Chapter Fifty-Three: Unleash the Dogs of War
The moment she was in the shuttle and Firmus had lifted off, Padmé was assaulted with questions from Bail and Dormé. The two became almost frantic, fighting to be heard over the other, until the younger senator just couldn't take it anymore.
"Shut up!" she cried angrily.
The uncharacteristic outburst was enough to effectively silence her two friends. She glared at them a moment, trying to organize her spinning head. With Anakin perhaps sensing the twins and her own dread about his reaction, her nervousness with their plans, and the sick feeling she had acquired due to Anakin shutting their link down cold, Padmé was in no mood for being interrogated. In fact, she felt torn over which she wanted to do more, to go and kill someone or just go lie down and cry.
"Let me explain, and please, be quiet," she began again, watching the frustrated, worried faces of two of her closest friends. "Yes, Anakin was really Darth Vader. When I was being held prisoner in the Imperial Base, I began seeing him act…strangely. I'd gotten to know him a little bit. I knew that there was something different about him. I witnessed him being kind at times.
"In the Battle Over Naboo, he saved my life. I'm still not sure what happened― other than the will of the Force―but I know he shielded me with his body as we crashed on Tatooine. He was seriously injured. I wasn't because of him. But together, we talked into the nearest town and were eventually found by his step-family. They took care of us until Obi-Wan came. At Tatooine Vader had been destroyed, and Anakin reborn. I saw it, and so did Obi-Wan.
"From there, you know the rest," she concluded her quick recap, refusing to tell any more. "We came to the Rebel Base, finished preparing our plan for this attack, and that's it."
The two rebels sat quietly for a moment, digesting, before Dormé leaned forward and took her friend's hand. "Are you sure he didn't do anything to you? He didn't…didn't mind trick you or something?"
"No," Padmé stated firmly.
"This is just fantastic," Bail laughed incredulously, finally exploding under the pressure. "Padmé, you've got that strange captive's syndrome. How can you really talk like this? He's obviously been lying to you, making you see things that aren't there. And because you believed him, that convinced Obi-Wan too! That man's Darth Vader!"
"Darth Vader is dead," the younger senator snapped, angry more at the uncontrollable events going around her than truly at her friend. She understood his doubts, but it was hers that she was having more trouble combating. "I watched him burn away."
And it was true. She'd watched as the horrid black suit had been burned in the fires of the escape pod. She'd watched her lover struggle and labor under the Tatooine suns. She's watched again as he agonized over his life, questioning long taught beliefs and look into morality for the first time. It was at Tatooine that Anakin had truly found himself again, and the blackness of Vader had been unable to withstand the Light.
They were all quiet a moment, before the uncomfortable clearing of the throat in the front caught their attention. "Senator Amidala?"
Fighting back a sigh, the young woman went to the front of the craft. "Yes, Firmus, what is it?"
"I just wanted to inform you that everything has been taken care of. The message to the senators had been put out, and the message leaked to the moffs. Everything should work."
Padmé had to smile at the young man. It was strange how an Imperial could make her feel better when he friends couldn't. But then again, he wasn't just an Imperial. He was a human being. A living creature. Sometimes in the heat of war, one forgot that the other side was really just like them, only running under a different banner. "Thank you, Firmus. I'm sure it will."
The group stayed quiet until they finally landed at the Senate. It was getting late into the evening, and no doubt the others within were beginning to get antsy, wondering why they had been called. If this all worked, and Padmé had to keep telling herself it would, they would be one step closer to achieving their goal. Soon, there would be peace in the galaxy again. She just had to keep telling herself that Anakin was with her. He was not gone.
A tremendous BOOM! in the distance caught the attention of the group as they were walking into the Senate. They turned and stared at the considerable fire that had suddenly erupted in the distance, feeling the tremor it created even from here.
"What on Coruscant was that?" Bail breathed.
Looking surprisingly calm, Piett turned his head and continued on into the building, holding the door open for them. "The Jedi Temple."
"What happened?" Dormé asked, even as dread seeped into Padmé's stomach. "Did a ship crash into it?"
