Chapter 9 …Follow Orders
Cara looked around at the fighters in the hanger bay. She heard Hera Syndulla call the ones hanging above her A-wings. However, the fighters entering the hanger were definitely X-wings like the ones that helped them escape Palimina, maybe even the same X-wings. "Interesting."
"You like starfighters?" asked Kat.
"Nah, too confining," replied Cara.
"You're a 'boots on the ground' person," said Kat. "Like me."
General Syndulla, Rex, and Chanla walked up to meet the pilots of the two X-wings that just landed. Cara stopped and looked at the pilots. Kat noticed the stare. "Don't tell me you're interested."
"Hey, for the past couple of weeks, I've been hanging around old timers like you and Rex. It's nice to see men my age," said Cara.
"You have a thing for pilots?" asked Kat.
Cara shook her head, "Not my type."
"What is your type?" asked Kat. "Never mind, I don't want to know."
"What about you, Kat? Did you ever date?"
"No, never." The way that Kat said it, told Cara not to ask more.
She and Kat approached one of the X-wings. Cara put her hand on the underbelly of the fighter. Its cockpit was high up, requiring a ladder. It must be difficult to scramble fighters if ladders were ever in short supply. Cara looked out from under the fighter's nose and saw General Syndulla still talking with the pilots. Cara couldn't see the faces of the pilots, especially since one of them still had his flight helmet on. Cara strained her ears. "What do you think they're talking about?"
"Another lesson: know what information you're privy to and what you're not."
"I don't see any harm in a little eavesdropping," said Cara adding a smirk to her expression.
Kat rolled her eyes. "I suppose I can remember being a young nosey soldier."
"Were you ever young?" asked Cara. "I mean you must be in your sixties or at least fifties. The Clone Wars were twenty years ago. You were what, upper thirties when the War began?"
But Kat wasn't listening. She had stepped a meter or so away from the X-wing and was staring at the gathering around General Syndulla. "Hello, Galaxy to Kat," said Cara.
"Did he say 'Skywalker'?"
"Sky what?" asked Cara. But Kat was completely focused on the conversation between Syndulla and the pilots, one pilot in particular. And now Rex was in the conversation.
Kat gasped. "That's General Skywalker's son!"
"Who's General Skywalker?" asked Cara. "Should I know him? And I thought we weren't supposed to eavesdrop on superiors."
Cara was joking with Kat, but Kat was anything but joking. She stood upright and rigid. Her right hand was shaking. She started speaking to no one in particular. "He has a lightsaber."
"What's a lightsaber?"
"He was trained by General Kenobi!" At this point, Kat's hand shaking was getting worse.
"Kat, are you okay?" Cara was beginning to become concerned about her friend.
"Skywalker…lightsaber…Kenobi."
"Kat, what's going on with you?"
"Good soldiers follow orders. Good soldiers follow orders."
"Is this another lesson?"
"Good soldiers follow orders. Good soldiers follow orders. Good soldiers…"
Kat's hand suddenly stopped shaking and became firm. Then in a blink of an eye, Kat drew her blaster pistol with her right hand.
"Kat what are you doing?!" Cara was a few steps away, just out of reach. All she could do was shout a warning. "Look out!"
Kat only took a moment to aim. Cara still thought it was all some sort of joke. But when Kat pulled the trigger and the blue blaster bolt jumped from her pistol, Cara was shocked. The bolt passed right through the gathering around General Syndulla. Cara couldn't tell if it hit anyone. Kat was drawing her other pistol. She said something about executing an order. She lifted her second pistol and took aim.
This time Cara was able to intervene. She jumped forward and ripped the blaster from Kat's right hand. She used her momentum to slam into Kat, and she took the older soldier to the deck.
"Stop this, Kat. Don't make me hurt you," said Cara. But Cara soon found that injuring Kat was the least of her worries.
Battlefield instincts slowed everything down for Rex. He heard the shout. He saw the blaster bolt. He even saw Luke Skywalker duck just in the nick of time. Rex dropped. As he hit the deck he rolled to the side and finished on his feet in a combat crouch. Rex scanned the area to find the source of the blaster fire.
What Rex saw was two women entangled in a wrestling match. It only took a second for Rex to realized that it was Cara Dune and Kat. Was the blaster bolt a misfire? Was this all an accident?
"Put that thing away!" said Hera Syndulla. Rex looked over at her. She was scolding young Skywalker as he held his lightsaber as if he wanted to activate and use it.
Rex looked closer at the lightsaber. Then he looked back at the women, specifically Kat. A new realization hit Rex like a hovertrain. "No." Rex interposed himself between Skywalker and the wrestling women. "No, no, no!"
Kat and Cara were entangled. Cara had dislodged both of Kat's pistols, but blood was trickling out of her nose. Apparently, Kat had already gone a few punches in. By every physical metric, Cara was the superior fighter. She was stronger, she had a better body frame, and she was younger. Cara knew all this and was clearly trying to subdue Kat with minimal injury by pinning her to the deck.
But Kat had no such reservations. She was fighting with everything she had. And Kat had far more experience than Cara. Her Clone Wars record included hand to hand combat with both magnaguard and commando droids. And there was something else. Kat was determined. There was nothing more important to Kat than her current mission, and she would stop at nothing to complete it. She couldn't do any less. It wasn't her choice. Not many would understand, but Rex knew it all too well.
Rex ran up to the two women. "Kat, stand down!" he shouted.
Cara took another punch to the face, but she seemed to be getting the upper hand on Kat. She managed to roll Kat under her, pinning Kat's legs with her own. She also managed to hold Kat's right arm to the deck floor. But Kat reached up with her left hand and grabbed Cara by the collar her armored vest. Kat pulled Cara down with all her might, and at the same time raised her own head. Rex heard the distinctive sound of heads knocking as the two women came together. The blow stunned Cara momentarily.
