Author's Note:
Thank you, The Tainted Knight, for your suggestion about Kamino. I wasn't sure if it would work into the story at first, but I think it actually helps some things make more sense.
This chapter is about Obi-wan's trip to the cloning base.
...
The first thing Obi-wan noted about Kamino was that it was wet. Rain poured from the skies, drenching him the moment he opened his cockpit. Several times he would have slipped on the slick landing platform had he not been aided by the force. As it was, Obi-wan was feeling most unhappy by the time he reached the door.
It slid open at his approach, revealing white corridors and blaring lights. A tall, long-necked, white creature with elegant fingers and large eyes approached, it's willowy figure giving it the appearance of floating as it walked.
"Master Jedi," the Kaminoan said in a lilting, musical tone. "The prime minister is expecting you."
Obi-wan was taken aback. "I'm expected?" he questioned.
"Of course!" she insisted in a calm voice. "He is anxious to meet you. After all these years, we were beginning to think you weren't coming." She blinked lazily, her movements liquid but slow. "Now please, this way."
She led him down the long corridor towards a set of doors which parted before them. The room inside was just as bland as the hallway, with no furniture aside from a spoon shaped chair where the prime minister was seated.
"May I present Lama Su, prime minister of Kamino," the female Kaminoan waved a four fingered hand towards the prime minister, who stood at Obi-wan's arrival.
Obi-wan bowed respectfully to the prime minister, who dipped his head in return.
The female Kaminoan indicated to Obi-wan next. "And this is Master Jedi..."
"Obi-wan Kenobi," he filled in.
"I trust you are going to enjoy your stay," Lama Su said politely. He held out a hand to another bowl shaped chair that extended from the ceiling. "Please."
Obi-wan took a seat, and the prime minister returned to his own chair.
"And now to business," Lama-Su commenced. "You will be delighted to hear that we are on schedule. Two-thousand units are ready, with a million more well on the way."
"That's... good news." Obi-wan was puzzled, but he knew the best way to get information was to play along.
Lama Su swayed a little as he spoke. "Please tell your Master Sipho-Dias that his order will be met on time."
Now Obi-wan was completely lost. "I-I'm sorry, Master - ?"
The prime minister cleared his throat slightly. "Jedi Master Sipho-Dias is still a leading member of the council, is he not?"
"Master Sipho-Dias was killed almost ten years ago," Obi-wan informed him.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," Lama Su said in an emotionless tone. "But I'm sure he would've been proud of the army we've built for him."
"The army?" Obi-wan asked. This was getting more and more confusing.
"Yes," Lama Su answered. "The clone army. And I must say, one of the finest we've ever created."
Obi-wan blinked. "Tell me, Prime Minister," he said carefully, "When my master first contacted you about the army, did - did he say what it was for?"
"Of course he did," Lama Su replied as he brushed something off his robe. "This army is for the republic."
Obi-wan raised his eyebrows. The republic had ordered no such army as far as the Jedi knew.
"But you must be anxious to inspect the units for yourself," the prime minister noted.
Obi-wan shrugged. "That's..why I'm here," he lied.
The prime minister stood, and Obi-wan followed him to the door.
...
"Very impressive," Obi-wan commented as the Kaminoans led him down the hall. He was truly astounded at the sight. Hundreds of thousands of embryos were contained in liquid-filled glass tubes, stretching out as far as the Jedi could see.
"I hoped you would be pleased," Lama Su answered. He egarly began to explain his master work. "Clones can think creatively. You will find that they are immensly superior to droids. We take great pride in our command education and training programs." He led Obi-wan to another window, where he could see an older group of clones working at computers. "This group was created about five years ago."
"You mentioned growth acceleration," Obi-wan commented.
"Oh yes, it's essential," Lama Su replied. "Otherwise a mature clone would take a lifetime to grow. Now we can do it in half the time."
"I see," Obi-wan said as they viewed a troup of fully matured clones in what could have been termed as the 'dining room.'
"They are totally obedient, taking any order without question," Lama Su explained. "We modified their genetic structure to be less independent than the original host."
"And who was the original host?" Obi-wan questioned.
"A bounty hunter called Jango Fett," the prime minister replied.
Obi-wan remained calm, but his suspicions grew. "And where is this bounty hunter now?" he asked innocently.
"Oh, we... keep him here," Lama Su said vaguely before continuing on the tour. "Apart from his pay, which is considerable, Fett demanded only one thing: an unaltered clone for himself. Curious, isn't it?"
"Unaltered?" Obi-wan pressed for further information.
"Pure, genetic information. No tampering with the structure to make it more docile, and no growth acceleration."
