Chapter Twenty-Eight: Reassignment
Disclaimer: I do not own either Star Wars or Mass Effect. They're just two of my favorite franchises and I wanted to play in the sandbox.
The medbay was quiet. Kix liked it that way. A quiet medbay meant living brothers...except Fives. His eyes stung at the thought. Guilt had been weighing on his shoulders since that night. Fives had come to him for help and was dead because of it. It was impossible to stop the string of thoughts reminding him what he should have done differently.
He shouldn't have let Fives leave.
He should have gone with him.
He should have...done anything other than what he did.
Tapping his stylist on his holopad, Kix pulled up the official autopsy report for both Tup and Fives. The cause of death on both reports made his stomach knot: parasitic infection causing cerebral decay. Ever since first hearing the final word on the cause, he wasn't fully convinced it was the truth. Shepard's question kept lingering in his mind, raising more questions. Why would the Kaminoans claim faulty equipment in Doctor Chakwas' report if she had stumbled upon the chips? Why deny their existence when she clearly found them?
What he wouldn't give to talk to Shepard. During their last conversation in that very medbay only a handful of weeks earlier she seemed to be guiding him to a conclusion, as though she already knew the answers to the questions she asked. As he had a dozen other times, he tried to reach her on Kamino but couldn't get her signal. Unconsciously he raked his fingers through his quickly growing hair as he considered his options, fingers skimming the slightly puckered scar. With a frustrated sigh, he collected his holopad in search of the only person he thought
The mess hall was crowded and noisy, but it was to be expected when two full battalions were preparing to depart for Anaxes. For the last week, the base had been buzzing with activity as the Grand Army scrambled to gain ground on the planet. Victories had become a rare occurrence in the Republic and tensions were high. Their failure on Ringo Vinda, and the events immediately thereafter, marked a pivotal shift among the men, particularly the 501st.
Rex sat alone at a table, consuming his tray out of habit and necessity, but nothing more as his eyes scanned a holopad. There had to be an explanation for the Separatists sudden advantage over them. He knew the battle plans inside and out, he'd written many of them himself, yet somehow the enemy was always two steps ahead. What if Shepard-no! He rejected the notion. Regardless of what happened between them, he knew she wouldn't sell out the Republic, the men, especially not out of anger.
Closing the report, he opened his message box. In his mind, he knew better than to expect a reply, but hope sprang eternal in his heart and he was always let down that she hadn't made contact. Not that he could blame her for refusing to respond to his daily messages of apology and regret. He had taken his anger at losing Fives, his anger at his failing, out on her.
Those last furious words played through his mind in a self admonishing loop. As desperate as he was to somehow undo what couldn't be changed, he couldn't un-ring the bell. Yet, she hadn't returned his betrothal token, as Padmé had pointed out, she hadn't told him they were over. All he could do was try to reach her and hope they could find forgiveness. Just as he opened a new message, Kix abruptly sat, grabbing his attention.
"Captain, do you have a moment?"
"Of course. What's going on?"
He opened his mouth, but closed it without speaking.
Across the table, Rex studied his expression. The two had known one another for a long time, since the early days of the war. He knew his brother processed the war differently than the other troopers. As the medic, he was the one there to patch them together in the field or try to give comfort to the dying, but after Fives, something had changed.
Indeed, Fives' death had affected all of them greatly, but Kix especially so. He spent more down time alone, his nose buried in a holopad, which he always kept angled away from wandering eyes, and then there was his hair. Rex hadn't seen him with a regulation cut since he first joined the 501st. Often, when mocked by his brothers for the amount of maintenance the cut required, he cited his success rate at the club as justification for the work, but now the bolts had grown in and his tattoo was barely visible. Though he wanted to, he hadn't asked the motivation for the change, in part to respect Kix's privacy, but also because he was afraid of the answer.
When he finally spoke, he leaned over the table, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of the mess hall. "I've been thinking about the autopsy report for Fives and Tup. There's something that doesn't add up."
"Kix..." Rex cautioned.
"Hear me out," he persisted. "I collected several blood samples from Tup once he was in the medbay. The results weren't back before he was taken to Kamino and...everything happened. We found no pathogens in his bloodstream, viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic."
"Clearly the Chancellor's physician found something our tests missed," he replied dismissively, stood, and picked up his tray but Kix jumped to his feet, blocking his departure.
