Your eyes do not deceive you. I am alive, and I have returned.
Sorry about the absurd gap between the last chapter and this one. My computer committed self-die, and it took me a while to get a new one and get all my stuff transferred over. I've never been so grateful for back-up hard drives. I don't think I could bear losing multiple chapters of this story to the caprices of modern technology. I have kept writing in the interim, however, so progress has been steady, even if you haven't seen any of it yet.
Thank you all for the positive response to my last chapter, and thank you to those of you reading this to sticking with this story despite the delay. If any of you need a refresher on events so far, I remind you there is a summary at the beginning of chapter 42. Now, I've blathered on long enough. On to the chapter.
As ever, please show your support for Ukraine, especially as they head into winter. Anything helps, and every bit is important.
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Chapter 43
As he walked through the Temple halls a step behind Mace, Naruto felt as if were simultaneously floating on air and wading through mud. On the one hand, he'd kissed Ahsoka. And she'd kissed him back. She'd even said she wouldn't mind kissing again. It was… a lot. Too much to really process in one go, but it was good. It was definitely good.
On the other hand, he and his master were about to fly to an unknown planet with unconfirmed hyperspace calculations into what could easily be a Sith trap. To compound the matter, Ahsoka had apparently had a vision of his mission going wrong, somehow. Mace had listened grimly as he'd relayed what she'd told him, but they both agreed it didn't change anything. They still had a job to do. That said, they had both donned their combat gear. It wasn't much, just a set of mesh armor under their tunics and an ANBU style armorweave flak vest. Jiraiya had rustled up the vests, though Naruto had no idea where. It wouldn't stop a direct hit from a blaster rifle, let alone a lightsaber, but it was still light years better than nothing.
When he followed his master into the hangar, the last person he expected to see waiting for them was Chancellor Palpatine. Nevertheless, there he was, looking distinctly out of place amidst the ships and equipment. He looked tired, and older than his years, as he so often did these days. The stresses of keeping an increasingly fractured Republic together had robbed his hair of its former ginger hue and etched deep furrows around his eyes and on his brow. When he spotted the two of them, though, a warm smile split his face, transforming him into the energetic, gregarious man he'd been when Naruto had first met him. Behind the facade, though, he could still sense the weariness, the worry, and a growing sense of grim realization.
"Ah, Master Windu. Padawan Uzumaki. I feared I'd missed you." He carefully picked his way through the ubiquitous sprawl of fuel lines, spare parts, and toolkits that littered the hangar floor. "It would have been embarrassing to make the trip down here for nothing."
"Chancellor?" Naruto could sense his master's shock, but Mace hid it well and kept his voice level. "This is a surprise. Is there something we can do for you?"
Palpatine waved the question aside graciously. "When I heard you and your apprentice were about to leave, I had to hurry to get here before you left."
"How did you get here? Don't you have guards or something?" Naruto asked, curiosity overriding his already dubious manners. Mace sent him a sharp mental rebuke, but Palpatine didn't even seem to notice his lack of etiquette. He merely raised an eyebrow and gave him a knowing look.
"Master Jedi, I've been the Supreme Chancellor for a decade now, and I was a Senator for many years before that. I dare say I know how to slip out of my own office from time to time." He smirked for a moment before the gravity returned to his face. "I came because of the risks your mission may entail."
"I assure you, Chancellor, Naruto and I are prepared for what we may face on Kamino." The faintest hint of skepticism colored Mace's voice, and Naruto could see why. Even he knew the Supreme Chancellor would hardly go to the trouble of sneaking out of his own office just to wish them good luck. Palpatine, ever sharp, obviously caught the unasked question as well.
"I don't mean to question your courage or your skills, Master Windu," he hastened to say. "However, I am not blind to the effects of my own words. The Order has taken pains this past year not to stir up any controversy or jeopardize things with the Separatist faction. I appreciate that. The galaxy is in a delicate place right now, after all, particularly with Senator Amidala's upcoming negotiations. However, I don't want you to let such considerations affect your decisions on this mission. If this Kamino does turn out to be a Sith trap, do what you must. You will have my full support for your actions on this mission, I promise."
As he spoke, Naruto picked up a spike in that same feeling of resignation he'd felt earlier, along with a fervent desire to be wrong and a determination to prepare for the worst. It took him a moment to sort through it all; Aayla had only started teaching him the more advanced uses of his empathic powers a few months ago, but he managed to untangle the threads and glimpse the truth in their pattern.
"You don't think Padmé's mission will work?" He phrased it as a question, but it wasn't, really. Palpatine eyed him with shock before his expression shifted into rueful regret.
"I hope it does. The alternative…" He shook his head as if even the thought was uncomfortable. "With everything that has been happening, all the chaos, I can't help but think of that vision Master Sifo-Dyas spoke of. The one about impending war. I'd like nothing more than to dismiss it as paranoid worry, but I cannot. Every day, more systems rally behind Dooku's banner. His rhetoric has gone from bold to aggressive to downright inflammatory. Many in the Senate are angry or afraid, and I fear many others see the chaos as a means to line their own pockets. I will use all the power of my office to seek a peaceful resolution to this crisis, but I fear…"
He trailed off, and Naruto could see the stress, mixed with determination, shining in his mind with a sickly yellow light. He wanted to soothe it, to help the man bear his unenviable burden, but before he could, Palpatine shook himself out of his reverie. The emotions faded to the back of his mind as he put the facade of the cheerful statesman back in place.
"My apologies. You must forgive an old man his worries. I merely wished to ensure you knew you could count on my backing if things go wrong. I won't delay you any longer. May the Force be with you both." With a polite nod, he turned and walked out of the hangar, taking care not to dirty his robes on any equipment.
"That was strange," Naruto said as soon as Palpatine was out of earshot. "Why would he come all the way here just to tell us that? He wasn't just worried about us, was he?"
Mace shook his head and set off towards their fighters, talking as he walked. "That is part of it, but not all. The Chancellor is walking a delicate line. He is positioning himself to take advantage of any outcome of our mission, as well as Senator Amidala's. Whatever happens next, the Jedi will be at the center of it, and he can truthfully claim he was involved and supportive the whole time."
"Politics," Naruto spat, and even the word tasted sour in his mouth.
"Palpatine is a politician," Mace reminded him, though it sounded as if he considered that a forgivable flaw rather than any sort of merit. "That will always color his view of the world, good man or not. But put it out of your mind, for now. Focus on the mission."
