Distraction: Chapter Fifteen

Padmé had a plan and I had to admit it might work, although it was dangerous. It was the best idea we could come up with under the circumstances. I would just have to be ready if she should need my help. If anything bad happened to her, I would never forgive myself.

"I've never been to Kamino," she informed me as we entered the steely blue planet's orbit. "Even though they were a part of the Republic, they always kept to themselves. From what I understand, the Kaminoans will make a deal with the devil himself if they can profit from it."

My thoughts were that's exactly what they'd done. I couldn't imagine a ruler of the underworld being any more sinister than Master Sidious.

She had cleaned and repaired her gown, as well as fixed her hair and makeup, although the supplies on board were minimal. Personally, I didn't understand what all her fuss was about. She was perfect the way she was.

"Once you're inside," I reminded her, "distract them the best you can or else our mission has failed before it's begun."

"I like the sound of that. 'Our mission," she smiled at me before I started the landing procedures.

I couldn't help but mimic her expression. We made a good team, but that was probably because I had so much respect for her. And even though I didn't deserve it, she seemed to respect me as well. I had taken the lead on this adventure, but I'd listened to her ideas, weighed them fairly and together we decided the best way to proceed. I just hoped it went off without a hitch. I didn't like surprises.

We landed on a floating platform which led to an entrance of what appeared to be the main facility. The skies were as dark as the sea with heavy droplets of rain splattering all surfaces. The ocean on either side of the ramp was a mass of dark, rolling waters.

"Pleasant weather they have here," I pointed out sarcastically as I secured the ship.

"Some type of gravitational anomaly flooded their cities long ago. They've adapted and flourished despite of it."

Her intelligence astounded me. I was beginning to think there wasn't anything in the galaxy she didn't know something about.

And here I was, alive for what? Three to six months? Every memory and experience I had were not actually my own. It was a humbling thought. Padmé believed Obi-Wan's memories would rise to the surface over time. At least I think she hoped they would. Perhaps in a way, she felt she'd have him again. I hoped she was correct – not just for my sake, but for hers as well. Maybe then the sadness in her eyes would be gone for good.

"All right. I'll head in first. You follow after. And Ben? Please be careful."

"I'll do my best," I muttered, staring through the windows across the front of the facility where a being with a prolonged neck and large white eyes waited to greet this uninvited guest.

I sank back into the shadows on board while Padmé exited the ship and made her way across the platform. The cloak we found on board did little to protect her from the pounding surf and rain, but she'd made it inside. Now, all I had to do was wait for the sign and then sneak in myself.

My hair was so wet it was plastered to my scalp and my gown was soaked through, but there was no way to speed this up. The winds sweeping off the surf were pushing against me. It was a struggle just to keep my footing. By the time I'd made it indoors, someone was already there to welcome me.

I smiled in a friendly greeting and introduced myself.

"Hello. I'm Padmé Amidala, attaché to the Emperor."

"Welcome to Kamino Ms. Amidala." The vocalizations were far gentler than I'd expected - almost soothing in nature. "I am Tan-We. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"

"I'm afraid my visit isn't arbitrary. The Emperor is most displeased with your latest products. He sent me here to investigate the problem and to express his grievances."

Another Kaminoan joined the conversation. This one was even taller and I suspected, male.

"Ms. Amidala, our Prime Minister, Lama Su," the first one stated before stepping aside.

"We were not informed of any grievances and your presence is most unexpected." The voice was deeper, its tone also fluid, though he was definitely male.

My stomach was tying itself in knots, but I steadied my breath and stood as tall as I could, although I rose to only about their waist. "The Emperor sent me to find out why he has been having such difficulty with his purchases."

"The Emperor was fully aware of the risks accompanying his wishes. The proper time allotment is ten cycles, not one. There are too many factors to take into consideration. Too many opportunities for complications," the Prime Minister was quick to point out.