If the headbutt hurt Kat, she didn't show it. She was driven by something more than will power. With Cara stunned, Kat slipped her legs out from underneath the strong woman. She then brought her knees to her chest and curled her legs. "Oh, no," said Rex just as Kat straighten her legs into a violent double-footed kick to Cara's chest. The young woman was propelled backwards and upwards. She cracked her head against the under belly of Skywalker's X-wing. Cara landed facedown under the fighter and stopped moving.
Kat was already to her knees and searching for her weapons. By this time Rebel security had arrived. They didn't seem to know what was going on, but they had taken one of Kat's blasters. The other one lay next to Rex. He walked up with his own blasters trained on Kat. Rex kicked the blaster behind him and stood between Kat and her target. "Stand down, soldier!"
Kat looked up at him. The was no friendliness in her eyes, only duty. "Out of my way, CT-7567. Or be executed as a traitor."
"Stand down, Lieutenant," said Rex again. "You don't need to do this."
"I have orders. And good soldiers follow orders!" said Kat.
"Kat, stand down!" Kat got to her feet, and Rex could tell she was ready to leap at him, despite his blasters. "FC-011, stand down!" Rex tried one more time.
It was useless. Kat leaped at Rex with her hands extended as if to claw him. With sadness Rex pulled the trigger on his left-hand blaster. The circular stun bolt hit Kat in the chest. She stumbled to the ground near Rex's feet, but she still tried to advance, desperately clawing at Rex's legs. Rex took two steps back and fired a second stun bolt into Kat's back. She finally passed out on the deck.
Rex dropped to his knees in front of her as Rebel security secured her wrists in binders.
Carter was monitoring Sel Pamma's bacta treatments, when a Rebel medic burst into to the emergency ward with two women on hover-gurneys. "Medical emergency!"
Dr. Matonui responded. "Status?"
"One human female in her early 20's or late teen's. Trauma to the head. Likely concussion," said the medic.
The doctor jumped up to the gurney and started checking the unconscious woman's eyes Carter came up as well. "Cara!" he said as he recognized the young woman from Alderaan.
"You know this woman?" asked the Redemption's doctor.
"She was recruited just before I was," said Carter.
"Then perhaps you know the second patient," said the doctor pointing to the second gurney. Carter turned around and saw the second woman.
"Auntie Kat!" exclaimed Carter.
"Doctor?" asked a male Rodian nurse.
"I know her," said Carter, snapping out of his shock. He started the preliminary scans. "No obvious signs of injury. Her unconsciousness is consistent with being hit by a stun bolt or two."
"How long will she be out?" asked Rex who came in behind the medics.
"Ten minutes maybe. Less if I use a stimulant," said Carter.
"No!" replied Rex. "You have to keep her sedated."
"Sedated?! Why?" asked Carter. "I would never sedate a perfectly healthy individual without reason."
"She's not healthy," said Rex forcefully. "She's a danger to herself and others. You must sedate her!"
"I agree with Dr. Rolanga," said Dr. Matonui. "I see no reason for sedation. I will see that safety restraints are in place. Those should suffice."
"No, they won't," insisted Rex.
"It's what the restraint are designed for," countered Dr. Matonui.
"You don't understand," said Rex just a notch below a full-blown shout. He took a moment to calm himself and then looked Carter in the eye. "You know more about her than anyone on this ship. You have to trust me." The look in Rex's eyes conveyed both sadness and pleading. Carter knew that Kat was a clone. Rex also was a clone. Perhaps he knew something that the others, including Carter, did not.
"Okay, I will sedate her," said Carter. The other doctor gave him a questioning look but didn't stop him. Carter applied the sedative and looked down at Kat. For a second, Carter thought he was looking at the face of his own mother. Whatever was wrong with Kat, Carter was going to fix it, if not for her sake then for his mother's.
Hera paced back and forth in a waiting room. With her was Luke Skywalker. Rex had joined them after a moment but was deathly silent.
What had happened? One moment Hera was dealing with all her emotions surrounding the Jedi; the next she was being shot at. She didn't know it for sure, but the little evidence she had pointed to Rex's friend Kat as the shooter. Was Kat secretly an Imperial? That didn't seem likely given Rex's endorsement. But given the look on Rex's face, Hera was beginning to doubt.
Dr. Rolanga and Dr. Matonui from the Redemption. The other doctor spoke first. "Cara Dune will be fine. She suffered a minor skull fracture and a severe concussion. We have given her a bacta infusion. She should be fine in a few hours with a full recovery in a day or two."
"And Kat?" asked Rex.
"Kat appears to be relatively uninjured," said Dr. Rolanga. "Aside from some slight bruising. But we have her sedated as you requested."
"Sedated?" asked Hera.
"She was reported to be a danger to herself and others," said Dr. Rolanga.
"Rebel security has both women secured in their hospital rooms," said Dr. Matonui.
"That won't be necessary," said Rex. "Not in Cara Dune's case."
"We don't want to risk another fight between the two of them," replied Dr. Matonui.
"Kat's fight wasn't with Cara," said Rex. "She just got in the way."
"Then who was it with?" asked Hera.
Rex simply pointed. "With him."
Luke Skywalker stepped back in surprise. "Me? I've never met this woman."
"It's not personal," said Rex.
"Is this about a bounty? Did the Empire send her to kill me because I blew up the Death Star?"
"No, it has nothing…Wait, you're the pilot who destroyed the Death Star?" asked Rex.
"That's not important right now," said Hera. "If this wasn't about the Death Star, then what is it about?"
"It's about the Jedi," said Rex. "You were right, General. Skywalker's confession about being a Jedi put him in grave danger."
"I'm not a Jedi," said Skywalker.
"You're the son of a Jedi," said Rex. "You have a lightsaber, and you've trained under General Kenobi, a Jedi Master. You're practically Padawan learner."
"Why would Auntie Kat try to kill a Jedi?" asked Dr. Rolanga.
"Maybe she's loyal to the Empire," suggested Dr. Matonui.
"No," said Rex. "She hates the Empire. I can assure you of that." He lowered his head. "But she has orders…orders she can't refuse."
"What does the Empire have on her?" asked Skywalker, sounding naively heroic. "A ransom, a bribe?"