"Yes, master." He turned his attention back to prepping his fighter, but Palpatine's words, especially his musings on Sifo-Dyas, stayed in the back of his mind. The simple routine of the pre-flight checks let him ignore them, though. He'd spent enough time working on the Delta-7 Aethersprite that it was now second nature. In just minutes, he confirmed the fighter was fueled, charged, and fully operational. Mace did the same, but hesitated before jumping into the cockpit.
"Should I expect any fresh surprises when I take off?" He asked. Naruto swallowed a snort of laughter and shook his head.
"Just the paint job. I haven't had time for anything else." Much to his and Anakin's delight, the new Delta-7 was a dramatic improvement over the old Delta-6 model the Jedi had been using for the past decade. Nevertheless, both of them felt there was room for improvement, and they'd spent every spare moment they could modifying their respective fighters to meet their ever evolving expectations. He'd also taken to applying some of the more successful upgrades to his master's ship. Memorably, he'd once forgotten to tell Mace he'd improved the engine output before they'd gone on a training flight. His master's surprised cursing when his fighter had accelerated twice as fast as he'd expected was a memory he'd cherish forever. Not even the two weeks of Archive duty he'd served as penance could take that away.
This time, between his almost absurd training schedule and his latest solo mission, he'd sadly only had time to give his master's starfighter a new coat of paint. He'd kept most of the plain white, but he'd removed the Republic maroon and added deep purple highlights around the s-foils and gun ports, along with two purple stripes running from the nose to the cockpit. His own ship boasted the same design, but with orange as a base, and black as the highlights.
"Padawan, you know there is more to me than just the color of my lightsaber," he said dryly, noticing the paint matched his violet blade precisely.
"Of course, master. You're also bald," Naruto pointed out in as helpful and innocent a tone as he could manage.
"Dare I ask how you mean to reflect that fact in my ship?"
Naruto spoke as if he was explaining something obvious. "Master, ships don't have hair. How would I make one bald?"
Mace gave him a measured look, which he resolutely ignored, before they both got in their fighters and extended the launch platform. Naruto's hands danced over the controls, and he grinned as he felt the ship come alive around him. In this, he and his brother were of the same mind. Nothing quite compared to the feel of being at the controls of a starfighter. The hum of the engines, the subtle vibrations, the sensation of barely leashed power. It was as heady a drug as any narcotic on the market, and he relished every second.
"Ready to fly, Oni?" He asked the integrated astromech over the fighter's internal comms. R4-O3 was the droid's official designation, but he'd let him name himself. Why, exactly, he'd named himself after a race of monstrous demons from the Elemental Nations known for its viciousness was a mystery Naruto felt was better left unsolved. It may have simply been because it rhymed with his designation. Then again, it may not. A small screen ran a translation of the answering binary chatter, but he ignored it. Anakin had drilled droidspeak into him until it was second nature.
-Declaration: Always. I am also ready to repair things when you break them.-
Naruto rolled his eyes; not that the droid could see him. "You're mean."
-Affirmative statement: I am. You are insane. We make a good team.-
He rolled his eyes again, but didn't deny it. Oni may have been snarky, neurotic, and sometimes downright bloodthirsty, but he was the best astromech in the Temple. He wouldn't trade him for anything.
His checks finished, he signaled Mace he was good for takeoff. Accompanied by the basso howl of the engines, their two fighters launched off the platform and hurtled into the sky. Together, they streaked through Coruscant's atmosphere. Within minutes, they'd reached the hyperdrive rings that would take them to Kamino.
"We're sure about these jump calculations, right master?" Rushing headlong into a potential Sith stronghold was one thing, but Naruto had no interest in dying because of a mismanaged hyperspace jump. That would just be embarrassing.
"Jiraiya got independent confirmation from Dex and Maz," Mace answered. "If anyone would know a safe route to such an obscure system, it would be those two."
-Reassuring statement: Do not worry. If the calculations are incorrect, your death will be too quick for your organic brain to process- Oni chimed in helpfully.
"Well, that's comforting," he muttered. Still, he punched in the coordinates, settled in for the long flight, and watched the stars stretch and smear into the familiar blue tunnel. "Let's hope this is the most exciting part of this mission."
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The hyperdrive rings were fast, and the route Maz and Dex had provided was surprisingly direct, but even with all that, it still took most of a day to reach Kamino. It wasn't a very comfortable day, either. Naruto and Mace had both agreed to take their fighters just in case, but the fact remained, Delta-7s weren't designed with such long flights in mind. They didn't have a refresher, for one thing. He spent most of the trip either meditating, napping, or reading everything he could on cloning. The Force helped stave off the worst of the discomfort, but it was still a profound relief when Oni alerted him they were approaching their destination.
"We're almost there," he commed Mace.
"Yes. Be ready for anything, Padawan."
He sent a wordless affirmative and went over the shields and weapons one last time. His knuckles were white as he squeezed the control stick, and his stomach twisted a little as he carefully regulated his breathing. Just like there wasn't any feeling like flying, there wasn't anything quite like knowingly heading into a potential battle.
-Imperative: If there is a fight, do not die.- Oni warbled. -Emphatic declaration: It would be inconvenient to haul your corpse back to the Temple, and I do not want the hassle of finding a replacement pilot.-
That dragged a bark of laughter from him. "You little asshole. It's a good thing you don't have legs. The galaxy would never be safe again."
-Statement: I am integrated into the control systems of a fully armed starfighter. Query: Who says it is safe now?- Naruto gaped at the droid, just visible on the port wing, but before he could think of a reply, Oni chimed in again. -Statement: Realspace in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1.-
Naruto took a deep breath and readied himself for anything. The Force danced at the edges of his mind, quiet for now, but ready to warn him at the slightest hint of danger. He wrapped it around himself and let it sharpen his senses and guide his reactions. Off his starboard wing, he could sense Mace doing the same. With a faint whir, the hyperdrive engines disengaged and the blue tunnel of nothingness resolved into a field of stars.
'Here we go,' he thought.
…
…
…
"Well, this is anticlimactic," he said over comms with his master. "Not that I'm complaining."
Anticlimactic was certainly the right word. There was no sudden wave of killing intent in the Force, no flurry of laser cannon fire or thump of missile detonations. Not even a menacing looking asteroid field. Just a planet, spinning calmly around an aging star. Its atmosphere was thick with storm clouds, and the constant flicker of lightning gave it an ethereal beauty of sorts.
"Stay alert, Padawan," Mace responded. "This may yet be a trap. Follow me."
He set a course for the planet in front of them, and Naruto dutifully followed in close formation. As they approached, his comm beeped before a soft, lilting voice spoke out.