The Imperial officer now appeared uncomfortable, and instead of answering, he cleared his throat loudly. "This way. We've only got so much time."
The others followed the commander in, but Padmé lingered a moment, just staring at the blazing inferno in the distance. It had been Anakin. She knew it. Anakin had arranged for the Temple to be destroyed. She tried to reach out to him through their link, but it was cold and she could feel nothing. It was then that she was certain she needed to get back to him as soon as possible. Anakin needed her.
"Senator?"
Turning, the Naboo woman ran in through the door and met up with her friends easily, pulling up her hood. The group raced through the Senate, knowing that the others would be meeting. Already they could hear angry and confused cries coming from the senate chamber. They had to move quickly or fighting would likely begin. It had always amused Padmé how senators were some of the most groomed and intellectual beings in the galaxy, yet they could easily come to blows over a disagreement as simple as they didn't like a proposal of a new law. Maybe Anakin had been right in his distaste for them…
When they entered the Naboo pod, Jar-Jar and the man that had temporarily replaced Padmé, and young man around her age named Donis, were surprised by the sudden intrusion. Without hesitation, Bail took control of the pod and floated it towards the center, apparently having come to terms as best he could over Anakin's identity, and knowing he had to stick to the plan.
"Please!" he cried, raising his arms up. "Please, may we have your attention!"
"Well, look who decided to come back," Senator Cortilla sneered once the room had fallen quiet, already steering her pod out into the open. "You're pretty brave, Organa. It's not every day we have a known traitor come into our midst."
Beside her, a gaunt, pale man easily recognizable as Grand Moff Tarkin scowled. "Indeed. Troopers, arrest him."
"Certainly," Bail agreed easily, "but before I do, I think you would like to hear this."
Knowing it was rather dramatic, but unable to help herself, Padmé pushed down her hood and waited as the angry cries slowly silenced as they all looked at her image that was projected overhead of the large screen. Staring out at her peers, waiting for them to still, the true Naboo senator began to speak.
"Senators. Moffs. Troopers," she addressed them all, noticing how the moffs had brought quite the contingent of Storm Troopers with them. No doubt wondering if they would have to arrest traitors after receiving the message that had gathered them all here. "I come back before you under the gravest of circumstances."
"This is impossible!" one man cried. "That woman cannot be Senator Amidala!"
"It's one of her handmaidens!" another cried.
Holding up her hands, Padmé was impressed that they all quieted instantly. They were obviously not only surprised, but awed and curious. "It is really me," she assured them. "Look at me. Hear my voice. I am Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo. And I am here to tell you that the Empire is at great risk."
Shouts echoed through the dome, even as Grand Moff Tarkin floated the Coruscant pod towards the Naboo. "Lies!" he cried over the roar of the crowd. "This woman cannot be Senator Amidala. She died with Lord Vader. The only threat to the Empire is traitors like Organa!"
"I am not dead, and neither is Lord Vader," Padmé refuted calmly. The entire senate fell completely silent. "We were attacked, yes, nearly killed, yes, but we were not. We were able to crash land and have traveled far to get here. We came back because we have discovered a conspiracy within the Empire! A conspiracy that involves even its top leaders!"
"That is ridiculous!" Tarkin spat. Others began calling out similarly as well.
Everyone seemed to fall into argument either stanchly against the accusation or questioning it. This situation was collapsing more quickly that anyone of them had anticipated. Obviously they had not gotten here before the strict Imperials could stir up some trouble. Looking around at her group, she saw Bail staring off with a grim expression, no doubt thinking of a way to get through to the people, while Dormé was looking around almost helplessly. Donis and Jar-Jar, she noted, were just gawking at her in amazement. Only Piett seemed active as he hunched over, listening to something coming from his comm-link.
"Listen! Listen!" Padmé cried, holding up her hands. "We have called you all here tonight to discuss this new found information!"
But no one was really listening to her, even now. Their apparently surprise at finding her alive was not enough to keep them silent it seemed. Everything began spiraling downward, when Piett stepped forward, taking control of the pod. Grabbing the data pad in Donis's hand, the officer began hitting it against the side of the pod, much to the other young man's displeasure.
