Word count: 3152

Hey guys! Final full chapter (I'll add an epilogue) and then I'll be moving this into The Clone Wars where more shenanigans happen! If you liked this story, leave a review and keep your eyes peeled fro when I post the sequel!

Chapter 10: Clones

As the clone leads Tara through the hallways up to the bridge, she gets curious.

"What's your name, Trooper?" She asks.

"Huh, what?" He's got off guard by this question.

"Do you have a name? Something that I could call you? It'd be easier than just saying 'Trooper' all the time."

"I-I don't have a name, Ma'am," he answers nervously.

"What?" She is shocked. "How? Why?"

"Well, uh," he hesitates, "I'm a clone, as are all the other troopers here. The Kaminoians gave us numbers instead of names. Better organized. Mine is CC-2224, with the rank of commander."

"I can't call you that," she says sternly. "You're a living being, not a droid."

"Well, yes, but we were never given names by anyone, so far now it's just CC-2224."

"Well, then maybe I can give you a name."

"What?"

"How's, uh, Cody sound for you?"

"Why are you giving me a name? That isn't quite how it works, Princess."

"I got my last name of Pruveen given to me when I met my parents almost 3 years ago because I didn't have one, I was old enough to understand the change. And nobody else has given you a name, so why can't I? It's unique, and I'm sure someone can think up names for the other clones if they can't think of their own names, right?"

"Ummm," he thinks on that for a moment before answering, "I guess, if they really wanted to, and you really insisted, Your Highness, I'm sure it could be done."

"That's great to hear, Cody," she says, giggling.

"Yes, well, I think I'll have to talk it over with some of the other clones. But that'll have to wait, we're at the bridge."

The door opens. Tara gasps, looking at some of the officers in the bridge, not wearing helmets. She didn't know they were clones of the bounty hunter Jango. She takes a step back hesitantly.

"Your Highness, is something wrong?"

"You're clones of the bounty hunter."

"Uh, yes, the man Jango Fett was our donor, and we were briefed that he was the one who abducted you. But I promise," he pauses, kneeling down to get to her level, "We're not like him, we're here to protect you, and we will do that, no matter what."

Tara hesitates before saying, "Okay. Thank you, Cody."

He takes her further into the bridge. One of the clones standing at the holo table pushes a button on a control panel, sending an alerting sound through the room.

"Attention!" He states, "Princess Tara on deck!"

All of the clones not critically working move to stand at attention, facing her. This caught her off guard, not expecting this formality.

"At, at ease, troopers," she responds nervously. "Back to your stations, please."

The clones go back to what they were doing. Cody takes off his helmet and looks at the holo table, showing active troop placement and Separatist starship's locations.

"What's the latest update?" Cody asks one of the officers present.

"Currently reported at advancing on all fronts. The forward forces here," he gestures to a spot on the map, "Are working on taking out enemy starships before they leave the planet surface, as we didn't bring any ships with major batteries or turbolasers. Additionally, we have an update on Count Dokku from Master Kenobi. They are in pursuit, but they lost Senator Amidala here," pointing to a section on the map, "But are continuing north."

"What?" Tara gasps. "Is she alright?"

"There's currently a ship going out to retrieve her and one other trooper, Madam," the clone responds.

Tara looks worriedly at the map position. She worries about if something could happen to Padmé as she's out in the desert.

"Sir," a clone says, addressing Cody, "Incoming transmission from the forward command center, Master Yoda."

Master Yoda's hologram appears. "Count Dooku, attempting to escape, he is. In pursuit, I am, but know where he is heading, I do not."

Tara thinks. Dooku's solar sailer was left in the lone hangar, and that was to the North. "I know where he's heading," she says.

"Miss?" Cody responds. "How would you know where he's heading?"

"Please, pull up a map, showing off what's to the North of the last known position of Master Kenobi and Dooku," she requests.

"Here, Madam," one of the clones responds as he adjusts the map to show the area. Tara looks around it, looking for the hangar before she finds its location.

"Here, Master Yoda," she says, pointing to it. "This small hangar. He has a ship, a solar sailer there. I know because that's where I was held captive."

"Thank you, Princess. Helpful, this information is very," Yoda responds with gratitude.

