Bad Batch episode: War-Mantle


On a rainforest planet somewhere far away...

"I am so close to perfecting the ultimate weapon that will defeat the remains of the Solaris royal family for good." Mariverde said, looking at some tubes. "But without the crown jewels to give them the power, all the work put into this will be utterly useless."

"Now, my queen. We must be patient." said a man whose face was also concealed with a hood.

Marvierde grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and twisted it tightly.

"Consider yourself lucky I didn't have you executed after one of the royal family nearly discovered our Naboo facility!"

"Need I remind you that you were the one to clavatize Princess Carol-"

"And you were the one to pollute the very lake on their home planet with your slop! I may be dark, twisted, and villanous, but even I wouldn't resort to such stupid deeds to getting rid of evidence, especially not when it would so easily expose me through one of my own mariclavas!"

Just then, one of Mariverde's transformed mariclavas burst in.

"Your Ladyship! One of the prisoners has... well escaped!"

"Find him!" Mariverde said. "No one must find out what we are planning!"


It was dark and there were lots of rocks and trees for an escaped clone trooper to avoid. His name was Gregor.

Currently, he was running from a couple of mari-clavas Mariverde turned to humans and accompanied with pesadilas to sniff out the escaped prisoner. Gregor gasped as he spotted two pesadilas transformed into a couple of ugly creatures called hodags and growling at him. Luckily, he managed to place a homing beacon he'd managed to snag when he escaped, and he continued running as fast as he could to get away...

Until he was blasted with a stunning spell that knocked him unconscious.


"I just don't understand it." Garrett said, looking through some of his books.

After Boba described Madison having swirly eyes after she was de-clavatized, and the same thing happening to Brenda along with the addition of Ms. Fortune's skirt to her Mama Bear look, Garrett and a few others in the family were beginning to suspect something fishy was afoot. And it wasn't just Brenda or Madison. Royal families and guardians across Enchantra fighting Mariverde also reported they were noticing similar incidents whenever they faced a clavatized villain; many had powers resembling powers of re-captured MARED prisoners. No one could explain it though.

"How could Mariverde have given both women swirly eyes and then given Brenda Ms. Fortune's skirt?"

"Maybe she's modifying her villains' outfits in a strange effort to throw us off?" Mariposa hypothesized. "Mariana was notorious for using a myriad of diversions and brain teasing strategies even when we were children."

"Well, I've contacted the Commission. They said all prisoners who've been captured thus far are all in their prison cells, and this time they are far more secure. They've installed bug zappers that should keep any butterflies from getting in."

But the clavatizations including already magical villains wasn't the only strange thing they'd noticed. Although it was more of a Republic military issue, a lot of clones had been disappearing lately. At first, no one noticed because there were so many and some just assumed they'd found new jobs, and the younger ones were placed into foster care in the hopes of being adopted into loving, happy homes like Boba and Omega. Luckily, they had some clones who weren't captured on the case.


Meanwhile, Omega was joining her brothers in the Bad Batch for another adventure in the Marauder. Now that the school year was over, she had more time to join in the fun. This time, Lamenta came along too. It had been a week since her new baby sister was born, and her parents were exhausted, which was to be expected. It was a good thing Carmine and Caroline only gave birth to one baby, especially after seeing how much of a toll it'd taken Anakin and Padme when the twins were born.

Nothing was really going on at the moment, so everyone was just doing whatever. Hunter was spinning his blade around and Omega was dabbling with a tool on Gonky.

Lamenta picked up a pen and got an idea.

"Hmm..."

And then she started twirling it like a baton.

"Hey, look! I'm a drum major." giggled the younger princess.

"Showoff." huffed Crosshair.

Suddenly, the ship's console started beeping.

"We're being hailed." Echo said. "It's... Rex."

Everyone came to the console to answer Rex's transmission. But Rex was hiding himself under a thick cloak.

"Hello, boys. Sorry to cut right to it, but I could use your help." Rex explained.

"What do you need, Captain?" Hunter asked.

"I received a distress signal from a clone trooper, but I'm a bit tied up at the moment to retrieve him."

"You want us to recover a reg?" Hunter and his brothers in the Batch still weren't too fond of working with regs.

"He's an old friend, and he's in trouble. I need you to get him out."

Omega and Lamenta looked up at Hunter, hoping he would accept the mission.

"Out of what exactly?" Hunter asked.

