Author's Note: Happy New Year folks and a hearty welcome to all the new readers. For those of you expecting this to be the same or even similar to the original version of the story, it is WILDLY different. If that throws you off, I'm sorry but that's the reality of things.

Now, without further ado, let's get one step closer to ending this Geonosis arc.

-Chapter 33: Brain Invaders-

Location: Medical Frigate TB-73, 9:6:3632 ATC

"Attachment is not compassion."

The news was grim.

Scattered reports were coming in from Separatist contacts concerning the second battle of Geonosis. The main droid factory had fallen, Poggle the Lesser had been captured, Geonosian holdouts were struggling to survive the Republic onslaught, and the super-soldier Wraith had been wounded in the defence of the factory and subsequently taken prisoner.

Count Dooku's stony silence was reflective of the dark mood seen in his eyes, listening as Doctor Sipio anxiously relayed the information. The Pau'an was a nervous wreck, wringing his hands and pacing back and forth. "…there's no telling what condition he's in but it can't be good! He's not responding to any communications, he's failed to report in, I can't imagine how injured he could be! If he's been taken prisoner the Republic could learn all of our secrets! The very Sunstorm Formula that created him may be in the hands of the enemy as we speak!"

Sipio turned with desperate look in his eyes. Count Dooku wasn't even looking at him, his gaze drawn only to the holomap of Geonosis on the table before them. "Sir, what are we going to do? What can we do? Is there something we can do?" He feverishly asked. "Oh I can't imagine what he's going through right now!"

"Calm yourself, Doctor." Dooku responded in a low voice. "Panic will get us nowhere. I am as concerned for Wraith's wellbeing as you are. There is much we will have to in order to compensate for the loss of Geonosis."

Sipio swallowed, trying to pluck up his courage. "If I may, sir, we could get the full story from Wraith if he was returned to us." He proffered. Dooku glanced at him, his eyes softening for a moment.

"Retrieving him was never out of the question, Doctor. I am as committed to his life as you are." He promised. "I will contact the chief scientist in charge of Project Skyfall and tell him to prepare for immediate deployment." He ordered. Sipio performed a double-take.

"Project Skyfall? Is it finished?" He questioned.

"They are not yet out of testing, but we have no other choice." Dooku replied. The Count turned to leave, making great strides for the nearest exit door. "Wait for my news, Doctor. Our informants will keep tabs on Wraith's whereabouts. We'll make sure that boy comes home, no matter what."

Elsewhere in the galaxy…

Alone in her quarters, Ahsoka was finishing strapping her gloves on while her holocom was left open. An active feed was running and the Togrutan teen was listening, the rendered image revealing her friend Myri Lachiec. "…so then the worm-thing tried to get inside Master Luminara and that's when Master Kenobi FINALLY did something and sprung the ambush!" The young Twi'lek vividly described. "I tell you, I was just about to lose my lunch."

"Sounds like a wild time." Ahsoka remarked, fixing a few clasps into place. "I didn't think Geonosians were capable of that. Bringing a corpse back to life? Ew!"

"Ugh, yeah, it was disgusting. So glad that's behind us! You can keep your wild Five-Oh-First adventures, I'm going back to the thirteenth where things are saner." Myri stated, earning a snicker from her younger friend. "Speaking of which, I hear your unit is shipping out soon."

"That's the rumor. Now that we've got Poggle we can get out of here." Ahsoka answered, shifting her gloves into place while making sure the white of the bandages underneath were perfectly hidden.

"Well, hopefully the universe doesn't throw anything crazy at you too soon. Master Ty'ga and I are going to stay here a little longer to make sure the bug quit fighting back." Myri responded. "Oh! And if you see any of those corpse-controlling worms, don't hesitate to stomp on them okay? I don't want you ending up like one of those zombie-things."

"Don't worry, I will." Ahsoka responded, picking up her holocom. "I gotta get moving. Barriss and I are scheduled to return to the surface soon."

"Good luck! Hopefully we'll find time to talk again soon." Myri replied. "Don't work too hard."

"Never have, never will." Ahsoka retorted with a cheeky smirk as she signed off. Tucking her powered-off holocom into her belt, she took her leave of the assigned quarters and made her way down the hall. She passed a few Clone troopers going about their duties, all of them greeting her with a tilt of their heads and a brief "Commander." as she continued on. She flashed them a smile as she presented herself as pleased, put-together leader who was basking in the sense of victory everyone else was enjoying.

Inwardly, half of her stomachs were tied up in knots, and she tried to keep herself calm and composed.

She arrived at a singular door which granted access to one of the many modified cargo holds across the ship. A pair of troopers stood as guards on either side, standing stationary as a pair of medical troopers exited from within. Ahsoka knew who they were and why they were in there. It was a routine check she had been somewhat dreading. "Commander." They greeted, saluting her presence.

"At ease, men." She responded. "So… how's the prisoner…?" She hesitantly wondered, her chipper nature falling.

"The Wraith has been sedated and, well, General Skywalker's orders were to keep him alive so we've been trying to do just that. But he's not making it easy for us. This Sep has injuries that would've killed any one of us." He leading medic reported. Ahsoka swallowed as he powered on a datapad. "A few dozen pieces of shrapnel were lodged across his torso, some of them penetrating deeper than others. The more superficial ones we were able to pull out, but the ones deeper in we left as is. More metal debris was found lodged in his right arm, so we cut them down as best we could for ease of transport. The debris found in his left leg we left as is, he would need a proper hospital or surgical theatre to have that removed…" The medic continued to rattle off a list of ailments and injuries, Ahsoka's shoulders slumping as the stripes of her lekku turned a little paler.

I can't imagine how much pain he's in. This is WAY worse than Ryloth.

"Uh, thank you, trooper." Ahsoka coughed, interrupting his reading. "But you… stabilized him, yes?"

"As best we could, Commander." The medic affirmed. "He'll live but he's not gonna be getting any better. Not with all that metal stuck in him. He's going to need more than field medicine if the Generals want him taken to Coruscant." He holstered his datapad. "We had his weapons removed and sent to the ship's armoury. We also removed his armor… well, actually, cut it off. The parts we could, that is. His helmet's still on but that's because we haven't been able to get it off. It's like it's been glued to his head or something. We suspect the metal might be fused to his skin, we've encountered that when removing his armor." Ahsoka nodded numbly.

"As you were." She said quietly. The medics saluted and went on their way. Ahsoka stood alone for a moment, staring at the slab of durasteel before her, bracing for what was to come.

I hate medical visits. I hate seeing troopers in pain… I hate seeing anyone in pain… everything they feel is just so overwhelming. B-But I have to see him. I have to… make sure he's alive. For myself.

Striding forward, the door slid open to grant her entry. Within she discovered a cot a size too big for the broad-shouldered frame of the super-soldier strapped to it. The same manacles from the transport up bound his wrists and ankles to the frame while improvised straps wrapped around his muscular torso to keep him down.

True to the medic's word, Wraith was clad only in his helmet and boots. The dark fabric of his bodysuit clug to his form like a second skin, serving as the first piece of evidence to his suffering. Knife-like cuts revealed angry red scars underneath, testament to shrapnel damage. In other places the material was curdled and clung to pieces of metal that had been fused into one lump of ore, fabric, and flesh by the intense heat of the exploding factory. A scattered few white bandages wrapped around larger wounds, blood-stained and prominent. His bodysuit also bore blood stains which were far more prolific across the parts of him where his armor had failed.

In the light of the hold, his helmet appeared darker. Blackened by scorch marks that appeared most apparent around his shattered optic. His visible eye was closed, skin darkened by a mixture of soot and blood much like the area around his exposed mouth.

Ahsoka glanced up at the IV drip feeding Wraith a constant supply of high-grade sedatives. She glanced at the markings on the bag, the numbers and terminology unfamiliar to her. She turned back to Wraith and pondered if he was asleep.

The medics were just in here. Maybe he isn't…

The Togruta swallowed nervously, internally psyching herself up. "Hey…" She greeted, softly and quietly. In response, his eye opened, Wraith tilting his head in a barely-noticeable move to meet her gaze. She stared into his lone green eye for a moment, an empathic connection shuddering through the Force like an old wound reopened.

Okay. He's awake. So… now what? What am I even supposed to say? Should I say something? I can feel his pain from here…

"Um… H-How are you feeling?" She asked, sounding more hesitant than she wanted to. Ahsoka wished in that moment she had the same confident calm Master Luminara radiated. Even the collected aura of Barriss would be preferable to her scatterbrained uncertainty.

Wraith's head leaned back against the cot as his cracked, dry, bloodstained lips parting as he spoke. His voice was strong but reserved, pitched down in a reflection of its melancholic tone. "I failed to carry out the biggest operation since the beginning of the war. If what the Clones are saying about the Geonosian Queen being killed are true…then I have condemned an entire race to extinction with my failure." His words sounded like a death knell, a resignation to a fate he did not desire. Through the Force, Ahsoka felt his emotional tumult as if the weight of a walker leg came crashing down upon her shoulders. His feelings became her own and she felt awful. His eye closed. "So you tell me, Jedi… how do you think I feel?" He sarcastically asked.

