Chapter One: The Discovery

The base seemed quiet one late night. A few mechanics in the background made repairs on the rebel ships for the next hourly pilots to do their patrols. The air calm and cool brushed against her face and through her blond hair. Her gray eyes gazed towards the open void and though she could see, it was nothing that interested her as lines either faded into the whiteness or were ever moving. A small sigh escaped her lips as her mind dwelled on her beloved but also she pondered on a friend she had not have contact with. It was several days before she received a halo-communication of news that brought shock to the young scout.

‘MIA? Missing in action? How could it happen? Of course it did. It was the risk she always spoke of.’ Tabitha thought to herself as she pushed herself from the rail on the edge of the platform and quickly to her E-wing. She looked over the controls to prepare for lunch. “Hopefully she won’t be missing for long.”

Once her ship made it through the forest and past the planet’s atmosphere of Yavin four, Tabitha entered the coordinates on her computer from the last transmit she had been located. As the engines gave a hum in acceleration before the stars that dotted the black void then streaked across. It took a moment until the scout reached her distention. Although the coordinates were set off on purpose to avoid capture in enemy air space. Things seemed uneventful as Tabitha pushed herself through space and scanned for anything that would seem like a signal from Kira’s devices but as she neared Courscant, the scout had to go into stealth mode. But with too many imperial ships and interference with her scans. Tabitha let out a sigh then shook her head. “Unable to find anything.” she murmured to herself.

The console gave a beep as two ships had taken notice of her presence. Two interceptors in patrol changed their course onto Tabitha’s and began to fire. The scout quickly raised the shields and let out a grunt when she felt the blasters shake her vessel. “Must get out of here, quick.” She said to herself as she maneuvered the ship away from the planets while the ship zigzagged to void anymore hits. The ship slowed as she hit the coordinates for hyper drive. The pilot sat there, eager as her foot tapped on the floor of her ship and whispered “hurry, hurry, hurry.”

As she felt the shield fade, the ship shook more and she felt one of her engines targeted. The droid began to throw warning signs but right as she finally hit hyper drive, the right engine seemed to have a power malfunction that was about to be set off. Quickly she tried to shut it off but yet the computer didn’t respond to the command, instead Tabitha was forced to detach it from the rest of the ship then the hyper drive soon broke off and left the scout and her ship, drifting off towards Yavin Four. ‘This was hardly a search.’ She thought to herself as she closed her eyes and sighed with disappointment. ‘Sorry, I tried.’

She drifted for hour’s maybe a day; she knew she couldn’t be far from friendly territory before she decided to use the rescue beacon. There, Tabitha waited until somebody and hopefully a friendly rebel would pick her up.

“Least there’s enough rations and life support for weeks.” The scout said, weather it was more towards herself or the droid she kept in contact with. She sighs as a saddened expression over took her. “Kira, how could you have let this happened?” With no ETA on when she receive radio contact, the scout slowly fell asleep in the cockpit.

In an enlarged hall of a ship, green lights that made the walls and floor looked gloomy. There was an eerie silence and a cold sensation. Down the hall were several doors left and right. All seemed shut except for the one in the far end that seemed to beam light through the corridor. Though Tabitha’s feet could take her so far, half way there, she started to hear a woman’s voice, speaking gently.
“Yes you are, oh yes you are cutie.” Said the woman’s a voice in a ‘baby’ tone.
As Tabitha got closer to peek around the corner, there she saw the woman, hunched over a crib. As she moved closer, she touched the lady on the shoulder but no response. Her eyes moved towards crib to find something that felt and seemed familiar to her. She looked over to the woman and noticed a smile on her lips and tears of joy in her eyes.
“You will do great things in the future my little Tabitha.” The slightly chubby woman lightly poked the baby’s nose and responded with a giggle. The older Tabitha blinked as she looked upon a face she did not quite recognize.

“Mother?” Tabitha asked. But still the woman did not respond. It sparked some sadness that she could not speak to the one who used to care for her. “I will mother and I will do my best.” In the background was a loud beeping. Tabitha turns her head but just like in a blink of an eye, she noticed it was awaken. “Scout Tabitha here.” She said over the radio.

“This is Eagle Eye leader; we picked up your distress signal. We radioed in a larger ship to pick you up so sit tight. It seems your ship has taken damage.” Said a male’s voice over the radio.
“Yes, my shield is depleted and the engine was close to overload.” Tabitha responded.

Although the feeling of isolation ceased, it was not long until a ship with a small hanger approached and brought her back to base. Back on Yavin Four, her mind could not help but to dwell on the possible mother. But to search Kira baffled the scout. With the witch in the imperial’s grasp, it seemed impossible to find her. She sighed at the thought that worried weather her friend was tortured and turned or worse, killed. As she stepped out from her ship then pulled the hood over her eyes and let out a sigh. “What am I to do now?”

