Chapter 16
Kamino
Nala Se paced worriedly in her office. News from the Capital was most distressing. According to her associate, Senator Halle Burtoni, the Chancellor was growing suspicious that there was a connection between the purge and the Kaminoans. She was aware that Organa had paid a visit to Kamino, and that he had questioned the Prime Minister. Lama Su had, of course, denied any complicity on the part of the Kaminoans, but it wasn't likely that the Chancellor would be put off so easily. Things had gone wrong, terribly wrong. The unexpected death of Palpatine at the hands of the few remaining Jedi posed a serious problem for the Kaminoans. With Jedi still alive and possibly aware of the plot to destroy them, it created a dangerous situation for the cloners. With that in mind, they had bolstered their security with hundreds of extra clones, clones who they knew would shoot any Jedi foolish enough to come to Kamino on sight. And so Dr. Se felt safe, at least for the time being.
"Doctor Se, this is Commander Stone."
She grew alarmed at the sight of the security commander at the doorway. "Yes Commander? What's wrong, what is it?" she asked in alarm.
"Relax, Doc," Stone said. "It's good news. Just heard from Commander Appo of the 501st," he said. "The 501st is here, Doctor. They've come to lend us their assistance."
Se released the breath she was holding. "Oh, thank goodness," she sighed. "Have they cleared security protocols?"
Stone frowned, thinking the doctor was more than a little paranoid. "Of course," he said. "It's Commander Appo, doctor," he said. "I can vouch for him."
"Very well," she said. "Lower the security field."
"Right away."
In orbit over Kamino
Rex and Appo exchanged an alarmed look. "This is taking too long," Rex said. "They're onto us," he said, looking over at Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Anakin frowned. "There's no way they could be," he said. "We're in a gunship, and there's no way they could know that there's anyone but clones on board. It will work, Rex."
"It has to work," Obi-Wan added. "We're running out of options."
"Commander Appo, stand by as we lower the shield."
"Standing by," Appo replied. He looked over at the Jedi generals. "Well, here we go."
Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other. "May the Force be with us," Anakin said.
Kamino
Dr. Se looked up from her computer as the sound of blaster fire was heard in the corridor outside her office. She frowned as she stood up, desperate to know what was happening, but afraid at the same time. Finally the door burst open and two clones entered the room.
"What's going on?" Se demanded. "Have we been invaded?"
"You could say so, Doctor," one of the clones said, and then took off his helmet to reveal General Anakin Skywalker. He pulled his lightsaber in front of him as he approached the astonished doctor. Obi-Wan did the same and joined Anakin.
Se simply stared at the two Jedi, utterly confused. "How…how is this possible?"
Anakin frowned, angered by the implication behind her words: why aren't you dead?
"Clearly the plot to destroy the Jedi wasn't entirely successful," Obi-Wan said as he and Anakin held their lightsabers in front of them.
"And don't even try to call in your security detail," Anakin said. "You'll find that they have been neutralized by our pirate allies."
Se frowned. "What do you want from me?" she asked, looking nervously from Anakin to Obi-Wan.
"You're going to pay for your part in this plot," Anakin said threateningly.
Obi-Wan glanced at him, alarmed by the anger he sensed in him. "What General Skywalker means is we need you to help put an end to the purge," he said. "We know your people were in collusion with Sideous in creating this chip. And we have no doubt that you know how to neutralize it as well."
In the corridor outside
Hondo and his men had assisted the 501st in bringing the security force under control. Rex took advantage of the situation to address the clones who stood under the watchful eyes of the pirates.
"Brothers, brothers listen to me!" Rex shouted. "You must hear what I have to say!" He waited for the clones to give him their attention before he continued. "This ….slaughter of the Jedi has been orchestrated by the very scientists and doctors who designed and created us," he declared loudly. "They put this…this thing in our heads," he said, pointing to his own head angrily, "this chip that Palpatine used to turn us into killing machines, his murderers. The Jedi have fought alongside us, they have been our leaders, our friends. And now they are all but extinct. They are not our enemies they have never been our enemies. Palpatine was our enemy, and those who created us, the Kaminoans, they are our enemies."
At this point Dr. Se appeared, flanked by two clone troopers.
Dozens of clones turned to look at her, seeing her with new eyes.
"Kill her!" one of the clones shouted, and yanked a blaster from a nearby pirate's hands. He fired it in the direction of Se.
"No, don't!" one of the clones guarding her shouted, and threw himself in front of her to block the blast. He fell to the floor at once, as the shooter was over taken by nearby pirate and tackled to the ground.
"Rex! Take her!" Obi-Wan shouted, not daring to take off his helmet just yet. He knelt beside the still body of his best friend. "Anakin, are you all right?"
Anakin didn't reply, and Obi-Wan began to grow fearful. He looked up at Rex who had witnessed the entire incident. "He needs help," Obi-Wan said.
Rex nodded. "Dr. Se, you need to help," he said, looking at the doctor.
She looked at him with wide eyes. "I'm hardly in a position to do anything," she said.
"You will help him," one of the clones said, shoving his blaster into the small of her back. "Now move!"
Se moved as the clones directed her as Obi-Wan picked up Anakin's inert body. He followed the prisoner to a nearby examination room, where he placed Anakin on a diagnostic bd. It was at this point that he took Anakn's helmet off.
"This is no clone," Se stated upon seeing Anakin's face. She looked up at Obi-Wan. "Who are you? Who is this?""
Obi-Wan hesitated, but only for a moment before taking his helmet off. "I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight. And this is Anakin Skywalker."
Se had heard the names, few had not given their exploits during the War. What was more, she'd met Anakin Skywalker. He'd saved her life. She looked down at Anakin's face. "I don't understand," she said as a medi-droid began scanning Anakin's body.
"We survived the emperor's purge," Obi-Wan said bitterly, "the purge that you Kaminoans enabled him to realize," he added.
"I…I had no idea that this was his plan," she said.
Obi-Wan frowned. "I don't believe you," he stated flatly, "but I'm not about to debate with you. Help my friend. Now."
Se nodded, and looked down at Anakin as the droid removed the clone armour. "It doesn't look bad," she said. With the droid's assistance, she attended to Anakin's wound, which had luckily not hit a vital part of his body.
Obi-Wan watched her closely, not trusting her for a moment. But when he saw Anakin's eyes starting to open, he relaxed.
"What happened?" Anakin asked, discombobulated.
"You were shot, saving her life," Obi-Wan said, looking at Dr. Se.
"That's right," Se said. "And I thank you for that. This isn't the first time we've met, General Skywalker."
Anakin frowned. "No?" he asked, as the droid helped him to sit up.
Se shook her head. "No, you and your padawan were instrumental in saving the Kaliida Shoals station from General Grievous," she said. "If it weren't for you…" she remembered back to the encounter, how impressed she'd been by Anakin's bravery, his selflessness. General Skywalker, I wanted to thank you for your valiant effort today. Do not take the lives you saved lightly.
Anakin nodded. "I remember."
Se could only look at him, her emotions rising quickly. This man saved your life, not once but twice… "I promise you; I didn't know this chip was part of Palpatine's plans," she said, looking from Anakin to Ob-Wan. "I was assured its purpose was to safeguard against renegade Jedi. I had no idea that this would happen. If I'd known that the plan was to wipe out the Jedi, I'd have had no part of it. I swear to you both!"
"Well, it was, and it has almost succeeded," Obi-Wan said. "We need to ensure it doesn't go any further, that's why we're here."
"So now that you know the whole, ugly extent of Palpatine's plan, what are you going to do about it?" Anakin asked Se pointedly.
She looked at him. "Everything I can to put a stop to it."