Chapter Eleven: Secrets of Biology

It was a gentle beeping that stirred me from my sleep. Like clawing my way out of a hole, I found my way back to the waking world, my eyes opening slowly. The lights were bright and blaring, the walls stark and clean. I paused to let myself adjust, feeling an intense weariness in my muscles. As my eyes got used to the light, I tried to collect my thoughts.

Naboo. Vindi. The virus. Ahsoka. Padme. Rex.

I forced myself to sit up at the thought of the virus. Where was I? Had more people been infected? Looking down at my pale hands, I found now black veins. And while I was certainly tired, I didn't feel like my body would give out at any moment anymore.

I turned my head to the massive window, seeing the pitch darkness of space, speckled with stars. I sensed a nearing presence...one I didn't recognize. I let myself settle back into my bed, listening as the man's deep voice conversed with what sounded like a medical droid. I recognized it from the transmission Padme had on Naboo.

"The virus has completely vacated the body," the medical droid droned. "Though the virus was certainly metastasizing slower in this subject than the others."

The jedi presence hummed in response. "What of Vindi's remarks about her species? Did your bio sample yield anything?" My interest was sparked, my eyes trailing around the room to see my wrist comm in the corner, beside most of my gear.

"Yes, though the results are confusing." The droid hesitated, the whirring of its mechanics sounding as it likely showed the jedi a datapad.

"This doesn't make any sense," the jedi voiced in surprise.

Another voice joined the fray-another that I recognized, but didn't sense the presence of. "Strange, but impossible, this is not."

"She has no physical signs of this," the first responded. Windu, I think his name was.

"In the force, perhaps, the likeness lies," replied the one called Yoda.

"Yes," Windu hummed in thought. "I could feel her presence once I boarded the ship." He paused a moment as he neared my section of the medbay. "What do you advise?"

"A secret, this must be. Dangerous, could be the truth." I frowned, listening to their words. "Watch her closely, we must." Yoda's tone was grim, Windu rippling with a paranoid power.

I shifted uncomfortably, but allowed myself to fall into an act of regaining consciousness as the jedi and the droid rounded the curtains of my area. I fluttered my eyes and breathed deeply, being careful to withhold my feelings from the prodding mind of the jedi. The droid stepped to my side immediately, examining the readings on the monitors.

"Skywalker found a cure," I stated openly, surprised at the rust in my voice.

"Yes," Windu replied. "He and Obi-wan were able to retrieve reeksa root from a planet called Iego."

I frowned. "No one gets off that planet alive."

"Indeed. The locals believed in a ghost locking down the planet, but it was a separatist blockade mechanism left in place after the end of their occupation."

"Skywalker and Kenobi destroyed it?" Windu nodded in response. "Good." I swallowed slowly, glancing out the massive window again. "What about the others? Are they alright?"

"A few clones were lost," the jedi admitted, my fear spiking. He sensed it, his dark eyes watching me closely. "Though Senator Amidala and Padawan Tano are both making full recoveries."

I wanted to ask about Rex, but thought better of it. Windu was poking relentlessly at the wall I'd put up around my mind and I doubted giving him any route into what I was thinking was wise. "I'm glad," I responded formally. "Would I be able to see them?"

"In time," he responded dismissively, my nose wrinkling at his tone. "For now, the medical droids need to monitor you to be sure you're no longer infected."

I hummed lowly, knowing full well that he was lying, considering what I'd overheard the medical droid say on their walk in. Still, I gave the jedi a resigned nod, settling back into the pillow. "Fine. But since I'm stuck here, would you be able to relay my gratitude to Skywalker and Kenobi?"

Windu watched me closely before nodding. "Of course." I only gave him a grunt in response, feigning sleepiness as I turned my head away. I was itching to check my wrist comm in the corner that held the secret of what I was.

As the jedi left, the medical droid puttering around my bed, I thought about his feelings. He was suspicious. Frustrated. Maybe even a little afraid. What could I possibly be to make two master jedi nervous?

After urging me to sleep, I was left alone with my thoughts again, the droid whirring as it left the long, empty row of cots. I waited only a few brief moments before rising and disabling the monitors so I could untether myself from them. Freed from the tubes and wires, I hurried to my wrist comm, cursing to myself as I saw its broken screen. Nothing would work.

"Kriff."

I put it back down, looking over the white linens I'd been dressed in. It wasn't very discreet. I rolled my eyes, grabbing the dark brown jacket I'd worn to Naboo, but not into the swamps, from the table. I wondered who brought it there for me. Had Padme asked for it? Or perhaps Typho had delivered it before we left the planet.

