Breaking News
"Rex! Wolffe! Bly!" Appo burst into the room where Rex and the others were sharing a meal and catching up. "Fox just commed. Said you needed to see this."
"Appo, you know the comms aren't safe," Rex said.
"Don't worry, vod. Fox gave a comm to me before we left Coruscant. It doesn't use GAR or Imperial channels, and it's encrypted. Completely safe."
"Nothing's completely safe," Bly muttered.
Rex reached out and squeezed Bly's shoulder. The other man still had healing cuts and bruises on his face, and his eyes were haunted. Rex supposed they were all haunted by one thing or another from the war.
Appo placed a holopad on the table and turned it on. A HoloNews broadcast was in progress, and a female reporter was speaking.
"An assassination attempt on Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan was foiled today by members of the Coruscant Guard. In a shocking turn of events, several senators were arrested as alleged Separatist sympathizers following the attempt. Included in the list of senators were Orn Free Ta of Ryloth, Lott Dod of Neimoidia, and, in what must come as a huge betrayal to Emperor Palpatine, his right-hand man, Mas Amedda."
"Haran'kar," Wolffe said, slapping his leg as he grinned.
"Proof of the senators' treasonous actions came in the form of a holovid, sent to several HoloNews networks' headquarters only an hour ago," the reporter continued. "We'll show a brief clip of that vid now. Parents, be warned that the following content is not suitable for younger viewers."
There was a brief pause, presumably for parents to shuffle their offspring out of the room, then a picture of Amedda, Ta, and Dod, along with several others filled the screen. The senators sat on lavish chairs in an opulently decorated room. A second later the clip started.
"Who should we have him off next?" a visibly drunk Ta asked.
"How about Senator Amidala," Dod asked. "She's been a pain in my side for far too long."
"Ooh! No, how about that fool from Naboo. Dinks, or whatever his name is," Ta said.
"You're both fools," Amedda said, sipping a dark red liquid from a goblet. "We should send the Commander after a real threat like Senator Organa or Mothma. Now those two hold real sway in the Senate Chamber."
Amedda lifted a languid hand and motioned for someone to approach. The camera angle advanced toward the senators, and Rex suddenly realized that the footage was from a brother's in-HUD cam.
"Commander," Amedda said. "Execute Order Twenty-five. Your target is Senator Bail Organa. Dispose of his body in the usual place."
Rex's eyes flew to Appo. "Who filmed is this? What's going on? Are all the Guard commanders accounted for?"
Appo shrugged and nodded to the 'pad where the reporter was on screen again.
"Several more senators have been implicated, and are currently under investigation. The autopsy report of the Coruscant Guard Commander's body that accompanied this video clip has revealed a synthetic biochip in the clone's brain. It appears that a list of orders, several of which detail the removal of the Chancellor of the Republic, Jedi Generals and Commanders, and other beings deemed 'too dangerous to live' was programed into the chip. A request to speak with the Emperor on the state of the clone army was met with silence."
"I bet," Rex muttered.
"This is what Senator Bail Organa had to say about the attack," the anchorwoman said.
The scene changed to show Senator Organa at a podium in a briefing room in the senate building.
"We must have the rest of the army scanned for this biochip and see to the dechipping of any of our troops immediately," the Alderaanian senator said. "For the safety of the Empire, we cannot allow our fighting force to be subject to possible control by the Separatists. All medical facilities on Alderaan will be made available to clone personnel to scan for these biochips and see to their removal immediately."
Bly started laughing softly, tears trickling down his cheeks. Rex squeezed his shoulder again.
"Well that just pulled Palpatine's teeth nicely, didn't it?" Wolffe gloated.
"Several other senators weighed in on the attack and revelation of the biochips," the anchorwoman said.
Senator Mon Mothma stood in the halls of the Senate building, which seemed to be filled with barely organized chaos. "Chandrilla will follow Alderaan's lead and offer medical assistance to our brave troops."
Senator Meena Tills of Mon Cala came on screen next. "The Mon Calamari people will offer whatever assistance we can to the brave troops who helped free our world from Separatist control."
"This is outrageous," Senator Halle Butroni of Kamino ranted, shouldering her way in front of Senator Tills. "The biochips are there to help suppress the clones' aggressive natures. If they are removed, who knows what vicious, brutal acts—"
The camera cut back to the HoloNews anchorwoman. "Obviously, reactions to the news of the biochips is mixed. We will be following this developing story very closely."