"Do you really believe that?" his tone was determined. "Our training is clear on the use of clean tabs for unknown water. I took an inventory of Tup's kit in the medbay, his cylinder was half empty. You knew Fives better than anyone but Echo, he wouldn't-"
"Fives made his choice-" he cut off tersely.
"To save Tup!"
After a tense silence, Rex took a measured breath, "I understand this is hard to accept, but it isn't our place to question the facts-"
"Doctor Chakwas found the chips and the Kaminoans denied their existence. Why would they lie? Captain Shepard asked my opinion about the scans."
"Don't..." he warned sternly, the mere mention of her name making his stomach knot.
"She didn't say it outright, but I think she knew what these chips were. In the medbay with Tup, she eluded that the chip might have caused his breakdown."
"Enough, Kix," he hissed.
Too bolstered to stop, he continued reaching into his belt pouch as he spoke, "Just listen, shortly after it happened, I found a clinic on 1313 and had a scan-"
"Enough!" He suddenly barked, voice echoing through the open space.
The mess hall fell thickly silent as all eyes turned from their trays and conversations to him. Rex's face grew warm, having wanted to avoid drawing attention in the first place. Setting his jaw tightly, he stepped closer to Kix. His voice was low but harsh.
"There will be no more talk of what happened to Tup or Fives, or Captain Shepard's...theories. The reports have been approved and the records sealed. It is not our place to ask questions."
Kix stepped back, hand leaving his belt as his shoulders squared, "You sound just like you did on Umbara."
The works cut to Rex's core like a vibroblade, though he supposed that was the point. Kix didn't know Shepard had already confessed as much to him and he refused to listen or consider that she had been right, even justified in the course of action she had taken. He didn't know that Rex himself was suspicious of the official story and filed a report disputing the evidence based on what he knew of Fives and the events of that night, reporting what his gut told him, despite the risk at speaking out. In truth, Rex had been waiting for the hammer to drop, for an order ushering him onto a shuttle never to be heard from again. As much as he wanted to let Kix speak freely and investigate the matter until the truth, pure and unadulterated, was laid bare under the burning light of scrutiny, he knew in the deepest part of his heart and soul that anyone questioning the facts of the case wouldn't be safe, be that clone or Spectre.
His voice was suddenly inexplicably tired. "Let the dead stay dead, Kix."
Without another word, Rex donned his helmet and collected his holopad and half-eaten tray, leaving Kix next to the empty table feeling defeated. Unconsciously, his fingers drifted to the scar on the right side of his head. The nameless Rodian who performed the chip removal had done well and the wound was only slightly puckered. Certainly he could have done better himself, under the circumstances he wasn't going to complain. Still, as he looked through the bustling mess hall of chatting brothers, oblivious to what lay within their heads, and what they were likely capable of, he felt compelled to help them. Departing the mess, he heard footfalls approaching from behind.
"Kix," Master Windu called, stopping close and dropping his voice. "I overheard part of your conversation. After Ringo Vinda Captain Shepard approached me with a theory. I wonder if you might have a few minutes to talk. Privately."
Rex once told Shepard, early in their relationship, that it always rained on Kamino. At the time, she assumed he meant it the same way people said it always rained in Seattle. Sure, it rained frequently and often without warning but it didn't always rain. As she stood at the window of her quarters, sipping a steaming cup of caff and watching the ocean churn as rain pound in sheets against plexi, she was reminded of how wrong she was. In truth, she had been so wrong in so many ways.
She thought she had been prepared for what Kamino would be like, prepared to see first hand what life was like for the men of the Grand Army, what Rex's life had been. Nothing, not the Collector base and their unholy creation, nor the endless piles of corpses on the Citadel during the final push to destroy the Reapers, could have prepared her for what she saw during her tour upon arrival: Life, industrialized. The cloning process, the rapid growth and intense training from a young age, all of it left her shocked and speechless. The towers of incubation chambers, the auditorium filled with children absorbing combat material for hours on end, young men training and testing for the role they would fill for potentially the entirety of their accelerated lives. Every one of them was a commodity, an asset, a product.
It struck a deeply personal nerve given the nature of her childhood, although she knew her own experiences paled in comparison to what Rex and his brothers had been forced to endure. Beyond her ire at seeing children trained as soldiers from birth, the sheer indifference to their well-being and human rights on the part of the Kaminoans was becoming impossible to tolerate without argument. She saw first hand the indifference Rex described the night they met at the hands of General Krell and what they encountered together whenever they were out in public. What angered her most of all was the unconscious nature of the Kaminoan's apathy as well as the Jedi's knowledge and endorsement of the practices by continuing to use the clones without protest of their treatment.
