I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars and its characters
I only own Nadia Aomori and my other OCs
Enjoy!
Threads of Destiny
Chapter 17: Brain Invaders
An Victory on Geonosis!
After a massive assault, the Republic has finally recaptured the Separatist planet and shut down its droid factories of doom.
An investigation by Luminara Unduli led to the discovery of Queen Karina the Great, whose hive-mind could reanimate dead Geonosian soldiers.
During the destruction of the Queen's temple, the Jedi apprehended her advisor Poggle the Lesser, and now prepare to deliver the villain to Coruscant for trial.
Barriss, Nadia and Ahsoka walked off the shuttle as Poggle was escorted on it and said something to them.
The three Padawans walked up to Obi-Wan, Master Luminara and Anakin.
Then Ki-Adi-Mundi came over to the group.
"I'm afraid we have a complication."Ki-Adi-Mundi stated.
"Don't we always?"Anakin questioned.
"I just received a distress signal from our forces on Dantooine."Ki-Adi-Mundi exclaimed."Master Windu's defences held, but at a great cost to his men. They need medical supplies immediately, we can obtain these supplies at the medical station near Ord Cestus."
"We're delivering Poggle to Coruscant and Cestus is not exactly on the way."Anakin stated.
"The Republic must begin debriefing Poggle right away if we're to get useful intelligence from him."Master Luminara commented.
"Master Luminara, I suggest we let our Padawans handle the supply mission."Anakin said with a smirk.
Anakin placed his hands on both Nadia's and Ahsoka's shoulders.
"Whatever needs to be done, Master Luminara."Ahsoka remarked."I'm happy to help."
Obi-Wan looked at Nadia.
"Nadia?"Obi-Wan questioned.
"I'm confident enough to take up this mission with Ahsoka, Master."Nadia assured in a firm yet determined look.
"As am I."Barriss added.
"Very well."Obi-Wan responded."Take a medical frigate and after we've delivered Poggle to Coruscant, we'll rendezvous with you for the voyage to Dantooine."
"Okay, Master."Nadia answered kindly.
Obi-Wan and Master Luminara then walked away.
Barriss, Ahsoka and Nadia along with a squad of Clone Troopers then walked onto the frigate, they then flew away from Geonosis.
"We're ready to make our jump, Master Fisto."Ahsoka declared.
"Good."Master Fisto stated in the screen."I look forward to your arrival."
Then the frigate jumped into hyperspace.
In the Chambers of the Frigate...
Nadia touched her forehead in dismay before looking down to see Barriss and Ahsoka still asleep.
"What?"Barriss asked with her eyes were closed, but she was awake."What is it?"
"Sorry. I've had a bad dream, Barriss."Nadia admitted."I don't feel comfortable with the atmosphere."
"It's too quiet."Ahsoka added as she stood up a little bit."It's a big change from all the fighting the last few days."
"The three of us should enjoy this peace while it lasts."Barriss stated.
"You know, I'm kinda hungry."Nadia remarked and rubbed her stomach."Let's go eat."
The three Padawans went off their bunks and walked out of the chamber.
Unknown to them, Scythe entered the Clone Troopers' sleeping quarters and releases some of the yellow egg.
The worms hatch and find their way into the noses of the sleeping clones.
In the Mess Hall...
Barriss, Nadia and Ahsoka were eating lunch together.
"I was just thinking about what you said earlier about enjoying the peace while it lasts."Ahsoka exclaimed."As a Jedi, I'm not sure I know how to do that."
"Master Windu has said to Chancellor Palpatine that we're keepers of the peace, not soldiers."Barriss commented."However, once the War is over, it will be our job to maintain the peace."
"Yes, but will we do so as keepers of the peace or warriors?"Nadia questioned before taking a bite on her pastry meal. "And what's the difference?"
"I don't have all the answers, Ahsoka and Nadia."Barriss replied."Like both of you, I'm a learner. What do your Masters tell you? It must be an honour to train under a Master of the Jedi Council and the Chosen One."
