AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
GOD, MY GOD, HOLY FUCKING FORCE OH MY GOD THAT EPISODE, THOSE EPISODES JESUS MY GOD I CAN'T I JUST CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE IT. AHHKDRGNBSKDNSUHFKJVNMJDLIFHB ,ZJVHBDV, IXVJ, .SLJV,NKJFHIGFKNSLFBGHJKSDN,KFBIHLBDFNBXLSDBSBFSNSHDMF SDCB.
SEEING REX CRY, SEEING HIM FIGHT IT, SUODGIVJSHUBSJNBJSDFKSBUK
YOU ARE REX, YOU AND AHSOKA
I AM ONE WITH THE FORCE AND THE FORCE IS WITH ME.
SUCK ON THAT KENNEDY YOU BITCH, THAT'S HOW YOU DO STAR WARS! GOD BLESS YOU FILONI. YAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHA I LOVE THE CLONE WARS!
Rate Read and Review and as Always my Comrades, The Force is With You. Have Nice Day.
Avengers Infinite Wars Chapter 35: Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
The Battle of Geonosis was at long last over.
Whatever forces remained of the Separatists were being swept aside as the Republic re-established their firm hold on the planet.
The battle was hard fought with many clones having laid down their lives yet all those that participated made sure that they would win it for those lost and those that had come before.
Now, with Poggle in tow, the Jedi and Avengers prepared for departure from the planet. However…
"So we didn't find anything or anyone with that transmission." Rhodey said slightly disappointed. He was speaking with Captain Rogers, Sam and Natasha, the other Avengers already on a ship back to Coruscant after a lengthy tour. Spider-man was the only one to have remained behind, the young teen not being far off as he conversed with Ahsoka and Barriss.
"I apologize, comrades." Tap spoke up through Rhodey's armor. "I had believed there to be one of our lost comrades on this planet. It seems that I was wrong."
"You sure, Tap?" Sam asked. "Maybe we missed something."
"Unclear comrade Wilson." Tap admitted. "Perhaps this was glitch."
Steve frowned, crossing his arms in deep thought.
'Glitch huh?' Steve internally thought to himself. 'That droid…'
"Steve?"
Blinking, Steve looked up to see the others staring at him with Nat having a hand on his arm.
"You alright?" Nat asked with slight concern.
"You look like you've got something on your mind." Sam pointed out. "Your jaw clenched all weird like that again."
Steve opened his mouth before his expression morphed into one of amused befuddlement.
"My jaw clenched weird?" Steve asked with a bemused face.
Sam shrugged with a wry smile. "It tends to do that when you're thinking too hard."
Steve huffed with a smirk with Nat and Rhodey chortling at the Captain's expense.
"But for real, Cap, what's egging you?" Sam asked after a moment.
Steve sighed, hanging his head for a moment. Chewing the inside of his cheek, Steve replayed those chilling words in his head over and over again.
"No strings, huh?" Steve muttered to himself. "There… was a droid that I encountered here, on Geonosis. It was like every other droid that we had fought against."
"I'm sensing a but here." Rhodey said cautiously.
"But… something it spoke… and how it said it…" Steve drifted off, clenching his fists. "It doesn't seem right at all."
Nat frowned, sharing a look with Sam then Rhodey. To see Steve bothered in such a manner…
"What did this droid say?" Sam asked.
Steve hesitated for a moment. "Strings."
"Strings?" Sam repeated. He looked to Rhodey and Nat who both held slightly disturbed expressions.
"No strings on me." Steve finished the full sentence. "Remind you of anyone?"
"You don't mean…"
"Ultron." Steve stated with slight anger.
"But we took him out." Rhodey said vehemently. "Back in Sokovia. Vision made sure of it and we got all of his bodies."
"Steve." Nat said with worry. "Are you sure about what you heard?"
"I don't know." Steve admitted but still clearly unsure.
Before they were able to discuss this matter any further, a Republic shuttle descended down close to them with a few clone troopers pushing a recently captured Poggle the Lesser towards it.
Landing, the ramp extended down with Poggle getting pushed into the ship.
Walking past Poggle, who was being escorted into the ship with a pair of troopers, Mundi came down the ramp with an uneasy look on his face. "It seems we've come across a complication."
"Don't we always?" Said Skywalker.
"I've just received a distress signal from our forces on Dantooine. Master Windu's defenses held, but at a great cost to his men." Spoke the Cerean Jedi Master. "They need medical supplies immediately. We can obtain these supplies at the medical station near Ord Cestus."
"But we're delivering Poggle to Coruscant and Cestus is not exactly on the way."
"The Republic must begin debriefing Poggle right away if we're to get useful intelligence from him." Luminara firmly stated.
Anakin thought for a moment on what could be done on this. His eyes briefly glanced over to the teens amongst them. An idea formed, causing Skywalker to walk over and put his arms around the three. "Guys, I suggest we let Peter, Barriss and Ahsoka handle the supply mission."
"You sure you want them to go?"
"Why not? I think they'll do fine."
The three teens looked towards each other before voicing their responses.
"Whatever needs to be done, Master. I'm happy to help." Ahsoka sounded off.
"As am I." Barriss simply said.
"Eh~ I could do a simple mission after what happened here." Peter said, finishing the unanimous acceptance.
Seeing the teens being accepting of partaking on this sudden mission, Obi-wan had eyed the elder Avenger members present. As while they were a little mixed on the suggestion, they seemed to accept Peter doing the assignment.
"Very well. Take a medical frigate. And after we've delivered Poggle to Coruscant, we'll rendezvous with you for the voyage to Dantooine."
Over by the Progate Temple, a group of clones were currently resting by the ruins. After the long battles which commenced on the planet, the troopers wanted some shut eye before being deployed back out for whatever mission there is in store for them.
Lying some distance away from one clone trooper laid a small egg. An egg which shook and cracked for several moments. Bursting from the inside, a worm slithered out and made its way towards something warm. Coming out towards the sun, it saw a trooper napping by some rocks. Seeing the clone all so vulnerable, it slithered up the armor and soon burrowed its way up the man's nostril.
Upon arriving in the ruins, one clone lieutenant came onto the scene. Pulling out his blaster, he aimed towards the sky and fired off a round. The sound echoed throughout the territory, causing the sleeping clones to bolt awake, grabbing hold of their blasters thinking the enemy was present. But this was not so as they saw their sergeant arrive with a small smirk.
