The time has come.
There's a lot of action in this chapter. A lot of build up. Some recent inspiration hit me especially watching The Bad Batch. Some other things.
It's a long one, so grab a chair, sip some coffee (maybe a stiff drink if you're of legal age).
"Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit."-Sir Bernard Williams
Chapter 37. Plan 99
Mace Windu normally didn't have the energy or the interest in listening to Anakin Skywalker. On this occasion, he made sure to pay very close attention.
"Mandalore is in secure hands and the legal passing of power from Satine Kryze to Bo-Katan Kryze is in the process of being legitimized. Master Plo and the 104th are providing security to ensure a peaceful transition."
Yoda nodded his head, murmuring to himself as part of his standard thought process.
"And Maul, secure he is?"
"Ahsoka and I locked him in one of the anti-Force containment chambers in the lower levels of the Temple."
Mace shared a glance with Ki-Adi Mundi, his enormous dorm furrowed in contemplation.
"Master Kenobi reported that he attempted to kill General Ahch-To."
"Correct, Master. But there's something else that wasn't mentioned in the report. I was the real target. Maul lured the Republic to Mandalore for that purpose."
That information brought a shadow upon the Council. Mace felt it acutely. There were still many things about this war that remained hidden from them, obscured by the creeping darkness. And each successive revelation twisted in his gut like a serrated blade.
"Disturbing, this is," Yoda grumbled. But his green eyes lit up in a way Mace rarely saw them. Few things rattled the Grandmaster. "Give a reason did he?"
"He has thus far refused to answer any questions."
When no one said anything, Anakin continued his report. Luke and Obi-Wan were currently engaging Separatist forces on Kashyyyk in an effort to defend the Wookies. Count Dooku's whereabouts were unknown, but clone intelligence had narrowed the possibilities to the D'Astan or Albarrio sectors, which meant either his homeworld of Serenno or one of the Banking Clan colony worlds. Quinlan Vos currently led the fight to take Raxus Secondus. Either Dooku's capture or the surrender of the Confederate capital would almost guarantee a peace treaty of some kind.
Windu used the opportunity to glean more information from Skywalker.
"Anakin, has the Chancellor said anything in regard to his plans after the war ends?"
His reply came out a tad too hostile to be believed.
"No…Masters. He hasn't said a word. Except that he wants the war to end as much as anyone in this room."
Not for the first time, the Head of the Order regretted that the Council voted against using the boy as a spy. Palpatine's inclinations grew more and more anti-democratic over the years despite his claim otherwise. All because of Luke Ahch-To, another man Mace didn't trust.
"Very well. Keep us updated on any new developments."
Skywalker's report ended but Windu sensed a roiling conflict within him. He'd always been temperamental, and for that reason alone the boy didn't deserve to be a Master, much less the top ranking general in the military. But this felt much stronger than whatever feelings may have been there before. Intensified resentment. Anger.
"The war goes well, and yet I have a terrible premonition that we are currently blind."
"The irony is not lost on me," Ki-Adi Mundi agreed, feeling the Force around them. "The dark side of the Force is as strong as it's ever been."
"What does it all mean?" Adi Gallia asked aloud. "Master Windu is right. The Sith seem so close yet so far away. I can't make sense of it."
A surreal gap in suggestions dominated the tense atmosphere. There was usually no shortage of talking in the Ivory Tower.
"Everything is impossible to see," said Oppo Rancisis said through his muffled beard. "There is a crisis brewing at the heart of the Republic. Lest we forget that there is also a movement in the Senate to remove Chancellor Palpatine from power, a movement we have been asked to support."
Kit Fisto spoke in his usual, slow, mellow manner.
"It feels like a trap."
Mace did not disagree. There was no trust or affection for Sheev Palpatine. But the plot to destroy the Jedi hung in the air like a rotting carcass, ready to spread its malfeasance across the stars.
"Master Fisto is correct to be cautious. Let us remember that the Sith we are looking for is on Coruscant and may have control over the Senate."
Master Tinn's assertion was logical. But it did not go far enough.
"We must look internally as well," Windu said quietly. "At the risk of bringing up a delicate subject, there are elements within our own house that need further investigation. I can't be the only one who sensed a great deal of confusion in young Skywalker."
Heads nodded slowly all around the distinguished circle.
"The boy's priorities clearly align with that of the Chancellor and by extension whoever controls him. They are linked, of that I am certain. And if one of our own is compromised, that means this Sith Lord likely has control over a portion of the Jedi Order as well."
"Hmmm."
Yoda's grumbling interrupted the thought process.
"What is your belief, Master Windu?" he quizzed with an old, piercing stare. Perhaps he was waiting for him to mention Luke Ahch-To but Windu avoided that name…for now.
"That a plot has been happening under our very noses and this unknown Sith Lord is trying to catch us in a no win situation. Turn Skywalker and others against the Jedi and then call for our immediate execution when the movement in the Senate inevitably fails to dislodge Chancellor Palpatine from power."
"Impossible!" Agen Kolar denied, though he sounded quite panicked. "There are far too many Jedi for such a grisly outcome."
"Calm yourselves, you must," Yoda again interrupted, the full weight of his ancient authority bearing down on the room. "Master Windu, fearful you are, and fear is contagious. A conclusion we cannot reach, under duress."
"Perhaps, the answer is ripe for the picking," Depa Billaba hypothesized, one of the few who's sereness did not seem violated by the cloud of conspiracy. "Maul is in our custody. He was once under the Sith Lord's employ."
Yoda's ears twitched in thought before giving a low sigh.
"Agree, I do."
"But Skywalker already pointed out he would not speak."
"Interrogate him myself, I will," the Grandmaster responded. "A chance there is that Maul might slip up. A clue of some sort he might reveal."
"And what of Bail Organa and the Liberal Caucus? He will want to know if we plan to offer our support during our meeting tonight."
Mace glanced from Ki-Adi Mundi, his secret ally, and back to Yoda, the old friend who once more seemed to ignore the greater danger surrounding them. But one didn't live as long as Yoda and go through life blind. He knew more than he let on. And it only furthered his own belief that their distinguished leader was also compromised in some way.
"Senator Organa has informed me of new information regarding the war. Hear this, we should before making a decision."
"New information," Mace repeated. "Did he expound on this?"
"More detail, he did not give. Only that it concerned the Chancellor."
Mace wanted to stand up once more in protest. To say that they were all missing the bigger picture. But to do so in front of Yoda would be most unwise. And besides, now was not the time to make their move.
"Very well, a time shall be arranged to meet with the Senator via Holotransreceiver. Until then, I suggest we take the time to meditate and settle our thoughts. May the Force be with us all."
The Council broke and most exited the tower right away. Mace Windu and Ki-Adi Mundi hung back.
"I have talked to Master Tinn and Master Rancisis. They are with us," the Cerenean said in a hushed tone. "I'm sure that we can win over others."
"Billaba," Windu mused aloud. "My old padawan is an ideal candidate. As well as Master Kolar. What about Shaak Ti?"
"She is still on Kamino."
He thought to himself.
"It's still almost enough to take control of the Council. We would just need one more vote."
"Good."
Mundi looked uncomfortable broaching the next subject.
"And what if Master Yoda does not go quietly?"
"He will see reason. There is no need for violence among ourselves. This will be handled peacefully."
Even as he said those words, Mace Windu was fully prepared to use non-peaceful means to achieve their goals. Anything to protect, serve, and defend the Jedi Order from the beings who sought to corrupt and destroy it.
Hunter scanned the underbrush with his scopes. He then placed a hand on the ground, listening intently.
His other three batchmates sat around a makeshift fire with the smell of charred meat filling the air. Wrecker's lips smacked in anticipation, both eyes, normal and blind, followed the rotation of the spit.
"Man that smells good! What is that, Tech?"
"You do not want to know."
"Why?"
