After such a long gap between chapters last time, I thought I'd mess with all your heads and get a new one out in just a week. I was not expecting to get so much writing done this week, but the stars aligned and I got over six thousand words down in the past three days. I doubt I'll be able to keep up that level of productivity, but for now, you all get to reap the rewards.
A note on the clones. As I'm sure many of you guessed already, I am following the trope of having all the clones speak Mando'a, not just the commandos. It adds so much depth to their background, and I fully intend to involve their Mandalorian heritage in the story later down the line. I you want to know the translations of the Mando'a phrases, just google them. I drew everything from the online Mando'a dictionary at mandocreator dot com. Full kudos to whoever runs that website, as it's been an invaluable resource this last month.
Also, after months of promising, this chapter finally includes the first in a new Omake series. It will cover Ahsoka and Barriss' trip into the crystal cave and how they get their kyber crystals. Please check it out and let me know what you think.
Please donate whatever you can afford to Ukraine for their fight against Russia. A victory for Ukraine is a victory for the free world.
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Chapter 45
Jiraiya woke up to the wonderful sensation of Luminara's warm body snuggled up next to his. Even before he opened his eyes, a lazy smile stretched across his face. Ever since they'd officially made their relationship romantic, this was perhaps the greatest benefit. Of course, the sex was outstanding, mind blowing even, but it was these quiet moments of intimacy he prized above all else.
When he finally cracked open his eyes, the first thing he saw was his lover's face, still relaxed in sleep. For a handful of seconds, he let himself just look at her, entranced by her beauty, amazed as always that she'd let him into her life so completely. He hated to wake her, but a quick glance at the chrono by their bed told him it was past time they both joined the world. Leaning across the bed, he pressed a lingering kiss to her bare shoulder.
"It's time to get up, love."
"Mmm." She stirred and nuzzled her head against his. It was adorably cute, and he made a mental note to tease her about it later. For now, though, he focused on getting his sleepy girlfriend back to the land of the living. Despite shifting around, he could sense she was still asleep, though that wasn't very surprising after the marathon love-making session they'd had the night before. Between her responsibilities training Barriss and his busy mission schedule, time together was a rare commodity. The only reason they were both in the Temple now was because Yoda had recalled all active Jedi in response to Ahsoka's vision. Some of the Council had thought it an overreaction to a Padawan's premonition, but Yoda wasn't about to take chances. Jiraiya was just grateful it had afforded him this time with Luminara.
When an opportunity like this came about, they both made sure to make the most of it in every way possible. Even he was feeling sore from their exploits, so he could only imagine how exhausted she must have been. As his mind drifted back to the previous night of passion, a downright evil idea occurred to him.
With a series of soft kisses, he traced a path from her shoulder down to a particularly sensitive spot he'd found on the inside of her elbow, of all places. When he reached it, he gave it a love bite, just hard enough to ride the line between pleasure and pain.
"Oh!" He felt through the Force as Luminara went from fast asleep to fully awake in less than a second. "Wha- Jiraiya!"
"Good morning," he said cheerfully, noting with satisfaction her slightly quickened breathing and the faint color dusting her cheeks. Fortunately, she looked more surprised than annoyed.
"You- Was there some reason you couldn't wake me up like a civilized person?"
Jiraiya grinned. Now there was a question with a plethora of possible answers. Naturally, he selected the corniest one he could think of and went with it.
"Well, you looked so beautiful lying there. I just couldn't resist. Besides, you were really out. It seemed like the best way to get you up."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Did it, now? And whose fault is it I was so tired?" He blinked at the sudden, sultry tone of her voice, and felt his face color a little. Kami, this woman could destroy him with a glance.
"You do realize this will bruise," she continued as she examined the already reddening skin where he'd nipped her.
"It'll go nicely with the rest of the collection," he said, and traced his hand over her collarbones. She looked down and her eyes widened a little as she saw the other marks decorating her neck, shoulders, and the tops of her breasts. There were more, he knew, hidden by the sheets. His own shoulders and torso sported a similar collection of scratches and bruises.
"Jiraiya!" She hissed. "What if Barriss sees these?"
Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. "Our clothes will cover them all. Besides, what exactly do you think she'd learn that she doesn't already know? Barriss is a smart girl. I'm pretty sure she doesn't think we vanished into your bedroom right after dinner for a night of tea and scintillating conversation."
She grimaced a little, even as a darker blush colored her face. "I suppose we aren't especially discreet, are we?"
He shrugged. "Discretion is for people with something to hide. We've got nothing to be ashamed of."
"I know," she said as she propped herself up on one arm. "But Barriss is still very traditional in her view of the Jedi Code. I'm not about to deny our relationship, but I don't want to make her uncomfortable, either."
"She'll come around," he promised. "The Code is all but changed, anyway. The Council is just debating the exact phrasing of their revisions. Besides, I don't think she's judging you. She's sixteen, and she's looked up to you for years. This is probably just an embarrassing subject for her."
