A/N: For those who were waiting for another episode of "Star Wars: The Journey of Tilla Shan and Ember Kryze", I thank you. :) By the way, I have an announcement for the cast at the end.
Star Wars: The Journey of Tilla Shan and Ember Kryze
Chapter II: The Hidden Enemy
Truth enlightens the mind, but won't always bring happiness to your heart.
A planet under siege! Separatist forces mercilessly batter the beautiful and elegant world of Christophsis. Unable to defend themselves any longer, the people of Christophsis call on the Jedi for assistance. Hoping to save lives and prevent further destruction, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker plan a daring ambush which could turn the tide in the fight for this crucial star system.
One day, Obi-Wan and his half of the clone army was in the North Tower while Anakin and his half are in the south as Obi-Wan spoke to Anakin.
"How are you doing over there?", Obi-Wan asked.
"We're set. I've got some guys here that are anxious to get going.", Anakin replied.
"Glad to hear it.", Obi-Wan responded before Commander Cody and a clone named Slick came in.
"We're back, general.", Slick assured.
"Good. The show is about to begin.", Obi-Wan responded.
"How's that cannon coming, boys?", Cody asked.
"We'll have this one back in business in no time, sir.", one of the clones responded just as Mal spotted the incoming droids.
"The droid army is advancing as we speak.", Mal reported.
"I'm seeing a full battalion coming right on schedule. Tanks! They brought tanks.", one of the clones said as he looked through his binoculars and saw said tanks, one of which had a tactical droid in one of the tanks, leading the charge.
"A little closer.", the clone said before the droids suddenly split in three directions.
While one droid faction kept going straight, another went left while another went right.
"They're splitting up.", the clone reported.
"What?", another puzzled in shock.
"Something's gone wrong, Obi-Wan.", Mal stated.
"Indeed. Prepare all troops for...", Obi-Wan began before a blast fired out and felled one clone right before another got blasted.
It soon became clear that the droids had infiltrated the tower, albeit met with some resistance by lightsaber and blaster.
"Abort the mission!", Obi-Wan urged as the clones were backing up only to notice more droids from the other side.
"Our position's been compromised.", one of the clones reported before another that tried to attack the clones wound up blasted in the chest with more droids marching in from the other side to attack.
"Obi-Wan, what's going on?", Anakin asked.
"We're cut off. The droids are onto us.", Obi-Wan reported as both droid and clone alike suffered some casualties with one of the former getting smacked by the butte of the blaster only for one of the latter to get blasted away.
"Gunship, come in. Hawk, we need an e-vac in the south tower.", Anakin urged.
"Roger that, sir. We're coming.", Hawk responded as he flew over to said tower.
"South tower? We're in the north.", Rex pondered.
"Not for long.", Anakin responded before he marked an X on the window and then smashed it open.
"Rex, fire your cables.", Anakin urged before Rex and his men fired some cables to get across from the North tower to the South.
"Blast them!", one of the droids shouted before said droids fired at Anakin and the others, barely managing to hit a couple of clones as said clones fell as a result before Anakin and the rest broke through into the South Tower and caught the droids by surprise from behind, dismantling them before Anakin and the others caught up to Obi-Wan and the rest.
"This way is clear.", Anakin assured.
"How did you get over here?", Obi-Wan asked.
"I improvised.", Anakin replied.
"Well, did you 'improvise' us a way out of here?", Mal asked.
"As a matter of fact, we need to get to the top of the tower, cause the transport is on its way.", Anakin responded.
Then, Obi-Wan used the force to push one of the turrets toward the droids, knocking them back and knocking them down, allowing Anakin and the others to escape and go up the elevator to the top part of the tower.
"Now what?", Anakin asked.
However, the droids caught up and opened fire at the clones, who opened fire while maintaining cover while Anakin and Obi-Wan caught up and slashed some droids only for more to appear, led by the tactical droid. Fortunately, Hawk also arrived to evacuate everyone from the fight with 4 clones having already made the jump to the ship while the tactical droid managed to shoot one of the clones, another of which then ripped the tactical droid's head off and making off with it as he then went toward the ship asdid Anakin and Obi-Wan before the ship left.
