Hello again, my lovelies! I can't believe we're finally here! After almost a year, we're finally reaching the final arc of this story. I hope you're all as ecstatic as I am! :)

Arrested (Final pt1)

Power is power, and no one can deny it otherwise

The meeting with Jedi Council started off just as Palpatine expected: with Master Plo Koon putting his foot down and being harder than usual. "Why were Aliyah and her men taken into custody?"

Palpatine waved his hand calmly. "That will be answered in due time."

"That will be answered now." The tone of the Kel Dor Jedi Master gave no subtleties to his rising impatience.

Surprisingly enough, none of the other Council members seemed eager to reprimand him. They too, wanted to know why nearly an entire legion was arrested on such short notice.

Palpatine feigned submission and bowed his head to give into Plo's demands. "As you wish, Master Jedi. It is highly suspected that she, or a number of clones from her division, were involved in making a trade with Admiral Trench. Offering one of their own men for his research on the event of Ringo Vinda, in exchange for being let in on his findings."

"That is not possible," Plo insisted. "Aliyah would never have allowed such a trade to happen."

"Perhaps so. But that doesn't mean she's completely unaware of what was going on."

Palpatine gestured for Nala Se to step up and present the security footage on the centre holotable. Almost immediately, images of Dogma and Egad frantically scurrying about Prime Minister Lama Su's office came up. The Council watched with mild suspicion.

"Dogma, remember what the commander said!" Egad shouted to his friend over at the computer. The sound of fingers tapping across the keypad grew more frantic with every passing second. "It's not worth it if we get caught!"

"I know I know! I just—" Dogma's fingers stopped typing and his eyes grew wide as he looked the contingency orders compendium before him. "—found it!"

Egad rushed over to Dogma's side just as the footage suddenly cuts-off. The holotable powered down again, erasing all traces of the scene that just played out before the Jedi. Palpatine spoke before any of the Masters could have a chance to speak.

"That was all we managed to salvage from the Kaminoan security team. Everything else, those clones, or their accomplices, have managed to delete from the system." Palpatine's eyes shifted to the faces of each Jedi Master in the meeting room. Some looked utterly shocked, while others seemed disappointed that yet another one of their own may have turned against the Republic. He internally smirked. "Breaking and entering the Prime Minister's office in search of content related to ARC-Trooper-5555's downfall…All because they're cynical of this government."

"Forgive me for saying this, Chancellor. But we're not too sure what to think of when it comes to your honesty anymore either," Obi-Wan divulged, his arms crossed.

"No, that is fair," Palpatine surprisingly admitted. "I have been taking extra precautions to ensure our enemies don't get a hold of information that may be beneficial towards them. And that, unfortunately, has the side-effects of turning my own people against me."

Mace Windu wasn't so moved by the passive play. "We know now that there is no such thing as a parasite native to Ringo Vinda. Why?" He looked to Palpatine and Nala Se. His eyes were narrowed and hardened. "Why lie to us?"

"We did not lie. We just didn't have all the facts," Nala Se stepped forward to present another revelation via the holotable. It was a summary chart of her updated research notes. "The reason why I discovered a parasite while your external researchers did not, is because it was a bio-weapon made by the Separatists. Planted it on Ringo Vinda with the intention to wipe out the entire clone army via a fatal epidemic. As soon as the mission was over they cleaned it off, so to prevent further spread. However, it had the unexpected outcome of malfunctioning its clone host's inhibitor chip instead of killing him. Thus causing the Master Tiplar tragedy we all know of today. A tragedy that did not go unnoticed by Admiral Trench, who was overseeing the parasite's first use in action. And now that he has his hands on another clone subject, it'll only be a matter of time before we're all doomed to instant defeat."

The Council did not like the sound of that. But they were still wary of believing anything being told to them. "Elaborate, on this danger of Trench holding the kidnapped clone, you must," Yoda said—though it was closer to an order.

"The Separatists are not aware of the inhibitor chips." Nala Se paused to let that fact sink into every single Master present in the room. "The second they learn of its existence, they'll work day and night to exploit any form of weakness within the chip that could ensure their victory in this war. They'll exploit our own army."

Palpatine nodded in complete agreement. He diverted his attention to the entire Council, seeing now that they better understood the situation at hand. It was all going to his plan. "If these renegades have just waited until we came up with better conclusions, none of this would've happened. But instead, they decided to take things to the extreme and have inadvertently signed all of our death warrants."

"But that footage, only two clones were present. Yet you decided to have them arrested, alongside all of the legion's officers," Kit Fisto pointed out. "Why is that?"

