Chapter 48 – Kamino
Author's Note: Y'all have no idea how long I've been waiting to release this chapter. Lol.
~ Amina Gila
It's been around three weeks – half a month – since the mission to Ryloth, and after a series of minor skirmishes, Death Squadron is being sent to Kamino. Finally. Anakin couldn't be more relieved, because it means that they'll be able to implement the plans they've spent so long preparing. The war has only gone on for scarcely half a year – if even – and it's already causing massive damage all across the galaxy. The Republic is struggling heavily, especially with so many of its supply lines cut off or vulnerable due to the Hutt's alliance with the Separatists.
Kamino is blockaded by Republic Star Destroyers when Death Squadron comes out of hyperspace, but Anakin is unconcerned. They already planned for this, and he imagines – hopes – that the Republic will suspect nothing. Both sides open fire on one another, fighter squadrons flying out to attack. Once the transport ships Anakin brought are destroyed, the debris will fall down to the planet, allowing them to assemble the attack craft. He – and the others – will go down to the surface in fighters, leaving a tactical droid in charge of the space battle, since Asajj is still on Dathomir. Hopefully, the Republic won't even know what hit it.
There are Jedi here on the surface, but Anakin is ready. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka will be a distraction while he carries out the most important part of the mission. He has to hack into the computer system and add Order 501 to the inhibitor chips. Secretly, of course, because Sidious cannot be permitted to learn the truth. Officially, he is to destroy the DNA samples here which will bring the production of more clones to a halt. That's a good thing, because it means the Republic will have fewer soldiers, and Rex will have fewer brothers who are sent to die. Also, it's in line with Sidious' plans; he seems to want the Separatists to win, which is already happening, slowly but surely.
Crushing the Republic, system by system, taking planet after planet… it could take years. It will take years, but it will break whatever spirit of resistance is left. If it was anyone other than Sidious in control, Anakin would wholeheartedly devote himself to such a thing. The Republic is corrupt. It needs to be destroyed. The Jedi needs to go with it.
With the battle raging, Anakin waits until he sees the transports taking heavy damage before he gives the order for Obi-Wan and Ahsoka to join him in their fighters in the space battle outside. Three small fighters should be able to slip past enemy lines fairly easily and get down to the surface to meet up with the Separatist forces below. They'll be informed when the time is ready.
Anakin lets himself fall into the Force, spinning his fighter through space as he shoots down all the enemy clone fighters in his path, making a run against the lead Republic Star Destroyer, shooting down at it, before turning away and spinning back to attack again. He reaches out briefly towards Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, checking on them. They're still okay, radiating concentration, and in Obi-Wan's case: guilt. He doesn't want to be doing this, but it's an order. Sidious wanted all of them to go down to the planet. He wanted Obi-Wan to be there, probably because he would be forced to fight the Jedi and maybe even kill them.
It isn't that long, all things considered, before the droids signal Anakin that the assault craft are ready and heading towards their targets. "It's time," he says to Obi-Wan and Ahsoka through the comm, twisting away from the fight and plunging downwards towards the surface of Kamino. Their fighters join him, and they hide in the thick clouds from the pursuing clone fighters, shooting them down and covering each other.
They land on the edge of a landing platform, behind the rows of droids swarming the facility. Anakin gives Rogue one last look before he jumps out. "Take the fighters out of here, buddy," he instructs, patting a wing with his mechanical hand. "Keep them safe. I'll contact you when we're ready for a ride out of here."
The fighter makes a sound of acknowledgement before remotely connecting to Obi-Wan's and Ahsoka's fighters, taking all three of them out of there. As one, they draw their lightsabers, charging forwards into the fray. Ahsoka's radiating an excitement, probably because of how close their success is, while Obi-Wan is more reserved about it.
"Make a diversion for me," Anakin calls to them, extinguishing his blade and taking a running leap, flipping over the lines of droids and clones alike, landing in a crouch on the ledge of the building. He climbs along the side of it, jumping up to the roof and walking along the wet surface as he heads towards his destination, keeping his Force signature hidden. The Jedi might sense him here, but they won't know where he is, which is what matters.
He trusts Obi-Wan and Ahsoka; he knows that they'll cover for him, do whatever they must to keep the Jedi and clones distracted. At some point, he slips into a backdoor entrance to the facility, pulling up his hood and moving through the halls like a specter of darkness. He knows his way around here well, having been here so frequently. It's not necessary for him to have a map of the facility.
No one sees Anakin as he enters the DNA room of the facility. This part of the mission comes first, especially since planting the explosives will give him another opportunity for a distraction if needed. He attaches all of the bombs around the room, careful to ensure that the radius of the explosion doesn't cause damage to the rooms where the clone embryos are. The adults are soldiers, and Anakin will… kill them if he must, but the others are not even born. They're babies. He won't hurt them.