"Hmm," she hummed thoughtfully. Then, without warning, she slipped out of the sheets and stood up, giving him an extremely nice view to gaze at. And gaze he did, with his tongue suddenly stuck in his throat and a flutter in his chest. He swallowed hard and tracked her with his eyes as she walked ever so slowly towards the refresher. When he finally found his voice again, it was hoarse with desire.
"If you keep that up, we're not going to leave this room until past noon."
"I have every confidence in your self-discipline," she called back to him without turning around. Chuckling, Jiraiya mentally beat his libido with a club and rolled out of bed. A few minutes later, they had both showered (separately) and dressed. To his surprise, when they went into the common room, it was empty. Normally, Barriss took it upon herself to rise before her master and make breakfast, no matter how often Luminara insisted she could do it herself. Certainly, she was always awake by sixth bell. It was now past tenth bell, and she had yet to emerge. He shot a questioning glance at Luminara, who was notably unsurprised at her Padawan's absence.
"With the Temple on standby, I gave her today off from training," she explained. "I may also have remotely disabled her alarms to make sure she actually takes advantage of it. I didn't think she'd sleep in this late, though."
"She needed it," he said. "She works herself to the bone every day, no matter how much anyone tries to get her to take a break." He took another look at the chrono and winced. "You should probably get her up, though. She won't thank us if we let her sleep half the day away."
While Luminara set about the unenviable task of rousing a teenager from their slumber, Jiraiya busied himself in the kitchen. Between his time as a shinobi team sensei and his experiences with Naruto, he had a fairly good idea of what was going to emerge from Barriss' room, and he wanted to be ready. Sure enough, several minutes after Luminara stepped out, a bleary Barriss stumbled through the door. She'd very nearly managed to get herself dressed properly, but her hood was crooked and he could even see a few strands of dark hair poking out at the edges. He averted his eyes while Luminara moved over and straightened her out, though he doubted the girl noticed or cared. Her eyes were still mostly closed, and an almighty yawn split her face near in two.
"Good morning," he said, failing to suppress an amused grin. She mumbled something back, though if it were greeting or death threat he wasn't sure, and more fell than sat into her seat at the table. No sooner had her butt met the chair than she folded her arms atop the table, laid her head down on them, and began snoring softly. Luminara frowned at the girl, but made no move to disturb her.
Something in his chest warmed at the sight. He wasn't nearly as close to Barriss as he was to Naruto, but he'd gotten to know her pretty well over the last year. It would have been hard not to, considering his relationship with Luminara. At that moment, Jiraiya felt a flash of almost déjà vu. It felt like a glimpse of what might have been in a different life. A comfortable home. The woman he loved. A child slumped drowsily at the table. When he blinked, the feeling was gone, but the scene wasn't. He smiled to himself.
'This is happiness,' he thought. 'If I never feel this way but once, I could still count my life a good one.'
The whistle of the kettle drew him back to reality. He added the boiling water to a mug along with the mix of tea leaves he'd prepared earlier. It was one of Barriss' favorites, though she thought no one knew that but her. Soon, the scent, earthy with an overlay of spices, wafted through the room. When he placed the steaming mug next to Barriss' head, it only took a few seconds before she stirred. A slender green hand grabbed the mug like it was her only anchor in a storm, and she raised her head just enough to take a long sip.
While she drank the tea, he and Luminara finished preparing the rest of the morning meal. By the time she'd finished the cup, a steaming pot of porridge had joined it on the table, alongside a tray of sliced fruit and a pitcher of blue milk. As they sat down, Barriss finally made the switch from shambling half-life to full consciousness with a breath and a shake of her head. She stared at the empty cup and the food as if unsure of how they'd gotten there.
"I see you've joined us," Luminara said. "Muja fruit?"
Barriss stared at her uncomprehendingly for a few seconds before she gasped and looked at the chrono on the wall. "Oh, I- Master I'm so sorry. I swear, I meant to wake up earlier and- Oh, you shouldn't have had to make breakfast." Her eyes landed on Jiraiya and widened further. "Jiraiya-sensei, you're still- I mean. Master, I promise, I really didn't mean to sleep so late."
"Yes, I know," Luminara said. "I saw your alarm when I turned it off. Really Barriss, 0500? I gave you the day off. What were you planning that needed such an early start?"
Barriss flushed a darker green and looked at her bowl. "I wanted time to study and practice some of the new techniques I learned from Healer Bant."
"And that required waking at the crack of dawn on a free day?" Luminara's voice was soft and calm and dragged out answers like a riptide dragged swimmers out to sea. Barriss winced and refused to look up from her porridge.
"I may also have wanted to study those history texts you gave me. And practice that meditation you showed me the other day. And spend a few hours on the obstacle course."
"Kid, I think you may need a refresher on what a day off is supposed to look like," Jiraiya said. Luminara shot him a quelling look but returned her attention to Barriss almost instantly.
"Padawan, I admire your dedication to self-improvement. It is an important trait in a Jedi. However, you must also allow time for rest and rejuvenation. It is not healthy to constantly push yourself to the limit."
"I'm getting plenty of sleep, master," Barriss protested.
"And yet you slept for almost twelve hours, given the chance, and would have slept more," Luminara said. Her face was openly concerned now. "You must look after yourself, Padawan. It does no one any good for you to run yourself to exhaustion. Is there a reason you feel the need to go to such extremes?"