"Because they mentioned their commander," Palpatine said matter-of-factly. He paced around the room, his hands put cleanly behind his back. "If their commander is involved that means more of the legion could be involved as well. It's common knowledge really, in situations where the top brass plays a role in conspiracy plots. So I had no choice but to take all their officers too since I do not know how far this web of deceit goes."

Plo wasn't convinced. He believed the security footage. He believed the possibility of some members of the 304th being suspicious over the events following Ringo Vinda. He believed that they may have taken action to get a clearer story. But he did not believe in the trade that was made with Trench. Something was horribly out of context here.

"I still find it extremely difficult to believe that Aliyah would—"

"—If the commander was involved," Palpatine swiftly interrupted Plo, "I have no doubt that she'd at least be aware of what he was up to. Whether or not she agreed, that doesn't matter, although…I'm leaning more towards the fact that she agreed."

Just as Plo thought. Something was horribly out of context. He couldn't believe anything the Chancellor says anymore. As for Palpatine, he expected nothing less out of these reactions.

~ O O O ~

The meeting between the Council Masters ended several hours later. They left the Senate feeling tired, angry, and worn. This discussion with Nala Se and the Chancellor was supposed to answer their questions, but instead, it just added more to their ever-growing pile. Sometime during the middle of the meeting, Palpatine authorized the send-out of Republic spies to locate where Admiral Trench is holding the kidnapped 304th clone captain. As soon as they have a location pinpointed, armed forces will be sent in to retrieve him. However, that did not answer the question of what will happen to Aliyah and all the clones that were arrested.

Plo did not feel good while travelling back to the Temple with his fellow Jedi. His emotions were wavering on dangerous levels. "I do not believe such a trade was conducted by Aliyah, or any of her men."

"But you do believe she may have taken actions into her own hands?" Mace carefully asked.

"That I do." Plo knew there was no denying the fact Aliyah, and several other Jedi, were suspicious of the facts being presented to them from the Chancellor and Kaminoans. Chances are, she did do a little digging herself. "But to offer one of her own captains…That is not the Aliyah I've taught and raised. Nor is that any of the soldiers I've met from her division."

"Admiral Trench obtained his clone subject directly from Kamino's headquarters," Mace pointed out. "The Chancellor is right in suspecting an inside worker, question is who? And whether or not there's more of them."

"Not important, those matters are," Yoda announced from the front of the group. "Find and retrieve the kidnapped clone, we must. Before Trench makes his discovery on the chips, that is our top priority. And perhaps then," the wise GrandMaster of the Order turned around to face his company. He directed his sympathies towards the anguished Plo Koon, "evidence for the 304th's innocence and non-involvement, shall surface."

Though not much, Plo was glad he wasn't alone in feeling the wrongful detainment of his former Padawan and her legion. He looked to the dark silhouette of the Senate detainment building in the distance.

I'll get you out. I'll get you all out. I promise. Plo moved forward with more vigour.

~ O O O ~

Palpatine entered the large building for holding prime Republic felons with an entourage of guards. A strong sense of confidence accompanied him as he walked down the cold silvery halls. Today was a success. The Council was more focused on the threat of Separatists possibly discovering and exploiting clone inhibitor chips, that they were willing to gloss over any suspicions they're having right now. But of course, that didn't mean they fully agreed with the arresting of one of their own. They'll want to do something about it. Plo Koon especially.

Taking a tray of food from an attendant, Palpatine headed towards the cellblock where the 304th Jedi general was being held.

Aliyah coughed from the lack of fresh air in her holding room. She sat, despairingly on a long convex metal seat, her back against the wall. The events of the day hammered deep into her head. Palpatine carefully entered the cell.

"You look unwell, my dear. Have they brought you anything to eat?" The door behind Palpatine locked shut as he walked up to where Aliyah sat. He placed the tray of food on the small table next to her.

Aliyah did not acknowledge him. Nor did she move. She just kept staring at the plain grey wall directly across from her. Refusing to make any eye contact with the man responsible for her and her legion's downfall. And most likely—the orchestrator of Kal's kidnapping. If there was a metre to measure a Jedi's appropriate level of rage, she'd probably have broken it by now.

"I know this isn't pleasant, but you must agree that the evidence brought before me is quite fitting." Palpatine walked a few steps back to give her some room. His demeanour suddenly darkened. "Now tell me, did you discover anything, anything at all, behind the death of ARC-Trooper-5555? Because if you did, remember that it is your duty to say so."

Aliyah didn't bother moving from her corner. She kept her eyes glued away from Palpatine and coldly muttered, "You can stop it with the fair and benevolent act."

