Proven - Part 2

Contains/Warnings: Violence, death, blood, injury etc.

Hours passed.

The battles raged around them and Alpha Company took charge. They fought with every advantage their ARC training allowed, decimating waves of droids as they fought their way through Tipoca City.

The facility was flooded with red light and sensors blaring a warning from the damage. Zaiya stalked forward, she and her ARC's using stealth, checking every corner so they might be able to surprise any droids they encountered. Alpha had protested of course, as it was not efficient to do so but after a quick banter, he agreed they had bigger problems.

Alpha had also argued that Zaiya should head to the medical wing or at least sit out while she was injured. He had insisted her in an injured state would not be at full capacity. The death glare she'd given him did little to dampen his argument and for the first time, she'd actually pulled rank on him to shut him up. Though he was still annoyed at her, he had accepted it and she'd let the medic, and ARC named Caboose, give her first aid before moving forward with their mission.

"They will be after the DNA and the Tubies," Alpha muttered as they paused at one corner. Clear. They pressed on.

"Tubies?" Zaiya asked, her eyes scanning the corridors as they jogged along.

"The unborn clones," he clarified.

"Ah, in the tubes, I get it," she nodded then turned her head toward him, "more clone slang?"

"More slang," he confirmed and she let out a soft huff.

"I'll get the hang of it one day," she said with a small smirk.

They encountered a small group of droids in the next hall, and wasting no time, Zaiya and the clones opened fire, Zaiya cleanly deflecting bolts as their living shield.

"It's any wonder you didn't get hurt worse," Havoc said as he stood beside her, blasting one of the droids heads clean off, "what with you being in your pyjamas and all," she could envision his big dumb grin without him taking the helmet off, and heard the amusement in his voice, despite the regulator.

"This is just training gear," she replied as the last droid fell. "I should think I would be in greater trouble if I were in my pyjamas though."

"Why?" he asked, turning his head to face her.

"I sleep naked," she replied in deadpan, "come on, then." Zaiya hid her smirk as Havoc's mouth fell open in response. She led the men toward the cloning chamber, they were sure to encounter trouble soon.

Sure enough there were more droids ahead, and Havoc didn't have a chance to think up some snappy reply before they were back into the fray.

[Lieutenant-General!] The voice of Shaak Ti came from her comm, the Jedi was in the midst of her own battle in protecting the DNA chamber.

"Go ahead," Zaiya replied, as she sent a blast back to the droid that fired it.

[I have just been informed that Masters Kenobi and Skywalker have arrived into the atmosphere,] Zaiya had to stop her lip curling at that name.

"I see," she replied, "I cannot promise to leave them enough droids to have a decent fight, but I am sure we shall appreciate their help all the same." She had to say something light to keep the venom from her voice.

[Good to see you are still in high spirits,] Shaak Ti replied warmly and the communication dropped. She didn't suppose an accident in battle befalling the bearded Jedi would be investigated in the midst of such an invasion? This thought did rather lift her spirits a bit, and she was able to keep going.

Upon reaching their target, Zaiya was glad to see they had outflanked the droids and were able to hunker down and defend the room. She pulled up her comm and pinged Hunter, whom she had tasked to get his team ready in reserve.

[Do you need us to fight?] he asked immediately. Zaiya grinned, he was ever-keen to prove himself. She couldn't be more proud.

"Not yet, but I do need your brother to do something for me- Tech?"

[Yes?] he responded immediately.

"I need you to access security, find General Kaves, he's a Koorivar. With him is a command droid, I need them located as soon as you can," she said firmly.

[Isn't the security office helping you directly?] Hunter's voice cut in.

"Yes, so either head there to access it directly under my order or hack in, we both know Tech can work almost as fast as any droid and smarter than anyone in this whole city, I need him on this," she replied.

[I'm already in, but as there is a delay, I will head to the security office to connect in directly,] Tech stated with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Good, let me know when you find them," she replied and the call dropped.

"So are we gonna hunt this guy down?" asked Caboose. Zaiya wasn't sure she wanted to know the reason for that particular nickname, but he was friendly and warm-natured with his brothers, and seemed a little shy around anyone new.

