Chapter 30 - Geonosis

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: Thank you, loldelegate! :)

~ Amina Gila

"Involved with the Separatists, the Banking Clan is," Yoda murmurs, "Discover the truth in this matter, we must." Ahsoka couldn't agree more. Apparently, Padme used to know Clovis, who's the Senator of the Banking Clan, and now believed to be conspiring with the Separatists.

"If Senator Amidala has already refused to spy on Senator Clovis, I'm not sure how we can change her mind," Obi-Wan declares.

"I could try speaking with her," Ahsoka suggests. They haven't really talked since their argument about the Malevolence, but this is for the Republic – as Padme herself always says.

"Speak with her, you should," Yoda decides, "Gain her cooperation for this, we must."

Ahsoka nods, slipping out of the Council meeting as soon as she's excused, heading for the Senate building. She can't deny suddenly feeling a flare of nervousness as she pauses outside Padme's office. But seriously, this doesn't have to get personal. She can stick to the Jedi and Republic aspects of it. Besides, Padme is already expecting her – she had to message ahead, after all, to make sure she would have the time to meet.

Finally, she steps forwards, the door sliding open in front of her, and she enters.

"Ahsoka," Padme greets, an obvious question in her mostly-business like tone. "I wasn't expecting you to come by."

"It's Jedi business," she replies, "I'm here to discuss your dealings with Senator Clovis."

She frowns. "I already told Master Yoda I don't want to spy on a colleague and an old friend."

Wait – "Old friend?" Ahsoka echoes, surprised. It isn't until right now that she realizes how much she missed talking to Padme.

"We worked together a lot in my early days here," the Senator responds, "And we... knew each other well." Is Padme implying something by any chance? Something about the way she says it and the flare of emotions Ahsoka feels from her makes her wonder. It's hardly her business to ask though, at least right now.

"I can see why you wouldn't want to spy on him," she admits, "But if he's involved with the Separatists, we need to know."

"What do the Separatists have to do with Clovis?" Padme demands. What? Did they not tell her that?

"We believe he may be conspiring with them, and we need someone who isn't a Jedi to confirm it, to avoid a... commotion."

Padme frowns. "Yoda didn't tell me that. I can't believe Clovis would do that!"

"That's why you need to find out if it's true," Ahsoka declares determinedly.

She nods. "I will. First, I'll need to get back in touch with him. We haven't spoken in a long time."

"I can watch from the shadows if I must. He could be dangerous, and I imagine the Council will want to send a Jedi with you in case this goes downhill."

**w**

All Ahsoka knows from the moment she lays eyes on the Senator is that she does not like him. "You look exquisite!" Clovis exclaims, placing an arm around Padme's shoulders. His emotions are flare loudly into the Force; he feels infatuated with her in a way that is very much not real love. And personally, Ahsoka finds it disgusting.

She doesn't bother to spare him a glance – she's just supposed to be a pilot, after all, not a secret bodyguard – and heads to the cockpit to fire up the engines. Refugees are common on Naboo, or else, it would be suspicious for Ahsoka to pretend to be a pilot.

"If you get tired, you can rest your head on my shoulder," he offers creepily as they step on board the shuttle. The rest of the trip goes no better.

And she totally doesn't accidentally jerk the ship so hard she throws him face down on the floor once.

They finally arrive on Cato Neimoidia, and she hastily steps over to Padme before she can follow Clovis. "Signal me when you find something."

Padme nods tersely, stepping off the shuttle and approaching the waiting Lott Dodd.

And all Ahsoka knows for sure is that coming here was probably not a good idea. Padme is with the Neimoidians, and while it's true they aren't all like the Trade Federation, they could easily get to her here. Ahsoka will have to keep a close eye out. Padme is perfectly capable of handling herself, but it could be dangerous.

In the meantime, she'll have to wait.

It's long after dark when her comm finally beeps. "Have the ship ready to fly if we need it," Ahsoka orders Arseven, then sprints for the building.

She tracks Padme's comm easily, dodging any passersby, finally skidding to a stop in the doorway to see Padme hugging Clovis.