"I would very much like to meet this Jango Fett," Obi-wan said carefully.
"I would be very happy to arrange it for you," the female Kaminoan said.
Obi-wan went through an open doorway to a balcony overlooking the brigades of fully armed clones. He felt a chill run up and down his spine as hundreds of thousands of clones marched across the room.
"Magnificent, aren't they?" Lama Su pointed out with great pride in his monotone.
Obi-wan said nothing. He had a bad feeling about this.
..
About half an hour later, the female Kaminoan, who introduced herself as Taun We, guided him through the brightly lit white corridors towards Jango's apartment.
The serenity of the simple building was suddenly disrupted as a small boy of about eleven ran through the hall, shoving past Tan We and barreling unexpectedly into Obi-wan.
"Teff," Taun We said in a calm voice with a slight scold to it. "We told you not to run in the halls."
Obi-wan helped the boy up, then held his wrists away as the eleven year old lashed a fist out at him. A horrifying sense of deja vu came over Obi-wan. "Who is this this boy?" he asked Taun We.
"LET GO OF ME YOU KRIFFING IDIOT!" the kid shouted as he twisted and kicked at Obi-wan's shins. "LET ME GO OR I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Teff," Taun We said in a soothing tone, "That is not a very polite thing to say."
Obi-wan sighed in frustration as the boy kept squirming and finally kneeled down, pinning the boy's arms to his sides and calming his struggles somewhat. Studying the boy closely, Obi-wan drew in a sharp breath.
The boy was Anakin.
Blazing pale blue eyes stared at Obi-wan, hatred and fury practically leaking from every pore in the boy's body. His hair had been cut to resemble a padawan buzz cut except for a long ponytail at the back. The boy wore a simple dark blue tunic and trousers, and due to the vicious kicks to his shin guards, Obi-wan was quite relieved to note that he wasn't wearing boots.
"I SAID LET GO OF ME YOU BIG OLD - "
"Teff, we do not yell," Taun We said calmly.
"Teff? Is that your name?" Obi-wan asked the boy in what he tried to make a friendly tone.
"What's it to you? I told you to unhand me!" Teff began his struggles anew.
Obi-wan's face paled. He could feel the dark side of the force rolling off the boy, but there was no sense that Teff acknowledged its power. He frantically searched his mind, wondering what he would have told Anakin if his padawan had experienced a similar temper tantrum. His mind drew a blank.
"I'm not letting you go until you stand still and listen to me for a moment," he finally said firmly. Obi-wan had never known how to deal with Anakin even when he wasn't having a temper tantrum, so he treated the boy the same as he would any other spoiled brat.
Teff began struggling again, and Obi-wan stepped back slightly, just in time to keep one well aimed kick from reaching its target. "I can wait here all day, you know," Obi-wan said calmly. "You can go ahead and keep fighting as long as you like. It won't change anything."
After a few minutes Teff finally stopped his screaming and settled down, twitching every now and then in his undisguised fury at being held back.
"You done?" Obi-wan asked in a quieter tone.
Teff glared at him, then stiffly nodded.
Obi-wan forced a smile. "My name is Obi-wan Kenobi. I take it your name is Teff ..."
"Just Teff," the boy said sulkily. "Why do you want to know?"
Obi-wan hestitated, wondering how much he should say. "You reminded me of an old friend," he finally answered. "And I wanted to know who you were."
"Well now you know!" Teff shouted. "Now will you let me go already?"
Obi-wan felt his irritation grow. "You know, I have a padawan who's just like you. And I never let him talk to me that way."
"I ain't doing nothing wrong!" Teff defended himself. Suddenly his face cleared as he tilted his head to the side. "What padawan?" Excitement took over his features. "You mean I look like a Jedi?"
Obi-wan blinked, trying to catch up to the rapid transition of Teff's mood. "Yes," he answered. "His name is Anakin."
"Are you a Jedi?" Teff asked in enthusiasm.
Obi-wan smiled tightly. "Yes, I'm a Jedi."
Teff's eyes widened in admiration. "Whoah," he said as he relaxed in Obi-wan's grip. "Can I see your lightsaber?"
"Teff, the Jedi is here on important business," Taun We spoke up. "He doesn't have time for this. You should return to your room."
"I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE! AND WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO ORDER ME AROUND? I DON'T EVEN LIKE YOU!"
"That's enough!" Obi-wan's shout surprised the boy into submission. Obi-wan took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly. "You see Taun We? She is responsible for you. That means you have to obey her, even if you don't like it."
"Why?"
The question was so alike to Anakin's during their meeting with Padme.
"Because they're older than you," Obi-wan answered. "They know more than you, and they have the responsibility of passing on that knowledge."