The goggle eyed clone ignored the pestering of his larger brother and focused on roasting their food. Crosshair picked his teeth with a pick while sitting on a large log. The amount of megafauna they'd come across meant it could be anything.
"Trust me, Wrecker, some things are better left unsaid."
Hunter continued listening and proceeded to remove his helmet. Tech noticed the worried lines underneath the flowing, dark brown locks.
"Something the matter?"
"The battle's started," he answered in his thick, smokey tone. "It's to the south."
"Are you sure?" Crosshair asked.
"Yup." He picked up his helmet. As leader of his squadron, he could be wrong from time to time. Good leaders acknowledged as much. But that did not apply when it came to sensing terrain.
"But I thought we finally destroyed their supply routes!" Wrecker exclaimed.
"We did. That does not account for whatever they already had. The Separatists have not invested over twenty rotations trying to take this planet just to pack up and leave," Tech lectured.
Crosshair gave a light scoff.
"I'm surprised the clankers attacked so soon. They usually wait until the afternoon."
"Republic just sent in reinforcements," Hunter told them as he began packing his gear. "They'll have one more chance to dislodge our lines. Tech, how far away is Kachirho?"
"About eight klicks."
"Alright let's get moving."
The rest of the batch complied, although Wrecker began grumbling loudly.
"What about the food?"
"Always thinking of your stomach eh, Wrecker?" Crosshair teased. Hunter cut in between them before it devolved into a childish back and forth.
"Ration bars will have to do for now. We'll get some hot chow when the battle's over, they need our help."
Thirty seconds passed in relative silence with only the sound of ammunition, vibro blades, rocket launchers, and weapons being stowed away. That is, until Tech's personalized data pad started beeping rapidly.
"What?"
Tech didn't say anything at first, eyes wide in disbelief. Not a good sign. Something had to be seriously wrong to rattle the unflappable genius.
"You are not going to like it."
"What? Tell us," Wrecker said, stretching over to sneak a glance at the datapad.
"Adjutant General Tarkin has declared General Luke Ahch-To be in a state of mutiny and has disobeyed orders. He is to be arrested on site and terminated if non compliant."
Yeah, pretty rattling in Hunter's opinion.
"Did Tarkin give details? A specific reason?"
"I don't see the difference," Crosshair said with half a shrug. "If he's a traitor, then he should be dealt with."
Hunter frowned. The marksman could be severe and unyielding which produced a tendency to lose the bigger picture in carrying out orders.
"There is nothing besides what I just read in the comm channel," Tech replied. "That in itself is a red flag."
"I don't get why a Jedi would be a traitor," Wrecker voiced loudly. And though simple at times, the big man's child-like logic could cut through a web of speculation. Nothing about the situation followed any sort of logical pattern. At least none that Hunter could see. He'd never met Tarkin but heard numerous stories from regs who had. They were less than favorable.
"We don't have time to speculate," he said, mulling it over. "Right now we have a battle to win. Put out the fire and move out."
There were no further comments made. When it came down to it, Clone Force 99 got the job done every time and they did so without fanfare (okay maybe a little fanfare). It's what they were bred for, their purpose. Kashyyyk needed heroes and saving the day came easier to them than most.
Moving as a precise, coordinated four man unit, they darted in and out of the enormous trees and bushes until Hunter held up a hand. He checked the pulses in the ground before angling his head to the east.
"We're near a coast line. We can use it as a landmark to reach the beachhead."
"Correct," Tech said, scanning one of his maps. "According to this reading, we are on the largest island of the Wawatt Archipelago. Kachirho is near the southern tip so the beach offers the easiest path forward."
Running through the vast thicket of bushes and ferns, not to mention giant roots and other hazards, wasn't exactly comfortable, but the Bad Batch had dealt with far worse. Though the Giant Terentateks and other native life didn't take kindly to their presence, Hunter felt confident they were nowhere near any of them for the moment.
Sea air began to dominate the nostrils as they drew closer. Soil became grainier and less refined, taking on a looser quality one might find near a beach. Vegetation shrank in size until a blueish opening grew larger in his field of vision. The sky, previously blocked from view, began to poke gray holes in the canopy connecting little by little until the terrain opened into a running slope down onto the sandy shores below.
"We're getting closer," Hunter told them, scanning both ends of the river. To the left, it snaked behind a raised hill of forest leading to several other islands bordering to the north. Gazing right lay their destination. Various bird species were flying rapidly from that direction as the waters curved into the distance, disappearing around a bend of protruding rocks, trees, and branches.
In the distance, overhead screeching interrupted their journey. Crosshair quickly located the source with his scope.
"There!"
Four vulture droids were tailing an ARC-170, an aircraft not known for its maneuverability, pulling a series of unbelievable moves to better the enemy.
Spinning wildly, it flipped backwards in the air and proceeded to fire two perfect shots against one vulture's engine, destroying it.
"I have never seen any ARC-170 do that," Tech remarked in awe.
The feats grew in their overall death defying scale. For its second kill, the Republic fighter thrusted forward with incredible speed only to slow down and drift left at an impossible angle and re-engage the thrusters. The vulture simply didn't have the skill to keep up, being shot down as well.
"He did your move, Tech!" Wrecker laughed. "He did your move!"
"It is not necessarily my move, though I will take the compliment."
Hunter eyed the situation carefully. Any straw bomb or blaster from a dogfight like that could kill them in the blink of an eye. He wondered if it might not be better to retreat into the forest until the remaining aircraft passed them by.
It zoomed low against the water creating a minor wave before soaring back up in the air, dipping in and out of numerous lasers issuing forth from the pesky vultures. Tech was right. Whoever sat inside that cockpit was an expert pilot. Better than anyone he'd seen.
The ARC-170 zoomed past the bend then circled around to engage the last two vultures, which had circled him in a pincer movement, their cackling with delight at the prospect of destroying their targets. To Hunter's incredulity, the pilot turned on its side and avoided two missiles that would have caused certain death.
The projectiles hit the second vulture instead, the force of the resulting explosion causing a complete tailspin as debris smashed into the side engine. In a stroke of misfortune, the ARC-170 began hurtling towards the ground…or rather towards the clones.
"Take cover!"
Hunter ran and dove back towards the cover of the forest as a massive crash sent waves of sand and water sky high into the air drenching them in an unpleasant mud that caked everything it touched.
He wiped off his visor and when the smoke cleared, he saw the ARC-170 lodged in the side, partially on fire. Instinct began moving his legs forward.
"Check for survivors!"
The rest of his team only cautiously moved forward.
"Hunter the odds someone survived that crash are-"
The odds, whatever they were, shattered in an instant when the hatch popped open to reveal a dirty blond, middle aged man wearing Jedi regalia.
I don't believe it.
It made sense that a Jedi was piloting that fighter but to survive that crash? General Luke coughed a bit before eeking out a one sided grin.
"Not one of my smoother landings."
Jumping down, he winced and fell to the ground clutching his side, face clenched in clear pain.
"Wrecker, help the General! Get him away from that fighter. Tech, check his injuries."
Crosshair bristled just enough for Hunter to notice. He didn't care about orders at the moment. Making sure the man was safe and not in any immediate danger of dying from internal bleeding took priority.
They did as told. The big man hoisted the general and with surprising gentleness, unloaded him back down onto the beach about thirty yards away from the site of the crash. Gathering around, Crosshair took watch in case more droids appeared while Tech gave a quick scan.
"Miraculously, you have escaped with a few broken ribs and some whiplash, but nothing life threatening."
"Believe me, I've had worse," the General grunted.
"We need to get you to a proper medic, sir," Hunter told him.
"No," Luke tried to lean forward and bit back the pain. "Just give me a painkiller. They need my help."
Hunter was about to argue when Crosshair interrupted.
"I don't think you're going anywhere."
"Crosshair," the leader said, easing his comrade down. "Now isn't the time."
"Why not? He's been labeled a traitor. We have our orders."
"We don't even know why that order was sent out."
"Does it matter?"