Like a failure. And I know what that feels like.

Ahsoka did not verbally respond to him, her gaze downcast as his question lingered in the air. His emotional state hit her like deja vu, taking her back to Ryloth and how awful she felt after losing her squadron. Seemingly able to emphasize with him, the crushing weight on Ahsoka's all-too-small shoulders grew heavier.

He's like this because of me. It's all my fault. Again.

The prominence of Ryloth remindered her of the past. Phantom voices reared their heads, shouting in her mind.

"I've got two on my tail, I can't shake them!"

"I can't help you, Axe, I've got my own problems!"

"Hang in there, Slammer!"

"Commander! Please, Commander! I need your help! Get them off me! Get them- AUGH!"

"Another droid squadron from above! They've got the drop on us! This is your fault Commander! We never should have let you-EEEAAGH!"

"They've hit my engine! There's too many of them! I'm losing power! They hit my port thruster! I-I don't wanna die Commander Ahsoka! Please don't let me die! ACK! I'M ON FIRE! COCKPIT'S FILLING UP! WAUGH-!"

Shuddering where she stood, the memories and the emotions became too much for Ahsoka and the Togruta left the hold without a word.

Later…

A Nu-class transport shuttle ferried Barriss and Ahsoka first to a neighbouring cruiser to collect Master Mundi before back down to Geonosis. By the time it made landfall at a Republic staging ground, Ahsoka's mask was back in place and she carried herself as a chipper ready-for-anything and eager-to-please young Padawan. If Barriss or Ki-Adi noticed anything about her they didn't speak up about it, leaving Ahsoka to believe contentedly that her misdirection was working.

The staging ground in question was near the destroyed Progate Temple, the Republic busy sweeping the area to guarantee any remaining Geonosians were swiftly dealt with. Another day was drawing to a close, casting long shadows across the Geonosian landscape. Oddly enough everything seemed peaceful and quiet. Such was a rarity for Geonosis. It were as if the Republic's victory had finally calmed the disturbed planet, like the relaxed air after a day of fervor…

Or the calm before a storm.

The Padawans disembarked and Poggle the Lesser was quickly forced aboard the same shuttle by a pair of security troopers, snarling irritably in his native tongue as they did. Barriss and Ahsoka ignored him, deeming him harmless with a pair of restraining cuffs around his wrists, making for the gathering of Anakin, Obi-Wan and Luminara.

"I'm afraid we have a complication." Master Mundi announced to the elder Jedi as he strode down the shuttle's boarding ramp after Poggle had been secured.

"Don't we always?" Anakin wondered dryly.

"I've just received a distress signal from our forces on Dantooine. Master Windu's defenses 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. Master Fisto is already standing by, ready to organize what is needed." The Cerean explained.

"We're delivering Poggle to Coruscant, and Cestus is not exactly on the way." Anakin countered.

"The Republic must begin debriefing Poggle right away if we're to get useful intelligence from him." Luminara added as she pondered the quandary.

"There is also the question of Wraith. We need to make sure he is also transferred to Coruscant as soon as possible." Obi-Wan added.

"Actually, I have a report from the medics tending to him, Master." Ahsoka piped up, withdrawing a datapad she collected before her departure. "It's… their opinion he needs proper medical attention and they fear he… wouldn't survive the trip back to Coruscant in his current condition." She chose her words carefully, doing her best not to react emotionally to them.

Keeping everything down is so incredibly hard. Just once can something not be my fault?

"Certainly not very ideal." Obi-Wan murmured as he studied the report for himself.

"However, there is a medical station in the cards. They would certainly have the means to stabilize him for the return trip." Luminara noted, earning a nod from Obi-Wan. "I suggest we let our Padawans handle this supply mission and take Wraith with them. They can leave the super-soldier under the care of Master Fisto while moving the supplies on to Dantooine." Her suggestion drew sharp look from Anakin.

"The two of them with Wraith on board? All due respect, Master, but are you crazy?" Anakin retorted. Luminara frowned but it was Obi-Wan who spoke first.

"Anakin, the super-soldier will not be a problem. Read the report for yourself. He needs medical attention just to survive the trip back to Coruscant, not just a very general 'keep him alive' mandate." The bearded master stated. His friend was quieted and a tension hung in the air.

I don't understand what the problem is, Anakin. He's beaten. There's nothing he can do in this state.

"Whatever needs to be done, Master, I'm happy to help." Ahsoka quickly proffered, smiling at Obi-Wan and Luminara.

"As am I. It won't be a problem." Barriss added. After a moment's contemplation, and seeing the deck was stacked against him, Anakin relented with a sigh.

"Very well. Take the medical frigate." Obi-Wan told them. "And after we've delivered Poggle to Coruscant, we'll rendezvous with you for the voyage to Dantooine."

Word of the splinter mission quickly circulated through the ranks as the Jedi made to redistribute part of their forces in relocation to Dantooine. As they did, the 501st's Tango Company enjoyed the quiet in their own way near the ruins of the Progate Temple entrance. Led to the secluded spot by their second in command, Clone Sergeant CT-9521 "Pulsar", the remaining four company members, including CT-9544 "Scythe", CT-9538 "Edge", CT-9529 "Havoc", and CT-9547 "Ox", took an opportunity to nap as the sun dipped low and the heat lessened. Using debris and their own packs they slumbered long after the Republic began departure preparations.

And it was in such a state that the company commander, Clone Lieutenant CL-9632 "Trap", found them.

He glanced over the men under his command one by one, noting the matching Ralltiir Tiger markings on their armor. All smaller versions of the big one emblazed across his entire torso plate. Trap knew Geonosis had been gruelling as Tango Company was lucky enough to come out of the campaign without having lost a man. But there was still a duty to perform and, as far as he was concerned, his men were sleeping on the job.

Raising his DeeCee, he fired off a single shot into the air that jolted most of the men awake. They scrambled for weapons, believing themselves under attack. The bleach-blonde Edge had his rifle raised and even aimed at Trap before he blinked the sleep out of his eyes and realized what was going on.

"Sorry, boys. Hope I didn't interrupt any pleasant dreams." Trap remarked, sounding somewhere between amused and unimpressed. Shaking off their slumber, the Clones hurried to their feet, slinging packs over their shoulders in preparation to move.

Ox ran a hand through his neatly-maintained hair. His brothers often teased him about the amount of gel he used to keep it parted with razor-like precision. "We got another mission, sir?" He asked.

"You bet. We're making a medical supply run to Ord Cestus."

Pulsar snorted. "Thought we were bred for battle, not running errands." He muttered as he stood, only to come face to face with Trap.

"Hey! We were bred to follow orders, Pulsar. You got a problem with that?" Trap demanded, jabbing a finger into his breastplate. Pulsar quickly cleared his throat and changed tactics.

"No, sir. No problem." He dutifully replied, not wishing to upset his superior any further.

"That's what I thought. Now, move!" Trap snapped, spurring the rest of the men into action.

Pulsar loosed a grumbling sigh as he turned to collect his kit, noting that Scythe, identifiable by the Ralltiir Tiger jaw tattoo on his forehead and the fact he was bald, had slept through the whole moment.

Leave it to him to sleep like the dead.

"Scythe, come on." Pulsar ordered. But Scythe didn't move. "Up, brother, up and at 'em." Pulsar urged, but Scythe merely rolled over in his sleep. Pulsar scoffed and rolled his eyes.

Fine. Stay behind. Can't wait to see you on KP duty.

Picking up his kit, Pulsar brought up the rear of the company just behind Havoc, identifiable by his full head of hair, soul patch, and unique jaw-length sideburns. But just before leaving the temple grounds, the sound of movement caught his attention and Pulsar turned to see Scythe standing upright in an almost ramrod straight position. "Hey, Scythe. Welcome back to the land of the living." He snickered. "Hurry up. We're shipping out."

"Thank you, sir." Scythe droned…. and Pulsar missed the vacant look in his eyes.

Medical frigate TB-73 arrived to load up Tango Company as well as the two Padawan Commanders overseeing the supply mission and any necessary cargo required for the trip to Ord Cestus. Anakin watched as Trap led his men rank and file up the boarding ramp with Scythe bringing up the rear… his pack appearing somewhat full.

TB-73 took flight with Barriss and Ahsoka in the bridge. The girls were quite eager to leave Geonosis behind and the canvas of stars in front of them was a welcome sight as they flew past the orbiting ring of rocky debris around the planet. Clone pilots guided them into open space as Barriss secured a comm transmission to the Ord Cestus medical station.

"We are ready to make our jump, Master Fisto." She told the ever-cheery Nautolan on the other end.

"Good. I look forward to your arrival." Kit responded with a smile.