"Sorry, boys. Hope I didn't interrupt any pleasant dreams."
"Got another mission, sir?"
"You bet." Confirmed the Clone LT. "We're making a medical supply run to Ord Cestus."
One clone, named Pulsar, merely groaned. "Thought we were bred for battle, not running errands."
The Lieutenant soon got into the one trooper's face. "Hey! We were bred to follow orders, Pulsar. You got a problem with that?"
Pulsar straightened himself out. "No, sir. No problem."
"That's what I thought. Now move." Commanded the LT.
As the others gathered up their supplies, Pulsar noticed Scythe was still sleeping. Seeing as he wasn't getting up, he gently shook him awake. "C'mon Scythe, up and at'em. We need to get going."
He wasn't moving for some moments, causing Pulsar to turn back around and move on out. If he were to keep looking at his brother a little while longer, he would've seen Scythe spasm in his laid position before shooting up onto his feet.
Hearing the gravel shift behind him, Pulsar looked back to see Scythe was now awake. "Hey, Scythe. Welcome back to the land of the living."
Scythe merely nodded and gathered his things. But before leaving the premises, he gathered up some more additional items which were native to this world as if in a controlled trance.
-Scene Cut-
"Look around. Are you sure that it's not there? I mean, It's gotta be around there somewhere."
"Check it out …, You may be getting interference."
He flicked off the strange gooey liquid from his fingers as he gauged his surroundings. Nothing above him from the upper level or below.
"Dallas, Are you sure there's no sign of it? I mean it's there. It's gotta be around there."
The man held up his weapon and sent out a quick stream of flames towards the darkened hallway in front of him. He did so once just to be sure.
Nothing.
"Dallas?" He heard his captain on the comm.
He muttered to himself for a moment, words not being clear. "Alright."
"Am I clear Lambert? I wanna get the hell outta here."
Suddenly, from his friends end of the ship they watched from their motion trackers as a second dot began moving towards Dallas.
"Oh god, it's moving right towards you!"
He looked to the upper level and saw nothing. He hesitated.
"Move, get out of there!"
Not needing to be told twice, he began scaling down the ladder as his friend continually cried out with increasing panic and fright.
"Move, Dallas move! Get out of there!"
As he descended down the ladder in a hurried state, he was barely able to hear his friend on the other end.
"Oh, NO! Not that way, the other way, Dallas!"
He turned his flashlight and-
"AHHHHh~~~"
The collective scream of the entire unit of clones along with two Jedi Padawans echoed across the mess hall of the frigate was quite the amusing sight for one wall-crawling web-head.
He was chuckling aloud, intentionally pausing the film as the clones and two Jedi recovered from yet another jump scare.
"By the Force." Barriss said breathlessly, hand over her chest to sooth her rapidly beating heart. "I now understand why you made so many of those references on Geonosis."
"Holy Kriffing hell!" Clone Trooper Trap said aloud, shaking his head. "What is the matter with you Earthers? Why do you do this to yourselves?"
"Yeah, why you wanna scare yourselves like that all the time?" Trooper Ox added, shivering. "That chest burster was bad enough."
"Now I never want to go back to Geonosis again if what the general said about those worms is true." Trooper Havoc joked.
"Urgh, Master Skywalker mentioned Colonel Rhodes doing the same thing down in the hive." Ahsoka squirmed. "Jeez Peter, your planet has a crazy freaky imagination."
"Yeah." Edge shuttered. "This on top of that Body stealing movie."
"Body snatching." Peter corrected with a grin. "And besides, we're still not done yet."
"Can we not?" Havoc asked with a face that conveyed slight hesitation. "I'm starting to regret taking you up on this bet."
"Should've gone with Scythe on this one." Edge bemoaned. "Just go straight to bed."
"Aw come on, don't tell me you guys are chicken out?" Peter whined, though with a teasing grin. "I thought Clone Troopers were supposed to be fearless."
"Hey, we are fearless." Trap declared.
"You sure Lieutenant?" Havoc asked with a joking tone. "You screamed pretty loudly that time."
"Who was the one who hid behind Commander Offee when that bastard burst out of that poor schmucks chest?" Trap retorted.
Peter chuckled aloud. "We've still got time to-"
"Forget it, I'm out."
"Don't you wanna see how the crew takes care of the Xenomorph at the end?"
"Don't care!" Ox said, shooting up out of his seat to leave.
"Aw come on, we're already halfway there!"
"No, NO!" Ox waved his arms. "There is no Kriffing way I'm gonna have more nightmares than the ones I'll be getting tonight. No wonder General Skywalker had those jumpy moments weeks ago."
"Ox, you walk out, you lose the bet." Edge called out to him.
"I'll take the loss, clean armors for a week guaranteed." Ox declared in a poignant manner. He knows he's taking the loss, but at this point he doesn't care.
The rest of the Clones laughed aloud now at their brother's response with the teens doing the same.
"Alright then." Peter spoke up. "Shall we continue?"
The collective grumble made the Earth native's grin return in full force.
"Alright." Trap said regretfully. "Let's see it to the end."
"God, don't make it sound like we're going to war." Peter said with an exasperatedly amused smile.
Playing the film once more, the Clones and Padawans watched as Ripley took charge of the situation and continued to find attempts to flush out the Xenomorph. It was clear that the clones really liked Ripley, with her no-nonsense attitude as well as following protocol resonating with them more and more.
The shock of the audience seeing Ash being a robot, a droid in the eyes of the natives of this galaxy was one for the record books.
Peter was honestly glad he discovered that photo and video recording feature in his suit. Really hilarious collection he was accumulating.
By the end of it, the Clones cheered upon seeing Ripley outlast the Alien Xenomorph and blasted it away with the ship's engines. Even Ahsoka let out a fist pump with Barriss having a pleasant smile though her face was noticeably pale.
Once the credits started rolling, everyone present had to return to their quarters for the night or get back to duty before arriving at the medical outpost.
Currently in their shared room, Ahsoka was tossing and turning in her bed. She tried to fall asleep, but it was proving to be a little difficult. When tossing over one more time, she saw Barriss lying still in her bed. And hanging overhead in his makeshift hammock, Peter lazily dozed off.
