CHAPTER 2 :: ARC Troopers
Type: SAFE HAVEN; GN! Reader Character(s): Shaak Ti, Tipoca City Notes: I have finally come around to continuing this story !
“We’ve been preparing your arrival for the past few rotations.”
Shaak Ti, as she had introduced herself, had immediately caught you under her spell with her soft-spoken words and warm eyes. She was tall, like most Togruta women, and your cheeks quickly reddened from embarrassment when you realised how intensely you were staring at her.
After Omega had left to return to Nala Se, Shaak Ti had kindly introduced herself to you, laying a warm hand on your shoulder that quickly left you feeling safe and sound in her presence. “Come along,” she had said, guiding you down the corridor, “we have lots to discuss, young padawan.”
And that’s where you had ended up now, standing next to your new master and curiously eyeing the two troopers that had already been waiting for you near the shooting ranges. Tipoca City was still recovering from the recent Separatist attack and the place was roamed by maintenance droids and clone troopers fixing chassis and carrying crates filled with construction materials. Considering that, when you first set your eyes on the two clones, they didn’t seem out of the ordinary. That was until you noticed the recognisable ARC trooper armour.
“CT-5555 and CT-1409,” Shaak Ti introduced them to you, reassuringly nodding at them, “they are part of the Advanced Recon Commandos and were only recently stationed on Kamino. You’ll mostly be working with them for now.” You glanced between her and them, a slight hint of shyness lingering in your gaze. Despite their helmets, you could practically feel the curious eyes set on you. “Er - it’s good to have you here, Commander,” one of them, though you couldn’t exactly pinpoint who, stated politely. Commander. You bit your lip unsurely - this would definitely take some time to get used to.
"General," another trooper chimed in, saluting Shaak Ti, "the Governor is requesting your presence." Your master acknowledged the information with a simple nod. "Thank you, trooper," she then redirected her attention to you, offering an apologetic smile, "I'll need to attend to this matter. However, I believe these two can handle things in my absence." The ARC troopers swiftly confirmed that with a clear "yes, sir!", making you flinch at the sudden volume change. In a mild attempt at covering up your surprise, you cleared your throat and looked up at Shaak Ti. "That's fine by me," you hesitated before smiling softly, "master." She flashed you a gentle simper and left.
"So," one of the two ARC troopers started as you turned back to them, "your General Ti's Padawan? We always thought she didn't have any - ouch!" The other trooper gently smacked the back of his bucket. "Fives! You can't say that!" You couldn't help but chuckle. It was refreshing that these two weren't as tense and apprehensive in your presence as many of the clones tended to be. The thought of everyone constantly walking on eggshells around you made you skeptical about being able to work effectively in such an environment. "Fives, huh?" The bickering duo stopped in their tracks, their buckets staring straight at you. "Yup! That's me." Fives proudly pointed at himself, "and this bucketbrain over here, that's Echo."