"Commander, we're locked on to Ord Cestus. Coordinates are set." One of the pilots announced as the transmission closed.

"Very well. Take us out, pilot." Barriss responded, standing still with Ahsoka was the pinpricks of starlight elongated into beams of light as TB-73 catapulted forward into hyperspace.

Time passed as the medical frigate barreled through hyperspace. As the sleep cycle rolled around, Barriss and Ahsoka adjourned to their shared quarters for some rest. With two bunks in the same room, the Mirialan and the Togruta slipped into their respective arrangements to sleep. Barriss did so with ease; calm and comfortable with hands folded across her abdomen with her head on the pillow.

Ahsoka had a far harder time.

Alone in the quiet of their quarters, with not even a peep from Barriss, the Togruta struggled to get some shuteye. Now that the action was behind her, no more fighting for the moment, she was alone with a very vivid mindset. Her scattered thoughts bounded to one topic after another, memory after memory plagued her attempt to find rest. She couldn't stop thinking about her harrowing mission to the Geonosian droid factory. Of all the close calls she'd had in the war, this one was by far the closest. It was only her trust in Anakin and her faith in his stubborn determination that kept her going… otherwise, she would've resigned herself to a possible death.

And then came the moment Wraith pulled himself out of the factory wreckage.

Bloody, broken, armor scorched and torn, his guttural sobs replayed so loudly it sounded as if they came from right beside her. They came the blood rushing from his mouth, spewing out with every cough as he keeled over and collapsed in front of them, defeated and broken.

The memory replayed with such vivid clarity, Ahsoka kept tossing and turning in restless struggle. She tossed and turned so much so that Barriss eventually took notice.

"What? What is it?" She wondered aloud. Her Togrutan friend loosed a sigh, throwing her headtails back against the pillow branded with a large Galactic Republic symbol.

Should I tell her the truth? She's been studying as a healer, maybe she knows an exercise to help me sleep… But then again, what if she tells one of the Masters? What if she tells Anakin? Then I'd never hear the end of it!

Ahsoka groaned. "It's… too quiet. It's a big change from all the fighting the last few days." It wasn't really a lie… more of a half-truth.

"You should enjoy this peace while it lasts." Barriss responded, turning to look at her friend with sleep in her eyes. Ahsoka envied her.

"I can't." She muttered, sitting up in her bunk. As far as Ahsoka was concerned, this was a fruitless endeavour. The less she stayed here trying to do something pointless the sooner the trip to Ord Cestus would end and she could move on to something more active. "Let's go eat." She suggested.

Obliging her friend, Barriss sat up and followed Ahsoka out of their quarters. They made for the mess hall, winding their way through bright white corridors. "I find it hard to believe you of all people have trouble sleeping. Don't Togruta's need a lot of sleep?" The Mirialan inquired.

"We evolved from felines, Bar, we're not still felines!" Ahsoka retorted. "I need just as much sleep as the average Padawan."

"Right, of course. This is just an anomaly then?" Barriss wondered. "Has it been… happening a lot, 'Soka? Should I be concerned?" She asked. Ahsoka swallowed.

"N-No. I sleep fine whenever I back at the Temple." The Togruta answered. Barriss hummed thoughtfully, folding her hands behind her back.

"It could be that your sleep cycle is out of alignment. You've certainly been very busy with the Five-Oh-First lately, based on what you've told me. Maybe you need to find a way to balance your rhythms…" The Mirialan continued on, her words folding together into a continuous drone as Ahsoka tuned her out. Truth be told, she was tired. But in an emotional and psychological way that would not allow her body to rest.

I feel like I've been stretched thin. It's because Togrutas are naturally emotional. That's why I'm tired, Bar. I wish I could tell you that…

Suddenly stirred from staring off into space by a shift in the white in front of her, Ahsoka looked up to see the pair of Clone troopers guarding a singular door. A door she knew well. Wraith was on the other side. Ahsoka paused near the door, staring blankly at the slab of durasteel for a moment. The aura of emotions radiating from within clung to her like tar, weighing down her spirit and clouding her with-

"Ahsoka?"

Jerked out of her stupor by Barriss' promptings, Ahsoka looked wide-eyed to her friend a few paces ahead. "Sorry, Bar." She apologized, jogging over to her. The Mirialan's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer as they started walking again.

"I think I see what the problem is." She mused, causing Ahsoka's heart to skip a beat. "You're worried about travelling through hyperspace with an enemy soldier on board. One who has singled you out in the past."

"What? No! Of course not!" Ahsoka retorted, trying to downplay it. "You heard the medic report; he… he can't even walk right now."

"You're sure that's not the reason for your sleeplessness?" Barriss asked.

"Yes! I'm sure!" Ahsoka stated firmly. "Now come on, I'm starving." Her rise in tone could have been easily blamed on a lack of sleep, but Barriss wasn't quite convinced. She'd lay the matter aside for now.

Arriving in the mess hall, the two Padawans helped themselves to a couple trays of army-issue rations. The hall itself was completely empty leaving the two girls spoiled for choice as to where to sit. "Want some caf?" Ahsoka wondered.

"At this hour? Plan on bouncing off the walls, do you?" Barriss teased in retort. The two sat down, Ahsoka grabbing her fork and holding it, humourously, in a reverse grip much like her lightsaber. Barriss took note.

"What?" Ahsoka wondered.

"Oh, nothing." Her friend replied, smiling to herself. They started picking at the nutrient cubes on their trays.

"Why do they have to make rations the same color as plastoid?" Ahsoka wondered with a sigh.

"You should be asking why they make them taste like wet duracrete." Barriss countered.

They ate in silence for a moment, consuming a bit more water to compensate for the ration cubes. "I was just thinking about what you said earlier, about enjoying the peace while it lasts." Ahsoka suddenly piped up. "As a Jedi… I'm not sure I know how to do that."

"Master Windu has said we are keepers of the peace, not warriors. However, once the war is over, it will be our job to maintain the peace." Barriss proffered.

"Yes, but will we do so as keepers of the peace or warriors? And what's the difference?" Ahsoka wondered. Despite everything she learned in the Temple as a youngling, this particular aspect seemed really vague. The threat of war had always loomed in the background while she was growing up and Ahsoka had not known a life without it.

"I don't have all the answers, Ahsoka. Like you, I am a learner." Barriss replied, shrugging as she did. "What does your Master tell you?"

"Anakin? Oh, um... You might find some of his thoughts on the future a bit radical." Ahsoka hesitantly responded.

"Really? Why?" Barriss pried.

"Let's just say my Master will always do what needs to be done. I'm not even sure how peacetime will agree with him." The Togruta answered, smirking as she pondered Anakin's war-ready nature.

Up in the frigate's bridge, the two pilots flying the vessel stoically stuck to their duties. They remained alone until the entry door behind them slid open, revealing Scythe accompanied by two more of the ship's personnel. One of the pilots glanced over his shoulder. "Just came up to check on us, Scythe?" He inquired. "Well, we're on course, and all systems are green." He reported as the three Clones entered the bridge. He thought nothing more of it, until he heard the distinct whine of a blaster charging up. He whipped around and discovered, to his horror, that the two Clones with Scythe had their weapons trained on them both. "What the-?!" His cry was immediately drowned out as they opened fire, three blaster bolts striking each pilot and killing them instantly. As the pair slumped over in their seats, Scythe stepped forward.

"We have control of the bridge." He stated, seemingly to no one in particular.

The door to the mess hall opened up, revealing a pair of troopers that Ahsoka and Barriss quickly took notice of. "Evening, Ox. Edge." Ahsoka greeted with a smile, knowing them by name. "Would you like to join us?" She offered. Uncharacteristic of them, the Clones did not respond and stared at the Jedi with vacant looks in their eyes. This wasn't normal behavior for them at all. "Is… something wrong, troopers?" Ahsoka asked hesitantly.

In response, Ox and Edge strode into the mess hall and raised their blasters.

As their fingers squeezed the triggers, the Padawan's danger sense flared in the force, and lightsabers ignited with a snap-hiss as the first blaster rounds streaked across the expanse. Green and blue swept back and forth to block the incoming bolts before Ahsoka had good sense to flip over their table and use it as cover. Neither of the Padawans wanted to hurt the Clones. They couldn't understand why they were being attacked to begin with. But they could still feel the killer intent coming off each of them. The Force was absolutely rank with intention. "Troopers! Stand down!" Ahsoka shouted over the blasterfire. Edge approached first, trying to get the drop on them. But Barriss and sliced his weapon in two before striking him in the head with the hilt of her lightsaber. Ox crossed the gap to attack only for Ahsoka to rise up and use a Force push to send both men careening into a nearby wall where they slumped into an unconscious heap on the floor.

The two Padawans rose to investigate, only to whirl around as the mess hall door opened again. Lieutenant Trap and Havoc entered with rifles raised, only to be put on the back peddle when Barriss and Ahsoka held them at saberpoint.