"Master Kenobi?"Nadia said and let out a small chuckle."Well, he only says we must live by the Jedi Code. Even though his always serious behaviour can be annoying, I still think he's a good teacher but at least you got the fun one, Soka."
"Anakin?"Ahsoka guessed."Oh, um, you might find some of his thoughts on the future, uh, a bit radical."
"Really?"Barriss asked."Why?"
"Let's just say my Master will always do what needs to be done since the fate of the the Jedi Order, the Republic and the galaxy is on him."Ahsoka exclaimed. "I'm not even sure how peace time will agree with him. Anyway, Master Kenobi, Ferus, his sister, Nadia and I all know that Anakin won't believe the Clone Wars is truly over until we find Darth Sidious and bring him to justice cause it's a major final part of his mission to destroy the Sith and bring the Force back into balance."
Nadia used her fork to fiddle with her food.
"Well..."Nadia started."Someone once told me that only when we balance ourselves with our emotions, we may find our inner peace."
"But Nadia as Jedi, we aren't supposed to show our emotions."Barriss reminded."It's against the Jedi Code."
"I know."Nadia replied bluntly before taking a sip of her drink."But since I am from Corellia, its completely different."
Scythe leads two infected Clone Troopers to kill the ship's pilots, taking control of the bridge.
"We have control of the bridge."Scythe declared.
In the Dining Hall...
Ox and Edge came inside, earning Ahsoka, Nadia and Barriss' attention.
"Evening, Ox and Edge."Ahsoka greeted.
"Would you like to join us?"Nadia asked.
Ox and Edge had dead looks on their faces.
"Is something wrong, troopers?"Ahsoka questioned.
Ox and Edge started firing at the three Padawans.
Ahsoka, Nadia and Barriss quickly activated their lightsabers to deflect the blasts.
They quickly lift up a table to take cover.
"Troopers, stand down!"Nadia ordered.
The raven haired girl then used the Force to throw the two Clone Troopers to the wall and knocking them out.
Then Havoc and Trap came causing Ahsoka, Nadia and Barriss to point their lightsabers at them.
"What are you doing?"Havoc questioned.
"Two clones just attacked us."Nadia stated.
"What is going on?"Ahsoka asked.
"Trap, do you know what happened to those troopers?"Barriss asked.
"Couldn't tell you, Commander."Trap replied."I'm just as confused as-"
"You're in charge of those men."Barriss stated."Did you order them to kill us?"
"No, sir."Trap responded."I did not."
"What's happening?"Nadia demanded.
"Why would they do this?"Ahsoka asked.
"We don't know."Havoc admitted."We heard shots."
"Why should we believe you?"Barriss asked with a suspicious look.
"Look, no guns."Trap replied.
Trap and Havoc put their guns on the floor causing Ahsoka, Nadia and Barriss to deactivate their lightsabers.
"These men wouldn't just attack us without reason."Barriss complemented.
"My Master had a clone betray them once, a traitor who was paid off by Ventress."Ahsoka admitted.
"Obi-Wan told me about that."Nadia stated.
"It can't be that simple."Barriss said before looking at Ox and Edge's unconcious bodies."At least, it didn't feel like that."
"Excuse me, sir."Trap spoke up."We should make sure that we're still in control of the bridge."
"Bridge, this is Barriss."Barriss declared in her comlink. "Respond."
Bridge didn't reply Barriss' call.
"I say we need to get up there."Nadia admitted.
"Yeah."Ahsoka said in agreement. "We need to find out what's going on."
"But these two will be coming around any minute."Barriss said.
"Havoc, can watch them until we check on the bridge."Trap suggested.
"Okay, let's go."Nadia insisted.
Trap and the three Padawans left the room while Havoc picked up his gun and watched the two unconscious Clone Troopers.
On the Resolute...
Obi-Wan, Anakin and Rex walked up the bridge to meet up with Master Luminara and Ki-Adi-Mundi.