But, Rex suddenly looked scared.

"Can't talk right now." he said. "Sending you his signal. I'll be in touch."

"What was that about?" Wrecker said.

"Ya think it has anything to do with them vanishing regs?" Maybelle said.

"The distress signal sent by CC-5576 is originating from Daro, a terrestrial planet in the Outer Rim with no known settlements or installations."

"What's he doing all the way out there?" Hunter asked.

"Maybe it has to do with where all those clones have been disappearing to." Lamenta said. "And if Mariverde is somehow involved, it would be a good hiding place."

"Does it really matter why he's out there?" said Echo, Mini-R2 beeping in aggreement.

"We've gone on missions before without much intel. But this would be stretching it."

"Rex wouldn't ask us for help if it wasn't urgent." Echo said.

"Echo's got a point." Wrecker said.

"May I remind you that we are in the middle of a job for Cid." Tech said. "If we deviate we will not be compensated. And with Teatra currently busy with theater practices, we are one horse down."

"Oh, yeah. Tech's got a point." Wrecker said.

"But I did bring Crescent." Lamenta said.

"Lamenta's got a point."

"Are you done, Wrecker?" said Estrella.

"But Rex's friend is in trouble. That's more important than getting paid." Omega said.

"Wise words from a young mind." Indira said.

Echo seemed to look sternly at Hunter indicating they had to do it. Hunter sighed and said, "Fine. We'll check things out. But... I don't like it."


Meanwhile, on Kamino...

Many clone troopers Mariverde had captured were currently being forced into the old Kaminoan labs by her many mariclavas. All the clones were muzzled and put in cuffs made of briars that pricked and stung if they tried to escape.

One of the human mariclavas came to one of Mariverde's new minions with a message.

"The operation is ahead of schedule." said the clava.

"Good. Ensure every viable clone is mobilized."

Mariverde even took the liberty of taking in Nala Se and freeing Lama Su from prison after the custody case for Omega was over. But despite being out of Republic prison, the Kaminoans were far from happy.

"After that custody case with the clone who became a princess," said Lama Su. "the Republic has canceled all of our contracts."

"Our success with the clone army is known galaxy-wide." Nala Se said. "Already we have a new client who values our scientific advancements."

"Mariverde is not like the Republic. She has enslaved us, and taken our work by force. I fear she will destroy us when she has whatever she is after than allow us to continue to live beyond then. We must leave to ensure our survival. Gather those essential. I will arrange for our departure."

"Yes, Prime Minister."

But neither of them noticed one of the mariclavas resting on the ceiling, listening to their every word.


Meanwhile...

The Marauder soon came to arrive near Daro.

"We are approaching Daro's atmosphere." Tech said. "I'll bring us in low to avoid any possible tracking scanners."

Lamenta checked her clava detector.

"My clava-detector isn't sensing any mariclavas nearby." she said.

"Mine's clean too." Omega said.

"We're banking a lot on a clone we don't even know," said Hunter.

"Rex trusts him. And I trust Rex." said Echo.

"Me too." Lamenta said.

Tech soon came to land the Marauder somewhere deep within the forest. The horses began sniffing and listening about for anything suspicious.

"The signal from the beacon were coming from this direction." Tech confirmed via scanners.

Omega ran ahead and found the beacon on a log of some sort."

The flying horses got up high and started to look around.

"So, where's this reg?" Wrecker. asked. He looked up at Estrella, Indira, Banjo, and Crescent in the air. "You guys see anything up there?"

"Nothing yet," said Crescent.

Lamenta felt a sudden chill.

"Is anyone else a bit cold?" said Lamenta.

Hunter started to hug himself. "Now that you mention it, it does feel like there's been a cool breeze here recently."

But then, Crescent smelled something funky. And Hunter noticed what looked like a chip of wood on the ground, which he picked up and sniffed.

"We're already too late. This clone was being hunted by something beastly." Hunter sniffed it again. "Something... dog-like... and lizard?"

Hunter was confused, and so were the others.

"That could only match a creature I know all too well." Crescent said. "A hodag. Kinda mischievous like gremlins, but mostly marketed as petty thieves responsible for people losing things. Glasses, keys, sock... the usual stuff that always vanishes."

"Whatever it was, the clone was dragged." Hunter looked at some markings in the dirt. "That way."

