Before I begin, I would like to ask you all if you ever felt like the world is sometimes against you? Ever had a bad day that seemed to get worse as the day came closer to an end? Ever felt like you wanted to either hurt yourself or feel like you would be better off dead?
Well, from someone who has felt like that at certain points in my life, I urge you all to have hope and either talk to someone about your problems or just give your pet a hug or watch something that will make you laugh. It will help you wash away those thoughts, trust me.
Anyways, it's time for another change to the Clone Wars series that I know we all hated to see. Trust me, it's going to be a real tear jerker especially if you liked the character that will be killed instead.
Disclaimers are the same as before, enjoy.
Chapter 15: Orders and Truth
October 30th, 2019 20BBY
Coruscant
The Range
1800 hours
Normal point of view
The battle for Ringo Vinda finally came to end two days later, several bitter weeks after it was supposed to end.
The news about Tup's breakdown was kept quiet to the rest of the military, but the council and several Admirals were the ones who were informed, along with the chancellor.
The moment they returned to the base of operations for the Expendables, Robert and Ahsoka took a furlough after the events that transpired during the battle. Presently, the two were sound asleep in Roberts room of the range. Normally, couples wouldn't chare a bed this early in a relationship, but they didn't care.
As they both slept, both of them couldn't help but feel like something big was being cocked up behind the scenes of the war.
While the two slept, outside in the main room Rally was being dragged into Kasumi's room by force. "No way, plays are one thing but there is no way in hell that I am wearing that thing even if it is for a friend." She protested.
"Come on Rally, it's just one time. They deserve a romantic night for themselves after all they've been through." Honoka stated, grabbing some rope while Hitomi pushed the gunslinger girl onto a nearby chair. Honoka then began to tie Rally's arms behind the chair while Marie began to tie her legs together.
"Really guys, tying me to a chair? Come Kasumi, help me out, here would you?" Rally nearly screamed to her girlfriend. Kasumi however just smiled and stuck a rag in Rally's mouth before tying a cloth around her mouth and nose. Screaming into her gag, Rally could groan angrily as the others began to undress her.
While Kasumi and the others were tormenting Rally and choosing the outfit she would be wearing for their 'plan' the sun was beginning to set as a Jedi shuttle made its way towards the Grand Republic Medical Facility, one of the tallest buildings on the planet.
It was carrying special cargo. Shaak Ti, Sheila along Nala Se and Fives were brining evidence regarding Tup's breakdown on Ringo Vinda. A level five brain scan performed by Fives and AZI-3, a medical droid found that the cause of Tup's breakdown was not a tumor as they originally thought, but an Inhibitor Chip, the cause of his breakdown. Sadly, the removal of the chip also lead to Tup's death, but the trooper died happy, claiming that the 'nightmares' were over.
But what was troubling to Fives was the fact that immediately after Tup's death he was to have his mind erased and placed on sanitation duty instead of being sent back to the 501st. This caused Fives to stage a brief escape and, in that escape learned that Nala Se deliberately switched the case carrying the chip with an empty one and discovered that every single clone had an inhibitor chip inside them.
When he confronted Nala Se, she claimed that the chips purpose was to restrict the aggression shown in their host, Jango Fett. Thankfully, Boba claimed that his father was only aggressive when it came to working as a bounty hunter and this along with Shaak Ti who countered Nala Se's request to destroy Fives and ordered that both Fives and the inhibitor chips be shown to the Chancellor.
As the sun began to set and the shuttle began to make its way towards the medical center, Nala Se injected Fives with a drug of unknown origin.
The moment the shuttle landed and the group made their way to one of the medical rooms, the Chancellor asked to talk with Fives alone. Shaak Ti agreed and the next thing she knew, she heard a commotion and saw Fives aiming a blaster at the chancellor. This made it look like Nala Se was right about the chips and immediately a manhunt for Fives was ordered.