Rex shared a look at his brothers as Appo's datapad went dark.
"Little gods," Rex muttered, scrubbing both hands over his face.
"If it makes you feel any better," Appo said, "Burtoni just admitted on Galaxywide news that the Kaminoans knew about the biochips. There's going to be backlash from that."
"That just gives me a bigger ulcer," Rex said.
The comm on Appo's belt chirped and he placed it on the table before accepting the call. A holo of Fox filled the air above the comm.
"Morning, vode," the Coruscant Guard commander said, grinning with too many teeth.
"Who died? Rex demanded. "The news report said an autopsy was done on a Guard commander."
"No one's dead," Fox reassured them. "No one who wasn't already marching on."
"Fox," Bly growled.
"Gather the generals," Fox said. "And I'll explain everything."
Half an hour later the members of the Jedi High Council that were on Vorpa'ya, along with several other Jedi, clones, and members of the Clan Linnar leadership were gathered in the clan's large meeting hall. Rex stood with Ahsoka and Anakin against one wall. At the front of the room, clan leader Irresset stood with Din Djarin and Appo. In hologram, Commanders Fox, Thire, and Ricochet waited in parade rest. At Irresset's nod, Appo stepped forward.
"Before we left Coruscant, Commander Fox gave me an encrypted comm," Appo said. "He contacted me today and told me about a HoloNews report that was being aired. I'm sure some of you have already seen that report."
Appo looked at Irrisset and Djarin, who both nodded. A few of the Jedi and vode were nodding too.
"Fox would like to update all of us on the situation on Coruscant that led to the arrest of several senators." Appo gestured to Fox.
Commander Fox nodded. "Generals, vode, we here in the Guard have been taking measures to keep you safe and to find our missing generals. This mission has been twofold, comprising Operation Shroud and Operation Trash Removal.
"For Operation Trash Removal, Commander Stone attended a gathering of several senators as part of Orn Free Ta's security detail. There, Stone was given Order Twenty-five, which is apparently a directive to assassinate whoever is named by the person giving the order. Senator Organa of Alderaan was the intended target. Since Stone's chip has been removed, he wasn't obliged to follow the order, and after we apprised Senator Organa of the situation, he helped us stage an attempted assassination. Commander Stone was listed as KIA in the after-action report."
Several vode voices rose in a clamor and Rex felt his stomach drop, followed by confusion. Fox had said no one had died. Did that mean Stone had been dead before the operation started?
"Fox, explain!" Wolffe roared over the tumult.
Another hologram shimmered into existence. Commander Stone, dressed in civilian clothing and a long leather duster, nodded to the assemblage. He wore a wide-brimmed hat with the right side pinned up, with a couple of long, full-plumed feathers tucked into the band around the crown.
"Sorry for the confusion, vode, generals," Stone said.
Rex felt a knot of tension in his shoulders ease.
"I didn't realize the Coruscant Guard were so theatrical," someone muttered.
Rex, Anakin, and Ahsoka all shared a rueful look.
"Stone is in charge of Operation Shroud," Commander Fox said. "Faking his death was the easiest way to make him disappear from Coruscant so he can monitor the operation. Stone will give you the details."
Stone swept the hat off his head and clasped his hands behind his back. "My team and I have engaged several bounty hunters to locate missing our Jedi."
This caused a stir amongst the Jedi and clones.
"The bounty hunters are being told to bring the Jedi in alive and unharmed," Stone said over the rumble of voices. "My operatives have heavily implied that we're handling these contracts for the new Emperor. So far, we've not had any fatalities, and only minor injuries. Apparently, our generals don't take kindly to being kidnapped." Stone paused to grin at the Jedi. "We've recovered Generals Unduli and Vos, Commander Dume, General Swan, General Tiplee and some of their troops."
The apprehension that had been building in the room eased at this news.
"We're hoping to get them to you on Vorpa'ya, but for now, they're safe with us," Stone said.
"Busy you have been, commanders," Master Yoda said.
"It's our duty to keep you safe, sirs," Thire spoke up.
The clones in the room all murmured their agreement. Rex felt Ahsoka's hand on his shoulder and glanced down at her. She was smiling up at him.
"I think that sentiment goes both ways," she said.
Rex smiled back, covering her hand with his, and nodded.