"Maybe this tactical droid will tell us how they knew our plan.", Rex guessed as he held onto the tactical droid's head.
Later, at the base, Rex hooked up the head to two cables, causing it to show a hologram of the two towers with the tactical droid speaking as its eyes glowed.
"The Republic army is in the north and south towers: level 46.", the tactical droid spoke.
"It just doesn't make sense.", Rex said before the tactical droid conked out as its eyes glowed red and died out, the circuits being fried.
"Blast!", Rex said in frustration before R2 beeped just as Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Mal walked in.
"Well, at least we're not the only ones having a bad day.", Anakin said.
"Generals, they had all our intel.", Cody reported.
"That would explain the ambush. How could we have left ourselves so vulnerable to a security breach?", Anakin pondered.
"I don't think we did.", Obi-Wan responded.
"You think someone infiltrated our defenses?", Anakin asked.
"Possibly. It'd have to be someone cunning and resourceful enough to gain access to all our plans.", Obi-Wan replied.
"But that's still wouldn't explain how they got our intel.", Anakin said.
"No. You're right. They wouldn't act alone. They'd have someone working with them.", Obi-Wan guessed.
"A spy, sir? But who would want to betray our troops to the Seppies?", Cody asked.
"Excellent question, Commander. Perhaps it's time we made a visit behind enemy lines. I think we'll find our answers there.", Obi-Wan suggested.
"We'll get right on it.", Cody assured.
"No, Captain. I need you here to find the security breach.
"You can count on us, sir.", Cody assured.
"I'll remain here and help look for the traitor.", Mal said.
"Well, the more the merrier. One more thing: this mission is extremely confidential. The spy could be anyone. Let no one know of our mission.", Obi-Wan advised.
"Understood, sir.", Rex assured.
But as soon as the Jedi left, Cody quickly discovered that out of the 3 comlinks, one was active as a red light flashed.
"Someone left this comlink on. Someone has been listening to everything we said.", Cody said before Rex noticed a clone escaping into the hall.
"Hey! Stop!", Rex shouted.
"You two try and catch him! I'll try and narrow down where they are and try and find where they've been sending their communications from.", Mal urged.
"Right!", Rex and Cody agreed before they followed the traitor.
"Who's that?", Cody puzzled as the chase continued for a moment.
"I'll follow him. You take the west corridor.", Cody urged.
"I'm on it.", Rex responded as he then went right while Cody went left before they eventually met up with each other again.
"He must have gone in the mess hall.", Rex responded before he opened the door and saw numerous clones in it, although not too much, but still bebothering.
"We've got a big problem.", Cody said.
"Yeah. The only people in here are brothers.", Rex added.
Later, as Mal had just finished scanning the terminal, Rex and Cody were at a loss on how to fish the traitor out.
"One of us? Great, but which one?", Rex pondered.
"We'll have to wait for his next move. Keep this to ourselves.", Cody suggested.
"Better contact the Jedi.", Rex suggested.
"I'm on it.", Cody agreed.
Meanwhile, the Jedi were moving across a sort of desolate landscape, not knowing that the droids were nearby.
"Don't shoot. Just keep their communications jammed.", one of the droids suggested.
"Roger, roger.", the rest agreed as the Jedi continued their journey on their vehicles.
Meanwhile, the clones were facing a dire situation.
"We can't reach General Kenobi. Whoever it is has blocked our communications. We're gonna have to find this guy ourselves.", Cody suggested.
"Actually, we might not have to.", Mal assured.
"What do you mean?", Rex puzzled.
"R2, can you come over here and plug in?", Mal asked before R2 then did so.
"Oh, I see what you're doing.", Rex guessed.
But Cody, however, doesn't.
"What is he doing?", Cody puzzled.
"The guard got his messages out there somehow. We just got to find them.", Rex stated.
"What do you think? He just sat down and wrote a note?", Cody asked.
