The Republic to serve, than be one of the... Test Subjects or be used for his Ability. Not like it would help them much, he'd show his ability, die temporarily and end up in another galaxy, and who knows what happens to the self after he Shifts to somewhere else.

That is something Boss really hasn't thought about and Does Not Want To... because that way lead all sorts of emotions and hypotheticals that might just drive him mad. As Boss technically did not like to Advisor- who accepts his answer, easily. Boss hasn't lied to Advisor about things before, and Boss knows how to lie and omit the truth well enough to slide past even the most observant of vod'e.

Boss wants to get the kark out of here and back to his squad mates. He knows- has seen some of the Shenanigans that Advisor gets up to with some of the Commando and Spec Ops squad leaders in this room. Haran- just last night he'd had Niner bent over his desk because of some di'kut'la stunt that Atin had pulled. Boss ensures that his squad maintains the discipline required of them- and if they want to Cause Chaos that it doesn't track back to them, or at least if it does, that discipline comes in the form of Boss Handling It and No One Else.

Because if Advisor ... insists on Boss providing him with Moral Boosting Services, or Prove his Loyalty as he's heard some Superior officers call karking their subordinates... Boss will have to do something like run like haran out off his office and Avoid Advisor. Which is a di'kut'la thing- because he only one that knows his secondary gender is Not Beta, but Omega, is himself, and that... if Advisor finds out from Forcing That, instead of Boss Telling Him or One of his squad.

Boss doesn't think about the footage he has seen, and the mental horror and recoil that he desperately wants to drink heavily enough to forget and take him and his squad, far, far away from Coruscant. Boss carefully maintains Parade rest and looks at Advisor's face- not in his eyes too often, as staring directly in his eyes for too long would be considered Challenging him. Even if he is Just A Beta, after all he doesn't want to give even a pretense of a reason for Advisor to try and Do Things to him.

He is not sex repulsed or disgusted by it, he has, in some of his previous Resets have had sex before, indulged in the carnal pleasure with various beings of various species and gender identities, both as the more dominant partner and the less dominant partner. Boss has even indulged in such things with other vod'e in other lives, but in this one, unless it was just going down on his knees and sucking the other off, or using his hands to pleasure his Superior's alpha cock... anything more and it will cause him troubles.

If Advisor insists on him proving his loyalty or providing him with Moral Boosting, he will request sucking him off, and if that is not enough, to use his hands to pleasure the other and hope that will be enough. Boss is thinking up and discarding various plans, what to say and how to say it. Part of him is glad when Advisor dismisses him without another comment. He gives the other another sharp salute and marches out of the room and after the door closes, he looks left, right, and up, before taking a few steps so he's away from Advisor's door, he slumps and lets out a relieved sigh.

Boss doesn't realize it, but Ordo Skirata, of the Nulls had noticed the illusive Delta Squad leader leaving one of the ARC Advisor's offices. And not smelling of sex, Boss tended to be one of the ones that smells least of that- curiously enough. Ordo could- if he wanted to- march up to the younger vod'e and ask the other to service him in such a manner. And then have to deal with the rest of Delta squad be Pissy at him, which was annoying, as for some reason Sev had taken exception to his presence and liked to try to kill him. It was adorable- that the sniper vod'ika think he could kill him, but he didn't want to make Sev that mad.

Now that Ordo thinks about it, he wonders if any of the COs, or fellow officers have had the pleasure of tangling with Boss of Delta in bed, or elsewhere in such away. Hm... if he will have to make some subtle inquires about such things. If he hasn't done such duties before, that'd be a shame, and the vod'ika would likely need some... hands on lessons for such tasks. He's going to have to check up on his squad mates- ensure that they aren't being too rowdy and to distract them if they are headed that way. Some of the other Commando Sergeants and Captains allow their men to run amok more.

Thus have to deal with the fall out, of their squad's individual and collective punishments. Perhaps it's part of a game and they like what happens? Whatever, he' isn't one to judge, but he doesn't want that sort of attention inflicted on him or his squad. Boss mentally shakes his head and sends a comm text message to his squad and he heads to the location ping that they send him. Unaware of the hood gaze of an intense Null Alpha ARC Trooper that was watching him leave, or at least, he is about to when Advisor calls him back in.

Chapter Text

Boss does not sigh, or slump his shoulders, he goes back to kamino grade military posture required of a Commando officer. Advisor as has an interesting expression on his face and his scent is a mixture of curious, Excited and a bit.. well... for lack of a better word, Horny.

"...Sir?" Boss says warily, saluting the other again and at attention. Advisor salutes him back and says, "at ease, Sargent."

Boss shifts to parade rest and looks forward at him, but not in his eyes, his gaze level with the other's nose. Boss knows that Advisor has tangled in the sheets- or rather, bent over vod'e on top his desk the rest of the Commando and Spec ops squad leads that Advisor deals with on a regular basis, except for him.

Boss would rather keep out of the other's grasp- but he does have an offer, if the other decides to push the issue. As sex is used in this galaxy as a form of a bonding method and one of the ways to establish hierarchy and other bantha osik. If Advisor requests Boss to help him with Morale Boosting, or to do some.. intimate bonding with him. He'd request to suck the other's dick off. And just that, for as long as the other wanted for the rest of the day. Not ideal, but better than having the other find out about his ...alternative equipment below.

"Boss," Advisor started, looking over the carefully neutral looking and scenting Beta Commando Squad lead, Advisor, like plenty of other vod'e who have meet the inscrutable and damn near unreadable, and usually incredibly level headed Sargent. His scent control is the best among all Commandos. "I wish for us to bond, and I am in need of some... moral boosting."

Boss allows himself to blink, making sure any emotions are kept within his mind, lets his eyes flicker over Advisor's armored form fully before going back to watching the other's nose. Boss takes in a breath and can't stop himself from  looking between Advisor, and his eyes sliding towards the door, longing to leave before looking back at Advisor when the other moves.

"... Sir..." Boss says, the words difficult to come out of his mouth, now that he has to offer- otherwise Advisor will decide for him how he Services the other.

Boss has seen the holo-vids, the scuffles and the inevitable conclusion, knowing that if he is so foolish as try to run, the other will chase him. Trying to call his squad in to help him, will have Advisor pull others in and then the four of them... providing morale boosting to superior officers in the Commando corp instead of just Boss. No- he does not want to do that, and further cause things to potentially go to osik. No, it's better to stand his ground, make his request. Usually, at least in the holo-vids that Advisor has posted, if the person is clever enough to make the offer first, Advisor agrees to it, rather than deciding what they will do instead.

Boss also knows, that Advisor has likely been recording this conversation since the other called him back in, and likely won't turn off the recording device, even if he requests it. Nor, will it be likely that he can convince Advisor to not post this holo vid to the Channel Order 69 sub channel about Advisor and his commando team leads.

"Sir, I .. offer the use of my mouth and hands to help with... moral boosting," Boss says, realizing with more than a little embarrassment that his face and ears are burning hot. Of all the karking things to have him blush, offering this is getting him to actually fluster. And why, why did he have to stutter on the delivery of the offer.

At least- he notices Advisor preening a little, and a sly half smirk curling the other's lip in delight and other emotions at noticing the way that Boss's usually composure has cracked a little. It's a rare being to get Boss to do more than pause briefly on a decisive decision. That he was able to Boss to stutter and blush, why, it's a delightful treat, and unexpected one as well. Advisor is glad that he's able to record this- to review and his leisure and post and brag about to his fellow officer level Commando handlers.

If Boss is going to offer his mouth and hands for his use, in pleasure- well then, that is what will happen. Advisor had not realized that Boss is a shy type when it comes to such pleasures, but then again, perhaps it does make sense after all. Besides- there could be, would be a next time, where he will bend Boss over his desk, but it seems Boss was the type that needed a gentle touch- what with how spooked he was. Boss was trying so hard not to look like a startled space-deer, but as he's known Boss a long time and how he reacts, the other is close to bolting, but isn't. Boss tends to keep to himself and his squad most of the time.

It's actually a rather adorable expression on Boss's face- not that he's ever seen the near inscrutable and nearly unflappable Competent commando team lead to be so flustered and openly emotional.  Also, it has his cod piece feel tighter, they way Boss's composure cracks a little as the other vod came towards him. And while chasing Boss through the bowels of Republic Clone Intelligence buildings will be fun- if he comms the rest of Delta- dealing with the rest of his crazy squad will not be pleasant.

Scorch's det-cord juggling, Sev who for the last five ten-day has been on the gambling books as the Commando most likely to lose his shavit and go on a murder spree, might just start with Advisor, or try to. Fixer with his Commando level tech training could cause merry haran and havoc with their systems under the guise of helping them find holes in their defense's and helping their slicers work on their skills.

But as Boss is heading towards him, and only flickering to look at the door out of the corner of his eyes only once or twice, Advisor will be magnanimous and just use Boss's hands and mouth as he had ever so sweetly requested of him. This time, at least.

Dubcon start

Once Boss was close enough, the other sank to his knees with only a gesture from Advisor to do so, his scent, and face has gone back to his normal calm-near blank inscrutable mask. Except for the fact that his face is still flushed and his ears are looking warm. Advisor takes a moment to look at Boss on his knees in front of him, his face tilted up slightly to watch Advisor, waiting for the other to say or move. His hands against his sides, one of them curling into a loose fist the only thing betraying his nerves.

"Take my cod piece off," Advisor orders, "and get to work Commando."

"Yes, Sir," Boss says quietly, kriff, those words going straight to his cock at his quiet, almost demure tone.

The obedience is getting to him, just as much as disobedience does with his other Commando and Spec Ops team leads. Boss shuffles forwards on his knees just a little bit more to get close enough to expertly take off the other's cod piece and carefully pull off the other's blacks that are damp with his pre-cum. Boss eyes Advisor's cock like it's a mission briefing, carefully reaching out with a hand, and looking up at him as he carefully strokes the other's cock with one hand, the other one carefully and pleasurably fondling his balls.

Once Advisor is fully hard, Boss leans in closer and starts by licking the head of the other's cock, slowly giving licks and kisses along Advisor's cock, teasing at his knot, slowly licking it all over before pulling back a bit and slowly wrapping his lips around his cock and starting to bob his head back and forth, taking Advisor's cock in deeper, and deeper. Until Boss's lips touch his balls briefly before pulling back a little and hollowing out his cheeks as he makes sure to lick and suck, and hum- using the vibrations to help the other cum. Advisor is surprised at just how swiftly Boss is able to get him to cum-  Advisor hisses out a warning that he's about to cum- and that he want's Boss to swallow it.

Don't want to make a mess of his office, now. Kark- Boss hadn't gaged once on his cock- and Boss still his lips wrapped around his hardening cock, looking up at him through half lidded eyes, that patient, calm look, that is Boss's signature look is back on his face, as the flush on his face fades.

Advisor is actually impressed that Boss looks, dare he say it almost bored, and a little insulted.

"If you think just once is enough, think again, Boss," Advisor says. "I don't have another meeting for another two hours. You and I will continue this until then. Got it."

Boss pulls his hands away from Advisor's balls and hand signs a, [yes, sir].

Boss then goes back to pleasuring Advisor- his hands going back to teasing his ball sack and sucking him off.  Advisor notices and comments on the fact that Boss hasn't touched himself, during this whole experience, not for the first time Advisor cums, nor the second, or third. Boss replies that Advisor had requested Boss to boost his morale and pleasure, no where did that indicate that Boss was to seek pleasure for more than completing a task for a superior officer. Boss had said that in that normally calm almost bored tone of his.

There was no heat in Boss's eyes- simply calculating the best path to Advisor's pleasure. Which, As impressed as Advisor is in Boss's self control in not seeking his own pleasure at the same time as he pleasures another... The way he said it would have stung at that moment- but Boss and hummed and hollowed out his cheeks- distracting Advisor from Boss's words with a particularly pleasurable move of his mouth and tongue.

Boss knows, with a dead eyed certainty- he has spotted the recording device- that is recording all of this at an optimal angle for the viewers pleasure and looks directly into it. His eyes sharp and knowing as he looks into the camera for a couple of minutes as he continues to pleasure Advisor before his gaze goes back to Advisor and he continues to pleasure the other with his mouth and hands for the next hour and a half.

Advisor groaning and sighing in pleasure- saying words that washed over Boss- who is focused on getting this moment over with. Occasionally doing different things, like when Advisor wanted to see his cum in the other's mouth. Or when the other thrust into his mouth with his hips- which had Boss almost choking and clutching at the other's thighs as he other grabbed at his regulation short hair and throat fucked him, Boss doing his best to suck and lick as the other thrust as deeply and roughly as he liked.

Boss hadn't meant to let out that keening whine- but the other was thrusting quite roughly- and it was getting hard for him to breath- the spots in his vision due to lack of air, abated when Advisor pulled out enough that he could gasp. He blinks his eyes clear of spots and feels some tears dripping down his face. Advisor murmurs an apology and gently pets his face crooning some- nonsense that is like buzzing in his ears as Boss martial his body under his control and he continues to pleasure Advisor after a few minutes.

Advisor does thrust into his mouth again- but not as roughly, or as often as that brief stint, thank the ka'ra for that. Advisor's comm chimes and Boss pauses in his movements, his mouth still wrapped around Advisor's cock as he answers the comm and Boss is as still and silent as a statue. Some of the team leads would take this time to be a brat and continue to pleasure him- trying to distract him from the comm. Or pull away and pout up at him. Boss just remained still as he was, Advisor's cock in his mouth as he remains still and quiet, breathing as quietly as possible.

After advisor finishes the comm call he sighs and groans, gently stroking Boss's face and hair, "Sorry lovely, finish me off one more time, the meeting got moved up."

Boss hand signs a [Yes sir] and as swiftly and expertly as he can manage he sucks Advisor off again- who lets out another groan of pleasure. Advisor grabs his face and orders him to open his mouth, which he does.

Advisor taking a perverted pleasure in seeing his cum in Boss's mouth- and orders him to swallow. Boss does as his superior officer commands. Advisor grabs his hands and helps him up- giving him praise for doing so well- and giving him a bottle of water and one of the really good rations, this one has flavor other than bland, or flimsi-paste and he is told to have fun on the rest of his shore leave.

Dubcon End

Boss nods and heads out the door. Karking haran, his jaw hurts- it's sore from having to suck Advisor off for so long, and the other mouth and throat fucking him. He only makes a face once he is out of the Republic Clone Intelligence buildings and finds a free bathroom to wash out his mouth.

Chapter Text

Boss’s stomach is roiling, and he goes into one of the stalls with a closing door- after wiping his mouth he flushes the toilet. His body had ejected the contents of his stomach out, and he finishes sipping the water and eating the ration pack as he heads to where his squad is- having pinged them with [debrief over. Sit rep Delta].

Boss notices that one of his hands are shaking. That is a not ideal. He closes his eyes briefly and takes in a couple of calming breaths. He had asked to suck Advisor off, rather than do something else- that likely would have gone on the same length of time. So what if that holo-vid of him servicing his CO would be up on that perverted channel. At least it will only before for Officers and only those in Spec Ops and Commandos to watch. Boss is fine- he will, see how far he can get in this life and then, if he can't get a happy ending...

He will move on to the next life, next version of the galaxy. And hopefully, some of the memories will blur and fade, and this will just be an experience that he compartmentalizes and avoids looking at or noticing, like all of the different ways he has died, or been murdered, well killed, murder implies that he is a sentient being with rights, and as of right now, that is not true. Boss feels something unclench and relax as he hears his squad- Sev, Fixer, and Scorch talking- Scorch talking and the other two listening and interjecting as they see fit to do so. Boss heads over and watches them for a bit before sitting in the spot he usually sits at, they are at 79’s, Boss orders a light drink and something to eat as he watches his squad and the room.

