Chapter 16 - Kamino
Author's Note: I'm sure you can't tell that we are obsessed with the Bad Batch. ;)
~ Amina Gila
"I always wanted to see Kamino," Luke comments, as Anakin steps off the shuttle along with him and several other clones. They intercepted a transmission between Maul and Merrin, implying an attack on Kamino is imminent. Anakin knows just how bad that could get, if they're coming. Strategically, though, such an attack doesn't really make sense, because they can't possibly hope to blockade the whole planet, when they know how much the Republic will fight to keep it. They must be after something else, unless they're really that desperate, to the point of a suicide mission just to cause massive destruction. It could... take out so many of the clones, though.
Children who have no say in this, but they're fighting because they were purchased to die. It... makes him sick whenever he thinks about it. It's hard, having to see the decreased numbers after every battle. It's even harder to see them all struggling afterwards, when some of their closet brothers are gone – it's worse how much they've all had to grow used to it.
"Nothing to see but water," Fives replies, though he seems unusually cheerful.
"Feels like yesterday that we were here, heading to target practice," Echo comments, as they head for the facility.
"And doing all those silly training exercises," Cutup agrees. "Never thought we'd get out of there."
"If you had listened to orders –" Echo begins.
"Don't even start," Fives cuts him off.
Luke snickers. "You have this conversation every day."
"Yes, you do," Anakin agrees, suppressing a grin. The clones are so... childish sometimes. Most people forget that they're half the age they look, though he doesn't know why. Domino Squad were eight when they came to the fronts. They're the youngest, but that doesn't make him feel better that they have to endure this, either way.
"We spent so long failing tests because of that," Echo grumbles.
"So you've said," Anakin replies, amused, "But you are some of the best now. All of you."
"Thank you, sir," Hevy offers.
"We should move," Anakin says finally, "I can't imagine it'll be much longer." He hates to break up the moment, as he always does, but it's the truth, and they don't have time.
They're still preparing for the coming battle, when Anakin senses a twinge of warning in the Force, right before his comm suddenly beeps. "General, a Separatist fleet just came out of hyperspace over Kamino."
"We'll be up there immediately," he assures, "Luke, come on."
They take off for their shuttle, to get back to the cruiser.
"We'll handle any droids that get through," Hevy calls, after them.
He knows they will – and he'll make sure they won't have to, as they take off. The Republic cruisers have already engaged the Separatist ships – they're both exchanging constant fire, and Anakin flies to join the battle with the vulture droids, taking down all the ones in his path as he flies for the main Separatist cruiser, shooting at it.
The fire penetrates through the shields surprisingly easily, and the ships start crashing for the surface. Here, at least, it will do little damage – except causing potential tsunamis, but Kamino is built for that.
Luke is doing well, too. Almost too well, actually.
Because the more ships Anakin destroys, the more he begins to wonder what's going on here. Something's not right. This is too easy. They shouldn't be able to destroy the ships this quickly, even if the Separatists are being overwhelmed. It must be part of their plan. The space battle has to be a distraction from... something else.
Does this have anything to do with how they're getting to the surface?
Anakin can sense something else too, something dark and elusive, though he can't focus on it right now. One of the Sith must be here.
"We have aqua droids down on the surface," a clone's voice finally calls through his comm.
Of course. They must be getting down in the debris, somehow.
"Luke, we need to get back to the surface."
"Why? Then more will get through!" he protests, unleashing another barrage of laser shots on another ship.
"This is a distraction," Anakin tells him, "It is far too simple to be real."
"I... noticed it seemed easy," Luke admits, spinning his fighter around, to head downwards.
Tipoca City comes into view quickly, and the large reddish aqua droids now clambering up onto one of the domes are impossible to miss. Luke fires on them, knocking off the first couple, but it's dangerous to shoot from here. The risk of damaging the city is too great.
Anakin brings his fighter down, scrambling out and drawing his lightsaber, running to join the clones. Luke is at his side moments later, their orange and blue blades moving perfectly in sync as they cut through the droids.
It's... sickening, to see how many clones have already fallen.