What the?!

"I've been waiting for this moment all night," Clovis murmurs.

Oh no, someone please tell her she is totally misinterpreting the situation! Ew. She doesn't want to think about this.

Padme lifts a hand, gesturing with a small card. Ahsoka's eyes widen in realization, and she instantly pulls it away from her with the Force and takes off out the door before she can be spotted. Clovis is sufficiently distracted, and it makes Ahsoka feel physically ill to see. She's seen people act like that towards her mother before, years ago back on Tatooine, except it was more... invasive, she supposes. She doesn't think Clovis would go as far as hurting Padme. Probably.

But the more she thinks about it, the more she doesn't want to wait around and find out. It's bad enough that Padme is here as a spy and if someone finds out...

She needs to go find her. "If I'm not back soon, get this disc back to Coruscant," she orders Arseven, before darting back into the building. She doesn't know if it's time for Padme to leave, but they can't waste any time. The longer she waits, the more dangerous it could be.

Something does feel wrong in the Force, as she weaves her way through the halls, finally tracking Padme to a bedroom. She hesitates outside for a moment, but from the voices on the other side, it should be fine to enter. She steps forwards, opening the door. (And hoping she won't regret it.)

And promptly freezes at what she sees in front of her. Padme is lying on the bed almost motionless, her face flushed. Clovis and a medical droid are hovering next to her.

"What's going on here?" she demands, stalking forwards.

"Lott Dod poisoned her. She's dying!" he replies, sounding panicked.

No. This was never supposed to happen, but she should have expected it. And it's certainly no thanks to Clovis. She wants to call him out on it, but that can wait for later. "I'll take her to Coruscant."

"There's not enough time for that!" he protests, "Lott Dod must have an antidote."

"Then go ask him for one!" Ahsoka snaps, shoving past, moving to Padme's bedside. She's growing steadily weaker, and... Suddenly, she really wishes they'd taken the time to talk before the mission, because she doesn't know if they will again. She can't imagine how she could go back to Coruscant, to tell Kitster that – No, they have to find a solution for this now.

"She's stolen a very valuable disk from me. Return it, and I'll get the antidote from him," he argues.

What, he still thinks that's more important than Padme's life? Some love. "Get it," she snarls. "Or I'll do it myself."

"If he finds out I lost the disk –"

"We'll take Padme to the ship," Ahsoka snaps, cutting him off, "Then I'll deal with this Neimoidian."

Clovis looks decidedly unhappy, but he lifts Padme into his arms, and Ahsoka darts into the hall in front of him, scanning them for any sign of movement. They need to make this quick; if someone sees them leaving, it could be dangerous when Padme can't defend herself.

They don't even make it to the bottom of the stairs, before Lott Dod himself strides into view. "What is going on, Clovis?"

"I'm sorry, Lott," he replies, "Senator Amidala is very ill and we're taking her to her ship."

"If Senator Amidala is ill, she should not be moved," he argues.

Ahsoka's eyes narrow. Enough of this nonsense. "I know you poisoned her," she snaps, storming down the stairs, withdrawing the blaster she brought along – she couldn't have her lightsabers with her, but this will work just as well – pointing it at him, "Give me the antidote now, or you're dead."

The other two Neimoidians with him instantly withdraw blasters of their own, but they'd be no match against her, even if they don't realize it.

"Clovis –!" Lott Dod starts to snap.

"Give it to her," the Senator orders, angrily.

"Right now," Ahsoka snarls.

"You'll pay for this!" Lott Dod growls furiously, "Give her the antidote."

One of them holds out a vial which Ahsoka immediately takes, passing to Threepio before they hurry for the ship.

Clovis sets Padme down on the bed inside, turning to Ahsoka. "You need to give me my disk."

"No," she retaliates, "It's going straight to the Senate where it belongs."

"I saved Padme's help!" he protests.

"She wouldn't have been in danger in the first place, if not for you," she snaps, icily, "Now unless you want to come with us back to Coruscant, I suggest you get off the ship. We're leaving."