"What are you doing?" Trap demanded as he and Havoc held their hands aloft and let their weapons dangle.

"Two clones just attacked us! What is going on?" Ahsoka exclaimed.

"Trap, do you know what happened to those troopers?" Barriss demanded. Trap shook his head.

"Couldn't tell you, Commander. I'm just as confused as-"

"You're in charge of those men! Did you order them to kill us?" Barriss snapped.

"No, sir! I did not." Trap stated vehemently, eyes wide and filled with the glow of Barriss' saber.

"What's happening? Why would they do this?" Ahsoka questioned. Neither she nor Barriss let their lightsaber drop.

"W-We don't know. We heard shots." Havoc replied, sweating bullets.

Barriss still didn't buy it. "Why should we believe you?"

"Look," Trap said, easing himself to the floor very slowly as he set down his blaster. Havoc did the same, "no guns." Appeased by their willful cooperation and attempts at peace (as well as a complete and utter lack of trying to shoot them) the Padawans flicked off their sabers to the relief of the Clones.

"These men wouldn't just attack us without reason." Barriss muttered.

"My Master had a clone betray them once, a traitor who was paid off by Ventress." Ahsoka mused, pondering a possible connection.

"It can't be that simple. At least, it didn't feel like that." Barriss responded, glancing back at the unconscious Ox and Edge.

"Excuse me, sir, we should make sure that we're still in control of the bridge." Trap urged. The Mirialan acted first, toggling her commlink.

"Bridge, this is Barriss. Respond." Silence from the other end, enough to make Barriss frown.

"We need to get up there. We need to find out what's going on." Ahsoka insisted.

"But these two will be coming around any minute." Barriss countered as she gestured to the fallen troopers.

"Havoc can watch them until we check on the bridge." Trap offered. The Padawans shared a nod of agreement. Whatever caused this situation, they needed to get ahead of it and try to find a solution.

"Okay. Let's go." Ahsoka led the way out of the mess hall with Barriss and a re-armed Trap close behind. Havoc stayed and picked up his rifle again, wasting no time flicking on the stun setting.

Elsewhere in the galaxy…

The Resolute streaked through hyperspace on a direct flight to Coruscant, carrying four of the five commanding Jedi who had spearheaded the Geonosis campaign. Arriving on the bridge, Anakin and Obi-Wan returned from a fruitless grilling of Archduke Poggle, responding to the summons of their fellow Jedi. From the look Luminara's eyes, something was amiss.

"TeeBee Seventy-Three failed to check in on schedule." The Mirialan master announced. "I attempted to contact them. There is no reply."

"I don't like it. Something's up." Anakin decided quite quickly.

"It is certainly most unlike either Padawan to lose contact." Luminara concurred.

"They're in trouble." The Knight insisted.

"Anakin, have a little faith in your Padawan." Obi-Wan chided.

"She would have checked in." Anakin insisted.

"Like you always do?" Kenobi countered. Anakin sobered, suddenly experience a moment's flush as Obi-Wan yet again reminded him of his less-than-standard operating procedures.

"Good point." He muttered quietly.

"Sometimes I don't think you realize how alike you two have become." Obi-Wan remarked with a soft smirk. Ki-Adi Mundi cleared his throat.

"We need to continue our interrogation of Poggle." The Cerean interjected.

"Yes, agreed. He's being most uncooperative." Obi-Wan agreed. The Jedi made to leave but Anakin pulled Rex aside before he left the bridge.

"Keep your ears open in case Ahsoka calls." He commanded in a low whisper.

"Got it, sir." Rex affirmed in equally hushed tones.

Back on TB-73…

Making their way to the upper levels of the frigate, Ahsoka, Barriss, and Trap arrived at the access corridor that separated the bulk of the frigate from the bridge. Before they could even set foot within, however, red ray-shields powered up to block their access. "Someone doesn't want us going up there." Ahsoka remarked.

"I'll attempt to override the controls." Barriss offered, stooping down to access the control panel. The Mirialan managed to key in a couple of command codes before her danger sense flared again, drawing attention to her side… where Trap was standing.

The Clone fired his blaster from the hip as Barriss snapped out her lightsaber. She deflected the incoming round before a quick reversal swing sliced his weapon cleanly in two. Undeterred by the loss of his blaster, Trap pounced on her, knocking Barriss' lightsaber from her grip as he grappled with the Padawan.

Ahsoka stood rooted, shocked by Trap's sudden betrayal. Why is he doing this?!

She had her answer soon enough when Trap's eyes rolled back into his head and a long yellowish worm emerged from his mouth, squealing an unholy noise that made Ahsoka's montrals ache. "He's infected!" Barriss cried. Reaching out with the Force, she summoned her lightsaber back into her hand and promptly pressed the hilt up against Trap's torso. Flicking the ignition switch, her blade flashed into sapphiric life with a snap-hiss, piercing clean through the unfortunate Clone trooper. Trap loosed a gasp as his eyes rolled back, his corpse plunging to the ground as a brain worm suddenly slithered out of his open mouth and lunged for Barriss, desperate for a new host. The Mirialan reacted with split second reflexes, fighting the worm as it wriggled fiercely in her grasp. "Get this thing off me!" Throwing it away with all her strength, Ahsoka jumped in and sliced through the worm with her own lightsaber. Screeching as the halves fell to the floor, the worm twitched and writhed in the midst of its death throes.

"What is that?" Ahsoka exclaimed in disgust

"Looks like some type of parasite. It must be controlling their actions." Barriss observed as the worm died on the floor, falling limp where it had fallen.

"Parasite…? Wait," Ahsoka paused, putting two and two together. While she never got a description, something about these things was familiar, "Myri told me about the brain worms she and Master Skywalker encountered in the Progate Temple catacombs. The ones that can bring a Geonosian's corpse back to life!"

"Well, that explains a lot." Barriss mused. Ahsoka's gaze turned to the dead Trap, feeling crestfallen at the sight of a good trooper wasted so thoughtlessly. Why'd you have to do that, Bar?

"Trap was my friend. He would never have tried to kill us." She stated, for Barriss' sake as well as her own. "How did these things get on board in the first place?"

"They must have infected the Clones while they were on Geonosis. Trap and Havoc were acting perfectly normal, which means the infection will be nearly impossible to detect." Barriss realized as the girls discovered the grim reality of their situation.

"We'll have to quarantine the ship." Ahsoka decided.

"We should also contact Master Fisto and let him know about the situation." Barriss added and her friend readily agreed.

Realizing that they could not trust a single Clone trooper, the two Padawans stole carefully through the corridors of the frigate and did their best to avoid encounters with any trooper. Ahsoka hated the whole ordeal.

We can't even trust the men. I don't want to hurt them! Why is this happening? Why did this have to happen? Stupid bugs!

Making their way aft, the two Padawans reached the primary cargo hold where the supplies bound for Dantooine were to be loaded. But Ahsoka and Barriss suddenly discovered a plethora of troopers making their way into the hold… as well as a very odd noise coming from within. "Wait…" Barriss pulled Ahsoka back by the shoulder, holding them around a corner. Coming from the cargo hold was an irregular clicking and chittering, sounding almost like vocalizations. It was a noise the girls were very familiar with… they had spent the past few days contending with it. "That sound. It's-"

"Geonosian." Ahsoka growled, baring her fangs. The Clones themselves were making that noise. Or, more accurately, the brain worms controlling them were. They were conversing among themselves, acting like Geonosians in a way that disturbed the Padawans as they stole closer to the cargo hold. In the midst of the troopers, one sane Clone was forced up against a storage crate, held in place by his corrupted brothers. Another infected trooper came over with a fresh parasite in his hand. "We have to help him." Ahsoka hissed.

"It's too late." Barriss realized in dismay.

Sure enough, the worm was released onto the Clone's face and it quickly slithered up his nasal passage. The trooper gagged, sputtered, twitched violently in the hold of his brothers, his eyes rolling back into his head for a moment until the parasite nestled in his cranium and took control of his motor functions. Ahsoka and Barriss watched horrified for a moment as the newly-infected Clone integrated himself with his corrupted brothers… but their attention was disrupted when their Force senses flared alerting them to a sudden danger from behind.

They whirled around just as a Clone started firing on them. Reflexively igniting their lightsabers, the girls hurriedly deflected the bolts as they backed into the cargo hold and then used the Force to shut the door and cut off the attacking trooper.

Unfortunately they quickly discovered that course of action came with its own consequences.

Barriss and Ahsoka felt their senses tremble again as the combat-hungry troopers they were locked in the hold with took up arms and encroached upon them. "Uh, we might have a problem 'Soka!" Barriss realized, lifting her blade defensively.

"You're telling me!" Ahsoka exclaimed. "Don't let any worms near you!" She called out in warning. Together, they used the Force to pull a pair of eggs out of the hands of Pulsar and their lightsabers sliced them in two. The Clones promptly resorted to violence, opening fire on the girls as they dove for cover, swinging their lightsabers and using the Force to topple stacks of crates to knock out troopers. Ahsoka covered her friend and warded off the barrage of blasterfire as Barriss erected a barricade, cutting through another Tango Company trooper in the process.