"Yes!"
Crosshair's rifle wasn't aimed at the General but it was primed all the same. Hunter saw that urge to fight, the keenness to follow a directive with deadly precision. As precise as his sniping. But he wasn't about to arrest a Jedi on orders alone. Even if he wanted to, it might be a job too big even for Clone Force 99 to tackle even in a weakened state.
"Since when do you care so much about orders?" Wrecker said, confused.
"He disobeyed a superior. That is a betrayal of the Republic."
Much to the group's surprise, Luke didn't react defensively, instead giving a humorless, bark-like laugh as Tech applied bacta to the lower part of the ribs.
"Other way around."
Even Crosshair had to pause at the sheer irreverence. Hunter definitely wanted to hear this.
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Tarkin is trying to lose the battle on purpose. That's why he kept me on the sidelines. That's why he ordered thousands of Wookies into a death trap from a strategically defensive position."
Nothing could have prepared the Bad Batch for that bit of information.
"Impossible," Crosshair said, though there was a distinct lack of conviction.
"Don't believe me? Go ahead, slap me in binders and head to the front lines."
Hunter turned to the south and peered down the river near the treetops. Smoke had begun rising into the air and the sound of detonating bombs rumbled the ground.
"I heard General Kenobi beg to retreat and Tarkin refused. I heard him openly admit that Wookies were nothing more than laborers and that clones are expendable. Ask yourself if that's a man you want to take orders from. Otherwise…"
Luke held out his wrists to be cuffed.
Hunter's eyes widened and then they closed. He didn't want to believe that. The Republic was all they knew and protecting it their mission in life. What else was there? Simple right? Do what they tell you and everything works out in the end. The cynical, almost empty look in the general's eyes said it all. A man's eyes told his story. And Luke Ahch-To's spoke true.
"That won't be necessary, sir."
He offered a hand and the general took it. Not even Crosshair objected. Where there was emptiness, a spark of light now returned to sky blue eyes.
"What are your names?" the Jedi asked.
"Sergeant Hunter, sir," he answered promptly. "And this is my squad- Tech, Wrecker, and Crosshair."
"The Bad Batch." The General's voice was in near awe. "How could I forget?"
"You've…heard of us?"
"Oh, yes. Your stories are legendary." He ignited his emerald blade and bade for them to follow. "Come on, we've got a battle to win."
Politely bewildered, Clone Force 99 shared a collective glance and took after their new Jedi leader. Evidently, their reputation preceded them more than previously thought.
Ahsoka knew Maul wouldn't talk. Male Zabrakians of Dathomir were supposedly more respectful to females given that they came from a matriarchal society, but none of that required him to speak regardless of gender. She'd done her best but in the end she'd decided to stop wasting her time and the Temple guards took over in guarding his cell.
Anakin zoomed off immediately to find Padme and then had to give a lengthy report to the Council which was to last most of the afternoon. This left her to ruminate for a number of hours which crawled by at a snail's pace.
Near the base of the Ivory Tower, Ahsoka wandered the halls in an aimless manner, barely taking notice of the other Masters and Knights wandering past. Once every five minutes, she tapped her comlink to try and warm Luke and Obi-Wan but neither picked up.
They must still be in the middle of a battle.
That fact didn't help her worries, especially with Tarkin in charge. An attempt at contacting the Restitution via holo transmitter in one of the war rooms was also unsuccessful as all signals were being blocked from reaching the ship. Another bad sign. What was she to do?
Anakin had one meeting with Palpatine already. She couldn't be sure without Luke's guidance but the dark side hung about the Temple like a thick, poisonous black cloud. Younglings failed to concentrate, padawans twitched, and even older members seemed wary, as though some monster might jump out from around the corner. The Temple provided a calming, homely presence even in the darkest points in the war, Ahsoka began to realize what this frightening phenomenon was: intimidation from the one who sought to wipe them all out. A message that no one was safe.
The Togruta's pacing increased as she agonized about what to do. Their next steps were crucial and Sidious's intent on splitting them worked as intended. She'd stayed by Luke's side, becoming his only confidant even before Master Yoda. Through thick and thin, even in weaker moments where fear and regret over mistakes of future's past sent him in a tailspin. But he was the leader, the one consummate source of hope for the galaxy. Therefore, it felt wrong to do or say anything without his input. Especially in regards to the truth that grew bigger and bigger in its respective magnitude with each passing hour.
Luke was Anakin's son. Shouldn't he be the one to tell him? Did it matter? Would Anakin listen at all?
She took a breath and stopped pacing, strengthening her connection to the Force. A welcomed rush of calm helped ease the tension. It would be alright in the end. She'd told Luke that a million times, and now she needed to believe it too.
The lift door opened and Anakin emerged, a disgruntled expression plastered across handsome features. Even his scar glistened through the large window as the sun broke through a mass of dark gray clouds that had gathered in the east. Then it retreated until only shadow remained.
"How was it?" She hoped the question didn't provoke his temper. But the scowl faded into soft exasperation.
"Same as usual. Military reports and more speculation about the Sith."
Ahsoka bit her lip.
"You don't look very happy."
"They asked me about the Chancellor's intentions."
"That makes you sound like a spy."
She despised Palpatine but she equally despised the way the Council expected loyalty yet treated him as though he were a thermal detonator about to go off in equal measure. They asked for much and gave little. Ahsoka saw the weariness in those eyes, usually so full of energy. This war had already cost them dearly.
"It was inappropriate to say the least," he said sourly. "They've made so many mistakes, Ahsoka and they continue to make them. Nothing changes about this place. War, assassinations, politics, scheming…does any of that sound like what a Jedi is supposed to be?"
Ahsoka couldn't lie and didn't bother trying to.
"No," she breathed out.
"For Kriff's sake they almost threw you out before you were even convicted of a crime!" His anger had risen once more before receding back into normal frustration. "Palpatine was right about one thing. The Council can't be trusted."
"Master, please don't talk like that."
"Why not?"
She really needed to snap him out of his current disillusionment and fast.
"Because the Jedi Order isn't just the Council. It's a family, and while no family is perfect, there are good and honest people who try to do the right thing every day."
Ahsoka's pleading eyes gazed into his. She often used that 'face' on him when still a padawan. A wide eyed, pouty lip expression that Anakin had difficulty resisting. And while this was not an instance of convincing to take her on a dangerous mission, the objective hardly differed.
"Yeah, I know," he said softly.
"Ask yourself why Palpatine is trying to convince you the Jedi are irredeemable."
Just the smallest part of the Togruta wished he could piece the puzzle together. Just the tiniest bit of insight that might lead to the inevitable conclusion of Palpatine being a Sith Lord. Alas, Anakin missed the hint.
"Believe it or not, I didn't agree with everything the Chancellor said in our meeting. In fact, I think for the first time ever, he may have given me bad advice."
Ahsoka hardly dared to dream her master might be rejecting Sidious's grooming of his own free will but the subject changed before she could try to give another push in the right direction.
"Ahsoka, tonight I'm seeing an old friend for dinner…would you like to come along?"
Yes! Oh, kriff yes!
"Of course," she blurted out before recovering a degree of formality. "I mean…I'd be honored."
Anakin chuckled. She loved it when he showed a rare bit of happiness so often missing from his life. And now he was inviting her to partake in that one thing that did make him happy.
"I'll see you at six? We'll take a shuttle together."
"It's a date," she replied with a wink. Anakin genuinely laughed this time. Ahsoka thought it could be due to the irony of the joke, but then again she wasn't one hundred percent sure tonight involved Padme. Just ninety nine.
"You got it."
He gave her a bright, infectious smile. One so rarely seen in the past two years. It reminded the former padawan just how amazing her master was and doubled the intense resolve to prevent him from falling into evil.
"Anakin," she called out as he began walking away. He turned towards her. "She's going to be fine. I promise."