This still can't be what they're after, though, because they can't actually expect to overwhelm the Republic forces. They're probably trying to stop clone production, which means –
"Luke, the DNA," Anakin calls to him, "That's what they're after." He's certain of it.
"On it," the boy calls back, sprinting for the building.
He can end this faster with the Force, and Anakin reaches out, wrapping it around the nearest aqua droid, yanking it upwards to dislodge it from the building. It's hard, because he has to avoid getting shot, but he can still do it, and the clones are covering for him now that they realize what he's doing. He shoves the droid back, and it falls over the edge, the splash of the waves echoing against the side of the building.
But at least, one of them is gone.
He's reaching for the next one when danger flares through the Force. Whipping around, he sees a blur of red swinging for his head. Blocking it with his hand, Anakin sidesteps the blade as Maul lands on the ground behind him,
"Skywalker," the Zabrak hisses, charging for him again, "I see Kenobi is not here."
"He's the Grandmaster," Anakin replies flatly, igniting his lightsaber and swinging it up to intercept the blow. "Your desire for vengeance against him will only destroy you."
"He is the one who will be destroyed," hisses Maul, blocking the blow, then cutting lower with the other side of the blade, trying and failing to land a hit. "He will suffer as I have. And I will start by ending you."
Anakin doesn't bother to even reply, focusing everything on the fight. Driving Maul onto the defensive is working faster than he thought it would. It's easier than on Geonosis – there, he was exhausted, but he won't make the same mistake twice.
The phantom pains from his wrist have only just started to fade, now that it's been over a year since it happened.
Soon, Maul doesn't have the breath to reply either, as he struggles to keep up with the blows. Elsewhere, Anakin senses danger centering around Luke, but there's nothing he can do right now.
That is, until Maul's comm beeps – a signal of some kind – and he shoves Anakin back and runs.
Anakin gives chase.
**w**
Luke sprints through the halls of the building, the sound of blaster shots ringing out ceaselessly not far away. The floor is shaking, and he thinks droids must already be in the building somewhere, but that's not his mission right now.
The DNA vial room is just ahead, and there's something... A darker presence, but strangely elusive.
He skids to a stop in front of the door, taking a moment to catch his breath before shoving the door open, stepping inside.
There's a flash of something green as he opens the door, and he doesn't see anyone there, but he can definitely sense someone.
And the DNA vial is missing.
Force.
He can't be too late. How could he sense someone here, if there isn't –
There's a flash of almost mist-like green magic, and Merrin suddenly appears, lashing out and hurling him into the wall, before she disappears just as quickly, and he can sense her presence vanishing out the door.
Springing to his feet, he bolts after. This would be much easier if he could properly see her. Her advantage is completely unfair, not that there's anything fair in war to begin with.
Luke Force-leaps down the hall, swinging blindly for where he senses her. She flickers into view in front of him, shoving him back, green energy swirling around her hand.
He throws her back in response, as hard as he can, yanking the DNA vial away from her. But she's trying to call it back before it can land in his hands. He hurls his lightsaber at her – probably stupid – and she ducks, momentarily letting up her hold. The vial lands in his hands, but his lightsaber hits the floor behind her, and she blinks out of existence, along with it.
Kriff.
Well, he still has the Force. He's not defenseless. Luke breaks into a run again, chasing where he senses her. Except, she's not going straight anymore. It feels more like she's... circling around him? It's hard to tell.
He lashes out with the Force again, blindly more than anything, shoving at where he senses her, only for her to materialize right behind him, tackling him to the floor. She's trying to wrestle the vial away from him.
They roll across the floor, and he manages to yank his lightsaber from her grasp, tossing it behind them so he can focus on keeping the vial safe right now.
He can't lose this. Why do they even want it? Why aren't they just destroying it? Or is there something else they're up to?
A blaster shot suddenly rings out, and Merrin barely ducks the shot in time – if she wasn't Force-sensitive, she never would've managed.
She blinks out of existence again, and Luke scrambles to his feet, calling his lightsaber to him as he turns to see who came to his aid.
"Uhh... where'd she go?" asks the tallest clone. There's four of them, and they all have the most unique looking armor he's ever seen.
"She is a Nightsister. Her abilities allow her to conceal herself from sight," explains the one with goggles.