The noise, however, was enough to get people's attention, as well as the sudden movement from the Naboo pod. When everyone looked over and quieted, the Lieutenant-Commander straightened up a bit, staring out over the assembly with a remarkably bland, almost bored expression. He had an excellent sabacc face.
"That's better," he began mildly, knowing that his voice would be picked up. "I must urge you all to believe Senator Amidala. While her arrival here should be proof enough, I would, however, like to inform everyone that Lord Vader is indeed alive, and here on Coruscant." A nervous ripped went through the crowd. "He is here because of the conspiracy Senator Amidala spoke of earlier.
"Apparently," he went on before Tarkin or another moff could cut him off, "someone within the top ranks of the Empire is collaborating and working with the former Supreme Commander of the Droid Army, General Grievous."
The murmurs grew louder with fear, but now the Strom Troopers added their voices to the mix, speaking up in harsh, angry tones. "All lies," Tarkin said again, scowling at the younger Imperial. "And who might you be? Some rebel they dressed up to mock our uniform?"
"I am Lieutenant-Commander Firmus Piett. Lord Vader's personal assistant," the young man's voice was strong and clear. "And I am no rebel. I speak for Lord Vader himself and bare his mark."
Padmé was surprised at how well the teenager was able to speak, and admired his courage for doing so in front of such a large audience. But that admiration was dampened by the fact that General Grievous was alive. She had not known about this, had Anakin? Or had they really just discovered such damning treachery? Was this all some extraordinary luck, or had it all been planned?
"That could be anyone's mark!" Senator Cortilla argued, looking slightly uncomfortable. No doubt she was wondering if she'd chosen the wrong side.
"It's true," Piett countered smoothly. "And I ask you, troopers, to believe me. Lord Vader needs your help. He knows there are traitors here, traitors that could very well be collaborating with Grievous. Help Lord Vader and Senator Amidala in their quest to protect and heal the Empire. Help them and be rewarded with full life, as was Lord Vader's intention from the very beginning, but kept from you by moffs whispering to the Emperor."
The cool, yet earnest plea was met with suspicious glances from senator to senator, moff to moff, while the troopers continued to stare forward at the Naboo pod. Once more, Padmé was surprised by the revelation of slowing the clone aging process. Was that just a promise to find a way, or had a solution already been found? Again, was this just a bribe, or was this a firm, established vow?
Whatever it was, if a cure already existed or if this was just an oath to find one, it would serve as a powerful tool. She knew from talking to Cory how much the troopers adored and trusted Vader, and if this was true, and the troopers took the first step into believing all that they said, there would be nothing stopping them. This entire coup might just proceed without anyone even realizing what happened. The senator could only hope that would be the case.
When nothing happened, however, Tarkin's cruel laugh echoed off the pods and around the senate chamber. Everyone else remained still and silent. "You see?" the governor sneered. "They are not so brainless as to believe your lies. Troopers," he called on the clones around the room, "arrest those traitors. And detain the senators for questioning."
A moment went by, and then another, but still the clones did not move. Padmé looked out around her, realizing with a growing sense of hope that perhaps they had gotten through to them after all. They were remaining neutral at the moment. They needed something else to push them over onto their side.
Stepped forward, the Naboo senator called out, "Troopers! I am alive, and so is your Supreme Commander! Will you not help him? Will you allow General Grievous to entrench himself here? Allow the moff traitors to destroy all you've worked so hard for?"
All around the room, the eerie sound of blasters charging up could be heard. There were enough troopers that the slight noise became a steady hum. They had made their decision.
Without a word, all around, troopers began pointing their blasters at not only the moffs, but the senators as well. Tarkin began yelling in protest and fury, as did others. Those clones that were not in pods took up station around the doorways, ensuring that no one would get in. Or out.
"Senator Amidala," the trooper in Tarkin and Cortilla's pod spoke up. "We are with you. What are your orders?"
Relief spread through the young woman, and she couldn't help close her eyes a moment and exhale the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Take the moffs to the prison holds," she commanded. "Watch the senators. They are not to be harmed, but hold them in the cafeteria together. No one leaves. No one gets out."