Crescent picked up Lamenta and carried her as the others began running in the direction Hunter pointed out... when he suddenly stopped the group, making everyone bump into each other, Banjo falling on his tail as he was last in line to bump.

"Oof! A might quicker warning next time would be helpful." Banjo whined.

Hunter felt the ground beneath his fingers.

"There's something here, inside that mountain."

"I believe you are right." Tech said, checking his scanners. "My scans are being jammed."

"Same with my phone!" Omega said.

"Me too." Lamenta called.

"You said there was nothing on this planet." said Wrecker.

"That data appears to be inaccurate." Tech said.

"There are a lot of hidden truths to many worlds we have yet to discover." Indira said. "Though some things are best kept secret."

"You're probably right about that," said Lamenta, about to pet Indira, when she whinnied in a panic, scaring Lamenta to the ground.

Indira backed away from Lamenta as though she were a ghost until Hunter pet her muzzle and calmed her.

"Easy, girl."

"Wrecker, Omega, Lamenta, you three wait on the ship. Indira you can stay with-"

"Actually, I think Crescent would be a better fit." Indira said. "He is experienced as a guard."

"That is true."

"Wait, why can't I-" Omega began, amid Hunter interjecting.

"Coming here was up for debate. This isn't." Hunter said firmly.

So, while Wrecker and Crescent took the human girls back to the ship, Hunter, Tech, Crosshair, and Echo went with the horses toward the mountain. Echo was quick to notice when Hunter felt the ground with his fingers again.

"What is it, Hunter?" Echo asked.

Hunter said nothing at first, then he and Echo both looked up at the mountain.

"What exactly is in that mountain?" said Echo.

Hunter sighed and said, "Only one way to find out."

Each of the four clones took a ride on a flying horse to get to the top faster. Hunter and Echo rode Indira and Banjo, Crosshair and Tech took Estrella, and Maybelle and Pinto followed on the ground. And when they came to the top, they came across something bizarre.

"Looks like some kind of military base," said Hunter.

"Not one that I've ever heard of." Tech said.

Banjo took a whiff of the air.

"I definitely smell hodags around here somewhere." said the honey yellow alicorn.

Estrella sniffed the air too.

"Do you smell pescado?" Estrella said. Something literally smelled fishy around here.

"If that means fish, I sure do." Maybelle said.

Suddenly, that was when a ship flew in, and Echo pulled out his scopes to see a bunch of troopers in the same briar chains, all of them being whipped and yelled at by figured in dark green and black uniforms, all with hoods concealing their faces.

"There are a lot of clone troopers down there," said Echo. "And it looks like they're not here by choice."

"Let me see." said Hunter. Echo handed him the binoculars so he could see. "Strange. That color scheme reminds me of someone."

"The mountain's natural composition makes this base well-fortified and nearly impenetrable." Tech explained.

"Doesn't explain why it smells like fish around here. And... leather?" Maybelle said. "This place has got more funky smells than a barn full of critters eating nothin' but beans."

"This is no longer just a simple extraction." Hunter said. "Let's get back to the Marauder and leave word for Rex." Hunter said.

"We'd better let the Jedi and the royal family know about this." Estrella said. "If this is where all the clone troopers have been disappearing to, this could be our chance to rescue them."

"Only question is who's behind it all." Crosshair said.

"What about the mission?" Echo said as the others started to leave.

"We do not know for certain if CC-5576 is even in there, or even if he is still alive." Tech answered. "And if this is where all the clone troopers are disappearing too, as Crosshair said, we do not know who is behind this or what we are dealing with."

"We'd be going in blind without any reinforcements." Hunter added.

"You did that on Skako Minor when you rescued me." Echo stood up. "I'd still be trapped in that place if you hadn't."

Banjo snorted on Echo in sympathy; despite having met him long after Echo was rescued, he couldn't very well imagine his rider being left in such a terrible prison.

"If there's a chance that trooper's being held against his will like the others, we have to try to get him and as the others out."


Meanwhile, Omega, Lamenta, and Wrecker were getting kinda bored. Crescent tried dancing about to entertain them, but it didn't do much. So, they decided to play a game.

"It's still your turn." Omega said.

"Hold on, I'm thinking. I'm thinking." Wrecker said.

"Take your time, bud." Crescent said.

Just then, the comm beeped; Hunter's voice came over.

"Wrecker, do you copy?" said Hunter over the comm.

"Yeah, we hear ya." Wrecker confirmed. "Did you find the reg?"