She stared out at the Mirialan Jedi who had her eyes remained closed until…
"What? What is it?" Barriss spoke up, knowing her friend was staring at her.
"It's too quiet." Ahsoka bemoaned. "After all those explosions and blaster fire, this quiet is too much."
"You should enjoy this peace while it lasts."
"Why are you two awake?"
Both girls looked up to see Peter, still laying in his hammock though he hadn't moved all that much.
"Is it still because of the movie earlier?"
"Not really."
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
Barriss could only look away. "That movie was still… something."
"I hear ya. When I first saw it years ago, I couldn't sleep on that night at all." Peter sat up and fell down from his hammock. "Alright, since it's clear you two ain't sleepin'."
"We didn't mean to disturb you Peter." Barriss said apologetically.
"Yeah, go back to sleep if you want." Ahsoka implored.
"Nope, awake now." Peter waved off. "Besides, need to make some more web fluid and got my case with me."
"Wanna get ourselves a late night snack?" Ahsoka suggested.
"Sure, could use some thinking food." Peter said airily, rubbing his eyes while grabbing a small little briefcase that contained vials and ingredients that he used when making more web fluid.
The trio walked out, making small talk. They passed by a separate corridor, leading to the Clone Barracks. Scythe spotted them, yet he was undetected. Checking back in the direction he came from, Scythe opened the Clone Barracks and entered.
-Scene Cut-
Ahsoka, Barriss and Peter sat within the mess hall where the table they sat had the only light within the room.
Both girls sat on opposite ends of each other with Peter sitting right beside Barriss.
While the girls were eating their meal, Peter stirred a concoction within a vial with the liquid inside slowly solidifying.
"I was thinking about what you said earlier about enjoying the peace while it lasts." Ahsoka said in between bites. "As a Jedi, I'm not sure I know how to do that."
"Might be because of you coming into your Padawan stage at the worst possible time." Said Peter. "If it weren't for this war happening, then you might be enjoying more times of 'peace' with the occasional mission and skirmish to settle."
"Possibly." Barriss muttered. "Though who can ever know for sure. Master Windu has said we are keepers of the peace, not warriors. Once the war is over, then it'll be our job to maintain the peace once more."
Peter tilted his head, turning away from his chemistry. "But if you guys are peacekeepers, doesn't that still make you warriors to an extent?"
"We are trained to know how to fight in both small and large scale battles." Ahsoka muttered, resting her cheek on her knuckles.
"Once the war is over, it will be our job to maintain the peace." Barriss stated firmly.
"Yes, but will we do so as keepers of the peace or warriors?" Ashoka questioned. "And what's the difference?"
"I don't have all the answers, Ahsoka." Barriss said, once washing down her throat. "Like you, I'm a learner. What does your Master tell you?"
"Anakin? Oh, um, you might find some of his thoughts on the future, uh, a bit radical."
"Really? Why?"
"Let's just say my Master will always do what needs to be done. I'm not even sure how peacetime will agree with him."
"Well, peace can only last so long." Peter remarked. "Back home, there's always something happening."
"Like what?" Barriss asked.
Peter shrugged. "Oh you know. Crime here and there, maybe a war happening in some part of the world, maybe not. The occasional end of the world type threat." The web-head paused. "Though… we've been getting a lot of those recently when I really think about it."
Ahsoka blinked, finding herself chuckling unexpectedly a moment later. "Sounds like a nightmare."
Peter grinned for a moment. "The way I see it… I don't really know but maybe it never does end."
Barriss and Ahsoka shared a look. That was rather different.
"What do you mean?" Barriss asked with Peter throwing his arms up.
"Well, I don't know either to be honest." Peter said truthfully. "I was supposed to be worrying about my next tests back in high school a few weeks ago. Now I'm in some other part of the universe far from home."
"...That can't be too bad, can it?"
Pausing from his work for a moment, Parker had a wistful smile on his face.
"No, it's not all that bad." Peter said. "Can't deny that going to space, seeing other planets and worlds has been a dream of mine."
He then gave both girls a cheery smile. "Got to make some great new friends as well."
Both Padawans beamed slightly at the words. They were then momentarily distracted by the sound of a strange warbling sound, glancing at the beakers to see it filled with webbing.
Grinning, Peter began storing his newly created webs into cartridges.
"My word Peter, hearing you speak of your knowledge of science is one thing but seeing it…" Barriss trailed off, truly impressed by his work.
"You should see Mr. Starks work." Peter said, patting his spider emblem on his chest. "Made this suit for me."
Ahsoka hummed in interest, though her mind wandered back to an earlier statement made by her Earther friend.
"Peter."
"Hmmm?"
"Do you truly believe in what you said earlier? About there being more to do after the war ends?"
Halting in his storing of webbing, Peter resumed with a slight frown.
"We have to." Peter said, rather solemnly. "It's… it's part of our responsibility. It's what we must do."
Ahsoka and Barriss exchanged bewildered looks. This was certainly a far cry from the usual joking and over exuberant web-head. And there was that word again.
"Peter." Barriss said slowly. "Why do you believe it to be our responsibility?"
Peter was about to respond when the doors in the mess hall opened up, looking over he saw a couple of clones.
Ahsoka looked up and smiled slightly.
"Evening, Ox, Edge." Ahsoka greeted. "Care to join us?"
Looking at them, Peter felt a tingle crawling up into his head as something was off. Really off.
"Uh… guys?" Peter said warily. "Everything o-WHOA!"
Both clones stepped forward and began firing at the trio with the teens leaping back, Barriss and Ahsoka igniting their lightsabers while Peter jumped high into the air.
"Troopers, stand down!" Ahsoka ordered, backing away before turning the table
"I don't think they want to!" Peter said aloud from the ceiling, firing two web lines at the troopers.
Snagging the guns of the troopers, Peter yanked them out of their hands giving Ahsoka and Barriss the chance to Force push them into the wall and knock them both out.
As they got in close, Barriss swung her lightsaber and cleaved through the blasters in case the clones were to awaken any time soon.
Suddenly, the door behind them opened up once more with two more clones coming in with blasters aimed right at them. Out of reflex, Peter fired web shots on the clone's hands and right next to the walls as both struggled to free themselves.
