Author's Note: You know what, I'm going to play things safe and include a warning at the beginning of this chapter.

The following chapter contains extreme violence. Reader discretion is advised.

Okay, you've been warned. Onwards!


-Chapter 22: Seeing Red-

Location: Jabiim

"Rage is a very deadly weapon... especially in the right hands."

The vial full of neon red liquid glowed brightly in Scipio's hands, illuminating his skin with its bright aura. The doctor smiled, pleased with the item he possessed.

"RGE-seven. It's a good thing I kept you around." He mused. Turning about, the Pau'an strode over to a nearby surgical table where Wraith was lying. His gear removed, a simple headpiece, designed to help reprogram his psychology, was all that remained. But the doctor took a moment to prep a pneumatic injector and empty the contents of his vial into it. With the red chemical ready for injection, Scipio carefully pressed the device against Wraith's neck and shot him full of the liquid. His vein glowed bright red for a moment before dissipating, as though nothing had changed. "Now to give it some time to settle in. Once fully implemented, it will be irreversible and the outcomes will be... astonishing." He breathed.


Hours later...

Casually executing a series of one-armed pushups, Wraith wasn't even breaking a sweat as thirty-four became thirty-five. Then thirty-six. Then thirty-seven.

"Well, your physical prowess seems to be normal." Scipio mused, making notes on his datapad. "And after that last psychology exam would appear to indicate you are now completely healthy."

"Don't count on it." Wraith grunted, switching arms as soon as he reached forty. "The last time you said you cleared out that voice it just came back."

"You're quite right. I suppose I shall simply have to recalibrate your brain after each mission." Scipio replied, making another note.

"Just don't wipe my mind. I need what's in there." Wraith joked.

"Of course." Scipio responded with a smile as he set the datapad down. "Now remember what we've gone over when it comes to your emotions-"

"Only when necessary." Wraith interrupted. "A calm mind is a tactical mind... I think that's how you worded it."

"Correct. Use your anger only when necessary. If left unchecked, it will disturb your thought processes. There were at least fifteen different ways you could've handled the Geonosis situation, but because of your anger you acted only one way and it was a lot harder than the others." Scipio instructed.

"Got it." Wraith replied, still doing his pushups. "I'm feeling better, by the way."

"That is good to hear." Scipio mused. It appeared the injection offered no adverse side-effects. "If you could take a break for your routine, I have some new equipment for you." The doctor told him. Liking that statement a lot, Wraith promptly stood up and followed Scipio over to a nearby table. There he discovered his gauntlets, a new pair of gloves and a small cylindrical device waiting for him. Scipio started with the gauntlets. "As you can see, I have removed the harness that controls the triggering mechanisms for your blades and explosives. It's high-time you got a little more streamlined and less clunky." He explained.

"So how do I work them now?" Wraith asked. Scipio grinned as he held up the gloves.

"With these. Go on, put them on." He encouraged. Wraith did so, noting the bulky armor sewn in across the fingers and the tactile grips in the palms. The wrist band was also quite thick, leaving him wondering what exactly Scipio had done with them. "Tap the wrist. Anywhere is fine." He instructed. Wraith did so and was surprised when the band lit up blue. Glancing at his gauntlets, he realized the inside of their's wrists were also blue. "I've wired up the mechanisms to a wireless connection system in the wrists, which also ties in to a new electrical mesh that's now part of the layers in your gloves. You can make the same moves and they'll be read, perhaps with even quicker response time." Scipio explained, a grin growing on his face. While it all sounded good, Wraith had a question.

"I hope you've taken surge protection and electrical interference into account." He wondered, strapping the guards around his forearms.

"Of course! These run on a special frequency that comes from your gauntlet, which functions as its own unique power source. It is completely shielded and perfectly safe."

"Let's hope so." Wraith muttered, not liking the idea of having his greatest melee assets failing him in the heat of battle. Reaching out, he picked up the cylindrical device. "What's this?"

"A personal cloaking device. I managed to purchase one from Arakyd Industries; the makers of the chameleon probe droid." Scipio stated proudly. Wraith grew so excited he pumped his arm.

"I've been wanting one of these!" He grinned. Scipio chuckled.

"Yes, and now you'll be completely invisible to the naked eye. Along with some of the extras I've packed in there, this stealth field should render you invisible even to some scanners." He noted.

"Very nice." Wraith grinned. As he clipped it to his belt, Scipio continued.