Shaak Ti on the other hand had her doubts and told the council about what happened. "Fives would never try to assassinate the Chancellor." Anakin said in the clone's defense.
"The Kaminoan's feel a virus corrupted the clone's inhibitor chip, which led to his behavior. ARC trooper Five's feels he is the victim of a plot, separatist or otherwise." Shaak Ti explained.
"I find it odd that every one of my bothers had these chips placed in their heads. My father was only aggressive when it came to Bounty Hunting. Anything else, he was always thinking with a leveled head. There is more going on than we know." Boba stated.
Mace then stated that all Republic security forces were placed on full alert, the Chancellor was moved to his senate quarters and a perimeter around said quarters was in place, but surprisingly no Jedi aid was requested. It was then that Yoda decided that regardless of a request for the Jedi, the truth had to be discovered and Fives had to be brought in alive.
"Fives was part of the 501st, Master Skywalker and Captain Rex should handle the investigation. Five's knows them and will trust them, but it would be a good idea to bring in Captain Lehner on this investigation." Boba suggested.
"Agreed. Bring the Lone Wolf up to speed, we shall." Yoda said as Anakin began to leave the war room. Shaak Ti added that Anakin should be careful, for since he removed his Inhibitor Chip, Five's may not be the trooper they remember.
It didn't take long for Anakin and Rex to reach the Range and as soon as they explained the situation to Robert, he literally jumped to help Fives. Ahsoka decided to go with them and quickly they left, along with Dutch who was in the Range working on the BFG. None of them even heard the scuffle coming from Cassie's room or even saw a chair tied Rally trying to hop out of the room before she was pulled back in by Marie and the others.
Roberts point of view
2100 hours
Tup shouldn't have died and whatever Fives found proved that someone wasn't being honest with everything about the clone army. Boba told me about how his father operated and he was only aggressive on his jobs and not needlessly.
"I get the strangest feeling that Fives is being set up. Clearly someone is going to great lengths to prevent us from discovering the truth about the chips." I stated as Anakin, Rex, Dutch, Ahsoka and I arrived at a warehouse on level 1325. Apparently, Kix made contact with Fives and asked his brother to pass a message to Skywalker and Rex about what really happened.
"Rex and I will go in first, the rest of you follow in as soon as you here Fives. Remember, we need to get him to come with us peacefully, so if you have a kill shot don't take it." Anakin reminded us. I nodded and waited.
A few minutes later and we heard Five's voice and we entered the warehouse. "I just need you to listen to me, please." I heard Fives say as I saw Anakin and Rex were trapped by a ray shield.
"We're all ears Fives." I said and the others turned to see us emerging from the life. I took out my pistol and threw it to the side. "Tell us what happened and we can help you. I promise the Dragoons will keep you safe." I added.
"I trust you captain, but you have to believe me. I was framed, because I know the truth… the truth about a plot, a massive deception." Fives began.
"By whom?" Rex asked. Fives then began to explain that there was a sinister plot against the Jedi and the inhibitor chips were at the center of it, for they were built to make the clones follow any order given to them, even orders to kill a Jedi.
Suddenly it all made sense, Treadshot mentioned that the Dragoons were complaining of headaches prior to the battle of Shili and each of them had their heads shaved and it looked like they were hit in the head by bowling pin. Those headaches were caused by the inhibitor chips.
Fives than went on about the Chancellor was involved in this to a certain degree and after all that had happened in regards with Ahsoka's trial and just letting Tarkin off the hook when it came to his men betraying the Republic for the separatists. Anakin on the other hand wasn't so sure and claimed that the Chancellor was incapable of what the Arc Trooper was claiming and without evidence there was little that could be done to implicate the chancellor.
"He is! I swear to you General, you have no idea…" Fives began before he was interrupted as Fox and a small squad of shock troopers rushed him with their weapons trained and ready to fire. Upon seeing this, Fives looked towards Rex's pistols and grabbed one of them despite mine and Rex's pleas. He raised the pistol and held it defensively, but Fox fired.