"These so-called 'factors' are exactly why I'm here," I countered. "The expiration on these clones should be much more than a quarter of a cycle. The investment is far too great for such discrepancies." I swallowed hard. The next few seconds would make or break our plan. "Perhaps if I could take a look at the sequencing targets, I would be able to tell where the problem lies."

I held my breath while the two Kaminoans stepped aside for a private conversation. The key to this operation was for me to get into the main lab while Ben investigated the current inventory. But first, I had to sound convincing. I'd done a little reading about the cloning process during the trip and felt secure in my limited knowledge. I should do fine, as long as they didn't ask me any questions.

"Perhaps we could hurry this up," I bravely commented, eager to get all this over with. "The Emperor is not a patient man."

The female leader turned toward me. "Follow us."

Finally the sign was given. Padmé and the Kaminoans had left the foyer, which gave me the opportunity to enter unaware. I ran through across the metal platform and into the building, not really caring I was leaving puddles in my wake. I headed down the opposite corridor I had seen Padmé take and hurried along the curved wall before ducking through an open door.

My wet boots caused me to slide toward a balustrade I nearly went over. Once I caught myself, I glanced over the railing. All I could see was more corridors like the one I'd just left behind. After I quieted my mind, the Force led me to jump down two levels, which I did, landing firm-footed on a similar balustrade, although this one was double-sided.

My senses led me down the elevated, open walkway to a transparisteel room with rows upon rows of clear cases, stacked at least ten high. In each case was a body with a face very similar to mine.

These clones were likely the ones waiting to be animated, and there were hundreds of them! Padmé was right. This place needed to be destroyed.

I walked slowly, stunned by what I was witnessing, so much so that I almost didn't notice the sudden change. No longer was I looking at copies of Kenobi, but some were of Anakin as well.

I stopped and stared at one of them and couldn't help but laugh with irony of it all.

"Oh, if you only knew, you'd be so pissed!" I couldn't help telling the empty shell of my old comrade just before I moved on.

This room led to another and then to another, each one showing different developing stages of the cloning process; right down to the cellular level. These smallest units were stored in clear topped tables and were fascinating to watch. They were rapidly changing and soon would need to be transferred to the larger storage compartments, which meant, somebody had to be monitoring them.

I looked up just in time to see another version of myself. Only this one was carrying a datapad and noting his observations. He looked at me about the same time I noticed him and then turned and ran. I had no choice but to follow and overcame him quickly. Apparently, he was some type of laboratory assistant and hadn't been programmed or trained for fighting. A quick twist of his head and he was done for, his neck snapping loudly. I allowed the lifeless clone to slump to the floor, before I was struck with an idea. Why hadn't I thought of that before?

The DNA sequences flashed across the datascreen before my eyes. I pretended to understand them and made a lot of appreciative and questioning sounds, when honestly I had no idea what I was looking at.

"Perhaps," I began, hoping my study had been worthwhile. "The modifications are being introduced at the incorrect stage." I made a fist to keep my hands from shaking.

Lama Su looked over my shoulder at the screen. "What you speak of is something debated in the laboratory. I will admit to having to alter the modifications due to the demand for a shortened cycle."

My breath came out slowly. So far, things were going well. "That might be your problem." I spun in my seat and gazed at the Kaminoans.

Lama Su returned my gaze and smiled. I think it was a smile. It was hard to tell. "Or the problem would be that you are an intruder and don't know the first thing about cloning. We will ask you again. Who are you and why are you here?"

I tried arguing my original claim, but I had a bad feeling neither of them believed me.

Lama Su disregarded my debate and looked to his companion. "Contact the Emperor and inform him of this young woman, who has come here claiming to be sent by him. Then we shall see who is telling the truth."

Immediately I reached out in my mind as I had once before. [Ben, my luck has run out. They suspect something and are going to try and contact the Emperor. Initiate plan B.] I couldn't wait for a response. In fact, I wasn't even sure if one was coming. I reached inside my damp cloak and withdrew a grenade, then slapped it to the wall of the lab, quickly pressing the engage switch at the same time.