"Also, I've installed one more feature into your gauntlet. Before you say anything, yes I know, it's getting quite full. But this one is worth while." He stated. "Flick your wrist down." Wraith did as he was told and his blade deployed. "Erm, not quite. I mean down to the side." Scipio clarified. Wraith retracted his blade and corrected his mistake, triggering a chip that was launched into his palm, connected by a thin piece of metal that molded to the contours of his hand. "I've taken the liberty to enhance one of your stun chips. Remember the power source I talked about? It generates electricity through the new circuitry in your gloves to help boost the shocking power, allowing you to deliver upwards of six-hundred and fifty volts with your hand alone!"

"This could do some serious damage. Not just to anything mechanical but to a Clone as well." Wraith surmised, nodding his head as he glanced over the powerful device.

"Correct." Scipio replied. "Now, you'll have a perfectly good time to test these on your next mission. You're off to Jabiim!" The Pau'an announced. The name registered with Wraith instantly. It was one of the bigger warzones and was almost as hotly contested as Felucia was. Scipio retrieved Wraith's folded jacket with his helmet on top. "Fully cleaned and calibrated, ready to go." He informed him.

"You're the best, Doc." Wraith grinned as he started suiting up. "Gotta look my best for the locals. The Republic had their chance with Jabiim, but they came to us for help instead. Time to show them we're nothing like their former governors." He mused.

"Indeed. Flex a little Separatist muscle and show the Republic no mercy!" Scipio added, putting some extra flair in his normal pep talk.

"When have I ever shown them mercy?" Wraith shot back as he donned his helmet and powered it up.

"Either my memory's going or you never have." Scipio replied with a smirk. "Count Dooku wants you to put a stop to the two-twelfth battalion and keep them from making any further advances."

"Kenobi. This should be interesting." The commando mused.

"I should hope so. Now get going, you've got work to do." Scipio added, shooing him out the door. Wraith chuckled as he left, flexing his glove and wondering how he might best put his new tools to good use. But little did he know he still had one more upgrade...

An upgrade that was inside of him.


An Outer Rim world located in the Phelleem Sector along the Triellus Trade Route, Jabiim was a very wet world. The reason being, out of all the days in a standard year, only five of them had no rainfall. The terrain was very muddy and constantly shifted with the daily torrential downpour. These storms were very electrical in nature and some would suggest they were responsible for the planet's unstable electrical field, which was notorious for rendering repulsorcraft useless. Jabiim had joined the CIS out of contempt for the Republic, due to some incidents taking place before the official start of the war. Trandoshan bandits and Lythian Pirates had sacked and murdered their way around the planet in years past, leaving a bloody trail behind.

Reptilian scum. Wraith certainly wouldn't mind putting an end to such an ugly and cowardly species. It's not that he was prejudiced, but he did have a slightly softer spot for those who were more near-human in appearance. Animals like Trandoshans were only good for covering his blades in their blood.

When the locals had cried out to the Republic for aid, they received nothing. This alone was enough incentive for them to turn to the Separatists when the war began. Now that they had left the Republic, only then did the other side realize what they were missing out on. Jabiim was rich in ore beneath its muddy surface, something Separatist droid manufacturers needed in great abundance. It was a fair exchange for aid and protection.

But even if you were a Republic world once, the Republic always considered you one of their own and would stop at nothing to take you back. Especially when you had resources the Republic needed.

Thus erupted the battles for Jabiim.

Separatist and Republic forces had clashed on numerous occasions. The fighting was fierce as both sides did their best to control the world. Right now, the Republic had made several major advances thanks to the presence of General Obi-Wan Kenobi and the 212th Attack Battalion. They had pushed ahead hard, forcing the Separatists to retreat.

Now it was Wraith's turn to push them back.

As his shuttle descended to his newest destination, it appeared like he had gotten lucky and had been sent here on one of the days where it was not raining. This would work well for him, hopefully. He still had mud to deal with, but he may yet find an opportunity to use his cloaking device. He set down a short distance from a nearby settlement, where droids milled about as they turned it into a base of operations. Disembarking from his ship, Wraith immediately stepped into mud.

It was impossible not to, there was mud everywhere.

His comms booted up as someone contacted him. It was Dooku.

"Afternoon, solider. I trust you're feeling well." He greeted.

"Never better, sir. Ready to get to work."

"I have spoken with the resident commanders prior to your arrival. They are expecting you." Dooku informed him. "Seek out Alto Stratus, he will tell you what to do."