They are at their usual spot at 79's, in one of the more shadow-y corners of the multi leveled building. They talk and drink and watch vod'e and nat-borns get up shenanigans of the drunken kind. Scorch and Sev are heckling each other- and decide to see who can pick up a person, vod or nat-born and have a romp in the sack with. Fixer and Boss give each other mutual eye rolls. Boss going over a data pad- one of the many that he seems to have on him, unless actively in a combat mission, same with Fixer.

 "Have fun, be safe, don't be di'kutla." Boss tells them, waving them off to have fun.

"Aw, when have we ever Boss?" Scorch says with a grin as the pair of them head out to the lower levels of the club and head off to speak with different people.

Sev has a more quiet, dare he say it awkward, style of flirting, but on the people it works on, it works. Some how, but Boss just shakes his head a little in amusement as he goes over some of the data that his information virus bots have been gathering. Some ... truly damning intel on The Chancellor and he mentally swears. Perhaps sending this information with anonymous, but high priority, will finally get them to get a Karking Move On. Boss knows that a coordinated approach, of information being given to Jettise and the vod'e will hopefully, get this 'verse to move on track to getting rid of Palpatine.

He has also including evidence of the wrong doings of those closest to him. Including the seemingly invisible Sly Moore, as well as those senators that were his closest allies that were also figures of much corruption and cruelty. The... the massacre of a tusken tribe by General Skywalker was a... shock. Although, given that he had became Darth Vader in the 'verses that he failed to get the Chancellor killed before he could Order 66 the jedi.

He has been sending the Crimes of various Jettise and Force Users anonymously to the Shadow Jettise- and as far as he knows they've been investigating the information. Pong Krell was taken into custody for what he'd done early in the war. Same with a few of the other Jettise who had fallen in the war and had caused the suffering of many of his vod'ika. Boss blinks, as he hears Fixer's voice- and Fixer is in front of him and has as gentle hand on one of his wrists and his squad mate's voice is soothing and low.

"Fix'ika?" Boss says blinking at his squad mate confused at the other's manner, it was helping.

"You were... drifting Boss," Fixer said quietly.

"... I'm back." Boss says, perhaps redundantly, but as a way to help Fixer relax and calm down.

Fixer, Scorch, and Sev know, but haven't spoken of the fact that Boss has... always had nightmares, haran, it seems like his nightmares, be they waking or when he's asleep happened since they all decanted. Boss has always seemed to know more than them, than even some of the trainers. Always seemed to know when they, or others in their decanting batch of 106 were struggling and how to help them. Or at least offer the help, whether it was blatant or subtle. Boss always seemed to know, or at least have a better idea of how the missions were going to go- even then the sims and projections that they were given. Even when their mission intel proved to be osik, or flat out wrong.

Boss was only mildly confused by sometimes, seemingly minor things, and even then, only briefly. Fixer had, once they'd gained access to the wider holonet access, he'd delved deeply into all the sorts of different kinds of Abilities that other peoples have. Something about the Abilities subset that dealt with Time, and how those that have such Abilities act and react to things. Something, like alarm sirens ring and hop up and down in his head when ever he thinks about them and looks over at Boss.

Chapter Text

It would... fit, that his Ability is Time Related, with his whole. Everything. And from the rumors and whispers, very quiet ones, about what happened to Vod'e with Time Ability, strong, or weak, no matter what they are, it... would make sense why Boss wouldn't speak of it. Especially if he had once, and found out... what happened to those with an Ability that has to do with, deal with Time in some way and it was... not an ideal situation to be in. Fixer is a by-the-books type of vod, but he won't send a vod to the long necks butchers simply for an Ability, he might have.

After, once they were off of Kamino- and well, the vod'e took care of their own- and some of what he's heard about what happens to vod'e with Time Ability and the High Command of the Vod'e... Gave him pause in trying to reach out to any of them either about this. Besides, Boss is his- is Delta Squad's Sargent and... possible c'yare, probable C'yare. They hadn't asked, and he hasn't said so. Regardless if he is or not, they respect and care for their Team lead and vod. Boss leans into Fixer a little, soaking up his squad mate's warmth, and the other wraps an arm around him, as they both continue to tap away on their data pads doing various and sundry things. Kark, Boss is so tired, he closes his eyes, just a brief moment before opening them when he feels a jostling of movement.

"Do you want to head off and have fun- seeking... the safe kind of danger?" Boss asked Fixer- the other did occasionally indulge in adding the notches to his bed, so to speak- and he has occasionally heard his three alpha batch and squad mates brag to each other about their body count in the bunk.

"I could stay if you want me to, Boss," Fixer says, although he had looked down at the dance stage with a look of longing on his face.

"I'm fine, go have fun Fix'ika- we're on shore leave, do shore leave things." Boss encouraged waving a hand.

Fixer gave him a complicated look before nodding and heading off. Boss smirks to himself a little- as he heads straight for a certain fellow Commando- this one in the style and colors of a certain member of Gamma squadron.

He's pleased that he was able to coordinate with Commando Captain Gregor to ensure that they'd have shared leave so that the pair of tech commandos could have a pleasant leave together. Commando Captain Gregor- has spotted- and cheerfully greeted Fixer- before looking up and over and waving at Boss. Who waves back, but stays where he is seated. So long as they weren't to disgusting about what they said, and did not say such unprofessional chatter when he was around as, depending on what he said he might have to discipline them for it. It was fine- harmless fun, and he does not look up his squad mates on that Channel Order 69.

He knows that intentional ignorance suits no one, but... he is uncertain if he could react to them the same way if he finds out they indulge in such... dark pleasures of the flesh. Those are crimes- but as they all have near identical DNA and faces. The nat-borns, as well as to those that don't know the vod’e, and they are not sentient beings, and thus cannot be charged for crimes. He has heard some of the whispers of what the vod’e want to do to and with the Jettise- and with certain other nat-borns.

He knows that Medic Trainer Gilamar and Skirata have helped vod'e that want to get out of the war, and free. Boss knows that they are honest and earnest and actually do that, for the vod'e that go to them to do so. Boss won't leave his squad behind, and he knows that they won't leave their vod'e to fight, while they live out somewhere safe and peaceful elsewhere. He remembers the times when Order 66 happened and he'd had to escape a Chipped Fixer and Scorch- and find a wounded Sev- and the dear sniper of his squad convincing him to join the Rebellion and fight for their cause. Boss looks over and spots an easily grinning Commando Captain Gregor come over to his table and sit near him. Gregor is a cheerful sort- which is an... not so odd thing for a Commando to be, Scorch can be cheerful and talkative too.

"Su cuy Gregor," Boss says nodding to Gregor who greets him back just as cheerfully and looking over to where Fixer and Trigger are tag teaming a pair of pretty nat-borns that look like a togurta hybrid with a different near human species.

Boss listens as Gregor talks about this and that and some other random topics that come to mind. Boss listens and hums, and says things at an appropriate time. To ensure that Gregor knows that he is listening. That... thing with Advisor- with his request, that was something that he had not had to do before, a Difference, a change. Then again, in some Iterations he had to do missions differently, or some one survived training that hadn't before, or some one who had, didn't in a different Iteration.

Boss pulls his thoughts away from things, and listens to Gregor's cheerful voice bubble on about various things. Gregor and he look down when they hear something particularly loud and see a scuffle break out between a couple of vod'e with different colors. Boss snorts and rolls his eyes relaxing, vod'ika will squabble, and either their squad mates or a CO or the Corries will come in and break it up. Gregor is tapping at his comm looking through something and pauses, blinking at something in surprise and then turning to look at Boss with an oddly intense gaze.

Boss looks back at Gregor and lifts an eyebrow, waiting for him to speak. It doesn't take much prompting as the other has a sly grin on his face, "How was your meeting with ARC Advisor today?"

Boss gives him a flat, deeply unimpressed look and turns his head to look back at the vod'ika dancing and drinking and doing other things on the dance floor of 79's.

"I reported in and debriefed." Boss says, his voice neutral and calm, nothing to give away what happened.

"Yeah, there's a new vid on that Channel." Gregor says, his grin widening as he eyes Boss. "I wonder, is your jaw so sore, is the reason you ain't talking much."

"I usually only speak when I feel it's necessary." Boss says, his neutral calm expression and tone, turning to ice. "Not like you aren't on that Channel as well. Captain."

"Oh so you do watch Channel Order 69." Gregor says half surprised, half delighted.

"When my comm gets pinged with an alert I look at it." Boss says, not crossing his arms as he gives Gregor a Look. "Getting an eyeful of karking is..."

Boss clicks his jaw shut and looks away. No- he is not having this conversation with one of Marshall Commander Cody's favorites. Each of the Marshall Commanders have favorite vod'e- and people that that use as spies on others. He knows the reputation that Delta squad has among the vod'e, most of it earned, some of it exaggerated.

"...is?" Gregor tries to prompt.

"None of my business what other's do." Boss says, giving him another icy-edged look.

"Aw c'mon vod!" Gregor wheedles.

One of Boss's eyes twitch at the tone from the Alpha vod and he feels a headache coming on. No- he's not dealing with Gregor's teasing, and likely taunting. The kriffing hypocrite has also had long sessions with his own Advisor ARC, and been... someone who helped pleasure Marshall Commander Cody.

Chapter Text

Boss stands up and leaves without another word, and Gregor stands up and heads after him, Boss is not looking at him, nor is he reacting to anything he is saying. Just a block of ice in Commando Vod form as he moves down the stairs and out of the club, back to the Commando barracks on Coruscant. He sends a message to that affect to the rest of Delta- and tells them to have fun. It has only been a few days since his surgery to remove the chip- and perhaps the sudden headache is one of the symptoms of the surgery, he knows that he shouldn't be up an about for a few days, but he needed to act like everything was normal.

Gregor is still following after him. "Go back inside and have fun. I have a headache- why are you giving me that look?"

Boss is actually scowling at Gregor who keeps pestering him- Boss is unaware that he's started to stumble and stagger. Kriff his head is... it feels like someone drove an ice pick through his head. It's throbbing and he tastes iron. He brings one of his hands to his face and rubs it- itches all of a sudden and he sees blood.

Aw kriff. Boss blinks firmly the spots out of his vision and as calmly as he can, "Gregor, would you help me to one of the bacta tank dispensers /quietly/ if you would and tell no one of this... minor issue."

Gregor blinks at him, "You're staggering like you've got a head wound and are bleed from the nose. I don't know if you can hear yourself right now, but you've got slurred speech."

"I'll be fine once I've had some bacta." Boss says with a dismissive wave of his hand. "injuries, and damage to the body is temporary, after all."

And if he isn't, he'll wake up in a different 'verse in a healthy body again. Not that he says that- and that death is only temporary after all. He's very tempted to say it... just to see what Gregor's reaction would be. Gregor is making a face at him, but helps his fellow Commando stagger his way to a bacta dispenser and the healing blue-white light and familiar hum of bacta washes over him and he sighs in relief. His headache gone and the injuries healed.

He washes his face clean of dried blood and turns to look at Gregor. "I owe you a favor, keep your mouth shut about this... please."

"... You okay vod?" Gregor asks, concern in his voice, and smile gone from his face. Serious. "... Advisor wasn't too rough with you, were they?"

"I'm now in optimal health for a Commando," Boss says, "You're concern is appreciated, but unwarranted."

"Did you know that there is something trying to Court certain high level members of Republic Clone Intelligence and The Marshall Commander of the Corrie guard?" Gregor said, seemingly randomly.

"... what?" Boss said blankly, looking at Gregor as if he had lost his mind.

Which Gregor thought was blatantly unfair of him. So Gregor tells Boss what he had happened to overhear- someone, or potentially multiple some ones have been giving really juice intel, actionable, able to find evidence of, nasty crimes and osik that certain high ranking sentients in the Neutral Worlds, C.I.S. words and the Republic as well. Boss continues to stare at him and blink, in a way that was almost shocked to haran, and when Boss heard that Mereel and Fox were debating what they would do to whomever it was that was giving them such good information and then not showing themselves. Oh- there was a reaction. An interesting reaction at that. Then again, Boss didn't like Mereel, or Ordo all that much. Boss scratches the side of his face.

"Why do they think it's a Courting gift... Er Gifts?" Boss asks.

Sounding terribly confused and young at that. Which has Gregor soften. Battle hardened Commando, Sargent of a squad, but still Delta had been... trained a certain way by their trainer, and kept partially isolated from the rest of the vod'e by their shabuir of a trainer. Aww... confused Boss was a charming look on the other. Made Gregor feel all ori'vod-like and wanting to ambush-hug the twitchy vod. Who knows how touch starved Delta squad is, with how they were trained and taught by karking Vau.

Gregor had heard how much of a hard shebs he was- and from learning about what could be considered as abusive, and what was supposedly normal for training… Vau ran more towards cruelty than most, except for the two Very Worst, Priest and Reau. Gregor had quietly agreed to not tell anyone about the… minor health inconvenience that got solved by Boss going to a bacta tank dispenser. He seems fine, now that he’s had a wash of that healing stuff. He gets not wanting things to go on the official record for certain things.

Gregor explains why Mereel and Fox, and more of the inteligence gathering specialists vod'e found the information that they were being sent Gifts that are for Courting because not only was it valuable intel that could help them with the war effort. It could be, and is used as black mail for better treatment of the vod'e from the nat-borns that ruled over them. Not the Jedi- but those who held true power of the galaxy.

Boss listens to him with a quiet, intense focus and a subtle frown and furrowed brow. Besides- it was common for that kind of vod'e for gifts of information to be sent anonymously- it was part of the 'game' the 'courting game' if they could find who ever did it, which ever of them first, would offer the Courtship first. Boss gives him a very tired look and Gregor laughs and agrees that tricky vod'e like that were confusing to more straightforward types like them. Boss is now even more convinced that showing up in person with the intel would be a bad idea if certain vod'e thought he was giving it to them in that format as a way of courtship.

Chapter Text

It wasn't, Boss didn't want to have them Asking Him Countless Questions about how he got his information, as well as the potential reactions of his squad for keep such a long standing side project from them. Also the likelihood of sheer surprise and shock from Mereel and Marshall Commander Fox that it was Delta- more accurately Boss that was getting them such good intel and not getting caught at getting it to them.

Being a... having the reputation that he does, with the reputation that his squad does has its advantages and disadvantages. Most of the intel gathering Commando squads had been carefully looked through to see if was them or not. Oh those squads wish it was them, but sadly it was not them, and had joined in on helping them find Who Ever It Was.

Delta- having not heard about this as a front liner more of a bruiser squad wasn't looped in on this, until Gregor happily gossiped with Boss. Unknowing that it's been Boss the whole time funneling such information to them anonymously. Boss keeps a neutral-curious expression on his face as he mentally swears about the ridiculousness of others. Honestly, someone dropping really good intel that other vod'e can find out if it's true or not and use as they see fit and they read more into it than just getting them information.

Then again, each Iteration he's gone through has been at least a little bit different, some of them a lot more different. Boss cannot help but roll his eyes a little, "Seems like they might be building something up in their heads that might not be true."

"Aw- you're not a romantic are you, Boss?" Gregor says with a teasing groan and clutching at his heart dramatically.

Boss rolls his eyes at Gregor again, "Never really had the time, or inclination for such nonsense."

