Chapter 10: On The Run

ARC Trooper Fives runs through the streets of Coruscant, clutching his head and running down through the alleyways, knowing that even if he keeps running, he will eventually be captured unless he finds assistance or be able to evacuate from the planet.

He has to find help, have to find true knowledge of this plan that involves the higher-ups such as the Chancellor and his allies.

The Jedi will be searching for him as would his brothers. Each is going to seek either his head or his captivity where he will stand trial for assault on the Chancellor and other crimes the Chancellor may fabricate to assure the knowledge he knows doesn't spread.

Fives sees faint light in the distance and he quickly dives behind a trashcan, staring out seconds later to see Commander Fox walking alongside his men. Posters of him hang all over the city through the holonets, demanding his capture and him returning to the Republic.

He knows why no one believes him. The Chancellor's explanation for Tup's behavior is much more logical than Fives'. A malfunction in an inhibitor chip causing insanity whether induced by a virus or simply random is much more plausible than the massive conspiracy theory Fives comes up with.

There are many millions of clones, and some of them are bound to malfunction. No product is immune to some errors; even if the Kaminoan cloning process satisfies the extremely strict six sigma standard there'll still be 3.4 errors per million clones. This is supported by defective clones. There's no reason why mutations shouldn't affect sanity as well. Thus, it's completely plausible that two clones went insane and started behaving aggressively simply due to random chance. In fact, the Chancellor weakens his argument with the virus hypothesis.

Fives' theory, on the other hand, sounds preposterous to Shaak Ti, and it would to anyone less they are outside of the galaxy. He is claiming that inhibitor chips exist not to make clones docile but because of a massive plot by some hidden power to destroy the Jedi, and he's claiming that he alone discovered this plot even though no other evidence has been found. It sounds completely insane. The Chancellor's explanation, on the other hand, makes much more sense and it's understandable that the Jedi would readily accept it.

Fives know the Chancellor was trying to provoke him into attacking him. Obviously, Fives couldn't kill him, and the attack would make the trooper look like an unstable lunatic. Since Fives looked like a madman, nobody is going to believe his warnings about the chips. And should when Fives did to try to warn everyone, he will look like a paranoid conspiracy nut to them.

Where can he go? He can try to convince General Tano as she is quite close to her men in the 501st, but he knows that there are risks to that; if he speaks with the general, she would be dragged into the plot and the Chancellor may do something to harm Ahsoka or make her look equally as him to the galaxy.

General Kenobi and the Council would not listen. They didn't when General Skywalker was-

Wait! General Skywalker! He can find a way to come into contact with his former general and explain everything, showing him the evidence he collected from all!

But where is his general? It's too risky to attempt to steal a comlink and use his general's old frequency which the general may have altered by now since rumors have it that the Jedi Order has been tracking him down again for some unknown reason.

Surely the general would understand, for he too has been framed for a crime he did not commit months back and it's only due to him snapping which led to him proving his innocence, though he, unfortunately, left the Jedi Order, likely feeling betrayed and angered at the Jedi for not doing enough to prove his innocence.

Fives cannot say he blames his general as heartbreaking him leaving was. Tano is a good general but she will never replace General Skywalker in the hearts of the veterans.

Fives served with Skywalker in the 501st legion during the entire duration of the clone wars up to the point where he was accused of a crime he did not commit. Like Rex, Skywalker admired and respected Fives as he did every clone under his command. Skywalker, as dark as he can be, the lighter side was expressed more often amidst his troops. Sadness, mercy, and compassion were often displayed by him in front of his men. He loved them as friends and loyal soldiers to the republic up until the end and this was also the case of Fives.

However, Chancellor Palpatine respected Skywalker, praising him on every successful mission, comforting him on every failure of a mission, being a source of guidance that Fives have never witnessed before. Would General Skywalker honestly think the Chancellor is behind a conspiracy with the plot?