"Fine," he snaps, spinning around and heading for the ramp.

She orders Typho to take off the moment he's gone, then hurries to Padme's side. The antidote is working already, and after a moment, Padme slowly opens her eyes. "... What happened?" she asks, weakly.

"We got the antidote," Ahsoka replies, reaching over to take her hand. It's... weird, when they haven't really talked in months, but Padme almost died, and she's still shaken over that. "And we still have the evidence you found. Clovis stayed behind on Cato Neimoidia."

"I still can't believe Clovis would do this," Padme murmurs, slowly sitting up.

Ahsoka settles next to her, uncertainty. Now that this is over with, things between them are starting to feel... odd, again. "This should help us bring the war to an end sooner, if we can stop them from manufacturing more droids," she comments. Maybe she could even take the Malevolence there, although she'd have to get permission first. And speaking of that...

"I know we haven't spoken much... in a while," Padme says suddenly. Apparently, she's thinking along the same lines.

Personally, Ahsoka doesn't know what to say. She wants to fix things with Padme, but it was the Senator's fault they argued in the first place. She nods. "I – I've missed talking to you," she admits, finally.

Padme gives her a small smile. "I have as well. I know we still disagree on... a lot, but –"

"We don't need to discuss it again," Ahsoka suggests. Neither will change their mind, she knows, and fighting about it will do nothing.

Padme nods. "Or we can discuss it... without arguing."

That would be easier if the Council and everyone wasn't acting the same way about the whole thing – it's part of what made her so upset with Padme in the first place – but she can try. "Alright," Ahsoka agrees.

Their conversation moves on to other things for the rest of the journey back to Coruscant, and she finds that things feel a lot less tense than they did before. She didn't realize how much she misses talking to her friend.

Though she can't shake the feeling that things still don't feel entirely the way they used to. Maybe they never will again. It doesn't really matter right now. She has a war to win, and that's what's most important.

**w**

Of course, the Council immediately begins plans for an invasion of Geonosis. Ahsoka doesn't know if she'll really need the Malevolence for this mission, but she takes her request to Palpatine anyway. Even if she doesn't call for it, having permission to if it's necessary is good enough. But it means it's time for her to meet the captain in charge of the ship, who technically is under her, even if he'll answer directly to the Senate first.

"Captain Tarkin," Ahsoka greets, "I do not believe we have been acquainted before."

Palpatine assured her he was competent, and he very much looks like it from the way he holds himself. Of course, that could also just be arrogance. Time will tell. "I have heard much of you, Knight Tano," Tarkin responds, "Your reputation is well known outside the Order."

She inclines her head in response. "I hope you are up to the task of commanding this ship."

"Palpatine himself appointed me," he replies, "Because he believes we see eye to eye on many issues."

Surprise flickers across her face. "Do we?"

"You are one of the few Jedi who understands how to fight a war. The Jedi's methods guarantee they will lose."

Personally, that he's willing to speak out about the Council like that gains her respect instantly. "Yes, they know little about leading a war at this magnitude," she concurs. "They are peacekeepers, not warriors." Though she's beginning to question more and more if what they need to be is warriors, because only keeping the peace has never truly worked.

"Precisely the reason they should not be leading the war," he agrees, "With this ship and other weapons like it, the Republic will the war quickly."

Others like it? She never considered that before, simply because she wouldn't trust anyone else to handle them. There is a high chance they could be misused or fall into Separatist hands, but if the Senate and Palpatine are overseeing it, it should be fine.

For now, it's time to prepare for battle.

**w**

"I cannot believe we're back here again," Obi-Wan grumbles, staring out the bridge viewport at Geonosis below.

"Hey, at least it's by our own choice," Ahsoka says, cheerfully.

"I thought it was before too," Anakin cuts in, "But this time, don't get captured."

"No need to be so chipper about it."

"At least you won't be chained to poles this time," Anakin quips.

"Come on," Ahsoka teases, "I thought you'd want to blow things up here."

