Chapter Text
1
I’m in the cold white room again. I’m scared.
“Subject CT-9732 [ndla: Wrecker], 71 days post-decantation. Initiating tests.”
It’s the same thing all the time. Two doctors are watching from the back of the lab while the droid with the big yellow eye scans me. He looks like Zee, but he’s not as kind. He sticks needles into my body. I don’t like the needles. They hurt and make my muscles jerk. CT-8 [ndla: Tech] told me it’s electricity. It makes me cry. The doctors don’t like it when I do, but I can’t help it.
When I’m free to go, I run to my brother, even if my legs hurt. His machine isn’t the same as mine. He sits in front of a screen with a helmet on his head and they make him solve puzzles. I envy him, I wish they give me games too, even if I’m not very good at them.
Another yellow eyed droid takes the helmet off his head and my brother joins me. His face is stern, eyebrows frowned and his eyes are shiny. His hand searches for mine. I grab it and hold it tight.
“CT-8324,” calls one of the doctors.
That’s my brother’s number. He starts with an 8, I start with a 9. That’s a trick he told me to help me remember. He squeezes my hand, I press myself against him.
“Your results are below expectations. If you can’t improve your score, you will be decommissioned.”
I glance at my brother, waiting for him to tell me what the word means. He’s looking at his feet and stays silent. A droid escorts us to the door. Dita is waiting for us in the hallway and I feel better already. She kneels before us to kiss our foreheads, then starts to pick me up like she always does. But CT-8 is still holding my hand and I don’t want to let him go.
“I can walk,” I say.
“Are you sure, Baby?”
My body hurts everywhere and Dita’s arms feels really nice, but I nod. She smiles, ruffles my hair then offers her hand. It takes us more time than I thought to reach the nursery. My legs are on fire, I’m trying really hard not to cry.
CT-8 goes straight to the learning table. He doesn’t answer when Dita asks if he wants some blue milk. She puts a bottler next to him, crouches down and says:
“You are allowed to take a break if you want.”
“I’m fine.”
“Okay…I’ll be in the refresher with your brother if you need me.”
My chest feels warm at the sound of that. This time, I let Dita pick me up and carry me to the bathtub.
“Are you ready?” she asks.
I nuzzle my face in her neck. I want to stay in her arms a little longer. She sits on the edge of the tub and rocks me to the music playing in the nursery. It’s so nice! When she lowers me into the water, I cry. I’m not sure why.
“Am I hurting you,” she asks.
I shake my head. The thing she puts in the water makes my body tingles. She cups my face and rubs her thumbs on my cheeks.
“It was scary, wasn’t it?”
“I don’t like going there…”
“I know, Baby Boy. I wish I could make it stop. The bacta should make you feel better soon.”
She leans over to press her forehead on mine. I bump my nose with hers. If only the doctors could be as nice as her.
2
I frown and stare at the black letters. The…T-…To- Too- Tooka… The tooka. Of course, there’s a picture of a poky under the words. I’ve seen one on CT-8’s cards. I remember this one because there’s a plushy in the playroom. Okay, then it’s…ice- no is! The tooka is ssss…Slip- Sleep…Sleeping.
“The tooka is sleeping!”
“That’s very good, Baby,” says Dita. “You’re making progress.”
I grin at her, then turn to my brother but he’s looking at his puzzle.
“It’s almost dinner time, you boys have had enough class for the day. You can go play a little.”
I skip off my seat and circle around the table to grab CT-8’s arm.
“I need to finish this,” he snaps, pushing me away.
“Come on! You’ve been doing your games since we came back!”
I tug at his sleeve and he pushes me harder.
“They’re not games,” he grumbles.
Dita puts her hand on my shoulder.
“It’s alright, Baby. Leave him alone.”
I pout, but she nudges me toward the playroom, and I obey. I pick up the tooka plushy sits by the windows. I can see Dita trying to talk to my brother, but he snaps at her too. She comes sit with me, I squeeze the tooka against me.
“Is he mad at me?” I ask.
“I don’t think so. But something is bothering him. Did something happen with the doctors?”
I chew on the tooka’s ear. I don’t know if I’m supposed to tell. But maybe Dita can help…I look at my brother, hunched over his data pad. Is he going to be like that all the time? I want him to play with me again!
“The doctor said…he said something about CT-8’s results. That they weren’t good enough.”
“Oh…”
“He said a word I don’t remember.”
“It’s okay, I think I know what’s going on. Thank you for telling me, Baby.”