"It's not the Empire," said Rex. "But the Emperor himself." He took a deep breath as though he was about to say something he didn't wish to. "At the end of the Clone Wars, Chancellor Palpatine on the same day he declared himself Emperor also declared the Jedi enemies of the Republic, or rather his new Empire. He ordered all his soldiers to execute the Jedi."
Hera felt her eyes open wide in recognition. "You're referring to Clone Order 66." Hera was trying to process the implications. "But that order only applied to clones. Kat isn't a…"
"Kat is a clone," said Rex.
"What?!" said Hera, dumbfounded for a moment.
"Wait a minute," said Dr. Rolanga. "You didn't know that?"
"No, I did not know that." Hera turned towards Rex. "Rex never told me."
Rex remained silent, but Dr. Rolanga explained. "The Kaminoans made a mistake and produce 305 female clones. Although not drafted into the Grand Army of the Republic, Kat brought them into the War anyway. It was the clone women who made up Divergent Company. My stepmother, Streak, was also one of the female clones." Dr. Rolanga turned towards Rex. "The clones have free will. How can the Emperor compel them to kill their Jedi generals?"
Rex explained, "Each of us had an organic chip implanted in our heads. When Order 66 came down, we all lost our free will. Fortunately for me a friend was able to remove my chip." Rex pointed to his scar again. "Kat wasn't so lucky."
"How do we remove this chip?" asked Dr. Rolanga.
Rex answered, "These chips were implanted in us when we were still in our fetal growth chambers. They are bio-mechanical, and they've been in our brain's so long it's almost impossible to locate them." Rex sighed. "I don't know how my friend removed mine, but one of my brothers was able to locate his using a phase five atomic level brain scan. Wolffe and I have been trying to locate this scanning equipment or something similar." Rex turned to the Redemption's doctor. "Do you have anything like that on board this ship?"
"No, we do not," said Dr. Matonui. "We are more of a field hospital. We have difficulty acquiring the most basic medical supplies. Such advanced equipment is not a priority."
"We might be able to substitute lesser equipment," said Dr. Rolanga. "May I see your equipment inventory?"
"Of course," said Dr. Matonui.
"Then let's take a look," said Dr. Rolanga.
The two doctors began retrieving information on a medical console. Skywalker didn't seem to know what to do. With an encouraging wave from Hera, he left the room. The doctors apparently found what they were looking for and were leaving to begin their work. Rex took a few steps to follow, but Hera stopped him. "Rex, a moment."
"Yes, General," replied the clone dutifully. As he stood there, a soldier at attention, Hera saw him in a different light. He wasn't the cheerful old friend of Ahsoka Tano anymore. He was a clone, a soldier bred for combat; dangerous and deadly. Now Hera understood why it had taken Kanan so long to trust him.
"I need you to answer just one question," said Hera sternly. Rex nodded slowly as if he knew the question before Hera had asked it. "Did you know that Kat had a chip?"
Rex bowed his head. "Yes, I knew."
"For how long?" asked Hera.
"Ever since Kallus and I recruited her," said Rex. "Part of my recruitment pitch was removing the chip for her."
"And you didn't think to tell me about this?" Hera began to unleash her anger. "To tell me that Kat was a clone, that she was potentially dangerous?"
"I planned on telling you eventually," said Rex, scratching his bald head. "And I didn't think that we would run into any Jedi."
"Not a Jedi," corrected Hera. "The child of a Jedi."
"I didn't see that coming either."
"Didn't you?" This time Hera's voice was raised. "You didn't think you would find a child of a Jedi?"
"Well, no. I…"
"Jacen is Kanan's son!" shouted Hera. "He's as much a Jedi as that pilot! And you brought a Jedi killing clone on board my ship and endangered my son!" Hera surprised herself. She had been angry before, especially when people disobeyed her orders. But this was a whole new level of rage.
And Rex was picking up on that rage. "It's not like that. I…"
"Did you tell her about Kanan or Ezra?!" demanded Hera.
"No, I didn't. And I told Wolffe not to say anything. The Ghost crew doesn't talk about Kanan or Ezra to outsiders, so I don't think she knows about them or about Jacen's heritage."
"You better hope so. Because I'm holding you responsible," said Hera. "I do not want that woman back on board my ship!" Hera lowered her voice. "And the same goes for you, Captain."
"General?" Rex was shocked.
"I will talk to General Rieekan. You will get a new posting. But as far as I'm concerned, your service on the Ghost or any other vessel under my command is done! I want your quarters cleared out by day's end. Is that clear?!"
Rex responded in a low, depressed tone. "Sir, yes, Sir."
Carter looked at the scanning equipment. "I think the micro-elemental scanner is our best bet," he said.
"You don't think a neural scanner would be better," asked Dr. Matonui.
"If what Rex said was true, this chip will be almost impossible to detect. The elemental scanner might be able to detect something that doesn't belong. But if the elemental scanner doesn't work, then the neural scanner would be my next choice."
"I see," said the other doctor. "We could try a variety of different scanners. Most of them would not harm the patient." Dr. Matonui looked at Carter. "You referred to the patient as 'Auntie Kat.' Are you related to this woman?"
"Not by blood," said Carter. "My stepmother was one of the female clones and Kat's best friend. Since they are genetically identical, they took to calling each other sisters."
"We male clones did the same. They were all my brothers," said Rex as he entered the room. "And Kat is my sister," he finished.
"Then I suppose you two are the next of kin," said Dr. Matonui. "Do you have anything else to share about this chip?"
"Not really," said Rex. "When I removed Gregor's and Wolffe's chips we had access to top notch scanning equipment. We didn't keep the implants."
"Dr. Rolanga, I suggest we begin with the general scanning equipment. We can work our way to more creative solutions after that."
"I concur," said Carter. "Let us begin."
Dr. Matonui stopped him. "There's no need for you to come. Here in the Rebellion medical rules are a bit in flux, but we still don't encourage practicing medicine when the patient is a relative. Your Aunt will be in good hands with my staff and I."