"What the Kriff was that for?!" Havoc cried out, pulling in vain against his web bindings.
"You tell us." Peter said, eyes narrowed. "Your buddies just attacked us for no reason."
"What is going on?" Demanded the Tortuga padawan.
Barriss then went on with the interrogation. "Trap, do you know what happened to those troopers?"
"Couldn't tell you, commander." Trap responded. "I'm just as confused as-"
"You're in charge of those men." Barriss exclaimed. "Did you order them to kill us?"
"No, sir. I didn't!"
"What's happening? Why would they do this?"
"We don't know. We heard shots." Havoc informed the three teens.
"Why should we believe you?"
"Look." Trap gestured to his stuck hand. "You've unarmed us. We have no intention of harming any of you."
"Though my hand sure as hell hurts now." Havoc murmured, making Peter wince slightly.
"Why would they just up and attack us like that?" Peter asked, going over to the trapped clones and ripping them off with ease.
"Did you see the way they looked at us?" Ahsoka brought up. "It was really weird."
"Yeah." Peter murmured, looking down at the unconscious clones. "That was some looks that could literally kill."
"They wouldn't just attack us without reason." Said Barriss.
Ahsoka soon sucked in her teeth. "My Master had a clone betray him and Obi-wan once, before I first met them. A traitor who was paid off by Ventress."
"No, It can't be that simple. At least, it didn't feel like that." Barriss brushed off.
"Excuse me, sir." Trap spoke up. "We should make sure that we're still in control of the bridge."
Barriss nodded, holding up her wrist comms. "Bridge, this is Barriss. Respond."
Static was her response.
"Oh… that's not at all like a movie we just watched." Peter said with a blank face.
This earned him an annoyed flick across the forehead from Ahsoka.
"We need to get up there." Ahsoka declared. "Find out what's going on."
"But what about these two?" Barriss gestured to the Clones. "They can be coming around any time now."
"I'll take care of that." Peter soon fired off a good number of web shots onto the unconscious clones as they were now in a cocoon with only their heads seemingly free to move.
"Nice work, Peter." Barriss praised.
"That'll last for an hour. Hopefully enough time to figure out what's happening."
"Havoc, stay here just in case." Trap ordered. "Let's not take any chances."
"I won't."
With the others leaving, Havoc moved aside so he wouldn't get jumped easily from the nearby door while still training his site on his brothers.
-Scene Cut-
While the Padawans and vigilante went about dealing with their newest situation, the elder Jedi and Avengers were unaware of the trouble that they were now facing.
"No word from Peter or the girls?" Steve asked.
"No." Luminara frowned. "They should have checked in by now."
"It's not like either Padawan or young Mister Parker to miss a check in schedule." Obi-Wan pointed out, rubbing his beard in thought.
"Think something's up?" Sam asked.
"Unclear." Luminara said.
"They could be in trouble for all we know." Anakin bluntly stated.
"Anakin, have faith in your Padawan." Kenobi said assuringly. "She is not alone after all and she has your teachings. You know she is more like you then you realize."
"Reckless, crazy and annoying?" Rhodey said with a knowing look.
Anakin had a brow twitch but felt Steve pat him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry Anakin, if anything does come up we'll know about it immediately." Steve said. "Rex, keep us up to speed. Any transmissions from the kids or Tango company, you let us know straight away."
"Yes sir." Rex promised with Anakin shooting Steve an appreciative expression.
All the while...
Walking through one of the hallways towards the bridge, a number of security shields suddenly went active.
"Someone doesn't want us going up there." Ahsoka plainly stated.
Hunching down, both Barriss and Peter tried to bypass the security measure. Before either could properly get started, their senses soon alerted them of danger. Peter was the first to react, pushing Barriss aside to avoid a blaster shot. Ahsoka looked over and witnessed Trap open firing on them. Using a Force Push, Skywalker's padawan sent the clone flying for a few feet. Landing harshly, the clone soon rushed forward in hopes of tackling Peter down, who was the closest to him.
It was then did the teens see something… unsettling.
"AH~" Peter cried out as the clone trooper's eyes were rolled up to show off the whites with a yellow worm coming out of his mouth. "Whoa, whoa, don't put your eggs in me."
Reacting quickly, Peter's hand shot up and grabbed the worm. The ear ringing scream made them all cringing at the sound.
The New York native clenched his teeth and ripped the worm out of the clone's mouth. Lieutenant Trap spasmed uncontrollably for a brief few moments before keeling over and falling down to the ground unmoving.
Ahsoka and Barriss were by Traps' side with Peter holding the worm as far away from his face as possible.
The Mirialan Jedi patted down the Trooper, checking his
The Mirialan Jedi patted the Trooper down, checking for his pulse and let out a relieved sigh to feel it was still beating.
She looked up to Peter and saw him squirming while holding the worm in his hand.
Narrowing her eyes, Barriss called for her lightsaber and in one swift motion cut the worm in two. Peter jumped from such a quick action, dropping the dead worm to the ground.
"What just happened?" Ahsoka asked aloud. "What is that thing?"
Barriss kneeled down to investigate the worm that was in two pieces now. She gingerly picked it up and took a moment to inspect it.
Peter grimaced. "That was some Invasion of the Body Snatchers stuff right there."
"My master Luminara spoke of the Geonosian Queen. The one that kidnapped her had a means of controlling dead Geonosians and perhaps other organisms with a worm like parasite from eggs."
Peter blanched
"Oh god… Oh god… Oh god. Ohgodohgodohgodohgod! This is Invasion of the Body snatchers! I didn't know Body Snatchers would happen in real life! This is a freaking nightmare! And it's alien on top o-"
Suddenly Ahsoka slapped him across the head, stopping him from escalating his wild fear induced ramblings.
"Thanks."
"Anytime." Ahsoka looked back at the dead parasite on the ground. "This would explain why those clones attacked us earlier for no reason and why Trap suddenly acted such a way moments ago."
"Question is, how'd these things get on board in the first place?"
Barriss voiced her deductions. "They must have infected some, if not all, of the clones while they were on Geonosis."
"We'll have to quarantine the ship."
"We should also contact Master Fisto and the others and let them know of the situation."
With their task set, the trio ran through the hallways as they searched for the means of contacting anyone outside of the ship. When nearing the hangar, they heard a very peculiar sound.