Tara smiles as the hologram showing Yoda disappears, having been turned off on the other side.

"That was smart, Your Highness," Cody says. "That alone could help us win, capturing Dooku."

"It's the most I can do to help, Cody," she responds.

"Cody?" One of the officers asks. "Commander, what is she talking about?"

Tara laughs. "Funny story about that," Cody says nervously.

Tara has been standing at the table for the length of the battle, watching the forces move throughout. By now the battle is over, and the Jedi and clone forces are returning to the cruisers. The door opens behind them, and Windu walks in, being followed by Masters Tii, Mundi, Plo, Kolar, and Fisto.

"Princess Tara," Windu says.

"Masters," she responds. "I take it your mission was a success?"

"Unfortunately, no," he responds. "Count Dooku managed to escape, and he injured Kenobi and Anakin."

"What?" Tara says with shock.

"Master Yoda is with them, taking them back here, along with Senator Amidala. Dooku defeated them in the hangar you told us of, and he fled in the solar sailer ship."

Tara is still looking at him with shock. "What about any of Dooku's allies? Have any of them been captured?"

"No, they all fled. Only Viceroy Gunray, Lott Dod, and Archduke Poggle were at the arena."

"Did you see any of them while you were here, My Lady?" Mundi asks her.

"Yes," she responds. "I saw quite a few of Dooku's allies and supporters. He held a dinner last night, and made me attend with them."

Windu sighs. "Dooku tries to act like a gentleman, making alliances with corporations and inviting in individual planets to join his rebellion. This move by him you're telling me about doesn't surprise me, Princess."

"Yes, well, he sure acted like it until I directly said I was there against my will."

"I'm sorry that had to happen." Windu puts a hand on her shoulder, squatting down to be at her level.

"Sir, Madam," Cody says, standing at the table. "Master Yoda's ship just came into the port side hangar, with the injured Jedi."

Tara runs past Windu and out the door, towards the hangar.

Windu is frozen, staring in the direction she just went. Cody speaking breaks him out of the reverie.

"I'll go after her, Sir. You can stay here if you wish."

Tara runs down the hallway, eventually coming up on her friends.

"Padmé!" She shouts. She runs into Padmé hard and hugs her with all her force. Padmé laughs, and hugs her back.

"Tara, I'm so glad to see that you're safe," she replies.

"I'm glad to see you're safe too! Is your back alright?" She asks, letting go of Padmé.

"I'm fine," Padmé replies. "The scratches from the nexu weren't that deep, and I think we should worry more about other injuries. Speaking of which, are you alright?"

"I'm pretty sure I have a bruise on my lekku, but it shouldn't be anything too serious. Hearing is alright with it, and it still can twitch the little amount it always can."

"It's bruised? Let me see," Padmé demands. She pulls Tara's head down, looking at her lekku. It is slightly bruised, but it doesn't look so bad to Padmé.

"You said you can hear, but the movement is flawed?" She asks, sounding worried

"Hearing is weird, as both my human ears and lekku work in that field," Tara responds. "As for movement, it's always been flawed, Padmé. I never got proper muscle development in the appendage, so it can't move the way most Togrutans can move their lekkus."

Padmé sighs. "I guess you're right." She looks back at Anakin and Obi-Wan. The latter has someone helping him walk, having suffered two gashes in his leg and arm.

"Obi-Wan?"

"It's more painful than it looks, Tara. I'll recover quickly. It's-Anakin you should be worried about.

Tara looks at him. His face shows a lot of pain. She winces when she notices that his right arm has a stub where his hand should be, cut off about halfway down the forearm.

"Anakin-"

"I'll be alright, Princess," he assures her. "I just- ow, ahhhhhhhhhhhh," he moans in pain when part of his sleeve touches the stub.

The clone escorting him informs Tara, "He's been given some pain relief, Miss, but he'll probably need more, and he'll need this stub to be treated better."

"Thank you, trooper," she responds. "Now, I think we all have to visit the medbay?"

Hours later after the clean up is complete, the ship is taking with the others to leave Geonosis, with a destination of Coruscant. Anakin is sitting up in his bed, with Padmé sitting on the edge, looking at him. Obi-Wan is sitting in a chair, talking with Cody.

