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"General-"
"Not a general."
Thire hissed out of his teeth in frustration, then remembered he didn't have his bucket on and felt his stomach swoop. Thankfully, (General) Vos only ever found those moments of individualism, proof the clones were as sentient as any other being in the galaxy, amusing. Ignoring the sly grin, Thire tried again.
"I'm not saying this is impossible, but..." Thire fumbled for a moment. "I- We don't exactly have the most inconspicuous faces. And if I'm going to be made the second I walk in the door, I'd rather have my armor."
"Commander," Vos said, tone lower, more confident than his casual slouch implied he could be, "We don't want these sleemos to run. And I know this means more to you than me if we find what- who we think. Just... trust me, okay? This is my entire career so far, missions a lot like this."
Subtly clenching his fists in his pants, mentally taking stock of where under his baggier casual clothing he was hiding all his weapons, Thire nodded. "Yes, sir."
Vos wrinkled his nose, but didn't protest. Much. "Just remember not to use that once we get inside."
"Kriff," Thire muttered, and immediately went over to his three siblings.
It was "only" three; but three of the Guard who had been kidnapped, tied up, and told they were going to be sold off, separated and never found again. And two of them were shinies, the third barely a year past that. They all three looked up at him, relief there despite how it was only him.
"Thire?" It took a moment, one which Thire used mainly to slice into the cage lock, but eventually he recognized the one who had spoken.
"Corporal Abet. We should move quickly. General Vos is distracting the shop owners, but I expect that situation will break down sooner rather than later."
"The general is a troublemaker," Abet agreed, grinning despite the twitch of pain on his face. He gestured with his chin to the other two troopers tied up. "Get Kit and Caboodle first."
Thire agreed, and soon enough they were all free of their binds, working feeling back into their limbs as they exited the cage.
"Corporal, were you out with a massiff?" Thire asked.
Abet nodded, gaze downcast but teeth gritted. "They took her first. Apparently they sell actual animals, too, not just 'meat droids'."
The two shinies stared down at the ground, looking guilty. Thire spoke up before either of them could try to take the blame for getting them captured.
"She's well." All three gazes which locked onto his were surprised, hopeful. It brought a smile to Thire's face to give them this. "That's how we found you. Hound kept an eye on massiff purchases, even the under-the-table ones, and he recognized Rusu. General Vos helped track her path back to the original sale area."
Abet swallowed, breathed in, and turned his lips up in a fierce grin. "We should go help him then, sir."
"Fine with me. I'm done sneaking around anyway. Does this batch of criminals happen to move any weapons?"
"No sir, but we know where they keep their personal ones."
Thire nodded, returning the grin. "Eyes sharp then. Load up and we'll go back up our general. Shinies, follow close."
Troopers Kit and Caboodle both snapped to salutes, their "Yes, sir!" entirely in sync. Ah, youth. Thire was glad to have, at least this once, a happy ending for his younger siblings.