Either way, I pulled the jacket around my shoulders and curled it around myself tightly, stufing the wrist comm in the pocket. The halls outside my med block were bustling with clones, they eyes on me from beneath their visors. It certainly wouldn't be long until Windu found out that I left my cot. So, I hurried along, reaching out with my senses. While I didn't find Padme or Ahsoka's signatures, I did recognize a certain medic.

"Kix," I muttered as I neared a group of medics in their grey uniforms, all prim and pressed.

He turned, his eyes going wide as he saw my tired form approach. "Kida," he expressed, facing me fully and hesitating as he stepped forward. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"Where's Padme?"

He stopped, watching me closely and looking over my features. I wondered for a moment if he was in on the secret about what I was. I almost peered into his thoughts to know, but decided against it. I liked Kix. I didn't want to know if he was keeping secrets about me.

"I can take you to her," he said finally, his hand touching my back in gentle guidance. As we moved from the group of medics and down the halls, he regarded me warmly. "You look good. How are you feeling?"

I hummed for a second. "Kind of like I almost died."

"You tried your best," he offered, chuckling gently. "It's a miracle you're alive, considering how long you were infected." Perhaps he didn't know anything about my apparently fantastic species.

"That miracle would be Skywalker and his unwillingness to ever lose." I was trying to change the subject while avoiding dwelling on how I actually almost died. I'd come close a lot before...but this one felt different. It wasn't some barely missed blaster shot or an explosion that just rattled my brain, rather than breaking my skull. This was slow. Unavoidable and looming. It made it feel more sure. More final.

It made me have to prepare to die, rather than just live knowing that it was a risk.

I didn't like it. Because being forced to face it in reality...in long term...made me realize that I wasn't actually as ready to die as I pretended to be.

"Senator Amidala and Commander Tano are down this corridor. As are the clones that were infected," he added in, his eyes gentle. I looked into them briefly, feeling the warmth of his gaze. "I'm glad to see you alive and well, Kida."

I gave him a tired smile. "Thank you, Kix." We parted ways, the medical droids casting me glances as I made my way through the medical wing. I recognized a few clones from the bunker, their faces no longer marred with black veins and sunken eyes. As I passed, I saw blond, buzzed hair and sharp cheekbones. Rex. He survived.

I passed the cot he slept in, moving to the end where the senator and padawan rested. Ahsoka turned her head away from the window, a smile of surprise gracing her face when she saw me. It wasn't the reaction I expected, but I rather liked it.

"Kida," she said gently as I approached her cot.

"Hey kid," I smiled back. "How you feeling?"

"Like crap. But I'll manage. Do you remember the clones busting into the bunker?" I shook my head in response. "I don't remember it all, but they said they found you holding me."

I hummed awkwardly. "If we were going to die, I figured you'd like to die being with someone else."

Her big blue eyes watched me closely, both of us aware of Padme's eyes on us. "I don't know why or how, but I can't help this feeling that you somehow kept me alive down there."

"We all shot some battle droids," I offered, remembering what I'd done with the force to keep her alive.

"No. Something else." She pursed her full lips before shaking her head. "It doesn't matter. But whatever it was, I'm grateful for it. Thank you." Perhaps she was more mature than I'd originally given her credit for. At least...she was mature sometimes.

I nodded slowly in response, not confirming or denying anything. Ahsoka seemed okay with that, giving me a smile before looking past my shoulder at the senator.

"I'm glad you're okay," Padme voiced, making me turn. "But you probably shouldn't be up yet."

"I shouldn't even be alive," I responded cheekily. "Yet here we are."

The senator smiled tiredly, moving herself to sit up and regard me. "How are you feeling?"

"I'll be fine," I said immediately. Padme pursed her lips at me, but let it slide.

"Thank you for everything you did down there."

I swallowed slowly, my chest falling a bit. "I appreciate that," I started, "but I failed to keep you safe in any way."

"You protected me for as long as you could."

I shook my head. "I really didn't. Senator, I need to ask. Why are you keeping me in your service? You have a perfectly capable security team, not to mention a few jedi who are terribly fond of you."

She didn't miss my implication, but she ignored it for now. "Kida, you've protected me many times."

I blinked, but it was obvious that I disagreed. "It's been a little over six months since I started working for you."

"There will always be attempts on my life."

"And there always has been. So why are you keeping me around?"

Padme regarded me for a few moments. "What's brought this up? Is it because of what the Queen and Captain Typho said? Or is it because you almost died?"

I wouldn't lie, nearly dying in that way had scared me. More than I liked to admit. But I wasn't sure where it was coming from. And then Padme looked at me with an expression of grief and concern...and it clicked.

"Neither," I said finally, glancing down at my hands that curled nervously into the sleeves of my jacket. "My entire life is a risk, so death has always been an inevitable finality for me. And I've never really cared about what other people say or think of me…" I swallowed, slowly meeting the senator's eyes. "When I was younger, I never got attached because...how could a slave ever love her master?"

