The first time the redhead steps into the mess hall beside the
Kaminoan, they’re confused. He’s young and he wears a cadet
uniform like them but he’s clearly not a clone of Jango Fett
because he’s a redhead and he’s pale and he’s different and he
doesn’t walk like a soldier would…

The Kaminoan directs him towards the food que and then leaves the
redhead who shifts a bit before smiling at the clone in front of him,
offering his hand to the teenager in front of him in the line. “Hi,
I’m OB-0001.”

()()()

OB-0001 is a clone. Just like them he is a clone. He ages like them
and he trains as they do.

But he’s a clone of a Force sensitive individual. His training is
somewhat different and the first time they see it they can’t help
but stop and stare through the transparent hall as OB-0001 is lifting
different sized crates with only his mind, sweat rolling down his
still chubby face and his eyes squinted in extreme concentration.

OB-0001 is the only one to survive his batch. The Kaminoan’s keep
him under strict observation and his diet differs ever so slightly
from the Fett clones. For one there is more food with more proteins
and fat.

Its because Force use needs to have higher calorie intake.

OB-0001 is like a Jedi.

OB-0001 is like them.

OB-0001 is a Vod.

So that’s what they treat them him as. He never sleeps in his
assigned quarters, he sleeps with one of his fellow vods, kept warm
and safe and tucked up and gets woken to go to his own training. He
sits with them in the mess hall and is reminded to eat everything on
his plate every meal because he needs it.

He’s carefully checked over for bruises and cuts after every
sparring and he is held when the storm outside frightens him. The
first time he screams in fright as thunder rips through the air,
several trays go flying and someone throws themselves around him,
wrapping OB-0001 in a tight hug as others clean up the trays.

OB-0001 is not like them in features. But he’s still their vod.

()()()

Ben stops at the quarters he shares with his master, hesitant before
glancing at his fellow padawan. Anakin frowns a bit at the door then
shrugs a bit. “That sounds like Mace Windu…”

“Master Windu?” Ben questioned quietly before biting his lips and
placing his ear to the door, Anakin following the action.

“-ow!? Yoda, we burned that body ourselves. I held a dying boy in
my arms when we went looking for a cure! How is it possible for him
to be here now!?” Mace voice is loud, almost echoing and Ben and
Anakin blink at each other even as they enhance their hearing to hear
Yoda’s answer.

“Burned the body we did. How the DNA to Kamino came, not known is.”

“We burned Obi-Wan Kenobi’s little body on a pyre, on a cold
moon, because we couldn’t find a cure for what ailed him. He died
in my arms, smiling at me as he called me Knight Mace, telling me he
wasn’t afraid!” There was a thump and Ben blinked.

Kenobi? As in his template.

He glanced at Anakin to find the others blue eyes wide and staring at
him.

“…We burned the body of a little Initiate of five years
old…because we couldn’t find the cure to aid him. We burned a
promising spark in the Force…that had so much promise in the future
with so much Force in him…”

“Hurt it did. But Ben is much like Obi-Wan. Knows me he does. Knows
the temple he does. Different he is and only survivor of his batch.”

“…What are you implying?”

“Nothing I am. Ben free to make his own choices is. Friends with
young Skywalker he has become. My padawan he is. Teach him I shall
and see his future we will.” Yoda’s calm voice came then there
was a tap that Ben recognized as Yoda’s cane against flesh. “Calmer
you now are?”

There was a loud sigh. “Yes…but if he’s really Obi-Wan Kenobi’s
template, does that mean he’s sick?”

“No. Removed that the Kamino’s did. Ill he is not. Strong he is,
capable. Built his lightsaber he is. Impressed you might be. Like
yours it is.”

“…Its purple?” There was an amused tone.

“Very much so. Teaching him, intriguing will be. Last padawan he
shall be to me.”

Ben slowly pulled away from the door, blinking in confusion even as
Anakin took his arm and tugged him away to leave the two master’s
to talk. “Ben?”

“…I…don’t know what to say.” He blinked and looked at the
other.

“Does it matter?”

“…I don’t know. Should it? I mean, it almost sounds like Yoda
believes I’m…”

A copy. A clone with a soul that matched Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Anakin hesitated before squeezing his hand. “You know what I
think?”

Ben looked at him.

“I think you’re just like the Force thought you should be.” The
other padawan smiled at him and Ben blinked before smiling shyly at
him, reaching out and giving Anakin’s braid a tug. “Thank you.”