"Well," she raised a hand to her chin and trailed her nails along her jaw in thought, "I would prefer to chase him down on my own-"

"Like hell!" Alpha grumbled as he turned from his post and jabbed a finger at her, "you should be in the med bay!"

"-as I was saying," she continued with a look shot toward the Captain, "I would venture out but mummy won't like it," she jabbed her thumb at Alpha. It wouldn't be long until the droids reached them.

"Mummy?!" Colt snorted and the other troopers shifted as though trying to hide his laughter was physically painful.

"Would daddy be better?" she replied and suddenly clasped her hands together, leaning toward Alpha as though a child begging for sweets, "please daddy! Let me capture the terrible man! I've been ever so good, daddy!" Alpha made a sound she couldn't quite describe as he physically recoiled. Not much riled him up but this was probably a bit too much.

"You have some weird masochistic streak in you, woman!" he snapped, "I just don't want you offing yourself through a fight for some dumb reason!" He seemed a little disturbed so she held up her hands in a mock surrender.

"I'm fine, really, I've had much worse, soldier, don't go soft on me now," she chided and he bristled in return. Though lighthearted, he would likely be at least somewhat insulted. She knew it was not about softness, but his concern for her doing something foolish and compromising the mission, or herself. It seemed she had earned his trust enough that were she no longer able to train the ARC troopers, it would be a detriment to the men. She was rather pleased he thought of her skills so highly now. She didn't dare delude herself in thinking he thought of her as more than a superior. Even if she had begun to think of him as a friend.

Sadly there was no time for Alpha to give her a piece of his mind, when something upward of thirty droids at least began stomping their way around the corner. They opened fire immediately and all conversation was halted for the time being as they focused on not being shot. Zaiya was their living shield, deflecting what bolts came their way. Still, as easy as conversation with her clones were, two more Jedi were on their way and she had a General to find. She commed in to Sergeant Stick, as he was holding the main command post.

"Sergeant, have we got another team to back us up?" she asked, there was a pause.

[Yes, Lieutenant-General, we have Gamma squad at the ready…] another pause. [I wouldn't have thought you needed backup.]

"I do not, but I cannot leave the cloning chamber unguarded, we have cleared a path but I need them to take over while Alpha Company and I push forward to find the General," she replied, "has Tech located him yet?"

[You mean the Bad Batcher?] It seemed to slip out, and the derision in his tone was unhidden. Zaiya's brow quirked as she leapt to bury her blade into the powerbank of the droid to her left.

"Tech is my best analyst, Sergeant, I suggest you remember that as he is saving this facility from that seppie hut'uun!"

[Yes ma'am!] Stick replied and she inwardly groaned, she'd wanted a rank to avoid that address. She concentrated on dispatching the last of the droids as they held the line, awaiting Gamma squad to arrive and take over.

Sure enough the troopers arrived, and an update from Shaak Ti told her the 501st and 212th battalions were joining them. That improved Zaiya's outlook immensely, seeing Rex and Cody again would certainly make her feel better.

She didn't have the time to waste however, Tech informed her that with backup arriving, the General seemed to be turning to flee. This would not be acceptable. With no time to waste, she sprinted ahead, she had to catch him before he fled to his ship!

The influx of more troopers seemed to make the droid number lessen, and the way was mostly clear for them. The entry point was ahead, smoke had almost filled the hallways from where they had blown a hole in the wall. Broken droids, sparking and twitching scattered the halls, and so did the limp, lifeless and bloody bodies of the clone troopers. Zaiya's lip curled and anger ignited in her again.

They didn't have time to mourn however, beyond the gaping hole blasted into the outer walls, through the storm, Zaiya saw him.

He was running in terror. Her blood began to boil and her teeth grit.

She was predator, he was prey. The Nightsister stalked forward, dropping low and about to break into a run when more droids emerged from the right. A growl escaped her throat. Just how many were there?!

"We've got this, you go after him!" Alpha cried and she shot a look at him. She didn't need her nexus eye to read the look on his face. Helmet or no, she understood. With only a nod, she bolted, leaving the clones to do what she trained them to. Blaster fire followed her, but the General was in her sights.