"Understood." Wraith replied as the communication ended. With his orders in mind, Wraith started jogging towards the Separatist camp. He bypassed numerous battle droids as they tromped about, fortifying their position and pulling their weight in the effort to maintain Jabiim. The man in question, Alto Stratus, was the leader of the Jabiim Nationalists, the party responsible for aligning the world with the CIS. A man of average build, sporting long blonde hair and a matching beard, Alto was known for being both a powerful and respected leader and a skilled and deadly warrior.

With a simple description like that, Wraith already liked the man.

He found him standing over a holomap, his bright red cape and the sword in his belt a dead giveaway. The human looked up as he approach, expression denoting surprise and intrigue as the commando drew nearer.

"Given you don't look a thing like anyone else around here, I'd say the higher-ups sent you." He greeted.

"Alto Stratus. Count Dooku tells me you were informed of my arrival." Wraith replied. Alto's eyes widened a little.

"Then you are The Wraith? The one the Republic fears?"

"I most certainly am." The commando nodded. "I have been sent on behalf of Count Dooku to aid your fight against the Republic."

"This is good. Very good. Jabiim may feel hope once more, now that you're here." Alto stated, sounding very grateful Wraith was here.

"You showed your people the truth about the Republic and rallied them to the Separatists. If anything, they should feel hope so long as you are here." Wraith replied, resting a hand on Alto's shoulder. "I know who you are. I know all about you. I couldn't have asked for a better assignment." Alto smirked a little.

"Your words are kind and reassuring." Extending his hand, the two shook, immediately becoming trustworthy allies. Another voice joined their conversation.

"Ah, my master's favorite solider." Hearing the newcomer, Wraith turned about and came face to face with a pale-skinned bald woman, wearing dark blue and gray robes. It didn't take him long to recognize her.

"I know you. You are his apprentice, Asajj Ventress." He commented.

"I am. And I am the commander of the armies here." The Dathomiri woman replied.

"Then that would make you my superior officer." Wraith noted, snapping to attention. "I am yours to command." Ventress smiled, her blue-gray eyes gleaming as plans came to her mind.

"Excellent! I take it you have met Commander Stratus." She inquired.

"Just now." Alto replied. "I have a few ideas as to where we could use him best, Commander Ventress."

"Do explain, Commander." Ventress replied, walking around the holotable. Alto highlighted a particular ridge, next to a valley and surrounded by what appeared to be a settlement.

"General Kenobi's forces have taken the southeastern territory, effectively flanking us. We need to clear them out so we can make our big push. I'd prefer it if our forces could be focused in one area and not spread out." Wraith eyed the holomap as his optics scanned over the depicted terrain, mentally preparing himself for the coming battles. "If half the stories they tell about you are true," Alto continued.

"And they are." Wraith responded.

"Then we'll need you to clear out the Republic forces amassing in this region."

"They must be organizing a frontal assault. They want you gone, but they'll have to go past me first." He mused.

"Thank you can handle it?" Ventress asked.

"I beat the so-called Chosen One to a pulp. A Clone army will be a cinch." Wraith replied. He looked up to his two commanders. "With your permission, I'll be going now." They nodded in agreement.

"Go forth and bring us victory Wraith." Ventress commanded him. With a quick salute, Wraith bolted out of the camp at a sprint.


Mud was splattered across his boots and the fringes of his coattails. Blood was pumping hot through his veins, stamina running on high as Wraith sprinted across the muddy terrain of Jabiim. It was overcast, gray clouds covering the expanse of the sky as a cold wind whipped across the plains. But still he bounded across them, never stopping until he reached his objective.

He had briefly spoken with Scipio, informing him of his recent objective. His doctor had offered him a quick breakdown of Jabiim's culture, explaining how there were plenty of small settlements but no sprawling capital cities. This would mean large open ground in plenty when it came to fighting the Republic. Wraith would not have to worry about urban warfare today.

But he would have to worry about something else very soon.

As he sprinted, the super-commando was spotted by a small unit of Clones out on reconnaissance. They were quick to identify him and alerted their commander: Clone Marshal Cody of the 212th Attack Battalion. Upon hearing this news, Cody immediately reported this detail to General Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"General, I've just received word from our forward scouts. The bulk of the Separatist forces haven't moved yet, but The Wraith has arrived and he's been spotted heading towards our front lines." Cody informed him. The Jedi sighed and stroked his beard.