However the results played out, it is worth a try. Besides, him going before the Jedi would not be wise as they have been associating alongside the Republic for decades which means they will not believe him.

With General Skywalker, there is a chance.

The mood is notably somber, not that it hasn't been for the last few months since Anakin left, but still, there is almost an unnamed tension that threatens to swallow them whole, something that the Jedi noticed getting more and more frequent.

Shaak Ti tells the Jedi Council what has happened in a conference with Yoda, Ahsoka, Mace Windu, and Plo Koon. About how Fives have apparently gone defective and must be found at all costs which angers Ahsoka slightly.

She didn't believe it until the Jedi Master shows a hologram video of Fives attacking the Chancellor, evading and escaping the clones that are attempting to catch him, reminding Ahsoka of the events much back with her Master. She cannot help but wonder if this is another incident with Anakin or if Fives has actually lost his mind. Many have believed that Anakin turned to the dark side at the end but her Master proved them wrong and proven himself to be innocent of the crimes maintained against him.

"I can't believe Fives would try to assassinate the Chancellor," Ahsoka comments, crossing her arms across her chest.

"The Kaminoans feel a virus corrupted the clone's inhibitor chip, which has led to this behaviour." Shaak Ti elaborates, and Ahsoka can see the regret in her eyes and can't help but feel slightly remorseful for her. "ARC trooper Fives feels he is the victim of a plot, Separatist or otherwise."

Ahsoka knows the main reason why the Jedi Master is upset. It is because she oversaw the clone production at Kamino.

And she had a very approachable, motherly attitude towards all the clones. She cares about them and have great compassion for every clone.

This even got her into trouble with the Kaminoans, who are emotionless and cold towards their "products". At times, Shaak Ti even acts like an overprotective mom for the clones. Therefore, most, if not all of, the clones had this feeling of being loved and nurtured by Shaak Ti, and many Jedi, Ahsoka included, it that way too.

During the clones' growth and early life, Shaak Ti was the closest thing they would have to a mother, even though she would have to attend to millions of clones and very few would actually be able to interact with her. So she is considered the clone mom.

Ahsoka felt the same remorse when Anakin went on the run and the other events following her former Master.

"All security and clone forces on Coruscant have been ordered to join the manhunt." Mace Windu announces, and they can swear there is something sour in his mouth, almost as if he disapproves of something that they are about to know. "The Chancellor has been moved to his Senate quarters, and the perimeter has been secured. However, Jedi involvement has not been requested."

Ah, that's it. Ahsoka nearly snorts at that. Why is she not surprised?

"Something's out of place," Obi-Wan proclaims, eyeing Ahsoka out of the corner of his eyes, almost as if he agrees with her on her mental thought.

"Hmm, discover the truth we must." Yoda declares.

"If there is a plot involving the clones, we must get to the bottom of it." Mace Windu suggests. "We will investigate quietly, undercover, we must make sure this clone is not killed."

"I'll handle this investigation," Ahsoka declares matter of factly, her eyes filled with an intensity that no one will be able to convince her otherwise. "Fives was part of the 501st, if Rex and I find him, he'll trust us."

Obi-Wan speaks up. "I will join as well with Cody. It will be unwise to send only one Jedi after Fives."

"Be wary." Shaak Ti caution, concern in her eyes. "Since he removed his inhibitor chip, Fives may no longer be the man you once knew."

In the darkness of the room, Anakin meditates. For the last few months, meditation came off as easier for the former young Jedi for reasons that he will never understand. Padmé still hasn't returned from that Senate meeting, meaning something big is happening, but he isn't worried.

The Jedi are not on alert so that means that Anakin's Force powers have not limited in the slightest. Far from it, his power intensified in the last month, him seeking to become a being neither surrounded by light nor dark but someone in the middle much like he once thought impossible but no longer standing adrift by that naivé belief.

No Sith nor Jedi will control his destiny and the choices he makes.