We need to get out of here.

"Bar! Let's go for the vent!" Ahsoka cried, her gaze turned up at the one place the Clones would have difficulty accessing. Summoning the Force, the two Padawans vaulted up the stacks of crates with great agility, dodging incoming blasterfire as they did. The troopers were doggedly determined to take them down and still fired as Ahsoka and Barriss scampered across the ceiling catwalks. Using the Force they tore open the access grate and lept into the narrow opening as blue blaster rounds struck the ceiling and riddled the edge of the vent.

The Padawans started crawling, keeping an eye on activity below as they left the cargo hold. Troopers began sprinting through the halls as they tried to hunt down the fleeing pair. "This is insane!" Ahsoka whispered. "We need a plan."

"I'll go to the reactor room and disable the thrusters." The Mirialan stated. "You head for the aft comm center and send a warning to Master Fisto. We have to stop the ship from reaching the medical station." They stopped in place, Ahsoka unconvinced of her plan.

"I don't know, Barriss. I think we should stay together." She responded. The Mirialan could sense her fear and unease. Not unlike when she was trying to sleep earlier.

"As do I. Unfortunately, that's not a luxury we have right now." Barriss responded, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "One of us must succeed, Ahsoka. If you need to, you'll do what must be done. I know it." The Togruta swallowed and nodded, taking a moment to find her voice.

"Yes. Of course. Then I'll see you soon."

Barriss turned off at the first junction in the vents, leaving Ahsoka to carry on alone. Okay… aft comms centre is… well, aft. I gotta go all the way back across the frigate. And try to not get spotted by a bunch of Clones under the control of kriffing brain parasites! She kept crawling, thinking just how absurd things had gotten in such a short amount of time. The more she realized the gravity of the situation, the more she wished Barriss had stayed with her or at least had another ally with her. The whole ship is against us… we should've stayed together! Tracking the corridors back towards her and Barriss' shared quarters, Ahsoka came across a familiar durasteel door that was no longer guarded by a pair of Clone troopers. The Togruta stopped and reassessed her situation. He might still be in there… But he might've been turned also. The last thing we need is a super-soldier on the loose! If what Myri said is true about these worms controlling corpses… imagine what it could do with just injuries! Exhaling heavily, Ahsoka glanced down the vents and then back at the durasteel door, pondering her options. It wasn't great and this was far from her ideal situation. But at least she stood a chance to gain an ally… maybe. If he had not been corrupted then she could spare him that fate as well as make sure the enemy opposing her was not any stronger. Well… No. I need to go. Barriss is counting on me. The sooner Master Fisto knows what's going on the better.

With her mind made up, she continued on her way.

Her knees hurt by the time she arrived at the comms centre and Ahsoka dropped out of the vents as soon as she could, racing over to the long-range transmitter. Quickly keying in the familiar comm-codes for the Ord Cestus medical station, she nervously drummed her fingers against the panel while waiting for the link to be established. It took a long time, way too long for her liking, until the image of Kit Fisto and the station communications officer appeared on the screen before her. "Master Fisto! Thank the Force!" She cried in relief.

"Padawan Tano? What seems to be the problem?" The Nautolan wondered. Ahsoka wasted no time explaining their situation to him, doing the best she could to include as many viable details as possible.

"As long as these things are on board, we dare not dock with the medical station." She summarized.

"You must bring the ship in. The only way we can stop these parasites is to analyze them." Kit Fisto stated.

"You don't understand how terrible these things are. What if they get loose?" Ahsoka insisted.

"We will take precautions." The Nautolan promised her. Ahsoka loosed a quiet sigh, not entirely believing him given her own experience with the damnable things.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Master Fisto… but I will follow your instructions." She relented.

"Good. Stay the course, we will have tugs on hand in case you need assistance. Try to retake control of the frigate but, first, contact your Master. The rest of the force needs to know what's happened especially if that same parasite managed to sneak aboard their cruiser." Kit instructed.

"I'm on it, Master." Ahsoka affirmed, closing the transmission link as she began activating a new one. She quickly busied herself aligning the transponder arrays, knowing the Resolute's transmission codes by heart. "Almost got it…" The screen before her flickered, revealing the image of a Clone she knew well.

"Cargo ship TeeBee Seventy-Three, this is Clone Captain Rex. Please respond." Ahsoka breathed a sigh of relief.

"Rex, this is Ahsoka. Boy, am I glad to hear your voice."

"Likewise, sir. I've got someone here who wants to speak with you." Rex replied, stepping out of the way so that Anakin could enter the frame.

"Ahsoka, what's going on? Are you okay?" He urgently asked.

"Well… not exactly." Ahsoka admitted. As she had with Kit Fisto, she explained the situation in detail to Anakin, doing her best to leave no part out.

"Make sure you have a wrist com. Keep it on." Anakin instructed once she finished. "I'm going to interrogate Poggle. He might have some answers. Find Barriss and wait for my signal."

"On it, Master." Ahsoka signed off. Powering down the transmitter, a fresh presence filled her senses and she turned to suddenly discover Barriss standing behind her on the opposite side of one of the star chart displays. "Barriss, you're back. Were you successful?" She asked, happy to see the Mirialan again. Barriss did not respond and it was then that Ahsoka noticed the vacant look in her eyes. It were as if she was not at home, her body moving without her presence within it, and it started to freak Ahsoka out. "Bar? What's wrong?" Ahsoka hesitantly asked.

Barriss remained silent, slowly stretching out her hand as the Force churned and swelled. A telekinetic push struck the glass chart and shattered it, causing a maelstrom of shards to rain down on Ahsoka. Reacting quickly, the Togruta shielded herself with a barrier and redirected the glass, giving Barriss a chance to activate her lightsaber and pounce on her. A horrified Ahsoka barely got her blade up in time. "Barriss, no!" She cried, realizing her friend had been corrupted in the time that had passed. Her green blade rebuffed the sapphire blue one bearing down on her and Ahsoka backtracked. "I'm your friend! Barriss, snap out of it!" Ahsoka called out, trying to reason with her as Barriss rushed her again. They dueled with swift, rapid strikes, Barriss on the offensive with Ahsoka relying on Form Six to defend herself. "Barriss, it's not you, it's the creatures! Fight them!" She begged, seemingly to no avail. When Barriss refused to let up, Ahsoka responded with a Force push of her own that sent the Mirialan flying out of the comms centre. She turned and started running, darting out the opposite entry and gaining speed.

Meanwhile…

Anakin entered the Resolute's brig alone, making for the single occupied cell that was guarded by a pair of Clone troopers. His mind was made up and even at a distance the troopers could see something… different about him.

Ahsoka's life is depending on this information. I WILL get it from Poggle. No matter what.

"Leave us." He commanded in a low voice. The troopers salute and took their leave from their post, Anakin letting himself into the cell where Poggle sat shackled beside a protocol droid bearing Republic army markings. "You will answer my questions." The Knight stated, waving his hand to perform a mind trick. Poggle responded in Geonosian, the nearby protocol droid translating for Anakin's benefit.

"Your feeble Jedi mind tricks do not work on Geonosians. The other Jedi already learned this."

I know that.

"Mind tricks?" Anakin repeated, almost bemused. With sudden speed he reared back and backhanded Poggle, knocking the Geonosian out of his seat. "I don't need mind tricks to get you to talk." Anakin growled as he advanced.

"I will never talk, Jedi-" Poggle stated defiantly, only for his vocalizations to fall apart as his airway was restricted. Anakin held out two fingers in a pinching motion, the Dark Side flowing through him as he slammed the Geonosian up against the nearest wall, choking him out as he did. Anakin's eyes narrowed.

"We'll see about that, Poggle…" He darkly replied, increasing his choke until the Geonosian was flailing off the floor, desperate for air, eyes wide with fear…

Anakin could see it. Sense it. And he knew he'd get what he wanted.

Racing down the corridor, Ahsoka wracked her mind for a plan.

Barriss is gone too! What the kriff am I supposed to do?! I sure hope Skyguy can come up with something!

The thrum of a distant lightsaber indicated her corrupted friend was hot on her heels. With the parasite in possession of Barriss' body, and therefore her Force sensitivity and lightsaber skills, it made her a threat Ahsoka would have a harder time overcoming… and another one she did not want to fight.

What am I gonna do… What am I gonna do… I-I need help, I need… something!

