Chapter Text
‘Loyalty is such a fickle thing, and sometimes, so totally misplaced.’
CT-9904 was on his way to check something with Vice Admiral Rampart.
Walking the long hallway towards the parlour CT-9904 knew he would find the Admiral at his hour, lounging there, after office hours with a glass of some fancy hard liquor.
As the Commander neared the place, two distinct voices were echoing in the large hall caught his keen hearing just then. Halting his progress just outside the large entrance to eavesdrop for a bit, even if he should not. Then again, why not?
Something said there just then in the middle of the heard conversation, caught his ear particularly and clinging there for the moment too long.
“And what of your precious Clone Commander then?”
The comment was made rather snidely that much was for sure.
The voice belonging to the one, General Storm, whom which CT-9904 had worked on a few occasion. A competent officer in the Commanders mind they were.
“Is he too, expandable, like the rest of them?”
It was spoken out of anger clearly, even if the voice was calm and low, the General never the one to lash out. Not to those under their command nor to any one else for that matter. Not that CT-9904 had heard of anyway.
He kept on listening for a moment longer, even if he was certain this conversation wasn’t something for his ears. Nor that he really cared to hear more. Then again, he could not stop himself from listening in either.
“Like I said before, they all are. Expandable.”
Ramparts proud words filled the otherwise silent area.
“The clones will be phased down, that is a given. But all those conscripted soldiers waiting in line to enlist, none of them matter to the greater cause of the Empire. They are mere cannon fodder in the grand scheme of things.”
Rampart sounded like he was laughing, even if he wasn’t. But the tone he used spoke volumes to CT-9904 just the same. And apparently to his companion as well, as this certainly no friendly discussion.
CT-9904’s eyes flew impossible wide.
This was not news, not really. But hearing it from the horses mouth directly… was a shock, just the same.
Rampart continued, almost as if the conversation being a statement, his proud speech in a way.
“But, as you so quaintly put it just now, even my precious Clone Commander will eventually be gone. Because they all are, expendable. The lot of them.”
There was a pause, a moment of silence before CT-9904 heard the General’s voice again.
“You must be so proud.”
It wasn’t meant as compliment, far from it.
“You know what your failure is don’t you?”
Rampart wasn’t most likely even asking, as he wasn’t getting a response from Storm.
“You get too attached to those serving under you. You really should not.”
CT-9904’s expression had contorted into frown. He had heard enough.
Turning on his heels, he simply walked away.
Making his way towards the hangar, the mission he was supposed to be on.
But with the harsh words of his commanding officer still echoing in his mind.
“Even the Clone Commander, is expendable.”