"She's still here," Luke warns, glancing around. He can sense her circling somewhere close, waiting to pounce again.
The one with the rifle fires again suddenly.
Right. They can use their helmets to track her heat signatures – even if their helmets are just training ones. They're so lucky.
The blast hits the wall, and he fires again; Luke really wishes he wasn't totally blind in this. The other withdraws a knife, throwing it at... thin air, except Merrin materializes in front of it suddenly, and with a surge of magic, throws the knife right back at him.
He dodges it, and Luke swings for Merrin before she can disappear again.
She's refusing to give up as the fight carries through the halls, but she's not getting anywhere close to getting it back. Not with all of them here. These clones are far more skilled than nearly any he's encountered – weird, given that he thinks they're still cadets.
Finally, the sniper hits Merrin in the shoulder, and when she disappears again, she doesn't reappear. Luke can sense her retreating, and they follow, to the outside of the facility.
The battle is still raging, but the droids are obviously losing now. Mostly, they're just cleaning up the ones left behind.
He hears the sound of an engine low overhead, and a small ship swoops in. He can feel it when Merrin jumps for the top of it – and isn't able to move fast enough to stop her.
For a second, Luke catches sight of the person inside the ship.
Maul.
He was here?!
He shouldn't be surprised, but that doesn't stop the familiar fury the sight of him always ignites. Not that there's anything he can do now but watch as the ship flies away. They escaped. Again.
Well, at least he still has the DNA vials.
Glancing around, Luke spots Anakin approaching. "Father," he calls, feeling instant relief at seeing that he's alright. With Maul having been here...
"It's almost over now," Anakin says, touching him with the Force, likely to make sure he's alright. "Good job protecting the vial."
"I almost lost it. That Nightsister magic is crazy," Luke huffs.
"It is," he agrees, almost amused, before turning to look at the other four clones.
"They helped me," Luke adds.
"Who are you?" Anakin inquires, approaching them; addressing them personally, the way he always does.
"We're Clone Force 99," the one with the knives says, straightening, "They also call us the Bad Batch."
"What are your names?" he asks, like he always does. Luke remembers as many of the clones' names as he can, but sometimes it feels like Anakin remembers all of them. He doesn't even know how that's possible.
"Hunter," he replies, reaching up to take off his helmet for the first time, and the rest follow suit. They really look different, for being clones. No wonder they're considered "the bad batch".
The others are Tech, Wrecker, and Crosshair.
"I have never seen such a unique squad before," Anakin states, "Your performance was impressive, especially since you have yet to be deployed."
"Yeah, I didn't know they had any specialized groups like this," Luke comments.
"Didn't expect to work with a Jedi here," Hunter remarks.
Most young clones who meet the Jedi initially seem to worship them – though for most of the 501st, Luke doesn't think that's ever stopped when it comes to Anakin. He can relate.
"The first you've ever met?" Anakin asks.
"Aside from the Jedi constantly present on Kamino who we have seen at a distance, yes," Tech confirms.
They're interrupted when they see Rex approaching.
"Rex, what's the status?" Anakin asks, turning to him.
"All the clankers are down, sir," he replies, helmet under his arm, "But there's a lot to clean up."
"We'll help finish cleaning up here before leaving, unless we're called away first," Anakin decides.
Luke's just leaving to join the others, along with the Bad Batch, but then, they run into Domino Squad.
And they are more than a little fascinated to meet their very unique younger brothers. They're both curious to know how the others fight, and Luke can't deny that he's interested, too.
"If you wanna know, we could always stop by a training room," Luke suggests, cheerfully.
"We're supposed to be cleaning up," Echo protests.
"Like we've even started," Fives shoots back, smirking.
"He is right," Hunter points out.
"But this'll be fun!" Wrecker protests.
"Come on, we'll still be cleaning up on the sidelines," Cutup laughs – at one of his own jokes, that he's often the only one who gets.
"Let's do it quickly," Luke encourages, even if he really knows, as a commander, he probably shouldn't be. "There's plenty of others to clean up the place." It's true. There are millions of clones here, after all.
"Someone's going to catch us," Droidbait objects, as they head for the training room,
"I'll keep watch," Luke promises, standing near the doorway as the two groups spread out, starting their... "training exercise".