"Not the specific one, but a lot of regs." Hunter explained. "It's not the only thing we found. We found some kind of base built inside the mountain. We're going in."

"Wait for us!" said Omega. "We'll help."

"Negative. Stay on the ship. You're our backup. Comms will be jammed once we're inside, so keep alert."

"I'll need to tap into the central database to pinpoint CC-5576's location." Tech said.

"By the look of those briars around the clones' wrists..." said Pinto. "I'd say some kind of witchery is involved too."

"There are entry points we can access in the lift shaft." Echo said. "That's our way in."

Estrella made sure to put a black cloak over herself to blend in better, being the brightest colored.

Everyone got onto the lifts and stayed quiet.

"Get ready to jump." Hunter said quietly, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

The humans all jumped and held onto the wall, while the horses flew, those without wings being carried. Once Hunter signaled that the coast was clear, they went in very quietly.

Echo managed to find an encryption computer and held mini-R2 up to dig into it. He also placed his hand to see if he could used his new technopathic abilities to talk to the machine. He'd been practicing a lot with Mini-R2 lately and slowly getting better, especially once Garrett started tutoring him too. At least, he tried to use his power... but he found they weren't working.

"Hmm. That's odd."

"Anything yet?" Hunter asked.

"This encryption's new. Might take a while." said Echo.

Hunter, Crosshair, Maybelle, and Indira kept a lookout. They were quick to see a group of clones being escorted somewhere by four of the soldiers in green and black to another lift. Hunter carefully peered around the corner a little more and witness one of the guards using a special guard to gain access to the lift.

"This doesn't make any sense," Echo said suddenly. "The muster reports clone troopers and MARED prison numbers. And there appears to be something listed under... Operation Clava-Morphosis."

"What the hay is that supposed to mean?" said Banjo.

"Why would MARED prisoner numbers be in this data base?" Tech said, sounding confused.

"How much longer?" Hunter asked.

"Almost got it." Echo said, and the computer beeped. "Found him. Cellblock 25, four levels down."

The rescue team began rushing as fast as they could to get to the cell where Gregor woke up from a nap and looked to see another guard passing by... and then came the sounds of grunting and bunches, and then came three clones the prisoner had never seen before.

"Are you CC-5576?" asked Echo.

"That depends. Who's askin'" said the imprisoned clone.

"Rex sent us." Hunter explained as Tech opened the cell.

The clone chuckled and said, "In that case, the name's Gregor. Now let's move out."

Gregor pet Indira's muzzle as he exited the cell.

"Nice horsie." said Gregor.

The group started to rush out, but they had to be very quiet to avoid any guards. Everyone had to have their backs against the walls at one point or two. And everywhere they went, there only seemed to be more guards.

"They're gathered for inspection," Gregor said. "No way past 'em."

"What can you tell us about this place?" Estrella said. "Do you know who those soldiers are?"

"Or why they've been keeping clone troopers prisoners?" Indira added.

"No idea what they want the clones for exactly." Gregor said. "But I do know... they work for someone named Mary Verday or something."

"Mariverde!" Everyone whisper yelled.

"We shoulda guessed that!" Pinto said.

"Still doesn't explain all the strange smells around here." Hunter said, starting to smell what the horses had before. "You'd think magical creatures would have some kind of spell to get rid of that stench."

"Some smells, even magic can't get rid of." Maybelle shook her head sadly.

"Whatever the reason," said Echo. "If we can't get to the lifts, we can't get out of here."

"We could just use our horseshoes to apparrate outta here." Pinto said. He tried to make his horn glow... but nothing happened. "What in tarnation?"

Pinto tried again, and his horn didn't glow again.

"My magic... it isn't workin'! Pinto panicked.

Maybelle tried to use her magic, it wasn't either.

"Neither is mine."

"Nada." Estrella confirmed when she tried.

Banjo was last to try. "I think my horn blew a fuse or somethin'"

"How is that possible?" Tech asked.

"Certain kinds of minerals and crystals can affect magical powers." Indira said. "There must be some adracium somewhere near here. It's the one mineral that neutralizes all powers, including unicorn magic or a wizard's wand."

"Well, no wonder I couldn't access the machines' mindset." Echo commented.

"So much for the easy way out." Crosshair commented sarcastically.

"I can redirect them," said Tech.

The group found a control panel, and Tech began to work some magic of his own, which he did not need magic spells or a wand to make.