A handful of rotations after arriving on Kamino and settling into her role as a combat trainer, the physician from the Jedi Temple, Rig Nema arrived. During their brief meeting, she delivered a cryptic message from the Jedi Council, expressing their gratitude for the use of her expertise away from the field. The Council was confident her time there would be brief and uneventful, provided she adhered to the letter of her orders. Although it wasn't expressly stated, the message was clear: sit tight and stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, that was never one of Shepard's strong suits and she had spent her tenure on Kamino trying to figure out how to get to the information she needed regarding Order 66.
Indeed, she had an abundance of time to think during her downtime. The isolation was familiar, feeling similar to her six month house arrest on Earth after defeating the Collectors. As it was during that time, she knew she was under constant observation, though her current handler was far less pliant than Vega. Under the dark, watchful gaze of Taun We, it was rare that she was given the opportunity to go anywhere within the stilted Tipoca City without an escort, or rather her "personal assistant", lest she get turned around and wander into the wrong barracks. Ultimately, her early attempts to explore the facility alone in search of where Fives' kit was stored were stymied by calm, helpful offers to facilitate all her needs.
Thin was the veil of formality on the part of the Supreme Chancellor, a reminder that he was well aware of her intentions. As much as Shepard despised the man, she had to respect his patience and commitment to his role. Clearly he had been working for decades to get where he was and stood poised to achieving his goal. He wasn't about to be undone by a meddlesome outsider like her. Indeed Kaidan had been right, she tipped her hand too early in the game and found herself out maneuvered. If only she had reached Fives first.
Her existence on Kamino for the prior three rotations was beginning to take its toll. The constant rain and darkness, coupled with the information vacuum in which she resided, left her blind and vulnerable. She tried repeatedly to reach Rex without success. Calls and messages went unanswered, but she knew in her gut he wasn't simply ignoring her. In her desperation for news, she tried contacting Jesse and Kix, but likewise received no reply.
As much as she wanted to believe the Jedi Council would act before it was too late, as the weeks wore on, worry began to set in. Fortunately, she wasn't completely without resources. Despite the Chancellor's best attempts to keep her isolated, Vod was within signal range of her distress beacon, stationed on the abandoned Rishi Outpost Fives had spoken of several times, though in an abundance of precaution, they kept comms dark to avoid accidental detection. In the meantime, there was little to do beyond watching the ocean churn beyond the thick windows and wait for an opportunity to present itself.
Finishing her caff, she set the mug in the tiny sink of her quarters. Although sterile white like everything else, the amenities were more than enough, spartan as she preferred, and she could at least take her meals alone, if she chose. As she donned her armor, an odd chill brushed across her shoulders, as though she wasn't alone. Shaking the feeling away, she dismissed it as stress and collected her helmet. The door slid open and she stopped in her tracks.
"Where's Taun We?" she asked the unfamiliar Kaminoan standing before her.
"Taun We is presently indisposed," the woman replied as she started down the hall. "She asked that I assist you in her absence. My name is Kina Ha."
Shepard hummed a reply, but remained half a pace behind her new escort. Something about her was different from the other Kaminoans she met. Although they were graceful in movement, Kina Ha was more so, her feet didn't make a sound on the tiled floor and her eyes were keenly observant. She was obviously familiar with the city, as they followed the same path from domed building to domed building until they entered the training simulator where Shepard would spend most of the day with the training sergeant with whom she had been assigned. Surprisingly, Sergeant Grin didn't pay her any mind.
"Good morning, Captain."
"Morning, Grin," she distractedly replied as she watched the Kaminoan depart.
Grin was talking to her about Sigma squad's performance so far, but she wasn't paying attention. The nagging feeling about her new acquaintance was one she couldn't ignore. As Kina Ha elegantly glided down the hallway, Shepard saw it. The subtle but telling clue that Taun We's temporary replacement didn't belong. A pair of troopers were walking down the corridor doing their security patrol. She nodded faintly in acknowledgment of the soldiers and shifted her stride so they could pass unobstructed.