"Jedi vessels, this is Tipoca city flight control. We welcome you to Kamino. Your inspection visit has been long expected. Please, land at these coordinates. A representative will meet you there."
Oni chirped to say he'd received the landing coordinates, but Naruto barely noticed. He was too busy trying to figure out the confusing comm message.
"This is just weird," he said to Mace. "We didn't even know this place existed until a week ago, but they're expecting us? And what did they mean by 'inspection'?"
"I do not know. For now, we will play along. Be on guard, but do not be obvious. We do not know if these people are friend or foe."
Naruto commed his affirmative, detached from the docking ring, and followed his master towards the storm covered planet. The strong winds and lashing rain buffered his fighter, but that wasn't the only thing he could feel. Through Force, he could sense the life on the planet below, and it was unlike anything he'd sensed before.
The oceans were fairly teeming with life, including what felt like some impressively large predators. They stood out as patches of cold hunger drifting through the ocean depths. There was also what he assumed were the native sentients. He'd never sensed their species before, at least, so it was a fair bet. Their emotions were decidedly muted, with a general overtone of clinical detachment. None of that was what caught his attention, though. No, what stood out to him most were the countless, nearly identical Force signatures that almost drowned out all the other sentients on the planet. He'd never felt such uniformity across such a vast number of minds. There must have been billions of them.
"Master…"
"I sense it too. If I am right, it seems the rumors of Kaminoan cloning technology are true."
Naruto could have smacked himself. Of course they were clones. How could he have missed that? He'd been studying up on cloning the entire way there. Still, this was beyond anything he'd expected. The Force tickled at the back of his mind, but he couldn't tell what it was trying to say. Only that something important was happening. Something momentous.
'What the kark are they doing with this many clones?' He wondered. The mysteries kept piling up, and it was making him nervous. Ahsoka's vision suddenly seemed a lot more relevant than it had earlier. A few of Mace's endless lectures on patience had gotten through over the years, though, so he restrained himself from asking questions his master couldn't answer. Answers, if they existed, were waiting for them below.
The landing coordinates led them to one of the more unique cities he'd ever seen. It was a cluster of massive, shallow domes held above the water by long stilts. That was only the portion that showed above the waves, though. From the vibrant wash of sentients he sensed beneath the surface, most of the structure was actually underwater.
They landed on a small platform attached to the largest dome. Naruto could just make out a figure standing near the door to the building at the edge of the platform; presumably the official they'd been told to meet. She felt excited, eager even, but not hostile. He grimaced at the torrential rain pounding against the canopy of his fighter, but there was nothing for it. He just hoped these Kaminoans had somewhere to dry his clothes. Mace walked towards the figure through the freezing cold downpour as if it wasn't even there. Naruto followed and got his first look at the mysterious Kaminoans.
His first thought was that she looked rather like Master Poof. She had the same long neck, pale skin, and overlarge eyes, though she didn't seem to possess any secondary arms. Her limbs were long and slender, and there was a certain sleekness to her form that suggested at least a partially aquatic lifestyle. She bowed graciously as they approached and ushered them out of the storm.
"Welcome to Kamino, gentlemen. I am Taun We, assistant to the Prime Minister. We have been awaiting your arrival for some time. The Prime Minister is eager to meet with you before the inspection, if that is possible." Her voice had the same soft, lilting quality as whoever had given them the landing coordinates. Naruto was about to ask her some of the questions that were burning in his mind, but Mace cut him off.
"We would be happy to speak to the Prime Minister. Please, lead the way." Silently, he sent a warning down their bond.
'Play along for now. We do not know what they think or who to trust. If they realize we do not know what is going on, they may turn on us. Be patient. You can learn much without ever asking a question, if you know how to listen.'
Reluctantly, Naruto agreed and followed Taun We through the blindingly white halls. Everything, from the walls to the ceiling to the floor, was the same uniform, glowing white. If the situation wasn't so serious, he'd have already been imagining how he could add a splash of color to the monochrome monotony. Judging by the unerring certainty he could sense from Taun We as she led them through the halls, there were some sort of markings or signage amidst the white he couldn't see. Maybe her species could see more of the color spectrum than humans. He supposed it would make sense, given their obvious marine origins.
As they walked, he and his master both kept up a steady flow of conversation and questions, trying to get some sense of what was going on without giving away their ignorance. All the while, he kept up a gentle pressure on her mind. He wasn't much good with true mind tricks, yet, but Taun We hardly required such forceful persuasion. A light touch on the surface of her emotions, enough to leave her feeling open and honest, had her willing to answer any of their questions. They didn't learn much, just that Tipoca city was much larger than it appeared on the surface, and much of that space was dedicated to production and training. What, exactly, that meant wasn't clear, but both of them had a bad feeling about it. Aside from that, they didn't find out anything of importance until Naruto felt the Force push him to say something.
"So, I'm guessing we're not the first Jedi you've seen."
She looked at him strangely. "No. I was here when Master Sifo-Dyas first came to secure our services. We met several times."
That was certainly a revelation, and he was glad his mask kept the shock from showing on his face. 'Why would Master Sifo-Dyas come here?' He asked Mace.
'She said it was to secure their services. Given his visions…'
Naruto felt the blood drain from his face. 'The clones I sensed earlier. You think he had them… make an army.'
'I think we need to change tactics here. Say nothing for now, but share what you sense from the Prime Minister. Honesty may serve us more than trickery at this point.'
Naruto nodded and shifted the conversation to the architecture of the city. It turned out the Kaminoans really could see a broader color spectrum than humans, and they perceived the walls as richly decorated. Before long, they reached a doorway at the end of the hall. It was visually identical to every other door they'd passed through so far, but apparently, this one was special. Taun We stood to one side as it opened, and let them walk in ahead of her. She gestured to the lone Kaminoan sitting in the room and bowed her head respectfully.
"May I present Lama Su, Prime Minister of Kamino."
Naruto and Mace both bowed politely, and Lama Su inclined his head in response. "It is a relief you are here, gentlemen," he said. "I am pleased to report that production and training are proceeding on schedule. Your order will be ready for use on time."
Naruto monitored his emotions closely, but, much like with Taun We, he didn't sense any hostility or deception. Just a faint sense of relief, professional pride, and an urgent desire to do business. He sent all of it down the link and waited as Mace digested it and came to a decision.
"Prime Minister, am I correct in saying Master Sifo-Dyas was the one to place this… order?" Mace asked. "For a clone army."
"Indeed. I had expected him to conduct the inspection himself, but we haven't heard from him for over ten years."
