Iziz, Onderon
A couple of days following a rather brief Knighting Ceremony, Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano arrived upon the spaceport of Iziz. As she expected, Lux was waiting for her. She had been cautious and traveled as a refugee, keeping her robes on her at all times to avoid sparking commotion, given how she had been broadcasted throughout the Galaxy as a criminal mastermind during her trial.
Lux welcomed her with open arms. "Well, I can't say I expected you to come here in this fashion. Given how you've been portrayed over the media the past week, I can't blame you. I have a transport waiting for us. Shall we ?"
They quickly made their way to Lux's transport, a familiar-looking ship. "Hold on, isn't that the same ship your mother used on Raxus ?" Ahsoka just blurted out what came to mind, she quickly noticed that Lux became momentarily silent. "Oh my Force, Lux ! I… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to…"
He surprised her with a smile. "It's all right. Time heals all wounds, even the deepest emotional ones. I've come to terms with my mother's passing… as well as… Steela Gerrera's." He let out a sigh as they entered the aircraft.
"You miss her… don't you ?"
He motioned her to take a seat as he readied the takeoff. "Yes… but as a friend. I never told you this before, but I was under the impression that I was in love with her during the insurgency. Not long after her death, I realized that I was fooling myself. I came to understand that the feelings I harbored inside were for you in the end. I saw you as someone I could never connect with. I'm sure you can understand my surprise when you willingly agreed to begin a relationship with me… despite your Jedi Code strictly forbidding such relations. How long has it been ?"
She stretched herself on the chair, making herself comfortable. "Three months, give or take. You probably wonder why I agreed so willingly to be with you… How would you react if I told you that my former Master and Senator Amidala were close… Uh… closer than expected ?"
Lux raised an eyebrow. "Master Skywalker and Senator Amidala in a relationship ? Really ? Has your Jedi Council approved of such relationship ?"
She chuckled a bit. "Nope. Not at all. The funny part is that Anakin's never been very good at hiding his emotions. I've been suspecting it for some time… but it's during my trial that I really took notice of their close bond. Just the way they looked and talked to each other gave it away. It's a wonder none of the High Council have yet to catch on to it. As for you and me, the odds of keeping our relationship secret are even better."
He turned to her, slightly amused. "Any particular reason ?"
She gave him a toothy grin. "I'm just better at hiding emotions than he is. Besides, the High Council would never expect it from me."
They were crossing over the Highlands, they could see the remains of The Nest, which they used to launch their final attack against Rash's forces over 3 months ago. Several hours more and they finally arrived at Lux's Villa.
Lux raced outside, ready to help Ahsoka to step out. "Allow me… my Lady."
She accepted his help, he held her hand as she walked down the small steps. She took a quick glance of her surroundings. "I'll say this, Mr. Bonteri. You sure know how to treat a lady. This place is exquisite. I can't wait to see how it looks inside."
Lux bowed, motioning her forward to the door. "Ladies first."
As she entered, she was shocked at the sight. A huge living room, with a large crystal-clear table. An enormous holo-vision screen. There was a decent-sized kitchen, complete with a droid cook, ready to make anything they'd ask. It dawned on her that she didn't bring any extra clothes. Lux showed her to a closet, filled with women's clothing, even a swimsuit if they chose to take a dip in the lake. The tour ended with the bedroom and a refresher connected with each other. There was even a spa, which the couple would eventually use.
She quickly turned around and gave him a tight hug. "I see that you're not one to spare expenses, huh ? I bet that spa must be really comfy."
Lux wrapped an arm around her. "Oh, you have no idea. Prior to our arrangement, I had come here to set everything up, but also I needed some time on my own. Far from the busy markets of Iziz, the rambunctious political debates, the war. This is simply my personal haven, a place to escape reality… even only for a short while. For now, why don't we enjoy the sun's rays over a glass of water ?"
"I'd like that… but I know my current garb is inappropriate for such activity. Perhaps I could try out that swimwear you have in that closet. I appreciate that you chose something not too… revealing." She winked at him.
He winked back. "By all means, try it out. I took the liberty of taking your measurements into consideration while having it designed. It's supposed to fit perfectly."
She walked into the refresher and changed, when she stepped out, Lux's breath was taken away. "How do I look ?"
"In one word : Stunning. But I knew that already." He motioned to the spot which overlooked the lake and surrounding mountains. "Shall we ?"
Inside Ringo Vinda's Space Station
To say that Anakin and his group were struggling was an understatement. He, along with Tiplar and Tiplee, were leading a battalion of clones against wave after wave of droids. At the end, they would be able to capture the commander of the station, Admiral Trench, whom had survived his first encounter with Anakin several years back.
"Push forward !" Anakin lead the charge, with Tiplee and Tiplar doing their part. Clone Commander Doom was part of the lead, along with Captain Rex and ARC Trooper Fives. Besides them, Clone Trooper Tup was by their side.
They were holding their own against a group of Commando Droids until Destroyers entered the fray. They were dealt with by having the Clone Troopers raise blaster-resistant shields while the Jedi used the Force to levitate the Destroyers. When that was done, droid poppers were rolled towards the Destroyers, effectively putting them out of commission.
