Ayn wondered if the clones' expressions were as emotionless as their helmets. They would occasionally look out the window or at one of the blue guards in the limo, but they were otherwise very still. All of the clones were scheduled to have more extensive medical exams throughout the week at different times, making her wonder about the biology of them and how different or similar they were to Sianians and most other inhabitants of the galaxy. It was also tempting to wonder what their genitalia looked like, but the no fraternization rule and their persona that was even more emotionless than the blue guard made that very unlikely. 

It rubbed her the wrong way, that sentient beings were being used in such a way. Her thoughts were broken as the limo slowed to a halt. The guards and clones exited first, met with camera flashes from the press. The royal limo followed suit and the two groups marched to their destination with the guards both old and new doing their best to shield the royals from the view of the many press members desperately hoping for a comment on their many questions. 

“Queen Kesis, what made you decide to accept these new visitors into your service so soon?" 

“What information can you provide us with on these new visitors?" 

“Are they qualified soldiers to be protecting your family? 

“They could just turn on you at any moment, do you have any security plans to counter that?"

The blue guard ushered the rowdy crowd back as the royal limo made to its destination. Downtown Square of Siania, where the queendom's finest shops of jewelry and clothing lie. Queen Kesis first stepped out, escorted by Ram personally as she went ahead first to the nearby water fountain. Then next was Ayn who stepped out of the limo again assisted by Ghost, the cameras began to click more wild than ever.

“Princess! Any comments about your sudden early departure from the club yesterday?" 

“Do you feel qualified to become Queen once your mother retires?"

Ghost and the three troopers under his command formed a VIP diamond formation to cover Ayn. Making their way to the water fountain located at the center of the square, leaving the crowd of curious reporters blocked off by a line made by several blue guards and clone troopers.

Kesis was waiting at the fountain with Ram as the princess and her guards approached them. “Mother, this is no different from almost every single other day. Why do I need so many guards following me when I can take care of myself?". Kesis gave a look showing she clearly didn't believe the last part of her daughter's sentence. “Extra security is a plus and times are changing Ayn. You may be strong, but you still lack in your decision making which results in more and more paparazzi chasing after you every time you are a “responsible princess." 

All Ayn could do was fold her arms, she hated how her mother would just encroach on her life without any discussion or warning ahead of time. Kesis turned to Ghost to give him specific instructions. “Escort my daughter to shop 302, the biggest in the complex. It should be named Kleiven Denn, she has two hours to choose a dress for the festival that will happen four days from now. After that, you are to escort her as she does her night duties. Have her back at the palace at approximately 11:00pm." Ghost nodded silently and stood at ease, Ayn gave a reluctant bow to her mother and moved along. Leaving the queen behind as she went a separate direction along with Ram. 

“All units, the prince will be heading towards his private gym located approximately 400 meters away. Have two squads coordinate a full perimeter sweep and patrol the area once it's clear."

Ayn could hear the distant noise of the three troopers that were once escorting her head back to the motorcade. Entering the SUV's, the armored escort drove away as the paparazzi slowly began to leave as the line of the blue guard and clone troopers went their own separate ways. Most of the group headed to the direction of where Kesis went, while four blue guards followed the path Ayn and Ghost went. After all, they had to make sure the clone was trustworthy to be protecting the heir to the throne.

“Soooo Ghost was it? What is your homeplanet like?" The trooper's response of classified seemed as monotonous as possible. 

Frowning, Ayn tried again and rephrased her question, “Okay, can you tell me about the homeworld of clone troopers?" 

This time she succeeded in getting a response as Ghost described the technical homeworld of the clones, Kamino seemed like a very unpleasant planet. Completely covered in water, frequently subject to violent storms, and the short description of the above water cites sounded dull and colorless. Talking to Ghost was like talking to a tour program or droid, but even they had some liveliness to them as their creators wanted them to try and get their audience engaged. Everything the trooper said seemed programmed with no thought on making his tone organic. Well, he was conditioned to be one of the best soldiers in his galaxy. 

The princess was about to ask the ARC Trooper another question until she heard sounds of a person running up behind them. She turned around to see a male wolf with a bucket full of what looked like paint, readying to throw it at her. Ayn knew she had haters, but they would never physically try to hurt her. Completely caught off guard, Ayn could only close her eyes and waited to get drenched. Not a single drop touched the princess, for as she opened her eyes. Ghost was already in front of her, somewhat covered in red and holding the assailant by the throat with one hand and restraining one of the assailant's arms with the other. Ghost was choking the life out of him, tightening his grip as the wolf struggles to breathe.

Shocked to see how far he had gone Ayn snapped out of it and shouted “GHOST DROP HIM!" 

The ARC trooper complied, throwing the assailant forward as the blue guard trailing behind surrounded the wolf. Then the scent hit Ayn's nose. It wasn't paint, it was blood.  

Ghost seemed to realize this too as he asked one of the blue guard if they had a vial to test it later. One complied and let some of the blood run down Ghost's armor and into the vial, then did their best to wipe the blood off with some disinfectant wipes. Later analysis would reveal it was just blood from fish, but a message was clearly being sent. The populace was starting to reach a boiling point over the many issues Siania had. With the royal family being at the top they would be on the receiving end for most of the grievances the people had.