"I should've anticipated this. The Separatists wouldn't let such a high-value target like Jabiim slip away without a fight." Now he had an even bigger problem on his hands. Taking back a Separatist world from locals who had deliberated seceded from the Republic was one thing. Fighting an army of courageous nationalists alongside thousands of battle droids and the Republic's enemy number one was another.

Obi-Wan had a real situation on his hands.

"We'll just have to think our way through this General. Remember what Commander Thrawn had to say?" Cody reminded him.

"Right. Right..." Kenobi mumbled as his mind went work developing a plan. "Well, it's obvious taking him head on doesn't work. That's been tried too many times." He mused. The Jedi paused again, still thinking things over. "However, if we could head him off and force him to fight the way we want him to, we might be able to gain the upper hand." He theorized. Cody leaned closer, giving Obi-Wan his full attention.

"What do you recommend, General?"

"Cody, we'll take the majority of our forces and have them engage The Wraith, but not before our artillery strike him first. A good bombardment might very well be the key to his undoing." The Clone nodded as he understood the Jedi's train of thought.

"I see it, sir. Soften him up and then we deliver the final blow."

"It's worth a shot. I have a feeling his suit may have been designed to keep him safe from thermal ordinance... but maybe not electrical. Let's see if our anti-droid armaments can't do some damage to him."

"Roger that sir. I'll see to it the forward men are properly armed." Cody replied and moved to obey.


Wraith's stamina was proving very handy.

He had crossed what felt like many miles of terrain, rolling plains passing by as he sprinted onwards. Surely the Republic were not far away now. He certainly hoped they were, he was itching for a full on fight. After several missions involving infiltrations, close-quarters combat and sneaking around, Wraith felt due for a full-on battle. Arriving at the top of a ridge, Wraith was greeted with the sight of a valley right before him and a distant Clone army not far away. Sliding to a halt, the commando scanned over the approaching army and quickly made note of the several mobile artillery pieces not far behind the Clones.

They were moving out earlier than anticipated.

For a moment, the commando considered informing Stratus and Ventress of the recent development. But he thought better of the situation and decided his mission was going to start just a little earlier. Surely Kenobi was trying to make an early move and Wraith's presence surprised him.

But little did he realize that the Republic had been waiting for them.

The moment Kenobi spied the dark-blue figure appear on the horizon, he ordered his troops down into the valley as the Clones manning the turrets found their mark and opened fire.

The commando looked up as shells were lobbed at him. Four at a time. Wasting no time, Wraith started sprinting away from the shells, his survival instincts kicking in as he made to dodge the incoming barrage. Leaping and rolling as high-caliber rounds exploded behind him, Wraith soon grew covered in mud as he ran. One shell landed too close behind him, the explosion propelling Wraith through the air, kicking up chunks of mud and dirt in its wake. Taking control of his flight and rolling to a crouch, Wraith decided there was an easier way to do this. Reaching for the new device on his belt, Wraith triggered the cloaking device and promptly shimmered out of sight. Obi-Wan was quite shocked.

"Well, that's new." He muttered, realizing his foe had evolved once more. "Cody, use your EMP grenades and flush him out!" He radioed.

"Copy that General." Cody affirmed. "Forward lines! Droid poppers away!" He commanded. The Clones up front quickly retrieved the small, spherical devices from their belts, armed them and pitched them high into the air. Arcing high and flung far forward, the grenades detonated before they hit the ground, creating a storm of electromagnetic energy. Within said storm, a figure was illuminating by the sparking blue energy, keeling over as his invisibility field shimmered and powered down. Smoking and steaming with electricity rippling across his body, Wraith forced himself to his feet with a groan as he quickly took stock of his situation.

"Dammit..." he growled, "I don't believe this." Of all the times for his cloaker to fail, especially during its first use.

Obi-Wan, however, was quite pleased.

"Well, that went surprisingly well." He mused with a grin. "Commander, begin your assault." He instructed Cody.

Wraith shook his head as his optics finished recalibration. He could still see, but his cloaker was out of commission. Looking up, he discovered a massive line of Clones bearing down on him, weapons armed and ready to fire. Wraith quickly activated his comms and they chirped to life as the first few shots streaked past him.

"Doc, you there?" Wraith radioed, holding up his gauntlet to block the next barrage of blue blaster bolts.

"I'm here. What's the situation?"