The pistol clattered to the ground, but Fives wasn't shot. Instead Dutch took the hit and collapsed to the ground with a hole in his chest. "DUTCH!" I shouted and looked to my fallen comrade as another shock Trooper shot the ray shield and released Anakin and Rex while Fives looked in surprise at what just happened.
"Why? Why did you save me?" Fives asked Kilo's heavy weapons expert.
"Because…you're my brother and the closest thing I have to family." Dutch said weakly. I called for a corpsman but Dutch stopped me. "Hey…Captain… tell Breach and the others that I was honored to be…a part… of a…squad." He said with his last breath and the life slipped away from my brother.
I then turned to Fox. "WHY DID YOU HAVE TO KILL HIM!? HE WAS YOUR GODDAMNED BROTHER AND YOU JUST SHOT HIM! NO ONE HAD TO DIE! HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITH YOURSELF COMMANDER?" I shouted to Fox with tears falling from my eyes as I turned to Fives. "FIVES IS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE WOLFS DRAGOONS! ALL OF YOU WILL CLAIM THAT HE ESCAPED AFTER FOX SHOT DUTCH! DISOBEY MY ORDERS AND YOU WILL BE PUT ON SANITATION DUTY! COMMANDER REPORT TO THE RETRIBUTION TOMMOROW AT 0900 HOURS! WE'LL DISCUSS OUR FINDINGS WITH HALBERTON!" I added, picking up Dutch's body and carried it out of the warehouse.
Someone was going to pay for what happened.
Normal point of view
October 31st 2019, 20BBY
0800 hours
Hoth
Robert questioned Fox on who gave the orders to kill Fives, but all Fox did was say that the order came from the desk of the supreme Chancellor who went on saying that the reason for Five's and Tup's breakdowns were parasites, native to Ringo Vinda which entered the troopers blood streams from a canteen of water they had shared. Inoculations were given to every clone trooper to prevent this from happening again.
But Robert felt something was wrong and after the funeral for Dutch, made contact with Dooku and asked to meet him in the Hoth System, alone.
The cold wind blew past his face as he waited patiently for Dooku to arrive. Even with his leather jacket he was still freezing his butt off, even while shadow boxing to keep himself warm.
Snow was kicked as Dooku's Solar Sailor landed and the Count exited the vessel. "What do you know about the inhibitor chips?" Robert asked.
"They are designed to make anyone implanted with these chips follow any orders given, without question." Dooku stated over the billowing snow.
"And why did Sifo Dyas implant them into the clone army?" Robert asked.
"Sifo Dyas didn't implant them, I ordered the Kaminoans to implant them into the clone army. My master ordered me to do it." Dooku explained.
"Why would you order the creation for the Republic army, an army that your droids are fighting?" Robert asked.
"You wouldn't understand, but my master had envisioned the fall of the Jedi and the republic. The Clone army is at the center of it. I urge you, return to earth with your family before it's too late. I already lost your mother, I cannot afford to lose you as well." Dooku implored.
"As tempting at that sounds, I'm staying. This is my mom's home galaxy and if it stays in turmoil, my mom would have my ass. I won't stop until this war ends, I have to. For her and for those already lost." Robert answered, clenching his fist.
"Then I encourage you to be cautious. My master and Dark Star will stop an nothing until you are either dead or turned to the Dark Side." Dooku warned as he boarded his solar sailor. "You really should turn yourself in to the Republic. If you know about Sidious's plans you have to help end this war." Robert called out.
"I can't do that. I am Sidious's apprentice until my time in this world is over." Dooku said entering his ship and departing the snow-covered planet.
Entering his own ship, Robert took off and headed back to Coruscant. After Dutch's death, all the troopers involved in the incident kept quiet for fear of being put on sanitation duty for the rest of the war. After Fox was questioned, Treadshot revealed that he and the rest of the Dragoons had removed their inhibitor chips long before the Dragoons were formed.