"Nonsense!" Gregor says with a dramatic gasp.

Which has the corners of Boss's lips turning up in amusement at the other's antics. He can see why Marshall Commander Cody is fond of this particular commando captain. Boss does continue to listen to all the gossip that Gregor has to offer. They are distracted by their comms chirping- both of their shore leaves are being interrupted, they have some suddenly important and urgent missions to complete with their teams. Boss and Gregor say goodbye to each other and head in different directions to get their teams and into ships to head out to different missions to complete for the Republic.

The mission is one that he's completed in a different, many different lives before- and thus is able to get it done with half the amount of time that Advisor had said it might take. Ensuring that his vod'e are kept safe- and monitoring their vitals for dipping to below half health and they get the mission done. Fast enough that they have a couple of days that they are told to 'explore and see what else there is to find' from Advisor. Which seems. Odd, but at least they are having a not-shore leave. They are on one of the planets that has Weird Force Osik and with the added complication of the magic- er Ability thing as well.

They are careful when poking through the place, searching for whatever and- something activates when Boss is near one of the ruins. All of Delta skitters away from the glowing thing and Scorch yelps out a vicious swears in multiple languages. Sev has his guns at hands and they all wait for something to happen. Fixer has some scanner out as he's trying to identify what the kark is going on and is muttering to himself.

Boss feels a tugging sensation, and at first he resists it- but he hears more startled movements and a, "Boss what- kark, it's got him."

Boss turns to ask them what the kriff they mean, when he notices that his hands are glowing- the same as the glowing room. He lets out a sigh and turns towards the room and carefully walks towards it- to the growing distress of his team mates.

"Hey- I'll probably be alright," Boss tells them soothingly.

Boss is terribly curious, in all of his previous Iterations, nothing like this has happened before. Something... New and Different, is something that is... worrying and very exciting as well.

"What if you're not Boss?" Scorch calls out- worried.

"Death is temporary," Boss says- then freezes, oh kark him, he said that out loud.

"Boss, the kriff you mean by that?" All three of his squad mates ask, in very worried tone of voice.

"... We are Commandos- we can shrug off injuries that will kill the soft-shells." Boss says, which is true, but not everything that he meant by that.

As Boss does not want to continue this conversation- he heads into the Glowing Room of Doom- which the other three Commandos notice- has a glowing symbol, one that translates to Time. What the- why would? They have so many questions, and once Boss gets out of the glowing room they are going to pin him down and demand answers out of their squad lead. Boss has been pulled into, and decided to enter the Glowing Room of Possible Doom and get Some Answers Out of Him.

Boss is curious and cautious as he enters the room looking around the room scanning it carefully and spots a Glowing Figure watching him. Boss narrows his eyes and greets the entity with a cautious, "Hello?"

"Greetings Traveler of Time," The glowing being intones with a slight bow. "I mean you no harm."

Boss stiffens and narrows his eyes at them, shifting back a little, worry raising in his chest. "How do you know?"

"Your presence activated the room, and I awoke to speak with you." The glowing being explained. "As you have landed in this galaxy, I have information for you. I had once been like you- shifting through time and different iterations of the galaxy, until I landed in this one. I, and likely you, can still use your Ability, but you will remain in this galaxy and timeline, simply moving up and down your time stream."

"What?" Boss says startled, "Do you mean that I will remain in this time line? All other times I have shifted to an alternate time line."

Chapter Text

"That is how it was for me as well, until I landed in this one." The glowing being explained, "There is something about the way the Force and those Ability intersection that keeps Travelers here, rather than moving on."

Well. Kriff. Boss isn't sure how to feel about that- it's good to know that he'll remain in a the same timeline, just shift to the past.

"Can you teach me how to plan when and how far back I can go in time?" Boss asks the glowing entity.

"I will do my best to teach you, whether you succeed depends on your skill and strength." The glowing being said.

“Are you sure that leaving this galaxy using our Ability is impossible?” Boss asks.

The glowing being pauses for a moment, “It might happen, if it does, I have no record of such an accomplishment, for if they have, they no longer exist within this galaxy the same way.”

Which makes sense, in a brain twisting, riddle-worthy way. Boss narrowed his eyes at them. He's always been good at learning new skills and developing and maintaining the ones that he has. With his arms crossed he informs the glowing shabuir of that. Who nods and bows a little again. And so he learns what they have to teach him- and how he can go back with out dying- or nearly dying which... actually is pretty karking useful. Also- he is warned, the younger the body he shifts back into the more difficult it is to control his abilities, which makes sense, the control of a tubie, versus a full grown trooper is vastly different. Also- he can, it is possible, to Shift others back in time with him- if they are within a certain range of him and he intentionally brings them back. But doing so is draining on both him and the person(s) that he brings back with him. Also the confusion of What The Kark is going on as well- and him having to explain things to that person(s).

Boss thanks the glowing entity for their help and then closes his eyes and purposefully shifts back just early enough to go back just before they entered the ruins and the glowing happened and he had slipped and said something unwise. Boss continues to walk, and shifts the course of where they are going to avoid that part of the ruins and they head off and find a Force Thing, and retrieve it for Advisor and the high command to deal with as they see fit.

They headed back to Coruscant to hand over the Force Thing to the Jedi temple- before being sent off on another one of the Missions That's They Are Always Sent On. They get the mission done easily, swiftly and with all the skills they've been taught and honed in the war, as well as with Boss's knowledge of how things go- the mission is over in about half the expected time. As per usual for Delta. They hear some chatter in the gossip grapevine that sprawls across the GAR and Guard- which spans most of the known galaxy. About the rumors of one of the vod'e getting a jettise pregnant. Boss rolls his eyes exasperated.

Force curse Darman, the idiot seems to get his jettise officer pregnant in nearly all of the karking iterations that Darman meets her in. Which is. Interesting, and something that just causes Boss to roll his eyes and mutter about how some vod'e need to learn to keep their cocks to themselves, or learn to  use condoms properly. Which has the rest of Delta squad cackling- and partially surprised that Boss had commented on gossip like that. Usually Boss will listen to gossip, simply as a check to see the moods of the various groups of vod'e.

They are headed from one mission to another- Boss is dreading the Kasshyyk missions- those are the ones, that at the end of it. They lost Sev- and shortly after the explosive argument between themselves and then Order 66 happened. Most of three years seems to fly by so fast, and yet so slowly at times. The mission to Mygeeto where they went on a mission with Sargent Vau and Lord Mird was...just as painful, and Boss had debated on what to do- and manages to grab Vau and pulling him just as the other started to fall into the hidden ice fissure.

Boss is sent a comm message by someone in the communications department for the Marshall Commander of area- That Karking Marine- Baccara. Who's reputation in this galaxy is even more impressive... and terrifying. Boss takes in a couple of deep breaths and ensures that his squad are safely tucked into one of the warm cantinas that is vod'e friendly on the frozen haran planet. With Vau looming nearby like a vulture- with his terrifying strill leaning against his knees and watching them.

Boss sends a message back to the person who'd sent him the comm message that Marshall Commander Baccara had requested a meeting with him. Boss wondered why- this hadn't happened any other time Delta squad had gone on the Mygeeto mission. Boss will see what is going on and what it is that Marshall Commander Baccara wants with a Commando team lead- they had done their part for the mission well and hadn't karked up any of the engagements that his battalions were doing.

As far as he knows, none of Delta squad has had enough time to cause Trouble to have Boss be called in to speak of discipline. Perhaps- Marshall Commander Baccara wants to request a mission for Delta- that did happen sometimes. But doing so- without contacting Advisor first, Boss tapped his comms device and shook his head. They are so far deep in the outer rim and deep in C.I.S. territory that getting messages to and from HQ or even to one of the midway points in near impossible.

Chapter Text

So Boss takes in a couple of breaths and tries not to heave a sigh as he heads to where his comm pinged him the location of Marshall Commander Baccara. Who's jedi, from what he's heard, is a by-the-books sort- who does his best to care for the troopers under his command and listen to the advise of his Commanders, as well as learning as much as he can of battle strategies and tactics.

While the Jedi General splits his time between being on planet and on the ship- the Jedi General does spend time in their medical ward to use the Force Osik to help the men heal. It’s a damn sight better than some, a lot of the different Nat-born military leaders who spend lives like credits. Boss knocks on the door and heads in when he is bid to do so by Marshall Commander Baccara, he snaps his heels together and salutes. While Commandos are more independent from the chain of command, they must as a part of the spec ops division, the other, while younger than him, is of higher rank.

Marshall Commander Baccara salutes back, the lines of purple and white armor, the way the other looks serious and stern. Baccara says, "at ease."

Boss shifts to a parade rest and waits for the other to speak more, part of him wondering what the other wants or needs from him. This wasn't something that happened in any of the other iterations, something new is... a curiosity and a worry at the same time for him. He can always use his ability to get out of the situation, if necessary and then pretend that his comms are down and fly off the miserable ball of ice and snow without meeting Marshall Commander Baccara if it's something... terrible. Baccara had few pleasure in his posting- it's hard, the number of vod'e under his command that die, and those are the ones that happen before they land on Mygeeto to start to battle. Then- those numbers only increase as the battles are fought on and over and near this planet.

Getting messages- is infrequent, and usually only the priority alert channel can come through with any sort of reliability. Getting the Channel Order 69 holo vids- both those posted, and those under him posting is spotty. But- sometimes some of those in Clone Intelligence will ensure that those who are the hardest working out in the front get a /present/ in the form of a particularly arousing holo vid from that channel.

Which would, coincide with the presence of said beings being near enough, if they are vod'e- for... Marshall Commander Baccara- or whomever he chooses... pleasure if he wanted to, if they wanted to. Boss has only been in one holo-vid on Channel Order 69, the rest of his squad have posted holo-vids, he has not. At least, there has not been any confirmed holo vid's -except for the one with that Advisor ARC trooper that is the handler for Delta squad, among other Commando units.

Which, is an interesting thing, Curious too- could be that he is more discrete about it, or well, Baccara hasn't lain with a Commando before- he's heard rumors of what they are like, and there happen to be four of them on his planet. He's going after the team lead first- as the other is in the position of highest authority among the four- and... well.. Delta has a particular reputation, even those vod'e in as far flung areas as his know of them. Better to go after the most level headed of them first.

Baccara speaks with Sargent Boss of Delta over some various particulars- as well as an offer to their coffers for resupply. Which as the older vod pause and look at him with slightly narrowed eyes- like he senses a trap or something. Boss smoothly thanks him for the offer, saying that they still have even supplies for their next mission- and that they would be heading out in a few days, possibly sooner if they get a message to head out on another mission to some other planet or moon.

While this place is not strapped for supplies, with a deployment as far away from the supply lines as they are, to offer supplies, even for a squad of four, was not without string attached. And he's learned- from listening to the rumors that he's head other's say... and unfortunately getting highlights of various Marshall Commanders- it was one of Baccara's favorite gambits- offer supplies, in exchange for a favor.

Often the result of that favor- winds up on Channel Order 69 with Marshall Commander Baccara's ident as the holo-vid poster- and one of the main participants in the holo vid as well. Boss does thank him for the offer, politely. Baccara's eyes narrow slightly at that- and they speak of other things. Boss is curious- and even more suspicious and cautious- Baccara isn't known for being one of the most talkative of vod'e. Still- he has various methods and ideas of what he could do.

"Morale," Baccara states, and Boss carefully doesn't stiffen or flinch, but he does- ever so casually step away from Baccara.

He turns to look towards the door- there had been a noise in that direction- and thus looking towards it wouldn't be considered odd. Boss looks at him again and for some reason Baccara doesn't call him back. Boss half watching Baccara- and half on the door palms the door controls when the door doesn't automatically open. There is the normal beeping and then a negatory noise and Boss tracks movement as he spots Baccara shift locations and a wry smirk, or smile on his face.

Baccara has locked the door, so Boss takes in a deep breath, making sure not to close his eyes for longer than a blink, does not sigh, does not wilt, does not try to plead his case, and knows that trying to fight with the younger vod on his turf will not end well for Boss. Despite his superior training- this is Baccara's territory. He looks about the room with a detached calm that he has for any sort of mission he's been given- he spots the three different holo recording devices that are on- and have been on for a while.

"... You said something about Morale," Boss says, trying to have the sentence turn into a question, keeping his voice mission bland and blank.

"Yes- it's been a while since anyone new has come to Mygeeto," Baccara says moving towards the middle of the room, arching one of his eyebrows and looking over Boss in his full set of katarn armor. "I saw the most... interesting holo video recently. I require your company and pleasure."

Boss had alarm bells running in his head at the way Baccara had said that with the smirk on the other's lips increasing. Boss has seen this situation, or kriffing near one, with other COs in that sort of holo-vid line-up.

After another blink and a slow deep breath, he gives Baccara an offer- the same one he gave Advisor, "... Sir... I offer you the use of my hands and mouth to help with... morale-boosting and equipment maintenance. Sir."

Boss's face and ears still feel like they're burning- and from the shark-like smirk on Marshall Commander Baccara's face- he is blushing. He's a fully trained and veteran gen 1 Commando Team Lead, he should not be blushing like a shiny. However, his blush was covering his face and ears and almost stumbling over his words, as Marshall Commander Baccara- who is yet another Alpha vod let out a pleased rumble and is still smirking at him, giving him a long considering look.

"You may use your hands and mouth," Baccara says, one of his hands gesturing for Boss to approach him.

Which Boss does so, a mission-ready blank calm expression on his face, he martially the blush under control and dissipates, which he can tell because of heat on his cheeks and ears fades. Baccara watches him approach, and on his way over, Boss grabs one of the pillows on a nearby chair to use to cushion his knees. While he's in armor, and the armor is supportive, having a pillow will help cushion his knees, and if his armor accidentally busts up the pillow, well then, what a shame, an inconvenience for the Marshall Commander.

Part of Boss laments the fact that Baccara's Jedi general is on the ship- instead of on the planet because Baccara and his men behave much more nicely when said Jetti was on the planet, rather than off of it.  Boss lightly tosses the pillow down and slowly goes down onto his knees with all the fluid, deadly grace of a Commando. He looks up at Baccara and waits for further instruction, Baccara just looks at him, with his head tilted and eyes lidded with that same smirk in place. Looking pleased to have a Commando on their knees in front of him.

Dubcon start

"Get to it, soldier," Baccara orders as he gestures towards his codpiece.

Boss expertly unhooks the piece of armor and free's the other's more than half-hardened cock. With sure, careful strokes Boss gets the other up to full hardness and slowly starts to lick and suck the other off and uses expert fingers to tease the other's ball sack.

Baccara throws his head back and groans in pleasure eyes closed and he swears, "kark, your mouth feels good Commando."

Boss continues the task at hand using his mouth and tongue- and suction and vibrations to get the other off. Baccara thrusts in his mouth, gripping his head and groaning in pleasure. Baccara warns Boss that he is about to cum- and that he wants Boss to swallow his load.

It happens and Baccara thrusts his cock deep down his throat. He groans as the salt waves of cum are swallowed swiftly- not wanting to gag or cough. Baccara pulls away a little and looks at Boss with a pleased smirk.

Tilting up Boss's head a little, internally Boss is thinking all sorts of nasty thoughts at the shabuir in front of him. "Advisor is right- you do have a talented tongue- and skillful hands."

Vile. This aspect of this galaxy, which he is karking stuck in forever is vile. Baccara informs Boss that he's going to suck him off until he knots in Boss's mouth. Boss nods, as there is nothing else he can say, but yes- not unless he wants to deal with something potentially more complicated.