Commander Ricochet stepped forward. "Generals, I'm happy to report that General Windu survived the attack at the Chancellor's office. He was found by a couple of our Guards and taken to Coruscant Med where he spent some time in bacta. Then the two guards returned to the med center and helped him get to the Temple."
"Master Drallig thought it prudent for him to stay behind with a few of the Temple Guards in case some Jedi returned there seeking refuge," Master Oppo Rancisis said.
"Have you heard from Obi-Wan," Anakin said suddenly, stepping away from Rex and Ahsoka.
The Guard commanders shook their heads.
"We've had no communication from General Kenobi, or any of the men with him on the ship," Commander Fox said. "A couple of the men had encrypted comms, so when they're able to contact us, they have the means to do so."
Anakin folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall, silently brooding.
"Another concern we have, commander," Master Yoda said. "Returned to Kamino, Master Ti did, with several Jedi and two Padawans. Although accompanied by dechipped clones they were, no contact we have had with them. Master Plo Koon, Knight Sha Koon's uncle, was to be in contact with his niece, but in bacta he has remained, since arriving on Vorpa'ya. Wondering we were, if reach out to Captain Wade for an update, you could."
Fox nodded slowly. "I can contact Wade through Imperial channels. I didn't know about the mission, or I could have gotten him an encrypted comm."
"Moving fast, matters were," Yoda said. "Unforeseen, were some events."
Fox folded his arms over his chest, and there was a moment of silence. "We have nothing more to report at the moment, generals," he said. "We'll comm back when there's more news."
"Look forward to future updates, we do, commander," Yoda said.
Katooni gasped as Petro took a kick to the chest from the clone cadet he was sparring with. She felt her fellow Padawan use a touch of the Force to keep himself on his feet, but otherwise took the brunt of the impact.
Master Ti had warned them to use the Force as little as possible so the clones and Kaminoans wouldn't see them as a threat. So far, no one had mentioned getting a Force-suppression collar for either her or Petro. Whenever doubt or fear tried to creep into Katooni's mind, she reminded herself that the last group of people who'd underestimated her and her friends—Hondo Ohnaka's pirates—had come to regret that decision. When the time was right, the Jedi would throw off their binders and set the clones free.
On the mats, Petro ended up grappling with the cadet.
When the cadet pinned Petro, he said, "I'd have thought a jetiik'aad would have had more fight in him."
"I've got plenty of fight," Petro said from where his face was smooshed into the mats.
The cadet let him up with a scoff.
Katooni could see Petro's fists shaking at his sides. She sent soothing feelings toward him through the Force, and watched his hands relax. He gave her a little nod and a tight smile.
"Well done, CT-5647," the training sergeant said.
He was a large male Devaronian named Vilmehk Juct. Katooni didn't like him at all.
The cadet nodded, snapped a salute, and fell back into the ring around the mat. Petro rubbed at his shoulder, which Katooni suspected had been wrenched during the last scuffle, and started toward the edge of the mat.
"Where are you going, little Jedi?" Sergeant Juct asked.
Petro held his arm and Katooni thought he did a pretty good job of looking miserable. "I hurt my shoulder. I was going to go to medical for a bacta patch."
The Devaronian laughed. "We don't waste bacta on such minor injuries here," he said. "CT-2040, get in the ring. Show this baby Jedi what it means to be a soldier."
"I'll take a turn," Katooni said, taking a step forward.
Juct's heavy hand fell around the back of her neck, trapping a couple of her tendrils. "Stay put," he growled.
Katooni tried not to flinch at the pressure on her sensitive tendrils. She'd sensed early on that the man derived a sick satisfaction from inflicting pain, and didn't want to show any weakness.
"CT-2040, fight," Juct said.
Katooni focused on the spar to keep her mind off the growing discomfort in her tendrils. Petro kept his injured arm close to his body as he and CT-2040 circled each other. Katooni could feel a shift in the mood of the cadets around her. It was one thing to bad mouth a healthy opponent, but that fact that Petro had requested medical assistance and been denied seemed to disquiet the young clones. CT-2040 lunged at Petro and traded a few half-hearted blows before backing off.
"Is that the best you can do?" Juct mocked. "You have the best scores in your squad, 2040. Do you really want to lose that standing?"
A spike of fear went through all the cadets, making Katooni wince. Juct's hand tightened around her neck.
"He's not a soldier, sir," 2040 said. "He's a Jedi, and he's requested medical assistance."