There was a slight surge in the force as I felt Ahsoka's attention turn my way at the mention of slavery. Rex had woken, listening hesitantly from his cot down the hall. Another presence peaked my interest, too-Windu. He'd entered the hall, brewing with paranoia and frustration at my voice. I could feel his contempt towards my disobedience. I ignored it.

"I don't understand," Padme prodded, shifting uncomfortably to look at me better.

"I allowed myself to get attached with Jango because I thought things would be different." Windu's force signature rippled at the bounty hunter's name. "That was a mistake. I live my life regretting not stepping in. I could have saved him, and now I live with a loss I never could have fathomed before." I shook my head as I swallowed. "I can't allow that to happen again."

"You...haven't lost me," the Naboo senator offered, wisely electing to not comment on my getting attached to her.

"But I nearly did. It made me realize that this isn't just a job for me anymore."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Ahsoka tried from behind me. She may have been a jedi, but I felt her own sadness at my potential exit. "You'll try even harder to keep her alive."

"Yes. I would."

"And that's the problem," Padme said, her sorrow turning to anger. "You'll fail one day and I'll die, and you don't want to bear the consequences."

My heart ached at her words, yet I bore their onslaught with my own growing frustration at her implications. She was right, I knew. But I was trying to protect myself. Jango had taught me that. Choose jobs that are meaningful to you, even if the only meaning is to fill your pockets. But never get attached to your clients. That's how you get hurt...one way or another.

"Yes, Senator." I delivered my words with a bite, not because I meant it, but because she needed to let go. It was easier to leave if someone wanted you to. "I'm being selfish. This job is no longer beneficial to me."

I felt the anger ripple off of both Ahsoka and Padme. "You don't mean that," the Togruta said, clearly hurt. Even though it wasn't directed at her, I knew her furstration was in that she might have been wrong about me. Jedi have so few friends as is.

I swallowed thickly, looking down. I knew she and Windu could feel the insincerity in my words, but Padme couldn't, so I kept going. "Thank you for the job, Senator, but I'm afraid our contract has to come to an end,"

Padme frowned deeply at me, trying to convey anger, but her eyes and mind showed sadness. "So it does," she said shortly before turning her head away from me. The discussion was over. My heart shattered and I knew it rippled through the force to the other force sensitives in the room, but I ignored it, shoving it away until I could forget it was ever there.

I swallowed slowly before turning, giving Ahsoka a nod in parting. Her big eyes were sad, looking me over before casting to the blanket spread across her legs.

"Kida." Padme's voice made me turn. She was sad, her eyes downturned. "I'm sad to see you go."

I cast her the smallest of smiles. "I know." I turned my back to her, knowing that if I looked back again, I'd never leave. I think a part of her knew that my attachment wasn't only to her. As I walked, I saw the faces of clones turning to follow my path, each expressing something different. Anger. Contempt. Sadness. Confusion.

I passed Rex's cot, slowing only slightly as his golden eyes bored into mine. He had a lot of emtions, all mixing and swirling together. His jaw was hard with anger, but his eyes were sad and somewhat lost. For a moment, I saw the little blond boy I'd seen all those years ago on Kamino. Brave and strong, but not yet knowing his purpose. His goals. Perhaps he still didn't really know.

"Captain," I offered, nodding my head. "I'm glad to see you're alright." A flash of memory nearly tripped me up. His arm encircling me and holding me to him as I felt myself slipping away. His cheek pressed against the top of my head. His lips pressing to my forehead. I looked away from him quickly, not wanting to show the emotions that had caught me by surprise.

"You as well," he said back lowly, his voice even, but sad. I nodded, not looking at him. With a deep breath, I walked away, not even glancing at the dark-skinned jedi who stood in the doorway. "Goodbye...Kida," I heard Rex say softly as I left.

I hurried down the halls of the medbay, keeping my head down. The decontamination center was just ahead, likely holding all of my gear.

"Miss Fett," one of the clones said, seeming surprised to see me. I flinched.

"It's Kida, thank you. I'm here for my things."

The clone nodded. "They've all been decontaminated. I just didn't realize you were given leave already."

"Surprising, isn't it?" I said with a fake smile and a shrug. It was almost sad how well I could spit a lie.

The clone plucked a box from the wall, filled with my gear, and slid it through the hatch in the window. "I'm glad you're doing well. There were a lot of us worried about you...considering how bad your condition was."

"I appreciate the concern." I took my things briskly before turning heel. I needed to leave...and soon. I hurried through the halls, ducking into a maintenance closet quickly as I felt Windu's force presence searching for mine.

As I shed the white linens and donned my clothes again, I focused on masking my signature from the prodding jedi. Geared up, I exited swiftly, knowing that the best way to blend in was to act like you belonged.

