Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Urgh, I feel like I just got ran over by a tank." A clone says to himself, rubbing his head as he sat up in the darkness.

"Well at least you don't feel like you got ran through with a lightsaber." A familiar Togruta replied snarkily.

"C-commander?" Someone else called out uncertainly.

"Jesse?" Ahsoka replied confused.

Ahsoka reached out with the force and switched on the lights.

"Alright men, roll call." Rex said, staying calm as always.

 

In the room, they were sitting in a rough circle, Ahsoka then realised they were on the Twilight.  The men looked at her expectantly.

Oh right, by rank.

"Ahsoka here."

"Rex."

"Jesse."

"Kix."

"Hardcase."

"Fives."

"Echo."

 

"What happened to us?" Hardcase asked. "Where even are we?"

"I think we're on the Twilight." Rex said, "Let's fire up the ships computers and see where we are."

"Did you injure the side of your head?" Kix asked, stopping the Captain from moving towards the cockpit.

"What do you-" Rex felt the side of his head, there was a line across the side of his head, almost as if...



Execute Order 66



It seemed that this triggered some kind of brief flashback within each of them.

A red lightsaber though her back.

Catching his sister before everything around him broke apart into flames.

Execute Order 66

"Jesse!"

"Fives was right, the chips..."

"This is the only way. Live to fight another day, boys."

 "I have proof of it, I can prove that everything I know is true beyond the shadow of a doubt."

"This is our only chance! We've got to stop him!"

"No. Echo!"



Execute Order 66

 

...

 

Ahsoka was the first to wake up for the second time. It seemed that final moments of their past lives were coming back to them, piece by piece.

"So we died?" Ahsoka said to herself, feeling strangely detached, "Where are we now then?" She stood up having a quick look around.

She realised that her men were they were younger than they were before.  Younger than she'd seem any of them, or any other clone.  They all looked like shinies, except from their defining scars.  Ahsoka felt her back, feeling a lightsaber wound there. 

So Maul killed her in the end then. 

Checking that the troopers were safe, she moved into the cockpit, firing up some of the systems.  She flicked on the navicomputer.

"Naboo?" A voice said from over Ahsoka's shoulder.

"Looks like it." Ahsoka replied, turning round to look at Rex.

"How..." Rex asked.

"I'm not sure." Ahsoka said, "Would this be a bad time to say it was the will of the-"

"Yes." Rex said, dryly.  They looked at each other, each letting out a short burst of laughter. Ahsoka knew she could always count on Rex.

"What now?" Ahsoka asked.

"We probably need to find a way off the planet and find General Skywalker." Rex told her.
Anakin...

"I'll try to reach out to him through the force." Ahsoka tried to reach out for her master but instead she found a force signature of pure light instead of Anakin's streaked one, this signature reminded her of his though. 

It was so familiar though... almost as if.

"We need to find out what year it is." Ahsoka said, switching on all the systems.

 

"I think we may have a problem." A new voice popped up as Echo entered the cockpit.

They both turned and looked at him expectantly.

"How come?" Asked Rex.

Echo pointed out of the side window into the blue sky where there were some ships in the distance.

"Well, for starters, there's a old style Seppie blockade right there. Looks like one of the Trade Federation ones."

Ahsoka's blood ran cold as she turned back to look at the navicomputer.

"This is the Battle of Naboo isn't it." Rex asked.

Ahsoka nodded mutely, running the casualty figures through her head.  She calmed herself, before formulating a plan.

"Rex, tell everyone to suit up after Kix has finished his eval.  We have to get to the capital, we can't afford to let innocent people die when we can help them."

Rex saluted before running out of the door.  Echo following closely after.  Ahsoka sighed and held her lightsabers in her hand.  They felt familiar, but not the quite the same as the Battle of Mandalore.  She ignited them and was surprised not to see the blue that they used to be, but pure white.  She put them back on her belt and found one of her rarely worn robes hanging up in the wardrobe along side a bunch of civilian clothes both for her and the 501st.  Pulling the dark robe on she made her way to the rest of the group and prepared for battle.

 

"Kix, sitrep?" Ahsoka asked her Chief Medical Officer.

"Everyone is physically and mentally fit for battle.  We all seem to be of standard age 18 or biological age 9, but with the scars from our uhh past but future lives." Kix said, he handed Ahsoka a data pad which she quickly scanned over and realised that now they were actually closer in physical age then they had ever been.

"I guess your not our little sister anymore." Hardcase said laughing and seemingly reading Ahsoka's mind.

"I guess not." Ahsoka said smiling, glad that she wasn't trapped in the past by herself instead of with her most trusted friends.

"So, what's the plan." Asked Fives.