"I understand." Carter followed the doctor down the hall but turned one room early. He took a seat in the observation room. On the other side of the view port was Kat, sedated on the hospital bed.
Rex joined Carter. He looked tired and old. Carter knew a bit about clones. While they aged at twice the rate of regular human beings, if they kept up their physique they could be capable warriors well into their old age. Carter's own mother had been thirty years old when she died, the equivalent of a sixty year old, but she was still as fit as could be. If Rex looked so tired it wasn't because of his age.
"Are you alright?" asked Carter of the old clone.
"No," said Rex. "I messed up. I made promises to Kat I couldn't keep, and I hid the truth from my general. And a young boy almost died because of it."
"You couldn't have known that the female clones had chips," said Carter. "They were never meant for combat. My mother told me they were regulated to working on Kamino, and that the Kaminoans were probably embarrassed by them."
"That's a comforting thought," said Rex. "Except that it's not true."
"You knew that Auntie Kat had a chip?" asked Carter. Rex nodded. Carter followed up, "How did you know?"
"Because she's already carried out Order 66," said Rex.
Carter looked at Rex in surprise. "What do you mean? How do you know this?"
"She told me. When I first met her at that bar last Empire Day. She goes to the same bar every Empire Day, and she drinks until she can't control herself. It's what she does to numb the pain that day brought her twenty years ago."
"Are you saying that Kat received and carried out this Order 66?"
"Yes," said Rex.
"General Tiplee?" asked Carter. Carter's mother had never met Jedi Master Tiplee, but she had learned that Divergent Company was under her command at the end of the War.
"I presume so," said Rex. "Kat didn't exactly elaborate, but she did say that she had killed her general. She had delivered the kill shot herself."
Carter felt sick to his stomach. Kat had broken off all contact with her sisters after the War, including Carter's mother. Carter harbored great anger towards Kat for abandoning his mother, but Carter's mother had always insisted that there must have been some reason or that something terrible had happened to Kat. Now Carter knew the truth. Kat hadn't abandoned her sisters so much as she had abandoned herself. Unable to comprehend what she had done, Kat cut herself off from the galaxy and turned inward, slowly torturing herself year after year for something that wasn't her fault.
Carter's sickness gave way to determination. He was going to find this chip and remove it. He was going to do it for his mother and for his aunt who had suffered with it for so long.
Zeb waited for Kallus in the Ghost's common room. With him was Chanla from the Nonnah. As Kallus entered the room, Zeb asked him, "Do you know what's going on?"
"Not really," said Kallus. "Everyone is being very tight lipped about it. All I know is that Kat attacked Cara."
"Why would she do that?" asked Zeb.
"I don't know," said the formed ISB agent. Zeb could tell that his mind was working. "Let's see what we can find, now that we've got access to the Redemption's database. I did a background check on Kat after Rex and I recruited her, but I found very little besides a brief mention of her company." Kallus pulled up the file on the Ghost's holotable. "Here we go. Divergent Company, Lieutenant Kat."
Zeb looked at the picture a young woman with dark hair buzzed down to almost nothing. She also had a large 'K' tattooed on her face. "Hmm. This image was only twenty years ago? She didn't age well."
"What would you suspect?" asked Chanla who seemed a little defensive on Kat's behalf. "Look how old Rex looks."
Kallus ignored the conversation and read off some facts. "Kat was accepted into the Grand Army of the Republic late in the second year of the War. She was given a non-commissioned officer rank until her battlefield promotion to lieutenant after the Battle of Umbara. She became Divergent Company's commanding officer. She was wounded in the Battle of Ringo Vinda. And she went AWOL after the conclusion of the War." Kallus found something else. "Interesting. They gave her a number: FC-011. I didn't think the Republic did that. I thought that was an Imperial thing."
"Of course, Kat had a number," said Chanla. "They all did."
"Most of the Republic's soldiers were clones," said Zeb. "I didn't think they would number their non-clone soldiers."
Chanla's face lit up with realization. "Oh. You don't know."
"We don't know what?" asked Kallus.
"May I?" asked Chanla, requesting permission to use the holographic display. Kallus allowed her. She pulled up Kat's profile picture. "This is Kat, FC-011." She switched to another profile. "And this is Streak, FC-095, and Carter Rolanga's stepmother."
Zeb looked at the picture of the second woman. She had a different tattoo, and her hair was longer and had a white streak running through it. But she had the exact same face as Kat. Chanla continued, "Here's Tinker, FC-211. And Iron, FC-103. And Stella, FC-198." Each woman that appeared on the hologram had different hair and tattoo styles, but they all had the same face.
"They're clones," said Zeb.
"Yes, Kat and her sisters are clones," said Chanla. "I met Kat and Streak on Naboo twenty years ago. They were part of the Clone Army. I thought you would know this."
"No one told me," said Zeb.
"Nor me," added Kallus.
At that moment Rex entered the common room. The hologram was still displaying the image of the clone women. He took a brief look at it, and without a word he entered his quarters.
The door to his quarters closed behind Rex. They had once been Kanan's quarters. He had recently shared them with Dr. Rolanga, but given the doctor's abrupt departure from Chandrila, he had very few possessions in the quarters. Neither did Rex. Bred and raised for combat, Rex never had been a collector of things. Rex opened a duffle bag and gathered his clothing. He also found his old generation one armor, or at least what was left of it.
Rex had gathered all his things except his one last item, his most prized possession. His helmet. It had taken him through three years of war. He had even used it in the Rebellion until recently. As Rex looked into the helmet's eye slit it reminded him of all his brothers. How many of them died during the Clone Wars? How many of them faded into nothingness after the War, bereft of purpose? And how many were unable to live with the betrayal that came at the end of the War.
Rex dropped the helmet. He had failed them. He had failed Tup. He had failed Fives, Jesse, and Kix. And Cody. He had failed so many of his brothers. And now he could count his sister Kat among that number.
Zeb saw Rex leave his quarters with a large duffle bag over his shoulder and his helmet under his arm. At the same time Hera entered the common room. Rex stood at attention. "My former quarters are cleared. Permission to disembark, General."