Then again, maybe that didn't apply when the entire crew was made up of clones.

I was hit with an urge to leave. I couldn't stay any longer and risk my never leaving. Of course, my ship wasn't here...so I'd have to steal one. Maybe it was past time that the Republic had a bounty on me. Sure, most bounty hunters were hunted by the Republic, but I'd played the game incredibly safe.

Until then.

I stepped purposefully into the hangar, knowing that an escape pod would do me no good. Not to mention that I had no way of contacting Apex with my wrist comm broken. I moved towards the X-wings before stopping abruptly. Between all the X-wings laid a white and red star-fighter, a Republic emblem shining on the wing.

I in no way blamed Windu for Jango's death. It was Jango's choice to target Senator Amidala and blatantly join a side in the oncoming war. And it was his choice to join the fight on the ground-one that was riddled with jedi and droids alike.

Yet...Windu did kill Jango. I wasn't as angry at him as Boba was...but then again, Boba was mad at everything right now. But one could still have some contempt for the jedi. He did take away the only father I ever knew. Not to mention his constant prodding in the force was annoying at best.

I smirked as I pivoted, heading straight for the unguarded jedi starfighter. Maybe I couldn't avenge Jango, both for the questioning of who I should be going after, as well as if it was the jedi, killing a jedi was neither easy nor without consequence. Still, I could at least steal his starfighter.

I casually walked up the slanted side, eyeing the place an astromech belonged. Well, I didn't have an astromech, but I could function without. The cockpit opened easily at my touch, my body slipping into the seat that had begun to form to the tall jedi. After some adjusting of sitting, the engines whirred to life under my knowing hands, flipping switches and pressing buttons. I'd never been in a jedi starfighter, considering they were exclusively used by jedi...not to mention the fact that they didn't have shields. It didn't seem incredibly smart, but I supposed their tendency to use the force to avoid blasters deemed shields less...necessary.

I disagreed, but the yearning for some type of petty revenge outweighed the need for shields.

I pushed hard on the joystick, the engines surging to life and lifting me from the hangar floor. By this time, the soldiers had begun to realize that something was awry, considering Windu wasn't the one piloting the fighter. I saw some of them contacting the bridge, trying to figure out what was going on. Some lifted their blasters warily at me.

I could feel their uncertainty. I was the adopted daughter of Jango Fett. While I hadn't told many clones, I was sure the story had gotten around. They were brothers. They would talk. Yet, while I was, in a way, related...I was also a bounty hunter that was stealing a jedi's starfighter.

I didn't give them time to respond, piloting the starfighter out of the hangar and into open space. Flicking a few switches brought the hyperspace ring to life, the red circle blinking as it floated upwards in the line of rings. I piloted into it easily, typing in a series of coordinates quickly. I wouldn't make it all the way to Coruscant, nor would it be smart to go straight there. I needed to lay low a while, since they'd be looking for the starfighter.

I'd return it...eventually.

They bridge tried to get through to me on the comms, but I denied them before gently pulling the lever, the hyperspace engines engaging. I finally let myself relax as the stars zipped by me, the computer lighting up with my progress through the galaxy.

As I traveled, I drew my wrist comm from my jacket pocket, examining the shattered surface. With some prying, the screen pulled away to reveal the inner workings, which allowed me to draw out some wires and hook it into the display of the starfighter. It took a moment, but after a few painstaking seconds, the screen came to life with the displays of my wrist comm.

Panning through the options, using the ship's computer, I found my way to the downloaded information from Vindi's notes. There were comments about my apparent resistance to the Blue Shadow virus, as well as notes about my general fitness and abilities. Considering how little the doctor actually saw me do, I was impressed by what he could ascertain from a few glances and blood samples.

Finally, I found my biological makeup. Corellian. Alderaanian. Even some Nabooian. They were all small portions, though. Percentages. I continued looking through the long list of my apparent confused biology. Finally, I found the percentage Vindi had flagged, my eyes widening. It wasn't possible. I understood Windu's confusion now. There was no way for it to be possible, yet my bio readings told a different story. I sat back in the seat as the ship's computer catapulted me through space towards my stop on Mustafar, regarding the screen before me.

Highlighted red by Vindi, bold and foreboding on the screen, was the reason behind the doctor's interest in me, as well as the suspicions of the jedi. I closed my eyes, confused and afraid. Still, even behind my eyelids, I could still see the word, painted in red.

'Sith.'

Author's Note:

I promise, I'm not dead. Just on an amazing vacation in Hawaii after my graduation. Sorry for the absence, but I'll try to post more actively in the future!

As per usual, sorry for any typos...these are usually written late at night and/or while intoxicated. And also as per usual, reviews are welcome and invited!

-Ryder