Anakin gave a nervous twitch of the mouth but nodded all the same. Ahsoka's spirit received a considerable lift. Everything would be okay and everything would be properly explained by tonight.
A sniff of the armpit caused her nose to wrinkle. A shower was definitely needed in the meantime.
"Fall back! Fall back!"
Obi-Wan blocked every blaster bolt within range, putting every ounce of energy and strength he possessed into salvaging their retreat, and the battle by extension. Numerous dirt clouds peppered the air. Explosions grew louder and more numerous. With each second more souls passed into the Force, falling into a sandy, shallow grave.
"Go! Go! Go!"
"Come on, men!"
"Give it to them!"
The clones scrambled up the sloping beachhead which led into a small grassy knoll, careful not to turn their backs and run but the firepower of the Confederate attack picked them off one by one. They needed to cover the Wookies, who's window for escape was closing fast. Boil, Trapper, and Damon covered his flank, firing at anything metal and moving.
"Sir, most of the Wookies are at the second level but the clankers are already threatening to overrun those defenses as well!" the Lieutenant yelled above the fray. "The 41st is falling back to the third level."
"What about the 501st?"
A headshot killed Damon instantly and they ducked underneath another errant blast.
"No word from him, sir."
"And Luminara?"
"Last we heard, she was injured, sir. No official confirmation on that."
Obi-Wan's heart sank into his gut as he used the Force to push back at least a dozen B1s marching on their position. A B2 tried to aim at them from the left but he sliced it in two. Force, if Rex died during this battle Anakin might never forgive him.
Two more Wookies carried an injured third as they ran past. A fourth fell to the ground from an artillery shell in a swell of never ending carnage.
"What happened to our communications?!"
"We're being jammed, sir!" Trapper said, narrowly avoiding death by inches from an errant B2 missile.
"But that's impossible!" Obi-Wan said, struggling to keep his focus on talking and fighting at the same time. "The Separatists don't have that capability."
"It's not them, sir!"
Goosebumps crawled up the Great Negotiator's spine, the implication too terrible to think about.
But why? Why would our own forces turn against us?
"We have no choice but to form a final line behind the third level," his second in command
"And what then, Boil? There's nowhere left to go besides the sea wall!"
Trapper interrupted with more intel.
"General, Chief Tarfful is in the middle of an encirclement. There's no way out!"
There's no way out.
He'd been in tough situations many times, more than most Jedi saw in a lifetime. Traps were foreseeable. They could be changed, evaded, or sprung. But he never felt trapped. No way out. No plan or solution in mind. He and Anakin worked so well it was almost a reflex that one of them would find a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. This was not one of them. One hand was tied behind his back. The fight had never been fair.
We've been fooled. This is a slaughter not a battle.
Suddenly, the Wookie chieftain, Tarfful burst through at least six droids, ripping apart two more before Chewbacca and two others followed up the hill. Good leaders led from the front. Brave warriors didn't go down without a fight.
But Obi-Wan didn't want to die today. Tasting blood from a cut on his lip, he clung to that last bit of hope, however ridiculous it might have seemed. That a miracle might come.
One of the AT-TEs shot an HMP out of the sky, its circular dome headed straight towards them.
"Look out!"
Obi-Wan brought up both hands and swerved the droid gunship out of range just in time. It smashed into an unmanned trench, but by some massive fortune, did not explode.
"Boil! Gather the rest of our forces while we still can. We'll make a last stand at the sea wall!"
"But sir, what about Rex? The 501st is still manning the second line."
Obi-Wan bit down further down on his already bleeding lip, blood gushing as he fought internally over two horrible choices. That is until a loud boom went off in the distance.
"What the hell was that?"
Even the droids stopped briefly to see the commotion. The pause spelled their doom.
"Trapper, hand me those specs!"
At first there was nothing and the sound a mere illusion. That is, until an extremely large rocket launcher slammed into an N99 tank, blowing it sky high. Then another tank blew up, Then another. Soon the entire backline of the droid army was set ablaze.
Peering through the flames, five clones of a sort he'd never seen before burst through the treeline headlong into the fight. But that's not what drew his attention. Leading them was none other than Luke Ahch-To himself, swinging his green blade like a madman, a jade blur against the Separatist storm.
Whoever these clones were, they fought like no other unit Obi-Wan had ever seen. One began stabbing and slicing through the droids with a knife as though metal were made of paper. A sniper from one of the enormous wroshyr trees picked off B1s one by one. A third used a combination of double blasters and poppers, while the fourth, a hulking behemoth twice the size of a normal human, busted through them like a stampeding herd of nerfs. He shouted and hollered in the destruction.
"YEAHHHHHH! MAKE A HOLE!"
All at once the battle resumed and the droids turned their cold, heartless intent on the Republic defender with their backs to the wall. But the tide had turned.
"I don't believe it. They're taking on an entire legion by themselves!" Boil exclaimed.
"Now is not the time to stand in awe, Lieutenant. Gather our forces. Drive them off the beach!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Trapper, try to reestablish our communication lines and contact Chief Tarfful, Rex, Luminara, Gree, anyone still standing. Let them know reinforcements have arrived."
"Sir!"
Obi-Wan reignited his lightsaber and took the offensive, cutting through any Separatist metallic monstrosity in range. Time to take a page out of the Skywalker playbook.
A miracle had come. They were going to win.
"And did Luke Ahch-To take the bait?"
Tarkin shrugged off the suggestive way the blue hologram of Palpatine phrased the question. That didn't matter as much as achieving the objective required.
"Yes, sir. He went rogue as expected," he said pointing to the bandages around his nose. The throbbing pain served as an unpleasant reminder of the damage done.
"So officially a Jedi General disobeyed your instructions?"
It sounded innocent enough, but the gleam behind the Chancellor's eyes said otherwise. As did the subtle growl in his voice.
"Indeed. Just as you predicted."
He'd known Sheev for a long time. The Chancellor liked to present a different face than the one he truly wore. A wily man, often underestimated but never overlooked aka: the perfect politician who believed in order and discipline, an outlook they both shared. The one person capable of leading the Republic to victory in this war.
"This plot against the government begins and ends with General Ahch-To. He is the key."
"Understood. I've already issued orders that he is to be arrested on sight with permission to kill if there's resistance."
Palpatine shook his head as though he were some sort of Outer Rim pachyderm buzzing away a swarm of flies.
"That particular Jedi will not be taken down so easily. Trust me, General, I know his worth. The time has come."
Tarkin's flint streaked eyes narrowed. Not out of disapproval but resolve.
"Then the emergency protocol is to be implemented?"
"See that the traitors are wiped out."
The most blunt order yet received from the Chancellor. A full throated confirmation that the Jedi were not a part of postwar plans to follow. Practical? Debatable. A necessary loss? Certainly.
"And what if, by chance, that the men under his command do not follow orders?"
"Trust me, they will."
Palpatine's smile stretched into something far more unsettling than he was used to. But if Tarkin had any premonitions, any private, traitorous thoughts, they were banished in a parsecond. He had no time for second guessing. And even less for opponents of the Republic.
"You refer to their inbuilt programming I assume."
"Astute as always, General Tarkin. The Kaminoans have gifted us this valuable piece of insurance with the inhibitor chips. You have nothing to fear. The clones will do as told."
"Yes, sir."
That tone meant something simple and wonderful. An order that needed carrying out. He was happy to oblige.
"Luke Ahch-To alongside General Kenobi will likely attempt a full scale rebellion when the battle concludes. When this happens…send the signal."
Tarkin nodded at the same time as the hologram disappeared. Conveniently, that's when Lieutenant Nolan entered the private holoroom.
"Sir, I have news on the battle below."
Nolan almost looked like a wounded animal with a protective cone around his neck to compliment a nasty black eye. Tarkin saw no humor even as several clone maintenance personnel snickered. "Filth," he spat. The doors shut, granting them privacy.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"We are reporting heavy losses on Kashyyyk. But we have counterattacked and are slowly driving the Separatists back."