"Doesn't that remind you girls of anything?" Peter asked, slowly walking towards the source.
"Peter, please. Not now." Ahsoka squirmed, shaking her head.
"Not the scenario, I'm talking about the sound in general."
Both girls paused for a moment, straining their hearing out as to what he was referring to.
"Wait…" Barriss tilted her head.
There was a series of unusual clicks and grunts coming from a nearby room.
"That sound, it's…"
Ahsoka now recognized it. More specifically, what language it was.
"Geonosian."
The teens peered into the room, seeing clones all surrounding another clone who was struggling to break free from the grasp of his possessed brothers. And one of them held up what appeared to be an egg… with an all too familiar parasitic worm wiggling out of it.
"We have to help him." Ahsoka whispered out.
Barriss merely shook her head as the worm shot out and quickly inserted itself into the clone's head via nostril. "It's too late."
Peter only nodded his head, face pale. "Ok, so it is in fact Alien meets body Snatchers."
Ahsoka grimaced. "I hate that you're right."
"We gotta do something." Peter declared much as he really didn't want to fall into the horror movie clichés. His tingling sensation suddenly blared, making him blur around and firing off a web shot out of pure instinct. It hit one of the possessed clones as the blaster missed it's intended target. He tried to fire again but was met with a punch across the face to render him unconscious.
This did not go unnoticed by the possessed clones in the other room, all heads whirling about to spot the three teenagers. In a unanimous moment, they screeched out something akin to the Geonosian language to something of a high pitched wail.
"Yeup, definitely body snatchers."
"Not the time for that." Ahsoka stated, deflecting blaster bolts from the possessed clones. She saw one of them holding out two more eggs with the Jedi immediately force pulling them away and slicing right through them.
The infuriated shrieks from the Clones increased their rate of fire.
Ahsoka force pushed a Clone away with Barriss disarming another and force pushing him away a moment later.
Peter webbed a clone to the wall, the trio now hiding behind a crate for cover.
It didn't last long as other possessed clones from the corridor they came in from rushed in.
"Oh come on." Peter whined.
Ahsoka however was already looking for any way out and found it from above.
"Peter, Barriss, head for the vents."
"On it."
Firing off a web line, Peter shot towards the ceiling as he soon pried off the ventilation lid. Some seconds after entering the space, Ahsoka and Barriss arrived as they soon had to crawl towards the bridge.
"Think any of them spotted us?" Peter asked.
"They must've, given the ventilation lid fell on top of a few clones."
"Now what?"
"I'll go to the reactor room and disable the thrusters." Barriss volunteered. "You head for the aft comm-center and send a warning to Master Fisto, Ahsoka. We have to stop the ship from reaching the medical station."
"Not alone you're not." Peter declared. "I'm coming with you."
"Well there's only one of you and two of us." Ahsoka pointed out. "Who is it you'll be helping out?"
It was oftentimes like these Peter didn't enjoy choosing one thing over the other. In the past, it was over meaningless problems of everyday life. Now it was for a dire situation.
"Urgh." Peter rubbed his head.
Thankfully, Ahsoka chose for him. "The comm room is on the other end of the ship. Right now, most of the clones are probably still looking for us where last ran off, sweeping those areas."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm… 90% sure."
"What about the other ten?" Peter asked, slightly deadpanning.
"...Okay, maybe 75."
"You're not helping."
"Guys." Barriss cut in. "We must make haste and contact our masters and Fisto."
Nodding reluctantly, Ahsoka positioned herself and began crawling away to her destination.
"Be careful you two." She called out to them.
"We'll be fine." Barriss promised. "Just be careful yourself."
Nodding, Ahsoka went down her path with Barriss and Peter moving towards their own destination.
For Ahsoka, she made it to her destination faster than her friends, happy to see that the communications were still operational for the most part. She went and contacted Master Fisto and the medical station the frigate was journeying to at this moment.
"Padawan Tano." Jedi Master Kit Fisto greeted her with his trademark grin. "I was starting to worry when we did not hear your check in."
Ahsoka let out a tired sigh. "We have a very good reason for our lack of communications."
Fisto's expression fell slightly, noting the clearly worried and panicked look upon the Togrutan Padawan.
Ahsoka quickly recounted what had transpired upon her ship, telling the Nautolan Jedi of the Geonosian Parasites that have infected the Clones and were now pursuing them.
"As long as these things are on board, Master, we cannot under any circumstances board the medical station." Ahsoka declared.
"But that leaves you, Barriss and young Parker at risk still." Fisto argued back. "You must dock with the station. We can analyze the parasite and find the means of dealing with them."
"Master Fisto, these worms are extremely dangerous. They managed to get to our Clones without us even realizing or sensing them." Ahsoka countered.
"We will take necessary precautions, young one." Fisto assured yet Ahsoka was clearly unconvinced.
"I have a bad feeling about this, Master Fisto." Ahsoka admitted. "But, I'll follow your instructions."
Whilst Ahsoka spoke with Fisto, Barriss and Peter arrived on their end of the ship with the two dropping down from the vents back to back.
"Looks like we're clear." Barriss said in a low voice.
"For now at least." Peter said.
"This way." Barriss gestured for him to follow.
Peter took note of their corridor. "Weren't we here before?"
"There is some repetition to the ship's layouts." Barriss joked as they entered into the corridor that would lead them to the reactor room.
Peter blinked before he was electrocuted within the door panels. He let out a small yelp, clenching his teeth tightly with his eyes on Barriss who spasmed about from the pain with her lightsaber falling from her hand.
Suddenly, they were surrounded on both sides by Tango company with blasters trailed upon them.
Peter was looking back and forth, mind going on overdrive to find a means of escaping this situation.
The Clone Trooper Edge spoke of how the Clones always knew the proper means of taking out a Jedi but Peter didn't hear all that as he heard Barriss whisper next to him.
"As soon as you get the chance, go back to Ahsoka." She whispered.
"What?" Peter said in shock.
Clone Trooper Scythe held out a Geonosian egg with two worms wriggling out.
"Go now!" Barriss whispered harshly with Peter hesitating causing Barriss to force push him through the two clones that blocked their original entryway.
Crashing through them, Peter looked up in horror as Barriss was electrocuted once more making Scythe grab her head and pull it back.