"You have to start somewhere.", Mal responded.
Meanwhile, the Jedi were continuing onward, albeit starting to get suspicious.
"We appear to have picked up some friends.", Anakin said.
"Indeed. In fact, I believe the number of eyes watching us has been steadily growing.", Obi-Wan guessed.
"Great. Perhaps this means our adversary has learned about our mission.", Anakin guessed.
"Perhaps it does.", Obi-Wan concurred.
"Of course, nobody's tried to stop us yet.", Anakin added.
"Also true.", Obi-Wan agreed.
"They want us to get to the Separatist headquarters, which means this is a trap.", Anakin responded.
"I imagine it is.", Obi-Wan responded.
"Well, that's unfortunate... For them.", Anakin responded with Obi-Wan giving a slight grin.
Back at the Republic base, R2 beeped.
"R2's found something.", Rex stated as he held out a sort of wavelength monitor
"What is it? Is it the traitor?", Cody asked.
"I'm not sure. Maybe.", Rex responded.
"What is he looking for?", Cody asked.
"Wavelength interference, weak frequencies, spotty, irregular.", Rex stated.
"See how it shows up every few days then disappears? Day to day, if hidden well, you wouldn't notice it.", Mal added before R2 beeped.
"What?", Cody puzzled.
"It's the pattern. The band's only coming off one terminal in the whole base.", Rex explained.
"Check it out. Slick's barracks. Only Slick's men would have access to that terminal.", Cody deduced.
"Or it could even be Slick himself. Either way, when we get this Dank Farrik traitor, I will make them wish they were never created.", Mal threatened.
"Slick's not gonna like that.", Rex stated.
"No, he's not. But if one of his men is giving away our intel, we have to find him and sort this out.", Cody responded.
Meanwhile, Anakin and Obi-Wan arrived at a tower.
"No guards, no barricades. You'd think the Separatist headquarters would be better protected.", Anakin commented.
"But clearly, keeping us out is not what they intend.", Obi-Wan responded as he and Anakin walked in cautiously.
"No way. My guys are the best. No way they're capable of something like this.", Slick responded just before his men walke din.
"Something like what?", one of the clones asked.
"You called them here?", Slick asked.
"Of course we did. We're getting to the bottom of this... Now.", Rex responded.
"And whoever the traitor is must pay for this.", Mal added.
"Look, let me have a few minutes with them first. It's gonna hit them hard. They trust each other, and if one of our own betrayed us...", Slick began.
"I hardly think that's necessary. Your men are tough, aren't they?", Mal asked as Cody stepped forward and then turned to Slick's men.
"Take a seat, gentlemen.", Cody said before Slick's men did so at various spots.
"We have a turncoat in our midst, and we think it's one of you.", Cody explained.
Meanwhile, Anakin and Obi-Wan had taken the elevator and went down before going inside to find a vacant, ruined central room.
"So this is the belly of the beast.", Anakin guessed.
At that point, Ventress stepped in, wearing a hooded cloak over her head before she removed said hood.
"Ventress. And here I thought this mission would be unpleasant.", Obi-Wan said.
"The pleasure's all mine, my dear Obi-Wan. I've missed you.", Ventress responded as she took off her cloak.
Meanwhile, the clones were being interrogated, or in this case, questioned.
"I don't know, I was doing the things I always do after a mission.", one clone named Jester responded.
"Things like what?", Rex asked.
"I'm sorry, sir. I'm just a little nervous. You're my C.O.", Jester responded.
"The way I figure it, you tell the truth, you got nothing to be nervous about.", Rex responded.
"If you're hiding something...", Mal began.
"Jester is telling the truth. He cleans his weapon after every mission. First thing, every time. He's kind of obsessed that way.", Slick explained.
"Is that right? You were cleaning your weapon?"
"Yes, sir."
"Go on the computer while you were in here?"
"No, sir. I didn't even power it up. You can check.", Jester assured before Rex turned to Cody and Mal.
"Show me your weapon.", Cody requested before Jester handed him said weapon.