Her eyes trained on him and he nearly slipped on the wet durasteel platform, it bought her more time. The witch barely touched the ground, leaping back into the downpour as she raced toward the alien. He was fifty feet away, and nearly at his ship. But she was faster.

Forty feet.

He was at the ramp, the commando droid already heading inside.

Thirty feet.

The idiot finally spotted her.

Twenty.

His eyes widened and he turned to race up the ramp.

Ten.

There was no escape now. He drew a blaster, but it was too late. Zaiya's foot was on the ramp before they could close it and she all but bowled him over, her eyes flashing wildly, her hair a mess and soaking wet. The General went sprawling and looked up into her vicious expression. She revelled in the terror on his face. She would enjoy this.

-O-

The battle was mostly over, almost all the droids destroyed and the lights back to their regular cool white hue. Many Troopers gathered in the main hangar when they noticed the sodden wet figure of the Ver'alor dragging a body with her.

It was a grim sight, though they realised after a moment that the General was still alive! Groaning and half-lidded eyes, head lolling from side to side as he was dragged in, bloodied, broken and one arm at a wrong angle. Zaiya's hand gripped the collar of his shirt tightly. She was sodden and the look on her face was dark and vicious, her lip curled and her teeth grit. In her other hand, was the head of the commando droid, its wires still sparking.

"Binders," she snapped as she made her way into the hangar. One of the Alpha Company approached and they helped her bind the General's wrists. She looked up to see Colt aggressively pulling his arms in to hold them.

"Are you alright?" She turned to look up, Caboose was looking at her funny. Worried maybe? Why was he looking at her like that?

"Why?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"You're bleeding…" he pointed and she followed his finger to see bloody footprints on the white floors. Her bare feet must have been all cut up from the sharp metal of broken droids everywhere… she hadn't even noticed.

"I'll be fine once he starts talking…" Her head tilted as she spoke into her comm. "Tech, I need you down here," she said, her tone still tense.

[On my way, Ver'alor.] Zaiya gave pause, had he heard the others calling her that? It felt almost affectionate, reverent even. It put a brief stopper in her rage, but the moment the General moved, her molten gaze returned to him. He was beginning to wake.

"You have one chance to tell me the further operation plans of the Separatists, General Kaves," she said, her words professional but her tone, venomous. The Koorivar blinked as he came to, looking up at the Nightsister looming over him.

"You will… have nothing… from me… Republic scum!" He groaned and tried to sit up. Zaiya pushed him back down with her foot and her dark blood smeared all over his soaked jacket.

"I will not ask again," she sneered.

"You will not have anything!" he retorted. She looked into his eyes. Yes, he was telling the truth, short of forcing his way into his mind and using the Force around Jedi, she would get nothing from him.

"Very well," she seized him up by his collar again and hauled him over to a raised platform before the rest of the Troopers. All eyes turned to her as she forced the enemy General to his knees. "Then by the power granted me by the Grand Army of the Republic, I hereby sentence you to execution under the War Articles Act." She reached for her pistol, strapped to her leg and moved to stand behind the General.

"Coward! If you're going to execute me, look me in the eye!" he goaded her and she smirked.

"As you wish," it only made sense. The tip of the blaster tilted his chip upward and met his gaze with hers.

"Your Republic will not commend you-" he started but Zaiya leaned in to cut him off.

"You mistake me again, General," she replied in a low hiss, so that only he might hear, "this is not for some foolish honour the Republic might bestow me… no, this, I shall very much enjoy." She leaned back and looked him in the eye as she levelled the gun at his forehead, right between his eyes. A wide-eyed look of shock and fear crossed his face as realisation dawned. He seemed to have been under the impression she had Jedi sensibilities.

"You-you're a monster!" he cried, perhaps in some effort to stop her. Zaiya's smirk widened into a wicked grin.

"I never claimed to be otherwise."

She pulled the trigger.