"Armor like that... I take it your CC's like me?" said Gregor.

"CC-99's." Hunter answered.

"Defective clones?" Gregor chuckled. "If you ask me, the soldiers who guard this place are really defective."

"How did you end up here anyway?" Maybelle asked.

"I was starting a new job as an instructor-"

Gregor didn't get to finish as an alarm started blaring.

"Tech, what's going on?" Hunter asked.

"I keyed a Code-16 to redirect their forces." Tech answered. "I don't know what happened."

"Clone codes don't work here." Gregor explained. "You just triggered a security alert."

Suddenly, there were shots, which not only spooked the horses into running, it got the clones running for their lives.

"Intruders on level six!" exclaimed one soldier into a comm.

Tech set off a smoke bomb, and the others punched the soldiers unconscious.

"Is there any other way off this planet?" Hunter asked Gregor.

"Only one way out. Up." answered Gregor

"What about the other clones?" Estrella said. "We can't leave them here."

"There's no way we can get them all right now." Hunter said sadly as he took an access card from one of the guards.

"Ick!" Tech groaned. "Now I'm starting to smell things around here."

"Yeah, they've been dragging people who aren't clones through here too. Last one they got was some kind of half fish girl."

"A mermaid?" Indira said. "That explains the fish smell, but why is there a mermaid here?"

"What if she's in danger?" Estrella said. "Mer-folk need to be near water, and I don't hear or smell any sea water nearby."

But, there was no time to debate when more soldiers started rushing through the halls to get out of there. Without the horses' magic to blast them out, the humans had to rely entirely on their blasters for ammunition. They kept running and running, but had to screech to a halt when they heard a little, but loud scream.

And the source of that scream turned out to be from a little girl none of the Batch had ever seen before. But whoever she was, she looked terrible. Her short blonde hair was a mess, the orange dress she had on looked like it hadn't been washed in weeks, she was covered in dust and bruises, and she looked to be no older than somewhere between eight and ten. But the biggest thing they noticed was that she looked to have orange monarch butterfly wings. They looked rather frail though, as though they were brand new.

"Who the-?" Gregor said.

"No! Get away from me!" cried the girl, backing away.

"Hey, hey. It's okay, little one." Hunter said.

The girl looked terrified as she curled up against the wall like she didn't know how to fight back. She was crying.

"Don't cry, little one. We're not gonna hurt you."

But the girl didn't move.

"Are you in danger?"

The girl just squeaked a bit. But that was a good enough answer for Hunter. If this was how badly a child was being treated in this place, he couldn't imagine what was happening with any adult prisoners here. Hunter gently picked the girl into his arms. She felt cold and hugged him tightly. They needed to get out of here fast and get this girl to a medical kit and to Mariposa. Knowing the prejudice toward doresho gypsies, taking her to a hospital would mean a literal death sentence, young or not.

"Tech, we need an access key." said Hunter.

"Got it." Tech said.

And the group entered the lift.

The poor child kept holding onto Hunter and crying. Hunter didn't need heightened senses to tell that this child was terrified. It was almost as if she didn't know what comfort was until the Batch found her. How long she'd been there, they didn't know, but right now that wasn't the main thing they were concerned about. She needed help, and they were going to get it for her.

"I've got you, little one."


Meanwhile, Wrecker, Crescent, and the two princesses were still on the Marauder. But Omega was getting worried. She kept pacing back and forth, holding Lula in her arms. But Wrecker just kicked back and rested.

"How can you be so relaxed?" asked Omega.

"Oh, I'm preparing." Wrecker said. "I'm chargin' up before I charge in."

"We should've heard from them by now. What if something went wrong?"

"I'm sure they got everything under control." Wrecker said.

"I hope you're right." Lamenta said. "A lot of clone troopers have gone missing, and we still don't know why or who's doing this."

But he didn't know just how crazy thing were getting right now.


The Batch kept running through the halls trying to avoid getting blasted, but as they did, they ran into more and more soldiers. They managed to make it to a computer room, and Tech shot the control panel so the guards wouldn't be able to get in.

"How bad?" Hunter asked.

"Ha! Don't worry about me." Gregor said. "This is nothing. I got blown up once and survived. I can survive this."

But by now, Hunter's arms were starting to get tired.

"I gotta put you down for a little bit, kid." Hunter said. "Crosshair. Do you mind?"