They're both doing impressively well against each other, especially the Bad Batch given that they're still in training.
The actual fight doesn't last long, though.
"Now I'm really on your side," Cutup cackles, spontaneously pouncing Hunter, and they roll across the floor, Cutup landing on top.
Hunter lets out a most undignified yelp seconds later, and it takes Luke only a moment to realize why. Because Cutup's tickling him.
Luke bursts out laughing – frankly, he only finds it funnier that none of the others seem inclined to intervene.
"This is ridiculous," Echo says, finally, "We're supposed to be following orders –"
"Come on, Echo," Fives interrupts.
"– and cleaning up after the droid attack. Not fooling around," he finishes.
"No one will miss us," he retaliates.
"Well, we'll certainly miss it if we never become ARC troopers because of this," Echo throws back, "You were just saying how we nearly never left here at all, because we wouldn't follow orders, and now we're doing the same thing again –"
"Everything that comes out of your mouth is stupid," Fives grumbles.
"Fives," Echo shoots back, smirking.
There's a moment of frozen silence, before everyone – including Fives and Echo – erupt into laughter. Except poor Hunter, who's beginning to sound like he's taking his dying breaths on the floor. The stimulation is probably not the best for him, but...
Fives jumps Echo, and they roll across the floor.
Which happens to be the same moment Wrecker and Droidbait decide to start scuffling. Mostly, Luke thinks Wrecker just wanted to shove someone around.
He's not sure who jumped each other first between Crosshair and Hevy, but Tech finally goes to Hunter's rescue, dragging Cutup off him.
The door behind them suddenly snaps open, and everyone collectively freezes the same moment. Luke... might have forgotten to listen if someone was coming. Oops?
"Alright, boys, playtime's over," Anakin calls, crossing his arms, though he looks distinctly amused.
"This is what I was telling you," Echo says, shoving Fives off him, hastily clambering to his feet.
"We might have... uhh... gotten distracted?" Luke offers, sheepishly.
"So I can see," he replies, obviously amused as he takes in the scene. He never gets angry at him about things – not like Padme did – even the times he is being... firm about something.
"Sorry about... this, sir," Hevy says, awkwardly, "I told them we should –"
"You certainly weren't offering objections before," Echo mutters.
Fives elbows him. Echo shoves him back.
"Hopefully you found the breaktime... enjoyable, but there's work to do now," Anakin interjects.
"It was!" Cutup calls, cheerfully, and Wrecker nods emphatically. Hunter still hasn't moved.
"I'd let you stay a little longer, but Rex will not be happy if he finds you missing," he tells them, dryly.
"Yeah, I don't think he'd like to hear what his commander's been up to, either," Luke replies, grinning anyway, "We can try this again later."
"With a lightsaber-user?" Cutup asks, eagerly.
"Why not?" It's not as if he doesn't train with them all the time.
"What about a non-Jedi trying out a lightsaber?" He really wants to use one, doesn't he?
"We can consider... experimenting with that later," Anakin says.
"Is that really not a no?" Fives asks, perking up.
"No, it's not. Anyone can use them, with training."
He can't believe they're discussing this. It also sounds like too much fun. Which they unfortunately don't have time for right now, but maybe... later.
**w**
The level of power Skywalker was displaying caught Maul slightly off-guard, though it probably shouldn't have. When they fought on Geonosis, he'd been worn out. On the Malevolence, their fight was so brief.
He will find a way to destroy him, though, to get back at Kenobi. And then, Kenobi himself will follow. He doesn't know if the attack succeeded or not, either, but they have to get out before they're overrun.
Maul brings the ship down to let Merrin jump on top of it, and he hears her entering behind him as he flies it up for the atmosphere. They need to get out before they're trapped.
"Did you get the vial?" he asks, briskly.
"No. They... caught me off-guard." He hears her sliding onto her seat behind him, sounding oddly exhausted.
Anyone else and he'd have some serious words with them for such failure, but he knows she tried her hardest, as she always does. Besides, she is more than just anyone. He can't say what it is that he feels towards her, but it's something somehow even deeper and more... protective that he would say he felt towards his brothers once.