"No-!" came a cry to her right and she turned as the Koorivar slumped to the floor with a hole in his face. Two men in long robes stood on the far side of the hangar; too late as the Separatist General slumped to the floor, blood pooling beneath him now. Zaiya holstered her blaster again and turned to approach the generals. The one that had cried out was none other than Kenobi himself. She guessed then that the other, taller man was the Jedi Skywalker. Something about him was eerily familiar, but she pushed it away.

"It seems you missed most of the fun, Generals," Zaiya replied as she approached.

"We needed him for debriefing," Kenobi huffed and she met his exasperated look with a flat one of her own.

"No need to worry, Master Jedi," she had to force herself not to sneer, "I am not completely stupid."

"I wasn't implying-"

"Tech!" she called, ignoring him entirely.

"I am here," Tech announced, hurrying over. It seemed he and his squad had arrived at the hangar in the nick of time. There was no one else she trusted on this.

"Excellent," she reached for the commando head and tossed it to him in a casual movement, "your genius is required, I need you to bypass the security protocols and extract all data from this," she explained as he caught it, almost dropping the thing.

"Right away, Ver'alor," Tech nodded and turned to take the head with him for extraction. She looked back to the Jedi with a placating smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"See? All the information you require will be with you shortly," she assured them and moved to step past them.

"Yeah!" A booming voice cut across her and she allowed a small smile to tug at her lips. She looked up to see Wrecker bound his way over, grinning from ear to ear. "We did it!" he looked rather pleased, "I even got to blow up some droids!"

"No wonder you're smiling then," she chuckled and tilted her head at him.

"I hear you had the most fun! Way to go!" As usual he landed a punch to her arm- but his face dropped when he looked at her. It hadn't been obvious in the red emergency lights, but her upper arms were covered in marks other than her tattoos.

She was littered with bruises. She'd honestly forgotten about them until Wrecker's punch. Her face remained impassive, though her mouth tightened slightly. He surveyed her arm in confusion.

"What happened to your arm?" he blurted.

"What do you think, idiot, if you keep hitting her?" snarked the silver-haired sniper, making a wild gesture to him as though it were obvious. Wrecker's face became concerned, upset even.

"I… I didn't do it that hard-! She didn't say anything!" he blurted, before she could indeed say something.

"It's nothing," she insisted and petted Wrecker's forearm, the poor thing looked so dejected and heartbroken, "I barely felt it," she flashed him a half smile and he hung his head.

"'m sorry…" he mumbled, "I didn't mean t' hurt you,"

"Wrecker, it's nothing, I've had worse." She shrugged but he didn't seem to cheer up, "look if it bothers you so much, perhaps you need to be a little more mindful of your strength…?" she suggested and he looked down at her with big puppy eyes.

"I won't! I promise!" he swore and she just laughed softly, assuring him with a smile that all was well.

She was hoping to finally return to her quarters and leave these Jedi behind when-

"Ver'alor, you need to head to the medical bay!" Caboose called out as she was once again stopped from moving ahead. Oh for kriffs sake!

"Whatever for?" she asked with a shake of her head. Confusion evident on her face.

"What- you were shot! Your feet are still bleeding and you were just in battle!" Caboose spluttered. Her brow furrowed.

"No need to make a fuss," she replied with a shake of her head.

"You were injured…?" Kenobi asked, turning to face her. Wonderful, now the Jedi would pester her.

"It is hardly of any consequence," she replied dismissively.

"I am afraid I must insist, my dear," Kenobi said with a tone that made her want to stab him, "and as your General, I can order you-"

"You are not my General and neither am I your dear," she replied with a half-snarl, but figured the medical bay might be free of Jedi annoyances. "But since you insist, I shall acquiesce."

"You're well-spoken for a bounty hunter," the taller one interrupted and her disdainful gaze looked to him.

"And you're just as nosy as I expected of a Jedi," she retorted swiftly, heading to the main area, "I'll head to the med bay shortly," she informed them and stepped past the Jedi to check on her men.

Bloody footprints left in her wake.

-O-

It took a while for the 501st and the 212th to assist them in cleaning the place up. Zaiya was most pleased to see Rex and Cody again but she did her best to avoid their Generals. She didn't have much of a chance to keep her head down when she was finally practically dragged to the med bay by Caboose and Havoc, both of them concerned by how shredded her feet were, and that her wound, while better, was still very nasty.