"Granted," said Hera none too kindly, and Rex left.
"Hera, what was that about?" asked Zeb. "Is Rex leaving the Ghost? And you're not doing anything to stop him?"
Hera looked at Zeb. There was a simmering anger in her eyes that Zeb had never seen before, not even that time when he and Ezra had stolen a TIE fighter. She looked at the hologram. "I see you've figured out Kat's secret. She was a clone this whole time."
"I didn't realize that none of you knew," said Chanla. "I just assumed…"
"You assumed that Rex would tell us," finished Hera. "And that would be a good assumption, except it's not true. To answer your question, Zeb, I asked Rex to leave this ship."
"Because he didn't tell you that Kat was a clone?" asked Zeb.
Hera looked over at Chanla. "Lady Neeyutnee, I would like to talk to my crew in private."
"Of course, General," said Chanla, and she left the ship.
Then Hera turned back towards Zeb. "Did Kanan ever tell you why he didn't trust Rex at first?"
"Not exactly," said Zeb. "But he did drop enough details here and there. The clones apparently betrayed the Jedi at the end of the War."
"They were ordered to," said Kallus. "The Emperor declared the Jedi enemies of the Republic. The Imperial histories don't reveal how he was able to convince the clones to turn against their generals. Perhaps the answer is buried deep in the Imperial archives."
"No," said Hera. "The answer is buried deep in Kat's head. A techo-organic chip that takes away free will."
"Is that why Kat attacked Cara?" asked Zeb.
"No, that is why Kat attacked a Rebel pilot with Jedi heritage. Cara possibly saved his life and ours by trying to stop her."
"And Rex?" asked Zeb.
"He had long ago removed his chip," said Hera. "Hence his scar."
"Then why kick him off your ship?" asked Kallus.
"Because he withheld that information from me. Because he brought a dangerous woman on board my ship. Because it could have been Jacen instead of that pilot that triggered Kat's chip. Rex allowed a woman onto my ship that could have very well murdered my son! I will not tolerate that!" And just like that the conversation was over. Hera turned and walked into her quarters.
Hera rocked back and forth on the rocking chair she had added to her quarters. In her arms lay a sleeping Jacen. He had fallen asleep shortly after she nursed him. Hera held him tight as though she was afraid to lose him. She had already lost Kanan and Ezra. She couldn't bear to lose Jacen.
The door to her quarters opened. It was Chopper. The droid approached and made soft noises directed at Jacen. "Yes, Chopper. He is sleeping just fine."
Chopper made some other sounds. "No, I don't think I was too hard on Rex," said Hera annoyed at the droid. Chopper never had qualms about voicing his opinion. "Jacen's life was at stake. And there is nothing I won't do to protect him."
Chopper continued his argument adding a little side to side shaking with is leg struts. "I know Rex himself wasn't the threat, but he invited the threat on board this ship." Chopper made a low buzzing noise. "That's right. I am punishing Rex. And I am not going to apologize for it."
Chopper issued another long argument about how Rex had lost so much. His clone brothers, his Jedi Generals, Ahsoka, Gregor, and now maybe his sister Kat. Taking away his family on the Ghost might be too great of punishment.
"You think I can just forget what he's done and act like it never happened?" asked Hera.
Chopper replied. Of course, she shouldn't forget it. But Chopper wanted her to give Rex another chance, like Kallus or her father Cham. Hera shook her head. The cantankerous droid was surprisingly forgiving.
"I'll think about it," said Hera. "But not now. Get out of her before you wake Jacen." The droid gave a low buzz then turned and left. Hera returned her attention to Jacen.
Chanla returned to the Redemption's intensive care unit. Katrina was still watching as Sel floated in the bacta tank. "Any updates?"
"No," said Katrina. "The bacta appears to be doing its work. But Sel still has a long way to go. I am certainly glad that the Rebellion has the resources it does. We would not have been able to heal Sel on our own."
"I take it you are in favor of joining the Rebellion."
Katrina nodded. "I am. Not only could we benefit from the greater resources, but our own efforts to fight the Empire will be benefited within the coordinated effort of the Alliance."
"We will have to take their orders," challenged Chanla.
"And you, former Queen of Naboo, are not eager to take orders," countered Katrina.
"Perhaps," said Chanla. "Have you heard anything about Kat or Cara?"
"Cara should be released soon on bed rest orders. But information on Kat is not being released."
"The Ghost crew didn't know she was a clone," said Chanla. "I get the impression that her aliment is somehow related to her clone DNA or the battle instincts that were bred into her. Naturally, General Syndulla is not happy."
"That's too bad," said Katrina. "I like Hera. I was hoping to work more closely with her. This Rebellion is built upon alliances. I would hate to see anything divide it."
Dr. Rolanga came out of Kat's room. He came up to Chanla and Katrina. "Have either of you seen Rex?"
"I last saw him on the Ghost. But I know that he is not there anymore," answered Chanla.
"I'm here," said Rex as he entered the room.
"Come with me," said Dr. Rolanga.
Carter took Rex into a viewing room. Through the window Rex could see Kat lying on her medical bed sedated. "How have the scans been going?" asked Rex.
"Not well," admitted Carter. "We've scanned Kat's entire brain three different times with almost every piece of scanning equipment available."
"We are running out of options," said Dr. Matonui.
"There must be something you haven't tried," said Rex.
Carter looked back at Kat. "There is one more scan we can do. But we will need your permission."
"Of course, go ahead," said Rex quickly.
"No so fast," cautioned Dr. Matonui. "This idea of Dr. Rolanga's is not a normal procedure. I believe it will be dangerous for the patient. I advise against it, and I will not allow Dr. Rolanga to proceed without permission from next of kin."
"Dr. Rolanga is Kat's nephew," said Rex. "Why can't he give the permission?"
"Because he is the physician prescribing the scan," explained the other doctor. "I want an outside voice to enter the discussion."
"Alright, explain this scan to me," said Rex.