Nearly a week has past, as Kira’s death was known. Things seemed to go back to normal rather quickly. Tabitha spent her time on patrols and occasionally tagged along with some of the raids. During her free time, she would stand at the far end of the hanger by, arms rested on the rail and head hung low. As usual, her mind wandered to people. Those she didn’t see, she missed and thought of them. With the air ships that came in and out of the hanger, the sound of their engines became white noise while she was deep in thought. Her mind dwelled on two particular people she hadn’t seen… First Melody and second, Kira. Though she knew of Kira’s kidnap, still there was no sign. Her name was removed from the roster and listed as ‘MIA’. No log reports of her in the medical bay, nothing. She became a soldier lost in the field.

From her forearm, she noticed the computer gave a small soft beep. She looked down then opened the channel, soon to wear a perplex expression at the name and the message that seemed to be nothing but nonsense. ‘hjyg’ it read. Was it an encrypted massage? Possible but it was nothing that could come to mind. “What could it mean?” Tabitha murmured to herself before she decided to look deeper into the message to discover where the signal came from. Upon the coordinates it read, she understood that it was dangerously close to the well guard of the enemy territory. And as before, Tabitha took off into her ship, eager to find the meaning in this message but there was a moment of hesitation as she thought the possibly of a trap. ‘No, I must go and find out.’ She though and shoved away the thoughts that created doubt. Once to the clear open space with her engine repaired, Tabitha prepared for hyper jump.

Eager though vigilant during the flight, she came close to the planet, Iridonia. Although not much showed up on the scanners, the location where the last signal appeared to be in the middle of nowhere desert. Though the area was clear of any imperial ships, she descended down to the planet and made a circle around the perimeter before Tabitha landed on the sandy floor with a small pile of rubbish nearby. Once the scout hopped out from the cockpit, she looked around at the bright white in her own vision and listened. There was no sign of life and the only thing heard were the winds that starred the sand. She turned her eyes towards the pile of various crates with biodegradable items, useless metals and wires. It disappointed to only discover there was nothing of any importance here. If such meeting was arranged, she decided to take the time to wander around the pile until off in the distance, in sand she noticed a figure (though completely disfigured) out in the distance. Tabitha approached it then shock was brought into her eyes to find a familiar shape and shades, shades that appeared to be tribal marks once shown. The carcass had arms and legs missing and it seemed creatures had been eating into the belly. The rotten smell and the sun that beat down on it nearly made Tabitha vomit. “I’m late… I’m too late.” She said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Though she could hardly take on the sight of the utterly ruined body, she squeezed her eyes tight and sighs. “Bastards, why did they have to do this to you? You didn’t do anything wrong, only wanted to help.” She shook her head then went back into the E-wing’s small cargo space then took out a large bag then back to where the corpse still rest. As the smell was unbearable to get close, she attempted to wrap the bag around before she gently carried the body back into her ship. “I know it’s going to get a little tight in there but soon you’ll have a proper burial.” Tabitha said with a deep sigh and off back into space she went.

Coordinates set and the engines prepped themselves for jump back to Yavin Four. Oddly, there was a bit of relief to know that Kira is not completely lost but it hurt to know that there was nothing to do to save her. Tabitha beat herself up with negative thoughts ‘I should have been there’, ‘I could have saved her. I failed in keeping a friend alive’.

“No, there was nothing I could do. There is only one of me. It is not like I could keep an eye on those closest forever.” Tabitha murmured to herself. While the ship was still in hyper drive, a thought suddenly came to mind of the clone soldiers and the empire that harvest such beings. ‘Perhaps if clones roamed, maybe there is a sliver of hope.’ As much as the imperials would pay for what they have done, there will be a new mission that she hoped will set things back. She wanted her mentor/her friend back.

Chapter Two: Rebirth of Kira

Weeks have past with Kira’s body still preserved in a cold chamber. Tabitha had not raised any word about her discovery to anyone. Though she thought it may help to ask guidance, it donned on her that though Kira is known dead. It would have been best it was kept that way for the sake for a new future, if such future could come for her friend.

Tabitha spent what time she had to do a bit of research, on the clone troops, she went through data cards then off to other worlds in hope to find there were any other records in their archives. Though it was clear that they belong to the empire, she tried to find the origin of where they were created. Stress overcame the young scout as she was not able to find much on the topic, until she came over a location. A flooded planet called Kamino. She had a hard time to believe such except for fish would live. But it seemed to be a place worthy of an investigation and hopefully the key to her research. Filled with eager, Tabitha left the base in a hurry and into the space fighter and then prepped for lunch. “I won’t give up so easily.”

