Implied pairing here with Shaak Ti and Fives. Hopefully I have portrayed the characters alright. Also bumped up the rating to T, just to be safe.


Shaak Ti smiled as ARC-5555 of the 501st, or Fives, disembarked from the landing craft. Gusts of rain pelted his recognizable blue, highlighted armor. But she didn't need his armor to know who he was. His Force signature was. . . very distinguished, and invigorating.

Shaak Ti bowed her head in greeting as the clone drew nearer. He nodded in return before giving a crisp salute, "General!"

"At ease, Lieutenant," Shaak Ti said smoothly. Fives relaxed and unsealed his helmet, tucking it under his arm. His face was pinched in a grim facade as he greeted the Jedi. "Hello, General."

"Hello, Lieutenant. How about we move to somewhere more quiet and less inclement?" Shaak Ti asked, her damp robes clinging to her slender, Togrutan frame.

"Of course, General," Fives answered, his eyes tracking her movements in his peripheral as they walked abreast, away from the landing pad and through the stark white halls of Tipoca City. They passed the spindly, beady-eyed natives with their slow, graceful demeanor. Fives scowled in annoyance. He hated the Kaminoan bastards, all of them. They were all heartless, cold creatures, responsible for reconditioning his brothers over petty osik. How the General could deal with them on a daily basis was beyond Fives' comprehension.

"I hope your journey here was uneventful, Lieutenant?"

"Yes sir, everything was in usual order. But I still don't know why you've requested me here." They turned to the right at an intersection. More damn white walls, he thought.

"When we have more privacy, I will brief you." Shaak Ti said. She turned her head and looked at Fives with a coy smile, her eyes focused on his face, studying him.

"You've changed much since I last saw you Lieutenant. It feels like it's been an eternity since when you were just a cadet, and before. . ." she trailed off, knowing what had happened to Echo and the rest of his squad, "I'm sorry."

Fives shook his head. "Don't be, General. They spent their lives. Not wasted. It's what we were made for anyway."

"That's not true Lieutenant, you're so much more than just a soldier to be used."

Fives chuckled, running a gloved hand over his thin goatee. "I doubt that, General."

"I don't doubt that Fives. . ." Shaak Ti pronounced, regarding him again with her gaze. Fives coughed and nodded, looking away. "Sorry, General. I meant -uh- no disrespect. It's just that this war has been dragging on for too long."

"I agree, Lieutenant. Don't worry," she reassured, and lightly brushed her hand on his gauntlet. Fives stiffened. The Jedi General wasn't known for her personal contact with troops; she usually isolated and distanced herself, mostly. But that touch, so gentle and calming, just like her. Must have been the Force, Fives thought, knowing all too well what it could do. Being part of the 501st, he'd seen first hand with General Skywalker. He was still confused when her voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"We're here."

They entered a frugally furnished room large enough to accommodate two people with a bed, desk, chair, a 'fresher, a small pantry and a storage closet. A window panel revealed the troubled sea outside. The sliding door closed behind them, leaving the pair in silence.

"These are my quarters," came Shaak Ti's voice. Fives stood completely bewildered. "you'll be staying here for the duration of your stay. For reasons which I will tell in a moment, but I must change out of these robes."

The Jedi eyed Fives, waiting for an answer.

"Of course. . . General," Fives responded after a delay, now noticing Shaak Ti's wet clothes and just how attractive she looked in them. Beneath the robes the swell of her breasts was visible, although partially obscured by her lekku. Holy kriffing hell.

Shaak Ti withdrew to the seclusion of the 'fresher, swiftly changed her garments, and hung her robes to dry. She thought of Fives, having seeing him grow both with age and in experience; gone from a young, rookie cadet to battle-hardened ARC trooper. "He obviously grew in another way too," Shaak Ti said to herself with a smirk as she sensed his unusual arousal. Her crimson skin darkened. She closed her eyes and exhaled, reciting the Jedi Code to calm herself. There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no passion, there is serenity. . .


The ARC trooper swore. What was he thinking staring at the breasts of a Jedi General, and her rear as well, no less? Pull it together, Fives! he mentally scolded himself as he felt a throb in his groin. Thank the Force I'm wearing armor.

He surveyed the room again, trying to distract himself, and looked out the window. It was raining. What a surprise. I never did miss this place. After the Battle of Kamino, he'd had his fill here.

Shaak Ti emerged, newly dressed in simpler attire. She clipped her lightsaber to her belt before reaching out with the Force for any sign of eavesdropping devices. The Kaminoans were very particular about what information was passed on, especially concerning their cloning secrets. Satisfied, she pivoted to Fives.

"Now that we are alone, I will brief you. Please, sit," she gestured to the chair. Fives reluctantly obeyed. The seat was surprisingly comfortable; his erection wasn't.

Shaak Ti pulled out a hologram projector, bent down, and set it on the floor. A blue, distorted image came to life. Numbers, credit amounts, and a jumble of letters scrolled by. Fives scanned the hologram for a pattern, trying to find any repeated sequences. "What is it?"

"Encrypted data from the databanks here in Tipoca City. Originating from the office of Prime Minister Lama Su," Shaak Ti stated casually. Fives leaned forward in the chair, eyebrow raised, "Lama Su? The leader of these creeps?" he questioned. This is bigger than I thought it'd be.

The Togruta continued, "From what little my contact could gather, it appears an exceptional sum of credits are being transferred from an unidentified, and so far untraceable, account."

"Why the concern? It's their business."

"There has never been such large deposits into the Tipoca private bank accounts, specifically Lama Su's. I suspect bribery by the Separatists. A small tampering with the clones gene pool, and the army could be devastated. So many potential lives lost because of a single stroke of change. . ." her eyes saddened.

"Do we know how long this has been happening?" Fives interjected. The Jedi shook her head and scooped up the hologram projector. "No. It could be only days, or it could be years."

"So we find out what's going on," Fives concluded. "But why am I staying. . . here?" he indicated her quarters. Shaak Ti smiled. Her damn, irresistible smile. "I want your presence known here to be kept at a minimal. And, since we'll be working very closely together on this-" she paused as Fives' breathing hitched, "the closer you are the better."


Thanks for reading! I could not for the life of me find what rank Fives was, so if Lieutenant is wrong I apologize. Furthermore, I'm chewing with the idea of expanding (or trying to expand) this snippet into a full, separate mini-story, but we'll see. Feedback is appreciated!