Through all of it, she managed to keep her composure, shutting down all her emotions. Trying not to remember how it was on Zygerria… the beatings, the cuts, the punishment she could deal with… but the medical wing.

Being sedated and made to know what was happening but no control to stop any of it, hearing screams around her. Being able to feel everything… unable to move. So weak… It was the stuff of her nightmares.

In response she was almost rigid as a statue while the medics tended her wounds. One fool thought telling her she should not walk for a few days would stop her but at the first opportunity she was trying to get the hell out of there as fast as she could. She would much rather tend to the injuries herself, or better yet, tend to the other soldiers who were wounded far worse than she.

It hadn't been very successful however.

"So you're the one they call Ver'alor," a young man's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"And you are the one they call Skywalker," she replied, looking up at the Jedi. She'd recognised his voice.

So much for finding Jedi-less peace here.

"The clones seem to respect you highly, at least the ones that have spoken of you," he said, and paused at her bedside and folded his arms.

"I am honoured," she replied. Her feet and abdomen were bandaged, she now sat with legs folded in the middle of the medical cot, eager to get out of there. "I hear interesting things about you," she added, surveying the room. It was most irritating, and every time she'd attempted to assist she'd been shut down so was now definitely not sulking while she'd been sitting back, waiting to be released.

"Is that right?" the Jedi chuckled. Zaiya cocked a brow as she slowly turned her head to look at him, "what have you heard?"

"Reckless, arrogant… stubborn… wild… and rather unconventional to Jedi standards," she watched his face shift and betray a sullenness that crossed his expression. "They also say you lead your battalion from the front in the few missions you've had so far," she added, "and if you aren't like other Jedi, maybe that's a good thing," she shrugged casually and returned her gaze to the room.

"You don't like Jedi?" Skywalker asked.

"I have found I have… opposing beliefs when it comes to killing and- what do you call them?" she tilted her head and snapped her fingers a few times as though it might conjure the word. "When you have relationships…?"

"Attachments?" he supplied and she clicked her fingers again, this time pointing at him.

"Yes! That!" she nodded, "I tend to find them important…" she shrugged and leaned back on her hands, watching the clones, a sombre look in her eye. "It drives me to do better… so that this might not happen again."

"You value the clones very highly," Skywalker surmised and Zaiya was not fond of the way he looked at her. His frown suggested he did not agree with her statement however.

"Of course," she replied with a nod, then turned back to him, her gaze flicked over him, taking in his pose and dark clothing choice, and especially his face. A very young face. This Jedi was practically a boy and in charge of battalions of her clone brethren. "I understand Captain Rex is your second in command, General Skywalker?" she asked, trying to focus on the conversation at hand and avoid the itch in her mind that told her to do more than just sit there.

"Yes he is," the Jedi replied with a nod.

"Look after him," the zabrak instructed, "and I mean that, if I find out he was harmed or killed because of your actions, I'm coming after you," she warned, jabbing her finger in his direction. His expression contorted into one of anger.

"You would threaten a Jedi?" he asked arrogantly and she felt her own anger crawl up her back.

"I don't care what you are, I care about them," she gestured to the room and the clones on meds, bandaged, groaning in pain, bleeding, bruised, battered, scorched. They were soldiers, yes, but this was… being bred to fight a war that had nothing to do with them, loyal to a republic that thought of them as nothing but fodder. "I'm not compassionate to everyone like you are, Jedi. I value my people, and that's all." Skywalker's blue eyes narrowed as he searched her face.

"Why are the clones so important to you?" he asked, but his tone was not accusatory.

"They are more than just clones to me, they are family," she replied, her eyes on his, steady and even. A moment later she saw movement behind him and her gaze slid to two troopers standing with buckets in hand. Her expression lit up to one of joy as she recognised them. "Rex, Cody!" she beamed. They had surprised expressions, but made their way over, the Jedi Skywalker thankfully stepped away and she felt able to breathe again. There was something rather oppressive about the presence of a Jedi to her. Perhaps it was her own secrets burning in the back of her mind?

