#when you're hunkered down and your blaster cartridge is failing and exfil is too far there's a crackle in your helmet and you hear 'vod'

[rooksunday]

every batch has an extra brother. the brother needs neither pod nor rations, and he doesn't take part in flash training or live fire drills. he doesn't speak. he doesn't sleep. he doesn't scream.

the silent brother is the one constant in a clone's existence.

in his sealed mouth are the names and designations of every sibling gone before; those that are taken in the night by the longnecks, and those taken in the day by a trainer's hand. he keeps the names safe beneath his still tongue. the day will come to speak them back.

in his cupped hands has passed every drop of clone blood spilled on kamino; he catches the blood of cuts, burns, blaster bolts, and beatings. there is a sea on kamino that roils clone red. the day will come when the waters rise.

in his shadow is a doorway. some siblings cross through early, under their own power or anothers', and some stand at the threshold for hours or days before turning back. the shadow of the silent brother can be found on kamino. geonosis. coruscant. everywhere a clone walks, the silent brother's shadow is at their heels, waiting to welcome them home.

the day will come.