"Kenobi's ordered a massive portion of his troops down into this valley with me, way ahead of where they're supposed to be. I need you to keep an eye on the rest of the southeastern territory and make sure the Republic doesn't try anything while I'm pinned down." He explained.

"Just cloak and get out of there!" Scipio replied.

"Tried that, they hit me with electrostatic explosives that shorted out the cloaker." Wraith retorted, a slight edge to his voice.

"Oh..." Scipio trailed off. "Well, kriff. I'll have to work on that." He muttered. "Any chance you can just... get out of there?" Wraith quickly scanned over the surrounding area, eyeing up the environment. It was all the same.

"The terrain's too muddy and I'm surrounded by sloped hills, nothing for my grapples to stick to. I'm gonna have to fight my way out." He reported.

"Can you try to just leave?" Scipio suggested.

"Negative. I'd be dodging too much laserfire in the process and have a whole host of duplicates on my tail. Just do me a favor and keep tabs on the rest of the battlefield. I'm going to be here for a while." Wraith replied, rolling his shoulders and reaching for his carbine. Scipio mulled over the situation before them. Time was of the essence and Wraith needed to secure that control point. While he had great faith in his creation to be able to overcome armies of any number, Scipio knew Wraith needed to get out of this situation. Alone against so many Clones, now seemed like the perfect time to test out his other enhancement. Scipio quickly recalled the facts about the red chemical coursing through Wraith's blood, knowing it would take some 'encouragement' to kick in. Wraith was not nearly angry enough, the simple presence of Clones not enough stimulus for the drug to trigger. Scipio would have to verbally anger Wraith.

And he knew just the topic of discussion to get him going.

Choosing to leave behind his scientific veneer in exchange for... cruder language, Scipio developed a few simple phrases to begin with. It was time for him to work some magic.

"I'd be willing to bet that Togruta you're so infatuated with is really just a Jedi slut." Scipio suddenly stated. The words took Wraith by surprise, stopping him in his tracks.

"W-What?" He muttered under his breath.

"You know what else? I bet she and Skywalker are in some kind of illicit relationship." The doctor continued.

"N-No..." Wraith hoarsely whispered, trying to deny what Scipio was saying. Little did he know just how susceptible and vulnerable this area of his mind was to the influence of his doctor... who was currently sowing seeds for something to come. "That's... That's not true..."

"Oh yes! And I bet she services General Kenobi quite a bit as well. If you know what I mean by 'servicing'." Wraith couldn't believe what he was hearing. His mind overrode all logical trains of thought and began developing all kinds of images and situations, bringing to life the things Scipio was describing, things that could very well be true... just as Scipio had predicted. Those thoughts and images angered him and began fuelling the ignition of the RGE-7 drug. All the doctor had to do was keep Wraith going until the ignition was complete.

And then he would be unstoppable.

"In fact it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if she's got something going on with Captain Rex as well! She probably gets around the whole army... and probably the rest of the Jedi Order too." He remarked, knowing Wraith was growing angrier and angrier with each passing moment.

Maybe this whole infatuation with Skywalker's apprentice could be used to their advantage.

"Argh!" Wraith growled as he dropped his carbine and clutched his head, his thoughts slowly being overwritten as anger began to consume him. He could imagine the things Scipio was happening... and he did not like them one bit.

"She's probably no better than those dancing girls in a Hutt palace!" Scipio continued, raising his voice to emphasize his words. "That's all Ahsoka is Wraith: a Jedi whore!"

That did it.

Pushed over the edge by the images in his mind, Wraith's anger grew to the point where it completely ignited the chemical in his body and his anger was replaced with pure, unadulterated rage.

To put it bluntly, Wraith snapped.

"RRRRAAAAAGGGHHHH!" The commando bellowed a mighty roar as all cognitive thought gave way to the single goal of lashing out at anything around him that moved. Coherent, rational thought gave way to primal and feral instincts. The purest form of rage filled Wraith's body and mind, transforming him from a tactical commando into a truly unstoppable beast.

He was absolutely incensed.