"Right," Ahsoka cleared her throat. "It's probably better to split up here. Maul will be in the reactor room with Master Qui-gon and Master Obi-wan.  I'll head to the reactor room, I know how Maul fights and he won't have the benefit of seeing all the years of training I've done."

"Sorry Commander!" Jesse said sheepishly, and as expected Ahsoka waved his apology away.

"I think it would be best if..." Ahsoka paused for a moment, "Fives and Echo, you two go to the courtyard, stop the droids who are currently outside of the Palace and trying to get in.  The rest of you will have to secure and neutralise the droids currently inside the Palace.  Rex, take out the clankers in the throne room with Hardcase. Once the throne room is secure move on to clearing the surrounding areas. Jesse, Kix, you will have to clean up the droids in the lower corridors and then I want you to help get the civilians somewhere safe.  There is a back exit located in the East Wing that leads to the safe room next to the lake. You'll have to guard and help the injured, we don't know how many civilians are currently trapped in the palace.  The droids should automatically shut down when Skyguy knocks out of Control Ship, when this happens make your way back to the ship, we can't risk a run in with a Jedi who will ask too many questions that we don't have answers for."

"Alright men, you heard the Commander, let's show those clankers how it's done." Rex said, pulling his helmet on.

"Sir, yes Sir!"

 

...

 

Sprinting towards Theed, Ahsoka used hand signals to direct the men as she split off to find her grand-master.  She knew roughly the layout of the Palace but focused on her bond with Obi-wan to find her way.  As she was nearing the room, she felt a ripple in the Force and a burst of anger, she assumed Qui-gon had been fatally wounded. Summersaulting through the last of the red, lazer barriers, she threw her cloak over the sith and force pushed Maul away from Obi-wan who was hanging off of a ledge down the reactor.  Maul snarled and flung himself at her, Ahsoka igniting her 'sabers just in time to catch his double strike with a parry. 

This version of Maul was no less aggressive than the Maul she encountered on Mandalore and the same Maul that took her life in the last timeline.  However, this Maul seemed to be more predictable and less, simply put, crazy. Ahsoka continued to move backwards on the defensive until Obi-wan had recovered and pulled himself up. 

Spotting that Obi-wan was now armed, she began to push the offensive, reading Maul's attacks and returning them with her own counters.  Obi-wan quickly rejoined the fray, now pushing their advantage, Maul started to speed up his attacks, leaving his defense to the last minute.  Ahsoka took advantage of this and when he lifted his 'saber to block an attack from her first saber, she switched to the the conventional grip on her shoto and sliced his lightsaber in half, kicking him squarely in the chest towards Obi-wan who force pushed him into the wall.  Ahsoka pulled out one of her blasters and stunned the apprentice as he was trying to get up.

Catching her breath, Ahsoka glanced over her future grand-master to check for injuries. Obi-wan was cradling Qui-gon's body and they seemed to be exchanging words. Ahsoka stepped away from them about to leave but was stopped by Obi-wan.

"Thank you, Knight..." Obi-wan said, bowing.

"It was no trouble, but I'm afraid I am not a Jedi Knight." Ahsoka said, falling quickly into her more formal tone.

"Were you not sent by the council?" Obi-wan replied confused.

"No, though I believe that is a story for another day." Ahsoka said.  She walked over to the unconscious Zabrak and placed some force-restraining cuffs on him. "Maul should stay unconscious for another hour or so, but it is difficult to tell, so stay vigilant.  Do you have a blaster on you?"

Obi-wan shook his head, wrinkling his nose. "Maul?"

"Ask one of the guards for a blaster and stun him if he tries anything.  Keep in mind, he was probably kidnapped at a young age and indoctrinated into the Sith but he may have useful information for the Council."

"How do you-" Obi-wan started but Ahsoka cut him off.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Master," The title slipped out of her mouth, "Though I'm afraid I must check on my men, I'll be back in case Maul tries anything."

The Togruta sprinted out of the room in the same fashion she entered it, leaving a confused Padawan with an unconscious apprentice behind.

 

...

 

Torrent moved as one unit, breaking off into their assignments as they reached them.  Fives and Echo were the first to split off, scaling the archway that led to the entrance and positioned themselves.  Covering each other's backs as they began to take aim of the droids.  Jesse and Kix were next, spotting an injured member of staff, trapped under some rubble.  Rex took off towards the Throne room where they could hear a commotion with Hardcase following behind, taking out any strays. Three droidekas were rolling towards the Throne Room door, which was sealing itself shut.

"Take cover." Rex shouted as he dived towards the nearest pillar.  The droidekas put their shields up and started to move towards the clones.

"I'll take out their shields, then you shoot." Rex instructed.  He took some of the droid poppers in his pack and rolled them along the floor towards the destroyers. Perfectly in sync, all three of the shields went offline as the droidekas were momentarily frozen. Hardcase quickly blasted them all, rotary cannon smoking.