They stopped at an unoccupied room, where Anakin gave further orders to his team. As they prepared to head out, Tup began to act strange. He seemed disoriented.
Fives showed concern for his fellow trooper. "Hey, are you all right ? Come on, this is a textbook battle ! We've done these countless times."
"I… I don't know… I don't feel… like myself…" Tup felt his forehead.
"What do you mean ?" Fives asked.
Tup was staring at Tiplar. "Jedi…" He muttered within the earshot of Fives.
"Come on, brother ! Pull yourself together ! You don't want to get left behind now, do you ?"
Tup shook off his erratic behaviour. "Of course not ! Let's get moving !"
The group eventually made their way to the command center, where Admiral Trench was observing the battle unfold. In the heat of battle, Tup began to feel odd. He tapped his helmet.
Fives had noticed. "Come on, Tup ! Now is not the time to freeze up ! We're almost at the finish line !"
Tup removed his helmet, taking notice of Tiplar destroying a Crab Droid with her lightsaber. "Jedi…" He walked towards her.
"Tup ! What are you doing ?!" Fives began to walk towards him.
"Good soldiers follow orders…" Tup raised his weapon to Tiplar's head, shooting and killing her.
Tup soon shook off from his "trance" and was quickly tackled by Fives.
This event caused the droid army to have a sudden advantage. Anakin gave the order to fall back and asked Fives to bring Tup for interrogation.
As the Republic Army withdrew, Admiral Trench replayed the recording of Tup killing Tiplar. "Now this is rather unusual… and interesting. I must contact Count Dooku."
Pressing a button, the hologram of Dooku appeared before Trench. "Count Dooku, the Republic forces are in full retreat."
"But that is not the reason you have contacted me, is it Admiral ?"
Trench caressed one of his chelicerae. "No, Count. I have just witnessed something unusual. In the heat of battle, a clone approached his Jedi Commander and… executed her."
"So there is a traitor in their midst, it is rare, but it has happened in the past." Dooku remarked.
"Not this clone. I have studied them and fought against them. This is unlike any of their typical behaviour. It would seem…" Trench began to explain.
"Yes, Admiral ?" Dooku seemed to be slightly irritated.
"It would seem that this clone… could not help himself. As if he was into a trance of sorts."
Dooku nodded. "Thank you, Admiral. Your observation will be taken into consideration."
Dooku's Palace, Serenno
Dooku contacted his Master, Darth Sidious. When his hologram appeared, Dooku knelt in front of him.
"Yes ?"
"My Master, there seems to have been a failure in one of the clones' Inhibitor Chips, pre-empting Clone Protocol 66."
Sidious stroked his chin in thought. "This could a problem. If the protocol activates before the designated time, my plans could be ruined ! Therefore, we must ascertain that this is an isolated event. Seize that clone !"
Dooku re-contacted Admiral Trench.
"Yes, Count ?"
"Admiral, have your forces capture the clone in question. Keep him alive, at all costs !"
"As you wish, Count." Trench went on to dispatch a group of droids to intercept Tup.
Bonteri private Villa, Onderon
A couple of days had passed since the couple arrived at the Villa. Ahsoka allowed herself to completely forget about her duties as a Knight and the state of the war. For the time being, she and Lux did a slew of activities such as swimming, watching holo-films together and trying all sorts of tasty recipes they could find off the holo-net. She hadn't experienced such bliss in a very long time.
"I am thankful for everything so far, Lux. The food, the atmosphere. I've really managed to relax since I arrived here." She sneaked a kiss.
Lux chuckled. "We're just beginning… Tonight, if you wish it, we could spend a few hours soaking in the spa. There's really nothing else like it."
"No doubt I'll enjoy this, Lux. So… I guess I'd put on my swimsuit again ?"
Lux nodded. "By all means, I think that suit makes you look even more… ravishing than ever."
Her lekku stripes darkened for a moment. "Please, give me a moment. I'll be right back."
Lux stepped into the spa and made himself comfortable. "Take all the time you need, my love. I'll be waiting."
Several minutes later, she took her turn to make herself comfortable in the hot tub. "You were right about this being enjoyable, Lux. I could stay here all night."
"After a couple of hours, we'll go to bed, all right ?"
She snapped out of her bubble. "We're still separating ourselves with a wall of pillows, right ? I don't want you to get any ideas… yet."
Lux nodded. "Of course. I would never attempt anything "out of line"… without your consent."
"Oh, Lux. I know what you're thinking. Not to worry, you'll have your chance before I head back out to Coruscant."
Tipoca City, Kamino
Something was definitely wrong with Clone Trooper Tup. Clone Medic Kix was unable to figure out the cause of Tup's unprovoked attack on Tiplar. So he was sent to Kamino for examination. On the first trip, Trench's forces intercepted the vessel carrying Tup and brought him to Trench. Thanks to the bravery and cunning of Anakin, Rex and Fives, Tup was rescued and safely brought to Kamino, which Fives insisted to accompany his fellow soldier.