A familiar durasteel door loomed down the hall, Ahsoka blinking once as she recognized it. Her earlier decision to leave it be seemed to come back around and bite her. "Oh kriff me." She muttered aloud as her thoughts churned. Either the Force is providing or I just had to open my big mouth. She didn't have long to ponder what was to come. Either she went for it and faced the consequences or she didn't. Realizing that disappearing through the door might be useful in throwing Barriss off her trail, Ahsoka finally elected to at least dip inside. Using the Force to open it in advance of her arrival, she slipped inside with a sidestep and sealed the door just as quickly behind her. Steadying her breathing, she looked around. Wraith was still bound to the same cot, awake or asleep she didn't know… but there was something small, yellow, and wriggling making its way up his torso. His mouth was exposed and with his limbs still trapped, the super-soldier could not fight for himself.

Well… desperate times call for desperate measures.

Swinging her arm as her saber hilt flew into her grip, Ahsoka powered on her lightsaber and deftly cut off the head of the worm, narrowly missing Wraith's body by centimetres. The super-soldier was certainly awake now, looking down at the severed remains of the worm atop his body. He looked to Ahsoka as the breathless Togruta hooked her hilt back onto her belt.

"What was that?" He asked.

"Your Geonosian friends planted a little surprise in the Clones. The whole ship's been infected with some kinda brain parasite." Ahsoka explained. "I take it they never told you?" Wraith's silence was enough of an answer for her. "Well… I-I need help. I'm the only one left who hasn't been infected." She stated. Wraith's gaze steadily bored into her for a moment.

"Why should I help you?" He questioned. Ahsoka paused and it took her a moment to realize he had every right to ask that.

"Fine. Don't." She huffed. "Either we'll get parasites and be turned into mindless drones along with everyone else or when the ship comes out of hyperspace we'll crash into the medical station and be killed."

"What medical station?"

"The one over Ord Cestus. If we don't destroy it dropping out of hyperspace with no one at the helm then these parasites will infect everyone there too." Ahsoka explained. She looked to him, her eyes meeting his visible one as she sensed the stubborn refusal within him. "In case you didn't notice, one of them tried to infect you too!" She snapped, thinking he was downplaying the gravity of the situation. The super-soldier grunted and laid his head down.

"Even if I wanted to, I'm in no state to offer assistance."

"Y-Yeah, I… see that." The Togruta quietly replied. "I can… help." Ahsoka said slowly, loosing a sigh when she realized just little choice she had if she was going to pursue this course of action. I mean… he's like this because of me, surely I can do something to help. For a change. "Look, I'll help you as best I can but you have to help me in return, okay?" Ahsoka informed him.

"You would help me again?" Wraith quietly wondered.

"Yeah, well… I'm not taking my chances with you getting infected. The last thing I need is an infected super-soldier." Ahsoka responded. "And if you're going to help me save this ship, you need to be able to move." Wraith did not respond. He pondered her words, her offer, and their apparent shared predicament.

Her gratitude is now limited by my cooperation. A change from the last time she offered me aid. But… there may be an opportunity here.

"Well?" Ahsoka asked impatiently. "I have to do something, so… will you help me?" Wraith remained quiet and Ahsoka felt like she was begging with a wall.

What does he want? What else am I supposed to tell him?

Her desperation mounted and Ahsoka loosed a heavy sigh. She wracked her mind and tried to absolve herself with something he would want to hear. "I'm… I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry I did this to you." She apologized. Wraith glanced her way.

"You're the enemy. It's your job."

"It's my job to win, not to make people suffer." Ahsoka said, leaning against the wall. "I blew up the factory while you were in it. I did this to you. I can feel how much you're hurting, how much pain you're in physically and emotionally." Wraith blinked and his gaze narrowed.

"You… Jedi can feel that? I'm surprised none of you have gone insane." He muttered. He paused for a moment as Ahsoka met his eye. "Or maybe one of you has and you just call it 'enlightenment'." Wraith sardonically remarked. Ahsoka frowned.

"That's not funny."

"I thought it was."

Huffing a sigh, Ahsoka was beginning to regret her choice. This was starting to seem entirely pointless. Apparently Wraith had been pushed beyond a cooperative state. Who can blame him. Strapped for an alternative plan, the Padawan began to fret, pacing in the room and whining her wrists as she waited with the seemingly vain hope Anakin would be able to figure out something… something she could do on her own. Yeah right. Barriss is supposed to still be with me! I knew we shouldn't have split up! I'd pick one of the men or her over-

"I need two things." Wraith suddenly said. Ahsoka stopped and whipped towards him. His words sounded affirmative.

"Two-"

"If I'm going to survive this, because the Geonosians need to be avenged, I need two things." Wraith stated. Swallowing with hopes rising, Ahsoka nodded.

"Okay." With a wave of her hand, the Force opened the manacles binding his limbs and unstrapped the binders keeping him attached to the cot. She stepped close and unhooked the IV in his arm and then tried to help Wraith into a seated position. His muscles felt warm under her hands as she pressed against his shoulders and back, guiding him upwards. Wraith grunted, clenching his teeth and wincing as the pain of his wounds caused him much discomfort. Ahsoka felt it all. Wraith remained quiet for a moment, taking a moment to breathe once he was seated with his feet on the ground. He felt drowsy, the sedatives doing a number on his cognitive functions. "But first… you have to promise me you're not going to kill anyone." Ahsoka quickly added. Wraith turned to look at her, green eye meeting her blues.

"This is an us or them situation. That is not tactically sound." Wraith retorted. Ahsoka wracked her mind for a response. She thought back to Garos and the conversation they had shared the night of their shared investigation.

I can use that. They're his own words after all.

"Wouldn't you rather face such… fine and dedicated warriors on the battlefield? When they're at their best… and not being controlled by some brain worm?" She asked. Wraith said nothing, looking away and annoying the Padawan. We don't have time for this! "Look, don't kill them! Alright? It's not like on the battlefield. They're not themselves, they're not even in control of their own bodies!" She stated in a commanding tone. Ahsoka had no idea if her pleas were falling on deaf ears or not. The best she could do was hope for the best. "Please… just keep them alive. This isn't their fault, they're not responsible."

Loosing a rough exhale from the back of his throat, Wraith finally turned his gaze up. "First, painkillers. And an adrenaline shot." The Togruta quickly took to rooting around the various storage crates and lockers around the room, finding bacta patches, spare bandages, and plenty of IV bags continuing the sedatives used to keep him down. She finally cracked open a crate and found several pneumatic injectors marked with a red stripe, indicating painkillers. She hauled out four, thinking one for now and some for later, and turned them over to Wraith.

To her surprise, the super-soldier injected three of them into his neck, one after the other.

Rolling his shoulders with a satisfied sigh, Wraith took a moment to let the chemical compound get to work. Soon enough the suppressants were rolling through his body, numbing the ache he felt and the discomfort wrought from his wounds. Maybe it wasn't medically sound to go into a situation with injuries left unattended, but this wasn't exactly normal.

Ahsoka kept digging around through the crates, finding a much small injector bearing a yellow stripe indicating adrenaline. Passing it to Wraith, the super-soldier pressed it to his chest and emptied only half the contents. Inhaling sharply, feeling himself revitalized as the adrenaline increased his heartrate and quickly wore through the sedatives keeping him drowsy. He felt awake. He felt ready to do something other than lie on this damn cot. "There. What's next?" Ahsoka asked. Wraith looked up with a brightness in his eye, opened his mouth and simply said,

"I need a weapon."

Back on the Resolute…

Anakin arrived on the bridge where the rest of his fellow Jedi were waiting for an update. "I made contact with Ahsoka." He announced.

"What's their status?" Obi-Wan inquired.

"Geonosian parasites have infected her crew." Anakin replied. "I suspect the same kind we found under the Progate Temple."

"How did they get on board her ship?" Luminara questioned.

"Poggle said the parasites must have needed a new host after we raided the Queen's temple." Anakin mused as he began typing in information to the nearest holoconsole. He needed a solution and quickly, using what he learned from a scared Poggle would fill in some of the blanks. The rest would come from the functions of the medical cruiser his Padawan was trapped aboard.

But he missed the part where the other Jedi balked at him.

"You interrogated Poggle?" Luminara said quizzically. The Knight paused mid-keystroke and realized what he'd said to them.

"I did. There wasn't time to get the rest of you." He roughly explained.

"How did you get him to talk?" Ki-Adi Mundi pried.

"Look, all that matters is that he told me how to stop the worms." Anakin interrupted. "I need to contact Ahsoka. There's something critical about the parasites she needs to know…"

Ahsoka did not like the idea of giving Wraith a weapon and claimed as much, also citing the fact the armoury was too far away. It would be risky and unnecessary, cementing her position.

But Wraith would have his way.

They emerged from the storeroom and turned down a corridor, only to stumble across a Clone trooper patrolling the hall. Ahsoka instinctively used the Force to knock his blaster aside and a revitalized Wraith promptly attacked him. Punching the trooper across the face, Wraith wrenched his weapon out of his hands and shot the Clone in the knees, dropping him to the ground. "Hey! What did I just say?!" Ahsoka snapped.

"He'll live." Wraith retorted, checking the available charge on his commandeered blaster.