Under normal circumstances, the gesture would be inconsequential. A simple gesture of politeness between people in shared spaces. But in a bizarre place like Kamino where the troopers are assets rather than individuals, a Kaminoan moving aside for a clone in such a way was something Shepard had never seen. Instinctively, her feet turned toward the door. Her natural desire to follow Kina Ha and investigate took over.
"Captain?" Grin asked when she took a step toward the door. "Sigma is ready to start their run."
"Yes, of course," she reluctantly turned back to the overlook. "Let's see how they do."
Ten hours later, Shepard returned to her quarters after grabbing a ration from the mess hall. The entire rotation, her hackles had been up. Her observations of Kina Ha left her on guard all day in anticipation of the worst, though it never came. As she began picking at her tray, she noticed a holocomm sitting on her desk, which hadn't been there when she departed her quarters. Picking it up, she activated the device and found a recorded message from the person of her suspicions.
Captain Shepard, we need to speak in private. I think we're both on Kamino for the same purpose and may be able to help one another. My location will sync to your comm. Meet me tonight, 0200.
Shepard checked her chrono. She could get a few hours of sleep before she had to sneak out. With as exhausted as she had been feeling recently, rest seemed like a good idea. Although she hoped Kina Ha would prove to be an ally, it was equally as likely her presence was far more nefarious. As she fervently believed, luck favors the prepared. Forcing down what remained of her cardboard like ration bar, she set an alarm to wake herself at 0100 and quickly fell asleep.
Tipoca City, as with all other military installations she'd known, operated on a rotating schedule. Even in the wee goes of the morning, there was still a degree of hustle and bustle around the base. She cracked open the door of her quarters, well aware of the surveillance cam on the opposite wall, which was always watching. As she debated her options, her Omni-Tool illuminated and a comm-channel opened in her helmet.
"Hello, Captain," a voice greeted.
"Kina Ha, I presume," she replied and attempted to track the signal source.
"Tracking me is unnecessary, Captain. I will guide you to my location. First however, let's take care of those monitors," she mused. "On my mark, leave your cabin and walk to lift W-3."
Shepard watched the small red light on the camera fade and received the word to go. As she walked down the corridor at a steady pace, she saw the indicator on every black domed security device blink off on her approach. She passed a variety of droids, troopers, and Kaminoans going about their various duties and few gave her more than a passing glance. Unfortunately, the familiar face of Nala Se rounded the corner, walking toward her with a blonde cadet in tow.
"Shit," Shepard swore, knowing her access to any of the nearby rooms was restricted. "I've got company, where do you want me to go?"
"You'll make it to the lift. Just keep your pace," she assured. "Don't use your cloak. Our eyes can see the reflection."
She fought the desire to hasten her stride, lest she draw more attention. Fortunately, the Kaminoan seemed engrossed in her device. The cadet however, looked at her quizzically, though she didn't speak. Instead, just as Shepard ducked through the waiting open doors of the lift and Nala noticed her dark form on the periphery, the youth darted for the window and pressed her hands up to the plexi. From the carriage of the lift, Shepard overheard an expression of wonderment, followed by a near sigh of contempt from Nala Se.
"Come along, Omega. It's time for you to rest."
As the doors closed, she released a breath, "Sounds like you've been poking around in my Omni-tool," she drew her pistol and stood at the ready as the lift descended.
"Only as necessary to ensure we can speak securely. I assure you, a weapon isn't necessary."
"Yeah, I've heard that before," Shepard watched the indicators on the lift reach the lowest floor, but the lift didn't stop. "Where are you taking me?"
"You of all people should know Kamino is full of secrets."
The lights dimmed as the clear carriage left the structure above and continued down the structural pillar. Security lights flashed by every dozen meters or so. The shaft changed to plexi after descending below the surface of the water. Shepard could faintly hear the groan of the material against the pressure of the water, though she worked to ignore the knot of tension in her gut. After several tense minutes, the lift slowed and stopped.
The doors opened and the smell of musty, dank air wafted in through her filter. Wherever she was, it had been abandoned for years. Before leaving the carriage, she scanned the room and activated the light on her helmet. With her pistol at the ready, she edged round the room.
"Continue down the corridor. I'm there."
Shepard moved from the foyer to the hallway, staying close to the curved walls. Her boots occasionally splashed quietly through a puddle from a leaky pipe. A dim light glowed through a partially opened bulkhead. She quickly moved into position and peered around the corner.
"I am unarmed, Captain. I have no interest in causing you harm."