Upon arriving at Tipoca City, Fives was greeted by the Jedi Master Shaak Ti. Believing that Tup's condition could be contagious, she insisted that Fives be kept to pass a few medical tests. While Rex was sent back to the 501st, Tup was brought into an examination room next to Fives'. Several stimulation tests showed no issues and Tup was assumed to be in perfect health. Shaak Ti insisted they must be missing something and wanted to recommend an Atomic Level 5 Brain Scan with the approval of the Jedi Council.
Kaminoan doctor Nala Se then consulted Prime Minister Lama Su. He decided to contact Lord Tyranus about the Inhibitor Chip issue. Tyranus was the person that commissioned Jango Fett to be the genotype for the Clone Army. Tyranus suggested to the Kaminoans to terminate and dissect Tup, sending the malfunctioning Inhibitor Chip to him.
Once Fives learned what Nala Se had in store for Tup, he convinced the medical droid AZ-3 to hack into the mainframe and cause a false alarm, thus giving both a chance to get into Tup's room. In there, AZ-3 extracted the chip by performing a biopsy. By then, the Kaminoans figured out the false alarm and reached Tup's room, accompanied by Shaak Ti. Not long after the chip was removed, Tup died, talking about specific nightmares that affects all clones. At first, Nala Se thought that removing the chip could have caused Tup's death. As they contacted the Supreme Chancellor at Coruscant, he suggested to send the chip to the Medical Facility for further study.
Fives knew that Nala Se was hiding something. He managed to convince AZ-3 to reach into the Genetics Record Hall. Still not finding the clue he wanted, Fives managed to escape capture and have AZ-3 remove his Inhibitor Chip. They managed to reach the Embryo Room, in which Fives discovered to his horror, that all clones at Stage 3 of development were fitted with an Inhibitor Chip. At first, he argued with Nala Se about the nature of the chips. She said it was to prevent aggressive behaviour like that of Jango Fett and was approved by the Jedi. Shaak Ti arrived with several clones. Fives managed to convince her that the chips were dangerous, so she agreed to bring him to Coruscant so he could tell his story to the Supreme Chancellor himself.
Bonteri private Villa, Onderon
Almost two weeks had gone by. Lux and Ahsoka had gotten much closer since. By the next day, she would need to head back to Coruscant in order to resume her service in the war. Lux was preparing a dinner of nerf steak with his own peculiar seasoning. Before they began their meal, she was offered some wine to toast their progressing relationship.
"A toast… to our relationship. Cheers !" Lux's glass clinked with Ahsoka's.
She took a sip. "Mmm. This is great ! I'm glad you chose to take that bottle out of the cellar, Lux."
"A sip on its own is one thing. Just wait until you take a bite of your meat and then follow with a sip of wine. I tell you, the dining experience won't be the same." He demonstrated how it was done by having a bite and quickly taking a sip.
She chose to mimic him. "Woah ! You weren't kidding ! It doesn't taste the same at all. It's even better !"
After their dinner, he brought her to bed. "You'll be traveling tomorrow. You'll need some rest beforehand."
"Well… before I even sleep… I was wondering if you'd be willing to do me a favor."
Lux was caught off guard. "What kind of favor are we talking about ?"
She whispered something in his ear, causing him to look at her in surprise. "A-are you sure ? If we do this… there's no turning back."
"Can you be honest with me, Lux ? You've been looking forward to this chance, right ? I'm going to take a quick shower. By the time I'm back, you better be ready."
Lux's cheeks became as vibrant as her orange skin. "Will you hate me if I say yes ? Very well. If you agree to it, I'll honor your request. Let me locate the contraceptives first."
In several minutes, Lux knew he was going to be very lucky this night.
Underworld, Coruscant
Fives' world turned upside down ever since he was brought to Coruscant. At first, he was brought before the Supreme Chancellor. The Chancellor acted to the best of his ability, stating that Fives' removal of his Inhibitor Chip caused him to be more aggressive. While he was on the run, he stopped at '79s, the Clone Bar. In there, he met Kix, convincing him to contact Rex and Anakin, so he could tell his story. Before Fives could complete his story to Anakin and Rex, he was shot down by Commander Fox and his men.
Several days later, the Jedi had met with the Chancellor. He had said that Tup and Fives were likely infected with a parasite, native to Ringo Vinda. As the Jedi arrived at the Temple, Ahsoka had just returned from her meditative leave. Anakin quickly noticed that she was in a much better mood.
"Hey, Snips. I take it that meditative leave did you some good."
She nodded. "Yes, it allowed me to clear my head of much doubt and confusion. Did I miss anything important ?"
Anakin told her about his adventures on Ringo Vinda.
"What ?! Tup and Fives gone ?! They could've never… This means we'll need to be more cautious than ever."
I must say that the Clone Chip Arc is a fascinating one. So full of suspense. Over the next chapter, we'll see Ahsoka take a small part on Scipio concerning Rush Clovis. Feel free to leave a review.