Chapter 64 – Progress

Author's Note: If my estimates are correct, this fic should be around 80 chapters. We're starting to tie up all the loose ends now. ;)

If any of y'all have any suggestions or predictions, feel free to let me know! :D

~ Amina Gila

"Well?" Asajj whispers, crouching inside the ventilation shaft. "Did you get it?"

Rex pulls himself up next to her, and they sit there, pressed against each other, side by side, in the quiet dark. He blows out a breath, nodding, and in the Force, he's radiating a dizzy relief. "Yes," he answers, holding up a datacard, "I did, and with any luck, Nala Se won't realize we hacked into her secure network. Fives is getting us a way out. We need to leave as soon as possible."

Asajj feels relief then, so strong that it's staggering, and she instinctively nestles into her lover's side, feeling secure there, next to him. "At last," she sighs. She can nearly feel Rex's smile.

"It's been half a month. I'm not sure how much longer we could have lasted undercover without being outed."

They both know that was a huge risk, with several close calls over the past few days, in particular. Getting into Nala Se's laboratory and scanning her database to find the information they've been searching for was difficult, especially because they had no idea if the frequency even existed. But it did, thank the Force, and now, all of the clones can be freed.

At last.

"We need to get this data to Kix and Coric as soon as possible," Rex murmurs, taking her hand in his and entwining their fingers together. "They can figure out how to utilize it."

Their dream of all the clones being free men, free of their inhibitor chips at least, no longer seems quite so far off, and Asajj leans in towards him, kissing him lightly. He pulls her closer, deepening the kiss, until they finally break apart, panting, and rest their foreheads together.

"I love you," Rex breathes. It's the first time he's actually said the words aloud, the words that Asajj has felt singing in his soul time and again when they got a few stolen moments together. He is… everything. He is everything, and she has no idea when or how she fell in love with him, but she did. It's not just a mutual attraction between them, if indeed that's truly all it ever was, for she doubts it. It's more, deeper.

"I love you too, cyar'ika," she responds, using the Mando'a word for sweetheart. In the Force, Rex glows, a flare of a deep, unwavering affection, and she kisses the smile off his lips.

"When this is over, I'm taking you on a vacation to a nice planet, Naboo perhaps," she decides, winding herself around him as much as she can in the enclosed space in the ventilation shaft. "We can get away from everyone for a little bit, and it'll just be… us."

Rex hums, rubbing her back, and she can feel his flare of want. "And then?" He almost seems enthralled by her thoughts of the future.

It's just the two of them here, and he'll never laugh at her, so she lets herself continue. "I saw all your little brothers here, and I… want that. I would like us to have children."

Rex stills. "You know I can't, Asajj."

She hugs him tighter, thinking about the modifications which all the clones have undergone, modifications which have made it impossible for the clones to reproduce; they're infertile. It was deliberate, and it makes her so angry that they've had it stolen from them. They deserved the right to choose.

"I'm sure something can be done. Maybe we can do something scientific, I don't know. We'd have to look into it." Because Asajj is determined that, one day, she will carry and give birth to their child. Or children, preferably multiple of them. Children, she's decided, are wonderful. They are so innocent, so pure, so light, and even if the prospect of motherhood terrifies her, she won't have to do it alone.

"Maybe." Rex wants it too, she can tell, but he's afraid to get his hopes up. "We still have time."

They do. It's easy to forget that she's only nineteen. She feels so much older. "We will figure it out, Rex'ika, I promise you." It's a promise she has no intention of forgetting.

"I would love it though," he whispers in her ear, kissing along her neck, "To have children with you. Someday."

"Someday," she vows, smirking. "I will hold you to it."

**w**

The door slides closed behind Obi-Wan as he and Ahsoka step into Dooku's office. The Count looks up, giving them his full attention when he sees the seriousness in their expressions. "I heard about Grievous and Felucia," Obi-Wan states, though that's not why he's here, not that Dooku knows that. "I heard that Anakin killed him."