"Yep, freshly scrubbed.", Cody said.
"All right. You check out.", Mal said.
"The rag's over there in the corner.", Jester stated.
"Good man.", Cody asked before Mal turned to another clone.
"You. Were you cleaning your weapon as well?", Mal asked.
"No, I was hungry. I went back to the mess.", another responded.
"Right away?", Cody asked.
"Oh, yeah.", the clone repleid.
"Anyone with you?", Rex asked.
"Sketch, sir.", the clone responded.
"We got to the mess at the same time, got our grub, and sat together.", Sketch added.
"Anyone else in the mess able to confirm what you two are saying?", rex asked.
"Lots of guys there. Ask any of them.", Sketch responded.
"Oh, we will.", Rex responded.
"Captain, give me a moment with them.", Slick requested.
"No, it's okay, Sarge. I got nothing to hide. I was in the infirmary. Got banged up pretty good by one of those clankers. A med droid was fixing me up. Doc's got all the records there if you want to check.", the clone assured.
"Very well. You're clear as well.", Mal said.
"So, Chopper, old boy, what's your alibi?", Rex asked.
"I was in the mess hall.", Chopper responded.
"No, you weren't! I mean, you...", Sketch began.
"If you know something, kid, you should speak up.", Cody urged.
"Chopper came in a lot later. After everyone else.", Sketch explained.
"And what exactly were you doing, Chopper?", Mal asked.
Back in the central room, both Jedi and Sith alike drew their lightsabers with Ventress drawing out 2 as Anakin and Obi-Wan each drew one before Ventress ran up the stairs with Anakin briefly following her until the two faced each other with Ventress at the high ground.
"My loyal informant let me know you were coming.", Ventress smirked.
"Well, then, we thank you for your hospitality.", Obi-Wan smirked before Anakin moved in to attack Ventress, who blocked said strike and moved in to attack as well with both her and Anakin attacking and blocking all at the same time.
Back at the republic base, however...
"Where were you before you went to the mess, Chopper?", Rex asked.
"Nowhere. Walking around.", Chopper responded.
"Son, you know we'll need a better answer than that.", Cody urged before Chopper sighed.
"I was hiding at the south exit. I didn't want anyone to see me string these together.", Chopper explained as he held out said ring with a few things in it.
"Battle droid fingers.", Rex said.
"I just... I just wanted something back. I guess I felt like they owed me.", Chopper explained.
"I always knew there was something deficient about you.", one of the clones said.
"This isn't good, Chopper. Lying about where you were, taking forbidden items from a battlefield.", Slick said.
"I know.", Chopper said.
"I put up with the attitude 'cause you have skill. But if you could break these rules, your whole character's in question here.", Slick said.
"Wait, no! Hang on. I'm no spy!", Chopper exclaimed as meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Anakin continued fighting Ventress, who used the force to try and hit Obi-Wan, who only ended up slicing through the piece of debris with his lightsaber.
"Chopper, we're all brothers. But how can we trust anything you say now?", Slick asked.
"No, sir, I'm telling you, I did not...", Chopper began.
"It's okay. We'll get you a proper investigation. You don't have to say anything till the Jedi come back and talk to you.", Slick interrupted.
"Maybe you should talk, sir. Tell them where you went. I was at the south exit, remember? I saw you go in go in, sir. I saw you.", Chopper said.
"Chopper, I have been patient.", Slick began.
"Everyone else turned right toward the barracks and the mess. You turned left, toward the command center. Where were you going, sir?", Chopper asked.
"Obviously, the kid feels cornered.", Slick said a bit nervously.
"Sergeant, what did you mean, 'Till the Jedi come back'? How did you know the Jedi were gone?", Cody asked.
"That's right, Sargent. We never mentioned that the Jedi left, so why did you?", Mal asked glaringly.
"I really wish you hadn't noticed that, sir.", Slick responded before he then pushed Cody aside, hit Chopper, and then ducked away.
"It's Slick? Slick's the traitor?!", Rex exclaimed.