At least it doesn't take entirely too long to get the other to cum enough times to knot in his mouth. Although his jaw is getting sore and twinges a little. Baccara looks him over and has a raised eyebrow.

"You never went to polish your own deecee." Baccara says with a faint note of surprise.

"... This was about your pleasure, sir." Boss says, his voice is a bit rough from the treatment that was Baccara's cock getting thrust down it often.

"Impressive control, Commando Boss," Baccara said, sounding impressed. There was a noise at the door and Boss carefully doesn't stiffen. "Stay where you are Boss."

Oh, Boss doesn't like that, why is Baccara now calling him by his name?

"Come in," Baccara says, as he holds Boss's face in his grip- a firm hold as Boss tries to move away. "Stay put Sargent."

Boss freezes at the order as he was trained to do and mentally curses Baccara for using that against him. Baccara greets one of his sub-commanders and they talk about this and that before the Marshall Commander has him come over for a treat and the other commander comes over curious- and then the curl of the other's lips as he spots the Commando on his knees - and the smell of sex in the air.

"His mouth is wonderful," Baccara states, "Commando- attend my commander."

While mentally cursing out Baccara- and thinking of his Ability- both of them are too close for him to Shift back without them being pulled along with him, and that will cause him a whole host of issues that he does not want to deal with.

"Yes sir," Boss says, he goes to stand- when Baccara presses down on his shoulder and shakes his head, a bigger smirk on his face, "move to him- not on your feet, soldier."

"... Yes sir." Boss says, trying not to glare or give him or the other shabuir an emotional response as he crawls over to the other smirking vod'ika commander and after a gesture takes off his codpiece and sucks him off until he knots.

By the time he's done with that one his other ttwoCo-commanders, and his CMO has shown up- and Boss is ordered to service them as well. He does, he ignores the words and raucous, raunchy talk that he hears- truly hearing what they are saying will only make him upset and try to do something... foolish.

They let him go after the last of them has knotted in his mouth, he stands up and heads out of the door and to the nearest 'fresher. His stomach is roiling and he manages to find an empty stall- and no one nearby as he retches.

Dub con end

He had asked Baccara if he could service the other- this ... this ridiculousness- with not being able to hold down the ... results of pleasuring Baccara and his other highest-ranking officers, thank the ka'ra it was only the CCs and not his full command staff.

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Which has Boss's stomach roiling again. He makes sure to flush the 'fresher and wash his face and growls at himself to get a grip on himself- and uses the icy, icy cold water to wash out the taste in his mouth and he inhales through his nose and out through his mouth several times before he heads out and to the rest of Delta. He is fine. Will be fine. They are getting the kriff of Mygeeto. He has, unfortunately, seen holo-vids on Channel Order 69 where Marshall Commander Baccara has gone through the whole Commando squad- he had his fellow CCs always start with the team lead first, before going through the rest of the squad.

He sends a message to Fixer to scramble their ship- they are heading off Mygeeto early and sends Advisor a request for a mission off 'the freezing haran pit of a planet. please'. It takes several hours, but they are sent on a mission to a hot desert planet. Still in the outer rim- but is far enough away from this planet that they aren't going to be called on by Marshall Commander Baccara- and he and his men won't get their greedy, perverted hands on his squad.

His squad can choose whoever the kark it is they want to sleep with, so long everyoneone says yes and means it. Fully, completely, and wholeheartedly, yes. Boss enters the shuttle and they send the 'we are leaving' message to Republic Clone Ship control and they are allowed to leave. Then an hour or so later- too bad so sad, they are already in hyperspace and too far from Mygeeto when there is a message from the Commanders of the Mygeeto front, he has an automatic message sent back to them of [ Delta squad has been sent on a mission to a --redacted---. Unable to contact.]

For some reason, Trainer Vau had given him a... strangely sharp expression when he'd come back. Boss wonders why Trainer Vau is giving him such an expression as he had gone to a bacta dispenser to have any potential damage fixed up before he headed back to meet his squad. Boss is fine. He is fine. He's just preparing for their next mission. Listening to his squad as they prep- Vau had said that he was going on a mission with Trainer Skirata- and that he'd be staying on Mygeeto a little while longer.

That was the last contact they had with their Trainer for a while. It's interesting, with how much things change, things also remain the same. While Boss had saved Trainer Vau from nearly freezing to death on Mygeeto, he was left behind, of his own volition, to be picked up by Skirata and his motley crew. The mission happens- and they are nearly boiling in their armor, despite the excellent climate control functions of their armor, complete the mission within the time frame required of them as they continue to do the missions that they always were assigned- occasionally getting a strange one that hadn't Happened Before.

Time seemed to slip away from Boss- and before he knew it- they were on their way to Kashyyk. He does not show his nerves- what the kark- he'd been sending some pretty karking damning information about Republic, Neutral, and Seppie nat-born leaders to Jettise shadows, Republic Clone intelligence, and just the Republic osik to the Corries. So far no arrests or loud investigations have happened. They did have to go through a vod'e medbay recently for a physical, which was a pain in the shebs- which included a brain scan. Boss had been let out earlier than the rest of his squad. After some subtle questions and some slicing- he saw that his squad mates were getting minor brain surgery.

And to his relief, their Chips were coming out- and as he searched for more information- most of the vod'e in the GAR and Guard have been carefully rotated in and out of surgery in batches to not notify the Senate of that happening. Hope is swelling in Boss's heart- which he squelches. The tubies and cadets on Kamino- still have their chips, but those of Rancor Battalion have been carefully rotated off and on to a nearby space station and their Chips removed.

That is good- that is something that hadn't happened in any of the Iterations he had gone through, not started until nearly and far, far too late. Perhaps, there are likely subtle movements happening that he's not aware of or been told about since he's just a lowly grunt of a Commando- not one to give important intel or decisions, or read in on such things. Which- fair enough, op sec and what not... Hopefully, no one asks about why he doesn't have a chip, but his squad mates do. Hm... he's going to head to their ship and check it over and get it ready to head away from the space station to their next mission. Kashyyk.

The mission to Kashyyk happens as it did countless times before- the information that they were given was osik in parts and good in others. A few times he'd had to pull his squad back and to the bacta dispensers. The karking spider droids are The Worst to deal with- but as much as it is hectic- it's familiar, to Boss at least, and he's able to avoid some of the pitfalls and traps- and keep his team whole and alive. Something that very, very few Commando squads have- most are blended squads of those who had members killed.

There are multiple reasons why Delta squad has not lost a member of their team, they are That Good- That Skilled, That /lucky/ and because, well, one must use one's training, abilities, talents, and Ability to the best that they can. So what is a little temporary death in the face of keep his squad alive? So what- and sure- he occasionally has more nightmares- ones gained from... things that could have gone sideways but didn't. At least... his squad is alive. His squad is whole. Then, they are split up- to go to the four different blaster seats.

Chapter Text

This time- goes to the first one- insisting that the others go on ahead, which is not how it went any of the other times- but if he gets Jumped by Trandoshans, at least it won't be Sev /again/ getting jumped, and nearly killed and taken to one of their Hunting Planets to be used and tormented until he's rescued, or rescues himself. The mission is a success- they shoot down the karking thing- and his squad chatter as they head to the ship- and Boss is looking around sharply blaster at the ready. Waiting for the Trandoshans to jump him and he ducks a movement and starts fighting the three whole squads of trandoshan slaver scum. Boss ducks and is swearing at them- as he hears his squad yell and fuss- and demand to have the ship land so they can rescue him.

Advisor denies them- giving them word for word why they can't go back. Boss manages to kill the last of the trandoshans, and staggers, tired and drained as he runs to a safer location- more accurately limps to one of the living massive trees to wait out whatever offensive it was that the Republic had planned. Boss closes his eyes a moment to rest before opening them again and then heading to the nearest Vod'e outpost and shuffles- with a lot of gratitude for the bacta tank dispenser which hums and thrums as his body is knitted back together, whole and his energy levels are back into working order.

Boss sighs and rubs his face, having taken off his helmet to sip on a hydration package and eat some rations as he decides on what to do. Boss feels an odd tugging fluttery feeling- like when he's about to  Shift. Kark- his vod'ika were nosy little shabuir and found One Of The data pads. Hopefully, it's Scorch- he can give the least amount of information, to satisfy his needs for intel. Scorch has the highest social intelligence of the lot of them. None of them are stupid, they have to be smart to survive Kamino- and their missions. Scorch is ... just the most cheerful and talkative of the four of them.

Fixer, Scorch, and Sev are upset- Fixer is the Second in command, not that it meant much, with Boss as team lead, the rest of them were more or less equal say in things in the squad. Until now, they hope Boss is alive, somewhere down there on Kashyyk. Scorch is so angry- and he's not talking to Sev or Fixer as he's headed to their bunks and sat down on Boss's bunk, so, so upset and guilty.

They had /left/ Boss, abandoned him. Boss has never left them behind- always dragging their shebs to the bacta tank when they'd gone down, helping patch up their wounds. Never left one of them behind, even when it might have been more prudent to do so for a moment to achieve an objective and then come back for them. Scorch hits one of the metal panels with his gloved and armored fist- mostly to get the energy out when there was a strangle hollow *thong-thumb* noise. It was dented slightly enough, with a confused frown he carefully pulled the panel out and spotted three data pads- he recognized them- Boss occasionally was looking at and tapping on them.

He didn't look happy, usually whenever he looked at the three data pads- and never told any of them what was on them. Scorch looked around and then quietly peered to see that Sev was studiously cleaning all of his weapons, including taking them apart and cleaning them piece by piece and then putting them back together. While Fixer was going through the report and pacing- he was, at least temporarily in command, until they got someone to temporarily replace Boss while they were sent on their next mission, vod'e didn't really get a chance to mourn their fallen, not really.

Scorch sneaks back into their shared quarters and looks at Boss's three mysterious datapads... hm... He picks the top one first to try and look at. Ah- it's locked, and encrypted to haran and back, in a tricky way. Scorch taps the side of the datapad, part of him very curious as to what Boss was keeping a /secret/ on the data pad and allowing Boss a secret, or three. Haran, if - no when they get Boss back, he will give him his Data Pads of Mystery back and apologize and take the lumps he's due for being a nosy shabuir.

Scorch carefully hides the other two data pads- un-denting the panel that hid them and using his slicing skills- not as good as Fixers- but Good Enough for a non-techie specialist Commando. Which is still pretty karking competent. Scorch is careful as he slices- Oops, Boss put some nasty protections on this thing, he really didn't want anyone to slice it. That just makes him more determined- Boss could be, well, mysterious for a lack of a better term at times.

He almost has it he thinks- when the screen goes dark. Osik, then a text message pops up and he reads it, the writing and tone is Boss- and it hurts as much as it makes him laugh as he reads:

[Scorch, I know it's you that's trying to slice into my datapad, your way of slicing is distinctive. Stop it. Do not give this to Fixer or one of the other techie specialists to hack either. I am unsurprised, but disappointed. Stop digging. Please... If you really want to know... [--------------------------------] enter this as a passcode. You stubborn vod'ika.]

Scorch sulks a little, now what password, or phrase would Boss make for him to read what's on the data pad? He's really curious- and hey! They were decanted at the same time, so technically he's not a vod'ika Boss. Scorch thinks and types in [RC-12606Scorch193151858]. He hits the enter key and waits- that is only one of his guesses, it's too simple of a passcode. There is a blinking pause. Then it fades to darkness and then the screen lights up and he reads in Boss's style of reporting.

Chapter Text

So, you got the passcode Scorch- or whoever it is that guessed it. If you have found this datapad, that likely means that I am missing, or Scorch is being very nosy and this could be a bit... awkward. Now- if I am missing, well osik. Scorch saysthis clearly, no don't argue or ask questions, an explanation will come later, I... will do my best to try and explain it to you. Say clearly /Death is Only Temporary/ - Boss.

Scorch says the phrase "Death is Temporary."

He's confused and has questions- then he hears-senses sees a flicker of something- and senses an Ability activate- but it's not his, or Sev's, or Fixer’s- and the pilot is too far away from him for him to so easily and clearly since their Ability activate. Scorch is about to yell- and has jumped up- his gun in hand- and his voice dies in his throat as Boss /appears/ with a soft groan standing, before crumpling.

Scorch discards his weapon on the bed and grabs Boss and hauls him to the nearest bed.

"What the kriff Boss?!" Scorch hisses at him in a whisper. Because this is Boss- he recognizes the very mild scent, the color and the pattern of his armor. The weight of him in his arms. Boss grabs his face with one hand and in the other does a one handed gesture for [quiet]. Scorch makes a face at him. After a few minutes Boss slowly sits up, but Scorch clings to him. Nope- he is not letting go of Boss- what the kark was that, what just happened? Boss. Boss you are giving me an explanation.

Boss grabs the data pad that he'd sliced and looked through and taps something and hand signed [read it].

Scorch still with one arm wrapped around Boss read what was on the Data pad, and on it was this:

[If you are reading this, then it means that it worked, and I was able to use my Ability- and translocate where you are. This part of my Ability I haven't ever used before, haven't needed to. Until now at least. If I am here and whole- just very tired. Make sure to get me something with high calories and to the nearest bacta tank dispenser.]

Scorch carefully carries Boss to the nearest one- it's in the squad barracks aboard the ship Boss sighs and starts to stand on his own two feet, rather than sag against Scorch almost unconscious and dazed.

Scorch looks at the data pad again to see if there is more information.

[I have an ability that... deals with Time and Space. I call it Iterations, or Shift, or Curse, depending on the osik I have to deal with...]

There is a break in the text like Boss had a hard time putting to words what he wanted to say. Then, in a form of a report- using unemotional language Boss describes what his Ability can do- how he can shift through different parts of his life span- bbackwards… Unless- he's 'tagged' one of his teammates and they say the phrase 'Death is only Temporary' and he will be summoned to them. His body at least, but that is the most draining part of his ability to do, and how likely he's to be really injured to nearly dead. He can use this ability to ensure the survival of his squad.

Scorch closes his eyes and takes a couple of breaths at that. Part of him wonders how many times Boss has had to go back, to make sure that the mission is successful, and keep them alive. 

Scorch, Sev, Boss, and Fixer all knew the longer the war chugged on, the more vod'e died from the newest soft-shell to those of the oldest surviving batches. Even the Commandos weren't exempt from losing their squad mates, losing batch mates. 

Scorch is curious, in a morbid way, they have had some really close missions, which ones Boss had to use his ability to keep them all alive. It explained Boss's nightmares- and while he'd never said anything to the Commandos that had lost squad mates and recombined with other orphaned Commandos.

He does remember Boss once asking Sargent Niner- "How do you bear -?"

"To which Niner had cut Boss off and snarled at him lashing out and wounded. Boss had gone quiet when Niner said that Boss had no idea what it was like to lose his brothers, to lose his first squad, so shut it. Delta."

Perhaps... Boss had not been finished with asking the question, "how do you bear living after your squad died?" and not in a 'how dare youto  survive' sort of way… Scorch thinks that is what Boss meant it as, which Scorch figures, now, that isn't the case. Boss had... been quiet for the rest of that month and had more nightmares that he'd tried not to wake them up with.

Perhaps... perhaps Boss has lost his squad, but has the ability to go back and save them. Just how many times has Boss seen them/die/ and go back in time to keep them safe? Well safer on missions? Scorch has a lot of questions- and... he needs to send a comm message to Fixer and Sev to tell them that Boss is with them.