The examination of the chips revealed that the chips not only controlled the Clones accelerated aging but also contained all one-hundred and fifty contingency orders that could only be given by the supreme chancellor.
All the other orders seemed normal but the one that caught the biggest attention was Order 66. This order called for all Jedi, former and current to be branded as traitors and terminated with extreme prejudice without any hesitation. Even worse, it also called for those close to the Jedi to be terminated as well.
This made Robert worry, for the Jedi would never act against the interests of the Republic and it was clear that this made to be given and frame the Jedi for a crime they didn't commit. Five's discovered this and that's why he was marked for death.
At least for Five's Rex believed him and began to remove the inhibitor chips from the men of the 501st and passed this along to the 212th and the rest of his brothers and began to remove their inhibitor chips in secret.
Despite it all, he still feared for the Jedi orders safety and began to formulate a contingency of his own to protect the Jedi order and his girlfriend. Even though she wasn't a part of the order anymore she was at risk as well.
'Who ever Sidious really is, he would need the approval of the chancellor and all other command authorities would be ignored. Unless he is manipulating the chancellor. Still I should be on my guard around the chancellor, he smells like a skunks stink.' Robert thought to himself as he entered hyperspace.
Several minutes past and he dropped out of hyperspace over Coruscant and turned his fighter towards the Dragoons barracks. Waiting for him on the landing pad were Maketh Tua and Arihnda Pryce. "The removal of the inhibitor chips is proceeding as planned. As of now, Torrent Company is chip free and the rest of the 501st should be finished by your planets holiday veteran's day." Tua stated as Robert exited his fighter and R4 followed.
"Good work. Any fatalities?" Robert asked.
"No one else has died from the surgery Captain. If you'll forgive me, I feel like we should have informed the Republic and Jedi Order of our plans." Pryce explained.
"I understand Lieutenant, I don't like keeping secrets from them anymore than you do but we can't risk our contingency being leaked to Darth Sidious and his spies. The enemy has been one step ahead of the Republic ever since the war began. Someone is playing both sides, question is who?" Robert stated.
"Well, all we can do is take precautions and save as many lives as we can." Ahsoka said walking over to the group wearing a black bodysuit and a white jacket with traces of red on the shoulders. "I may not be a Jedi, but without the order the galaxy will be thrown into chaos." She added.
"Liking the new look. Looks like someone is trying a new style." Robert complimented. Ahsoka's lekku darkened as her boyfriend walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek. "You can thank Rally for it, she suggested that I wear something more badass and less likely for people to associate me with the Jedi." Ahsoka explained as the two walked away from the Dragoon Lieutenants who could only smile at the sight of the young couple.
The two then boarded the speeder that Ahsoka had taken to the barracks and speed off towards the Range. Just minutes after taking off, Roberts commlink beeped and he answered it. "Lehner here." He spoke.
"Hey Robert, its Rally me and the girls have something for you and Ahsoka at the Range. We want you to see it, oh and dress formal." Rally said with a hit of embarrassment in her voice over the commlink.
"You ok Rally? What's the problem?" Robert asked.
"Look just get back here and we'll show you, and please don't laugh." Rally exclaimed and ended the call.
"Wonder what that's all about?" Ahsoka asked Robert who just shrugged his shoulders while his girlfriend turned towards the range.
Meanwhile at the Coruscant General Hospital, Rex who had his inhibitor chip removed following Dutch's death, sat inside Cassie's room having just finished explaining what happened to her. "I just can't believe it. Me and my brothers all have these chips inside our heads and will force us kill the Generals. I can't understand it. Are we born to fight and die for some bastards' grand scheme?" Rex asked his wife.
"All I can say is that you're not a clone, you're a living being Rex. I love you for who you are and without the chip in your head you won't be carrying out that order." Cassie assured him and kissed him.
"Thanks Cassie. That means a lot, I would never follow an order like that for as long as I live. I don't want our child to have a murderer for a father." Rex answered before the doctors entered the room to being their tests on Cassie. "I got to go. I'll come by later." He promised and left the room.