Words and speech disappeared, replaced with animalistic growls. Wraith was seeing pure red, desiring only to kill and destroy as his strength was increased tenfold. Rushing forward he slugged a Clone across the face with so much force his neck snapped. Burrowing a powerful left hook in the Clone's face, the force of his blow was so intense it absolutely destroyed his helmet, reducing it to shards as the Clone's face was practically torn off. Turning on another Clone, Wraith delivered a hard punch to the midsection, fist passing through the Clone as an incredible amount of force powered his attack. Grabbing the Clone's spine, Wraith promptly tore it out with a shower of blood. Obi-Wan froze in place as he bore witness to the sudden butchering of his men, appalled by the surge of incredible violence on display before him. Stark fear shot through his body as Wraith bellowed again, the commando's body shaking as pure anger consumed him while he ripped another Clone in two. His thunderous roar was enough to put even Obi-Wan on edge. As far away as he was, the Jedi could feel Wraith's power rattling his bones.

This was a mistake. They weren't fighting a man... they were fighting a monster.

"Back up! Back up! Back up!" The Jedi cried into his comms, urging his Clones to retreat. "Cody! Order your men to retreat! Now!" The commander was quick to issue the order and the Clones nearest to Wraith were already backtracking out of sheer terror. His newfound fury was enough to shake even the staunchest of veterans, filling them with fear as those who were closest tried to fight him off with their blasters only to be reduced to bloody corpses. Those near the rear of the platoon were able to escape the quickest and Cody ordered them back to their original lines. The entire army was forced into retreat, not wishing to stick around any longer with such a dangerous creature on the loose.

But not all were so lucky.

Some were incapable of escaping, slipping and falling in the mud. Others were simply too close to the monster while others tried to make a stand and give their comrades an opportunity to escape. While many of the 212th managed to join the retreat, not all of them did.

Those left behind were trapped with the furious Wraith.

The commando ripped Clones apart, tearing limb from limb as bodies began to fall in droves and blood began to water the muddy ground.

The army didn't stand a chance.

Wraith wanted nothing more than to kill the people in his head, the ones who were violating his favorite Jedi. But he couldn't see straight, red clouding his vision as the most intense anger he'd ever felt took control of his actions and drove him to lash out at everything around him. His mind was powerless as he was taken over by a blinding, overpowering, all-consuming, crimson rage that completely dominated his thoughts.

Kill...!

Spurred on by his newfound rage, Wraith ripped apart another Clone with his bare hands, blood and innards spilling everywhere.

Kill!

Another two Clones fell dead as their heads were torn off, his brute strength enough to tear flesh and bone to pieces.

KILL!

Launching into a total frenzy, Wraith butchered everyone around him, hands rending limbs from bodies and tearing flesh apart like it was nothing. Blood saturated the ground as pieces of innards and bodies began to cover the ground while the screams of dying Clones grew fewer and fewer. The last few Clones fared the worst, suffering from the absolute peak of his rampage. Wraith tore them open with his bare hands before he split their carcasses apart, their bodies no longer recognizable as he shredded their flesh.

In the end, there was nothing left of the remaining Clones. The poor troopers had been reduced to chunks of bloodied flesh and thoroughly mutilated corpses. Bits and pieces of them were strewn throughout the valley, bones and innards sitting in massive puddles of blood. The ground around him looked like something out of a hellscape, like some kind of demonic plain where corpses and body parts were one with the bloody scenery.

Speaking of blood, Wraith himself was completely covered in Clone blood. Splatters smeared his body from head to toe, staining his helmet and nearly soaking through his jacket. The mud could hardly be seen now, it had been replaced with a thick layer of crimson.

It was a good look, especially since he was trying to achieve a "fearsome visage". He never thought he'd create it quite like this. With his body heaving, breath coming in growls like some predatory animal, Wraith slowly began to descend from his state as his fury abated. The red slowly disappeared from his vision as his mind took control of his body once again.


Meanwhile, Scipio, having silently keyed up Wraith's visual live feed, quietly observed with a calculating gaze as his creation's rampage unfolded. He took note of every move, ensuring every action was recorded for further study.

After all, this was technically the first officially field test of RGE-7.

Picking up his datapad, the doctor jotted down a few notes.

"Feral rage completed. Cycle lasted approximately six minutes. RGE-seven injection successful. RGE-seven field test successful." He casually said out loud.


Wraith was himself again... sort of.

He fell to his knees, a sick feeling forming in his stomach as his body tried to return to normal after having experienced such incredible fury.

"What... the hell... was that?" He breathed, trying hard to collect his thoughts and process what he had just endured.

"Are you well, my boy?" Scipio's voice echoed through his helmet. "Can you hear me?"

"Yeah... Yeah..." Wraith growled, finally gathering his senses. "Doc. The... The last thing I remember was you talking..." Suddenly, Wraith remembered the words Scipio had been saying to him.