"That traitorous scum!", Mal exclaimed as he, Cody, and Rex chased after him, leaving the bewildered clones behind.
Meanwhile, the fight continued as Ventress led the Jedi to the library and then used the force to keep them at bay with library books, only for it to backfire on her as the two Jedi turned the tables before it went back to base with Cody, Rex, and Mal outside.
"I've got someone by the gunships.", Rex said.
"That's our Slick.", Cody smirked.
"Now that he's exposed, he has to get out of this base.", Rex guessed as he, Cody, and Mal ran up ahead, following where Rex's Radar was pinpointing him.
"There's no escape now, you piece of rankweed!", Rex exclaimed before they stopped and saw that it wasn't Slick at all.
"It's a trap!", Mal exclaimed.
"Move. Move!", Rex shouted before he, Mal, and Cody ran from the bomb, which exploded only to find several more bombs exploding as well as something inside the base, prompting the clones to run out.
"He took out our weapons depot. He knew where we'd look. He's not trying to escape.", Rex realized.
"He knows all our moves before we even make them.
"SSSSSLLLLLIIIIICCCCCKKKKK!", Mal roared angrily out of both rage and annoyance.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Anakin seemingly had Ventress cornered, although they didn't quite know that a familiar sniper was in place, readying his weapon.
"Give up, Ventress!", Obi-Wan urged.
"I am all yours, Obi-Wan.", Ventress assured before he and Anakin stepped forward with the two drawing their lightsabers only for the sniper to fire a shot which hit the ground at the same time Ventress activated her lightsabers on the ground, breaking it apart in the process before the two fell to the ground with Ventress then standing up.
"You've served your purpose.", Ventress smirked.
"We have to get back. Now!", Anakin urged.
"It's already too late. So hard to know whom to trust these days, isn't it?", Ventress only asked in response before
"What's the plan, Master?", Anakin asked.
"Bringing us here was a mistake, my sweet. You've overestimated your abilities.", Obi-Wan warned.
"Really?", Ventress asked before she ran with Anakin and Obi-Wan pursuing her.
From there, Ventress burst through the window and jumped off the balcony, landing on top of a sort of dome, joined by the sniper, who was now revealed to be Vai.
"Come and get us, boys!", Ventress smirked.
"You didn't tell us you were bringing friends.", Obi-Wan commented.
"Poor Obi-Wan. You've been betrayed.", Ventress mocked.
"And now, we're about to take control of this world.", Vai added.
Meanwhile, Mal was growing angry, out of frustration at least.
"When I get my hands on that Dank Ferrik, I'm gonna...!", Mal shouted before roaring as he fired a blast in the air.
"Keep it together, Mal. We'll catch him. But... only one problem so far. How do we get this guy?", Rex asked.
"Sir. Slick ran into the command center.", Chopper reported.
"You guys stay here. Seal the perimeter.", Cody ordered before he and Rex took off another way.
At the City of Christophsis, Ventress and Vai were facing the Jedi, who leapt toward each leg of a robot drone and cut them off, causing it to fall off as Ventress charged in to attack while Vai leapt off to a perch that's just as far off.
"Anakin!", Obi-Wan shouted before he and Anakin got on the droid's vehicles and took off, but not before removing the droids from said vehicles.
"Prepare to march on the city.", Ventress ordered before the army started marching as ordered.
"Have General Loathesome delay the Jedi as long as possible. I will need time to execute the next part of my Master's plan.", Ventress ordered.
"Yes, Mistress.", the tactical droid responded.
Back at the base, Cody, Rex, and Mal were looking for Slick, but didn't find him so far, not yet knowing that Slick was watching through the vent grating on the ceiling.
"Pretend you're Slick. What's in your head?", Cody asked.
"My cover's blown, it's time to go, but I decide not to use a ship because it's too obvious.", Rex responded before Cody and Rex looked up at the vent grating and saw him.
"The lockdown. He wants to get around the lockdown. He's blinded us by taking out the power. He could disable the entire security system.", Rex guessed.