Slamming his fist hard to the ground leaving a sizable dent, Peter was about to charge in when the passage was ray shielded.
Gritting his teeth, he looked to see the two clones that he had knocked into recovering and quickly webbed them up to the walls to immobilize them.
Berating himself internally, Peter jumped into the vents once more just as the shield came down with a freshy possessed Barriss recovering her lightsaber.
He needed to get to Ahsoka.
-Scene Cut-
"Almost got it." Ahsoka muttered, rewiring the jammed console.
After several more moments, the monitor soon fritzed before showing a familiar clone to the padawan.
"Cargo ship TB-73, this is clone Captain Rex. Please respond."
"Rex, this is Ahsoka." Ahsoka let out a sigh of relief. "Boy, am I glad to hear your voice."
"Likewise, sir." Rex said, in kind. "I've got someone here who wants to speak with you." Moving aside, Rex had Anakin come onto the screen.
"Ahsoka, what's going on? Are you and the others okay?"
"Well, not exactly." Ahsoka admitted straight away.
Barriss walked with some of her fellow possessed down one of the hallways of the ship before splitting off from them, eyes narrowed and slightly out of focus. She momentarily tilted her head up at the sound of something padding softly above her.
Back with Ahsoka, she had finished telling Anakin of the situation with her master now giving her instructions.
"Make sure you have a wrist com. Keep it on." He ordered. "I'm going to interrogate Poggle. He might have some answers. Find Barriss and Peter and wait for my signal."
Ahsoka logged off and turned to her side to see...
"Barriss, you're back. Were you successful?"
Barriss said nothing, only staring at Ahsoka in a rather disturbing manner.
"Barriss… What's wrong?"
"AHSOKA!"
Peter suddenly burst down from the ventilations.
"Get away from-"
Barriss had already raised her hand towards the glass and used the Force to shatter it and send the pieces flying towards Ahsoka.
"Barriss!" Ahsoka cried out. "Please, we're your friends."
The controlled Barriss lit up her lightsaber, lunging at Ahsoka, who ignited hers just as quickly to avoid being severely hurt.
"Barriss! It's not you." Ahsoka said to her friend. "It's the creatures. Fight them."
Getting nothing of a response, Ahsoka kicked Barriss away before running from the aft comm-center.
Barriss got up and gave chase, with the blinded intent of killing the other padawan. However, out of the corner of her eye she caught Spider-man about to jump in.
Peter was ready to make a move when the Mirialan Jedi did something that made both him and Ahsoka freeze in their tracks.
The possessed Padawan gave the two a sinister smile as she held up her azure blade to her neck.
"Attack, and she dies." Barriss spoke in a hollow dead voice making both her friends blood run cold.
Seeing her opportunity, the mind-controlled Barriss let out a force push that sent them both clamoring to the ground.
Knowing that one was a greater threat then the other, the Mirialan pounced upon the stronger of the two. Opening her mouth, the worm emerged with her intended targets eyes widening and him beginning to struggle to break free.
"Sorry, Barriss. You're a nice girl and all, but I'd rather kiss ya after the second date. French on third, maybe fourth."
"PETER!" Ahsoka yelled out.
"I'm sorry I use humor to mask my FEAR OF GETTING AN EGG IN ME!" Peter cried out, shoving Barriss as lightly as possible away from him.
"Come on." Ahsoka helped him up. "We gotta go!"
"But Barriss…"
"You saw what those worms are willing to do." Ahsoka said with regret. "If we fight her, we risk having the parasite kill her."
Gritting his teeth in frustration Peter briefly glanced back at Barriss who was already beginning to stand back up and reluctantly ran off with Ahsoka.
Meanwhile, one Jedi Knight was on his way to speak with a certain expert on Geonosian physiology and mind control in order to help the Padawans and young hero.
Walking down the corridors of the ship, Anakin made his way towards the prison block.
And he wasn't alone with Steve right by his side.
Upon arriving, Anakin dismissed the clones guarding the cell before making his way inside with Steve standing in the entryway.
"You will answer my questions." Came Anakin's quick demand, raising his hand as if signaling to use a Force ability. Steve quirked a brow at the motion.
Poggle spoke in his native tongue, prompting the protocol droid in the cell to translate. "Your feeble Jedi mind tricks do not work on Geonosians. The other Jedi already learned this."
Anakin brought down his arm and turned away. Clenching his fist, he calmly spoke. "Mind tricks?" Suddenly, he punched Poggle across the face and sent him tumbling onto the cell floor. "I don't need mind tricks to get you to talk."
Once more the protocol droid translated Poggle's words. "I will never talk, Jed-"
The Geonosian soon clenched his throat, trying to rasp out for air as Anakin started to Force choke him. "We'll see about that, Poggle."
"Anakin." Steve called out to him making the Jedi turn towards the Avenger with the Captain shaking his head.
The Jedi dropped Poggle a moment later with Steve now walking towards the Geonosian.
"Tell us what we want to know." Steve asked in a dangerously calm voice.
Poggle let out a series of clicks and coughs, the protocol droid translating for him.
"If you think a show of force like that will make me talk, then you are clearly more foolish than I thought."
Steve sighed, giving Anakin a look. The Jedi Knight was giving Poggle a burning glare. Cap silently gestured his head as a silent message for Anakin to step back behind him.
Anakin crossed his arms and stood behind Steve while the super-soldier grabbed his shield and held it tightly.
In a flash, Steve smashed through the metal table that was between himself and Poggle. The Geonosian Separatist barely had time to register the shocking display of strength as he was kicked right at the wall.
As he slumped down, Poggle jolted as his ear was ringing from the clashing sound of Vibranium hitting metal.
Steve loomed over him with a fierce gaze.
"We can do this two ways, Poggle." Steve said intensely. "Either you tell us what we want to know and help save those kids and clones or Anakin and I take turns. Your choice."
To say that Anakin was surprised by this sudden display from Captain Rogers was a bit of an understatement. He had no idea that someone as controlled and calm as Steve had a side like this.
But right now, he didn't care for that. He wanted to get the means of saving the Padawans, Peter and the Clones. And Poggle had the answers.
All the while, Peter and Ahsoka ran from their possessed friend with clones joining in on the chase.