"Good."
An haughty man, even by Tarkin's standards, even Nolan gave a sniff.
"And what of the Jedi who assaulted us?"
"He will be dealt with. When the battle is over, contact all clone commanders on Kashyyyk immediately. They are to be given special orders."
If there was one thing Nolan proved to be good for, it was not to ask too many questions. And be ruthless as possible.
"Sir."
The normal crisp salute did not come, however. Instead, the blond pulled out a datapad.
"Apologies General, there's just one more thing you ought to be informed of…I was going through the casualty records and found this."
He handed the pad over and Tarkin glossed over the report. Concerning a clone trooper named 'Tup' who had died a few days prior. Any ordinary idiot might pass it by.
A minute or two of reading and a previously undiscovered hiccup turned into a problem…a big one. Especially if his hypothesis was correct.
Tarkin mulled it over weighing each option. To contact Palpatine might be the wiser move. Never dare to do anything without a superior's authorization. The only issue? He was the prime authority. Head of the General Staff and third in line militarily. On the off chance, Luke Ahch-To somehow knew about Order 66, or accidentally stumbled upon it, there was every chance the Council would also know. Then again, Ahch-To wasn't especially fond of them. There was also every chance all of this was coincidental.
The request for a Level 5 atomic brain scan said otherwise. Coincidences didn't exist in his book.
But the Chancellor's schedule filled up easily. He was due to go to the opera later that night after another round of meetings with numerous Senators. As a subordinate to the highest authority in the galaxy, the responsibility fell to him in carrying out the obligations of the commander in chief. There was no excuse. Everything must be done to the letter.
Tarkin reasoned himself into a proper course of action. This trooper, 'Tup', as he was called (an annoying idiosyncrasy clones enjoyed doing- naming themselves instead of using their numbers), was gone, but the secret of his death lived inside this report. The print was right there to see.
The inhibitor chips were no longer a secret. This Republic medic, 'Kix' as it were, knew about them and was sure to pass the information along to the Jedi. But that did not mean a link had been established to Order 66 just yet. It could be safely concluded that Luke Ahch-To remained in the dark as did the rest of the Order.
"Sir?"
"Contact the Kaminoans immediately. Alert them that there is an issue regarding one of the clone soldiers. Send them a copy of this autopsy."
Nolan nodded and left without another word. That's how Tarkin liked things. Swift, to the point, and without fuss.
Or in this case, a well executed execution.
Ahsoka entered her room and immediately dashed towards the corner where a simple desk held what little she possessed. Inside was a secret compartment, which stored the equipment that recorded Palpatine's every word inside his office. It was flashing yellow. That meant a recent conversation had occurred.
She picked up the black device and pressed the center button, its blue screen coming alive with Techno Union digits and symbols. Thankfully, Luke had wiped its hardware clean of the corporation's order number, tracking beacon, or anything that might indicate stolen property. His prowess in tech rivaled that of Anakin.
Apparently there were two recordings, all within the past four hours.
The seventeen year old listened intently and with each passing second resisted the urge to scream. By the time it was over, her feelings could only be described as a twisted mix of horror and paralyzing distress. Luke had been right about Palpatine. He'd been right about Tarkin. About everything. Not that she doubted the validity of his claims but hearing the evil old man poison her master's head with lies and tales of the dark side…Tarkin preparing to wipe out an entire religious organization without question… it upset her that much more.
Using Padme's health to turn him against his friends...no wonder he went to the dark side the first time around.
She had no doubt that Sidious had some planned method of eliminating Padme as well.
Placing the device back into the drawer and locking it, the Togrutan debated what to do next. This was the first real piece of evidence the Chancellor was a Sith Lord but not strong enough to give to the Senate. He could hide behind hypotheticals and ignorance, after all he hadn't explicitly stated being part of the dark side or the cult devoted to it.
Flopping down on the bed within her room, Ahsoka realized she was the only true friend Anakin had left at the Temple, but without Luke or Obi-Wan they all were vulnerable. It wouldn't be long before Sidious tried to sway him fully. Probably that night. Then, Tarkin's order was to follow soon after.
Order Sixty-Six will be handed down and the Republic destroyed. Rex, the clones, they're all going to be turned into slaves.
At last she could see the clear alignment in front of her. The cruel efficiency of the plan laid out by the Sith for a thousand of years. If it wasn't for Luke, they'd have been wiped out that much sooner.
Her own situation was also extremely perilous. She couldn't tell the Council about what was happening without giving Luke a chance to explain nor could she confront Anakin unless she confessed to spying on him and the Chancellor.
Anakin? Or Luke? Which should she warn first? Desperation pulled at her mind.
Ahsoka punched in the sequence for Luke's personal comlink sequence. Anakin had already invited her over to Padme's but his son and best friend were still unaware of the terror that awaited them.
"Come on, Skyguy Junior," she muttered to herself. "Please, answer."
Another hour of grueling, hard fought fighting. Another hour of smashing droids into scrap. Another hour of death and destruction. To Luke, it appeared an eternity. This had become so much more than a battle. Even as B1s, B2s, spider droids, and their companions dropped to the ground and retreated, the Force tugged at his elbow. Its message was doom.
Small waves crashed into the shores, washing up bits of droid…and other organic body parts he did not want to describe. The blue water now had a dark reddish tint to it but he continued staring down at the muddy sand creating a scarlet imprint around his boot.
How much longer would this go on? How many more would perish for their mistakes? His mistakes? Not for the first time he truly wondered whether the Skywalker lineage had been intended as a blessing for the galaxy or a curse.
Numbness overtook Luke's body but he knew the pain that followed was inevitable. It was impossible not to feel. Part of the human condition or part of his mental makeup? Did it make a difference? He felt so tired. Tired of war, tired of the grind that came with war, tired of the evil that sought to destroy innocent lives. And for what?
He almost didn't feel Obi-Wan's hand on the back of his shoulder.
"Luke, are you alright?"
It wasn't a question intended to find an answer. Obi-Wan knew the depth of distraughtness within the blond. For a split second in the ether of time, Luke thought of himself as a young nineteen year old in the presence of a warm, kindly uncle. The man who tried so hard to shield him from the horrors of the galaxy and yet knew that he was destined to confront them.
"I've fought many battles. This might have been the worst."
Obi-Wan grimaced as the wind whipped through his copper red hair.
"I know. This was a near massacre."
Luke did not disagree. He allowed his train of thought to temporarily disregard the hated man.
"What about the others? Luminara, the Wookies, the men…"
"Master Unduli is alive although she cannot walk. Commander Gree was killed and the 41st sustained heavy casualties."
Luke's chest tightened, bearing himself for more bad news.
"The Wookie dead are not as high as we initially feared. In part due to Captain Rex and the 501st."
"They're alive?"
"Yes, apparently they held the line and rescued many Wookies at great personal risk. Together, they were able to prevent a total collapse."
That eased some of the sting but Luke realized that these brave soldiers, warriors, and people of Kashyyyk had no idea that the cause of their suffering stemmed from the very government in charge of protecting them (though he couldn't deny a personal degree of satisfaction in his unit performing so well).
"The 212th are also stable for the time being. But I admit were it not for you and your newfound companions, it's likely we would not be here to tell the tale," Obi-Wan said with a sigh. They both turned towards the center of the beach. Sergeant Hunter and his squad were assisting with the clean up (Wrecker was especially useful in lifting heavy debris) but even their usual swagger was nowhere to be found. Buried underneath the bodies they now carried.
Luke's numbness broke into a steady trickle of anger and pain. "This was all Tarkin's doing. He forced us to follow a flawed battle plan. He kept me on the ship. He jammed your communications and then ordered my arrest."
"I…have already come to that conclusion," his old master said grimly. "He betrayed us. The question is, why?"
Luke could already guess the reason but a new burst of adrenaline shot through his veins. They needed to move quickly if they were to capture Tarkin and interrogate him.