I had nothing against the Kaminoans themselves, just their business dealings. "My advice for you all is to abandon ship," I warned.

Nothing else would surprise me. Not after what I'd seen. And now that I was dressed like one of them, I was able to freely walk amongst them.

These clones acted as if they had no will of their own and I copied their robotic movements as they lined up for injections or mindlessly ate their midday meal. There was no life in their eyes, no emotion on their faces. They were a blank datapad waiting for an information download. I almost felt sorry for them, but then I remembered, a few months ago, I was right here with them. I was one them. I didn't know any better.

Well, now I did, and it was a time to put a stop to it.

I got in line with a dozen or so Kenobi clones receiving a training weapon. I received one myself, a blunt plasteel sword that mimicked a lightsaber. The Kaminoan handing them out didn't give me a second glance.

I followed along, stopping only twice to place a detonator under a table. Then I dropped the weapon to congregate with a group that were doing nothing but standing in formation. Soon, they began what appeared to be combat training. Without a spoken word, they lunged at each other, battling one for domination, never upset to lose, or showed pride if they won. I didn't want any part of that and shrunk back to a wall just as a noise filled my head. At first it was like static, but then it cleared and I could hear Padmé's voice, just as if she was standing right next to me. Time was up and I placed a detonator on the training room wall, as well as the dining hall. Thinking I was in the clear, I quickly retraced my steps, intending to plant a few explosives in the storage area.

My confidence was my undoing, however, for just as soon as I'd left the dining area, a clone worker shouted at me.

"Hey, you over there! Where do you think you're going?"

I didn't have time for explanations or lies and took off. If I'd understood Plan B correctly, we had only minutes to spare.

Enhancing my speed with the Force, I hurried through the corridors and met up with Padmé just outside the laboratory.

"We've got to go!" she shouted excitedly.

"This way!" I grabbed her hand to pull her along with me, only skidding to a stop when the corridor ahead of us began filling with Kenobis. Each one of them held a real lightsaber of their own and their eyes were golden.

"Go back!" Padmé yelled as we headed in the opposite direction, only to find the same thing. This time, however, it was numerous Anakins who blocked our path.

"What do we do now?" Padmé asked nervously, holding more tightly to my hand.

I glanced around and up. We were back on the elevated walkway with both exits blocked. There was only one choice.

"Do you trust me?"

A smile lit her eyes. "Implicitly."

"Then hang onto me."

Padmé wrapped her arms around my neck as I jumped two stories up onto the walkway which would lead us to the foyer and out the front doors. But only if we hurried. Already, the thunder of many feet in pursuit were rumbling our direction. Soon, we would be overtaken.

"We don't have time for this!" she needlessly told me.

"Then we'll have to make a run for it." This time I lifted her into my arms.

My speed was minimally affected by her added weight. Whether it was adrenaline or purely the Force, I had no idea, but we made it outside just as the first explosive detonated. It shook the facility and caused cracks to form in the outer walls. The second rocked the walkway and caused the city to tilt dangerously toward the sea.

"The ship!" Padmé shouted as we ran toward it. It too was sliding toward the water, only coming to stop when it bumped against the thin rail that separated it from the sea.

Adrenaline had never helped me run this fast. Before the third explosion detonated we were strapped in.

"We don't have time for a preignition check, get us out of here!"

Padmé was nervous and rightfully so. The fourth detonation would happen any second causing the ramp and our ride to most likely tumble into the water. Fancy yacht or no, I wasn't certain it was seaworthy and I didn't wish to find out.

The ion engines fired, and I lifted us off the surface just as the fourth explosion occurred, sinking the facility, the ramp – everything beneath the waves. I focused on our flight path and not what was happening behind us, although Padmé was kind enough to fill me in.

"Fifth and sixth detonations are simultaneous and underwater," she confirmed. "The surface is clear of all structures. No more Kamino," she told me with a bittersweet tone.

"No more Kenobis," I smiled at her with relief.