"And she just gave you the name?" Obi-Wan asks.

"Yeah, something like that," he responds. "She said her reasoning was that I wasn't a droid."

"Well, you aren't, and I think it suits you well."

"Yeah," Padmé adds. "If you insisted on being called by a number, she'd be calling you Mr. 22-24, like what she did with 'Miss FK' back home."

Anakin laughs. "Where is Tara?" He asks them.

"Oh, she's over there," Obi-Wan answers, pointing to a chair up against the far wall. Seated in it, Tara is fast asleep.

"Should we wake her?" Padmé asks. "I don't think she's eaten yet."

"I think we should let her sleep, Padmé," Obi-Wan responds. "Cody, can you take her to one of the officer's cabins, if there's one available?"

"Yes,sir," Cody responds. He picks up Tara into a bridal carry and carries her out of the medbay, and through the ship towards where the officer's cabins are. He finds an available one, and marks it as 'Princess Tara' before opening the door and gently laying her down on the bunk. He snorts when her head immediately rolls to the side to keep weight off her lekku. He leaves the cabin, walking away as she finally gets to peacefully sleep.

Hours later, the ship is cruising through hyperspace, only an hour away from Coruscant. Obi-Wan, Yoda, Windu, Cody, and several others are gathered on the bridge. King Eric and Queen G'yaté appear as holograms on the table.

"And you say that she is safely onboard, in a cabin sleeping?" King Eric asks.

"Yes sir, I left her that way some hours ago," Cody responds.

"Have you seen her since?" Queen G'yaté asks.

"No, My Lady," Obi-Wan says. "Should we send for her?"

"Yes, if she's up for it," King Eric answers.

"I'll check on her, but stop by the mess hall first," Cody responds. "Grab her something to eat."

"Thank you so much, trooper," King Eric says. "And thank you too, Master Kenobi," he finishes as Cody leaves the bridge heading towards Tara's occupied cabin.

Cody knocks at the door. There is no answer.

"Your Highness?" He asks. Again, no answer.

He opens the door, and sees her still sleeping, facing away from him and the door. He chuckles. He sets the food down on the small desktop surface in the cabin.

"We'll be at Coruscant in one hour. And I brought you something to eat, I know you're hungry, Princess."

He turns to leave the cabin as Tara's head moves in her bunk. "Thank you, Cody," she says quietly.

"You're welcome, Ma'am," he replies as he closes the door and heads back to the bridge.

Tara rolls over in bed. She flips the covers off her, and sits up. Feeling hot, she takes the cloak off of the robes, the same robes Dooku gave her over a day ago. She stands up, and walks over to where there is a basin. She washes her hands, then her face, hair, montrals and lekku. She then sits down in the chair and eats the food quickly before running out of the cabin and towards the bridge.

Tara enters the bridge. Looking right at her, on the holo table, are her parents' projections. She runs up to the table.

"Mom! Dad!"

"Tara," Queen G'yaté says. "I'm so glad to see you're safe! I've missed you! I've been so worried!"

"I've missed you too," Tara replies.

"Tara," King Eric says. "Are you alright?"

Yes dad, I'm alright," Tara answers.

"Did anyone hurt you at any point?" Eric asks her.

"Yes," Tara responds. "Dooku used a force trick, I don't know what it was, but I was moving at his will. He used it to- look at my tattoos."

"He did what!" Eric shouts.

"I don't know why, he asked what was on my arm and I didn't answer right away, so he did it!" Tara starts panicking, being caught off guard at her father's bout of anger.

Eric takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Tara," he says calmly. "I just don't want anything to happen to you, and knowing that something did, it's hard to cope with."

"I'm alright now, Dad. I'm on my way back, I'll be with you again," Tara reassures him.

"What are you wearing?" G'yaté asks. "Where did you get those?"

"Oh this," Tara answers, gesturing to the robes she had on, "This was given to me by Dooku before the dinner he hosted. He said he wanted me to look nice."

"Dooku mentioned a dinner to me, after our attempted escape," Obi-Wan says, looking at Tara. "He said his allies were celebrating after the successful negotiations. Were you there?"