Sergeant Juct released Katooni and stalked into the ring, stopping when he towered over 2040 and Petro.
"Are you backtalking to me, cadet?" Juct snapped.
2040 paled. "No, sir. It's just that—"
Juct grabbed the front of 2040's tunic and lifted him off his feet so they were nose to nose. "It's just what, cadet?"
Katooni met Petro's eyes, and she knew he was thinking what she was thinking. Together, they rushed the Devaronian. Petro lashed out at the side of Juct's knee, and Katooni heard a satisfying crack. Juct roared as he fell, dropping 2040. The cadet rolled out of the way, and Katooni slammed the heel of her palm into the training sergeant's nose which broke with a snap, eliciting another howl of pain from the man.
"What's going on here?" a clone voice demanded.
The cadets all spun toward the voice and saluted. A clone in full armor with blue and red pauldrons and kama approached, his helmet tucked under one arm.
"The Jedi cadets were demonstrating double team tactics for us, Commander Colt," one of the cadets said.
"At ease," Commander Colt said.
The cadets all fell into parade rest. Juct groaned from where he lay on the ground. Colt turned to one of the cadets.
"Go get a med droid for the sergeant. I think he'll need a medic to take a look at his knee and set his nose."
The cadet darted away.
"Sir," 2040 said, taking a step forward. "Cadet Petro was injured in a spar. He requested to go to medical. Sergeant Juct denied that request."
Colt looked at Petro. "Is that true?"
"It's just wrenched. Sir," Petro tacked on the honorific belatedly. "I was told that you don't waste bacta on that kind of injury."
Katooni felt a wave of fury tinged with guilt rise in the commander.
"CT-2040, CT-5647, please escort Cadet Petro and Cadet Katooni to the medbay. The rest of you come with me, and I'll see you temporarily assigned to new trainers while Sergeant Juct recovers."
2040 motioned for Petro and Katooni to follow him and 5647. Once in the hallway, 5647 fell into step next to Petro.
"I didn't mean to hurt your shoulder," he said.
"I know. These things happen, even in a friendly spar, right?"
The cadet smiled hesitantly. "Right."
Remembering their primary goal of winning over the cadets, Katooni turned to 2040. "Thank you for trying to get help for Petro. Can't you report Juct to someone for being a bully?"
2040 shrugged uncomfortably. "We're just clones. The other trainers and Kaminoans don't care, as long as we're fit to fight for the Republic. Er, Empire."
"Master Ti would do something about him if she were still in charge," Petro said.
"Some of the trainers have gotten more vicious without General Ti's oversight," 5647 admitted. Then softly, so softly Katooni almost missed it, he said, "I miss her."
I miss her too, Katooni thought. We're all in the same cell block, but I haven't seen Master Ti since we got here. Or Master Koon, or any of the others.
"My name is Anarak," 2040 said suddenly.
"Like the system in the Outer Rim?" Petro asked.
2040, Anarak, nodded. "I liked the way it sounded, so I decided to use it."
"I think it's a great name," Katooni said, smiling.
After a moment of silence, 5647 said, "My friends call me Tracyn."
"That means 'fire' in Mando'a, right?" Petro asked.
Anarak and Tracyn nodded, and Katooni felt their surprise.
"Tooni and I started learning Mando'a after we met Commander Cody, and spent some time with the troopers of the 212th battalion."
"You met the Commander Cody?" Tracyn and Anarak said in awed voices.
They reached the medbay and continued talking in quiet, excited voices between the times the Kaminoan doctor checked Petro over and applied the bacta patch to his shoulder.
"I hope we get to spar together again some time, Petro," Tracyn said, when the exam was over and the four younglings headed back toward the training room.
Petro nodded. "Me too. I'll win for sure, next time."
Tracyn grinned and bumped his shoulder against Petro's. "Doubt it."
"Cadets!" a voice called.
Tracyn and Anarak snapped to attention as a clone in yellow and black pauldrons with diamond patterned kama approached.
"Commander Blitz," the cadets said, saluting.
"Your squads have been reassigned to Trainer El-Les. Rejoin them, on the double."
"Sir, yes sir!" Tracyn and Anarak said, before jogging off.
Commander Blitz turned his blank visor on Katooni and Petro. "Follow me. Commander Colt wants to see you."
Mando'a:
Haran'kar - holy hell
Jetiik'aad - baby Jedi