Beyond - Legends Welcome Back - Post NJO, a clone's story

Title: Welcome Back
Author: VaderLVR64
Timeframe: Post NJO
Summary: A clone comes to awareness.



Welcome Back



Deep within a mountain on the volatile planet of Mustafar was a secret cloning facility. It had been founded during the years of the Clone Wars by the man who would become Emperor.

Still believing him to be a friend, and not yet realizing the evil that they invited into their midst, the Jedi allowed Palpatine had access to the many things that they might have protected more carefully if they had realized the danger.

Among the other atrocities Palpatine committed he also stole cell samples from some of the most troublesome Jedi Knights. If he could not control the Jedi, then perhaps one day he could control their clones. Eventually, he settled for destroying that noble Order.

For reasons unknown, the Emperor closed the facility and decreed that all of the clones be destroyed. The scientists assigned to the project did as they were ordered and all of the clones were euthanized as painlessly as possible.

There was, however, one inexplicable exception.

Within those abandoned laboratories silence reigned. But if one listened closely, and ventured far enough into the depths of the complex, there could be heard a soft beeping that never ceased. It became the heartbeat of the facility.

In a tank floated a human male. His skin seemed to shimmer in the pale light. Unencumbered by clothing, he resembled more a work of art than a man made of flesh and blood.

The specialized fluid was filtered every 37.5 standard Coruscant hours, a schedule which his creators had discovered kept human flesh in optimum condition. He was both protected and nourished carefully. Every precaution had been taken to keep the clone healthy.

Every now and then his limbs would jerk as if he endured a terrible nightmare from which he could not waken. But the years passed and then the decades. And still he rested in an unnaturally deep sleep. Everything that sustained him ran quite efficiently on the never ending supply of geothermal energy. Mustafar kept him alive.

He had been in the laboratory all of his life. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say he had been there the whole of his existence. For the man?s eyes had never seen sunshine, the sweet taste of a good wine had never touched his lips, and even his heartbeat had never altered from the precise beat that had been programmed into the equipment which kept him alive.

He existed, no more.

The facility had been so secret that with the Emperor?s death there was no one who remembered its existence. Most of the scientists involved in the project who still lived had forgotten it, and since it had been abandoned and everything supposedly destroyed, they never thought of it again.

The one who had spared the man still slumbering within the mountain had died soon after leaving Mustafar, and took the secret with her. So there was no one left to remember him. Why she let him live, even she had not been sure. But there had been something vulnerable and compelling about the sleeping figure and so she could not bring herself to administer the poison into the fluid which sustained him.

The man remained, forgotten by the galaxy.

Mustafar is not a planet that lends itself to peace and long periods of tranquility, but somehow his resting place was undisturbed for a generation, and then two, and still the years passed.

All around him the galaxy changed. A Republic died and an Empire was born. That Empire was swept away by hope and a new Republic was created in its place. This new entity faced a great and terrible enemy from far away, and though it won the battle, the galaxy was changed yet again.

And still he slept.

But nothing can remain unchanged forever, and the day came when the man was finally pulled from his deep and artificial sleep.

For him, it began as a low buzzing that was completely alien to him. It was not the familiar beep to which he had listened for decades. In fact, it was not a sound at all, but an awarenes

 

Oooooh. You have LOTS of plot bunnies these days, don't you?? And GOOD ones!

I love this. The first half is downright spooky.

Didn't expect the identities of your two characters either.

This one could lead to some very interesting stories. Do you intend to write more? **she says hopefully**

Very well done!

ojn

 

Ooh... returning to Mustafar, are we? Very, very good. I like how you made clone-Obi very unsure about everything.

 

In a tank floated a human male. His skin seemed to shimmer in the pale light. Unencumbered by clothing, he resembled more a work of art than a man made of flesh and blood.


Loved this description of Obi-Wan! Hope you plan to expand on this story.

 

Oooh, that was interesting. A clone of Obi-Wan who can't remember who he is? Really neat.

 

Shame and gratitude ? both new experiences.

The stranger and the clone stared at each other.

Finally deciding to try out his voice, the clone forced words past his lips. Where had he learned the words? It troubled him that he did not know.

?Thank you,? he said in a voice that rasped strangely in his throat.

?You?re welcome,? the stranger replied. The stranger seemed as bewildered as the clone.

?Thank you,? the clone repeated, unsure of what to say next.

You portrayed Obi-Wan's confusion so well! I really think you need to write more about this clone and his adventures (and what else could he have?) with the new generation of Skywalkers!

 

looks promising.

amnesiacs rock.

 

I remember this from the 'bring Obi-Wan to beyond' thread a bit back...

It was awesome back then. It's still kicking tail now.

 

Very cool story! I hope there will be more.

 

Loved it! You REALLY need to expand on this one. Think of the possibilities!

 

Very interesting.

 

Whoa.

Got confused there a little . More confused then the clone .

You have written his confusion wonderfully, and this is indeed a very interesting story.

Very original.