That call-out hardly affected Palpatine, who continued to proceed with etiquette. "I only want the truth. The people deserve to know the truth, don't you think? Otherwise they may start fearing insurgency from the clones, or even the Jedi."

"You're good…no wonder the Council never suspected anything." Aliyah kept her rising anger at bay. "You possess all the qualities of a democratic leader. Charisma, intelligence, accountability, delegation, but you lack compassion. You lack honesty. Perhaps if you had both of those, ARC-Trooper Fives would've never run to Skywalker in the first place."

"Yes, that's a…bit of a miscalculation on my part," Palpatine surprisingly agreed. "You Jedi really do make things so unpredictable sometimes."

"Do we now?" Aliyah asked sarcastically.

"Think of it as a compliment," Palpatine calmly shot back. "How was I supposed to know that ARC-Trooper-5555 would take so much after his free-spirited general? Or that CC-3484 would fall greatly for his?"

The slight crack of Aliyah's monotone expression made Palpatine smirk ever-so-slightly. In that instant, he knew he hit a sensitive spot, and so, decided to press deeper. "He's in love with you, isn't he?" It was more of a statement than a question. "I can't think of any other reason for him to go through such lengths—tell me, my dear. Do you love him back?"

It took every ounce of Aliyah's energy to keep herself rooted in her seat. She took a deep breath. "Get out."

Palpatine nodded nonchalantly. "Yes, yes, of course. I have yet to pay your commander a visit, after all. Perhaps he would be—"

"GET OUT OF HERE! YOU CONNIVING SON OF A SITH!"

Aliyah hurled her tray at Palpatine. It flew past him by an inch and hit the wall behind. Food splattered everywhere. Palpatine looked past the mess and at the furious young Jedi glowering before him. The answer to his last question was obvious. He shook his head in false pity.

"So you do. How tragic."

Then without saying another word, Palpatine turned and left the cell. An oddly satisfying look formed on his face. Back inside, Aliyah struggled to piece herself back together. Pain ruptured through her core as she felt the suffering of all her men that she had inadvertently put them into.

I'm sorry… She brought her knees inwards to her chest. I'm so sorry, everyone…

~ O O O ~

Wolffe rushed through the crowd of workers, Jedi, and soldiers alike. They were all gathered around the Temple's front gate, talking about the latest events and exchanging theories for why it may have happened. But Wolffe didn't want to hear it from any of them. He needed to hear it from Plo.

The Council Masters re-entered the Temple premises through a side-entrance to avoid the crowd. Amongst them was Plo. Wolffe called out to him.

"General!"

Turning his head around, Plo saw his commander coming up to him. Despite the helmet being on he could see the anxiety brimming across Wolffe's one eye. The clone stopped before him. Plo signalled for the rest of the Masters to leave the two of them be.

"Is it true? They've all been arrested?" Wolffe asked. He didn't need to specify whom. Plo looked away grimly.

"I'm afraid so."

This. This was the exact situation Wolffe did NOT want to have transpired. It was why he tried to convince Steele to drop the case. Why he went to Aliyah to get her to convince him to drop it. Why did she decide to give him one more day on Coruscant? Why?

"Is there anything you can do about it?" Wolffe quickly added on.

"If there was, I would've already done it," Plo answered. He gestured for Wolffe to follow him inside the building. "There is something strange with these accusations and I refuse to let this turn into another Ahsoka Tano case. Not again."

Pain seeped into Plo's voice. Along with guilt. He lost one daughter-figure because he didn't believe in her enough. He was not about to repeat the same mistakes. Next to him, Plo sensed uneasiness from Wolffe. He wondered what he was thinking about.

~ O O O ~

Elsewhere in the blocks of the detainment building, and throughout its branches across Coruscant, officers of the 304th were being subjected to brutal interrogation methods. Not physically brutal, but emotionally—mentally brutal. In each separated questioning room of the complex, clones were being gaslit and twisted into thinking they were involved in a conspiracy most of them have no knowledge of. And throughout it all, they were pounded with the accusation of selling out one of their own brothers-in-arms, for selfish gain.

It was gut-wrenching. For each interrogated clone to know their former substitute-commander and friend was in enemy hands…apparently thanks to them.

Tarkin sat opposite to the table where Dogma was currently sitting restrained. He began the interrogation with a disdainful stare. "I would say I'm surprised to see you locked up again, but I won't. To be frank I'm not surprised at all." Tarkin took out a handheld datapad for note-taking. He distastefully muttered, "Once a rogue, always a rogue."

Dogma didn't say anything. He needn't waste his energy on a man who never listened to him since the Umbara trial. What reason would he have to listen to him now? Tarkin continued speaking, despite the silence.

