Chapter 6 – You Are The Morning When It's Clear

Author's Note: Thoughts? We are at the climax now! :D

To Guest (1): Thanks!

To Guest (2): Hm. All I'll say is that they investigate the chips next. ;)

To Guest (3): Thanks! ^-^

~ Amina Gila

They report to the Council as soon as they return to Coruscant, even if it's barely dawn. Ahsoka doesn't know what will happen now, but they need to investigate this… anomaly in the clones. She also doesn't know what will happen about the way they displayed their abilities. People talk. Word will spread. And what happens if – or when, rather – the Sith find out… She doesn't know what will happen then. Anakin will protect her, of course, the best he can, but they're still Sith. They'll try to take advantage of them, turn the war in their favor. What will happen then, she doesn't know.

After the Council meeting, Anakin takes her, Rex, Fives, and Echo, and they go to Kamino on the Twilight. The flight is relatively quiet, after the initial barrage of questions from the ARC troopers, who have an almost infinite number of questions about their new abilities, most of which they can't even answer. They don't know what they're capable of. They don't know what the limits are to their abilities, if there even are any limits. It's a little terrifying, Ahsoka thinks, but she's also infinitely grateful. She doesn't know what she would have done if Rex died there on Lola Sayu. He came close, so close, but she'd done it. She'd been able to bring him back before he faded.

There had been a certain thrill in it, knowing that she could heal him before it was too late, and once it was over, her relief had wiped out her fear for him. She is still afraid for the clones, as she always has been, but knowing that she can heal them brings her a certain sense of peace.

Shaak Ti meets them on Kamino when they arrive, and Anakin tells her the situation, tells her what Ahsoka felt in the clones. "We need to know what this is," he explains, "And we need to know if it's dangerous, if it'll hurt them."

"I will summon Nala Se," Shaak Ti answers, "I'm sure she can provide insight on this issue."

They wait for the Kaminoan scientist in the command center. "Listen," Anakin says quietly, looking between them, "I feel that this is something deeper than what we will be told. I may need you to keep her distracted while Ahsoka and I dig into it ourselves, with Artoo's help, of course."

"Whatever you need, General," Rex replies, nodding, "We'll do it."

Ahsoka shifts closer to him, bumping their shoulders together. She feels a pull to him that she hasn't before, a strange, almost irresistible urge to hug him. She – doesn't do that. They're her men, and she's not physically affectionate with them, not really. This is something wholly different and unexplainable. Or maybe it's not so strange, after all. She healed him, brought him back from death. Of course, there would be a… link between them that didn't exist before. Probably, she should talk to Anakin about it.

This is something more than her residual fear of losing him. It's deeper.

Rex nudges her back, and she can feel the warm fondness for her in him. She can feel his smile, even if his helmet is on so she can't see it. "Don't get in trouble, Commander," he says dryly.

"We'll try," she answers brightly, grinning.

She pulls away from him when Nala Se enters the room.

"General Skywalker has a question about the clones," Shaak Ti tells her.

Anakin steps forward, the relaxedness of his posture falling away as he straightens, slipping effortlessly into the leadership role that he carries on the fronts. "Yes, thank you for coming. I – we recently discovered an anomaly of sorts in my captain's brain, one which we have found in others as well. Do you know what it is?"

Nala Se hesitates, and Ahsoka immediately knows that she knows more than she is saying. "That would be the inhibitor chips," she answers.

Ahsoka can feel the way the three tense at the word.

"The – what?" Anakin frowns. "I have heard nothing of this."

"The clones' genetic donor, Jango Fett, was a violent person by nature," Nala Se replies, "When we started production of the clones, we modified their DNA to make them more obedient and less violent and aggressive. Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas instructed us to implant the inhibitor chips during the clones' growth cycle to ensure that they would not become rogue and unstable. The chips guarantee obedience. Removing them makes the clones dangerous, and they must be subject to immediate termination for the safety of those around them. Have you been having trouble with them?"

Anakin clenches his hands, but his expression remains unchanged, no matter how hotly his anger might be burning. "No, of course not," he answers pleasantly, "Your work is exceptional. Perhaps you might be able to explain more about these… chips to us? Could you show us more of their design?"