Stepping into view, her eyes scanned the room, which appeared to be a landing hub for submersibles. A round pod rested on a platform in the middle of the room, similar to the ship's she noticed on the flight deck upon her arrival. Kina Ha, dressed in a layered tunic and brimmed cap stood at a console with her hands slightly raised. Her attire was reminiscent of the Jedi, though the linen was blue and gray rather than tan. After eyeing her for a moment, Shepard lowered her pistol.
"You went to a lot of trouble to bring me down here. How about you start with who you really are."
"I think you already know who I am," there was a touch of amusement in her voice.
"A Jedi," she concluded. "Did the order send you?"
"Yes...and no. I'm not a member of the Jedi Order, but I am a Jedi."
She holstered her pistol, "So what are you doing here?"
"I had a vision, decades ago, of a cloned army bringing an end to the Republic and slaughtering all those sensitive to the Force. Your arrival here has caused a stir among those in charge here. I've sensed their distrust for you."
Shepard removed her helmet, "I witnessed a clone trooper murder a Jedi General in the middle of a battle. My partner, an ARC trooper uncovered the truth and was murdered for it."
"We don't have much time. What do you need?"
"Proof," Shepard answered simply. "Proof that Chancellor Palpatine is lying about the cause of death for Tup and Fives and proof that he's behind Order 66."
"Order 66?" Kina Ha asked, interest peaked.
"Yes. Every clone has an organic chip implanted in their frontal lobe with a single trigger phrase coded to it. 'Execute Order 66'. Two friends are dead because a chip activated early and Palpatine is covering it up. I know where the proof is, but I can't get to it."
"Tell me."
Shepard briefly explained the events on Ringo Vinda and what happened to Fives, "Their breakdowns have been officially recorded as a brain parasite from dirty water, but I know that's a lie. If there's one thing I know about Fives, it's his habits. Unless the water came from GAR rations, he never drank it without using clean tabs. I was able to obtain the requisition records for both Fives and Tup prior to our departure to Ringo Vinda. Both of them collected a new vial of clean tabs for their kits. Inventory of their supplies was taken post-mortem. Both had used clean tabs during the mission. They never drank dirty water. I pointed that out to General Windu, but I know it isn't enough. I need to know what Order 66 is, and who's in control of it."
Kina Ha leaned back onto the console and fell into thought, "That would likely be Lama Su. The terminal in his office is housed on a private server, which is inaccessible remotely. Obtaining the information won't be easy."
"Let me worry about that part. I've been doing what I can to observe his habits and schedule for an opportunity to access his officel. If I can get the data, can you help me get to my ship?"
"That won't be a problem."
Shepard relayed what she had seen of the Prime Minister's comings and goings, as well as her plan. The Jedi was able to offer additional insight into the habitual nature of her people. After several hours of deliberation and brainstorming, they settled on a plan and walked through the time table until both knew it without question. In truth, the plan was simple: get Lama Su out of his office, get Shepard in, find Order 66, copy the data, and meet Kina Ha in the hangar where Vod would be waiting. With her pilfered clearance codes and Vod waiting at a landing platform, they should be able to slip away and get the information to General Windu. As straightforward as the plan was, Shepard knew from experience those were the plans that could go sideways the fastest.
"By copying the data, you will likely trigger security alerts. Your time will be limited and they will know what you took."
"I know, but an outgoing transmission will be detected faster and blocked. A physical copy is our best bet," Shepard concluded, looking over a holo projection of the facility's layout with a measure of trepidation.
Kina Ha studied Shepard as a silence fell between them, "You realize that if we're caught, you will be imprisoned, possibly executed for treason."
"Then I guess we'd better get this right," she replied darkly.
"If this is our course, you cannot stay behind. Even if you are not caught in the act, you won't be safe on Kamino."
A grim chuckle bloomed in her chest, "I was never safe here. The Supreme Chancellor sent me here because he knew I was onto him. The answer has been here the entire time, but I had no way to get it off the planet. Now I do. Either we get it right and stop Palpatine in his tracks or we don't. Don't know about you, but I'd rather not think too hard about that outcome."
Shepard checked her chrono and swore. They had lost track of time and Taun We would be at her door soon. She had to get back to her quarters quickly. Donning her helmet, she transferred the communication frequency for Vod to her new ally. With a handshake and a nod, she turned to depart.
"I will make contact with your ship and signal you to begin," she confirmed. "May the Force be with you, Captain."