"I- uh…" Barriss glanced around nervously, a hunted look in her eyes. "No, master. I don't…"
Jiraiya stepped in before she got any more flustered. It wouldn't do any good if she thought they were criticizing her rather than offering help. "How about this? After breakfast, we can do a group meditation. That way, you can be productive and relax at the same time." He didn't mention that it would also give Luminara a chance to help her through any insecurities she obviously still had without confronting them out loud. Luminara hadn't missed that, though, and gave him a grateful look.
"After that, if you feel up to it, I can-"
Chirp!
It was such an innocuous sound. Just his commlink beeping. A sound he heard half a dozen times a day at least, in every situation from Naruto calling to report on some prank he'd just played to him directing local security forces during a firefight. It had always been an innocent little beep, nothing more. This time, however, it may as well have been a peal of thunder for how it silenced them all. The Force shifted, and Jiraiya felt as though the ground had just fallen out from under him. From the way Barriss and Luminara grimaced, they felt it too. Even as he went to answer it, he clenched his jaw to stop from screaming in furious despair. Somehow, he knew what this call would mean.
'So it's come to this,' he thought. 'Again.'
He answered the comm. "Jiraiya here."
Yoda's voice answered, as he knew it would. "Come to the Council chambers, Padawan. Grave matters there are to discuss. Required your presence will be."
That was all, but it was enough. He traded grim looks with Luminara. Silent words passed between them, and she closed her eyes mournfully. Barriss looked from him to her and back again, confused but unwilling to interrupt whatever was happening to ask.
"On my way," he said to his comlink. He stood and paused just long enough to give Luminara a kiss.
"I love you," she murmured.
"I love you, too," he murmured back. "May the Force be with us all." Then he stepped out of his warm bubble of domestic bliss and headed up to the Council.
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"Naruto, report to my location. We have a priority transmission from the Council and the Chancellor."
The sound of blaster fire was almost enough to drown out his master's voice. Even his sensitive ears had to strain to catch the message. Naruto glanced down at the training simulation the newest batch of clone cadets were running through, under the supervision of two instructors from the Cuy'val Dar, and sighed. He'd been looking forward to talking with the cadets and their instructors after the simulation had finished.
"On my way, master," he replied, and with a single hand seal, he vanished in a flicker and a whoosh of displaced air.
Over the last few days, he and Mace had followed the Council's instructions to learn all they could of the clone army and its origins. Despite their best efforts, however, they'd met with little success. None of the Cuy'val Dar knew where Jango Fett had gone, nor who had first hired him as the clone template. The Kaminoans were steadfast in their insistence that Master Sifo-Dyas had been the one to commission the clone army. They'd even (reluctantly) given Mace access to the original contract and the minutes of the meetings between Sifo-Dyas and the Prime Minister. Everything seemed as they said, but there were still no clues as to how the Jedi Master had secured the funds for the commission, nor why he'd chosen a known Jedi killer as the template.
While Mace had spent most of his time with the Kaminoans, Naruto had done his best to learn all he could about the clones themselves. He'd sat in on their classes, observed their training, and even participated in a few sessions when the instructors allowed it. The Mandalorian teachers were abrupt with him at best, but their students treated him with a near-universal awe. All the clones did. Naruto was glad they weren't hostile, but he hated the reason behind their reverence of Jedi. He hated their incredible discipline, their obedience, their superlative physical abilities. He hated them because the Kaminoans had imposed those traits on the clones. What right did they have to force billions of men to think a certain way?
He hated what the Kaminoans had done most of all because it wasn't necessary. The clones' loyalty to the Republic was real. He could sense the difference between their conditioning and the thoughts that originated purely with them. Though they had never seen it, never heard anything but stories about the Jedi and the Republic, every clone he'd met was eager to use all their skills to defend the civilization they'd been created to serve.
And what skills they were. Most of the space in the massive Tipocca city was dedicated to training facilities, and the instructors had used them well. Even the regular clone line companies moved with the sort of skill he typically associated with special operations units in planetary security forces. Their marksmanship, tactical acumen, and physical fitness made each of them a force to be reckoned with, and their teamwork was even more impressive. Naruto would have put a platoon of clones against an entire company of any other military force he'd seen since coming to the Temple. And that wasn't even considering the more elite clone units, such as the ARCs, the commandos, and the Alphas.
He'd trained with Delta squad three more times since first meeting them, and each time he'd come away with a greater appreciation of their skill level. Kal Skirata tolerated his presence more than the other Mandalorian instructors. The gruff Mandalorian didn't have a kind word for him, or anybody else for that matter, but he seemed to respect how Naruto treated the clones as people. Delta squad shared his appreciation for being seen as human, or at least most of them did. He thought Sev just liked the chance to test himself against a Jedi, even a Padawan.