Making sure the throne room was now secured, they moved to start eliminated the droids from the rooms inside the Theed Royal Palace.  Ahsoka met them half-way, a trail of dismantled droids left behind.

"Padmé?" Ahsoka asked.

"Secured in the throne room, Gunray and the rest of the Federation won't be able to leave until someone overrides the door. They've effectively sealed themselves in." Rex relayed. "The remaining civilians are all in the safehouse as well, a few are injured but non fatal."

"Good." Ahsoka said. "Maul has been neutralised. I'm going to go back and check on Master Obi-wan. The droids should be switched off now, so make your way back to the ship once they are and I'll meet you there."

"Should we leave a message for the Council?" Rex asked.

"I don't think... no, Obi-wan will report to the Council and they'll depart immediately for Naboo. By the time they get here, we'll be gone... I... I don't want the Council involved with whatever is happening here. Not yet at least." Ahsoka decided slowly. Rex nodded in understanding.

"Alright, Commander, we'll make sure the Twins are fine and see you back at the ship." Rex replied.

"Rex, you know you don't need to call me Commander anymore. Maybe I should start calling you Commander." The Togruta said laughing.

"Nah, I got demoted anyway." The Captain replied.

"Bye Commander." Hardcase said waving as they started making their way to the Courtyard.

"The same goes for you too 'Case." Ahsoka said waving back at them.

 

...

 

When Ahsoka found Obi-wan he was with Anakin in the hanger. Maul was propped up against the wall while Qui-gon's body was wrapped up in his cloak, laid onto a medical bed.

 

"What will happen do me now? You... you won't send me back right?" A trembling Anakin asked.

"No," Obi-wan said firmly. "I won't let the Council, I will train you, with or without the Council's wishes."

 

Ahsoka checked on Maul, from the distance of the rafters, ensuring he was still deeply unconscious, shielding her presence from the two force sensitives, or so she thought.

"Who's there?" Anakin's young voice called out.

Ahsoka swore in her mind. She could feel Anakin pulling on their bond, which she hadn't been shielding, she'd only been shielding her outward presence.

Dropping from the rafters, she waved at the pair before gesturing to Maul.

"I was just checking on him." Ahsoka told them.

"Wizard! Were you just in the ceiling?" Anakin asked.

"Yes?" Ahsoka replied, semi-panicking due to seeing her former Masters . "I- I shouldn't be here." Ahsoka started to back off although Anakin and Obi-wan both looked like they had questions.

"Don't let those slimy neimoidians escape their sentences, and don't trust politicians." She blurted out before running off once more.

"Huh?" Anakin said, confused.

"She seems to have that effect." Obi-wan told him, shaking his head as he took hold of Anakin's hand. He used the force to carry Maul as they made their way towards the throne room.

 

...

 

Back on the ship, Ahsoka met up with her men who were performing a gear check.

"Time to go?" Hardcase asked.

"Yeah." Ahsoka said, "But what next?"

"Let's just get clear of the blockage before the Republic swarm the place, we can make plans en route." Rex suggested.

Ahsoka nodded and made her way towards the cockpit. Echo, the only clone with formal flight training, followed after her to co-pilot.

The journey out of Naboo's atmosphere went surprisingly smooth, but Ahsoka supposed that they were probably too confused why their control ship just exploded like that. She wondered why they had been sent to the Battle of Naboo of all the times. Maybe the force wanted to give them another chance. To stop the annihilation of the Jedi and the slavery of the Clones. Echo brought Ahsoka out of her thoughts.

"Where to now, sir?" He asked.

"Just Ahsoka is fine Echo." Ahsoka assured him. "We need a place to lay low."

"Understood, sir." Echo replied. Ahsoka sighed at the title, but knew she'd be fighting an uphill battle over the whole rank situation.  She engaged the ships' autopilot setting it for some random planet on the Outer Rim and gestured Echo to follow her back to where everyone else was.

"Alright, does anyone have any suggestions on what to do next?" Ahsoka asked.

Fives leapt up.

"THE CHIPS!" Fives exclaimed, gesturing wildly.

"Echo and I were talking about it and we have to get them out, the Chancellor was behind everything and HE TOLD ME." Fives said angrily.  They're in our heads, they made us-"

"Kill the Jedi." Jesse said solemnly. "Palpatine sent the order out just before the Fall of the Republic."

"You experienced it?" Echo asked.

"Yeah, it was as if I was no longer the person in my body, my mind just went completely blank. Rex managed to fight it though... somehow."
All heads turned to their Captain.