On their way to the location inputted into the ship’s computer. The trip to Kamino would be a very far journey with several stops along the way. She estimated it would take several days till the final destination. “Another moment of sitting in here with little to do.” Tabitha let out a sigh then closed her eyes. They made their stops at to planet to planet for supplies until they made it to Kamino. The decent came rough at the high winds and heavy rain. As poor as Tabitha’s vision was, the rain did not help in the matter. She changed into her scans; she tried to search for anything that seemed like life (other than the sea creatures) and any solid structures. While she listened to the rain that pounded against the windshield, she sighed in a bit of doubt. “With such activity, it would seem it was flooded or knocked down. R-unit, please change to the sonar.” She commanded as she lowered the ship dangerously close to the waters. To avoid the monstrous waves, she pulled up at an occasion but continued the scan for several hours until she heard what seemed like a distant sound of machinery. “R-Unit, try to pinpoint where that sound is coming from.” The droid responded to the command and Tabitha could feel the ship change course slightly.



Through the thin rain, was a platform ahead with a large dome like structure to the side that raised up high enough from the surface of the rampant waters. There was a moment of hesitation of what would be beyond those doors at the edge of the platform. Never the less, the scout drew in a deep breath then pushed the cockpit open. The winds seemed stronger than she thought and cold. As she pulled the cloak closer to her body, she carefully made her way to the door without the rush of water that could easily knock her off. Without the need of introduction or an iris or finger print scan, the transparent doors slid open. Ahead what seemed to be a small platform and off to the side was a droid in the room, it seemed to scan the scout as she walked in before it spoke in a language understood, “Greetings and welcome traveler to Tipoca City. How can I be of assistance?”
The scout turned her head left and right before she regarded the droid. “I am searching for something to help clone a friend of mine.” Tabitha said.
“Such requests will be handled by the masters. Please proceed onto the pad, you visit has been noted.” Said the droid as it extended its metal hand towards the lift.
She gave a slight incline to the head before her feet carried her to the left and gently levitated to the higher levels. Once the left slowed, doors ahead opened and one of the strangest creatures stood before it. Tabitha’s eyes towered along the shape what seemed to be an elongated neck and then the head of the creature. Its features seemed smooth and slightly easily to look at. It wore an elegant dress and hands rested on top of the other in front of itself.
“Greetings traveler and welcome, what brings you to here?” The creature asked in a feminine, gentle tone.
“I been searching through data records and though I don’t know if this is the right place. I hoped to find an understanding to where this technology of cloning came from.” Tabitha said as her gray eyes suddenly looked over the rather dull from her eyes.
“The art of cloning did originate from here and we are the masters of it. This facility you are in is where many cloning takes place.” The Kaminoan guided Tabitha through halls that sloped downward and around with display windows that peered down at the vast rooms filled with these tubes that nearly represented as Bacta Tanks. She was given a tour through some of the stages clones are made and how they grow and adapt. Tabitha grew curious by this and she knew that could be hope after all. “We have perfected the skill of cloning and take great pride in our creations. We still do take requests to create copies of one self with a few personal modifications. Perhaps you wish to enter yourself in the process?”
“Though nice but I would like you to clone a friend of mine.”
“Understood and selfless of you to be here on behalf of your friend, where is this… Friend of yours?”
Tabitha stared towards the ground; she felt rather awkward and did not know what these creatures would think of her to uphold a body in her cargo space for many days. “Well uhh… She is not alive… Rather died by the imperials.”
The Kaminoan stared at the human then inclines her head then lowered her voice. “We will not be able to help… Since we have been under surveillance but perhaps our friends may be of assistance.” She straightened her neck and as she floated with the dress, wandered over to the computers and seemed to input something into the computer and then approached Tabitha with a data card in hand. “You will find guidance from this.”

She didn’t turn her head to notice there were other footsteps then the Kaminoan’s but what seemed to be a lone human that stride by. Tabitha inclines her head in thanks then made her way back to the ship. Tabitha immediately slipped the data card into her computer; it took the time to revile the information. Though what was displayed was alien to her, she asked if the droid could translate a bit of it. Though most remained scrambled in the translation, however she found out there were coordinates that lead to another place far in the outer rim. “Let us pray these creatures aren’t deceitful.” She murmured before the engines gave a roar and left the planet’s vicious weather.