Vod'e with a time ability are incredibly rare- and very few vod'e knows what happens to the vod'e with a Time Ability. Only that they go /missing/. The only ones that might no are likely the Alpha batch- and getting information out of them when those high-handedded shabuir don't want to talk is asking to get to be pummeled to the ground in training. And a limp from the Alpha batcher showing a vod'ika their place.

Scorch sends a quick comm text to Sev and Fixer- Sev heading in first, Boss was in the shadows a bit- and Scorch showed him the text on the data pad. Which has Sev stiffen and look around- spotting Boss lean, tired against a shadowy wall and his tired wave.

Chapter Text

Sev's face scrunches up and he smacks into Boss as he pulls their teamlead into a tight hug. Fixer came back to the squad's barracks. He had to delay his return due to coordinating with his advisor- who was going to have them sent to a smaller ship and route to Kamino to pick up their new team lead.

Fixer's face- when he read the data pad- then saw Sev and Boss hugging each other was a mixture of emotions as he moves over just as swiftly to cling to Boss. No one comments on it if anyone sheds tears.

Now, how about telling them they had Boss’s back. Fixer chirps that due to the regulations- informing the Advisor of Boss's ability and updating it in the system is necessary. The others did agree that is in the Regs, but also, they might still lose Boss if they know that he has a Time ability. Which is something that none of the Delta Squad wants. At all.

That is for Future Them to deal with- for right now, they will enjoy being able to be together. Boss whispers an apology for not telling them about his Ability sooner. But the information that they did not have, is information they couldn't give away- or get into trouble for knowing and hiding.

Boss hesitates, before shifting something and rubbing his neck a little and tapping at something, and Boss's scent- so subtle and nearly nonexistent strengthens and blossoms to the full strength of a vod'e usually has. The notes of his scent- reveal him for what he is- their teamlead, and one of the rare surviving Omega Gen 1 Commando Clones.

He's about to apologize again, but they all hold him tightly after the initial surprise is dealt with. They understand why he kept this a secret as well. Omega Commandos are ... rare, as Commandos are rare for the normal rank-and-file trooper.

Boss also murmurs about the designation of C'yare and Yandere... and how his designation in that way is likely the former, rather than the latter. They all hold him tightly, that one, the rest of Delta squad, inform him that they suspected for a long time, but hadn't said anything for Reasons.

Boss taps on his neck and his scent dissipate back to the nearly inscrutable levels again. They all cuddle and cling together before letting go of each other. Fixer has another meeting to get to with Advisor over the comms soon.

They are flying towards Kamino at the moment- and during transit, something happens in the two weeks between them in hyperspace and docking with Kamino. Keeping Boss a secret from the regular troopers on board the ship was easy- none of the CTs went into Delta squad's quarters.

They are given a wide birth- they had lost their first, and as of now, team leads their batcher and squad mate. So naturally, news of Boss being lost on Kashyyk, whether dead or left behind is up for debate and depending on the humor and personality of the vod'e.

Naturally, the rest of the Command Corps knows about Delta having lost their status as a Whole Squad, the Brat Squad (otherwise known as The Bad Batch, are of a younger generation of Commandos, and don't count). The younger generations haven't been in war as long as the veteran squads have, and thus haven't had as many chances to potentially lose their squad mates. Also, because they have had comparatively few missions, their mission success rate is higher, due to having done fewer.

Also- during the time it took to get to Kamino from Kashyyk, the Chancellor of the Republic had been outed as The Sith Master- and his Many Crimes against the Republic. Due to the rules and laws that the /Senate/ had instated, the Corrie Guard was able to enact Martial Law on Coruscant and essentially take over the heart of Republic.

Also- Sly Moore and various other people that were the most corrupted officials and their many crimes were revealed- also due to the revelation of the many crimes of the C.I.S. leadership and their Many War Crimes against the planets that they were 'liberating' both sides of the conflict paused on the War and were cleaning the house and exchanging prisoners, starting to, as well as start to do overtures of peace with each other.

As Boss heard this- and smiles to himself in surprise- and shakes his head. The vod'e on Coruscant were able to press the issue of their rights, citizenship, and other things that will important for the vod'e and their protection.

Perhaps, this will be the last time he Shifts- he can choose to live out his life, and die and not Go Back, but- before they could cheer too much- their ship is diverted, as there is some fighting between the Republic and the C.I.S. despite the fighting winding down- their ship is descending to the planet to help them engage in combat- when the anti-space craft weapons from the C.I.S hits a critical part of their transport.

Boss closes his eyes- as everyone around him, and himself dies in flaming agony. Boss opens his eyes- he is not sure how far back he sent himself. He looks around in hidden dismay. He is on Kamino- and from how large everything is to him, he's a cadet once more.

Kark- they had- he had been ... well, there were things he still did not know- some things he is curious about. Like- what happens to the vod'e with known Time Abilities? Perhaps this time he will speak up about it. If what happens is truly miserable he can just Shift again and keep his mouth shut, like he has every other time.

Also, he is curious- some of the other choices he has made, what if he decides to do something else? Like, say no- instead of yes- instead of offering something, just refuse them. He knows that it might result in something else happening, no it would, but part of him is curious about how it might change things if anything at all.

Chapter Text

Curiosity is a... can be a dangerous trait for a vod if it isn't carefully managed. But- since he has his Time ability, while he will suffer the consequences- they don't have to be long-term ones. Which- might be considered cheating, but means that he can try again- as many times as he needs to.

Boss- while he doesn't have that name yet- and kark, he's barely out of Tubie stage from his lack of coordination- and emotional control. Doesn't stop himself from hugging his newly form squad mates.

They look so adorable this tiny- Sev doesn't yet have his anxiety and self-loathing and doubt carved into his bones yet. Which- Boss has tried each time to help him with and manage. Scorch isn't quite so too bold and daring and reckless with his life yet.

Fixer- is still more open with his emotions, for now at least. Kamino is haran and hurts and harms everyone who's grown in it, and everyone reacts to the pain of it differently. Boss ignores the whisper in his head that ponders how the pain and suffering of Kamino twists and shaped Boss into who he is as well.

He's learned more about what nat-borns get for their childhood. Even the ones who have hard lives tend to have a safer childhood than any vod'e ever has. Every time he is shifted back to cadet days he realizes all over again, just how much the Jedi helped the vod'e on Kamino by just being there, and arguing for them. Part of him wonders why they weren't here sooner.

They follow along and do the exercises and learning modules and the flash training and the physical training that's graded for Commandos of their age range. It's far harder than the training for almost every other kind of vod.

Once they turn the nat-born equivalent of five -they are taken for Ability testing- and Boss... hesitates- but pulls his Ability-energy up, but doesn't use it. There is a discrete whirling flash of lights and... Is that Alpha-02? But- isn't he off of Kamino and trying to be Prime??

Boss watches him argue with a couple of the other Alpha batch and he's ordered to follow them. He obeys, confused and wide eyed. He is told, that his Ability relates to time- and Vod'e with such a special Ability are kept in a smaller class set itomake sure that they are properly trained. Boss protests- he's a Commando- and should train with his squad and pod mates.

He notices that the rest of Delta Squad are tested more thoroughly on their Ability- none of the rest of them have a Time Ability. Boss does not like that he's been taken from his pod brothers. And his 'adorable cadet scowl' as Spar teased him for having made him scowl harder.

Boss notes that it's an extremely small class, 1 alpha batcher, 1 Null (but... Boss had heard that there were only 6, not 7 surviving Nulls). Himself as the only Commando batch vod'e with A Time Ability, 2 first-gen CCs, 3 first Gen CTs, and 1 spec ops vod. A class of eight- is extremely small for a classroom size for vod'e.

Boss and the rest of the younger vod'e in this strange classroom were told that they were going to be trained, however, differently than the vod'e who don't have a time ability. The reason why was the Time Ability that each of them has, could be potentially devastating and catastrophic in a way that no other Ability can.

Also- that while in this classroom- and their specially assigned bunk room, they won't be able to use their Ability. It's for their own sake and safety. Boss was thinking that was Bantha osik and likely to stop them from using their Ability.

Because all of them were so young and would need careful training on how to use their Ability for the use and Glory of the Jedi and Republic. Boss also, in the privacy of his mind called Bantha osik on that as well.

Boss would be an obedient little cadet, for now- but once he was able to find a place to use his abilityshift back he was making sure that he wasn't going to be separated from his vod'e due to his karking curiosity.

Boss can find a place to Shift and use his ability and goes back to just before the Ability testing center and can act like he's trying hard to summon his ability, but it doesn't build up. Which happens sometimes, and the vod'e Ability comes in later.

However, something seems slightly... different though- oh he is still stuck in this same galaxy,like the Glowing Person told him he was. But Alpha Batcher 02 Spar seems to be looking for something, or someone. Boss wonders who it is he is looking over and hopes it's not him. It can't be him- no one /ever/ remembers when Boss does a shift.

Then again, he hasn't had to deal with other people vod'e or nat-borns with a different type of Time Ability. As they all grew up, for Boss this was the... how many times? Ah- he's lost count. And ignores a voice that says that is likely a bad thing.

Some vod'e go missing, never to return, due to de-commissioning, as well as some of them come back, but they are blank-faced, without names and memories other than training. A few vod'e that Boss could identify with the strange feeling that he now knew meant a vod with a Time Ability- rare maybe one whole battalion had a time ability.

No other Commando vod'e created seems to have a Time Ability, not even the younger generations, not that he keeps tabs all that much. He's very busy with keeping his squad alive and the whole War Thing going on.

Chapter Text

Now that he knows what to look for and sense- he's able to unintentionally avoid those with a Time Ability that's a vod. Not that they are anywhere near Karked in the Head Delta squad. Boss has one of the countless meetings with advisors in person.

Advisor asks him to help with Morale boosting, Boss gives a polite but firm no- he's seen that vod'e that says No- the holo vid's posted on Channel Order 69, then get into a scuffle with said person that requested, if they are of a higher rank, which Advisor is towards Boss.

Boss is ready for it and dodges the other's swipes and goes on a defensive-counter attack and pins Advisor. He's been alive for a total of... an unknown number of years- but likely far, far more than any other vod'e alive or dead. He can and does use his hard-earned economy of movement and well-honed skills. He manages to pin Advisor and waits- firmly leaning on the other's back with his boot and waits for the other to tap out.

Which Advisor does, albeit reluctantly. Sometimes- the person who says No manages to Win- and then they decide to have the person pleasure them. All Boss says is, "unlock the door, Sir."

Which Advisor does, reluctantly. Boss gets off of Advisor and heads out the door, without another word- and no taunts or other requests or demands. The next several missions that Delta does are some of the worst missions, so hard, so tough.

Boss figures it's because he had said no to Advisor. Which, has Boss roll his eyes in the privacy of his helmet. They get the missions done successfully. Because they are highly trained and efficient Commando team.

The Mygeeto mission went off without a hitch- and he also ensured that Sargent Vau did not get left in an ice crevasse as well. Marshall Commander Baccara requested his presence, and he showed up- wondering what it was That Karking Marine wanted. Wondering if it was something for /that/ reason.

He listened when the younger vod spoke- and answered his questions, with what he was allowed to tell the other at least. For some reason Baccara had him look at a vid- screen, Boss carefully did not narrow his eyes as he saw the rest of his squad drinking and he spots Baccara's support Commanders nearby his squad.

Baccara asks him /that/ question, that several months ago, before the string of truly horrible missions happened as a punishment for his denial- and they subsequently won the impromptu sparring match against Advisor. Which he finds a little unfair as Boss didn't even push a /thing/ that others would have. The reason why he hadn't is he doesn't want them to find out about his secondary gender.

Boss after a few moments of contemplation and shifting so he had a table between himself and Baccara gave him the same answer as he gave Advisor. A polite No.

Now- the scuffle against Marshall Commander Baccara, also known as that Karking Marine- The Marine, was a very difficult - but Boss managed to win. With superior armor, training (and unknowing on the side of Baccara, years of fighting) on him he wins. Barely, Kark. Does Baccara hit like a sonic sledgehammer? Tricky to. He does not let the other up until he knows Baccara has tapped out.

Boss lets him up and as the /favor/ asks him to unlock the door and make sure that Baccara and his people do not go after him and his squad. Baccara agrees- seemingly a bit surprised at something- likely that Boss doesn't push for more.

Boss informs Delta squad that they are heading ship side. He does not want to give Baccara or his support Commanders a chance to retaliate against him and his squad for Baccara losing the match. Boss has not boasted of winning a sparring match against Advisor, and he will keep quiet about him winning against Baccara as well. It would be far more trouble than it's worth to speak of it.

Commander Neyo and Commander Faie have the most dangerous, and terrifying reputation among the vod'e. Whispers about them and what they are like. He also knows that Baccara and Neyo and Faie are... friendly with one another.

So Delta squad just so happens to go into the same territory as the terrifying Commander Neyo and his band of vod'e ... Well. He's not happy about it- and tells his squad to be on their best behavior and stick. together. We've heard the rumors about Commander Neyo and his lot- don't go see how much is true or not.

They finish the mission they are assigned and Boss is pulled into a meeting with Commander Neyo. Who at first, just watches him quietly, before deliberately tapping something on his comm and he hears a ka-chick noise. The door is looked and Neyo does go over the Important Military Osik first, then demands, not ask, for Boss to... Service him.

Boss says no and dodges- as the other starts the scuffle. Again, it's a hard sparring match, but Boss's superior training, combat knowledge, and physical strength have him managing to pin Neyo down- and keep holding him down.

Boss says the same request, unlock the door, don't go after me or my squad in reprisal. Then gets him and his squad the kriff out of Neyo's territory as fast as possible to get away from the younger vod.

Advisor sends them on a mission and he spots Commander Faie, who is watching him- it's cute that the younger vod thinks he can stalk a fully trained commando lead who's a gen 1 veteran that been ffightingthis war for far, far longer than he has (longer than any of them know).

Boss leads the CC on a merry chase- and into a place that is more suitable and advantageous for Boss. He sends Commander Faie a message, well it’s a taunt by the phrasing of it. [Copikla vod'ika. Thinking I didn't spot you from when my squad landed in your headquarters.]

Chapter Text

It was a taunt and a challenge all in one- something that no vod'e could ever turn down. There is a deliberately loud noise as Boss turned to where Faie truly was and he looks over to where the other is as he comes down.

Faie does do the military osik part of their meeting first. Then, as the pair of them are circling each other, Faie does the request, which has Boss saying no, in the same blandly polite tone of voice. Faie smirks at him, and Boss watches him with narrowed eyes wondering what it was that the other thought he had on him.

Faie does charge at him- and they go into the squabbling roughhousing fight- when Faie decides to pull something from his belt and Boss just barely dodges the other' trying to jab him with something. The others hadn't pulled a weapon or a poison.

Boss continues to spar and carefully tosses the hypo spray full of something away from them as he continues to wrestle Faie. Boss manages to pin Faie, but the younger vod'e manages to twist and uses an impressively flexible maneuver- especially since they are in armor.

Faie manages to take off Boss's helmet, and Boss in return manages to stagger Faie- who charges at him again- somehow manages to stun him long enough to inject him with something.

However, the person who manages to win the sparring match, even though it was the hardest one yet, is Boss.

"The kark did you give me brat?" Boss says, with a startled pause, he normally doesn't snarl like that.

"Oh- I think I know why you avoid Morale Boosting duty," Faie says smirking up at him. The younger Vod- and Alpha, so many of the vod'e command are Alphas and Betas, simply because there are more of them.