Once, they hadn't gotten along well, but that changed so much over the years. They're nothing like they once were anymore.
Sensing the lingering pain from her, he throws a glance over his shoulder, catching sight of the obvious blaster mark on her shoulder. She was shot. It doesn't look good. "You were injured," Maul observes.
"It's not bad," she assures, "Nothing that won't heal fast."
He waits until he's made the jump to hyperspace before moving to join her in the back, collecting the medpack to help apply bacta on the injury. She doesn't need help, but well... It's not as if he has anything else to do here.
"I didn't mean to lose it," Merrin says, after a moment of silence, as he works.
He glances up at her. "In the scheme of our plans, the loss is relatively insignificant. We still dealt a major blow to the Republic. That is what matters."
"He won't be upset about it?" She means Sidious, of course, though she knows little of his identity. Only Maul and Ventress do – the fewer who know, the better.
Maul scoffs. "This was my plan, not his. He merely consented."
She nods, relaxing slightly.
"Soon our other project will be finished," he continues, a certain level of dark glee rising in him, as he thinks of it. He doesn't care to actually use a weapon of that nature, but it will be effective at intimidation.
Besides, Sidious has no idea of the sheer power he's leaving in Maul's hands, by letting him be the one in control of it. Well, likely his master does know and already has contingencies, but that doesn't mean he knows what Maul himself is planning.
"I'd still like to know what kind of weapon this is," Merrin says, obviously curious.
Maul pulls back, moving to put away their medical supplies. "You will see, in time. When it's ready."
"Why all the secrecy?" she asks, dubiously.
"My master demands it. But soon, it will unfold." And he's eagerly anticipating when that time comes.
**w**
It's been a long time since Luke was on Coruscant and got to spend any time with Palpatine, so he's glad when the Chancellor invites him and Anakin over for some opera that evening.
Although in Luke's opinion, the whole thing looks and sounds really silly. Why do old people like things like this? "What are those wiggly red things swimming all over the place anyway?" Luke asks, finally. It looks dumb. Or is he supposed to already know and missed something huge? He has no idea. He and Anakin probably showed up halfway through, because that's just normal.
Palpatine gives him an almost incredulous look. "It's part of the art."
Luke makes a face, no matter how childish that is. "They look like worms. Are they worms? Because that's a terrible mimicry and if they are worms, that's gross."
"They are not," he replies, flatly, "And since when were you concerned by insects?"
Anakin looks like he's trying very hard not to start laughing.
"You would be, too, if you nearly got mind-controlled by a worm trying to crawl up your nose!"
"This bears very little resemblance to what you're speaking of," Palpatine replies.
He should probably be quiet and let his grandfather enjoy the show seeing as he's the one who wanted to come here in the first place, but he's bored. Also, now that he started picking apart the design, the whole thing suddenly looks even stupider. "Are those globe things supposed to be giant water droplets? Because I don't think anyone's gonna believe that."
"They look more like Gungan cities," Anakin interjects, and he sounds like he's trying his best not to laugh.
"Hm. Maybe. Do they have red worms in Gungan cities? I've never gotten to go there before."
"I would think your appreciation for style would be greater, considering who your mother is," Palpatine replies.
"I got more than used to it," Anakin offers, cheerfully.
"I got tired of it," Luke grumbles.
Palpatine just gives him that "I'm so done with you" parent look, and Luke can't help snickering. It's funny, okay? And maybe he was just trying to get a reaction.
"Perhaps you can save further observations for once this is complete," Anakin suggests, amused.
"Can't promise that," Luke shoots back, smirking. At least not if he sees something else utterly ridiculous that he needs to give commentary about.
"I am well aware your ability to remain silent is relatively minimal," Palpatine tells him, and he actually seems amused.
"Is that bad?" Luke asks, cheekily, "Other than that Mother finds it annoying." She was always telling him to shut up during important meetings. Not that it's entirely surprising.
"No," he says, surprisingly, "There are times and places where that is useful."
Luke slides back a little in seat, sprawling rather lazily. Mostly, because he can get away with it right now. "In that case, would you like to hear what I really think those blue swirls look like?"
That look was totally worth it.
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