"The whole thing with Deel worries me," says Zaland in the changing rooms. "I know I am no policeman, but it seems a totally anomalous part of the entire case. Dead, alive, whatever it is, I don't see what is in it for them to be involved in some weird plan with him. And he certainly doesn't need to be involved in drug smuggling- he's already richer than most can dream of."
"I am not sure either, Zaland," Gallagher says. "Why we would find his dead body and then him walking around, alive, is beyond me, but I am certain he is involved somehow. He certainly remains unattached, though. He explained that Varm was only a fellow member here until that last match, but I doubt that now."
Andro listened to Gallagher and Zaland discuss the situation as he got ready for the match. He really didn't want to be playing, but they couldn't risk blowing their cover, especially not now. Well, they'd just have to get the game over with quickly. Those poor droids...
He was thinking about the mystery with Deel, it bothered him, something was trying to connect itself in his mind. Then it hit.
"Clones." he breathed. He turned to his companions. "A clone. Deel Twain is a clone. Your right, Zaland, someone as rich as he is wouldn't get involved in something like this. So he was cloned."
Andro paces around, thinking his revelation through, as his companions surely look at him like he's gone mad. "Yes. Deel is a frequent customer here, and if Dr. Mirani has been involved in this plot all along, he could easily have obtained Twain's DNA, and sent it somewhere that makes clones. The REAL Deel Twain was in Varm's drawer. With his clone as their ally, they'd have access to his fortune. Since he's at an expensive resort, the expenditures might not be out of place. Or perhaps they're making use of one of his business ventures. Someone that rich has to have lots of ships." he faces the others. "It's the only thing that can explain it all... I think... Or am I just going crazy from being separated from my, uh, friend." (He indicates his still empty hip.)
"That Deel's body was in Varm's room is evidence enough that the two have something to do with one another," Gallagher replies to Zaland. He turns to Andro.
"A clone? A bit expensive, don't you think? And they would need time to grow it, and boy, that's a lot of time. Unless they speed up the growth process, that's not THAT feasible, and then they'd have to keep replacing it as the clone would become more ancient than the Republic itself pretty fast."
The truth of Gallagher's statements hit Andro like a smack on the head. He was sure he turned a little red. "I hadn't thought about that. I, uh, guess this place is just getting to me; I'm still a little raw about the whole Synod incident yesterday. You have to admit though, it did fit. Well, mostly."
Yes indeed- not only would a clone be impossible age wise, clones are in any case just another form of creating life; they still have to be taught to do anything. A clone of Twain might look like him but it wouldn't be him in any other way.
Besides, who has that sort of technology? The Union abandoned such precision cloning as impossible years ago.
You walk out onto the court, the droids parading out with you. With no sentient being on the other side, it all seems rather quiet and lonely.
-
"Dislike is a strong word," says Anaz. He looks thoughtful for a moment. "Where were you born, Trilanger?"
"VARM!" Andro screams, irked that he'd been trapped in an bad spot by Varm yet again. "Very nice Varm! When I'm through with these droids, you're next!" he turns to Gallagher. "Stay between Zaland and I as much as you can. We'll protect you." He turn to face the enemy droids, ready for their advance. "Do you think it's safe to use the Force?" he asks Gallagher over his shoulder. "I'm not sure that our cover matters now."