"Obi-Wan, gather whoever's left- Boil, Rex, Luminara, Tarrful, Chewbacca, Hunter- everyone we can trust. Tell them it's urgent."
Leaning over the water, a sudden shot of pain went through his lower torso.
"What's the matter?"
"Injured myself crash landing a fighter. I'm fine."
Obi-Wan gave him a look reminiscent of one he gave Anakin after doing something amazing or reckless. Usually both.
"Let's get Kix to take a look anyway. Come on."
Luke acquiesced but gazed back out onto the shores of the lake and then into the sky above. Master Yoda always critiqued him for being too wishful, always looking out onto the horizon. But for once, the Last Jedi had never felt more focused, fixed in the present moment.
Billions of lives depended on it.
"Gentleman and lady, we have been stabbed in the back."
Obi-Wan couldn't believe those words were coming out of his mouth. But believe them he must. A Jedi did not shy away from the truth no matter how uncomfortable it was. And everyone gathered emanated discomfort.
Luminara, sitting in a hover chair constructed by Wookie tech, leg bandaged, was the first to speak.
"When I requested reinforcements, this isn't what I had in mind."
"You couldn't have known," Luke told her sympathetically. Obi-Wan had seldom seen her so beaten down. To witness the strong, imperturbable Mirialan Master in such a state spoke to their situation. "Tarkin has always been an uptight bantha karker. But no one expected this."
Obi-Wan might have laughed under different circumstances but held it in. King Grakchawwaa barked out a question.
"He's asking how he knows Tarkin committed such acts on purpose," Tech translated. Poor Hack had been another casualty of the battle.
"I was there," Luke said, looking the king straight in the eye. "I heard him speak of Wookies as nothing more than slaves." This caused considerable outrage among the natives but the carnage wasn't over as he addressed the clone officers.
"He called the clones expendable."
That caused a noticeable shift among the clones present. Rex, Boil, and Hunter's faces were hidden underneath their helmets, but Obi-Wan sensed their rising fury.
"It doesn't surprise me," Rex said, voice hard. "I once had the 'pleasure' of rescuing him from a Separatist prison. He isn't fond of us clones."
The comlinks for all three men began beeping.
"Speaking of, I think we're about to get some answers."
Luke immediately used the Force to pull each device into his hands.
"Sir?"
"Do not answer that," he said calmly but with a drop of anxiety all the same. "And don't accept any transmissions through the comm channel either."
"Why not?"
Obi-Wan saw Luke get that strange look in his eye. It wasn't a premonition, but the same look whenever he knew something no one else did.
"The dark side has its fingerprints all over this," he explained quietly. "I can sense that everything Tarkin has ordered here has a specific purpose."
"How can you be sure that the darkness controls Tarkin?" Luminara asked.
"You must trust me."
"It is hard to know whom to trust these days," she responded back, the hurt of Barriss's betrayal evident in her eyes. "But you and your team of clones rescued us against all odds." She leaned up from her hover chair despite the difficulty and gave a nod towards Hunter. "You have my thanks. And I also speak on behalf of Commander Gree were he alive."
Chewie bellowed in a show of support, no translation needed. To Obi-Wan's slight surprise, Luke beamed at him.
"Thank you for the kind words, Chewie."
Before anyone could ask how the blond knew Shyriiwook or where the nickname 'Chewie' came from, Obi-Wan stepped in.
"The evidence, direct and indirect, all point in one direction. We have no other choice but to act in the interests of the Wookies, the army, and the Republic itself."
He had a hunch Luke already came up with a plan but figured a show of vociferous support would go a long way. And it did.
"That man killed more of our brothers in one day than I've seen in a month," Boil growled. "I say it's payback time."
King Grakchawwaa, Chief Tarrful, and Chewbacca all let out roars, pounding their chests in a show of support.
"The King and his advisers say that they owe you a debt, sir," Tech told them. "And that the scoundrels responsible deserve to be brought to justice."
Obi-Wan, though three inches above Luke, thought he never looked so tall, especially with seven foot tall hairy beings in their midst. Even though he and Luminara technically outranked him, his presence, a supernova in the Force, inspired those within its vicinity.
"Then we are of one mind," he said at last. "What I propose must be done as soon as possible and might very well backfire. Master Kenobi and I will take a strike team of twenty men back to the Restitution and arrest General Tarkin for crimes against the Republic and humanity. If anyone has any objections, speak now."
The following silence bestowed their endorsement.
"Alright then," Luke said at last, breathing slowly. His own comlink began beeping but ignored it.
"Sir." Rex stepped up and took off his helmet. "I request permission to be your second. The 501st took the fewest amount of casualties during the battle. We can provide backup."
Luke looked towards Obi-Wan not for permission but as a sign of companionship and respect. He gave a tacit nod of approval.
"Very well. Master, I take it the 212th can handle assisting the civilians and the wounded?"
"Indeed. Boil, you'll see to it?"
The clone gave a crisp salute.
"Yes, sir."
"And we're sure there'll be no counterattack from the clankers?" Rex wisely reminded.
"Not gonna be a problem," Hunter said, speaking for the first time. "My squad and I eliminated the source of the Seps' weapons supply. Trandoshan slavers were smuggling them in. In fact, we'd just finished destroying the depot until we ran into the General here."
Luke folded his lips inward before issuing dismissal. Obi-Wan felt his anxiety through their bond and sent a current of calm, which the blond welcomed with a telepathic 'thank you'. The sensation was familiar. Similar to Anakin when he had trouble calming down.
"Okay. Let's get moving. Operation: Justice, is a go."
In between the bustle of movement, there was one more part to be assigned.
"Sergeant Hunter. Corporal Tech."
"Sir."
The two bad batchers straightened but Luke bade them at ease.
"I'd like your squad to accompany us, in case things go south. I know you don't report to us directly but we could really use the help."
Hunter answered without hesitation.
"Of course, sir. If half of what you say is true about Tarkin, I wouldn't mind being there to see him get his just desserts. The boys and I are at your disposal."
"Thank you. Be prepped and ready in minus thirty minutes."
This left Obi-Wan and Luke alone on top of the tallest tree overlooking the lake. It was a beautiful sight even as rolling clouds moved ahead over the forest canopy. Sunlight poked through as it settled into the west, creating a reddish glow over miles of deep green.
"And to think, just half a day earlier our war was against the Separatists."
Luke gripped the edges of the wooden railing before releasing them along with a heavy breath.
"It never was."
Obi-Wan felt a shudder go through his spine. Not due to fear. But because somehow, deep down, he knew Luke to be right.
Armor. Check.
Helmet. Check.
DC-17 blaster pistols. Check.
Water. Check.
Certainty about a mission. Never.
Fives had seen a lot during war. Missions deemed impossible. Odds that could never be overcome. The death of hundreds of brothers, if not thousands. Boundaries of the possible shattered by the gravity defying Jedi Generals who led them. He'd been to many worlds and seen many faces. Experienced betrayal and personal loss.
But this felt different. He knew it in his guts.
Stepping onto the shuttle, no clone said much, if anything. Echo gave him a quick side glance. Whatever thoughts he had were kept quiet. They were tired from a long battle but they had enough strength left for this. Especially with this much at stake.
The transport was small but it had enough room for twenty men plus seven more. It had enough straphangers for everyone. General Luke and General Kenobi did not anticipate a bumpy ride, but they gave one of the more solemn briefings he'd been a part of.
"Listen up, men," the blond said as he walked past them towards the front of the ship. "We're officially entering gray territory right now. I know that can't be an easy feeling."
"With respect, sir. It's not the first time we've dealt with a traitor."
Rex's words were acknowledged by a series of low grunts and growls at the memory of Krell.
"Maybe not the first time, but this scenario is infinitely more dangerous," the General said to them, dropping an octave to his normally light pitch.
"May we know why, sir?"
Heads turned in his direction. Fives hadn't meant to ask the question but felt it come out of his mouth anyway against better judgment. Thankfully, Luke did not reprimand him.