"Ver'alor," Cody greeted and she made her Nightsister gesture, touching the crook of her forefinger to her forehead, then lips and a sweeping movement with her hand.

"What is that?" Rex finally asked, roughly mimicking the movement, "I've always wondered,"

"It's a traditional Nightsister greeting or respect," she explained, "here-" she touched her head with her knuckle, "I acknowledge your thoughts," she tapped her lip, "I listen to your voice," she made the sweeping gesture, "you are welcome here." Her hands dropped to her lap as she regarded them.

"We don't have anything as poetic as that," Cody chuckled, "though we do have a few Mandalorian customs, despite not being Mandos…" he shrugged, "here," he gestured to her and smiled, the dazzling white smile all the clones had as he brought one hand to the back of her head and his forehead to hers. Zaiya grinned, she knew this gesture.

"Kov'nyn," she nodded as he pulled back, "I am glad you kept that part of Mandalorian culture. You can make it your own, now,"

"I suppose we can," Cody chuckled and Rex shifted his weight from foot to foot until Zaiya gestured for him to approach.

"C'mere," she beamed and brought him in too, her forehead pressing to his for a moment. Usually done in armour for Mandalorians, sometimes intimate, but she knew it was just completely platonic respect here. "I'm honoured," she said with a big smile.

"It's only fair considering how you defended Kamino," Rex replied with a warm tone, "we were just hearing about it from the ARC's."

"All exaggeration, I assure you," she replied immediately, waving a hand dismissively. The two men laughed and shared knowing looks that gave her no confidence that they believed her. "So, are you here to get me out of this hell?" she asked, resting her cheek on her hand.

"Didn't you get shot?" Rex asked.

"It's only a flesh wound, a little nap and I'll be fine," she shrugged, Rex shook his head and she huffed at him. "Oh you would do the same!" she argued and Cody nudged his shoulder.

"She's got you there, brother," he laughed and Rex rolled his eyes. There was a pleasant moment of silence before a question came to Rex.

"Did you mean what you said before?" he asked, "to General Skywalker?" he motioned to the Jedi and Zaiya turned to glance at him, now speaking to troopers on the far side of the room.

"Yes, but which part specifically?"

"About us being family." They both looked at her with expectant gazes and she noticed a lul in the room, and noticed a few troopers looking her way. Were they listening?

"Of course," she nodded.

"You say that easily," Cody remarked, tilting his head slightly.

"I am a Nightsister, which means I am supposed to have the loyalty of no one but my clan," she explained, "but I didn't have it. To them I was an outsider, a stray… so I had to find my own way. As you clones have had to do," she shrugged. "To me, you are all unique and loyal and… like brothers." The room had become very quiet all of a sudden and she looked around to see the other soldiers looking in her direction. Was she speaking that loudly?

"Perhaps we are," Rex said after a long pause, "we have lots of brothers, maybe it will be nice to have a big sister…?" He looked up at her with puppy eyes for a moment and she was reminded so strongly of Boba. For just a moment, this was not Rex, Captain of the 501st battalion, this was a boy asking for a sibling. There was no way she could steel herself to that look and she had to look away with a small smile and a laugh.

"I'd like that… vod'ika," she grinned.

OOO-

Notes:

Hello! What a monster chapter! I hope you all enjoyed! Yes the first invasion was rather short but we have places to go and only so much time to spend on Kamino! I recently learned that Havoc is a canon Clone on Kamino and an ARC and I swear I had no idea. Caboose... well I just wanna write more about him cos he barely appears but I have so much of him in my head. Anyway, next week we shall endeavour more into the canon timeline and events from the show. Zaiya encounters a clone that doesn't quite agree with all of his brothers about the war and the Jedi. I hope you are all well, and as always I love all your comments and feedback! I love to see it! If anyone is interested I just dropped a new series, also featuring Zaiya, in a modern AU series, it's won't be as long as this but I have mighty plans. First chapter of Sins of the Father is up now! Until next week, I hope you stay safe and well! 3