He'd called Ahsoka a whore, a slut, said she probably slept around... a lot.

He wasn't sure if he could get angry again. But with visions and words like that in his head it certainly seemed possible.

"What were you saying...?" Wraith asked him, working on keeping his composure. He was uncertain if his body could handle another overload of anger.

"Nothing to worry about my boy. Now I believe you've got somewhere to be." Scipio calmly replied.

"Right..." He panted. Forcing himself to his feet, Wraith staggered over to his discarded rifle and picked it up, sheathing it on his back once more. As he did, he eyed the blood and body-strewn landscape around him. "Damn." He muttered. "I did... all of this?" He absentmindedly wondered.

As much as he liked carnage, he found it hard to believe even he was capable of doing something like this.

Shaking his head and giving his helmet a few whacks in an effort to knock the lingering haze out of his mind, Wraith rolled his shoulders and moved on once more.


In hindsight, Wraith deemed the battle to have been quite successful.

Hunting down the remnants of Kenobi's army was easy, they hadn't gone very far and were still quite terrified of him. After a quick communication to Stratus, informing him the Republic was weakened and vulnerable, Wraith dove headlong into the Clone masses.

He held his own, truly living up to the moniker of a 'one man army', gunning down Clones and gutting them with his blades. Fury hung on the fringes of his attacks, the leftovers from his descent into primal ferocity. They accented his strikes and gave personality to him, his fighting style focused and calculated yet born of hatred and anger. The Clones did their best to fight back as Wraith challenged the remnants of his Feral Rage into fulfilling his orders of pushing Kenobi away.

But having been recently empowered, he did a bit more than just 'push them back'.

The entire time, his thoughts were chaotic. Periodic images and suggestions, birthed from Scipio's taunting, shot through his mind. They served to build his anger and his frustration, which he gladly took out on the hapless Clones. But it still worried him as to why Scipio would say such things. Did he know something for certain? Was he spouting off rumors about what was going on behind the scenes of the Republic? Surely the doctor said nothing without there being a point behind it. The very notion of the possibility of Ahsoka suffering such things sparked Wraith's anger, admittedly not quite to the point it had been but very close to it. These thoughts fueled his bloodlust as he fought on, battling Clones with a seemingly endless supply of strength and stamina.

He would not be without help, though. Alto had ordered A71, a specially designated A-series assassin droid, to aid his fight and Wraith soon had the help of a company of assassin droids by his side. Together they overwhelmed Kenobi's forces and as A71 and his droids took down Commander Cody, Wraith went toe-to-toe with Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The Jedi was ready and waiting for him and the instant his eyes connected with Wraith's optics, Obi-Wan rushed him.

Wraith stalked towards his foe amid the chaos, ignoring the bodies of Clones on the ground as his Jedi opponent drew nearer and nearer. Obi-Wan was rushing forward, tightening his grip on his lightsaber. He sought to avenge his men, those brutally cut down during Wraith's bout of rage. The Jedi was stern-faced, his mind ablaze with Force-guided tactics and plans, ready to engage the foe who had leveled his army. The blood-soaked armor adorning the super-commando more than enough reason for him to do battle.

Wraith too was ready. Ready to fulfill the promise he made to Kenobi long ago on Tibrin.

His blood would join Skywalker's. And his name would be added to the list of mighty Jedi The Wraith had laid low.

As the Jedi leapt ahead and poised his blade to strike, Wraith formed his own plan of attack. Ducking low, the blue-bladed saber hummed inches above his head, the heat radiating from the blade evident even within the confines of his helmet. Springing back up, Wraith delivered a hard right cross, fist colliding with Obi-Wan's face. His movements were fast and fluid, no matter how advanced and proficient Obi-Wan was, Wraith was always one step ahead of him. The armor around his knuckles dug deep into flesh as the momentum of his blow propelled Obi-Wan away. Summoning the Force to dull his senses, Kenobi shrugged off the blow and moved to attack again. But with ridiculous ease Wraith sidestepped his overhead swing and connected a left hook with Obi-Wan's face. The second blow rattled Obi-Wan, stunning him for a moment.

But a moment was all Wraith needed.