Using Shunshin, Naruto made it to his master's location in under a minute. He recognized it as a communications room. Mace had been considerate enough to leave the door open for him, so he didn't break out of his last body flicker until he was right in front of the already active holoprojector. The translucent forms of Master Yoda, Master Poof, and Jiraiya flickered above the table. All of them looked as grim as Naruto had ever seen them. He could feel it in the Force. Not their emotions, exactly, but the cause of them. The galaxy had been perched upon a razor's edge for years, and now it felt as if it had started to fall.
"Good it is that you are here, Padawan Uzumaki. Grave news do we have." Yoda's ears dropped lower than Naruto had ever seen them until they actually brushed his shoulders. "Several hours ago, a message the Senate received from Count Dooku. Taken Senator Amidala prisoner he has, along with Kenobi and Skywalker."
Naruto choked on air. Mace tensed and went completely still. Neither of them said a word, but the tension in the air could have made music if plucked.
"He claimed they'd committed espionage against the Geonosians and the Separatists," Yarael said. "Per his words, he intends to hand Senator Amidala over to the Trade Federation. Skywalker and Kenobi are to be tried as spies and executed on Geonosis. He refused any further communications and barred all Republic officials from Separatist space. Along with his message there were declarations of secession from every Separatist world."
Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing. There had been hope. Padmé had been sure she could start them on the road to reconciliation, and he'd believed her. He'd let himself believe war wasn't on the horizon anymore.
"Dooku's lying," he said, heedless of protocol. "He has to be. Padmé and Anakin wouldn't do that. Not unless there was a good reason."
"True this is, but it no longer matters," Yoda said. "A transmission we received from the Senator's astromech. Garbled it was, but recover some data we did. Manufacturing an army of battle droids, Dooku has been. Planned this from the beginning I believe he did, and into his trap we walked like blind nerfs. Too late it is to walk out. Into an emergency session the Senate went. Just heard their decisions we have."
The old Grandmaster flexed his grip on his gimer stick, but that was the only expression of distaste he allowed himself. It was enough to communicate the depths of his feelings. Yoda just did not show emotion like that. Certainly not anger. Jiraiya glanced at his master and picked up where he had left off.
"They passed the Military Creation Act and granted the Chancellor emergency powers to resolve the crisis. The details are still up in the air, but the clones are now officially a Grand Army of the Republic." He paused and for a moment it looked as if he, too, had tasted something sour. "With the Jedi as their leaders. As generals."
Jedi as generals? Generals? A week wouldn't have been enough time for Naruto to fully process that. It was so far from right he didn't even know if there were words for it. Jedi weren't generals. They were peacekeepers. Jiraiya continued on, though, and he had no time to do anything but try to balance as reality shifted under his feet.
"Master Yoda and I are leaving for Kamino within the hour, along with a task force of every combat-ready Jedi we can bring. The Chancellor wants us to secure Geonosis, destroy the droid factory, and capture the Separatist leaders still on the planet. He thinks we might end this in one strike if we act fast." From Jiraiya's tone, he didn't fully agree with the Chancellor's assessment.
"What about further negotiations?" Mace asked.
"The Chancellor said he would not negotiate with hostage takers," Yarael answered. "I… cannot say I fully disagree. Dooku has already laid at least one trap we have sprung. He cannot be trusted. If he was already making an army of battle droids, war is likely upon us whatever we do."
None of them spoke for a moment. War had hung over the galaxy like a foul stench for over two years now, but there was a difference between worrying over a possibility and confronting an actuality. Just like that, a millennium of peace was gone. Shattered in an instant, despite all they had done. There was too much to do to allow time for dithering, though. After three seconds, Jiraiya spoke up again.
"Master Windu, please organize a strike force to assault Geonosis. Master Yoda and I will arrive as soon as we can to take command. Prioritize-"
He cut off abruptly as the Supreme Chancellor joined the call. Palpatine looked as harried and grim-faced as the rest of them, but still determined.
"Forgive me for interrupting, master Jedi," he said. "Please, continue."
Jiraiya nodded politely and did just that. "Prioritize air dominance if you can. I'll send you what information we could get from R2's message, in case it helps."
Mace nodded while Naruto watched with wide eyes. Even with everything happening so fast, it was still surreal to see a Padawan give orders to a Master. Then again, Jiraiya had never been an ordinary Padawan. Between his age, his experience, and his position as one of only three beings authorized to teach chakra to the Jedi, most treated him more like a Master than a Padawan. Yoda had done nothing to stop it, even openly consulting him on everything from Jedi training practices to the Code. There was talk that Jiraiya would sit on the Council himself just as soon as he was promoted, and Naruto didn't think it was idle speculation. At the moment, though, something else stood at the fore of his mind.
"What about Anakin and Obi-Wan and Padmé?" He asked, once again ignoring decorum. "We need to rescue them. If we attack before then, they'll be killed."
Master Poof and Jiraiya exchanged a loaded glance before the Quermian turned back to answer him. "I understand your concern, Padawan Uzumaki, but it is not so simple. We cannot delay. If we are to have any hope of ending this war before it can truly begin, we must act swiftly. Any rescue attempt would cost us time we do not have."
Chancellor Palpatine nodded sadly. "We do not even have proof they are still alive. I hope they are, but I cannot jeopardize this one chance in the hope Count Dooku will have spared them."