"That is true," Dooku replies. "I received the report, and the droid scouts who retrieved Grievous' body have given confirmation."

After the mission, after Ahsoka and the remaining CIS forces evacuated from Felucia, she had come to him. Luckily, he had just completed a mission of his own, allowing them to talk in person. It's a good thing they did.

"I heard him," Ahsoka had said, voice trembling, fists clenched. "He was so angry. He thought that Dooku sent Grievous to kill him. He believed it, Obi-Wan, I know he did. I don't understand what happened. He saw me, but he… he left. He left before I could ask him."

And Obi-Wan would very much like the truth to all of this. He hopes that Anakin is wrong, that he's being misled, but there's an awful feeling inside him that tells him otherwise. His trust of Dooku has, recently, been falling. It's not that he distrusts the Count, per se, but he has become… disillusioned with him, with his plans. Dooku is a Sith. He trained Anakin, made him and shaped him into the person he has become.

Perhaps it is not all bad. Certainly, it is not all bad, because Dooku gave Anakin structure and stability. But he is a Sith. He is a Sith, and he trained Anakin as a Sith. It wasn't until after Shmi's death that Obi-Wan began to realize what that probably means. Shmi was kept with an active bomb inside her body, and somehow, in the ten or so years that Dooku knew her, he never once took action to get it out.

All of this could have been averted if Dooku had been more focused on helping her, on helping Anakin, and less focused on playing politics with his Sith Master.

"Is it true," Obi-Wan asks, unable to hide the ice in his voice, or maybe he just doesn't care enough to try, "That you sent Grievous to kill Anakin?"

Dooku stills, and that, more than anything, is an answer. In the Force, he remains unaffected. There is no surprise or disbelief or guilt. Nothing. He's mute. Closed off. "Why would you think that?" he wants to know.

Obi-Wan narrows his eyes. "I am the one asking questions. Answer me." He feels anger beginning to stir, a raw blinding fury that Dooku would dare to do this. Failing Anakin and Shmi wasn't enough for him. He has to kill Anakin, too, on top of that?

"I have done what is necessary for the good of the galaxy," Dooku replies evenly. "I do not like it any more than you do. Grievous was under orders to try and capture Anakin should he encounter him. He was to secure him by any means necessary."

"You would have had him killed." Obi-Wan's voice is trembling, shaking with rage, and he doesn't know who he's angrier at: Dooku or himself. Dooku for actually thinking that it's okay to have Anakin killed 'for the greater good,' or himself for thinking that he could ever trust Dooku. He resists the sudden, overwhelming urge to attack him, to hit him for even daring to threaten Anakin like this.

The question of what happened to Anakin and why he killed Grievous pales in comparison to the fact that Dooku would do this, that he would have done this and said that it was necessary to protect the galaxy. How could he? He trained Anakin, practically raised him, and if even Obi-Wan has been caught up in Anakin's orbit, after only knowing him for such a short period of time, how could Dooku not be?

Beside him, Ahsoka, too, is vibrating with a suppressed fury. "We trusted you," she blurts out, her voice shaking. "How could you? How could you do that? To Anakin? How are we ever supposed to get him now if he doesn't trust you? Us?"

That… hadn't even occurred to him yet. Force. What must Anakin think of them? What must he think, having seen Ahsoka there? Does he think that they have turned against him, too?

"He has joined with Sidious," Dooku retaliates, expression hard.

Obi-Wan wants to argue that they don't know that, but he can't, because Dooku is probably right. What other reason could there be for Anakin to have fought and killed Grievous, disappearing without even trying to talk to Ahsoka? "And if he has, then we must endeavor to get through to him. Not everything can be solved with murder."

"If I had been able to talk to him, he might have listened to me," Ahsoka adds, still angry. "At least we might know what's going on."