"Now then. You can start by choosing to co-operate, or to not co-operate. Though, I must warn you if you choose the latter, the life of your fellow comrade, CT-7701 might be in more peril than it is right now."

"I did NOT hand him over to Trench," Dogma said, hard and straightforward. He locked eyes with Tarkin, making sure the man could see his unwavering resolve in his own innocence. That despite all the accusations saying otherwise, Dogma will continue to deny them.

Tarkin did not change his stone-cold attitude. "Fine. Then let's start by speaking of the surveillance footage from the Prime Minister's office. Do you deny that recorded event from ever happening?"

"I do not deny it," Dogma answered so quickly that it caught Tarkin off-guard for a brief second.

"Why were and your fellow partner, CT-5304, ransacking a place of restriction?"

"We were looking for evidence on what really happened to the two clones from the 501st. The ones you called 'rogues.'" Dogma's voice grew more accusatory. His stare hardened. "They weren't rogues and none of the arrested men here gave up Kal to Trench. It's all just pretty black lies made by this government that we even have the audacity to call a 'democracy!'"

Tarkin closed his eyes in response to the clone's rising tone of voice. He never liked it when emotions were poured into place of logic. "So I guess you don't want to save the life of CT-7701."

"I do!" Dogma shouted.

"Then tell us where he is!" Tarkin seethed, his patience decreasing by the second.

"Why don't you ask the Chancellor where he is!?" Dogma shot back. He was careful not to move too much around in his chair, otherwise the electric-sensors might activate. "Or the Prime Minister. Or any of the Kaminoans who were at HQ at that time! 'Cause I guarantee they know more than any of us you have detained here!"

Tarkin snapped his datapad up from the table and turned it off. He got out of his chair, smoothly and efficiently. "That's it. We're done here." The Judicial called in the guards to move Dogma back to his holding cell. He looked at the clone one last time. "Just know that if CT-7701 dies, or if Trench does indeed discover something that would turn the tides of the war against us, you and your entire legion will be put to the same fate."

The guards entered the interrogation room and took Dogma back to his cell.

~ O O O ~

Trench was preparing for some initial tests to be done on his new clone subject. This was an opportunity given to him by Count Dooku himself. He would not let this slip through his hands again. Not like what happened to that infected clone from Ringo Vinda.

"Admiral, you have an incoming call from Count Dooku," one of the helper B12-droids announced.

Not wanting to leave the room while Separatist scientists and assistant droids alike were preparing the clone for testing, Trench motioned for the droid to bring the holo-projector here. "Bring the Count in. Let him see what is about to be done."

The droid obeyed and seconds later, the hologram of a hooded Count Dooku was brought into the experiment room. Trench and all the workers present bowed their heads in respect. "Count Dooku, as you can see, the clone is about to undergo some preparations for more procedures down the line. Though, it would be difficult finding out exactly what caused the clone from Ringo Vinda to go mad, it is not impossible."

"Good. Very well," Dooku praised for the quick initiation. "And I trust the place where you're conducting these tests are secure?"

"Very secure. And even if the Republic were to discover where we are, we can move to a new different location, quickly and securely." Trench's mandibles clattered with delight. He knew what he was doing and what he could be up against.

"That is good to hear. However," Dooku added warningly. "It is best to complete your research before the Republic arrives for their leaked intel. If you discover what it is that caused that one clone to execute his Jedi leader, alert me at once."

Two large guard droids entered the room. One of them handed Trench a small comm-like device. It had a single button on it. Dooku explained what it was for, "Press that button the second you think made a viable discovery and not for anything else. Understood?"

"Yes, My Lord," Trench nodded. He ordered some helper droids to put the button away in a temporary place. Dooku was pleased to hear. Everything was going according to his Master's plan.

"Good. Because the instant you do, you will be given full permission to annhilate the entire Jedi Order."

Hearing that made Trench swell with pride. This was an opportunity he never thought he'd have in his lifetime. "That would be a great honour, and my pleasure, my Lord."

Dooku had now said everything he needed to say and decided to leave Trench be. "Alright, then I'll leave you to it. I hope to hear that alert from you soon."

The hologram disappeared and the droids took the projector back out to the communication room. Trench turned around to look at the clone, unconscious and lying in a test chamber hooked up to a multitude of wires and tubes. He looked to the head of the examination team—a sharp-tongued Twi'lek whom Trench did not get along with in particular—but was forced to for the sake of this experiment.

"Why are you not working, doctor?" Trench demanded.