"Well I hate them!" Teff protested.
"Anger will not accomplish anything," Obi-wan found himself giving an age old lecture that Jedi Masters had passed on through the centuries. "All it will do is cause you further pain."
The boy glared at him but listened.
"When you use your anger, do you feel better about it?" Obi-wan asked.
"Yeah," Teff scoffed.
"Does it make you a better person?"
Teff blinked. Obviously he had never been faced with this point of view before.
"No..." he said slowly. Suddenly he looked ashamed. "Sometimes I feel bad about it afterwards," Teff whispered to Obi-wan, glancing back at Taun We to make sure she hadn't heard.
"But does yelling at someone change the circumstances that made you feel bad?"
Teff looked down and shook his head.
Obi-wan released his loose hold on the boy's arms and turned him to Taun We. "When you shout at her, you hurt her," he explained. "Not only that, but you hurt yourself. Taun We wants to teach you how to be a better person, but she can't do that if you don't listen to her. Do you understand?"
The boy thought a moment, then nodded. "Do I have to apologize?" he whispered reluctantly in Obi-wan's ear.
"I think it would make her feel better," Obi-wan replied in a hushed tone.
Teff rolled his eyes and turned to Taun We. "I'm sorry I shouted, but I'm not sorry I got mad..." he cringed and looked up at the tall Kaminoan, his voice doubtful. "Can you really teach me to be a better person? Like a Jedi?"
"Of course," Taun We replied serenely. "All you had to do was ask."
Teff shrugged, tilted his head as though thinking, then dashed back the way he had come. After only a few steps he suddenly collapsed as one leg gave out under him, but he quickly scrambled up and continued running.
"Teff is a little... uncontrollable," Taun We said calmly. "He's been this way since he was created."
"He's a clone?" Obi-wan voiced his suspicions.
"Oh yes," Taun We replied. "He's the only one of three that survived. We've cloned hundreds of them, but there were far too many complications. We had to discontinue several years ago."
"Complications?" Obi-wan's gut clenched. They had tried to created hundreds of clones of a Jedi. Not only that, but it had been the Chosen One himself!
"It seemed that the genetic coding would not process correctly," Taun We explained. "Most of the embryos did not fully develope. Those that did never lived longer than a few years."
Obi-wan tried to sound casual. "And what of the three that survived?"
"One of them died only last week. He was nearly mature, but his emotional structure suddenly collapsed. We are not sure what caused it." Taun We's tone had little fluctuation as usual. It was as though such occurences happened every day. "We are doing what we can to keep Teff alive, but as you can see his physical and mental state has never been stable."
"Is he always angry like that?" Obi-wan asked.
Taun We shrugged slightly. "His mood fluctuates constantly. Sometimes he behaves well, while at other times he acts like you saw him today. His greatest wish is to become a better person, however. I am grateful that you encouraged him in that area."
Obi-wan hesitated for a moment. "What about the third clone?"
"Our first clone was created ten years ago. After it died two days later, the Jedi Master who ordered these clones personally oversaw the his raising of its successor. The second clone was the only one we have created that ever met the Jedi's expectations."
"You mean, Master Sipho-Dias?" Obi-wan asked.
Taun We shook her head slowly. "Master Sipho-Dias did not order these clones. We are not allowed to give the name of the one who asked for them."
Obi-wan was getting even more concerned over the situation, but he knew he would get no further information from Taun We over the Jedi. "What happened to the clone? The one that the Jedi Master wanted?"
"We do not know," Taun We replied. "The Jedi returned for him over four years ago. What happened afterwards was not our concern."
Obi-wan's face paled. Somewhere in the galaxy there was a possibility that Anakin's clone was still alive. "Did any of these clones have the same genetic treatment as the army you showed me?"
Taun We inclined her head. "They each received the growth accelleration, however the Jedi insisted their wills remain intact. Of course, we discovered over time that we would have to provide many other alterations to ensure that they survived."
"And yet only one is still here," Obi-wan pointed out.
Taun We nodded. "Despite all our efforts, we could not completely replicate their genetic information. Only the clone your Jedi personally raised was able to reach perfection."
"Do you have an idea what the Jedi wanted them for?" Obi-wan asked.
"He provided no information," Taun We replied. "He specifically paid us for our silence in the matter."
Obi-wan nodded, his thoughts racing. "You say that the one clone that 'reached perfection' was raised by the Jedi. Do you know what methods he used to do this?"
"His methods were not like anything we have seen before," Taun We admitted. "He seemed very concerned in how many hours the clone spent meditating. Apparently he felt it was vital to the clone's survival. I believe there were also several blood transfusions over the course of five years, perhaps given by the original owner."
