“Look, Alera, look!” The little boy, his black hair covering his yellow eyes, pointed a chubby finger out the window, gesturing to the streets several stories below them. Tucking her pale bangs behind her ears, his sister stood up from her cross-legged position on the floor and joined him in peering out at the street below. “More clones!” he explained and bounced up and down while his sister watched the white-armored men parade down the street, her yellow eyes narrowing. “I wanna be one when I grow up!” her brother announced, and he gazed up at her as she placed her hand on his shoulder. Alera smiled, her lips not parting, and leaned on her elbows to watch the body of clones move out of view. “They’re soldiers, Cato,” she muttered. “They fight those droids.” Cato shivered and threw his arms around her, the light in his eyes dimming. “They scare me, Alera,” he whispered, his voice quivering. “Hey.” She turned from the window to bend down and tousle his hair with her slender fingers, “I’m right here, and I’m not letting anything happen to you.” He nodded and rubbed at his eyes, blue fingers curled into fists. “Alera, can we go out?” “Let me ask Mom,” she said and stood up, her pale lavender braid falling over her shoulder. Outside their small room, Alera crossed the empty hall and pressed the button to open the door to another room, where her parents could be heard whispering inside, the sounds falling and rising. Both went silent and stood when their daughter entered. “Alera,” said her mother, worried yellow eyes darting to her husband, “what is it?” “Cato and I want to go out,” she replied, her head held high. “That’s out of the question, Alera,” her father said, interrupting her mother, who had moved to speak first. Usually quiet, he continued, his face grave, “There are more clones by the day. It isn’t safe.” “I don’t care for the clones anymore than you,” Alera’s heated voice bounced off the walls, “but I know they’re trying to help.” His eyes flashing, her father stepped forward, his wife watching with pursed lips. “The Republic is crippling Pantora! Chairman Cho is weak, being lured by the strong military of the Republic.” Alera neared her father. “I don’t care,” she whispered, every word slow and biting. “Cato wants to go for a walk, so I’ll take him.” With a glance at her mother, who had sat down and toyed with her hair, her body rocking back and forth as she tried to block out the argument, Alera marched out, letting the door close behind her as her father began to yell, his angry words directed at his wife. Her shoulders tensing, Alera plastered on a wide smile and rejoined Cato, who was sitting by the window. “Who’s ready to go out?” she asked, her tone cheerful despite the shouts seeping in through the walls, and he jumped up to run out of the room, his sister trailing behind him as she gave one last eyeroll to the closed door. Out in the street, Cato ran ahead, his yellow eyes shining, while Alera trailed behind, her eyes darting to every dark alley. Few people roamed the streets, the constant presence of the clone troopers keeping them inside their homes. Only several vendors filled the streets with sound, and even that was toned down. As dust settled on her shoulders, Alera brushed it away, her hair falling into her eyes. Flipping it aside, she settled her vigilant gaze on Cato, who stopped to chatter off a vendor’s ear. With a smile, she mumbled an apology and hurried him along. “Cato, don’t stand out,” she whispered in his ear while her hand stayed around him. Sighing, he nodded and crossed his arms. “That’s boring,” he answered. “I know,” she admitted with a small laugh, “but you want to stay safe, right?” Ahead, several clone troopers rounded a corner, their path about to cross the siblings, and Alera’s hands slipped off Cato and disappeared into her poncho. “Be quiet, Cato,” she muttered, barely opening her lips to get the words out. Keeping her head down, Alera ushered her brother past the clones, her teeth clenched. “Wait.” Her back going rigid, Alera turned, her lips turning up into a tight smile. “Yes, sir?” “You two should be inside. It isn’t safe out here.” The clone reached up and removed his white helmet, the surface tarnished with dirt and grime. He smiled at them both, though his eyes were serious. “Head home to your parents.” Giving him a tight nod, Alera turned around and continued on, leading Cato into an alley until the clones had walked away. “Do we have to go home?” whined Cato while Alera peeked out and observed the streets. “Not if you don’t want to,” she replied. “Now come on, there’s a meiloorun stall just down the street.” Cato grinned and burst out into the street with Alera close at his heels, her boots kicking up dust as she ran to catch him. “Cato, wait!” she yelled, her hair falling out of its braid as she smiled. The boy continued on past the corner, and she paused to catch her breath. Alera bent over, her hands pressed on her knees, as she gasped.
“Boy, he is much faster than me,” she whispered to herself as she stood and walked down the street. A loud whistle pierced the air, and the ground beneath Alera’s boots shuddered as a building complex several streets away exploded into bright flames and char. In an instant, Alera whirled her head up to gaze at the sky, her eyes on fire. Blocking the sun was a large ship, and it had a canon pointed straight for the city.