"Yeah. But he knows we'd expect him to do that.", Cody said as he put his gun down on the table, prompting Slick to take the opportunity to pull off the grating quietly.
"Or does he? Yeah, I see what you're getting at.", Rex guessed.
"Go to the south exit. Mal, you take the north.", Cody responded.
"But what are you gonna do?", Mal asked.
"I'll stay here, get the power back up. That'll help.", Cody responded.
"Understood.", Mal responded.
"Got it.", Rex agreed as he and Mal went on opposite sides of the gate, causing Slick to come down and prepare to fire at Cody from behind with his own gun.
"Hey, there, Slick. Gun's empty.", Cody smirked, holding a cartridge for the gun, much to Slick's shock as Rex and Mal cornered him from behind.
"You know what's funny, traitor? We knew you'd never take a chance on the exits while they were blocked.", Rex smirked.
"I'd stay here to open them myself first. Just like you.", Slick responded.
"Don't do a job till you've guaranteed the best odds, right?", Cody smirked.
"You knew I was here.", Slick said.
"Of course we knew. You think we wouldn't have a plan?", Rex asked in response.
"And now, it's time to reap what you've sown, traitor.", Mal added.
"I'm not the traitor. You are!", Slick exclaimed before he then grabbed rex's gun and then hit Rex, knocking him to the ground, preparing to fire, only for Cody to push him slightly and grab the gun just as it was fired, although it missed, fortunately.
Unfortunately, though, Slick managed to knock Cody back a few inches and then go after the exit only for Cody to grab him and hold him down by the legs for at least a moment. But then, afterwards, he blocked Cody's punches with his arms.
"All of you just blindly following orders, for what?!", Slick shouted before he then eventually turning the tables, flipping him to the ground, and strike back.
"At least I got something out of all this suffering.", Slick said before Rex grabbed Slick from behind.
"Yeah. I bet you sold out your brothers for some real shiny coin.", Rex said before Cody recovered in time to see Slick hitting Rex with the back of his head and then hold him down by the legs.
"Yes, she offered me money. But she offered me something more important. Something you wouldn't understand. Freedom!", Slick exclaimed as he stood back up only for Mal to fire his weapon at Slick, tasing him to the point that he fell to the ground after a few seconds.
"How's your freedom feel now, you worthless traitor?! Honestly, I should end you right now!", Mal retorted.
A moment afterward, Slick was being led away.
"I think freedom's gonna have to wait, kid.", Rex responded.
"Slick? It was you?", Obi-Wan asked.
"He gave us a bit of a chase, sir.", Rex responded.
"You couldn't be a greater disappointment. How could you do this to your brothers?", Anakin scolded.
"Only a Jedi would ask that. It's the Jedi who keep my brothers enslaved. We do your bidding. We serve at your whim. I just wanted something more.", Slick explained.
"And all you had to do to get it was put the rest of us all at risk.", Rex guessed.
"I... I love my brothers. You're too blind to see it, but I was striking the blow for all clones.", Slick responded.
"If you loved your brothers, you wouldn't have put them at risk.", Cody responded.
"You betrayed everyone of us.", Rex added.
"Take him to lockup.", Cody ordered before the other clones then led Slick away.
"Were you able to salvage anything from the weapons depot?", Obi-Wan asked.
"Slick pretty much scorched the whole thing. That seemed to be what he was going for all along.", Rex responded.
"We managed to save the heavy cannons, though.", Cody assured.
"That's good, 'cause there are about 1,000 battle droids on their way here.", Obi-Wan responded.
"The fight goes on, gentlemen.", Anakin added before he and Obi-Wan took their leave.
A/N: And that concludes the chapter. And as for the cast, it's as follows:
Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker
Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu
Ian McDiarmid as Chancelor Palpatine/Darth Sideous
and Christopher Lee (may he Rest in Peace) as Count Dooku
Now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta get some new stories ready for this week (the rewrite of "Attack of the 50 ft. Mandy" being among the first ones of this week)