"Master Sifo-Dyas died in the field around that time." Mace steepled his fingers and frowned. "I will be honest with you. The Jedi Order had no knowledge of any clone army. We did not even know Master Sifo-Dyas had been here until a few minutes ago."
Lama Su reared back a bit in shock and his slit nostrils flared upward. Surprise, confusion, and concern flowed through him in rapid succession. "I am… sorry to hear that. We were under the impression this order had the backing of the Senate and the Jedi Council."
"It's possible Master Sifo-Dyas passed before he could inform us." He spoke casually, but Naruto could sense his mind racing to figure out what was going on, why a Jedi would commission a clone army of all things. "For now, we would like to inspect this army you've created for us."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Back on Coruscant, Anakin once again found himself in Padmé's office. This time, he was running over security plans with Captain Typho. The one-eyed man wasn't remotely pleased at the idea of Padmé walking into the middle of the tuk'ata's den with so little protection, and he wasn't shy about voicing his objections. For her part, Padmé wasn't shy about telling him exactly what she thought of his proposals. Anakin, whose self-preservation instincts were perfectly functional, no matter what anyone else may have said, wisely stayed to one side and said nothing.
"We've been over this a dozen times, Captain," she said, a touch coolly. "I'm not letting you assign me any additional guards. Anakin and Master Kenobi will be more than adequate, and they'll have Cordé and Sabé as backup."
The Captain set his jaw and tried one more time to plead his case. "Senator, please. You'll be surrounded by potential hostiles. I'm only asking-"
She forestalled him with a single raised finger. "Potential hostiles is the key. The whole point of these negotiations is to prevent them from becoming actual hostiles. If I show up with a platoon of guards, they'll just get offended and call this whole thing off. I won't let that happen." They glared at each other for a few moments, the tension in the air becoming almost visible, before she finally let out a breath and let the tension fall from her shoulders. When she spoke again, her voice was gentler, with a note of apology to it. "I'm sorry, old friend. I know you're just worried about my safety, but there's more at stake than just me. If these negotiations fail, it could mean war. I have a chance to prevent that, and I have to take it. People are counting on me. If there's any chance I can help heal the rifts in the Republic, then risking my life is well worth it."
Anakin could only look and listen on in awe as she made such a bold declaration. He doubted even Chancellor Palpatine himself could stand against such impassioned determination. Certainly, Captain Typho didn't have a chance. He could only bow his head in resignation.
"As you wish, Senator," he murmured and turned to leave. As he walked past Anakin, he whispered so only the two of them could hear. "I hope you have better luck keeping her safe than I do."
"I'll do my best," Anakin whispered back. Typho gave him a microscopic nod and walked out of the office. For a long few seconds, Anakin just stared at Padmé, spellbound by her fiery conviction.
'She really is something else,' he marveled, and that wasn't even approaching the truth, he felt. He didn't think, out of all the beings he'd met, Jedi, Senator, criminal, or ordinary citizen, he'd ever known someone who believed so strongly that tomorrow could be better than today if they just worked for it. It was inspiring, and easily the most beautiful thing about her in his eyes.
"What?" She asked, glancing over at him. "You're looking at me all funny."
The sound of her voice jolted him out of his musings. Fortunately, long experience covering for lapses in attention during lectures at the Temple had taught him to keep a mental record of the last few things he'd heard, and it took only a heartbeat to process what she'd said.
"Sorry, it's just…" he shook his head and grinned. "You're incredible. You know that, right?"
She shook her head. "Don't exaggerate, Ani. I'm just doing my duty as a Senator."
"No." He looked her dead in the eyes, trying to convey with his gaze how special he knew she was. "You're going way beyond that, and I think it's inspiring. If more of the Senate was like you, the galaxy wouldn't be in this mess."
Her gaze softened, and she reached out to squeeze his hand. His heart jumped in his chest when he felt her soft, slender fingers wrap around his larger, more calloused ones. "That's- thank you. You're very sweet." As she looked at him, a sly smirk appeared on her face, sending warning shivers down his spine. "Although, if more of the Senate was like me, I think you'd have difficulty ever forming a coherent sentence."
She punctuated her remark with a subtle stretch that just so happened to highlight her figure. Her perfect, breathtaking figure. Anakin choked on thin air and felt armies of red march across his face.
"Glk," he sputtered. "I- you- that's not-"
"Hahahaha." Her clear laugh bounced off the walls of her office. "You know, it's a nice ego boost to know I can turn my oh so mighty Jedi protector into a stammering wreck just by arching my back a little."
"That wasn't fair," he squawked indignantly. "You're evil."
"Aww," she pouted, with disturbing sincerity. If he hadn't known her so well, he might have fallen for it. "I thought I was incredible."
He snorted. "Incredibly evil, sure." A thought suddenly occurred to him. It was chancy, and he normally wouldn't have had the nerve, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. "Maybe after this mission, I'll have time to talk you back to the path of virtue and righteousness?"
Her eyes narrowed just a hair. Not so much as to indicate offense or anger, but enough that he knew she'd read the subtext of his question. He could see her mulling her answer over, but, unlike Naruto or Aayla, he wasn't enough of a sensor to sense what it might be. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long to find out.
"I think that would be… enjoyable," Padmé said. "Better than going over all those legal documents for the thousandth time, that's for sure. I'll be sure to make time for that talk."
Anakin smiled, inwardly crowing with triumph. It wasn't exactly a date; he doubted either of them would ever have the time for something so conventional as that, but it was a promise of time alone together. Time when they could talk without the strictures of politics and the Temple leashing their words. He didn't know what the future held for them, didn't even dare speculate, but at least he'd have a chance to lay out his feelings for her to hear.
"Until then," she continued, "You'd best get going. I'm sure you have almost as much to do before we leave as I do."
He winced and nodded. It wasn't as bad for him as it probably was for her or Obi-Wan, but the lead up to a big mission like this was always busy. It was amazing how much effort and logistical wrangling was involved in getting a couple dozen people in a room somewhere for a few days of conversation. As he turned to go, she grabbed his hand again and gently pulled him to face her. He was expecting another last-minute flirtation, or maybe a teasing kiss on the cheek as she tried to get one last blush out of him before he left. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him in a warm, genuine hug. Shocked, he couldn't think of anything to say, and settled for gently hugging her back. She was very warm, and much smaller than him. Despite that, he could feel the lean athleticism in her frame; a strength of body to match her strength of spirit. Fortunately, Jedi mental discipline helped him not think too hard about what else he could feel with her pressed against him as she was.