Naruto shook his head. "They're alive." He wished his voice sounded more certain and repeated himself louder. "They're alive."
"Naruto-" Jiraiya began, but he stopped listening. His eyes closed automatically as he reached deep into the Force, and everything else vanished. As deep as he ever had, and then deeper still. The currents were strong and strange, and they threatened to sweep him away and drown him, but he held on. He needed to go as deep as he could for what he intended.
Naruto knew roughly where Geonosis was relative to Kamino. It wasn't that far in galactic terms, just a few thousand light-years, but still far further than anything he'd tried to sense before. He wasn't about to let some paltry thing like interstellar distances stand in his way, though, and reached his mind out with all the strength of the Force behind it. In his head, he watched as stars blurred past, smearing in a way reminiscent of hyperspace travel, before a planet lurched into view. It hung before him in the Force, red and hostile and teeming with a surprising amount of life.
There was no clarity to the sensations. Even the image of the planet was blurry and faint, as if viewing a reflection on dark water. The sense of life was strong, but he couldn't make out any individual signatures, nor even clusters to indicate cities. Just a general sense of many living minds, and few of them friendly. Gritting his teeth, he dug deeper and cast about for his target.
His mind groaned under the strain of delving so deep into the Force without preparation. Sweat beaded on his brow, and he could feel his heart racing. It was worth it, though, for what he sensed. The familiar fountain of fire that was his brother's signature in the Force gleamed on the planet. It was faint, but so was everything else. He could only sense Anakin at all because of how powerful he was. More importantly, he was alive. Alive and not badly injured if Naruto had to guess. And if Anakin was alive, then he had to believe Padmé and Obi-Wan were, too. With a gasp, he pulled himself back to his own body and promptly collapsed to one knee, panting.
Instantly, Mace was at his side, a hand on his shoulder. Naruto could feel him probing with the Force, looking for injuries. "Padawan, are you alright? What did you just do?"
"They're alive," Naruto said again in between gasps. "Or Anakin is, at least." In short sentences, he explained as best he could what he'd gleaned from his efforts.
"To have reached so far…" Yarael whispered. Naruto barely heard him over the sound of his own heartbeat in his ears. Mace helped him to his feet, and he could feel strength flowing down their bond, keeping him upright. After a second or two, his pulse calmed and he could hear the Chancellor talking.
"-obviously good news, I don't see how this changes anything. Alive or not, we cannot delay our strike for a rescue attempt."
"You won't have to," Naruto said. "I'm going to rescue them. This must have been what Ahsoka's vision meant."
As everyone stared at him, he became conscious that he'd probably looked more impressive than he did at the moment. He was still shaky, sweat cooled on his face, and his eyes wouldn't focus properly. Already, though, he could feel his strength returning, and he refused to drop his eyes.
"You, Padawan? And what's this about a vision?" Palpatine sounded shocked, confused, and a little condescending as he cast a tolerant look his way. Naruto didn't give him or any of the others a chance to express their doubts.
"It'll take at least a day for you to get here," he said to Yoda and Jiraiya. "And part of another to get organized and reach Geonosis. If I leave now, that gives me almost two days before you get there."
Of course, that wasn't accounting for the flight time to get to Geonosis, nor however long it would take to find a way onto the planet, locate Anakin and the others, and formulate a plan to free them. That could easily take his comfortable time margin and whittle it down to the bone. He wasn't about to bring that up if no one else was, though.
"Naruto, think about what you are proposing," Mace said sternly. "Infiltrating an enemy stronghold, possibly facing a Sith. I cannot approve of this."
Naruto gave him a level look. 'I'm sorry, master, but I wasn't asking permission,' he said over their bond. Even determined as he was, Mace's glare still made him gulp. He kept going, though. 'I will rescue them. No matter what.'
Mace's eyes bored into him from a face of chiseled granite. Naruto met that gaze, though, and returned it with interest. Years with his master had hardened his will to contend with the older man's, if not yet match it, and the thought of his brother and friends held prisoner kept him from backing down. They might have stood there for an hour, never speaking, if Yoda hadn't broken the silence.
"Even if you rescue them, what then?" Mace asked. "You will be trapped in the hive-city until we arrive, surrounded by enemies."
"Look at it another way. I'll have Anakin and Obi-Wan as backup while I soften up the city for you."
Mace's nostrils flared, but Yoda spoke over his objections.
"Believe you can rescue them do you?"
Naruto wrenched his gaze from Mace's piercing eyes and nodded at the holoprojector. "Yes, Master. I can do it. I know I can."
"Master, you can't-" Jiraiya tried to object, but a single raised claw from Yoda cut him off.
"A plan you have?"
Naruto nodded again and held his breath. He hadn't thought any of them would actually give their approval. He'd been fully prepared to sneak off the planet if necessary.
Yoda closed his eyes and tilted his head to one side. "See the outcome of this, I cannot, but feel right it does. And correct, Naruto is, about young Ahsoka's vision. Even so, approve this I will not unless your master does as well."
All eyes turned to Mace, but he kept his gaze on Naruto. 'Tell me the truth, Padawan. Is this what the Force is telling you to do? Or are you letting your attachments rule your judgment?'