"You heard her, men!" the spokesman of the clone called. All around, a cry went up from the troopers, and they began arresting the moffs and motioning for the senators to follow them. It was all going smoothly for a moment, it was all going exactly as planned.
Until an alarm went off.
Everyone stopped, looking around as blaring sirens and flashing lights enveloped the room. "Someone's tripped the alarm," Bail looked around, confused.
"But who do they think is going to come?" Dormé frowned. "The troopers are on our side now."
Her question was met a moment later when blaster fire suddenly erupted around the room. Everyone fell down, getting into cover. Some weren't so lucky, however. Screams broke out, cries and calls from all around only added to the sudden chaos of events. After the intense situation had seemed to come to a close, the gates of hell had suddenly once again been released.
Peeking up over the top of the pod, blaster tightly in hand, Padmé got the answer. "Battle droids."
oOoOoOo
Cory put away his comm hoping that the others got his message about General Grievous. He knew Piett had, as the young officer answered, but he wasn't so sure about Pilor or Lord Vader. He wasn't so worried about the Sith, considering the man had definitely faced worse, but he was concerned for his other friend at the Base. Arlo was more of a thinker than a fighter.
But there was no time to worry about that. He had his own problems, the chief of which was scowling up at him. "No," the trooper said for what felt like the millionth time. "We have our instructions."
"Help, they will need, if General Grievous is here," Master Yoda argued right back. "Warn them, we must."
"Lord Vader said to guard out here. There will be others coming," he scowled under his helmet. "They can handle that old cyborg."
"Changing are the dynamics of this mission. Stirring the Force is."
"We were ordered to defend the palace out here," the trooper snapped. "I don't disobey orders."
The two faced off a moment longer before the small Jedi began staring at him intently. It made the clone feel uncomfortable, and a strange sensation came over him. "Follow me inside, you will," a voice said, and a warm, sleepy feeling washed over the trooper.
"Maybe I should follow you inside," Cory said, and suddenly found himself wondering why he'd been so against it a moment ago. Clearly it was a good idea.
"Leave instructions for others, you will. Warn Obi-Wan and Vader we will."
"I'll have to leave instructions for the others before I come with you to warn Knight Kenobi and Lord Vader."
And without another thought, Cory turned and began giving his instructions to his brothers. The other clones were troubled that the two were leaving, concerned about the possibly of being confused in telling who would be an enemy and who would be an ally. But the solution was a quick fix, however, and Cory made sure that Master Yoda left his hand print on the other troopers' armor, it being hard to replicate the tiny clawed hand. Only those following Lord Vader would wear a mark.
With that taken care of, and when things had been settled between them, and everyone knew what they were supposed to be doing, Cory began following Master Yoda into the palace. It was only when they were at the door that the clone realized what happened. Stopping dead in his tracks, Cory spun on the old Jedi, furious. "You mind-tricked me!" he cried.
For the first time that the clone had seen, amusement lit up the Jedi's large eyes, and a nasty sort of smirk came onto Yoda's lips. "To late now, it is, to turn back."
Once more the two glared at each other, for only a moment before Cory burst out laughing. While he was not normally one to like being bested, he had to admit, the situation was funny. He'd seen Lord Vader use the trick before, and knew that Master Yoda must have made him sound like an idiot, giving him ideas that weren't his own. It was lucky― for Yoda that is― that Cory was a good sport, or else the trooper would have been hard pressed not to blast off the Jedi's head. Very lucky.
"Guess so," he agreed after a minute. "Well, let's get to it then. Stay close. I'll go first."
And together the unlikely duo entered into the palace. Cory wasn't really sure what he was supposed to be looking for, or who to watch out for, but his training as well as instincts told him that anyone and everyone could be a traitor. Anyone and everyone could negatively affect this mission. If there was going to be any hope of success at all, they were going to not only have to fight together, but would have to watch each other's backs carefully.
Soon enough a servant came around the corner. The woman's eyes widened comically as she saw the Strom Trooper and Jedi stalking around, weapons drawn. Instantly, Cory trained his blaster on her. "Make a sound and it'll be your last," he growled.