"The cargo ship failed to check in on schedule."Master Luminara explained."I attempted to contact them, there is no reply."
"I don't like it."Anakin stated with a frown."Something's up."
"It is certainly most unlike either Padawan to lose contact."Master Luminara commented.
"They're in trouble."Anakin assumed.
"Anakin, have faith in your Padawan."Obi-Wan instructed."As I have in mine."
"She and Nadia would have checked in."Anakin reminded.
"Like you always do?"Obi-Wan questioned.
"Good point."Anakin admitted.
"Sometimes I don't think you realise how alike you two have become."Obi-Wan said.
"We need to continue our interrogation of Poggle."Ki-Adi-Mundi suggested.
"Yes, agreed."Obi-Wan replied."He's being most uncooperative."
Obi-Wan, Ki-Adi-Mundi and Master Luminara then walked away as Anakin looked at Rex.
"Keep your ears open in case Ahsoka and Nadia call."Anakin instructed.
"Got it."Rex responded.
Then Anakin walked away from the bridge.
Back in the Cargo Ship...
The infected Clone Troopers aboard the medical frigate engage the autopilot and security shields, blocking the way for Nadia, Ahsoka, Barriss and Trap.
"Someone doesn't want us going up there."Ahsoka retorted.
"I'll attempt to override the controls."Barriss said.
Nadia felt an disturbance from behind and quickly activated her lightsaber to block Trap's blasts from shooting Ahsoka.
The raven haired girl managed to deflect the attacks and disarm Trap before noticing that he too was infected by a brain worm.
Trap throws himself at Nadia and a brain worm comes out of his mouth.
"He's infected!"Nadia growled.
Nadianquickly summoned her lightsaber to kill Trap.
The brain worm went on Barriss.
"Get this thing off me!"Barriss shrieked.
Barriss threw the worm and Ahsoka activated her lightsaber to kill it.
"Ugh, what is that?"Ahsoka said in disgust.
"Looks like some type of parasite."Barriss assumed."It must be controlling their actions."
"Mind control."Nadia scoffed before deactivating her lightsaber. "Well, that explains a lot."
"Trap was my friend."Ahsoka commented with a sad frown."He would never have tried to kill us, how did these things get on board in the first place?"
"They must have infected the clones while they were on Geonosis."Nadia suggested.
"We'll have to quarantine the ship."Ahsoka commented.
"We should also contact Master Fisto and let him know about the situation."Barriss suggested.
"Let's go."Nadia declared.
Ahsoka, Nadia and Barriss ran off.
Then the trio heard a familiar sound coming from the cargo hold.
"That sound."Ahsoka murmured."It's Geonosian."
But on their way they come across the cargo hold, where the infected Clone Troopers were releasing a brain worm into another trooper.
"Oh no."Nadia whispered.
"We have to help him."Ahsoka suggested.
"It's too late."Barriss admitted.
The three Padawans were soon spotted and outnumbered, so they escaped through the ventilation system.
"Barriss, Soka!"Nadia spoke up."Let's go for the vent!"
Ahsoka, Nadia and Barriss then used the Force to jump on a pile of crates and into a high bridge.
Afterwards, Barriss used the Force to open a vent and the three of them went inside it.
"I'll go to the reactor room and disable the thrusters."Barriss declared."You two head for the aft comm-center and send a warning to Master Fisto, we have to stop the ship from reaching the medical station."
Ahsoka, Nadia and Barriss quietly moved in the vent.
"I don't know, Barriss."Ahsoka responded."I think we should stay together."
"She has a point."Nadia admitted."Friends need to stick together."
"I understand that."Barriss said."Unfortunately, that's not a luxury we have right now, one of us must succeed, if you two need to, you'll both do what must be done."
Nadia frowned."Alright."
"Yes, of course."Ahsoka agreed."Then we'll see you soon."
The three girls then went their separate ways.