"I was there," she responds.

"You were at a dinner surrounded by Dooku and his allies?" Eric asks.

"Eh-yeah, I was," she answers. "But I don't think any of them even knew I was there before I came into the room, except Dooku and the bounty hunter."

"Was Dooku acting alone then, Master Kenobi?" Eric asks Obi-Wan.

"I believe so, Sir," he replies. "The reason I suspected Tara was there is because Dooku mentioned that the bounty hunter Fett had succeeded in 'other aspects' and that he had an ambassador on the planet, which I thought might have been you."

"Did any of Dooku's allies do anything to you, Tara?" Eric asks.

"Nothing other than intimidation," she responds. "But one person there, Senator Organa-"

"What did he do?" G'yaté asks, cutting off Tara.

"It's not what he did do," Tara says, "More of what he didn't do. Most of Dooku's allies seemed to understand rather quickly that I wasn't there willingly, except for him. I had to guide him into understanding."

"Why would you do that?" Eric asks. "He's a Separatist, why would him understanding matter?"

"He," Tara hesitates before saying, "I thought that maybe he would be willing to help me off the planet, along with Kenobi, but he took a while before he understood the situation. When I had clearly said that I was kidnapped, Dooku said it was time for me to leave, and had me escorted out of the room. I tried to run, but it didn't work and all it got me was a pair of binders."

Eric sighs. "Were you given food and water, besides the meal with Dooku's allies?"

"I was given water," Tara responds, "But they gave me Jesseny worm larvae, and I didn't want to risk the stomach acid reaction being fatal."

"So you hadn't eaten at all for a couple days?" G'yaté asks.

"Yes, mom."

"I had an item of food on me, Tara," Obi-Wan says. "When we were escaping. I would've given it to you."

"It- didn't seem like the best time to ask to eat, when you're climbing down a cliff with me on your back."

Obi-Wan sighs. "Did you eat at the meal?"

"Quite a bit, actually. Even Viceroy Gunray thought I was being greedy."

Eric sighs. "Well, have you eaten today?"

"Yes, dad. Cody left some food in my cabin and I ate it before coming here."

G'yaté chuckles. "That's good to hear."

Cody approaches the holo table from further in the bridge. "Princess, Sir, we are now exiting hyperspace at Coruscant."

The view out the window changes. What was the blur of stars appearing cloud-like has now become the planet Coruscant.

"We're here," Obi-Wan says.

"I'll see you in a moment?" Tara asks her parents.

"Yes, my dear," Eric replies. "I'll see you then."

"Don't go running off halfway across the galaxy before then," G'yaté adds.

"Yeah, mom, I'll try not to," Tara says. "Bye, for now."

The holograms disappear. Tara turns to look at Obi-Wan.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Uh," Kenobi is caught off guard by the question, "Yes, I'm feeling better. The wounds got treated, and Anakin got a mechanical hand installed successfully."

"That's good to hear. Where are Anakin and Padmé?"

"Anakin is escorting the Senator to Naboo. They were there when you were being held captive, after a second assassination attempt failed."

"But then why were they on Geonosis? Did they get abducted too?"

"They," Obi-Wan sighed, "Were on Tatooine. Before I got to you, I sent a message to Coruscant informing them of the situation. I had Anakin retransmit the message for me, and for whatever reason he decided that he had to come and try to rescue us."

"I didn't see them at all until the arena."

"Then that should speak on how well Anakin did," Obi-Wan says with a smirk.

Tara laughs momentarily, then stops.

"Thank you," she says.

"What?"

"For going to Geonosis to try and help me."

"Tara, I," he hesitates before saying, "It was my duty to help you, and I'd gladly do it again. And you did pretty well yourself, too."

"What? What did I do?"

"Trying to get Senator Organa to sympathize with you was smart, and you stayed with me in the arena pit while keeping away from my lightsaber so I could use it. That was good."

"Thank you. But, I bet I could do more if it happened again."

"It takes time, but I'm sure you could. Once you get a little older."

"Uh, hey," she says, trying to fake being stern.

Obi-Wan laughs. "You'll have to do better than that to be intimidating."

Tara pouts, before giving into laughter too.