"The kark you mean by that," Boss says as he a wave of... something seems to hit him.

"It's taking effect... Omega." Faie says.

"That ... what the kark did you give me." Boss demands. "I've won the match. Give me a cure for the poison."

"Not a poison, simply something that, if an Omega is on suppressants, will speed-get rid of them and tip said Omega into heat," Faie replied.

"And if the person is not an Omega," Boss growls out. Kark has heard of such drugs- he only has a short amount of time before he goes into Heat. kark. Kriffing kark.

"If a Beta- they will go into a False Heat," Faie replies, a triumphant smirk on his face. "And it doesn't do squat for Alphas- which you are not one because I can tell you are affected by it. Either one Beta or Omega- for the heat true or false to end you’ll need someone to kark you."

Boss doesn’t gut Faie- but only by the skin of his teeth and the control he has over it thanks to threat disposal training. But he does knock Faie unconscious- concerned that the other would just pin him as Boss staggers up and heads away from the ruthless Command Class Clone.

Kark with his focus shot to all haran- trying to use his Ability to Shift is... well, it won't work with how wobbly he's feeling. Boss sends a message to Delta Squad that they need to get off the planet. Kark. At least it's just their ship- a small shuttle that was large enough for five people. Boss gets off of Faie and staggers towards his ship.

One foot in front of another- oh- his heart rate and vitals have gone all haywire- which has alerted the rest of his squad- and Fixer has suddenly appeared next to him and has an arm wrapped around Boss and is saying ... something in a worried tone.

"No. Medics. Getting off this karking rock. Karking Faie and his karking poisons and karking hypo sprays." Boss says. "Sore loser."

That has Scorch very noisy- when did Scorch appear- oh, Sev looks close to murder.

"Get. Us. Off. This. Rock." Boss grits out through his daze.

He feels so cold, and hot at the same time. He wants to get out of his armor. He wants - no there's such a nice smell coming from ... somewhere. Oh- someone's keening- who - why is there an upset Omega nearby?

Why is his team suddenly formed up around him as if he's badly wounded or something. His lim?s feel like lead and he leans into Fixer more. Scorch is keeping up a running commentary about something or other and the rest of his squad hauls him onto the ship.

Fixer is in the pilot's seat and Boss refuses to let go of Scorch and Sev, and someone is letting out little whimpers for... oh that's him whining for his third squad mate. And Scorch is babbling and talking soothingly.

"We just- we just gotta get into hyperspace and set the autopilot and then Fixer come back. Aw... we love ya too Boss. Shh- it's okay, we've got you shh..."

Sev tries to leave and Boss flops on him with a grumbly whine. No- no leaving. Only stay. And cuddles. Fixer comes back and cuddle.

"Oh, Boss is really out of his head. Just what the kark did Faie drug him with?!" That's Fixer who's come back and has a med scanner in his hands as he scans over Boss with a worried look on his face.

Boss mumbles out, "Drug to get rid of heat suppressants and to push an omega into a heat- or a Beta into a false heat."

Sev and Scorch are out of their armor- as is Boss, who wants to feel their warmth and press his face into them. One hand touching a pulse point on each of them. Boss wants to cuddle with his squad. His skin feels itchy and he feels so hot and cold and miserable. But cuddling with his squad and pod mates helps.

Chapter Text

Boss has curled, like a cat onto all three of their laps, drugged with something to get rid of heat suppressants, which has worked and pulled him into a heat. Boss is now napping, in an attempt to rid himself of it.

While the rest of the Delta Squad look at each other. So- Boss is an omega. As the heat suppressants are flushed out of his body his natural scent comes out fully, as an Omega, and part of it is a Heat sick Omega- it's induced.

Well, Kark. Now what are they going to do. They have a cuddly heat-sick Boss to protect. And they have, well Boss has a meeting to get to with Advisor- which is Not Going to Happen.

Same with a mission team up that they have to do with Omega squad. Osik. This is... not good. Niner and Advisor will insist on speaking with Boss directly... who is not in a position to think about tactics. Or military procedure or their next mission.

Fixer reads the results of the med scan and frowns in concern- there are some ways they can flush the drugs out of Boss's system. They have a small med bay that has some supplies, but not what they need.

Not that would fix what is in Boss's system in time for his Meeting with Advisor and Niner- whom they are meeting on a planet near the one that they left.

One of the fastest methods- is through touch, specifically with an Alpha services in the Beta/Omega- and Boss is an Omega. The Induced Heat will last at least a week, perhaps longer. Depending on how long Boss has been suppressing his Heats- if it's been... the Entire time, then Boss is going to be going through a Long Induced heat for two weeks.

Boss is curled into them, but isn't doing the holo-vid pleading and begging that Omegas in heat are to, begging for the nearest Alpha to kriff them. Boss is just curling into the and clinging. Making sad noises when ever one of them has to get up to do something else.

He seems to be accepting platonic touch and... with his hazy, confused brown eyes, trying to push him to do more would... have consequences for when he wakes out of it. Boss will remember what happens to him during this Heat.

They have been doing their best to delay landing on planet- but that only gave them two days. Having Fixer- ensuring that he did not smell like a heat sick Omega- and convincing Boss to let him out of the rather sad nest he'd made of their pillows, blankets, mattresses, and cuddling the three of them.

Fixer tries to delay, delay, delay- but Niner and Advisor are terribly Unamused.

Atin is sneaking on the ship that has the rest of Delta squad- ordered to see what the kark is going on and why Boss and the rest of Delta isn't meeting with them and why they are acting so karking cagey. Why does he smell an Omega vod in heat? Who the kriff- did-... oh. kark him.

Atin realizes the heat-sick Omega is /Boss/ and he's curled into Sev and Scorch's laps just nuzzling into them heat dazed and miserable and keening for Fixer to come back for cuddles. Oh Ka'ra preserve him, he notices Sev has spotted him and has his Murder Face on- and the reason why he isn't moving to smack the osik out of him is because Boss has flopped on him more and is making fussing-soothing noises. Scorch is also looking around to see what has Sev so pissed off all of a sudden.

Atin sneaks back out of Delta's ship and comms Niner, "So... Boss is a karking Omega- and he's in Heat at the moment. That's why Delta is being weird. Did... did you know that and /not/ tell me, Niner?"

"Boss is a what?!" Is the response from Niner, "No I didn't know that- hey- Advisor-"

And then Niner reports what Atin told him about Boss. Which no- that was something that Advisor did not know about Boss. Then the pair of then shift their gazes and get up into  Fixer's personal space. Fixer gives them a querulous look and says. "Boss is Boss, who karking cares what's in his pants."

"It matters when he's not mission ready due to his heat cycle. How the kark have you lot being keeping this from us for so long?" Advisor asks demandingly.

"It was kept because Boss didn't want anyone to know, then Karking Commander Faie drugged him with something and it put him into Heat," Fixer says still unhappy, but having to answer Advisors questions, through gritted teeth.

"And is one or all three of you /helping/ him through the Heat?" Advisor asks, with a smirk and a lewd gesture.

"He just wants to cuddle us and makes sad noises when ever we have to leave the nest he's made." Fixer says.

"Usually Induced Heats are very... make the Omega or Beta in question very... carnal in nature due to the... nature of the drugs they use. Unless they don't see the potential Alphas in that light." Fi- the Commando Combat medic pipes up with a frown.

"He's our team lead and pod mate," Fixer says, "Not all squads want to kriff each other. Boss has always been on the more... Guarded Heart side of things on such matters. He might not view us in a sexual or carnal way and that's fine."

"Niner, myself or any of Omega squad could help Boss with his Heat issue." Advisor says, with a gleam in his eye, and an honest offer.

"No recording it, and only if Boss wants to." Fixer says firmly. "Boss is really private about a lot of things."

"Understandable." Niner says calmly. "Boss has always binged to me as one of the more introverted of vod'e. Even for us Commando types."

Fixer sends a comm message to Sev and Scorch who predictably and understandably aren't happy to have non-Delta squad near their ship when Boss is in such a vulnerable state. They send a message that Boss has picked Niner to help him.

Chapter Text

Fixer in forms Omega squad and Advisor of that, and Niner nods and heads into Delta squad's ship. After a few minutes Sev and Scorch come out and stand near Fixer. Advisor looks around and has the mission debriefing with the two squads without their team leads and Sergeants.

Every mission that a squad, or a pair of Commando squads go on is critical for the war effort in one way or another. So they are sent off to complete the mission while Boss and Niner are busy dealing with Boss's medical issue.

Advisor grumbles to himself about the secretive natures of Commandos and updates Boss's medical file with the secondary gender status of Omega- instead of Beta. Boss is feeling pretty miserable. He had felt better when cuddling his squad- but they had left to deal with something... which if he could focus a small part of him was shouting that it was Important.

Niner had come in- Scorch and Sev had asked if he wanted Advisor, or Niner or Atin, or one of the other members of Omega squad to help him with his Heat. Initially Boss had grumbled that he did not want any of them helping him.

But after a couple of minutes of thinking he had mumbled that if Niner was feeling up for it, he could help him with his Heat. Scorch had informed Fixer of this- and a few minutes later Niner arrived, and much to his dismay Scorch and Sev left.

Niner was making soft thrumming, purring noises low in his throat. It was a very soothing noise and Boss got up and out of his nest- it wasn't the best of Nests- but it was made from what he had at hand.

He gently grabs one of Niner's hands and lead him into the nest and Boss curls in his lap and starts to purr. Despite how frustrating the other Commando Sargent could be sometimes, he does trust Niner. Niner is gently petting his hair and it feels nice.

The Alpha Commando Team Lead's scent smells nice, and he purrs more and cuddles into him. This Heat thing really sucks, and he would like to not go through this again. Stupid drugs, stupid vod'ika who think they are tricky and sneaky and clever.

It starts out slowly, but the more Niner's blessedly cool hand lightly, gently touch Boss's over heating and uncomfortable body the better he felt. Occasionally he felt lucid as the other slowly and carefully used his fingers to open him up and get him ready.

Need- need, need. Kark he need something so badly all of a sudden. He felt so needy- Alpha please- he needs- oh. yes that- that feels so good.

The rest of Delta and Omega squad finish the mission and by the time they report back to Advisor and Boss's extended induced Heat is over and he's fully cognizant and aware and with flushing cheeks he thanks Niner for his help.

Niner had responded that he was glad that he could help Boss- and if such a situation arose- and he and his team were close enough- he'd be just a comm call away. Shuffled and nodded saying that he'd keep that in mind. If he needed the help again.

Boss and Niner cleaned up the mess they made when dealing with Boss's ... inconvenient medical issue and by the time Delta and Omega squad hailed them, while it smelled lightly of Alpha and Omega pheromones, nothing to suggest what everyone knows had happened.

Niner hadn't bitten him- as that was something that a pairing- or more, would discuss beforehand while everyone was clear headed and fully able to think. At least, that was how Niner and Boss viewed it. Not that everyone thought that the same way, some more unscrupulous vod'e might think and feel differently.

Boss and Niner greeted their squads and fussed over them in their own ways. They said their goodbyes and headed off. They had already gotten different missions to opposite sides of the galaxy to get to already.

Several months later- Boss was pulled into a meeting that he doesn't remember having before, then again, sometimes his memories blur and blend together and he doesn't remember everything. Mostly the boring bits are what he forgets.

There is a couple of CC vod'e that he hasn't met, but there are quite a few vod'e that Boss doesn't know that are serving the Republic that he doesn't know and has not met before. Something that Boss doesn't know is that- after his Shift- while most don't have, never have noticed it.

Those vod'e with different Time Abilities, at least the first Gen and the Alpha batcher clone that survived have had a sense of /someone is missing/ and that it's likely a Commando. But who exactly, what their RC number is, which squad is something that they can't figure out. And the Time Ability vod'e have been carefully combing through the surviving Commandos to see if their missing vod is among them.

"I think that it's this one," One of the ACT troopers with a Time Ability says as he intensely looks Boss over.

"The kark you mean by that?" Boss asks gruffly, not crossing his arms, and projecting his confusion. He watches the five vod'e arrayed in front of him cautiously, as far as Boss knows- at least half of them are thought of as dead, while the other's are some of the administrative bound vod'e. Which- being able to battle the enemy that is the flimsi-work beast, and the Republic Military bureaucracy system.

"Something happened- we had a Commando with a Time Ability- then something happened and they disappeared," The ACT trooper stated.

"One, why the kark are you telling me this? Two- they were probably de-commissioned by the Long Necks," Boss says.

Boss could have been decommissioned by the Long Necks- and that Time Line where he'd been, very briefly, part of the small class of vod'e that are known for having a Time Ability was last iteration ago- how the kark do they even realize that something is... not amiss but different? Is it because they have different Time-Based Ability?

Chapter Text

"Because, we believe it's you," One of the CT troopers said impatiently.

"Why?" Boss asks, shifting his stance and projecting disbelief. Commandos are some of the only vod'e that are able to lie effectively, not just to nat-borns, but to other vod'e... and their own self.

"Your Ability- you called it 'Survival' and gave some explanation for it, seems... incomplete," One of the CCs state.

"That sounds ridiculous," Boss growls feigning offense well. "Why would I lie about my Ability? The Long Necks if they found out would've gone after me and the rest of Delta squad."

Boss shifts and looks at each of them before shifting to the door, "If you are done insulting me and potentially getting me and my squad into a huge heaping of trouble. I have an actual mission to complete on this planet."

"We will find out the truth of the matter one way, or another," One of the Command Class vod'ika says.

"Truth and reality often coincide, but is it what you are really seeking?" Boss retorts.

Once he is out of sight of them he makes sure to contact his squad and they form up and head off to the mission. Boss acts and reacts normally, and he and his squad notice their /watchers/ and Scorch calls out to them, hollering out pointers to be better at Stealthing, and hassling them for thinking that they could sneak up on fully trained and painted Commandos vod'ikase.

Boss does not act as if he had been... surprised that someone had noticed his Shift- that those with an Ability that deals with Time sensed something happen. Although, as Boss thinks it over, it does make sense that those with an Ability that deals with Time, they would be some of the ones to notice that /something/ has happened, even if they don't know what happened, not really.

Boss is not going to make it easy for them, he is not going to act or react differently. He's not done something that is punishable by the GAR Regulations, or Kamino regulations either. No one can /prove/ that he has done something either.

Eventually, their watchers are pulled away, partly because Commando Missions are very dangerous, even for Commandos. Besides- those vod'e have their regular duties and tasks that they need to do, instead of stalking after a Commando squad that /might/ have someone who has a Time Ability.

Might is not the same as Does, and suspect, is not the same as Knows. After all, there is a whole galaxy full of gray area in those two terms, no matter the language or cultural context applied to it. Boss rubs his face, a little in thought, as they are flying from the finished mission to another one.

He reads one of The Data pads that he has collated with the Important intel- that he has sent a copy of all the sins and intelligence of the crimes of those in power on all three sides, again. Sending it discreetly and anonymously to Clone Republic Intelligence (C.I.S. and Neutral Worlds) and Republic to the Corries.

As well as sending a copy of this to the Head of Intelligence on Kamino- which is one of the Alpha batchers. Come to think of it, Boss has no idea who that is, which is likely something that was done on purpose, just in case. Likely one of the surviving Alpha batchers that has the patience for that sort of thing, whoever it is.

Over the next several months- from listening to the GAR rumor mill and reading the headlines- there have been some Major Scandals on both sides of the war. Where evidence, damning evidence, that no amount of credits can bury with how loud the stories and damningly juicy the crimes are that have been revealed.