Obi-wan's blood ran cold. Any Jedi could have accessed the medical ward during one of the times Anakin was unconscious from a mission. While it would certainly be difficult to get past the medics, it was not impossible for a Jedi to take some of Anakin's blood. But who - ?
"Here we are," Taun We disrupted his thoughts as she pressed a button next to one of the many identical doors along the corridor. The door swished open to reveal a dark haired boy with a scowling expression.
"Boba, is your father here?" Taun We asked.
The boy nodded curtly. "Yep."
"May we see him?"
"Sure." Boba cast Obi-wan a suspicious glance but stepped aside to let them to enter. "Dad, Taun We's here," he called.
Obi-wan coudl feel Boba's dark gaze on him. It was the second time now that he'd had a child glare at him like that.
"Jango, welcome back," Taun We said as a dark haired man entered the room. "Was your trip productive?"
"Fairly," Jango replied.
"This is Jedi Master Obi-wan Kenobi," Taun We introduced. "He's come to check on our progress."
"Your clones are very impressive, you must be very proud." Obi-wan's voice was terse, and felt he could cut the tension with a knife.
"I'm just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe," Jango replied.
"Ever made your way as far into the inner core as Coruscant?"
Jango's gaze shifted. "Once or twice."
"Recently?" Obi-wan interrogated.
Jango looked amused at the question. "Possibly."
"Then you must know Master Sipho-Dias," Obi-wan hinted.
Jango was silent. Walking over to Boba, he said something in a foreign language, then turned back to Obi-wan as the boy walked away. "Master who?"
"Sipho-Dias," Obi-wan repeated. "Is he not the Jedi who hired you for this job?"
Jango walked up and stared at him suspiciously for a moment. "Never heard of him."
"Really?" Obi-wan asked.
"I was recruited by a man called Tyrannus on one of the moons of Bogdan."
"Curious," Obi-wan replied. It was like a cold war of impeccable politeness.
"Do you like your army?" Jango asked after a moment of silence.
"I look forward to seeing them in action," Obi-wan answered.
"They'll do their job well, I guarentee that."
"Thank you for your time, Jango," Obi-wan said simply as he bowed.
"Always a pleasure to meet a Jedi," Jango replied with equal coldness.
...
"Tell your master that the first battalions are ready," Taun We told Obi-wan as they returned to his ship. "And remind them, if they need more troops it will take time to grow them."
"I won't forget, and thank you," Obi-wan smiled as he bowed.
"Thank you," Taun We answered.
Obi-wan put his hood up and started to leave.
"Wait! Obi-wan!"
Obi-wan turned around as Teff raced down the corridor. The boy stumbled and nearly fell, but he supported himself against the wall and ran to the Jedi's side.
"Can I come with you?" Teff asked.
Obi-wan was struck by the determined blue eyes, so alike to his own padawan at that age.
"Teff, you know you need to stay here," Taun We said in her slow, serene voice. "If you don't have your medicine you will not be able to survive."
"Can't I just go for a little bit?" Teff said hopefully. "Just one day?"
"I'm sorry, but Taun We is right," Obi-wan fumbled. "Besides, I don't have room for a passenger. My ship can only carry one person."
Teff's eyes filled with tears, wrenching Obi-wan's heart. "I could ride in the storage compartment..." his voice trailed off. Turning abruptly, he ran back down the hall.
Obi-wan sighed. "Is it absolutely impossible for him to come to Coruscant?" More than anything, he was concerned about Teff's force capabilities. If the boy ever learned to use his power without proper training, he could be a dire threat.
"If he does not have his medications, he will not be able to live," Taun We shook her head.
Nodding his understanding Obi-wan walked out into the rain. "R-4," he called to his droid as he approached the ship. "Scramble code 5 to Coruscant, care of the old folks home."
The holographic images of Masters Yoda and Mace Windu soon appeared.
"I have successfully made contact with the prime minister of Kamino," Obi-wan shouted over the pouring rain. "They are using a bounty hunter name Jango Fett to create a cloned army. I have a strong feeling that this bounty hunter is the assasin we are looking for."
"Do you think these cloners are involved in the plot to assasinate Senator Amidala?" Mace Windu asked.
"No, Master, there appears to be no motive." Obi-wan drew his cloak tightly around himself as the rain poured down.
"Do not assume anything, Obi-wan," Master Yoda reminded. "Clear, your mind must be, if you are to discover the real villains of this plot."
"Yes, Master," Obi-wan shouted, trying to be heard over the wind. "They say Master Sipho-Dias placed an order for a cloned army, but the request was sent over ten years ago. I was under the impression that he was killed before that. Did the council ever authorize the creation of a cloned army?"