Once in the comm-center, Ahsoka and Nadia contacted Master Fisto via hologram.
"As long as these things are on board, we dare not dock with the medical station."Nadia said.
"You must bring the ship in."Master Fisto stated."The only way we can stop these parasites is to analyze them."
"You don't understand how terrible these things are."Ahsoka declared."What if they get loose?"
"We will take precautions."Master Fisto replied.
Unsure looks appeared on Nadia and Ahsoka's faces.
"We have a bad feeling about this, Master Fisto."Nadia admitted.
"But we will follow your instructions."Ahsoka stated.
Meanwhile...
On her way to the reactor, Barriss gets temporarily incapacitated by an electric trap.
"If there's one thing we clones know, it's how to stop a Jedi."Scythe sneered.
A Clone Trooper goes up to Barriss with a newly hatched brain worm.
"No!"Barriss shouted in terror.
In the Comm Center...
"Soka, how's it going?"Nadia asked.
"Almost got it."Ahsoka said.
Then Rex appeared on the screen.
"Cargo ship TB-73, this is clone Captain Rex."Rex declared."Please respond."
"Rex, this is Nadia and Ahsoka."Nadia said.
"Boy, are we glad to hear your voice."Ahsoka remarked.
"Likewise, sir."Rex answered."I've got someone here who wants to speak with you both."
Then Anakin came into the screen.
"Ahsoka and Nadia, what's going on?"Anakin demanded."Are you two okay?"
"Well, not exactly."Ahsoka answered.
"We're in the middle of a parasite problem."Nadia complemented.
"Make sure you both have a wrist com."Anakin instructed."Keep them on, I'm going to interrogate Poggle. He might have some answers, find Barriss and wait for my signal."
Ahsoka and Nadia nodded at Anakin before the screen went off.
Nadia slowly turned around and gasped in shock when she saw Barriss staring at her and Ahsoka.
"You scared us!"Nadia scowled.
"Barriss, you're back."Ahsoka remarked."Were you successful?"
Barriss didn't reply.
"Barriss, what's wrong?"Nadia questioned.
Then Barriss used the Force to break the shard causing Nadia and Ahsoka to shield themselves from the sharp pieces.
"What has gone into you?!"Nadia retorted.
"We're your friends!"Ahsoka protested."Barriss, snap out of it!"
Barriss activated her lightsaber causing Ahsoka and Nadia to activated their lightsabers as well.
Ahsoka and Nadia clashed their lightsabers against Barriss.
"Barriss! Stop!"Nadia demanded."This isn't not you!"
"It's the creatures."Ahsoka protested."Fight them!"
Barriss smirked at her friends.
Nadia then kicked Barriss on the floor before she and Ahsoka to escape from the centre.
On the Resolute...
Anakin angrily goes to interrogate Poggle using the Force to try to make him talk.
But this doesn't work.
So the Jedi Knight hits Poggle and proceeds to Force choke him.
Back in the Cargo's Halls...
Nadia and Ahsoka were clashing lightsabers with Barriss.
Ahsoka used the Force to throw Barriss as she and Nadia made their escape.
Nadia and Ahsoka go up a vent while Barriss ran to the hall and didn't see them in the vent.
On the Resolute...
Anakin met up with Obi-Wan and Master Luminara.
"I made contact with Ahsoka and Nadia."Anakin declared.
"What's their status?"Obi-Wan questioned.
"Geonosian parasites have infected their crew."Anakin said.
"How did they get on board their ship?"Obi-Wan asked.
"Poggle said the parasites must have needed a new host after we raided the Progate Temple."Anakin exclaimed.
"You interrogated Poggle?"Master Luminara asked.
"I did."Anakin responded with a hint of anger."There wasn't time to get the rest of you."
"How did you get him to talk?"Obi-Wan asked.
"Look, all that matters is that he told me how to stop the worms."Anakin commented.
Back in the Cargo's Vent...