The Jedi have controlled him at one point in his life and he lost his mother when in reality he should have been the Jedi Qui-Gon envisioned for him to be, to be like the man who he viewed as a mentor and father figure shortly before his untimely demise, to become the man who he is today years ago.

Instead, he forced himself to become Obi-Wan's perfect protégé, forced himself to detach from his mother all the while bruting over this for months to the point where he lost his mother because of ineffectiveness on his part and on the Jedi. They should have rescue his mother and take her to Naboo where she would have been safe and far away to intervene with his training, however, Anakin knows deep down that part of the Jedi were hoping that his mother would die in order for the bond between him and his mother to be shattered, to the point where he would become another emotionless drone who cares little for his own life and cares about others without feeling something should be returned.

Anakin's eyes burn golden at that momentarily. The Jedi-they have failed as peacekeepers and they only seek to use individuals such as himself, Ventress, and even Dooku because of their either extraordinary power in the Force or the skill with martial arts purposes. They don't care what happens to anyone inside of the Order which is precisely why they willingly and without hesitation send children on the battlefield.

Having enough of his musings less his control will shatter, he knows it's time to watch some television. He sprawls over the bed and turns it on with the controller, watching with a bored look as he continues to change the channel.

For what he knows is hours, he continues to change the channel, growing quite bored and irritated with it...

"Clone trooper on the run!"

Anakin, at first, believed that he didn't hear that right as he lamely continues to change the channel, but his eyes widen when he registers the words a second time, changing back to the News channel and staring at the screen as if he is enthralled by it, seeing the reporter speaking on her microphone.

"Earlier today, an ARC Trooper from an unknown legion has been declared on the run. He is wanted for assault on the Supreme Chancellor, resisting arrest, assault on officals, and is likely carrying a deadly weapon. If you see this Trooper, you are to evade him and contact the Republic in order for him to be neutralized."

Just as the reporter speaks, a picture of a clone trooper appears on the screen behind her. Anakin knows there have been rogue clone troopers in the past, Sergeant Slick being a prime example of that, but this is the last thing the former Jedi have ever expected.

Although all of the clone troopers Anakin knows speak and look the same, he has always been able to tell their differences even without their armor or without that certain appearance many of them share besides the defective clones such as 99. It can be bottled down due to their personalities being entirely different under his command, or the Force itself.

Fives. It's him. He knows it is.

Immediately questions fill his head. What have Fives done? Is he a traitor like Slick or is it something more? Why will Fives attempt to kill the Chancellor? Is Fives being framed by a rogue clone trooper like Anakin was framed by a rogue Jedi? If Fives is being framed like he was, why would the Chancellor accuse him out of all the troopers instead of searching deeper into the facts? What is going on?

Anything the reporter says afterward is silenced by the television deactivating, and he walks outside of the bedroom. Perhaps that is a reason why Padmé has been in the Senate for so long because rogue clone troopers are extremely dangerous and can pose a threat to everyone who is around them.

He clicks a comlink, telling Mara he would be back later, along with the handmaidens before locating the speeder he stolen from those police droids that one of the handmaidens must have been nice enough to park for him.

First thing's first, Anakin needs to locate Fives and find out about what is happening. If his once-loyal man has become a traitor, perhaps it would be merciful to claim his life to assure that countless tests wouldn't be run onto him as it had happened to other troopers such as Dogma which is heavily unfortunate but it cannot be avoided. He remembers seeing the trooper after his reconditioning and was angry at the Kaminoans for stripping the man who shot a traitorous Jedi and yet being rewarded by the Jedi Order and Republic with a mind wipe and becoming an emotionless drone beyond disposition from his former personality, a soldier with same face but no heart.

Though, him being betrayed by the Jedi Order no longer leaves him as a being without independence. Now, he knows anything can happen and will accept it, even if it's the deepest betrayal possible, even if it shatters his heart. No one shall choose his path.

Not the Jedi. Not Obi-Wan. Not the Republic. Not the Separatists. Not even the Chancellor.

"Set coordinates for the undercity."