"I know I teased you for it, but that really was very kind of you to say," she whispered as she leaned back to look him in the eye. "It means more than I can express. Trying to do the right thing in the Senate these days… well, it isn't always easy. Knowing you believe in me helps when I can't always see it myself. Thank you."
The sudden switch from playful teasing to seriousness took him off guard, but a few of Obi-Wan's lessons on eloquence had wormed their way into his head. He took a moment to marshall his thoughts and come up with a response.
"You're welcome. I'll always believe in you, Padmé. Always."
"You're getting as silver-tongued as Master Kenobi," she said, though her affectionate smile belied her snark. "Now, get out of here. Oh, and give this to Chancellor Palpatine, would you? It's my last notes on the negotiating points for Geonosis."
Anakin took the data pad she offered and left with a cheeky salute. To his surprise, though, he didn't have to go all the way to the Chancellor's office to find him. Instead, he ran into the man in the hallway near the entrance to the Republic executive building. Even more surprisingly, he was alone, with none of his usual retinue of advisers and guards. Not only that, but he had a hood on over his formal robes that hid his face. From the way his eyebrows shot up his forehead, he was just as surprised to see Anakin there as Anakin was to see him. Like the politician he was, though, he recovered quickly and favored him with a warm smile.
"Ah, Anakin," he said, reaching one hand up to Anakin's shoulder and guiding him down the hall. "You gave me quite a shock. And here I thought I might manage to sneak back in unnoticed."
"Sir?" Anakin asked, confused. Palpatine waved his hand toward the Temple, just visible around the edge of the building.
"I just came from seeing off Master Windu and young Naruto. Their mission is absolutely vital, and I thought it important to speak to them in person before they left."
Anakin nodded and tried to ignore the sudden knot in his stomach. He wasn't thrilled at the idea of his little brother going off to investigate this Kamino place. Even with Master Windu there, it was still more dangerous than he would have liked. Naruto could look after himself better than most Knights, but Anakin still considered it his prerogative as an older brother to worry.
"But never mind that," Palpatine said, and glanced at the data pad still clutched in Anakin's hand. "You have something for me? From Senator Amidala, I presume?"
"Oh, yes sir." He passed the data pad over. "She said it was some notes about the meeting with the Separatists."
The Chancellor's eyes flicked over the pad for a few seconds before he slipped it into a pocket. "Thank you, my boy. This all looks in order." He sighed, and his focus seemed to drift away from their conversation. "I can only hope it works."
"Sir?" Anakin asked again. Palpatine shook his head slightly, as if dispelling a dream, and shot him a wan smile.
"Forgive me, my boy. I fear the last year has left me rather maudlin. All this chaos and bitterness, not to mention Count Dooku's Fall to the Sith…"
Anakin read between the lines of his words. "You think Padmé's mission will fail?"
Palpatine gave him a weary look and squeezed his shoulder. "I dearly hope it doesn't. We owe it to the people of the Republic to do everything in our power to avert a war. However, while Senator Amidala is a remarkable woman and a peerless diplomat, I worry she is a touch naïve about how open to reason the Separatists will be. Her idealism is an inspiration to many, but in this case, I wonder if it hasn't blinded her to reality?"
Anakin wasn't sure how to respond. On the one hand, his first instinct was to hotly defend Padmé from such a slight to her abilities. On the other hand, the Chancellor's concerns mirrored his own. Just the other day, he'd argued that Dooku wasn't trustworthy, and that the secret Sith Lord would never allow his followers to actually negotiate a deal with the Republic. Palpatine was a far more experienced and wily politician than Padmé, and Anakin couldn't just dismiss his concerns out of hand. Not on something like this. Thankfully, his old mentor spared him the trouble of responding.
"Anakin, I'd like you to do me a favor, if you would."
"Of course, sir. Whatever you need."
Palpatine smiled gratefully. "Thank you. I'd like you to keep your eyes open for anything suspicious while you're on Geonosis. Anything you think might be important or out of place."
Anakin frowned. "You… want me to spy?"
"Nothing so overt. But we know far too little about the Separatists, and even less about this Geonosis. As I said, I dearly hope these negotiations succeed. However, it would be imprudent to pass up any opportunity for intelligence. If Count Dooku truly is a Sith, we can be sure he has plans within plans, and all of them vile. I trust your instincts more than anyone else's in this matter. If there is subterfuge to be found, I'm confident you'll sense it."
Anakin nodded slowly. The Chancellor made some good points about Dooku and the Separatists. If he was being honest with himself, hearing his old mentor put such faith in his abilities was also quite gratifying. "I'll keep an eye out for anything suspicious. You can count on me, sir."
Palpatine clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "I know I can, dear boy. You've never let me down. However, let's leave such depressing topics for now. Tell me, how is the Senator?"
Anakin thought back to their last conversation, to her subtle (and not so subtle) flirting, and to their near-kiss the day before. "Padmé is… fine. As well as can be expected, given everything."
Palpatine gave him a knowing smile. "You've been spending too much time around us politicians, Anakin. It seems you've picked up our habit of speaking at length while saying nothing. Or, perhaps, you've been spending time with one politician in particular?" When Anakin just looked at him, confused, he sighed and shook his head a little. "Have you told her how you feel yet?"
"Not really. It's not that easy."
"Take it from me, Anakin. Don't pass up a chance at love, not for anything." For a moment his voice turned wistful, and Anakin had to wonder what he was thinking about. For all their many conversations, the Chancellor practically never brought up his past. He knew the man's family had died decades ago, but that was it. Wherever his mind had gone, it was obviously an intense memory. His voice was more passionate than Anakin had ever heard.
"Seize it. Seize hold of it and don't let go. Not for anything. Love is precious, my boy, and it comes too rarely to men like us. We have both devoted our lives to duty, to something greater than ourselves. I would not see you make the same mistakes I did in my youth. You have an amazing life ahead of you, my boy. Don't go through it alone."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
The inspection, as both Mace and Lama Su dubbed it, consisted of the Prime Minister giving them a tour of the various cloning facilities and training grounds they'd used to create the clone army. All the while, he bragged about the capabilities of the clones, and the myriad alterations and enhancements the Kaminoan scientists had made to their genome. Pride radiated off him so strongly that Naruto half-expected him to glow. He couldn't blame the man, though. It was truly stunning stuff. Accelerated growth, increased loyalty, conditioned obedience, decreased independent tendencies, and even some minor physical enhancements. He may not have known much about cloning, but even he could tell the Kaminoans were experts in their field.
It made him sick.