Nadia and and Ahsoka tried to make contact in their wrist comms.
"This is Ahsoka and Nadia."Ahsoka said. "Come in."
"Can any of you hear us?"Nadia asked.
"Ahsoka, Nadia, listen to me."Anakin instructed."The worms are affected by the cold."
"Cold?"Ahsoka asked."That's how we stop them?"
"Of course."Nadia chuckled."Bugs usually survive through the heat. But if the environment is cold, they'll die out."
"Rupture the coolant system."Anakin ordered."Did you two hear me? Rupture the coolant system."
"The coolant system."Ahsoka answered."Got it."
Ahsoka and Nadia then jumped off the vent and quietly sneaked in the hall.
The duo went into the coolant system and started to work on it.
They began releasing the freezing air into the cargo ship just as it comes out of hyperspace.
In Space...
Master Fisto spotted the Cargo Ship.
"That's Ahsoka and Nadia's ship."Master Fisto exclaimed.
The Jedi Master looked at the Clone Troopers.
"It just came out of hyperspace."Master Fisto declared."Send out the tugs to help guide them in. Warn all medical hazard crew that I don't want anyone boarding that ship until the parasites are contained. Sound all the alarms and prepare the subzero conduits."
In the Cargo Ship...
While the Clone Troopers get weakened by the cold, Barriss finds Nadia and Ahsoka's trail again.
"There you two are."Barriss said coldly before activating her lightsaber."Neither of you can't hide from me."
Ahsoka and Nadia went into the vent and went inside the bridge, but they were getting weakened by the cold.
"This is Ahsoka Tano and Nadia Aomori."Ahsoka reported."Can you hear us?"
"We're shutting down the engines."Nadia informed."We'll try to reverse the-"
Barriss destroyed the connection with her lightsaber causing Nadia and Ahsoka to fight her.
Nadia and Ahsoka grabbed one of the tubes to freeze Barriss.
Barriss and her worm were eventually taken out by the cold.
"Kill me, please."Barris begged weakly.
"I can't."Ahsoka answered.
"None of us can!"Nadia stated.
But when Barriss attacks again, Nadia used the Force to push her to the tube before Ahsoka can manage to kill the worm as it protruded from Barriss's mouth.
The frigate docks at the station and Kit Fisto boards it with two Clone Troopers accompanying him.
The group find the three frozen Padawans lying on the ground and were still breathing.
"Hello, Master Fisto."Nadia greeted weakly."We did it."
"We're ready to pick up the supplies."Ahsoka admitted.
"We'll take care of that."Master Fisto assured."You both rest now, Ahsoka and Nadia."
Afterwards...
Nadia slowly opened her eyes and saw she was in some kind of medical bed.
The raven haired girl saw Obi-Wan at the end of her bed.
"Master?"Nadia asked.
Nadia regained her sight as she sat on her bed.
"It's alright, young one."Obi-Wan assured as he came up to Nadia."It's okay. You're safe."
Nadia became alarmed when she remembered her best friend and Barriss.
"Wait."Nadia started in worry and looked around."Where are Ahsoka and Barriss?"
"Ahsoka and Barriss are fine, thanks to your skills."Obi-Wan exclaimed proudly."And so are the clones. You have been through quite a lot, young one."
"Master, on the ship, Barriss got effected, she wanted me and Ahsoka to kill her."Nadia admitted sadly."But..."
"You couldn't do it."Obi-Wan finished."It's your duty to save as many lives as you can, young one. Barriss knew you and Ahsoka could save thousands, if the worms were destroyed, which she thought mean't destroying her too, but you two did the right thing, you both knew the freezing cold would kill the worms. Letting go our attachments is a difficult struggle for all of us. You follow your instincts, I'm sure they would agree that you made the right choice."
Nadia smiled. "Thank you, Master."
Obi-Wan placed his hand on Nadia's shoulder and smiled back at her.
"You're welcome, my dear."Obi-Wan responded.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
See you all in the next one:)