Something shifts in Nala Se's eyes. "Yes, as you wish." She turns toward the door. "If you would follow me, I can show you how we handle the cloning process."

"She's hiding something," Anakin hisses to them as Nala Se goes out ahead with Shaak Ti, "Keep an eye on them. Track Nala Se. Comm me if she leaves. We need to do some investigating on our own. Rex, you're with us." Right. Because they'll need someone to stay on the lookout.

"Copy that, sir," Fives and Echo chorus.

"She was lying," Ahsoka asserts as she and Anakin linger behind in the command center. Artoo plugs into a port to start searching for information. "There is more to the chips than what she told us." If they were merely to reduce the clones' apparently natural violent tendencies, then they wouldn't have felt so… wrong. And Rex wouldn't still be the same. He wouldn't feel the same. But he is the same – maybe a little lighter, even.

Anakin nods grimly. "I sensed it, too."

Now, to see if they can find the truth without being caught.

**w**

"Something about them is… unnatural, Chancellor," Tarkin says, standing in front of his desk, as he finishes describing the Jedi's exploits during the Citadel rescue. It was… impressive, Sidious has to admit, even if Kenobi was there. He has not yet seen them with his own eyes, but he can sense it. He sensed the prickle of raw power in the air the moment they exited from hyperspace. He felt it the moment Skywalker and his padawan left. They are unnaturally strong. Something has changed in them, and he doesn't know what.

He does not like not knowing.

He doesn't question Tarkin's descriptions, either, because the man is not lying. About something like this, he would not lie. "Is there anything else? Any indication that they may know something they should not?"

Tarkin pauses, thinking. "Skywalker's captain was injured," he says.

Sidious waves a hand. "Yes," he answers impatiently, "You already told me that he was on the brink of death and the apprentice healed him."

"She saw something in his mind," Tarkin replies, "She called it… abnormal, wrong, I believe. I think they were intending to investigate."

He stills.

The inhibitor chips.

That… would be bad. Should the Jedi learn their intended purpose, it would spell disaster for their plans, for the future. "Thank you for letting me know," Sidious says. This must be why the Council told him Skywalker was unavailable when he requested a meeting with him to personally congratulate him for his success at the Citadel. He and Tano must have gone to Kamino, to investigate. And even if they didn't, these… powers will give the Jedi an advantage in the war that Sidious needs to even out.

It is time to level the playing field.

**w**

Despite himself, Anakin can't put out the fury burning deep inside of him over the way that Nala Se was speaking about the clones. They're living beings, not droids. They don't need some sort of programming, a chip installed in them like a restraining bolt on a droid, to keep them "in check". Maybe if they were treated like real people with distinct personalities and desires, there wouldn't be a concern about them being "violent" or "aggressive".

"Find anything?" he asks Artoo.

The astromech whistles in the negative. "The files are undoubtedly secured," he adds.

"Yeah," Anakin answers, "Okay." He looks between the droid, Ahsoka, and Rex, the latter of whom is standing in front of the door, ready to intervene if someone enters. Unfortunately, their… new abilities won't let them find the information they need in technology. And it's unlikely that the files they need to see will be easily accessible, especially in a place where Jedi regularly frequent. It would be highly secured. He straightens as an idea occurs to him. "Artoo, does Nala Se have a private lab somewhere?"

The droid's dome rotates, his scomp plug whirring as he searches. "Affirmative."

"Where is it?" Anakin asks, leaning forward. Maybe that's where they need to go.

"It's located in a separate building."

"Can you take us there?" It's a good thing he had Rex stay with them. If they'll be doing some breaking and entering, they could use Rex's help as a distraction if necessary. The Force is telling him that this information, whatever it is, is critical to the future.

"Of course." Artoo almost sounds offended. He unplugs and rolls toward the door. Anakin follows him out, glancing automatically around the hall, even though he can sense that no one is nearby. It's clear. They're good to go, and he has the feeling that they will be successful.

The three of them follow the astromech from the main building to another, smaller, one.

"Sir, what do you think about the chips?" Rex queries as they walk.

Anakin's jaw tightens at the question, his simmering fury renewed. It's hard to think about it, to know what was done to the clones. It's wrong. There's something wrong with it all, and he doesn't know what, yet, but he will. He'll find out, and he'll… deal with it then. "The Jedi did not order the clones," he answers, "No matter what the Kaminoans say."