Naruto met his gaze again, and again he didn't waver. 'It's what I have to do. Or I'm not me.'
Mace sighed and nodded. "I do not like this, but I will not stand in your way. Let us hear your plan, at least."
Naruto told them quickly, impatient to be off. The Chancellor didn't seem to understand. Yoda and Yarael were both unreadable. Jiraiya frowned and crossed his arms, but held his tongue. When he finished, Mace pursed his lips but nodded again.
"May the Force be with you," he said. The next second, Naruto took off as fast as he could. There was no more time to waste. There was no more time at all.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Sergeant RC-1138, Boss to his brothers, clone commando and ruus'alor of Delta squad, grunted as he let his pack fall to the ground, heedless of the water dripping all over the floor. Keeping things dry on Kamino was a challenge at the best of times, and after a 20 kilometer run in full armor with a 60 kilo pack, damp floors didn't even register on his list of concerns. It was hard to be concerned about the little things when his feet had gone numb almost an hour before. Behind him, Scorch, Sev, and Fixer also let their packs down with dull thunks and sighed loudly.
"Good time, vode," he said, careful to keep any sign of tiredness from his voice. "Hit the 'freshers, then get some food. We've got range practice in one hour."
He turned to log their return with the training officer on duty, but just as the door opened, a golden-haired, brown-robed figure appeared in front of him in a flicker of motion.
"Har'chak," he swore as he stumbled backwards and pinwheeled his arms to keep from going shebs over buy'ce. One hand instinctively went for a blaster that wasn't there before he recognized who it was who'd just scared five years off his life.
"Padawan Uzumaki," he said flatly. Of course it was him. Shiny Jetii or not, Naruto Uzumaki had a talent for pulling the unexpected out of thin air like it was nothing. Of course he could… teleport? Turn invisible? Move at super speed? However he'd materialized in front of him like a masked phantom, Boss berated himself for ever feeling surprise. He'd certainly seen enough Jetii osik over the last few days to expect the impossible and ridiculous.
When he took a moment to examine the Jedi more closely, though, his guard rose once again. Something wasn't right. There was none of the laughter usually present in those bright blue eyes. His hands were tense, his posture stiff, and if the mask hadn't been there, Boss would have put money on seeing clenched jaws and grinding teeth.
"Something's wrong. What is it?"
Uzumaki took a deep breath before answering. "The Senate has declared war on the Separatists."
By that point, Sev, Scorch, and Fixer had wandered over to see what the commotion was about. They all listened in stunned amazement as he explained what had happened. War. It seemed unreal for a moment, and then ingrained training kicked in. War was what he'd been bred for. What all of them had been bred for. Their purpose was to protect the Republic and destroy its enemies. For a decade, now, that had been the light that kept them all going, allowing them to endure the cruel Kaminiise and the often crueler Cuy'val Dar. Now, they had a chance to fulfill that purpose. He straightened unconsciously, and a profound sense of belonging filled him. This was right. It was what he was meant to do. When the Commander got to the part about Dooku taking hostages, a niggling suspicion formed in Boss's head. He thought he knew why Uzumaki had rushed to them, but it paid to be sure.
"Commander, why did you come to us?" He asked. Uzumaki's eyebrows twitched at his rank, but he didn't object to it. "Is there something you need us to do, sir?"
Uzumaki paused for a moment and looked him in the eyes. "Sergeant, how does your squad feel about rescue missions into enemy territory with limited intel, no friendly support, and massive opposition?"
He gave a quick rundown of the tactical situation and Boss read the subtext. The commander wasn't giving them an order. He was asking for volunteers. Volunteers for what was probably the craziest mission he'd ever heard of. No sane man would want to go. It was barely a step above a suicide mission, and he didn't even know the plan. Or if there was a plan. Every bit of doctrine and protocol the Kaminiise had drilled into him said it was a bad idea. There was only one possible response.
"When do we leave, sir?" He didn't even need to turn around to know the other three were on board, though he heard them echo the sentiment with varying degrees of vulgarity. They had a chance to be the first clones to fight on behalf of the Republic. That alone likely would have convinced them. That they were rescuing a Senator and two Jedi clenched it. None of them would allow the enemy to get away with attacking Republic personnel like this.
As soon as he spoke, Uzumaki gave a sharp nod and relaxed just a fraction. "Thank you. All of you. Prep whatever you might need, and meet me in hangar 3 in two hours. We're going to get our people back."
"Oya!" He and his brothers all shouted as one, and they all snapped off crisp salutes. Uzumaki stiffened and, after just a fraction of hesitation, saluted back before he vanished in another flicker.
Boss watched him and allowed himself a moment to ponder what he'd just done. Loyalty to the Jedi was all very well, but signing up for a mission like this? With so little intel? He didn't doubt Uzumaki's skill as a warrior. There were still bruises on his torso to remind him, but was he a leader? Could he really pull this off without getting them all killed?
'I guess we'll just have to see. No going back now,' he thought. When he turned around, he saw the rest of Delta squad standing around, looking equally contemplative.