A DeeCee Fifteen is not ideal. But it is a carbine so I can make it work.

Glancing further down the corridor, he spied another trooper and promptly shot his legs out as well, dropping him too. "That thing has a stun setting, you know!" Ahsoka growled angrily.

"I'm not taking any chances." Wraith countered, starting to advance. With his pain numbed, he moved with determination, his stride long and quick. Painkillers will only last so long, we need to move while I can.

Another Clone appeared and Ahsoka quickly used the Force to switch the settings on the blaster before Wraith could fire. An electrostatic ring of energy erupted from the barrel and struck the trooper, dropping him to the floor. "See?" Ahsoka sniffed. Wraith merely grunted in response. But then the Clone began to pick himself up, seemingly wearing out the stun round much faster than Ahsoka could have anticipated. "W-What?! That's not possible! How's he doing that?" She cried.

"Not him. The parasite." Wraith rumbled, switching the setting back before he shot out the Clone's legs. "It's in control. He's just the host." With that, he started striding forward, ignoring the clicking and chittering coming from the Clones.

These are not Geonosians. These are perversions. I do not know if the worms could become full-fledged Geonosians, but I doubt it.

Ahsoka's commlink chirped, giving them both pause. "This is Ahsoka. Come in." She answered.

"Ahsoka, listen to me. The worms are affected by the cold!" Anakin hurriedly described. Ahsoka scrunched up her face as she thought about that for a moment.

"Cold? That's how we stop them?"

"You'll have to rupture the frigate's coolant system and direct the flow into the vents. Dispersing it throughout the ship is the only way you're going to survive this!" Anakin stated, leaving no room for debate.

"The coolant system. Got it." Ahsoka affirmed, switching off her commlink. "We have to go to the-"

"Reactor control room." Wraith finished for her. Ahsoka performed a double-take.

"How do you know that?!" Wraith didn't answer, turning behind them and taking aim at a small squad of Clones emerging from another corridor. There were six of them, arranged into three-man columns. Squeezing shut his exposed eye, Wraith opened fire, shooting their blaster rifles out of their hands before he took out the legs of the leading pair. They created enough of a stumbling block to prevent their fellows from immediately advancing.

"Move!" He growled, raising his arm to instinctively block a pair of incoming rounds. Without his armor, two blue bolts chewed through the fabric over his arm and scorched his flesh, leaving sizzling wounds behind. Wraith winced. He felt the pain as it ate through the lingering effect of the painkillers. Wraith firing off more covering shots that downed the second rank of Clones as Ahsoka took off at a jog. Together they darted down another corridor, the Togruta leading the way to the ship's reactor room.

"How do you know the reactor is where the coolant controls are?" Ahsoka asked again.

"Logic." Wraith answered cryptically and said nothing more.

The pair kept moving but the commotion caused by Wraith's counterattack had sent alarms through the infected troopers across TB-73. Everyone on the frigate was on high alert, Barriss included. The Mirialan was on the hunt now, attempting to track down the one member of the crew who had yet to be infected.

Either Ahsoka would be turned or she would be killed.

Arriving in the reactor room, Wraith paused by the entry to cover Ahsoka as she made for the controls. "Do you know what to do?" He asked.

"Yes. I just have to divert the engines' reserve coolant tanks into the ship's ventilation system." The Togruta replied, quickly keying in the necessary commands. "It'll drop the temperature to sub-zero and, hopefully, kill the worms." Wraith stayed silent, performing a few mental calculations.

The cold should knock out most of them and give me a chance to hijack the ship. I can take it down to the planet's surface and call for help. Ord Cestus used to be a Separatist world, there's a good chance I can find sympathizers.

With the pull of a lever, a loud hiss filled the room as supercooled gases began to fill the ventilation ducts, spilling over through gaps in grates to flood the room with a chilling fog. Wraith and Ahsoka both felt the temperature plummet. "We need to get to the bridge." Ahsoka said, a plan in mind.

"Agreed." Wraith grunted, a plan of his own in mind.

As the autopilot directed, TB-73 dropped out of hyperspace over Ord Cestus, rumbling towards the orbital medical station on a dictated course. Unfortunately, no one was at the controls to adjust the acceleration of the ship and a head-on collision was entirely possible.

On board the station, Master Kit Fisto knew these variables as he observed the perimeter scans tabulated by the station's computer systems. "That's Ahsoka's ship. It just came out of hyperspace which means we don't have long to act." The Jedi realized. He quickly turned to those in the command hub and started giving orders, "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." The Nautolan commanded decisively. "Sound all the alarms. And prepare the sub-zero conduits."

The station's personnel sprang into action.

Two MandalMotors spacetugs, TUG-314 and TUG-316, moved to intercept the incoming TB-73. They were equipped with large tractor beam emitters that allowed them to snag and control vehicles and vessels in space. Pushing their emitters to maximum power, reverse thrusters began the arduous task of slowing down the runaway medical frigate. They had to succeed. A collision would result in countless deaths…

A soft blue filled the air coupled with the occasion shimmer as the temperature dropped below acceptable levels. Moving quickly through the seemingly-empty corridors of the frigate, Wraith and Ahsoka could feel the cold beginning to settle in. The walls were developing a frosty layer atop the metal, chilling the atmosphere and ensuring there was no reprieve from the cold. Already, Ahsoka was shivering, rubbing her bare arms as her visible breath puffed in small clouds before her mouth. Wraith was much the same, but without the shivering, something Ahsoka noticed.

"Aren't you c-cold?" She asked.

"I can retain my body heat better." Wraith answered. "But the cold is… pleasantly numbing." He admitted. His wounds hurt less as the cold air reached his skin and worked its natural effects.

"L-Lucky you." Ahsoka grumbled, feeling the effects of the dropping temperatures more acutely. "We h-have to g-get to the b-bridge. It should be s-straight up." She urged.

"Where's the nearest turbolift?" The super-soldier inquired in response. Ahsoka was about to point and explain when all of a sudden-

"There you are." The voice belonged to Barriss but it was clearly not her own. The two whirled around as her lightsaber ignited, the infected Mirialan approaching through the frosty mist with hostile intent. Wraith opened fire, Barriss deflecting each round until a Force push sent him flying back down the hall, slamming him into the wall at the end. Wraith loosed a grunt of pain as he hit the ground. The impact ate through more of the painkillers. Things were starting to hurt again.

Ahsoka turned and ran, unwilling to fight her friend. Barriss summoned the Force again and an invisible wave of energy caused Ahsoka to stumble. Tripping over her feet, she slammed against the back wall and fell over. "You can't hide from me!" Barriss seethed, lunging ahead with her lightsaber raised. Ahsoka ignited hers with seconds to spare, blocking the blue blade of the Mirialan as they clashed.

Wraith snapped up his blaster and opened fire again, Barriss turning to block each shot before lashing out with the Force again. Wraith hit the ground hard and slid back, his helmet clanging off another wall. Ahsoka took advantage and lashed out with a Force-empowered kick, send Barriss somersaulting down the hall. Scrambling to her feet, Ahsoka ran for Wraith, helping him to his feet. The super-soldier grunted as fresh warm blood ran down his leg from the rebar jammed in his thigh. Slapping the controls for the turbolift door, Ahsoka pulled him inside and pressed the toggle for the bridge level. "Come on… Come on!"

Barriss darted from around the distant corner, bolting for them with a murderous look in her eyes. Wraith opened fire again, trying to slow down the Mirialan. The Jedi deflected and blocked, sending two bolts back at Wraith. One struck his forearm and the other slammed into his helmet, rattling him. "Barriss! N-No!" Ahsoka cried out as the Mirialan jammed the turbolift door open with the Force. Their blades crossed again, the infected Padawan bearing down on her friend with unnatural strength.

But a sudden blue wave washed over Barriss, the shocked Mirialan stumbling back and falling to the floor as the stun bolt took its toll on her. Ahsoka fell flat on her butt as the door sealed and turbolift began to move. "W-What…?" She wondered through chattering teeth. With a loud groan, Wraith slid to the floor beside her, nursing his wounded leg. The Togruta finally realized he had come to her aid.

"Guess that stun setting has its uses." He rumbled, fishing out his final painkiller and injecting himself with it. Loosing a sigh he slumped back against the wall of the turbolift.

"Y-You're hurt… and b-bleeding." Ahsoka noted, seeing the scorch marks blackening his skin and the fresh blood oozing down his thigh. Wraith responded with silence. He did not speak even after the turbolift arrived at the bridge. He struggled to get up, bracing himself against the wall as he forced himself to a standing position. "H-Here," Ahsoka offered, taking one arm over her thin, shivering shoulders as he limped forward at a slow pace. His final painkiller wasn't doing much.

At this rate I doubt I'll be in any control to commandeer the ship.