The longer Lama Su spoke, describing the men below them as if they were livestock, the angrier and more frustrated Naruto grew. His teeth ground together painfully, and he had to focus on not balling his fists. The Force responded to his fury and coiled around him, ready to lash out, to destroy. It took a conscious effort of will to restrain it and pull his emotions back under control. Mace sent him a concerned look, but he just shook his head.
'I can't listen to this crap anymore. I'm going down there.'
Mace raised an eyebrow but didn't try to dissuade him. Naruto made a perfunctory excuse and slipped away from the others. Taun We offered to guide him, but he brushed her off as politely as he could. He didn't want any of the Kaminoans looking over his shoulder while he wandered.
Whatever the cloners used to navigate the hallways was invisible to his eyes, so he sank into the Force and let it guide him where he should go. While his feet moved on their own, he tried to calm the storm of anger boiling in his heart. No matter what he did, be it trying to release the feeling into the Force like Mace had taught him or move past it and focus on the positives like Jiraiya had passed on, Lama Su's words kept bouncing around his head.
Totally obedient, following any order without question.
Designed for war.
Less independent.
Magnificent.
'Magnificent?' He thought. 'More like monstrous. What sort of people take pride in designing an army of human weapons?'
Row after row of identical faces flashed before his unseeing eyes. Lines of copied men trying on armor, shooting blasters, practicing close combat. Training to fight for the Republic. For the Jedi. As if the idea of Jedi leading armies wasn't a nightmare. He couldn't even pick exactly what was making him so upset. Every aspect of the city seemed designed to find his sore spots and jab them with a needle.
'Padmé goes on a diplomatic mission and suddenly we discover a massive army ready to serve the Republic? We take one step towards peace and another three back. It's like the whole galaxy is sliding towards war, and no one can stop it.'
Before he could get too lost in his maudlin thoughts, though, an unfamiliar voice snapped him back to the present.
"… you? Hey, can you even hear me?"
He blinked and focused on his surroundings, cursing himself for losing track. Jiraiya would skin him if he ever found out.
Just for a moment, when he saw who was talking, his breath caught and his hand twitched towards his lightsaber. It was a Mandalorian. The first Mandalorian he'd seen in person since Rago. For the span of a heartbeat, he was back in that clearing, kneeling in the dirt, the smell of burning flesh sharp and heavy in his nose, watching the smoke curl from a blaster barrel as his sister collapsed to the ground. Then he felt a firm tug through the bond from Mace, and he was back on Kamino.
'It's not him,' he thought. This man was the wrong height, the wrong build, wearing the wrong armor, and had a completely different voice and Force presence. He smelled human, but that was the only similarity.
He was also upside down. As were the small group of clones behind him, all wearing heavier armor than what he'd seen before. For half a second, Naruto wondered if he'd stumbled into some strange magboot training session. Then he noticed the odd looks the clones were giving him, as well as the sharp prickle of curiosity and shock directed at him. With a start, he realized he'd somehow wandered up onto the ceiling without even noticing.
'Damn, not again,' he berated himself. 'This is just embarrassing.'
With a quick flip, he dropped to the floor and chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry about that. I got lost in my head."
"And wound up on the ceiling?" The Mandalorian was radiating so much skepticism he could practically smell it. "Who the kriff are you, kid?"
"Jedi Padawan Naruto Uzumaki." He shifted his robe just enough to let them get a glimpse of his lightsaber. "Who are you?"
The Mandalorian didn't seem all that impressed, though his confusion faded. The clones, on the other hand, all stiffened beneath their armor. Their excitement hummed like a high voltage power line, just barely contained by iron discipline and training.
"A Jedi, huh? It's about time. The name's Kal Skirata. I'm one of the Cuy'val Dar in charge of commando training," the Mandalorian said and gestured behind him. "These shitlicks are my trainees. Introduce yourselves, shitlicks."
The clones pulled off their helmets and snapped to attention with eerie synchronicity. One by one, they saluted and rattled off what he guessed, with a lurch of nausea, were their serial numbers.
"RC-1138, sir!"
"RC-1140, sir!"
"RC-1207, sir!"
"RC-1262, sir!"
He could feel Kal Skirata watching him, waiting for something, though he didn't know what. It didn't matter much, at the moment. He focused on the clones in front of him. Though they each had the same face, now that he was up close, he could feel the differences between them as much as the similarities. If he hadn't already known they were clones, he might have guessed he was sensing a group of brothers. He wasn't sure if that made him feel better or worse.
"Do you have names?" He asked. Some part of him didn't know what he'd do if they said no, but he doubted it would be pretty. Or peaceful. Thankfully, after exchanging a few furtive glances, one of them nodded.
"Yes, sir. I'm Boss, and this is Fixer, Sev, and Scorch. We're Delta squad, Commando section." Each one nodded as he called their name. From behind him, he sensed some of the tension leaving Skirata. Whatever that test had been, it seemed he'd passed.
One of the clones, Scorch, he thought, apparently couldn't contain himself any longer. "So, if you're a Jedi, and you're here, does that mean we finally get to see some action?"
Naruto couldn't help but smile a bit at his enthusiasm. Scorch may have been the one to speak, for which Fixer was now giving him a dirty look, but all of them were practically vibrating at the idea of their long training finally being put to use. He recognized the same eagerness he'd had when Team 7 had finally got their first C-rank mission. All of a sudden, he wasn't looking at a bunch of human weapons, bred for a war he was trying to prevent. He was looking at a group of motivated young warriors, eager to leave home and make a difference.
"I don't know," he admitted. "My master and I are just here to see what's what. We didn't even know about you guys until earlier today."
Scorch visibly deflated at the vague answer before Fixer reached around and flicked him in the ear.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"Your breach of protocol and general lack of bearing." Long suffering didn't even begin to describe the tone in Fixer's voice. Naruto couldn't help but snort at the two men's familiar bickering, though Boss wasn't as amused.
"Lock it up, you two," he barked. Both of them instantly snapped back to attention, and he turned back to Naruto. "I'm sorry about that, sir. Despite their little display, my men and I are the finest soldiers you'll find. The Republic couldn't ask for better."
Naruto scanned for any signs of boasting or deception, but he found none. Even Skirata, for all his obvious experience and cynicism, didn't raise an objection to the claim. Boss and the other commandos obviously took their profession seriously, even if they hadn't had a choice in it. Still, he'd never been one to just let a claim like that slide, and he badly needed something to take his mind off the looming future and his own anger.
"Oh?," he asked. "Care to prove it?"