"What are you lazy shabuire doing?" He roared. "You heard the commander. Two hours. Get moving! Showers first. You all smell like rotting garbage."
They all leaped to and rushed to strip off their armor and get to the showers. If they hurried, there would be enough time to run their gear through a sanitizer and grab a quick meal. As he shucked his own armor, Boss ran through a mental checklist of all the gear they would need to bring and where all of it was. That, at least, wouldn't be hard. Ever since the Jedi had arrived on Kamino, Skirata had told them to have all their mission essentials prepped at all times.
The two hours passed in a blur of disjointed images and frantic activity. Boss barely even remembered eating. Certainly he hadn't tasted the food as he'd shoveled it into his mouth. It had been tight, but right in time, Delta squad walked into the hangar, armor clean (or at least not stinking of sweat), weapons at hand, gear packed and slung over their shoulders. Commander Uzumaki was already there, back in his light armor, talking with General Windu. Even with his helmet's audio enhancements, Boss couldn't make out what they were saying. As they approached, the younger human turned to them and returned their salutes.
"Right on time, sergeant." He gestured to a Nu-class attack shuttle behind him. "Load up. The faster we get there, the faster we can see Anakin's face when he realizes I had to rescue him."
Uzumaki gave a brief eye-smile, and Boss grinned under his helmet. He could only imagine the ribbing he'd give one of his vode if he had to rescue them like some princess out of those stories Skirata and the Alphas had snuck them.
Uzumaki went straight for the pilot's seat when he came aboard and had them in the air and out of the hangar in record time. The interior of the shuttle was dim and felt a little cramped, even though, with only five of them on board, there was plenty of room to spare. Equipment rattled as the wind buffeted the ship, but before long they were out of the atmosphere and approaching a safe hyperspace jump point. Boss felt the subtle shift in the engine noise when they went to hyperspace, but his mind stayed on the mission to come. This was really happening.
"Next stop, Geonosis," the commander said from the cockpit. "That gives me five hours or so to come up with a plan that won't get us all killed."
"Not dying would be good," Scorch said. "Just, you know, if you can manage it, sir."
"Oh, don't worry." Uzumaki turned around to face them. "None of us are going to die. I'll make sure of it."
Boss believed him. He hadn't known the Jedi for very long, but deep inside he believed they would all make it through. Uzumaki was just enough of a lunatic to pull it off. After all, if there was anything crazier than this mission, it was their commander. And Delta squad knew the value of crazy.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Omake 2: Take Two
Seven weeks. It had been seven weeks since Naruto returned from the Ordeal. Eight weeks since Viir's murder. Just the thought of it still sent rage scuttling through his heart like a poisonous insect, but only for a moment. It would always hurt, but he wouldn't dishonor his sister's memory by letting his anger control him. He took a breath and let the insect scuttle back into the dark.
Seven weeks, and here he was again, leading Ahsoka, Barriss, Galdos, Trilla, and Knox on their Gathering. The Order had retrieved the Crucible from Rago and repaired it, while he, Anakin, and Ahsoka had done much the same for Professor Huyang. Both droid and ship looked virtually identical to how they had before the attack, if not slightly cleaner. The feel of the voyage was different, though.
Last time there had been nervous smiles and hyperactive twitchiness and a sense of barely lessened excitement. Not so much this time. Knox and Trilla weren't telling jokes. Galdos was meditating so intensely it was almost aggressive. Barriss had built and rebuilt her practice hilt so many times the pieces were wearing out. Ahsoka was stalking the halls, going from floor to wall to ceiling without breaking stride, barely responding to anyone who tried to talk to her. Huyang chivvied them into paying attention during his lessons and made sure they completed their assigned practice, but he advised Naruto to let them handle Viir's absence in their own way.
"They are still grieving," he said. "This place, this trip, it opens the wound anew. Painful, oh yes, but I think, perhaps, necessary. Take it from me, Naruto. This is just one more Trial they must face on their journey. And you, too, I think. How are you holding up?"
Naruto stared pointedly at the control panels. There were plenty of possible answers. He wanted to scream. He wanted to cry. He wanted to reverse course to the Temple where he knew his friends would be safe. He wanted to hunt down Aurra Sing and splatter her organs for finger paint. Yes, he very much wanted that last one. But he couldn't have it, for many, many good reasons.
"I'm… here," he said, finally. "In the moment. What about you, Huyang? How are you doing?"
Now it was Huyang's turn to stare at nothing. "I'm a droid, Naruto. I don't feel as you do."
"That's nerfshit, Professor, and we both know it."
"Watch your language, Padawan."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Fine, but you're still lying."
"Of course I'm lying," Huyang said, and there was a dangerous undercurrent to his voice now. Harsh and raw. "I have not lost a youngling in over 1,200 years. Not since the darkest days of the New Sith wars. I remember every single one of you. Did you know that? Every youngling, every Padawan guide, every Jedi who has ever set foot aboard my ship for the past 25,000 years. Viir was extraordinary, and she is gone, and I could not save her."
Naruto nodded. "None of us could. But I don't want what happened last time to make this trip feel miserable."