As two of the blue guard took the assailant away the group continued on. The shop with the name of Kleivin Denn appeared in view. Ghost walked over to open the door for Ayn, the princess steps into the shop followed by her ARC trooper. Four clerks were already waiting for her and bowed to greet their royal figure. “Good morning your highness, we have been expecting you. Queen Kesis instructed us to let you choose your outfits for the upcoming festival.  Please, right this way." a clerk said to Ayn, she followed them while Ghost stuck close. Having his carbine out, he proceeded to check out the entire area, searching through clothing stands, mannequins for any bomb or listening devices. This scared the other clerks as a heavily armed alien was checking out their shop inside and out. Ayn proceeded to put her bodyguard at ease.

“Ghost, it's ok. I'm safe now behind closed doors. Help me choose a dress for the festival."

“Your highness, I was given explicit orders to ensure your saf~."

“I'm well aware and I appreciate it, loosen up though and relax for a bit. Help me pick a dress, pweeeeaaaase?"

Ayn batted her eyelashes at the emotionless clone, she couldn't see it but Ghost was somewhat stunned by the adorable face under his visor. He felt something kicked in him, he wanted to smile but just couldn't. Something was holding him back, all he could think in his head was the mission. He just couldn't say yes and instead replied with a logical answer, “If that's what you want I will oblige." The jackal smiled and took hold of his hand, a gesture that lowered the ARC trooper's guard. 

The two were led into a fitting room where Ghost took a seat while Ayn went behind the mirror where a changing room was to try on a dress. The clone could also hear the clerks gossiping about him, how intimidating he was and what did he look like under his helmet. He didn't care as it wasn't malicious and he had been subjected to much worse. His galaxy had little love for clones, to the everyday inhabitants of the galaxy they were emotionless droids, cannon fodder, or a bad sign considering how the republic had become a police state even before the empire.

“Okay! Now, here is the first one. What do you think?" Ayn walked out of the curtains. Wearing a classical silky black dress that made an effort to show off her legs, hips, and breasts. 

Ghost could only offer basic comments and while he did find her attractive in the dresses she tried on, his thoughts kept being shifted back to his mission parameters. After trying on a green elven style dress that showed off her shoulders and chest, a short and tight black dress with white armbands that went from her tights to her neck while being extremely revealing of her chest, and finally a turquoise cyber themed dress with a cape, light glowing blue highlights, and a partial silver body that emphasized the same features as the black silky dress but covered them with a black bodysuit.

The last dress reminded Ghost of some of the outfits that a few Jedi wore, prompting feelings of programmed hate but also aroused regret and sadness. It didn't show in his comments on it unless you looked very hard. Taking Ghost's comments into consideration Ayn decided to get the elven style dress, a clerk nodded at her choice and folded the dress neatly and efficiently, then went to go get a bag for it. 

When Ayn slipped back on her everyday attire, she walked next to Ghost who was standing at the cashier ready to retrieve the bag containing the dress. She wrapped her left arm around his right arm, feeling the scarred armor plates. Her fingers felt the grazed plastoid and dents on the surface, the armor must've seen a lot of action. Once the cashier was done and received the credits by Ayn, he asked who the ARC trooper was. She smiled at him. “This is my boyfriend." She playfully said. Ghost thought about that for a second, was she teasing, why? He felt somewhat uncomfortable that the princess was being touchy on the first day of the job, at the same time it felt…...lovely to have someone hold him like that. However those feelings were again repressed, as he went back into sentry mode, ignoring Ayn's sudden arm hold. 

Ayn frowned a little when Ghost had no reaction to her tease, but something told her that he was trying to react to it. She could feel a bit of vibration in his arms, indicating that he could be having a mental battle of his own. She knew this because a certain friend told her this a symptom of a mental fight with oneself when under some type of strong influence or control. The princess lets go of the clone, which allowed him to pick up the bag. She bowed respectively to the clerk and left the shop with Ghost following suit. 

While Ayn and Ghost were shopping, a number of the clones were undergoing the most extensive medical checks and scans. Siania had to spot any advanced diseases and to map out the human body for the advancement of science and medicine. The bacta tanks were years ahead of any technology Siania had, though to be fair they didn't have access to a resource like bacta and after examining the data Cadelle gave it was clear their galaxy was behind on weaponry and especially robotics. While the astromech units, ship designs, ion cannons, and cybernetics were impressive, they didn't have the ability to create sentient AI nor did they make much use of soil projectiles as weapons. Biologically, there were a few interesting aspects of human anatomy, but something stood out to one of the doctors immediately when looking at several scans of the clones' brains. He spotted semi-organic masses inside the brains of all the clones. 

They looked to be tumors, but a second look at the results showed that the only thing in common the anomalies had with a tumor were in appearance. Besides the fact that they were all symmetrical and in the same place in all the clones, the anomaly appeared to be regulating neural transmissions and hormone levels in a way that would allow some form of control over the individual. Running into the office of the senior medical officer, the doctor told them to immediately contact the queen.