"After you died, Fives, I filed a grievance report after your death which I directed Ahsoka to before the chip took over. You were hunted down for trying to assassinate the Chancellor but when we found you at the warehouse you were disorientated, almost like you'd been drugged except we're supposed to be immune to most of them. The General and I listened to your claims but you managed to trap us inside a shield generator.  When the Coruscant Guard arrived, it looked like you were threatening us and them so when you went for a blaster..." Rex trailed off.

"They shot him?!?!" Echo shouted incredulously.  Fives put a hand on his batchmate's arm and sadly nodded.

"They didn't have much choice. In their eyes, I had not only tried to kill the Chancellor of the Republic but threatened a Jedi General, a Captain and a Marshall Commander." Fives said.

"It was the Chancellor who sent out the order to kill on sight." Rex revealed to Fives.

"Let's get these chips out of your heads then." Ahsoka said decisively, her brothers' freedom would take first priority.

 

...

 

Back on Coruscant, Obi-wan stood before the Council.

"White, the lightsabers were?" Yoda asked the newly knighted Jedi.

"Yes Master. The design of the 'sabers did not seem any different to ones created at the Temple. However, both blades were pure white, with no signs of corruption." Obi-wan told Master Yoda.

"Hmm, from corrupted crystals, white kybers come." Yoda explained.

"It is a worrying thought that someone so young could have encountered a dark-sider." Plo Koon said thoughtfully.

"That is true. The Togruta did not look older than 20 standard years." Obi-wan said, "The soldiers with her did not remove their helmets, though their armour did bear some Mandalorian symbols. They were highly capable and combat trained, working in pairs in order to clear the Palace of the droid occupation with an efficiency unseen outside of seasoned soldiers."

"Did they ask for any compensation or payment before they departed?" Mace Windu asked suspiciously.

"No, Queen Amidala said that they would not even accept medical supplies to replace the ones used to help the injured. As soon as the droids shut down, they seemed to vanish." Obi-wan relayed what Padmé had told him.

"Interesting, this is." Yoda said after being silent for a while, "Though act on this, we will not. No threat, do Naboo's allies pose."

"Very well." Windu said, "Now we move onto the matter of training Master Qui-gon's 'Chosen One', what are your thoughts, Knight Kenobi."

"I will train Anakin, he is compassionate, hardworking and is undeniably strong in the force. However, this does not make him the Chosen One and he should not be treated as such." Obi-wan said.

"That much is true. The Council will discuss the training of Anakin Skywalker now. You are dismissed." Windu told Obi-wan.

"Yes Master." Obi-wan said before bowing and exiting the room.

 

...

 

Torrent had landed at a medical trade centre in the Outer Rim. They planned to acquire a Medical Droid, whilst Kix didn't like any type of droids, he was looking for an AZ model, he had been trained to use them on Kamino and did not want to get this jumbled in any way.

"So we're stealing the droid?" Hardcase said rubbing his hands together.

"Well, technically going to have it loaned to us." Echo stressed their intentions, "We will pay them back after we earn some credits from bounties."

Ahsoka nodded, "The chips can't wait. We need those chips out and we don't have the means to pay for a medical class droid, even if we traded in the one on the Twilight."

On the way to the medical centre, the group had discussed potential plans for their future. Rex had suggested that they free their brothers on Kamino, however there were a few problems that they'd encountered, such as the fact that they weren't sure how far the Clones had been developed or their huge lack of funds and a place to relocate their brothers to once they had rescued them. They needed to find a safe location and a way to transport their brothers which required funds and a planet safe from the Republic and Separatist data bases.

Rex cleared his throat, quickly recounting the plan, "Echo and Fives you'll be looking for paint to disguise our armour, we don't want to be linked to the Republic Army even if it doesn't yet exist. Jesse and Kix you'll be discreetly stealing the droid whilst Hardcase and I will be bartering for some medical supplies with what limited credits we do have."

"And the Commander?" Hardcase asked from where he was hanging down from the railing.

"I'm going to be the eyes in the sky for this mission. It wouldn't be wise to try any uhh... Jedi persuasion tactics where they can see me. Also I need to find some kind of disguise for my face for the plan." Ahsoka gestured to her facial markings. While the similarities of the men would be hard to ignore, they could use their helmets to disguise this. Ahsoka, however, was a bit more recognisable.

She mentally added some kind of face covering to a list. Holomatrix disguises wouldn't become viable until another few thousand cycles, so potentially she'd have to get a helmet. Kix would have a field day, he was always telling her and Anakin they needed to get some armour.

Ahsoka summersaulted over the roof, keeping a close eye on Kix and Jesse who were currently dragging a suspiciously droid shaped sack behind them. She deflected a few curious glances, redirecting their gazes. Once they had made it back to the ship, she tapped the button on her wrist comm signaling that the mission had been accomplished.

A small victory, but it would be the start of a chain reaction that would save their galaxy.