Sev smiled. At least he bared his teeth. "I like you."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Night and day were somewhat abstract concepts on Kamino, given the constant cloud cover. Mace only knew it was past sunset thanks to his chrono when Naruto found his way to the quarters Lama Su had granted them. When he walked through the door, he was sweaty and somewhat disheveled, with the fading remnants of a bruise visible around his left eye and several almost-healed scrapes on his knuckles. He'd obviously traded blows with someone, and in the last hour if such minor wounds hadn't yet fully healed. Someone skilled, if they'd landed even a single hit on him. Mace raised an eyebrow at his rumpled state, but didn't comment. He hadn't sensed any danger or malicious intent through their bond, leaving only one option. Leave it to Naruto to find a sparring partner on a planet they hadn't even heard of until a few days ago.
"Clean yourself up," he said. "The Council is expecting our report in a few minutes." Naruto nodded, and a few minutes later, they were both facing the assembled Council over the holocomm. Mace didn't think he'd ever seen his colleagues look graver.
"A clone army? Who was the template?" Plo asked.
"A bounty hunter named Jango Fett," he said, and even from across the galaxy, he could feel the ripple of concern and disdain from the other Councilors. He'd felt the same when Lama Su had revealed that particular fact. Jango was possibly the only person alive who'd killed more Jedi than Aurra Sing. Since the debacle on Galidraan, he'd gained a reputation as the most skilled bounty hunter and mercenary in the galaxy. His involvement was disturbing, to say the least.
"If he is connected to this, then we cannot trust these clones," Master Tii said. "Who knows what Fett may have taught them."
"We can trust the clones," Naruto said suddenly. Every head snapped his way, but the sudden attention didn't shake him. "I spent most of the day with one of the clone units. I saw their training, and I sensed their minds. They're loyal to the Republic. Loyal to us."
Mace didn't miss the undertone of disgust in his voice, and he filed it away to address later. Yoda tapped his gimer stick against his chair to quell the rising tide of questions.
"More to say I sense you have, young Naruto," He prompted. Naruto nodded slowly, and Mace could feel him mulling over his words.
"I trust the clones as individuals," he said. "They're honorable and eager to serve their purpose. But this whole situation seems too convenient. The Republic is on the brink of war for the first time in 1000 years, and we now an army just falls into our lap, fully trained and ready to fight for us? I don't like it."
Mace sent his Padawan a nod of approval, one he'd more than earned. With a handful of words, he'd just summed up the Council's exact doubts about the clone army. The sixteen-year-old had come a long way from the brash, impulsive boy he'd taken on three years ago. Not that he wasn't still brash and impulsive, but he'd tempered those traits with (some) patience and an insightfulness rare in people his age.
"Master Sifo-Dyas was always very certain of his visions," Mundi said. "Is it so surprising he may have been correct?"
"We are not at war yet," Yarael rebuked. "If Senator Amidala's mission succeeds, we may still avoid such an outcome. Even so, I agree with Naruto. There is much to be suspicious of. We cannot risk acting without the facts."
The Quermian master shared a long glance with Yoda. Mace couldn't sense what they were discussing from such a distance, but he could guess easily enough. As a former Master of the Order, he knew there was only one smart play, and Yarael knew it, too.
"Master Windu, remain on Kamino for now," Yarael instructed. "Learn what you can of this army's origin. Dooku went to great lengths to hide this from us. We must discover why."
"Very well." Mace nodded and saw Naruto do the same.
"May the Force be with you both," Yoda said before he cut off the transmission. For a long moment, the room was silent. Finally, Mace turned to his Padawan and gestured to his scabbed knuckles.
"I presume you have an explanation," he said. Naruto shook himself out of whatever reverie he'd been lost in and scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Oh, right. I- uh, kinda found a squad of clone commandos and joined their training for the day." He rubbed the nearly invisible bruise under his eye. "We may also have had a brawl. Or three. I sort of lost count. Skirata joined in once or twice. He's the one who gave me the black eye."
Mace took a deep breath and deliberately chose not to delve further into what the training session cum brawl had entailed, or who this Skirata was, or how he'd given a fighter of Naruto's caliber a black eye. Something told him he was better off not knowing, and he had more immediate concerns, anyway. "Did this… decision have something to do with earlier today? You were quite angry when you learned about the clones."
Despite his initial instinct to upbraid his Padawan for such a lack of control, he did his best to keep his voice even. He didn't want Naruto to think he was lecturing him. The young man did not respond well to lectures. A hint of disapproval must have crept in anyway, though, because Naruto immediately grimaced.
"I'm sorry, Master," he said. "I just-"
Mace held up a hand, stopping him dead. "I have told you before; do not be sorry. Be specific. Why were you angry?"
Naruto took a breath, and when he let it out, much of the tension that had built up in his shoulders melted away. "The clones. They're people, just like us, but… they were made to fight a war. To be weapons. Like…"
Understanding hit him like a kick from a kybuck, and Mace chastised himself for not seeing it sooner. It was obvious now that he considered it. "Like Gaara was," he said gently. "Like you might have been. Like Orochimaru wanted to make your friend Sasuke. Is that it?"
Naruto nodded and clenched a fist. "It's worse than that though," he bit out. "They were made for us. For the Jedi! It's just wrong. We can't just use people like that. I can't…"
He trailed off, and Mace could feel him wrestling his frustration and anger back under control. With a hint of approval, he noted how quickly Naruto quelled his outburst. It was a testament to how far he'd progressed in his mental discipline. Now wasn't the time for such things, though.
"Focus on the here and now," he said sternly, "Not on possible futures. You have more right than most to be angry, but as a Jedi, you have a greater responsibility not to let that control you. The future is still uncertain. For now, we have a great deal more to learn about this army and these clones. Our focus must be on finding answers. However, I promise, even if the worst comes to pass and we must lead these men to war, we will not sacrifice our compassion or honor when we do. You and I will not let the clones end up as mere weapons to be used and discarded. I promise."
Naruto's relief-tinged happiness, if it had been visible, would have put some stars to shame. He gave a brilliant eye-smile and blurred forward. Before Mace could react, two strong arms wrapped around him in a crushing hug.
"Thank you, master," Naruto said. "Thank you."
Awkwardly, Mace returned the hug and patted his apprentice on the back. "You are welcome." He let the embrace go on for several more seconds before extricating himself from Naruto's grip. "Now, is there anything else you wish to talk about?"
Naruto thought about it for a few seconds and apparently decided there was. "Ahsoka and I kissed before we left."
His tone was so casual, as if discussing the weather, that it took Mace a moment to actually process what he'd just heard. He blinked once, and then again, before he finally found his voice. His throat had gone inexplicably dry.