Helping him past the access doors, Ahsoka laid him against the centre console as she took over one of the seats. The transparisteel viewports were frosted over, obscuring her vision. Ahsoka could just barely make out the vague shape of the medical station looming before them. "We're c-coming in awfully f-f-fast…" She murmured, taking control. "Th-This is A-A-Ahsoka Tano, c-can you h-hear me?" She asked over the open comms. Seeing as his window was dwindling, Wraith propped himself up and checked his weapon. The chassis showed marks of frosting but it was still useable and still set on stun. He hobbled to his feet, bracing himself against the other command chair and took aim at Ahsoka… "I'm s-s-shutting d-down the engines." The Togruta announced to whoever was listening, struggling to form a coherent sentence with the way her teeth were chattering. "I'll t-t-try to r-reverse the..."

Wraith suddenly cried out as his body was slammed against the control console, Barriss powering him back with her lightsaber thrust forward. For a brief second it looked like he had been stabbed through by the blue blade and Ahsoka gasped in horror. But the super-soldier's body shifted and revealed Barriss' lightsaber had stabbed through his left shoulder instead.

The Mirialan drew back her weapon and swung again, cleaving through Wraith's blaster and grazing his thigh in the process. The super-soldier dropped to the floor as Ahsoka leapt out of her chair and brandished her lightsaber.

Wraith threw back his head and hissed as fresh pain assaulted his body, eating up the last of the painkiller's effectiveness. It was struggle to move now, even with the cold numbing his extremities. His felt pain in his fingers and just trying to move his legs was an almost-agonizing ordeal. He looked on as Ahsoka wrenched free one of the ventilation ducts and dumped a load of freezing gases on Barriss, trying to shock the parasite out of her. "Kill… me… Please…" Barriss hoarsely gasped as control of her body lapsed between two entities.

"I-I-I w-won't." A shivering Ahsoka retorted. Wraith analyzed their options.

The worm will keep this Barriss going, maybe just long enough. As cold as she is Ahsoka won't stand much of a chance. Parasite wins, good chance I'm dead or worse. It's a vile survival thing, no clear winner. Just whoever can overcome. I have to survive… I won't die like this. I won't die unless it's avenging the Geonosians.

Forcing himself up with a strength found deep within, Wraith threw himself onto Barriss and knocked her to the ground. Her lightsaber went flying from her grip as Wraith used his weight to keep her down. It was an egregious effort just to make this position but he forced his way through the pain.

His hands snaked around her neck, squeezing tightly as Barriss tried to fight back. The Jedi gasped and sputtered, arms flailing as the super-soldier channeled strength and weight into a choking stranglehold. "Wr-Wr-Wraith… d-don't…" Ahsoka weakly gasped. The super-soldier did not react, still choking Barriss out even as the chill of the rapidly filling room began to eat away at his strength, sapping him of energy…

At last, the brain worm writhed out of Barriss' open mouth, revealing itself just long enough for Wraith to act. Lifting one free hand he ripped out the worm and pulled it in half with the last of his strength, a thick blue blood splattering himself and Barriss as the worm screeched and died. Fully spent, Wraith rolled off Barriss and slumped across the floor, too weak and too pained to do anything more.

Ahsoka managed to crawl over to her friend, hoisting Barriss' head into her lap as she slumped down in a seated position. Wraith watched them for a moment, struggling to keep his eyes open. Knowing the worm was dead and seeing as Barriss was still breathing, the Togruta was content knowing Wraith had not killed her friend.

He could've. But he didn't. I guess desperate times really do call for desperate measures.

"A-A-Are y-you…?" She quietly wondered.

"Hurt…" Wraith rumbled. "I am… tired." He managed to say, closing his eyes. "Cold… feels… good…" The darkness felt pleasant and the super-soldier slipped into unconsciousness. The distant rumble followed a great mechanical clanking and clanging indicated they had docked with the medical station. It was enough to just barely keep Ahsoka awake as she cradled Barriss, her heavy-lidded gaze flickering between her friend and the super-soldier lying adjacent.

The gases dissipated, the coolant release shut down from an external source. It was sometime later that Kit Fisto and a pair of Clone troopers arrived on the bridge, discovering the three half-frozen survivors where they lay. The kindly Nautolan knelt to check on Ahsoka, her weary gaze meeting his relieved smile. It warmed her. "H-H-Hello, M-M-Master F-Fisto." She greeted, trying to speak past her chattering teeth. "W-We're r-r-ready to p-pick up the s-s-supplies."

"We'll take care of that." The Nautolan promised. "You rest now, Ahsoka."

Rest. That sounds good. I could sleep now…

Her head drooping until her chin touched her chest, Ahsoka closed her eyes and did just that.

Some time later…

Ahsoka came to with a start, vision clearing as the bedsheet draped over her was flung back as she bolted upright in bed. The last thing she remembered was the cold, and the bridge, and Barriss, and the worms, and Wraith-

"It's all right, Ahsoka." A familiar voice gently told her. The Togruta looked up to see Anakin sitting beside her, easing her back down against the bed. "It's okay. You're safe." She felt much warmer now.

He's here? He must've come from Coruscant… How long have I been out for?

"Barriss?" Ahsoka wondered as Anakin slipped the sheet back over her.

"Barriss is fine, thanks to your efforts." He gently explained. With a gestured, Ahsoka followed his hand and discovered Barriss asleep on a bed beside her, hooking up to a heartrate monitor."And so are the Clones." Ahsoka breathed a sigh of relief. "Although do you care to explain what Wraith was doing on the bridge with you?" Anakin then questioned.

"I… I needed help after Barriss was infected." Ahsoka explained. "Everyone was gone and they were all coming after me. What were those things, Master? Were they the same worm-things Myri told me you found in the catacombs?" She asked, trying to shift the topic of conversation.

"Indeed they are." A cheery voice announced as Kit Fisto strode into the room, full of smiles. Ahsoka beamed, pleased to see him unharmed and worm-free. "Our analysis concludes they are the same type of creature you found on Geonosis, Master Skywalker." The Nautolan said.

"We'll have to inform the troops on Geonosis. This parasite might explain how they recaptured the planet the first time." Anakin mused as he stood up. "I don't want it happening again." Kit nodded in agreement.

"You've been through quite an ordeal, little one." He commented to Ahsoka, giving her his full attention. "My congratulations on your success and your survival."

"You were this close to being frostbitten, Snips." Anakin added with a smirk. Ahsoka exhaled slowly, thankful to be among good company again.

"Master Skywalker, may I have a word?" She wondered. Kit took his leave and Anakin moved to sit by Ahsoka again. "Master, on the ship, Barriss was… gone… and she wanted me to kill her." She quietly explained. "She told me..."

"But you couldn't do it." Anakin surmised.

"No. No, I couldn't. But should I have?" Ahsoka wondered. Her eyes were wide and Anakin could see the intense soul-searching going on behind them. "I mean, it worked out now, but if we had failed, if the ship docked and the worms spread and-"

"Ahsoka, it's your duty to save as many lives as you can. Barriss knew you could save thousands if the worms were destroyed." Anakin told her. "Which she thought meant destroying her, too. But you did the right thing. You knew the freezing cold would kill the worms so, given time, Barriss would be saved." The Togruta turned to look at her slumbering friend. "Letting go of our attachments is a difficult struggle for all of us. You followed your instincts." Anakin continued. "I'm sure she would agree that you made the right choice. I know the Clones will. You saved their lives." Ahsoka smiled faintly, leaning back against the bed and allowing herself to relax and breathe for a moment. She had earned it.

I guess I did something right for a change.

Anakin turned to go. "Master," Ahsoka called after him, "what about Wraith? Where is he?" Anakin looked to her and Ahsoka cloud sense some kind of cloud coming over him, darkening his emotions.

"He's been transported to our base planetside. He'll stay there until he's deemed fit for the trip to Coruscant." He stated, simply and bluntly.

"Did he… receive any medical attention?" Ahsoka wondered. Anakin stared at her for a moment, gaze furrowed, and Ahsoka briefly wondered if she's gone too far.

"I don't know. I don't think so." He said simply before exiting the room. His response hung in the air as Ahsoka lay quietly on her bed, not knowing how to feel or what to think…

Elsewhere in the galaxy…

Pom'l Sipio anxiously powered on a holotransceiver to receive an incoming transmission. Soon a holorender of Count Dooku flickered before him, hooded and cloaked. "I've received word from agents on Ord Cestus that confirm Wraith's presence on the planet. The Republic is holding him in one of their military bases." He announced.

"That is good news, I assume?" Sipio wondered, wringing his hands.

"Very good news, Doctor." The Count affirmed. "You had best prepare your medical tools to receive Wraith. Project Skyfall has been deployed and it is my firm belief that he will be returned before the galactic standard day has ended." Sipio nodded, exhaling quietly.

"I certainly hope this project is up to standard, my lord. It has not had the same amount of time and testing Project Sunstorm has." Dooku chuckled amicably.

"Fear not, Doctor. He most certainly is."

Author's Note: Miss the next chapter at your own risk ;)