To many, it might have been an ideal threat, but clones meant them. Troopers only looked at the grand scheme of things. Knowing that they were not good with the small details, they tended to leave that up to the higher ups to figure out. That being the case, the majority of individual lives they came across were insignificant until told otherwise. One person did not truly matter in the grand scheme of things, and even though the family would be grieved, who else really cared? Not the troopers, who had quickly become disenchanted with other beings that looked down on them.
The woman, barely out of her childhood, nodded slowly, before carefully setting down the tray she'd been carrying, holding up her hands. As if she would have a weapon anyway. "Step over there," Cory instructed, jerking his blaster in the direction he'd meant.
As the girl did, the clone keeping his blaster on her, turned towards his companion. "Tie her up."
The Jedi stared up incredulously. "There is no need."
"She might squeal on us if we don't. It's best to eliminate her as a threat."
The other snorted in disgust. "Shoot her, then. Better it would be," Yoda said with obvious sarcasm.
Unfortunately, in such situations, trooper's were not prone to understand such inflections, and when in battle mode, took requests and commands literally. "If you think that'd be better," Cory replied, raising his blaster, aiming it at the girl's forehead.
The clone didn't see Yoda's horrified face. All the trooper focused on was his target. He watched as the girl's face drained of color, before her eyes rolled back into her head and she fainted. Gracelessly, she hit the floor with a loud thump. She did not move again.
Lowering his weapon, the trooper beamed under his helmet. "That'll work!" he laughed, before walking forward and tying her up. Just in case. He did not sense the Jedi Master glaring eyes behind him, burning holes in his armor.
Instead, he turned back to his companion, and motioned for the green creature to follow. The palace, as far as Cory was concerned, was too quiet. He'd only been inside a handful of times, at least in the main sections, but even he knew this was not right. The guards that had always been posted outside each door were gone. The Royal Guard, too, were missing. There were not advisors walking around, barking orders. There was nothing. Just stillness.
It wasn't right. Tension creeped into the trooper's body, warning blaring in all of his senses. Something was going to happen. Something bad. Just as sure as he was a clone, he knew that at any given moment, something was going to explode in his face. Chancing a quick glance down, Cory knew that the Jedi could feel it too.
Turning another corner, weapons ready, the two invaders got their answers. The moment they stepped out from around the corner, Cory pushed Yoda back around into safety before flinging himself back as well. For around the corner, probably courteous of General Grievous himself, were a host of battle droids.
Shots instantly filled the once silent corridor, and the trooper and Jedi had to move away, lest a blaster bolt bounce around the corner and hit them. The momentary surprise was not wholly unexpected, but it was also dangerous. They had given up ground in the unprepared attack, and because of that, droidekas came rolling after them.
Without a second thought, Cory grabbed a nearby table, an expensive looking antique, and flipped it over. It would certainly not hold up for very long, but judging from the material it was made of, it would be enough to cover them while they searched for an escape route and shoot back. And even if it wasn't…well, it was their best shot.
Not hesitating, Master Yoda came out from behind their meager shelter and began deflecting the bolts being shot at them back to the droids. Of course the blasters were deflected by the shields around the droids, but it was better than the table getting hit or them. So while he let his partner deal with the droid for the time being, knowing the Jedi could handle himself, Cory looked for something to help them.
Smirking beneath his helmet, the clone shouted over the noise, "Cover me!" And not stopping, ran towards the other side of the wall, to the supply closet that he hadn't noticed on the way over. An error on his part. But thankfully they were near, because as ordered by Lord Vader, the clone had managed to hide a few surprises throughout the palace. Just in case.
Once opening the door, the trooper went to the back of the closet and smashed open a panel. Inside were controls that opened a hidden door. It was something that the Emperor had ordered be placed in to keep weapons and the like in case of emergencies. What the Emperor did not know was that his apprentice had changed all of the codes and locked out everyone except those loyal to him. So, typing in the correct sequence rapidly, Cory was able to get inside.
Taking what he needed, he then ran back to the opening. "Get in here!" he called to the Jedi Master.
The green creature made no reply, but quickly backed away from the advancing droids. The moment he was within arm's length, the trooper grabbed the Jedi and pulled him in. "Plug your ears," he instructed bluntly, as he turned around the corner a bit, throwing two thermal detonators.