"No," Mace Windu answered. "Whoever placed that order did not have the authorization of the Jedi Council."
"Bring him in," Yoda said, refferring to Jango. "Question him, we will."
"Yes Master," Obi-wan replied. "There's one more thing, though: Did the council ever send an order for a clone of Anakin Skywalker?"
He saw Yoda and Mace Windu exchange a glance.
"What have you discovered?" Mace Windu asked.
"Apparently the Kaminoans have been trying to create a clone of him for ten years now," Obi-wan informed. "So far only one is known to be alive. He's a young boy, only eleven. I'm worried about his connection to the force. He has a strong emotional inbalance."
"Dangerous, this boy could be," Yoda answered. "Teach him to control himself, we must."
"If the situation is as bad as you say, we might not be able to train him," Mace Windu pointed out. "Bring him to the council. It is imperative that the Sith do not find him."
"Yes Master," Obi-wan replied. Teff would be glad to hear that. "I will report back when I have them." He turned off the holograph and returned to the building.
Teff was standing at the door, and his face lit up when he saw Obi-wan. "You changed your mind, didn't you!" he shouted in exhuberance.
"Get your things," Obi-wan replied. "I'll need a list of your medical treatment from Taun We."
"Yipee!" Teff was off again, his stumbling limp not detterring his excitement.
Obi-wan frowned as he felt a shift in the force. Running towards a landing platform on the other side of the building, he arrived just in time to see Jango leaving. The bounty hunter was wearing the same armor as the assasin who had tried to murder Senator Amidala.
...
Author's Note: Nothing is changed from the movie in this section, so I'm leaving the fight out so that I can get to the next chapter.
...
Obi-wan tossed the tracker onto Jango's ship as it flew away. All he had to do now was follow it.
"Can we leave now, Obi-wan?" Teff asked as Obi-wan returned indoors. The boy was packed and ready, a bright smile on his face.
Obi-wan sighed. Chasing a bounty hunter across the galaxy was no place for a child, especially one as weak as Teff.
"I can't take you now," Obi-wan said heavily. "I'm so sorry, but there's been complications."
Teff's eyes filled with tears. "You - YOU LIED TO ME! I thought you were going to take me with you!"
"Teff I will come back for you, I promise," Obi-wan reassured the boy. "I just - "
"NO! YOU LIED TO ME! I HATE YOU! DON'T EVER COME BACK!" Teff pushed Obi-wan angrily and raced off, throwing his pack against the wall.
Obi-wan wanted to follow, but he had more pressing things to attend you. Running back to his ship, he quickly fired up the controls and took off after the bounty hunter.
...
Four years ago...
"He is ready now, prime minister. He will leave with me immediately."
"The clone has not yet reached his full maturity," Lama Su warned.
"It is enough. I will continue the growth treatments as long as I consider neccessary. My apprentice will come for the supplies."
Watching the young clone under his hood, Sidious smiled triumphantly. For six years he had kept the boy in a forced meditation, joining his young mind to that of Anakin Skywalker. The young Jedi had never noticed the intrusion; his clone's mind was identical to his own. Allowing the two to share Anakin's past memories was simple enough.
The hard part had been keeping the clone alive. After the utter failure with the first clone, Sidious had personally taken over the experiments. The Kaminoans had created the genetic structure, while Sidious had altered the medichlorians, forcing them to manipulate a life force that would not snap under the pressure of the living outside its original identity.
For six years he had twisted the medichlorians inside the boy, all the time feeding Anakin's memories into him by the force. Even when the clone was awake he was still experiencing Anakin's life.
When the clone's body began to shut down and reject the mutated medichlorians, Sidious knew it was time to take drastic measures. Over the next few months he used the force to coerce the clone to remain alive, all the while creating a series of traps for the real Anakin to fall into. With time and patience his apprentice was able to sneak into the medical lab enough times to collect the vital blood supply needed for the clone. After a little over half of the clone's blood cells had been replaced, his medichlorians finally stopped rejecting his body.
The clone had made amazing progress since then, and Sidious knew it was finally time to train him. It would be difficult to teach the boy's body to follow the lightsaber patterns his mind knew by heart, but it could be done.
If the time came to dispose of Anakin Skywalker, he would withdraw the clone's mind and allow him to live out the life of his replacement. When that time came, no one would be able to tell the two apart.
...
I never intended to put Teff in this story, but he helps to explain the difficulties with cloning a Jedi. Teff is not a cannon character, but he will come back later. I hope this helps explain the cloning process a little more. Thank you again to The Tainted Knight for suggesting this chapter. :)