"Perhaps I was too hasty," Dooku finally grudgingly agrees, "But you must understand the threat he poses to all of us now. If he is working with Sidious, he could destroy everything we are working towards far faster than we can stop him. It's not a risk I am willing to take. Already, the CIS has lost much, and if we lose too much more, we may not be able to effectively counter Sidious when the time comes."

Obi-Wan inhales slowly, trying to calm the anger that is seething within him. Much as he hates to admit it, Dooku has a point. Yes, he acted rashly, but he… is not wrong that Anakin will be dangerous if he opposes them. But more than anything, Obi-Wan wants answers. He wants to know why Anakin is doing this, what could have happened that led to him thinking actively helping Sidious is the best option.

Somehow, he doesn't think he'll like what he finds out.

"All this has done is push him further away from us," he argues. "How do you expect him to trust you, knowing that you plan to kill him?"

Dooku doesn't reply, doesn't look like he even knows what to say to that, so Obi-Wan pushes forward. "If we can locate him, I can talk to him. I can get through to him. I know I can. If nothing else, I have to at least try."

"Very well," he concedes. "I hope we can arrange that, but I can make no guarantees. But you must keep in mind that Anakin may not be able to be reasoned with. If that is the case, we will have to deal with him accordingly. We cannot let Sidious win simply because we do not wish to hurt Anakin."

"I'm not going to hurt him," Ahsoka states stubbornly, glaring. "I'm not."

And Obi-Wan knows that she would go further, too, if it meant protecting Anakin. She might even be willing to help him, join him, if it means keeping him alive and safe. Truthfully, he cannot say that he would not do likewise, and that is what scares him, because this is an attachment. It's an attachment, and he knows why the Jedi warn against them. It could be… dangerous for him, for everyone, if he's blinded by it. He can only hope that he has the strength to make an unbiased, rational decision should the time come.

(But who is he trying to fool? He knows that he'll probably never be able to be unbiased and rational when it comes to Anakin. Anakin is everything to him now, and he doesn't see that changing no matter what happens.)

Perhaps, if nothing else, he'll at least be able to get answers as to what happened to Anakin.

"This is about more than just Anakin," Dooku reminds. "This is about the fate of the galaxy itself. None of us can afford to lose sight of that."

He's right. He's right, and Obi-Wan hates it. All he can do is hope that the situation doesn't reach the point where he's forced to choose. Because if it does… he cannot say what it is that he will end up choosing.

**w**

Even weeks later, the Temple still feels as melancholy as it did after the… breakout. So many Jedi died or were injured, and Ferus isn't surprised that it's taking time for the atmosphere to recover. Perhaps, it is merely because of the uncertainty of everything, or perhaps it is merely his own uncertainties which he's feeling.

He has no idea how to feel about the fact that his former master seemingly betrayed them like that, fleeing with the escapees, and he has no idea how to feel about his entire clone legion taking off with Skywalker.

Of course, Ferus had known that they harbored an extreme loyalty to 'Vader,' and it had troubled him, but he had never thought that something like this could happen. It's making him question everything, and he doesn't like it. He wishes that he could talk to Siri, could confide in her and ask for her advice. He can't do that though, and it's leaving him feeling… adrift. Never before has Ferus had so many questions about the Jedi and their involvement in the war.

He has never questioned the Council as he is now, has never wondered if the Jedi are really doing the right thing, or if they should be doing something else instead, not that he knows what that something would be anyway.

There is no one he can talk to about this, no one he trusts, at any rate, and that includes the Chancellor. Palpatine has been… strangely encouraging about all of this, and he listened sympathetically. Expressing his problems to Palpatine, though, is strange, so Ferus only said as much as he felt the Chancellor cared to hear. He has been… careful because of his slip-up last time, but he sees no reason to decline to answer personal inquiries.

"Have you ever thought about leaving the Order?" Palpatine asks when Ferus finishes explaining his conflicting feelings regarding the Jedi's involvement in the war.