Rex falters for a moment. "They – didn't? But –"

He can feel Rex's shock, and he reaches out, touching his shoulder. "I know that is what they told you, but it was a lie. It was the Sith. They wanted this war. But Rex, no matter how you and your brothers came to be, you are still – important. You deserve to exist. You are more than what they made you to be, whatever that may have been."

"He's right, Rex," Ahsoka chimes in. "Maybe the Sith created you for the war, but you don't have to… do what they wanted. You can still make your own choices."

Anakin nods. "And when we find out what the inhibitor chips are for, even if we find that Nala Se was right, we'll remove them. They're… wrong. It was wrong, what they did to you."

Rex is overwhelmed by it all, and Anakin purposefully tries to keep his mind closed. When Rex wants to talk, he will. Anakin doesn't need to read his mind to understand. It's enough that he will always know exactly what Rex feels. Rex's mind is his own, and Anakin doesn't want to… violate that.

"I – I don't know what to say," Rex admits finally, shaking his head.

Ahsoka brushes his arm, probably to help soothe him. "It's okay," she answers. "You don't need to say anything."

"I – thank you," he says, "Both of you."

Anakin smiles at him. "That's what friends do." It's what family does. Because Rex is more than just a friend; he's family.

Artoo opens the door of the lab, getting past the security without any trouble at all, as though Anakin is surprised by that. He sees a blur of movement, and a quiet gasp as a small figure ducks out of sight. He stills. A… child? Ahsoka and Rex freeze next to him, and they exchange glances. Why is there a child here?

"Hello?" Anakin calls, taking a few steps forward, holding up his hands in a non-threatening manner.

There's a whirring noise as a medical droid flies up. "You are not authorized to be here," it tells them.

"I know," Anakin replies, mindful that he's speaking to the child just as much as the droid, "But we need answers. We're trying to understand more about the inhibitor chips which were implanted in the clones."

Another pause, and slowly, the child steps into view. She's… a clone. Anakin can feel it in her Force presence, though it's oddly bright, almost as though she's sensitive to the Force, unlike any other clone that he knows of. Her blonde hair is short, and her brown eyes are narrow and filled with wariness. She can't be older than eleven. "Why?"

Rex makes a noise next to him. "Why's there a kid here?"

"The Kaminoans aren't telling us the truth about the chips," Anakin explains, "And it's my responsibility to understand them, so I can protect my men."

Something in her softens at that, and she moves closer. "Hi," she says, waving, "I'm Omega. You're… different. I've seen Jedi before, but none like you."

Ahsoka sucks in a breath. "You're Force sensitive," she realizes. "Nala Se made a Force-sensitive clone."

Rex takes a half step forward. "She's a clone?"

"Yep," Omega chirps, "I'm from generation one. I don't have the rapid aging that you do."

"What are you doing here?" Anakin queries, crouching down in front of her so they're at eye-level.

"I'm Nala Se's medical assistant," Omega explains, "She has me help her." She walks over to the computer on the other side of the room. "I can find the files you're looking for, I think."

"I would appreciate it," Anakin answers, following her. He doesn't know what to make of this unexpected turn of events. They weren't supposed to find a child here. It seems wrong to leave her here, and yet, he doesn't know what to do with her, either. Has she been alone all this time? Is there anyone at all who knows of her other than Nala Se? She is only a child, and she shouldn't have to be alone. Even if being trained as a soldier wouldn't have been ideal, it would have been better than… being trapped here.

"How do you know I'm Force-sensitive?" Omega inquires as she taps on the computer screen with nimble fingers. It's obvious that she knows her way around them.

"I can sense it," Anakin explains. "You are bright, compared to the other clones."

She considers that for a moment. "Does that mean I could be a Jedi?"

"Well, the Council would probably not want you to be trained, since you're… so old," Anakin answers slowly, "But that doesn't mean you can't be trained, if that's what you really want. What do you want? Do you want to stay here, or do you want to leave?"

Omega falters. "Nala Se always told me I would distract my brothers, that it would be better for them to not know me." He can feel her longing, her affection, and he can sense that she's thinking of someone in particular.

Ahsoka moves closer. "That's not true," she promises. "Just because you're young and female, that doesn't mean you'd slow them down or distract them."