Carter made his pitch. "The scan is a neural-electro analysis. It detects the electronic signals throughout the brain. What we would be looking for is an anomaly in Kat's neural electrical system."
"An anomaly such as an artificially implanted bio-chip," said Rex to indicate that he was following.
"Precisely," said Carter. "Nothing artificial can ever perfectly imitate the natural-biological."
"And this scan could perhaps do harm to Kat?" asked Rex.
"No," said Carter. "The scan itself is harmless. The danger comes from Kat herself." Carter paused for a moment before explaining. "In order for the scan to work the patient's brain has to be fully active."
"You mean, Kat has to be conscious?" Rex asked.
"Not just conscious, stimulated," answered Carter.
"There's no telling how she will react," said Dr. Matonui. "If that chip is still driving her, yet she is unable to fulfill her task, it could…"
"It could drive her mad," finished Rex. Rex's mind went back to the day Order 66 came down. His brother clones were so determined to kill the Jedi that they ignored dangers to themselves and lost all sense of self preservation. They followed the Order even to point of refusing to evacuate a doomed cruiser.
"Yes, there is a real fear of psychological and neurological damage," said Dr. Matonui interrupting Rex's thought.
"But this might find the chip," asked Rex.
"Yes, it might," said Carter.
"Do you doubt the possible outcome?" asked Rex of the other doctor.
"Of course, but it is the best idea we have given our equipment."
Rex took a deep breath. Kat would want the chip removed no matter what the cost. "Do it."
The scanning equipment was set and ready. Kat was strapped down tight, her head fixed in place. Such restraints were cruel, but necessary. It sickened Carter to see his aunt so constrained. For one, she looked exactly like his mother. The resemblance had no small effect on Carter. Secondly, all of Carter's anger towards his aunt had melted away in sympathy. Kat had been forced to execute a woman who had become her mentor, her friend. And she had to live with that. She might not have chosen the best way to cope with it, but Carter couldn't find it in himself to blame her for it.
Carter made the final preparations. Dr. Matonui finished his work too. He nodded to Carter. Carter activated the comm into the next room. "Rex, time for you to come in."
"Yes, Sir," said Rex from the observation room. A second later he was in Kat's room.
"Remember, your job is to keep her active and thinking," said Carter.
"And to prevent her from losing control," said Dr. Matonui.
"I will do my best," said Rex. "But if she tries to follow her orders, there isn't likely anything I can say to stop her."
"Hopefully, we've found the chip by that time," said Carter. He waved Rex close. Rex came alongside Kat's bed and clasped her right hand. Carter held Kat's left hand and then nodded to the nurse. The nurse added a stimulant to Kat's intravenous tube. The sedative began to wear off, and Kat started to rouse.
"Execute Order 66," she muttered as she woke but before she was fully alert. "Kill the Jedi. Good soldiers follow orders."
"Kat, it's me, Rex," said the old clone.
"Good soldiers…Rex?"
"That's right, Sis. It's me."
"Where am I?" she asked.
"You're in the medical facilities of the Rebellion. You, ah, took bump to the head. The doctors are trying to scan for any neural damage. Dr. Carter, your nephew is assisting."
"Carter?" asked Kat.
"I'm here, Auntie Kat," said Carter. He squeezed Kat's hand. "I have to attend to the scanning equipment. We need you awake for this. Rex will be with you this whole time."
"Hyper tests?" asked Kat.
"No, no. These doctors are not as barbaric as the Kaminoans," said Rex. Carter was familiar with the term hyper tests. Apparently the Kaminoans used them on clones. Effective but not patient friendly. They were the type of tests used by doctors who viewed their subjects as property not patients.
Carter took his position behind Kat's head. Dr. Matonui monitored Kat's vitals. "Beginning scan." Carter ran a probe over Kat's head. He watched the monitor closely.
"What do I need to do?" asked Kat.
"Just stay alert and talk to me," said Rex. "You never told me the story of how you met Chanla. Was it during the Clone Wars?"
"Remember when Dooku tried to abduct the Chancellor on Naboo?"
"Yeah."
"Well, Commander Fox insisted on additional clone security, but his request was rejected until Senator Amidala suggested undercover female clones. Streak and I were disguised as Royal Handmaidens."
Rex chuckled, "That does sound like one of Senator Amidala's ideas."
"You knew Senator Amidala?" asked Kat.
"Yeah, I knew her through…" Rex stopped. Carter could tell he didn't want to mention the next name. "I served as diplomatic escort once."
Rex looked up at Carter. Carter gave him a shake of the head. He was scanning all over Kat's brain but was not yet able to pick up any anomalies. He needed Kat's mind to be active. "Auntie Kat, tell the story of your first entrance into combat. I heard it from my mother several times, but I would like to hear it from you."
"Really? We entered the War by sneaking on a Republic cruiser. We didn't even know if we would be accepted by Commander Cody and the 212th, or for that matter by General Kenobi." Kat stopped. "General Kenobi…" she repeated.
"Ah, Kat, tell me about Trig," said Rex trying to change the subject. "He used to be in the 501st, but I lost him to Divergent Company. What was he like when he was surrounded by his sisters?"
"Kenobi trained Skywalker's son," said Kat. "Skywalker! Where is he?!"
Kat tried to move from her bed but couldn't. "Auntie Kat, I need you to stay still."
"Rex, where is the son of Skywalker?"
"He's not here," said Rex.
"He must be killed. Order 66 demands it. My lord demands it," said Kat. She began to fight against her restraints. "Good soldiers follow orders."
"Yes, they do, Kat," said Rex. "And you are a good soldier. You followed your orders. Skywalker's son is dead."
Kat calmed. "I killed him? He's dead?"
"That's right," lied Rex.
Kat paused. "No. You tried to stop me. You're lying to me now. Traitor!" Kat started fighting again.
"Kat, that boy is not a Jedi. There is no need to kill him."
"He was trained by Kenobi!"
"Barely. He's just a pilot," said Rex.
"Good soldiers…follow…orders!" Kat's fighting got worse. The whole bed was shaking.