After only a heartbeat, the sound of the explosions shook the palace. The sound was so loud, that even Cory's helmet couldn't muffle out all of the noise. Without thought, he wrapped his arms around the smaller being, protecting him as best as he could as parts of the ceiling were shook lose, and the side of the door were torn away.
In a matter of seconds, everything was still. The droids had been destroyed.
Cory released Yoda, setting the startled Jedi down, before peeking around the corner. True enough, there was very little of the droids left. Their shields hadn't been strong enough to withstand the detonators. And with that in mind, the trooper went back to the supple closet and began grabbing all the detonators he could, as well as anything else he believed would help them as they stalked through the palace. "Here," he shoved a few detonators at the Jedi. "Hold on to those."
And once they were fully supplied, an extra blaster strapped to his back, as well as several other nasty little surprises, the trooper walked out from behind their sanctuary. Taking in the carnage before him, all the twisted metal from the droids and the blown-out walls, Cory nodded in satisfaction. Everything was going exactly as Lord Vader predicted.
"This is CT-585," Cory spoke into his helmet, comming his men outside. "Droids are in the equation. Watch your backs out there. Some might get past us and attack from behind."
"Roger that," AR-1004 answered. "But we have another problem out here." Cory waited grimly for the other to elaborate. "The 367th division is on its way. They have orders to attack us, Sir."
The trooper swore viciously. "Do what you can to turn them to our cause. They need to see that they're on the wrong side."
"And if they don't, Sir?"
Cory was silent a moment. He hated to give this order, hated it more than anything else, but he knew what had to be done. He would not jeopardize this mission. "Shoot them down if you have to. We cannot fail."
There was only the slightest bit of hesitation before AR-1004 replied, "Yes, Sir."
And with that, their conversation was over. Thinking back, CT decided it would be a good idea to send out another warning to everyone. "CT-585 to Senator Amidala?" There was no reply. "Cory to Padmé?"
Nothing.
A sinking feeling entered the trooper's gut, but he knew he could not give in to it. He had to stay focused. "CT-585 to Pilor. Do you read me?"
The comm. was answered, but only for a moment. Cory could hear what sounded like shouts and blaster fire. Pilor didn't respond, but the clone could hear heavy breathing, before his friend's voice shouted, "Fall back! Just aroun―Kriff!"
The line was cut.
Dread surged through the clone, a feeling he'd never really experienced before. His friends weren't answering. Pilor was actually in a fight. Should he even bother trying to contact Lord Vader? From the sound of everything, his friends already knew about the use of the droids.
"Go, we must," Master Yoda's soft voice tore the clone from his spiraling thoughts. The trooper actually jumped. "Help Obi-Wan and Vader, we must."
Swallowing down his panic, Cory pushed aside his feelings and once again entered the trooper mentality. He had a job to do, and by the Force, he would see it done. There was much more at work here than just himself and his friends. Even though he was just a clone and couldn't really see it, he knew he had to play his part. Now was not the time for second guessing and hesitation. If he wanted to survive, if he wanted his friends to survive, he had to do his part.
Nodding, once again cold and detached, the trooper began walking. "This way."
Once more, he was little better than a machine. There were no feelings, no worries. He was cold, he was calculating, and he would do his job. For the time being, he was not Cory, he was CT-585. He was not a friend, he was a warrior. He could not afford to worry about his friends or despair over the thoughts that soon his brothers might be locked in battle against each other. He was a Storm Trooper of the Imperial Army, serving directly under Lord Vader. He would not let his leader down.
He was only a weapon, a tool, and he would do as he had been bred and designed to do: To unleash chaos and destroy any who got in his way.
Author's Note: So, it's been a while…Sorry. Between holiday/ family events and then LOSING MY FREAKIN' JUMPDRIVE WITH ALL MY STORIES/NOTES ON IT I haven't really had time to write…just freak out and bemoan my luck. Thankfully all my visits went well and I found my jump again. :) Sorry again for the wait, but hopefully this will tide you all over again until next time. :D
Next Up: General Grievous