Slowly, more and more are ramped up- until the Chancellor's corrupt influence is shown- and the shabuir does not go down quietly. He nearly kills multiple vod'e- a blend of Corries and battle-vod of those Jetti generals that go to arrest him.

Those Jetti generals also almost die, and things come to a discordant, confused, screeching pause, while the damning evidence of various leaders and corrupted osik was revealed. Slowly and all at once the fighting mostly ends.

Prisoners of war are exchanged- and Commandos are used to find those prisoners that have been /forgotten/ about by the C.I.S. lists of crimes committed and laws broken. Arguments about how to form a proper treaty between the C.I.S and the Republic are waged by the Politicians of the galaxy.

The vod'e manage to get Rights, Citizenship and back pay for all their years of service- as well as get their vod'ike away from the Long Necks- and the rights to their own genetic structure. Finding a planet to land them all in, as no settled planet could house so many all at once is another issue that's argued over and debated.

They do manage- with the help of the Jedi- get a habitable planet that would have started to be colonized by nat-borns, but that had been put on hold due to The War. The vod'e- and nat-borns specialists start to colonize and work together.

It's a combined effort, with vod'e and nat-borns heading the council that rules over the planet. Shifting the gears of war to peace. Is a long, difficult process, figuring out what to do with one's self after war and how to be a person who works towards peace and having a civilian job and life style.

It is hard, at times, Delta squad has good days and bad days, the mandatory mind healers for every vod'e who'd fought was... slow going. Boss has gone through several mind healers- not having found one that he really clicks with, not at first. One of the Jetti ones is ... soothing, and slowly he speaks with them about Some Things.

Boss is waiting for the other shoe to drop, no way, things have been hard, and slowly getting easier, but there is no way. No /way/ that the Republic would let the vod'e go so easily. No /way/ that there aren't some of the Sith Master's contingency plans that have not been found and sprung.

Chapter Text

Slowly, painfully slowly, Boss starts to relax, and starts to hope for a future- one where he isn't spinning through time and trying to do /something/ different to eke out some happiness for himself and his squad.

Niner and Omega squad have been coming over more often. He has noticed Fi and Sev seem to be bunking together more often than not. Scorch and Atin are a couple. Having seen their bear shebs on the couch was not something he had wanted to see in the morning.

He'd ensured that they cleaned the couch. Thoroughly, and still occasionally teased them about, just to see their reactions to his teasing. Darman and his Jetti seem to be going steady- and she'd told him that her birth control happened to go out on her and that she's pregnant.

Darman was stunned silent and then grinned scooping her up and spinning about and hollering happily to the rest of the pair of squads about how he's going to be a buir and they are going to be ba'vod'u.

Niner had sat down next to Boss who leans against him. All of them have different kinds of smiles on their faces, some larger, some smaller, but all of them happy and joyful for Darman and Etain. Vod'ika and ad'ika are trained communally.

Sev and Fi had been discussing adopting a couple of particularly adorable vod'ika that have grown particularly attached to the pair of them. Boss pondered something- he was- there was something Important that he is forgetting.

Then- there is a murmuring of something, and suddenly vod'e are being taken in to the medbay to check on something. Brain scans of the vod'e are being taken. Boss notices one of the younger vod'e in 501st blue - they have long curly hair and a teardrop tattoo on their face.

They are being carefully supported by another vod'e in 501st blue- this one with an impressive V shaped tattoo on their face, they looked only a little older, and a lot worried. Boss happens to overhear them speaking.

"I'm fine Dogma! I was just feeling a little dizzy and my head hurt for a bit," the longer haired vod'ika said.

As their rubbed their head- near the place where the oh kriff him /the Chips/ are located. Kark. Kriff and kara blast. Boss heads to one of the places where he's kept The Data Pads of Secrets and sends some brain scans at a level five that show The Chips anonymously and untraceably to a couple of the vod'e medics on planet.

Then everyone has to go through a level five brain scan and debates on how best to deal with the chips- which in some of the vod'e are /harming the brains/ of certain vod'e. Also- the way that the former Corries freeze and clump together when they learn of of whisper at each other.

Boss had sworn he'd sent information about the Chips to certain vod'e before now... Oh no- wait that is what he'd done multiple times before. Boss is... worried- he may need to write things down- and get lists together.

Why was- it so hard to get certain facts straight all of a sudden? Things- were starting to get blurry around the edges. Oh- Boss needs to sit down and he holds his hands in his face. It only feels like a couple of moments- but who knows how much time has passed.

Scorch comes over and pesters him, talking about something or other at him. Which distracts Boss from his mood- which he suspects was one of Scorch's goals. Boss listens and leans into Scorch, things are going well- but for some reason... something seems... amiss.

Boss opens his eyes and looks around carefully, trying to see whatever it is that has his instincts going haywire. The birds have stopped chirping- they are in a quasi-city area, so that isn't too suspicious.

Then- there is a rumble and everyone looks up as massive C.I.S. ships descend and start to bombard the planet. Mass panic and screaming. Boss and other vod'e in ... or were in command, start to bark out orders and turn the panic into an orderly sort of chaos and try to keep people alive.

It's starting to work when there is a flash of heat and a roar so loud that it deafens everyone. Boss touches his ears and notices the blood on his hands and he curses to himself, loud or soft he can't tell. Also his eyes a blurry and not working well, with the bright after images- he stumbles over something- and looks down- and sees Scorch's dead face.

A different brother grabs Boss and hauls him away and he sees Fixer about twenty feet away- also dead- and Sev- curled around a small body, dead as well. Well- if there was ever a time for Boss to use his Ability now is it.

He blinks tears and after images out of his head as he closes his eyes and concentrates on his Ability and things start to flicker and a the feeling of everything all at once- and then nothing, dark, light, sound, hearing, taste. Boss feels the pull of his Ability as he starts to pull away from his body- and then he feels something pierce through him and everything goes dark.

Boss wakes up- he is laying down- and not at one of the Bacta dispensers. Boss is... very confused as he blinks and looks around trying to figure out what the kriff is going on. He's not in any pain, his hearing and sight are in working order.

He hears... loud voices nearby- and as he focuses on what is being said- he hears his squad mates yelling at someone, or perhaps multiple people. Boss slowly gets up- and heads to where he can hear them.

There was something odd about the room he is in, but trying to figure out what exactly it is that is bothering him about it. He will figure out later- he has squad mates to calm down and a situation to see to and figure out what the kark is going on.

Chapter Text

"Why the haran would you put Boss into an illusion?!" He hears Scorch yell.

Boss frowns and some emotion starts to bubble up starting in his stomach. Oh no- that does not sound good at all.

"To find out once and for all if Boss has a Time Ability or not," Boss hears someone else say. Oh no that does not sound good at all.

"And what did you karking find out, besides Boss's deepest desires, which is for the War to end, and every vod'e to live happily ever after?!" He hears Scorch yell again and the sound of struggle, "let me go Fixer- Sev- c'mon this sheb'ika deserves a kick in the ass at the very least for putting Boss through that- and having him think we were all killed simply to satisfy their own karking amusement and curiosity!"

"Boss does have an ability related to time," That same voice said- still sounding so calm and almost bored- or amused by their antics and that seems to have the rest of Delta squad stunned and quiet for a moment.

"Who cares if he has a Ability related to Time- he's... he's /our/ Sargent and squad lead. He is /our/ pod brother and is a member of Delta." Sev says, in his low gravelly voice.

"What does happen to vod'e that have an Ability related to time, anyways?" Fixer asks, "because- as far as common knowledge among the wider population of vod'e and nat-borns it seems like no vod has an ability related to time. If they are… de-commissioned, or something worse, then I would like to argue that Boss is a fantastic team lead and his service speaks for itself in the effort of protecting the Republic."

Boss is approaching on silent footsteps, the more he hears of what's going on- from the explanation he's getting, and the shouting he's hearing. He got tricked by another vod'e- who had a pretty karking convincing illusory Ability that had Boss believing what he'd thought was going on.

When in actuality, what really happened was that he was karked- unless he can figure out more information- and then Shift back. Boss listens to more Loud Discussions between his squad and whoever it was that had ordered the Illusion and potentially karked Boss over.

If the consequences for his actions only impacted him- then he'd take his lumps. But if the consequences resulted in him... being forced to leave Delta squad behind, then he was going to Shift back. He's... he cares for Delta so much- they are three of the biggest reasons he has to keep living.

Boss continues to listen to what is going on and closes his eyes as he pulls at his Ability to start Shifting back. The energy starts to build, but then something happens and it's like he is stuck, and feels bands of something around his wrists and ankles tighten and he opens his eyes to see strange bracelets around his wrists that are now glowing before they fade to dullness.  

Alpha 02 shows up and looks at him and says shaking his head, "until we know more, you have nullification bands on."

Boss stiffens in offense at that. Only Traitors, or those who cannot control their ability or criminals gets these bands put on them.

"I can control my powers perfectly well without these. I am not a Traitor to the Republic or a criminal." Boss hisses at the Alpha batcher Trooper.

"Answer me this, why didn't you speak up about your Ability then?" Sparr asks.

"Vod'e disappeared when it was known they have an Ability related to Time," Boss says, "and I am not leaving my squad behind."

"Oh right, the Commando pack dynamics," Sparr says with a sigh. As if that is an inconvenient fact about Commandos he was reminded about.

"Commandos are at their strongest in a squad," Boss quotes mulishly.

Commander Spar sighs deeply at that and gives Boss one of the cut that osik out vod'ika expressions to Boss as he arches an eyebrow and asks Boss what his Time Ability does.

"I can show you if let me out of these cuffs," Boss offers up, like a vod’ika that is not about to cause mischief and mayhem.

Commander Spar gives him another Look and snorts, "I wasn't decanted yesterday Boss. Tell me."

"When me and my team are near death I can shift back in time to just before to try and not get us dead," Boss replies, which is the truth, from a certain point of view. "Or if I deem a sitting volatile I can Shift back just enough to try and salvage the situation."

Commander Spar looks at him slowly, likely trying to decide whether he believed Boss or not. Boss just stares back at him in a mostly calm manner. His teammates were watching and had looked at each other briefly when he had explained what his Ability did.

Likely, they will have questions to ask Boss when they are alone and he will try to answer those questions as best as he can. If he is given a chance to do so in private, away from prying eyes and ears. It takes a few months of bantha osik before the nullification bands come off, and he's glad of it when he's free of them.

Pointedly rubbing his wrists, as the bands did rub his wrists red. Using bacta fixed that right up, but it was the silent, pointed statement of the thing.he does tell his squad that they have had some close shaves that had necessitated the need for his Ability to be used. Not often, they are one of the best and most skilled Commando teams.

Some might have asked him why he hadn't told them about his Ability. But they know just how tricky a tightrope balance Boss had to balance. They had suspected something for the longest time. Boss has always had nightmares, likely from the squad nearly dying.

Chapter Text

Which. Well. The Long Necks say that they were created to be more resilient towards Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and other such traumas. And that was what the vod'e said, but the truth and reality of it was not always what the long necks said is true.

They did have to occasionally check in with Commander Spar. Or one of the other high ranking vod’e with a Time Ability. It was only mildly annoying, but it kept them off his back and no one else needed to know exactly what he could do with his Ability.

He did tell Spar about the technology information versus that he created that is finding, collating and transmitting the crimes and sins of those sentients of most power on the sides of The Republic, The Neutral Worlds and The C.I.S. and to whom he's anonymously sending it to, in hopes of getting something done. 

Spar cackled at him for a good solid half an hour, the vod'e were tying themselves in knots trying to find the anonymous person who was giving them such good intel, partly to use them as an asset and protect them. Partly to make sure they don't leak such information to the enemies of the Republic.

Delta squad works hard and completes the missions they are given with swift efficiency. When the Kashyyk Missions started Boss had quietly warned them of the hidden dangers that intel didn't know about. The mission goes about as well as it always does, but since Sev is forwarded, he is not jumped on and attacked by Trandoshan slavers unawares. It is a close call by Sev does manage to stagger onto the transport ship, just as they start to lift off ground.

Through some bantha osik and likely murder and political trickery. The Chancellor is Outed as a Sith Puppet Master and most of the C.I.S. leadership is killed. Boss sees the somewhat subtle hand of Alpha 17 and their batchers as they institute puppets in the governments to their liking and the vod'e being given rights, Citizenship and back pay for all their years of service.

The vod'e technically don't run and rule the galaxy, but there are some vod'e that keep a finger on the Galactic pulse, just to make sure they aren't potentially kriffed over by the nat-borns or their Jetti get karked over either.

Things were going well for the vod'e until something changed, Boss wasn't quite sure what happened as he woke up to screaming, shouting and smoke in the air.

Boss commed for his squad, or tried to, but something was jamming the signal as Boss tried to ascertain where the fire was and made sure to check the door to see if it was safe for him to go through. He manages to get out of the building and sees fighter ships shooting at everyone and everything.

Boss curses quietly and closes his eyes and Shifts back in time as he remembers the strange symbol on the side of the space fighter ships. Boss blinks as he sees and hears the familiar thrum of a bacta tank dispenser as he assesses when and where he is. For some reason, despite the Bacta's rejuvenating properties he is feeling utterly spectacular.

It takes longer than it should, but his energy levels come back up and Boss realizes he's back in his cadet days. Just after a really long stint of training exercises that had lasted for a ten-day cycle. Boss checks over his squad mates, Scorch is asleep in his bunk, Sev is asleep as well, while Fixer is on a data pad tapping away at something, likely one of his tech specific modules.

Boss heads to his bunk and flops down face first into it. Shifting back so far means things take a long time. Especially being Careful on Kamino to not get potentially flagged or noticed the wrong sort of ways.

It was upsetting and stressful in ways that being on a mission and dodging Clankers and Seppies was not. At least those threats could be eliminated. Boss rubs his face and sighs internally as he falls asleep.

The next ten years or so is just learning and training his body and growing up with his vod'e- and his podmates. Trying to be careful, as well as try to save some of them some of the pain being their stubborn selves had happen to them.

High General Kenobi arrives- and shortly thereafter the War starts, and Delta squad is sent out to Geonosis. So far- he has noticed some differences, he's in a different alternate timeline, he knows this because none of the vod'e have an Ability (tm) like they had in that string of timelines that he had been looping through.

So it was possible to get out of that timeline and into a different one, not that he could tell that glowing being that, as he was now somewhere different. As the galaxy spins and the missions that Delta goes on happen like normal.

He's checked for Channel Order 69- which thank the ka'ara that doesn't seem to exist in this galaxy, which has something unclenching, that had been tense as a live wire when he'd first made that unpleasant discovery.

One of the times that Delta squad is on Coruscant for leave- there is something about the Corries- at least some of the Corries that pings as... off, odd, almost wrong. Oh- they are vod'e no doubt about that, but something... almost eerie that sends a chill down his spine and fuss over his squad mates.

He has done the normal things that he's established, or tried to establish in every other time shift, the techno-bugs that are sending the crimes and sins of the elites of The Republic, The Neutral Systems, and the C.I.S to Clone Republic Intelligence, as well as the Republic only stuff to the Corries.

Boss watches with a startled blink- glad that his helmet is on, and thus no one can spot his startled pause- when he hears some truly strange rumors about the Guard. About how... no one really dies when one becomes a Corrie.

Chapter Text

Also- he spotted Coruscant Commander Thorn- who had died- him and the squad that had gone to Scipio to protect the Senators. He'd heard of that mission- and heard that the Corries had died, but the nat-borns had been protected and stayed alive.