Back in the busy sky lanes, the sun had already set as Ahsoka turned the speeder away from the rest of the traffic and pulled into the Range's secret entrance. Once they were sure that no one had followed them, they brought the speeder in and hopped out.
"Guess we should change for whatever the girls have planned for us." Robert said nervously.
"Yeah, I guess so." Ahsoka agreed and headed for Cassie's room in the Range to change while Robert went to his room. Moments later, the two emerged wearing formal clothing. Ahsoka wore the same type of dress she wore on Naboo but this one was white and her gloves were longer. Robert wore a handsome white dress shirt and black dress pants, over his shirt was black vest.
"Stunning as ever Ahsoka." Robert complimented.
"Thanks, but any reason why we are wearing these cloths and we aren't going to a fancy party?" Ahsoka asked.
They soon had their answer for emerging from the lift was a very embarrassed Rally Vincent. Instead of her basic combat armor (A/N Kota's militia appearance.) she wore a red dress with a frilly white apron, red stockings, high heeled Mary Janes, a white bow tie, ruffled head piece and a pair of white opera length gloves. "What the hell are you wearing?" Robert asked, trying to hide the fact that his nose started to bleed.
"It wasn't my idea, believe me. This was Marie's idea and let me just tell you that being tied down and gagged while some so-called friends strip me for measurements and trying on cloths is not something you want to go through." Rally exclaimed.
"Wait, they tied you up? Aw, I missed it. You must have been very…" Robert began before Rally shot him a nasty glare. "Ok, shutting up. So, what's with the get up?" Robert asked again.
"Follow me to the lower levels and I will show you." Rally answered and headed back to the lift. Robert and Ahsoka followed and both lovers had the same question, when did the range get a lower level?
Again, they had their answer for as the lift doors opened, they were greeted by the sight of a mansion style dining area complete with a small table for two with lit candles. Standing at the table waiting for them were Kasumi, Honoka, Marie and Hitomi each wearing the same outfit that Rally was wearing but in different colors. Kasumi's being blue, white and black, Honoka's pink and white, Marie's and Hitomi's black and white with frills on the aprons and headbands and a pair of gloves.
"Welcome home master, milady, your table is ready." The other girls said and gestured to the table they had ready for them. "Ok girls, be honest with me, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?" Robert half shouted in anger.
"Well the two of you have had a lot going on with the recent incidents and all the fighting the two of you had been doing, we thought we'd do something nice and prepare a nice romantic dinner for the two of you." Kasumi explained.
"Proxy told us the place underneath us used to be an old club of some kind dating back to the days of the Sith Empire and Old Republic. So, we spent a lot of time fixing the place up and turned into a place for a nice quiet dinner. Candle lights, good food and just two lovers being together." Honoka added.
"I-I don't know what to say. But I do have one question, why the maid outfits?" Robert asked, holding back the tears in his eyes.
"Figured we'd be your servants for the occasion and besides, you always did say we'd look cute in a maid's uniform." Marie teased, earning her a slap on the head from Hitomi. "What she means is that we choose to wear these on our own, or in Rally's case tied her up and forced her to wear it." Hitomi corrected.
"Well all the same, thanks." Ahsoka said.
Kasumi then pressed a button on a nearby console and dance music began to play. Robert took it as a cue and guided Ahsoka to makeshift dance floor, grabbed her arms and the two began to dance.
"Did you know about this?" Robert asked as the two slowly danced like they did on Naboo so many months ago.
"They kept me in the dark just as much as you. But I had a feeling something was going on, so I picked out a different version of my dress from Naboo. Why?" Ahsoka answered back. Robert pulled her in and smiled.
"It's just that I always wondered when the next time I'd see you in a dress would come. You always look sexy in either a dress or Lingerie." He answered, again getting Ahsoka's Lekku to darken. "Next thing you know you're going to propose to me and want me to have our child." Ahsoka joked.