Of all the things the Chancellor could have said, this was probably the last thing Ferus expected to hear, and his surprise must show on his face, because Palpatine hastens to explain. "There is no shame in needing time to yourself to figure out how you feel," he assures him, "And I know how hard it has been for you with everything that has happened."

"Leaving the Order is… a huge step," he says lamely. He can't imagine it, can't imagine walking away from everything he has ever known.

"It is," the Chancellor agrees. "Perhaps you merely need a break from the war."

"Perhaps," Ferus concedes reluctantly. He can't quite conceive taking a meditative leave when so many of his fellow Jedi are dying on the frontlines every day. It feels like it would be abandoning them, but at the same time… he doesn't really know. Perhaps it would help him. Losing his master has been hard, harder than it should be, given that they're Jedi.

"Should you ever want to leave the Order, I am certain I could arrange a position for you among my security detail," the Chancellor tells him with a smile. "Just think about it, at least. Leaving the Order does not mean you need to abandon your fellow Jedi or stop helping people. There are always things to be done, and I could certainly use a private agent to aid me."

It should not sound so tempting.

Ferus is a Jedi. He has devoted his life to helping others. So why does he want to take the Chancellor up on his offer so badly? Wouldn't that be selfish of him?

"Just think about it," Palpatine smiles. "My offer will remain open."

He should not even be considering this, so why is he?

**w**

News of the incident at the Temple, as well as the desertion of an entire legion in the clone army, has spread rapidly, though Padme has no idea how much of it is real, and how much of it is fake, merely rumors and hearsay. And she has no way of confirming anything, not when Siri, apparently, has become a traitor. At first, Padme hadn't believed it, because why would she? Siri has always been loyal to the Republic, and Padme cannot imagine that the Jedi Master would ever turn against it.

But it seems as if she did.

Padme tried contacting Siri several times, but the Jedi has never answered her, and soon, she began to fear the worst. She talked to Sabe and the rest of her once-handmaids about it, and they all agree with her. They're cautious, though willing to do whatever they must to take down Palpatine.

And getting answers and allies is an important part of that. Padme is being careful, because she doesn't want to endanger her family or friends or even Boba, for that matter, but she can't sit by idly while the Republic falls apart. Perhaps the Republic isn't what she once thought or hoped. That doesn't mean she'll betray it.

"No," she states flatly, "I'm not going to do that."

Sabe and Rabe exchange looks. "At least consider it," Sabe tells her. She's recovering, albeit slowly, and she's determined to regain as much control over her body as is possible given her injury. "If Siri has really become a traitor and joined Dooku, there might be something she knows that we don't."

Or maybe it's just that she was stuck in a bad situation and did the only thing she could, Padme thinks. She tries hard not to think about how Anakin had escaped from the Temple, along with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka if the rumors are to be believed. If she does what Sabe and Rabe are suggesting, she will probably meet her fiancé again, and she'd be lying if she said that she doesn't miss him fiercely.

"You're not Senator anymore," Rabe chimes in, giving her a serious look. "There is not much that you can do, and you have to consider that Palpatine will probably find out that you are meddling. You won't be safe. He'll come after you."

"He'll come after anyone close to me," Padme counters. "I don't want to run and hide, and I definitely don't want to betray the Republic by teaming up with Dooku, of all people."

The former handmaids exchange glances. Obviously, they've talked about it without her. "Padme, listen to me." Sabe reaches out, taking her hand and squeezing it. "The Republic is not what we once thought it was. You can see the way everything is headed. The Senators will not listen to reason and end the war, especially not so long as Palpatine remains in control. These are… difficult times. We must sometimes do things that make us uncomfortable for the greater good. I – we will not pressure you into anything, but you must consider it. Please."

Padme deflates at that, because really, how can she say no to Sabe after she asked like that? "I will consider it," she agrees grudgingly, "But this is not a yes."

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