"You and Ahsoka… kissed?" He asked slowly.
"Yup," Naruto said in that same casual tone.
He nodded, working the new information into his worldview. It wasn't actually such an outlandish idea when he thought about it. The two had always been close, right from Naruto's earliest days at the Temple. That closeness had only deepened and strengthened over time. Indeed, after what he'd seen between the two of them in the hospital on Ansion, he'd occasionally speculated that their relationship would move beyond mere friendship. It wasn't as if the spirit of the Code stood against such things now; not that they would have let it stop them if it had. Still, there was a big difference between idle speculation and actual confirmation.
"I see," he said. "And this was a good thing for you both?"
Naruto's mask twitched, and his eyes glimmered. "It was."
Mace hadn't doubted it, but it was still his job to make sure. Ahsoka and Naruto may have been Jedi, and remarkably mature for their age, but they weren't adults yet. Indeed, it was hard to think of them as even being old enough for kissing, though they were. When had that happened? Naruto had been an overly excitable boy of twelve just weeks ago, it seemed.
"And you want to discuss this further?"
Naruto looked at him for a moment before his composure finally cracked and he burst out laughing. "Force no, master," he said between guffaws. "No offense, but you're not someone I'd go to for advice about this."
Mace closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "So this was just for your own amusement at my expense, then?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"Pretty much," Naruto said, still laughing. "I also didn't want to keep secrets from you."
Mace just shook his head and headed for the sleeping room, careful not to let his devious Padawan see the tiny smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Goodnight, Naruto."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Anakin eyed the planet below them with more than a little disgust. It was a desert world. He'd known that, of course, but knowing and seeing were two very different things. If it weren't for the single sun in the sky and the towering Geonosian hive-city on the horizon, he might have been flying over Tatooine.
'As if I'd ever take a ship this nice within a light year of Tatooine,' he thought. Padmé had chosen her J-type Nubian diplomatic barge for the mission, and if he hadn't already been in love with her, that would have sealed it. It flew like buttered shimmersilk.
The thought of Padmé drew his eyes to where she sat in the co-pilot's chair. Her eyes were locked on the city spire growing larger ahead of them, and he could see the knot of tension slowly tying itself in her shoulders.
"Nervous?" He asked, more to get her out of her own head than anything else. She shot him a flat look.
"I'm a Republic Senator, Ani. I don't get nervous." She shot him a tight smile, though. "I'm terrified."
Suddenly, he struggled for something to say. How was he supposed to offer support in this situation? Padmé was the most self-assured, competent person he knew. If she was terrified, he wasn't going to be much use. Still, he gave it his best shot. A lesson his mother had given him came to him, and he followed her advice.
"I'm with you," he said. "No matter what, I'm with you. If those Separatists get too rowdy, I'll just wave my lightsaber at them until they calm down."
She rounded on him. "You wouldn't?"
He smiled in response. She tried to frown, but her lips kept twitching upward. Eventually, she gave up and burst out laughing.
"Thank you, Ani," she said when she'd calmed down. "You always know what to say. And just in time, too. We're here."
Up close, the spire of the hive-city was impressive. It rivaled any of Coruscant's towers and eclipsed most of them. Anakin brought the ship in to land at the docking bay they'd been given and waited behind Padmé and her handmaidens as the ramp descended. Obi-Wan stood next to him. If his master felt any do the same nervousness he did, he disguised it perfectly. Anakin took a deep breath and tried to find his center. It helped, but as always, serenity eluded his grasp.
It was an eclectic group that waited for them outside the ship. He recognized the leaders of several Separatist planets, by species if not by face, including the rulers of Ando, Raxus, and Scipio, among others. There were a number of Geonosians, too. Most were obviously guards, with their long pikes and watchful eyes, but one was different. His fancy clothes, the beard-like tendrils on his face, and the carved bone he used as a cane marked him out as Poggle the Lesser, Archduke of Geonosis. It was the last member of the welcome committee who attracted most of Anakin's attention, though. A human male in his later years, his hair and beard carrying only the slightest hint of black among the white. His clothes were unassuming, but well-tailored from the highest quality material. A dark brown cape hung from his shoulders and almost obscured the curved lightsaber hilt fastened to his belt.
Count Dooku. Former Jedi Master. Leader of the Separatists. And a Dark Lord of the Sith.
Of course, there was nothing in his bearing or Force signature to betray his true identity. If it were that easy, the Jedi would have arrested him long ago. No, he didn't look like a monster, but Anakin knew better. Life as a slave had taught him monsters were rarely so courteous as to look the part.
"It is a pleasure to welcome you to Geonosis, Senator Amidala," the Count said formally. "And you as well, Master Jedi."
"Thank you for agreeing to these talks, Count Dooku, honored delegates," Padmé answered, her voice just as formal. "I look forward to working with you all towards a diplomatic solution to this crisis."
Several of the delegates voiced similar sentiments, with varying degrees of sincerity. Dooku merely smiled and gestured for them to head into the city. "I have no doubt these talks will be most productive," he said. "Today, we begin the work of bringing peace and order back to the galaxy."
Anakin had to fight the urge to finger his lightsaber. He had a bad feeling about what was to come.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
I finally introduced the clones. This is one of the scenes I've had in my head for years, now, and it was a joy to put it on paper at last. I was a big fan of the Republic Commando game as a kid, and I wish they had gotten more love in the animated series. Don't worry, though. Rex, Cody, Ponds, and plenty of others will be getting plenty of time on screen as the story goes on. I have plans. I have so, so many plans.
My biggest struggle this chapter, and indeed for most of this upcoming arc, was finding a balance between adapting the events of the film and creating wholly original content. I don't want to stick too closely to cannon, and not just because of the various plot holes. At the same time, Naruto and Jiraiya didn't arrive in the future until much of this plan was in place, so at least at first, a lot of the events will be similar. I considered having the war start somewhere other than Geonosis, but that first battle in the desert is just so iconic, with the dust and the tanks and the armies, that I couldn't bring myself to change it. Please, let me know if you think I'm sticking too close to cannon, or if I'm diverging too far, too fast.
One of the questions I get most often is if Naruto will get a droid companion, and I've always answered no. I meant it, too. I didn't think it would be interesting or useful to the story in any way, and I didn't have any original ideas for one. Until I did. Oni is here to stay, folks. I didn't invite him, but he showed up anyway. He won't be a regular character, seeing as he's literally welded into a starfighter, but he will make more appearances throughout the story.