Once the bombs are planted, he heads towards the main data terminal. He was here during his last visit to Kamino, and because of the attack, all of the Kaminoans are likely hiding in protected bunkers, so he has free reign of the place.
**w**
Ahsoka loses track of Obi-Wan in the chaos, focusing on protecting herself from the clones, when a blue blade flashes towards her. The Jedi are finally here. She blocks the slash instinctively, turning to see a female Mikkian Jedi who she vaguely recognizes. Tiplee. Her twin sister, Tiplar, is fighting droids a distance away. Across the platform, Obi-Wan is dueling Shaak Ti. Ahsoka is on her own.
Anakin has trained her for this, though. She is more than prepared. Falling into her normal stance, Ahsoka wields both of her lightsabers, swinging at the Jedi Master. Tiplee is not the first Jedi Ahsoka has fought, and she won't be the last either. They're evenly matched, with Tiplee maybe being a little bit better. She is older, more experienced, and for all of Ahsoka's training, she's young, only an apprentice.
Ahsoka grunts as she's shoved backwards, and she backpedals, catching herself and ducking under the Jedi's next strike, parrying the next effortlessly. She's small, and she can use that to her advantage. Right now, she doesn't think she'll have a choice but to kill. Anakin won't be able to save her this time, like he was in the past when she fought Ferus. She nearly died then. She won't let the same happen again.
Resolve bolstered, Ahsoka reaches for the Dark Side consciously, hardly the first time she's done so, letting it flow through her, filling her with power. In a flurry of attacks, she pushes Tiplee backwards, forcing her to retreat. The Force blares a warning, and she ducks barely in the nick of time as a green lightsaber swings down at her. Tiplar. Oh great. She can't fight two Jedi. Flipping backwards, Ahsoka shifts direction, leading them towards the edge of the landing platform. When she gets closer, she throws out a hand, Force shoving Tiplee backwards. The Jedi Master stumbles and slides backwards off the edge with a startled cry.
Ahsoka wastes no time in throwing herself into the duel with Tiplar. Anakin is counting on her. That alone is enough to motivate her. With a series of brutal, deadly strikes, she drives Tiplar back, scoring a couple minor hits on the Jedi's body, though nothing serious enough to slow her down significantly. The Jedi shoves her backwards with the Force, leaping forwards to try and injure her fatally. Ahsoka crosses her blades in front of her, halting the downwards stroke, and when Tiplar shoves down harder, Ahsoka kicks her off, sending her sprawling a few feet away.
They both spring to their feet, leaping at one another. They collide mid-air, lightsabers crashing again in a saberlock, neither side gaining even when they hit the landing platform again. Maybe Ahsoka should try something else…? So, she pivots, drawing on the Dark Side and shoving the Jedi Master backwards. She skids into a group of droids, which instantly turn their blasters on here. She blocks most of the bolts in time, but not all of them; some of them slip through, hitting her, as she cuts down the droids as through, they're no more than a nuisance, turning back to Ahsoka again.
This ends here and now. It must. Ahsoka isn't nearly skilled enough to continually hold off against this Jedi, especially not when she expects that Tiplee will be back soon; she didn't feel her die, after all. She springs forwards, and Tiplar is definitely slower now, having been worn down by the injury she suffered from the droids, and Ahsoka finally finds an opening, stabbing her blade into the Jedi's side. She stumbles, going down, dying. For a moment, Ahsoka feels frozen, an icy regret creeping over her. This is the first Jedi she's actually killed, and she doesn't like how it makes her feel. At all. How does Anakin stand it?
"No!" Tiplee cries, and the next thing Ahsoka knows, the Jedi Master is lunging towards her, intent on avenging her twin sister. Not good.
Ahsoka backtracks, moving towards where she feels Obi-Wan fighting a distance away. She could use his help right about now, and she knows when to fight and when to retreat. Now is the time to retreat, so she keeps moving through the battlefield and Tiplee keeps following her, no matter how dangerous and suicidal it is. Ahsoka can't deny feeling guilty, because she can only imagine how it would feel to lose a sibling like that, especially one with whom one is so close. She would do anything, kill anyone, if they took Anakin from her, after all.
Reaching out through the Force, Ahsoka tugs urgently on the weak bond she and Obi-Wan still share, conveying her need for his assistance. She feels him respond at the same moment as she feels Shaak Ti's death in the Force. A quick glance sideways reveals the Togruta Master's dead body falling to the platform, Obi-Wan standing over her, breathing heavily. He doesn't waste a second though, leaping towards her and coming to her defense.
With him here, Ahsoka doesn't feel quite so tense – and scared. For all the problems they have had, and for all that she considers Anakin her master, she respects and cares for Obi-Wan too. It seems strangely… right that they be working together here, fighting side-by-side. He took her as a Padawan, and she's grateful for that.