How in haran is he walking and talking as if he hadn't died. Although- the subtle-not-subtle sense of Something Is Karking Wrong is screeching at him when he looks at that Commander. Thorn isn't the source of the Wrongness- but he is now apart of it.

Also- the Not Supposed to Be Alive Corries- all had that eerie strangeness to them. Another thing is that those Corries temperaments and moods... have shifted. Oh- they are the same personalities with their vod'e- and have become even more protective of them. But- they have a shocking disregard for nat-borns that has Boss frowning.

The soft-shells, the vod'ika created in the younger batches were raised and trained to be more caring of nat-borns of the Republic, to defend and protect. Seeing some of the Odd Karking Corries acting and being... far more brutal with nat-borns than warranted- and just on the side where they could get into a kark load of trouble for.

It wasn't all the Corries- but a good halve or more of them have an Eeriness to them. Some of them have strange scents to them. Like discharged blaster fire or something. A slight greyness to the white of their armor that has alarm bells ringing in his head.

Boss- does not have the time to investigate what ever is karking wrong with them- but it's starting to spread, and that is even more alarming. Some of the battle battalions are starting to get Odd vod'e. Vod'e that had died, been confirmed as dead, had.. come back.

Oh please don't have this turn into something code named a Zombie apocalypse. Haran that would be so frustrating and heartbreaking to deal with. Boss got his answer- with watching a holo-vid of Marshall Commander Fox- carrying the body of a dead Commander Stone and pleading- no begging the Chancellor for his help.

Boss paused the video and closed his eyes, asking a Dar'jetti for help was ... not the right answer, wasn't the best of choices. But Marshall Commander Fox had been grieving and likely not running on a lot of sleep and he rubs his face and sighs, before opening his eyes again and watching the video.

The Chancellor does agree to /help/ Fox and Commander Stone, but warns him that there will be side effects and he's impressed with how intact Commander Stone is, which makes it more simple to /help/ him Return.

The holo cam footage goes shaky and grainy and even with work done on the footage to clear it up, there is nothing that he can do to get more fixed up. Then Commander Stone is awake and confused, but alive-ish again.

As Commander Stone works and helps out his vod'e it seems his personality is mostly the same, just much more protective of his Alive Siblings, and harsher and more unkind to nat-borns. And makes more Returned Vod'e, as a lack of a better term Boss has decided to call them in his head.

The Returned vod'e seem to want to make more of themselves- and have been going to the planets and moons and other places where vod'e have died to have them Come back. The less of a vod they have, the more strange the vod'e is. They are more themselves, than some one eerie, when they are around the living that have memories of them.

Boss has a very bad feeling about all of this- and that if they manage to land on say- Geonosis- or ka'ra forbid /Kamino/ oh... things could get so ugly so quickly. But- Boss is a busy Commando who can't do osik for such things.

The Returned - who have the largest numbers in the Corries, have spread amongst the rest of the battalions slowly, like a creeping vine. Umbara- where many fell, and a lot due to Krell had come back /angry/ and /vengeful/ but not at their fellow vod'e- no, at the nat-borns.

Boss hears others discussing the Returned- and what could be done about them- or if anything can be done to them. After all- some of the Returned Corries have blocked the living ones from being killed by shielding them with their bodies. They'd only stumble and stagger, then get up again.

Boss would like to get out of this galaxy and into somewhere that made more sense please. He regrets some of his life decisions and the rest of his squad have decided that sticking together when they are off duty, even more than they usually do is a good idea.

Boss gets warned that some of the Returned have managed to land on Geonosis- which... complicates things as there have been several major campaigns on that planet- and half of the Commandos died on that planet.

Having magic Sith Space Zombi(is) Commandos that will be allowed (can't really stop them) doing missions with and for the Republic is going to be... interesting. One of the ways that they can get the Returned to be more stable... yeah- the word Boss got is stable, is to have them with living vod'e around them.

As the vod'e are Returned to life and divided up among the living vod'e- the Alive Commando squads are called into take a Returned squad of Commandos. The last two squads of Alive Commando squads to receive Returned is Delta- and Clone Force 99.

They have been given bigger ships, to accommodate the need for more living space- with having a squad of 8 instead of 4. One of the things that Boss learns about the Returned is that they do not need to, nor want to eat, or sleep.

They run on determination, spite, and protectiveness. The Eeriness has grown and Boss is partly exhausted because his nerves have screamed themselves out, and yet they still make him... twitchy. 

Chapter Text

The Jedi are trying to find out- because they have /finally/ noticed the Returned and are trying to see... what they can do about them. The Returned are incredibly gentle with cadets and tubies, as well as nat-born ad'e and ik'ade. Which is fantastic, and towards most of the Jettise they will listen and be mostly normal and behave mostly like how vod'e are supposed to act with them.

Boss wakes up and tries not to swear or hit the Returned Commando Sargent Brill- who is standing over him- watching him. Ka'ra damn it- he's told Brill, and the other Returned to Not Watch Him (and his squad mates) while they sleep.

"What?" Boss tries not to growl out at him.

Boss's heart is racing and his nerves are screaming and howling at him again. Boss curls his hands together behind his back so he can pretend they aren't shaking. Brill looks at him, tilting his head and the other says, "You were having a nightmare, so I came to wake you up."

'My life is a karking nightmare,' Boss thinks but doesn't say, he closes his eyes and does a couple of breathing exercises and opens them up again.

"Thank you for waking me up," Boss manages to say trying to be diplomatic about it. Sev had nearly shot them. Multiple times. Scorch was jittery and in the hyper-talkative anxiety mode and Fixer has almost completely shut down and is in icy logic mode.

Boss's heart rate slowly calmed down, kark he was so tired. "I'm going to try to go back to sleep. Wake us when we are at our destination. Please."

"Will do, Boss."

Boss flopped backwards into his bed and pressed his hands over his face and did not groan or curse as he pulled the covers back over him as he tried to go back to sleep. Boss is woken up later by Brill's voice and he and the rest of Delta squad got ready and into their full kit as Boss turns on the comm as Advisor goes over the mission parameters with Delta and the Returned Epsilon squad.

They listen up and charge out- Boss and Brill taking charge of the mission once they hit dirt and do the mission- well, fly rather. It's the mission with the lost cruiser. Oh great- there is going to be a ship full of returned vod'e by the end of it.

Which is happily, not going to be Boss's problem to deal with as they complete the mission. It goes as well as any of the other times he has had to complete this mission. Although- once Epsilon squads starts Awakening vod'e.

Those vod'e start to awaken other vod'e and by the time the mission is completed Brill has commed one of the Rescue battalions to pick up the busted up Venerator fully of Returned vod'e- who'd be carefully processed and shifted to those who could handle the load of returned.

There other missions happen- and the Returned Epsilon squad awakens more vod'e- despite Delta's best efforts to distract them with the mission that they are on. The Kashyyk mission happens- and Boss is shadowed by Sargent Brill as the rest of Delta are in the hot seats shooting down the massive ship.

Sev and Talon come back- having someone as back up makes it so, that while they were jumped by Trandoshan slaver scum, they were able to fight there way to where the rest of Epsilon and Delta are and get onto the ship with just barely enough time.

The words, "Execute Order 66," Does not come.

Which confusing and surprises and worries Boss. He learns, along with the rest of the galaxy- that the Returned vod'e had killed the Chancellor- when the other had tried to order them to Kill the Jedi. Also- revealing him to be the Sith Master behind it all, as well as the one puppeting both sides of the war.

Even with the Sith Master who had originally created the First Returned- the vod'e that have been Returned don't go back to Marching On Ahead. They aren't as strong as they once were- but they are still... living?

Through having the sheer numbers of vod'e, Returned and Alive- they are able to /politely/ get the Senate to pass the Clone Rights Bill. Which, among other things, grants them rights, citizen ship and backpay for all that they've done.

Also- suing and winning damages from the Long Necks, getting their genetic code and how to's for various things and they are given a planet to colonize- that is suitable for their type of being settle on. As well as the cure for their rapid aging, which is administered to everyone within a few months.

Boss has... mixed feelings about this galaxy- as, while for now, things seem to be looking up for the vod'e and the Jettise. There is always a catch, there is always something that goes wrong and then he's Shifting again.

Boss supposed that having Zombie vod'e is a catch, but so far they are simply more protective, and need some monitoring so they don't take certain things too far. Which- is something that the living vod'e do.

Boss sighs- he's so karking tired all of a sudden, and he makes sure to put down the data pad that he is working on and closes his eyes for a brief moment before opening them up again. He looks around- Boss had thought he had heard a noise as he looks around with a  frown and he spots Brill moving swiftly towards him.

"What's going on?" Boss asks the other.

"The sun set is particularly lovely tonight," Brill tells him.

Boss blinks at him- what- so? Brill comes over and carefully, but firmly scoops up Boss who protests and Brill shakes his head saying that Boss has been working for too long and that Brill is going to ensure that he has a break. They are going to watch the sunset.

Boss tries to get out of Brill's grip- but despite not being as strong as he'd once been Returned, Brill was still, some how, physically stronger than Boss. Boss sighs and waits for Brill to put him down, which the other does and they watch the sun set, and it's lovely.

Boss has had some practice in How To Be a Civilian, and it's always so karking strange and learning to live /after/ the war that they had been created for and told that they would not survive... It's something that causes many different kinds of emotions.

Slowly going to a Mind Healer to talk about the traumas that he'd gone through, in this life at least. He'd taken up hobby gardening. He had a whole orchard of fruit plants that had vegetable plants flowering around them. Hanging near his windowsills are herbs and spices growing hearty. He lived with Brill- and the rest of his squad and Epsilon lived in pairs in a cul-de-sac nearby.

Boss has been noticing, despite making sure that he's had all the treatments needed for his aging to be nat-born normal he's had the occasional strange aches and pains. While he doesn't do rigorous exercise, he does keep up a certain level of exercise- and stretching. He goes to a shared class for something called Yoga- which has increased his flexibility exponentially.

He has gone to one of the medics about them- and has been check over, but as far as they can tell he's fine. Likely just wear and tear from the war. As the pains don't get worse, or too frequent, he just takes care to be gentle with himself on those days.

Eating nat-born food, and not rations, he and the rest of the vod'e have ... not fattened up per say, but they aren't just muscle and bone any more. But it's not bad weight gain, it's healthy weight gain. Some of the vod'e that had looked sharp cheek boned- had their faces rounded out by healthy and unhealthy food that rounded them out to something that had a healthy fat to muscle ratio.

Boss and Brill have been cooking together- and talking about this and that, once Boss had gotten used to having Brill with him. He has grown to not be jumpy and ro rely on him, for various things. Boss had turned to look at something.

Brill watching Boss carefully, pulled something out and an odorless, colorless and scentless something fell into Boss's bowl of Tiingalar. Brill stirs the mystery substance into Boss's bowl carefully before adding a dollop of cream to the top of both bowls of stew.

The rest of the two is going to be shared amongst the rest of Epsilon and Delta squad. Boss calls out to the rest of both squads and they all come over to the table to feast. Sev and Talon had hunted, butchered, and cooked a wild space hog with foraged (save) roots and mushrooms that they'd cooked in a gloriously spicy red sauce Tar and Fixer had brought over a truly impressive looking salad that had various fruits, veggies, and other tempting things. While Scorch and Dash had made a sweet and spicy dessert made out of nuts and fruit.

They talk and eat and enjoy time together, Boss had taking his first several bites of the Tiingilar and looked towards Brill briefly- and snorted as the other did something really silly that had him roll his eyes and have a fond smile tug at his lips.

The food is good, the company even better as he feels a fire heat up- and not just from the spicy food in his stomach. But his cheeks almost start to burn with a blush on his face as he looks at Brill again. Brill smiles at him- and the flutterblies start flying in his stomach.

After they finish eating and both squads help with cleaning up the picnic table they head back to their respective homes. Brill turning to look at him with another smile on his face, Brill asks if Boss is okay. Which Boss replies that he is- just that... Brill looks particularly pretty today.

Boss actually flusters at that and mentally berates himself for saying such a weird thing. Brill gently tugs up Boss's face a little and he tells Boss that Brill finds him lovely every day. Which has him flustered again and he mumbles a thanks for that.

Why is he acting like a shiny with their first crush? Boss is distracted when Brill pulls him into their house with a laugh. The food quickly put in the conservator as Brill pulls Boss into a deep kiss and backs off and asks him of Boss wants another kiss.

Breathlessly Boss agrees and they start to passionately make out and tug each other out of their clothes as they stumble to their couch. As they start to get really hot and heavy Brill pulls away for a moment to grab lube and asks Boss if he wants to go even further.

NSFW START

Boss says yes and tugs Brill closer for another kiss, Brill fumbles a little with the bottle of lube. Boss was almost distracted by a question about why Brill had lube on him, but Brill rubbed their hard cocks together and he groaned in pleasure as he gyrates his hips to get better friction.

Brill carefully pushes Boss down to the couch cushions, his lubed up fingers carefully tease and with one finger, slowly enters Boss, carefully stretching him open. Boss groans in pleasure as Brill adds in a second and after a few minutes careful stretching a third finger.

Boss arches his back in pleasure when Brill finds that sweet spot inside of him that has Boss seeing stars in pleasure. Brill kisses Boss again as he teases Boss open and fingering that sweet spot in him. Once Boss is ready he pulls his fingers out and lubes up his cock before carefully pushing it in.

Both of them groan in pleasure as Brill takes him slowly- and pauses once he is fully inside of Boss pressing kisses and waiting for Boss to adjust to having him fully wrapped around his cock.

"Kriff you look so good under me," Brill says in between kisses.

"You feel so good inside of me," Boss replies in between kisses as well and informs Brill when he's ready for the other to start to move.

Brill does so as they move together and Boss's arms and legs wrap around Brill, his hands accidentally scratching up Brills' back- not enough to bleed, but enough to be noticeable. Brill nips and kisses Boss's neck- leaving reddish marks on his warm brown skin.

Brill groans as he cums insider of Boss- who comes a little while later, squeezing around Brill's cock as he does so. Brill peppers Boss's face and neck with kisses- ensuring to leave hickies up and down his neck on both sides. Brill carefully pulls out of Boss and they cuddle together before staggering up to their 'fresher to shower.

NSFW END

The luxury of a warm water shower is wonderful as they help wash each other up and make another mess. They clean up properly and stagger off to bed. Brill wakes up the next morning and stretches, a pleased, smug smile on his face as he presses a kiss to Boss's face and heads downstairs dressed in pajama bottoms as he cleans up the mess they had made downstairs and opens up a couple of windows so that their house does not stink of sex.

Boss wakes up a couple of hours later and complains of aches in his lower back which has Brill giving him a fond smirk. Brill reminds him of his meeting that he has with Niner about something. Which Boss thanks him for the reminder of. Perhaps... perhaps this is finally a good ending? His squad is alive, all of the vod'e are either alive, or have been brought back to life due to Sith Force Osik, the Empire did not rise, the Corruption in the Repubic is being dealt with and the Jedi having been slaughtered. The galaxy as a whole is slowly recovering from the horrors of war.

So then, why was it that there was some part of Boss that thought that something is wrong and that he occasionally had a sense of danger. warning. But whenever he tried to assess why he felt that way or what was going on. Securing the permiter and assessing the state of his squad. Alive, happy, healthy, and in loving, safe, sane relationships. Things are better, surely they are? Then why... Oh- Brill's back and his thoughts slip away to other, more pleasant thoughts.