"An admirable goal, Padawan. But one I doubt you will accomplish holed up in the cockpit. You and I are the example the others look to, after all. Perhaps it is time we both act like it?"
Naruto looked up at him, and for a moment he kept his face perfectly blank. Even without the mask, no one could have read his expression. Huyang just looked back, silent, impassive, waiting. Finally, Naruto gave an eye-smile and nodded.
"Yeah, okay," he said sheepishly. "You're right. Let's get them together. This has been going on long enough."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Twenty minutes later, all six Initiates were gathered in the study room, right behind the cockpit. Huyang stood behind them unobtrusively in a corner. He might have been invisible if not for his glowing photoreceptors. Before he joined them, Naruto made sure his lightsaber and braid were clearly visible. He wanted to talk to them as their friend, yes, but also as their Padawan guide. When he stepped out of the cockpit, all of them were staring at him with varying degrees of confusion. He'd been as much a distant presence so far as they had, and Huyang had been right to call him on it. Still, they gathered in a loose semi-circle around him and listened attentively.
"Viir's gone," he said without preamble. There was no point skirting around it. That was what had led to this issue. "She should be here with us, and she's not, and that hurts. It hurts, and we've been letting that control us. But the Gathering has to be about more than that. You cannot go into this with something holding you back. You just can't."
He looked around at them. None of them were very good at concealing their expressions, yet. Galdos and Knox were stony faced, angry at him for bringing this up but unwilling to voice it. Barriss looked ashamed, perhaps over her own inability to move on alone. Trilla was chewing on her lip, thoughtful but also lost in memory. As for Ahsoka, she was staring at him with eyes that could have sheared Banthas. Where was he going with this, her stare asked. It had better be good.
He went on. "We have two days until we reach Ilum. By the time we do, we all need to be focused on the moment. So, here's what's going to happen. We're going to talk about Viir. None of us are going to leave this room until we've talked about her, about what we remember, about how much it hurts, about anything. This can't hang over us like a ghost anymore. We'll confront this and overcome it like Jedi. Okay?"
There was a scattered mumble of assent, but none of them looked eager. That was fine. He hadn't expected them to be. He certainly wasn't.
"I'll go first," he said. His voice stayed steady only by an enormous effort of will. "Viir was my sister. Not by blood, but we loved each other like siblings. I've never had a sister before, and it was pretty awesome having one like Viir. She was always so good at languages. She was the first person at the Temple who learned Nihongo. It was because of her I started learning as many languages as I have."
He felt tears burn in his eyes and let them fall. They trickled slowly down his cheeks and into his mask as he talked about Viir's love of traps, how good she was at history and diplomacy, how she could never fix anything without making a complete mess of herself in the process. The words felt like stones he had to push up a hill, but once spoken, they left him lighter than he'd been in weeks. When he finally finished, Ahsoka was the first one to break the silence.
"She hated my flying," she murmured. "Hated partnering with me for flight training. She said I flew like a spiced up flare jockey. Ha. That from a girl who managed to crash a flight simulator into a wall. A simulator. But on my birthday, she volunteered to be my partner. Actually volunteered. All because she knew I thought the faces she made when I was flying were funny. She even hugged me after."
When Ahsoka was done, Knox spoke, and then Trilla. Galdos, famously laconic, talked for almost half an hour about the time Viir had helped him overcome his own difficulties with swimming by demanding swimming lessons from him every day for a month. Round and round they went for hours. Laughter joined tears, and angry shouts came on the heels of fond reminiscence. It was an outpouring of raw emotion the Jedi Code explicitly forbade, and one they all desperately needed. Only with the onset of a plague of yawns did he call an end to it. Before he sent them to their quarters, though, he promised they would do the same thing again in the morning, and again the next evening. As the last of them filed out of the room, he caught Huyang's stare.
"What?" He asked. "What's that look for?"
"You show the beginnings of wisdom, Padawan. I am proud of you."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
And so it begins. How will Naruto get Delta squad onto Geonosis undetected? Can he rescue his friends in time? What plan will Mace and Jiraiya cook up to destroy the droid factory? Tune in next time to find out!
To all those who predicted Naruto would team up with Delta squad for the battle of Geonosis, well done. It won't be forever, but he's definitely with them for this mission. I look forward to your predictions on how the rescue and the invasion will go.
Just to forestall anyone saying the Jedi are heartless bastards for writing off Padme, Anakin, and Obi-Wan, no they didn't. They just didn't see a means of rescuing them without jeopardizing far more lives in the process and spoiling their chances to take Geonosis. Even if they did declare them acceptable casualties, that still wouldn't make them evil. This is now a war, and I have no intention of making it a fairy tale. In war, you occupy whatever moral high ground you can find, but in the end, the goal is to use violence to impose your will on the enemy. Jedi aren't soldiers, but they are realists. The best way to save lives is to end the war as fast as possible. If that means being hard, then they'll turn themselves to stone.
As for the Omake, I thought it was important to acknowledge that trauma lingers, and being in such a familiar environment would bring it up again. Don't worry, though. Viir's death will never not be a big part of who Naruto and Ahsoka are, but this will be the last direct "therapy" session, at least for a long time.