"Doctor, we must stop this," said Dr. Matonui.
"No," said Carter. "This is exactly the type of stimulation we need. The chip is active. This is our best chance at finding it." Kat wiggled her head out of its restraint, but her other restraints continued to hold her shoulders down. Carter grabbed her head with one hand and worked the probe with the other. "Nurse, help me!"
Kat screamed at the top of her lungs. "Good soldiers follow orders! Order 66! Kill the Jedi!" She kept screaming and shaking.
Her right hand broke free, but Rex grabbed ahold. "I got you, Sis. I'm not letting go."
Carter continued to scan. But there was nothing! "It's got to be here!"
"Her vitals are rising," said Dr. Matonui. "She's entering into a full-blown panic attack. Her heart cannot handle much more of this."
"The restraints are coming loose," said one of the nurses. "We can't hold her forever."
"I have to find it," said Carter. "I have to find it!"
Kat continued to flail about. Rex had now climbed up on the hospital bed and was using his weight to restrain her. Her vital monitors were beeping out warnings. "Doctor, it is my professional opinion that we stop immediately," said Dr. Matonui.
"No, it's here somewhere. I just need more time," said Carter. He had to find it. He had to end Kat's suffering. If this failed, there was nothing else to do. This had to work!
"Heartbeat is too high," said Dr. Matonui. "Blood pressure is at critical. Her blood vessels are beginning to burst."
"Just a few more seconds," said Carter.
"No!" said the other doctor. "As chief medical officer of this facility, I am overruling you." The doctor grabbed the injector that had the sedative in it.
"No, please don't," begged Carter, but Dr. Matonui injected the sedative. Almost immediately Kat's heartbeat and blood pressure began dropping. Her body began to relax, and she stopped fighting her restraints.
Kat's head rolled towards Rex, who was still holding her hand. She looked at him and said, "You told me this would never happen again." A tear formed in her eye and rolled down her nose. "You promise, Rex. You promised." Then she passed out as the sedative took hold.
Rex dropped her hand and stared blankly for a moment. Then Carter saw a tear roll down his face. Rex backed away from the hospital bed and left the room.
Carter clasped in a chair. He had failed! He had tried everything to save his aunt, but he had failed. The other doctor approached and knelt beside Carter. He took the scanner probe from out of Carter's hand. "We'll take it from here. You take your time."
Carter nodded his head, unable to speak because of his own choked back tears. The other doctor and nurses continued to attend to Kat. But Carter just sat in that chair, for how long he didn't know.
Cara Dune was on her feet again, despite the doctor's orders. She was released from her medical room and allowed to leave. But things seemed to have changed since her fight with Kat. The Ghost crew were keeping to themselves, especially Hera Syndulla. The Gungans and the pilot of the Nonnah didn't seem to know what was going on. And the doctors and nurses wouldn't talk about Kat under rules of confidentiality.
Cara made her way to the intensive care unit. There she found Chanla and Katrina. Their crewmate Sel Pamma was still in a bacta tank recovering from the wounds she gained on Palimina.
"Cara," said Katrina. "Come and join us." Cara could see that the two Nabooian women were eating military rations. Katrina extended one to Kat. "Go ahead. This one's on the Rebellion."
"Thank you," Cara as she took one of the rations. It seemed to be a tube of synthesized meat. It was as tasteless as Cara predicted. "How am I going to maintain my physique eating food of this kind?"
"Don't ask me," said Katrina who took another bite of her ration stick.
"How are you?" asked Chanla.
"I'm alright. A little out of sorts."
"Still a little dizzy in the head?" asked Katrina.
"No, it's not my head. It's the people," answered Cara. "Doc told me to get some rest, so I went back to the Ghost. But the crew there is acting weird. Zeb and Kallus won't tell me anything, and General Syndulla is hiding in her quarters. And nobody will give me an update on Kat."
"The woman hurled you into the hull of starfighter, and you want an update on her?" asked Katrina.
"Ah, she just rung my bell," said Cara lightly. Then she took a serious note. "Something's wrong with her. Right before she tried to attack General Syndulla or one of the pilots next to her, she started spouting off about following orders. I don't even think she could hear me anymore. It was like she was in a trance. Then there was the ferocity which she fought with. I've never fought anyone so determined."
Katrina shrugged her shoulders, but Chanla had a thoughtful look on her face. Before Cara could question her, a door slid on and Dr. Rolanga slowly entered the room. It was as if he was sleep walking.
"Carter?" asked Cara.
"Cara? You're up and about?"
"Contrary to my doctor's advice, yeah." Cara asked her fellow Alderaanian, "Are you alright?"
"No, no I'm not," replied Carter.
"Doctor, come here and sit," said Chanla. She immediately walked forward and guided Carter to a seat. "What's going on?"
"I couldn't help her," he said.
"Help who?" asked Katrina.
But Cara already knew. "Kat. You couldn't help Kat?"
Carter shook his head. "All these years I wondered why Kat just disappeared. Now I know, and there is nothing I can do to help her."
"What's wrong with her?" asked Cara. "She wasn't herself when she fought me."
"You're right, she wasn't," said Carter. He took a breath. "I am not at liberty to tell everything, but here's what I can tell you.
"At the end of the Clone Wars, when Chancellor Palpatine was seizing power and forming his Empire, he had enemies within the Republic military. He had a chip implanted in the clones, so that at a word from him they would execute his enemies. He gave the order the day the War ended. And the clones followed his order."
"I still can't believe the treachery that man," said Katrina.
"I can," said Cara firmly as she remembered Alderaan.
"I can't believe he's from Naboo," said Chanla. "He's a stain on our good planet's name."
"What does this have to do with Kat?" asked Cara. "Was she one of the enemies the Emperor targeted?"
"No, she's one of the soldiers who carried out the Emperor's orders," said Carter.
"I thought you said the clones carried out that order," said Cara.
"She doesn't know," said Chanla to Carter.
"I don't know what?"
Carter answered. "That Kat is a clone."