They had to resort to immobilizing and stalling tactics, force pushing and webbing the clones up with only Barriss proving to be the constant thorn in their side.
"This way, Peter." Ahsoka called out to him, the Web-head ensnaring a Clone into a cocoon.
Following her a moment later as Barriss and the Clones descended upon him once more, the two rounded a corner to the next hallway. Peter unclipped a cartridge from his belt and tossed a web grenade that created a large web that blocked off passage to their pursuers. The Clones all ran into the webbing and tangled themselves up with Barriss stepping back, losing sight of the two.
Back with Anakin and Steve, both had returned to the Resolutes Bridge to meet up with the other Avengers and Jedi.
"I made contact with Ahsoka." Anakin said aloud.
"What's their status?" Obi-wan questioned.
"Geonosian parasites have infected her crew."
"How did they get on board her ship?" Kenobi questioned in slight alarm
"Poggle said the parasites must have needed a new host after we raided the Queen's temple." Steve stated grimly
Some of the other Jedi looked amongst each other with Luminara voicing their shared thoughts. "You both interrogated Poggle?"
"Yes, we did." Anakin stressed out. "There wasn't time to get the rest of you."
Master Mundi voiced their next question. "How… did you get him to talk?"
"Look, all that matters is that he told me how to stop the worms." Steve said, diverting the intended question.
He shared a look with the other three Avengers on the bridge. Nat, Sam and Rhodey knew there was more to the story but they also knew there were more pressing matters at hand.
Getting in touch with Ahsoka's wrist com frequency, they were soon met with Ahsoka's voice. "This is Ahsoka."
"Ahsoka, listen to me." Anakin firmly said. "The worms are affected by the cold."
"Cold? That's how we stop them?"
"Rupture the coolant system." He said but didn't hear an immediate response. "Did you hear me? Rupture the coolant system!"
"The coolant system. Got it."
With this said, the transmission ended, having the others hope things will turn out alright for the others.
Back on the TB-73, Ahsoka and Peter had to carefully maneuver around the vents and hallways to find the coolant system. Yet it was quite hard with the roaming clones and padawan controlled by the Geonosian parasites.
It took longer than they would've liked, but the pair were able to reach their destination. Peter stood on guard once inside with Ahsoka working the controls. After some time and a pull of a switch, Ahsoka released the coolant system as the ship started to decrease in temperature at a rapid pace.
"So what happens now?" Peter asked.
"Now? Let's just hope this works." Ahsoka said sheepishly. All across the ship, the temperature began dropping with possessed Clones all halting in their movements as they looked around in slight bewilderment.
Meanwhile, the ship had just exited hyperspace with the medical station in view.
Staring into the hologram from within the medical station, Kit Fisto recognized the specific ship which now entered their system.
"That's Ahsoka's ship." Spoke the Nautolan Jedi master. "It just came out of hyperspace. Send out the tugs to tie them in. Warn all medical hazard crew that I don't want anyone boarding that ship until the parasites are contained. Sound all alarms and prepare the subzero conduits."
The medical clone nearby nodded before giving out the orders to the security team.
Running through the hallways, Peter and Ahsoka were successful with their task. All they had to do was bide their time and survive the cold long enough for them to be saved.
"I kinda regret leaving my robes back at the temple." Ahsoka remarked, crossing her arms as she shivered constantly.
"Y-yeah." Peter's teeth chattered. "Wish I brought some winter clo-"
*TSSS-SSSHH*
Both teens blinked at the steam coming off from Peter's suit as the black web lines around his suit glowed.
"Whoa, built in heaters." Peter remarked with a laugh.
"L-Lucky." Ahsoka said, shivering even more now with a face of envy.
"There you are."
Whirling around, Peter and Ahsoka heard the distorted voice of their friend. "You can't hide from me."
"You sure about that?" Peter quipped. The two quickly jumped directly into the vent above, disregarding the cold winds going on at full blast.
The icy winds made the possessed Barriss halt, the worm within her knowing that if it made its host pursue into the vents it would surely die.
Throughout the ship, each and every infected clone were wailing at the top of their lungs. They all sought any means of obtaining warmth but received none. Before long, their hosts could only pass out from both the pain the worms felt to the cold none could really handle.
Peter and Ahsoka crawled quickly through the vents, the Togruta sticking as close as she possibly could to Peter since she felt the heat radiating from his suit.
At long last, they arrived at their destination.
"The bridge, a-at la-last." Ahsoka shivered out, shuffling towards the keypad at the door. Once inside, Ahsoka rushed towards the controls and tried to send out a transmission. "We're coming in aw-awfully f-fast. This is Ahsoka Tano. Can you hear me? I'm shutting down the engines. I'll try to reverse the-"
"AHSOKA!"
The Tortuga whirled around to see Peter having to avoid the lightsaber swing coming from the infected Barriss. It destroyed some of the nearby consoles on the initial swing. When Peter countered, knocking the offending weapon away, the blade cleaved through the coolant tube hanging above. It swept down, releasing a torrent of cooled air directly into the infected Mirialan padawan.
The sound coming from her was agonizing to hear for them. The infected host tried to retaliate, but Peter had to use up the last of his webbing to hold her down in place. Once secure, Ahsoka grabbed hold onto the damaged tube and aimed it right back onto Barriss.
"F-Fo-Forgive m-m-me, but this is fo-for y-your own good."
Barriss flailed in her confinement, screeching out as the worm started coming out in hopes of finding warmth from one of the teens before it. Yet it failed as Peter harshly grabbed it and pried it out of his friend's mouth. Once airborne, Ahsoka let go of the tube and with a single swing of her ignited lightsaber, the worm was slain.
It was a little while later did Kit Fisto and a small number of armed clones arrive at the freezing ship. They kept focus on their surroundings, not knowing if there were any infected roaming about.
When reaching the bridge, they were greeted with the sight of the three teens hugging each other close in order to combine what heat remained within them. Presently, they were a shivering mess even with Peter's suit working overtime in heating them all.
Barely looking up, Ahsoka struggled to smile. "H-H-He-Hello, Ma-Master F-Fisto."
"Wh-What took y-you s-s-s-so long?" Peter struggled to say.
"W-We're rea-ady to pi-ick up the me-medical supplies." Barriss whispered out.