“It seems there is very little but only an asteroid field.” She said after they come out from hyper jump. The field was vast with giant rocks that held their place. Tabitha navigated the ship through the asteroid field, careful to avoid any collision. Through the thick cluster, there was finally what seemed to be a clearing with more asteroids with what seemed to be like small flat structures with small lights that radiated around the building and a hanger door to the side. She flew towards it then hovered when she didn’t see any notice taken. She opened her radio to an open communication, “This is Tabitha. Is there anybody where? I request permission to land.” There was a long moment of silence, still silence but ahead the door finally opened. The space was tight but enough for the E-wing to fit through the gap. Once inside, Tabitha landed on the concrete platform. The platform suddenly spanned like a corkscrew and the area above sealed. Once stopped, vents around the chamber began to pour in oxygen. Tabitha opened the windshield and hoped out. She turned her head left and right in search for any doors. There was indeed one as it threw itself open and a masked ‘person’ came through. It waved a four fingered hand in the air in greetings. The faceless creature stood there and suddenly Tabitha could feel it was curious of her presence to this research facility.
“I have a friend… She was kidnapped and seemed to have suffered a terrible fate. I do not know if bringing her back is possible but… I thought of a clone of her former self but… With a new identity.” Tabitha said.
As silent as usual, strange images, perhaps flash backs came to the young scout, she felt sadness but an image of a man with open arms that gave her a welcomed feeling. ‘Do not fret, bring it to us and we take care of the rest’.
“I have the body with me if it should be more than enough.”
The Kallidahin waved its hand to beacon her to come before it turned and slowly made its way out of the door. Tabitha moved quickly over to the latch to open the cargo space. Never so pleasant to see Kira’s body like this, it did not disturbed her this time as her mind was drawn on the thought of hope became reality. As the door was left open, Tabitha carried Kira through the door and caught up to the Kallidahin that shuffled along.
“I do not understand. I do not hear you speak but… I can see things I do not understand. How is that so?” Tabitha asked out of curiosity.
The small man continued to shuffle along but no hint of feelings or a flash image came to Tabitha, only utter silence, just like the rest of the facility. As they past other rooms and halls, others like the Kallidahin she followed, peered at them. Tabitha could feel mixed emotion within the individuals but mostly curiosity filled the air.

Finally they made it in what seemed to be a med lab that had various tanks, most of them empty that was filled with a greenish liquid and a blast shield that hung over the tank. The small man motioned Tabitha to put the body on the table and she did that and opened the container. Though preserved, the body still gave out an unpleasant odor that made Tabitha turn her head and hold her breath. The Kallidahin stared at the corpse and than before to take a few sharp instruments and cut into the body for a ‘sample’. As the scientist tried to record the DNA into the computer, Tabitha stood over his shoulders and watched. He or possibly she looked up at human then pointed to the screen. And Tabitha could hear her own voice echo in her head ‘new identity’. “Humm, well fiscal reconstruction, her hair color…” She pondered over the colors she had not seen for many years. “Maybe something dark, like a brown.” The creature nodded and then suddenly Tabitha could hear the Kaminoan’s voice in her head, something she remembered when Tabitha was given a tour. ‘We are also able to implant every individual with their own memories.’ “Well, that is going to be tough. Of course awareness would be her own she will also hold this statement in her mind…” She gave a short pause before she tried to recall the words one spoken, “Those who suffer emotion will never enjoy peace, those who choose ignorance will never know their own greatness, those who fear death will never achieve power, and never concede to evil, lest you be consumed by it, Allya. She knows who I am but as for her past, I would not have much to give.” Tabitha said but she tried to explain as much as she could to give Kira some vivid memory. Some memories were left to avoid any dots to be connected from the former self. “And, she would not know who Kira is or was. Instead…” She pondered for a very long moment. “Instead, she will go by Rai Rilinda.”

Once the basic characteristics were in place, the Kallidahin took the sample and then in the computers, transferred the DNA of Kira and any other information modified into what seemed to be an imbrue inside the tank. It looked up at Tabitha and gave her a feeling ‘this is going to take a long time might as well make yourself home’. With that as a hint to leave the room, she obeyed but felt lost in what to do in the mean time.

Time did not seem to hold much meaning here, it seemed days, weeks or possibly a month Tabitha remained in the research station. She grew rather interested in these strange creatures. Though the silence was peaceful, there were moments of awkwardness when she did not understand them. She occasionally could feel emotions but most of the time, they only gave each other silent hand gestures. She waited for a very long time; it was difficult to tell what time it was inside this dim facility. Only she wait patiently until the same Kallidahin (or it might have been the same) came up to Tabitha as she sat out by the ‘lobby’ of some sort. He motioned her to follow into the med lab. As doors threw themselves opened, on the table was a human girl, still covered by the residue from the clone chamber with snow white hair that spilled across the table and extremely pale skin. Though nothing seemed to be out of place, she could feel disappointment in the cloner. ‘Failure did not come as requested.’ Though nothing seemed flawed to Tabitha, she only smiled happily as she stood there, waited for Rai Rilinda to wake up.