"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves. We're still young and a war is still going on. Besides I don't think either of us are ready for such a commitment like marriage." He added.
Ahsoka smiled and the two continued to dance while Kasumi and the others watched with happiness as the two danced. "I may not like wearing this kind of outfit, but I think we did a good thing." Rally said, wiping the tears that were starting to fall from her eyes.
"Aw, miss kitty-cat is crying. I knew she wasn't as tough as nails as she said she was." Marie giggled only for Rally to whisper to her that if they ever tried to tie her up again, it would be Marie instead that gets tied up. That shut up the Swedish girl, for now anyways.
The girls then left to prepare the meal they had decided for the two lovers to enjoy for a 'date' as Honoka put it. While they left, Robert and Ahsoka continued to dance as if they were at the center of the universe and had not a care in the world.
At the temple, a strong ripple in the force was sent through all those that had worked alongside the Wolf's Dragoons fearless leader and his companion. In his quarters Yoda smiled as he mediated, it appeared that even after her decision to leave Ahsoka was still in the light of the force.
He wasn't the only one who was feeling this. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Plo-Koon, Luminara, Kota and Barriss all felt the same thing, peace. But they weren't the only ones. Shaak Ti also felt this tidal wave of emotions and tears began to fall from her eyes. She felt ashamed at what she had done to Ahsoka and was determined to set things right with her.
Back at the Range, Robert twirled Ahsoka around one last time before ending the dance and guiding his lover back to the table. As they took their seats, Rally came out with water for the two of them and informed them that dinner will be out shortly.
"Kind of surprised that your friends would do something like this for us. Makes you wonder if they planned anything else for us?" Ahsoka asked, concerningly.
"Don't know. Kasumi, Rally and Hitomi are easy to figure out, its Marie and Honoka that are the hard ones. I can never understand what those two are thinking, been that way since I met them." Robert answered as he sipped his water.
"Guess so, still to think they went to all this trouble for the two of us." Ahsoka began as the girls brought out their dinner: prime rib. "Enjoy your meal." All five said in unison before leaving the two to enjoy their meal.
Cutting a piece of his rib, Robert took a bite and smiled. "Just like mom used to make. Looks they got my moms recipe." He said passionately as Ahsoka took a bite of her own meal. "Your mom must have been a very good cook, the temple never had anything as good as this." She complimented.
"I wish you could have met her. You two would have gotten along great." Robert said sadly.
"You miss her, don't you?" Ahsoka asked putting down her utensils and placing one of her gloved hands on Roberts. "Every day I, I miss her every day. I want to know who killed her and let her finally be able to rest in peace." Robert answered.
"Well, then maybe I can help. Not just as a soldier, but as something more. I've got a little surprise for you after dinner and it's something I think you will like." Ahsoka stated. Roberts head shot up and looked to his girlfriend.
An hour later, Robert sat in his room waiting for Ahsoka's surprise. The door to the refresher in his room opened and out came Ahsoka, dressed in black bodysuit with a white tail on the back, fishnet stockings, black high heels, black opera length gloves, bunny ears, a bow tie and cuff links. "Hello nurse." Robert said letting out a wolf whistle as Ahsoka entered the room.
"Like what you see?" Ahsoka teased and pushed him to the bed and leaned in for a kiss. "I'm not ready for sex yet, but at least I'm ready for a little sexy dressing up for my lover." She said in a teasing like manner before she was grabbed by her boyfriend who then rolled her over and looked into her blue eyes.
"Still doesn't mean I can't have a little fun." Robert quipped, and planted a kiss on her lips which she returned in kind. The two lovers than began enjoy a little quality time together.
So instead of Fives, another member of Kilo died instead. Robert knows about the chips and is planning his own contingency plan for Order 66 and Robert and Ahsoka have a nice little dinner and guess you call it cosplay moment.
Please read and review and I will see you all next time.