Mundi clears his throat. "The resistance from the native Geonosians was stronger than we anticipated, as is their loyalty to Count Dooku."

"Anakin, contact the Outer Rim Command," Obi-Wan orders, "We're ready for the briefing."

The briefing goes quickly, after which they continue discussing the specifics amongst themselves. "When we hit the ground, we'll create a perimeter there," Cody observes, pointing on the holomap, "Getting past their defenses here will be the trick."

"We already have air superiority, for now," Ahsoka points out, "We can bombard their forces with our cruisers from the air."

"Most of their forces are protected by a shield," Obi-Wan reminds.

"But we can destroy those that aren't," she replies, "And then land our transports with enough fighters that it will be far easier to land safely."

"That is a possibility," Mundi agrees, "We can destroy as many of their anti-air guns as we can, and then continue as planned. If we meet with strong resistance and are forced down away from the landing zone, hold out until we join our forces before attacking the shield generator. Their frontlines are heavily fortified."

"Couldn't we use a stealth mission to destroy the shield generator?" Anakin queries.

"That would be risky," Obi-Wan objects, "The Geonosians would see us long before we got there."

"Not necessarily," Ahsoka cuts in, "We could sneak closer. The clones could draw their attention away while we snuck in from behind, when they weren't looking."

"It's a possibility," Mundi agrees.

"It would... risk many troops," Anakin interjects, quietly.

"Attacking the shield generator directly would likely get more killed," Obi-Wan replies. He doesn't know if this plan will work, but it as long as they can do it without getting themselves killed – he still has some questions about that – it might be easier.

**w**

Ahsoka watches with satisfaction as the whirling sand from the cruiser fire finally begins to settle down. All the weapons outside the shield are in ruins, precisely as planned.

"Come on, Rex. We're going in," Ahsoka orders, "Put speeder bikes into the transports. Two clones per bike, so we will have enough for everyone. And keep the tanks in the back to give them cover."

"Yes sir!" he replies, and immediately turns to give out orders. The battle will be deadly, and she wants to give her troops whatever advantages they can in this terrain.

"If you come under heavy fire, pick an emergency landing sight," she instructs the rest of her boys, before they scatter to their respective gunships or fighters.

Droid fighters are already flying everywhere, explosions ringing out all around when they get into the air. Within moments, the battle is raging. She ordered them to send out more fighters than maybe they should have to make sure the gunships weren't shot down, but it's looking like that's a good thing, as more fighters are forced to break away from the gunships to draw fire elsewhere.

Several blasts tear through a few of the fighters surrounding the gunships, sending them spiraling towards the ground. Another shot comes far too close for comfort, and the gunship jerks violently. Ahsoka tightens her grip on the handrail to keep from being thrown to the floor.

It's also definitely a good thing she told most of her troops to land a distance away, near the mountains, to avoid the worst of the fire. Still, the droids are swarming everywhere, picking off the fighters one by one, along with an occasional gunship. She can only hope most of the clones are able to survive the crash.

Finally, her gunship reaches the ground and Ahsoka instantly leaps out, igniting her lightsabers and running into the fray. "Come on, boys!" she calls, charging forwards. They have a lot of ground to cover, and they need to meet up with the others to get on to the stealth part of the mission.

"Any word from the others, Rex?" she asks breathlessly, as they continue pressing forwards. It's nigh impossible to truly gain full aerial control on the ground when all the bugs can fly. This is the last time she ever wants to see another of them.

The clones are already falling around her, but at least they're pressing forwards against the Geonosians. That's progress.

"I don't think so, ma'am," Rex replies, "Cody says General Kenobi never reached the landing site. They think his gunship got shot down."

"Always getting himself in these messes," she mutters.

Time to call in the rest of her support. She pushes a button on her comm, contracting her main cruiser. Thankfully, transmissions aren't jammed. "Send in the droid bombers," she orders, "Engage the enemy. Keep them from attacking our positions on the ground."

"Yes sir!" comes the immediate reply.