Punch after punch battered Obi-Wan, blow after blow to his head beating the Jedi Master black and blue. Winding up and delivering a hard straight punch, the crunch of bone resounded as the Wraith broke Kenobi's nose. Blood spurted from both of Obi-Wan's nostrils, seeping into his beard and mustache. Wraith followed up with a hard uppercut, knocking Kenobi onto his back and forcing him to drop his lightsaber. Not wasting an opportunity to inflict further pain, Wraith pounced on his fallen victim, grabbing Kenobi's fighting arm and promptly broke the wrist with a vicious twist. The Jedi cried out in pain as he was thrown on his back and Wraith's hands wrapped around his throat. Gasping for air as he was choked, Obi-Wan fought against Wraith's hold on him, struggling to free himself as Wraith's grip grew tighter and tighter. Images wrought from Scipio's taunting passed through his mind, recalling how he'd suggested Obi-Wan might've done things, physical things, to Ahsoka. Such thoughts nearly sparked his rage up once more, only to be quelled by the notion that Kenobi was better off in a prison than in a body bag. Releasing one hand, Wraith balled it into a fist before delivering a hard punch right to the temple, effectively knocking out the already weakened Jedi. Obi-Wan fell from Wraith's grip and crumpled into a heap on the ground, leaving the growling commando towering above him. A71 and his droids, with Cody already subdued and in their clutches, picked up the Jedi and hauled him off as the remnants of the 212th ran off, back to the main Republic force.

Wraith returned with A71 and was greeted by both Alto and Ventress, the former who looked on in slight dismay at Wraith's bloody uniform while Ventress regarded him with a keen grin. After recapping what happened and explaining how Jabiim was now almost certainly in Separatist hands, Wraith bid farewell to the two commanders and departed, destined to return home to his secret base. There was another matter on his mind, however, one that demanded his immediate attention.

He was going to have words with Scipio.


Some time later...

Said Pau'an doctor was busy fine-tuning a few calculations as a holographic representation of Wraith's cloaker stood before him on the holotable. The clank of metal boots against the floor announced his arrival. The doctor stood up from his work.

"Ah, glad to see you're back-" Scipio started to say as he turned to greet his soldier. But he suddenly found Wraith's hand wrapped around his throat and was promptly hoisted into the air.

"If you know anything, anything that could possibly be true, then you need to tell me so the right heads can roll!" Wraith growled, giving Scipio the hardest death glare through his optics. Scipio suddenly clued in as he realized Wraith was still upset over his descriptors of Ahsoka. Deeming this something Dooku did not need to know about, Scipio proceeded to tell Wraith the truth.

"I swear to you, my boy, I simply fabricated everything I told you!" He gasped. "I don't know if any of it is actually true!" This was fact. Scipio had come up with those accusations in the spur of the moment, believing they would incite him. It worked, but Scipio had no idea such things would become so ingrained in his mind.

Maybe Wraith's attraction to Ahsoka ran even deeper than he realized.

"I hope so." The soldier muttered as he dropped Scipio back to the ground. "As much as I don't buy any of that for a moment, it wouldn't surprise me if they would force her to do such things." He growled. "Cursed Jedi... Cursed Republic... And what was that... that rage?" He demanded.

"Oh, yes. That." Scipio coughed as he straightened himself out. "After observing your, shall we say, emotional state on Geonosis, I pondered the possibility of-"

"What. Is. It?" Wraith interrupted. "Not 'how', but 'what'?" Seeing his creation was in a foul mood, Scipio cleared his throat and explained.

"It is a chemical compound designed to accelerate feelings and the emotional output of rage." Wraith cocked his head.

"What was all that 'calm mind is a tactical mind' you were telling me earlier today for then?" He demanded. "First you tell me to watch my emotions, now you're turning me into a berserker?" Pausing to let his words sink in, Wraith continued moments later. "As much as going berserk may warrant favorable outcomes, you're starting to sound like a Jedi, Doc." His remark offended Scipio.

"No need to throw insults about, my boy! I was just trying to... surprise you, is all." He replied. Wraith huffed in annoyance before stomping off, Scipio adjusting his ruffled collar as Wraith ditched his armaments on a nearby table.

"I'm gonna have a shower." He announced, walking off and still wearing his bloody armor. The Pau'an watched him leave, several curious thoughts arising in his mind.

Maybe Wraith needed yet another psychological evaluation.

Maybe he needed to give voice to his thoughts in another log, someplace where he could simply speak and vent what was on his mind.

Despite his victory and the successful use of RGE-7, Scipio had a feeling this was no upgrade for Wraith at all. Instead of improving his creation, he had seemingly destabilized it.