"Yeah," Rex adds, "I'm sure many of the boys would like to know that we have a sister." He pauses, huffing out a laugh. "You'd be the most protected clone in the whole GAR. You'd be safe, if you left Kamino. We'd make sure of it."

Her face lights up. "I've never wanted to stay here," she admits, and Anakin can feel the hope inside her. "I've just… never had anywhere to go. Do you know Clone Force 99?"

"… Can't say I've heard of them, kid," Rex replies, "But there are a lot of clones. I'm sure we can find them for you."

"Are they the ones you knew?" Anakin asks gently.

Omega bites her lip and nods. "They were brought here when they were identified. She enhanced their mutations in this room. They grew up here until they got older and were sent to be with the other clones."

Anakin touches her shoulder lightly. "We'll find them," he vows. Her pain and grief over them is still sharp. She still misses them every day, and Anakin won't let her hurt any longer. He'll bring her back to her brothers, where she belongs.

"Found it," she says, stepping back. "Everything should be right here."

He approaches the screen, and Ahsoka and Rex hover next to him as he scrolls through the files about the inhibitor chip. It details their installation, how and when they're inserted, and… it also explains how they function. He doesn't know much about the brain's function, but this looks – serious. "Artoo, download this information," he instructs, flipping to the next file which contains a list of contingency orders.

That's when it all becomes clear.

Rex sucks in a sharp breath, and Ahsoka gasps. "Is that…?" Her voice wavers ever so slightly, and Anakin has to force himself to relax so he doesn't damage the machine.

The inhibitor chips are their worst nightmares come true. It's the mental enslavement of the entire clone army, meant to coerce them to follow orders that they might not even agree with.

"Force," whispers Rex when Anakin reaches Order 66. For a long moment, they just stare at it, frozen, speechless.

Ahsoka twists, all but launching herself at Rex and clinging to his armor. "You're okay," she murmurs, "We're okay. That's not gonna happen to you, Rex. I healed you. You're safe."

Anakin can't help but join the embrace, pulling both of them close and holding them tight. "We are going to free each and every one of your brothers, Rex, I promise you."

Rex leans against both of them, radiating affection and disbelief and horror and trust and so much more into the Force. And that's when Anakin senses it, an… anomaly inside his captain and best friend. "Something is…" He trails off, uncertain how to finish. "Rex, can you take off your helmet?"

Alarm instantly spikes from him, though he immediately does as Anakin asks. "What is it? What do you feel?"

Anakin searches Rex's face, but he looks the same. He can't quite stop the frown as he touches Rex's temples, letting the Force scan his body until he finds the bond of Light, that links Rex to Ahsoka, and by default, to Anakin. "Ah," he says, surprised and more than a little freaked out, as he lowers his hands. "You – when Ahsoka healed you, she linked you two together somehow."

"Oh," Ahsoka blurts out, "So that's what I was feeling. I didn't mean to."

"I know," Anakin calms her immediately, "And I don't think it's a bad thing. It's just… It could make him a target, if the Sith sense it. Rex is still mortal, but he is… If someone wants to go after us, he is a beacon to them." He reaches for the Force, trying to understand what it's telling him. "Rex was chosen by us, and he's protected by us. I… don't know what that means, but it's not bad. I – it just is, I suppose. I don't really understand our power or what we can do." The last bit is said ruefully, an admittance more than anything else.

"I don't mind being linked to you, Commander," Rex tells her, shaking his head. His expression is fond, his eyes warm. "Maybe I'll be able to use it to find you – or to catch you off-guard when you're training."

Ahsoka snorts and then she giggles. "I don't think a bond to me will help you with that."

"Okay," says Anakin, smiling, "Let's move out. Omega, you're coming with us, if that's what you want."

She bounces closer, practically vibrating with excitement. "Please."

And that, of course, is when the faint disturbances that Anakin has been feeling in the Force make themselves known in the blaring of alarms and the sudden flare of danger from overhead. He sees it, for a moment, red laser fire raining down from the sky, ripping Tipoca City apart and destroying everything. He feels it as the Star Destroyers in orbit are attacked, caught off-guard by the unexpectedness of it all, knows that their lives will be lost.

"We need to go. Now," he says, already running for the door. "Kamino is under attack."

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