"We won't know for certain until Tarkin is in a cell and questioned."
"That is what we should be focused on above all else," General Kenobi said. "General Tarkin is not a pleasant man but he isn't suicidal. A simple show of force should be enough for him to surrender quietly."
The sound of heavy boots redirected attention. The cavalry had arrived.
"Ah, Hunter. Glad you and your squad are accounted for," Kenobi welcomed.
"Good to be here, sir."
Luke poked his head back into the cockpit.
"Hawk…Flick. Take us up."
"Sir."
Fives looked at Echo. Even underneath the helmet, he read his brother like a book.
"What are those four doing here?"
"Maybe they can make us some Mantell Mix."
"That's not funny," Echo hissed, the attempt at humor falling flat. "That big one basically killed Tup."
He wasn't necessarily wrong. Torrent Company suffered many losses throughout the war but Tup had to be the most devastating. Fives barely held it together at the funeral, remembering it vividly. Hardcase wept in private afterwards. They'd only had hours to process it before being ordered into battle once more. As soldiers who fought voluntarily for a government they believed in, to shirk their duty would be unthinkable.
That didn't make it easy.
Of course things just kept getting weirder after that. General Luke battled a Sith and Jesse tagged him. Then Tarkin showed up and suddenly they were being sent off to Kashyyyk with no real plan, strategy, or course of action besides 'win.'
Tup's death seemed like a lifetime ago by comparison at this point.
"No need to cause a scene," he whispered to Echo. "Remember, what happened to Tup was an accident."
His batchmate said nothing, choosing to stare straight ahead in quiet tolerance of their companions, all of whom shared their DNA yet felt like strangers from a foreign land. This level of quiet settled over every clone within the shuttle's spacious chambers. Nothing needed to be said. Not at this point.
Fives chewed on his lip, a nasty habit acquired from the constant stress of waking up to bombs and venomous creatures on Umbara. His mind began wandering down that path and he pursued it a little more. Compared to that nightmare of a planet, Kashyyyk almost seemed like a day hike. Pong Krell had been a wakeup call that not all Jedi were perfect, but this time it had been the Jedi who were betrayed, not the other way around. They all had been.
His righteous rage flared at the thought of being referred to as 'property' or 'expendable.' They were Republic citizens with the same rights as anyone else, including the freedom to choose and make their own decisions. Who the hell did Tarkin think he was?
That thought led down a much darker road. What if this related to what General Luke had talked about before? The idea of the Sith may be in control of the Grand Army of the Republic frightened the life out of him but he forced himself to confront the possibility. What if Tup's death hadn't been a coincidence? What if the plot to destroy the Jedi was a lot closer than anyone thought?
He was almost tempted to ask the question aloud but thought better of it. Tarkin needed to go down first. As Rex always said, distractions invited death on a mission.
Rising into the atmosphere and into the heavenly star studded landscape of space, Hawk and Flick were soon cleared to land in the docking bay.
"Alright. This is it."
"Set your weapons to stun," Kenobi ordered. "Remember we're not here to kill anyone."
Fives complied and switched the setting on his pistols. Following the Jedi down the offramp, they were immediately stopped by a non-clone human officer.
"General Tarkin has ordered your arrest, sir," the pudgy, brown haired male said in what he probably thought sounded like an intimidating declaration. The fake Coruscanti accent just made it more ridiculous. "He demands you turn yourself in or face the consequences."
"On what grounds?" Kenobi cut in, a devilish twinkle dancing in his eyes.
"Dissidence. Questioning direct orders. The physical assault of a fellow officer."
Kenobi raised an eyebrow at his Jedi companion. Evidently, that little detail had been left out.
"I may or may not have broken his nose," Luke said a bit sheepishly. Obi-Wan's mouth twitched but he held back any humor.
"Much as we'd like to comply, I'm afraid we are here for the same reason. Wilhuff Tarkin is to be arrested immediately for treason against the Republic."
The officer began sputtering.
"What?! This is preposterous! I-"
Luke interrupted the officer's bluster when he opened his mouth again, his patience running thin.
"Please, do not continue to waste my time," he said coldly at the sycophant. "It's precious to me. And if you continue to obstruct us, I will remove you as an obstacle."
Fives, a witness to the entire confrontation at the front row, grinned inside his helmet. He wished Jesse and Hardcase were here to see this. The pudgy officer continued sputtering in protest.
"Step aside," Luke said calmly but with that same cold, deadly undertone. Fives blinked and with a flick of the wrist, had moved the officer three feet to the left. Their journey continued without incident.
Silence settled in once more among the group and from there it was all business. The next few minutes were a blur to the ARC Trooper but he soon found himself at the entrance of the starboard bridge.
The massive durasteel doors opened to reveal General Tarkin standing in front of the holotable, facing towards the bridgehead window. Fives kept a very tight grip on both holsters while his stomach persisted in doing backflips.
"Care to explain yourself, Tarkin?"
Oh, kriff. General Kenobi wasn't bothering with any pretenses or politeness. Not this time around.
"Funny, I could ask you the same question."
"Don't you dare." General Luke didn't just sound angry, he sounded heartbroken. "We're not the ones who betrayed the men they were supposed to protect."
"Correction." Tarkin turned around and wore the nastiest scowl Fives had ever seen. Something about those hollow cheeks and hooked nose made him want to punch him…if someone else hadn't gotten there first. The bacta patch on his honker would have been funny were the situation not so tense. "Your objective as a ranking officer in the Grand Army of the Republic is to win. At whatever cost, no matter the cost. And though you were victorious on the battlefield, this was in spite of orders not in concert with them. Your actions today, General Ahch-To, are not only in violation of military command but an act of treason against the Republic."
Obi-Wan couldn't resist a humorous barb.
"You weren't kidding about his nose."
General Luke kept his eyes and displeasure straight ahead at the man in front of him. Fives empathized as his own temper flared. He shared in the combined hatred of every man in the room towards this monster.
"Adjutant General Tarkin, I hold you responsible for betrayal of the GAR, sabotaging military operations, and attempted genocide against the Wookie people. Any attempts to resist will be met with appropriate force."
Tarkin's beady eyes switched targets.
"And you endorse this treachery General Kenobi?"
"Your actions today caused the death of thousands." The Great Negotiator's tone indicated the time had passed for his trademark diplomacy. "We give you one chance to come quietly."
Fives couldn't believe that anyone, even a high ranking officer such as Tarkin would resist in the face of two powerful Jedi. But there he was, sneering and scoffing all the same.
"So it's true," he almost whispered. "The Jedi are plotting against the Republic."
Every man on deck tensed. Several brought their blaster rifles to bear, though Rex hadn't given a command yet, he too had moved both hands towards his weapon. But the ARC noticed something else. The man they were about to arrest had moved to address the clones on board.
"Troopers. Execute Order 66."
Fives' heartbeat quickened. Then it slowed. Everything stopped and something in his mind snapped him in place, centering forward on two targets.
Kill the Jedi.
He automatically reached for his DC-17s.
Do it.
But there was hesitation.
'No!' some other voice yelled. Something he recognized but couldn't name. 'This is wrong!'
Good soldiers, follow orders.
The compulsion was too great. Two blaster pistols were summoned but then he lowered them again.
'This isn't right!' the voice argued. 'They've done something to me! I can't! I can't!'
Kill them. Kill them both.
Fives tried to resist. He tried with all his might to rid himself of the terrible cold-blooded urge to murder. His fingers were on the triggers but through sheer determination, he did not pull them.
Then the world erupted in a hurricane of blaster fire. He was knocked aside.
Luke's initial disbelief slowly melted into wide eyed, full blown terror when he sensed the obvious shift in the clones' behavior. Most had already raised their weapons and switched them from stun to kill.
"Oh…fuck."
Rex was in near agony. His hands trembled as they reached towards his blaster pistols, the body shaking in anger at what he could not stop.
