"Deceptive Duo"
Returning to the entrance of the ice crevasse the two droids regrouped with their 'squamates' and found that they were the first to return as the other pair had arrived not too long later. Once the four had returned the clone trooper that stayed behind spoke with an irritated voice. "Really now? So, you four actually patrolled the entire perimeter in 'record time' again?" The clone asked with a sarcastic tone in his voice and arms crossed against his chest. Sparks and Wire didn't know how to respond to this but in their stead the other pair of clones were the first to speak.
"Would you take a look at that," One retorted with an arm pointing to the wasteland, "nothing but snow. Oh, and what's this?" His arm went to the other end of their view, "even more snow. Hell, I think it'd make more sense not to go out on patrol and reveal our position." The droids and the third, other clone remained quiet while the two bickered back and forth.
"In case you don't remember Pitch, there's an entire army of Sepies that own the other half of the planet, not to mention their fleet in orbit!"
"Yeah, yeah. Broadcast it to the holonet." 'Pitch' muttered dismissively.
"We could at least make it seem like we spent time around the area." While the two went on Sparks looked at the other silent clone whom noticed and just shrugged. "What about you two?" The clone speaking to Pitch turned to the clone disguised droids, "Have a similar excuse?" Wire tensed up a little after being put into the spotlight.
"Uh, what Pitch said. The perimeter is clear and nothing is going on yet." Came Sparks's somewhat reasonable excuse were it not for the fact he and his fellow commando droid were the 'nothing' going on.
"Come on Rags," At least Sparks knew his new nickname that once belonged to the now dead clone, "you could've at least shown the rookie that we're not that laid back!" He said in reference to Wire. Pitch interrupted the other clone and put an arm around his shoulders.
"Ah don't mind Stone here rookie, he's always by-the-book when it comes to orders."
"'Stone'? Am I just a rock now?" The clone exclaimed, lightly pushing off the other's arm.
"No, but you're as stubborn as one." Pitch laughed before continuing, "Come on. Let's just get back to base and call it a night, all this chatter can continue later." In unison the five agreed and began their trek into the passage. From the outside it appeared as just another hill of just ice layered with even more snow but this time it was actually rock which made it certainly different from the rolling hills and plains of snow and ice. Icicles still formed in some places granted they weren't too notable in size while the trail to the Republic base was compacted from the countless footsteps that must have walked in and out of the clearing. Past the soldiers on watch were plenty of clearings and hastily put together shelters that housed the clones, similarly crates were piled wherever, and in some cases, even being used as chairs and tables for whatever recreation the troops did from what looked to be pazaak to two clones trying to push the other's arms down which the droid's found odd. On the opposite end of the clearing was a pair of LAAT gunships more than enough to freight supplies and carry all the troops from this place if they needed; not that Sparks or Wire wanted such things to happen. The state of the encampment was far different from the Confederate outposts, aside from the occasional crate of ammunition- and a single pack full of R.E.M.s for the Captain- the only things a Separatist outpost needed were the bare minimum of weapons along with the droids to use them, as for their layout it was always minimalistic and created with a simple design. While Wire observed the view, Sparks tugged on his arm as to silently remind him of their mission.
With each passing hour the number of clones dwindled to only a handful and those that remained were either drowsily keeping watch or spending their final hours passing the time. The rest of Sparks and Wire's group parting ways the two were left with to do as they'd please but without anything to do there would certainly bring unwanted attention to the pair of droids.
"You go on ahead," Sparks hinted, "I will take a look around the place." Wire left his fellow infiltrator to find or make a blind spot for the command post. If he was successful then the droid attack force in standby just out of sensor range could catch the clones by surprise with their assault. Until then they were on their own, why the General made such a plan for them in the first place was... different compared to standard orders given by tactical droids. Then again, he was a super tactical droid so perhaps the new series had a greater range of strategies instead of just wave assaulting the enemy as their owner found out in Kalani's command room. Sparks wandered around the place, taking note of optimal locations, important supply caches, and keeping track of the remaining guards that were still awake. Fortunately for them Sparks only counted four from his current position, seven including the three that were still playing their card game. Seeing one of the clones staring out into the lifeless entrance, Sparks approached him but unlike the comrade he had killed not too long ago he stood beside him as an ally if only to seem normal.
"Oh, hey Rags. Already finished cleaning your blaster?" He asked oblivious to what really was underneath Rags's armor. "Still can't believe you went through so many just to clean a weapon."
"It is always good to keep a weapon maintained." Sparks said. It was an odd feeling in his processor, not to immediately kill any enemy he sees. Although the mission of course overrode this default programming he would have expected stealthy kills and 'keeping to the shadows' as Kvetina put it, never would he have thought he would be blending right in with the Republic clueless to the truth.
"I suppose so. You hear about the commander?"
"The commander?" Sparks inquired. He knew the clones were led by a commander that was under their Jedi Generals but he would have thought they were just the same as regular troopers but with a higher rank.
"Right I forgot there's technically two of them now, I mean General Harphel's new padawan: Erikar something," He paused, tapping a finger to his helmet chin. "Right! Erikar Parglo." The name was unheard of as Sparks looked through his memory unit for it, failing to do so.