The Twi'lek pulled on his pristine lab gloves coolly. "To perform the initial body-scans. We'll need to have the subject awake. To boost readings from his neural system."

"Alright, then wake him with a light electric shock," Trench suggested.

"That's not the problem," the Twi'lek said. Trench looked none too pleased. He was beginning to lose his patience.

"Then what is?"

"Some of the scans will involve forceful penetration and injection," the Twi'lek explained. His face turned grim. "It'll be painful—"

"Then let him scream," Trench reasoned.

"Quite painful," the Twi'lek enunciated.

"Then let him scream loudly." Trench towered over the scientist, causing the rest of the research team to stop working in fear. "It's not like the Republic will hear him anyways. Stop wasting time and get started on this thing."

Silently cursing to himself and apologizing to whatever higher power was looking down on them all, the Twi'lek put on his safety goggles and ordered for a light dose of electricity be applied to the clone. Kal awoke with the first shock. His eyes adjusted to the bright light and the unfamiliar faces surrounding him. Panic surged through his body. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was entering the Prime Minister's office…and then…

No…

Memories of being offered something to drink from Lama Su and then blacking out afterwards returned to Kal. He looked to the side of where he laid, recognizing the face of infamous Separatist Admiral Trench, watching over him from above. Why was he with Separatists!? And then he realized he couldn't move at all. He struggled but to no avail. The faces of scientists and med-droids looked at him distantly. Gradual overwhelming pain shot through his body. And he screamed.

"AAAAAHHHHH!"

~ O O O ~

The second Dooku got off his call with Trench, he got on another with his Lord and Master, Darth Sidious. The intimidating hologram of the hooded man that was supposedly the most powerful person in the galaxy appeared before him. "Master, I have given Trench the means to inform you quickly and discretely, the moment he discovers the true purpose of the clones' chips."

"Good. Good," the cloaked hologram said. A faint trace of a gleeful smile could be seen beneath his hood. "If he can figure out the chips before Republic forces arrive, Plan B is guranteed."

"You are sure that Republic forces will be coming to retrieve the captured clone?" Dooku asked.

"Yes. And not just any Republic forces, it'd be the clone's own division," Darth Sidious revealed, much to Dooku's intrigue. "They'd rather die than leave one of their own behind."

"But what if they refused?" Dooku suggested, rather boldly. Sidious narrowed his eyes behind his hood.

"What makes you think that they'll refuse?"

"Hypothetically speaking, Master," Dooku said in saving himself from disgrace.

"Well, hypothetically speaking, I am fully prepared for an outcome like that." In truth, Sidious would rather not have what Dooku suggested to come to pass. But even if it did, it wouldn't be too great of a disturbance. "It'd only be a minor hiccup in my grand scheme of things. When and who authorizes the execution of Order 66 does not matter. What matters is the aftermath of things. And I intend to be in full control of that."

~ O O O ~

Wolffe approached his general in his study room. He had finally come to a decision. "General Plo?"

Plo looked up from his desk where he was trying to put together a new argument for Aliyah and her men's release. "Wolffe, what is it?"

"There's something you should probably know, about why General Korentayer and the others were arrested."

Next time on The Clone's Hero, the 304th's situation continues to standstill while Palpatine's plan continues to propel, meanwhile, Wolffe decides to let Plo in on what he knows of the legion's detainment…

Review responses~ (Non-guest reviewers, I'll be replying later tonight to your reviews from the previous chapter! :D)

DojoYoyo: Palpatine is a winner, until the Skywalker twins are born. And then he tries to win again, unless you don't count the sequels are part of the Star Wars universe lol. XD

Radicalewe3: I deal with writer's block by watching shows and movies that help me think. Reading my favourite books also help a lot too. However, if you're suffering from writer's block, I don't recommend fighting through it. I personally never force myself to write, it'll only lead to regrets down the line, and it might drastically change the way my storyline is going. :)

Hello: Thank you, thank you! I hope you'll like this final arc! :)

Guest: Haha. I know. But it won't be a good final arc if the stakes aren't high! Hope you liked this chapter and the ones to come! :)

A/N. Sorry, no Steele this chapter, he'll be coming in next chapter—I promise. Whew. I'm exhausted. This co-op workterm isn't like my other traditional workterms. I'm no longer working 9-5. I'm now on-call and working overtime as well, due to our product just going public. As the lead software developer, I'm required to be available to a moment's notice to fix any issue with the website. So there will probably be a lot of delays in between chapters for this final arc. I'm sorry, it's just how it is. But I promise I'll do my best to keep consistent with my update schedule.

See you all next time! Please remember to fav, follow, or leave a review if you can! :)

- MiraLake