"Don't worry about that." Fisto said as the three teens were slowly overcome by blackness. "We'll take care of that. The three of you rest for now."
They nodded, with Barriss and Ahsoka passing out yet Peter remained conscious.
"Mr. Parker?" Fisto said in surprise.
"Internal heater, Mr. Fisto." Peter said though his head was still exposed. "Still, you g-got a hat I could use? I-I left my mask back in the barracks."
-Scene Cut-
The next thing Ahsoka knew, she woke up in a medical room. Her vision was blurred as she was covered with several layers of blankets to help bring her back to a normal state.
By her bedside, Anakin was seated not far away. Upon hearing her seemingly awake, he came over and softly spoke. "Hey, Ahsoka. You're safe."
She weakly nodded, struggling to get up from the bed but was kept down by her Master. "W-Where's Barriss? Where's Peter?"
"They're fine." He looked over, with Ahsoka following suit, to see the sleeping forms of her friends not far away in their own medical beds. Barriss had a blanket over her whilst Peter merely lay there with an arm over his eyes, snoring lightly. "And so are the clones."
Ahsoka nodded before asking something crossing her mind. "What were those things?"
"I think I can answer that." Looking towards the doorway, Kit Fisto strolled in. "We had those worms analyzed. They are the same type of creature you found on Geonosis, Master Skywalker."
Anakin gave a stern nod. "We'll have to inform the troops on Geonosis. This parasite might explain how they recaptured the planet the first time. I don't want it happening again."
Kit Fisto nodded in complete agreement before turning towards the conscious teen. "You've been through quite the ordeal. We are most grateful for what you and the others have done this day."
Stirring awake from the recent commotion, Peter looked up and saw Ahsoka was now awake. Rising to his feet, he slowly walked over and came by her bedside. He gently laid his hand on her shoulder and gave her a small smile.
"Hey. Glad to see you're fine." Peter said happily. "I was really worried for ya."
"Same with you and Barriss."
Anakin and Kit saw this and decided to leave the two friends to converse with each other.
Once out of the medical room, Ahsoka thought back onto something bugging her for a while now.
"So… Peter…"
"Yeah?"
"About earlier… What's French?"
Peter looked at her strangely. "French is a language at home from Earth."
"Yeah but what does it have to do with kissing?"
Peter was silent, mouth agape and not knowing how to properly answer his friend this.
"Uh… um… well, ya see that's…. Not important right now for your young innocent ears." Peter said with finality, one hand over his heart and the other raised up to his ear level.
"C'mon… Tell me."
He shook his head.
"Please~"
'Aw come on, since when could she do that?'
Peter had to look away from her as her eyes seemed to get a certain glint in them. A look that would make his heart ache in how innocent they appeared to be.
'Those should be illegal weapons.' Were the only words crossing his mind as he kept hearing Ahsoka innocent demand.
Anakin had exited the room and was greeted to the sight of Steve Rogers resting against the wall next to the door.
"How are they?" Steve asked.
"They're fine." Anakin assured. "Nothing a little extra rest won't do to help them fully recover."
Steve nodded. "Good to hear. They'll need it after that mess."
"Agreed." Anakin stated the two walking away from the room where the young teens rested.
They were silent for the most part when Steve had noticed a sideways glance from Anakin that it appeared he hoped to hide.
"What?"
"Hmmm?" Anakin looked to Rogers with an innocent expression.
"Something on your mind?"
"What?" Anakin was now trying to play it off. "On my mind? Nothing is on my mind."
Cap gave him an expectant look, waiting for him to tell the truth.
Sighing, Anakin rubbed the back of his head with a slightly uncomfortable look.
"Didn't know you had that in there." Anakin mumbled. "Back with Poggle."
Slight realization hit Steve.
"Yeah." Steve coughed. "It's a method I don't use that often… or really haven't used in over 70 years."
Anakin hummed, before becoming slightly more solemn. "You know, it's not the Jedi way to use the Force in such an abusive manner. That… that wasn't very Jedi of me."
"You were worried about a friend." Steve said, placing a hand on the Jedi's shoulder. "Your first student. I can be the first to tell you about some of the things I did back during my war. Things I did that didn't exactly make me sleep so well at night."
Anakin was silent.
"How'd you cope with it?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"Just dealt with it however I could." Steve stated. "I did it knowing that people were free, that others didn't have to do the things I did with my generation."
Skywalker absorbed the Captain's words for a few seconds before a mischievous thought occurred.
"That I'd like to hear… old man."
Steve snorted. "Yeah, an old man who can still kick your ass… sonny."
The two laughed, Anakin nudging the Captain's shoulder as they walked off chatting lightly with this long campaign at last coming to an end.
Alright, Huzzah, that's another one done and Geonosis Arc is officially wrapped up ladies and gentlemen. A good chunk of season 2 is all well and done now.
Hope you guys enjoyed the Clone Wars finale like J and I did. As you saw in my earlier Authors note, I had a bit of a Clone Wars Seizure after watching the finale.
Jeb: We most certainly did, only wishing the final season was longer as it was originally intended.
FMW: So much content that was intended for the original two last seasons but in all honesty, the last four episodes we got were top fucking tier Star Wars. I feel it'll be awhile before we get something that could come close to topping it because my god, those 4 episodes were absolutely riveting.
So J and I are gonna be real busy for the foreseeable future cause of the two current stories we're working on as well as several other projects we have planned out.
Jeb: And this is on top of our normal working hours, working long days with all the bullcrap happening. And, of course, it'll get worse once the pandemic is finally lifted with things kicking up to high gear.
FMW: Indeed, so we're gonna make the most of the time that we can get to churn out as much content as possible. We got a real special new project in the works and it'll be coming out hopefully sooner than later cause like J said, working hours and life in general can be a bitch.
Jeb: Said work will be updated monthly instead of whenever like our other works, just so you all know. And of course BulletStormX will be tagging along in writing it as it was essentially his brain baby.
FMW: That's right folks. Free Man Writer, Jebest4781 and BulletStormX are all gonna be working together on a brand new story. It will be revealed very soon and updated monthly as Jeb stated so stay tuned for details.
Whelp, that's all for this chapter folks. In regard to this story, the next arc will be the first original arc of this crossover. One I've been very much excited to write.
Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.