"What happened?" The droid asked while nodding a false sense of understanding.
"Odd-Shot here says he was blinded when his eye was almost sliced right out." He said thumbing to the clone a few feet away, "Says it was some Confederate woman with a commando droid that took him on with vibroblades." The clone turned to face Sparks, "Didn't think a Jedi would have been bested so easily; by a single droid and regular human for that matter."
"A Jedi, they are like 'living legends' right?" Sparks remembered from his short talk with his Captain and tilted his head to the side as to appear curious.
"Well yeah where've you been?" The clone's gaze returned to the boring path that led to a far-off exit into the white wasteland that was Agamar's landscape. "Then again he's practically a kid so I guess it makes some sense. Personally, I doubt that girl and her pet droid could match up well against the General if you ask me!" He boasted. Truth be told they had already tried but of course the clone was correct in his assumption that the more experienced Jedi was more than a match for them. Wanting to learn more information about their two deadliest enemies Sparks pressed for more information.
"What happened to the Jedi then?"
"Commander Parglo? Last I heard he was constantly with the General for some kind of meditation or something. Our brothers back on the ship always saw him either in pain or angry, or both. Probably ticked that he lost the eye in his first big fight and, I'm no Jedi but, if it were me I'd certainly want a little payback. 'Eye for an eye' as they say right?" The clone sighed as he returned to his post. The clone 'Odd-Shot' called Sparks over to him.
"Hey, you mind taking over the rest of my shift Rags? You still owe me for taking that blaster shot for 'ya." Odd-Shot said while placing a hand on Spark's shoulder.
"Of course, I need something to do anyways." The commando droid said stepping in place for the clone.
"You're a life-saver brother, I'm gonna get a medpack to ease the rest of the pain and call it a night. I'll see you in the morning." He said and with that the clone left in search of his desired supplies to aid in his rest.
An hour had passed with Sparks waiting patiently for Wire's signal. He turned to see the familiar set of armor nod at him with a readied blaster in hand. The silence between Sparks and the other clone guard that was still stationed broke with surprise and confusion and in the distance rows of battle droids marched through the snow and the clone reached for his binoculars. "Woah, Rags do you see this?" He said as he scanned the numerous droids in standard formation of B1s in the front and B2s behind them. "Rags?" The clone turned to face his assumed brother but instead came face to face with the barrel of a blaster mere inches away from his face.
With a scorch mark fresh through the clone's helmet it didn't take long for the few clones still awake to come running to the sound of blaster fire. Those that remained found the dead body in the snow and saw Sparks taking cover behind the makeshift wall, already the droids had started opening fire and though the shots were inaccurate a few landed their mark with two clones being killed. Taking advantage of the situation Sparks used the droid's as an excuse to cover his tracks.
"The caught us off guard, what about the alarm?" He asked the clones.
"Someone cut the sensors, I think we might have a traitor within our ranks."
"Now is not the time." intervened Pitch who had apparently wakened up from the first signs of combat, "We need to hold off these clankers and call for reinforcements! Riko, Cutter wake the others, everyone else grab a weapon and hold that line for as long as you can!" The clones rushed to cover and began their returning fire but they were severely outnumbered and certainly outgunned. Although each trooper took down a number of droids it felt to them as if five more took its place while the Separatist forces inched closer to overrunning the defenders. Those that were just waking from their slumber found it difficult to switch gears and focus on the battle as sleep called for them to return but it would be their training that prevailed this thought bringing its own issues. While still able to fight effectively the clones' situational awareness was hindered and soon enough lines of B1s started to pour over the first line of defense. Sometime during the fighting someone called for a retreat in which the survivors turned tail to the two LAATs, it was a risky endeavor especially since Sparks and Wire were still among the group but they both thought it best to play along until the end at least. Being the last two entering the dropship Wire turned his attention to the command post with a feigned realization.
"The communication channels are still active." He said stepping off the transport. Pitch tried to grab him but narrowly missed thanks to Wire's purposeful dodge, "It must be cut." The first transport had already decided to leave while the second was a few feet in the air.
"Rookie!" Pitch called out as Sparks put an arm out in front of the clone.
"I will watch him. This was our mission to begin with." The commando droid reminded. In his defense the droid wasn't lying however, the clone troopers believed his words to be to accomplish their own mission of monitoring and serving as a forward outpost. Devastated at the loss of their two 'brothers' the transport fled from the scene, unable to sustain any further damage from the encroaching droid army. Only when any sign of the Republic was gone did Sparks and Wire return to their standard speech and took off the helmets. Sparks looked to Wire, "'We must cut the communication channels'." he mocked, resulting in both giving monotone laughs typical of just about every droid. The two started shedding the armor and tossing it like useless junk into the snow, they walked side by side to regroup with the droid forces to deliver the obvious good news and afterword to gather the belongings they had stashed away.
A.N.: As promised here is the ninth chapter! Thank you for kindly waiting. As always, enjoy!
~Firetoast312