"Rex, fight it!"
"I-I can't…"
"Captain!"
"Stay back!"
By now every clone had aimed a DC-15 in their direction. Tears were flowing down from underneath Rex's helmet as he joined them. A flash of green burst forth.
Obi-Wan, more confused than frightened, scrambled to make sense of the madness.
"Luke-"
"Obi-Wan, run!"
"What is going-"
"RUN!"
Too late. Obi-Wan brought up his lightsaber just in time as the blasters started firing. The two Jedi lost ground as the clones began to advance. But in the limited space afforded to them, they'd be cut off from any sort of escape.
Whirs of blue and green twirled so fast to render them as mere specters of light flashing against a hailstorm of blue and orange. Two troopers fell to the ground and then a third.
"We can't hold them off, forever!" Obi-Wan yelled.
Luke accepted this easily. These weren't another platoon of droids they could waltz through but living, breathing super soldiers. Genetic copies of a bounty hunter specialized in hunting Jedi. But even as they kept coming in a relentless barrage of fire, the Last Jedi did not have it in his heart to hurt them.
It's not their fault.
The primal instinct to live surged through the adrenaline running in Luke's veins. He did not want to die. He did not want the clones to die.
There was no way out.
Hunter couldn't believe his eyes. Had the regs really turned on the Jedi just like that? Without pity or remorse? Even when they were prepared to arrest Tarkin a moment before?
The shock paralyzed him for a few seconds and then military training kicked in.
"Clone Force 99, execute plan 18!"
Aka: defend your superiors at all costs.
He fired two stun rounds (good thinking by General Kenobi to have those presettings). Tech followed suit with an EMP grenade that shocked a further four into unconsciousness. Wrecker began plowing through regs, punching and slamming them into submission, no longer playing nice.
The Jedi were putting up an admirable fight, with both men doing their best to deflect the oncoming blaster bolts. Oddly, neither made any offensive moves to kill or maim. But even Jedi couldn't weather that amount of firepower indefinitely. He had to get to the Captain.
Somersaulting forward, he dodged a killing blow from a reg and kicked him to the floor. Three more stunners rang out and the crowd began to thin.
Strange. The regs aren't usually this bad at aiming.
He reached Rex and threw himself on top of him, knocking his helmet off.
"Stop struggling, Captain!"
But Rex didn't want to listen, instead using a vicious punch to the jaw to knock him aside. He tried to reach for one of his stray blaster pistols on the ground but Hunter was quicker, grabbing the leg and pulling him back. Rex aimed another punch but missed, allowing Hunter to reach behind him for his own weapon and put him to sleep.
He thought the battle might be over. That is until he saw Crosshair standing a good ten feet behind them unmoving as a rock on a hill.
"Crosshair, what are you doing? Execute plan-"
The marksman suddenly took aim and fired a perfect shot, knocking General Luke's lightsaber from his hand.
"Are you insane?!"
"Execute Order 66," came the monotonous reply. "Or I will."
Hunter saw he was prepared to fire again and acted fast, throwing his vibro blade straight into the scope of the sniper rifle. It exploded upon impact, sending Crosshair backwards.
He turned to ask the Jedi if they were alright only to see a fresh threat standing in front of them.
ARC Trooper Fives had not been subdued in the chaos. And his blaster pistols were aimed straight at General Luke.
He clutched his hand in agony. Thankfully, not his organic one but the tech making up his replacement was advanced enough to feel pain. A deep wound smoldered in the back. Then he sensed a far worrisome presence.
Fives had him at gunpoint with no helmet on. He did not fire. Luke saw…no he felt the fight lurking behind those eyes. A regular clone fully resisting the effects of the inhibitor chip was unheard of. Yet here was just such an example.
"Fives…don't do it."
"It is amusing that you think he has a choice."
Like the lowest, meanest insect Tarkin had somehow escaped harm and returned to finish what he started. Gray eyes burned into the clone from behind, daring him to disobey.
"Execute the order, trooper," Tarkin pushed, his voice as hard as Beskar.
"Fives, listen to me. Listen to us," Obi-Wan pleaded. He did not dare move for the fear that the clone might fire though his azure blade hummed in anticipation. "There are more important things than following orders. This is not one you have to follow."
The war inside Fives threatened to split his soul in two and Luke felt that war acutely. The real one. Rigged against every clone from the moment of their birth. Obi-Wan did not understand that.
"This isn't you, trooper," Luke said softly. "You're more than just a number, you're a human being. Remember…"
"Enough!" Tarkin barked. "CT-5555 you will execute Order 66 or face the consequences!" He pulled out a small holdout blaster to enforce the point.
"Drop it."
Hunter, Tech, and Wrecker all raised their weapons in response but Tarkin was not deterred, holding his aim steady against Fives.
"You three will be dealt with later," he snarled. "Officers!"
The blond Lieutenant appeared from the side and so did two others, taking aim at the Bad Batch completing the most complicated standoff in galactic history.
Who would blink? Who would draw blood? Who would survive?
The answer lay in the hands of one trooper.
Fives' arm shook so badly he barely kept a grip on the weapon. Tears were streaming down his cheeks. His pupils grew and retracted at an alarming rate as he slipped between his true conscience and the chip's controlling influence.
"Good…soldiers…follow…orders."
"That is correct, clone." Tarkin stepped forward rolling his 'r' dramatically. "Now…pull the trigger."
Luke began shedding his own tears at this vile, despicable act of evil being carried out before his very eyes. His heart thundered and the mind raced. Sweat raced down the temples of his brow. But he did not move. Fives was too close in proximity to avoid a killing shot.
"You can do it, Fives. Fight them! Fight him!"
Fives hesitated but only for a second as the pistol returned to its original position.
"I'm…I'm sorry, sir. AGH!"
He let out a scream and a series of shots went off. Luke closed his eyes but felt no pain. Then he opened them.
Luke noticed he was in a different position than before and noticed Obi-Wan's outstretched hand.
He used the Force to push me out of the way.
That particular relief was nothing compared to the shock of what lay in front of him. Fives was on the ground, unconscious. The Bad Batch had tagged Nolan and the other two naval officers. But still standing was Grand Moff Tarkin, breathing heavily, a smoking hole in the middle of his chest.
He tried to speak, he tried to dictate, bully, breathe out any semblance of authority. But no sound escaped those thin, reedy lips, instead folding pathetically as a cheap tent might from a gust of wind.
Wilhuff Tarkin permanently departed from the living. The Force seemed to breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Luke looked towards Obi-Wan who's eyes traced a path back to the ARC Trooper.
Only then did he understand. Fives had fired the fatal shot.
A/N #1: So I imagine there will be several questions. I'll get the big one out the way. It's my opinion that if there's one 'reg' clone that could have resisted the inhibitor chip, that clone was Fives. That's right, even above Rex. Fives had moral fiber above that of anyone in the GAR and he discovered the chips in the canon show. You might call it wishful thinking. Rex resisted the chip for about a minute or so in TCW Season 7. Fives could have gone longer.
A/N #2: I really had to visualize and get a sense for what the inhibitor chip would feel like in the mind of a clone. I imagine it's almost a trance-like state, similar to what Tup experienced but shuts down any and all emotion. I also think there's reason to believe that many clones probably were trapped inside their own heads, trying to fight the chip but were overpowered by it. Rex and Wrecker's reactions suggest this is true.
A/N #3: Some of you may be wondering how Tarkin was able to activate Order 66. If you haven't guessed by now, Palpatine gave him permission without actually revealing it's true nature. Tarkin thinks the Jedi are rebelling against the Republic and the chips are a fail safe against said rebellion. He does not know Palpatine is a Sith Lord.
A/N #4: This chapter and its title were in honor of the season finale of The Bad Batch. I'm a big fan of the show. No spoilers but writing them now takes on new meaning.
A/N #5: Click 'next' down below. There's a surprise waiting for you.