"Okay. Come here, little girl." Crosshair said, taking the girl, who was even lighter than she looked.

"How do you think she ended up here?" Maybelle asked.

"Probably the same way every other prisoner got here." Hunter gently pet the girl's hair, like he'd seen Anakin do with the baby twins to get them to stop crying sometimes.

"How long were ya here?" Maybelle asked the girl, who just hid her face in Crosshair's shoulder.

"Poor thing." Indira said. "She's traumatized."

"But by what is the question."

"They have all access points to the central ring blocked off." Echo confirmed. But Tech had an idea.

"There." He pointed at the ceilings. Those pipes are reactor conduits."

"And?" said Hunter.

"Well, they should lead to the main reactor's external exhaust port. That is our path to the outside."

"The exhaust vent's halfway up the mountain." Gregor pointed out. "I don't think the horses without wings would survive that jump."

"No, but we would be able to signal our ship."

"And we might be able to use magic again," said Banjo.

Tech blew the vent open with a small bomb, and everyone climbed in to start moving through. Indira carried Gregor so it wouldn't aggravate his condition. Crosshair continued to carry the girl.


Back on the Marauder, Omega was delighted to hear Hunter's voice again.

"It's them!" Omega and Lamenta exclaimed.

Omega answered the comm.

"We read you, Hunter." said Omega.

"Are you guys okay?" Lamenta asked.

"We have the target, but we ran into some trouble." Hunter said. "We need a pickup."

"On our way!" Wrecker laughed with delight for excitement.

Sure, enough the exit point the group had to take was very high up.

"Glad we're not going that way," Gregor sighed after a bit of fright from the distance to the ground. Omega confirmed they were approaching the rendevous point.

Omega had to keep the ship steady, which wasn't easy since she didn't have as much experience steering a ship as her twin brother. But there were so many soldiers shooting only Tech, Gregor, and Crosshair had time to get on.

"I can't hold it!" Omega said.

"That is sufficient. I'll take it from here." said Tech, and he took the wheel. "Wrecker, take the tail gun."

Hunter, Echo, and their horses continued to fight, but it didn't stop the ship from getting hit.

"Shields are down." said Tech, starting to worry. "We're losing power!"

But then, as Gonky rolled by in the commotion, Omega had an idea.

"Gonky, we need you!"

Omega plugged Gonky into a unit on the Marauder, and the ship started to recharge like a phone on a portable charger.

"It's working!" Tech exclaimed. "Systems are back online."

Tech dove the ship and pulled up quickly so they could rescue the rest of their party. They quickly opened the door, the human girls screaming for Echo and Hunter to jump on board.

Banjo and Indira both flew toward the ship with their riders, but as Indira was landing, she slipped and nearly fell off the edge as one of her wings got hit! Banjo quickly grabbed her with his magic, but Hunter slipped and fell.

"Hunter!" Omega and Indira exclaimed.

Fortunately, Hunter managed to break his fall with a blade against the mountain. Unfortunately, some soldiers came for him, and the Marauder couldn't take many more hits. So, Hunter only saw one solution.

"Get the ship out of here." Hunter said. "I'll find another way back."

"Negative." Tech said. "The odds of escape are not in your favor."

"Go, Tech! That's an order!"

So, the group had no choice. But Omega was reluctant. She begged Hunter to order them to go back, but he told her he couldn't.


Later...

Lama Suu was doing some data on a tablet, when one of the human soldiers, Admiral Rampart, entered his room.

"Admiral, what can I do for you?" the Kaminoan greeted.

"I am disappointed, Prime Minister." said Rampart. "You promised your full cooperation to Mariverde."

"That is what I have given."

"Mmm. A disturbing matter has been brought to my attention." And in came three hooded soldiers with Nala Se. "Your Chief Scientist was gathering medical personnel to flee Kamino."

"That is most surprising." Lama Suu lied. "I will ensure a proper punishment."

"While I never found your clone troopers to be overly impressive," said Rampart. "I do believe you will be of great service to her Ladyship. A scientist, I have use for. A politician, I do not. I'm afraid your services are no longer needed.

And so, Nala Se was escorted away.

Hunter, on the other hand, was unsure what to think now. Mariverde was responsible for the clones' disappearing? But why? If she helped so many dark magical villains escape prison, and she could clavatize people, what did she need the clones for? And who was that little girl from before?

None of this made any sense.