All of this would be so much harder if she hadn't had all those former Separatist droid fighter reprogrammed.

**w**

"We've been hit!" a clone yells, something Anakin already figured out as the gunship starts to spin out of control, crashing for the ground.

He braces himself for the impact, right before it slams into the ground, throwing everyone to the floor. Anakin hastily disentangles himself from the pile, climbing to the tilted opening of the gunship and pushing against it. Obi-Wan and one of the other clones moves to join him immediately, and they manage to shove it open.

The hot Geonosian sunlight hits him full force as he climbs out, blinking to get readjusted to the light. "Are you alright, Master?" Anakin asks worriedly, noticing the slight limp as Obi-Wan climbs out of the gunship after him.

"It's nothing," he assures, turning to scan the chaos surrounding them. "We must reach the landing site as soon as possible."

The other clones are all still alive, even if some are injured. It could have been worse. He still isn't the happiest with this plan, because it's going to leave the remaining clones very exposed to the Geonosian fire, but it isn't for him to argue the point. They just need to get that shield generator down as quickly as possible.

Anakin activates his own lightsabers, running forwards into the battle, with his master close behind. They cover ground as fast as they can, but clones are still dropping all around. The Geonosians are fighting hard, maybe even more so than almost any battle he can remember. It is their home world, and it's one of their biggest droid manufacturing centers, after all. It's a pivotal point in the war for everyone.

He falls into the constant rhythm of battle as they move, losing track of anything else. It must have been hours by the time they finally reach the rendezvous point. The help from Ahsoka's droid bombers certainly makes it easier, though. He has no doubt the Geonosians would have started bombing them had they not been so occupied in space.

"You're late!" Ahsoka yells, above the commotion.

"You appear to have your hands full," Obi-Wan retorts, "Are you ready to go?"

She nods, sprinting over to them. Anakin throws a final glance back at the clones trying to hold the position – he can make out Mundi in the lead a distance away – before the three of them take off.

They have to circle a distance away from the worst of the fighting if they're going to avoid being seen by the Geonosians, and it's going to take a while. Time the clones don't have. They need to hurry. Force, droids are so much easier to fool than living being – even ones that don't seem to have much intelligence.

Of course, they're seen before reaching generator, and within seconds, they're being swarmed on all sides.

"Get those charges set!" Obi-Wan yells, as he and Ahsoka continuing slashing through any of the bugs that get too close and deflecting the rest of the blasts away.

Anakin connects the ends of both his lightsabers, spinning the double blade in a circle, to deflect any shots away as he runs for the generator. The bugs swarm at him, trying to stop him, but he tries to cut through them, pressing forwards. More and more are coming, though, focusing their attention on him.

This isn't working. Fine.

He races past the droids, for one of the oncoming tanks that's just starting to turn around and face them. Throwing the bugs aside, he cuts through the top, pulling out the screaming battle droid and throwing it to the ground as he drops inside, then turns the tank around and fires on the generator.

The explosion rips through it, the shield is down immediately.

Anakin pauses for only a moment to catch his breath before he scrambles back out, flipping through the air, landing next to the other two.

"Good call, padawan," Obi-Wan remarks, as they retreat away from the destroyed generator.

The compliment warms something in him – especially with how rare they are – but he hardly has the time to think about it, as the enraged bugs continue pressing their attack.

"We need to clear out of here," Ahsoka yells.

"That's what we're trying to do!" Anakin hollers back.

Finally, they reach a safe enough distance away, though it's only a matter of time before they're overrun, if something doesn't change.

Ahsoka pushes a button on her comm. "Open fire," she orders.

Anakin looks up as an enormous shadow falls over them, the cruiser overhead moving fully into position.

The ground trembles violently as the first laser blasts strike the main droid production factory. It feels like it's only minutes – even if it's probably longer – when the swirling sand starts to settle to reveal the full extent of the destruction.

The factory and much of the surrounding important structures are in ruins, even if they'll have to search through it to make sure everything has been destroyed.

They still have a long ways to go before the battle will be truly over. Geonosis is far from secured.

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