"Kat is a clone?!" Initially Cara was surprised, but then things began to make sense. "That's why Rex called her 'Sis.'" Cara looked at Carter. "And your stepmother?"
"A clone. All the clones had these chips in their heads, both male and female. Rex was able to remove his, but Kat was not."
"Why would the chip activate now? Was it because of that boy, ah…Skywalker was it?"
"Yes."
"What's so special about him?" asked Cara.
"That's the part I cannot discuss. It suffices to say that he has a connection to those enemies the Emperor wanted dead." As Carter explained, Chanla nodded her head as if she understood. Cara certainly did not understand. What special group of people did the Emperor want dead so badly? Carter continued, "Now that Kat's programming has been activated, she will not stop until she kills that pilot."
"Can't you remove the chip?" asked Cara.
"Not if I can't find it," said Carter. "The chip was implanted when Kat was still in her fetal chamber. It is so enmeshed in her brain that we can't find it. I tried everything, and I've failed. What good is a medical degree if I can't even save my own aunt."
"If there's anything we can do to help…" started Cara, but she knew there was nothing she could do.
"Not unless you have access to a phase five atomic level brain scanner," replied Carter off-handedly.
"A what?" asked Chanla with sudden interest.
"Oh, just the scanning technology Rex says can detect the chip."
"A phase five…?" said Chanla in a leading question.
"Phase five atomic level brain scanner," answered Carter.
"Who would have such equipment?" asked Chanla. Cara wondered what idea had entered Chanla's mind.
"Only major planetary medical centers and specialty clinics," answered Carter.
"Chanla, are you thinking about the Commenor job?" asked Katrina.
"Do you still have access to their inventory?" answered Chanla with a question.
"Get me on the holonet, and I can slice right in. I doubt the Imps have found my backdoor yet."
"What are you talking about? What's on Commenor?" asked Carter.
"Commenor is a major space port," said Cara. "A lot of Alderaan's trade went through Commenor."
"I know that," said Carter. "What does Commenor have to do with my scanning technology?"
"We know a place on Commenor that has top of the line medical technology."
"We are not going to rob a hospital!" said Carter. "I will not take lift saving technology out of doctors' hands."
"Even if they are Imperial doctors?" asked Cara.
"If they are healing people, then I won't stop them," replied Carter.
"This isn't a hospital," said Katrina. "It's a storehouse."
"What is advanced medical technology doing in a storehouse?" asked Carter.
"It's been confiscated by the Empire," said Chanla. "It's quite common. The Empire takes away weapons and technology from others. Sometimes it's from criminals or pirates, but most of the time it's from normal citizens and communities that have the audacity to speak against the Empire or stand in the way of its agenda. When the Exiles first started, we tried to steal these things and bring them back to their owners. But the Empire would just punish them worse. So, we started redistributing."
"So, you want to steal medical technology from the Empire which in turn the Empire stole from innocents?" asked Carter.
"Better in our hands than theirs," said Katrina.
"I like this plan," said Cara.
"Can we find out if the atomic scanner is on Commenor?" asked Carter.
"Yeah, let me just plug into the holonet," said Katrina.
"No, wait," said Chanla. "We can't log on to the holonet from here without the Rebellion's permission. They might see it as compromising this medical frigate. Besides, I wouldn't really want to do the Commenor job myself."
"So, we are joining the Rebellion," said Katrina.
"Possibly," said Chanla. "Cara, go find Rex. I will contact General Syndulla."
Agent Maxsis Aargant watched the replay of the Ghost's last escape. He kicked himself again for not realizing that General Syndulla would call in Rebel reinforcements. But Aargant stopped himself. Punishing himself for past failures would get him nowhere. Nor would the replay of the Palimina failure. He had to move forward.
Aargant displayed again on his holowall the information he had on the Ghost crew. He sifted through the entire display, but there was nothing he could find. Next, he tried to research the second freighter, but his database had almost no information on it. That was unacceptable! He made a note to research further. He took a look at the X-wings. Their paint scheme looked like the squadron that destroyed the Death Star. But not many fighters survived that battle. It could be any other squadron paying homage to them.
Aargant sighed as he got nowhere in his study. Then Aargant made a closing motion with his hands as though he was gathering the holograms into one place. All his information was reduced to one file folder, and more generic information displayed. Aargant smiled. When in doubt, take a fresh look at the big picture.
No longer narrowing his focus on individual freighters or fighters, Aargant studied Rebel activity as a whole. He would open different ISB files on the Rebels. They were of course trying to acquire new weapons and ships. More and more of Incom's T-65 X-wings were falling into Rebel hands. Various munitions were also disappearing, including parts that could possibly be used to construct a large planetary ion cannon capable of disabling a Star Destroyer in orbit. Each of these leads were being followed up by the Imperial Navy or other ISB agents. Aargant wasn't interested in piggybacking on someone else's success. He had to find something different.
A file passed by Aargant's sight. He stopped his search and went back. An Outer Rim Imperial patrol had caught a smuggler suspected of supplying the Rebellion. The smuggler's cargo wasn't weapons or ships. It was medical equipment. Aargant thought about the possibilities. The Rebels could be putting various pieces of medical equipment on their capital ships. Or they could be gathering supplies for a new base. Or they could be equipping one of their capital ships, like a Nebulon frigate or Mon Calamari cruiser.
Whatever it was, the Rebels seemed to be gathering medical equipment. And that was a lead that Aargant could follow.
Rex was sitting against the nose gear of an X-wing holding his 501st helmet in his hands when Cara found. "Rex! Glad I found you."
"Cara! I'm pleased to see you up and about."
"If that makes you happy, then I might have some even better news."
"I don't think there is much to lift my spirits today," said Rex.
"Not even a phase five atomic whatsoever?"
Rex's head snapped up. "What are you talking about?"
"Chanla thinks she might be able to get one. She's asked General Syndulla to the briefing room. She wants you there as well."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Rex stood up excitedly. But he hit his head on the bottom of the X-wing. "Ugg. This is why we wore helmets."