It's easy enough for them to defeat Tiplee, and before Obi-Wan can turn away to move on to the next task, Ahsoka reaches out, catching his sleeve. She wants to tell him, needs to tell him. "Obi-Wan," she says, and he pauses, looking back at her with a raised eyebrow. His internal conflict is obvious, even if he's struggling to hide it – and she knows why, because he killed a Jedi. "I – I just wanted you to know that – that I am grateful to you for taking me a Padawan. Maybe I didn't always show it the way I should have, but I – I do care about you."
His expression softens, and he gives her a small, genuine smile. "I know," he replies gently. "I know that, Ahsoka, and I am glad that I was able to train you for the short time I did. I care about you, too." He lets those words linger for a moment before nodding to the raging battle all around them. "Anakin is counting on us." Together, side-by-side, they step forwards into the fray.
**w**
Anakin makes it to the main data terminal without many delays, and he immediately sets about getting into the system, fingers flying over the screen as he works his way in, opening himself up to the Force to tell him what to do. He can feel the deaths of the Jedi who were here, which means that he'll have that much more time.
But then, "Who are you?"
He jumps, not having heard or felt the approach, turning to see a young clone peering around the corner, staring at him with wide, brown eyes. He – no, she – has blonde hair, a chain around her forehead marking her as a medical assistant.
The girl's eyes narrow. "You're not supposed to be here," she accuses.
Anakin holds up his hands slowly. "It's okay, little one," he assures her. "I'm trying to help you and your brothers. Can you tell me your name?"
She hesitates, seeming to be trying to figure out if she should answer. "Omega," she says at last.
"Okay, Omega, I'm Anakin. I can see that you're… a medical assistant. Probably for Nala Se, right?"
Omega nods, biting her lip, eyes darting around as if she's trying to figure out if she should run or try to sound an alarm. He needs to hurry. He needs to calm her and finish his mission, or all of this will have been for nothing.
"All of the clones have inhibitor chips in their minds. Did you know that?" he asks.
Omega nods again. "They're supposed to be to make them less aggressive, but they can do more than that, I think. I don't know any details."
"They can be used to control their minds and force them to act against their will," Anakin explains seriously, and her eyes widen with shock and horror. "I'm trying to add in another order so that if someone does that to them, I can stop it. I don't know what the frequency is – if there even is one – to overwrite and shut down the chips permanently, so I'm doing what I can."
"Why?" she inquires, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Why would you do that?"
"Because I care about you and your brothers," Anakin answers, trying to quell the pang of guilt that goes through him when he thinks about the many clones that he's killed. "I – one of my friends is Rex. He's a clone, too. I promised I would help him, and he wants all of you to be free. When I have the chance, I'll come back here, Omega, and I'll take you away from this place if you want to leave. I'll take you and all your brothers. You'll be free."
He owes them that much at least, after everything he's done to them. Besides, on Tatooine, he had long wanted to free slaves. He hasn't done that yet, but there will be time in the future once they escape from under Sidious' thumb. And that time will be very soon because they're finalizing all of their plans. This was the last major thing – other than his mother's slave chip – which was keeping them in their position.
Omega stares at him with wide eyes, and he can feel her indecision. She wants to believe him, but she's afraid to. She's so young, so… naïve, in many ways. She's a child, and she deserves better. So much better. "I want that," she whispers finally, blinking away a sudden sheen of tears in her eyes. She doesn't cry though. "I want that so much."
Anakin smiles at her. "Then it will happen. I promise you." And this is one promise which he has no intention of breaking. Maybe it will be some time, but he will come back for Omega and for her brothers. They deserve it. "Now, can you help me?"
"Yes," she decides, only hesitating for a moment. "What do you want me to do?"
"You've helped Nala Se, so you must know how to use her computer system. It's giving me some trouble." He gestures, and she tiptoes over, leaning forwards next to him to peer at the screen. After a moment, she reaches out, shyly touching the screen to get past the programming that was blocking Anakin and giving him some trouble.
Once he's past it, it only takes him a few moments to make the appropriate changes and download Order 501 to the database. Anakin double checks to ensure that everything is working before closing out and clearing all traces of his activity. His heart is hammering wildly, success flooding through him. Somehow, it worked. Their biggest hurdle has been crossed, and from here, everything should be easy.
"Thank you, Omega, for helping me," he tells her sincerely with a smile. "Now, I'm certain you didn't see me at all, so I'll be leaving." He winks at her, and she grins up at him, a level of truth and faith in her eyes which he rarely sees. It – she – reminds him of Boba.
"Bye, Anakin," she calls after him as he darts out of the data terminal area and heads back towards the exit, contacting Obi-Wan and Ahsoka on the way and telling them that it's time to pull out. He waits until all three of them are clear of the facility – to make retreat easier – before pushing the button to blow up the DNA room. He can't help but smile with satisfaction as he feels the facility tremble beneath him. The Republic will be in chaos and for now, there will be no more clones being produced. It's a major win for them all.
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